New-York tribune., 1900-04-22

= 5sa Philaoelphla ana new 10TH. Johh Naha-
maker
rp1-r WILLIAM PENN BY sydney George
rHk n ~ Illustrated. svo. PIP. 592. Philadelphia:
7 r Iippincou Company.
.,laininc why he does not give many ref
IN his history Of Pennsylvania. Professor
gives something OF a description of his
whole. The reason is. he says. that
III, K intanied for the general reader. who
- ,be author and does not care fig for
COS" This is. in short. popular narra-
| tbs growth OF the State. from Indian
,ntu The Revolution. The author is in
4 .rc throughout. because he deals always
| 4 same of the most interesting material in
/ .,i,ar history. hut he is nowhere more read
/ II .ban in his chapters on Penn. He has no
/ ..,,ce with those who ascrihe the founders
!, rs 70 A desire for personal gain and glory.
- csntral spirit that ruled Penn's life he
/ ..sirs was a noble one. He sketches pict-
/ .raJy the early life Of his hero and its
1 -ca evolution from a worldly to a spiritual
After looking over Penn's policy in the
--,stion of a government in this country. he
l =, dwell on the Hherality and good sense
l ,.ts great Quaker. The personal note is fire.
/ ,r ~ ih, fore in that part Of the history
ing 10 Penn and Professor Bolles keeps the
= interest in view also when he describes
sf1F.1TTltlt 'a lilt ~ REl ltt-tN SbNtTIiIlltTI
penn-s death and follows the military
-s-,eDts during the Revolution. 1t is with
matters that his first volume is chiefly
-,.-1ed. and he treats them with a clearness
4 iyaIfness that make his story at once in
rrtnc and 5iverurg.
i p-, while his long narrative is important. we
no been equally Interested in the Special
e-..-s.~ which fill mos; Of the space in the
III do Etir be of
| grafton with land and labor. with trade,
/ ,--ssctur-s local government, society, dress,
4 -srer-s religion and other miscellaneous
as This means that having shown how the
.--s n Peuusy Eauia was formed 10y political
4 military ae-i.u-. he proceeds TO show how
4 Panusylvaui8rs have lived in the past. He
/ mains that thu society cf the State was for
II -s tine much more complex than elsewhere
L america Tho membership was varied in ma
II -.rtv and religious belief and this. Of course,
i -s effect upon the growing civilization of
I safe From the beginning. he remarks
Il houses r the settlers were much superior
l t.s- of The Indians. hut in divers localities
houses GiT.rai greatly: the country house
| -hat in Philadelphia; the house Of the
1 -fz-sraan from that Of the farmer in the
1 ~ rhickly set-led parts Of the province"
descriptions = some Of these old interiors
interesting In a frontier home d block or
served for stools. a broad slab of timber
4 table and a rude framework for couch.
he one chamher slept all the family. men,
mn and children. married and single. young
3D. This room constituted kitchen, dining
q and parlor. Doddri5ge. who lived on the
-aer most # his life, says that for several
4 rs after the settlement Of the country the
-Hure for the table consisted Of a few pewter
tss plates and spoons. with wooden bowls
treDchers. II noggins were scarce, gourds
l harlsheu sQuashes supplied the deficiency"
L r.s were not introduced until the middle of
Il .ast century.
/ .nong the notes on dress is one relating that
5arlisr Pernsylvanians used to carry 'muf-
- in winter. They were little woollen
IS 4 various colors. large enough to admit
hands and long enough to protect the
KS fcr men wore short sleeves to their
10 display their fine linen and plated shirt
IS with their gold buttons and lace ru1iles.
L Interesting 10 know that the familiar Amer
4 practica of taking the air in the evening
L 1es front door had definite name in old
1 lsy!yania- IT was known as the porch
lsement" The ladies made a custom Of sit
in the porch in pleasant weather at the
l Z the day and the neighbors called. while
fashionable gentlemen strolled 10y and lifted
three coruered hats. But we cannot follow
lessor BolIes in all his researches. This part
lis work is packed with quaint lore, and il is
-leei in such q way that it really presents
c-ure of the past time, the innumerable bits
/ -t1rnation being brought together in a most
-lious and edifying manner. Professor
g IS an informal historian. but he has
&c intelligertly and industriously in the