Hallowell High School - Venture Yearbook (Hallowell, ME)

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28 The VENTURE Guang' ianspotted the honor of Hallowell 1 8' So that its fame may never die. Helen Graves, '27, COLONIAL WOMEN OF AFFAIRS What, outside their homes, did colonial women do? Business wo- men of today think they know the answer, Nothing Women of the 20th century, busy in all industrial fields, and proud of their ability to do a man's work as well or better than he, are prone to think that women of an earlier day kept almost entirely to their homes, and left the labors of the business field entirely to their husbands and brothers. Particularly is this mistake made concerning col- onial women. We know that they had to work hard at all sorts of tasks in the household, and we cannot im- agine their going outside. Of certain forms of work, that opinion is well-founded. Women in those days had little time for litera- ture or for public speaking. Even if they had had the time and strength, they would have been, by most men, denied the opportunity. A passage in one of Governor Winthrop's let- ters illustrates man's attitude at that day towards anything that seemed to threaten his prerogative of superior intellect. Governor Winthrop writes: Mr. Hopkins, the governor of Hartford, in Connecticut, came to Boston, and brought with him his wife, a godly young woman, who had fallen into a sad infirmity, the loss of her understanding and reason, which had been growing upon her bv occasion of her giving herself wholly to reading and writing. Her hus- band was very loving and tender of her, but he saw his error only when it was too late. For if she had at- tended her household duties, and such things as belong to women, and had not gone out of her way to meddle with such things as are proper for men, whose minds are stronger, she would have kept her wits, and might have improved them usefully and honorably in the place God had set her. Such was the opinion held in those days of women who dared to assert themselves in the realm of the intel- lect. But colonial women did work outside the home. They entered many fields and were successful in them. Apparently, as long as they confined themselves to the practical and did not dispute the realms of the so-called intellectual pursuits with man, no one found fault with them. Perhaps one of the reasons for this lack of obiection and criticism was the fact that these women, almost without exception, were widows without husbands to support them, or unmarried daughters whose fath- ers were no longer living. If these women did not support themselves, the community would have to do it. Then, many of these women inherit- ed their businesses from husband or father. One wide-spread occupation for women, of which little or no criticism seems to have been made was that of inn keeper or tavern keeper. There were many of these women tavern keepers in the Elizabethan days in England, and they spread very naturally, and without comment to the Colonies. The town selectmen very early made sure that each town contained a tavern, and a woman who found it necessary to support herself. and who had a large and con- veniently located house. might easily become the tavern keeper. Essex Countv Court files show that as early as 1647 a Mrs. Clark of Salem was licensed to keep a tavern in that town. Much of our information concern- ing the taverns of those early days comes from letters and diaries. The diary of Madam Sarah Knight, who in 1704 travelled on horse back from

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The VENTURE 27 This funny man for you I got, His tongue will surely help a lot. Now just sit back and look your best, This little fellow will do the rest. 19. Leo or Windy, as is his nickname, Is always boasting of his fame. From morn 'till noon, from noon 'till night He's forever talking of his might. Since of wind you need a lot, This red balloon for you I bought. 20. Gin, - a stenographer will be. One of great note, we plainly see, But I'm afraid she will get weary Of working in an office dreary. So in this car occasionally take A trip or two out to the lake, And rest your tired brain by play, I'm sure there is no better way. 21. Francis, here, as you perceive, Is the little gift you will receive. You may not need it, for I know Your curly hair is quite a show, But in casethe curl should stray, This curling iron will save the day. 22. One girl deserves a heap of thanks, She who is the brightest in our ranks. Dot was our captain in basket ballg A forward quick, so nice and tall. She helped to win many a game, And 'added much to her own fame. A 'coach some day perhaps you'll be, So this book of rules I give to thee. 23. Don may wonder why a monkey he got, But you know he imitates folks a lot. That, you know, is not polite. To make fun of others isn't quite right, So when at this a glance you,take, Think a moment, and those pranks forsake. 24. I know Miller's great ambition, Raising chickens is his mission. The-reason why this line he chose, He is the only one who knows. But this house to him I'll giveg A place for him and his chicks to live. Now, Harry, always keep out the latch, And dons count your chickens before they hatc . 25. A - One thing Helen seems to lack In hor novelty make-up pack. She has rouge and powder galore, But- still she needs just one thing more. That-one thing is a lip-stick bright, I only hope the shade is right. 26. Reggie for you I have something better, You won't need to write Doris a letter, When to her you wish to speak, Pen and paper you won't have to seekg For this little phone will come in handy. You surely can see, it is a dandy. 27. Vi, I fear'is really reckless-5 To talk to her is wholly useless. ' Falls and bumps are her delight, Naught does she mind a 'sad plight. But if you must iriautos ride, Let thesebandages with you abide. . 28. When this summer you go to the lake, This tennis racquet with you take ' To remember all the happy' days I At H. H. S. and your brilliant plays. And when you wish to revive a thrill, Just take this racquet and climb the hill. 29. ' Erlene is crazy to go to dances, ,, She dotes on all the new prances. But in case she's not quite up to' date, I'll give her this dancing mate. He will teach 'her all the measures, And give to dances some new pleasures. 30. - ' ' John, for you a brand new hat, ' For on the other, many sat. It surely did look quite worn out When as Nathan you came out In the Hokey Pokey play, ' ' ' And had your funny lines to say. 31. Paulina an old maid aims to' be, ' There's no fun in that, so far'as-I can seeg But she is determined in her future life, Never to become a loving wife. , .. And so, that lonely she may not be, I'll give her this cat for company. 32. ' ' Walter, I sought and sought in vain, Used up my wits and racked my brain To think of something that was right To give to you, a youth of might. V At last this little broom I found. It will help sweep obstacles from your ground. - . Take it and use it in your work, Which, I'm sure, you'll never 'shirk. Classmates dear, of nineteen twenty-seven, My gifts to your have all been given, As we go from here today, . . Each one must pass upon his way. But in the struggles, toil and'strife, ' That may come to us in later life,-. Remember to keep our record brightg Remember to work with power and might,

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The VENTURE 29 Boston to New Haven, and then to New York, is full of interesting com- ments on these inns and women inn keepers. They were nearly all old and very talkative. Their accommo- dation was far from being of the best. Of one inn on the road to Westerly, R. I., she writes: Arriv- ing at an 'ordinary' about two miles further, we found tolerable accommo- dation. But our hostess, being a pretty full-mouthed old creature, en- tertained our fellow traveller, the doctor, with innumerable complaints of her bodily infirmitiesf' Another inn keeper she accuses of having flavored her roast mutton with hair- oil from her fingers. Nearly all of these women she called extortioners. But women must have made good as tavern keepers, for their numbers steadily increased, far outnumbering the men in this particular line of work. These inns played an important part in the life of the times. Public meetings were held there, politics discussed, and all sorts of appoint- ments made. They even seemed to serve as matrimonial agencies. One personal appearing in the Boston Evening Post in 1745, shows one of the uses to which such an inn or coffee house might be put. The ad- vertisement was headed To The Ladies, and read as follows: Any young lady between the age of 18 and 23, of a middling stature, brown hair, regular features, and with a lively, brisk eye, of good morals, and not tinctured with anything that may sully so distinguished a formg possessed of 300 or 400 pounds. en- tirely at her own disposal, and where there will be no necessity of going through the tiresome talk of address- ing Parents or Guardians for their consent. such a one, on leaving a line directed to A. W. at the Coffee House in King Street, appointing where an interview may be had. will meet with a person who flatters himself that he shall not be thought disagreeable by a Lady answering the above descrip- tion. It would be interesting to know if any young lady responded, and if she did, if she found the young man to her taste. Women shop keepers were numer- ous in colonial days. Little adver- tising was done in those days, except upon the arrival of a ship from Eng- land. but from various references in court records and deeds, as well as from the scanty newspapers, it ap- pears that there were proportionate- ly more women shop keepers, she merchants as they sometimes called themselves. in that day than at pres- ent. In 1900, in America, the pro- Dortion of women in trade was about 4.3 per cent: in colonial days it was 9 per cent. They sold odd things for a woman, from the modern point of view. Groceries, dry goods and cut- lery may seem ordinary, but one woman sold optical glasses, another window glass. There were women book sellers and women druggists. But perhaps the most surprising thing for us to realize is that there were numerous women artisans in those days. There were, of course. the ordinary ones, dress makers, hat makers, and makers of head dresses: but one woman manufactured choco- late and mustard, another put up fish and one did chaircaning. There was a woman coach manufacturer, a soap maker, a rope maker. and several women blacksmiths. Some women were skilled in carpentry. There seemed to be little that could be done with the hands that at least one col- onial woman did not attempt, and usually with success. Thev were even captains of industry. One wo- man. Martha Turnstall Smith, was at the head of a large whaling company. There were also women nurses, not graduates of hospitals and medi- cal schools, as today, but of the school of experience. There were manufacturers of perfumes and medicines, and there was at least one woman undertaker.