HUGUENOT HOME LIFE IN AMERICA 109 



Huguenots had been prosperous in France, and not a few strong 

 had been wealthy and influential noblemen and citizens, '*'^' 



not many bad been able to take much money away with 

 them — the circumstances of their flight precluded that ; 

 but they had all brought energy, industry, thrift, and 

 power of endurance, as well as that truly delightful 

 birthright of their nation, an invincible lightness of 

 heart, while many of them also possessed skill in some 

 hitherto peculiarly French handicraft, or in mechanical 

 methods of unusual scope ; and others had equally high 

 talent in the professions, in trade, and in civil affairs. 



Like the Plymouth Pilgrims, the Huguenots came with- 

 out any backing of national trade or class interest ; but a Mixed 

 while the first came to preserve civil and religious rights, °'"""°' 

 the latter were exiles who had lost their rights and fled 

 for life, and were of all social grades, embracing a few 

 noblemen, a larger number of the class of gentlemen, or 

 the lesser nobility, and professional men, merchants, 

 bankers, manufacturers and artisans. In spite of previ- 

 ous social conditioiis, the oneness of the French was a 

 wonder to the English and Dutch, who kindly welcomed 

 them. The persecuted were bound together by a com- 

 mon blood, language, peril and faith. In their little 

 settlement at New Rochelle there was for many years as 

 near an approach to apostolic ways of living as has been 

 seen, probably, since apostolic days. They had all things 

 in common, cared for their own poor, and formed a 

 brotherhood such as Christianity was intended to produce 

 the world over. Every household became a little indus- 

 trial colony. Those who had never before laboured 

 now learned to do so, and hardships were cheerfully 

 borne. 



Daily life in the Huguenot household was probably less 

 toilsolne than was common among other colonists. In- Thrift and 

 telligent, industrial and resourceful, there was a kind of """p^""^ ■°" 

 co-operation among the French. Equality of living and 

 enjoyment prevailed. The conditions were naturally 



