New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-06
An OLD QUAKER JOURNAL.
PHILADELPHIA A CENTURY AGO.
EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF ELIZABETH
DRINKER, from 1850 10 1907, A D. Edited by
Henry 7. Riddle. 12mO. PIP. 423. Phlade!-
pha: J. b. LippincOu Company.

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL. OF ELIZABETH
nRINKER, from 1889 TO 1907, A D. Edited 6y
phia J. B. Lppincot Company.
This volume of extracts from the journal of a
Quaker lady of the last century cannot be regarded
as valuable contribution TO American history for
It's most remarkable characteristic IS the avoidance OF
all mention of current events. The fair Journalist,
who was, when she first began 10 record her inn
prcSsions, blooming girl, married, had family
passed through tho Revolution, suffered many penal
ties and prescriptions because of the nOn-combatan
position of her sect saw the British and American
armies by turns occupy Philadelphia, and amid all
these stirring aud incidents she kept the even
tenor of her way scarcely indicating, in her journal
entries the possession of any opinions or preferences
and referring casually to George Washington or Gen
eral Howe with little more expression of interest
than she had been writing about the news Of some
distant European That Mrs. Elizabeth Drnher
was a woman of decided Intelligence her journal
sufficiently shows. II Is equally clear that she was
a good wife and mother, and II Is open to surmise
that she was also notable housekeeper But she
was plainly thoroughly domestic woman, who was
wrapped up in Der house and her family, and who,
while disapprovhg the violence which the times
took keen Interest in the struggle and
wns only reused 10 a condition of protest aud veXa-
ton when the local authorities levied executions upon
her household goods 10 meet war-taNes which her
husband had refused 10 pay, or When somc brisk
young officer was summary quartered upon her, and
auttered all hor Quaker feelings with the imminent
pros pect Of military iunketing and carousals
Her husband company with several other Friends,
was arrested and bsnlshed for several months, ap-
parently upon some vague charges or suspicious Of
negotiation with the Tories which could not eventu-
ally be sustained. Mrs. Drinker had an anxious time
while her husband was away, but her defenceless
and solitary condition enabled her to beg OIL from
the obnoxious bcttang, save In one Instance, when
shs was Induced 10 admit American officer rs
boarder Later this captain gave her much pain by
keeping dreadfully late hours. Sometimes he even
went the length Of giving supper party and thon
he and his guests would sing over their punch and
make deal Of noise though Mrs Drlnker is bound
10 acknowledge that they represed their exuberance
quite as much as could be expected IN the clrcum-
stances
Her story regarding somewhat famous event f
10 the following effect, under date OF December "a
l774 An account from Boston Of 342 Chests Of Tea
being thrown into ye sea-" May o. 177b. she has
another brief entry, TO w.t. Benjamin Franklin ar
rived here" In 1876 trouble began To bcfall the
Friends for We find AZ. Drnker called before ye
Committee" and, two weeks later, John Drinkers
store shut up by the Committee Then on May
Of tho same year We learn that The Town has been