Note 25 — Chapter I
Reading edition
Diary of William Bentley, vol. ii, p. 92: May 31, 1794: “The observation of holydays at Election is an abuse in this part of the Country. Not only at our return yesterday, did we observe crowds around the new Tavern at the entrance of the Town, but even at this day, we saw at Perkins’ on the neck, persons of all descriptions, dancing to a fiddle, drinking, playing with pennies, &c. It is proper such excesses should be checked.” Cf. also ibid., pp. 58, 363, 410, 444 et seq. Cf. also Earle, Alice Morse, Stage-coach and Tavern Days, New York, 1900.