The times., 1899-10-15
Colonial History.

ing "Old Virginia and Her History" and
The Beginnings Of New England, and 10
be followed in turn by a history OF New
France which viii appear IN about Two
years. To those who are familiar with Nj.
Fiskes writings il will be unnecessary 70
state that this particular history Is schol-
arly. comprehensive and full Of fascination
for the student. In view OF the awakening
interest OF Americans in all which con
Germs the making Of America, this book
should be widely appreciated AID read; and
IL viii in any case form an invaluable book
OF reference.
Unlike some histories. Mr.. Fiske's record
of Dutch colonial life is interesting IN its
very first paragraphs. he makes the point
that New York has developed is present
cosmopolitan character not suddenly. as a
result OF modern commerce, but slowly from
g germ Of cosmopolitsnism which was It's
birthright as daughter of the Dutch Am
sterdam. He also calls attention TO the fact
that Dutch and English stock are much the
same. even TO the speech Of the two peoples,
the Norman element in English speech be-
ing responsible for most of the divergence
between the two languages. Then he takes a
retrospective look at the Dutch as people
from the year 81 B. c., when, as we all re-
member reading at school, Caesar defeated
the Nervii, near Valeneiennes. He points
out that the continual though good -natured
squabbling Of the little states Of the Meth
erlands all through the feudal ages fostered
independence, while the commercial posi-
fiOn Of the country, in the diree; path OF
trade, had something TO DO with develop
ing industrial and nautical enterprise Tie
consequence OF all this was that the sturdy
little Dutch Republic exercised no small in
fiuence upon the formative period of this
big country. IL was their commercial sa-
gacity which led to The planting of Nieuw
Amsterdam, for one thing.
At the beginning Of the third chapter
Mr.. Fiske has fairly reached the colonial
period, beginning with Hudson and the
discoveries OF various more or less well
known nayigators- II will surprise SUPER
fetal students TO learn that Hudson was
not Hendrix but Henry, and that he was
an Englishman. in spite OF legends o. the
Catsdlis, Washington Irving and Joseph
Jefferson. There is a brief excerpt from
the report which he made of his voyage up
the river which bears his name, and which
he Escended to q point above the site of
Troy. where the boat found only seven feet
OF water and progress was stopped. This
WIS on the 22d Of September. 1909. Two
hundred and ninety years ago, then, the
little Half-M Moon was probably sailing down
through the magnificent scenery Of the
CstskiIls. and on the way the following
things happened, as recorded by Hudson:
The people Of the rnounIaynes came aboord us,
wondering az ships and weapons. We bought
some small skinnes OF them for trifes- This
afternoon, one canoe kept hanging under our
Eterle with one man in ii, which we could not
keepe from thence. who got up by our rudder
90 the cshin window, and stole out my pillow and
two shirts, and two bandelleeres. Our masters
mate shot az hin and killed him. Whereupon all
the rest Aed away, some IN their canoes and some
lespt out OF them into the water
Somewhere near the site OF CatEkiIl Hud-
son went ashore in a native canoe with one
OF the chiefs and was entertained in a
round bark house. circular in shape. Two
mats were spread for the host and the
guest 10 sit upon, and food was served in
red wooden bowls. Two men were sent out
with bows and arrows, and came back with
pigeons, but the piece de resistance OF the
feast was fat dog
Then comes the story OF the founding OF
New York. IN the telling of this Mr.. Fiske
explains that the name Manhattan means
sn the Lenni-Lenape those who dwell
upon an island" an explanation which di-
rectly contradicts somewhat fantastic
theory published some time ago in the
Half Moon Series OF papers on old New
York that Manhattan meant g place
where a great many Indians were once all
drunk together. AS many New Workers
know, Pearl Street was once line Of one
story log houses with bark ROOFS. shelter
ing the first two hundred people Of the city
which now numbers two millions. The
fort, brick house surrounded by red ce-
dar palisades and earthworks, was on the
south side Of Bowling Green. There were
wolves and bears and panthers TO make
night musical along Canal Street and Cor
nelius Dircksen owned a "bouwerie'' or
farm, and used 10 ferry people across the
river for three stivers- in wamplm-about
six cents Of today. This was in 1926.
Then there is q disquisition on the first
governors of the Dutch colony, and IN this
connection q pretty story is told OF Wou-
ter Van Twilier, Of whom Irving made con-
siderable fun. In Van Twilier's slme the
governor OF New Amsterdam was in a
somewhat embarrassing position Owing
70 conflicting interests and geographical
proximity the Dutch and English colonies
were generally al loggerheads; while their
home governments were so friendly tiiat
any hOstilities q sn open sort on the part
OF the governor OF the Dutch colony. at
least would probably have drawn sharp
oiEspproyal upon him from his superiors.
This state OF things undoubtedly had some
thing 10 do with Nogters famous attitude
OF doubt. But on one occasion his action
was exceedingly prompt and very wise and
kindly The Peeuots made a raid on the
town Of Wethersheld, Conn. killing several
men and carrying OF two English girls.
When the Dutch governor heard OF il be
gave orders that sloop be sent 10 the res
cue without an fnstant's delay, and that
'-the two maids" should be brought back
n Il cost an Indian war- Eventually they
were rescued and sent 10 their homes by
this chivslrous though on occasion very
slothful governor.
One o. The most attractive features o'
the work is the character-sketches oi
these Dutch governors-Nan Twiller
Kieft. StayvesaDf- The three men were o.
three distinct Hoilander types, and theil
various characters are brought cut Kos
clearly.
The second volume begins with thi
fransferonce OF New Netherland TO Eng
lish rule. and with the various transac
tions which resulted in the upbuilding o
New Jersey and the STATE of New York
Then comes description Of New York al
Il was in 1859 Of the growing relations
between this and the other colonies, anS
then another description OF the colony al
Il was ia 1875 Al this time the city OF
Manhattan Island numbered some ter
thousand inhabitants. Pearl Street
named for It's oyster shells-wa.
no longer the river street, fo
Water Street had been made; ans
there were a. least a dozen woodeI
farmhonses to be seen Oh the Brooklyn
shore Even in these early days the tom
OF New York was aristocratic. Their
were landlord and tenants, and the be
ginning os a populace among the work
ing classes II was also cosmopolitan al