New-York tribune., 1890-06-29

-. ;o,,s address bv the sire . Secular con-
versation of any kind was not permitted, ana no
ordinary home subjects were ever nroacned oy ene
f.miIv exccpting those relating to the evening
milking and the care of the horses and cattle
There is strange story of Jersey b9otry con-
roo,od with the residence of General Knox, in
Bcdminster during the Revolution. Whlie
ouorter,d here Mrs Knox and their children were
with him and their second daughter, Julia, died
horo Though Knox was in the army lighting
their battles, the Dutch rulers Of the township
would not allow the dead infant Of New-England
CONGREGATIONAL father to rest In their Reformed
Dutch churchyard. She was buried outside the
fence in a field belonging to knoX's host, Jacobus
Van der Veer, and beside the grave of Van der
Vcer's daughter, to whom had also been denied
Christian burial because she had died insane.
This. too. says Mr. Mellicl, in the face of the
fact that the church grounds had been gift to
the congregation" from Van der veer himself.
Yet with all this devotion went hand in hand
some queer worldly customs 1t is related that
the installation services Of minister were some
times concluded by giving a ball in the evening,
at which the pastor and his wife were en-
pccted TO open the dance; and Mr.. Melick con-
cludes his interesting chapter the state of re-
ligion in New-Jersey with this ancciote:
lne word temperance, as relatlng 10 drinking,
was not yet coined, and II was considered that
hquor was necessary to health Ministers or lay
men would swallow glass of applelack as I'M
hesitatingly as they would piece Of bread The
story is current in Eedminsfer that one Sunday
a clergyman sent to supply Lamineton Church,
who preached an excellent sermon On descend
ing the pulpit stairs the elders gathered about
him and rs was customary. paid his fee in crisp
half-pound notes. Geptlemcn.' said the min
ister will you walk ont with me- Where
upon, crossing the road, they entered the tavern,
and. ranging themselves In front Of the bar, all
took drink with the CLERGYMAN He then handed
the tavern-kcsper n half pound note, saying ::
Take your pay ont of this bank note, ! have
just received it for preaching the sermon They
then all returned to the church, and soon after
ward were engaged in the afternoon service.
Apropos of this story, commend TO the reader
as matter Of interest the authors curious chap
ter on the drinking habits Of .Ierseymen in the
last century Rum, appleiack, and fiery Madeira
were always at hand morning. noon and night
and tremendous !ibations were poured out on
every fcstal occasion. One clergyman owing TO
his ntcmperancc was obliged TO surrender his
charge but il is notcf that at the installation Of
his successor great quantities Of toddy were con-
sumcd.'
Mr.. Mellick's studies of New-Jersey in the Revo-
luton are careful and entertaining. As 10 her
IIessan iDyldCrs. he believes that these soldiers
were much slandercd, ana that instead of being
wild beasts in human Cuisc, they were in reality
mild. humane, and simple-minded men. More
than 5000 Of these mercenares deserted the
English colors and became citizens Of the United
States. Among them, Judge Jones says. in his
History of New-lcri. was Henry ASHORE, who
after the war. induced his younger brother. whose
name became Americanizcd into John Jacob AstOr,
to come 70 Ncw-York. The first American an
ccstor OF General Custer was also German soldier
and was captured by Gates IN ~.
While The Story OF an Old Farm is some
what discursive and disconnected in style. its want
of art is more than balanced by lis historical
fulnrss and accuracy. II will give pleasure and 4
great deal of out-ot-rhc-way information 10 every
American reader. and in the loyal Jerseyman 1t
ought to inspire pride well as pleasure.