The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-02-03

to the authorship of the Mother Goose
jingles.
But it is probably one of the cherished
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
"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 that
we have on this subject the first book
bearing the Mother Goose name was by
Perrault, French author. This was
titled, ssContes 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, 1t appeared in Mr.. Newbury's
list of publications in London. He says
the seventh edition was printed May IS,
1T77. Thomas Carman entered for copy
right Mother Gooses Melody or Son
nets for the Cradle" and was brought
out in Worcester, Mass, by Isaac Thorn
as. Carman was Newburys stepson,
who formed u copartnership as his sue
cessor in business with Francis New
bury, the original Newbury's nephew.
1t 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 ont a very
plausible case.
1t is believed also by Mr.. William H
Whitmore, a noted Boston historical
scholar, that Mr.. Goldsmith had 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 Goldsmiths 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. 90, 176S-Goldsmith's play of
The Good Natured Man was produced.
Hewent to dine with his friends after
it. Nay, to impress his friends still more
forcibly with an idea of his magnanim-
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 7, dragged in without any
excuse, but evidently because it was ia
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 80 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 a 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 a 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 it lacks the amusing and
almost necessary adjunct Of pictorial
illustration. New York Home Journal.