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Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864

"Passages from the American Notebooks, Volume 1"

Endicott, Pyncheon, and others, in
scarlet robes, bands, etc. Half a dozen or more family portraits of the
Olivers, some in plain dresses brown, crimson, or claret; others with
gorgeous gold-embroidered waistcoats, descending almost to the knees, so
as to form the most conspicuous article of dress. Ladies, with lace
ruffles, the painting of which, in one of the pictures, cost five
guineas. Peter Oliver, who was crazy, used to fight with these family
pictures in the old Mansion House; and the face and breast of one lady
bear cuts and stabs inflicted by him. Miniatures in oil, with the paint
peeling off, of stern, old, yellow faces. Oliver Cromwell, apparently an
old picture, half length, or one third, in an oval frame, probably
painted for some New England partisan. Some pictures that had been
partly obliterated by scrubbing with sand. The dresses, embroidery,
laces of the Oliver family are generally better done than the faces.
Governor Leverett's gloves,--the glove part of coarse leather, but round
the wrist a deep, three or four inch border of spangles and silver
embroidery.


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