The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-18
SOME NEW BOOKS.
Mr.. Edward Fields Story Of an Inter-
esting and Fine Favored Institution--
New Fiction.

| new Fiction.
In the picturesqueness Of life in New
England In the seventeenth and eigh-
tcenth centuries tho colonial taverns were
a conspicuous element. In the early social
and political life of the colonies the tav-
ern was second In importance and influ-
cnce only to the church, and not infre-
| qucntly alas, II was decidedly the more
| popular Of these two leading
| local institutions. 1t was the rem.
devious for the masseS and the classes of
the community and courts aud councils
used it for a meeting place while the tav-
crn keeper was often an important funo-
tionary in town and state government as
well as the seer of the locality. His
licensed place was the scene of the larger
social occasions and of the more impor-
tant gatherings of the citizens. In row.
olutionary days the taverns were the GEN.
ters of rebellion. From tavern went
forth the Gaspee conspirators. In the tap
the time were made or had their un-
doing. The tavern was far less copspic-
nous than our modern hotel as hostclry
for the traveller and the stranger in town
since there was little travel i'm tho earlier
days but it was distinctly and intimately
Identified with the local life aud was an
institution the proper keeping of which
was OF great concern To tho community
to which it Immediately catered.
So sincere an historical student as Mr..
Edward Field and so delightful writer
as he may well have esteemed the old tay-
ern fruitful subject for Investigation
and pleasant theme for the application
of his PEN Preston and Rounds have
published in sumptuous style his volume
"Thc Colonial Tavern, Glimpse of New
England Town Life in the Seventeenth
and Eighteeneth Centuries" (price 5000
and the book offers great treat TO any
one interested i'm our New England his
tory and of lovers of good reading as well.
Mr.. Field finds i'm the tavern a key to
vast deal of interest and information
about the daily life of the people of the
day and the glimpses thus made available
to the reader are noteworthy for clever
ness and picturesqueness in presentation
and treatment
In the good old days the meetin' house
was usually cold and cheerless; the tavern
always welcoming warm and cosy. And
good folk went to both as n matter of
course. There was abundant tippling at
the tavern and the very reading of the
names of some of the concoctions inspires
to thirst while it is equally clear that
what the common folk absorbed under the
name of beer and the simpler drinkables
would be calculated to gag the average
patron OF back street "wine ROOM in
our day. There We're strict penalties of
peculiarly dreadful kind for drunkenness
i'm the old days and the sin of taking more
than you could hold was not to be atoned
for by few dollars and costs in the cur
rency of the realm but was punished far
more severely and ignominiously. More
over, the tavern keeper was often made
responsible for any undue conditions as
affecting his guests and patrons and pub
lie sentiment prevailed to keep the taverns
shame TO come TO the community through
any unfortunate influence that 1t was pos
sible for them to exert on the young men
and the householders of the town. 1t went
hard with the tavern that couldn't
match its respectabilty with the meetin'
house.
The colonists brought their drinking
country and both lapsed with the progress
of civilization and enlightenment The
tavern marked the early development of
civilization in the land, but its decadence
followed upon continued material and
moral advancement.
The quality of romance invests the not
extraordinary actors with the attributes
of stage lights and fills their environment
with scenic effect An able bodied young
man starts out to see the world He
leaves behind him a maiden of his child
hood and youthful associations, careless
of her charms since he feels confident
the unknown world will furnish far
superior attractions In the way of woman
hood. He has yet to learn that nowhere
will there be place like home, mid
pleasures and palaces though he may
roam He marries a pretty little foreigner
and falls in love with another mans wife,
and after all returns To- find himself really
in love with the girl he left behind him,
who has meanwhile been married to her
guardian. That is realism Now, locate
the aforesaid young man and the maid of
his initial affection and his last love In a
castle of many chambers, ghostly gal
leries, terraces, suites, corridors ana tur-
rets, almost without number; mount
mysterious picture OF charming but
fearful woman, that under certain cir.
cumstanoes, evinccs a disposition to step
out of the frame and walk; throw in
ring of priceless value, the gem i'm which
is as ociated with poisoning; send the
young man to picturesque Italy for his
experiences, furnish him with spirit
that oxalts the ordinary practice Of seeing
the elephant and sowing his wild oats
To sort of psycbical passion; make
the married woman, with whom he falls