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By Frank R. Stockton
Originally published in 1896
But in every community there is at least one person
in whose mind there is a little streak of the
Ananias nature, and there was a man of that kind
in Greenwich. His name was Stacks, and he was a
great lover of tea; moreover, he had a soul disposed
to economy and thrift. Consequently it was very
hard for him to stand by and see all that tea wasted;
and he thought it would be no harm – as he was
not a merchant, and did not intend to exercise evil
influences upon the people of America by inducing
them to buy tea – if he appropriated to himself a
little of this most desirable herb, which was to be
burned and wasted before his very eyes.
Whenever he had a chance, he slipped a little tea
into some part of his clothes where he thought it
would not be noticed, and so gradually loaded himself
with a considerable stock of the herb. In fact, he
stowed away so many handfuls of it, that, when the
fire was over, his companions noticed that he had considerably
increased in size; and it was not long before
his trick was discovered. We do not hear that he
was compelled to empty out the tea, but we are told
that ever after he went by the name of "Tea Stacks."
This tea bonfire created a great stir, and although
the patriotic party approved it, there were a great
many Tories in the country who
condemned it as a piece of
outrageous violence and wanton
waste. This latter opinion was
so freely expressed that the
English owners of the cargo
were encouraged to take legal
steps against the men who destroyed
the tea. It was easy
enough to do this ; for the young
fellows who had made the bonfire
were very proud of what
they had done, and, instead of
denying their connection with the
burning of the tea, were always
very ready to boast of it.
When it was understood that
the tea burners were to be prosecuted,
all the Whigs of the surrounding
country determined to stand by them; and
they subscribed a large sum of money
to engage lawyers to defend their case.
The strength of the popular feeling
was shown by the fact, that, when the
case was brought to court, the grand
jury positively refused to bring a bill
against these young men, although the judge insisted
that they should do so. The matter was thus postponed;
and as it was not long before the Colonies
broke out into open rebellion, and a period followed
when Englishmen no longer brought suits in American
courts, there was no further action in regard to the
tea burning at Greenwich.
Therefore, unless Mr. Stacks contrived to keep some
of the tea which he carried off in his clothes, the
good people of the neighborhood, if they drank tea
at all, made it of the dried leaves of raspberries, or
those of some other bush, which have something of
a tea taste, and were thus enabled to have a hot
beverage with their evening meal, with but a little
strain upon their imaginations, and none at all on their
consciences.
In other neighborhoods, however, there were people
who, although they were patriots and inclined to support
the cause of American liberty, could not see how
such a little thing as drinking a cup of tea, if they
happened to have it, could interfere with their regard
and respect for the great principle of justice and
independence.
Of course, it was to be supposed that the Tories,
who were opposed to this nonsense about independence,
were glad to buy tea and to drink it whenever
they got the chance; but it was expected that those
who called themselves Whigs and patriots would
stand by their party, and discountenance tea drinking.
There is a story told of a man who lived in Bridgetown,
who was a member of one of the Committees
of Safety which were formed for the purpose of
promoting the cause of American liberty. It was
found out that this man and his family were in the
habit of drinking East India tea; and when his fellow-committeemen asked him in regard to this matter, he
boldly admitted that they all liked tea, that they drank
tea, and that they intended to drink tea.
This was a very serious matter, and the committee
saw that it was necessary to take vigorous measures
in regard to this peculiar case. At first they tried
the force of argument; but all they could say to the
man amounted to nothing. He had principles, and
what he considered very good principles; but he liked
tea, and, having it in the house, he saw no harm in
drinking it. So the teapot was on his table every day.
Now, his fellow-committeemen held another meeting,
and formally resolved that this unpatriotic patriot
should be punished in a way which would make a
powerful impression on him, and which would show
the whole community how the Committee of Safety
intended to stand firm in the position they had taken
in resisting unjust legislation. It was resolved, that,
so long as he and his family drank tea, the patriots
of the neighborhood would have nothing to do with
him, they would not deal with him, nor would they
associate with him or his. This was an early instance
in America of what is known now as "boycotting."
It was a very hard thing to be shut out from all
dealing and connection with his friends and fellow-citizens, and it was not long before the tea drinker
made up his mind that the society and friendship of
his neighbors was better even than the highest flavored
cup of tea; and so he formally acknowledged his error,
begged the pardon of the committee, and promised that
thereafter he would act in accordance with their rules
and regulations; and his family teapot was put away
upon a high top shelf.
But the time came, in a very few years, when the
American people attended to their own taxation, and
when this teapot, with all the others in the country,
could be taken down and freely used without interference with law or conscience
Authorities:
This Web version, edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003
"History of New Jersey." I. Mulford.
"History of New Jersey." J. C. Raum.
"Historical Collections." Barber and Howe.
"Story of an Old Farm." A. D. Mellick.
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