The National tribune., 1893-02-23
THE MASSACHUSETTS coLoSrsTs.

The Pilgrims, they called themselves, lOl il
number landed on the shores of Massachusetts
Dec. q. 1920 ut place they called Plymouth
after the last town they had ia old England
Forefather's Rock. which they first stepped
now covered with canopy OF granite. preserves
| the memory OF this event.
Before disembarking the Pilgrims soemnly
bound themselves 10 obey such laws should be
| enacted, and then chose a Governor. They buili
log iu,s in the snow, and passed "A severe Winter
| ia extreme suffering; cold and exposure brought
on fatal sickness and at time there were only
seven able to he on their feet. The survivors oil
thi. dreadful Winter built houses aud planted
grain and later were Joined by other Puritnns,
The natives did not modest the settlers in these
trying days; there seemed to he Ia the neigh
bOrhood, though buried corn and standing corn.
stacks were found, showing that il had not been
long unnbabted. Wild turkeys deer and o. her
game helped TO keep them in food and in 1929
they celebrated a day of thanksgiving the origin
OF our annual holiday, for the fruits of the earth
In 1923 the land WAS apporiioncd among the col
oni-ts. allowing each 10 retain the results of his
own labor The following year cattle were utro-
duced. In 1927 the colonists became independent
by purchasing the rights Of their fellow stockhold-
ers in London.
Exploring parties sent out fishing station
was established. aud patent obtained for tract
on the banks of the Kennebec.
Their Government was purely democratic. The
laws. enacted with entire Independence of Eng
land, were executed by Governor elected by the
people, and all important questions were acted
upon aud decided nv the whole body Of male Ia
habitHnts Not till 1859 had large territory be-
come settled rs TO make representative Govern
ment necessary, when a Legislature estab-
lished. To which each town sent Deputies.
They built ships aud traded with the Spanish
colonies In the West Indies. Thus they began the
foreign commerce Of the United States.
They traded with the Dutch on Manhattan, and
ships came from Virginia to trade with tho people
Of Boston and Salem. In this way the coast trade
OF this country was begun
The Massachusetts coIonlsts also coined silver
money They issued sixpeDces and shiinRs on
which Was the figure Of pine tree. These were
first issued in 1862 This was the first coinage in
the United States. The Massachusetts colonists
joined with the sister Colonies in subduing the In
dams In their bloody works; also. in driving the
French from the United States. they were the
leaders In the war for Independence.
The Massachusetts Bay Colony led in literature
science, education. and human progress The
leaders OF this Colony were mostly educated men,
and as soon as 1t was practicable they made provis-
ions for schools The common school, the chief
glory OF our Republic, was early established and
tenderiy nurtured.
The rigid laws which discouraged all frivolous
amusements were productive of habit of read.
Ing. Books were devoted chiefly to history and
religion, aud large numbers were sold Newspa-
pers the great educators of the people in our day,
were very few and Of little value before the of
the Revolution.
Mass IN 1867, was the earliest institution of the
Kind IN the Colonies. II called from the
Key. John Harvard. who left TO IL his library and
half his estete.
At the same place was set up the first printing
press brought TO the Colonies; verse of the
Psalms in meier long used In the New England
church. was one OF its earliest productions. This
was In 1910
John Eliot was prominent among the men who
resided In Massachusetts. He devoted his life to
labors among the natives. jOurneying from village
TO village, preaching to them in their own lam
guage. establishing schools. relieving their wants.
and teaching them the arts of civilized life He
acquired unbounded influence over them, and sue
eeeded in forming communities Of praying In
dams. At Cambridge, Ia 1863 he completed his
translation OF the Scriptures into the language of
the Massachusetts Indians. the first Bible published
in America.
One OF the shining lights In early history WAS
Benjamin franklin, born in Boston in l106 At the
age OF IL he went 10 Philadelphia to seek fortune.
He founded the fret circulating library In America
He published - Poor Richards" Almanac of mag
inns. His establishment OF the fact that thunder
aud lightning results Of electric discharges In
the clouds ranks among the great discoveries of the
age.
Eli Whitney, the inventor Of the cotton-gin was
born In Wesboro, Mass. Dec. s, l765.
Elias Howe, the inventor OF The sewing machine
was native Of Massachusetts -Hattie J. sher,
wood, Seymour. Wis