168 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The buildings, for the most part, were of substantial wood ; 

 demanding the services of the carpenter. And because there 

 were " polite people" in those days, — a class, and in our best 

 towns, it must be said, a salutary class, tliougb wc eschew and 

 always have done, even before we broke with England, all arti- 

 ficial distinctions of rank, — yet there was a polite class of peo- 

 ple, of more than ordinary refinement and culture, who moved 

 in a circle not very exclusive, yet somewhat exclusive ; and to 

 whom the mass of the people accorded as a fitting thing, that 

 their equipage and style of moving about should have some- 

 thing more of elegance than they could afford, or than would 

 have been suited to their means. A class of artisans, therefore, 

 was demanded who could construct that wonder of a former 

 age — the high-topped chaise. 



I think my memory goes back to the introduction into New 

 England, at least into the rural districts, of the more convenient, 

 though confessedly more plebeian mode of conveyance known 

 as the one-horse wagon. To construct these different styles of 

 vehicle, intended to facilitate locomotion — to render it at once 

 rapid and pleasurable, anticipating unconsciously the cars, 

 which were coming and were soon to arrive, to answer the 

 demands of the people in this direction, the occupation of the 

 carriage maker was subdivided. There must be a class of men, 

 wielding rather more delicate tools than adzes, broad-axes and 

 beetles — other implements than those used in the construction 

 of carts, ox-sleds and lumber wagons. Then these wagons 

 must have tires, and the sleighs must have shoes. To supply 

 these necessities and to do a great many other things there must 

 be a blacksmilk. And because his sledges and tongs and big 

 bellows were too clumsy for certain operations — for mending a 

 lady's finger-ring, for repairing a time-piece, or perhaps con- 

 structing one, there must needs be another tradesman. Thus 

 it came about, while every town, of course, had its blacksmith, 

 that those of much pretension boasted also a goldsmith. 



There were, also, many nice articles of furniture which it was 

 necessary to have, even in the good old times, which ijy a kind 

 of courtesy we assume or allow to have existed, even before the 

 days when extravagance and luxury had begun their undoing, 

 corrupting work. Stands and tables and sideboards and chairs 

 were indispensable things, before the days of ottomans and 



