The order system, as it existed in Lynn a generation ago, or more, was an outgrowth, and improvement upon, the barter system which everywhere prevails in an undeveloped state of society. A history of the changes that have taken place in this particular during the last fifty years could be summarized in a very brief statement; but a history of the causes of these changes would not only require a chapter upon political economy - a chapter usually, without interest to the general reader - but a treatise long enough to contain the record of the progress of society during the most important half century of the world's history. The order system was but a rude attempt to supply a better medium of exchange. Like all crude methods it was costly; and especially costly to the operative who received his wages in these uncertain substitutes for more scientific money. In the last days of its existence this system was unsparingly denounced by labor reformers, and unstinted obloquy was cast upon those who were supposed to have an interest in maintaining and perpetuating it. In its last days it was an abuse because better things were possible; but when it was established it was better than the system that preceded it. Its establishment and overthrow only show the progress of society that avails itself of new methods, when old ones have shown themselves to be clumsy and inefficient, as compared with the better agencies which more favorable conditions have made possible.

     The order system, if we use the term with any degree of strictness, cannot be made to extend beyond the limits of a period dating from the establishment of the Union Store in 1829, and including the next fifteen or twenty years. Orders were in use to a greater or less extent for a quarter of a century, more or less, prior to this date, and their use, doubtless, extended with the growth of business, and the increase of population; but the amount received by workmen in these orders was small when compared with the whole amount of their wages. Orders were given chiefly for the purchase of dry goods. As early as 1810 (and probably earlier) some of the manufacturers gave orders on Joel and Isaac Newhall, of Salem, who kept a large stock of foreign and domestic goods. This firm was usually abbreviated into "Joel and Isaac;" Some "bosses" paid their binders exclusively in orders on dry goods stores. But at this early period payment in orders was rather the exception than the rule. Before the more general introduction of the order system, manufacturers kept a supply of goods of various kinds which workmen received in pay for their labor. The larger "boss" could command a greater variety of commodities, and was thus enabled to give his workmen a choice and range in his purchases, which the manufacturer of smaller means was not able to offer. Under such a system the workman must content himself with what he could get for his labor; and oftentimes this was very meager in variety and exorbitant in price. The workman of the present generation has little idea of the nature and value of that which was received as the wages of labor by the shoemaker fifty years ago. Under the old system, when he bartered his labor for whatever commodities the small manufacturer was able to get in exchange for his shoes, he was often compelled to subsist upon the barest necessaries of life. If he could get more of these than were absolutely required to save his children from hunger, and clothe them in the cheapest and most scanty manner, he was, perhaps, able by some roundabout exchange, to procure a few of what are now the common comforts of life - to get a little medicine for his family, and by a sacrifice of twenty-five per cent. get money enough to pay his poll tax. Under these circumstances, it is easy to see that life was a struggle, with little hope that that struggle would be less severe as coming years brought increased responsibilities, and with these added responsibilities the loss of youthful vigor.

     The small stock of supplies kept on hand by the manufacturers before the order system prevailed was intended to include the common necessaries of life - both food and clothing, or rather material for clothing - the day of ready-made clothing, except on a limited scale, not having then arrived. The quality of these goods, though often the best that could be got, was generally inferior, and the prices charged were some twenty-five to thirty per cent. more than were asked when payments were made in cash. No very exact data are obtainable showing the wages earned at that time - say the period between 1820 and 1830 - but from figures referring to a somewhat later date, a very close approximation can be made. The average rate of wages between the dates here given was probably less than five dollars a week. These dollars being worth about seventy cents in cash, the weekly wages of each workman were not more than three dollars and fifty cents. But the price of most commodities was very low, and the purchasing power of money some thirty per cent. greater than during the ten years ending 1840.

     The introduction of the order system was an improvement in two particulars. It brought within reach of the workmen a much greater variety of 12 goods he would like to buy, so far as his means would permit, and by making competition more direct, reduced the cost of these commodities nearer to a cash standard. Some of these order stores were quite extensive, and kept a large variety of goods of every description - groceries, provisions, boots, shoes, hats, hardware and crockery, besides a large assortment of dry goods.

THE UNION STORE.

    
     The Union Store was one of the best of this class. It may interest some to know that this store stood near the spot now occupied by the apothecary shop of S. C. Tozzer & Co., Broad street, and was built in 1810. It was first used as a Quaker schoolhouse. It now stands on Exchange street, and is used as the leather store of the firm of Breed & Hilliker. This store was established in the spring of 1829, and it was first advertised under the head of "New Store" in the Lynn Mirror of May 30th. To this advertisement were appended the names of James Pratt, Nathan Breed and Isaiah Breed. The public were notified that William F. Ingalls was placed in charge of the store as agent. Micajah C. Pratt, if not one of the founders, became one of the proprietors soon after. Its business increased very fast, until its sales reached the amount of sixty thousand dollars in a single year - a large business for Lynn in those days. James Pratt held his connection with the Union Store but a short time, and the late Samuel Boyce became one of the proprietors. The opening of this store relieved the proprietors from the necessity of keeping goods at their factories with which to supply their workmen. At first orders were taken from the proprietors only; goods being sold to the public generally for cash or approved credit. Afterwards orders were taken from any manufacturer whose credit stood high enough to command the confidence of the owners of the store. The orders of the Union Store were the next best thing to cash, and were current to a great degree throughout the town. Some of the apothecaries received them, and the doctor and others, whose bills were expected to be settled in cash, would often take these orders, especially when the alternative was this kind of pay or none. These orders were printed, with blanks for amount, date, etc., and signed by the manufacturer, or his clerk. They read as follows :- "Please deliver to the bearer goods to the amount of --."

     The order system was at its height between the years 1830 and 1840. A few manufacturers paid cash. All through these years, and even earlier, certain "bosses" attracted the attention of workmen by advertising to pay cash. The prices were, of course, lower than when orders were given. When a workman was able to show his money after carrying in his shoes on a Saturday afternoon, he was the envy of the shop's crew; and if it was a kind of money that would "jingle" it raised its possessor above his fellow-craftsmen. But he was an object of special admiration and astonishment to the boys, who regarded him as occupying an eminence, and who looked up to him as a mitigated Rothschild. Such is the power of coin - or rather such was the power of coin. It must be remembered that these were the days just before "pet banks" had made paper money plenty - before "Old Bullion" had promished his "mint drops," and charitably hoped that these would find their way into the pockets of the people, as Henry the Fourth of France had benevolently wished that every peasant in his kingdom might have a chicken to put in his dinner pot.

     It was generally understood that not much work was to be done on Saturday afternoon. That was the time to carry in the "work" - as the phrase was - to the bosses, to get a new lot, to draw the order on the Union Store - or some other store - to lay in provision for the next week, so far as the order would go, and to bring home the "shoes and stuffs," as the upper and bottom stock was called, and also the load of supplies, (often a small load, ) which was to support the family until Saturday came round again. This load was generally taken home in a "truckle-cart" or a wheelbarrow; or, if snow covered the ground, on a sled or a hand "pung." These "carts," so called, contrary to all authority, for the most part had four solid wheels, and these wheels were not always made at the wheelwright's. On the contrary, they were often "hacked out" at home with a dull hatchet, and described a figure not named in any treatise on geometry from Euclid to the present day. Some of these were nearly round. The eccentricity was very much greater than the concentricity, and as they went "wabbling" along, the hind wheels did not always follow the direct line of the fore wheels. In this respect they were unlike a Newport buggy. Besides these "truckle-carts" there was a sort of "go-cart" with two wheels - the largest number a cart can have, at least so the dictionaries tell us having a "pole" or handle fastened to the axletree, while at the other end, more loosely joined, was seen a man or boy pushing, when it was necessary to put these carts in motion. As their center of gravity was somewhere directly in front of the wheels, or more strictly the axletree, it was rather a nice job to load one of them so as to equalize the burden, and guard against a catastrophe. If loaded too heavily behind, and the man or boy at the end of the "pole" suddenly lets go his hold, the load was "dumped," and flour, meal, pork, molasses, butter, vinegar, sugar, etc., were prematurely and disproportionately mixed. On either side of the front steps, and on each side of the building, were arranged these miscellaneous and nondescript vehicles. The miller's rule was observed-first come, first served,- at least this was the theory; for sometimes this theory was rendered null by a smart boy, who, in the crowd of competitors claiming the attention of the clerks of the store - or "tenders," as they were called - would elbow a more youthful or less smart boy aside, and if necessary shake his fist at him: As posterity may be interested in knowing the average contents of one of these "teams," the following list is given with posterity in view: - Fourteen pounds of flour, half a peck of rye meal, (six and one-quarter pounds,) half a peck of Indian meal, a pound of butter, a pound of sugar, a quart of molasses, a quarter of a pound of tea, a pound of coffee, a pound of salt pork, a quart of white beans, a salt fish, and occasionally a small quantity of several minor articles. If the purchaser was in straitened circumstances - and there were a good many of that kind - several of the most luxurious articles of this list must be struck out, and the quantity of each article remaining divided by two. These carts, wheelbarrows, sleds, pungs, etc., were distributed all over town in front of the "bosses'" shops where they took in the "stock" for the next week's work, and got the "order" for the cartload of provisions, more or less. If the order was not all taken up at the store, the amount expended was charged upon the back, and the balance due taken at another time.

     It may be well to mention that the week's "work" was often carried in with a good deal of trepidation and not a little misgiving. Especially was this the case with the poor workman, who made what was called a "howler;" and it may also be well to mention in parenthesis that the names given to some of these not very artistit specimens of the "craft" were unique and expressive. They were called regular "guzzlers," or "howlers," or "slaps," and were never selected to "put on the top of the box," and the makers of such were never employed to make a sample pair for a Mechanic's Fair, When these workmen entered the bosses' shops it was with fear and trembling. They expected that every lot would be their last. Perhaps news had arrived from the South (there was no West then) that the cotton crop was coming short, or that some great failure had occurred. Then there was a general expectation that they would ,"get the sack," or " be turned off," which meant that their labor was no longer needed. To men never rising above poverty, and standing always on the brink of want, these tidings brought deprivation and suffering before their face; but if no such tidings came, and especially if the boss gave notice to "hurry up," and gave them a new set of lasts, then they took their order and marched off to the Union Store with a lighter step than many a man who does n't know where to invest his money; and when at last he reached home, the news and the new lasts spread joy through a whole neighborhood.

     But it must not be supposed that all the shoes made were "carried in" to the bosses' shops in carts, wheelbarrows, or in any one-wheeled, two-wheeled, or four-wheeled conveyance. Besides all these, many men and boys of all sizes and ages might have been seen with a "string" of shoes in each hand that firmly adhered to the "waxed-end" that tied each pair together. If a shower came up at this juncture, there was generally a chance to "dodge" into some house or shop by the wayside. Others were seen with one or more cotton bandanna handkerchiefs full of shoes placed "heels to toes," according to the rule of packing. Still others were seen with baskets of different descriptions, varying in size from one holding a peck, which could be conveniently taken in one hand, to the bushel basket requiring one on either side to carry it, when packed with shoes. Occasionally a clothes-basket was made to do this service on a Saturday afternoon. The baskets were all used for domestic purposes at other times, the art of basket-making not yet having tried its ingenuity in making the "shoe-basket" proper, which, at a later day, superseded all other methods of conveying to the bosses' shops the products of the workmen's labor.

     There were lively times at the Union Store on those Saturday afternoons. Four or five "tenders" were busy in different parts of the establishment, doing their best to answer the numerous and somewhat confusing calls of their promiscuous patrons, who ranged all the way from the boy of six, who pushed behind the cart, up to the old man of eighty. One of the clerks would be at the dry goods' counter; another in the second story managing the sales of crockery, and men's and boys' boots and shoes; another would have his head half way into a pork barrel, trying to hook up a piece of pork to suit a fastidious customer; another, perhaps, would be leading a boy out by the ear from behind a counter, where he had strayed to try the quality of a few raisins, and look knowing, as he had seen the men do. This state of things was kept up all through the afternoon and evening, and if those in charge of the store were able to lock up at eleven o'clock they thought themselves lucky.

     Sometimes an accident or episode would occur to some one of these several "teams" on the way home. Perhaps the roads were "heavy," and a wheel would get twisted off. Then the disabled team would be hauled up to one side of the road for repairs, and a messenger would be sent to the nearest shoemaker's shop for a supply of "waxedends" to make good the damage. Perhaps one of the carts, with a specially unique structure, would be met by a boy who would make some disparaging remarks concerning the general style of the vehicle, the size and running of the wheels, etc., and close his observations with the irrelevant inquiry whether the top was not an old soap box. This would be considered beyond boy human endurance, and the urchin having charge of the team would start for the offender (having first run him over with his eye, and taken his dimensions) to "fetch him a crack." If this was done successfully, he would again start for home; and if he lived in the eastern section of the town, he would hear, after reaching a distance making the experiment a safe one, a sound breaking the stillness of the air which seemed to intimate that he with the "soap-box cart" was a "Woodender." Then a rejoinder would be hurled back to the effect that if any other "Puddin'-hiller" wanted anything, to come on.

     For the sake of clearness it may be well to state that the "Puddin'-hill" of old times included the territory lying near the upper or eastern end of Broad street, and between that part of the street and the sea. At that time Nahant street was the only street in that entire territory lying east and south-east of what are now Broad and Lewis streets.

     The arrival of these "teams" at home would give rise to many inquiries and interesting debates. "What did the boss say to 'em, Joe?" "He said you must sew 'em shorter - they 'grinned.'" "That all he said?" "Old T. stuck his thumb into the bottom of one of 'em, and said it was n't worth two cents." "Well, he got hold of the last one I made; it was n't quite 'baked,' and it had a soft sole." "Did you get any money of your boss, Jim?" "He let me have two dollars, and told me I could n't have any more till after Thanksgiving. He said I must n't expect money in 'Locofoco' times." (This term originated about this time, 1834.) "Well, that's more than I expected to get. What kind of stock have you got? Has he given you a lot more of that 'dry hide? ' " " Dry hide" was the special abomination of the shoemaker. These hides came from a distance - largely from California and South America - and were, necessarily dried before tanning. This gave the leather a stiff, wiry texture, quite in contrast with the soft, pliable "slaughter leather," so called because it was tanned soon after it was taken from the animal. After looking over the stock, the "shop-tub" was shifted, and that part of the stock required for immediate use was "wet up" so that it might get "seasoned" by Monday morning. Then, if there was time, the knives must be "ground." All workmen were not equally particular about this matter. Some "ground" their knives regularly every Saturday afternoon, or oftener. Others would use them until they became so "round" at the edge as to be a subject of comment through the neighborhood. Uncle B. was one of this sort. On one occasion a wag thought he would try an experiment with one of Uncle B.'s knives. Taking, without Uncle B.'s knowledge, his skiver, which the owner was obliged to hold at an angle of forty-five degrees when he attempted to "gnaw off" a little in skiving a sole - so round was the edge - the wag ground it down thin, whet it to a keen, smooth edge, and carefully put it back in the "rack" with the rest of the knives. When the time arrived to use it, Uncle took it, set it at the accustomed angle on the sole, and made the usual vigorous push. The sole was in two pieces, each having a "feather edge." Uncle B. found that playing with edge tools was costly if not dangerous.

     The grinding of knives - on a Saturday afternoon especially - was a job that no boy ever pined for, as his part was to "turn the stone." Kepler might indulge his fine theories about the "music of the spheres," as he fancied the nearer planets played the high notes, while the most distant sounded the grand bass in nature's majestic symphony; but no boy's eye was set "rolling in fine frenzy" as he viewed the revolutions of the grindstone; and all its "poetry of motion" was lost upon his gross and materialistic mind. His eye rolled, but it was not because he was entranced with the "concord of sweet sounds," nor because the revolving grindstone overwhelmed him with the contemplation of the mysterious law of gravity; it rolled because his back ached. Any quarry slave, any galley slave, any bondman, whether "hereditary," or otherwise, was a king on a throne compared to the unfortunate victim bound to such miserable toil on a Saturday afternoon; while the shouts of the distant ballplayers, mingled with the creakings of the grindstone, fell like torturing music on his sensitive ear.

     The theory was, that Saturday afternoon was a sort of half holiday for the boys. Hard masters and stern fathers often nullified this theory, and kept their boys at work, while more favored ones were enjoying the freedom of the streets or the playground. To these boys at work the shoutings and hootings of their companions, as they shot across the skating pond, or bounced over the "jolts" down the steep hill on a home-made sled shod with sheet-iron, or played at ball in a neighboring field, caused a feeling nearly akin to homesickness; and they would have been utterly cast down had they not been cheered by the hope that the "stint" would soon be done, and they would soon be able to join the youthful revelers, and add their yells to swell the discordant chorus. "One more, and then," was all that saved them from despair. A "stint" (commonly called a "stent ") was usually given to boys. This was a certain number of pairs to be "sewed," or made, as the case might be; and when this task was done the time was their own. This was often a temptation for early rising, so that the day's work might be finished in season for any sport that was at hand.

     The following anecdote shows that inducements of a more refined and ethereal nature were sometimes held out as a temptation to break the bands of Morpheus: - A Quaker - it may be presumed of a poetical temperament - was said to have given his son the following glowing invitation to resume the active duties of the day - "Arise, John Henry! the sun is gilding the eastern horizon with sapphire and gold." One can imagine a boy taking a purely esthetic view of the case, and jumping right out of bed.

     The prevalence of the order system some forty years ago showed itself in various ways. Not only shoemakers took orders for their work, but professional men also for their services. Pew taxes were paid in orders by those who could not command the cash. As a matter of necessity the minister took his pay in the same currency. An elderly citizen remembers to have seen one of our clergymen, with his little "cart," drawing home his small load of the necessaries of life from the Union Store. This was no uncommon occurrence; and the sentiment of time is shown by the following circumstance, which happened a few years later: - A dignified clergyman called at a store to purchase a small amount of a single article, and requested that it be sent to his house. (A few of the stores had just then begun to deliver the more bulky goods.) This was commented upon wherever it was known as an evidence of aristocratic tendency that would destroy democratic simplicity. One can imagine, by a little stretch of the fancy, some of our professional men drawing a "little cart," or any other cart, through Broad or Market street loaded with groceries. But times change, and men are changed with them. This sage observation, made by some old Roman, is usually put in Latin, but as English is quite common now, most people will understand it readily enough in that less classical tongue.

     As already intimated, the order system was the outgrowth of cruder and more clumsy methods of exchange. It was the time of long credits - the bane of all commercial prosperity, and no less of individual thrift, to be justified only by the sternest necessity. Shoes were sold on six and nine months; and it was sometimes a year before the manufacturer got his returns, Almost all sorts of traders' bills were allowed to run a year; and especially was this the case when their trade was mutual. Accordingly the annual settlement was a great event. This usually took place on New Year's day. The boss carpenter, or the boss painter - there were ,but few such in those days - would have a running account with the grocer and farmer, and there was an excellent chance for a wrangle over disputed charges, as item after item was examined which memory could not recall. Sometimes the larger part of a day was consumed in these annual settlements in ineffectual attempts to adjust differences; and the setting sun would see no prospect of clearing up the difficulties. Then the whole matter, or the part unsettled, would be put off to a future time, or to another New Year's day, when, possibly, a more favorable state of the weather, or a more healthy condition of the liver, or some other favoring circumstances, would improve the chances of a settlement. But if no dispute arose, the accounts would be balanced, the larger debtor paying the difference in cash, or possibly, in an order; and when neither of these methods were practicable, settlement would be made by a note running three or six months. But, whether settled one way or another, a good "swig" of "black-strap" or "New England" was generally taken to smooth off the corners, and put things on a harmonious footing for the time to come.

THE MECHANICS' STORE.

    
     The original proprietors were James Pratt, Daniel Farrington and Amos Mower - Mr. Pratt having then recently withdrawn from the management of the Union Store - and G. W. Mudge was appointed agent. The Mechanics' Store continued under this management for five or six years, and did a large business, Mr. Mudge having, at that early day, acquired a high reputation as a salesman. At the end of this time Mr. Mudge bought out the stock, and was sale proprietor for nine months, at the end of which time he took as partner Isaiah Nichols, and the business was continued under the firm of Mudge & Nichols. This firm kept a large stock, and a great variety of goods, and their business was one of the largest in the town at that time. This store at first stood a few rods westward of the present manufactory of Henry M. Hacker, on Broad street. It was afterwards removed to the corner of Green and Broad streets - the store now occupied by J. W. Carswell.

     The following is the list of shoe manufacturers doing business in Lynn in 1829: -

John D. Attwill,
Nelson R. Attwill,
Jesse L. Attwill,
Nathaniel Alley,
Manuel Austin,
Joseph Alley,
Amos Burrill,
Jonathan Boyce & Son,
Isaac Bassett, Jr., & Son,
Samuel Brimblecomb,
Samuel Bacheller, 3d,
Samuel Bacheller, Jr.,
Thomas Bowler,
Joseph Breed, 3d,
Aaron Bachelder,
Theophilus Burrill,
Joseph B. Breed,
Ebenezer Brown,
John Burrill,
Alanson Burrill,
Daniel Breed,
Charles Chase,
Nathan D. Chase,
Daniel Chase,
Jacob Chase, Jr.,
Samuel Collins,
John B. Chase,
Hugh Davis,
Joseph M. Fuller,
Daniel Farrington,
Abel Houghton,
Theophilus Hallowell,
David Hawkes,
Cyrus Houghton,
Aug. Blaney Ingalls,
Jacob Ingalls,
Williams Ingalls,
Samuel J. Ireson,
Nathaniel Ireson,
George Johnson,
Francis Johnson,
Humphrey S. Johnson,
John Knights, R.
Warren Lindsey,
James Lakeman,
Amos Mower,
E. M. Mansfield,
Nathan Mudge,
Daniel L. Mudge,
Josiah Newhall,
Paul Newhall,
Stephen Oliver,
Rufus Parrott,
William Parrott,
James Pratt,
Micajah C. Pratt,
John Pratt,
Thomas Raddin,
Sewall Raddin,
George W. Raddin,
Christopher Robinson,
Daniel Silsbee,
Samuel Spinney,
David Taylor,
Jonathan Watson.

 

WOODEND FIFTY YEARS AGO.

    
     A half-century ago and the Village House - since, transformed into a dwelling house - stood where it now stands, at the corner of Essex and Fayette streets, the most imposing building on Village Square. The stream of travel flowing from the towns lying at the north and east, and directed to the eastern section of the town, entered Lynn by way of Essex street, to Village Square, where a portion of it, at least, stopped. A good many teams watered their horses at the old pump still standing in the center of the square, unless, what is quite probable, a pump of more modern workmanship fills the same place. The drivers of the teams were not so likely to drink there as the horses were. Water was then regarded, as now, a good drink for a horse. But there was a popular idea at that time that water, pure and simple, was a dangerous drink for man, and so the drivers, having due regard for their health, often stepped into the Village House to find a safer beverage. As the Village House was a tavern, it is not surprising that entertaiment for man and beast could be found there. Entertainment included refreshment, refreshment included all the various kinds of drink, ranging all the way from common and cheap New England rum up to the less common and more expensive brandy, a catalogue embracing anise seed and snake-root cordial, West India rum, gin, and wine of different kinds. West India rum usually meant Jamaica, as from that island we then got our chief supply of that important article of commerce. This was before England abolished slavery in her colonies, when the importation very largely dropped off; the emancipated negroes feeling no special interest in maintaining the commercial renown of Great Britain. But it probably did n't make much difference in the amount of "Jamaica" that could be supplied, as that "brand" could be manufactured from an inferior liquor in quantities to meet any reasonable demand. If this adulteration was well done, an old toper who had "tipped his elbow" a good many times, could n't tell it from the genuine article. But the regular "Jamaica" stood way ahead of all other kinds of rum, even of rum made in the other West India islands. It had a peculiar color, flavor and consistency, that gave it a high repute. As its price was about twice as high as common "New England," it was used on special occasions when it was desirable to emphasize some important event, such as birthdays, weddings, Fourths of July, and whenever one felt rich enough to indulge in the luxury.

     But this matter of Jamaica rum, in particular, or "refreshment," in general, has only an incidental relation to the teams we left standing at the town pump; though the relation of the drivers of the teams to "Jamaica," or some other kind of rum, was a little too close and regular to be considered incidental. Some were bound to Ireson & Ingalls', whose large store on Olive street was visited by customers far and near. This firm did an extensive business, and bought in large quantities, for those times. They supplied many of the smaller stores, especially with flour, meal, and grain. Marvelous to the ears of boys were the stories told of the cargoes of corn and molasses bought by these great dealers. They sold mostly for cash. Men who had been accustomed to take orders pretty much all their lives were astonished when they heard how cheap goods could be bought at Ben. Ireson's. As there were but few cash stores at that time, the small number who received cash for their work, came - some of them a long distance - to avail themselves of the low prices at which many things were sold at the noted store on Olive street. Mr. Ireson was a very hard-working, prudent business man. Like most men of his time, he had few early advantages, but he had a clear head and natural sagacity that served in good stead the lack of school training. A prominent lawyer of our city, whom Mr. Ireson was in the habit of consulting upon business matters, remarked that it was wonderful to observe with what clearness he saw through the complications of a difficult case, and how exactly he could state the points he wished to set forth. He usually had a pleasant word for the boys. He had the peculiarity of indulging in a little quiet humor by calling some of'these boys by a brother's or a father's name; especially if such boys were somewhat particular in maintaining their identity. "Well, John," he would say, as one of these came into the store, perhaps for the fiftieth time, "what's wanted this morning?" "My name ain't John; my brother's name is John." "O yes, so it is; I was thinking your name was John." In the afternoon perhaps John would have occasion to go to the store. " Well, Richard, how's your father today?" "My name ain't Richard; my brother's name is Richard." "O, so it is; I get your names mixed up." The next morning, when another brother entered the store, the same process would be repeated, varied, perhaps, by calling the boy by his father's name. An anecdote is told of his dealing with a couple of boys who, like most boys, liked imported fruit. A large load of goods had just been brought from Boston, and stood in the yard near the store. Several casks of raisins made part of this load, (cask raisins being pretty much the only kind used in those days, except by the very pink of the aristocracy,) and these boys were made acquainted with that - to them - tremendous fact. It was evening, and the shades of night had gathered just enough to reduce the hazard of a raid upon the contents of these casks to a point which the boys were willing to risk. Accordingly they mounted the wagon, and in due time got a look at the inside of these casks. It is not related whether the boys' trowsers (they did n't wear pantaloons in those times) were provided with the indispensable appendages to boys' trowsers - pockets. If so, they were ignored as wholly inadequate to meet the magnitude of the occasion. Tying a string around the bottom of each leg of each pair of trowsers, the boys proceeded to "load up." As boys' trowsers were not then cut "snug to the leg," there was room to stowaway a good deal of foreign fruit. In the mean time Mr. Ireson had been apprised that some unauthorized persons were unloading his wagon. The boys, not knowing that their proceedings had been reported, kept quietly at work. The proprietor went out in a quiet manner to look at them. After fully taking in the situation, he seemed to appreciate the enterprise of the boys, and was, possibly, struck with the ludicrousness of the scene. "Now, boys," said he, "if you've got as many raisins as you want, you start!" The boys did start, not needing a second suggestion; but not with that alacrity that would have been seen if they had been dressed more like a circus rider. They looked like some of the pictures seen in a comic almanac.

     Mr. Ireson accumulated a large fortune, doing business at the same stand, as one of the firm, until the death of his partner in 1848. Mr. Ireson continued in business but a short time after. He died in 1873, aged seventy-four years.

     But there were several other places where the teams that we saw halting at the old town pump might stop. The following shoe manufacturers then did business in Woodend; - John D. Attwill -known as Major - then did business on Orange street, now the northwest end of Fayette street, which then terminated at Village Square; Ebenezer Brown, on North street, now the northwest end of Chestnut street, which then terminated at Essex street, James F. Lewis, also on North street, Nathan Mudge, on Fayette street, Rufus Parrott, on Essex street, William Parrott, on Fayette street. Besides these there were several who manufactured shoes earlier than 1830, and who gave up business about that date - some of them a little earlier and some a little later. Micajah Burrill was one of these. His place of business was on Essex street, in the house now occupied by J. Ruth. Jacob and John Ingalls also did business on Fayette street, now the corner of Parrott and Fayette streets. WIlliam F. Ingalls manufactured shoes on Orange street for several years, till near the time he took charge of the Union Store in 1829. Williams Ingalls manufactured near the corner of Chestnut -then North - street and Franklin Place; and Timothy Alley and Samuel Collins carried on business within a few rods of the same place on opposite sides of Chestnut street. Jesse L Attvvill also did business on Chestnut street. Daniel Silsbee also did business in the building in the rear of the house now owned by James Hill, by the side of the Village House; and Jonathan Watson manufactured in the store at the corner of Essex and Orange streets, opposite the west side of the Village House. Some of these bosses hired workmen from Marblehead, and possibly from other neighboring towns. Some of the teams, after leaving the town pump, would call at some of the bosses' shops on an errand. There were very few express teams in those days; and their lack was, in part, supplied in a miscellaneous way by neighbors or friends who might have occasion to visit any of the several towns lying near their own places of residence. Accordingly one might hear, on entering one of these bosses' shops, a messenger from Marblehead, Salem or Beverly - more especially from Marblehead - salute the boss as follows: Mr. Attwill, Tom Gilley wants a half-dozen pair of bottom-linings; he says you did n't give him enough. He says he 'come' one sole short, too,- a six's." This errand being done, he would, perhaps, go to another shop with a similar errand. "Mr. Parrott, John Crafts wants another ball of thread; he says you did n't give him enough last time he was over." If the boss was a little facetious he might ask the messenger if that thread was strong enough for a kite-string or a "nipper" line, or i'f the workman could n't use some he had "left over." When a workman had more"stock" given out to him than was needed to make the lot of shoes, he was said to have so much "over," and it was thought by many that, by a sort of imprescriptible right, this stock that was "over" belonged to the "jour."

     There seemed to be no intentional dishonesty in this, but a somewhat unaccountable obliquity of moral vision that obscured the distinction between meum and tuum. In illustration of this, the following circumstance is told: A man in a neighboring town - and a very good sort of man, too - kept a "finding" store - that is, he kept shoemakers' tools of various kinds, including, also, shoe thread, and similar commodities. A friend calling in one day, observed that he had a large assortment of shoe thread of different colors, and inquired where he got such a variety. "Oh, I bought it of the boys." "But where did the boys get it ? " "They had it 'over.' "

     There were, also, several grocery stores in Woodend at that time, where all the usual refreshing commodities of a liquid nature were kept. Many had no difficulty in finding these stores on the darkest nights; and there were no street lamps then, either. One of these stores was on Fayette street, next to the Village House, the building already mentioned as occupied at an earlier date by Daniel Silsbee as a shoe factory. The lower story was used for the grocery department, and the basement - or more properly the cellar, as but little of it was above ground, - was devoted to the sale of the several sorts of ardent spirits - as the stronger kinds were then generally called - and those that were not so ardent, such as wine, strong beer, cider, anise seed and snake root cordials. Lager beer was then unknown in this part of the country, and but little known in any part of the country, as the German population was then quite small. The immigration from Germany, which reached such high figures between 1850 and 1860, had then scarcely begun. Ale was then hardly known in this section of the country, though at the present time it would take a boy the whole of a long vacation to count the number of barrels sold in a single year.

     This was during Jackson's second administration. "Old Hickory," as he was called, when he was not familiarly styled "Old Jackson," found some very hearty supporters in these favorite resorts. When warmed up with a little old "Jamaica," or a glass or two of one of the popular brands of "New England," their patriotism rose to the level of any emergency. The President's removal of the deposits; his bank veto; his proclamation against nullification; and all the leading measures of his administration were endorsed in the most emphatic manner, if not in the choicest English. Jackson was very popular in Lynn at that time, as the town included Swampscott, which was democratic almost to a man. This was about the time (1833) that the President visited Lynn, on his tour through the Northern States. It was a great day for Lynn. It was not often that people had a chance to see a live President. Such a thing had happened but once since the days of Washington. Throngs of people assembled around the old Lynn Hotel, so well known in all the region round about. Woodend sent its full share to swell the patriotic gathering. An incident relating to this memorable day occurred which illustrates, not only the juvenile patriotism that was awakened by the event, but also sheds a light upon the domestic side of life. A man in those days, with four or five children to provide for, was not generally able to furnish each with a full suit of "Sunday clothes," as they were usually called; and so a pair of boots, or a jacket, or some other part of a boy's wardrobe, was sometimes made to do miscellaneous duty among those members of the family whose size made such an arrangement practicable. The theory was, that such boots or jacket was made for some one of the family; but this theory was likely to be nullified by any domestic emergency that might arise. Accordingly one would hear -" Come, John, you've got the boots on, go and get a couple of pails of water." This gave rise to the remark that the one who got up first in the morning got the boots. On the occasion referred to, the younger of two brothers of about the same age expected to wear a new jacket, fit to be worn in the presence of king or President. The morning came, and the elder of the two, getting the start, put on the new jacket, and in rather undignified haste, set off to pay his respects to the chief magistrate of the nation. The younger soon discovered his loss, and realized the extent of his disaster. With his tattered jacket in place of the new one, with shiny buttons, which he had hoped to wear, he went bellowing through the streets, making known his loss in the vain hope of retrieving the fortunes of the day. In after times he used to relate this as among the bitterest experiences of his early years.

THE ORDER STORES OF WEST LYNN.

    
      The Union and Mechanics' Stores did the chief part of the order business in the eastern section of the town. In West Lynn some of the order stores began business sixty, or more, years ago. Ezra Hitchings - known as Major,- kept one of the first - if not the first - order stores in West Lynn. Mr. Hitchings began business about the first of the century, in the store where the post office was then kept, near the corner of Boston and North Federal streets, and for a quarter of a century was one of the attractive centers, where news was gathered, politics talked over, and all affairs, whether national or domestic, were discussed. In 1819 Henry A. Breed opened a grocery store nearly opposite the Common station. About three years after, he took, as partner, his brother, Daniel N. Breed. This firm continued until 1829, when their brother, Andrews Breed, was added to the firm. This was an order store through all this period. A few years after, this firm dissolved, and Daniel N. Breed continued the business. Mr. Breed did a very large business, and at this time his was the leading order store in West Lynn. This store was in the west end of the Lynn Hotel. Henry B. Newhall also did a large business at this time, his store ranking second, perhaps, in that section of the town. The firm of Chase & Huse did an extensive business in dry goods more than forty years ago. At an earlier day they kept the usual variety found in a country store, including groceries as well as dry goods. Like most of the stores of that period. it was an order store. Caleb Wiley, whose place of business was in Market Square, and others of less note, kept order stores in that section of the town.

     But while orders were the chief medium of exchange through these years, it must not be supposed that they constituted the sole currency in use. During the period running from 1832 to 1836, inclusive, cash was paid exclusively by many manufacturers. For a few years previously business had been gradually improving. The country was being rapidly settled. Western emigration from New England had begun, and what was called the "Western fever" became very prevalent. Foreign immigration was just beginning to attract attention. But the West of that time was not the West of today. The West of those days was east of the Mississippi. Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois were almost a wilderness, or an unbroken prairie. Cincinnati, afterwards the "queen city of the West," until eclipsed by her great rivals, Chicago ,and St. Louis, was, in 1820, a town of 9600 inhabitants. In 1830 she had nearly three times that number; and in 1840 her population had risen to more than 46,000. Columbus and St. Louis were rapidly growing towns. Chicago, a mere trading post in 1830, "in the midst of Indians," nearly doubled its population every four years.

     In the latter part of 1829, and through the year 1830, money was abundant. William Sumner, in his History of the Currency, quotes an English authority as stating that "specie was then flowing to America from all parts of the world," and states that one of the journals of the day expressed the wish that some gulf might open and swallow up the over-abundance of silver. English investments in American securities began to take place about this time. The great canal enterprises of the country had also begun, and the earliest fruits of steam navigation already attracted public attention. Between the years 1830 and 1840 the great railroad interest, which has since reached such gigantic proportions, started, and sent a new life through all the channels of trade touched by its influence.

     All of these causes operated more or less directly upon the business of Lynn. As early as 1829 the following manufacturers advertised to pay cash: Nathan D. Chase, James Pratt, Samuel Farrington, F. S. & H. Newhall. Mr. Chase paid cash sometime prior to this date. From 1832 till the revulsion came that prostrated the business of the country at the close of 1836, comparatively few orders were given. Business was so driving during these years that bosses delivered the "stock" to the workmen, and came to carry back the shoes when made, bringing the money with them to pay the workmen on the spot; so that it was not unfrequently the case that workmen would not see the inside of their bosses' shops for months together.

     Lynn had never seen such times before. Workmen, who for years had taken orders, now got cash. Some indescribable shoes were made at this period. Anybody could get work. Bosses bid on one another's workmen, and high prices and poor shoes were the order of the day. After the good times had run a spell, speculation began. New streets were opened, and more houses were built in these four or five years ending near the close of 1836 than had been erected since the Revolutionary period. Many of these were built for the workmen. A few of these workmen, by their industry and frugality, and superior smartness, were enabled to lay by a few hundred dollars. There were only a few such. A hundred dollars was a very large sum then, in the eyes of a laboring man, especially, and represented much more than now of many of the necessaries of life. Land especially, was exceedingly cheap; or at least was sold for prices that now look trifling. The most eligible house lots were sold for prices ranging from fifty to one hundred dollars. In 1831 the lot situated at the southerly corner of Union and Exchange streets, containing about a quarter of an acre, and including most of the land lying between Exchange Block and the manufactory of Brown & Brother, was offered for eighty dollars, but found no purchaser. It must not be inferred, however, that this lot of land was, at that time, one of the most eligible in town. Far otherwise. It was the corner of a square, on three sides of which no business establishment then stood, and on the fourth side only a single one, occupied by Jonathan Buffum as a paint shop, and now standing where it then stood, on Union street, near Washington street, and still used - in part - for the same purpose by John P. Russell.

     When a workman got fifty dollars ahead he could easily secure a lot of land. Then the manufacturer would often assist him in getting a house, by advancing money - secured by mortgage generally - to be paid as the earnings of the future enabled the workman to lay by a margin for this purpose. Many houses were built in this way at that time; and the experiences of many in getting a home for themselves and their children would furnish one of the most interesting chapters in our local history. To accomplish this it was often necessary to submit to great deprivation. The expense of maintaining a family - often a large family - took much the larger part of the earnings, and the practice of the most rigid economy left but a small amount to be applied to the payment of the debt, and the accruing interest. This was often the struggle and burden of a lifetime. If sickness came, that increased expenses; or hard times that reduced the wages were experienced, nothing remained to meet the inevitable interest, and the growing debt often ended in foreclosure, and the ultimate loss of the little gained by years of toil. If, on the other hand, things went well, it was generally the work of a whole life to secure a home they could call their own; while, more frequently, they left a mortgage to be transmitted to their children.

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