agriculture, trade and manufacturing, led to a form of inquisitiveness that astonished and angered foreigners.  Late in the eighteenth century even Americans began to notice this proverbial Yankee trait.  Samuel Peters, writing in 1781 in his General History of Connecticut, said:  “After a short acquaintance they become very familiar and inquisitive about news.  ’Who are you, whence come you, where going, what is your business, and what your religion?’ They do not consider these and similar questions as impertinent, and consequently expect a civil answer.  When the stranger has satisfied their curiosity they will treat him with all the hospitality in their power.”

Fisher in his Men, Women, & Manners in Colonial Times declares:  “A ...  Virginian who had been much in New England in colonial times used to relate that as soon as he arrived at an inn he always summoned the master and mistress, the servants and all the strangers who were about, made a brief statement of his life and occupation, and having assured everybody that they could know no more, asked for his supper; and Franklin, when travelling in New England, was obliged to adopt the same plan."[165]

Old Judge Sewall, a typical specimen of the better class Puritan, certainly possessed a kindly curiosity about his neighbors’ welfare, and many are his references to visits to the sick or dying, or to attendance at funerals.  While there were no great balls nor brilliant fetes, as in the South, his Diary emphatically proves that there were many pleasant visits and dinner parties and a great deal of the inevitable courting.  Thus, we note the following: 

“Tuesday, January 12.  I dine at the Governour’s:  where Mr. West, Governour of Carolina, Capt.  Blackwell, his Wife and Daughter, Mr. Morgan, his Wife and Daughter Mrs. Brown, Mr. Eliakim Hutchinson and Wife....  Mrs. Mercy sat not down, but came in after dinner well dressed and saluted the two Daughters.  Madm Bradstreet and Blackwell sat at the upper end together, Governour at the lower end."[166]

“Dec. 20, 1676 ...  Mrs. Usher lyes very sick of an Inflammation in the Throat....  Called at her House coming home to tell Mr. Fosterling’s Receipt, i.e.  A Swallows Nest (the inside) stamped and applied to the throat outwardly."[167]

“Satterday, June 5th, 1686.  I rode to Newbury, to see my little Hull, and to keep out of the way of the Artillery Election, on which day eat Strawberries and Cream with Sister Longfellow at the Falls."[168]

“Monday, July 11.  I hire Ems’s Coach in the Afternoon, wherein Mr. Hez.  Usher and his wife, and Mrs. Bridget her daughter, my Self and wife ride to Roxbury, visit Mr. Dudley, and Mr. Eliot, the Father who blesses them.  Go and sup together at the Grayhound Tavern with boil’d Bacon and rost Fowls.  Came home between 10 and 11 brave Moonshine, were hinder’d an hour or two by Mr. Usher, else had been in