Part 12 (2/2)

Singularly enough, since the first cla.s.s graduated from Harvard, there has always been a Saltonstall connected with the college. This covers a period of over two hundred and fifty years, and during this time not one of these men has ever done anything to disgrace his Alma Mater.

Pieces of furniture a.s.sociated with all three of these distinguished families are to be found in this house, many of them belonging to the old governor and handed down in direct line to the present owner.

Perhaps the most interesting piece of all is an old desk which was once owned by Daniel Webster, who at one time was a law partner of the late Mr. Gurdon Howe's grandfather. It is filled with valuable papers, almost all bearing upon different business transactions in the great statesman's life.

This was brought from Boston at the time that Mr. Howe removed his law office from that city. One of these doc.u.ments, a note characteristic of Daniel Webster, is still treasured.

”UNITED STATES SENATE, June 3d, ...

”DEAR SIR:

”I arrived here last evening and found all well. One of the latter trials, as it happened, comes on this very day, or is expected to. This may delay me,--otherwise I expect to be at home on Sat.u.r.day. A note enclosed, as this falls due the 9th. Please do the needful.

”D. WEBSTER.”

The house has stood practically unchanged since the day of building, some slight changes having been made, but not enough to mar the colonial architecture. It is large and square, three stories in height, of simple, dignified proportions, and showing colonial details. The windows are the small-paned ones that were used in the long ago, with the exception of one of stained gla.s.s, which has been introduced over the entrance porch. The house is one which reflects the period,--a notable mansion filled with interesting colonial relics which formerly were owned by some of the most prominent men in our country.

CHAPTER XVII

THE DALTON HOUSE

Because of the distinctive place that houses of the middle period hold in the present architectural world, architects from all over the country are now looking for specimens of these dwellings to which they may turn for copy. The master builders of that time knew well their art, and their work is characteristic of us as a nation. Houses of that period, while comparatively similar in type to those of the old world, yet show enough variation to make them interesting, and stand in favorable comparison. There is the large, square house, three stories in height, which came into vogue early in the nineteenth century. Then there is the double-decked house with its roof ornamentations, and the plain house of the purest colonial type, an ill.u.s.tration of the latter being the Dalton house at Newburyport, Ma.s.sachusetts.

This house stands on the princ.i.p.al street in Newburyport, a seaport city, where in the days of commercial prosperity s.h.i.+ps lined the wharves, as they came and went in their traffic with foreign lands.

Those were the days when merchants made and lost fortunes, the days of golden prosperity and of flashes of romance. To these days we turn as a most interesting period of our country's architectural history.

In fancy we see the Newburyport of that day, situated on the banks of the Merrimac River, a breezy old town propped up on a granite base. Its princ.i.p.al street, three miles in length, overlooked the quays, where in the olden days vessels arrived from Russia or Antwerp or perhaps from the West Indies, laden with rich furs, strange wooden shoes, guava jellies, wonderful old shawls, and many other exports that were piled high on the now silent wharves.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE LXX.--The Dalton House, Newburyport, Ma.s.s.]

On this the princ.i.p.al street stands the Dalton house, two and a half stories in height, with gambrel roof and a wide, inviting porch--a mansion that suggests the days when money was piled high in the coffers and when the prosperous men flaunted their wealth, spending it freely, not only in frequent entertainments but in equipages that were the envy of the less fortunate townsmen. There were no more beautiful or expensive carriages than those owned by Tristram Dalton, who succeeded his father, Michael Dalton, in the owners.h.i.+p of the house.

When the mansion was first built, there was a s.p.a.cious estate in keeping with the house instead of the limited grounds that we see to-day. At the rear, just back of the courtyard, were large, well-built stables, in which were sheltered fine horses. Beyond, were gardens and gra.s.s lands, for, when the estate was first planned, it consisted of three acres of land bounded westerly on Greenleafs Lane, southerly on Nathan Hale's land, easterly on Newman's land, and northeast or northerly on the land of James Pierson.

Michael Dalton, who built the house in 1720, was a great-grandson of Philemon Dalton, who came to New England in 1635. Michael was very ambitious, and when quite young he left his father's home to engage in a seafaring life. He made many successful voyages and augmented his wealth to such a degree that he added greatly to the family possessions. Later on he became a prominent merchant, and married in 1733 one Mary Little.

His means continuing to increase, he became interested in agricultural pursuits and bought a country estate at Pipestave Hill at West Newbury.

Just before his death, he deeded his house to his son Tristram Dalton, who became a prominent figure in American history.

Tristram Dalton was graduated from Harvard in 1755. There is still seen in the house a portrait supposed to have been painted at about that time. One of his closest intimates was a cla.s.smate, John Adams, their friends.h.i.+p ending only with death. Young Dalton began studying law in Salem but afterwards entered business with his father; in 1758 he married Ruth Hooper, the daughter of Robert Hooper, a rich merchant of Marblehead, familiarly known as ”King” Hooper on account of his great wealth. Until within the last few years there was a pane of gla.s.s in one of the windows, on which was written with a diamond the name of Ruth Hooper Dalton. It is still preserved and from letters kept is shown to be a perfect facsimile of her handwriting.

During his life, he became devoted to public interests and was a very prominent citizen of the town, the State, and nation. He served on numerous town committees, was a delegate to the Provincial Congress, a representative of the General Court, a Speaker of the House, a member of the State Senate and a delegate to the Const.i.tutional Convention of 1788, being a zealous advocate of the adoption of the Const.i.tution. He was ever active and energetic in his many efforts to reconcile political differences. So successful was his political life that after a long and sharply contested battle he was elected senator from 1789-1791.

He came of Irish descent and was considered one of the most learned, wealthy, and influential persons in the country. He was a near and confidential friend of President Was.h.i.+ngton, who induced him to remove his household goods to the city of Was.h.i.+ngton, foreseeing that it would eventually become one of the grandest cities in the country. There is a portrait of Dalton painted by Blackburn, that is still kept in the house, which shows him tall and well-formed, with fine, clear complexion and smooth, open brow. His dress was after the fas.h.i.+on of the time, with short clothes and knee breeches, coat with standing collar and broad deep lapels faced with silk, white satin waistcoat, ruffled s.h.i.+rt bosom, and deep lace cuffs. That he was fond of dress is shown from the picture, his hair was puffed on either side, giving him an appearance of dignity and age, and making it difficult to believe that the portrait is of one so young. He was a fine specimen of a gentleman of the old school and was well fitted to take a leading part in the best New England societies. The distinguis.h.i.+ng traits of his personality continued all through his life, for even as late as 1816 we read of him as erect, firm, and showing a fine presence. He was a man of emotions rather than of ideas, the warmth and sincerity of his feelings lifting him above all personal considerations and giving him that elevation and n.o.bility of character that appeals so strongly to one's affections.

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