The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-09-30
Gelcltc0.
THE WITCH.


not the less true on that account, that
no advantage is fully priced except by
want of it. Our fair country women,
who are now instructed in every branch
of education, can, with difficulty re-
alize the ignorance of their female an
cestors, with whom to read and write
was considered learning enough to have
made modern blue stocking. 1t must
be confessed that even now, woman
gifted with any uncommon literary
requirements, falls under the displeasure
of the we'll dressed illiterate dandies of
the day; but their jurisdiction is a
harmless one, and seldom extends be-
yond shrug or the opprobrious epithet
OF blue. But this was not the case in
1869. Then, female literature excited
serious suspicion, and was taken under
the cognizance of that memorable and
never-to- -be-forgotten synod of enlight-
ened worthless, who would tain have
condemned all the ugly old women, and
the intelligent you.-g ones, to be hanged
and drowned as witches.
1t was the misfortune of Ann Jones
to be born at this period. She lived at
New Haven, and when a child, discov-
cred remarkable faculty of learning.
She could string rhymes together, as
children of quick and playful imagina-
tion are wont to do. AIMS father died
before her genius had developed itself
beyond any other indication of great
powers than initiating the language of
every animal she heard. This early
habit gave her, no doubt, fexibility Of
organs. In the present diy, young
lady may have the gift of half a dozen
tongues, and more accurate knowledge
Of all than her own, without exciting
wonder; but it must be remembered
that Ann fourished nearly two centuries
ago. Her mother was a good-hearted,
honest, respectable woman and early
discovered that she had brought prod
ICY into the world. This discovery
mothers are daily making now, and
prodigies have so much multiplied that
nobody is surprised to find the youngest
or the oldest child complete wonder.
The mother was constantly relating in
stances of the extraordinary talents of
her child, and, among other things
affirmed, before number of people who
We're afterwards summoned as witnesses
against the girl, that she could say her
letters before she could speak which,
if the woman had not explained her
meaning by stating that she could pick
them out of the alphabet before she
could articulate, was certainly enough
to have hung her for a witch in any
court of justice.
A Dutch family removed from New
Amsterdam to New Haven. Formerly
the people of New Amsterdam had
designated the inhabitants of New Haven
as "squatters," and now the term was
thrown back on the respectable and
ancient family of Won Pofenburghs
who, though they purchased every incl
Of land they occupied, were, most un
justly, by the way of contempt calleC
squatters. Some say that nothin!
serious was meant by this appcllation
and that it was only in dcrison of tn
superabundance of petticoats that wer
worn by Vrow Won Proffenburgh, whicl
when she seated herself, gave her al
appearance to which the above injuriou
term might be applied. They built
low house with slanting roof and gabl
: ends, and though it might show meanl
by the side of our city houses, was the
considered one Of exceeding cost
liness."
1t must be confessed that the good
vrow discovered more pride in dres
than was congenial to the simplicity G
the times. 1t was said that she ncve
walked out with less than ten petticoats
and as confidently asserted she coul
bring ten more to cover them. An
then her jewelry was of the most ex
travagant kind. She wore her pinba
and scissors dangling at her side by
massive chain, and her square buckle
contained more silver than any othe
lady's in the colony. The shortness c
her petticoats excited much indignation
among the New England danes. The
said there would have been some eXcus
had economy been the object, but it wa
evident what was taken from the lengt
was put on the breadth. They there
fore very candidly concluded that tn
DfeVlty was contrlved for the purpose {
showing OF a pair of red stockings wit