The Portland daily press., 1881-06-25

NOW LOfh UOCdiub dt an carly Qay
great center for trade from all parts Of the
world; and this gave, in colonial times, cos
mopolitan tone to the community, in strong
contrast with the other provinces At the pe-
riod OF the Revolution the town rose gradually
from the quays, which had been built at the
southern extremity of the island, and extended
inland for nearly mile, with an average
width OF perhaps half that distance The
streets were paved, except ON the high ground;
were fairly clean, and drained by wide cutters
in the middle of the highway, to which rows of
trees on each side gave pleasant look. Many
years before the Revolution the streets were
lighted and watched, though the uncertain
supply of oil rendered the former benefit for .
long time precsrious one. Almost all the
houses were gabled with high-pitched roofs of
shingles of variegated tiles. surmounted by
balcony-railing, within which the occupants of
the mansion were wont to sit on summer even
iugs and enjoy the view of the harbor. The
interiors We're neat and comfortable, with low
rooms alcoves and window-seats, high VAIN
scots of painted woodwork, and whitewashed
walls. The furniture was solid, usually of
mahogany; no carpets covered the sanded
floors; pewter and copper were generally used,
and china was rare, although every family Of
standing had a certain amount of massive sill
yer. Until the Revolution impended New
York was the only military post on the conti-
nent, and had English troops and officers, who
Udded much to the bastle and variety of the
place. In addition, Also to the community
which had grown up on the soil there was
strong foreign element, and the result was
mixed and polished society, no less hospitable,
and much gayer, than any other in the colo
nies. Some of the inhabitants were the great
proprietors, who came to town for the winter,
and in spring went up the Hudson to their
estates; while others had handsome country
seats on Long Island, renowned for its fine
farms and high cultivation; but the great ma
jority Of the New York population remained
in the pleasant town all the year round. The
middle class rose early, breakfasted at day
light, dined at twelve, and worked hard at
their shops, which. they had the good sense to
close early in order to 90 forth for amusement
and recreation. The wealthy society was very
fashionable in dress aud Manners and devoted
to the last London novelties. The Ia
dies and gentlemen wore silks and vel
vets, powder and wigs, and the latter
carried a sword. Tho rich tradesmen
appeared in broadcloth coat, with spreading
skirts and wide cuffs; the shop-keeper in SIM
pie homespun except on festivals; and the
workmen in leather aprons, which were never
replaced by a long coat. Public amusements
were not deficient. The American theatre be-
gan its career in New York, about the middle
of the eighteenth century, in house in Nassau
street, and from that time had successful ex-
istence and not much opposition until it be-
came thoroughly domestcated. The Dutch
had great liking for holidays, and gradually
induced their unresting English neighbors to
join in keeping them. There were the five
great festivals Christmas, New Years, Passo-
yer, Whitsuntide, and st. Nicholass day. Be-
sides these there were st. Valentines dav,
when the girls went about the streets, striking
the young men with knotted cords; Easter,
May day, with the classic poles, and Pinkster,
whom there was a general exodus to the woods.
The last was day of special liberty for the
negroes who had great picnics, followed by
dancing, which was witnessed by all the people
of the town. In regard to two of the three
great events in each human life, the customs
Of town and country life we're not essentially
different. Marriages were, as rule, very
young, very fruitful, and apparently very hap
py. Before the year 1856 there is said to have
neon only one case of divorce. The wedding
ceremony was not accompanied by much pa
rade, and only the immediate friends were
present; but the following day it was the Gus
tom for the groom to give collation. in the
which was kept up'all day and con-
cluded with good ceal of hard drinking. Tho
OF the customs in relation to mar
riage, however, were more than made up by
the pomp and display attending funerals,
which form striking aud peculiar feature OF
New York provincial life. When a man mar
ried he laid down always some fine Madeira to
be drank at his funeral; and when a death oc-
CURED, special invitations were sent out, the
friends gathered at the house. scarfs and gloves
were distributed, and the mourners sat solemn
ly about tho coffin, drinking and smoking.
After prayer the bier was borne to the grave
a long procession following: and the invited
guests returned to the house, where a gener-
Gus feast was spread. In the country only
men went to the grave; but in New York ladies
went also, and sometimes acted as pall-bearers.
At the funeral of one Lucas Wynagrd, who
died at Albany in 1856, the mourners are said
to have consumed pipe OF wine and vast
quantity of tobacco. They Kept up their rev.
els until morning, broke all the glasses and
oecanJors ana wound up py making a uounro
of their scarfs upon the hearth. A funeral Of
ten cost three or four thousand dollars. The
first wife of the PATRON, Stephen Van Renssa-
laer was buried at a cost of twenty thousand
dollars. Two thousand scarfs were distributed
and all the tenants OF the manor came into
Albany, where they were entertained for three
or four days at the expense of their landlord.
This singular extravaganza was due to the
Dutch, who exhibited a surprising fOndness
for costly parade. Tho religious customs in
the Long Island towns resembled those Of
New England Down to the eighteenth CEN
tury the people We're summoned to church by
the beat of drum, and constables searched the
village, and especially the taverns, for profan-
ers OF the Sabbath and truants from divine
service and punished them with fines and the
lash. The clergy with few exceptions were
zsalous and upright mon; and the pastor al
ways the chief parsonage in the little Dutch
villages. They were generally jolly compan-
ions aud free hvers, and not infrequently
rough in their dealings; but they preached good
morals to their congregations with perfect di-
rectness aud not little personality. One par
ishioner, severely reprimanded in the sermon,
ventured to expostulate in church, and the
pastor replied: "You, Philip, if you can preach
gospel better than l, come up here and try"
In the little church in Albany, with its pyra-
midal belfry, the men sati with their high
crowned hats on out Of respect to the climate.
The deacons went about during the sermon
with a little black bag and bell to take up con-
tributions, but were Obliged to resort to plates,
for the shrewd traders of the congregation.
when their gift could not be seen, contented
themselves with dropping anything that had
chinking sound into the bag. The general
policy under Dut,h rule was one of liberation
to which the unlucky Quakers formed the en-
ly exception. The Quakers, who arrived in
New York in 1867 and preached III the streets,
were at once arrested and driven from the col
ony; and when. at a later time they reappeared
on Long Island, the Dutch imprisoned and
maltreated them, closed their conventicles,
chained them to wheelbarrows, and punished
for adultery persons married in Quaker fash
ion, and had them beaten with tarred ropes;
while the English whipped them through the
streets for sedition. a--
In a similar strain Mr.. Lodge pursues the
history of New York, and the other colonies,
describing, with graphic minuteness, and in an
easy, familiar style, the customs and habits OF
the people, considering mo ascertainable TACT
too 1niinportant for mention, no aspect OF
subject too Insignificant for presentation. In
this, he has finely consulted the taste of the
present period, which has ceased to be exclu-
sively fond of politics and war, and ceased to
value knowledge solely on account OF its rela-
ttons to some preconceived theory, but regards
it as precious for its own sake, aud as tending
to benefit the mind far more than any amount
of deduction from insufficient data. Mr.. Lodge
evinces throughout his interesting volume the
spirit of patient and thorough investigation,
realizing that the full and adequate possession
of the facts in case leads almost infallibly TO
correct inference, while an imperfect acquain-
tancs with them will betray even the ablest in
tellects into absurd and pernicious error. A
volume like this is an excellent antidote for
that haste in reaching conclusions. and that ig-
norance in clinging to them, which, through
all time, has resulted in delusop, bigotry and
contention, sand has proved an immense i'm
pediment to substantial progress.
Iowa.