The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-08

of smoking, and tobacco by an act of
government twas set at liberty" In Eng
land periwigs came into use soon after
the restoration. In New England they
were an eyesore for thirty years after,
and did not generally obtain until about
the time Of the Revolution, and even the
example and the authority Of DR.. Owen
and other remembering ministers who
wore wigs were necessary to remove all
Scruples concerning them. It is one OF
the incidental proofs the great influence
OF the clergy in colonial days that they
were leaders in fashion as we'll as
theology, literature and legislation. When
hutchinson deals with matters of vital
Importance it is in the same equal tone
and temper.
Efforts to instruct the Indians, interpo-
sition of civil authority when the church
became high handed, relations with the
nome government, and other such doings
are all set down with greater impartialfty
than had been seen in any previous rec,
ord, and with little personal comment.
The writer succeeded in blending into a
continuous narrative the best and most
trustworthy Of the materials that had
been left by his predecessors. Some
Of these documents must have seemed
to him like scraps from the rag bag. but
managed to weave particolored stripes
and tangled yarns into bright and SER
viceable fabric When the distractions
OF his public station are considered, and
toward the last the personal disturbance
and loss of manuscripts attending the
change in political conditions, and finally
his illtreatment at the court Of the
royal George, this three-volume history
of Gov. Hutchinson became one of tho
most attractive examples of our early lit
erature. Besides, it has an absorbing in,
tereSt Of its own, as every reader of il
will ascertain. 1t is the review Of ITO
years of colonial life by chief magis-
trate who, as the last of his line, saw it
pass into the life of new nation AS
royal governor and as a true American
he told well, for his time, the story of
what was then British America.
Aside from the three representative
histories which have been mentioned, there
were other prose writings Of the mid
century period, miscellaneous in charac-
ter, largely theological, but with goodly
portion Of scientific, political and phil
osophical topics interspersed. The most
Of this is not worth reading. It is inter
esting only as a sign that the colonial
mind was broad. A few titles, however,
arrest attention: ''Ptolemy, King of the
Gypsies: New and True Egyptian For
next year "Tom Thumb, the Monster Of
Monsters" AS an antidote to these dan
gerous books appears the Youths En-
PERTAINING Amusement; or, Plain Guide
of Psalmody." The dissipation OF the
singing school had probably begun to
threaten communities. But John With
erspoons Serious Inquiry Into the Ma
ture and Effects of the Stage smother
ed any longings after the theater which
Dos foT, I0xv MIC -, hic
He would be an old man before he should
witness a spectacular play in waking
hours The anonymous author of "Be
Merry and Be WISE" knew better than
to go beyond the signature ''T. IT,, in
the year of the succession of George III.
He was doubtless rebuked when he read
in the following year Francis Worces-
ter's Rise, Travels and Triumph of
Death In fine, the pleasantly of lit
erature at this time is suggestive Of the
smile of a skull.
The poet Of the age who was the most
appreciated was DR.. Mather Ryles, the
magnificent He was more than half as
accomplished and three-quarters as I'M
posing as the magnate whose name he
bore, the author of "Magnalia.'' His
unprefessional studies were in English
classics as well as in ancient, a notable
exception in the habit of his day His
proclivity for letters was surpassed only
by his pulpit eloquence and wit. He knew
what was current in literary circles In
England, and correspondent with Lans
downe Watts and Pope. The last COM
plimented the American poet by sending
him fine copy of his translation of the
odyssey" book which DR.. Byles ac-
companied with own verses, including:
Co. my dear Pope, transport tn attent-
i've fair,
And soothe with winning harmony her
ear,
Twill add new graces to thy heavily
song,
To be repeated by her gentle tongue.
Old Homer's shades shall smile If she
command
And Pope be proud to write as Byles to
lend.
Beginning his versifying in college, he
kept it up through life, at intervals
1t Will not be necessary to prove that
he was born and died q loyaiist, after
the following examples of his work,