The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-08-31

trade. Just how they made grades in
those days and whether there was any
wild scrambling upon their arrival,
have not been able to ascertain.
1t is true that Virginia was the first
state to be colonized, however it is in
teresting to note how the other por-
tions of the east were settled during
the first half century. AS stated, the
Dutch had started two settlements in
New York State. The Puritans, who
were dissenters from the church of
England, started to settle at Plymouth,
Mass, in 1920. The English began to
settle, at Dover, New Jersey, in 1927,
while in the same year the Swedes and
Danes began colony in Delaware.
Eight years later, 1886, the Irish landed
at Maryland, while in the same year
settlements were started in Rhode
Island and Connecticut by the colonists
from Massachusetts, thus during a per-
iod of few years we find settlements
in Virginia, New York, New Jersey,
Massachusetts,, New Hampshire, Della
ware, Maryland, Connecticut and
Rhode Island
In 1643 we find that the settlements of
Massachusetts, Bay, Connecticut, Ply
mouth and New Haven, formed con-
federacy called the "United Colonies
of New England" The object of this
confederation was matter of protec-
tion against the Indians and French.
Each colony was represented by two
commissioners whose only qualifca-
tion was church membership. This
confederacy lasted for forty years and
may be said to be the germ of the
United States of America.
In 1888 we find the colonists realizing
the fact that the future welfare of their
children would depend largely upon an
education, and feeling their responsi-
bilities in this direction, they raised
funds, secured books and started a
college. This first institution was en-
dowed by the Rev. John Harvard, and
since that day has borne his name. In
1889 the first printing press was re-
ceived from Holland. and its first work
was the printing of the Psalms, which
were used for many years in church
worship. In 1647 we note that laws
were passed enacting that every dis
trict of fifty householders should have
common school, and every district of
; one hundred householders should have
grammar school. This was the early
: school system, introduced in all the
, colonies with the exception of Rhode
/ Island
do not wish to enter upon religious
matters in this paper, but cannot re-
frain from touching upon a phase of
the early Puritan days. 1t is said that
they were always careful to lay their
work aside at three o'clock saturdays
and make preparations for the Sabbath
On Sunday they went to church twice
. day and listened to sermons two
hours long, joined in singing the
Psalms, land they enjoyed it). The
: tithing-man passed round with his
. staff of Office. On one end of this staff
Q was brass ball and on the other a
tuft of feathers. With the ball he
tapped the heads of the men who fel
asleep, and with. the feathers he tickleG
the faces of the drowsy women, (anG
they enjoyed it).
: The first execution, SO far as records
} show, was held at Charlestown in 1648
Q The accused was charged with witch
u craft, and from that date until 1893 We
K find many cases where others suffered
II Imprisonment and death for similar
q crimes.
In 1860 we note that Virginia elected
d it's first governor by popular vote. Th'
r parsonage so honored was Sir William
IT Berkeley, who afterwards disclaimet
d any authority he owed the electors
d claiming that Charles II. had appointe'
y him governor while he was in exile
g He issued writs for aR a1ssleAly in tn
g name of the king AID VI the mex
y twelve years the colonists had prac
ii tically little or nothing to say in max
D. ing laws. -.
Is In closing, want to refer briefly t
ot the Indians. As mentioned before, the
or did not feel any TOO kindly toward thei
N white brother, and justly 80. It wa
a. case of getting as much as possibl
is from the Indians and giving as littl
"a in return. During the first seventee