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

working for the benefit of the whole establishment,
the lives Of Vlrginian women were passed. They
were notable hOusekeepers, and good wives and
mothers. They were both vrtuOus and agreeable,
and intrgues and love affairs never to have
been In vogue. We hear of slave mistresses, but
never OF the gallantries then in fashion in Europe.
Virginia Is chosen the subject of the first
chapters of the book because that colony was the
first settled but it is also entitled to take the lead
as the best representative of the Southern group.
In all the rest of them find the Virginian type of
manners and society, modified more less by
various circumstances, but with some of the most
Objectionable characteristics of the slavehodng
aristocracy intensified. Pennsylvania, with which
Delaware for the purpose of this review may be iu-
cuded exhibits very different mode of life
"The Pennsylvanians were essentially shopkeepers
and traders prosperous and contented, with loose
social system and heterogeneous population.
Their politics and their character were conserva-
tive and at times timid; and when independence
was at stake they were weight upon the action
of Virginia and Massachusetts,, who dragged them
forward irresistibly the inevitable path" The
province of NewYork at the time of the Rev oution
had 10000 inhabitants, including 10000 negroes
Most of the whites of Dutch descent but
| the English, with constantly strengthening
minority, the dominant race. The col
Ony suffered even than its neighbors from bad
government and oppressive taxation, but on the
whole it prosperous. Agriculture and trade
were both followed with success, the commercial
interest taking the lead. The professions of law
and medicine were in bad repute, but the clergy
were men of n much higher stamp than those Of
the Virginia establishment, and although education
was at a very low ebb there was not much paupcr
| ism crime. Most of the people belonged to the
middle class of farmers and traders but there
a well-defned aristocracy based upon great landed
estates with prerogatives unk 1own in any other
American colony. This upper class was composed
almost entirely of followers of the system OF the
actual descendants of the great Dutch proprietOrs
| who had received when the colony was founded
| land grants of almost unlimited extent from the
| West India Company; and they formed a very
| striking and important element in the community.
| both socially and politically The most famous of
these great estates that of the Van Rcnsseaers
comprising all the territory in the neighborhood of
| Albany The Cortands, Livingstons. Phlipses.
Schuylers and Cuylers among the other great
| landowners The Duke of Rochefoucauld tells us
! that the Schuylers and Van Rensseaors inter
married and irresistble-the former furnishing the
brains and the latter the money. The proprietor of
Il manor was invested with many feudal privileges,
| and held position more akin to that of the Old
| World nobility than anyone else in the American
| colonies. The city of Ncw-York became ut an early
day great centre of trade from all parts of the
world, and hence 1t acquired in colonial times
cosmopolitan character strangely contrasting
with anything to be found in the other provinces.
|
centre OF the province, but that OF law and
ment as WE'LL besides being, until revolution i'm
pended. the only military post on the continent
with English troops and officers who added much
to the hustle and variety of The place. In addition
also to the community which had grown up the
soil, there was strong foreign clement; and the
result was a mixed and polished society rs hosplt
any otner IN the English possessions in America
Some of the inhabitants were the great proprietors
VINO CANE to town igr tine WINTER ana IN spring vent
more wealthy class, had hand Some country seats on
Long Island, renowned IN the colonies Tor its fine
farms and high cultivation. But the great majority
of the NewIork popnlat of all classes remained
in the pleasant town all the year round. They
ALL with few exceptions, tradesmcn of one sort or
olher from the great merchant whose ships sailed
to Europe down through the retail dealers and
shopkcepcrs, tn the young hdVcnturcr, who started
| OIL with his pack of beads and knives 10 truck and
| barter with the Indians. Most OF them belonged to
| the middle class. who rose early, breakfasled at
| daylight, dined at II, and worked hard at their
! shops which they had the good to close early
IN order to go forth for amusement aud EXERCISE
The wcalthiest society was verv fashionable in
dress aud manners, and devoted TO the last London
men displayed great luxury at their tables, and the
tone OF conversation aimed to he witty sentimental
and private thcatricals; and the gentlemen evening
clubs mt the taverus. The active social life of New
YORK is strongly shown in this matter of clubs As
early as the beginning of the century there was n
Jacobite, an Irish and French club; and later
| conviyial club OF professional men: but nowhere
does there appear TO have been much indulgence IN
| the fashionable vice of cXtravagant gaming.
! Resides indoor amusements there were IN winter
|
| and the road was covered IN the evening with
rapidly driven sleghs which III fine weather were
| replaced by plchics ana hshirg parties or turtle
feasts at some tavorite inn Thu participants drove
out in couples in the chaises universally used and
returned after supper by way Of the well-known
kissing bridge.
The amusemcnts of the mass of the people did not
differ much from those OF the upper class hut the
tone OF society was strongly arlstocratic and the
distinctions o! dress were carefully observed. The
| ladies' ana gentlemen OF fashion wore silks and
velvets, powder and wigs and the lat ter carried
| sword The wealthy tradesman appeared in broad
cloth coat with spreading skirts and wide cuffs ::
| the shopkeepcr III simple homespun, except on frs-
tivals; and the workmen in leather aprons which
were never replaced by long coat The habits
| and amuscmcnts OF the middle and lower classes
were simple and wholesome. They stroed in tho
mall after the days work, or went, gayly dressed
| on Il holiday or sunday afternoon, To an OK
roasted whole on the Battery in the presence of the
| Governor and Council or 10 the customary bull
| batting or TO the local Ranclagh and Vauxhal
| where they saw fireworks and drank beer aud
| then danced, and had supper of Chocolate and
| bread, until Dr. Laidlie saw fit TO preach dow II
! these last harmless pleasures There was indeed
theatre began its career in NeW-Yorl about the
middle OF the eighteenth century in q house in
existence and not much opposition until il finally
| became thoroughly domestlcated. The Dutch had
also fortunate liking for holidays. and these they
hsh neighbors to do the same. There were Gvo
| great ADMINISTRATIONS Newly ears Passover
| Nhtsuntlde and San ClaaS. st. Nicholas. Day
| Besides these there were the Vrouwen-dagh" or
st. Nalentlnes-Day, when young Urls went nhout
| the streets striking the young men with knotted
corlS Easter, May Day, with the classic poles and
| PInkster, early in June when there was n general
exodus to the woods. Then there were the ofiicn
English celebrations OF the Gunpowdcr Plot, the
| plrthday ana the coronation, when great bonires
were lighted on the Common, and there was n,uch
| rejoicing end fcastng ut the expense of the CITY,
| New Years Day began with firing salutcs AID
parties then went about the town. stopping nj every
| house to fire guns and drink punch with much IN
d th bnring OF gnnpowGer forbidden by