The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-09-21

Of those days. This was the first yes-
sci built on this continent by Euro.
peans, This settlement, which was
called "New Amsterdam" was the
foundation OF what is now the great
city Of New York; and ten years after
that, the whole Of Manhattan Island
was bought from the Indians for
twenty.foar pounds sterling.
Settlers OF first came slowly TO New
Amsterdam; but the Dutch established
several trading-posts, OF different
points, where they might buy the skins
Of beavers, bears and offers, which the
Indians had trapped or shot. AT first
only poor immigrants came, but after
awhile certain richer and more inhuen.
tial men were sent out with special
privileges from the Dutch East India
Company. Each OF these had authority
10 found q colony Of ffty persons, and
to own o tract Of land sixteen miles in
length, bordering on any stream whose
shores were not yet occupied, and run
ming as far back as he pleased into the
interior. He was required to pay the
Indiana for their land, and TO establish
his colony within four years. he could
exercise authority on his own manor"
as IL was called, without regard to the
colonial government, Buthe could not
engage in the wooden or cotton manu-.
iacture, because that was monopoly
Of the Dutch East India Company and
this company also agreed TO supply the
manors with negro slaves, whom they
imported from Guinea. These great
proprietors were called "Patroons."
This was i very different system from
the simple way IN which New England
had been colonized, ,3where all men were
equal before the law, and each man had
voice in the government. The Dutch
and English settlers did not agree very
well, especially when both nations had
begun 10 explore the Connecticut val.
Icy, and both wished to secure posses
sion OF 1t. The Englishmen thought
that the Dutchmenihad no business on
the continent at all, and that they GER
tainly had no claim 10 the Connecticut
valley. On the other hand, the Dutch
men said that they had assembled the
Connecticut river FIRST, and that their
eastern boundary was the cape now
called Cape Cod. Then the English.
men charged the Dutchmen with ex-
citing the Indians against them and
on the other hand, the Dutehmen said
the English settless were apt to get the
better Of them in making bargains. So
the colony Of New Netherlands got into
more and more trouble with these ac-
tive and sharp.witted neighbors and,
besides that, the Indians were very
troublesome; and there was also a
standing quarrel with the Swedish set
tiers in Delaware; so that, on the
whole, the Dutchmen had not so peace
iul time as they might have desired.
II we could have visited Puritan
village in Massachusetts,, during those
early days, and then could have sailed
in q trading vessel to New Amsterdam,
We should have found ourselves in quite
different community from that we had
left behind. The very look of the
houses and streets would have seemed
strange. To be sure, the very first set.
tiers In both colonies had to build their
cabins somewhat alike with walls OF
earth or logs, and thatched roofs, and
chimneys made Of small sticks Of wood,
set crosswise and smeared with clay.
But when they began to build more
permanent houses, the difference was
very plain. The houses in New Am
sterdam were Of wood, with gable.ends
built Of small black and yellow bricks,
brought over from Holland. Each
house had many doors and windows
and the date when II was built was
often marked in iron letters on the
front. The roof usually bore wealth.
er.cock, and sometimes many. Within,
the floors were covered with white sand,
on which many neat figures were traced
with q broom. The houses were kept
very clean, inside and out as clean as
they still are in Holland, where you
may sec the neat houlekeepers scrub.
bing their doorsteps, even when the
rain is pouring down upon their heads.
The furniture In these houses was plain
and solid; heavy claw.footed chairs,
polished mahogany tables, and cup.
boards full OF old silver and china.
Clocks and watches were rare, and time
was told by hour-glasses and sun.dials.
They had great open freplaces, set
round with figured tiles OF different
colors and patterns, commonly repre-
senting Scriptural subjects, the Ark,
the Prodigal Son, and the Children OF
Israel passing the Red Sea. In the
evening they burned pine.knots for
lights, or homemade tallow candles.
Every house had two or moro spinning
wheels; and huge oaken chest held
the household linen, all Of which had
been spun upon these wheels by the
women Of the family.
Many Of the citizens had also coun.
try-houses, called boweries," with
porches or " stoeps," on which the men
could sit and smoke their pipes. For
the Dutch colonists did not work so
hard as those in New England; T; they
moved about more slowly, and took
more leisure, and amused themselves
more, in o quiet way. They were not
gay and light:hearted and fond OF
dancing, like the French settlers in
Canada; but they liked plenty OF good
eating and drinking, and telling stories,
and hearty laughter, and playing at
''bowls" on smooth grass plot. II
was the Dutch who introduced various
festivals that have been preserved ever
since in America such as "Santa
Claus" or "St Nicholas, at Christ.
mas time, colored eggs at Easter, and
the practice OF New Years evening.
They kept very early hours, dining
at eleven or twelve, and often going 10
bed OF sunset. Yet an early Swedish
traveller describes them as sitting on
lhn itstnnnan l,Afnra thair hntann 81,