Colonial Days In Old New York

Excerpt: "e;This book should perhaps have been "e;intituled"e; Colonial Days in New Netherland, for much of the life described herein was in the days of Dutch rule.

But it was New Netherland for scarce half a century, and the name is half-forgotten, though it remained, both in outer life and in heart, a Dutch colonie, even when the province was New York and an English governor had control.

In New Netherland, as in every place where the Dutch plant a colony, as in South Africa to-day, Dutch ways, Dutch notions, the Dutch tongue lingered long.

To this day, Dutch influence and Dutch traits, as well as Dutch names, are ever present and are a force in New York life.

Fair and beautiful lay the broad harbor centuries ago before the eyes of Hendrick Hudson and his sea-weary men; a "e;pleasant place"e; was Manhattan; "e;'t lange eylandt was the pearel of New Nederland;"e; the noble river, the fertile shores, all seemed to the discoverers and to the early colonists to smile a welcome and a promise of happy homes.

Still to-day the bay, the islands, the river, the shores welcome with the same promise.

In grateful thanks for that welcome and for the fulfilment of that promise of old,-for more years of life in New York than were spent in my birth-place in New England,-and in warm affection for my many friends of Dutch descent, have I-to use the words of Rabelais-"e;adjoined these words and testimony for the honour I bear to antiquity."e;"e;