Evening star., 1942-11-29

Uncle Ray. guilderS in
Dutch money Gn our money about
S24. For this sum they agreed to
give up their rights to Manhattan.
When We think of the value of
land in New York today we cannot
help but smile. We must remember.
though, that the island was largely
made up of forests and marshes
when Gov. Minuit bought it.
Heavy Trade.
The Dutch kept adding to their
town, which at that time was called
New Amsterdam. Barns, lighthouses
and breweries were put up. Here
and there a windmill was built, and
these were the nearest things to
"skyscrapers' which the settlers
knew.
Minuit soon lost his office as Gov
ernor. He then went to Sweden
which was ruled by a Queen. He
told the Queen about the new coun-
try, its rich lands and the chances
Tor FUR trade. Several boatloads of
SWedes were sent to America and
settled in what is now Delaware.
The Dutch were by that time car
rylng on a heavy trade from the
port OF New Amsterdam. In a sin
gle year it amounted to more than
100000 in our money. From this
we see that $24 was a very small
price, after all, to pay for land with
such an important port
Among the animals brought tn
New Amsterdam from Holland were
horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats and
donkeys. Some of the pigs were kept
within the limits of the town. An old
Dutch picture shows one living
peacefully in view. What would hap
pen now II pig ran around down.
town New York?
Powdered Hair.
For long time the people of New
Amsterdam went to church In the
loft OF a mill (where horsepower
was used to grind grain). Later, a
stone church was built, and to it
women came each Sunday wearing
their very best clothes.
The dresses were gay in color
RED and blue being among the COM
mon shades. Their stockings were
colored, and their low-cut shoes had
high heels. Silk or taffeta hoods
were worn in place of the week
day bonnets. When a woman took
of her hood one could see that her
hair was powdered.
The men were not to be outdone.
They wore wigs, well powdered. and
long coats with silver buttons. Some
OF the coat pockets were trimmed
with lace. Knee-length breeches
were the fashion, and the richer men
wore shoes with buckles of silver.
The minister was likely to talk
too long. To prevent that an hour
glass was used. When all the sand
ran down, an official of the church
was supposed to tap three times with
his cane. Then the minister would
bring his sermon to close.
Shortly after the sermon men with
long poles would pass through the
church. On the end of each pole
was a black bag to hold coins or
wampum which people might want
to give.
AT one time, enmity Sprang up
between the Governor and the min
lister. The Governor stopped going
to church. and one Sunday he Or
oered soldiers to beat drums and fire
cannon during sermon time.
Square Dances.
Sleigh riding was popular at New
Amsterdam throughout the winter.
Long sleighs were driven beyond
Wall street to Harlem, village con-
tanning about Is houses and an inn.
Inc young men and women in the
parties would stop at the inn and
eat a light supper made up of bread
and hot chocolate. The inn also
gave them place in which to dance
The so-called square dances" were
the only ones permitted.
During mild weather picnics were
popular. Parties of children or
young man and women ventured
northward into the WOODS or to some
spot along the waterside. The
thought Of wild Indians" added a
touch OF adventure to such outings.
For long time children in New
Amsterdam had no school to which
they could go. Their days were spent
playing or working at tasks set bv
the elders. Now and then a father
taught his child bit of reading
ana writing, but the general Gus
tom was to let children grow up
without book knowledge.
Many parents began to complain
They said their children had a
right to go to school. At last a
teacher was inVted over from Hol-
land and was paid a salary amount
Ing to about 5000 year. That was
good wage for those times