The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-09-21

political and econolutc advance stood where had been repression and dis tress. As this was the period in which were trained the men who later sat in the stamp act congness and in the Continental congresses, it's importance should not be measured by the stand ard of conspicuousness. I am well aware there is a growing Gesire on the part of many Americans of culture for information concerning thessocial and economic history of their ancestors, This knowledge has not been without effect upon the chapters herewith submitted
 If any reader of this book wants more minute study of domestic, re- ligious and industrial life in the first half of the eighteenth century than is here given, he will find, in the bi- biographical appendix at the end of the volume, reference to some of the best of the numerous works treating specifically of that phase of the his tory of the period now under con- sideration."
 The Biographical appendix is very copious and furnishes to the investi- gator rich references to specific hand lings of the social and economic his tory of the Carolinians, Virginians, Georgians and New Englarders.
 MT. Avery's work shows that he has the subject we'll in hand that he has a firm grasp upon the huge amount of material necessary to sift and select from in the preparation of this great work. TheAsalient features of each period are being presented in mas terly way. The treatment is marked by a discriminating selection of facts that is most praiseworthy and by 8 lucidity of style that all readers will appreciate.
 Furthermore and worthy of special note in the vast number of portraits, maps colored and otherwise, pictures of historic places and other illustra- tions which greatly embellish the book also the high excellence of the book making Itself
 Concerning the immortal episode of the Connecticut charter and Charter | Oak, the author says:
 Although the writs that Randolph served on Governor Treat had failed, Andros went to Hartford tto demand the Connecticut charter. The sub- mission of the colony had been as- sumed, as already explained. The governor general was at the head of troop of soldiers and the general court was in session. According to an interesting story in support of which there is no contemporary writ l ing, there was much debate with many protests-probably as had been i prearranged. An excited crowd gathered in and about the building, night drew on, and candles were lighted. When Andros finally de- manded that the charter be put back into it's box and given to him, a puff i of wind put out the lights. When the candles were relighted, the char ter could not be found. Andros had 1 been defeated with a breath.
 Andros seems to have made no complaint against the colonial off1ci- als; if he no longer had charter to suppress, Connecticut no longer had i a charter to which she might appeal. 1 On the following day he proclaimed 1 his commission. When within two years, Andros fell, the missing chart- CT came from it's hiding-place and ] Connecticut promptly restored her old magistrates to place and power. Just
 where and by whom it was preserved
 cannot now be told with certainty, The most popular of several stories is that Captain Joseph Wadsworth con
 cealed it in hollow oak. Years later,
 public money was voted to him for
 saving the charter when "our consti-
 tuition was struck at" The famous
 charter oak" was blown down in
 1856 but, as oaks from acorns grow,
 the city of Hartford to-day distributes
 little charter oaks" and certif1es to I the pedigree. The Rhode Island and
 Connecticut charters not having been
 surrendered, the law officers of the
 crown held that they were still good
 and valid All attempts to destroy
 them had failed and of the attempts
 that were later made none were suc-
 cessful. Although the New England
 confederacy had been long time feeble
 and was now dead, it had worked a
 new idea into the political system of
 the English colonies in Anerica-the
 combination of local self government
 and union.