8 NORTH SHORE BREEZE and Reminder 
been one of millers, as far back as legend recounts, and so 
after a lapse of some years during which this mill was out 
of the family, it was but natural that a member of it 
should desire to get it back again. It has been under 
the management and ownership of a member of that fam- 
ily since. 
The old undershot wheel was replaced a number of 
years ago by a smaller turbine, but old-fashioned mill- 
stone granite is still used for grinding the corn. Be- 
for the old-fashioned wheel was taken down the struc- 
ture was that of a typical mill scene of 300 years ago. 
The wheel was 35 feet in diameter, and the roof was low 
sloping, reaching almost to the ground. ‘The dimensions 
were much smaller than the space required to-day. 
Tea Houses That Have Come to Stay 
By MARY HARROD NORTHEND 
ete North Shore has its quota of tea houses. They 
are found nestling in among the trees on the land 
between Marblehead and Nanepashemet, skirting the 
harbor in the quaint old town near the main road in 
Marblehead, started by the Village Improvement So- 
ciety in Hamilton, and obtaining magnificent propor- 
tions at the Grill House in Magnolia, while this year 
“The Sign of the Crane’’ announces the introduction 
of a new scheme worked out by Mrs. George Dean at 
Manchester-by-the-Sea. 
In faraway Japan the little tea house has its ori- 
gin, in that land of cherry blossoms. Here following 
the mountain paths, the shady nooks, and crowning 
sightly eminences we find these tea houses, outlined 
on either side by clusters of the fragrant blossoms. 
Within the tree embowered retreat one may rest, well 
repaid by the delicate fragrance of the air and the 
unique refreshment. 
Unlike the American tea houses, the clapping of 
the hand recalls an old lady who shuffles away to 
bring the tiny cup of straw colored tea, resting with a 
few sweetmeat bits on white paper beside it, and all this 
for a few pennies left on the tray. 
All the tea houses in Japan are not like this. Some 
of them are on a much larger scale, served by dainty 
Geisha girls drilled for this purpose and whose quiet, 
graceful movements and fresh young beauty attracts 
patrons. 
These larger ones are invariably set in the midst 
of fragrant gardens planted according to the Japanese 
custom, with rows and rows of flowers following the 
same species, while a combination of two varieties are 
never found in the same garden. 
One of these most famous tea drinking retreats is 
the Maple Leaf Tea House. Here the interior is beauti- 
fully. decorated with quantities of maple leaves in bril- 
liant hue and on the gowns of the Geisha girls who 
serve here the same decoration is repeated. The effect 
is charming. 
In the Orient tea-drinking is a solemn custom, a 
requirement of hospitality and not a pleasant diver- 
sion as we Americans look upon it. Rich and poor 
serve it to their friends and casual guests, and even 
shopkeeper and tradespeople offer it to their customers. 
To refuse to partake of it is a breach of etiquette never 
to be forgotten. 
In America the tea house is met most frequently 
along the New England coast. Sometimes it has a prim 
box bordered garden, again it is surrounded by nothing 
but sward. One of the prettiest rustic tea houses is 
situated at Devereux. It is a simple little affair re- 
sembling a little old farmhouse, nestled down by the 
side of the road and having at the front a veranda 
with rustic support. This is known as the ‘‘Brown 
Owl’’ and is presided over by a Bryn Mawr girl who 
has conceived one of the most artistic creations in the 
way of interior decoration to be found along the North 
Shore, 
On the dainty little tables of green are always 
placed the most charming color schemes in the way otf 
floral decorations. During the cool, afternoon even- 
ings a cheery fire burning in the open fire-place, the 
logs supported by solemn black owls, give a cozy touch 
to the dainty setting. Little wonder that this tea 
house is the rendezvous of so many of the summer 
gcuests. 
In the historic old town.of Marblehead we find 
many unique tea houses. One of them is the old Pirate 
House facing the harbor. Herein the olden days when 
Quelch and his pirate crew brought home their booty 
we find many a valuable treasure hidden in the little 
old closet leading off the tea room. This little his- 
toric spot charmingly set up is also visited by crowds 
of tourists who, interested in the historic past and the 
fragrant cup so daintily brewed, visit the little tea 
shop for a dainty lunch. 
A new tea garden for motorists this year is located 
on the grounds of the Oceanside Hotel. at Marble- 
head Neck. In rustic surroundings and bordering almost 
directly on the ocean, with an occasional aeroplane hover- 
ing above one’s head, the tourist may sip his tea and enjoy 
a dainty lunch. This garden is situated on the tip end 
of the Neck, quite near the lighthouse and the McQuesten 
estate, well known for its beautiful gardens. 
The Blue Bird Tea room, situated on Pleasant street, 
Marblehead, not far from the many historic places of 
interest in the old town, is pleasing visitors to that place. 
Everything is finished in the color scheme of the blue 
and the decorations infuse one with the buoyant, cheerful 
spirit of the bird which gives it its name. 
The Village Improvement Society of Wenham 
which has done so much to make it a clean town, has 
gone farther in its good work and has_ instituted 
one of the most interesting tea houses to be found 
along the North Shore. It was originally an old har- 
ness shop and with the partitioning off of a small room 
at the back for a kitchen it to-day stands a success, 
brought about by the efforts of the energetic and am- 
bitious women of the town. When their movement 
started many years ago with the cleaning up of side- 
walks, the planting of trees, the improving of the 
pateh of green and the arranging of the front yards, 
little did they think to what this might lead. 
Money was needed for the new enterprise. The 
annual payments of dues would not meet the standard 
that these ambitious women had set. They must have 
a permanent fund for their work. They must have a 
working end, a place where they could have’ social 
times, and where they could put in their arts and 
erafts for sale. 
This movement was entered into by some of the 
most prominent North Shore guests who have thrown 
into the enterprise their united efforts. The little old 
harness shop was transformed as by magic, the flower 
boxes were put up outside, filled with bright flower- 
ing plants, a veranda across the front latticed in, a 
