New-York tribune., 1902-01-05
FLUSHING TRADITIONS.
TALES OF THE QUAKERS AND THEIR
EARLY HARDSHIPS-CAPTA JOHN
UNDERHILL-BUR1ED TREASURE
AND A GHOST STORY.

Long before the village of Flushing became a
part of greater New-York the Quaker quaintness
OF its early days had all but faded away. The act
of incorporation which made the village lose its
official identity nearly completed the wiping out
process. Yet the fact that Quakerism obtained its
first foothoid among the English refugees who
came from Holland 10 found the place touches the
earlier traditions OF Flushing with primness.
The old Quaker meeting house still stands In
broadway, and is much the 1t was when
built, early in 1900 Meetings are still held there,
and the service differs only slightly from that
which comforted the early Quakers when they met
at night IN the Long Island forest gathered by
stealth in the house OF Friend. All these precau
tons were necessary. that the news of their
'doings" might not reach the cruel Dutch Gov
ernor OF New-Amsterdam
Slowly but surely the Quaker element is falling
behind and the few that remain are RAPIDLY losing
their distinctiveness by adopting the manners and
dress OF to-day. Still It is possible to find genuine
oldtime Friends in Flushing. If one can break
through the barriers of dignity and reserve with
which these few have surrounded themselves the
result is well worth while. To be received by one
OF these old families, to converse with them to
break bread at their plain tables, is like being
translated bodily into another age and generation.
They are living in the past and of the past. They
treasure the traditions and manners of that by
gone age with the greatest care and they sorrow
at the curse of frivolity which has overcome SO
many who once believed as they do
The Quaker TO whom the legend hunter had a
letter was not at home, having gone to the wicked
city on affairs of grave importance"
Thou art welcome to come in and warm thy
self said his wife, in soft voice. as she opened
t1e aoor OF the od home still wider. IF there is
anything can tell thee which will serve thy need
Ihou mast but to command me-
The sitting room into which the visitor was shown
Nas duII ana coioTless. even TO the rag carpet
and in keeping with the age Yf the Whole bisb Sfa
tTiLI me ahsence OF books and newspapers
irrepressble historical novel had never pushed it.
read. -'-D-' '''''' "of'i' showed "hat they
"A girl OF eighteen or twenty sat by the fire in
was making out Of gray cloth-the gray which the
a woman, and have been Curious about The
man :air,,' WHO o came cam in with her mother.
she continued. turning to the girl Thou ou'ii may
Prise Priseills raised her head, which was greeting
beauty Then she arose and bowed primly saying
cion that she wanted smile which would have
been a sad crime against the faith.
his visit Our fathers d no2 bay them me o6eGt OF
some true @ stories Of the days when FLUSHING was
young but legends-are legends always true"'
II II hardly matters whether they are true not
And thou would print an untruth in thy paper,'
she eFclamea @ M holding up her little white hands in
I'm afraid we have to sometimes" said the man.
put M untrue Legends have the dignity of antiquity
veS bsf can dgnfy m G an nil p she said posi-
Thou hast never heard I suppose. of the trials
or John BOVINE, one Of the first Flushing Quakers.
and one of the most prosecuted. He joined our So
ciety when the meetings held night in the
green wood and when IL was a continual trial TO
be professed Quaker His wife as fine woman
as ever lived, brought him to the faith and as soon
as he was converted he offered his house as meet
ing place. The house still stands to-day, having
been preserved by the mercy of God, on account of
the good which was accomplished by its builder
The Dutch liked not the Friends. though
minded our own business then as we do now and