Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/385

CHAPTER XXIII BARRINGTON TAVERNS AND STAGE COACHES New England Taverns — Near Meeting-Houses — John Viall's Tavern in Boston — The Green Bush Tavern — Its Patrons — The Bower. Tavern — Store and Inn — Bovven, a Busy Man — His Patrons — His Accounts with Leading Citizens — Patriotic Punch and Toddy — Various Customers and Curious Experiences — Sorrow in Barring- ton Households — Mr. Bowen Sells the Tavern and Removes to Providence — Townsend Inn — Stage Coaches — Newport to Boston — Bristol to Providence — Coaches — Drivers — Mails. TO those unfamiliar with the subject, it would appear probable that a chapter on the history of Barrington taverns would be as brief as the story of snakes in Ireland, — " None since St. Patrick's day." But let us see. Bar- rington was an ordinary country town, on the main highway between Providence and Newport. Before and after the advent of the stage coach, travel passed up and down the country road between the capitals, through Warren and Bristol. Man and beast, wearied by travel, sought rest and refreshment at "The Wayside Inn." The blazing wood-fire and bountiful meal were attractions not to be slighted on frosty days and stormy nights, and the warmth and cheer of the Old New England bar-room, with the fragrance of the best English or West India importations of gin, brandy, and rum, made the tavern of the fathers a place of universal resort, in all seasons and weathers. Here it was that the town news and gossip were retailed to every comer, for the daily newspaper had not then made its appearance. The good men of the town met to discuss town politics in March, crop prospects in June, market produce in September, har- vesting in November, hog and beef killing in December, and neighborhood news, small and great every day in the year. The principal tavern in most of the towns, as in Bar-