The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-10-21
ABOUT MOTHER GOOSE.
THE AUTHOR OF THE OLD RHYMES
STILL A MATTER OF DOUBT.

One Authority Places Her In Boston. but
Documentary Evidence Goes to Show
That Goldsmith Wrote the JIngIes for
Children--A Bit of History.
The question, Who was "Mother
Goose" arises periodically in various
journalistic query departments, and in
recent years has generally been answered
in one way. In fact, the tradition of this
venerable characters Boston origin is
now so ingrained, as it were, into cur
rent belief that very few dispute it. The
story is that Mrs. Elizabeth Goose,
widow of one Isaac Goose Tor Vergoose),
was the mother-in-law of Mr.. Thomas
Fleet, a printer in the early part of the
Eighteenth century in Boston.
She seemed to have been troublesome
mother-in-law, too, for her multiplied
improvised songs to her little grandson
greatly annoyed the printer, Fleet. He,
however, found his account and revenge
by finally collecting them and making
the book known as Mother Goose's Mel
odies." This accords substantially with
the reply the New York Ledger gives as
to the authorship of the Mother Goose
jingles.
But it is probably one of the cherished
myths, hattering as it is to local pride,
when, like that of the William Tell leg
end and many Others equally dear, the
solid verdict of history does not, in my
opinion, serve to sustain. There never
was, think, any just foundation for it.
While it is possible that Mr.. Fleet, of
ancient Boston fame, may have issued
Mother Goose" book, no copy of such
an issue can be found, nor can its
former existence be proved. If he did
print such book he merely reprinted
one that was imported in his time.
CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE.
According to the best accounts TINT
we have on this subject the first book
bearing the Mother Goose name was by
Perrault, French author. This was
titled, "Contes du TENS Pasee de Ma
Mere L'Oye." The first English trans
lation of this was by Robert SANDER.
Very soon, as Mr.. Welsh's catalogue
shows, it appeared in Mr.. Newbury's
list of publications in London. He says
the seventh edition was printed May 10,
1777. Thomas Carman entered for copy
right "Mother Goose's Melody or Son.
nets for the Cradle" and was brought
out in Worcester, Mass, by Isaac Thorn
as. Carman was Newbury's stepson,
who formed copartnership as his sue
cessor in business with Francis New
bury, the original Newbury's nephew.
It was from Mr.. Newbury's efforts,
therefore, that Mother Goose" got its
circulation in English-the Newbury
who made famous the now forgotten but
once celebrated story of "Goody Two
Shoes" Both these books appeared with
out recognized authorship; but there is
very strong evidence for believing that
the "Goody Two Shoes" was written by
no less parsonage than Oliver Gold
smith. The facts supporting this as
sumption it would take too much space
to relate here, but they seem, In addition
to internal evidence, to make out a very
plausible case.
1t is believed also by Mr.. William H.
Whitmore, noted Boston historical
scholar, that Mr.. Goldsmith had hand
The stories of this fable, like Topsy, have
grown in number from time to time,
and some of those from the Newbury
press were no doubt additions, and pos
sibly additions from Goldsmith's own
muse. A curious piece of evidence on
this point is furnished by Mr.. Whit
more, who says: Forster, In his famous
Life of Goldsmith gives proof that
Goldsmith was very fond Of the chill
dren and was familiar with nursery
rhymes and games. He writes that Mrs
Hawkins says, i little thought what l
should have to boast when Goldsmith
told me to play Jack and Jill by two
pieces Of paper on his fingers"
INTERESTING HISTORY.
Mr.. Whitmore also adds the following
scrap of history:
Jan. 20, 1788-Goldsmith's play of
The Good Natured Man was produced.
He went to dine with his friends after
it. Nay, to impress his friends still more
forcibly with an idea of his lnagnanim-
ity he even sung his favorite song, AN
Old Woman Tossed in Blanket Seven
teen Times as High as the Moon, and
was altogether very noisy and loud. Our
readers will find this identical favorite
song in the preface to Mother Goose's
Melody page Z, dragged in without any
excuse, but evidently because it was fla
miliar to the writer"
Mr.. Whitmore has lately brought out
an edition of the Newbury Mother
Goose" to which he adds twenty eight
pages of historical and biographical
notes. He has undoubtedly settled the
whole history of this vexed question of
authorship SO far as it can now be settled,
and with no little pains to himself, and
has certainly exploded the alleged Boston
origin of mistress Goose"
Forty years ago "Mother Goose" was
much more current than it has been of
recent years; but within ten years past a
variety Of editions have been on the mar
ket-some full and padded with later
rhymes and few containing only those
that are the oldest and best known. To
those who are greatly interested in that
form of literature, "Halliwell's English
Nursery Rhymes" edited with minute
notes, as becomes great Shakespearean
commentator, is book that will richly
repay perusal. 1t seems to contain the
whole of Mother Goose" and nearly
all of note that has been written by her
imitators. but 1t lacks the amusing and
almost necessary adjunct of pictorial
illustration. New York Home Journal.
Protected by n Child.
The grandson of Count d'Hausson-
vile in La Vie de Mon Pere relates
how the noted royalist escaped from
the mob ON the terrible Aug. 10, 1893:
My grandfather did not emigrate.
Louis XVI, who had confidence in his