The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-22

''The Dutch ana Quaker Colonies In
America" by Prof. John Fiske; Hough
ton, Mifflin & Co., publishers. For sale
by the st. Paul Book and Stationery
In THE Dutch and Quaker Colonies in
America" Prof. John Fiske, of Harvard,
has added two volumes to his. series of
American histories, and has furnished a
connecting link between the story of "Old
Virginia and Her Neighbors and The
Beginnings of New England" One story,
that of the influence of France upon the
colonization and development of Amer~
Tea, remains to be told to make the
Fiske series Of histories complete from
the period of the discovery of America
down to the adoption of the constitu-
ton, which is the organic law of the
Emitted States.
As for the new volumes, they are uni
form, not only as to appearance but in
subject matter with those which have
preceded them. Told in the popular style
characteristic of the Fiske histories, with
the possible exception of the Discovery
of America, which was a trifie technical
for the average reader, the narrative of
the colonies founded in the new world
by the -Quakers anu the Dutch is not
only Of authoritative value for the stu
dent, but possesses rare attractions for
the reader who may appreciate it only
for its qualities of style and treatment
The period is covered with the thor
oughness which has made Prof Fiske
the recognized authority upon the col
onial phase of American history. The
real history of the Dutch and Quaker
colonies has its beginning naturally in
the Old world where the actuating forces
in part at least, had their origin. Traced
from there Prof Fiske follows the col
Onists to New York and Pennsylvania
where, with the same thoroughness, is
recounted every contest either for terri
tory or ideas which was fought and
down to the period of permanent settle
ment. 1t is this thoroughness which
makes the volumes of Prof. Fiske Of
special value to the student, for it rem
ders clear the status in each colony at
the time when it became a factor in
what is now the United States 1t not
only differentiates the colonies, one from
the other but sets out in detail those
differences in laws, customs and man
ners which were the characteristics of
each when they We're merged into the
confederated power, and which now are
essential to proper understanding Of
state pecul1arltleS Which still exist after
more than a century of union In the
volume just from the press this task is
confined largely to the settlements which
Were the beginnings of New York and
Pennsylvania, the other Dutch and
Quaker settlements being treated in an
adequate, but at the same time an in
cldental. manner. This. however, Is the
recognized F'iske method of treatment
and it is emphasized in these latest
works.
Another Fislle characteristic is to be
noted. Mooted questions are not decided
In an arbitrary way Prof. Fiske does
not assume final authority upon con-
tested historical points. These debates
and debatable problems are fairly stated,
and the authorities upon both sides mar
shaled in an impartial array. The stu
dent, with all the evidence before him.
is left to form his own judgments and
draw his own conclusions as to mat
tiers where there is not an accord of rec
ogn1zed authority. 1t is true that Prof.
Fiske himself is often among the au-
thOrities set out with an intimation that
his word may be accepted as being, in
some measure decisive, but even in this
Prof. Fislle is following precedent which
has been set by others.
Prof. Fisl1e, in word, in his story of
the Dutch and the Quakers In America.
has written an attractive narrative of an
essential phase of American DEVELOPMENT.
and, more than that, has enriched the
field Of historical data