The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1891-11-09
ABOUT MOTHER GOOSE.
THE AUTHOR OF THE OLD RHYMES
STILL A MATTER OF DOUBT.

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 a troublesome
mother-in-law, too, for her multiplied
%improvised songs to her little grandson
greatly annoyed the printer, Fleet. He,
however, found bis 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.
bbL IL ID pI'DsbbtG CII - III III IN
myths, fattering 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
a "Mother Goose" book, no copy Of such
an issue can be found, nor can its
former existence be proved. If he did
print such a book he merely reprinted
one that was imported in his time.
CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE.
According to the best accounts that
we have on this subject the first book
bearing the Mother Goose name was by
Perrault, a French author. This was
titled, "Contes du Tens Pasee de Ma
Mere L'Oye." The first English rams
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 Is,
1777. Thomas Carnan entered for copy
right Mother Goose's Melody or Son
netssfor the Cradle" and was brought
out in Worcester, Mass, by Isaac Thorn
as. Carman was Newbury's stepson,
who formed Il cOpartnership as his sue
cessor in business with Francis New
bury, the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES nephew.
1t was from Mr.. Newbury's efforts,
therefore, that "MOtber 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 a 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 q very
plausible case.
1t is believed also by Mr.. William II.
Whitmore, a noted Boston historical
scholar, that Mr.. Goldsmith had a hand
in the Mother Goose" book likewise.
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
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, 4 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, 116S-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 ar idea of his magnanim-
lty he even sung his favOrite song, An
Old Woman Tossed in a Blanket Seven
teen Times as High as the Moon and
was altogether very noisy and loud. Our
will find this identical 'favorite
song Ill the preface to Mother Goose's
Melody page 7, dragged III without any
excuse, but evidently because it was ia
miliar to the writer"
Mr.. WhitlnoTe has lately brought out
an edition of the Newbury Mother
Goose" to which he adds tw~enty-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
of mistress Goose"
Forty years ago Mother Goose was
much more current hal it has been of
recent years; but within ten years past a
of editions have been on the mar
ket-some full and padded with later
and a few containing only those
that are the Oldest and best known. To
those who are greatly interested in that
form of literature, "HalliwelIs English
Nursery Rhymes" edited with minute
notes, as becomes a great Shakespearean
is a book that will richly
perusal. 1t seems to contain the