The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-09-01
From the National Era.
The Great GPswtsh Rrighs.
BIT JOHN @. WHITTIER.

Lilies tragedy ard comedy are never far
apart. The ludierous and the sublime-.
the grotesque and the pathetie-ioale each
other on the stage, the Jester. with his cap
and bells, struts alongside Of the hero; the
Lord Mayors pageant loses itself in the
mob around Punch and Judy; the pomp and
circumstance Of war becoming mirth-pro.
voking in militia muster, and the majesty
Of the law ridiculous in the mock dignity Of
Justices court. The laughing philoso-
Pher Of old looked on one side OF life, and
his weeping contemporary on the other; but
he who has an eye 10 both must often ex.
perlence that conuariety Of feeling which
Sterne compares 10 "the contest in the mois.
eyelids Of an April morning. whether to
laugh or cry" a s----.as i--,~..a-u
The Circumstance We are about to relate
may serve as an illustration Of the way in
which the wool Of comedy intsrweavss
with the warp Of tragedy. 1t occurred in
the early stages Of the American Resolu.
ZION, and is part and parcel of its history
in the northeastern section of Massachu.
sets. ..t-l- t... ..-. ,..,t. ........
About midway between Salem and the
ancient town of NewburyPort, the traveller
on the Eastern Railroad sees on the right,
between him and the sea, tall church.
spire, rising above a semi-circle Of brown
roots and venerable elms, to which long
scolloping range Of hills, sweeping OF 10
the seaside, forms green back ground
This is Ipswich--the ancient Agawam---
one Of those steady, conservative villages OF
which few are still left in New England,
wherein contemporary Of Cotton Mather
and Gov. Endicott. were he permitted TO
revisit the scenes Of his painful -psobation,
would scarcely feel himself stranger
Law and Gospel embodied in an orthodox
steeple, and a courthouse, occupy the steep
rocky eminenee in its midst below runs
the small river and it's picturesque stone
bridge; and beyond is the famous Female
Seminary, where ADdover theological stu
dents are wont to take unto themselves
wives Of the daughters of the Puritans. An
air Of comfort and quiet broods over the
whole town. Yellow mos clines 10 the
seaward sides Of the roofs ones eyes are
not endangered by the intense glare of the
painted shingles and clapboards. The
smoke Of hospitable kitchens curls up
through the overshadowing elms from huge.
throated chimneys. whose hearth stones have
been worn by the feet Of many generations.
The tavern was once renowned throughout
New England, and il is still a creditable
hostelry. During court time it is crowded
with jocose lawyers, anxious clients, sleepy
Jurors, and miscellaneous hangers-on-dis-
interested gentlemen, who have no particu-
lar business Of their own in court but who
regularly attend its sessions, weighing evil
dence, deciding upon the merits oil, a law.
yer's plea or a judges charse-gettipg up
extempore trials upon the piazza or in the
bar.room Of cases sill involved in the glo-
rious uncertainty of the law in the court
house, profsring gratuitous legal advice To
irrascible plaintiffs and dssponding defend
ants. and, ia various other ways, seeing that
the Commonwealth receives no detriment.
In the autumn old sportsmenu maks the
tavern their headquarters while securing
the marshes for sea-birds and slim young
gentlemen from the city return thither with
empty game-baga, a guiltlsss in respect to
the snipes and wagtails % Wrinkle was in
matter Of the rocks, siter his Qshooting ex.
cursion at Dingle Dell. Twice--nay,
three times a year since third parties have
been in Fashionable delegates Of the polit-
ical churches assemble in Ipswich to pass
patriotic resolutions, and designate the can.
dida,es whom the good people OF Essex
county. with implicit faith in the wisdom Of
the selection, are expected 70 vote for. For
the rest, there are pleasant walks and drives
around the picturesque village; the people
are noted for their hospitality; in summer,
the sea.wind blows cool over in healthy
hills; and, take il foe all In all, thsre il not
better preserved or pleasanter specimen
of a Puritan town remaining 10 tho sncisnt
J Commonwealth. s.. s.. : -