Mr. Robardet of Connecticut advertised in the winter of 1785, that he would open a class for "instruction in the polite accomplishment of dancing, after the most approved method." "Scholars would be taken from seven to fifty years of age." And this in a Quaker City!
Ambrose Liverpool advertised that he would open a Seminar, where he would teach all the English branches, also Latin and Greek classics; also at convenient times the principles of several musical instruments, and that he had also several dozen strong English beer, which he wished to dispose of. Mrs. Hussey notified the ladies of Hudson that she would be happy to wait upon their commands in millinery, and mantua making after the most approved fashions, regularly received from New York City, at her house on the hill, near the wharf.
Monsieur Hyacinth L'Escure stated that he kept "a choice lot of Essences near the Market House," also that he would furnish cushions to the ladies and queues to the gentlemen, of excellent human hair, for which he would take his pay in wheat, and Indian corn." Monsieur L'Escure had been a drummer under Burgoyne, and was "barber to the corporation," there being no other at this time in the city.
He is described as having a frizzled head, broad low forehead, little black eyes, wide mouth and triangular visage, and was accustomed to walk back and forth before his shop door, humming a tune and snapping his fingers. His dress was in keeping with his person and profession; "a long striped calico gown, a short white apron, tight nankeen small clothes, and ruffled shirt, completed with silk stockings, and yellow slippers."
Hudson's first circus. On August 15, 1786, Mr. Pool advertised "a circus on the green" stating that he was the first American, who ever attempted equestrian feats, and among other wonderful things which he would exhibit, were two horses, which at word of command would "lay down and groan." The price of admission was three shillings, and ladies and gentlemen were "beseeched not to bring any dogs with them to the performances." The first menagerie consisting of "two camels" was advertised for exhibition; they were described as "stupendous animals," "having necks three feet eight inches long, a high bunch like a pedestal on the back, four joints in their legs, and can travel fourteen days without water." The curious were invited to come and see them without fail. Admission one shilling.
I was quite delighted by Hyacinth Lescure when I also came across him while researching my Hudson book. He was said to have the finest and most elegantly turned calves in Hudson of which he was very proud and showed them off with his tight silk stockings. The not too hard to decipher insinuation of the description suggests that even then Hudson had its gay population.
ReplyDeleteByrne Fone
Hyacinth Lescure married and had at least three children. The original from which the above was taken is the following: Monsieur Lescure,—who had been a drummer under Burgoyne, was now barber to the corporation, there being no other knight of the razor in town. With him, as with all other frenchmen, from the sublime to the ridiculous, from the camp to the shop, from the drumsticks to the pole and comb, there was but a single step. With him, drumming and shaving, like the love and war of Lothario, took turns like day and night. He united, indeed, with singular felicity, the characteristics of both professions. He had the air, the gait, the consequence, and the coxcombry of the one, with the familiar loquacity, and the pert but polite demeanor, of the other.
ReplyDeleteI can still see him, in imagination, with his frizzled head, his broad low forehead, his little black eyes, his high cheek bones, wide mouth, and triangular visage, walking backward and forward (as was his wont) before his little shop door, humming a tune and snapping his fingers, with all that careless gaiety, so characteristic of his countrymen. Though low in stature, he was well formed : indeed, a handsomer leg than his own, seldom walked into his shop. His dress was in keeping with his person and his profession. A long broad-striped calico gown, a short white apron, tight nankeen small clothes, ruffled shirt, silk stockings and yellow slippers, completed his outward man. Such was Monsieur Lescure.
- Random recollections of Albany: from 1800 to 1808: with some additional matter By Gorham A. Worth (1850) pp 14-16