The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-03-03
COLONIAL BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS.
BY ALDINE REED.

The thirteen colonies of America inhabited by many
naonates. The English predominated although there
was large Dutch element in New York, well Scotch
rish Germans and Huguenots thcky scattered throughout
the colonies Each nation endeavored to maintain its
beliefs and CUSTOMS which easily accomplished
municaton very difficult The classes OF society
clearly marked and matters Of social position much
more important than The lowest class included all the
negroes while the second composed of the white
laborer bond The merchants traders farmers
and In fact the majority of the coonss next to the
highest class which consisted of the nobility wealthy plant
and educated men.
The wealthy settlers lived In large mansions built of i'm
ported brick nshed with the elegance OF the
houses of England while the ordinary colonial home
was rude log cabin frame building The early cabins
had oiled paper in the windows nsteadof glass; and aow
candles whaleo lamps lighted the dwellings at night
The floors often sared and marked of in ornamental
figures while the carpets served coverings for the table
cupboard 1t customary to have only certain number
Of the various articles in each room such chests stools
and perhaps the luxury OF chair But matter how
attractive the exterior how scany furnished Within
these humble homes had redeeming feature In he great
Fireplace around which the gathered during the long
winter evenings reading books telling stores while the
mothers and daughters sat spinning orperorming
other domestic duty.
Often these merry groups interrupted by
senger announcing the approach of Indians by the firing
of three successive Shots another signal of danger Then
the family would quietly gather the most necessary things
and hurry along the dark paths the block house, place of
refuge for the people miles around At first the white
armor and defended himself with machlocks and
spears but later he used the intock During the winter
the soldier of the north woe snowshoes in pursuing the
savages The cautious coons learned many traits which
baf1ed even the cunning Indian The went church
armed the minister delivered his discourse with musket by
his sde while sentinel kept watch the door In old New
England they sowed grain the graves lest the Indians
would notice how manyhad pershed and advantage
their weakness
New England the first place make any advance
ments In the line OF education and the founding Of school
at Boston the beginning Of the system Of the public
schools Children were sent at an early and while the
boys taught reading writing and arithmetic the girls
carefully instructed in domestic duties The school
usually paid in grain and the parents supplied
half cord of wood for the school house fire. II this wood
promptly furnished the child suffered by being
allowed 60 the fire. Then the school did not
believe spelling the pupils for he ercey frequently
used the rod and ferue while other chasemens
inflicted such Sitting turned upside down with
the thumb knot the floor" balancing on a one
legged school In later years many schools and colleges we're
founded for the children but the wealthy planters continued
to employ tutors for their
An interesting feature their Dress which usually
termned their social standing The nobility followed the
fashions of England, the wearing wigs, rich velvet
coats and kneebreeche and the dressing quaint
and fancy gowns OF silk and lace The hair pow
dered and arranged in pus cur style consisting of
thirteen curs at the neck in honor Of the thirteen COL
onies Later the ower" very elaborate head gear and
the facepatches Of much Importance The Puritans
however, forbade the wearing of costly apparel fought
stouy against the long hair Their gowned
in stiff long wasted bodices with kerche at throat
and becoming skirts while their hair cut straight
across the forehead like modern bangs The workmen
leather, deerskin clothing.
During the first century Of colonial e people cared little
for any form OF amusement but gradually their lives
cheered by the spinning bees hukiug and quilting parties
In the southern colonies foxhutng and horseracng
the favore sports while the Dutch settlers in New York
delighted in skating and coasting Dancing cardplaying
and even smoking strongly opposed in New England
but not entirely suppressed Even the invitations to
the balls and dinners written the backs OF playing
cards To be invited to the ball considered
honor 1t the greatest OF the year. Much time
spent in preparation that each one might make
pleasing appearance 1t furnished the subject of
tion for many weeks AFTER Other fashionable diversions
tespsre picncs lectures the olden time singing
school,
In the old colony days greater i'll could beai an adult
than to be unmarried What could do in the new
settlements among the unbroken forests without husband
How could man live without housewife? Offers of home
lots made to the bachelors nducement for them
to marry They watched constantly like some criminal
and held in dsavor by the entire neighborhood So
the coonists married young and oen while the Wild
and widowers hastened into wedlock. Then again
young in danger Of fines the whipping post he
c0urted without the parents permission but the
mont had been permitted then 1t late parent
iBterfere.
Religious worship played important part in the lie Of