ESSEX SOCIETY. 27 



The hall was beautifully decorated, the committee being as- 

 sisted in this portion of their duties by the refined taste of the 

 ladies who so kindly volunteered their aid on this occasion. 

 The large and elegant evergreen arbor opposite the entrance, 

 formed a very conspicuous object, presenting a great variety 

 of wild flowers tastefully grouped together ; and supported by 

 two immense cornucopiae, pouring forth their abundant trea- 

 sures, the one, of vegetable productions, and the other of fruits 

 in great variety. Over the centre door was a tablet, containing 

 the name of Pomona, surrounded with a rich border of fruits. 

 The eastern door was surmounted with a similar tablet, contain- 

 ing the name of Ceres, with a chaste wreathing of grains 

 and grasses ; while Flora occupied a similar position over the 

 western door, decked with a gorgeous array of flowers. Other 

 decorations adorned the windows, and bouquets and vases of 

 flowers in abundance were arranged on the tables and around 

 the hall. 



Among the curiosities that attracted much attention, were 

 pears from the original Endicott pear tree in Danvers, which, 

 tradition says, was planted in 1630 ; some fine looking Orange 

 pears, from a tree two hundred and ten years old, on the estate 

 of William Allen, in Hardy street ; also, apples from a tree 

 planted by Peregrine White, the first male child born in New 

 England, on the farm originally settled and subdued by him in 

 Marshfield. The farm is now owned and occupied by his 

 direct descendants, by one of whom, Miss Sybil White, the 

 apples were sent to Dr. Merriam, of Topsfield. These relics 

 of past ages are yet productive, and their fruits of no little 

 curiosity. 



The display of fruit was very fine, especially that of pears, 

 which, for their variety, beauty, and perfection, may well chal- 

 lenge comparison with any similar exhibition of this season. 

 Two thousand dishes or baskets of fruit were placed upon the 

 tables, consisting, as will appear from the list, of six hundred 

 and seventy varieties, viz.: of pears, two hundred and ninety 

 with names, eight seedlings, and twenty-nine unknown, total, 

 three hundred and twenty-seven ; of apples, one hundred and 

 fifty-one with names, seven seedlings, and twenty-three un- 



