The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-11
DUTCH DANES REvRNGE.
. Romance OF Life in Esston Some
Eighty Years Ago.


F,oun the Magazine of Anlericdn Hisforu
Some eighty years ago the now flourish
ing town Of Easton, on the Delaware, was
bnt a small settlement in one of the remote
and comparatively wild portions OF PENN
,vlyauia. Not far from the Delaware a
double row Of low-roofed, quaint-Iookine
stone houses formed the most populous part
n the settlement. Other dwellings. scat
tered about in in different directions. were
huilt in the same style. and evidently in
bshited by the same sturdy and primitive
Dntch population. Philadelphia, though at
that time but village in comparison to
what It is now, was looked upon as a place
Of luxury and corruption, dangerous to the
morals OF youth.
The arrival of the new residents from the
city was an event Of Importance enough in
itself to cause no small stir in that quiet
community. The rumor that small house.
nicturesquely situated at the edge of a
wood some distance from the village, was
heiue fitted up for the new Corners. was
soon spread abroad and gave rise to many
eoniectures and surmises The new furni-
tire that paraded in wagons before the as
tonished eyes of the settlers was different
from any that had been seen before: and
though 1t would have been thought simple
enough, or even rude, at the present day.
exhibited too much of metropolitan taste
and luxury to meet their approval
Then q gardener was employed several
days to set in order the surrounding plat of
ground and set out roSe-bushes and orna-
mental plants; the fence was painted gayly.
and the Enclosure secured by neat gate.
A few days after light travelling wagon
brought the tenants to the abode prepared
for them. Within the memory Of a genera
ton hardly any occurrence had taken place
which excited SO much curiosity. The doors
and windows were crowded with gazers, and
the younger part of the population were
hardly restrained by parental authority from
rushing after the equipage The woman,
who sat with boy on the back seat, wore a
thick veil; but the pleasant face of the mid
dle-aged man, who looked about him, and
bowed courteously to the different groups.
attracted much attention.
The newcomer, IL appeared, was a mem
Der of the colonial assembly, and had
brought his family to rusticate for season
on the banks of the Delaware. This family
consisted of an English wife and Il son
about years old. They had been accus-
toned to the society of the rich and gay,
both in Philadelphia and in Europe, having
spent some time in Paris before their conn
ing to this country.
The honest mynheers were little inclined
to be hasty in their Judgment. They pre-
ferTed consulting Their wives, who waited
with no little patience for the Sabbath
morning, expecting them to have a full op-
portunity of criticising their new neighbors
They were doomed to disappointment:
none of the family was at the place of
meeting, although the practice of church.
going was one 80 time-honored that Jour
ney Of ten miles on foot to attend religious
service was thought nothing of, and few,
even of the most worldly-minded, ventured
on an omission. The non-appearance of
the strangers was dark omen. The next
day, however, the danes of the settlement
had an opportunity Of seeing Mrs. Winton-
for SO shall call her-sas she came out to
purchase a few. articles of kitchen furni-
ture. Her style of dress was altogether
different from theirs.
Instead of the hair pomatumed back
from the forehead, she wore it In natural
ringlets, instead of the short petticoats in
vogue among the Dutch danes, a long and
flowing skirt set off to advantage figure of
remarkable grace. At the first glance one
could not but acknowledge her singular
beauty. Her form was faultless in sym
metry, and her features exquisitely regular,
the complexion being of a clear brown, set
of by luxuriant black hair and a pair of
brilliant dark eyes.
The simple-minded Dutch woman could
not help thinking there was want of innate
modesty in the bold, restless wanderings of
such eyes, bright as they were, and in the
perfect self-possession the English woman
showed In her somewhat naughty carriage.
Her voice, too, though melodious, was not
low in its tones, and her laugh was merry
and frequently hearty. While they shook
their heads and were shy of conversation
with her, it was not little wonderful to
notice the different effect produced on their
spouses. The honest Dutchmen surveyed
the handsome stranger with undisguised
admiration, evinced at first by a prolonged
stare, and on after occasions by such rough
courtesy as they found opportunity of show
ing with alacrity, offering to her any little
service that neighbors might render. The
women, on the other hand, became more
and more suspicious of her outlandish gear
aud her bewltching smiles, lavished with
such profusion upon all who came near her.
Little, however, did the English woman
appear to care for neglect on the part Of
those she evidently thought much inferior
to herself.
To make long story short it soon became
known that the handsome stranger was a
coquette Of the most INSCRIPTIONS sort: that
she was passionately fond of the admiration
Of the other sex and was determined to ex-
act the tribute due her charms even from
the sons Of the wilderness. She f1irted des-
perateiy with one after another, contriving
70 impress each with the idea that he was
the happy individual especially favored by
her smiles. Her manners and conversation
showed less and less regard for the opinion
OF others or the rules of propriety.
1hlngs were bad enough as they were,
out when the time came for Mr.. Winton to
depart and take his place in the assembly
the change was for the worse. His hand
some wife was left, with only her son, in
haston for the winter. Her behavior was
now more scandalous than ever. and soon
total avoidance Of her by every other
woman in the place attested their indigna-
non. The coquette evidently held them in
great scorn, while she continued to receive
IN still more marked and offensive man
ner the attentions of the husbands whom,
she boosted, she had taught they had hearts
under their hnsey-woolsey coats Long
walks and rides through the woods, at
Tended always by some one who had owned
the power OF her beauty, set public opinion
who!ly at defiance, and the company at her
reside evening after evening was thought
Eto De not such as became a wife and mother
10 receive.
Late in the afternoon of beautiful day
pa the early part of June, two or three OF
tue matrons of the village stationed them
bsiVes near the woods by which stood the
zhouse Of Mrs. Winton. Not far from this
was small pond where the boys amused
themselves in fishing, or bathed during the
zleats OF summer. The spot once occupied
~ this little body of water is now the CEN
<lral portion of the town, and covered with
Peat buildings OF brick and stone. The