27th Nov. [1856]
Laura - Mary & Watty at the table in N.P. Charles in California -- Edward in Europe. Susan in Philadelphia. Laura, Em & Hattie & I returned to Brookline 2nd day of Dec.
Wed. 3d
Stormed all day
Thurs.
L. called on Mrs. B. & Candler, -- and spent the evening here.
Frid.
I sent for Dr. Hedges family -- the Heaths & E. Atkinson, Barnett
Sat.
L. went to Boston with her father, -- took cold. Found 4 bbls.
apples at Prov. station.
Sund.
L. went to church all day & up to Heaths in the eve. used up & cold
Mond. and Tues. morn.
I put down my chambers carpet Mond.
Wed.
Dr. Laura & I went to city to B. theater to hear & see Forest -- in "Macbeth," We came out in the cars -- Hattie & Em. had not slept well.
Wed. morning
L & I went to Whipples -- had our daguerres taken. -- We shopped some --& got home by 3 o'clock.
Thurs. afternoon
Dr. took the Phipps to the station for E. Bridgewater.
Frid.
Mr. & Mrs. Hedge called. I cleaned & put in order in the chambers.
Sat. eve. 2nd Sund. in Dec.
Mr. Phipps arr. to preach for Mr. Hedge, a severe stormy day. Rev'd. not well -- but would go home Mond.
Tues. 16th Dec.
The first of 4 social dancing parties in the Lyceum Hall. Dr. & Mr. Cutler -- Capt. Taylor -- Mr. Grodin, -- S.A. Walker -- managers --. Dr., myself & Watty went had a nice time.
Wed.
Watty sent many things to P. -- sleigh &c. Shortest days
Sund.
Dr. Hedge in the morn. & Mr. Alger in eve.
Mond.
Helped Kate about the washing in the eve. had to dry clothes by the fire.
Tues.
Ironed & began my dress.
Wednes. eve 24th
Dr. C.W. Watty & I went into city to the "Ravels" -- & Faries
Thurs.
Christmas at home
Frid.
Mended clothes -- and knit on my hood, white & red one.
Sat.
Mr. Phipps came for the night and Sund. today Watty took him over to South Boston to preach.
Sund. 28th Dec.
Dr. Hedge prc'd a funeral sermon upon Jesse Bird, who died suddenly -- And in the afternoon Dr. H. preached a farewell sermon to the old year -- of /56 --
Mond.
Washing day and prepared for Mary & Edward Cushing, who came Tues. eve to the social dancing party.
bbls. is an abbreviation for barrels.
Edwin Forrest -- his last name is misspelled by Mary -- was the most prominent American Shakespearean actor of the mid-19th century. He is best known for his feud with the British actor William Macready that led to the infamous Astor Place Riot in New York in 1849 which resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people.
John Adams Whipple (1822-1891) had a photo studio on Washington Street in Boston. According to Wikipedia, he "was the first in the United States to manufacture the chemicals used for daguerreotypes."
His photos of Mary and Laura have not been found at present.
Brookline's Lyceum Hall, built in the 1840s on lower Washington Street, was a center of social and cultural activities in town.
Capt. Isaac Taylor (1817-1882) lived at the corner of Harvard and Pierce Streets, approximately where the public health building is today. He was a builder and owner of clipper ships, including some of the first ships to carry passengers and cargo from the East Coast to California.
The Ravel Troupe was a group of circus performers/entertainers led by four generations of the Ravel family from France. They toured the U.S. many times from the 1830s to the 1860s with Boston, and the Boston Theatre, one of their frequent stops.
The Ravels gave many performances at the Boston Theatre from late December 1856 to early January 1857. Mary attended at least two of the December performances. One of the stars of the act was tightrope dancer Marieta Zanfretta.
Charles Blondin, later famous for crossing Niagra Falls on a tightrope, was also a member of the troupe at one time and appeared with them in Boston though he had apparently left the Ravels by the time Mary saw them.
The "Faries" mentioned by Mary refers to the Fairy Spectacle, one of the tableaux presented at the performances.
