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An Old Town By The Sea
gone fashion； with handsome staircases； set at an easy angle； and not
standing nearly upright； like those ladders by which one reaches the upper
chambers of a modern house。 The principal rooms are paneled to the
ceiling； and have large open chimney…places； adorned with the quaintest of
Dutch files。 In one of the parlors of the Warner House there is a choice
store of family relicschina； silver…plate； costumes； old clocks； and the
like。 There are some interesting paintings； toonot by Copley this time。
On a broad space each side of the hall windows； at the head of the
staircase； are pictures of two Indians； life size。 They are probably portraits
of some of the numerous chiefs with whom Captain Macphaedris had
dealings； for the captain was engaged in the fur as well as in the iron
business。 Some enormous elk antlers； presented to Macpheadris by his red
friends； are hanging in the lower hall。
By mere chance； thirty or forty years ago； some long…hidden paintings
on the walls of this lower hall were brought to light。 In repairing the front
entry it became necessary to remove the paper； of which four or five layers
had accumulated。 A one place； where several coats had peeled off cleanly；
a horse's hoof was observed by a little girl of the family。 The workman
then began removing the paper carefully； first the legs； then the body of a
horse with a rider were revealed； and the astonished paper…hanger
presently stood before a life…size representation of Governor Phipps on his
charger。 The workman called other persons to his assistance； and the
remaining portions of the wall were speedily stripped； laying bare four or
five hundred square feet covered with sketches in color； landscapes； views
of unknown cities； Biblical scenes； and modern figure…pieces； among
which was a lady at a spinning…wheel。 Until then no person in the land of
the living had had any knowledge of those hidden pictures。 An old dame
of eighty； who had visited at the house intimately ever since her childhood；
all but refused to believe her spectacles （though Supply Ham made
them（1。）） when brought face to face with the frescoes。 （1。 In the early part
of this century； Supply Ham was the leading optician and watchmaker of
Portsmouth。）
The place is rich in bricabrac； but there is nothing more curious that
these incongruous printings； clearly the work of a practiced hand。 Even the
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An Old Town By The Sea
outside of the old edifice is not without its interest for an antiquarian。 The
lightening…rod which protects the Warner House to…day was put up under
Benjamin Franklin's own supervision in 1762such at all events is the
credited traditionand is supposed to be the first rod put up in New
Hampshire。 A lightening…rod 〃personally conducted〃 by Benjamin
Franklin ought to be an attractive object to even the least susceptible
electricity。 The Warner House has another imperative claim on the good…
will of the visitorit is not positively known that George Washington ever
slept there。
The same assertion cannot be made on connection with the old yellow
barracks situated in the southwest corner of Court and Atkinson streets。
Famous old houses seem to have an intuitive perception of the value of
corner lots。 If it is a possible thing； they always set themselves down on
the most desirable spots。 It is beyond a doubt that Washington slept not
only one night； but several nights； under this roof； for this was a celebrated
tavern previous and subsequent to the War of Independence； and
Washington made it his headquarters during his visit to Portsmouth in
1797。 When I was a boy I knew an old ladynot one of the preposterous
old ladies in the newspapers； who have all their faculties unimpaired； but a
real old lady； whose ninety…nine years were beginning to tell on herwho
had known Washington very well。 She was a girl in her teens when he
came to Portsmouth。 The President was the staple of her conversation
during the last ten years of her life； which she passed in the Stavers House；
bedridden； and I think those ten years were in a manner rendered short and
pleasant to the old gentlewoman by the memory of a compliment to her
complexion which Washington probably never paid to it。
The old hotelnow a very unsavory tenement…housewas built by
John Tavers； innkeeper； in 1770； who planted in front of the door a tall
post； from which swung the sign of the Earl of Halifax。 Stavers had
previously kept an inn of the same name on Queen； now State Street。
It is a square three…story building； shabby and dejected； giving no hint
of the really important historical associations that cluster about it。 At the
time of its erection it was no doubt considered a rather grand structure； for
buildings of three stories were rare in Portsmouth。 Even in 1798； of the six
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An Old Town By The Sea
hundred and twenty…six dwelling houses of which the town boasted；
eighty…six were of one story； five hundred and twenty…four were of two
stories； and only sixteen of three stories。 The Stavers inn has the regulation
gambrel roof； but is lacking in those wood ornaments which are usually
seen over the doors and windows of the more prominent houses of that
epoch。 It was； however； the hotel of the period。
That same worn doorstep upon which Mr。 O'Shaughnessy now
stretches himself of a summer afternoon； with a short clay pipe stuck
between his lips； and his hat crushed down on his brows； revolving the sad
vicissitude of thingsthat same doorstep has been pressed by the feet of
generals and marquises and grave dignitaries upon whom depended the
destiny of the Statesofficers in gold lace and scarlet cloth； and high…
heeled belles in patch； powder； and paduasoy。 At this door the Flying
Stage Coach； which crept from Boston； once a week set down i