The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-01-26
VOL. IX.-NO &c.

under the tyranny Of princes and prelatcs.
Morals and manners were subjected to a
code resembling iba, of the synagogue " ttn
the synagogue was in its worst state. The
dress, the department, the language. the stu.
dies, the ADJUSTMENTS Of the rigid sect were
regulated on principles resembling those of
the Pharisces, who, proud of their washed
] ands and broad ply lotteries, taunttd the
Redeemcr as Sabbath bre aker and a ~ inc.
hbber. 1t was sin TO hang garlands or n
Maypo'c, 10 drink friends health. 70 fy a
hawk, to hunt stag, TO play at chess, 10
wear iovelochS, TO put starch into n ruff, 10
touch the vircinals, 10 re al the Fpiry Queen.
Rules snoh asthese, rules hich would have
appeared insupportabl- 10 the free and Joy.
Gus spirit cf Luther, aud contemplate tothe
serene and philosophical intrlls Ct OF Nv ingle,
threw over all life more than monastic
gloom. The learning and cloquence by
which the great rriormcrs had been sTi-
ently distinguished. and TO " ich they had
been in no small measure indebted for their
success, were regarded by the new school
al Proiestanis with suspicion, il not with
aversion. Some precisians had scrup'es
about teaching the Latin grammar, because
the names Of Mars. Bacdlus, and A polio oc-
scribed. The solemn peal Of the organ was
,upcr.ii'ious. The light music Of Bon Jon.
sons Mosques was di>sclute. Hall the fine
paintings in England were idola,rous, md
the other hall Indecent. The extreme Pu.
,i'an was AZ once known from other men
by his gait, his rarb, his lank hair. the sour
unity Of lis face, the upturneh white cf
his eyes, The nasal iwarp with which he
smoke. and above } ], ~ his pscnliard dialect.
lie employed. or every OCt ssicp, the inRpe-
~ aud style ii scripture. IItbraIsms, VIC.
'tn'!y in'rc'uted into The English language,
and metaphors borrowed h'm tie btldtst
lyr" poetry 81 remote age ard country
and applied Ia the common cuuc,tis a En-
aIlsll HE. were the most striking reculiRri-
ties 81 this cant. whith ir,vr. not without
oans", the dcrision both oCrrcla,sts md IL
teitincs
Tie Puri'ans, IL the day If their rover,
! had undoubtedly given cruel Iro,ora,.n.
They ouchtto have learned, if f., M nothing
else. yet from their own disccn,,iis. from
their own struggles. from their CIV n victory,
from the fall "lihat proud hierachy by " ich
/ they bad been so heavily oppressed, that, in
| England, and il the seventeenth century, il
was moi in the power of the civil magistrate
to drili the minds Of men into conformity
with his own system Of theology. They pro-
we'd, however. as intoleIant and as mCGdiing
as ever Land Lad been, They interdicted
under heavy penalties the use Of the
Book Of Common Prayer, not only il church
es, but even in private houses |; was a
crime in child TO read by The bedside of a
sick parent one oi those drcanliful collects
which had soothcd the criefs oiforty genera
tons Of Christians. Severe punishmtnts
were denounced against such as should PEE
sumo 10 blame the Calv mode of or
ship. CIcrgymcn "G respectable character
were not only elected fem their brn.fces
by thousands, but were frequently exposed
toihe oi,raecs ii a iahatical rabble. Church.
rs and s'pnlChIes, fine works Of ant and Gu
rio"S remains Of antiquity, were brutally
deiactd. The parliament resolved that all
pictures in the royal collection which con-
ialncd representations Of Jesus or OF the Vir-
gin Mother should be burned. Sculpture
Jared as i'll as painting Nymphs and Gra-
oes, the work Of Icnian chisels, were deliv-
cred over 10 Puritan stone. mast rs to To
made decent. Against the lighter vices the
ruling faction nsged war with a zeal little
tempered by humanity or by common sense.
Sharp laws were la>sed against betting. 1t
was enacted that adultery should be pun,sli-
ed with death. The illicit intercourse tie
'cNes, even where neither violence nor Sc
! tnc'ion was imputed, where no public scan
dial was given, where no conjngal right as
violated, was made misdem amor. Public
| amm>'mrniS, from the masks which were
exhibited nj the mansions Of the gr, at down
TO the wrestling matches and griuning
matches on village greens, were vigorously
| attacked. One ordinance dire cted that all
the Maypoles in England should forthwith
be hewndown. Another proscsibed all the
airical diversion. herlayho were to
be dlsmantlrd, the spectators fined, the act.
ors whipped at the carts tail. Rope
Ipurpetsh"ws. bowls, horseracins, were re-
gaid'd with no friendly eye. But bear
batting, ihrna iavorie diversion Of high and
ow,WaSihe abomina,ion which most strong
~ stirred the wrath Of the au>tere sectaries.
II is to he remarked that their sntipathy to
This sport had nothing in common with the
feeling which has, III our Ow u time, induced
the legislature to interfere for the purpose If
projecting beast. against the wAnton cruelty
Of men. The Puritan hated bearbaiiinc,
not bccauS II gave pain TO the bear, but be-
cause IL gave pleasiIe 10 The spectators. III.
deed, he generally contrivtd 10 enjoy the
double pleasure of!ormeh,ine both sIecla-
OrS aud bear.
Perhaps nv single Circumstance moro
strongly illustrates the temper Of the piecis.
ans than their conduct respecting Chfi.tiEas
LAY. Christmas had been, from time i'm.
memorial, the Sc ason Of joy and domestic
affection, the season when families essen.
hlrd, when children cam. home from school,
when qnau'l> were made up. when carols
were heard IN every street, when every
house was decorated with tvtrgIstns. ard
every table was headed Nith good cheer. AT
that season all hearts, not utter y dest,tete
of kindness, were enlarged ana soittrtd.
Aitha, season the poor we've admitted 90
parake largely If the o,eTEowincs Of tie
wealth Of the r,ch, whose bounty WAS Iscu.
harly acceptable on account If IL, shuiiness
ofthr days aud oi the severity of tie wta.
thcr. At that .sasrn, the in,I,al betw Gu
landlord and tenant. master md servant,
VAS less marked than through the r,.tof tie
wear. Where there is much snjc,neht
there Wholesome excess; yetonlhc Whole,
the spirit in which the holiday was keltwa
no, unworthy Of II Christian festival. The