Historic Nantucket
Corner of Centre and Ash Streets
April 1982 Published Quarterly by Nantucket Historical Association Nantucket, Massachusetts
NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
COUNCIL 1981-1982 Walter Beinecke, Jr., Chairman Mrs. Bernard D. Grossman, Vice Chairman Leroy H. True, President - Chief Executive Officer Albert F. Egan, Jr., Vice Pres. Mrs. R. Arthur Orleans, Vice Pres. Albert G. Brock, Vice Pres. Richard C. Austin, Secretary
Alcon Chadwick, Vice Pres. George W. Jones, Vice Pres. John N. Welch, Treasurer Edouard A. Stackpole, Historian
Donald E. Terry Miss Nancy Ayotte David D. Worth Mrs. Helen W. Chase
Miss Dorothy Gardner Robert D. Congdon H. Flint Ranney Harold W. Lindley
Renny A. Stackpole, Director of Museums Edouard A. Stackpole, Editor "Historic Nantucket" Mrs. Merle T. Orleans, Assistant Editor Mrs. Elizabeth Tyrer, Executive Secretary STAFF Oldest House Curator, "Mrs. Kenneth S. Baird Mrs. Margaret Crowell, Mrs. Abram Niles Hadwen House-Satler Memorial Curator, *Mrs. P. Prime Swain Mrs. Richard A. Strong, Mrs. Bracebridge H. Young, Mrs. Everett B. Merrithew, Mrs. Kathleen D. Barcus 1800 House, Mrs. Helen S. Soverino Whaling Museum Curator, Renny A. Stackpole Rev. Frank J. Pattison, Manager; James A. Watts Mrs. Robert E. Campbell, Alfred N. Orpin Greater Light, Dr. Selina T. Johnson Peter Foulger Museum Director, * Edouard A. Stackpole Asst. Director, Peter S. MacGlashan Mrs. Reginald F. Hussey, Librarian; Mrs. Norman A. Barrett, Miss Marjorie Burgess, Miss Helen Levins, Alcon Chadwick, Mrs. Ruby O'Reilly Macy-Christian House Curator, *Mrs. John A. Baldwin; Miss Dorothy Hiller, Mrs. Edouard A. Stackpole, Mrs. Edna Docca Old Gaol Curator, Albert G. Brock Old Mill Curator, "John Gilbert Millers: John A. Stackpole, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Dougan Fair Street Museum Curator, "Albert F. Egan, Jr. Lightship "Nantucket" Curator, "John Austin; Richard Swain, Everett Finlay Hose Cart House Curator, "Francis W. Pease Archaeology Department Chairman, "Rev. Edward Anderson; Vice Chairman Mrs. John D. C. Little Building Survey Committee Chairman, "Robert G. Metters Old Town Office Curator, "Hugh R. Chace "Ex-officio members of Council
Gift Suggestions ScrimsRaw
on Polymer Ivory, a synthetic which looks and feels like genuine bone, and is not a part of any endangered species. These reproductions are executed by serimshanders copying originals in our collection as well as examples from other museums.
Susan's Tooth First carved between 1826 and 1830 by Frederick of the whaleship SUSAN out of Nantucket, this is one of a dozen or so remaining teeth considered to be among the finest examples of the scrimshander's art, an original recently sold for $29,000. Our replica is a strictly limited series and comes numbered complete with documentation and glass vitrine. $150.00.. A View Of Nantucket Mass. 1853 An eight inch long tooth dipicting the harbor and town with great detail. Whaleships are at the wharves, a rowboat crosses the harbor and fish ermen cast off Coatue. $50.00
Whale At Bay Tooth
An action scene in which a sperm whale is threatening a whaleboat while another boat is being taken for a "Nantucket Sleigh Ride" The tooth is 7" long. $48.00. Available Whaling Museum Gift Shop
or write: Nantucket Historical Asso nation Box 1016 • Nantucket, Mass. 02554 (Add $1.00 for tax and postage)
Nantucket Doorways
RooRs
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By EDOUARD A. STACKPOLE with photos by Melvin Summerfield. Stories of the doorways, of the houses around them, and the lives led behind them. Hardcover. gg
Nantucket Island By ROBERT GAMBEE with an introduction by Nathaniel Benchley. Over two hundred photographs, some of areas never before published. The whole Island in sensitive black and white studies. Available in paperback for $10.95 or the deluxe hardcover edition... QQ
Nantucket In The Nineteenth Century By CLAY LANCASTER. A beautifully factual and pictorial book on the history of houses, streets and hotels stressing the architectural and socio economic aspects of the time. Illustrated with drawings and photographs from glass plates in the Nantucket Historical Association and private collections. Paperback. jg gg
From The Galleys Of Nantucket A recipe anthology. Published by the First Congregational Church of Nantucket. A most complete compilation of Island gastronomic delights. Paperback. g5
The Nantucket Way.
By ROBERT F. MOONEY and ANDRE R. SIGOURNEY. From the special vantage point of two practicing Island attorneys, this book traces the spirit of Nantucket law to illuminate its unique history. Hardcover. 95
The Early Settlers Of Nantucket By LYDIA S. HINCHMAN. A reprint of the first edition published in 1896. Gives an interesting account of the first Nantucketers who were pioneers in every sense of the word, and follows the wanderings and manner of life, not only of the early settlers but their associates and descendants as well.
The Island Steamers
Hardcover. $35.00
By PAUL MORRIS and JOSEPH MORIN. Everyone who has crossed Nantucket Sound should have a copy of this book. Illustrated with 335 photographs, it is filled with fascinating information about the ships from the first paddle wheeler to today's vessels of. the Steamship Authority. Softcover. gg
Old Nantucket The Faraway Island By WILLIAM O. STEVENS. A classic book that is still considered by many knowledgeable Nantucket ers to contain some of the best descriptions of the Island. Paperback. gg
Art On Nantucket A beautiful book with 90 colored and 160 black and white illustrations with explanations, for summer distribution. We immediately furnish prospectus assuring that a numbered copy has been bought with a dedication page to be given pending publi cation of the book. A very special gift, ^25g gg
c1Kor&
SJIq p r o d u c t i o n s
Scrims ft a zo
Bookends Reproductions from the Scrimshaw Room of the Whaling Museum. One tooth depicts the fitting out of the "Sunbeam" while the other is of the "Charles W. Morgan". ^ 2 Q()
Ditty box Beauty and utility combined, these boxes are copies of one on display at the Peabody Museum of Salem. Choice of carved whale or whale hunt lids. $9D . uu
Whale Cribbage Board
Also from Salem, this is an exeellant gift for the Cribbage player . $4Q Q()
Buckles
Letter Opener
Small oval ship set in leather Small oval ship set in pewter Medium schooner set in pewter Large oval ship set in pewter black or sepia
Plaque Reproduction of a blue whale originally carved by the late Althea Macy of Nantucket, (mahogany) $28.00
$18.00 $16.00 $16.00 $20.00
Eight inches long with whale design on handle. $31.00
(3tfier S i f t s Ceramic Tiles Old Mill or four of our buildings, Whaling Museum, Oldest House, Hadwen House, and the Lightship. $3.95
Linen Towels White on royal blue, excellent for drying glassware.
Nantucket Color View Calendar for 1982
$2.95 $4.95
Note Paper Eight different Nantucket scenes. Full-color photos by Edna Schanzer. gg Nantucket at the Turn of the Century, twelve pen and ink sketches by Nantucket artist Sheila Welch. $3.25 Pen and ink sketches of the Old Mill, Oldest House, or Lightship, mixed in boxes of twelve. ^ ^
Christmas Cards Turn of the Century, also by Sheila Welch. Boxes °ftwelve $3.95
Collector's Cup Plates By the Pairpont Glass Co., showing Brant Point. In amber, clear or teal. $7 00
@t
s
Hand-dipped on the Island they are:
a
Spermaceti Spermaceti Cranberry Bayberry
11" 15" 11" 11"
all come in boxes
$3.50 $4.00 $3.00 $3.00
per per per per
pair pair pair pair
HISTORIC NANTUCKET Published Quarterly and devoted to the preservation of Nantucket's antiquity, its famed heritage and its illustrious past as a whaling port. Volume 29
April, 1982
No. 4
CONTENTS
Nantucket Historical Association Officers and Staff
2
Editorial: Museums and Education in Nantucket
5
Lost in a Snow Storm - An Island Sleighing Party in 1833 By Edouard Stackpole
6
The Story of The Green China
13
Lahaina - The Whaling Capital of the Pacific By Captain J.E. Lacouture
16
An Island Idyll
22
"The Fishing Lady of Boston Common"
23
The Letters of a Young Whaleman-1822-1824
24
Postal Facilities
28
Nantucket
29
Address Changes/Bequests
29
'Sconset - by Bliss Carmen
31
Historic Nantucket is published quarterly at Nantucket, Massachusetts, by the Nantucket Historical Association. It is sent to Association Members. Extra copies $1.00 each. Membership dues are — Annual-Active $7.50; Sustaining $25.00; Life — one payment $100.00; Husband and Wife $150.00 Second-class postage paid at Nantucket, Massachusetts Communications pertaining to the Publication should be addressed to the Editor, Historic Nantucket, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554.
The Rotch Counting House - Now the Pacific Club.
Museums and Education in Nantucket IN OUR MODERN world, where changes are taking place so rapidly, a museum devoted to our historical past might be often considered rather old fashioned and merely concerned with things long since relegated to yesteryear. But, this is far from the case. Our Nantucket museums are not primarily designed to remind us of events and people who lived on this Island long, long ago; they have been created to present pictures of the past which may serve as guide posts for our world of the present and, certainly, for the future. In this respect, museums are education. In this latter field the museum may serve as a catalyst to open a new world of appreciation and understan ding of the past, a process which will bring a better awareness of the develop ment of this unique town in the sea. The museum provides displays of the visi ble evidences of the past but it may also serve as an arena for thought, so that a better appreciation for the events and people of our past may become the chief subject for our concern. When we consider the humble beginnings of our Island community, the basic way of life of three hundred years ago, and the exhibits showing the sheep-raising and farming character of the people. As we view the early dwell ings, the wind mills, crude carts, rough but sturdy household furnishings, we gain a definite understanding of the trials of these people, who deliberately sought out a new home, in this remote corner of New England, where they might live in freedom from the domination of the Puritans on the mainland. By viewing the exhibits we may better understand the development of the old town, with its people adopting the sea as a means of livelihood. The creation of a new Colonial industry - deep-sea whaling - was the contribution of the Nantucketers to the history of not just America but the maritime world. The museums view the passing scene as examples of the courage and enterprise of the Islanders. The inspirational qualities are time-less; the self reliance and pride become continual reminders of our heritage. If for no other reason the museums exist to keep alive the story of our history. In the story of Nantucket, the full awareness of this story was never needed more than at the present time. --Edouard A. Stackpole
Lost in a Snow Storm An Island Sleighing Party in 1833. by Edouard A. Stackpole
(from the files of The Inquirer) ON THE 2nd DAY of March, 1833, a heavy snowfall lay over the Island of Nantucket. The town, rising from the harbor up the gentle slopes of the Wesco Hills, had been transformed into a snow village, the houses huddled together as if in mutual admiration of the effect produced by the frost king. Stretching from Madaket to Squam, the Island had become covered by the white, crystalline blanket of winter, the wide commons unbroken stretches of purest white, dazzling in the morning sun, softening the undulating land scape. With the sunrise the Town was suddenly alive. The blue sky and the soft air gave a touch of spring that belied the snow. A vagrant band of robins, obviously delighted, had cruised down harbor from their cold fastness of Coskata's cedars to circle backyard havens. Youngsters emerged as if by magic, dragging their sleds, their excited voices raised in eager anticipation of coasting at Dead Horse Valley or on Seul Winn's hills. Some young gentlemen appeared on the Square, striding down to the Union News Room, where they joined others, young and old, that thronged the room. Some exchanges brought laughter, and tobacco smoke grew thicker as the newcomers entered. A group of the younger citizens had occupied one end of the room, and the conversation became more animated. Suddenly, one of them raised his hand for a momentary silence. Others listened as he spoke. "Seth Swain's just had a great idea!" he announced. "How about join ing him on a sleighing ride to 'Sconset." The response was enthusiastic. "Count me in," exclaimed one; "Sign me on," declared another; "When do we start!" called out a third. The announcer became suddenly serious. "It all depends on the girls," he remarked. "If we can get them to agree - put enough food together - we should get under way by ten o'clock!" The next few minutes found them counting sleighs. Within twenty minutes it was well arranged, and they parted to agree on a rendezvous on the corner of Union and Main Streets. Mid-forenoon found a gay cavalcade of fif teen sleighs speeding along the way, over the closely packed snow, with fifteen whips crackling in the air as the horses responded to the excited drivers. Snuggled under warm robes, some with hands clasped in the strong hands of their- escorts, the bevy of Island belles, laughing and whispering in turn, caught the enthusiasm of all. Along the old South Road they sped. The landscape was one vast, glit tering blanket of white, as far as the eye could see. The gay atmosphere
LOST IN A SNOW STORM
7
became subdued with this aspect of nature's grandeur; then the happy spirit again prevailed. Beyond the Captain Worth farm, the horses were slowed, and they rested for a time. In the hollows, some sheep were pawing the snow to get at the tasty roots below, but, for the most part, not a vestige of life could be seen. At the crest of the hills, with 'Sconset in view, they greeted their destination with shouts of anticipation. A musical chorus swept the air as they sped down Bean Hill and onto the stretch to Philip's Run. The girls' high voices rang out; the young gentlemen grinned; whips cracked; the sleigh run ners swished; and the sleighs finally slowed as the deeper snow was met. Finally the panting horses reached Bunker Hill, and, as if by magic, a group of 'Sconset folk was out to greet them. A young villager looked at his friends with some astonishment, and then, bowing, welcomed them with a mock gravity. "What brings you young idiots out?" inquired a weather-beaten villager. The tallest of the sleigh-riders answered with an obvious respect, as he recognized a retired shipmaster. "We thought we'd make a visit - with some friends. If we can get some good fish chowder, we'll be off on the return voyage before the afternoon is well on." The shipmaster shook his head. "Wind's due to shift by then," he observed. "Better take a few lanterns." 'Sconset's chimneys were beginning to smoke. The village youth became their guide, and the sleighs continued on to Mrs. Cary's haven, where the horses found a warm barn and feed, while the party made themselves com fortable in the confines of Mistress Cary's several tiny rooms. In the largest of her quarters she laid a rough table, with long boards and trestles. While the young people chatted, 'Sconset friends suddenly appeared. While the laughter and quips flowed, along with the cider, Mrs. Cary and her helpers prepared a codfish chowder, the compelling flavor soon filling the room. But the tall leader was watching the small clock on the wall. Before they could beguile themselves with prospects of more to eat and more songs to sing, he was up rapping the boards for attention. "Get on your duds," he an nounced. "In ten minutes we have to get under way. It's already after three o'clock. Time's awasting!" Reluctant to leave, the party finally were again ensconsed in the sleighs, and once outside the shelter of the little houses, a cold northwest wind met them, worrying the snow and sending long streamers over the road. Due to the quiet, wind-less character of the storm of the previous night there had been no drifts. But the snow was now stirring, and the tracks of the sleigh run ners were only faintly seen. A dull smudge hung above the western horizon. "Guess the old man was right," muttered the leader, "that looks like more snow." "Oh, well, we've got two hours of daylight at the least," replied one of
.
LOST IN A SNOW STORM
9
his companions. "The stars light us home, with these lanterns." Once up the slope of Bean Hill, with the horses given a breather, the prospect changed, however. The wind was now directly ahead, and the snow was sweeping across the old tracks in waves. Urged on, the horses seemed to sense the need for action and responded with a will. But the drifts had formed and the progress dramatically lessened. Where once was song and banter the gaiety was more subdued, although there was still an effort to sustain the former mood. The cold had now become stronger as the temperature dropped. The breath of the horses became like the snow itself, and the efforts more labored. As the wind increased, and the snow swirled higher, the drivers found they were unable to see and allowed the horses to instinctively keep to the road, now twisting as it headed toward Hinsdale. *
*
*
*
In Nantucket-Town, anxious families watched the storm building. As the sun became hidden the concern deepened, and several conferences were held. Would the young people have started homeward in time to avoid the blizzard? Perhaps they would decide to stay in 'Sconset over night. It depend ed on the time of their departure. The streets of the Town were now filled with swirling, twisting clouds of snow. Now hidden, the sun could only be noted by the dwindling glow in the western sky as it neared the horizon. Now the wind increased to half a gale, whistling in the chimneys and tearing at the tree branches. The watch was summoned. Veteran mariners, who had the proper orders in handling a ship at sea, found themselves doubt ful of what they might now say. Finally, they decided the townspeople should be alarmed. The bell in the South Tower began to ring. Hurriedly a number of volunteers were provided with sleighs and blankets, lanterns and candles. Hastily deciding on courses for action, these sleighing expeditions were dis patched, accompanied by special cargoes of tar barrels, to be lighted as beacons on the road past Newtown Gate. In contrast to the gaiety of that mor ning party there was little talk, merely low-voiced advices, and heads bowed to the growing gale. In the brief lulls, the sound of the bell tolling in the tower came to them. When the hidden sun finally lost its last bit of light as it dropped into the sea, the first beacons were lighted, the flames first leaping high and then becoming almost flattened by the snow-filled gusts. A few men, needing ac tion, began shoveling at the drifts around the old sheep gate and cleared a wide area, only to see the snow drifts cover their work. At this moment, a different sounding in the bell strokes came to the waiting men. It was the quick, staccato rhythm that aroused them. Fire! Many raced away to the new scene of emergency. Flames had been seen shooting in to the snow-filled air from a roof. "Where away!" came the voices. Shouts and horns led to the scene. The horror of the situation was all too apparent to these people. A fire
10
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
in the center of a town built of wooden structures, compactly arranged, wherein seven thousand souls dwelt. The flames could spread through the streets from house to house, hurled on by a northwest gale, the flaming tor ches tossing from street to street, consuming dwellings and menacing lives. Brave men cringed at the thought; wives stood with blanched faces; children huddled around the hearthstone caught by the evident terror in the faces of family and friends. But Providence was truly on the side of the Islanders that night. The house-top fire was more threatening than dangerous, as a bucket brigade had quickly assembled and the flames "scrounged out". A swift report was passed from street to street, eventually to the small band of men at the Newtown Gate. But the town was now thoroughly alarmed. No one went early to bed that night. Somewhere, out on the commons, there was a caravan of sleighs, with three-score of Island people, wandering about, trapped by their folly in the bitter snowfall. *
*
*
*
At sunrise, the watchers at the outskirts of the town had returned home and their places taken by search parties now slowly making their way out-oftown. The snow had diminished as the wind dropped away. The weary searchers who had been waving torches in the night were replaced by men in sleighs who found their progress slowed considerably. Nothing could be seen in a world of snow-covered landscape. And then the sound of horns were heard, coming from the town. Speeding couriers appeared at the Newtown Gate headquarters of the sear chers. The watchman in the tower, with his spyglass scanning the scene, had spied a solitary sleigh winding through the drifts along the Old South Road. Extending his horn through an open window, he sounded long blasts, and peo ple gathered at the tower for the news. One sleigh! What had happened to the others? What had transpired during that dreadful night! The answers were soon forthcoming. The wat chman's glass soon picked up other moving figures on the road. One more sleigh had appeared; then another; then another. Word spread with amazing swiftness. Soon the sleighs made a closer appearance; to become the cavalcade again as they drove silently, albeit slowly, the length of Orange Street. As they reached the center of the way into town, a voice rang out breaking the tension in the gathering onlookers' faces. "Where in all creation have you been?" The answers to the many queries on that night's adventures were sim ple but adequate. When the drivers found they were lost in the snowstorm they had given the horses their heads, trusting the beasts would by instinct find their way to a farmhouse or a sheep-fold - or some place of shelter. But, this procedure served to temporarily separate the cavalcade - an almost fatal circumstance. The horses led the way for a few minutes, and then decided on
Orange Street after a Storm - a View from the South Tower.
12
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
two different directions. Staggering against the blinding snow, naturally they had come about away from the wind. One of the drivers called a halt, and the tall leader directed laying a course west by south. Proceeding in this direction, after a half hour another halt was called. While they remained together, huddled against the savage onslaught of the snow, a sudden lull found them compelled to listen. It was then that they heard one of the horses whinney and then start up, and they let him take the lead. It was only then that they noticed three of the sleighs had disappeared. But the leading sleigh had found a haven, and a farmhouse suddenly loomed out of the snow-driven night. Lanterns were quickly swinging in the darkness. A voice hailed them; a farmer quickly hurried the half-frozen occupants of icy sleighs into the in credibly warm kitchen of the farmhouse. Down the road the other sleighs had found similar havens. During the night hurried conferences revealed all were accounted for; some tears from the girls were those of gratitude as well as relief. During the night the sleep that overcame them was in direct contrast to the anxiety of the folks in the town. Both boys and girls were all too well aware that with the quick drop in the temperature, and their complete loss of direc tion, it would have been a night difficult to survive. Their safe return was doubly blessed when, during the day, the nor'wester brought a second blizzard, and it continued throughout that day. The mercury fell to 5 above zero, and the harbor was frozen to the outer bar. The toll among the sheep on the commons was frightful, many perishing before they could reach a fold, or the shelter of the swamps. It was many a year before the sleighing party was forgotten. The gay departure; the hours of merriment; the pleasant hours at 'Sconset, were often talked about. But, with the memory of the darkness of that night, with the swirling sheets of snow, the doleful sound of the wind as it tore at their chilled sleigh shelters, and the miracle of finding their haven, they would recollect this part in quiet times. It was a tale to tell their children. To be lost in a snowstorm was one adventure; to be saved from the storm was quite another the best part!
The Story of The Green China
13
ONE OF THE Nantucket stories which has been often told, but rarely substantiated, is of the Island shipmaster who was about to embark on a voyage to China. In response to an offer to his wife to bring back some Chinese item that she might prize, the lady of the house announced that she would like some of the famous Chinese tableware - "blue china", she an nounced. The shipmaster made the voyage, and when he returned to Nan tucket he brought with him some carefully packed barrels of china. But the se quel to the story at this point had a different ending. One of Nantucket's delightful story-tellers was the Rev. William E. Gardner. His devotion to this Island, and his ready acceptance of many re quests on his time, brought about many episodes which demonstrated his dedication to Nantucket. Quite aside from his several books, such as Three Bricks and Three Brothers and The Coffin Saga, in which he gave excellent accounts of two Island families and their descendants, Dr. Gardner delved in to many folk lore stories, in which some pertinent details were missing. One of these was the account of the "Blue" china that became "Green". Among the different versions was a statement that Judge Coffin, of Poughkeepsie, who had purchased the Coffin House ("Oldest House") in 1881, had learned of the whereabouts of the china on the Island, had bought it from the owners, and put it in the Jethro Coffin House. But "Will" Gardner was not satisfied and, finally, learned that Mrs. Emerson Tuttle, a summer resident, could provide him with some further details. Mrs. Tuttle, a grand-daughter of Mrs. William Barnes - Emily Weed Barnes, daughter of Thurlow Weed - wrote to him that while Mrs. Barnes was visiting her son, Thurlow Barnes, at "Driftwood", on Brant Point, they at tended one of the Main Street auctions. Among the articles for sale was the quantity of green China, with the story duly attached. According to the ac cepted version given to the crowd at the auction, the shipmaster had brought home the china, opened one barrel in the front hallway and produced the first piece. To his consternation, his wife looked at it in dismay, and remarked: "But John, it's green!" Whereupon the captain put the head back on the bar rel and put the whole shipment down in the cellar, where it remained during the rest of their lives. As the auction dragged on, Mrs. Barnes had to leave for a previously arranged meeting, but she deposited 83 with the auctioneer. After her few days on the Island, she returned to her home in Albany, thinking her bid had failed, and, having left her address with the auctioneer, expected to hear from him. The story still intrigued her. Some time passed, and she had nearly forgotten the incident, when one day a notice came from the freight office that two barrels of "goods" were
Dr. "Will" Gardner Telling The Story of The Green China.
i THEGREEN CHINA 15 awaiting her orders for delivery. She had them taken to her home and, upon opening the barrels, found the green china, still in the original Chinese pack ing. "My grandmother was quite a story-teller", wrote Mrs. Tuttle, "and she enjoyed telling the story to her friends. Eventually, she gave the china away to her family and interested listeners. Mother and Aunt Harriett had quite a number of pieces, and Uncle William, too. I have a lovely fruit basket and plate, and a few plates. My sister, Elizabeth Frost Blair, had some at Sherborn. Breck Long had some at Sea Crest, but I imagine my Mother and Aunt Harriett would have taken it before that house was sold. What was there came to Orange Street (the Barnes house), and it is possible that what is at the Oldest House came from them. Judge Thayer had nothing to do with it in par ticular. Whether the Captain's wife (and I have always heard her referred to as a Coffin), secretly yearned for the china in spite of its color, or whether she was in fact crushed by the fact that it was not blue, no one will remember or care. But what was said was said, and she was never allowed to have a piece of it, and he headed up the barrels." As this was the only version of the story that could be bolstered by facts, "Will" Gardner felt it should be preserved. And he presented the letter to the Nantucket Historical Association under the title - duly written on the file - of "Green China".
CORRECTION In the October, 1981 issue of Historic Nantucket, an excellent article, titled "Nantucket's Busy Days" appeared, written by George W. Jones. Un fortunately, in reference to the author the dates of his years as President of The Nantucket Historical Association were wrong. Mr. Jones served as Presi dent from October 1956 to 1967, an eleven year period. He is now a Vice President of the Association. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr. Jones was the Proprietor of the South Beach Boat Yard for a number of years. A veteran of the U.S. Navy in World War II, he served as an Assessor for many years, as well as being Chairman of the Finance Committee, and a member of the Historic District Commission. Although retired from public office, he continues as an active member of the Council of the Historical Association.
Lahaina - The Whaling Capital Of The Pacific by Captain J. E. Lacouture IN THE YEAR 1791 the first American whalers rounded Cape Horn into the Pacific, and found good whaling grounds off the coast of Chile. Several years later the "off-shore" grounds, 1700 miles west of Peru, were discovered. As the whales in these grounds soon thinned out, whaleships ventured further afield. In the fall of 1819, the first whaling ships reached the Hawaiian Islands. These were the Equator, of Nantucket, under Captain Elisha Folger, and the Balaena, of New Bedford, under Captain Edmund Gardner. Soon after arriving, a boat from the Balaena killed a whale off Kealakekua Bay, which provided her with 110 barrels of whale oil. Within a year of the arrival of the first whalers three other important events occurred which would profoundly affect the history of the Hawaiian Islands. In the spring of 1819 their great king, Kamehameha I, who had united all the islands under one leadership for the first time, had died. Follow ing his death the "kapu" religious restrictions, which governed all phases of Hawaiian life, were abolished. About the time of Kamehameha's death, Cap tain Jonathan Winship, master of a ship in the candlewood trade with China, returning from Japan reported great schools of sperm whales in Japanese waters. Finally in March of 1820, the first shipload of New England Christian Missionaries, under the leadership of Hiram Bingham, arrived in the Hawaiian Islands on the American brig Thaddeus. Acting on Captain Winship's report of large schools of whales in Japanese waters, Captain Joseph Allen, "the Nantucket wonder," ventured far into the northwestern Pacific on his ship Maro. His was the first American whaler to cross the middle of the Pacific. In the Sea of Japan he came across the greatest concentration of sperm whales that had ever been seen. In no time every last barrel on the Maro was filled with whale oil and Captain Allen started triumphantly for home, stopping in Honolulu in 1820 for rest and recreation for his crew and reprovisioning for his ship. While there he confid ed his find to fellow New Englander, Hiram Bingham, head of the mis sionaries, who had just arrived. Captain Allen listened to Bingham's plans to Christianize the Hawaiians and provided Bingham generous financial sup port. With the discovery of these new whaling areas off Japan, and with Japanese ports closed to foreign vessels, the Hawaiian Islands were the nearest ports to this new whaling domain. Soon also additional rich whaling areas were discovered off the northwestern coast of North America, in the Okhotsk, Asadir and Bering Seas and in the waters north of the Bering Straits.
LAHAINA —WHALING CAPITAL
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By 1822, 60 whaling ships were stopping at the Hawaiian Island ports. For the next 15 years about 150 whaling ships per year were using these ports. From 1840 to 1860, when Pacific whaling was at its peak period, an average of over 400 whaling ships per year were stopping at Hawaiian ports. The year 1846 was the top year with 596 arrivals, 429 of which stopped at Lahaina and 167 at Honolulu. The vast majority of these whaling ships were American from Nantucket, New Bedford, Edgartown, Sag Harbor and New London. Almost all the other whalers were British. The great whaling bonanza in the northern Pacific Ocean lasted until about 1870, during which period over 300,000 whales were killed. However, the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania in 1859 from which it was possible to make kerosene to replace whale oil in the lamps of the world signalled the beginning of the end of the Hawaiian whaling industry. This ending was ac celerated by the Civil War. During the course of the war forty New England whaling ships were sunk to effect a barrier blockade of Charleston Harbor and at least fifty more were sunk in the Pacific by the Confederate privateers Shenandoah and Alabama. In fact, Captain James Waddell on the Shenan doah kept on sinking and burning whaling ships in the Bering Sea (11 in one day) for some time after Lee had surrendered to Grant at Appomattox. By this time also most Pacific whaling areas had been seriously depleted of whales with the exception of the hunting grounds north of the Ber ing Straits. In 1871 the whaling fleet fishing this area stayed too long in these waters. As a result, 33 ships were caught and crushed in the ice. Miraculously the crews of over 1200 men all escaped across the ice without casualties. This calamity practically ended New England whaling in the northern Pacific, us ing Hawaiian ports. The final coup de grace occurred in 1876 when 13 whal ing ships were again destroyed in the Bering ice fields, this time with the loss of over 50 lives. At the time New England whaling ships started using Hawaiian ports for logistic and recreational purposes, Lahaina was the royal capital of the Hawaiian Islands. King Kamehameha I had established Lahaina as his capital in 1802. Lahaina remained the royal capital until 1845 when King Kamehameha III transferred the capital to Honolulu. In 1840 Lahaina was a town of about 3,000 people mostly living in grass shacks on a single street strung for two miles along the waterfront. Initially Lahaina was second in popularity to Honolulu as an an chorage and port of call for New England whaling ships. This was due mainlv to Honolulu's protected harbor and its better facilities for stocking, refitting and repairing the visiting ships. However, as anchorage and pilot fees went up much faster at Honolulu, (no pilot was required at Lahaina since anchorage was in a protected roadstead) and, as Lahaina's restocking, provisioning and refitting facilities improved, Lahaina became the most popular port of call for the whaling ships. Another factor that contributed considerably to Lahaina's popularity
18 HISTORIC NANTUCKET with the whaling ships was the fact that Irish white potatoes (brought in originally by whaler captains and grown in abundance at Kula on Maui) were available to the ships at Lahaina and not at Honolulu. Yankee crews were never satisfied with substitutes for white potatoes such as yams, sweet potatoes, taro and breadfruit. In 1803 a New England whaleship of 2,000 barrels capacity needed two years to fill its holds with casks of whale oil and to make the long voyage to and from the Pacific whaling grounds. By 1844 whales were scarcer, distances longer and the average whaling cruise lasted three or four years. During this time most whaling ships called twice a year at Hawaiian ports. These periods of call at Hawaii were from March through April before sailing for the nor thern whaling areas and from October through November before sailing south to the equatorial whaling grounds. During these visitation periods it was a common sight to see over 100 whaling ships at a time anchored at the Lahaina Roadstead. During their in-port periods at Lahaina and Honolulu it was only natural for the crews of the whaling ships to carouse and rampage and seek the company of the willing Hawaiian maidens after the long, hard, dangerous periods at sea. This brought them into direct conflict with the missionaries who, of course, were opposed to the sailors' shore-leave vices. In reality, some of the whaling ships' captains sympathized with the work of the missionaries and assisted them in many ways. They brought them supplies and tidings from home as well as additional families of missionaries. Some tried hard to control and influence the behavior of their crews while in Hawaiian ports. The two most serious confrontations in Lahaina between the whalers and the missionaries occurred after Reverend Richards, in charge of the mis sion at Lahaina, persuaded the local chiefs in 1823 to put a taboo on Hawaiian women fraternizing with whaling ship crews. The first occurred in 1825 when the crew of the whaler Daniel appeared at Richards' home and threatened the life of Richards and his family unless he obtained the repeal of the taboo within 24 hours. At the expiration of the 24 hours they reappeared at Richards' home in an ugly mood. Richards, however, stood firm and suddenly a group of Hawaiians armed with stones and clubs appeared and dispersed the threatening crew of the Daniel. In 1827 the British whaleship John Palmer went even further in venting their anger and bombarded Richards' home and other parts of Lahaina, again to no avail. In addition to being the royal capital of the Hawaiian Islands, Lahaina was also the cradle of Hawaiian democracy and the educational and cultural center of the Hawaiian people. In 1840 King Kamehameha III granted his people their first constitution which established an upper house or senate of royal members and a lower house of people's representatives. In September 1831 the Reverend Lorin Andrews opened Lahainaluna High School in the hills above Lahaina for the express purpose of training Hawaiian men as school teachers and assistant pastors. In its first class of 25
LAHAINA —WHALING CAPITAL
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pupils nearly all were married. Included in this class was David Malo, then 38 years old, who would become Hawaii's famous historian and teacher. At the time of its opening Lahainaluna was the only school west of the Rocky Moun tains, was the first teachers' training school, and was one of the first ten public high schools in America. Another first for Lahainaluna occurred when it began printing the first newspaper published west of the Rockies in 1834 us ing the old printing press brought over on the Thaddeus. In early gold rush days Californians preferred sending their sons to Lahainaluna rather than risk sending them on the dangerous Indian-infested cross country route east to the prestigious eastern preparatory schools. During its days as whaling capital of the Pacific several whaling ship visits should be of interest to those interested in Nantucket history. In 1823 King Liholiho (Kamehameha II) and his Queen Kamanalu accepted a Rritish invitation to visit London and sailed aboard the Rritish whaleship L'Aigle whose master was Valentine Starbuck - sure to be related to the Nantucket Starbuck whaling skippers. Also in 1823, on the Nantucket whaler Foster, future author John L. Melvin visited Lahaina. He later wrote "A Narrative of a Voyage Round the World commenced 1816 and ended 1824." On 26 April 1843 Herman Melville, later to write "Moby Dick" among other well known books, arrived at Lahaina aboard the Nantucket whaler Charles and Henry, owned by Charles and Henry Coffin of Nantucket. Two years earlier Melville had signed aboard the New Bedford whaler Acushnet but had deserted in the Marquesas because of the harsh conditions on the Acushnet. From there he had signed on an Australian whaler where conditions were even worse and was off-loaded in Tahiti - jailed for participating in a planned mutiny that never was attempted. In November of 1842 he signed on the Charles and Henry specifically to work his passage to Lahaina. With the collapse of the whaling industry and the movement of the Hawaiian Islands' capital to Honolulu, Lahaina reverted to a quiet and historic Hawaiian village, blending the beauty and charm of old Hawaii with the serenity and graciousness of a New England town. To a great extent the town of Lahaina has resisted as has Nantucket the mad rush to turn itself into another Waikiki or Atlantic City. Lahaina has endeavoured to retain many of its historical buildings. In these endeavors the whale and its whaling heritage, along with its royal heritage as Hawaii's first capital, have become the central themes of Lahaina's restoration efforts. Geography plays an important part in Lahaina's emphasizing its whal ing heritage, since the sheltered ocean area west of Lahaina between Maui, Lanai and Molokai is the principal breeding area of the humpback whales in the Pacific. It is, therefore, possible during the winter and spring months of the year to run daily whale-watching cruises from Lahaina to watch the antics and cavorting of these wonderful creatures. For those unable to take these whale-watching tours, the larger hotels often bring in lecturers from the Hawaiian Institute of Marine Biology or from
The Brig Carthaginian
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the Oceanographic Institute to give illustrated presentations of whales in their natural environment, accompanied by sound recordings of the humpbacks communicating and singing to one another. Over a decade ago one of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation's main projects was the acquisition of a whaling ship to be moored at a centrally located pier. After a world-wide search the Foundation acquired the schooner Komet in Germany, sailed her back to Lahaina and, after much hard work, vi sion and dedication, converted her to an authentically restored brig resembl ing the New England whaling ships that used to call at Lahaina. Now rechristened the brig Carthaginian, she is the proud centerpiece of Lahaina's whaling legacy. In addition to recreating the physical dimensions and at mosphere of life on a whaler, videotape movies on whales and whaling are shown on board continuously during visiting hours. Whaling-oriented decor including pictures of famous whaling ships and their activities, ship models, tools of the trade, murals, pictures and infor mation plaques on the various kinds of whales are found in many of Lahaina's shops, bars and restaurants. The authentic whaling decor of the colorful old Plantation Inn featured in such films as "Twilight of the Gods" and "Devil at Four O'Clock" is a good example of Lahaina's efforts to recreate its whaling past. Possibly the most impressive attempt to depict Lahaina's historic era of whales and whaling is the "Whaler's Village Museum" with all displays outside arranged in a very attractive shopping village complex. Lahaina also called in the firm of Edward Carson Beall and associates to design and create the outdoor museum. When completed, it will consist of 65 large two-sided (six feet by eight feet approximately) glass display cases located throughout the shopping village complex plus a suspended huge sperm whale skeleton and a well preserved authentically equipped 19th century whaleboat. These displays are arranged in a "sequence which will provide the observer with a brief knowledge of whale species and distribution and then carry him through the construction of whaling ships, setting out on a voyage, life aboard the whaling ship, the whale hunt, the kill, the processing of the whale and finally a series of stories and graphics depicting whale mythology and legend." Note on Author of this Article Capt. John E. Lacouture, U. S. N. (Ret.) was born in Boston, Mass., Aug. 18, 1917. He graduated from the Roxbury Latin School in 1935, and from the Naval Academy in 1940. He served on the old aircraft carrier Saratoga, prior to proceeding to the destroyer Blue as gunnery officer, and participated in all early actions of World War II in the Pacific, from Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal, where the Blue was sunk. He returned to flight train ing after which he served as executive officer of a fighter squadron before
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assuming command of a fighter squadron, two attack squadrons and two car rier wings. In between sea duty he received a master's degree at Princeton University in Aeronautical Engineering (flight testing) and served a tour at the Naval Air Test Center. He became the first program manager of the F4 (Phantom) aircraft and served as SACLANT'S Representative in Europe (Paris). This was followed by tours as commanding officer of Diamond Head (ammunition ship) and of the aircraft carrier Saratoga. From there served as Chief of Staff of the Carrier Task Force off Vietnam. He then became the Director of Naval Aviation Plans and Requirements Division. After serving as Commander of the Pacific Fleet's light attack Community, he retired in 1970, to work in the aerospace industry. During the past seven years he has enjoyed the life of a research scholar at Cambridge University in England.
An Island Idyll 0, lovely as Loch Lomond, Old Scotland's hills among, The glories of the Trossack chain Hath many a Minstrel sung. But 'twas not there I met my love 0, scenes of memories fond 'Twas among the old Popsquatchett hills By Rotten Pumpkin Pond. As now I dream of bygone days, My heart grows young again, And all the old idyllic fire Mounts upward to my brain. Once more I'm keeping tryst with Ruth, Popsquatchett hills beyond, Along the wild romantic shores Of Rotten Pumpkin Pond! —Henry S. Wyer - 1900.
"The Fishing Lady of Boston Common"
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This interesting framed needlework is a display owned by the Nan tucket Historical Association. The design was popular in New England when Susan Colesworthy (who died in Nantucket in 1811) completed it in 1769. It was bequeathed to the Association by Miss Susan E. Brock, the first Curator of the Fair Street Rooms. Susan Colesworthy was the daughter of Gilbert and Mary Colesworthy. Her father was one of the Boston Tea Party "Mohawks", who in 1773 dumped the British tea into Boston Harbor. The needlework is still in excellent condition and was loaned to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston for exhibit in 1941, and was a prominent part of the special exhibit ar ranged by Elizabeth Gilbert at the Peter Foulger Museum in 1979.
The Fishing Lady of Boston Common.
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The Letters of a Young Whaleman -
1822-1824 During a Voyage to the Pacific Ocean (Continued from the January, 1982 issue) THROUGH THE INTEREST of Captain C.G. Porter, of Duluth, Minnesota, we are able to publish the letters of Elihu Wright, of Saybrook, Connecticut, who was twenty-one years old when he shipped aboard the whaleship Enter prise, of Nantucket. The letters are an inheritance of Captain Porter, through his mother, Mrs. Sally (Lewis) Wright Porter, who copied them from the documents in her father's files in Rochester, New York, in 1949, and these first copies were made one hundred years after the originals had been written.
Letter V. Ship Enterprise Dear Brother: It is with pleasure that I write a short line to inform you that I received your letter the 7th of Nov., 12!d> months after date. I perused it with the most heartfelt pleasure as it is the first line I have received since I left the American shores. By your letter you seem to be very inquisitive about many things, which I suppose was caused by false reports, which are very common to be circulated about ships that go out of sight of land. I must satisfy your curiosity in short, as I have not time to write. In the first place, I enjoy the best of health which is truly a great blessing. I have got to be quite black, saucy and able. As to our living, we have plenty of provisions of decent quality. When we go out of port we carry out as much vegetation as we can preserve. As to our officers, I think we have better than they average. There has been but little flogging done, of which I have had no share. We have a good quadrant, belonging to four of us. We do not pre tend to keep a regular run of the ship. We sometimes take an altitude and work an observation, yet we do not understand Luna's refraction of the heavenly bodies, corrections, etc. Our officers are good navigators and always ready to inform us when we ask, but when the ship is full we shall have a better opportunity. We have had a watch below ever since we passed the Brasill Banks, except when we have whale or other business which makes it necessary for all hands upon deck.
LETTERS OF A YOUNG WHALEMAN The Maria arrived here the sixth of November. All well; 1250 bbls. of sperm oil. The Globe arrived the 7th with 500 bbls. There was an English ship in here a few days since, 13 months from London, with 2,000 bbls. of oil We are now ready for sea again as soon as we find men enough to make up our crew. The natives, which we carried out, have left us. One man left us which we shipt at the Islands, and there has been two deserters, who came from Conn, with us. The same two left when were in here in the spring. Capt. Weeks brought them on board again and I expect he will do it again unless he gets his completement of men besides. It has got to be quite fashionable to leave ships here, but I shall not leave the ship so long as there is a timberhead left. The ship Connecticut went four or five days ago. The first mate was on board of us after breakfast. Said his d-nd Indians would jump over board, and swim on shore, faster than he could bring them off in a boat. The reason was this: they were green and the hands did not like to have them, so while they were at breakfast in the cabin they threw them over board and told them to swim ashore. These Chanachers (Kanackas) are as much at home when they get in the water as Alanson is when he gets in the sawmill. They make fishing a considerable branch of business. Their twine for their seins they manufacture by their fingers. They are extremely fond of fish, which they often devour right from the hook, without favour of affection, no time to talk about blood and bones then. The most of them live in a very filthy situation; very few of them wear any clothing but a narrow list around the middle. But I will say no more about this race, as I hope to leave them soon and go to sea. The Alex ander is to go to Sea tomorrow, wind and weather favorable. I expect to send this letter by her. I put two letters into the Sea Lion which sailed the first of November. The last cruise out we went within eight or ten days' sail of China. I expect we shall have to take another look that way, and I am in hopes to fill up there. I do not know but I shall see you and Alanson around here before I get back. If so, I advise you to bring many clothes with you — and bring your wives to mend them. However, I believe I have plenty. Had I taken ten dollars worth of knives they would have answered 50. As for hats, I have lost several. If you hear of anybody that is going to Tarpolin Cove tell them to ask for my hats as they have no doubt gone there. When you have done reading this letter you will see where there is no blackguard there is blots. 12 o'clock at night. So I remain, E. Wright P.S. — I hope you have more letters on the way. This will be at Saybrook about June or July. It will not be of use for you to write around the Cape. I hope not after you receive this for I shall make no promises
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to come another voyage to get the letters that you wrote this. Should we fill up on Japan perhaps we might return around the East Cape. It would make our passage three months shorter but I expect it is more dangerous passing that way without arms and we have none. We were obliged to fire a rope-yarn gun at the celebration of Independence. Addressed to Mr. Samuel Wright of Saybrook in Connecticut. Rec'd 23rd May, 1824.
Letter VI. Start of second voyage on the Enterprise Off Nantucket Bar, Wednesday, Aug, 28. A.D.1822 Dear Brother: After a short absence from you 1 take this opportunity to write a few lines to you which will inform you that I am well and hope this will find you and yours enjoying the same great and good blessing. Since I have been on salt water I have been very hearty the most of the time. We had a good run from Saybrook, We came over the bar Saturday at five o'clock P.M. and anchored off Nantucket bar Sunday morn, being 16 hours run. We lie about four miles off. A boat's crew go on shore almost every night and return the next day. Capt. Weeks has been on shore the most of the time since we arrived. Capt. Barnet took charge of the ship for two weeks. But now our first mate, Franklin Hussey, is on board as Mr. Jay is not able to go the voyage. Mr. Foldein & Previe & Hillman are better. Job Turner is very feeble yet. It is not much likely that he will be able to go with us. James Gardner has given up the voyage since we arrived here. We have our cargoe mostly on board. There is no lighter more to come. If expect to sail the first of next week, if not before.Three ships have sailed since we have arrived here, viz: the Frances, the Queen, the Lydia. The last news received from the ships at sea was very dull from all quarters. There was scarce any full. Some that had been out for four years had but four hundred & fifty bar rels. Oil is now worth a about one dollar per gal., there being but little in at this time. There has been no vessel in from Saybrook or Killingsworth as I could learn so I have had no news from home or at least from Saybrook and consequently have had no opportunity of writing unless by the mail and so delayed until now, daily expecting vessels in from that quarter.
LETTERS OF A YOUNG WHALEMAN
Should your letter not be forwarded so that 1 receive it before we sail you must write to me next spring as there will be ships going out. I should be very glad to see you, with many others, but as that is not to be expected I should be glad to receive a letter from you and you will be so good as to write me respecting friends and relatives. Perhaps you would like to know my mind about returning I still think I shall abide in the ship for home is a fool to this place. I am as contented and happy as a toad under the harrow. I have regained my health and flesh far beyond my expectations. If Dr. Crane has absconded from Saybrook information may be had of him (or a man answering his appearance according to the best of my memory) on board the ship Enterprise. On Friday, the 25th of Aug. a man came on board styling himself F. H. but imitates the said Dr. in every particular except his great memory and a small depreciation of stature. As for clothing I shall take about 100 or 50S here which I think will be sufficient for the voyage should life be spared to prosecute the same. But if my all-wise Creator otherwise thinks best that my unhappy life should end upon the raging sea, weep not for me. Death is the fate of Mortal man. Then your Brother's sorrows cease to flow. Then shall the storm of woe be husht to silence and I at rest, wrapt in the seaman's common Tomb. John is very hearty and appears to be quite contented with his new way of living, grows fatter every day, and Spencer is likewise tolerably well. He has—pain in his breast but is better. The rest of the crew are all well except those before mentioned. And all think there is no business to be compared with whaling. All hands anxious to be ravaging the Pacific with oars and Irons and drag the whale to Justice, I mean to our Ship. But as time and paper fail and I apprehend Patience will do the same while reading, I shall close the unintelligible scrall and bid you farewell. P.S.— As opportunities will not be very frequent of communication I wish you to write as often as twice a year, if not oftener. Some of the letters will probably reach me. I shall not be able to write to as many friends as I should be glad, so I shall write you every opportunity, so give my love to Honored parents and brothers and all enquiring friends and I shall ever subscribe myselfYour most affectionate Brother and friend--E.W. To -Samuel Wright Sunday, the 31st. This letter is wrote but not sealed, if I had received your letter before I should have written different. I don't expect to have
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET time to write another, as we go to Sea tomorrow and our decks are half mast high with casks. E. (Addressed to Mr. Samuel Wright, of Saybrook, in Connecticut.
Closing Note-Sept. 25, 1949 - Center Moriches, L.Is. N.Y. I, Ruth Lewis Porter, second daughter of Gilbert L. Lewis have just copied the above from papers found in my father's possession at the time of his death, in 1942 at Rochester, N.Y. I do not know at what time his copy was made but feel that it must have been done at least twenty-five or six years ago as it was on stationary headed Assembly Chamber, State of New York Albany, at which time he was there. In reading the letters of Elihu Wright, I am confused about letter #VI. It would seem to me that it should come before letter #1, if it is dated correctly, i.e. Aug. 28, 1822. However the contents of Letter #VI could mean that it was at the start of his second trip, the one on which he was injured. It leads me to believe that even though he is a bit homesick at leaving his family, he already knows from past experiences of the thrills of the whal ing business.
Postal Facilities Mail service in the Pacific was somewhat uncertain, as evidenced by the following correspondence between a whaleman and his wife. From the wife: "Dear Ezra, where did you put the axe?" From the husband (fourteen months later): "Dear Martha, what did you want the axe for?" From the wife (two years later): "Dear Ezra, never mind about the axe. What did you do with the hammer?" From The Nantucket Scrap Basket
NANTUCKET Dear Island Home, from off thv distant shore Kind memory brings glad days of long ago, Whose odours, like th' arbutus in the snow Of April, oft sweet thoughts to life restore. Above thine ocean's deep and changing roar The faithful bell's reverberations flow; While steals anon that voice I used to know In boyhood days, now wafted evermore Beyond the skies. Although a softer clime Where I now sing of thee, and brighter beam The midnight stars above the flying foam, I think of thee whose beauties gild my rhyme. Of all the isles that round the wide world gleam, There is no light like thine, dear Island Home.
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'SCONSET by Bliss Carmen Did you ever hear of 'Sconset, where there's nothing much but moors, And the beach and sea and silence and eternal out-of-doors, Where the azure round of ocean meets the paler dome of day, Where the sailing clouds of summer on the sea-line melt away. And there's not an ounce of trouble Anywhere? Where the field-larks in the morning will be crying at the door, With the whisper of the moor-wind and the surf along the shore; Where the little shingled houses down the little grassy street Are grey with salt of sea-winds, and the strong sea-air is sweet With the flowers in the door-yards; Me for there!
"Picnics on beaches are things I despise; I cannot eat sand and I will not eat flies." —Patricia Collinge.
