the quaker colonies-第4节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　only　two　years。


Chapter　III。　Life　In　Philadelphia

The　rapid　increase　of　population　and　the　growing　prosperity　in　Pennsylvania　during　the　life　of　its　founder　present　a　striking　contrast　to　the　slower　and　more　troubled　growth　of　the　other　British　colonies　in　America。　The　settlers　in　Pennsylvania　engaged　at　once　in　profitable　agriculture。　The　loam；　clay；　and　limestone　soils　on　the　Pennsylvania　tide　of　the　Delaware　produced　heavy　crops　of　grain；　as　well　as　pasture　for　cattle　and　valuable　lumber　from　its　forests。　The　Pennsylvania　settlers　were　of　a　class　particularly　skilled　in　dealing　with　the　soil。　They　apparently　encountered　none　of　the　difficulties；　due　probably　to　incompetent　farming；　which　beset　the　settlers　of　Delaware；　whose　land　was　as　good　as　that　of　the　Pennsylvania　colonists。

In　a　few　years　the　port　of　Philadelphia　was　loading　abundant　cargoes　for　England　and　the　great　West　India　trade。　After　much　experimenting　with　different　places　on　the　river；　such　as　New　Castle；　Wilmington；　Salem；　Burlington；　the　Quakers　had　at　last　found　the　right　location　for　a　great　seat　of　commerce　and　trade　that　could　serve　as　a　center　for　the　export　of　everything　from　the　region　behind　it　and　around　it。　Philadelphia　thus　soon　became　the　basis　of　a　prosperity　which　no　other　townsite　on　the　Delaware　had　been　able　to　attain。　The　Quakers　of　Philadelphia　were　the　soundest　of　financiers　and　men　of　business；　and　in　their　skillful　hands　the　natural　resources　of　their　colony　were　developed　without　setback　or　accident。　At　an　early　date　banking　institutions　were　established　in　Philadelphia；　and　the　strongest　colonial　merchants　and　mercantile　firms　had　their　offices　there。　It　was　out　of　such　a　sound　business　life　that　were　produced　in　Revolutionary　times　such　characters　as　Robert　Morris　and　after　the　Revolution　men　like　Stephen　Girard。

Pennsylvania　in　colonial　times　was　ruled　from　Philadelphia　somewhat　as　France　has　always　been　ruled　from　Paris。　And　yet　there　was　a　difference：　Pennsylvania　had　free　government。　The　Germans　and　the　Scotch…Irish　outnumbered　the　Quakers　and　could　have　controlled　the　Legislature；　for　in　1750　out　of　a　population　of　150；000　the　Quakers　were　only　about　50；000；　and　yet　the　Legislature　down　to　the　Revolution　was　always　confided　to　the　competent　hands　of　the　Quakers。　No　higher　tribute；　indeed；　has　ever　been　paid　to　any　group　of　people　as　governors　of　a　commonwealth　and　architects　of　its　finance　and　trade。

It　is　a　curious　commentary　on　the　times　and　on　human　nature　that　these　Quaker　folk；　treated　as　outcasts　and　enemies　of　good　order　and　religion　in　England　and　gradually　losing　all　their　property　in　heavy　fines　and　confiscations；　should　so　suddenly　in　the　wilderness　prove　the　capacity　of　their　〃Holy　Experiment〃　for　achieving　the　best　sort　of　good　order　and　material　success。　They　immediately　built　a　most　charming　little　town　by　the　waterside；　snug　and　pretty　with　its　red　brick　houses　in　the　best　architectural　style。　It　was　essentially　a　commercial　town　down　to　the　time　of　the　Revolution　and　long　afterwards。　The　principal　residences　were　on　Water　Street；　the　second　street　from　the　wharves。　The　town　in　those　days　extended　back　only　as　far　as　Fourth　Street；　and　the　State　House；　now　Independence　Hall；　an　admirable　instance　of　the　local　brick　architecture；　stood　on　the　edge　of　the　town。　The　Pennsylvania　Hospital；　the　first　institution　of　its　kind　to　be　built　in　America；　was　situated　out　in　the　fields。

Through　the　town　ran　a　stream　following　the　line　of　the　present　Dock　Street。　Its　mouth　had　been　a　natural　landing　place　for　the　first　explorers　and　for　the　Indians　from　time　immemorial。　Here　stood　a　neat　tavern；　the　Blue　Anchor；　with　its　dovecotes　in　old　English　style；　looking　out　for　many　a　year　over　the　river　with　its　fleet　of　small　boats。　Along　the　wharves　lay　the　very　solid；　broad；　somber；　Quaker…like　brick　warehouses；　some　of　which　have　survived　into　modern　times。　Everywhere　were　to　be　found　ships　and　the　good　seafaring　smell　of　tar　and　hemp。　Ships　were　built　and　fitted　out　alongside　docks　where　other　ships　were　lading。　A　privateer　would　receive　her　equipment　of　guns；　pistols；　and　cutlasses　on　one　side　of　a　wharf；　while　on　the　other　side　a　ship　was　peacefully　loading　wheat　or　salted　provisions　for　the　West　Indies。

Everybody's　attention　in　those　days　was　centered　on　the　water　instead　of　inland　on　railroads　as　it　is　today。　Commerce　was　the　source　of　wealth　of　the　town　as　agriculture　was　the　wealth　of　the　interior　of　the　province。　Every　one　lived　close　to　the　river　and　had　an　interest　in　the　rise　and　fall　of　the　tide。　The　little　town　extended　for　a　mile　along　the　water　but　scarcely　half　a　mile　back　from　it。　All　communication　with　other　places；　all　news　from　the　world　of　Europe　came　from　the　ships；　whose　captains　brought　the　letters　and　the　few　newspapers　which　reached　the　colonists。　An　important　ship　on　her　arrival　often　fired　a　gun　and　dropped　anchor　with　some　ceremony。　Immediately　the　shore　boats　swarmed　to　her　side；　the　captain　was　besieged　for　news　and　usually　brought　the　letters　ashore　to　be　distributed　at　the　coffeehouse。　This　institution　took　the　place　of　the　modern　stock　exchange；　clearing　house；　newspaper；　university；　club；　and　theater　all　under　one　roof；　with　plenty　to　eat　and　drink　besides。　Within　its　rooms　vessels　and　cargoes　were　sold；　before　its　door　negro　slaves　were　auctioned　off；　and　around　it　as　a　common　center　were　brought　together　all　sorts　of　business；　valuable　information；　gossip；　and　scandal。　It　must　have　been　a　brilliant　scene　in　the　evening；　with　the　candles　lighting　embroidered　red　and　yellow　waistcoats；　blue　and　scarlet　Coats；　green　and　black　velvet；　with　the　rich　drab　and　mouse　color　of　the　prosperous　Quakers　contrasting　with　the　uniforms　of　British　officers　come　to　fight　the　French　and　Indian　wars。　Sound；　as　well　as　color；　had　its　place　in　this　busy　and　happy　colonial　life。　Christ　Church；　a　brick　building　which　still　stands　the　perfection　of　colonial　architecture　had　been　established　by　the　Church　of　England　people　defiantly　in　the　midst　of　heretical　Quakerdom。　It　soon　possessed　a　chime　of　bells　sent　out　from　England。　Captain　Budden；　who　brought　them　in　his　ship　Myrtilla；　would　charge　no　freight　for　so　charitable　a　deed；　and　in　consequence　of　his　generosity　every　time　he　and　his　ship　appeared　in　the　harbor　the　bells　were　rung　in　his　honor。　They　were　rung　on　market　days　to　please　the　farmers　who　came　into　town　with　their　wagons　loaded　with　poultry　and　vegetables。　They　were　rung　muffled　in　times　of　public　disaster　and　were　kept　busy　in　that　way　in　the　French　and　Indian　wars。　They　were　also　rung　muffled　for　Franklin　when　it　was　learned　that　while　in　London　he　had　favored　the　Stamp　Acta　means　of　expressing　popular　opinion　which　the　newspapers　subsequently　put　out　of　date。

The　severe　Quaker　code　of　conduct　and　peaceful　contemplation　contains　no　prohibition　against　good　eating　and　drinking。　Quakers　have　been　known　to　have　the　gout。　The　opportunities　in　Philadelphia　to　enjoy　the　pleasures　of　the　table　were　soon　unlimited。　Farm；　garden；　and　dairy　products；　vegetables；　poultry；　beef；　and　mutton　were　soon　produced　in　immense　quantity　and　variety　and　of　excellent　quality。　John　Adams；　coming　from　the　〃plain　living　and　high　thinking〃　of　Boston　to　attend　the　first　meeting　of　the　Continental　Congress　in　Philadelphia；　was　invited　to　dine　with　Stephen　Collins；　a　typical　Quaker；　and　was　amazed　at　the　feast　set　before　him。　From　that　time　his　diary　records　one　after　another　of　these　〃sinful　feasts；〃　as　he　calls　them。　But　the　sin　at　which　he　thus　looks　askance　never　seems　to　have　withheld　him　from　a　generous　indulgence。　〃Drank　Madeira　at　a　great　rate；〃　he　says　on　one　occasion；　〃and　took　no　harm　from　it。〃　Madeira　obtained　in　the　trade　with　Spain　was　the　popular　drink　even　at　the　taverns。　Various　forms　of　punch　and　rum　were　common；　but　the　modern　light　wines　and　champagne　were　not　then　in　vogue。

Food　in　great　quantity　and　variety　seems　to　have　been　placed　on　the　table　at　the　same　time；　with　little　regard　to　formal　courses。　Beef；　poultry；　and　mutton　would　all　be　served　at　one　dinner。　Fruit　and　nuts　were　placed　on　the　table　in　profusion；　as　well　as　puddings　and　desserts　numerous　and　deadly。　Dinners　were　served　usually　in　the　afternoon。　The　splendid　banquet　which　Adams　describes　as　given　to　some　members　of　the　Continental　Congress　by　Chief　Justice　Chew　at　his　country　seat　was　held　at　four　in　the　afternoon。　The　dinner　hour　was　still　in　the　afternoon　long　after　the　Revolution　and　down　to　the　times　of　the　Civil　War。　Other　relics　of　this　old　love　of　good　living　lasted　into　modern　times。　It　was　not　so　very　long　ago　that　an　occasional　householder　of　wealth　and　distinction　in　Philadelphia　could　still　be　found　who　insisted　on　doing　his　own　marketing　in　the　old　way；　going　himself　the　first　thing　in　the　morning　on　certain　days　to　the　excellent　markets　and　purchasing　all　the　family　supplies。　Philadelphia　poultry　is　still　famous　the　country　over；　and　to　be　a　good　judge　of　poultry　was　in　the　old　days　as　much　a　point　of　merit　as　to　be　a　good　judge　of　Madeira。　A　typical　Philadelphian；　envious　New　Yorkers　say；　will　still　keep　a　line　of　depositors　waiting　at　a　bank　while　he　discourses　to　the　receiving　teller　on　what　a　splendid　purchase