The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-06-13
HISTORIC PRIZE PAPER.

l
| HISTORIC PRIZE PAPER.
Emmett Searcy Chairman of the Historic
| Committee. announces that Ida NJ. Benny,
| State Lick, Pa, has been awarded the prize
book for the best paper early American his
tory. She has chosen Capturing Locomo-
| tive"
AMERICAN HISTORY BEFORE THE REVOLT
More than four centuries ago feet of three
| small vessels sailed across the broad Atlantic
aud touched the shore of an unknown conti-
| nent.
America on that bright October morning
| must have presented to Columbus and his dis
| heartened crew a scene of inexpressiblc grand
eur. The forests were robed in the glory OF
tropical rerdure. The curious natives crowd
ed the shore and gazcd in wonder at the Span
! ish fleet.
The Captain, gray haired man Of almost
three score and ten years, stepped on the New
! World, knelt on the beach and returned thanks
| to the Divine Being who had guided him SAFE
| ~ over the unknown deep and rewarded his
ambition. Tins, from its discovery, America
! was coBsecrated to God
A century has rolled by since the discovery
of America; msny feel earnest desire TO
COLOMBO it. Tho Spansrds form settlements
| in Florida aud New Mexico. tho Cavaliers
wend their way up the ripping James and
| found little town in the wilds of Virginia
the good old Mayfiowor rides bravely over the
storm tossed waves and lands her treasures on
| the bleak New England shore, the Dutch settle
| in New York and the Swedes in Delaware,
| Georgia becomes an asylum for the poor Mary
land furnishes home to the prosecuted Catho-
| lies and Pennsylvania blesses the peace-lOying
Quakers in the bond OF brotherly love.
The settlers representing so many sects and
nationalities differed widely in views and Gus
toms The red man was foe common to all
| except the Qnskers, with whom they had made
the famous treaty, never sworn TO and never
broken" Strife among the colonists was not
wanting; boundary lines. religious views, Eu-
ropean thrones and disputed territory caused a
vast amount of bloodshed. The
SEARCH FOR GOLD
having been unsuccessful, tho colonists gradu-
ally turned their attention to agriculture. One
of the chief products WAS flax, from which cloth
| ing was manufactured in almost every home.
| Tobacco was also found proftable-so profitable
| indeed. that ut one time hundred pounds Of
tobacco would buy wife,
The manner OF living differed. The people
of New In gland lived in hamlets for protection
| against Indian warfare, but cultivated farms
| surrounding tine villages.
The Southern cOlonists, unlike those of New
England, liyei on large plantations. Slavery
| having been introduced, all work was done by
| slaves, labor being considered degradation to
! a white man.
| Along the Hudson were the old PATRON
! estates cultivated by tenants and owned by
| the wealthy Knickerbockers.
| Education received some attention. especi-
| ally with the Purtans, who priced education
next 10 religion. When Harvard College was
| founded IL was agreed that each family should
| give " a peck Of corn or a shilling III money :;
| and when Yale was founded it was agreed that
each family should furnish one book for a free
| library.
| The amusements Of
THE NEW ESGLANDER
consisted not in dances. eucher parties. or GER
| mans, such things being prohibited by law; nor
4 yet in Fourth of July celebrations for no one
| ever thought Of such holiday. The great So
1 ciai events OF ye olden times were fax pull
ings, apple-parings, and quilting. bees, all hav-
4 ing the spirit Of industry in them.
| Thanksgiving Day had its origin in the Puri-
| tan colony, but our day of feasting was to them
day of fasting.
| The New Workers still cling to the old Dutch
| customs. Tea parties we're the social craze. At
| these gatherings the best china was always
| brought out, and the roast pig and doughnuts
| were sure to grace the table.
| Christmas aud Easter were the grand festal
| days
| IN KNIcKERBocKER LAND.
| whore aristocratic sentiments still survived,
| especially with the Cavaliers. Their assembly
| was composed of members of the few LEADING
! families; the college catalogs were arranged
| and the churches seated according to family
rank.
| law of dress" was enforced in the Massa.
| chusetts colony. This served as a distinction
of wealth, and prevented people from dress.
ing beyond their means"
Superstition was still fostered. The starlight
on Halloween was eagerly noted; "the brighter
the light, the better tho crops" The belief in
| witchcraft was almost universal. The Puritans
carried this belief SO far as 10 leave dark spot
| on American history.
| j have shown how our forefathers differed
| they were nevertheless, homogeneous in one
respect,
| THE LOVE OF LIBERTY,
as they had lived long enough in land OF
democratic influences 10 appreciate its worth
| They had barred their breasts to the Indians
arrow; they had poured out their lfe-blood
for the mother-country, whether England
F,ance. or Spain; and yet, when Britain dared
raise tho hand of oppression 10 strike down
the Colonists, the rugged pioneers stood forth
in the heavenly vision to resist the tyranpjcal
measure of taxation without representation. -
individual rights" says noble Mother
General IS the~mOtiye power Of patriotism,
and that motive power has been the civilizing
force of the world" This was the rock upon
which the American Republic was founded.
Little did King George think that that same
spirit OF patriotism which prompted Wolfe to
die so cheerfnlly on the Plains of Abraham for
English rule, would prompt the liberty-loving
Warren TO lay down his life for American In.
dependence; that the same George Washing
ton who had fought SO bravey for the Union
Jack would be among the first to raise the
Flag Of Freedom.
| Ida IL. Bonney, Slate Lick, Pa.