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was virtually an unknown quantityonly fifty…six miles by brutal
geographical measurement； but thousands of miles distant in effect。 In
those days； in order to reach Boston you were obliged to take a great
yellow； clumsy stage…coach； resembling a three…story mud…turtleif
zoologist will； for the sake of the simile； tolerate so daring an invention；
you were obliged to take it very early in the morning； you dined at noon at
Ipswich； and clattered into the great city with the golden dome just as the
twilight was falling； provided always the coach had not shed a wheel by
the roadside or one of the leaders had not gone lame。 To many worthy and
well…to…do persons in Portsmouth； this journey was an event which
occurred only twice or thrice during life。 To the typical individual with
whom I am for the moment dealing； it never occurred at all。 The town was
his entire world； he was a parochial as a Parisian； Market Street was his
Boulevard des Italiens； and the North End his Bois de Boulogne。
Of course there were varieties of local characters without his
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limitations； venerable merchants retired from the East India trade； elderly
gentlewomen； with family jewels and personal peculiarities； one or two
scholarly recluses in by…gone cut of coat； haunting the Athenaeum
reading…room； ex…sea captains； with rings on their fingers； like Simon
Danz's visitors in Longfellow's poemmen who had played busy parts in
the bustling world； and had drifted back to Old Strawberry Bank in the
tranquil sunset of their careers。 I may say； in passing； that these ancient
mariners； after battling with terrific hurricanes and typhoons on every
known sea； not infrequently drowned themselves in pleasant weather in
small sail…boats on the Piscataqua River。 Old sea…dogs who had
commanded ships of four or five hundred tons had naturally slight respect
for the potentialities of sail…boats twelve feet long。 But there was to be no
further increase of these odd sticksif I may call them so； in no irreverent
moodafter those innocent…looking parallel bars indissolubly linked
Portsmouth with the capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts。 All
the conditions were to be changed； the old angles to be pared off； new
horizons to be regarded。 The individual； as an eccentric individual； was to
undergo great modifications。 If he were not to become extincta thing
little likelyhe was at least to lose his prominence。
However； as I said； local character； in the sense in which the term is
here used； was not instantly killed； it died a lingering death； and passed
away so peacefully and silently as not to attract general； or perhaps any；
notice。 This period of gradual dissolution fell during my boyhood。 The last
of the cocked hats had gone out； and the railway had come in； long before
my time； but certain bits of color； certain half obsolete customs and scraps
of the past； were still left over。 I was not too late； for example； to catch the
last town crierone Nicholas Newman； whom I used to contemplate with
awe； and now recall with a sort of affection。
Nicholas NewmanNicholas was a sobriquet； his real name being
Edwardwas a most estimable person； very short； cross…eyed； somewhat
bow…legged； and with a bell out of all proportion to his stature。 I have
never since seen a bell of that size disconnected with a church steeple。 The
only thing about him that matched the instrument of his office was his
voice。 His 〃Hear All！〃 still deafens memory's ear。 I remember that he had a
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queer way of sidling up to one； as if nature in shaping him had originally
intended a crab； but thought better of it； and made a town…crier。 Of the
crustacean intention only a moist thumb remained； which served Mr。
Newman in good stead in the delivery of the Boston evening papers； for he
was incidentally newsdealer。 His authentic duties were to cry auctions；
funerals； mislaid children； traveling theatricals； public meetings； and
articles lost or found。 He was especially strong in announcing the loss of
reticules； usually the property of elderly maiden ladies。 The unction with
which he detailed the several contents； when fully confided to him； would
have seemed satirical in another person； but on his part was pure
conscientiousness。 He would not let so much as a thimble； or a piece of
wax； or a portable tooth； or any amiable vanity in the way of tonsorial
device； escape him。 I have heard Mr。 Newman spoken of as 〃that horrid
man。〃 He was a picturesque figure。
Possibly it is because of his bell that I connect the town crier with
those dolorous sounds which I used to hear rolling out of the steeple of the
Old North every night at nine o'clockthe vocal remains of the colonial
curfew。 Nicholas Newman has passed on； perhaps crying his losses
elsewhere； but this nightly tolling is still a custom。 I can more
satisfactorily explain why I associate with it a vastly different personality；
that of Sol Holmes； the barber； for every night at nine o'clock his little
shop on Congress Street was in full blast。 Many a time at that hour I have
flattened my nose on his window…glass。 It was a gay little shop （he called
it 〃an Emporium〃）； as barber shops generally are； decorated with circus
bills； tinted prints； and gaudy fly…catchers of tissue and gold paper。 Sol
Holmeswhose antecedents to us boys were wrapped in thrilling mystery；
we imagined him to have been a prince in his native landwas a colored
man； not too dark 〃for human nature's daily food；〃 and enjoyed marked
distinction as one of the few exotics in town。 At this juncture the foreign
element was at its minimum； every official； from selectman down to the
Dogberry of the watch； bore a name that had been familiar to the town for
a hundred years or so。 The situation is greatly changed。 I expect to live to
see a Chinese policeman； with a sandal…wood club and a rice…paper pocket
handkerchief； patrolling Congress Street。
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Holmes was a handsome man； six feet or more in height； and as
straight as a pine。 He possessed his race's sweet temper； simplicity； and
vanity。 His martial bearing was a positive factor in the effectiveness of the
Portsmouth Greys； whenever those bloodless warriors paraded。 As he
brought up the rear of the last platoon； with his infantry cap stuck jauntily
on the left side of his head and a bright silver cup slung on a belt at his hip；
he seemed to youthful eyes one of the most imposing things in the display。
To himself he was pretty much 〃all the company。〃 He used to say； with a
drollness which did not strike me until years afterwards； 〃Boys； I and
Cap'n Towle is goin' to trot out 'the Greys' to…morroh。〃 Though strictly
honest in all business dealings； his tropical imagination； whenever he
strayed into the fenceless fields of autobiography； left much to be desired
in the way of accuracy。 Compared with Sol Holmes on such occasions；
Ananias was a person of morbid integrity。 Sol Holmes's tragic end was in
singular contrast with his sunny temperament。 One night； long ago； he
threw himself from the deck of a Sound steamer； somewhere between
Stonington and New York。 What led or drove him to the act never
transpired。
There are few men who were boys in Portsmouth at the period of
which I write but will remember Wibird Penhallow and his sky…blue
wheelbarrow。 I find it difficult to describe him other than vaguely； possibly
because W