Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/392

Rh sixty Salemites, among whom were some very pretty young witches, and some very kind friends of mine.

The next morning, rush went we—my clever and agreeable hostess Mrs. S., and myself—from Salem to Boston to see several persons; to be present at a lesson at Mr. Whitacker's drawing-school, and at another at Mr. Barnard's phonographic-school for little girls, who all conducted themselves like so many little miracles; to see Mrs. H., of Belmont near Charleston, yet once more, ah! for the last time. Then back to the O.'s to write notes, see people, arrange meetings, take leave, and a deal more. Then we rushed back again by railway to Salem to dinner and an evening party. Then, one day to write, and comparatively speaking to rest, amid quiet calls, promenades, and conversation about the witch-trials at Salem in the year 1692, during which trials the same species of phenomena were exhibited, as those which appeared among us in Dalecarlia a few years ago. Even in the free State of the Pilgrims a considerable number of innocent persons, especially women, were suspected of witchcraft, imprisoned, tortured, and several of them were put to death.

We are now, thank God, so far removed from such horrible scenes—more, however, by spirit than by time—that we speak of them as we speak of mad-house scenes, and make merry with them, when we are in good humour.

This was done last year in the city of Salem, on the great American day, the 4th of July. They celebrated it by a grand historical, humorous procession, in which also witch-trials, with their dramatis personæ, both witches and judges were introduced, in grotesque, old-fashioned costume.

Among the historical tableaux of the procession was a series also which exhibited the progress made in the means of communication within the last fifty years. First came