New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-28

well be brief. The population of New England at
the period we are considering was about 100000.
The slaves were few in number-about ID 900 alto
gether-and their presence had little influence upon
the constitution of society. The white settlers
not only of race but Of one class. They
drawn from the country gentlemen. small
farmers, and yeomanry Of England; many of them
were wealthy; all at the start were men of property
and good standing; and they came to the New
World for political and religious reasons, not for the
sake of adventure trade. There has never been
in modern times such migration from country
to another. They felt their own superiority,
and pride perhaps of their sue
Their interests were pretty evenly divided
between agriculture and commerce. They discOv-
cred wealth in the fisheries, and earned large
nues in the ocean carrying trade; almost every man
was also mechanic in a small way and the germs
of New-England's manufacturing industry were
found in the little shops which, foreign travellers
remarked, lined the streets Of every village. The
farmer and his made their furniture tools,
and utensils Of the common sort and almost all
the clothing of the family, including the spinning,
weaving and cutting was made by the women.
Simplicity OF dress was due in large measure to
equality of social condition, but it part also of
the general result of struggle for existence so
hard that nothing too trinng to be passed
over, and every opportunity for economy was
turned to the best account Education far
everyone could read, write and cipher; and the
learned professions were in deserved esteem. The
Overshadowing influence of the clergy IN society
and literature and their power in politics are
treated by Mr.. Lodge at considerable length; but
this branch of the subject, including the peculiar
constitution of the Puritan commemorative. the
connection of Church and State, and the austere
features of New-England religion is so familiar
topic that we may leave aside IN this review, and
give the space that remains at disposal to
matters not SO generally known.
"An aristocracy unquestionably existed in New
England from the beginning, always possessing
great power, and fully recognized; but it rested
neither great landed estates system of
prmogeuiture. and flourished III the midst of
society which in theory democratic The
foundations of rank were birth, ancestry ndi-
vidual service to the State, ability, education, and
to some extent wealth." Birth, wealth and social
position were almost necessary qualifications for the
attainment of high Office. In Boston in 1859 the
removal of a certain Mr. Phelps from the commits
SION OF the peace urged because lie was the son
of a brio klayer and not of magistrate. The
ground of objection admitted without question
to be perfectly sufficient and the only effort as to
disprovc the fact" Distinctions of rank had great
Importance in the churches and colleges. Pews
were assigned to members of the congregation
according to the places they nj ia the age they
bear the estates they enjoy" And the distribution of
seats was "A work of great decacy and absorbing
interest In college the students were classified in
the same way, those at the top of The list having
the most influence and the best rooms. Still ex-
cept III Boston and some other towns, the aIstoc-
racy observed the prevailing simplicity of dress and
manner; all worked with their hands whatever
their social or official rank. and the children were
| invariably expected to earn their living. There
were many large and costly houses on which the
rich spent sums of money equivalent in those days
In tar l.l. fNrft
ally of stone brick. but sometimes OF wood the
rooms were large and low, with broad frcpaces
wainscots Of hard wood. often mahogany from the
West Indies, and hangngs of tapestry. The ordinary
dwellings were gambrecd and gabcd frame houses
simple solid and neat, surrounded by orchards and
gardens All bitterly cold in winter for the
open wood tres-the only means of heating them
were of little avail in that climate. Tho fur
niture was plain. strong and sufficient, but rarely
handsome Sun-dias served instead of clCv Is which
were scarce and dear; pewter and wood took the
place of china which kept for state occasions
the table, though plentiful was extremely simple :;
the people were much addicted to n vegetable diet !;
Indian meal with moasses was n staple in every
household; meat aud fruits were abundant: coffee
was not much used. bat tea was extensively drunk
and cider was i'll universal request. Almost every
respectable family had stores of handsome silver
rich suits of velvet and costly stutfs which were
priced rs hcrooms but never put to practical use.
Tho farms were highly cultivated and 10 them the
men Of the family devoted their lives. The women
were busy indoors Tho girls were free not BASH
full, never liccntous; the matrons were virtuous
and prudsh. Women rarely Accomplished
but they often had heavy learning in Latin and
Greek, with taste for theological controyersy
The people III general were shrewd, quick and in
quisitivc; ut bottom kind and hospitable, enough
stiif and reserved with strangers:
Their falling was in pushing too far their natural
acutencss. They were great adopts at bargains and
trade and although they adhered to the letter of
the law with scrupulous fidelity. they were far too
ready to infringe its spirit. Necessity. working on
enterprislng and inventive people, with readiness
and capacity To do any work in life with fair sue
cess. quality which has grown Into national
att ibute they were almost universally frugal
hard-wOrbIng, thrifty, intelligent and honest; but
they were also hard often narrow avcrsc to SPEND
inr money, and not generous either in their con
ccption mode OF life. They had n rigid sense of
duty and of religion, and lurking Inherited dis
trust OF enjoyment, for which they made up in some
ridiculous, and dry caustIc wit mingling with an
odd sort OF humor. which is of n fine and peculiar
sort and which was possible only in n community
where the whole body of the people was at once
shrewd and educated.
Boston, which was then about equal to Philodel
phia in size and considerably larger than Ncw-York
differed from the rest of NewEngland in no essen
tial characteristics, though large commercial
town IL naturally showed moro luxury, elegance
and g0yety. There was much extravaganza in
dress and equpagc. Men wore broadcloh and
velvet, lace ruitles, silk stockings and diamond
hocbuclIles, powdered their hair and carried
swords. Tho women who were pale and faded
early, but were well made and handsome in youth
dressed even more richly, in silks and brocades
with high hcad-drcRses aud ostrich feathers al
though it must be confessed that snch good judges