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 BY JOEL H. ROSS, M. D., 
 
 AUTHOR OF ''HINTS 4- HELPS TO HEALTH 4- HAP PINES S,''> ^c 
 
 AUBURN, N. Y. : 
 
 DERBY & MILLER, 
 
 185 1. 
 
 
tr «^ - 
 
 n-2.8 
 
 3osj.^ 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851., 
 
 By JOEL H. ROSS, M. D. 
 
 In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States of the Southern 
 District of New-York. 
 
 
 
 
 n 
 
PIIEFACE. 
 
 The author, in holding up to view a brief outline 
 of" City Sights" and scenes, would acknowledge his 
 indebtedness to those individuals who have so kindly 
 contributed to the accomplishment of his object ; 
 while he would not forget the Press, that ever pro- 
 lific source of sights and sounds from whence many 
 appropriate and useful hints have been derived for 
 the present occasion. 
 
 The reader is doubtless aware that it often requires 
 much more labor, to present facts than fiction. 
 And, that it is not unfrequently more difficult still, 
 to make the former so acceptable as the latter. 
 This may be emphatically true, in regard to the 
 following volume ; as a less flattering account of 
 civic advantages, than some may naturally expect, 
 must be given, if the dark side of the picture is not 
 to be altogether concealed. 
 
 In presenting a variety of topics which must neces- 
 sarily embrace objects more or less attractive and re- 
 pulsive, new and old, good and bad ; the author does 
 not aim or care to observe any very nice arrange- 
 ment of subjects, while he is well aware that he has 
 left altogether unnoticed many interesting appen- 
 dages of New- York. 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 Perhaps some may be little interested in the 
 statistics herein embraced, while it is presumed that 
 to others such information will be the most welcome. 
 
 Moreover, the author has possibly moralized a 
 little too much to harmonize with the taste of some ; 
 but the reader will be reminded that the writer begs 
 to be excused from asking when to obey the injunc- 
 tion, " Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with 
 him," or " Woe to the wicked, it shall be ill with him." 
 For each and all, however, he has endeavored to 
 collect a variety of matter, and to the majority it is 
 hoped that it will be acceptable. 
 
 But, whether too grave or too humorous, to brief 
 or too diffuse, too checkered or too plain — whether 
 too much or too little method has been observed—in 
 short, whatever may be its faults or its merits ; to 
 give a bird's eye view of city life (though to a limited 
 extent) as it exists in New- York, is the design of the 
 work, without intending to encumber the reader with 
 the rubbish o^ fancy ^ presuming that plain, unvar- 
 mshedi facts ^ if any thing, are wanted, and especially 
 by those who reside out of town. These, to say the 
 least, have been obtained at no inconsiderable pains, 
 and no little satisfaction ; and the pleasure which 
 the writer has experienced in their collation, it is 
 hoped may be correspondingly enjoyed by the reader. 
 
 32 Amity-street, 
 
 New-York, 1851, 
 
INDEX 
 
 
 
 
 Page. 
 
 Alms' 
 
 House Department, 
 
 , , 
 
 . Ill 
 
 Asylum, Lunatic, 
 
 • • 
 
 117 
 
 « 
 
 Orphan, 
 
 • • 
 
 . 283 
 
 a 
 
 Colored Orphan, 
 
 • • 
 
 119 
 
 a 
 
 Half 
 
 , , 
 
 . 284 
 
 a 
 
 for the Blind, . 
 
 • 
 
 289 
 
 a 
 
 '•' Deaf and Dumb, 
 
 , , 
 
 . 293 
 
 Amer 
 
 lean Bible Society, 
 
 , , 
 
 261 
 
 (( 
 
 Home i\ii8sionary Society 
 
 . 265 
 
 a 
 
 Tract Society, 
 
 
 268 
 
 u 
 
 Museum, 
 
 
 . 184 
 
 « 
 
 Institute, 
 
 
 185 
 
 a 
 
 Art-Union, 
 
 
 . 189 
 
 Am MS 
 
 ements, 
 
 
 183 
 
 a 
 
 Importance of, 
 
 
 • 75 
 
 Amusing Hospital Operation, . 
 
 
 125 
 
 Allan 
 
 :ic Forge, 
 
 
 . 206 
 
 Beggar, Colored Female, 
 
 
 44 
 
 «i 
 
 " Blind, . 
 
 
 . 48 
 
 (( 
 
 Polite, 
 
 
 57 
 
 a 
 
 Juvenile, 
 
 
 . 60 
 
 (( 
 
 Boarding Houses, 
 
 
 63 
 
 Blind 
 
 Sailor, .... 
 
 
 . 51 
 
 Begging for the Temperance Pledge, . 
 
 99 
 
 Bellevue Hospilal, . 
 
 • • 
 
 • 114 
 
VI 
 
 [NDEX. 
 
 Broadwa}', . 
 
 Bright Spots, 
 
 Brown Stone-cutters, , 
 
 Bad Beginning, 
 
 Bible Society House, , 
 
 " Translation of, 
 
 " Total Number of, 
 
 " Importance of, 
 City Hall, . 
 Custom House, 
 City Functionaries, 
 Croton Water Department, 
 Chimney Sweep, 
 Cow Bay, 
 City Prisons, 
 Colored Home, 
 City Hospital, 
 Country Citizens, advice to, 
 Changes for the better, 
 Cand}', too much. 
 Challenge for the World, . . 
 College of Physicians and Surgeons, 
 Churches, ..... 
 Columbia College, 
 Dispensaries, public, 
 Dreams not realized, 
 Dissertation on Matrimony, 
 Dandy on Horseback, 
 Diversity of Circumstances, 
 Death-bed Scenes, . 
 
 '* of a Stranger, 
 
 " of a remarkable boy. 
 
rXDEX. 
 
 vu 
 
 Directories imperfect, . 
 
 Eye and Ear Infirmary, 
 
 Exchange of houses, 
 
 Fire Department, 
 
 First Lesson, 
 
 Five Points, 
 
 Fond of Change, 
 
 Foolsbane, 
 
 Feeding the World, 
 
 Foreign Missions, 
 
 Gambling, 
 
 Great Attraction, 
 
 Gas Works, 
 
 Greenwood Cemetery, 
 
 Hints to Females, 
 
 Hard Luck, 
 
 House-keepers, 
 
 Hard Question, 
 
 Harper & Brothers' Publishing 
 
 Impostor, 
 
 Intelligence-Office, 
 
 Juvenile Street-sweepers, 
 
 Journey by Candle-light, 
 
 Lamps, 
 
 Lottery-Office, 
 
 Lustre, 
 
 Literary Institutions, 
 
 " and Medical Colleges, 
 
 Libraries, 
 
 Library, Mercantile, 
 
 " New- York Society, 
 " '* Historical, 
 
Vlll 
 
 INI5EX. 
 
 Lil)rary, Astor, 
 
 Merchants' Exchange, 
 
 Monied Institutions, 
 
 Milk Statistics, 
 
 May-Day, 
 
 JMoiive Power, 
 
 Manufactory of R. Hoe & Co., 
 
 Methodist Book Concern, 
 
 Method of Instructing the Deaf and Dumb 
 
 Manual Alphabet, 
 
 Nursery Establishment, 
 
 New-York Musquitoes, 
 
 Novelty Works, 
 
 New- Years, 
 
 Omnibuses, 
 
 Old Match Factor}^, 
 
 " Brewery, 
 Organization for the Poor, 
 Parks, 
 Pavements, 
 
 Population of the City, 
 Public Buildings, 
 Post-Oftice, 
 Police Department, 
 Penitentiary, 
 
 *' Hospital, 
 Parties, 
 Pyramid, 
 Pests, 
 
 Pork-makers, , 
 
 Press, 
 
 " Cylinder, 
 
INDP.X. 
 
 IX 
 
 Professions and callings, 
 Periodicals, 
 Rag-Pickers, . 
 Rum, effects of, . 
 Reckless Driving, . 
 Running the Gantlet, . • 
 
 Religious Societies, • 
 
 Railroads, . . . • 
 Streets, . . . 
 
 " Cleaning, . 
 Sireet Benevolence, • 
 
 Sugar Discipline, 
 Sold to the Devil, 
 Schools. Common, . » 
 
 Stretching Conscience, 
 Studjdng Human Nature, . 
 Subject for Barnum, 
 Splendors of the Greenhouse, 
 Scene in an Omnibus, 
 Street Impediments, 
 Shoe-shop, . • 
 
 Specimens of Names, . 
 Seminary, Theological General, 
 
 " ' " Union, 
 
 The Town, 
 Thoroughfares, 
 The Tombs, . . 
 
 Temperance in the Old Brewery, 
 Cow Bay, 
 Meeting, 
 Trying to be a Nabob, 
 
 78, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Theatres, 183 
 
 Tract House, 268 
 
 University of the City of New- York, , .251 
 
 Unparalleled Store, 177 
 
 Vehicles, if)5 
 
 Valuable Cargo, ..... 165 
 
 Victims to Folly, 311 
 
 Washington Market, 195 
 
 What I saw in Church, .... 256 
 
WHAT I SAW IN WEAV-YORK. 
 
 Extremes, in success and defeat, health and dis- 
 ease, wealth and poverty*, comfort and misery, plenty 
 and beggary, every day and every where abound. 
 
 But in many respects the contrast is greater in 
 civic than in rural districts. Hence it is proper, and 
 may not be unprofitable to look at some of the lines 
 which daily events are drawing upon the canvass 
 and holding up to view in the checkered scene of city 
 life. 
 
 It is often said, that, " One half of the v/orld don't 
 know how the other half live." A true saying in- 
 deed. But it is truth half told. The sentiment of 
 this maxim may with the utmost propriety be ap- 
 plied to the smallest town, and frequently to a single 
 household. 
 
 With this fact in mind, we sometimes feel inclined 
 to turn aside to take a lesson from those whose for- 
 tune has been better or worse than our own, that we 
 may learn to pity the unfortunate — imitate the wise 
 and good, and shun the doom of the foolish and 
 miserable. 
 
 This inclination, and a discharge of professional 
 duties, have led me hither and thither, through parks 
 
12 THE TOWxV. 
 
 and mansions, through streets and lanes, through 
 courts and alleys, through huts and hovels — by re- 
 quest and leave, by day and night, by moon-light and 
 star-light, by lamp-light and gas-ligh!:, and by little 
 or no light at all, to take a glimpse at men and 
 things, as opportunity allowed, or necessity compel- 
 led. 
 
 In presenting a brief history of " What I saw in 
 New-York," I shall not bo expected to embrace in 
 one small volume everything of interest that may be 
 seen in so great a city, even in a single day. 
 
 Neither is it to be presumed that all will be alike 
 interested in the matter herein presented : for every 
 reader will naturally expect, or, at least, desire in« 
 formation on such subjects as harmonize with his 
 own particular taste, and interest. 
 
 Hoping however to gratify some, and offend none, 
 the writer ventures to present a few gleanings of the 
 city, and in doing so he will be obliged to trouble 
 the reader with many things which he heard, as w^ell 
 as those which he saw, and some which he neither 
 heard nor saw. 
 
 THE TOWN. 
 
 The city is situated on Manhattan, or New- York 
 Island, which is bounded on the West by the Hudson 
 or North River ; on the South by the capacious and 
 beautiful Harbor ; on the East by the East River ; 
 and on the North by Harlem River and Spuyten 
 Duyvel Creek. The Island, in its longest diameter, 
 
THE TOWX. 13 
 
 is about thirteen miles, with an average breadth of 
 nearly two miles. 
 
 It is said, that, as early as 1614, four houses were 
 erected on this Island by the Dutch, who carried on 
 a successful trade in furs with the natives. The 
 southern portion of the Island was settled first, and 
 still remains the central point of business. 
 
 From the southern extremity, the city has extend- 
 ed up the Island four or five miles, with a pretty 
 dense population. The remaining portion is more or 
 less improved and settled. The population of the 
 city in 1656, was 1,000. In 1850, about 520,000, and 
 in 1860 will probably be, including Brooklyn and 
 Williamsburgh, at least 1,000,000, as the whole 
 population of these places now amounts to about 
 700,000. 
 
 Probably the day will come when New- York will 
 have outstripped all the cities of the old, as she has 
 already those of the new world. The vast increase 
 of 149,000 during the last quinquennial period, may 
 fill some with surprise. But it will be remembered 
 that 212,796 aliens arrived at this port in 1850, m.any 
 of whom prefer to submit to poor fare in town, than 
 to live on the fat of the land in rural districts. 
 
 The number of buildings, erected during the past 
 year, though not as great as in some previous years, 
 is between two and three thousand, and probably of 
 better quality than any preceding year has exhibited, 
 with some few exceptions. 
 
 The last year was also a year of comparative 
 health; the deaths being about 17,000, while the 
 
14 STREETS. 
 
 preceding 3'ear presented '• ghastly bills of mortality," 
 amounting to nearly 24,000. 
 
 STREETS. 
 
 The lower part of the cit}'- has a few narrow zig- 
 zag cow-path streets, imitating somewhat our sister 
 city at the East. But they are less crooked, and 
 fewer of them. The upper part of the town is well 
 laid out, all the streets being straight, running in 
 parallel lines, and at right angles to those they cross. 
 
 There are fifteen noble Avenues, running parallel 
 to each other through a good portion of the upper 
 part of the city, most of which extend to the north- 
 ern extremity of the Island ; and these avenues are 
 100 feet wide and 800 feet apart. 
 
 Below 34th-street, we have 200 miles of paved 
 streets, and this district embraces the most of the 
 paved streets in town. The whole number of streets 
 laid out, many of which are unopened, amount to 
 409, the aggregate length of which is about 500 
 miles. The streets are generally paved with round 
 cobble stone, at an expense of about fifty cents per 
 square yard. 
 
 Wooden pavements have been tried, by' setting 
 blocks, about ten inches square, on the ends. But 
 they soon wear out and rot, and are laid aside. Any 
 man who can invent such a method of paving as to 
 preserve a smooth, unbroken, durable surface, at a 
 low price, will be sure of reaping a rich reward. 
 By a smooth pavement, we don't mean smooth enough 
 for skating. This is the great objection to a certain 
 
STREETS. 15 
 
 form of pavement recently introduced, of which we 
 will speak in a moment. There is too much skating 
 on it, and the greatest fault found with it is, that the 
 horses can't stand on their skates. 
 
 Neither would we have our pavements rough 
 enough to lead the traveller to suppose, as he rides 
 along in his sulky, that by some means or other he 
 has got one wheel on the top of the " Blue Ridge," 
 and the other wheel on the crest of the " Alleghany 
 Mountains." 
 
 But as cobble stone pavements are alwa3^s getting 
 out of repair, and especially in great thoroughfares ; 
 and are withal a little too rough, I must speak of a 
 new form which is called the " Russ Pavement," 
 named after Horace P. Russ, Esq., who first intro- 
 duced it, and which seems to be the best that we 
 have yet hit upon. But its great expense renders its 
 introduction rather tardy, and it has hitherto been so 
 smooth as to render it unsafe for horses under certain 
 circumstances. A new feature however has just 
 been introduced to prevent the evil spoken of 
 
 As this pavement is somewhat rare, at least in this 
 country, a brief description of its construction may 
 interest some of my readers. 
 
 The ground is first excavated to the depth of 
 about eighteen inches, after which a layer of broken 
 stone is rammed down. The street is then divided 
 off into sections, about six feet wide, by placing 
 strips of yellow pine boards that distance apart, run- 
 ning parallel with the street. These boards are six 
 inches wide, and are set up on the edge. The object 
 of the sections is, to increase the facilities for taking 
 
16 STREETS. 
 
 up a portion of the pavement without disturbing the 
 rest, in case the bursting of a Croton water or gas 
 pipe should render it necessary. 
 
 When this part is completed, these spaces are fill- 
 ed level with the top edges of said boards, with 
 what they call " concrete.''^ It consists of broken 
 stone, sand, gravel, and h3'draulic cement. This 
 constitutes the principal foundation, the top of which 
 is made as level as possible, and to perfect this, a 
 thin layer of sand is spread over its surface. Upon 
 this foundation are then placed the paving stones, 
 which are square blocks of Trap^ a species of rock 
 resembling granite, though much harder. These 
 blocks are all 10 inches deep, 5 to 10 inches wide, 
 and 10 to 18 inches long, and are laid diagonally 
 across the street to prevent carriage wheels from 
 wearing ruts between them. 
 
 After these blocks are thus placed upon this foun- 
 dation and pounded down, they are "grouted," w^hich 
 is simpl}?" to pour over the top a mixture of hydrau- 
 lic cement and sand, so thin as to run down and fill 
 up the cracks. But as it has been found, after giv- 
 ing about half a mile of it a fair trial, to be too 
 sm^ooth, a new feature has recently been introduced 
 to obviate this difiicult}'", which consists of grooves 
 cut in the top of the stones a few inches apart, about 
 one inch and a half wide, and half or three-fourths 
 of an inch deep. For paving in this manner the 
 proprietors now charge, including the grooving, six 
 dollars and fifty cents per square yard. 
 
 Now, although this pavement for durability would 
 seem to be next to the '* everlasting hills" — that is, 
 
THOROUGHFARES. 17 
 
 setting aside the grooving, for we think that some of 
 the horses now trotting over it will live long enough 
 to see the stones minus this anti-slipping improve- 
 ment — jet it is a question in the mind of the writer, 
 whether the old cobble stones, the good old things 
 which wear like iron, may not yet be used to the best 
 advantage, all things considered. Pavei^s tell us th^t 
 when the stones are thoroughly rammed down, they 
 stand twice as long as when they are not. 
 
 Very \vell, then have them mof^e than well ram- 
 med down. First bring some power to bear upon 
 the soil that shall force it right down at least a foot. 
 Then lay the stones, and force them down till no or- 
 dinary carriage wheel can make them wink, and we 
 are inclined to think that they will not want relay- 
 ing every quarter nor every year. We only make 
 the suggestion, while we confess our disapprobation 
 of the break-necks in the streets. 
 
 THOROUGHFARES. 
 
 The most important thoroughfares in the city are 
 Broadwa}-, Bowery and Fulton-street ; but these are 
 by no means all the streets which are thronged with 
 teeming multitudes. The principal street for the 
 sale of merchandize has heretofore been Pearl-street ; 
 but Broadway seems destined to work a great revolu- 
 tion in this respect, as merchant princes are almost 
 daily opening magnificent stores in this fashionable 
 street. 
 
 2 
 
18 PUBLIC LAxMPS. STREET CLEANING. 
 
 PUBLIC LAMPS. 
 
 The streets, parks, &c., are lighted during the 
 night — that is, when the moon hides her face behind 
 an earthen vail — by 5,570 gas-lamps, and 6,732 oil- 
 lamps, making in all 12,302, at an annual expense of 
 $184,808 41. 
 
 STREET CLEANING. 
 
 There are many men. horses, carts, shovels, hoes 
 and brooms constantly employed in cleaning the 
 streets ; and a greater number still daily contribute 
 their ratio to make them as uncleanly as possible. 
 The result of all this is, that the collections for the 
 past year, ending Dec. 31, 1850, have been as fol- 
 low : — 
 
 Loads of Manure ----- J 63,203 
 
 " Dirt 103,851 
 
 " Ashes and Garbage - - - 157,492 
 
 Total number of Loads - - 459,546 
 
 To remove this, it has cost the sum of - - $158,637 
 Amount received from sale of Manure, &c. - 34/i55 
 
 Net expense . - - $123,982 
 
 The expenses of the Street Paving Department 
 
 amount to $595,550 
 
 The total amount for Lighting, Cleaning and 
 
 Paving the Streets is - - - - 904,340 
 
PARKS. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 19 
 
 PARKS. 
 
 The principal Parks in the City are the Battery, 
 City Hall Park, Washington Square, Tompkins 
 Square, St. John's Park, Union Park, StU3'vesant 
 Park, and Gramercy Park. There are also several 
 other smaller Parks, but still there are too few. The 
 first four of the above named parks contain about forty 
 acres ; while we have one on a grand scale in pros- 
 pect, which is to contain about 160 acres. We think 
 this Avill contribute not a little vitalizing power to 
 the puh-nonary apparatus of Gotham. The estimated 
 value of the ground embraced in the present num- 
 ber of parks in the city is $8,980,000. The value of 
 the personal and real estate of the Metropolis is 
 8286,085,410 74. The amount of taxes assessed for 
 1850 was 83,230,345 90. 
 
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 Several of our public buildings vrill be briefljnioticed 
 hereafter, in connection with other subjects. For 
 many interesting statistics in relation to public edi- 
 fices, 6z:c., we are greatly indebted to "New- York 
 Past, Present, and Future, by E. Porter Belden, M. A., 
 Projector of the Model of New- York." 
 
 The " City HalV is an imposing edifice, occup3'ing 
 the centre of the Park. Its corner stone was laid 
 September 26, 1803. It was completed in 1812, at 
 an expense of $538,734. The front and ends were 
 built of white marble, and its rear of brown free 
 stone. This was thought good enough for the " days 
 
20 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 of moderate expectations." But at the present clay 
 it hardly has any rear. 
 
 The building consists of two stories, of the Ionic 
 and Corinthian orders. Its length is 216 feet, its 
 width 105 feet, and its height 65 feet. A cupola of 
 the composite order, surmounted by a colossal figure 
 of Justice, rises from the centre of the roof. In the 
 rear of this, is a smaller cupola, containing a bell 
 which weighs 9,800 pounds, and probably the largest 
 in the United States. This is for sounding alarms. 
 
 The edifice contains the Council Chambers of the 
 different boards of the City Government, the Gov- 
 ernor's Room, the apartments of most of the Courts 
 of Law, and various public offices. The Governor's 
 Room, and the rooms of the Common Council, are 
 furnished in an elegant manner, and decorated with 
 the portraits of characters eminent in the annals of 
 the city and country. 
 
 A few rods from this edifice, in the rear, stands a 
 plain building 260 feet long and 49 feet wide, which 
 was formerly the "Alms House," and now goes by 
 the name of "iVew; C//y //«//," which contains the 
 rooms of the United States District and Marine Courts, 
 together with various offices. 
 
 At a little distance from the City Hall on the east, 
 stands the '^ Hall of Records,^^ which was formerly 
 the " Debtor's Prison," and while the cholera raged 
 in 1832, it was used as a Hospital. It has been re- 
 modelled, and stuccoed in imitation of white marble, 
 and had its appearance greatly improved since the 
 days of yore. It is constructed after the model of the 
 Temple at Ephesus. Its length is 104 feet, and its 
 
PL'BLIC BUILDINGS. 21 
 
 width 62 feet. It is not only the depository of the 
 archives of the city, but it also contains many pub- 
 lic ofnces. 
 
 The " Custom House " fronts on Wall and Pine 
 streets, though it presents its principal front to the 
 former, a street famous for Bankers, Brokers, Stock 
 Jobbers, Speculators, and Gamblers. On the same 
 site once stood the old Federal Hall, in which the 
 inaguration of Washington as President of the United 
 States, took place. No other government building 
 in our country is the scene of so varied and exten- 
 sive monetary operations. Here is collected more 
 than two-thirds of the entire revenue of the Union. 
 
 The edifice was commenced in 1834 and finished 
 in 1842. Its model was, with some variations, the 
 Parthenon at Athens. Its length is 192 feet, and its 
 breadth 1)0 feet. The colonnade at each end of the 
 building consists of eight columns. The principal 
 apartment is circular and surmounted by a splendid 
 dome. A peristyle of sixteen Corinthian columns 
 encloses the apartments, and supports the dome. 
 The remainder of the building is divided into offices 
 appropriated to the various branches of the depart- 
 ment. 
 
 The Custom House, though a splendid structure, 
 is too contracted for the immense business within 
 its walls; a business constantly increasing, and which 
 will doubtless require more spacious accomodations, 
 long before the present buildini^ has lost its reputa- 
 tion as one of the most admired edifices in the coun- 
 tr5\ The cost of the land, building, and appendages, 
 was $1,175,000. 
 
22 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 The " Merchants' Exchange'^ occupies an irregu- 
 lar block, bounded by Wall, William, Exchange and 
 Hanover streets. It was erected by the Merchants' 
 Exchange Company, which was incorporated by the 
 Legislature in 1823, wdth a capital of a million of 
 dollars. The present edifice was commenced in 1S3G 
 and completed in 1842 on the site of the former Ex- 
 change, which was destroyed in the great fire of 
 1835. 
 
 This noble building *• is justly admired as one of 
 the most splendid specimens of architecture in the 
 countr}'. It is built of beautiful syenite from Quin- 
 cy, Mas?., to which the quarriers have given the 
 name of "Quincy Granite," and is entirely fire proof. 
 
 "It consists of tw^o main stories, wnth a high base- 
 ment and an attic. Its principal front on Wall street, 
 190 feet in length, is adorned by a colonnade of 
 twelve Ionic columns. Within these, is a range of 
 six similar columns, supporting the ceiling of a recess 
 for the main entrance to the building. The shafts 
 of these columns, thirty feet in height, are single 
 blocks, weighing thirty-three tons. 
 
 "The Rotunda, the name applied to the Excha- ge 
 Hall, o'icupies the centre of the edifice, and is sur- 
 mounted by a. magnificent dome, eighty feet in dia- 
 meter, resting in part on eight splendid Corinthian 
 columns of Italian marble. A large hall, in the 
 western portion of the building, is devoted to the 
 purposes of a Reading Room, containing files of pa- 
 pers from almost every country of (ho world. The 
 other Jiparrmenfs are chiefly occupied by the ofiijes 
 of insurance companies, bankers and brokers. The 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 23 
 
 cost of this noble edifice, including the ground on 
 which it stands, which was purchased for $768,000, 
 was about 81,800,000." 
 
 The Rotunda, during the business hours, " when 
 merchants congregate, presents a scene of the live- 
 liest interest. On every face may be depicted the 
 excitement that reigns within; and as the busy 
 groups, closel}'' dotting the area of this Temple of 
 Commerce^ exchange their views on the topics of 
 the day, and the magnificent vault above them rever- 
 berates the hum of a hundred voices, the beholder is 
 forcibly reminded of the glory of ancient Tyre, when 
 'her merchants were princes, and her traffickers 
 the honorable of the earth.'" 
 
 At the hour of half-past ten, a. m. daily, the New 
 York Stock and Exchange Board meet at their Ball 
 in the Exchange. The objects of this association 
 are, the buying and selling of stocks, specie, &c. No 
 am.ount less than five hundred dollars is permitted 
 to be sold at this board. The fee for admission, or 
 membership, is four hundred dollars. 
 
 There are also meetings of similar institutions, for 
 similar purposes, and governed by much the same 
 regulations, though a much less fee is required for 
 admission. There is an immense amount of business 
 done at this modern lottery office in the course of a 
 3'ear. Here multitudes try their luck daily, on a 
 much larger scale than they or others do in lottery 
 tickets. They bid and buy, and beg and borrow, 
 and sell and swap, and shift and shave; and many 
 neither know themselves, nor can others tell whether 
 
24 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 they will be worth one cent in six days, or be a for- 
 tune worse than nothing in half the time. 
 
 Many congregate around the doors of these sales- 
 rooms, and do business through the key-hole, as they 
 listen to ascertain the most favorable bid ; or whether 
 they are likely to draw a blank or a prize. These 
 are called " Outsiders.''^ With a little more money 
 they might be insiders. 
 
 Visiting the Exchange, a short time since, for my 
 own curiosity, and being of course an outsider, I was 
 quite amused to notice the effect of bids within, upon 
 those without. When some of the Reading Rail Road 
 Stock was struck off at a slight advance, not more 
 than three-eights per cent, a half way loafer-like- 
 looking chap, struck off into a smart trot, or half 
 way between a pace and double shuffle on the 
 granite walk, singing, " hity, tity," as though the 
 scale of fortune had turned wonderfully in his favor, 
 and I fancied that his face would compare very 
 favorably with some of the gold diggers when they 
 hit upon a "poc/ce^." 
 
 But there were others as much depressed. Possibly 
 some of my readers may not understand how an im- 
 provement in prices can produce such a result. 
 
 Well, suppose that A had previously sold to B, 
 five thousand dollars worth of R. R. stock to be de- 
 livered in thirty days at a given price. During this 
 period A buys and sells, hoping to be able to make 
 a little fortune during one short month, and also 
 obtain stock enough to fulfil his engagement before 
 the time for delivering it shall have arrived, and at 
 a lower rate than he sold it. 
 
POST OFFICE. 25 
 
 But, alas ! the price rises, and rises, and rises; and 
 he waits, and waits, and watches, hoping to see the 
 Stock go down, that he may buy, at least at 3, saving 
 price. But he can't get it down, and when the day 
 arrives that the Stock is demanded, the price has so 
 advanced, that to make the contract good will make 
 a bankrupt of the speculator. And so, whether 
 Stocks in market rise or fall, a man's fortune may 
 rise when they fall, and fall when they rise. 
 
 POST OFFICE. 
 
 This immense and important establishment well de- 
 serves a notice. The department occupies the 
 building which has long been known as the " Mid- 
 dle Dutch Church," which was erected in 1729, the 
 steeple and certain other parts having been brought 
 from Holland, and which during the War of the 
 Revolution was desecrated by British soldiery. To 
 our very worthy and efficient Postmaster, Wm. Y. 
 Brady, Esq. the writer is indebted for some interest- 
 ing statistics. 
 
 The number of men employed as Clerks, Assistants, 
 Carriers, &c., is about 140. Average daily service, 
 eleven hours. Time for delivery of letters, papers 
 &c., from 7 J, a. m. to 6 J, p. m. ; and on Sunday, from 9 
 to 10, A. M. and from 12jto 1 J, p. m. Mails for Steam 
 Ships are closed one hour and a-half before the time 
 of sailing. Letters uncalled for, after lying in the 
 office a week, are advertised once. The number of 
 such as are still uncalled for, or the " dead letters," 
 which are sent to the General Post Office, amounts 
 to about 140.000 annually. The number of letters, 
 
26 POST OFFICE. 
 
 domestic and foreign, vvkich passed through the New 
 York Post Office during the quarter ending March 31, 
 1851, was 0,409,171. This being, as I was inlbrmed, 
 about an average proportion for the 3'ear, presents the 
 enormous annual aggregate of 25,630,684. In ad- 
 dition to Letters, the numbi^r of Newspapers may 
 be compared to the leaves of the forest. 
 
 The number of persons who daily visit the P. O. 
 hoping to receive from, or communicate to, their 
 friends and others, messages of importance, is al- 
 together unknown. Probably not less than ten or 
 twelve thousand. 
 
 It is often an interesting sight to see the eager 
 eyes of the outsiders, glancing over some weighty 
 communication, while the fondest hopes, or worst 
 fears are realized. 
 
 Some read to their heart's content — others to their 
 great disappointment and unutterable sorrow. Many 
 tears have been poured out around the venerable 
 Old Dutch Church, as mournful tidings have come 
 from afar. 
 
 It is, moreover, sometimes amusing to see the 
 anxiety of the bearer of important dispatches, after 
 he has dropped his letter into the box. He lingers as 
 though fearful that he has not performed his part, or 
 that the Post Master will fail to perform his. But 
 when he reflects that he has made '^ care and spef^d''' 
 very conspicuous, and that Ex-Mayor Brady knows 
 full well what that moans, he goes away contented ; 
 and well he may, while such a Post Master is 1 here 
 — others do the same ihing. May it please the Post 
 ^Master General to keep him there. Every thing 
 
CITY FUNCTIONARIES. 27 
 
 moves on harmoniously within; and all without are 
 satisfied, or will be, with cheap postage and good 
 news. 
 
 CITY FUNCTIONARIES. 
 
 The City is at present divided into nineteen Wards, 
 each of which elects one Alderman and an Assistant 
 Alderman, w^io, together with the Mayor and vari- 
 ous other officers I need not mention, are chosen an- 
 nually. 
 
 The Police Department is under the supervision of 
 the Mayor and Common Council or Aldermen, and 
 numbered, the past year, 940 men, at an expense to 
 the City of 8487,435,09. I deem it proper to remark, 
 that many items of expense are charged to this de- 
 partment, with about as little propriety as to charge 
 it for cleaning the streets. Such, for example, as for 
 carting off drunken men and drunken women to 
 prison. Better charge it at once to that department 
 which licences men to fill the streets with public 
 nuisances. It ought to foot the bill. The thne will 
 probably come when this department will be dis- 
 pensed with. Let all in favor of it sav, aye ! 
 
 Each Ward has a Police Station House, which 
 the rogues generally shun when it is convenient : 
 but when they cannot operate as well, a little more 
 remotely, they are not very scrupulous about plunder- 
 ing premises so near said stations as to share in the 
 fragrance of the M. P.'s best Havana segars. To 
 this I can tesrif}^ inasmuch as a store was robbed in 
 my own immediate neighborhood, some three or four 
 years since, and not a dream was any the shorter 
 
2S CITY FUNCTIONARIES. 
 
 for it, though the said store and Station House were 
 hardly separated the bread; h of a whisper. We hope 
 and trust that there are few such adroit rogues in the 
 fifteenth Ward, and regret to conless there ever ha.s 
 been any. The " Chief of Police " has his otFice at 
 the City Hall. 
 
 This important and efficient organization, for it is 
 important and efficient, though some are always 
 ready to find fault, as though a Policeman ought to 
 be and is expected to be more perfect than a deacon 
 or a judge — these city watchmen trip up many a 
 sly, slippery villain, and cut short the expectation^^^ 
 of reckless rascals, and send to their own place cut- 
 throats and desperadoes. 
 
 Bat they would be still more efficient if they did 
 not congregate quite so much under some good 
 shelter, to tell long stories for their own amusement 
 at an hour when rogues are on the alert. 
 
 Perhaps I ought to explain how it is, and why it 
 is that there is such a demand for Police officers in 
 the City. I have already thrown out a hint on this 
 subject; but I have four thousand five hundred and 
 twenty eight more, which I may as well present here 
 as any where. 
 
 There were 4,528 men licensed during the past 
 year. To do what ? to disturb the peace and safety of 
 community, shall I say, by sending into our midst le- 
 gions of devils incarnate, fitted and prepared to do their 
 master's work? Now, is it difficult to perceive that 
 so many licensed toddy-houses will require more 
 than 940 Police officers to correct all the evil and 
 
CITY FUNCTIONARIES. 29 
 
 prevent all the crime to which these pernicious estab- 
 lishments lead ? 
 
 But this is not all. From the returns recently- 
 made to the Chief of Police, we perceive that three 
 thousand eight hundred and ninety six houses are 
 kept open for the sale of nun on the Sabbath ! 
 " Tell it not in Gath." Shame on the drinker ! 
 Shame on the vender ! ! and shame on the city 
 authorities ! ! ! 
 
 Stop ! Is this the nineteenth century ? Is this a 
 civilized land ? Is this the age of reform, and do we 
 live in a christian city? Alas ! how dismal the pic- 
 ture ! 
 
 From the same returns we learn that 750 estab- 
 lishments sell intoxicating drink through the week 
 without any license. Well, what if they do ? Not 
 one of the 3,896 rum holes are licensed to traffic in 
 strong drink on the Sabbath, and if so many have a 
 right to hand out the accursed cup to all who are 
 susceptible of being ensnared, one day in seven with- 
 out a permit, and the day of all others when the 
 most mischief can be done ; surely it ought not to be 
 very criminal for the 750 to sell the article during 
 the other six days, even though the Mayor has not 
 given them leave to do so. No matter whether he 
 has given consent or not. Everybody knows that 
 he would if they applied for it. 
 
 Now, if the deed is unquestionablj^ a good one, 
 cever mind about obtaining consent to do right. If 
 it is, beyond all controversy, the cause of more wo 
 and desolation than any other traffic on the face of 
 the earth, then the sanction of the Mayor will only 
 
80 FIRE DEPAr.T.-VIEN' 
 
 make it so much the worse, and rather than do it, we 
 think he had better cut oiT his right hand. 
 
 But we may here, and elsewhere, be condemned 
 for moralizing, in giving a bird's eye view of the city. 
 Nevertheless, whenever we happen to see a man knock 
 down and rob his fellow, we claim the right, and 
 acknowledge the duty to condemn the principle as 
 well as to expose the act. This will be our aim in 
 future : resolving, that no obstruction shall frustrate 
 our plan, by getting between our inkstand and fools- 
 cap. 
 
 At any rate with the above agents at work in 
 spreading povert}^ crime, and desolation through 
 the community, no wonder that it costs 8380,534 31 
 to support the Alms House for twelve months. No 
 wonder that our prisons are full and need enlarging. 
 No Vv'onder that it costs the city half a million of 
 dollars to watch rogues, and prevent crime. If our 
 city authorities should take it into their heads never 
 to rest until they shall have shut up every gambling 
 house and rummery in town, we hesitate not to say, 
 that property, life and limb, will be safer with 300 
 Police, than the}^ are now with all we can raise. We 
 want a little more common sense and moral cour- 
 age to effect such an important achievement. 
 
 FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 This department is of acknowledged, and undoubt- 
 ed importance to the cit}^ The essential service 
 which its fiithful members render daily, can never 
 be fully known; and although the introduction of 
 the all-quenching Croton, which must be noticed 
 
FIRE DEPARTr.IENT. 31 
 
 hereafter, greatly promotes the security of the city 
 from destruction b}^ fire, yet our worthy and devoted 
 firemen are still indispensable to our safety and pros- 
 perity. 
 
 The Fire department has at its head, Alfred Car- 
 son, Esq., Chief Engineer. It has also in each Ward 
 an assistant engineer, fire companies, engines, hose, 
 hooks, ladders, and engine-houses. The department 
 contains thirty-four engine companies, forty-seven 
 hose companies, nine hook and ladder companies, 
 three hydrant companies, five thousand feet of hose, 
 and about two thousand men. The members arc 
 free from jury and military dutj^ and after serving 
 five years, they are exempt for life. 
 
 The ci^y is divided into eight fire-districts, and in 
 case of fire in the first district, the sis^nal is one 
 stroke from the alarm-bells, with a sufficient inter- 
 val, before repeating the single stroke. For the se- 
 cond district, two strokes ; for the third, three 
 strokes, and so on. The number of fires during the 
 year ending August I, 1850, was 289. 
 
 One of the most frightful, though often truly sub- 
 lime sights to be witnessed in the city, is a large 
 fire ; and especially in the night. How rapidly does 
 the devouring element, on certain occasions blast the 
 hopes of multitudes, and turn a glittering, flourishing 
 town into a melancholy mass of smouldering ruins. 
 It is an awful spectacle to behold agitated thousands 
 making every possible eflx)rt for the general good. 
 Behold some trying to arrest the flames — some to 
 save their property — some to save their friends, and 
 others to save themselves. 
 
32 
 
 FIRE nEPARTMENT. 
 
 Pestilence, may make greater havoc among flesh 
 and blood, but it is an invisible agent. It goeth 
 where it listeth, but we cannot hear the sound there- 
 of, nor tell whence it cometh, or whither it goeth. 
 
 Not so with fire. We see the glowing, flashing 
 flame ; hear the dismal roar ; feel the scorching heat ; 
 smell the fetid gas ; breathe the smothering smoke, 
 and with instinctive horror shun its dread approach. 
 
 To hear in the dead of night, the long, loud, deep, 
 and solemn cry of "fire — fire — fire," mingling with 
 rattling engines, shouting firemen, flashing lightning 
 roaring thunder, and tolling bells; to see the fearful 
 flame burst through the imperiled habitation, and 
 light up the firmament, darkened by volumes of soot 
 and smoke, and blast the hopes of the terror-stricken, 
 semi-naked, half-insane household who are driven 
 into the street, is truly enough to strike the specta- 
 tor with an indescribable feeling of pity and awe. 
 
 In great haste, with short notice, and in much 
 confusion, men, women, and children are hurried 
 into the streets ; also beds, bureaus, and boxes ; 
 hats, coats, carpets, and crockery ; chairs, sofas, set- 
 tees and side-boards ; portraits, paintings, portfo- 
 lios, and pianos ; books, birds, and baskets ; teapots, 
 tables, and tapestry. 
 
 These and such other articles of value as can be 
 snatched away from the merciless flames and hurried 
 into the streets, are piled up at a little distance from 
 the fire, to await the decision of owners and others. 
 
 It is now evident that the bell has not spoken in 
 vain, for, with surprising agility, the ready, faithful 
 firemen are on the spot to make the first move, and 
 
FIRE DEPARTMENT. 33 
 
 the essential agent which has come fifty miles to 
 render important af^sistance, rushes into the thickest 
 of the fire and smoke, and then the two contending 
 elements pour and roar, and dash and flash, and spat- 
 ter and shatter, in the awful and momentous strife. 
 
 But with all the combined forces of the Fire De- 
 partment, and all the virtues of the Croton, combus- 
 tion marches on at a fearful rate, and with disastrous 
 results. 
 
 At length it is discovered that the enemy cannot 
 so well be drowned out as starved out, and hence 
 the efiicacy of gun-powder is put to the test — a tre- 
 mendous concussion is felt — one or more buildings 
 instantaneously demolished — combustibles enough to 
 feed the flames for hours are at once removed, and 
 the undaunted firemen resume their usual mode of 
 obtaining the victory, without a murmur or a doubt. 
 
 This is the harvest time for the light-fingered, and 
 black-hearted. Why should not the guilty wretches 
 be on the alert while the. night lasts and the fire 
 burns, lest they should find out a little too late that 
 they had applied the torch in vain ? Hence they 
 work fast, sleep little, toil hard, keep a good look-out* 
 fill their pockets and baskets, steal all they can, keep 
 all they get and care not who suffers. 
 
 But what sometimes makes the sudden occurrence 
 of fire in the night, more terrible than any thing else, 
 is, the fearful prospect that some precious immortal 
 will perish in the flames. About two years since, a 
 case of this kind occurred in my own street. In the 
 dead of night, a fire broke out in the lower part of a 
 dwelling-house, the first story of which was occupied 
 
34 FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 as a store, and in the upper part of which the family- 
 were asleep. When the alarm was given, there was 
 no retreat but through the windows. The mother 
 jumped out and fell upon a stoop, somewhat injured, 
 though not seriously. 
 
 In the mean timethe father went into the adjoining 
 rooms to save his children, a son and daughter — the 
 former about twelve, the latter about sixteen years 
 of age. In entering the apartments he found that 
 they had left their beds, but he soon came in contact 
 with his son, and took him to the window and raised 
 it, and told the boy to stand perfectly still until he 
 found his daughter. 
 
 But for her he searched in vain, and when he found 
 that he was likely to suflfocate himself, he rushed for 
 the window, and then, alas! he could not find, his 
 son ! How, or why he had disappeared, he knew 
 not. He felt that he could do no more, and crawled 
 out and hung by his hands until a, ladder was raised 
 for his escape, which was quickly done ; and almost as 
 quick as thou-iiL, a noble fireman entered the 
 windows, and soon returned with the two stupified, 
 and almost lifeless children. 
 
 Now, it will be much easier for the reader to 
 imagine than for the writer to describe the state of 
 mind to which these distracted parents were sub- 
 jected during their awful suspense. And what must 
 have been the feelings of those children in such 
 awful peril ? I saw them the next day, and the 
 young lady told me that the last that she remembered 
 was, that she gave up all hope of escape, and laid 
 down on the floor to die. 
 
FIRE DEPARTMENT. 35 
 
 But the worthy fireman is not always so success- 
 ful, as regards saving others, or even himself. He 
 enters a house which is in flames, with his life in his 
 hand, and as he enters, his fellow-laborers pour upon 
 him a flood of Croton, to render him somewhat fire- 
 proof. He disappears amid volumes of vapor, fire, 
 and smoke. With intense anxiety all watch and 
 wait his return. But, alas ! he does not appear, and 
 all that is again seen of the noble fellow is a few 
 whitened calcined bones in the bottom of the cellar, 
 after the work of devastation is finished. His mother, 
 or his companion mourns and weeps, and for months 
 and years can hardly hear the tolling bell without 
 painful recollections of the sad and trying event. 
 
 But not only docs this agent remind surviving 
 friends, from time to time, of some mournful catas- 
 trophe, but the engine houses, which are so often 
 dressed in black (and if they are not at the present 
 moment, it is because they have recently thrown ofT 
 the mournful badge), proclaim in solemn silence to 
 the passing spectator, that one or more have fallen, 
 while in the discharge of perilous duties. 
 
 Now we perceive no reason why the widows and 
 children of such unfortunate men should not be as 
 much entitled to a pension as if the victim had fallen 
 in battle. And as the firemen discharge their ardu- 
 ous, perilous duties, without any remuneration, we 
 think that all will admit that Jenny Lind turned her 
 benevolence in the right direction, when, among 
 numerous other donations, she contributed to the 
 " Firemen's Fund," for the relief of the disabled and 
 needy, the liberal sum of three thousand dollars ! 
 
36 FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Such nightingales are rare, in more respects than 
 one. 
 
 It may be said that firemen have some advantages. 
 Some advantages ! Wlio has not ? Their exemption 
 from jury and military duty is not worthy to be 
 named, compared with the essential service which 
 they render to the city. We hardly know of another 
 equal number of men, as devoted to the prosperity of 
 the metropolis. True, it is a volunteer service, and 
 so much the better. It is also true that none are 
 compelled to go where it is known to be positively 
 unsafe. But who does not see that there must often 
 be much danger where little or none is anticipated. 
 
 But this is not all. After the fireman enters the 
 ranks, no ordinary plea can excuse him from duty. 
 No urgency of business — no inclemency of weather — 
 no unseasonable hour — no love of social enjoyments, 
 or obligations to friends — no sanctity of the Sabbath, 
 or solemnity of the sanctuary can excuse the fireman 
 when the alarm bell rings. Nay, he must go, and go 
 at once ; go instanter. And not only go, but hurry ; 
 and not only hurry, but ?'wrA ; and not only run, but 
 drag an engine, mount a ladder, scale the walls, and 
 quench the flames, if he can ; and it is not his pro- 
 fession to sa}^ " I can't." 
 
 But there is one source of danger to which I have 
 not alluded — namely, the shameful, nay, criminal 
 manner in which dwellings are sometimes erected. 
 One example will sufiice. 
 
 On the 15th of January, 1851, at a quarter past one 
 o'clock, p. M., six brick buildings, in the upper part of 
 the city, fell, with a tremendous crash, while thirty- 
 
FIRE DEPARTMENT. 37 
 
 two workmen were upon them, killing five, and 
 maiming others. Said buildings were four stories 
 high, and the fifth was about to be added. Such a 
 scene of desolation I have rarely witnessed. It 
 seemed almost a miracle that any came out of the 
 ruins alive. 
 
 There were heaps upon heaps of timber, brick, and 
 mortar, and so completely was every thing crushed, 
 that for a long time I could not find a solitary stick 
 of timber unbroken. It was literally ground to oven- 
 wood. One of the principal deficiences of said 
 buildings, appeared to be in the miserable, worthless 
 quality of the mortar, which was little better than 
 dry loam. From its appearance, one could hardly 
 be very positive that it contained any lime at all, 
 and the bricks were not cemented together in the 
 least degree. 
 
 Now, suppose the workmen had escaped, that they 
 had been fortunate enough to tie the walls together 
 by means of timbers and the roof, so as to leave 
 them not only standing, but apparently safe, and then 
 let one or more take fire and burn out the ties ; and 
 it would not be very difilcult to perceive that every 
 fireman within the reach of a falling brick, would be 
 in peril, for the walls would be almost certain to 
 fall. 
 
 At the last great fire in New York, that is, the fire 
 of 1845, the number of buildings consumed and 
 demolished was 240. The amount of property 
 destroyed was estimated at 65,000,000, and far 
 worse than all, nine precious lives were sacrificed. 
 
38 CROTO:^ WATKH DEPARTMF.XT. 
 
 At that tims, goo:l.>, wares, an 1 rnsrchaudise were 
 pilal in ill the streets i;i every directioa around the 
 burnt district, and the military and the police guarded 
 them day and night. And what may seem almost 
 incredible, the fire remained in some of the smoulder- 
 ing ruins more than a year ! 
 
 CROTON WATER DEPARTMENT. 
 
 We have been favored with some- interesting 
 statistics, in relation to this department, from its 
 worthy and able President, Nicholas Dean, Esq., 
 which we are happy to lay before our readers. 
 
 The introduction of the pure Groton into New- 
 York, was an event worth}^ of being chronicled. So 
 our inhabitants thought, and hence they set apart 
 the 14rh of October, 1842, and with hearty good will, 
 celebrated the grand achievement, with demonstra- 
 tions of joy. 
 
 The day was delightful, and every man, woman 
 and child, felt at liberty to enjoy it, and came out to 
 exhibit their clean faces, as a proof of the virtue of 
 Croton water. 
 
 In its favor, the roaring cannon, and chiming bells 
 caused the inhabitants of "Manhattan" to hear their 
 testimony at sunrise. Legions of urchins were rea- 
 dy to respond with t.hair fire-crackers and pop-guns. 
 Old people and little children, rich men and beggars, 
 were all on a par, for all were alike interested and 
 benefited. 
 
 At ten o'clock a militar}^ and civic procession se- 
 ven n)i]es in length, composed of all classes, with 
 flying banners and stirring music, and beautiful, co- 
 
CROTON WATCR DEPARTMENT. 39 
 
 mica], and fantastical exhibitions, started from the 
 Battery, and occupied about seven hours in passing 
 through the principal streets, and received one con- 
 tinued roar of cheering congratulaticins from thou- 
 sands of shouting voices, Vv^hile the fountains spar- 
 kled, kerchiefs waved, ladies smiled, friends exulted, 
 and foes blushed for shame, when they thought of 
 their former hostility. 
 
 This invaluable fluid is brought to the city from 
 the Croton River in an aqueduct of superior mason- 
 ry. Its greatest interior width is about 7j feet, its 
 greatest interior height, about 8 J feet. Through this 
 aqueduct, at its completion, the commissioners and 
 engineers performed a journey on foot ; and when 
 the river was turned into its new channel to be in- 
 troduced to a host of admirers, I might almost say 
 semi-idolators, it conducted to New-York, the " Cro- 
 ton Maid," with four men on board, giving them a 
 very prosperous voyage and novel excursion. 
 
 At the starting point of this aqueduct, a dam is 
 throvv^n across the Croton River, forty feet high, and 
 which forms the Croton Lake, or quite an important 
 reservoir at head quarters. The water at this point 
 stands at an elevation of 166 feet above mean tide. 
 The declivity of the aqueduct is about thirteen inches 
 per mile. It crosses the Harlem River on a magni- 
 ficent bridge of stone, which is usually called the 
 " High Bridge," and is indeed somewhat lofty, being 
 114 feet above the level of high water, and is 1,450 
 feet long. 
 
 After discharging the important fluid into the re- 
 ceiving reservoir, which is about six miles from the 
 
40 CROTON WATER DEPARTMENT. 
 
 City Hall, the masonry gives place to large cast iron 
 pipes, through which the water is conveyed to the 
 "Distributing Reservoir," a distance of about two 
 miles. Thence it proceeds through various distri- 
 buting pipes to different parts of the cit3% finding its 
 way into gorgeous palaces, and humble cabins. 
 
 The length of the aqueduct, including the reser- 
 voir at the head, and the main pipes which conduct 
 the water to the southermost portion of the city, is 
 about fifty miles. 
 
 The Croton Lake, contains 500,000,000 gallons. 
 The receiving reservoir 150,000,000, and the distri- 
 buting reservoir contains 20,000,000. The distribut- 
 ing iron pipes which are laid under ground through 
 the streets, are from 4 to 36 inches in diameter, and 
 the aggregate length of which is already more than 
 two hundred miles ; an average of nearly twenty-five 
 miles per year, since the first pipe was laid. The 
 length of the service pipes which conduct the water 
 from the mains in the streets, to and through our 
 houses, is probably three times as great, making in 
 all about one- fourth the distance from New- York to 
 London ; and the time may come when the Croton 
 will travel farther in the aggregate to serve its pa- 
 trons, than to go to London and back again. 
 
 The expense of conducting the water from the 
 street-pipes, varies according to the extent in which 
 it is carried through each building, the nature of the 
 fixtures, &c. It can be carried into the basement in a 
 plain substantial manner for less than ^'20. Where- 
 as to carry it through a large house, even a private 
 house, in the best manner, with every convenience 
 
CROTON WATER DEPARTMENT. 4i 
 
 for bathing, washing, &c. some pay as much as 
 $2000. 
 
 The water tax varies according to the size of 
 the building in which the water is used, and not 
 according to the number of rooms through which 
 it is conducted, or the number of individuals bene- 
 fited by its use. The highest water-tax ever paid 
 by any individual in the city, was paid the past year 
 by the proprietor of a carpet manufactory, namely, 
 81500. First class hotels pay 81000. An ordinary 
 two-stor}^ house is taxed 88. 
 
 The total income from water the past year ending 
 April 30, 1851, was 8557,000. The annual interest 
 on the water debt, is 8'702,000. Total expenditure 
 up to Jan. 1, 1851, 813,628.095. 
 
 This important, invaluable fluid is not chemically 
 pure, but is sufHciently so for all ordinary purposes. 
 Its introduction is one of the greatest blessings which 
 ever has, or ever will be conferred on our goodly 
 town, by art. I need not speak of the sanitary influ- 
 ence of such a pure, refreshing, cleansing current, 
 flowing through our streets by day and night. Its 
 untold value in this respect must be appreciated to 
 a very large extent. 
 
 Neither will it be necessary to advert to the vast 
 importance of an unfailing supply of this anti-in- 
 flammatory material in every street, to quench the 
 devouring flame, whenevf^r necessity demands it. 
 This will also be seen and felt. 
 
 But 1 may advert to one of its chief glories, and 
 for which there is probably more gratitude due, than 
 is received. The poor, no matter how poor, without 
 
42 MONIED INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 money, and without credit, can have this element, as 
 sweet and as pure as can the millionaire. There 
 are fountains of health and life, in the streets, called 
 ^^ public hydrants^'' and to these the poor can, and do 
 resort and draw for themselves to their heart's and 
 mouth's content. And when Mr. Paine shall have 
 instructed them how to make a portion of it into 
 gas, to give them light ; and fuel, to give them heat; 
 and soap, to give them suds, we think there will be 
 little or no excuse for uncleanliness. 
 
 MONIED INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 To give momentum to all the wheels of this great 
 emporium to the best advantage, we bring into re- 
 quisition a very considerable auriferous motive pow- 
 er, as the reader will perceive. And to produce as 
 little friction as possible, we sometimes find it neces- 
 sary to take advantage of the lubricating influence 
 of the oil of ar^rentum. In other vA^ords, we find gold 
 and silver and good paper, quite convenient, to say 
 the least. 
 
 The present number o^ Banhs in the city, exclusive 
 of " Savings' Banks," is 3S. These banks have an 
 aggregate capital of 835,037,700. They are consi- 
 dered sound, and all do a profitable business, we 
 suppose. But many are not willing to trust to banks 
 or bolts, or drugs, or doctors, and hence the forma- 
 tion of Fire, Marine, Life, and Health Insurance 
 Companies. Of these we have one hundred, though 
 many of them are nominally established in the coun- 
 try, and some of them in the old world. Of these. 
 
MOXIED INSTITUTIONS. 43 
 
 however, only seventy-two are now in successful op- 
 eration, and they have a reputed capital of $48,- 
 584,000. The mosLt of these, together with the above 
 mentioned Banks, are located in Wall-street. 
 
 There is also a very large capital employed in the 
 Excliange business, which business is mainly done in 
 this street, which has long been famous for monetary 
 operations. Many of the proprietors of these estab- 
 lishments do a profitable and honorable business; 
 while some of these shops are regular traps, and they 
 catch not a few. 
 
 Man}^ interesting facts miglit be presented in rela- 
 tion to a great variety of commercial transactions 
 and advantages ; many details concerning the past 
 and present condition of our metropolis ; much might 
 be said about the great and good things yet in re- 
 serve, which would doubtless interest the rea,der, of 
 which we can hardly take a glimpse in so small a vo- 
 lume. Moreover, the reader is already aware that 
 we do not intend this as a history of New-York, or 
 a geography of Manhattan Island. 
 
FIRST LESSOiN. 
 
 The reader will now permit me to carry him back, 
 a decennial period, to take a glimpse of my begin- 
 ning in town, although not very auspicious. 
 
 Well, the first object which I saw to anno}' me, 
 and the iirst human being of a particular class which 
 I shall honor with a brief notice, was a colored fe- 
 male beggar ; and, to the credit of ^^ colored ladies ^^* 
 is the jfirst and the last of the daughters of Ham, that 
 I ever saw engaged in such a pursuit; at least the 
 only one that I can now call to mind. 
 
 Although we are prone to entertain not the most 
 favorable opinion of beggars as a class, yet even 
 here we find almost as great a diversity of charac- 
 ter, as in any other branch of the human family. 
 We frequently see those of talent, refinement, and 
 moral worth, whom we willingly acknowledge to be 
 worthy of our sympathy and aid, and to whom, with 
 pleasure, we extend such comforts as we know to be 
 indispensable to their well being. 
 
 Again, we see others, whom w^e instinctively dis- 
 like. The subject of this notice, at least in the wri- 
 ter's estimation, belonged to this class. 
 
 She took her station in Inroad way, as near to the 
 corner of '"St. Thomas' Church" as she could well 
 get. But we do not pretend that her object in so 
 doing was to improve her morals. Neither would 
 we like to affir:n that there was no need of a refor- 
 mation. 
 
. COLORED FEMALE BEGGAR. 45 
 
 There she sat, day after day, through a good part 
 of my first winter in the city, and how long she had 
 thus previously occupied the spot I know not. 
 
 There she sat through wind and hail, through snow 
 and rain, through dust and mud, through thick and 
 thin, with an old brown camblet cloak so drawn 
 around her as to give her the appearance of an old 
 hen brooding her chickens, though I believe she had 
 nothing under her but the side- walk. With the pa- 
 tience of Job she kept her hand always lying on her 
 lap, naked and open to receive alms, no matter how 
 cold the day, the gift, the giver. It so happened that 
 I passed her every day except the Sabbath, when 
 she was absent ; perhaps from fear of hearing from 
 the eloquent piistor of said church, or from some one 
 else, a sermon on street-begging. 
 
 The more I saw her the more was I satisfied that 
 she was not worthy of alms. The more I saw her 
 the more I disliked her face, without an}- regard to 
 color or physical conformation. The more I wit- 
 nessed her silent appeal for aid, the more was I an- 
 noyed. And as she never spoke a word in my hear- 
 ing, the reader will readily perceive that I was af- 
 fected by " what I saw."" 
 
 Having been accustomed to see everyone earn his 
 own bread and butter, I hardly knew how to put up 
 with such an exhibition — with what I regarded as an 
 imposition; for, said I to myself, as I passed along, 
 This woman looks as stout, and as able to endure 
 hardship, as a Mississippi raftsman, and is probably 
 better able to work than half the women in town ; 
 and to sit here in this way, is a disgrace to herself, 
 
46 COLORED FEMALE BEGGAR. 
 
 and a disgrace to the cit3^ Why do the people wink 
 at such an insult? Every body admits the impro- 
 priety of such a life, and yet no body seems to lift a 
 finger to drive the beggar to the wash-tub. 
 
 But what could a " greenhorn," right from the land 
 of woodchucks, do, under such circumstances ? I will 
 tell you what he did do, if you will pardon. the ego- 
 tism, though you know that it is every author's pri- 
 vilege to tell of some marvelous thing that he has 
 done or seen. 
 
 Weil, in due time I became acquainted with an 
 honest, intelligent colored man, and I said to him one 
 day, " Do you know a colored woman who sits dai- 
 ly in Broadway on the corner of Houston-street ?" 
 
 " Know her?" said he. " Don't you give her any- 
 thing ; no, not a red cent. She is as bad as Satan him- 
 self. Indeed, I know her too well, and all the money 
 you give her, will do her and others more harm than 
 good." 
 
 I informed him that I was very much obliged for 
 the frank information; and I at once resolved to 
 turn it to some good account, if possible. 
 
 It so happened that the very next time that I pass- 
 ed that way, as I drew near, I saw a lady walking 
 up toward the beggar, and knowing what it meant 
 when I saw her take out her purse, I quickened my 
 step and cried out, " Stop, Madam." 
 
 No quicker siid than done. "Do you know. any- 
 thing about this woman, sir ?" said she. 
 
 I replied, that I had taken a little pains to know 
 somotliing about her, and had reason to believe that 
 she was not worthy of charity. 
 
COLORED FEMALE BEGGAR. 47 
 
 "I am glad," said she, "to get this information, 
 and you will please accept my thanks for this timely 
 hint," and back went the money into her purse, 
 quicker than it came out, as she tripped along with 
 a heart doubtless full of benevolence, but wise 
 enough to desire to give her money the right direc- 
 tion. 
 
 The beggar, heard our conv^ersation, and as soon 
 as the lady turned her back, I gave her to under- 
 stand that she might change her occupation as soon 
 as convenient. " I have found out your character," 
 said I, " and I am determined that you shall impose 
 upon the charitable no longer. So now recollect that 
 if I find you here to-morrow I will give an officer a 
 hint to give 3'ou the benefit of another station." 
 
 But she was so much of a philosopher that she 
 said not a word. In sulJen silence she exhibited such 
 a countenance as-pens fail to describe ; at least mine 
 will. If the spirit of seven Cains had drawn every 
 line, and shaped every expression of her face, she 
 could not have looked worse. 
 
 But neither had the officer nor the writer anything 
 more to do in removing that unsightly appendage of 
 St. Thomas' Church ; for, as I passed the next da}^ be- 
 hold, the seat was vacant, and was thereafter occu- 
 pied by an apple-pedlar until the present season, 
 when the devouring element drove the congregation 
 from their seats, and the pedlar from his stand. 
 
 What had become of the woman, for a long time 
 was more than I could tell. Some two or three 
 years after her abrupt exit, while passing through a 
 certain street, whom should I see but this very wo- 
 
48 BLIND BEGGAR. 
 
 man, as she came out of a house to empty a pail of 
 suds. I recognized her at once, although the wash- 
 tub had greatly improved her countenance, and I pre- 
 sume that she recognized me, although my success 
 had probabl}- put a little different shade upon mine. 
 
 BLIND BEGGAR. 
 
 It SO happened that the next beggar who attracted 
 my attention was a colored blind man, whose name 
 is Anthony Riley. This person, it was evident at a 
 glance, had claims to the sympathy and aid of those 
 who have eyes to see, though it is equally clear to 
 the writer that he took an improper way to obtain 
 help. He genero.lly had a particular spot where he 
 stood the live-long day. He said nothing and did 
 nothing but hold his open hand supinely before him, 
 to receive whatever was dropped therein. 
 
 I have. passed him day after day from that time to 
 this, and do not know that I ever saw him move the 
 distance of one foot. I never saw him come, or 
 go, though of course he did come and go. There, 
 like a statue, he stood, and. there he stands yet ; 
 though I think his reputation for punctuality is a 
 little on the wane, for I have observed of late that 
 he is occasionally absent from his post, and some- 
 times for several days in succession. 
 
 I said that he was ever silent, and yet he speaks 
 incessantly. Three significant words — no more, no 
 less — in large capitals, painted on a strip of tin tied 
 across his breast, always constitute his solemn 
 appeal to the public for help, namely, "I AM 
 BLIND." 
 
BLIND BEGGAR. 49 
 
 I recently called upon the poor man, who is no im- 
 poster, and asked him a few questions, and the fol- 
 lowing is the substance of the interview. 
 
 " Well, friend," said I to him, " how long have you 
 been blind ?" 
 
 " About thirteen years, sir," said he. 
 
 " How did you lose your sight ?" 
 
 " By having inflammation of the brain." 
 . "Have you a family?" 
 
 " A wife and two children, sir." 
 
 ** Can you get enough in this way to support them 
 and yourself, too ?" 
 
 " It helps, and they help." 
 
 " How much, and how little, do you ever get in a 
 day ?" 
 
 " Some days I do not get a shilling. At other 
 times I get half a dollar, or even a dollar. Occasion- 
 ally some gentleman gives me five dollars ; but this 
 is very seldom my good luck. Take it through the 
 year, I average less than half a dollar a day." 
 
 " Well, in this dependent state, are you happy ?" 
 
 " Far more so than I ever was before I lost my 
 sight." 
 
 " How can that be ?" 
 
 " Why, sir, a man never knows that he is a man, 
 until he begins to serve the Lord. Before I lost my 
 eyes, I never knew what true happiness was. But 
 now I understand it, and although I should be very, 
 very glad to have the use of my eyes, yet I can now 
 see many thuigs without my eyes, that 1 never saw 
 when they were good.'' 
 
 " I am glad to hear you say this, for it establishes 
 
50 THE IMPOSTEE. 
 
 an interesting fact which is not generally laid to 
 heart. It is an old saying that none are so blind as 
 those who will not see. Perhaps this sore affliction 
 has removed that kind of blindness which is here 
 alluded to." 
 
 " It has, sir. I believe it. I know it. My eyes are 
 opened, and I see how miserable and helpless I am, 
 without help from above. I now trust in the Lord, 
 and find peace and comfort." 
 
 " Well, thank him for what he has done for you, 
 although he has used the rod, and trust in him for 
 the future ; and in a little while you will have eyes 
 to see, and your vision shall forever remain uncloud' 
 ed." 
 
 I left the poor man, thinking of those who were 
 groping their way through this wilderness world in 
 far more deplorable darkness than had settled 
 upon the pathway of the colored blind man, because 
 their eyes had never been opened to see how blind 
 they were, 
 
 THE IBIPOSTER. 
 
 Some six or eight years since, while walking 
 through Nassau-street, I discovered a man standing 
 in front of the Tract House, who had hung out a sign 
 similar to the one last described, but under circum- 
 stances much more suspicious. His pasteboard Vv^hich 
 certified that he was blind, had taken the place of an 
 ''nary shade for sore e3'es, so that his letters of 
 ^ion to the people perfectly hid his eyes 
 'Ttain. 
 
BLIND SAILOR. 51 
 
 Around him stood a circle of spectators, apparent- 
 ly hesitating what to think of him. As he had taken 
 so much pains to hide his visual apparatus, I was as 
 skeptical as the rest, and accordingly walked up to 
 him and said, " Friend, let me see your eyes," and 
 without waiting for permission, raised the vail. 
 
 " Ah ! yes, that eye is had enough, entirely gone. 
 But open and let me see the other," said I, as I raised 
 the lids. " Ah ! yes, good enough — too good to be 
 here. That eye, sir, is as good as mine — perhaps 
 better." 
 
 By this time the boys began to be pretty restless^ 
 and as I had seen enough of the impostor, to desire 
 to see something else, 1 concluded to leave them to 
 finish the investigation, which I believe they did, 
 pretty effectually. 
 
 But I suppose the man thought that he could afford 
 to be a little annoyed by the urchins, for I heard the 
 same daj^ that the lazy rascal had seven hundred 
 dollars in some Savings-Bank. Since then, I have 
 seen nothing of him. 
 
 BLIND SAILOR. 
 
 I have seen no blind man in the city who has in- 
 terested me more than Henry Franklin, the " Blind 
 Sailor^ He may be seen quietly sitting on the 
 steps of the " Sailors' Home," City Hall, Tabernacle, 
 in front of the City Hospital, or in other parts of the 
 city. He is quite a pedestrian, and very unlike every 
 im poster. 
 
 On his lap lies a box, to receive through its small 
 aperture on the top, such sums as earth's benevolent 
 
52 BLIND SAILOR. 
 
 sons and daughters esteem it a privilege to drop in. 
 Said box has also an apartment for cigars, to accom- 
 modate those who are determined to go through the 
 world by smoke, no matter whose eyes suffer, nor 
 whose respiratory organs are paralyzed. 
 
 But, if anywhere, here seems to be an apology for 
 smoking, and we therefore recommend all those who 
 indulge in the foolish and insalubrious habit, to buy 
 their cigars of Henry Franklin. No matter how 
 long it takes to find him. The longer the better. 
 
 Henry Franklin has a peculiar, sedate, sickly 
 countenance. Every line of his face bespeaks simple 
 honest}'. And although I shall hereafter have occa- 
 sion to condemn the habit of street-begging, and 
 offer reasons why it should not be tolerated, yet let 
 me say to the reader, if it is ever your lot to come in 
 contact with this unfortunate, but worthy man, be 
 not in a hurry to pass him, for it will do you no harm 
 to exchange a few words with him, and if you light- 
 en your pockets a little, take my word for it, it will 
 lighten your heart as much. 
 
 By his side lies his faithful, trusty spaniel, " Jack'' 
 He is always there, and seems to take more notice 
 of the mischievous boys than of the liberal-hearted 
 who halt to make friends of the mammon of un- 
 righteousness. The dog is nearly as peculiar as his 
 master, and neither looks, nor acts like any other 
 dog, and seems to have become almost a part of the 
 Blind Sailor himself 
 
 I have been greatly amused to see Jack lead his 
 master across Broadway. Every one who is 
 familiar with this street, is aware that it requires 
 
BLIND S.AILOR. 53 
 
 a pretty good pilot to safely conduct many across 
 this thronged thoroughfare. 
 
 The spaniel seems to understand very well how 
 long it will take to make the voyage, and whether 
 any carriage which ma}^ be coming from either 
 direction will be likely to overtake them before they 
 reach the side walk. Hence, the dog stands still, 
 looks up street and down, this way and that, and 
 at the proper time he pulls a-head, while his 
 master, with all the confidence that ever a soldier 
 exercised in his commander, follows on, holding fast 
 to the strap which is tied around the dog's neck, and 
 which he keeps on the stretch as long as it is fair 
 sailing. Whenever it becomes slack, the blind sailor 
 knows that it is a signal to stop ; for he understands 
 canine, as well as Jack does human calculations. 
 In the month of October last, the man informed me 
 that although Jack had served him seven years, yet 
 he had never led him astray. 
 
 Well, Jack, you are entitled to a silver pitcher, or 
 a gold medal. At any rate, one would think that 
 you ought to have something better than an old 
 muzzle to prevent your correcting saucy boys. 
 
 Yes, Jack, if you are in the habit of conducting 
 your old friend from Wllliamsburgh to New York and 
 back again daily, as he confesses, a distance of six 
 miles, and if you are so upright and trustful that you 
 have never led him astray, surely you deserve a 
 monument to perpetuate the memory of your good 
 deeds. 
 
 But, where is the man who can say as much for 
 his fellow ? 
 
64 BLIND SAILOK. 
 
 Many pedestrians walk oar streets — some led by 
 dogs, some by men, and some by ladies ; and all but 
 the blind sailor are probably more or less led astray. 
 But let not this seeming advantaii-e so lead ns out of 
 the way as to forget Ileniy Franklin and others wljo 
 need the assistance of dogs and men. 
 
 I visited this need\^ man at the time spoken of 
 above, to learn something about his history. " Well, 
 neighbor," said I, '' how does the world use you, 
 these days ?" 
 
 " Well, most of the world treat me very kindly," 
 said he. 
 
 " But you meet with some gales on shore, I sup- 
 pose, and rocks, and shoals, and undercurrents." 
 
 " Indeed I do, and bdrrcn lands." 
 
 " How long have you been blind?" 
 
 " About ten years." 
 
 *' How did you lose your sight ?" 
 
 " By a flash of lightning, while I was close-reefing 
 the main top-sail, on board the ship " West Chester." 
 
 " Have you. ever been ship-wn-ecked V 
 
 " O yes, on the Island of Flora, near the mouth of 
 the river La Platte, where we lost our captain and 
 cook, and I lost about eighteen hundred dollars, and 
 every thing that I had except the clothes on my 
 back," 
 
 " Have 5^ou ever been ship- wrecked on shore V 
 •K ** Well, it is pretty much like sailing ever^^where 
 else," said he, smiling, which was rather rare. " I 
 sometimes have wind and tide agaijist me. Some- 
 times I have fair weather, and sometimes foul. But 
 
BLIND SAILOR. 55 
 
 I am willing to take it as it comes, and run my 
 chance with the rest of the world." 
 
 ** How old are you ?" 
 
 *' A littJe more than forty." 
 
 " Have you sailed the ship Charity ever since you 
 lost your eyes ?" 
 
 " Yes, I could sail no other." 
 
 " Do you make good trips ?" 
 
 " Well, the most that I ever made in a day 
 was fifteen dollars, and that w^as a present from an 
 old shipmate. The least that I generally get, is 
 about eighteen or twenty cents. I average through 
 the year, about seventy-five cents a day, which 
 enables me to keep about square with the world, 
 which is all I expect. People are not as liberal as 
 they were eight years ago." 
 
 " I suppose there are more objects of pity now. 
 The channels of charity have become more numer- 
 ous ?" 
 
 " Perhaps so; but I don't think they are so liberal 
 now as they were eight years ago." 
 
 "How many passengers have you now on board 
 the ship Charity ?" 
 
 " A wife and three children." 
 
 " Do they all bear a hand in a storm ?" 
 
 "Well, my wife is cook on board, and does some- 
 thing at washing and sewing, and the little children 
 go to school. We just make out to keep from sink- 
 ing, and that is about all that we can expect. But 
 some people think that I am rich. T often hear them 
 say as they are passing along, *0, that fellow is well 
 enough ofi': I wish I had his purse,' &;c. But we 
 
56 BLIND SAILOR. 
 
 just make out to keep square with the world, and 
 this we think better than nothing.'' 
 
 " O yes, for many a man with sharp eyes, hardly 
 does that, and when he fails to pay his way, he is 
 unhappy, for, do what he will, conscience will accuse 
 him of eating another man's bread, and of sleeping 
 on another man's feathers. But, as it is, are you 
 happy ?" 
 
 " Yes, except that my health is poor." 
 
 " Well, your countenance does indicate that some- 
 thing is not right. What seems to be the matter ?" 
 
 " The doctors tell me that 1 have an aneurism of 
 
 the aorta. Put your hand on my chest and see how 
 
 it beats." 
 
 *' Indeed it does, and your life hangs upon a brittle 
 thread." 
 
 " I know it. I am aware that I am liable to die 
 in an instant, without a moment's warning." 
 
 " Yes, you are, and in view of this, how do you 
 feel ?" 
 
 " I am ready to go." 
 
 " It is a voyage of great moment, and through dark 
 waters. Who is your Pilot V 
 
 " The Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 " Very well, with him on board, a shipwreck is ut- 
 terly impossible." 
 
 " I believe in him ; he is all my trust," said he ; 
 and the tears stole down the honest sailor's cheek ; 
 and I parted with him as he sat upon the steps in 
 front of the City Hospital, feeling that many who 
 were rolling past him in wealth and finery, might 
 exchange places with him to infinite advantage ; and 
 
POLITE BEGGAR. 
 
 1 said to in3'self, may the good Spirit bless the poor 
 hlitid sailor. 
 
 Although the blind, as a class, are generally far 
 more happy than one would at first suppose ; yet it 
 is a serious calamity fov an}' one to lose the use of 
 so important an organ as the eye. 
 
 Indeed one shudders at the prospect of such nn 
 event, and a fortune would often freely be given to 
 prevent it, if money could avert such a doom. Hence 
 if any are entitled to sympathy, surely the blind can 
 claim a double portion. Let us remove even a straw, 
 if it lies in the way of him who is trying to feel his 
 way through the world as well as he can. 
 
 As it is presumed that ever}' one feels a deep in- 
 terest in the prosperity of that noble institution, the 
 ^^ New-York Blind Asi/lurn,^^ the reader will doubtless 
 expect m.e to tell what I saw there, if any where. 
 But this I beg leave to reserve for another page, as 
 it will be more appropriately noticed in connection 
 with other benevolent institutions. Moreover, we 
 have not yet dismissed the subject of street-begging. 
 
 In passing through Broadwa}^ a few weeks since, 
 I observed that a new beggar had taken his stand — 
 of course on the fashionable side of the street. He 
 looked like a man in ordinar}- health, blessed with 
 useful limbs, and a good measure of strength. Some, 
 perhaps, would have called him a polite beggar, for 
 either to show proper respect for such as might be 
 moved to pity, or because he thought that nothing 
 smaller than his hat would hold the deposits of the 
 day, he stood bare-headed, holding his chapeau before 
 him, bottom side up, to catch the falling chink, while 
 
58 POLITE BEGGAR. 
 
 to the passing throng he bowed himself ahuost out 
 of breath and out of sliape. 
 
 " Well, friend," said I, as I drew near to see how it 
 was with my neighbor, "can you get your hat full 
 every day ?" 
 
 *' Ah ! indeed, I get very little, sir," said he. 
 
 " You don't work it rightly." 
 
 " What shall I do, sir," said he, with a laudable de- 
 gree of animation. 
 
 " W^hy, sir, to humbug the people to good advantage 
 or on a grand scale," said 1, " you must get a very 
 gray wig and put it on j'our head: let your nails 
 grow out very long, and get some colodion* and rnb 
 it on your face to draw it up into wrinkles, or you 
 * won't take' these twenty j'ears." This advice was 
 of course mixed with as much gravity as circum- 
 stances would permit. 
 
 *'0, I don't wish to practice anj^ deception ; I mean 
 to be an honest man, sir," said he. 
 
 " Well, then you must not break the laws of our 
 country. Do you not know that you are liable to be 
 taken up at any moment and sent to Blackwell's 
 Island r 
 
 " Yes, 1 suppose I am ; but the people are very 
 kind." 
 
 Yes, the people were more to blame than the man; 
 and this is the very reason why I give this subject 
 the more prominence. There is a principle involved 
 in this street-benevolence which is practically and 
 radically wrong. Suppose that in going through 
 Broadway, we meet ten beggars, and give each of 
 
 * A liquid solution of gun cotton. 
 
GIVE CAUTIOUSLY. 
 
 thera a shilling. And suppose that one out of ten 
 (and this is a liberal allowance) is truly worthy of 
 the gift. The other nine are vagabonds, liars, and 
 imposters. What do we do ? 
 
 Why truly we benefit the one a,nd injure the nine^ 
 for if they are not worthy of charity, they are doubt- 
 less injured by it, sooner or kiter. Perhaps by peep- 
 ing into some Portei^ Hotisp^ a few minutes after 
 emptying our pockets, we should hear the beggar 
 saying to his comrades, and comrogues, " What v.'iil 
 you drink?" 
 
 But this is not all. We should indirectly injure nine 
 others who are worthy, and who are suffering for the 
 want of bread, and who con very easily be found, 
 but not on the corners of the streets sounding a 
 trumpet. It would undoubtedly be one of the best 
 things that ever happened, to those w^ho are truly 
 deserving a helping hand, to have this system of 
 street-begging, and street-giving thoroughly broken 
 up. And, if possible, it w^ould be a greater blessing 
 still to those Vvdio are not w^orlhy. Instead of en- 
 couraging them to lie, and cheat, and deceive, it 
 would drive them to some honest employment. 
 
 The influence of the various systems of street-beg- 
 ging upon many children and youth, is truly lament- 
 able. Of course I witness but a very small part of 
 it myself; but I see enough every da\^ to sicken me. 
 It was only yesterday that I had a brief interview 
 with one of the junior members of the fraternitj' now 
 under consideration. And although not very inter- 
 esting or profitable, I will venture to report it. 
 
 Well, I found my pen a little dozy, as its noddings 
 
60 JUVENILE BEGGAR. 
 
 con- 
 clude;} to take a short walk in Broadway, and had 
 hardl\^ got into the street, before a mouth brimful of 
 " Will you give me two or three pennies, sir?" was 
 thrust into my ears. 
 
 " For whatJ" said I. 
 
 " Me mother is sick, sir, and there is four of us." 
 
 "Four of what, or whom ?" 
 
 " Four of w.sr, sir." 
 
 " What do you mean ? Four sick ones, or four 
 beggars, or four what ?" 
 
 " No, sir, four of us." 
 
 " O, I suppose you mean four children. Is that 
 it?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, that's what I mean. There is four of 
 us." 
 
 " But hasn't your mother got well, yet ?" 
 
 " No, sir, she is very sick in bed." 
 
 " Why she has been a long time sick, it seems to 
 me." 
 
 " Yes, sir, she has," said he, with a look of suspi- 
 cion. 
 
 " You are deceiving me, my lad," said I. " You 
 have got no mother sick at home." 
 
 Perhaps I ought to inform the inexperienced read- 
 er, that during this interview, the little rascal, who 
 was about ten years old, and as dirty as he was rag- 
 ged, earned three pennies in trying to cry, if such an 
 effort had been worth anything. It is hard work to 
 cry when there is a prospect of good luck. Moreo- 
 ver, this is the very time when they have to cry the 
 harder. But crying beggars are somewhat like a 
 
JUVENILE BEGGAR. 61 
 
 thunderstorm, in which there is more noise than 
 rain. 
 
 But I determined to put the boy's veracity to the 
 test, though not my first determination of the kind, 
 and as he solemnly affirmed that his mother was sick 
 and need}^ and lived in West Washington Place, 
 where I could see her for myself, and began to step 
 around as though very willing to accompany me to 
 her bedside, I said, " Very well, I will go right there 
 with you this moment ; and if I find her as you re- 
 present, something shall be done for her. But if I 
 do not, something shall be done for you. Come 
 along." ' 
 
 He solemnly declared that he had told me the 
 truth, and to try my sincerity and faith, started at a 
 quick step ; and to try his honesty, I started at a 
 quicker, in the direction of the said street ; and as we 
 turned out of Broadway down Fourth-street, he at 
 once fell behind, and 1 immediately hurried him up, 
 keeping m}' eye upon him, lest he should give me the 
 slip. 
 
 It will be remembered that by this time, he had 
 altogether stopped crying, as he had something else 
 to think of, and enough else to do. But in crossing 
 £1 street, I turned my eye from him, and didn't he run ? 
 I doubt whether any boy ever ran from Mercer-street 
 to Broadway, quicker, or whether he could have in- 
 creased his speed to save his life. He never turned 
 his head one way or the other until just as he was 
 turning around the drug store on the corner, he look- 
 ed back to see if I was after him. 
 
 When he returned home with the proceeds of that 
 
62 JUVENILE BEGGAR. 
 
 day's lying, to rehearse the perils and the prosperities 
 of his undei-taking, his mother probably congratulat- 
 ed him for having a pair of good legs to serve him, 
 when his tongue failed ; and if he " brings down her 
 gray hairs with sorrow to the grave," she will proba- 
 bly find that it is her own fault. 
 
 It is often hard for strangers and the inexperi- 
 enced, who have a spark of benevolence, to resist the 
 appeal of many a shrewd, professional beggar ; and 
 especial!}^ the plea of a child. The poor things, many 
 of them do indeed have a hard time of it, for they 
 have been trying for years to raise money enough to 
 pay for burying their mothers, who are in the habit 
 of dying every day, and whipping their children 
 every night that they fail to bring home money 
 enough to pay for burying the living. I had almost 
 said that it is a pity that they could not he buried, for 
 their children would be better off, or could not well 
 be worse ; and the community can afford to bury 
 them once, to get rid of such an influence. 
 
 These beggars understand human nature quite as 
 well as do many whom they meet. They never ask 
 for money to help them buy a horse, or build a house. 
 It is easy to dispense with such a plea. But a starv- 
 ing child, a dying mother, a lifeless corpse are argu- 
 ments not so easily resisted. This they understand ; 
 and of this they take advantage. Hence, they are 
 all but starved, with more food than they can eat — 
 their mothers are dangerously ill, while driving about 
 town to watch the success of their lying children, 
 and their fathers are dead, and their mothers can't 
 bury them, because their husbands won't let them. 
 
BEGGAR BOARDING-HOUSES. 63 
 
 But for the present we must let the beggars keep 
 on begging, and the givers keep on givin;?, and the 
 living refuse to be buried — it's a free country. 
 
 Perhaps I ought to say a w^ord about Beggar- 
 Boftrding-Houses. These establishments send out 
 children to beg ''cold victtwh'^" for some poor wretch 
 as above described, and in this way their tables are 
 actually furnished to a very considerable extent if 
 not in full. The fact cannot be disputed. More- 
 over, the proprietor doubtless makes this a very pro- 
 fitable operation, for whether his agents beg for cold 
 victuals or sicill, it is a,ll the same. The best of 
 course goes to the table, and the rest to the pig-pen. 
 All very well. And why should any man complain 
 so long as he is treated better than a hog ? Some do 
 not, even when hogs, dogs, and men, all eat out of 
 the same trough. 
 
 But, lest the reader should come to the conclusion 
 that our citizens are all beggars, and to some extent 
 they are, we must let the unpleasant topic pass. We 
 have somewhat enlarged upon this subject, because 
 the inhabitants of this and every other town, are too 
 much imposed upon, and because it is too much their 
 own fault. ^ 
 
 True, to excite sympathy there is every stratagem 
 contrivable, resorted to, from the professed gentle- 
 man, down to the little rogue of a match-pedlar, who 
 has been trying his luck in deception for the last 
 twelve months ; and who, whenever a favorable op- 
 portunity occurs, cries loudly, and sobs lustily ; and 
 to the question most naturally put to him by the ten- 
 der-hearted spectator, he always has a stereotype 
 
64 JUVENILE STREET SWEEPERS. 
 
 answer, namely, "Mother will lick me if I go home 
 without selling my matches. Boo-hoo." Yet the 
 people ought to be as wise to keep out of the trap, as 
 the rogues are to get them in. 
 
 But I often pity the poor little homeless outcasts 
 who frequently stand shivering and gazing into the 
 shop windows of our thoroughfares, longing in vain 
 for things which they cannot obtain. They can al- 
 most taste through the plated glass, the. tempting 
 roundheart, or smoking doughnut. At another win- 
 dow they stop to admire a little hat or coat which 
 they cannot buy, and finally run home without being 
 warmed or filled. 
 
 At a difterent stage of life, we see others also 
 standing before the glittering display in the mer- 
 chant's window, and as their haggard faces, and shab- 
 by garments are reflected from the burnished tea- 
 pots or gilded mirrors, they are reminded of better 
 days, of health departed, time abused, money wast- 
 ed, hints despised, and hope destroj'ed, and they turn 
 away with bitter regret, and find little sympathy. 
 
 JUVENILE STREET-SWEEPERS. 
 
 The eloquence of those little misses, who, with their 
 brooms, ferry the good people of Gotham over the 
 rivers of mud in Broadway and other thorough- 
 fares, on a cold, rainy, snowy daj^ demands a 
 hearing ear — who with their bare feet, and thin 
 garments, busy bodies, and modest faces, are quite 
 a spectacle, as they expose their lives and limbs to 
 stupid drivers, and careless horses, so long as their feet 
 
JUVENILE STREET-SWEEPERS. 65 
 
 do not freeze fast in the mud, which perhaps would 
 be less deplored than the loss of their brooms, 
 
 *' Please give me a penny for sweeping off the 
 walk for you, sir," said one of these broomsters, on a 
 certain occasion, when I would not have had the 
 mud swept back again, before crossing, for double 
 the money. This request was made with a soft and 
 modest tone, and a face — we do sometimes see a sweet 
 face under an old ragged bonnet, and a sprinkling of 
 dirt — yes, a face that many a one in silk would 
 give more than a penny to possess. I simply noticed 
 her, but said nothing, preferring to get out of the 
 way of rattling wheels. 
 
 But when any one condescends to even look at 
 them — the majority look straight a-head when they 
 hear the word penny — they take it for granted that 
 it will do to urge their requests, and so she conducted 
 me safely to the shore, and then I felt inclined to 
 consider her claim. Hence I entered into conversa- 
 tion with her by asking if she followed that business 
 for a living. 
 
 " Yes, sir," said she, " in bad w^eather." 
 
 ** Don't it make your feet cold ?" 
 
 « No, sir." 
 
 " What keeps them warm?" 
 
 " I don't know, sir. I only know they aint cold." 
 
 " What do you do with the money which you get 
 in this way ?" 
 
 " Buy bread with it, sir." 
 
 " What does your mother do at home ?" 
 
 " She cuts carpet rags, sir." 
 
 " Where does she live ?" k. 
 
66 JUVENILE STREET-SWEEPERS. 
 
 " In Orange-Street, sir." 
 
 ** How much do you make in a day ?" 
 
 *' Sometimes eighteen pence, and sometimes two 
 shillings, sir." 
 
 " What is the most that j^ou ever received in one 
 day?" 
 
 " About three shillings, sir." 
 
 After congratulating her, and expressing a hope 
 that she would make more still, that day, and giving 
 her all that she asked for, which was too little, con- 
 sidering that I kept her so long from her legitimate 
 business, she said, " Thank you, sir," and at it she 
 went, and the broom, and the mud, and the broth, 
 peculiar to Broadwaj^, flev/ this way R.nd that, as 
 fast as the busy wheels and horses' feet made a 
 deposit. And it was sweep, sweep, " Please to give 
 me a penny, sir," sweep, sweep — " Please to give me 
 a penny for sweeping off the walk for you, sir ?" 
 Sweep, sweep, sweep. 
 
 CHIMNEY SWEEP. 
 
 I must call the attention of the reader, for a 
 moment, to another class of sweepers, quite as im" 
 portant and useful as those just noticed above. 
 They live on their honest earnings and with all their 
 smoke, and dirt, and soot, and rags, are entitled to 
 more respect than any man of whiter skin who wears 
 finer cloth which he refuses to pay for. 
 
 And what is still more— these chimney sweeps are 
 not only useful members of community, giving us sweet 
 houses, and clean puddings, but they are as happy ap. 
 parent ly as any class with which I am acquainted. 
 
CHIMNEY SWEEP. 67 
 
 Some of them sing, as they go through the streets 
 announcing their calling, with a voice clear enough 
 and musical enough to be admired ; and it is some- 
 times quite amusing to hear them, though they are 
 often as difficultly understood as the bobalink. But 
 I must give the reader a specimen of such songs as 
 can be understood and appreciated. 
 
 "Here goes old sweep what's got no money — 
 Here goes old sweep as sweet as honey." 
 
 I know not but the old " sw^eep" who fortunately 
 hit upon this song, the music of which I regret that 
 1 am unable to give, has made enough from his con- 
 certs, to retire, for I have not heard his ditty for se- 
 veral years. 
 
 Early in the morning they commence singing and 
 travelling from street to street, carrying on their backs 
 their tools. And since they have either become so 
 fat, or chimnies have become so lank that the sweep- 
 er cannot ascend them, as formerly, he is under the 
 necessity of increasing his soot-gatherers, which con- 
 sist of an old blanket, or its equivalent, a bundle of 
 rods, brushes, scrapers, and a rope. 
 
 They enter the apartment where the chimney is to 
 be swept, and first hang up their blanket before the 
 fire-place to prevent the escape of as much dust as 
 possible. Then the brush and scrapers are sent on 
 an exploring expedition. These are so- attached to a 
 stick as to operate on all sides. But as the han- 
 dle is only about four feet long, it must be spliced or 
 never reach the top of the chimney. Accordingly 
 the bundle of rods, of which I have spoken, are 
 brought into requisition, each of which has a socket 
 
68 RAG-PICKERS. 
 
 on one end, to receive the end of the next rod, and so 
 in a little time, even sooner than the reader will find 
 the end of the story, the brush finds the top of the 
 chimney, and the sweeping commences. 
 
 The rope to which I alluded, is fast at one end 
 to the brush, and as the operator sends up his many- 
 jointed broom-handle, he holds fast to said rope, oc- 
 casionally winding it around the rods to hold th^m 
 together, and thus the chimney is soon swept. The 
 *' Sweep" then gathers up the soot, carries it out, and 
 receives for each flue, two or three York shillings, 
 and leaves the house " as sweet as honey." 
 
 Presuming that my country readers understand all 
 other kinds of sweeping better than I can tell them, I 
 will pass to notice another class of characters, though 
 I might speak of an army of "street-sweepers, the re- 
 sult of whose labors is given on another page. These 
 individuals occupy a very important position, for 
 they can deal out to us health or pestilence, accord- 
 to the manner in which they do their work ; and not 
 unfrequently do they give us more than a supply of 
 the latter. 
 
 RAG-PICKERS. 
 
 Quite a large number of citizens support them- 
 selves by gathering rags and bones out of the gut- 
 ters. Some of them, I understand, make more than 
 a living by the operation. 
 
 The lady-rag pickers quite attracted my attention 
 when I first came to the city. But I soon discovered 
 that all, both male and female, had one advantage 
 over others of almost every craft. They could take 
 
RAG-PICKERS. 69 
 
 their meals not only while digging for gold, hut free 
 of expense, for the bones they gathered were not al- 
 ways well picked. Hence, I was not so much sur- 
 prised when I was informed that some of those dirty, 
 smoky, shabby, greasy looking women would be out 
 before night in their silks, and that they had plenty 
 of money at interest. 
 
 This industrious class who blush not for trifles, and 
 care not for mud, may be seen with a bag slung 
 across their shoulders, or a basket on their arms, into 
 which they cast their treasure. They can see as 
 good money in an old worn-out dish-cloth under a 
 hogs's foot in the gutter, or in a chicken's bone in the 
 mud, as the merchant can in silks and satins, and pro- 
 bably prosper about as well, and quite as seldom 
 fail. 
 
 In one hand they carry a small iron rod, with a 
 handle on one end, and a hook on the other, and with 
 this they search for hidden treasure, and when they 
 find it, bag it, and search again, and through and 
 through every street, nook and corner they go, very 
 much as a young turkey goes through a field search- 
 ing for grasshoppers, and sees nothing else. 
 
 The bone-boilers and bone-grinders, dog-killers 
 and horse-skinners, hot-corners and ice-creamers, 
 street-singers and bell-ringers, and many other im- 
 portant personages will pardon us for not giving 
 them a special notice on the present occasion. These 
 are all good in their place. But for some of them, 
 we think their proper place is a good way out of 
 town. Moreover, we have those of other callings, 
 
70 RAG PICKERS. 
 
 and many of them who can very well be spared, if 
 our country friends w^ould like their services. 
 
 A city life, in many respects, is a life of more pri- 
 vation and peril, than is a residence in rural districts. 
 In some it is less. Those who reside in the city are 
 generally subjected to the morbific influence of se- 
 dentary habits, insalubrious air, and frequently un- 
 healthful food, especially as respects vegetable edi- 
 bles. Moreover, they are more exposed to a perni- 
 cious moral influence, especially children and youth. 
 
GAMBLING. 
 
 There is hardly a greater moral pestilence in the 
 city than the fearful and wide- spread spirit of gam- 
 bling, in its multifarious forms and phases. It leads 
 to poverty, miser}^ disgrace, crime, and death. It 
 begins at the present day, almost in the cradle, and 
 the gambler is found in high life and low, among the 
 rich and the poor, in the circles of the young and the 
 aged, the honorable and the despised. The influence 
 of this practice is very much the same in every place 
 and under all circumstances, whether money or pro- 
 perty is at stake ; and whether the winner gains lit- 
 tle or much. 
 
 Gambling is very much like intemperance, in many 
 important particulars^ The habit is seldom acquired 
 at once ; and when acquired, is almost as seldom at- 
 tended with a reformation. It poisons the mind, per- 
 verts the judgment, stifles the conscience, and sends 
 to the bottomless abyss its deluded votaries. And as 
 we can hardly expect to reclaim those who are far 
 gone in this vice, we intend the few hints which we 
 have to offer, mainly to warn the innocent to beware 
 of the first step. And especially with jjarents we 
 would plead with tears, in behalf of their sons, for 
 the fairest hopes and brightest prospects of many a 
 mother have been sadly blasted by the utter ruin of 
 a darling son, or bosom companion, in the dens of 
 death to which the unwary resort. 
 
 I rejoice to see some well directed efforts made for 
 
^2 GAMBLING. 
 
 the suppression of this monster vice. But as yet, all 
 that has been done hardly amounts to a beginning. 
 It is not a drop in the bucket. 
 
 The heart-rending effects of gambling upon all 
 classes — the extent to which it is carried — the fright- 
 ful number and ruin of its victims, and the means 
 and arts used every day, and every night to draw into 
 its dark and bottomless gulph, new recruits of such 
 as can be easily led on step by step, as unsuspectingly 
 as the lamb is led to the slaughter, presents an array 
 of startling facts quite sufficient to demand united 
 and determined action, and ought at once to enlist 
 such a mighty anti-gambling association as shall 
 move forward with redeeming power. 
 
 The germ of gambling in our city may every day 
 be seen in the streets. The beginning is on a small 
 scale. The players are the boys, and the gambling- 
 table is the side- walk. These uncared-for boys man- 
 age to get a few pennies by begging, stealing, or by 
 some little service, they care not what, and then they 
 are ready to commence operations, and are eager to 
 get a chance at a game. The excitement commences, 
 and they gradually draw around them boys who are 
 more respectable. Their favorite games are pitching 
 coppers, throwing them up for heads, betting on mar- 
 bles, &c. 
 
 Now-, " coppers change hands rapidly, and on a 
 small scale, you can see developed all the passions 
 of the veteran gambler." -' . . v \ 
 
 "But young ambition soon takes a htg^lier flight," 
 and the aspiring youngster soon lands at the bowling- 
 saloon, takes a few lessons there, and mounts a step 
 
GAMBLING. 73 
 
 'W-l^/-^>V- — • 
 
 4ttgfe€i-, and is found at the billiard-table where his 
 expertness is marvelously developed, and his scruples 
 of conscience pretty effectually muzzled. 
 
 He is soon ready for the faro-table — he has chosen 
 his profession, finished his apprenticeship, embarked 
 in his trade, his career becomes desperate and his 
 destiny fixed. 
 
 During all this time, his parents perhaps never 
 suspect any danger, and when the fearful truth is re- 
 vealed, a father's remonstrance, or mother's tears 
 will not avail to break up the confirmed habit, and 
 reclaim their ruined son. 
 
 A very extensive gambling operation is carried on, 
 to the disgrace of our city, and in violation of the 
 laws of our State, in the traffic of lottery tickets. 
 " A few weeks since," says a writer, " we were stand- 
 ing near the door of one of the most fashionable lot- 
 tery offices in Ann street. 
 
 " A woman meanly clad, with an infant in her 
 arms, approached the office. The babe was scream- 
 ing to the top of its voice, but the mother appeared 
 wholly unconscious of its cries. Her face was 
 flushed with the hope that she should hear of the suc- 
 cess of her favorite numbers. But she was doomed 
 to disappointment. On entering the office, she was 
 told that the figures she had bet upon were unsuc- 
 cessful. We never saw such a change of expression 
 in so short a time. 
 
 " As she escaped the threshold of the office, her 
 countenance was pallid, her whole aspect bore the 
 marks of deepest anguish. The cries of her child 
 r^ox*/- i'-^'i^ epp.med to attract her notice. But every 
 
74 GAMBLING. 
 
 other emotion was swallowed up in her keen sense 
 of the loss of her adv^enture. 
 
 " We were anxious to know her condition, and 
 followed her home. It was in the basement of a 
 miserable tenement in Pearl-street. She had four 
 other children, the eldest of whom was not more than 
 eight years of age. They were almost naked. They 
 had nothing to sleep on but one wretched straw-bed 
 and a few old rags. Not a spark of fire was in the 
 room. There was no food but a scant supply of cold 
 fragments, furnished by a family that lived in the 
 next room, and which they were devouring with the 
 voracity of starving pigs. 
 
 " The mother, we found on inquiry, to be a hard 
 working woman, of temperate habits, and addicted 
 to no vice but her fatal prop^'usity for lottery gam- 
 bling. The father was intemperate and spent all his 
 earnings for rum." 
 
 What a wretched picture ! What a gloomy pros- 
 pect for these poor, helpless, innocent children, and 
 what a sad example. This destitution, leads not only 
 to present distress, but to disease and premature 
 death in generations to come. Want of sufficient 
 food, and clothing, and pure air, too often produces a 
 scrofulous constitution, which frequently leads to 
 consumption, and this terrible disease, when once ac- 
 quired, (no matter, how.) becomes hereditary and 
 sweeps off generation after generation ! 
 
 To parents, we would here give one hint, a jirnctical 
 hint. We need not say, keep your sons out of the 
 society of blacklegs. We do not suppose that one 
 father or mother, in ten thousand, has the least sus- 
 
GAMBLING. 75 
 
 picion that he or she needs any such advice. But we 
 do say, make your own fireside as attractive as possible. 
 Remember that amusement is essential, nay, indis- 
 pensable to health and happiness — that it must, and 
 should, and will be had, and if that which is harmless 
 cannot readily be obtained, that which is hurtful will 
 almost certainly be substituted. Therefore make it 
 a matter not only of expediency, but of duty, to pro- 
 vide amusements at home. 
 
 The mother always begins just right, but she fre- 
 quently stops a little too soon. She gives the baby 
 in the cradle, a " rattle box." This is an admirable 
 beginning. Please to carry out that principle. But 
 don't think for a moment, that because the baby has 
 got too old to be longer amused with the toy, it there- 
 fore needs nothing else. The child, the youth, the 
 man just wants a substitute for the rattle-box ! But 
 let them have a safe one, and have it at home. 
 
 This is a subject of much importance, and we 
 should like to dwell longer upon the salutary in- 
 fluence of suitable and healthful amusement at the 
 fireside, so as to make home the most attractive spot 
 in this vale of tears. But we presume it will hardly 
 be expected. If parents could see all the tears which 
 have been poured out upon the pathway of many a 
 ruined son — could feel the throbbing heart — hear the 
 agonizing groan of the despairing mother, and realize 
 that there was a time when all this could have been 
 prevented by early attention to this very principle, 
 probably they would not be long in coming to the 
 conclusion that they had better look at the subject in 
 the right light. 
 
76 GAMBLING. 
 
 Moreover, we are constrained to believe that 
 among a certain class, many children are ruined in 
 the nursery. A child, for example, is disobedient, 
 and old enough to know it. The mother is to some 
 extent aware of the danger of letting it pass un- 
 noticed, and threatens to get a rod, if such an im- 
 propriety or wilful act is again committed. The 
 child, for good reasons, don't believe it, and quickly 
 puts the mother's veracity to the test. 
 
 " Now," says she, " if you do that again I will 
 pretty nearly take your skin off." 
 
 The child don't believe that either, and hesitates 
 not to do the same thing, or something worse, as soon 
 as circumstances offer a sufficient inducement. 
 
 " There, take that ! you little good for nothing — 
 didn't I tell you that you would get it," says the 
 mother, as she gives the child a little tap which is 
 sufficiently refined to make the little rebel more rebel- 
 lous than ever. With a surly face, and in a mutter- 
 ing rage, he goes away and does worse than before — 
 gets a harder rap — bawls a good deal louder — gets 
 two or three slaps and a big piece of sugar. When 
 that child gets to be a little older, it will take more 
 than a lump of sugar to keep him out of bad com- 
 pany, or from any place where inclination leads. 
 But we are somewhat digressing, although we are 
 telling just exactly what we have seen in New York 
 and in New Hampshire too. 
 
 There is not only more gaming in all large towns 
 than in rural districts, but more dissipation, more 
 daring outrage, more crimes of almost every hue. 
 Pretty conclusive evidence of this mav be obtained 
 
GAMBLING. 77 
 
 by making an excursion through our p7^iso?is. Hence 
 we keep our locks and keys, " and bolts and bars, 
 watching for thieves and robbers, day and night. 
 And with all these on the alert, and Policemen to 
 whistle, and dogs to bark, and prisons to hold the 
 rogues, nothing is safe. 
 
THE TOMBS. 
 
 This appellation, by which our City Prison is 
 known, is somewhat appropriate both as respects its 
 appearance and function. The number of commit- 
 ments during the past year, for every variety of 
 crime, and for no crime at all, was 16,279. The 
 shortest term of sentence in this prison is five days. 
 Many, however, are committed for the night, or tem- 
 porarily for the sake of convenience or safety, pre- 
 paratory to being sent elsewhere, such as the insane, 
 vagrants, &c. The average term is about seven 
 days. 
 
 After getting within the gloomy walls, and receiv- 
 ing a ticket that I might not be compelled to serve 
 out an average term, I inquired for my friend Dr. 
 Covel, and was directed to the Medical Office, and 
 as I entered it, the Doctor turned my attention to 
 what had once been a human being, and what else 
 he was still, I know not, though the most wretched 
 looking specimen of humanity that ever a mortal at- 
 tempted to describe. 
 
 " There !" said the Doctor, " is a man who is sick 
 of life. We cut him down after he had hung him- 
 self up by the neck this morning." 
 
 One glance was sufficient to reveal the cause. 
 The face, the eyes, the voice, the breath, the motion, 
 the intellect, all testified to the doings of rum, and it 
 was truly a spectacle most horrible and revolting. 
 He was well-nigh eaten up alive. 
 
THE TOMBS. 79 
 
 *' What is 5^our name ?" said I. 
 
 "James Mansfield,", said he. 
 
 " Why did you do such an act?" 
 
 " My time had come !" 
 
 " What time ?" 
 
 " The set time." 
 
 "What do you mean by set time ?" 
 
 " My time to go." 
 
 "Togo where?" 
 
 " To the devil. Wliy, they sold me to the devil 
 more than a week ago, and the time is up !" 
 
 "Who sold you to the devil?" 
 
 •"Why they did— them fellows." 
 
 " O nonsense !" 
 
 *'Ah! it is no laughing matter, and if they had 
 only let me alone this morning, they would have 
 saved all this fuss. I should have been out of the 
 way slick enough. They had better minded their 
 own business." 
 
 " Well, will you try the rope again ?" 
 
 "O no. My time is up, now." 
 
 " How do you know ?" 
 
 " 1 was told so yesterday." 
 
 " Where were you told so ?" 
 
 " In the Tombs, when I was praying." 
 
 "Who told you so?" 
 
 " I heard it from heaven, yesterdaj^ My time is 
 up. The Alniighty told me so himself; I heard him 
 say so, and, therefore, there is no mistake about it. 
 No, sir, not a bit. I shall not be alive this evening 
 at six o'clock ! No, no. I am sold, my time is up." 
 
 Pretty nearly, sure enough, said 1 to myself. But 
 
80 THE TOMBS. 
 
 ropes can be dispensed with, it is also true. A few 
 more drinks, and another attack of delirium tremens 
 will probably finish the work of destruction ! But 
 oh ! w^hat an end ! " Sold to the devil !" How hor- 
 ribly shocking your prospects, poor James Mans- 
 field ! Yes, I sincerely fear that thou art " sold to 
 the devil," for rum, and if the mental, moral, physi- 
 cal, and financial resources of the entire city all 
 combined, could redeem thee, fallen and besotted as 
 thou art, the sacrifice would not be too great, for thou 
 art immortal ! 
 
 Poor man ! Who had a right to sell thee to the 
 devil, and who gave that man his authority ? Go, 
 and take a seat at his table, drink from his cup and 
 stand before his mirror, sit on his sofa, lie on his 
 lounge, ride in his carriage, show him your neck and 
 ghastly face, and burning eyes, and tremulous hand, 
 and tell him that you will never leave him until your 
 "time is up," unless he shall say at once to the de- 
 vil's agent, thou shalt no longer be steward, and take 
 away from him his license. 
 
 This sad spectacle so distressed and sickened me, 
 that I well nigh resolved to leave the prison at once, 
 thinking that I had seen enough. But as I turned 
 away from the poor object of pity and disgust,"! 
 will show you the Sandwich Islander, Peter How- 
 land, better known as * Spanish Pete,' " said the doc- 
 tor* "the man who a few days since beat a colored 
 man to death with a bed-post, and kept the police 
 at bay for several hours." 
 
 And there he sat flat on the granite floor near a 
 stove, a dark, dirty, surly, muscular looking savage, 
 
THE TOMBS. 81 
 
 ill irons, without any apparent concern. I inquired 
 if he could speak English ? "A little," said the doc- 
 tor. 
 
 I asked him a few questions, and the substance of 
 what I could understand was> that he had followed 
 a seafaring life, had been a sailor on five different 
 ships, had been in London and other different ports, 
 and that somebody had told him to kill the colored 
 man, and then they would get his old clothes. 
 
 His throat and one eye bore the marks of rough 
 usage which was needful to capture him. This visit 
 to the prison occurred last winter. Since that time 
 he has had his trial, and the poor savage has been 
 sent to the Lunatic As\'lum. 
 
 I went also into the cell in which Patrick Delany 
 was confined for the murder of Mary Mclntyre, and 
 asked him if he would permit me to have a little 
 chat with him. 
 
 " O yes, sir, I am glad to have you come in," said 
 he, and he spread a clean newspaper on the edge of 
 his iron bedstead, for me to sit upon — a very accept- 
 able cushion at such a time, and in such place, and 
 indeed in any place, and under any circumstances, 
 whenever a man offers the best he has. We had a 
 long talk about the murder, but as he has also since 
 had his trial, the result of which has been made pub- 
 lic, namely, a verdict of manslaughter, and sentence 
 of confinement in the State Prison for three years 
 and nine months, I will not trouble the reader with 
 the substance of the interview, except that I inquir- 
 ed how many drinks he had taken that night before 
 the fatal deed, and he replied, " about six." 
 
THE OLD MATCH FACTORY. 
 
 Having once had occasion to call at this estab- 
 lishment which had formerl)'^ been famous for loco- 
 foco matches, though now transformed into a ^'hu- 
 man beehive,''^ I will here introduce a brief account of 
 my visit to it. It will perhaps enable some of my 
 country readers to appreciate the contrast between a 
 beehive in the city, where more honey is eaten than 
 made, and a modest cottage in the country, where the 
 owner can say, " I am monarch of all I survey." 
 
 Moreover, the Old Match Factory is as much a 
 part of New-Yorlc, as is Trinity Church, or Barnum's 
 Museum, or Tom Thumb, 
 
 FIRST STORY 
 
 After entering the premises, which were about as 
 accessible as Broadway, supposing that it would of 
 course be easy to ascertain whether a certain indi- 
 vidual was there or not, I knocked at the first door 
 that I came to, and inquired for Mr. Hall, and was 
 told to go to the next door, as the good woman had 
 been there but about a week, and of course could 
 not say much about the numberless swarms in the 
 old hive. 
 
 So I went on and called at the next apartment, and 
 was met at the door by, not an Anglo-Saxon, or An- . 
 glo- American, and whether he were Anglo- Danish or 
 Anglo-Something else, I could not well ascertain, not 
 having an interpreter, and hence I called at the next 
 
THE OLD MATCH FACTORY. 83 
 
 door, and after one or two good knocks, and a little 
 patience, I was glad to meet a man who could say, 
 " How do you do ?" I told him my business, and ask- 
 ed him if he knew a Mr. Hall residing there. 
 
 "Mr. who?" said he. 
 
 " Mr. Hall." 
 
 *' I don't know any such man here. Do you say 
 his name is Hall ?" 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Hall — Hall — let me see — is he a carman ?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 "Is he a butcher?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "A tailor?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 " I don't think I know any such man here, sir, but 
 you had better inquire on the next floor, for I am 
 pretty sure he is not on this." 
 
 SECOND STORY. 
 
 I took his advice, and, after ascending the stairs, 
 the great thoroughfare branched out into numerous 
 avenues, winding hither and thither among the 
 nations ; and whether every tribe on the face of the 
 earth had a representative there, or not, I was not 
 able to decide. Suffice it to say, that I met Yankees 
 and Dutchmen, Irish and Frenchmen, English and 
 Scotchmen, and others who could neither understand 
 me, nor could I understand them any more than if the 
 parties had said ching, ching — chong, chong ; and here 
 my efforts were as vain as before. 
 
84 THE OLD MATCH FACTORY. 
 
 THIRD STORY. 
 
 Not willing to give it up, I ascended a peg higher, 
 and by this time I began to find out that it was not 
 so easy a matter to ascertain who lived in the Old 
 Match Factory as I at first supposed. Not quite dis- 
 couraged however, I again commenced the ^''Rochester 
 Knockings,'^ and one of the " spirits" soon manifested 
 a willingness to make such revelations as comported 
 with her stock of information. 
 
 She was a fat, good-natured, greasy, broad faced, 
 gray-eyed woman, and long enough from Dutchland 
 to speak English, though at first her mouth was too 
 fall of dinner to articulate. To my inquiries respect- 
 ing IMr. H. she said it was difficult to tell who were 
 in that building, as so many were continually moving 
 out and moving in. I asked her how they all lived 
 there. 
 
 " I don't know," said she, laughing, " but you see we 
 live, ha. ha, ha," and dovvn went a respectable roll of 
 bread, followed up by as large a slice of meat as would 
 be considered safe, by any prudent grey-hound. 
 
 But as she did not invite me to take any refresh- 
 ments, I tapped at the next door, and inquired for the 
 lost man, and all the satisfaction that I could get 
 there, was, " verstand neicht-'^ And so I went on 
 poking and groping, knocking and asking for Hall, 
 and although I did not find the Hall, yet I found too 
 many by half, and in the superabundance, lost my 
 way once or twice, and found myself knocking at 
 the door where I had called before. Hence I con- 
 cluded to make an effort on the next floor, and 
 resolved that, Hall or no Hall, I would go no higher. 
 
THE OLD MATCH FACTORY. 85 
 
 FOURTH STORY. 
 
 After getting pretty well up in the world, I went 
 on knocking and seeking information as usual, meet- 
 ing all sorts of folks and receiving all sorts of answers 
 but the right one. Success in my undertaking, now 
 began to look rather squally, so much so, that I felt 
 quite inclined to give it up for a bad job, and con- 
 cluded to make the last call, and walked straight up 
 to the nearest door, and gave one or two good loud 
 raps. 
 
 " Come in," shouted an honest-hearted Irishman ; 
 and I accepted the invitation. " I am looking for a 
 man by the name of Hall," said I, " and I understand 
 that he is stopping somewhere in this building, but 
 as 1 have not yet been able to find him, I called to 
 see if you could give me any information concerning 
 him. Do you know any sach man here, sir f 
 
 " Bliss your dear soul and body, if St. Patrick was 
 here himself, sir, he could hardly tell who is in this 
 building, yer honor." 
 
 " How many families have you got in this esta- 
 blishment ?" 
 
 *' More nor I can count. A hundred, sir, I suppose, 
 besides all the men, women, an' children which are 
 now on the way from Kilkenny till New York. You 
 had better axe the Agent, sir." 
 
 " Where does he live ?" 
 
 " Faith an' you are after axing me a hard question, 
 yer honor, for I am only stopping here a few weeks, 
 and so I am a little green. Yet he lives somewhere 
 in this building, and if you will wait till me auld 
 
86 THE OLD MATCH FACTORY. 
 
 woman comes in and takes the baby, I will see if I 
 can find his quarters." 
 
 But I concluded to save the kind-hearted Corkonian 
 the trouble, thanking him for his advice, thinking that 
 the Agent, sure enough, ought to know at least the 
 names of his tenents, but was even disappointed in 
 this respect, for, after finding him, he said he could 
 not tell whether he had any such tenant or not. 
 
 Now lest the reader should conclude that the 
 writer has followed facts less than fancy, in giving a 
 brief history of his unsuccessful adventures in the 
 Match Factory, he begs leave to present an incident 
 which occurred at the Polls, on the day of an elec- 
 tion in that District. 
 
 I suppose the reader is aware that the city is 
 divided into several Districts, and that each man 
 must vote in his own district, if he votes at all, and 
 also give his name, the street in which he resides, and 
 the number of his house. 
 
 Well, w^hen the election day came, that is, after 
 the old Match Factory had discharged its brimstone 
 and splinters, and received instead thereof, husbands, 
 wives, babies, cooks, cats, dogs, rags, butter and 
 cider — swarms of yeomen sallied forth with votes 
 in hand which they could neither count nor read, 
 to help to make a President of these United States. 
 
 *' What is your name ?" was of course the first 
 interrogation. The answer being given, " Where do 
 you live ?" was the next question. 
 
 " On the corner of Forsyth and Stanton-street," 
 was the answer ; and the questions, with the same 
 answers were multiplied until the Inspectors became 
 
THE OLD MATCH FACTORY. 87 
 
 SO suspicious that all could not be right, that they 
 dispatched in post-haste, two officers to ascertain 
 whether honesty or deception was the order of the 
 day, and they returned so well satisfied that many 
 more might reasonably be expected from the old 
 hive before night, to help fill the boxes, that the 
 scores of votes from that famous house were received 
 at par after that. 
 
 This information I received from a gentleman who 
 lives not only in the district, but within a stone's 
 throw of the said building, and his statement is 
 unquestionably correct. 
 
 But let not the reader suppose for a moment, 
 that the greatest amount of poverty, wretchedness, 
 and crime, are found in this establishment. Not at 
 all. It appears to be comparatively a quiet place, 
 and some of the tenants seem to have many com- 
 forts. Indeed it is a mansion, compared wdth many 
 other places, where human beings congregate, live, 
 and die ! 
 
 Perhaps we shall have no more appropriate time 
 or place, for a notice of a portion of our fair city, 
 which is not altogether the most inviting part of 
 New^ York. It nevertheless, in some respects, de- 
 serves a notice, as much as those favored spots 
 which are the very cream of our emporium. 
 
FIVE POINTS. 
 
 . With a little pains-taJdng, any one can see at a 
 glance what poverty and indolence, crime and igno- 
 rance, disease and pestilence can do, does do, and 
 will do in this wretched community, if the same 
 neglect of the wise and good, which has character- 
 ized years past, shall be continued for years to 
 come. 
 
 But we hope for better things. A better day 
 seems to be dawning . Most of the inhabitants of 
 this section of our city have too long been considered 
 hopelessly abandoned, irreclaimably lost, and un- 
 worthy of any effort to improve their condition, 
 physically, mentally, or morally. 
 
 Nevertheless this portion of our race, fallen and 
 polluted as many of them are, has not been altoge- 
 ther forgotten of late. 
 
 During the past year, the Rev. Mr. L. M. Pease, a 
 Methodist Clergyman, went as a Missionary into that 
 district and took up his residence in the midst of the 
 fallen and degraded, and began a self-denying work. 
 And for his self-denial, perseverance, and success, 
 he is entitled to much credit. 
 
 Nay, more, he is entitled to the sympathy of all 
 the good, the money of all the rich, and the atten- 
 tion of all the skeptical and thoughtless. This 
 gentleman, though a spare man, and in delicate 
 health, is a perfect giant among the " natives," and, 
 as another Missionary said to me, " he walks right 
 over them." 
 
FIVE POINTS. 89 
 
 He has received many hints from various quarters, 
 that his doings are not altogether relished. But he 
 heeds them not. They growl and bark, but never 
 bite. To show their teeth is about as much as the 
 worst of them are willing to take the responsibility 
 of at present. The City Prison, of which we have 
 spoken, is a little too near, even at their very doors. 
 They have threatened to blow him up : but he goes 
 a-head, and fears not. 
 
 Now, how much good may eventually be done 
 among this class, we do not pretend to say, nor how 
 much has already been done, for it is now some 
 months since we visited that notorious spot for the 
 purpose of collecting information, when we had 
 an agreeable interview with that indefatigable Mis- 
 sionary. 
 
 But that much has, and more will be accomplished 
 for the physical and moral good of many of the erring 
 mortals of this locality, I have not a doubt. And 
 this is better news to all who long for the improve- 
 ment of our race, than to hear of the unrivalled 
 success of any time-serving demagogue in our land, 
 for the reputation of this district is very widely 
 known, and deeply deplored. 
 
 Mr. Pease has found it indispensable in many 
 cases to provide first for the temporal wants of the 
 wretched. At the time that I saw him, he had 
 caused one hundred and fifty w^omen to learn the art 
 of shirt-making, and obtained employment for them, 
 and half as many more had learned to make pants, 
 vests, &c. 
 
 t^ome days he distributed fifty or sixty loaves of 
 
90 THE OLD BREWERY. 
 
 bread among the hungry ; and little children daily 
 hang upon him as though tlieir existence depends 
 more upon his favors than a mother's love. 
 
 Moreover, he has established a large day school, 
 and a Sabbath school — has opened a house for 
 worship, and has a weekly temperance meeting, 
 5/vhich is well attended, and has already brought 
 forth good fruit. 
 
 But as many a restless murmuring mortal is 
 always making himself miserable by comparing his 
 lot with those upon whom fortune has lavished more 
 smiles ; or, to be a little more definite, who fancies 
 that his neighbor's enjoyments are at least one-third 
 more than his, because he lives in a house one-third 
 higher, I will give the reader an opportunity of 
 becoming, by the rule of comparison, the happiest 
 man in creation. 
 
 But 1 hope, however, that he will not expect me to 
 tell all that I saw in this part of New York. Not 
 quite, if you please. Don't be too inquisitive. 
 
 THE OLD BREWERY. 
 
 My first call was of course on my friend. Pease, 
 and after a pleasant chat he asked me if I had ever 
 visited " The Old Brewer}^' which I found to be 
 standing within half-a-dozen rods of his abode. 1 
 replied that I had long had a curiosity to visit that 
 old relic of ruin, but did not even know where it 
 stood. 
 
 " Well, let us go and see it," said he. " But you 
 will hardly want to tell the people that you have 
 
THE OLD BREWERY. 91 
 
 come to see how bad they look, and so I will give 
 you a bundle of Tracts to take along with you." 
 
 "A very lucky thought," said T, " for I suppose they 
 are just what they need, and with a bundle of Tracts 
 I can go anywhere." 
 
 So we took our Tracts and started out, and almost 
 the first building that I saw after opening his door, I 
 recognized at once as the veritable Old Brewery, the 
 famous old beer-shop whose history is so widely 
 known. Its very appearance convinced me that I 
 could not be mistaken, and my friend confirmed the 
 supposition. 
 
 '' Now," said he, as we were going in, " I will 
 introduce you to a good old temperance man even in 
 this building, who knows every part of the establish- 
 ment, and will show you through it, and after you are 
 satisfied with seeing the nooks and corners of the 
 Brewery, call at my house." 
 
 This being done, he went about his business, and 
 we about ours. 
 
 My worthy guide, whom I found to be by trade a 
 chair-maker, cheerfully laid aside his mahogany 
 rocker, brushed off the chips and shavings, and pre- 
 pared to start. But I had forgotten his name, and 
 to my inquiry respecting it, he answered, " My name 
 is John Burke : but they call me the Old Man of the 
 Brewery and Father of Temperance.'''' 
 • " How long have you lived in this building ?" 
 
 " More than thirteen years, sir." 
 
 " How long have you been a temperance man ?" 
 
 " About ten years, and I was more than three 
 quarters drunk when I took the pledge ; and for 
 
92 THE OLD BREWERY. 
 
 thirty years before, I ceased not to drink up my 
 earnings, day and night." 
 
 " Well, I am heartily glad that you have got out of 
 that trap which holds so many fast for life. Do you 
 preach temperance here in this building ?" 
 
 " O yes, I try to do that, and we are going to have 
 a temperance meeting to-night, right over there on 
 the corner. What a hard corner that used to be, 
 before Mr. Pease came here. You must be there 
 to-night, sir." 
 
 " I shall endeavor to be there, and shall expect to 
 meet you." 
 
 " Always there every Friday night." 
 
 "Well, you must have witnessed a good many 
 interesting reformations, since you began to preach 
 temperance in this old building, where a different 
 doctrine was formerly advocated." 
 
 *' O yes, if I had time I could give you a good many 
 interesting anecdotes on that subject." And as we 
 stood in the door, he pointed up street and said, "Up 
 there a little way, on a cold night in February, a 
 man, his wife and child, were turned out into the 
 street, because they did not pay their rent. The 
 man was a miserable drunkard. I knew him well. 
 One of my neighbors said to me, 'John, such a family 
 are in the street to-night, and they have no where to 
 go, and if you do not take them in, I fear they will 
 suffer.' * Bring them along,' said I, ' and I will do the* 
 best I can for them.' And so they came in. I had a 
 good fire, and after the man sat and warmed himself 
 awhile, he began to get sober, and he said, ' John, 
 you are very comfortable here.' 
 
THE OLD BREWERY. 93 
 
 " * Yes,' said I, * and you can be just as comfortable 
 as I am, if you will take the pledge, and more so, for 
 you have got a better trade than I, and you can get 
 better wages.' He took the pledge, and has now six 
 hundred dollars in the Savings Bank.^^ 
 
 Reader, if you have a friend or a neighbor who is 
 now serving this cruel master, strons: drink, rest not 
 till you take him into your house, and warm him by 
 your own fire, feed him at your own table, put your 
 own clean coat upon him, and he will go and do like- 
 wise, and his heart, if not your back, will be all 
 the warmer for it. 
 
 Well, after this chat, we walked up a flight of 
 stairs, for the " Old Man of the Brewery and Father 
 of Temperance" (he likes to be called by this name) 
 had his shop on the lower floor. At the first door he 
 knocked, went in, and I followed, and was much sur- 
 prised to find in the old musty building such an ap- 
 pearance of thrift. The floors were carpeted, the beds 
 were tidy, the furniture clean, and on every face, a 
 smile. 
 
 " What does this mean ?" said I to my guide, after 
 we left the room. " I was not prepared to find so 
 many comforts here. This looks like living, after all." 
 
 He laughed heartil}', and much enjoyed my disap- 
 pointment. " I will tell you what it means," said he. 
 " These folks have taken the pledge. They are tem- 
 perance folks ; that's all." 
 
 Through other apartments he led me, and seemed 
 greatly gratified to be able to say "these, too, are 
 temperance folks," and I was not a little pleased to 
 see what temperance had done in the Old Brewery. 
 
94 THE OLD BREWERY. 
 
 " T will now show you the difference between cold 
 water and n^wi," said he, as he led the way into ano- 
 ther part of the beer factory, where I could neither 
 boast of carpets, nor clean beds — no, nor pleasant 
 faces. 
 
 As soon as we entered the precincts of the family 
 circle in one of the apartments, a great, strapping, 
 greasy-looking, cross-grained rum-soaked woman 
 hurled her anathemas at the whole community over 
 my shoulders, because so many came in to see how 
 she looked, and left her never a penny the richer 
 for it. 
 
 I would gladly have given her a sixpence to hold 
 her peace, and considered it cheap at that, but I 
 thought it advisable to let the rum get out of her as 
 soon as possible, and so I said, " 1 have a good Tract 
 to give you, the title of which is ^ Peace to the Troii- 
 bledf and I think it is just adapted to youp case.'^ 
 She, however, was not inclined to believe it. A 
 man (her husband I suppose, if she had any) was 
 sawing up a board for firewood, and apparently so- 
 ber, said he could read and took the Tract, and we 
 took lea^e. 
 
 In the next room which we entered, we found an 
 afflicted family. Small-pox had entered the abode, 
 and claimed a dear child as its prey, and perhaps it 
 was the best thing that could have happened to the 
 victim. 
 
 We looked at its face, and sure enough it could 
 hardly afford the ordinary melancholy gratification 
 which a bereaved parent craves, as a last resort. " A 
 sad calamit}'," said I, '* for contagion and infection to 
 
THE OLD BREWERY. 95 
 
 get possession of premises so poorly ventilated," and 
 our stay there was short. 
 
 Several of the apartments and their occupants we 
 left undisturbed as my guide said they were foreign- 
 ers, and could not understand us. 
 
 At the top of the house, or rather in the upper sto- 
 ry, we found a man so drunk that his sister held him 
 up while trying to get a shilling into his pocket, as 
 he said, though I thought that she was trying to get 
 it out^ and all the better for him, if she did, whether 
 she was his sister or not. He turned to the Old Man 
 of the Brewery, and said, "I shall go to the tempe- 
 rance meeting to-night and take the pledge, for I 
 have not earned a shilling in a dozen years that 
 I have not drunk up." 
 
 We felt very^nuch inclined to encourage him to 
 stick to his good resolution ; and, to strengthen his 
 professed intention, told him that by so doing he 
 would soon be able to put the money in his pocket 
 himself, and without any body to hold him up. 
 
 As we left the room, we met a man on the top of 
 the stairs, and my guide said to him, " Here is a stran- 
 ger who has come in to see how folks live in the Old 
 Brewery." 
 
 " Well, I am willing to show him my apartments," 
 said he. " But stop a moment until I get a light — • 
 there, walk in, gentlemen; see ! this is my place." 
 
 And this he said with that evident consciousness 
 of being exalted to a rank so much above that of 
 many others, that it was quite amusing to the wri- 
 ter. But as we entered, we found the occupants to 
 be principally dogs, and the furniture, mainly, rags. 
 
FIVE POINTS. 
 
 " How do you live here ?" said I. 
 
 " By keeping lodgers, sir," said he. 
 
 Lodgers ! said I to myself, I should think so. Here 
 some may be disposed to inquire about the cha- 
 racter of the beds on which the favored " lodgers" 
 were permitted to dream. But it will be remember- 
 ed that we have already begged the reader to be sa- 
 tisfied with a very limited number of interrogations, 
 while we are handling delicate topics. 
 
 I cannot tell exactly how it was, but what could 
 you expect in an old brewery ? I suppose the bunks 
 numbered about four. The bedsteads were neither 
 mahogany nor rosewood. The beds were neither fea- 
 thers, moss, nor hair. The bedding or coverings 
 were neither silk, cotton, nor linen. If you have ever 
 seen farmers fix lodgings for their hogs, you will pro- 
 bably need no" further explanation, except that the 
 pigs have more straw, and less hugs. 
 
 Having seen enough in the old brewery to satisfy 
 my curiosity, I discharged my faithful guide, to 
 whom I was greatly indebted for his kindness, and 
 took a stroll through what is called " Cow-Bay,''' 
 which was a new bay to me, although I had been 
 ten years within about one mile of it. It takes one 
 more than ten years to find out all the nooks and 
 corners and cow-bays in this modern Sodom. 
 
 The inhabitants of this locality are mostly or alto- 
 gether the descendants of Ham. But, after all, judg- 
 ing from what I saw, I don't think that they are any 
 particular disgrace to some of their neighbors, who 
 claim for their ancestors Shem and Japheth. 
 
FIVE POINTS. 97 
 
 " Will you give me a Tract, sir ?" said a colored 
 woman as I passed her door. 
 
 " O yes, gladly give you one. Can you read ?*' 
 
 " Yes, I can read, but they havn't given me a book 
 since I joined." 
 
 *' Joined what ?" 
 
 " Why, Mr. Pease's Temperance Society. I think 
 I ought to have had a book or something of that sort, 
 before now. Wonder if they think a nigger can live 
 without anything." 
 
 " Well, here is a good one. It is ' Peace to the trou- 
 bled.^ You have had trouble more or less, I sup- 
 pose." 
 
 " Trouble ! Guess this woman hasn't had nothin' 
 else. Trouble ! Didn't I used to be drunk more 
 than half the time ? To be honest, I must say, I have 
 been a great drinker !" 
 
 " I thought so." 
 
 " O yes, a real old drunkard, and not very old either. 
 I joined the society five or six weeks ago, and 
 not a drop have I tasted since, and you couldn't get 
 this woman to take another dram, any way that you 
 can iix it. Come in and see how I live." 
 
 She started, I followed. 
 
 "Take care, you rascal you ; don't you know any 
 better than that?" said she, to an old surly dog, call- 
 ing him all sorts of hard names for presuming to 
 speak so roughly to a stranger. But as lie was tied 
 only by a slender cord, and threatened much, and 
 from his appearance had fasted more, I preferred 
 waiting until she got near enough to exercise her 
 authority to a little better advantage. 
 
98 FIVE POINTS. 
 
 After being safely within, she exclaimed, " Now I 
 must get a light so that you can see how I live, and 
 this is the last bit of candle that I have got in the 
 world." 
 
 " Well, never mind, let it burn and I will pay for 
 another," said T, and this was of course just what she 
 wanted. " But who is this lying here on the floor 
 asleep ?" said I. 
 
 " O that colored woman is sick, sir." 
 
 " And who is that lying there asleep on the bed ?" 
 
 "O that white woman is drunk, sir. I used to be a 
 poor miserable drunkard myself, and so I took her in 
 out of pity." 
 
 "Well, she is to be pitied, I think, sure enough^ 
 whether she deserves it or not." 
 
 "Here you see, sir, are all my things. Pretty poor, 
 don't you think so ?" 
 
 *' I have seen people worse off than you, for here 
 is a bed and there is a table. Have you any cook- 
 stove ?" 
 
 " No, nor much to cook in it. 1 can get along very 
 well without a stove." 
 
 " Have you any tea-kettle ?" 
 
 "No, but I can do without that, too, although a lit- 
 tle tea never comes amiss." 
 
 " Where's your spider or saucepan ?" 
 
 " Havn't got any ; but here is a nice little dinner* 
 pot, sir. See here ! There, sir, did you ever see a 
 better pot of bean-soup than that ? Upon my word, 
 sir, it's capital, it's refreshing and—" 
 
 " Better than- rum, is it ?" 
 
 " Rum ! That sounds worse than thunder. Rum ! 
 
FIVE POINTS. 99 
 
 Had it not been for that cursed stuff, I should not be 
 confined to a pot of bean-soup for my dinner to-day. 
 But still I take courage, sir, for while rum had the 
 advantage of me, I hadn't even the bean-soup. So 
 you see 1 have been worse ofl^than I am now. And 
 not only so, but here, sir, is a bowl (I have no tea- 
 cups) of first rate coffee, with all the fixings and trim- 
 mings ; take a good drink of it, sir." 
 
 But as I had already agreed to take tea with my 
 friend the missionary, and did not like to rob the lib- 
 eral-hearted creature of her only luxury, 1 of course 
 declined ; and after exhorting her to keep the pledge 
 with all fidelity ; and paying her for the privilege of 
 seeing the bottom of as damp, and dark, and gloomy 
 a basement as any mortal, whether drunk or sober, . 
 dead or alive, ought to occup}', and begging her to 
 hold the dog, I withdrew, and concluded that my ex- 
 plorations in " Cow-Bay" had better be terminated. 
 
 After taking tea v^ith my worthy friend, he re- 
 marked, " Before we go to the temperance .meeting, 
 I must give you a. temperance anecdote or two," to 
 which 1 was very ready to lend on ear. 
 
 " At an unusually early hour, I received a call one 
 morning from a man in a wretched condition, and 
 asked him what he wanted? 
 
 " ' Mr. Pease, I have come to take the pledge,' said 
 he. 
 
 ' " What do you want to take the pledge for ?' said I. 
 
 * " Mr. Pease, I am low enough, can't go any lower 
 this side of perdition, I want to take the pledge.' 
 
 " I hardly knew what to think of the man, and yet 
 there seemed to be an earnestness about him, and a 
 
100 THE FIVE-POmTS. 
 
 little glimmering of vsmothered intelligence, which 
 induced me to give him the pledge, after proving his 
 sincerity by keeping him w^aiting long enough to get 
 sober. * Now,' said I, ' what can you do V 
 
 * " Do almost any thing. I can sell paper, for one 
 thing.' 
 
 " So I went down town to a stationer and told the 
 merchant to let him have a ream of paper at the 
 lowest wholesale price, and at it he went among the 
 lawyers and others, with great energy, and cleared 
 two dollars the first day, which encouraged him not 
 a little. In the course of a few days he was able to 
 get a new suit of clothes throughout, which he greatly 
 needed. I soon found the man to be more thoroughly 
 versed in ancient and modern history, than pJmost 
 any other individual that I have met, and from that 
 time to this he has been making his dollar and a 
 half, and two dollars a-day, in peddling paper." 
 
 But as the time for meeting arrived, the remain- 
 ing anecdotes were reserved for some future occa- 
 sion. 1 would here remark that the Temperance 
 Hall was once an old grogger}^, and it is situated in 
 the end of a row of five houses which were occupied 
 by one hundred and fifty abandoned females when 
 Mr. Pease began his self-denying work. He now 
 has possession of the entire premises which he de- 
 notes to his ov/n purposes, and to sheltering the 
 houseless, employing the idle, feeding the hungry, 
 clothing the naked, instructing the ignorant, and re- 
 claiming the wandering. 
 
 Almost the first man that I saw, after entering 
 the Hallj was the " Old Man of the Brewery," who 
 
FIVE POINTS. 101 
 
 appeared to be in excellent spirits, and was evidently 
 at home." The room was well filled and the audience 
 exhibited a becoming demeanor, and I was quite 
 agreeably entertained. Interesting speeches were 
 made, songs sung, anecdotes related, and pledges 
 taken. 
 
 But the Chairman by v/ay of encouragement pre- 
 sented before the meeting an incident which pleased 
 me more than all the songs and speeches, and which 
 I take the liberty of saying was rather creditable to 
 even the rum-sellers of " Five Points," and it would 
 not be going very far out of my way to say, that the 
 craft generally wherever found, will do well to imi- 
 tate the example. 
 
 A certain woman, being a little more thirsty than 
 hungry, took a loaf of bread and w^ent around among 
 the grog-sellers to exchange it for rum. Not one of 
 them would have it, and she finally had to- follow 
 their advice and go home and eat it. 
 
 After the close of the meeting, which was between 
 nine and ten o'clock, my worthy friend said he would 
 get a policeman to go with me through some of the 
 " haunts" in the neighborhood. And as the eye is 
 never satisfied with seeing, I was very glad to accept 
 his kind offer, and especially as I needed not only a 
 " guide board," but a cluh. 
 
 So we walked across the street to the corner of a 
 little triangular square called " Paradise Park"— a 
 misnomer, the reader will very naturally conclude. 
 There we stood a moment until a watchman came 
 up, and after telling him our business, one or two 
 
102 FIVE POINTS. 
 
 lusty raps of the club on the side- walk, soon brought 
 together a sufficient force. 
 
 After an introduction, and other preliminaries were 
 attended too, such as deciding who could best be 
 spared, and best serve the writer, and the best route 
 to be taken, &c., for nothing but the best would 
 answer on such an emergent occasion ; and after 
 bidding the indefatigable reformer good night, two 
 sturdy and obliging police officers led the way and I 
 followed. 
 
 '• But we must have a light, in order to proceed to 
 advantage where we shall want to go," said one of 
 them ; for I had already told them that, while I was 
 about it, I wanted to see the most perfect specimen 
 of wretchedness and destitution that New York 
 could exhibit. 
 
 So we stepped into a grocery and prepared our- 
 selves for such a journey as few iire permitted to 
 take, and such as many would not Vvdsh to take, 
 though they might with profit ; and with club and 
 candle in hand we started on " Indian file," and it 
 reminded me of Putnam's going into the wolf's den, 
 with his blazing torch. 
 
 Well, we waded on, over, and through winding 
 paths, and filthy alleys, and dismal cellars, and musty 
 halls, and greasy kitchens, and smoky garrets, and 
 rotten stairs, and broken floors, and drunken men, 
 and stupid women, until I began to suspect that my 
 request was in a fair way to be realized. 
 
 I was peculiarly fortunate in having such guides, 
 and for at least three important reasons. The 
 protection which they afforded in worse than a 
 
FIVE POINTS. 103 
 
 lion's den, was no inconsiderable item. Moreover, 
 every nook and corner, was not only known, but 
 perfectly accessible to them. 
 
 Every door, not fastened, was opened without 
 ceremony. One good rap of the watchman's club 
 quickly started the bolts of such as the occupants 
 had presumed to bar against a police officer. 
 
 The inmates made no resistance — murmured not a 
 vv^ord, and probably congratulated themselves for 
 being so much better than some desperate outlaw 
 whom they fancied that the policemen were in search 
 of, and perhaps the officers fancied so too. 
 
 I said that I was fortunate in having such guides, 
 but nov/ I am peculiarly unfortunate in not being able 
 to tell " what I saw." As it is utterly impossible, 
 the reader will excuse the failure. 
 
 To say there was an exhibition of poverty, almost 
 or quite without a parallel, would not tell the story. 
 
 To say there was a scene of degradation too 
 appalling to be believed, and too shocking to be 
 disclosed, would not tell the story. 
 
 And to say, there was crime without punishment — 
 disgrace without shame— sin without compunction, 
 and death without hope, v/ould still be less than the 
 reality demands. 
 
 Bat, I can mention a few things that I did not see. 
 In passing through dwelling after dwelling, not a 
 single decent looking person did I see. Not a 
 single bed to sleep on, that could compare with the 
 man's bunk in the Old Brewery. Not a single bed-' 
 stead equal to a few rough poles thrown across a 
 
104 FIVE POINTS. 
 
 ditch in a farmer's meadow. In short they had none 
 at all, or chairs to sit upon, or tables to eat on. 
 
 But the " lodgers" had one advantage. The floors 
 "were not as hard as ordinary boards, and it cost them 
 nothing for brooms. 
 
 Men and women, black, white, and colored, lay 
 scattered about, without observing any order, ex- 
 cept to select the darkest corners. 
 
 True, some of them had what they called a bed. 
 But I hardly know how to describe its qualit}', color, 
 or shape. Perhaps the best representation that I can 
 give, combining the three elements, is, to take a 
 piece of old rag-carpet, worn all to tatters on the 
 kitchen floor, where it has absorbed a superabun- 
 dance of grease — draw it once or twice through the 
 gutter instead of the wash-tub — let it hang in the 
 smoke-house a week or two, to dry, roll it up, and 
 put it on the floor for a pillow, and it would posi- 
 tively be a better bed than many had. 
 
 After presenting my thanks to the kind watchmen 
 and their tender-hearted clubs which protected the 
 writer and spared others, let me say to the reader, as 
 we leave the "Five Points," Never, after this, com- 
 plain. And if you have a clean bundle of straw, 
 one coverlid, and a loaf of bread, let your gratitude 
 abound ; and if you have not even one of these com- 
 forts, and yet have a good character, and good health, 
 thank the Lo:d and go to work, and you will soon 
 have more reason to exult than to complain. Nine- 
 'tenths, nay more, of all the poverty and wretched- 
 ness hinted at above, it cannot be described, can be 
 traced directly to crime and indolence. 
 
ORGANIZATION FOR THE POOR. 
 
 Before leaving the subject of poverty and suffer- 
 ing, I will speak of a society whose object is to 
 relieve the destitute in such a manner as to avoid 
 imposition — give the greatest amount of present aid, 
 and encourage the recipient to help himself I allude 
 to " The New-York Association for Improving the 
 Condition of the Poor.^" 
 
 Although its operations are now too well, paid too 
 favorably known in the city, to need a word of ex- 
 planation or commendation from so humble a source, 
 or at least ought to be, yet some of my country 
 readers may possibly be glad to know how we pro- 
 vide for the unfortunate and needy; and for such 
 readers I write, instead of those who live in town, 
 and should knov/ more about New- York already 
 than I can tell them, if the former class does not. It 
 will be understood that there are numerous other 
 organizations for the relief of the suffering in the 
 city, which I cannot notice in detail. 
 
 This is the first organization of the kind which is 
 known, and it has been in operation seven years. 
 Its plan for accomplishi^ig all that it proposes to do, 
 so commends itself to every sensible mind, and its 
 fruits thus far have been so good, that ten of our 
 most importa,nt cities have already adopted it. It is 
 also to be hoped that others, both in the old world 
 and the new, will follow this noble example. 
 
 The first, and one of the most important rules to 
 
106 OilGAXIZATION FOR THE I'OOR. 
 
 be adopted after obtainiRg funds (which is effected 
 by voluntary contributions) is, never to give a cent 
 without investigation — a rule that should ever be ob- 
 served with all street-heggars. 
 
 Secondly, extend aid to none h\\\. proper subjects. 
 
 Third]}^, give no money. 
 .And fourthly, to encourage all to help themselves. 
 
 " Ye have the poor alwaj^s with you," said our 
 Saviour, and it is as true now as then. Moreover, 
 it is a,s important also that they should be cared for. 
 But to give alms indiscriminatel}", is as bad as to 
 give none at all. \\\ some respects it is v/orse. It 
 fosters intemperance — it promotes lying and decep- 
 tion — it encourages idleness and prodigality, and 
 multiplies vagrants and be.i?gais, wFiich are already 
 quite too numerous. 
 
 Many give, and frequently give much, from the 
 spur of the moment, without any investigation, 
 either, because they have no time or means to ascer- 
 tain whether the person who solicits their charity is 
 worthy or not, or because they hardly care. 
 
 It is often no easy task to separate the genuine 
 from the counterfeit, and this society happilj- provides 
 for this emergency. 
 
 In the first place, the city is divided by tlie society 
 into 317 sections, and a visitor is appointed to each. 
 These visitors become more or less familiar with the 
 condition of those who deserve aid in their respec- 
 tive districts, and often, whether they apply for it or 
 not. Consequently, they well know Vvhat lue is 
 made of the materials which are furnished for their 
 
ORGANIZATION FOR THE POOR. 107 
 
 comfort. I know not what better arrangement could 
 be devised. 
 
 Every private member is furnished with a little 
 pocket Directory, which contains the name of every 
 visitor^ and the name of every street in the city, 
 alphabetically arranged, with the sectional number 
 attached, both to each street, and also to the visitor's 
 name. 
 
 Now, suppose a man calls at my door, and says 
 that he has neither food nor money, and asks assis- 
 tance. Without stopping to hear his story, which 
 may be true or false, and might take long enough to 
 half earn his breakfast — I say at once, Vv^here do you 
 live ? If he says, at 25 Canal-street, I take my Direc- 
 toiy and turn to that street, and see at a glance that 
 it is included in section 75. That is, that part of 
 Canal-street up to No. 48, when it passes into another 
 section. 
 
 Again, I turn to the list of sections, and find that 
 Moses B. Taylor is the visitor of section 75. At the 
 same moment I perceive that his residence is at No. 
 96 Elm-street, and direct the applicant to Mr. 
 Taylor, and if the begger is an honest man, he will 
 go to the visitor and receive prom.pt attention. If he 
 is not, he will go his way to impose upon those who 
 have less method. I regret that there are not more 
 " methodists" in the world, let their religion be what 
 it may. 
 
 Thus, in the simple way v/hich I have described, 1 
 can in one minute tell any man who his visitor is, no 
 matter where he lives, if the man can tell me where 
 
108 ORGANIZATION FOR THE POOR. 
 
 !_ 
 
 he lives himself. Bat some of the rogues have become 
 wise enough not to know that. 
 
 But this is not all. The visitor not only becorues 
 acquainted with the condition of those v^^ho ask for 
 help, but he finds many who had rather suffer than 
 aj^ply for relief — that very class whom every one 
 more delights to aid, than to assist those who call for 
 alms from house to house without a blush. 
 
 Not only so ; but if any who are straitened and 
 sorely tried, happen to escape his notice, they can 
 confidently call upon him and be relieved, with- 
 out any fear of being called a beggar. It is often a 
 great trial to accept of offered aid, and not a few 
 have actually chosen to perish rather than to make 
 known their true condition. 
 
 Neither is this all. There is a great saving of 
 time to those who ought to have every moment 
 employed to the best advantage. For example, if a 
 man is worthy of assistance, he may receive more 
 aid, by simply calling upon the visitor, for a moment, 
 than by begging in the streets all day. 
 
 Moreover, this society makes it a rule never to give 
 money, with very few exceptions, lest it should be 
 misapplied. Arrangements are made with grocers 
 and others, in each district, for the supply of needful 
 articles, at the lowest price. 
 
 " The visitor is required to keep a correct account 
 of the amount of his orders, and of the persons to 
 whom said orders are given, and report the same to 
 his Advisory Committee every month." 
 
 '* The Treasurer of each Advisory Committee is 
 required to compare the orders given by the visitors, 
 
ORGANIZATION FOR THE POOR. 109 
 
 with the grocers' bills, and make a monthly report 
 thereof to the general Agent ; and once in three 
 months the accounts of said Treasurer must be com- 
 pared with his vouchers, by two members of the 
 Advisory Committee, be certified by them, and re- 
 ported to the Board of Managers." 
 
 Moreover, the visitor gives small orders at a time 
 and guards against an impression that there will of 
 course be plenty more forthcoming in due time. 
 He rather encourages them to expect but a, little. In 
 fact among lo many needy ones, as a general rule, 
 they cannot each have much. Hence, there is no 
 alternative but to make the most of what they get, 
 and in the mean time help themselves to the utmost 
 extent. 
 
 Wherever the visitor goes, he urges the importance 
 of temperance, industry, economy, honesty, and 
 frugality. He also strives to help those to employ- 
 ment who are able and willing to work. 
 
 This Association has now 4051 members, and 
 during the past year extended aid to 5725 families, 
 containing 25,762 persons, and received 825,807 14, 
 and disbursed ^23,821 99. 
 
 For the above interesting statistics, I am indebted 
 to the very efficient Corresponding Secretary, Robert 
 M. Hartley, Esq. 
 
 It ever has been, and ever will be true, that in all 
 large cities and tov/ns, special effort and provision 
 for the unfortunate and suffering are more demanded 
 than in rural districts. There is far less abject 
 poverty — less wear and tear of conscience and heart 
 strings — less distress, discouragement, and despair 
 
110 ORGANIZATION FOR THE POOR. 
 
 in the country than in crowded towns. But this is 
 so evident to a.11 who are familiar v/ithbcth city and 
 country life, that these remarks may seem to some 
 almost or quite unnecessary. 
 
 Moreover, the excess of wretchedness from poverty 
 and crime, is greater in our seaboard than in our 
 inland towns. This is emphatically true of New- 
 York. The reason is obvious. It will be re- 
 membered that I have already said that two hundred 
 and twelve thousand foreigners landed at this Pert 
 during the past year, many of whom were trained 
 paupers in the old world. 
 
ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 It may be proper for us now to notice another 
 source of gratuitous aid, for which the needy mortals 
 of Gotham have reason to be thankful ; and for the 
 ability to help earth's needy ones over their rough 
 and thorny wa}', others have reason to be more 
 thankful still, for it is more blessed to give than to 
 receive. There is no otlier organization in the city 
 which extends a helping hand to the suffering, on so 
 large a scale as the Aims-House Department, in all 
 its branches. 
 
 The departm.ent is under the managemiCnt of ten 
 " Governors^^ tvv^o of which are chosen bienniall3\ ' 
 
 For the last Annual Report, the gentlemanly Clerk, 
 G. B. Gilbert, Esq., will please accept our thanks. 
 
 The Report contains many interesting statistics, 
 which the reader vvill hardly expect us to notice, 
 when he is informed that it makes an octavo volume 
 of over tVv^o hundred pa.ges. 
 
 There are several Inslitutions under the charge of 
 this department — namely, the A^lms- House, City 
 Prisons, Bellevue, and other Hospitals, Penitentiary, 
 Lunatic Asylum, Nursery Establishment, Potters 
 Field, &c. This Department also partially sustains 
 the " Colored Home," and " Colored Orphan Asy- 
 lum." 
 
 In glancing over the brief details of the several 
 branches of this Department, the reader will proba- 
 
112 ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 b]y pause, take a long breath, and say, is it jjossible ! 
 when his eye rests upon the striking contrast 
 between native and foreign paupers, in relation to 
 numbers. 
 
 ALMS-HOUSE PROPER. 
 
 The number admitted during the year was 2,355, 
 of whom 1,810 were foreigners. 
 
 The total number of persons who received aid at 
 this branch of the Department, was 3,468. Number 
 of deaths 169. There remained in the Aims-House 
 at the close of the year 1,304. This embraces but a 
 small part of the field occupied by this department. 
 From the Report of the Warden of the Out-door Poor, 
 it appears that 11,986 persons have been relieved 
 during the year with money, and 26,068 persons have 
 been relieved with fuel. The average amount of 
 money with which each family was supplied, was 
 fifty cents per week, and the average quantity of 
 fuel, was one quarter of a ton of coal, or one half 
 load of wood per every two weeks. 
 
 CITY PRISONS. 
 
 I have already briefiy noticed one of the city 
 prisons — namely, the " Tombs," which is the prin- 
 cipal one in town. I shall therefore speak of it on 
 the present occasion only in connection with the 
 general department now under consideration. 
 
 The total number of commitments to the city 
 prisons during the year was 21,299— an average of 
 a little'more than one in every twenty -five minutes 
 day and night. This is an increase of 3,257 over the 
 
ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 113 
 
 past yeai\ Such an appalling increase of crime in 
 so short a period, calls loudly upon the city authori- 
 ties, nay, every good citizen, to seriously inquire into 
 the cause of so fearful a picture. 
 Of the above number, 
 
 Were discharged, - 
 
 - 
 
 - 17,421 
 
 Sent to BlackwelFs Island, 
 
 - 3,668 
 
 " " States Prison, 
 
 - 
 
 169 
 
 Died, - 
 
 . 
 
 22 
 
 Eloped, 
 
 - 
 
 3 
 
 Could not read. 
 
 - 
 
 - 9,449 
 
 " read only, - 
 
 - 
 
 - 1,646 
 
 " " and write, 
 
 - 
 
 - 7,284 
 
 Well educated. 
 
 - 
 
 - 2,731 
 
 Classically " 
 
 - 
 
 25 
 
 Unknown, 
 
 - 
 
 164 
 
 Temperate, - 
 
 - 
 
 - 2,446 
 
 Intemperate, - 
 
 m 
 
 - 18,853 
 
 Natives, 
 
 - 
 
 - 5,777 
 
 Foreigners, 
 
 - 
 
 - 15,522 
 
 Alas ! what a picture ! Here are two items which 
 every lover of our country ought seriously to ponder. 
 Of this great army of prisoners about three-fourths 
 were foreigners, and nearly nine-tenths were intem- 
 perate. But this is not all. Another consideration 
 worthy of notice, and which ought to cause parents 
 to shudder, is the fact that there were committed of 
 this number, one hundred and fifteen boys under ten 
 years of age ! Not very flattering for New York. 
 This, however, is but the dust of the balance. A 
 
114 ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 detailed account of all the cases of juvenile depravity 
 in this single town for twelve months, w^ould make a 
 volume large enough to break a man's back to carry, 
 and horrible enough to break a mother's heart to 
 read. 
 
 BELLEVUE HOSPITAL. 
 
 There were admitted during the year 3,728 per- 
 sons, of whom 3,081 were foreigners. The total 
 number under treatment at this establishment during 
 the past year was 4,240. Of these 3,224 have been 
 discharged, 445 have died (of which deaths 146 were 
 caused by consumption) and 571 remained in the 
 Hospital at the close of the year. The inmates of 
 this Hospital have the benefit of some of the best 
 surgical and medical talent in the city, though the 
 bills of mortality may appear large to the reader. 
 But it should be remembered that a very large pro- 
 portion of the fatal cases were from diseases which 
 were considered incurable when the deceased entered 
 the hospital. This will be at once apparent, when 
 we remember that about one-third of the whole num- 
 ber died from a single disease, namely, consumption. 
 
 Moreover, it is peculiarly gratifying to notice the 
 favorable change in the bills of mortality in this in- 
 stitution for the last few years. For 20 years prior 
 to 1847, the average mortality was 20 per cent. 
 In the year 1847 . . 17 " *' 
 "1848 . . 16 « *' 
 " '* 1849 . . 13 " « 
 " "1850 . . 10 « « 
 
ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 115 
 
 PEXITENTIARY. 
 
 The number of prisoners received into tliis prison, 
 which is situated on Blackweli's Island, during the 
 past 3'ear, was 3,575(159 of whom were females), 
 which, together with 809 prisoners remaining in the 
 prison at the beginning of the year, make 4,384. Of 
 these 3,581 were discharged during the year, and 
 803 remained. 
 
 The prisoners have been employed in the various 
 departments of labor, within and without, namely, 
 s^ome in the washing and mending departments ; some 
 in the blacksmith's, shoemaker's, and carpenter's de- 
 partments ; some in the stone quarries, and some in 
 one way and some in another. During the past 
 year a stone wall running across the Island 600 feet 
 in length, 12 feet high, 4 feet thick at the bottom, 
 and 2 feet thick at the top,, has been built by those 
 who had rather work under keepers on Blackweli's 
 Island than under boss masons on Manhattan Island. 
 At least it would seem so, for it is nothing strange 
 for some of these workmen to serve an apprentice- 
 ship twice a year at the former place, as six months 
 is the longest term. 
 
 Well, let them work, and the oftener they go, and 
 the longer they stay, the better. At least some of 
 them, for the}^ will work nowhere else, except in 
 digging holes through houses, in breaking bolts and 
 bars, and in destroying and lugging off the earnings 
 of honest men. But a word from the Warden's Re- 
 port will perhaps lead the reader to suspect that 
 many of the prisoners do not wish for so much of that 
 
116 ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 sickl}'- sympathy for them, as often abounds, for they 
 do not altogether regret a visit now and then to 
 Blackwell's Island. 
 
 " It may be true that convict labor has been of im- 
 portance in various buildings and improvements on 
 the Island. The undersigned has no hesitation in 
 iSaying that, in a majority of cases, the term of im- 
 prisonment, under present circumstances, is no pun- 
 ishment, and productive of no beneficial results to the 
 prisoner or the public. It is rather a pleasant and 
 comfortable residence." 
 
 The grounds belonging to the Penitentiary pro- 
 duced the past year 800 bushels of potatoes, GOO 
 bushels of turnips, 4000 heads of cabbage, besides 
 other vegetables. 
 
 vSilence, and the utmost decorum are strictly en- 
 forced. A library of 450 volumes has been present- 
 ed the past year to the institution by jMr. E. Z. C. 
 Judson, which the prisoners are permitted to read 
 every Sabbath, and every stormy day. 
 
 PENITENTIARY HOSPITAL. 
 
 There have been treated at this institution during 
 the past year, 2,201 cases. 1,923 have been discharg- 
 ed. The number of deaths amount to 80, and there 
 remained in the hospital at the close of the year, 
 198. 
 
 The physician of this hospital reports an interest- 
 ing fact in relation to delirium tremens. That chlo- 
 roform was freely used with the most satisfactory 
 results, and that of 352 cases of this terrible malady, 
 only three proved fatal. 
 
ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 117 
 
 SMALL-POX HOSPITAL. 
 
 There have been treated at this branch of the 
 Aims-House Department, daring tha past year, 221 
 cases of Small-pox, of which 41 proved fatal. The 
 average number during the year was 10. Two had 
 the disease the second time, and one of them at the 
 same hospital two years before. Of the above, 40 
 were natives, and 168 were foreigners. 
 
 LUNATIC ASYLUM. 
 
 This Institution is also situated on Blackwell's 
 Island, and the number of semi-convicts which had 
 the benefit of a residence in such quarters without 
 their consent, during the past year, was 792. Dis- 
 charged during the year 251. Died 77. An asyluna 
 for the insane, if properly conducted, is one of the 
 greatest blessings that mortals can bestow upon this 
 unfortunate class. But to manage such an army of 
 madmen to their advantage, is a task and a tax upon 
 mind and body, skill and patience, of no trifling 
 magnitude, and it is gratifying to the.philanthropistto 
 witness the noble efforts which are made at this and 
 other similar institutions in our midst, for the benefit 
 of those whose affliction, if not removed, is worse 
 than death. 
 
 From the Gardener's report, it appears that the 
 inmates of this institution, for their own amusement, 
 and to their own advantage, performed, during the 
 past year, 2,779 days' work, and raised 20,000 cab- 
 bages, 1,900 heads of celery, 700 heads of lettuce, 
 400 bushels of potatoes, 300 bushels of tomatoes, 60 
 
118 ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 bushels of spinach, 50 bushels of carrots, 40 bushels 
 of beets, 8 of grapes, &lc. &c. 
 
 NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT. 
 
 This is the most interesting branch of the Aims- 
 House Department. There is probably nothing to 
 equal it in the world. The nursery buildings occupy 
 a beautiful, healthful, and retired spot, called Ran- 
 dall's Island, which is situated in the East River, 
 about three miles above Blackwell's Island, and eight 
 miles from the City Hall. 
 
 This institution was designed mainly for children ; 
 and the stranger who would S3'mpathize with little 
 ones, and see how well these tender and forsaken 
 specimens of humanity are cared for, by the consti- 
 tuted guardians of our city, will do well to visit this 
 lovely spot and affecting spectacle. 
 
 There were at the commencement of the last year, 
 at the nursery, 1,396 paupers, most of whom were 
 children. There were received during the year 
 1,580, of whom 1,136 were children. Of the chil- 
 dren in the institution, 212 were bound out, 252 were 
 put out on trial, 23 ran away, 77 were restored to 
 friends, 20 were ado,pted, and 172 died. 
 
 It will amply pay any one to visit this establish- 
 ment where some of the pleasant sights of New 
 York abound ; and as the stranger lands upon the 
 island, and starts for the nursery buildings, he will 
 say, surely, this does not look much like poverty. 
 
 This beautiful island, which contains one hundred 
 and thirty acres of land, was purchased three years 
 since, by the City Fathers, exclusively for the nursery 
 
 I 
 
ALMS-HOU>"E DEPARTMENT. 110 
 
 establishment, and for which they paid 4^G0,000, and • 
 cheap at that, as it would bring twice that sum, and 
 probably more, if the same land were now in mar- 
 ket. The establishment consists of thirteen buildings, 
 namely, the Main Building, Dwelling-house, Quaran- 
 tine, Boys' Nursery, Girls' Nursery, Infants' Nursery, 
 Nursery Kitchen, North and South Hospital, Hospital 
 Kitchen, a Boys' and Girls' Play-house, and a house 
 for idiots. 
 
 The main building is occupied during the week as 
 a school-house, and on the Sabbath as a house of 
 worship. It is a substantial edifice, and is built of 
 stone. The other buildings are brick, and usually 
 three stories high. On first going to the Island, the 
 children spend two or three weeks at the quarantine^ 
 building, previous to being put with the other chil- 
 dren, to prevent communicating disease. 
 
 It is to be feared that very few children will leave 
 this nursery, without going away from home, 
 
 COLORED ORPHAN ASYLUM. 
 
 Since the opening of this As3dum for Colored Or- 
 phans, 509 children, during the fourteen years of its 
 operations, have been admitted. The number in the 
 institution during the past year, was 209, of whom 
 7 died. In this asylum there is a flourishing school, 
 and also a Sabbath-school. "The Governors of the 
 Aims-House Department pay fifty cents per week 
 toward each child's support in this asylum, to the ex- 
 tent of two-thirds the number in the institution, pro- 
 vided the number supported shall not exceed one 
 hundred." 
 
120 ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 This asylum commends itself to the sympa,thy and 
 co-operation of the wise, rich and good. Let all re- 
 member the orphan, no matter what his color may 
 be, or were he is found, whether in town or out. 
 
 COLORED HOME. 
 
 This Institution, which cares for the aged and in- 
 firm descendants of Ham, also receives aid from the 
 Aims-House Department to the amount of sixty cents 
 per week. Ihere were admitted during the year 
 past 508 persons, of whom 398 were discharged, and 
 96 died. The managers of this institution are en- 
 couraging manual labor. 
 
 No one can begin to realize the amount of money, 
 time and labor, which are annual!}^ expended in this 
 city for the comfort and improvement of the afflicted 
 and unfortunate, without a little pains-taking. Much 
 more of interest might be said, in relation to the op- 
 eration of this humane establishment, which we must 
 omit 
 
 The total expenses of the Aims-House Depart- 
 ment for the past year amounted to the sum of 
 $380,534 31, or $1,042 56 per day. The Governors 
 estimate the amount of expenditures for the present 
 year at $400,000, and what it will be a century 
 hence, nobody pretends to venture a ^^ guess''' 
 
CITY HOSPITAL. 
 
 This Institution was chartered during the reign of 
 George the Third, in the year 1771. The charter 
 has since been approved, and several times amended 
 by the Legislature of this State. The charter also 
 embraces the Insane Asylum which is located at 
 Bloomingdale. 
 
 The " New York City HospitaV^ is under the con- 
 trol of twentj^-six governors, including the Presi- 
 dent, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. It 
 has four attending physicians, two consulting phy- 
 sicians, and one house physician ; six attending 
 surgeons, two consulting surgeons, and two house 
 surgeons ; a curator, superintendent, assistant-super- 
 intendent, apothecary, chaplain, clerk, and a libra- 
 rian, besides nurses, helps, qlg. 
 
 The total number of patients who were under 
 
 treatment during the year 1850, was 3,296 
 
 Average number, . . . 249 
 
 Number cured, . . . 2,394 
 
 Relieved, .... 108 
 
 Died, 357 
 
 Of the deaths, casualties numbered, 122 
 Deducting casualties, or cases which terminated fa- 
 tally soon after being brought to the hospital, the 
 deaths amounted to about 6j per cent. The average 
 time of treatment was 4 weeks, \ day and 17 hours. 
 
122 ciTr noivPiTAL. 
 
 The number of insane po.tients treated at the Asy- 
 Jum was 200 
 
 There have been discharged cured, 50 
 
 " " improved, 3 5 
 
 " " unimproved, 7 
 
 «' died, ]8 
 
 Although the New York City hospital is a private 
 institution, and was designed, for pay patients, that 
 is, for such as can pay a very moderate amount, yet 
 of the 3,296 patients treated the past year, 1,507 
 were paupers. 
 
 The location of this hospital is central, healthful, 
 and accessible. Its entrance is from Broadway, op- 
 posite the termination of Pearl-street. The buildings 
 stand several rods back from the street, and are ren- 
 dered invitingly beautiful by their appendages with- 
 out, and invitingly comfortable by their perfections 
 within. The latter good qualities I can most hear- 
 tily accord to them, as respects medical and surgical 
 talent, nature and quality of remedies, character and 
 conduct of nurses, arrangement and condition of 
 wards, and comfort and prosperity of patients. 
 
 The physicians and surgeons have no superiors, 
 although they discharge their arduous, and often try- 
 ing, and frequently perilous duties without any pay. 
 Yes, without the slightest remuneration, for this is 
 no shaving mill, although they sometimes use keen 
 instruments when they can't help it. 
 
 But, as great improvements have recently been 
 made in the buildings, so that it is truly a viodel 
 hospital, perhaps the reader will tolerate, if not a 
 little hospital practice, a very brief explanation. 
 
 Two of the most important i m prove pt^^-!'- ''-'•^' ' 
 
CITY HOSPITAL. 123 
 
 have been introduced, consist in the manner of warm- 
 ing and ventilating the buildings. 
 
 These buildings are heated by steam or hot air, in 
 the following manner. From two large boilers, situ- 
 ated in a small building provided for the purpose, 
 which stands about a hundred feet from the main 
 building, an amount of steam issues, sufficient to 
 warm the apartments in the main buildings, while 
 the boilers also furnish a plentiful supply of hot wa- 
 ter for washing, bathing, &c. 
 
 The steam is conducted from the boilers through 
 cast iron pipes under ground, to several air chambers 
 in the basement of the main building, where it cir- 
 culates round and round in a series of small pipes 
 until it gives off all its caloric. 
 
 The "air-chambers" which are thus heated by 
 steam are supplied with pure air from without, by 
 means of two perpendicular shafts, or funnels, ten or 
 fifteen feet high, one on the north and the other on 
 the south, about thirty feet from the building, and 
 underground air-ducts, which communicate with 
 the shafts and the reservoirs or air-chambers. 
 
 After being heated as before described, the air is 
 conveyed through proper conductors to the several 
 wards, but not from one ward to another, each hav- 
 ing a supply from the pure fountain. I would like 
 to be able to say as much for private mansions, and 
 glittering palaces in our town. 
 
 All the foul air in the wards is drawn off by means 
 of chimnies and other ventilating openings provided 
 for the purpose in each apartment. 
 
 All this is very well, but it is still imperfect and 
 
124 CITY HOSPITAL. 
 
 ever will be, until measures are taken to introduce 
 artificial moisture into these breathing tanks. And 
 how so many wise heads committed so great a 
 blunder as to neglect it, is a mystery. 
 
 Whenever the atmosphere is below freezing point, 
 it is generally too dry for health, where ever artificial 
 heat is required. Now to suppose that the air is in 
 the least degree modified, as to its humidit}?-, in an 
 apartment which is warmed simply by the circula- 
 tion of steam in cast iron pipes, without the escape 
 into the room of a particle of vapor, is altogether as 
 absurd as to suppose tha-t no man can be thirst}^ with 
 a bottle of water in his pocket. 
 
 The drying power of the air is always increased, 
 as we increase its temperature, and no matter how 
 we mcrease it ; and it is modified only by the amount 
 of moisture which it contains before entering a build- 
 ing, its temperature within, its circulation, and the 
 presence or absence of artificial vapor. 
 
 But I did not intend to discuss the science of 
 hygrometry, though it is a subject of much impor- 
 tance to all. The reader will find the writer's views 
 on the importance of artificial moisture in all cold 
 climates during the winter, and the proper standard 
 of humidity, under the head of Ventilation, in a work 
 recently published, entitled " Hints and Helps to 
 Health and Happiness.^^ 
 
 But another decided improvement which I wish to 
 notice, is, the manner in which the patients take their 
 meals. Instead of eating in the wards, as was, and 
 is generally customary in other hospitals, where 
 perhaps lie thirty or forty invalids afflicted with 
 
CITY HOSPITAL. 125 
 
 various forms of disease, there are now eating-rooms 
 or halls adjoining, where all who can leave their 
 beds, can retire and enjoy their daily food in a 
 rational and desirable manner. 
 
 T may also remark, that their rooms are thoroughly 
 lighted, an item of no trifling importance, and too 
 often insufficiently appreciated. The Italians have 
 a saying, that " where the sun does not come, the 
 doctor nmst." But plenty of windows increase the 
 facilities for ventilation also. 
 
 As to cleanliness, I can hard!}' speak of an im- 
 provement, for there has been little room for it, 
 for many years. Indeed everything is clean almost 
 to a fault. 
 
 Before leaving the hospital, I beg leave to direct 
 the reader's attention to an incident which occurred 
 at this home for the sick and maimed, some eight 
 years since. 
 
 An amputation of the leg was expected, and 
 students, doctors, and others assembled to witness it. 
 When the hour arrived I took my seat in the *' Sur- 
 gical Amphitheatre," which has its seats so elevated 
 one above another, that spectators can look right 
 down upon the subject as he lies upon the table. 
 
 Preparations having been made, the patient, who 
 was a young man about twenty, a native of Ireland, 
 entered the room, walking erect (though having a 
 diseased leg supposed to be incurable without ampu- 
 tation), accompanied by his skilful surgeon, and his 
 assistants. 
 
 As he entered, and cast his eye upon the table 
 which was well furnished with the glittering steel. 
 
126 CITY HOSPITAL. 
 
 and then upon a host of gazing spectators in breath- 
 less silence, more anxious to see him mount the table 
 than to be there themselves, his courage failed, and 
 with a pale face and a passive tongue he quietly 
 backed out. 
 
 Some said the knives frightened him ; others con- 
 cluded that the gazing spectators were worse than 
 the knives. Some said, " he will not show himself 
 here again." Others expected every moment to see 
 him open the door. Hence, the probabilities for, and 
 against a practical lecture on surgery at his expense 
 were more or less discussed. It will be remembered 
 that this was before the days of " Chloroform.'''' 
 
 After having his courage screwed up a little hearer 
 to the sticking point, with many assurances, some 
 flattery, and a little rum (a substitute for courage and 
 chloroform), he again entered the place where many 
 bid adieu to some portion, or the whole of the clayey 
 tenement — doffed his pants, and after taking another 
 look at knives, saws, and men, mounted the table, 
 though very reluctantly, and stretched himself out 
 upon the slab, which, if permitted to speak, could tell 
 many a sad tale. 
 
 The blood now retired from the skin, as though afraid 
 of being disturbed, leaving the face as pale as death, 
 the muscles trembled, and some of the students too — 
 the eyes glared, the lips quivered, and I could 
 almost hear the knives, saws, and needles say, " Poor 
 fellow ! prepare for a reception of cold friends." It is 
 often our duty to sever ties of much tenderness and 
 long standing. But as we have a great regard for 
 flesh and blood, we shall do our best, and do it 
 
CITY HOSPITAL. 127 
 
 quickly. Therefore be strong, for we always wound 
 before we heal. 
 
 " I doubt it," said he in his heart, as he shouted, 
 " Stop o' that ! stop o' that !" as an assistant made pre- 
 paration for holding him down. " Stop o' that ; I 
 cannot part with me lemb !" and up he jumped, and 
 out he ran, with dangling pants in his hand, slap- 
 ping his leg, and muttering, " I'll never part with 
 me lemb as long a,s God lets me lev," and neither 
 has the writer nor the surgeon seen him since. 
 
 The inexperienced reader will ve ry naturally con- 
 clude that the man was right and the doctor wrong 
 in his decision. The fact that he could walk about 
 so well, would be very apt to deceive any but com- 
 petent judges. But it is eas}^ to be mistaken. 
 
 A stranger may be floating in a canoe on the Niaga- 
 ra River, above the falls, where the water is smooth, 
 and flatter hiniselfthat there is no immediate danger. 
 He may also have his boat loaded down with some 
 valuable treasure, which if retained will effec- 
 tually prevent his reaching the shore, and saving 
 his life. 
 
 A citizen perfectly familiar with the deceptive 
 influence of the current, and peril of the man, may 
 warn him of his danger, from the shore, and urge him 
 to escape for his life, by casting overboard his trea- 
 sure and instantly pulling hard for the bank. 
 
 He may reply, " O no, I cannot part with it j^et. It 
 is too valuable to go to the bottom of the river. 
 And besides, see how nicely I glide along. It can't 
 be that the danger you speak of is a reality." 
 
 Yes, this is often very much the condition of him 
 
128 CITY HOSPITAL. 
 
 who sees not his danger as the surgeon sees it. Per- 
 haps he is still able to walk about, and hence unwil- 
 ling to part with so useful a member as a leg, and 
 so clings to his treasure although it soon carries him 
 over the fatal cataract. 
 
 The surgeon says, although you see no immediate 
 danger, yet your leg is so diseased that nothing can 
 do it any permanent good but the knife. If you have 
 the affected part removed without too much delay, 
 you may hope to live on to a good old age. But if you 
 wait until your health and strength are broken down, 
 you may expect to die in the operation, or soon after. 
 Without the operation, you will certainly find a pre- 
 mature grave. 
 
 As the majority of those who are unacquainted with 
 the merits of hospitals generally entertain an erro- 
 neous opinion in relation to their advantages, I would 
 remark that they are at ] east four-fold. 
 
 In the first place, the inmates have the benefit of 
 medical and surgical talent of the first order. 
 
 In the second place, these institutions keep their 
 own medicine, v/hich they test and know to be ge- 
 nuine. This is an item of no little importance in 
 this day of shameful ad alter otion. 
 
 In the third place, the patient has the services of 
 an experienced nurse, and if there is any truth in the 
 old adage, " as much depends upon the nurse as the 
 doctor, whether the patient lives or dies," surety this 
 advantage should not be lightly esteemed. 
 
 And, in the fourth place, the diet and other hygie- 
 nic agents are selected by men of wisdom and expe- 
 rience. Hence, it is easy to see that the hospital is 
 
DISPENSARIES. 129 
 
 not SO much to be dreaded, as many are apt to sup- 
 pose. 
 
 PUBLIC DISPENSARIES. 
 
 We have other sources of relief to the sick, and 
 distribution to the poor, which I may notice, namely, 
 the dispensaries, of which there are three. At these 
 institutions, not the least charge is made for medi- 
 cine or treatment. They are sustained by corpora- 
 tion and state grants, private subscriptions, dona- 
 tions, legacies, &c. For statistics, I am indebted to 
 their Annual Reports. 
 
 The " New York Dispensary^' with its very appro- 
 priate motto," I WAS SICK AND YE VISITED ME," WaS 
 
 founded in ]790, and is under the supervision of 
 thirteen trustees. It has nine attending physicians 
 at the Dispensary, together with an apothecary and 
 an assistant, and six district physicians who attend 
 on those who are too feeble to leave their houses. 
 
 The ^'Northern Dispensary^^ and the " Eastern 
 Dispensary'^ which were founded, the former in 
 1827 and the latter in 1834, are conducted in a simi- 
 lar manner to the above. 
 
 To these several dispensaries, thousands and tens 
 of thousands resort, and receive the best of remedies?, 
 and the best of treatment without money and with- 
 out price, and many of them find fault at that. But 
 they receive the benefit of liberal hearts and hands 
 and perhaps that's enough. They can save their 
 thanks for those who are licensed to make them sick, 
 for we have already seen that there is no lack of 
 such. Q 
 
IS'J EYK AND EAR INFIRMARY. 
 
 Some idea, though a faint one, may be formed of 
 the important service which these institutions ren- 
 der to that class which the Old world has poured in 
 upon us (for the patients are mostly foreigners). to 
 De cured of their maladies, and fed with our bread, 
 Dy looking at the result of one year's toil and benev- 
 olence. Number of patients treated at the 
 
 New York Dispensary, . , . 40,835 
 
 Northern .".... 20,680 
 Eastern . " . . . . 21,22G 
 
 Total 82,741 
 
 EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY. 
 
 This excellent institution was founded expressly 
 for ihepoor in 1820, for the treatment of diseases of 
 the eye and ear. It is sustained very much as are 
 the dispensaries above noticed. There is no other 
 institution of the kind in the United States where as 
 large a number of patients are admitted, and none 
 in the world where they are better treated. 
 
 Since this institution was opened, 36,657 patients 
 have been treated, and most of them very success- 
 fully. The cases during the past year, number 2,424. 
 For these statistics, the author is indebted to the 
 surgeons of the infirmary. 
 
 In addition to the very large number of patients 
 already referred to, who have received gratuitous 
 medical aid at the hospitals, dispensaries, infirmaries, 
 &c., probably at least ten or fifteen thousand have 
 been treated in private practice without any remu- 
 neration. 
 
COiAIMON SCHOOLS. 
 
 Although the pupils in our Ward and District 
 Schools are not paupers, yet they receive as free as 
 water, their education at the expense of others, as 
 much as do the hungry at the alms-house their bread, 
 or the sick at the dispensaries, their physic. Some- 
 body has to foot the bill, and not a small bill either. 
 
 Our noble school system is worthy of all commen- 
 dation. It is an honor to our State, our countr}^, and 
 our world. We may well be proud of it, and rejoice 
 in it, and expect much from it. The writer well re- 
 members the time, when in a back country town, he 
 thought it a special privilege to see the inside of an 
 old rickety, smok}^ leaky school-house eight and forty 
 times in twelve months! This assertion probably 
 the reader will not doubt. But this has nothing to 
 do with the city, or city schools, although the subject 
 brings to mind the days of yore. 
 
 How great and glorious are the privileges of the 
 poor children in our city, as far as the means of ac- 
 quiring an educatioi^ are concerned. What they can 
 ask more I know not. From the first of September 
 to the last of July, they are furnished with good 
 teachers, books, paper, pens, ink, slates, pencils, and 
 comfortable houses, and all for nothing. And during 
 the past 3'ear one hundred thousand children in this 
 city have been instructed in our common schools, 
 which cost the public $270,768 86. 
 
132 COMMON SCHOOL?. 
 
 But this is not all. During the same period, and 
 in the same way, we have taught two thousand, three 
 hundred colored children. Match that, sister cities, 
 north or south ! 
 
 And to stimulate and aid those of bright and pro- 
 mising talents, we have a splendid " Free Aca,demy," 
 where all the higher branches are taught with suc- 
 cess, to the credit of pupils, teachers, and our institu- 
 tions. 
 
 Yes, our common school system is destined to work 
 out glorious results at no distant day. It cannot be 
 otherwise ; so let us have more school-houses, less 
 forts — more books, less barracks — more presses, less 
 powder — more Bibles, less bullets. 
 
 1 might mention many other systems, institutions, 
 associations, &:c., which make long and loud calls 
 for cash, cash ! But enough has been said to show 
 that the city is neither all beggars nor misers. To 
 recapitulate briefly, we find the sum total of the fore- 
 going to be as follows : — 
 
 Expenses of the Aims-House Departm't, $380,534 31 
 " " Common Schools, 270,768 80 
 
 " " Association for the Poor, 23,821 99 
 
 " unpaid by patients in City Hospital, 20,000 00 
 *« *' Dispensaries, . . 14,483 57 
 
 '' " Eye Infirm ar}', . . 1,162 16 
 
 Total, . . . 710,770 89 
 
 Total number of beneficiaries in the above depart- 
 ments, 284,776. 
 From the examination of a few institutions it is 
 
COMMON SCFIOOLS. 133 
 
 very evident that one half of the city has to help 
 support the other half. 
 
 Although it annually costs the city such an enor- 
 mous sum to sustain those who cannot and will not 
 support themselves, j^et this is hardly a drop in the 
 bucket, to the amount which is far worse than wast- 
 ed every year. I will call the reader's attention to 
 only one source of extravagance and crime which 
 will suffice, namely, the consumption of intoxicating 
 drinks, and its consequences. 
 
 From an interesting work ("Intemperance in Cities 
 and large Towns, by Robert M. Hartley") just pub- 
 lished, we find the following startling statement — 
 that the annual aggregate expenditure for intoxicat- 
 ing liquors consumed in this city amounts to the sum 
 oi thirteen millions and thirty thousand dollars, 
 
 " This is nearl}^ equal to half the average annual 
 disbursement for the support of the United States 
 Government, including its legion ofoffice- holders, the 
 Army and Navy, with other innumerable expendi- 
 tures ; four times the cost of administering the State 
 government, with the interest on the public debt and 
 repairs of the public works ; twelve times the receipts 
 of the Bible, Tract, Missionary and other public be- 
 nevolent societies in the United States ; twenty times 
 the sum expended in this city for religious worship 
 and educational purposes ; in short, for every dollar 
 contributed for the support of the Gospel in this city, 
 one hundred dollars are expended in strong drink !" 
 
 The consequences of this degrading, disastrous 
 practice have already been hinted at. But a volume 
 wholly devoted to the subject would fail to do it jus- 
 
134 COMMON S-CHOOLS, 
 
 tice, and we luanl ihe-otu/t-; bi^ content to throw out 
 merely a hint here and there, as we have opportuni- 
 ty. No candid mind can hesitate for one moment to 
 come to the conclusion that the consumption of thir- 
 teen millions and thirty thousand dollars worth of 
 rum or its equivalent, has been the cause of woe 
 unutterable ; poverty, disease, death temporal, spirit- 
 ual, and eternal. 
 
 The number of human beings annually sacrificed 
 upon the altar of rum, in this single city, I w^ill not 
 attempt to enumerate. The picture is sufficiently 
 frightful without asking the sexton how large a pro- 
 portion of those whom he annually consigns to the 
 tomb, are hurried to a premature grave by strong 
 drink. 
 
 But sad as is the picture, let not the reader turn 
 hastily from it. Verily, as the Lord liveth, thou hast 
 a duty to perform in this matter, and thou canst not be 
 excused. I charge thee therefore before heaven and 
 earth, to take the stand of a man, and maintain it, 
 until the traffic in strong drink as a beverage shall 
 be forever abolished. Even now while we are going 
 to })ress, if we are rightly informed, there are nine 
 men in the city under sentence of death, and the fatal 
 deeds by which they have forfeited their lives, have 
 mainly been committed under the influence of intoxi- 
 cating liquors ! 
 
ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS: 
 
 I have alread}^ said that poverty, sickness, suffer- 
 ing, and sin, more abound in civic than in rural life. 
 Yet how many seem to feel that if they could but 
 get away from their quiet cabins, and kind friends, 
 and shady groves and green fields, and be crammed 
 and crowded, and packed and stuffed into some gloo- 
 my garret, or mouldy cellar in a city, that they would 
 soon be on the high road to wealth and fame. 
 
 But as this too often happens to be a sad and se- 
 rious mistake, perhaps I cannot serve this class of my 
 readers better than to tell them of a few other sights 
 that I have seen in the city to convince me that they 
 had better stay where they are. 
 
 Perhaps you may say we give you this advice lest, 
 among others, we should have to feed you. 
 
 Well, there may be some danger of that, we sup- 
 pose, and therefore you had better stay where you 
 are and feed us ! We shall surely starve if you all 
 come : and you will very likely find the experiment 
 not altogether safe for yourself. 
 
 Now 1 am not going to boast, but I am going to 
 say, that I have lived in the country and in the town, 
 in the village and in the forest, and have seen enough 
 of country and city life to satisfy me that real en- 
 joyment abounds more in the former than in the lat- 
 ter. 
 
136 ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS. 
 
 Why pull up stakes? Why leave the country 
 to try an experiment in the city, while the probabi- 
 lities are in favor of a disappointment? I do not 
 deny that there are many good things in the city — 
 many indispensable things and folks too, some of 
 which I intend to notice. But I do say that a city 
 life has many draw-backs, many privations, many 
 perils of which those who are accustomed to a quiet 
 country residence know very little. For this and 
 other reasons I desire to give my friends out of town, 
 and especially young men, a hint on this subject, and 
 if I have not, do not, or shall not speak as flatteringly 
 of Gotham as some of its worshipers may desire, I 
 can't help it. The truth must be told. 
 
 Again, I ask, W^hy leave the land of your fathers, 
 and home of your mothers, to seek your fortune in 
 the city ? Is it that you may be more happy ? 
 Ponder this question well. A city life is artificial. 
 True, there are some things which are real ; such as 
 trials, losses, frowns, failures, fears, pestilence, 
 poverty, and hypocrisy. 
 
 But some will come, for, some how or other, they 
 have got the notion that if they were down here 
 among the nabobs, matters and things would turn 
 marvelously in their favor. 
 
 Well, we will give you as favorable an introduc- 
 tion to the city as we can, by first selecting for you 
 as good a substitute for the old fire side which you 
 have left behind, as circumstances will permit — as 
 good board, and as clean a bed as you can afford to 
 pay for. 
 
 Having done this, which, though it is often a little 
 
ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS. 137 
 
 difficLilt, is in fact a very small beginning, I will in- 
 troduce you to Mr. A., who advertised for a clerk this 
 morning, and you must not be too much disappointed 
 if he does not at once throw open his arms and doors 
 to receive you. 
 
 " Good m.orning, Mr. A ; here is a young gentlema,n 
 from the country, who would like to get a situation 
 in a store, and by all that I can discover I am 
 inclined to think that he is a very clever and upright 
 young man. He has at least one important recom- 
 mendation — namely, that of never having been out 
 of sight of his mother before. Can you do anything 
 for him?" 
 
 " Well, I advertised for a clerk this morning, it is 
 true, but before the ink on the paper was hardly dry, 
 I not only had one engaged, but could have supplied 
 all my neighbors. I am afraid young man, that you 
 have come to the wrong market. Did your mother 
 consent to have you come, or rather did she think it 
 advisable ?" 
 
 '* No, sir, not exactly. She said, she was afraid 
 that I should miss it." 
 
 '* Yes, I am afraid so, too. There are plenty of 
 young men of good abilities in the city, who are 
 travelling from door to door begging for employ, and 
 how soon they will have to beg for something else, 
 I know not ; and some of them are worse off than 
 you, for they have no mother to go to. But there is 
 a chance for them to carry the hod and some of them 
 are glad to do it, though they keep saying to them- 
 selves, ' Plague on it, there isn't much more honor in 
 this after all, than there is in weeding broom-corn, 
 
138 ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS. 
 
 over there on the Connecticut.' But it is living in 
 the city, and that makes the difference." 
 
 Yes, that makes the difference, and to be thus 
 honored, many are willing to be 6?«5honored. But as 
 I have been of so little service to you thus far, you 
 resolve to go on your own hook, and tell your own 
 story ; and not being very easily discouraged, you call 
 upon another advertiser; and with no better success 
 go home to your dinner, where some fop of a lazy vaga- 
 bond who has already made your acquaintance, 
 laughs at your ill success, with a ver}^ knowing air, 
 and invites j^outo go with him after tea, to the bowl- 
 ing alley, and says, " Now you must learn to smoke, 
 and go to the theatre, and eat oyster-suppers, and 
 drink champagne, and be liberal, or you will never 
 get your eye-teeth cut." 
 
 Conscience, at first, loudly remonstrates against a 
 course which would thus set at nought a mother's 
 counsel. But it must be remembered that conscience 
 expects a good deal more wear and tear in the city, 
 and will consequently submit to more, than in other 
 places. 
 
 The next morning, you resolve to start betimes to 
 try your luck, and calling on Mr. B, you say, " Sir, I 
 perceive that you advertised for a clerk this morn- 
 ing, and I would like to get into a store, for I came 
 all the way down here from the farther end of Ver- 
 mont for that very purpose." 
 
 *' Yes, I was in want of a little help," says the 
 man, " but I am supplied. Yet a friend of mine in 
 another part of the town would perhaps give you 
 employment." 
 
ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS. 139 
 
 Thus encouraged, you walk more than a mile, and 
 call five or six times to find him, and then learn that 
 he has already had thirty or forty calls, besides 
 fathers, and mothers, uncles and aunts, cousins and 
 friends to prefer their requests and vouchsafe their 
 guarantees. 
 
 Not quite discouraged yet, and hearing of another 
 opening, you go as much farther, and call as many 
 times to present your request. At length you are 
 fortunate enough to have an interview with the 
 merchant, and he saj^s, " Where did you come from ?" 
 
 *' From the country," you reply. 
 
 " What can you do ?" 
 
 " Almost every thing, sir. I am just exactly the 
 chap for you, to a dot. I can read and write, and 
 even cipher, and although I don't exactly like to say 
 it, yet all the old folks say that I am a leetle the 
 smartest feller in all Podunk.'''' 
 
 " Have you ever been in a store as a clerk ?" 
 
 " Can't say that I have, in such a store as this, at 
 least. But I have bought and sold sheep-skins, and 
 can tell the worth of a cow to a hair." 
 
 " I think that I should prefer a clerk already ac- 
 quainted with the business, and in half an hour's 
 time I can find a dozen such, who would be glad to 
 work for almost nothing, just to get into business." 
 
 By this time, confidence and faith begin to waver, 
 and especially, as you frequently meet smart looking, 
 enterprising young men who tell you that they have 
 been trying hard for six months to get something to 
 do, and have not in the whole time made enough to 
 
140 ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS. 
 
 paj^ for their board, to say nothing about the washer- 
 woman's bill. 
 
 Still you go on, reading and running, day after 
 day, and month after month, and yet, somehow or 
 other, your golden dreams are not realized — impor- 
 tant posts a,re not reached — obstructions do not dis- 
 appear, nor the dollars ask permission to enter your 
 pockets, while you begin to suspect that a city life 
 is not all that it is " cracked up to be." 
 
 Now, although this may not literally be the ex- 
 perience of any of my readers, yet I tell you, there is 
 too much truth in the picture, to be winked at. And 
 not the half has been told. Many a ruined man — 
 and ruined by the very folly which I am trying to 
 expose, could, in writing his own history, tell a sad 
 and bitter tale. 
 
 But suppose you come, and succeed. What then ? 
 Are you any better off? Probably not. I am more 
 and more satisfied everyday, that ten dollars are not 
 enjoyed as well in the city, as one dollar is in the 
 country. Hence, all things considered, I would seri- 
 ously advise almost every man who is accustomed 
 to a country life, to hold on and enjoy it. And not a 
 few who are already here, and have been working 
 hard for manj^ a year, for a scanty living, have I 
 urged to get away to a better land the first oppor- 
 tunity. 
 
 I have seen men of talents, professional men and 
 others — men worthy of all confidence, and compe- 
 tent to transact almost any business, v/alk about the 
 city with a heavy heart, and a sad countenance, 
 painful to behold, and I have said to myself, Poor men ! 
 
ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS. 141 
 
 what a pity that when you were doing well in the 
 country, you did not know enough to stay there. 
 Yes, worthy competent men find it necessary in this 
 flourishing city, to wear their stocks without collars, 
 and their vests buttoned up to their chins, although 
 the poor washer- women greatly regret it. 
 
 Not only do young men often commit a sad mistake 
 by leaving friends and home to try a city life, but 
 their fathers sometimes do still worse. They sell the 
 old homestead, where, for many years, peace and joy 
 have reigned, and want and fear have seldom crossed 
 their path. 
 
 True, the homestead would not produce a fortune 
 year by year, nor bring a fortune when sold, but it 
 would yield more comforts than five times its value 
 in gold will yield in town. And when it is turned 
 into gold, and then into goods, stocks, or toys, the 
 foolish experimenter finds that he has eaten il: all up, 
 in less than three j^ears, and his children say, " Father 
 dear, don't you wish we had our good old sweet home 
 back again?" 
 
 Poor man, that's a hard question ! And poor chil- 
 dren ! they never find their father able to give them 
 a lodging place on the good old homestead again. 
 
 But it may be said that many men come to the 
 city with hardly a dollar, and yet get rich. So they 
 do, and such men would get rich in an eagle's nest 
 on the crag of a rock. More depends upon the man 
 than upon the location, as to his success. If he had 
 staid in his own native rural district, perhaps he 
 would not have accumulated quite so much, but he 
 would have gained enough, lived as long, been as 
 
142 HINTS TO FEMALES. 
 
 happy, and probabl}^ as useful. The grand error 
 which leads a man to exchange a natural, healthful 
 country life, for an artificia], sickl}^ pestilential at- 
 mosphere in town, is ninety-nine times in a hundred 
 a false estimation of his own ahililies. 
 
 These are some of the reasons, though a small 
 part, which induce me to advise country citizens to 
 count the cost before pulling up stakes. Many others 
 might be noticed, and none more important than the 
 temptations to go astray, which every where so 
 abound in a large crowded city. 
 
 Yes, stay where you are, and pick greens, weed 
 onions, put faggots under the pot, eat the pudding 
 when it is done, and take comfort ; lest when you 
 get down here and open your bundle of luck, you 
 find that you have left the all-important article at 
 home, and you regret exceedingl}' that it was ever 
 your misfortune to be the smartest man in Podunk ! 
 
 HINTS TO FEMALES. 
 
 Young ladif^s also come to this city to seek their 
 fortune. And who have a better right? And who 
 deserve better success ? But they too, although it is 
 too bad, are compelled to sa)% " All is not gold that 
 glitters," nor real, that appears so. Yet we are so 
 glad to see the good creatures come, that we hardly 
 feel inclined to dissuade them, though when we take 
 into consideration their best interests, we are less 
 disposed to encourage the experiment than they will 
 perhaps desire or expect. 
 
 But as some may possibly turn an anxious eye to 
 this volume of sights, hoping thereby to settle the 
 
HINTS TO FEMALES. 143 
 
 question whether they had better do one thing or 
 another, perhaps I ought to say a word to such, be- 
 fore they weigh anchor, spread their sails, and for- 
 sake their friends. For my fair readers, perhaps I 
 shall have a rule for settling the important question, 
 which will be quite acceptable to at least a part, but 
 which we will waive until we give a few general 
 hints. 
 
 Much of what has just been said to young men on 
 this subject, will be found more or less applicable to 
 the fair sex. But although both men and women la- 
 bor under many disadvantages on first coming to the 
 city, yet the latter are subject to greater trials than 
 the former. 
 
 In the first place they can hardl}'- drive through 
 thick and thin to accomplish their object, as can those 
 who are more accustomed to rough pursuits and 
 hard work. 
 
 In the next place, they stand an unequal chance 
 to make suitable acquaintances, and ^to gain a desir- 
 able position in societ}^ Their chances for meeting 
 with hypocrites, and for filling intosnnres, are four- 
 old greater than in their own native towns. 
 
 Moreover, the probabilities of settling well in the 
 world, are greatly in favor of their own rural dis- 
 tricts. By settlings I mean an opportunity to cast 
 in their lot with those of their own choice, to share 
 together the comforts, and mutually bear the burdens 
 of life, to the consummation of which, many are look- 
 ing with that deep interest which the wise arrange- 
 ments of providence, and the greatest good of all 
 demand. 
 
144 INTELLIGENCE OFFICE. 
 
 But this is not all. It is quite evident that females 
 more than others find a cit}* life prejudicial to health, 
 and especially those who follow sedentary pursuits. 
 As a general rule, the life of the female is too seden- 
 tary any where. But in the country, they necessa- 
 rily have more exercise than in the cit}^ and of a 
 better character, and also breathe a purer atmos- 
 phere, which is still more important. 
 
 But perhaps none of these reasons, or any that I 
 can give, will turn the scale in favor of rural life. 
 Be that as it may, still my female friends in the coun- 
 try may think they have a right to demand "line 
 upon line," whether they have an ear to hear or not, 
 and so I will just tell them what I sav/ at the 
 
 " INTELLIGENCE OFFICE." 
 
 This office, from its very name, will reveal even 
 to the inexperienced reader, its character. You will 
 naturally suppose that it is a depot for all the know- 
 ledge that any one has to spare. And such in fact it 
 seems to be. And it is astonishing to observe how 
 much it will hold, for it is never full. I have repeat- 
 edly seen the experiment made, but the attempt to 
 fill it was always a perfect failure. Nevertheless, 
 intelligence is here daily bought and sold. There 
 are usually three parties present, when the office is 
 open. The buyer, seller, and spectator ; and it is 
 one of the most interesting spots for observation in 
 the city. 
 
 To these places scores, nay, hundreds, of females 
 daily resort to obtain employment, where at the out- 
 set they expect to meet many ladies who will, as a 
 
INTELLIGENCE OFFICE. 145 
 
 matter of course, be captivated by their good looks 
 and good works. 
 
 "Can I render you any assistance, sir?" said the 
 proprietor, as I stepped into his knowledge-dispensa- 
 ry on a certain occasion. 
 
 "Perhaps you can, sir," said I, in a whisper, "for I 
 have come here hoping to get the privilege of taking 
 from this favorable point, a view of human nature,^'* 
 
 He smiled, took the hint, and made me welcome, 
 and I was not a little amused, and withal instructed. 
 Several ladies were present scanning those who oc- 
 cupied the benches before them, asking all manner 
 of questions, first of the proprietor, and then of such 
 as he pointed out, or of such as they fancied, as 
 though they intended to get the worth of their mo- 
 ney. Some seemed to select a domestic very much 
 as a man selects a horse, according to his good 
 looks ! 
 
 Whenever a cook was the object of search, I ob- 
 served that the ladies estimated her fitness (let other 
 recommendations be what they might) somewhat 
 according to the absence of mineralogical deposits 
 under her nails ! 
 
 If a waiter was most in demand, holes in the heels 
 of her stockings, and a superabundance of grease on 
 her apron, were considered no special recommenda- 
 tion for one designed to fill such a post, though she 
 considered her chance in the market quite good 
 enough, so long as she held between her fingers, some 
 paper which she could not read, nor tell its meaning, 
 and forged at that. 
 
 If a child's nurse was sought, a bright young girl 
 
146 INTELLIGENCE OFFICE. 
 
 just in her teens, if she was neither cross-eyed, nor 
 cross-7iatiired, took pretty well, and if she spoke in 
 an unknown tongue, all the better. The baby could 
 soon learn to jabber Anglo-Dutch. 
 
 But there was every variety of taste to be suited, 
 no matter what the post. Some wanted Irish girls, 
 and some wanted Dutch. Some wanted English 
 girls, and some wanted Scotch. Some wanted White 
 girls, and others wanted Black. One wanted a 
 chamber-ma,\dy another wanted a kitchen-maid. Some 
 wanted young maids, and others wanted Old maids. 
 
 And while some were wanted to do this, and others 
 to do that — some to cook, and some to wash— some 
 to fold books or papers — some to make pants or 
 vests — some to make caps or hats — some to tend 
 shop or babies, the great majority had to go and 
 come, and go and come, and go and come, and when 
 the question was asked "What can you do?" "O 
 almost every thing," was the ready response. They 
 seemed, both the emploj^ers and employees, to feel 
 that it would never do to be discouraged. The pro- 
 prietor always thinks so too, and with him as with 
 the rest, it is, " Try, try again," and so for the half 
 dollar, or more or less, according to the bargain, he 
 continues for three months, six, or twelve, to send to 
 his lady-customers a whole ship-load of emigrants, 
 if they are not satisfied with less, which is not likely 
 to happen. 
 
 Hence, I came to the conclusion that our female 
 friends in the country had generally better remain at 
 home, and feed the chickens, and milk the cows, and 
 eat the butter, unless perchance some Abraham here. 
 
HINTS TO FEMALES. 14T 
 
 should say to his servant, " Thou shalt not take a 
 wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites 
 among whom I dwell; but thou shalt go unto my 
 country and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my 
 son Isaac." 
 
 Now here we shall perhaps get the credit of pre- 
 senting a tolerably plausible argument in favor of 
 coming to town, and especially if the servant should 
 say, " The Lord hath blessed my master greatly, and 
 he is become great : and he hath given him flocks 
 and herds, and silver and gold, and man-servants, 
 and maid-servants, and camels and asses," we sus- 
 pect that '* Rebekah," with her mot]ter''s consent^ had 
 better come ; and this is our rule, though we would 
 not like to call even this, an infallible criterion ! 
 
 Although we did not intend to give a dissertation 
 on matrimon}', important and proper as it might be 
 on a suitable occasion, yet as we have (though 
 rather inadvertantly) given a connubial hint to the 
 country-belles, the country-beaux may perhaps feel 
 aggrieved if we should leave their fathers in the 
 dark, touching the propriety of sending their servants 
 to take wives unto their sons of the daughters of 
 Sodom. 
 
 Hence, we will briefly notice the claims to proper 
 attention, w^hich our fair friends in town possess, and 
 then beg to be excused from any further matrimonial 
 controversy, for it has less to do with what I have 
 seen in New York, than many other subjects far 
 less important. 
 
 That we have seen some in the citj^ not altogether 
 qualified to be house-keepers, either in town or out, 
 
148 HINTS TO FEMALES. 
 
 we would not like to deny. But it is generally their 
 mother's fault, more than their own. They seem to 
 have been born for slww ! This radical misfortune 
 is the foundation of misery and woe from genera- 
 tion to generation, and yet multitudes are so infa- 
 tuated that they never find it out. They are first 
 taught in the nursery for show. Then they are taken 
 to church for show — sent to Madame 's board- 
 ing-school for show — to the milliner, mantua-maker, 
 musician, parlor, party, promenade, for show — taught 
 to speak, and act, and think, and live and die for 
 show. And for show they are buried ? 
 
 Meanwhile, the mother fancies that she has really 
 done the cleverest thing for her tinselled butterfly, 
 that ever was, or can be done. But has she taught 
 her daughter how to make bread ? 
 
 Bread ! Horrible ! Who ever heard of a young 
 lady's making bread. Wei!, never mind, the baker 
 lives near by. Has she ever taught her how to darn 
 the heels of her stockings? O no, she don't wear 
 patched stockings. Well, has she learned how to do 
 any useful thing ? Of course not. Why should she ? 
 She was born for show, and if any body needs her 
 services, it is P. T. Baraum ! 
 
 Alas 1 it is painful to see the youthful mind sub- 
 jected to such a training, a's fashion compels its vota- 
 ries to submit to every day. And no w^onder that 
 those who are born to breathe such an atmosphere, 
 are so ill-prepared to adorn the mansion. No 
 wonder that their beau-ideal is bounded by a circle 
 too circumscribed to contain two short words which 
 
HINTS TO FEMALES. 149 
 
 are so often in the months of some, and so seldom in 
 the heads of others — Common sense ! 
 
 But, we might have given a hint not much more 
 flattering, to our lady friends when addressing them 
 concerning our city beaux, had we been disposed ; for 
 many young men in the city, are so trained up, that 
 in the commerce of useful life they know not the 
 right hand from the left. So far as living to any 
 good purpose is concerned, their life is a perfect 
 blank. They neither know nor care how others 
 fare, nor have they any heart or tact to serve the 
 company with a toe or a foot. In pursuits worse 
 than useless, their skill and vigilance a,re seldom 
 vv^anting. But much depends upon the man's mother, 
 whether he is better or worse than a shadow — equal, 
 or inferior to a stuffed- si lirt. 
 
 But, we are not disposed to turn " Dickens." In 
 many respects, we canH. In some, we wont. 
 
 In speaking of the fair ones in town, and surely 
 many of them are fit for the " World's Fair,^^ we 
 take great pleasure, in saying, that multitudes are 
 not subject to such an influence as we have briefly 
 noticed. We have mothers, even in this degenerate 
 age, of the right stamp, and hence sons and daughters 
 too — yes, many bright spots yet remaining on the 
 great map of city life. It does one good to look at 
 them. 
 
 We often hear it said, that American ladies make 
 poor house-keepers. This charge, we happen to be 
 very much inclined to deny. It generally comes from 
 those who have a little interest on the other side of 
 the water. That England's daughters are equal 
 
150 HINTS TO FEMALES. 
 
 to ours in most respects, we very frankly admit. 
 That they are superior, except in avoirdupois weight, 
 we at once deny. That many of them are worthy 
 of all commendation, we are compelled to acknow- 
 ledge, even in speaking only of " What I saw in New 
 York." 
 
 Again, we sometimes hear it said that ladies in the 
 city, are not fit to become the *' help- meets" of any, 
 except those whose pockets are so endangered by an 
 abnormal fulness, as to require frequent and long 
 continued depletion. This is little else than a gross 
 libel, and hence we deny the charge. That this may 
 be said of the class noticed above — namely, those 
 who live for show, we do not dispute. 
 
 But that we have seen some — some ! did I say ? 
 Nay, many charming, competent, clear-headed, good- 
 hearted fair ones, whom many a man either at home 
 or abroad, would consider himself very fortunate to 
 get, at almost any pains, we suppose that nobody 
 doubts. At any rate the parties do not. 
 
 Whether we look at our female friends in the 
 parlor, or in the street, in the social circle, or at the 
 bedside of the sick and suffering — whether they are 
 called to suffer affliction, or to enjoy prosperity — to 
 sympathize with those who mourn, or to share with 
 those who rejoice — whether they emerge from ob- 
 scurity to occupy stations conspicuous and important, 
 or by misfortune find it necessary to exchange the 
 top of the ladder for the bottom, and give up their 
 fine houses and glittering equipage — lay aside their 
 rich attire — sell their beautiful ornaments — face a 
 frowning world, and tabernacle in a forsaken garret, 
 
HINTS TO FEMALES. l51 
 
 v.r diiigy cellar, they will doubtless favorably com- 
 pare with those of any other city or country, not ex- 
 cepting the old world. 
 
 So, our bachelor friends who are hermitizing in the 
 green vallies of old Connecticut, need iiot fancy that, 
 because our belles in town, are not altogether fami- 
 liar with hay-making, and potato-digging, that they 
 are too stupid to learn. O no. They are equal to 
 any emergency. They can dig the potatoes, and 
 weed the onions, but don't let them be compelled to 
 5tarve, or buy the ground to grow them on. 
 
 What they want is, to " better their condition,'' and 
 many of them are well enough off now, if they did 
 but know it. Those who prefer a little change in 
 their circumstances, ought to bear in mind that the}"" 
 have often seen others who were similarly inclined, 
 "jump out of the frying pan into the fire." 
 
 But lest the reader should conclude that the writer 
 is ready to advocate the doctrine that females were 
 born simpl^^ to be house-keepers, we must dismiss this 
 part of our subject and leave those who are not too 
 bashful, to select companions wherever and when- 
 ever the parties can be satisfied. 
 
 In our remarks to country citizens, we hope that 
 we have not given them an unfavorable opinion of 
 the good people of Gotham. It has been our desire 
 rather to stimulate all to think more than ever of 
 their quiet, healthful, happy home, where the birds 
 sing, chickens peep, and boys whistle — where the 
 husbandman makes hay, and the house-wife makes 
 hread, and her daughters make butter, and the bees 
 make honey. 
 
152 HINTS TO FEMALES. 
 
 To all, whether in town or out, w^e would say 
 whoever and wherever you are, if you are doing 
 well, be content, unless you prefer to do ill. If you 
 are making an honest, comfortable living, be content, 
 and congratulate yourself that " there is a good 
 time coming." Better advice we know not how 
 to give. 
 
PARTIES. 
 
 Having given a hint about house-keeping, it may- 
 be proper to speak briefly of our evening parties. 
 Some of these private festivals are got up on a scale 
 of extravagant magnificence, of which most of those 
 who live in the country know very little. Indeed all 
 in town, except the favored few, are nearly as igno- 
 rant, except what they hear. 
 
 Now, we are not going to say how much or how 
 little should be expended on such occasions, but that 
 the reader who happens to be little versed in such 
 matters may know that these fashionable parties 
 are not got up " for a song," although songs general- 
 ly form no inconsiderable part of the attractions of 
 these grand festivals, I will call his attention to two 
 items of expense which attended a private party, 
 that on a certain occasion exhibited "Upper tendom" 
 in fair proportions, and which occurred not a thou- 
 sand miles from the abode of the writer. That, 
 however, did not make him an honored guest. So it 
 forms no part of what 1 saw. 
 
 The first item of expense attending said party, 
 which I would notice, was incurred for beautifying 
 the apartment by a florist. The room was a large 
 one, or rather three rooms converted into one. The 
 floral display, though in the dead of winter, was on 
 a grand scale. The apartment was decorated with 
 
154 PARTIES. 
 
 flowers of various kinds, colors and sizes, together 
 with green leaves, evergreens, &c., throughout al- 
 most every part, except the floor. 
 
 But two articles interested me in the florist's descrip- 
 tion of the display, more than all the rest. One of 
 these he called the " Lustre,^'' and the other the '^ Py- 
 ramid J^ The former occupied the place of the chan- 
 delier — its perpendicular dimensions being about 
 eight, and its circumference twenty-four feet. 
 
 The particular construction, he said, was a secret, 
 and as I do not wish to reveal too many secrets, the 
 reader will excuse me for leaving that particular art 
 in the dark, until it is lighted up. 
 
 It undoubtedly had a metalic frame work to start 
 with. This was enveloped in beautiful flowers of 
 various tints, accompanied with green leaves, vines, 
 &c., so as to make a magnificent display. From the 
 midst of these sparkling gems, one hundred and twen- 
 ty gas burners poured forth a flood of dazzling rays, 
 which made it, as the florist remarked, " a fairy scene 
 worth seeing.'' This is one of the sights which are 
 seldom seen by the vulgar. 
 
 The " pyramid" was of similar construction, though 
 still a secret that every one can guess into daylight. 
 Its size was sufficient to constitute a pretty respect- 
 able boquet, to say the least, namel}^ eight feet in 
 diameter at the base, and eighteen feet high. It 
 stood in front of the flre-place, so as to perfectly hide 
 it, while its brilliant lights glimmered among the 
 leaves, and glittered among the roses with enchant- 
 ing power. 
 
 For this blooming, sparkling, dazzling display of 
 
PARTIES. 155 
 
 the splendors of the " Green House," the florist re- 
 ceived only $650. 
 
 The remaining item of expense which I will no- 
 lice, was for the supper. 
 
 It is well known that we have in town, a man 
 who is famous for pleasing all sorts of palates. Of 
 course nothing short of such achievements could suf- 
 fice on such an occasion, and hence this celebrated 
 cuisinier was engaged to furnish the feast throughout, 
 and for which he received the clever sum of $3,000. 
 
 Now we do not pretend to know how much was 
 paid for the music and a host of other items ; but we 
 think the reader has already come to the conclusion 
 that it was a festival on a grand scale, and must 
 have cost about as much as all Michigan was consi- 
 dered worth one hundred years ago. 
 
 In the above instance, we know the host to be 
 9.bundantly able to make a gorgeous display, and we 
 would greatly prefer to have the gold and the silver 
 widely diffused, even through the medium of roast 
 turkies, fragrant roses, and sweet voices, than to be 
 locked up. 
 
 But there are evils attending these magnificent 
 displays, which might be noticed, if it were thought 
 advisable. We will barely advert to one ; namely, 
 the temptation for others to try to imitate the exam- 
 ple, who are not able to do so. We are aware that 
 it is a foolish excuse, yet such is proud human nature 
 that it will gratify ambition at any cost. 
 
 Hence, says the man of much more moderate 
 means, " Well, /can afford to make a party too," and 
 at it he goes, and makes a parade to the very extent 
 
156 PARTIES. 
 
 of his ability — nay, worse than that. He makes pro- 
 mises to break them, in order to let the good people 
 know that he can make his parlor shine and the sil- 
 ver jingle ; and so of course the shoe-maker, and the 
 tailor, and the grocer, and many others must wait for 
 their honest dues — the promised money, until they 
 can get it ; and frequently they never get it at all. 
 
 But the party goes off with respectable eclat^ that's 
 the main thing, and the host is satisfied that he truly 
 belongs to the nobility, although he has expended 
 only $500, which is $499 more than he can aftbrd. 
 
 But this is not all. He looks down upon his neigh- 
 bor who is a little nearer the bottom of the hill with 
 a jealous eye, because he also is trying hard to make 
 a show. 
 
 Now, this spirit reminds me of one of the noble 
 monsters of the great deep, making his way up the 
 channel of our beautiful bay, astounding the tiny 
 finny tribe with his wonderful exploits. As he 
 ploughs his way through the briny fluid, a poor little 
 «* June shad," being somewhat filled with vanity, fol- 
 lows along in his wake, trying to imitate his " prede- 
 cessor ;" and after swelling, and flouncing, and 
 spreading his fins, and flapping his tail, he looks 
 down upon the little wigglers near the bottom, which 
 are beginning to catch the spirit, and make a stir, 
 and eyes them with a meaning air, as much as to 
 say, " There ! don't you wish you could ? You may 
 just as well stop ! You try to be a whale, eh ! Bah !" 
 and tries to spout. 
 
"MAY-DAY." 
 
 In speaking of New-York, perhaps I ought to say 
 a word about May-Day ! It seems to be a part of 
 the town as well as a part of time. It is a period 
 which annually affects the destiny of men, women, 
 and children far more than an}^ other day in the year ; 
 and its influence is even felt until the last day of the 
 succeeding April. 
 
 It is so customary to " move'^ on this day, that it 
 would seem that many change their residences just 
 to be in the. fashion. The fact is, people will do almost 
 any thing, but do right, for fashion, which is another 
 name for show. One would suppose that an annual 
 move for half a century or more, ought to give pos- 
 session of a pretty good home. 
 
 But the truth is, the more we shift and turn, and 
 change and move, the less we feel at home. We are 
 more like travellers who stop on their journe}^ for 
 the night, and start on the next morning, with little 
 or no attachment to their lodging-place, and well- 
 nigh forget it by the next setting sun. 
 
 Still we can sometimes pull up stakes and set them 
 down again, to our advantage. More frequently, 
 however, the gain is more apparent than real. When 
 we begin to fancy that our dwellings are becoming 
 a little too antique and unfashionable, quite too rick- 
 ety, abounding with too many cracks and rats, wo 
 
158 MAY-DAY. 
 
 say, " Well, T shall be glad when ' ]May-day' comes, 
 for I am tired of these old barracks." 
 
 Well, " May-day" comes, and so of course we move, 
 and not only go away from home^ but take a house 
 with more imperfections, perhaps, if not the same, 
 and one which the late occupant is very glad to ex- 
 change for the one we leave, and while this mutual 
 exchange occurs — this emptying of one houseful into 
 another, both parties are satisfied, for " a new broom 
 sweeps clean." But it will be nothing very strange 
 if the next May-day finds the parties equally ready 
 to make a similar exchange. 
 
 Possibly, the next year the parties are wise enough 
 to stay at home, look on, and see others foolish enough 
 to go the same round, and rejoice not a little that 
 they are clear of the hurl}^ burl}-, wear and tear of 
 May-day. 
 
 Still, some must move, and others will, very much 
 to the satisfaction of carmen ; and the reasons are as 
 numerous as the movers. Some m.ove to get a larger 
 house, and some a smaller — some a better, and others 
 a worse. Some move to be more convenient to their 
 business, some to be handy to church, some to be in 
 the fashion, some to improve their health, and others 
 to save their money. 
 
 If a man has a large salary, he must of course 
 have a large house, if his family is never so small. 
 If a small one, he must be content with a little more 
 humble abode. And if he has little or no income, 
 he must either take the garret or cheat the landlord, 
 and not a few prefer the latter. 
 
 It frequently happens that the landlord is com- 
 
MAY'DAY. 159 
 
 pelled to either eject his tenant, or wink at robbery and 
 shelter rogues. Moreover, he is liable to err himself , 
 by supposing that, because the occupant pays 
 promptly and murmurs not, he will not hesitate to 
 submit to an annual stretching of the rent, strangely 
 supposing that while his house is getting older 
 and poorer, his tenant can afford to pay more and 
 more for the privilege of staying in it to hold it up. 
 These and various other influences, conspire to make 
 the first day of May unlike all other days in New 
 York. 
 
 But it would be impossible for me to describe all 
 the curious sights which these occasions furnish 
 even if J should try, and for this reason, if no other, 
 I think it prudent not to attempt it. When this 
 migration-day dawns upon the city, then look out 
 early for carts and commotion. Every one is lucky 
 who does not get a torn-coat, a bumped-head, or a 
 strained-back. As for broken crocker}^ bruised tables, 
 shattered chairs, injured sofas, crushed baskets, lost 
 boxes, stolen garments — a confused brain, sooty face, 
 and a thread-bare patience, nobody thinks anything 
 of that. 
 
 Go where you will, and look which way you will, 
 you see loads of goods of every description, both large 
 and small, faluable and worthless, moving hither 
 and thither, in as many directions as there are ave- 
 nues to follow. Some of the movers have all their 
 effects on their backs. Others consider themselves 
 above mediocrity when they discover that the old 
 wheel-barrow is heaping full, and with happy hearts 
 they trundle on, and rejoice to reach *' sweet home.'^ 
 
160 MAY-DAY. 
 
 But whether they have little or much, it requires 
 time and labor, strength and patience to put every- 
 thing in its appropriate place, and make one feel at 
 home, as every body is aware who has ever moved^ 
 whether in town or not. And, all things considered, 
 there is some truth in the old saying, " two moves 
 are as bad as a hurn.''^ 
 
 Well, after getting possession of the new abode, 
 and acquiring a healthy equilibrium of soul and body, 
 we are prepared to make the best of our chosen 
 habitation, whether good or bad ; and with one impor- 
 tant article to grace the cabin, we shall probably 
 take as much comfort as most of our neighbors, no 
 matter what their possessions or professions. This 
 rare quality — namely, a contented mind, is often too 
 little appreciated, and consequently the result is as 
 might be expected. 
 
 Hence, we have those who are uneasy, unstable, 
 unsettled, and unhappj^ They change their resi- 
 dence, and are not satisfied. They buy new furni- 
 ture, and find fault. They changed their bakers, 
 and change their butchers, and change their drapers, 
 and change their doctors, and change their papers, 
 and change their pastors ; and without one change 
 more, viz., a change in themselves, real comfort will 
 continue to remain as great a strangei^o them, as 
 to a " toad under a harrow." 
 
 Many changes, and greatly for the better, are daily 
 occurring in our metropolis, and there is plenty of 
 room for more. Vacant lots are covered with mag- 
 nificent palaces. Rickety shanties give place to 
 
PESTS. 161 
 
 splendid mansions ; smoky huts to towering stores, 
 banks, hotels and churches. 
 
 PESTS. 
 
 Although the reader has already been pretty well 
 supplied with pests, and for the want of which the 
 writer has no reason to complain, yet there are " a 
 few more of the same sort." 
 
 Whether it is because they are better fed. or bet- 
 ter housed, I know not ; but for some reason or other 
 rats and mice are more numerous here than almost 
 any where else. Our city rats are a little more aban- 
 doned and saucy than country rats, and our cats are 
 either too refined, or too lazy to touch them, with a 
 few exceptions ; and as these disturbers of our peace 
 are greatly in favor of civic life, and decidedly op- 
 posed to emigration, we must submit to the annoy- 
 ance of having our houses gnawed, dreams disturb- 
 ed, and bread nibbled. At any rate they do annoy 
 us not a little. 
 
 But this is not all. Another class of intruders (our 
 long-billed-buzzing-suckers, which become our blood- 
 relation by 'practice, if they are not by nature) have 
 the impudence to take possession of our apartments, 
 whether we consent or not, and maintain their posi- 
 tion through many a sanguinary and successful strug- 
 gle. 
 
 I know not that other people are so much annoyed 
 by these tormentors, as is the writer. We sometimes 
 find those who are so fond of music that they can en- 
 joy the vibrations of a sliver on a rail in a whirl- 
 wind, and possibly persons of such an exquisite per- 
 
162 PESTS. 
 
 ception, can appreciate the sweet strains of these 
 nocturnal serenaders. If so, let them have a full 
 band from July till November, and from sunset till 
 sunrise, every night. 
 
 Yes, the New- York musquetoes are almost enough 
 to vex a good-natured man into spasmodic resent- 
 ment ; and especially if he has from any cause, lost 
 two or three nightsV sleep. One would suppose that 
 with all our refinement in manners, and ail our im- 
 provements in the healing art — such as " artificial 
 leeches," artificial patients, and artificial doctors, this 
 coarse, vulgar mode of bloodletting ought to have 
 been obsolete long ago. 
 
 But as far as this particular form of depletion is 
 concerned, we are growing more uncivilized every 
 year. What the cause of this can be, I do not pre- 
 tend to know. Some say that the introduction of the 
 Croton, has increased the sanguinary flock, and if so, 
 we must make the best of it, for we can do with 
 them, better than without it. Possibly, the more we 
 use it, the better they like us. 
 
 Be this as it may, I think I never saw any quite 
 so impudent anywhere else, though one would hardly 
 suppose it. I recollect very well of once forming a 
 very unfavorable opinion of these unwelcome visit- 
 ors, when attacked by a hungry swarm more than a 
 score of years since, and as many miles back from 
 Lake St. Clair, in their undisturbed haunts, and con- 
 genial abode ; but either because they had not be- 
 come sufficiently acquainted with, to be partial to the 
 white man, or for some other cause, they were more 
 tolerable than our winged New-Yorkers. True we 
 
PESTS. 163 
 
 can protect our veins by rolling ourselves up in a Bur- 
 gundy-pitch plaster. Some, however, prefer its sub- 
 stitute, a rnusquetoe net. 
 
 As for cockroaches, and other insects, they are too 
 numerous to mention ; but we must endure them as 
 well as we can, or leave town. 
 
 If there ever was a checkered scene, it is to be 
 found in city life. Every thing good and bad, great 
 and small, safe and hazardous, beautiful and hateful, 
 joyful and sorrowful, blissful and woful, are linked 
 together and chained to the great wheel of " perpe- 
 tual motion." 
 
BROADWAY. 
 
 This is the great fashionable promenade of Goth- 
 am, where all the belles, beaux, and babies — Knick- 
 erbockers and Yankees, are shown up to the best ad- 
 vantage. It is moreover a great thoroughfare for 
 almost every thing else. 
 
 It is often interesting to go into this exhibiting 
 hall, where the artist goes for contrasts, and soon 
 finds enough to cover all the canvass in his studio. 
 
 Here we behold every shade and grade of display 
 imaginable ; every variety of condition in life, des- 
 cribable, and almost every article desirable ; all man- 
 ner of rudeness and politeness, kindness and cold- 
 ness, mistakes, mishaps, and misdeeds. Here the 
 old and the young, the wise and the foolish, the rich 
 and the poor, the fop and the flirt, the banker and 
 the beggar, meet and pass, and smile and frown, and 
 court and scorn, and help and hinder, and jostle 
 against each other while striving to avoid juxtapo- 
 sition, or make the line of separation broader than 
 necessity demands, lest friendship kith or kin should 
 be suspected ; for some shun their friends sooner here 
 than any where else ; while others make as many 
 acquaintances, as time, policy, and circumstances 
 will admit. 
 
 The teeming multitude move through this crowd- 
 
BROADWAY. 165 
 
 ed avenue (all in a hurry) in every variety of man- 
 ner and posture, and by every variety of means. 
 The vehicles embrace all sorts of v^^agons, double and 
 single ; all sorts of stages, public and private ; all 
 sorts of hacks, ancient and modern ; all sorts of car- 
 riages, curious and common ; all sorts of horse-carts, 
 hand-carts, dog-carts, goat-carts, meat-carts, bread- 
 carts, wood-carts, ash-carts, swill-carts, and dirt- 
 carts, together with cars, wheelbarrows, sleds, sleighs, 
 jumpers, (Stc. 
 
 The motive power by which these vehicles are 
 propelled consists mainly of quadrupeds, bipeds, and 
 steam. Such as elephants, camels, oxen, horses, po- 
 nies, mules, donkies, dogs, goats, men, women, and 
 children. All put together make a pretty good team, 
 without the steam. 
 
 To attempt to describe all the goods, wares, and 
 merchandize of this notable avenue, all the busy 
 mortals of every caste, color, and clime, all the huck- 
 sters, tinkers and fiddlers, to say nothing about " Yan- 
 kee Notions," together with all manner of sights and 
 sounds, would frighten both the writer and the 
 reader. 
 
 But I must notice one of the many valuable car- 
 goes which I have seen drawn through this tho- 
 roughfare, very much to the amusement of specta- 
 tors who were somewhat unaccustomed to the com- 
 merce of Broadway. 
 
 The one to which I particularly allude was drawn 
 by a man, his wife and his dog ; and consisted of a 
 cartload of swill. The old lady went behind, and 
 when the man and the dog pulled, she pushed, and 
 
166 BROADWAY. 
 
 with their antidote for squealing, no matter who 
 laughed, or who cried, they pulled on, harder and 
 harder, and probably were happier and better off 
 than many despisers who had no pigs to feed. 
 
 These pork-makers usually reside in the outskirts 
 of the cit3% and some of them keep thirty or forty 
 hogs, with a few fowls, and occasionally a cow. 
 
 Moreover, some of them are coming up in the 
 world and are beginning to drive two dogs, and even 
 three. While others have met with still greater suc- 
 cess, and come out with their horses and wagons. 
 And not only so, but they show their good sense by 
 keeping the animals covered with some old quilt or 
 blanket, lest too much time should be devoted to the 
 study of comparative anatomy, as some of these quad- 
 rupeds would otherwise make an exhibition of liv- 
 ing skeletons. 
 
 In this hog-fattening vvay, these our worthy fellow- 
 citizens (for they are far more worthy than many who 
 wear finer cloth, and make others pay for it) live a 
 quiet life, and comfortably support their' families ; 
 and fathers and mothers are able to set up their sons 
 and their daughters in the business by the time that 
 they are of lawful age, and competent to fill such 
 important posts. Yes, set them up with a splendid 
 outfit of dog, cart, harness and bucket. And under 
 such favorable auspices, and years experience, the 
 road to wealth and fame is pretty straight, as the 
 steaks, hams, and sausages readily find the way to 
 market, and we don't know any better than to eat 
 them. 
 
BROADWAY. 167 
 
 So much for piggeries, but they are generally a 
 little out of Broadway. 
 
 Although I had proposed to notice but one of the 
 numerous cargoes which I had seen transported 
 through this famous, fashionable street, yet I will 
 briefly notice another, which I acknowledge is a lit- 
 tle more rare, and did not commend itself so much 
 to the admiration and commendation of the writer, 
 as the above. 
 
 Well, in going down Broadway whom should I 
 see, almost as soon as my feet were on the sidewalk, 
 but a woman with a boy on her back (of course she 
 was on the fashionable side) who was almost or 
 quite large enough to carry his mother, and from his 
 appearance, few I apprehend would have been will- 
 ing to risk him alone among their silver-ware ; I 
 mean so far as strength and locomotion were con- 
 cerned. 
 
 Still, some were sufficiently interested to be willing 
 to pay the woman pretty liberally for lugging about 
 the lubber with his feet almost drawing on the side- 
 walk, because they supposed the poor boy could not 
 appear among the nabobs, if the kind mother had not 
 carried out the great booby on her back. 
 
 Well, never mind, she can carry the fellow a little 
 longer, and the money too ; and very soon he will be 
 able to carry her, if we feed him well, and it is hard 
 to sa}'- which will attract the more attention. 
 
168 BROADWAY. 
 
 RECKLESS DRIVING. 
 
 But we not only see much in this street to amuse 
 us, but some things to annoy and provoke us. While 
 standing on the walk in the upper part of the street, 
 where pedestrians and others are much less numer- 
 ous than in the lower part, I saw two dandies in a 
 light wagon coming up, driving a span of horses 
 most furiously, which made me fear that somebody 
 would get hurt by their dangerous and unjustifiable 
 speed. And this made me watch them the closer. 
 
 A lad, about half way to manhood, was standing 
 in the middle of the street, without any apparent in- 
 clination to pass to either side. He appeared to see 
 the vehicle approaching, yet made no more effort to 
 get out of the way than if he had been a statue. 
 This, I confess, made me a little nervous. The driver 
 evidently saw him, for the boy then had the street all 
 to himself. And yet he never made the least attempt 
 to check his horses or change their course, and hence 
 contact was unavoidable. 
 
 The horses knocked him down, and gave him so 
 much momentum, that horses, wagon, boy and all 
 went on together I should think at least a rod, and I 
 could hardly tell which rolled the better or the faster, 
 the boy or the wheels. The horses passed over him 
 as well as they could, and the wagon too ; the boy 
 jumped up and started off, and glad to get off so ; 
 the rascal of a driver never checked his horses, nor 
 turned his head to see whether the boy was dead or 
 alive ; and I could have seen the big key of " Sing 
 Sing" turned upon him with an excellent relish. 
 
RUNNING THE GANTLET. SCENE IN AN OMNIBUS. 169 
 
 RUNNING THE GANTLET. 
 
 Passing down the street to the most crowded por- 
 tion, and while immediately in front of the " Astor 
 House," I observed a man making an attempt to 
 cross the street in the midst of a thicket of horses 
 and vehicles so crowded and crammed, that I doubt- 
 ed his success. He had with him a beautiful little 
 spaniel, which deserved better treatment than his 
 master, and received worse, for the man at length 
 reached the walk in safety, while the dog was kick- 
 ed and cuffed by the horses' feet, and run over at 
 last, though fortunately by a light wagon, and after 
 dodging this way and that, in much confusion, he 
 reached the walk, and ran up to his master, expect- 
 ing much credit for having so successfully run the 
 gantlet, and received a caning over the head for his 
 bad luck ; and I found it hard to avoid wishing that 
 the inhuman master had been in the dog's place 
 where he would have got at least one kick ! 
 
 SCENE IN AN OMNIBUS. 
 
 A world in miniature is a stage load of passengers, 
 and more than once have I been greatly amused in 
 such a company ; and to make the variety all the 
 greater, I have sometimes been a little annoyed. 
 
 Once on a day of bustling commotion, when stacks 
 of mud dotted the streets and bespattered the side- 
 walks, I took my seat in one of these velveted vehi- 
 cles with a strong inclination to make the most of 
 a ride through Broadway, and get the worth of my 
 money, which, perhaps, I ought to tell the reader, 
 
170 SCENE IN AN OMNIBUS. 
 
 who is not in the habit of riding in such modern 
 carts, was six and quarter cents, more or less. 
 
 Well, after the driver had stopped and started, and 
 opened and shut his clattering cage fifteen or sixteen 
 times, with a little squeezing, scolding and scowling, 
 we had a load of men, women and children, in silks 
 and rags — bankers and brokers, tinkers and tailors, 
 laborers and lawyers, &c. 
 
 I said that squeezing was a part of the process of 
 stage packing, and although a little unpleasant, it 
 seems to be quite indispensable, and for at least three 
 reasons. In the first place, it is hard for the driver 
 to believe that twelve seats are ever all occupied. 
 I have seen him with his characteristic philanthropy, 
 throw open his door to the weary traveller, when 
 almost every seat and lap within was well nigh 
 twice occupied, though the party of which I am now 
 speaking, did not happen to be quite so numerous. 
 
 Then, the fair sex — bless their hearts, they don't 
 intend any harm by it — sometimes forget that they 
 expect to pay for only a single seat. This subjects 
 others to a little extra compression, though they be 
 not fond of" tight lacing." 
 
 Again, the t^wfair sex, after being comfortably 
 seated, sometimes seem never to suspect that the om- 
 nibus was ever made for anybody else. But any 
 way to get a ride. 
 
 Nearly opposite the writer sat a man, so outra- 
 geously cross-eyed, that I should have approved the 
 act if some one had pulled the signal-strap opposite 
 some surgeon's door, and invited the man to stop and 
 have the crooked made straight. For it is an outrage 
 
I3R0ADWAY. 171 
 
 for any man to suffer himself to go through life thus 
 disfigured, when the difficulty is so easily remedied. 
 
 But as he appeared to enjoy the faculty of seeing 
 all who sat facing him, and on his right and left^ at 
 one and the same time, perhaps he would have ob- 
 jected to any modification that could have been pro- 
 posed. 
 
 By his side sat a lady whose eyes were in a better 
 condition than her baby's hands, which were so full 
 of greasy cake and sticky candy, and the importance 
 of showing his sweetened face to all present, was so 
 great, that those who left the stage as free from 
 butter and molasses as they entered it, had reason to 
 be thankful. 
 
 At length she pulled the strap, and the nimble six- 
 pence was passed up to the driver and she prepared 
 to leave, while nobody would have objected if she 
 had taken away the oily fragments of the cake 
 which she left on the seat. But, as it was, a decided 
 improvement was admitted, for even the cross-eyed 
 traveller evidently appreciated the exchange, as a lady 
 stepped in and took her place, and covered up the 
 crumbs. She supposed herself to be one of the 
 " upper tens," though others possibly doubted it. 
 But the silk rattled, and the fan fluttered, and the 
 gold glittered, and the diamonds sparkled, while she 
 gazed with rather a suspicious mien at a modest- 
 looking young woman who sat near by, with a large 
 bundle of cut-cloth from the tailor's, ready to be made 
 into pants, lying on her lap. 
 
 Her peculiar air, as she eyed the young woman, 
 reminded me of the time when one of the young 
 
1*72 BROADWAY. 
 
 bloods said to his father on a certain occasion, 
 *' Papa, is it right for poor working people to ride in 
 the same stage with us ?" But so it is, in the 
 Omnibus — the rich and the poor must mingle and 
 commingle together, and thus distinction, rank, a,nd 
 caste are necessarily moulded into a healthy equili- 
 brium. 
 
 But none in the stage, not even the woman in silk, 
 looked half so happy as the seamstress in calico, for 
 her very countenance seemed to indicate that she 
 anticipated many comforts from her own earnings, 
 though poorly paid. 
 
 I will not stop to notice the next in rotation — a 
 young flirt who seemed to think too much of her 
 rings, and too little of her brains. Neither is it 
 necessary that I should say much about the man who 
 sat so near, that when I got up to go out, 1 might 
 have been mistaken for a miller. Poor man, I 
 suppose that he either had not time to brush his 
 clothes overmuch, before he left the meal-chest, or 
 he thought that others could brush enough to make 
 it up. 
 
 But the most important character to be noticed, 
 and one which produced the greatest sensation among 
 the passengers in the vehicle, was a tobacco-chewer, 
 of the genuine, liberal stamp. He made a spittoon 
 of the bottom of the stage, which needed emptying 
 and scrubbing before we got half through Broadway. 
 This liberal distribution of the precious infusion of 
 foolsbane, was made at the enormous expense of 
 shining gaiters and white stockings, cambric skirts 
 
BROADWAY. 173 
 
 and silk dresses, polished boots and best wishes of 
 the fair sex. 
 
 The upper ten leAy made a commendable effort to 
 escape the chestnut colored dye, but we thought for a 
 time that there was a little too much silk and saliva 
 to succeed. So she thought, and she looked at him — 
 and who could blame her — looked at him, did I say ! 
 Alas ! for the man, if his sensibilities had not been 
 so stunted and blunted by the drug. As it was, he 
 endured the rebuke with heroic indifference, though 
 he must have known, with all the stupifying influence 
 of the poison, that she was more than half disposed 
 to sa)^, Do swallow it, if you love it so well. 
 
 Nevertheless, with all the cakes, candies, and 
 crackers ; and with all the imperfections, impedi- 
 ments, and impertinence of the occasion, we jogged 
 along in a tolerably satisfactory manner, with now 
 and then an incident of thrilling interest, either 
 within or without. The reader is already quite 
 familiar enough with the former, and the latter can 
 hardly claim our attention. Perhaps, on such an 
 occasion, I shall be pardoned for briefly alluding to 
 one. 
 
 About the time that we crossed Leonard-street, I 
 observed that all eyes were turned in a certain direc- 
 tion to see, 1 knew not what. 
 
 Maids came out to empty their suds, and dofled 
 their tubs, and stood aghast ! 
 
 Men held their horses, and out with their glasses, 
 and wondered in masses, as stupid as asses, as the 
 optic nerve was thoroughly put to the test. 
 
174 BROADWAY. 
 
 Ladies raised their veils, eyes, windows, and hands 
 and were ready to say, " O my /" 
 
 Beggars forgot their calling, peddlers stopped their 
 bawling, "sweep-ho's" ceased their drawling, arid 
 cripples too their crawling ! 
 
 By this time every passenger seemed determined 
 to know what it was that made such a staring, strain- 
 ing, and gazing, on the right hand and on the left. 
 
 And what was it, and who was it ? 
 
 A dandy on horse-back ! That's all. 
 
 Now there is more truth than poetry in all this, 
 and although it may and ought to appear a very tri- 
 fling affair to the reader, yet the writer has rarely 
 seen any private citizen attract more attention for 
 the time. To me, he was a perfect stranger, and 
 j^et the introduction was equal to a year's acquain- 
 tance. 
 
 But, it was not so much the man who made such a 
 stir, after all, as it was the hugest, longest, coarsest, 
 over-grown, over-colored, over-distended, over-twist- 
 ed pair of mustaches that ever passed through Broad- 
 way unspoken for. 
 
 His face was shaved to a hair, except the horns, 
 which gave them that illustrious conspectability 
 which had with remarkable satisfaction been attain- 
 ed. But unfortunately these beautiful appendages 
 did not become the man. O no, he was not rightly 
 built for them. No matter if they didn't. He could 
 do better without his dinner than without them, and 
 if they suited him, that's enough. 
 
 Conscious that he was admired by legions of eyes, 
 he rode a.s straight and as stiff as a flag-staff, and 
 
BROADWAY. 1 '^5 
 
 being an accommodating sort of a iiorned biped on 
 exhibition, he gave spectators a good opportunity to 
 see what the poor animal under him seem to be 
 ashamed of, judging from the drooping of its head 
 and tail. But never mind that ; he rode fast, and 
 rode slow, so as to pass us, and then let us pass him, 
 as he looked at his watch and then at the ladies ; 
 and every time that he passed or we passed, he took 
 very commendable pains to give as good an exhibi- 
 tion of his upper facial half, as was compatible with 
 a variety of circumstances. 
 
 And didn't we know him ? 
 
 Moreover, he was not chary of his pains to give 
 his ornaments, at proper intervals, a graceful twirl, 
 which, by the way, nature and art, as far as length, 
 color, and volume were concerned, had transformed 
 into a respectable imitation of the beard of a gobbler ^ 
 though they were not half so becoming. 
 
 A little behind, rode the groom, and at an awkward 
 rate and gait notwitstanding a special effort at 
 graceful horsemanship. The imitation was so per- 
 fect that I could think of nothing else but a man row- 
 ing a boat and churning butter. 
 
 Moreover, he too was something of a character, 
 and he took as much pains to keep at least a rod be- 
 hind, as he evidently had to humble his mustaches, 
 lest they should be mistaken for his master's for he 
 well knew that only a slight approximation would 
 be tolerated. Hence he kept them so trimmed 
 down, that, had the young sprouts been as green as 
 the soil on which they grew, they would have resem- 
 bled a bed of young onions when they first sprout up 
 
176 BROADWAY. 
 
 from the seed, and attain the height of about an 
 inch. 
 
 As for his master's, to speak within bounds, their 
 length multiplied by ten, would give about the width 
 of a certain shoe-shop in town, hereafter to be no- 
 ticed. 
 
 But we will let every man go through Broadway 
 hair- faced, or bare-faced, according to his own fan- 
 cy, if the city fathers will only make the street a lit- 
 tle wider and a good deal cleaner. But with the 
 present amount of dust, we should be sorry to have 
 mustaches proscribed. 
 
 The beautiful stores, both w^holesale and retail, in 
 Broadway, should be visited by the stranger. Quite 
 enough can be seen while standing on the sidewalk, 
 to occupy with profit a week's careful examination. 
 The splendid display in the window^s of goods, wares, 
 and merchandize almost dazzle.? the eyes of the own- 
 ers, and, if I mistake not, sometimes quite bewilders 
 the brains of others. Many of these stores are mag- 
 nificent, and one is without a parallel in the world I 
 
 Then the commodious and palace-like hotels which 
 are already built, and others going up, such as Lon- 
 don never saw, nor any thing nearer than their cou- 
 sins, according to neighbor Greeley's interesting let- 
 ters, offer sufficient inducements to any stranger to 
 tabernacle in them as long as it may be convenient. 
 
 The beautiful churches, ofiices, and other build- 
 ings, not forgetting Barnum's Museum, Tripler Hall, 
 &c., will also be examined with pleasure and profit, 
 though I cannot go into any details concerning their 
 construction or merits. A man cannot alwavs tell 
 
BROADWAY. 177 
 
 what he has seen. Sometimes he will not. At other 
 times he should not. And frequently he dare not. 
 
 But I must briefly notice the Dry-Goods Palace, al- 
 luded to above, namel}?-, the store of Messrs. Alex- 
 ander H. Stewart & Co., which presents a beautiful 
 front of 377 feet on Broadway, Chambers and Reade 
 streets, being five stories high. Its front on Broad- 
 way and Chambers-street is constructed of white mar- 
 ble, and presents an imposing appearance. 
 
 The lower floor is devoted exclusively to the retail 
 trade, and each department has its appointed clerk 
 or clerks, no matter what his function, whether it is 
 to sell bobbin, bombazine, or buckram, and he 
 hardly steps over his boundary lines, except to go 
 out and in. 
 
 The upper floors embrace the wholesale trade, 
 and can accommodate a pretty good share of the 
 merchants of North America, both as respects space 
 and merchandize. The number of men required to 
 manage this concern is about 250, and the amount 
 of goods sold the past year, is said (by those who do 
 not know) to be $5,000,000. 
 
 While speaking of Broadway, perhaps I ought to 
 say a word about the street. The reader who is not 
 familiar with the city must not conclude that the 
 street is what its name indicates. It is a very serious 
 inconvenience that it is not. We are quite too fa- 
 miliar with the radical error of the city fathers in 
 the days of yore, touching the width of this thorough- 
 fare, which is about half as much as it should be : 
 especially in the lower part, where vehicles of every 
 
178 BROADWAY. 
 
 description concentrate. Its entire width is 80 feet. 
 But, exclusive of the side-walks, it is only 42 feet. 
 
 The reader will, perhaps, have a better idea of the 
 pressing necessity of a broader thoroughfare by my 
 stating one circumstance. I took my stand at a cen- 
 tral point to ascertain the number of passing vehi- 
 cles in one hour, which I found to be 1,200. At this 
 rate, there would pass in one day, calling it only 
 twelve hours, 14,400 vehicles. 
 
 But there is another circumstance which I ought 
 to notice, as it increases the necessity for stretching 
 this famous street a little in width. 
 
 Broadway is like a boy who grows so fast that he 
 can't stop to tie up his shoes. Every thing in the 
 streets and on the walks is untied, unpacked, unroll- 
 ed, unboxed. Doors, windows, walls, roofs, brick, 
 stone, mortar, dust and splinters daily come tumb- 
 ling down to make way for banks, stores, halls, ho- 
 tels, shops, offices, &c. &c. 
 
 Cart-loads of stone, and ship-loads of timber, 
 boat-loads of brick, and sloop-loads of lime, wa- 
 gon-loads, wheelbarrow-loads, and back-loads of va- 
 rious other building materials are thrown together, 
 piled up, heaped up, and stacked up, or scattered 
 about in wild confusion, hither and thither through 
 the street, so that men, women and children, 
 horses, donkies, and dogs have to look out sharp for 
 snags, and are pretty lucky if they do not sink. It 
 is difficult to tell which would present the more rag- 
 ged appearance, the channel of the Mississippi River 
 drained dry, or Broadway in New- York at certain 
 seasons. 
 
BROADWAY. 179 
 
 The, number of buildings now in a transition state 
 in this thoroughfare, we find to be fifty-six, and we 
 do not expect to live long enough to see these and 
 all similar improvements completed. 
 
 Moreover, the street is almost perpetually obstruct- 
 ed, from the first of January till the last of December, 
 by pavers, at diff'erent points, and also by sewer- 
 builders, vault-makers, &:c., to say nothing of apple 
 peddlers, cake- venders, ash-boxes, and swill-tubs ; to- 
 gether with hillocks of mortar, and mounds of mud ; 
 with now and then a broken cart, a dead horse, dog 
 or cat, and various other obstructions that we can 
 neither mention, avoid, nor remedy. 
 
 After all, Broadway is a beautiful street, as well 
 as a stirring thoroughfare, and is a pretty fair repre- 
 sentative of this great city. But the continual rumb- 
 ling of ponderous wheels on flinty tracks — the clat- 
 tering of legions of iron-bound hoofs, as though rush- 
 ing to battle — the metallic rattling of bars of iron 
 and rods of steel on the dray-man's cart — the gong- 
 like, tornado-like, oceanic, unceasing roar and tu- 
 mult of this bustling street, make it less inviting than 
 it otherwise would be to promenaders who love to 
 chat, as well as walk. But for those who ramble, 
 mainly to see and be seen, Broadway is pre-eminent- 
 ly an inviting resort. 
 
 But we must leave this famous street, with all its 
 attractions and imperfections, all that is valuable and 
 worthless, animate and inanimate, permanent and 
 transient, to take a peep at other places, matters, and 
 things which though less conspicuous,, are perhaps 
 equally important. 
 
180 SPECIMEN OF NAMES. 
 
 Among other things it is somewhat amusing to 
 notice in passing through our streets, an almost end- 
 les's variety of names, titles, characters, symbols, hi- 
 eroglyphics, &c., with which numberless signs, doors, 
 gates, and posts abound. One would suppose that 
 it must have long taxed the ingenuity and patience 
 of a nation of linguists to invent so many break-jaw- 
 names, which many a daring nomenclator would 
 hardly undertake to spell, much less to pronounce, 
 and less still to write from the pronunciation of the 
 owners. Where all these strange words have come 
 from, we would not like to say. Perhaps the printer 
 who has had his types in " pi," can answer the ques- 
 tion. 
 
 A few for a sample will suffice. Well, there is Mr. 
 *'Blehl," and Mr. "Schnitzpahn," and Mr. "Cong- 
 nacq," and Mr. "Schweppenheiser," and Mr. "Chi- 
 shofcke," and Mr. " Schvvoerir," &c. &c. 
 
 As to the color of our population, here is Mr. Black, 
 and there is Mr. White, nnd a little farther on we 
 find Messrs. Slate, Gray, Green, Brown, Blue, Orange 
 Pink, and Purple. 
 
 The physical structure of our human fabric exhi- 
 bits quite a variety of materials, for we find mingled 
 together Messrs. Stone, Iron, Steel, Clay, Sand, Brick, 
 Wood (the outside bark of which belongs to the wri- 
 ter) Beam, Brace, Post, Stud, Sill, Board, Shingle, 
 Glass and Slate. In addition to these, we are pro- 
 vided with men of other qualities, such as Mr. Long, 
 Short, Broad, Small, Strong, W^eek, Stout, Smart, 
 Quick, Sharp, Blunt, Keen, Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Good, 
 
BRIGHT SPOTS. 181 
 
 Better, Best, Goodspeed, Goodenough, Goodman, 
 Goodchild, and Goodall. 
 
 But this is not all. As far as names are concern- 
 ed, the brute creation have also a pretty fair repre- 
 sentation. A brief notice, however, of the finny tribe 
 will suffice. At the head of which we place his Ex- 
 cellency our worthy ex-Governor. And after the 
 name of " Fish," we may mention Whale, Sturgeon, 
 Bass, Salmon, Shad, Trout, Pike, Eels, and Crabbe. 
 But appellation has little to do with character, for 
 to be Dove by name and Shark by nature would 
 hardly eifford a sufficient cause for excessive congra- 
 tulation. We hope that every man by his good 
 deeds will give himself a name, of which his posterity 
 shall never be ashamed. 
 
 BRIGHT SPOTS. 
 
 Having called the reader's attention to many 
 things of a forbidding aspect, we ought to notice a 
 few more of the bright spots which go to make up 
 the checkered scene of city life. For, although we 
 sigh for a reformation in many departments, and 
 need a little more room for our elbows — pure air for 
 our lungs — good exercise for our muscles, and green 
 spots for our eyes ; yet we have, as I have already 
 intimated many comforts and privileges which are 
 not to be despised. 
 
 Now, if we should enumerate one half of these 
 advantages, the reader would either call the book a 
 paradox or pronounce our advice to country citizens, 
 all a hoax. 
 
 But it will be remembered that at the outset we 
 
182 BRIGHT SPOTS. 
 
 acknowledged the web of city life to be woven of 
 many colors, as well as of different textures, and 
 patterns ; and hence, both good and evil must ever 
 abound, while hardly a glimpse of the former or the 
 latter will be expected in such a brief notice of 
 " city sights." 
 
 Among other things, a man can have the most 
 splendid church, and eloquent preacher — the shrewd- 
 est lawjTT, and sagest doctor— the finest house, and 
 the softest bed ; the swiftest horse, and fattest goose, 
 and much more than these can he have, if his purse 
 is large enough, and full enough. 
 
 Yes, a man in the city has many superior advan- 
 tages both for gratifying and improving his mind. 
 The numerous Lectures on various practical and 
 important subjects ; especially during the seasons of 
 autumn and winter, are items in the catalogue of 
 no trifling consideration. 
 
 The legions o^ periodicals, which abound in useful 
 hints, and even come within the reach of the poor, 
 are never to be forgotten. They are better than 
 gold. 
 
 Moreover, the musical concerts, upon which the 
 multitude are more and more prone to feast, are far 
 better for the heavy-hearted hypochondriac, than 
 snake-root or lobelia. 
 
AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 The places of amusement in the city are numer- 
 ous, and many of them profitable. We have just 
 hinted at some of them, and we have before spoken 
 of the importance of recreation. I shall not be ex- 
 pected to notice many of these places. Of some, we 
 may say that the influence is doubtful. Of many, 
 that it is good ; and of others, that it is decidedly 
 had! 
 
 THEATRES. 
 
 Of these places of resort we have several in the 
 city, but as to what has been seen there, the reader 
 is probably as wise already as the writer, inasmuch 
 as he has never seen the inside of one. 
 
 He has, however, seen enough outside to satisfy 
 him that he had better go down to his grave in his 
 present ignorance, than to be enlightened by the 
 performances within. 
 
 A few things in connection with theatres, he ha6 
 seen, which have satisfied him from his youth up, 
 that these places can very well be dispensed with. 
 But I need not name them. 
 
 IMoreover, there are some things which I have 720^ 
 seen, which perhaps go to strengthen and confirm 
 the opinion which I have for more than a score of 
 years entertained. I never saw a town appear to 
 flourish any the better for a theatre. Neither could I 
 
184 AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 ever perceive that the citizens where these places 
 of amusement were multiplied, improved the more 
 in morals, manners, vigor of body, mind, or soul. 
 
 I never knew a merchant who required his clerks 
 to be punctually in the " Box'' every night, in order 
 to learn how to sell goods, post books, and save 
 money. 
 
 But I have known more than one who watched 
 his young men with a jealous eye, as soon as he 
 ascertained that a dollar went every night for 
 " tickets.'' Every shrewd business man understands 
 full well the tendency of a theatrical influence. 
 Notwithstanding he may set an unwise example, 
 respecting it. I never saw a doctor, lawyer, or an 
 artist who required his student, or a mechanic his 
 apprentice, or a teacher his pupil, to attend the 
 theatre. Hence, we may reasonably conclude that 
 there is nothing indispensible there. If there was no 
 evil attending it but the loss of time and money, we 
 might consent to have such as can afford it, go and 
 enjoy it. 
 
 But there are other evils, and as the warmest 
 advocates for theatres know it well themselves, I 
 need not enlarge. Many frequent these places who 
 never read a daily paper except to see what is to be 
 the next play, or for some similar information, nor 
 pay for it, if they do. And many attend who are 
 short of bread, and can't pay their debts. 
 
 AMERICAN MUSEUM. 
 
 But there are sources of more rational entertain- 
 ment than the temples of the drama can afford, 
 
AMUSEMENTS. 185 
 
 among which may be noticed the American Museum. 
 This establishment was founded in 1810, but it has 
 acquired its popularity mainly through the enter- 
 prise of its present proprietor, P. T. Barnum, Esq., 
 who purchased it in 1842. 
 
 Many hours may be spent here with profit and 
 pleasure, both in the study of natural history, and in 
 the examination of works of art, and curiosities 
 without end. This establishment has swallow^ed up 
 " Peale's Museum," and the " Chinese Museum," and 
 is still sufficiently voracious to devour almost every 
 choice bit in market ! But it has somehow made its 
 most substantial repast out of the little General. 
 Yet the American Museum is really a curiosity 
 without Tom Thumb or even Barnum, the greatest 
 curiosity of all. A splendid lecture room is connected 
 with the establishment, where a variety of entertain- 
 ments are given. 
 
 AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 
 
 This Institution, which is much more than a source 
 of amusement, can be visited with great profit and 
 delight ; especially during its annual exhibition, or 
 fair, which occurs in October, and continues about 
 three weeks. Strangers in coming to town at that 
 season of the j^ear will hardly fail to go and see for 
 themselves. 
 
 It would afford me great satisfaction to give the 
 reader a glimpse of what I saw at the twenty-third 
 or last Annual Fair of this Institution. But this is 
 not an easy task. One glance at the articles from 
 
186 
 
 AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 the gallery would have been worth more to the 
 reader than all the writer can say. 
 
 But, it may be said, that it is the writer's profes- 
 sion to tell what he saw, and in so important a place 
 he should not be delinquent. Ah ! yes, he has 
 undertaken to do, see, and say, a little too much. 
 
 But if you will visit the next annual fair, and 
 should the arrangements be what they were at the 
 last, after pressing your way through a congregation 
 of apple-peddlers, candy-eaters, nut-crackers, and 
 cake- venders, huddled together around the gate, j-ou 
 will enter upon the bridge which leads to " Castle 
 Garden," and the first thing that will attract your 
 attention, will probably be a huge specimen of pure 
 virgin copper from the Minnesota Mines, weighing 
 3,304 lbs. being a part of a mass of 35 tons which 
 was thrown down by a single blast, the past season, 
 and which would be worth in market $13,000. 
 
 Then, Mr. Meneely of West Troy, who is famous for 
 calling people to church, as if to show the importance 
 of the metal, made a display of his " Peal of Bells," 
 some of them weighing 3,252 lbs. 
 
 Next in order, came the pumps and ploughs, fan- 
 ning-mills and flouring-mills, straw-cutters and 
 stone-cutters, grindstones and engines, churn-dashers, 
 and wheat-smutters, wicker-work, and water- works, 
 and a variety of farming implements which none but 
 a farmer knows how to use. 
 
 After passing over the bridge and entering the vast 
 amphitheatre, one is at once struck with wonder and 
 delight. The beauty, variety, and utility of the 
 articles which seem to start up before the dazzled 
 
AMUSEMENTS. 187 
 
 eye, as if by magic, upon examination fill the mind 
 with admiration. Every man has done his best, and 
 many a woman too, for the contributions from the 
 fair sex honor this important institution not a little. 
 Of course we do not pretend that it was equal in 
 many respects to the " World's Fair." But it was 
 a display, of which every American had reason to 
 be proud. 
 
 As this exhibition came off soon after the Swedish 
 Nightingale alighted on our shores, there was of 
 course " Jenny Lind Riding Habits," and " Jenny Lind 
 Castles," and " Jenny Lind Bird-Cages," and " Jenny 
 Lind Sauce," and Jenny every thing, but Jenny 
 herself The unrivalled bird I did not see, though 
 she was there. 
 
 About the centre of the building, a small specimen, 
 not very small either, of California fashions attracted 
 my attention. " Hands off!" Yes, I should think so. 
 What now ? These articles appear to have been made 
 for some adventurer who is probably waiting for his 
 legs to grow longer, and whenever they shall have 
 acquired length enough and strength enough to wear 
 and carry the boots, look out for the gold dust in the 
 deepest holes in the Sacramento. 
 
 " O my ! did you ever ? don't it beat all — what will 
 they do next ? Here was something that looked like 
 a common box, and smaller than our old chest, and 
 all of a sudden, out jumped a full grown bed. Well, 
 well, if this isn't the greatest contrivance yet," said a 
 motherly-looking old lady, to her friend. 
 
 And sure enough the improvements in beds, bed- 
 steads, sofa-beds, bureau- bedsteads, &c., were so 52:reat 
 
188 AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 that it occurred to me that only one thing was lack- 
 ing in that department — that a bedstead so constructed 
 as to fold itself up at a proper hour, though it very 
 considerably pinched the sleeper, would be a capital 
 remedy for those who turn night into day and day 
 into night. 
 
 But to attempt to give a description of a one- 
 hundredth part of the beautiful and useful articles 
 there exhibited, would be folly. As each article had 
 the manufacturer's address attached, it gave every 
 visitor an opportunity to obtain from the proprietor 
 such specimens of his handicraft, as his own fancy or 
 interest dictated. 
 
 Suffice it to say, there was cloth for the naked, and 
 food for the hungry — drugs for the sick, and beds for 
 the sleepy — eyes for the blind, and legs for the lame — 
 locks for the bankers, and lancets for the doctors — 
 caps for the ladies, and candy for the babies. 
 
 Yes, boot-jacks and banjos, bed-quilts and bee- 
 hives, shovels and shoulder-braces, handkerchiefs and 
 hand- organs, crook-necks and corn-shellers, window- 
 blinds and water-wheels, tea-pots and telescopes, to 
 say nothing about fruits and flowers, pianos and per- 
 formers, orators aniofRcers. Hence we have come to 
 the conclusion that this place will afford a sufficient 
 amount of amusement for any one reasonably satis- 
 fied. 
 
 The object of this institution is not to accumulate 
 money, but to encourage manufacturers, artists, agri- 
 culturists, horticulturists, inventors, &c., to excel in 
 their several callings ; which is a praiseworthy 
 motive. For the last Annual Report and much 
 
AMUSEMENTS. 189 
 
 interesting information, the writer is greatly indebt- 
 ed to General Adoniram Chandler, Superintending 
 Agent. 
 
 The present number of members is 1500. The 
 initiation fee is $5. Annual subscription, $2. The 
 number of contributors at the last fair, was 2,600. 
 Number of visitors, about 300,000. Amount col- 
 lected was $22,000. Each member is entitled to 
 a free ticket for himself and family. He also has 
 free access to an excellent library of 7,000 volumes, 
 the use of a pleasant reading-room, &c. 
 
 Contributors always have access to the Fair free of 
 expense, and the advantage they derive from a public 
 exhibition of their specimens of handicraft, is often 
 very great. One man at the last exhibition, as I 
 was informed by General Chandler, received o.rders 
 for machinery to the amount of 810,000 ; sales in this 
 way are increasing every year, and valuable articles 
 thus find their way to the ends of the earth. 
 
 Premiums in 1850 were as follows: — Gold medals, 
 92 ; silver cups, 85; silver medals, 326. Diplomas, 
 510 ; volumes of books, 136, and cash, 8480. 
 
 AMERICAN ART UNION. 
 
 The New York Gallery of the " Fine Arts," the 
 " National Academy of Design," and other similar 
 establishments, present many attractions not only to 
 the stranger, but to all lovers of fine specimens of 
 art, causing them to daily linger in their inviting 
 Halls. But on the present occasion I shall notice in 
 particular, only the " American Art Union," and for 
 
190 AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 Statistics I am indebted to the very able Correspond- 
 ing Secretary, Andrew Warner, Esq. • • 
 
 This Institution " For the promotion of the Fine 
 Arts in the United States,'^ was incorporated in 1840. 
 " Its first distribution of Works of Art was in 1839, 
 when its members numbered 814, and the Works of 
 Art distributed amounted to 39. Its annual income 
 has increased from $3,500 to $96,000 ; and the Works 
 of Art annually distributed by the Institution have 
 increased from seven, costing about $2,000 to one 
 thousand and ten, costing about $74,000. 
 
 " Since its establishment, ten j^ears since, the 
 American Art Union has purchased and allotted 
 among its members, over 3,000 Works of Art, execu- 
 ted by about 250 artists, resident in the different 
 States and Territories of the Union, and by American 
 Artists, resident in Rome, Florence, Dusseldorf, 
 Munich, Paris, London, and elsewhere. 
 
 " Engravings, etchings, and outlines exceeding 
 half a million in number, have been circulated in 
 the operations of the Institution, throughout our own 
 and other lands." 
 
 " Citizens and strangers have free access to its two 
 large galleries, which cover an area of 5,400 square 
 feet, and are filled with choice paintings and other 
 works of art," and in which probably half a million 
 of visitors annually spend a pleasant and profitable 
 hour. 
 
 The annual subscription is $5. The Works of 
 Art which every member is sure to receive, would 
 cost him under other circumstances much more than 
 this amount. Each member receives a copy of the 
 
AMUSEMENTS. 191 
 
 " Illustrated Monthly Bulletin," published by the insti- 
 tution, containing a large amount of valuable reading 
 matter, and beautiful engravings. This would cost 
 about the amount of the subscription, if obtained 
 elsevirhere. Moreover, each member is entitled to 
 share in the distribution of a large number of paint- 
 ings and other w^orks of art. 
 
 But this last feature is the only objectionable 
 one, in the minds of some, who have called it little 
 better than a lottery office, on account of the an- 
 nual distribution of certain valuable paintings, by 
 casting lots. 
 
 Whether some better mode of distributing these 
 paintings, or their value, could be adopted, I do not 
 pretend to say. But I do say that I can perceive al- 
 most no similarity between the two establishments. 
 Where is there a lottery-office which renders to the 
 purchasers of tickets an equivalent for his money ? 
 Where is the vender of lottery tickets who does 
 any good in the world by his traffic — who encourages 
 the purchaser to observe habits of industry, and eco- 
 nomy ? Alas ! he encourages the very opposite 
 course, and flatters the victim to hope for great re- 
 wards with no toil. 
 
 The Art-Union does no such thing, but encou- 
 rages the artist to do his very best, and persevere to 
 the end, and such as do not, will have little to ex- 
 pect. And such as become members of the institu- 
 tion, hoping to obtain some of its valuable works, at 
 a very trifling expense, if they are disappointed in 
 this particular, they benefit the artist just as much, 
 
192 AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 and still receive the worth of their money, which 
 cannot fail. 
 
 In this undertaking, the members of the Art-Union 
 encourage a class of artists who need a helping hand, 
 and in a pleasant and profitable manner (profitable 
 to both parties) help them up the ladder, at least one 
 round every year, and also add to the common stock 
 of comforts, for fine pictures are more than a com- 
 fort to any man who is not too stupid to enjoy a ride 
 all the better for having a beautiful span of horses 
 attached to his carriage. The works of art make the 
 journey of life the more agreeable, and perhaps I 
 may add the more safe. 
 
 I have called the attention of the reader to the 
 American Art-Union, because, among other things, it 
 has reached a point of great influence, and, from its 
 large number of subscribers, is able to do much bet- 
 ter by each member than it could have done when 
 the list of its supporters was small ; and the benefits 
 will thus increase, as the subscribers are multiplied. 
 The present number of members is 16,310. Commu- 
 nications should be addressed to Andrew Warner, 
 Esq., Corresponding Secretary, 497 Broadway. 
 
 But the stranger or the citizen, in seeking for en- 
 tertainment, will not be confined to the halls of 
 amusements. The institution for the Blind, the Deaf 
 Mute, the Orphan, the Friendless, and other kindred 
 Asylums, of which I have spoken on another page, 
 gratuitously admit all who wish to visit them, and 
 we pity the man who can go through these retreats 
 for the afflicted without being abundantly paid for 
 
AMUSEMENTS 193 
 
 his trouble. And if he does not desire to go the se- 
 cond time, we fear that he is a little deficient. 
 
 Neither will the lover of novelty stop here. The 
 beautiful specimens of architecture — the splendid pa- 
 laces of Upper-Tendom — the lofty spires of the sacred 
 temples — " the perfect symmetry of theCustom-House 
 — the massive grandeur of the Merchants' Ex- 
 change" — the beautiful Parks and Fountains^ — the 
 forests of shipping — the cargoes of goods, wares and 
 merchandize — the handicraft of mechanics, and the 
 pitiful tale of the beggar, will all more or less attract 
 his attention, as they present an extensive field for 
 observation, reflection and action. 
 
 " The upper portion of the Island furnishes a field 
 for many pleasing excursions. The villages of Har- 
 lem, Bloomingdale and Manhattan ville, the Croton 
 Reservoirs, and the lofty aqueduct bridge are often 
 visited. Nor is either river crossed in vain. 
 
 " The shores of New Jerse}^ present the villages of 
 Fort Lee, Weehawken and Hoboken ; the first dis- 
 tinguished for that exhibition of nature's grandeur, 
 * the palisades ;' the last for its ' Sybil's Cave' and 
 *Elysian Fields;' while to the south, rise the spires 
 of Jersey city and the hills of Bergen. 
 
 " Brooklyn and Williamsburg, with the numerous 
 villages of Long Island, a-re not wanting in interest. 
 The heights of Brooklyn, and its shady streets, are the 
 scene of many a pleasing ramble ; and the Navy 
 Yard, with its valuable Lyceum, the improvements 
 of the Atlantic Dock Company, and Cemeteries of 
 Greenwood and Cypress Hills, add to the attractions 
 of its vicinity. 
 
 13 
 
194 AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 "But those who take delight in excursions upon the 
 water, seeii the picturesque villages of Staten Island, 
 and the bathing resorts of Coney Island," especially 
 during the summer season, " or visit the fortifications 
 of the harbor, never clo3^ed with beauties continually 
 opening to their view, as they glide along the bosom 
 of the magnificent bay, whose waters, under a bril- 
 liant sun, have been compared, by a European trav- 
 eller, to * waves of liquid gold.' " 
 
 " In fine, whether the stranger wander along the 
 docks, or perambulate the streets ; whether he attend 
 the tribunals of justice, or visit the inmates of 
 * The Tombs ;' whether he inspect the interior ar- 
 rangements of the Gas-works, or stand enchanted 
 before the gushing waters of the fountains ; whether 
 he stroll through the public promenades, or view 
 from the Battery the expansive bay with its pictu- 
 resque shores and islands ; he cannot fail to discover 
 objects that fill him with wonder and delight." — 
 {New-York : Past, Present, and Future, p. 136.) 
 
WASHINGTON MARKET. 
 
 Although this establishment will hardly come un- 
 der the head of amusements, yet we think the reader, 
 if unaccustomed to visit large markets, could hardly 
 be more amused than to spend two or three hours at 
 this place during the morning, and especially on Sa- 
 turday. 
 
 This great depot of all manner of edibles, from 
 whence so many thousands are fed, is a curiosity to 
 all. As far as the building itself is concerned, it is a 
 disgrace to the city, and is as uncomfortable, incon- 
 venient and ill-adapted to the purposes for which it 
 was, and is set apart, as has often been exhibited in 
 town, since the day that the Van Dykes, and Van 
 Tuyls, Van Schoicks and Van Warts, Van Benscho- 
 tens and Van Arsdales, Onderdonks, Oothouses, and 
 Knickerbockers first set foot on Manhattan Island. 
 
 One would suppose that the old barracks were 
 kept in existence to humble the pride of our inhabi- 
 tants, and to cause the citizens to eat mud. Espe- 
 cially will it strengthen this impression to visit it on 
 a rainy day, when the old riddle of a roof gives all 
 within such a sprinkling and spattering, that the 
 Clerk of the Market recently informed the writer, that 
 in a hard rain, he had frequently gone outside to 
 take shelter under an awning ! 
 
 The edibles which, are daily sold at this market are 
 
196 WASHINGTON MARKET. 
 
 a credit to our country. In this department we have 
 no fault to find. 
 
 The number of stalls or stands, amount to 812, 
 and the rent for all, is about 8100 per day. The 
 amount of businoss done is enormous ; but it is im- 
 possible to tell how much. We could not get the 
 clerk to venture a "guess." Some say fifteen, some 
 say twenty millions of dollars annual}}^ some say 
 more, some sa}- less, nobody knows. But it is by 
 no means all done at these 312 stands. 
 
 There is an immense amount of produce of every 
 description sold outside, from boats lying at the 
 docks, from carts, farmers' wagons, baskets, benches, 
 boxes, &c., and the countless loads which are carted 
 away from the market dail}^ would almost constrain 
 an inexperienced spectator to come to the conclusion 
 that the inhabitants of this well fed city were living 
 to eat. 
 
 But the reader will bear in mind that we are not 
 quite so gluttonous after all ; for the surrounding 
 towns, cities and countries — inhabitants b}^ land and 
 sea, are more or less fed from this table. 
 
 And such a clattering of cleavers, and clashing of 
 knives, and grating of saws, and cracking of bones; 
 such hustling of women and bustling of men, and 
 cramming of baskets, and loading of carts ; such 
 scowling and scolding, and bantering and buying can 
 hardly be found any where else. 
 
 As iov fruit, there is no lack at the proper season. 
 Apples, and pears, peaches and plums, grapes, ber- 
 ries, melons, &c., are so displayed in their day, that 
 
WASHINGTON MARKET. 197 
 
 it is somewhat difficult to go through the market 
 with a solvent pocket and a dry mouth. 
 
 Vegetables, are almost without end. The only dif- 
 ficulty in being suited in this department, is want of 
 freshness in certain varieties. But with this excep- 
 tion, whenever the surrounding country produces 
 any thing choice in this line, it is sure to be found at 
 this market, upon which every other market in town 
 is more or less dependent, and many out of town look 
 this way for their daily supplies. 
 
 If we ascend a little higher in the scale of organ- 
 ization to see what we can find in the animal king- 
 dom, we discover here no lack, for there is pork for 
 the Gentile, and beef for the Jew, game for the epi- 
 cure, KXidfish for the Pope. Hence, all may be sup- 
 plied with every kind of animal and vegetable food, 
 desirable. 
 
 Not only so, but the skill and tact which are 
 brought into requisition to induce all to have their 
 baskets well filled, also claim one's attention. 
 
 The Hucksters are eloquent in proclaiming the 
 virtues of pumpkins and pennyroyal. 
 
 The Butchers, with their clean aprons and rosy 
 faces (where's Graham)., all have the very best cut 
 of beef, leg of mutton, and slice of steak. 
 
 The Poulterer extols his turkies, magnifies his 
 geese, lauds his ducks, commends his chickens, dis- 
 plays his game, and boasts of the freshest, fattest, 
 cheapest. 
 
 The Fishmonger makes a tempting exhibition of 
 the finny tribe, which are still wide awake, flapping 
 their tails on his slippery stand, and so of course as 
 
198 WASHINGTON MARKET. 
 
 long as one stirs, he can vouch for their being per- 
 fectly fresh, even those which were out of salt water 
 a week ago ; and at a moment's notice a customer 
 can be supplied with the best which the market af- 
 fords, even to a batch of eels, well skinned, or the 
 fattest shad, well scaled. 
 
 The Oystervender shows more activity than all. 
 Like the police officers who, with club in hand ac- 
 companied the WTiter on a certain excursion, knock- 
 ing and opening as they went, without waiting long 
 for an answer, so he walks in, whether welcome or 
 not, and turns out the occupant, giving him another 
 shell, though not half so good as the original. 
 
 But, I am aware that the reader is in a fair way to 
 get a very imperfect idea of Washington Market. 
 Well, let him imagine himself standing in the midst of 
 a grove where, on the trunks of the trees all through 
 the forest, are hanging quarters of beef, and sides of 
 pork, and legs of mutton, and loins of veal, and sad- 
 dles of venison, and flocks of turkies, geese, ducks, 
 chickens, pigeons, quails, &c., and let there be on the 
 branches both fruit and flowers, and on the ground 
 all sorts and sizes of boxes, baskets, tubs, barrels, &c., 
 filled with all kinds of vegetables imaginable, toge- 
 ther with a drenching rain, and thousands of buyers 
 and sellers, and he will have a feeble representation 
 of W^ashington Market. 
 
 But it has become so fashionable to have a meat- 
 shop on almost every corner, and fruits and vegeta- 
 bles in almost every grocery, and fish and oysters 
 well nigh swimming through the streets, that our 
 large markets are to some extent forsaken. People 
 
WASHINGTON MARKET. 199 
 
 find it very convenient to step out of their houses 
 slipshod into an adjoining meat-stall, and step back 
 again, almost at the same breath, to find the steaks 
 all ready to leave the gridirons. At the present day, 
 New-Yorkers hardly have time to carve, or chew, or 
 swallow, much less to go far to market. 
 
 But this is not all. After stall-feeding his flies, 
 the butcher finds it very convenient to send them 
 into our parlors to roost. This, however, we will 
 agree to sabmit to, if he will go a little farther from 
 our drawing-rooms to shed innocent blood — stain 
 the streets and gutters a little less, and be a little 
 more liberal in t'he use of chloride of lime. 
 
NOVELTY WORKS. 
 
 This grand establishment, the largest of the kind 
 in the United States, is now too well known to many 
 to be any longer a novelty, but it is nevertheless a 
 curiosity that almost any one, who has not already, 
 can afford to examine at the expense of a day's time, 
 a few hours' ride, and a little passage money. 
 
 I called upon the gentlemanly proprietors, Messrs. 
 Stillman, Allen & Co., a few months since, and 
 after telling them that I had simply come to " 5ee," I 
 was very soon ashamed that I had so long remained 
 ignorant of such an exciting scene, and such an 
 interesting spectacle as was at once exhibited 
 throughout the vast extent of their manufacturing 
 establishment. 
 
 It will be impossible for me to give the inexpe- 
 rienced reader an adequate idea of the articles here 
 made, as respects their variety, quality, quantity, 
 utility, &c. To say that they excel in the manufac- 
 ture of almost everything which may be called steam 
 machinery, for ships, would be to say but a little, 
 though saying a good deal. And to say, that they 
 make everything that can be thought of, from a giant 
 engine to a dwarfish rattle-box, would perhaps be con- 
 sidered a little extravagant, but would be about as 
 near the truth as I can get it; at least as much so 
 
NOVELTY WORKS. 201 
 
 as can be said of any establishment on this side of 
 the water. 
 
 But my time for examining these works was so 
 limited, and the number of articles worthy of special 
 attention was so great, that I can hardly tell the 
 reader what I did see ; yet to my own mind I can 
 present a tolerably satisfactory illustration of the 
 embarrassment under which I then labored, and do 
 still. 
 
 Suppose yourself trying to examine the individual 
 straws of a wheat-field while whired along over the 
 ground as fast as the best fed " iron horse" can carry 
 you, and you will have a pretty good idea of the 
 difficulty of giving details from half a day's exami- 
 nation of such an immense concern. Hence, gene- 
 ralities m.ust now take the place of specialities. 
 
 The offices and counting-rooms, the machine shops 
 and pattern rooms, the furnaces and foundries, the 
 busy bustle in-door and out, all gave evidence of a 
 manufactory on a grand scale. There was to be 
 seen, before entering the buildings, the dark and 
 curling smoke as it issued and rolled up from the 
 tops of the chimnies in fantastic hieroglyphics, 
 bespeaking something more important left behind. 
 
 Within, there was the puffing of steam, and the 
 flashing of fires — roaring of furnaces, and buzzing 
 of lathes — thundering of hammers, and rattling of 
 wheels — clicking of time-pieces, and grating of screw- 
 cutters, creaking of files, and clattering of chisels, 
 punches, dies, drills, tongs, rivets, and sledges; while 
 a multitude of implements were every where visible 
 of which I neither knew the name or use. 
 
202 NOVELTY WORKS. 
 
 Then there was the swinging to and fro of ponder- 
 ous cranes, carrying off with perfect ease to some 
 place of deposit, articles of such weight as would 
 puzzle a thousand monsters to budge them an inch, 
 with naked hands. 
 
 There was also the mammoth shaft of many tons 
 weight, whirling upon pivots, as if it were but a 
 feather, and with as much apparent ease as did the 
 spindle in another lathe, although small enough for 
 a tooth-picl:. 
 
 The proprietors kindly furnished me with some 
 brief statistics and interesting items, which I am 
 happy to lay before my readers. 
 
 The " Novelty Works" have now been in opera- 
 tion twenty years. The number of men emplo5^ed, 
 is about 1,200, at an average of about $1,25 per day, 
 that is, including common laborers and apprentices. 
 The men are temperate and industrious, and make a 
 comfortable living, while some of them la-y by more 
 or less for " a rainy dsy^ The common laborers 
 are mostly foreigners, and the mechanics, about one- 
 quarter. 
 
 The ground occupied by this company embraces 
 about 210,000 square feet, being equal to eighty city 
 lots or nearly five acres, besides their slips for ship- 
 ping, &c. The amount of metal used annually, is 
 about 5,500 tons. The value of coal consumed is 
 about $20,000. Daily expenses, .$2,500. Smallest 
 castings, one ounce ; largest, forty tons. All the 
 machinery is driven by a 100 horse-power engine. 
 
 The beautiful steam-ship Arctic of the New York 
 and Liverpool line which was built last season, had 
 
NOVELTi WORKS. 203 
 
 all her machinery made here. The time occupied in 
 completing said machinery was twelve months, and 
 the expense was $275,000. For the above interest- 
 ing information, the reader can order a rattle-box, or 
 an engine as one or both are wanted in every town, 
 and almost every house. He will be sure of the best 
 pattern, and the greatest novelty. 
 
 The largest castings made by this company are 
 " bed-pieces^^ for steam-ships. Upon these bed-pieces 
 the engine, boilers, and all the machinery rest. And 
 to see the liquid metal poured out for one of these 
 mammoth castings, reminds one of the best days of 
 old Vesuvius. It is a sight worth seeing. At any 
 rate, the writer walked the distance of a mile five 
 times — namelj^, ten miles, to witness it, and thought 
 it cheap at that. When speaking of amusements, 
 we might with great propriety have placed this esta- 
 blishment under that head. But as it is much more 
 than a place of amusement, and no museum has j'et 
 equalled it (what Barnum mai/ do, I know not), I 
 thought proper to give it a more important place. 
 
 But I must say a word about casting these bed- 
 pieces. It is not the work of a day, although iron 
 may be melted in half the time, even enough to sink 
 a ship. 
 
 The most difficult and tedious part is of course to 
 prepare the mould. This requires the labor of about 
 forty men, something like six weeks. While the last 
 day or two, the services of one hundred men are put 
 in requisition. 
 
 The first step taken in moulding is, to excavate the 
 earth within the foundry, deep enough and large 
 
204 NOVELTY WORKS. 
 
 enough for an ordinary cciiar, thougri I know not 
 the dimensions. Then piece by pi^ce is added until 
 the size and shape of the mould required are 
 attained (and it is by no means as fiat and uniform 
 in shape as an ordinary hearth stone, nor as easily 
 moulded), and all so put together as to secure 
 strength enough to withstand an immense pressure. 
 When this is completed, the several furnaces are put 
 in full blast and the iron is melted in five hours. In 
 the mean time a large cast iron reservoir which is 
 lined with, clay, having an outlet at the bottom, 
 though temporarily closed, is in readiness. 
 
 This reservoir stands within six or eight feet of 
 the mould, and leading to and communicating with 
 both the former and the latter, is a trough through 
 which the molten metal flows into the mould, when 
 it is discharged through the opening in the reservoir. 
 The melted iron is carried from the furnaces in 
 ladles and poured into the reservoir, to fill which, it 
 takes four or five hours after the iron is ready to 
 flow from the furnaces, and makes the men sweat 
 not a little ; and, during all this time, its fluidity is 
 apparently unchanged. 
 
 When all is ready, the gate is hoisted, and the 
 molten stream of burning metal gushes forth, and 
 the brilliant scintillations, glowing flood, sparkling- 
 waves, whistling gas, as it rushes up through the 
 vent-holes in the top of the mould, and flashing 
 corruscations, present a scene of exciting interest 
 quite worthy of the artist's laboratory, and satisfac- 
 tory to the ladies and gentlemen who are fortunate 
 enough to witness it. 
 
NOVELTY WORKS. 205 
 
 But, I had the pleasure of being present on a still 
 more interesting occasion than the one just noticed, 
 at least in some respects I was more pleased. Per- 
 haps the reader would not go ten miles to witness it, 
 nor read ten lies to know all about it. 
 
 Well, while standing in the midst of busy mortals 
 to see every man do his best, the bell rang for dinner, 
 and it seemed as though every man heard the first 
 clink before it struck — and didn't the}^ run ? If a man 
 had his hammer lifted to strike another blow, he 
 didn't strike it ; he let it fall, no matter w^here, if it 
 cleared his own head, and ran ; and all ran. some one 
 way and some another, and I had nothing to do but 
 to clear the track the best way I could, and enjoy the 
 scene to my heart's content, for I could see roast beef, 
 mutton chop, boiled ham, apple dumplings, and sour 
 krout on their faces as they ran. 
 
 Now to see such a rush of such a regiment of men, 
 with twelve hundred happy, contented-looking faces, 
 is a sight not chronicled every day in Gotham. To 
 me it was an interesting occasion. Not because the 
 men were hungry, but because every man had earned 
 his dinner, had wherewith to satisfy his appetite, 
 and felt that he had a right to it. And when I re- 
 flected that this single establishment gave business 
 and support — an honest living-»-not onl^^ to twelve 
 hundred men, but that probably at least twelve thou- 
 sand individuals were reaping more or less benefit 
 from its prosperous operations, I could not help say- 
 ing to myself, these works are a blessing to our city, 
 and an honor to our nation. 
 
 ,We have other similar establishments, though not 
 
206 ATLANTIC FORGE. 
 
 SO large, one of which I have visited and design to 
 notice, but would prefer to first look about a little 
 more in this immediate neighborhood ; and although 
 the eye is never satisfied with seeing, yet it must be 
 indulged to a limited extent, and so I will accompany 
 the reader to the 
 
 Here are manufactured immense wrought iron 
 shafts for steamboat water-wheels, and other pur- 
 poses, but as the proprietor, Mr. Charles F. Tupper, 
 is confined to this particular branch, he of course 
 does not require the services of such a regiment of 
 men as w^e last noticed. I did not see the proprietor, 
 but was informed by the foreman that about fifty 
 men were employed. 
 
 While waiting for the iron to get hot, I scanned 
 the old "Falcon" (as they call their trip-hammer) a 
 little, but I preferred keeping my fingers at a respect- 
 able distance from its bill, and especially after I was 
 informed that it weighed nine tons ! 
 
 Perhaps the reader may not know how they make 
 these monster shafts, some of which I am informed 
 weigh twenty tons. 
 
 Well, they take eight or ten small bars and fas- 
 ten them together and then weld them into one solid 
 bar. Then they take a sufficient number of these, 
 for the size required, and fasten them together as be- 
 fore ; and to heat them they are run into a horizontal 
 cylindrical furnace, which is open to permit the shaft 
 to pass through as far as it is necessary from time to 
 time, as they weld the rods together. 
 
BROWN STONE-CU'i'TERS. 207 
 
 When the iron is properly adjusted, the ends of 
 the furnace are temporarily tilled up with brick and 
 mortar around the shaft, much of which remains 
 outside. It is then subjected to an intense heat for 
 about one hour and a half; and when the welding 
 point is reached, it is wheeled out with perfect ease, 
 by means of a powerful crane and puliies, and placed 
 under the bill of the old " Falcon," where it gets a 
 pretty good pelting ; and thus these several bars, 
 which have previously been made of other several 
 bars, are forced together into one solid piece, about 
 as easy as you could squeeze two rolls of butter into 
 one. 
 
 BROWN STONE-CUTTERS. 
 
 In the immediate neighborhood is a large lot unoc- 
 cupied except by stone and stone-cutters. I halted a 
 moment as I was passing, to see a workman whittle 
 away at a stone which lay near the sidewalk. I was 
 not at all aware of the extent of the work which 
 was done on the lot. The stone on which the man 
 was at work was a brovvm, or what is frequently 
 called red stone, a block eight or ten feet long, and 
 perhaps ten or twelve inches square. The artist had 
 so dressed it off as to leave large block letters stand- 
 ing out in bold relief for a sign. " You seem to have 
 a large establishment here, sir," said I, to the man. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; one of the largest in the city," said he. 
 
 " Who are the proprietors ?" 
 
 " Masterton & Smith, sir." 
 
 " Where is their office ?" 
 
 "Over there where you see that little wooden 
 
208 SKOE-SHOP. 
 
 building on Eleventh street. You will find them 
 both there, sir." 
 
 Not willing to lose so good an opportunity of ob- 
 taining a little more information, though unexpect- 
 edly presented, I made my w^ay across the lot through 
 a wilderness of stone ; and clickerty-click, clickerty- 
 click went the mallets and the chissels, while the 
 chips fell like hailstones in a tornado, and ever}^ man 
 looked contented, happy, and as well fed as an alder- 
 man, and fancied himself as well off, I suppose. 
 
 At the office I learned that the establishment had 
 been in successful operation since the year 1818 — 
 that they were employing 101 men at an average of 
 about two dollars per day. This too, it will be re- 
 membered, was in the winter. Their men were so- 
 ber and industrious, much more so than formerly. 
 This establishment turns out annually about ^100,000 
 worth of stone. 
 
 SHOE-SHOP. 
 
 Soon after leaving the stone-cutters, I came to a 
 somewhat difi^erent manufactory. But as it was sit- 
 uated in the same neighborhood with the last three 
 noticed above, perhaps I shall be excused for giving 
 a few details concerning it, and especially as the 
 writer was so much interested in its first appearance 
 that he could not w^ell pass it without at least one 
 call, I thought it a little strange that, as often as I 
 had passed that way, I had not observed it before. 
 Perhaps I should have earlier noticed it if I had been 
 looking for sights. 
 
 I saw through the window, for it had a window, 
 
SHOE-SHOP. 209 
 
 a man sitting on a bench hard at work, and near 
 enough to the side-walk to almost hit my elbows, 
 and as I felt inclined to become a little acquainted 
 with my neighbor, I halted. On opening the door, I 
 met a very accommodating gentleman who saw that 
 I felt inclined to step in, and so he wisely and kindly 
 stepped out. I don't mean the shoemaker, for he kept 
 slipping in the awl, and drawing through the waxen 
 flax, and seemed to feel happy that there was room 
 enough for himself and his visitor, by each submit- 
 ting to a little friction. 
 
 Well, I did not tell him that I was taking the cen- 
 sus of the city, neither did I tell him that I was not. 
 But I solicited such information as perhaps made 
 him a little suspicious. I took the liberty of asking 
 his name, and inquired about his family. 
 
 "They have all left me, sir," said he, "and since 
 me auld woman died, things don't go so well. Ah 1 
 no ; she used to take good care of me things, and have 
 me something warm and good for me dinner, and all 
 that. But they are all gone, sir." 
 
 " A sad thing," said I, '* for a man to be alone." 
 
 " It is, indeed, sir. A man is poorly off when he is 
 all alone in the world, the best way that you can 
 fix it." 
 
 The poor man looked solemn, and appeared lonely, 
 and from him I learned that he had occupied his pre- 
 sent shop for five years, and that he greatly regret- 
 ted that it had recently been marred by a fire which 
 occurred near by, which had very considerably 
 blackened the outside, and burnt a few holes 
 through it. -j^^ 
 
210 MANUFACTORY OF R. HOE & CO. 
 
 "Before that, I had it all nicely covered inside with 
 pictures;' said he. Thanks to the good-hearted fire- 
 men for saving this important building, which is sit- 
 uated in Eleventh street, not a thousand miles from 
 Second Avenue. And having a rule in my pocket 
 (for a surveyor must go prepared to measure) I ask- 
 ed permission to take the dimensions of his shop, 
 which I found to be just six feet, six inches long, four 
 feet, two inches wide, six feet high in the rear, and 
 about seven feet in front. 
 
 But some may say why take so much pains to no- 
 tice such a small concern ? Because this shows 
 what New York is, quite as well as does the " Nov- 
 elty Works." This is city life. Moreover, the read- 
 er is already aware that 1 do not intend to despise 
 the day of small things. I have, moreover, made this 
 man's place of business known, presuming that some 
 of my readers may want a patch on their boots. Let 
 the working man be sustained, however humble his 
 cabin. 
 
 But I promised to give the reader a word about 
 another establishment, similar in character to the 
 " Novelty Works," and it is perhaps very proper 
 that I should lead him to the spot by the way of the 
 slioe shop, lest he might arrive with too exalted ex- 
 pectations, for we must not look for the Novelty 
 Works on every corner. 
 
 MANUFACTORY OF R. HOE & CO. 
 
 This firm, though not doing so large a business as 
 Messrs. Stillman, Allen & Co., are nevertheless 
 equally successful and prosperous, and the concern 
 
MANUFACTORY OF R. HOE & CO. 211 
 
 has been long and favorably known (I think thirty- 
 years), and is an honor to the city and the Union. 
 They haA^e two separate buildings, at least a mile 
 apart, though they are in juxtaposition by means of 
 the Telegraph, This story-teller saves many a long 
 walk, and when Professor Morse shall have made 
 another improvement, so that a ton of coal or iron 
 can ride back and forth on the wires, whenever it is 
 ordered, they will be satisfied. 
 
 This establishment occupies twenty-five lots, or 
 about one acre and a half. A little over three hun- 
 dred men are employed, at an average of about one 
 dollar and seventy-five cents per day. That is, for 
 the mechanics. Two thousand, five hundred tons of 
 coal are annually consumed, and fifteen hundred tons 
 of iron and steel are worked up into useful implements 
 of various descriptions, to the value of $300,000. 
 For the above statistics, I am indebted to Mr. Hoe, 
 who kindly welcomed me to every part of his esta- 
 blishment, and I regretted that I had undertaken to 
 see so much for others, that I had little time for 
 myself. 
 
 This company greatly excel in the manufacture of 
 a large variety of articles, of which I cannot speak. 
 Such beautiful specimens of saws are rarely seen 
 any where else. But they are too well known, 
 almost from- the north to the south pole, to need any 
 notice in so humble a volume as this. Their circular 
 saws w^ere splendid, beyond anything of the kind 
 that I had ever before examined, and were of all 
 sizes from two inches to five feet in diameter, the 
 largest being worth 8200. 
 
212 MANUFACTORY OF R. HOE & CO. 
 
 But for presses for rapid printing, they may chal- 
 lenge the world ! Think of that, all ye proud sons 
 of Uncle Sam ! Yes, challenge the world, old and 
 new, civilized and heathen. 
 
 These gentlemen manufacture all the ordinary 
 presses to great perfection, such as the " Patent 
 Washington Printing Press," " Patent Smith Print- 
 ing Press," " Hand Lever Press," " Patent Machine 
 Card Press," " Ready Proof Press," together with 
 " Self-Inking Machines," &c. &c. 
 
 But the climax of all presses for quick work, is 
 the " Cylinder Press,^^ which is the invention of Mr. 
 Hoe, and for which he has received a patent, and an 
 imperishable name. About so important an inven- 
 tion as this, the reader who has never had access to 
 such creatures, may wish to know something, and I 
 regret that I cannot describe it. Many live within 
 the sound of its buzz, and do not take the trouble to 
 examine it, and of course do not deserve to know 
 anything about it. 
 
 But for another class, I would say, that the type, 
 after being set, are placed upon cylinders, as you 
 will naturally infer from the name, and these cylin- 
 ders rapidly revolve by steam, or other motive power, 
 and the sheets of paper pass through as fast as a man 
 can place them in a proper position, and receive an 
 impression, while the revolving type at each revolu- 
 tion receive a supply of ink. This is one of the 
 sights ! 
 
 The first successful printing on these presses, was 
 done in 1847, and the first press was purchased for 
 the " Philadelphia Ledger'^ There are three large 
 
MANUFACTORY OF R. HOE & CO. 213 
 
 Cylinder Presses in daily use in this city on which 
 the New York Sun, Herald, and Tribune are printed, 
 and how many smaller presses al similar construc- 
 tion are whirling off the sheets, I know not. Mr. 
 Hoe informed me that Boston would soon have three 
 of these large presses in operation, and ere this, they 
 are probably inundating the Bay State with a flood 
 of intelligence, for they will not long remain behind 
 their neighbors. 
 
 But the reader may say, " What is it to me what 
 the Bostonians have, or do ?" 
 
 A good deal to you. If urgent business should 
 call you there, from New Jersey or New Hampshire, 
 making it necessary that the journey should be per- 
 formed in a few hours ; and the facilities for travel- 
 ing and other accommodations should be so imper- 
 fect that you could not reach that city in less than 
 four days, nor get more than three scanty meals on 
 the way, nor a mouthful to eat in as many hours 
 after entering the town, you would not be long in 
 coming to the conclusion that it was something even 
 to you, that the inhabitants of neighboring towns 
 were so much behind the times. 
 
 And would you famish, or have your neighbors 
 remain destitute of intellectual food for hours or 
 days, when you and they can be supplied with a real 
 feast in Jive minutes ? 
 
 But I have not told you what can be done with 
 these presses — these specimens of Yankee ingenuity. 
 When I visited the manufactory, Mr. Hoe informed 
 me that he had just completed for the enterprising 
 proprietors of the " New York Sun," the largest 
 
214 MANUFACTORY OF R. HOE & CO. 
 
 cylinder press ever made ; and that fifty men were 
 employed on it for six months — that it contained 
 eight cylinders — cost twenty thousand dollars, and 
 was capable of printing twenty thousand copies an 
 hour I Since then it has demonstrated the truth of 
 the prediction. 
 
 Think of that one moment, and you will not say 
 that it is nothing to you. Old " Red Jacket" would 
 never say so, if he was alive and as able to read as 
 he was the last time that I saw him in the city of 
 Buffalo. Neither would old " Corn Planter" intimate 
 any such thing to his tribe on the Alleghany. 
 
 Nothing to us ? In a little while it will be much 
 to the Hottentot and Esquimaux ! Let us see to 
 whom it will not be something. How many are to 
 be fed ? At a moderate estimate, at least nine hun- 
 dred millions, and man}'- of them pretty hungry. 
 
 Now supposing six individuals to a household, we 
 have one hundred and fifty million families to be 
 supplied. Well, if we put men enough on this press 
 to run it day and night, Sundays excepted, we can 
 give every family on the globe, an annual paper from 
 this single press, and have two hundred and forty 
 thousand copies left to sell at the counter 1 
 
 Think of that ! friends, out there on the Mononga- 
 hela among the catamounts ! You havn't begun to 
 *' see the Elephant," yet, nor we either ; for when 
 Captain Taggart gets his " Flying Machined per- 
 fected, with a few more presses, our Lunar neighbors 
 can be supplied with a copy of the " Sun" every 
 morning. And won't they be enlightened ? 
 But I perceive that I have got out of the machine- 
 
THE PRESS. 215 
 
 shop into the printing office, just where one is apt to 
 get now-a-days, who unfortunately has a fund of 
 knowledge to communicate, and who fancies, more- 
 over, that he has sufficient tact to put decent thoughts 
 enough together, to say we ! 
 
 I have incidentally alluded to three of our old and 
 successful dailies, namely the New York Sun, Herald, 
 and Tribune, and would gladly give such a notice of 
 the principal publications in the city, as such diffusi- 
 ble stimulants demand. Bat time will not permit, 
 neither would an ordinary volume hold all that 
 might be said, of interest, about the press. And 
 what is still more important, our praises (poor 
 things) are not needed. 
 
 But a work of the right stamp, exclusively devoted 
 to this important department, setting forth truthful 
 statistics — giving a brief history of each successful 
 editor, and presenting, in a clear light, the responsi- 
 bilit}', toil, influence, trials, and emoluments incident 
 to such a profession, together with such other topics 
 as would naturally claim a respectful notice, would, 
 we think, be quite acceptable to the reading world. 
 The very thing, for ought we know, may be now 
 extant, but it don't belong to " what I saw in New 
 York." 
 
 As I have spoken of a physical, I beg leave to 
 briefly notice a moral improvement in the press. 
 
 The reader is aware that there was a time when 
 even a religious paper would hardly dare to promul- 
 gate and enforce such salutary principles and senti- 
 ments as the secular press now every day, and hour, 
 boldly announce and defend. 
 
216 THE PRESS. 
 
 Where do we now find any paper of character or 
 importance, which knowingly speaks lightly of our 
 holy religion ? True, we have here and there a 
 scurrilous sheet thrown upon the breeze. But with 
 hearts blacker than the ink they waste, these cloven- 
 footed, forked-tongued publishers reveal their true 
 character the first step the}^ take, and generally soon 
 die a natural death, and have i^w mourners. 
 
 Now, the sermons which we hear in the sanctuary, 
 very often find their way to thousands of readers, 
 through the morning papers of the succeeding day, 
 and perhaps the second edition may do more good 
 than thej^r^t In this, we rejoice ; and for this, we 
 call upon every American to give thanks. 
 
 Yes, the secular press is more or less consecrated 
 to morality and religion, and is daily lending a help- 
 ing hand to important movements in Christendom, 
 and ceases not to chronicle with fidelity and despatch, 
 the formation and prosperity of all religious deno- 
 minations. Friends, it was not so thirty years ago I 
 Moreover, there never was a time when, on the sub- 
 ject of temperance, the press was more sound and 
 reliable, than at the present moment. 
 
 Not a paper can be found whose proprietor will 
 knowingly and willingly lend his influence to the 
 dram-drinking, rum-soaking, toddy-loving communi- 
 ty, except those who are ashamed to have their car- 
 riers out by day- light. This is an encouragement 
 worthy of being remembered, and ought to give the 
 temperance car sufficient momentum to drive it 
 rapidly over the great field of desolation, leaving in 
 its train reformation and salvation. 
 
NEW- YEARS. 217 
 
 True the two great antagonistic agents, i^um and 
 water, have a hard struggle ; yet we hope to see the 
 latter drown out and overthrow the former, in due 
 time. It is said, that intemperance has of late in- 
 creased in the city, and it would not be very strange 
 if it had, for does any one suppose that all of those 
 two hundred and twelve thousand, seven hundred and 
 ninety-six emigrants which landed in our midst 
 during the past year, were " Father Mathew" men ? 
 
 If it has increased to some extent, it should not 
 discourage, but rather stimulate us to greater acti- 
 vity, and zeal according to knowledge. There never 
 was a time when a more intelligent view of the evils 
 of intemperance, and a more ardent desire, and fixed 
 determination to rid our country of its greatest curse, 
 occupied the minds and hearts of men, than now. 
 
 But, I have got out of the printing office into a tem- 
 perance lecture. Well, I did not intend to say much 
 about the press or the cause of temperance, as I had 
 nothing new to offer in regard to either, though many 
 encouraging things might be said of both. We hope 
 that the editorial corps will continue to consecrate 
 their talents and energy to the good work, and all 
 their patrons co-operate, until we can build our ships 
 of iron, our wharfs of brass, and our streets of gold. 
 And it will be comparatively easy to substitute brass 
 for wood, and gold for stone, by substituting water 
 for rum, and common sense for folly. 
 
 But many of our good citizens set a bad example 
 at the very beginning of every year, though they do 
 
218 NEW-YEARS. 
 
 not seem to be sensible of an error so palpably mani- 
 fest. Almost the very first step they take, is fatal 
 to some poor mortal. 
 
 Perhaps some of my readers maj- hardly know how 
 the day is passed in New- York, and it would be ra- 
 ther difficult for me to tell. But " New- Years" and 
 *' May- day" are different from all other days in the 
 j^ear. The peculiarities of the latter having been 
 briefly noticed, I will say a word about the former, 
 although this is hardly the place to begin the year. 
 But never mind, our temperance lecture must be fin- 
 ished. 
 
 As things at present exist, it is doubtful whether 
 more evil than good is not the result of keeping the 
 day according to the good old Dutch custom, which 
 has become so general, that nobody dares to raise a 
 voice against it. 
 
 "But what is the custom which has thus been in- 
 troduced with all the sanction and authority of Hol- 
 land ?" perhaps the reader will ask. 
 
 Why, to call on every family that you have ever 
 seen, if possible — stay long enough to say "Happy 
 New- Year" — taste of all the good things — extol 
 what you eat and drink — praise all the babies, and 
 say, " good by." 
 
 This privilege belongs exclusively to gentlemen. 
 The ladies, however, are permitted to visit each other 
 the next day, and wdsh them all the happiness ima- 
 ginable, which of course is very acceptable, and if 
 they venture to congratulate the gentlemen a little, 
 this rudeness is generally tolerated with a very com- 
 mendable forbearance. 
 
NEW-YEARS. 219 
 
 Now we would not in the least object to the festi- 
 vities of the day, if the good ladies would keep the 
 intoxicating cup out of sight. It cannot be doubted 
 that many who have solemnly resoh^ed to reform 
 and lead a sober life, do on these very days, and in 
 this very way, relapse into hopeless degradation, be- 
 cause they have not stamina enough to refuse the 
 cup so kindly, nay, so cruelly offered. Hence, in- 
 stead of its being the beginning of a Happy New- 
 Year to them, it is the death-blow to hope and hap- 
 piness — the beginning of woe, and sorrow unutter- 
 able. 
 
 Now, we do think that the good people of New- 
 York ought to begin the year with a better exam- 
 ple. One of the reasons for coming to such a conclu- 
 sion is, that we have seen in the streets, on these oc- 
 casions, a larger number of men " the worse for the 
 wear," than on any other day in the year, not even 
 excepting the Fourth of July. 
 
 Let all who desire to promote the welfare of their 
 fellow men, and the prosperity of the city, begin and 
 end the year with a salutary example, whether it is 
 fashionable or not, and we shall find a greater reason 
 for commemorating such a day, than the dawn of a 
 sidereal year. 
 
 Here, again, I am happy to advert to a timely 
 warning, though not sufficiently heeded, which came 
 from the press a little before the last old year bade 
 us, farewell. Let the press speak until the people's 
 ear shall tingle. 
 
 The fact is, we can do better without steam, and 
 galvanism, and rum too, than without the press, to 
 
220 PERIODICALS, &C. 
 
 which we are greatly indebted for many valuable 
 hints in the present volume, and wishing them and 
 their readers all success, for the benefit of our coun- 
 try friends, we will give a tabular view of some of the 
 New York periodicals. 
 
 The reader will of course understand that the edi- 
 tors of these papers marked neutral in the table, have 
 permission to lean a little according to circumstances. 
 Occasionally their obliquity may become so great as 
 almost to destroy their neutrality. But never mind 
 if all the anti-political props fall. Don't stop the 
 papers, if their moral character is good, for a man 
 often finds out his own bumps, good or bad, better by 
 looking into the morning papers an hour before break- 
 fast, than by the reflections of his gilded mirror. But 
 if not good, let not even their ashes remain on your 
 hearth. 
 
 Moreover, it will be recollected that the amount 
 for each journal is the price paid in advance. 
 
PERIODICALS, &c. 
 
 Title. 
 
 Street. 
 
 Period. 
 
 Character 
 
 . Price. 
 
 .New York Sun, 
 
 121 F niton 
 
 Daily 
 
 Neutral 
 
 4 00 
 
 i( <« <£ _ _ 
 
 a a 
 
 vV'eekl^ 
 
 " 
 
 1 00 
 
 " Herald, ■ - 
 
 125 " 
 
 Daily 
 
 «< 
 
 7 00 
 
 (( 4< j< _ _ 
 
 a (C 
 
 Weekly 
 
 <( 
 
 3 00 
 
 New Yorker, 
 
 1 00 Nassau 
 
 Daily 
 
 <« 
 
 4 00 
 
 " ... 
 
 " " 
 
 Weekly 
 
 (< 
 
 1 00 
 
 Morning Star, 
 
 102 " 
 
 Daily 
 
 a 
 
 4 00 
 
 Journal of Commerce, 
 
 91 Wall 
 
 Daily 
 
 (< 
 
 9 00 
 
 " - _ _ 
 
 a a 
 
 Weekly 
 
 t< 
 
 2 00 
 
 New York Tribune, - 
 
 154 Nassau 
 
 Daily 
 
 Whig 
 
 5 00 
 
 " *' 
 
 »' (( 
 
 Weekly 
 
 <« 
 
 2 00 
 
 *' " Express, 
 
 1 
 
 Daily 
 
 «< 
 
 7 00 
 
 a i( <.( , _ 
 
 << <c 
 
 Weekly 
 
 a 
 
 2 00 
 
 N. Y. Commercial Advertiser, 
 
 46 Pine 
 
 Daily 
 
 " 
 
 10 00 
 
 «' " Spectator, 
 
 a »< 
 
 S'mi W. 
 
 (C 
 
 4 00 
 
 " " Courier & Enquirer, 
 
 70 Wall 
 
 Daiiy 
 
 cc 
 
 10 00 
 
 (( «' " 
 
 70 
 
 Weekly 
 
 C( 
 
 2 00 
 
 « " Evening Post, 
 
 18 Nassau 
 
 Daily 
 
 Democr't 
 
 9 00 
 
 H t£ «' _ . 
 
 
 Weekly 
 
 u 
 
 1 00 
 
 ♦* " Evening Mirror, 
 
 105 " 
 
 Daily 
 
 Whig 
 
 6 00 
 
 (( (C (t 
 
 «' a 
 
 Weekly 
 
 ti 
 
 I 00 
 
 '* " Observer, 
 
 142 Nassau 
 
 " 
 
 Presby'n 
 
 2 50 
 
 " •' Evangelist, - - 
 
 120 " 
 
 " 
 
 cc 
 
 2 00 
 
 Christian Intelligencer, 
 
 103 Fulton 
 
 
 Dut. Ref. 
 
 2 50 
 
 The Churchman, 
 
 12 John 
 
 t' 
 
 Episcop. 
 
 3 00 
 
 Protestant Churchman, 
 
 (369 B.Way 
 
 <( 
 
 " 
 
 2 50 
 
 New York Recorder, 
 
 122 Nassau 
 
 " 
 
 Baptist 
 
 2 00 
 
 Independent, 
 
 24 Beekm'n 
 
 <( 
 
 Congreg'l 
 
 2 00 
 
 Christian Advocate, 
 
 200 Mulb'y 
 
 <( 
 
 Method't 
 
 1 25 
 
 Golden Rule, - 
 
 44 Ann 
 
 a 
 
 1.0. 0.F. 
 
 2 00 
 
 American Artisan, 
 
 9 Spruce 
 
 <t 
 
 
 2 00 
 
 " " - - 
 
 «t .< 
 
 Mon'ly 
 
 
 2 00 
 
 Home Journal, 
 
 107 Fulton 
 
 Weekly 
 
 
 2 00 
 
 Sabbath Recorder, 
 
 9 Spruce 
 
 '< 
 
 7thD.B't 
 
 2 00 
 
 The Weekly Journal, 
 
 122^ Fult'n 
 
 «< 
 
 
 1 00 
 
 Sears' Family Visitor, 
 
 151 WiU'm 
 
 " 
 
 
 2 00 
 
 Farmer & Mechanic, 
 
 122 Nassau 
 
 i( 
 
 
 2 00 
 
 Railroad Journal, 
 
 136 " 
 
 <♦ 
 
 
 5 00 
 
 Weekly Review, 
 
 9 Spruce 
 
 it 
 
 
 1 50 
 
222 
 
 PERIODICALS, &C. 
 
 Title. 
 
 Scientific American, - 
 L'Eoo d'ltalia — Italian, 
 Literary World, 
 Spirit of the Times, 
 Path Finder, 
 New York Picayune, - 
 Bank Note Reporter, - 
 Sunday School Journal, 
 Youth's Penny Gazette, 
 Journal of Temperance Union, 
 Ladies' Repository, 
 Child's Companion, 
 American Review, 
 Harper's Magazine, 
 International Magazine, 
 American " - - 
 
 Blackwood's Edinburgh Mag. 
 Westminster Review, 
 EJinburgh " 
 
 The Dollar Magazine, 
 American Temperance Mag. 
 Christian Parlor " 
 
 Hunt's Merchants' Magazine 
 Eclectic " 
 
 Knickerbocker " 
 
 Union " 
 
 Mothers' Magazine, 
 Mag. for Mothers & Daughters 
 Merry's Museum, 
 Jewish Chronicle, 
 N. Y. Colonization Journal, 
 Journal of Mission, 
 Methodist Quarterly Review, 
 London " " 
 
 North British « 
 
 Street. 
 
 Period. 
 
 Character. 
 
 Price 
 
 12S Fulton 
 
 Weekly 
 
 
 2 00 
 
 2S9 B.Way 
 
 '• 
 
 
 4 00 
 
 109 Nassau 
 
 <i 
 
 
 3 00 
 
 1 Barclay 
 
 (( 
 
 
 5 00 
 
 138 Fulton 
 
 (< 
 
 
 1 50 
 
 122 " 
 
 C( 
 
 
 1 00 
 
 OrWall 
 
 (C 
 
 
 2 00 
 
 147 Nassau 
 
 S'm.M. 
 
 
 25 
 
 le «< 
 
 " 
 
 
 12^ 
 
 149 •'' 
 
 Mon'ly 
 
 
 1 00 
 
 200 Mulb'y 
 
 (( 
 
 
 2 00 
 
 147 Nassau 
 
 t( 
 
 
 25 
 
 120 " 
 
 '« 
 
 
 5 00 
 
 82 Cliff 
 
 <c 
 
 
 3 00 
 
 222 B.Way 
 
 (C 
 
 
 3 00 
 
 2 Pine 
 
 " 
 
 
 2 00 
 
 54 Gold 
 
 '< 
 
 
 3 00 
 
 a (( 
 
 " 
 
 
 3 00 
 
 (( (C 
 
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 109 Nassau 
 
 C( 
 
 
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 86 
 
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 116 ■ " 
 
 it 
 
 
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 142 " 
 
 i( 
 
 
 5 00 
 
 120 " 
 
 It 
 
 
 5 00 
 
 139 " 
 
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 156 " 
 
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 116 *' 
 
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 151 '• 
 
 (( 
 
 
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 116 " 
 
 el 
 
 
 1 00 
 
 151 " 
 
 <' 
 
 
 1 00 
 
 " " 
 
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 50 
 
 150 " 
 
 <c 
 
 
 25 
 
 200 Mulb'y 
 
 Quar'ly 
 
 
 2 00 
 
 54 Gold 
 
 <' 
 
 
 3 00 
 
 << <4 
 
 " 
 
 
 3 00 
 
 As light is quite as essential to the reader as 
 printed page, it may be proper for me to notice 
 of our great artificial fountains of illumination. 
 
 the 
 one 
 
MANHATTAN GAS WORKS. 
 
 This immense establishment which is located in 
 18th-street, west of 10th Avenue, will abundantly- 
 pay any man who has any taste for useful curiosi- 
 ties, for a stroll among the Retorts. At the office, 
 he will find the talented and gentlemanly engineer, 
 Charles Roome, Esq., ready to explain any thing and 
 show every thing. He has no secrets. 
 
 The writer recently visited these Works, and was 
 both amused and instructed ; and as some of his 
 readers may be nearly as ignorant (I hope not) of 
 the modus operandi of gas-making, as was the author 
 a few weeks since, it may be proper for him to pre- 
 sent a brief outline of the mode of manufacturing 
 this important compound. 
 
 The gas is distilled from Bituminous coal, two- 
 thirds of which is Cannel, and the balance New- 
 Castle coal. Cast iron retorts, semi-circular in shape, 
 twenty inches wide, and seven feet long, placed in a 
 horizontal position, three in one furnace, and kept at 
 a red heat day and night, receive the coal, which is 
 thrown in by means of a scoop which holds from 150 
 to 200 pounds. • 
 
 As soon as the scoop is withdrawn, the front end 
 of the oven-like retort is closed by a lid or door, 
 which is then made gas-tight, by means of luting. 
 After remaining about four hours, it is considered 
 pretty well cooked or cokedj when the charge is said 
 
224 MANHATTAN GAS WORKS. 
 
 to be worked off, as the gas which is produced after 
 the fourth hour, possesses but little illuminating 
 power. 
 
 On removing the lid, the coke which remains after 
 the gas has escaped, is taken from the retorts and 
 used as fuel in the furnaces, while the baker always 
 has another batch of bread, though not very light 
 nor over white, ready for the oven. 
 
 The vapors contained in the coal, ascend through 
 a pipe connected with the retort, and are partially 
 condensed by passing through water in a horizontal 
 pipe, called the hydraulic main, which is placed 
 above the furnaces. In this hydraulic main, a quan- 
 tity of tar is separated from the gas by condensa- 
 tion, and is conducted to a cistern, and ultimately 
 put into barrels and sent to market. 
 
 The gas rises through a pipe on the end of the 
 hydraulic main, and is conveyed to and through the 
 condensers, which are a series of vertical cast iron 
 pipes, from which jets of water are continually 
 thrown up, giving the gas a good shower-bath, wash- 
 ing down its impurities which flowoff with the water 
 in a proper channel. 
 
 After this, the gas again passes through a body of 
 water to remove the remaining ammonia. 
 
 It then passes through Purifiers, which are square, 
 cast iron vessels, eleven feet long and five feet wide ; 
 each containing five rows of perforated sheet-iron 
 plates, one above the other, and all covered with 
 hydrate of lime. In this process, as the gas passes 
 through the lime, the carbonic acid and sulphuretted 
 hydrogen are removed. 
 
MANHATTAN GAS WORKS. 225 
 
 From these vessels, the gas is conducted through 
 the Station Meters where it is accurately measured, to 
 mammoth gas-holders, which are sheet-iron vessels, 
 from forty to ninety feet in diameter, and from twenty 
 to forty feet in height. 
 
 From these great carburetted-hydrogen store- 
 houses, the gas is conducted under ground through 
 cast-iron pipes, from three to eighteen inches in 
 diameter, to various parts of the city, greatly to the 
 annoyance of those who " love darkness rather than 
 light because their deeds are evil." 
 
 But the reader may entertain an erroneous opinion 
 in regard to the amount of pressure to which these 
 great sheet-iron-hearts are subjected in order to drive 
 their contents through the most remote, minute, 
 crooked, and knotty net-work of arteries, for hundreds 
 of miles. In this particular the writer claims to 
 have been very considerably in the fog. The amount 
 of pressure is almost nothing at all. 
 
 And whether the gas-holder is full or not, the 
 supply, when the gas is permitted to flow, is uni- 
 formly the same. In one sense the gas-holder is 
 always full, although the amount of gas may be 
 modified every hour. 
 
 These gas-holders are inverted vessels in brick 
 tanks, or cisterns, which are twenty feet deep, and 
 filled with water, and, like an inverted tumbler, dip 
 into the water in said tanks, and sink or rise, as the 
 quantity of the gas within is diminished or increased, 
 and thus the consumer receives a uniform supply 
 whether the reservoirs contain little or much. 
 
 Thus the gas in store, contimsially rests upon the 
 15 
 
226 MANHATTAN GAS WORKS. 
 
 surface of the water, and to prevent too much pres- 
 sure from the weight of these immense iron vessels, 
 they are nearly balanced by weights, chains, and 
 pullies, so that the pressure within is less than that 
 obtained from a column of water two inches high. 
 It will readily be understood, that the more the pres- 
 sure, the greater the waste, wherever and whenever 
 there happens to be a chance for it to escape. And 
 hence the object of using as little as will produce a 
 sufficient circulation. 
 
 Gas is now considered almost indispensable in the 
 city. So much so, that scarcely a respectable dwel- 
 ling house is now built without gas-fixtures. The 
 following statistics show a very great increase in the 
 consumption of gas in our city. The amount made 
 by this company in 1842 was 17,000,000; in 1850 
 the amount was 103,000,000 cubic feet. 
 
 This company has at present forty-three furnaces, 
 and one hundred and thirty retorts, and employs one 
 hundred and fifty men. They are now building a 
 new retort-house one hundred and forty feet long, 
 and fifty-two feet wide, to contain one hundred and 
 fifty retorts. They are also building two tanks, 
 eighty-six feet in diameter, and twenty feet deep, to 
 receive two " Telescope gas-holders" (as they call 
 them), which are to be forty feet high, and each 
 capable of containing over 200,000 cubic feet of gas. 
 
 During the winter season, this company manufac- 
 tures about 500,000 feet per day, and the most which 
 has yet been consumed in one night, is 560,000 feet. 
 
 A street lamp, 4,000 of which are lighted by the 
 Manhattan Gas- Works, will consume from three 
 
MANHATTAN GAS WORKS. 227 
 
 to five feet per hour. Private burners about the 
 same. The cost of gas to private consumers, is 
 $S 50 per thousand feet. A cubic foot contains a 
 little over six gallons. 
 
 A ton of coal will make from nine to ten thousand 
 feet of gas. A burner which will consume five 
 feet of Cannel coal gas per hour, will produce a light 
 equal to twenty-four sperm candles at six to the 
 pound. The same quantity of New Castle, or Virginia 
 coal gas, will only equal twelve candles. So says 
 the engineer, and if any body, he knows. 
 
 Gas-light, for many reasons, is preferable to any 
 other artificial light with which we are acquainted. 
 We sometimes hear it said, that it is injurious to the 
 eye. But we hesitate not in the least to say that a 
 thousand-fold more eyes are injured for the want of 
 it. For the last ten years we have had an abundant 
 opportunity of seeing this important organ affected, 
 under almost every variety of circumstances. But 
 w^e do not recollect of a single well marked case of 
 serious injury from gas-light. 
 
 But cases of injury resulting from the use of an 
 imperfect light, have not been wanting. Neither 
 have the fatal consequences of using " spirit gas" 
 (falsely so called) been rare, scarcely a day passes 
 without an explosion and disastrous results. 
 
 Moreover, those distressing cases which so often 
 send a shuddering chill through the community, in 
 consequence of an unfortunate use of a simple candle, 
 are probably more than ten times as likely to occur, 
 as where gas is used, even in a proportionate number 
 of burners. And for a very important reason. Gas 
 
228 MANHATTAN GAS WORKS. 
 
 burners 3,ve fixtures. Another item to be considered 
 is, gas light makes no sparks. 
 
 The advantages of gas, as to cleanliness and its 
 illuminating power, and the ease with which its light 
 may be modified, &c., need not be noticed. The 
 great desideratum seems to be, a good light, at a 
 cheap rate, produced in a safe manner. 
 
 In this city gas must necessarily be much higher 
 than in many of our western cities where coal is 
 much cheaper, as no suitable American coal can be 
 had here, except at too great an expense. But, ac- 
 cording to the information w^hich 1 received from Mr. 
 Roome, there is one item which our consumers ought 
 to know. That if the company was not obliged to 
 light the public lamps at an actual loss every year, 
 they could furnish private consumers at a price twen- 
 ty-five per cent, less than at present. 
 
 Now, although this company was chartered by the 
 Legislature, yet it must obtain consent of the city 
 to lay pipes in the streets. The city, as I under- 
 stand, refuse this, unless the Gas Companies agree to 
 light the street lamps for what the old oil lamps cost. 
 Now, with this matter I have little to do, and about 
 it less to say. It is more my appropriate business at 
 present to chronicle what is, than to say what should 
 be in Gotham. 
 
 But, without appealing to plead the cause of the 
 Gas Companies, or light-seekers, we will just say 
 one thing. When we are out in the night, at an 
 hour when honest men who can, ought to be asleep, 
 and when the Island seems to be transferred to Egypt, 
 we are pretty careful to keep out of the grease-light- 
 
METER. 229 
 
 ed avenues when we can ; and feel safer to walk a 
 street (if it is not too long) which has but one good 
 gas-light at each end of it. 
 
 METER. 
 
 Before leaving the subject of gas, perhaps some of 
 my readers may expect me to tell them how it is 
 known what quantity each individual consumes ; or, 
 in other words, how it is measured. Well, this is 
 effected by the use of one of the most ingeniously 
 contrived instruments ever devised by man for exer- 
 cising the functions of an impartial agent between 
 buyer and seller, namely, the meter. This instru- 
 ment is attached to the pipe after it enters the dwell- 
 ing, and through it all the gas must pass before it 
 can reach the burners. 
 
 Although simple in its construction, and beautiful 
 in its operation, yet it is not a very easy matter to 
 give a description of it that will be readily under- 
 stood by those who have never seen it. Hundreds 
 and thousands have it in their houses, and never take 
 the trouble to know any thing about its ingenious 
 contrivance. If such persons were to visit the manu- 
 factory of Mr. Samuel Down, in 22d-street, near the- 
 Hudson River, they would probably find that they 
 had spent days and weeks, and dollars and cents to 
 gratify curiosity, without obtaining one half of the 
 satisfaction that this little instrument could measure 
 out to them in half an hour. 
 
 Mr. Down manufactures this article to great per- 
 fection, and employs 36 men, at an average of about 
 810 wages per week, and annually turns out 2,500 
 
230 PIANO-FORTES. 
 
 instruments, each of which, with ordinary care, will 
 last an age. 
 
 This machine is composed entirely of metal, and 
 consists mainly of an external cylindrical case, and 
 an internal hollow drum, which resembles an ordin- 
 ary reaction waterwheel. The interior has no com- 
 munication with the atmosphere. The wheel, which 
 revolves on its axis, is parti}" immerged in water. It 
 is divided into four equal, obliquely formed cham- 
 bers. The openings of these chambers are called 
 inlets and outlets, and are so arranged that one 
 chamber is filled at the same time that the one next 
 to it is emptied, it being impossible that any two of 
 the'm can be full at the same time. 
 
 The gas, in passing through these apertures to the 
 burner, gives a reaction motion to the wheel, while 
 the inlets and outlets of the respective chambers are 
 opened and closed as they successively rise above, 
 and descend below the surface of the water. 
 
 A simple train of wheels, similar to those used in 
 clocks, being attached to the revolving drum, moves 
 a hand over the dial or clock-like face, on the outside, 
 which at a glimpse reveals the number of feet of gas 
 ■which have passed through the meter for months. 
 
 This useful machine was. invented by a IMr. Cleg, 
 of London, about thirty- three years ago, and has been 
 improved very little since. 
 
PIANO-FORTES. 
 
 There are forty or fifty manufactories of these 
 beautiful musical, and almost indispensable instru- 
 ments, which at the present day adorn nearly every 
 mansion. But less than a dozen do the most of the 
 business in this department. 
 
 I recently had the pleasure of going through Mr. 
 H. Worcester's manufactory, on the corner of Four- 
 teenth-street and Third Avenue, and although he does 
 not turn out so many instruments as some other 
 shops, yet I believe there are no better ones made in 
 town, than he manufactures. At any rate I was 
 well paid for my visit, and saw in his wareroom as 
 beautiful and fine-toned pianos as will often fall to 
 the lot of delicate fingers to handle. The prices rang- 
 ed from #225 to 81,000. 
 
 The high and low priced instruments are made 
 very much alike internally, at all the shops ; the 
 principal difference in the expense, depends upon the 
 external finish. 
 
 Like all modern pianos, the instrument valued at 
 a thousand dollars, was made of rosewood. The 
 ends, front, and back were beautifully ornamented 
 with inlaid woods of diff'erent hues, representing 
 flowers, landscapes, birds, &c., and so exquisitely 
 done, as to be easily mistaken for paintings. 
 
 The legs which supported the instrument, were 
 
232 THE VEITERABLE PEAR-TREE. 
 
 beautifully carved from large solid blocks of rose- 
 wood, and cost about $150. The tone of the model- 
 piano was as sweet to the ear, as honey is to the 
 tongue. 
 
 Mr. Worcester employs sixty workmen, at an aver- 
 age of about $11 per week. In the manufacture of 
 these articles, which contribute so much to domestic 
 comfort, there are about thirty distinct branches, to 
 say nothing about those who manufacture the lum- 
 ber, the wire for the strings, the screws and nails, 
 glue, varnish, brushes, sandpaper, and various other 
 materials. 
 
 THE VENERABLE PEAR TREE. 
 
 The stranger, in visiting the city, should not forget 
 the venerable old pear-tree which stands in the same 
 avenue, on the next corner below. That is, on the 
 corner of Third avenue and Thirteenth street, where 
 it has stood since the year 1646. It is said that it 
 was planted by Peter Stuyvesant, who was then Go- 
 vernor of " New Netherlands,^^ and has lived to feed 
 ten generations of red and white men, and bears fruit 
 still, and from this living remembrancer of the good 
 old days of yore, the writer fondly hopes to receive 
 the present season a fresh token of the good sense of 
 the Dutch Governor. In the mean time he will sing, 
 "Woodman spare the tree." On the 10th day of 
 June the present year, I measured this living relic of 
 the ancient Knickerbockers, and found it to be, at the 
 height of four feet from the ground, 99 inches in cir- 
 cumference. 
 
PROFESSIONS AND CALLINGS. 
 
 It may give the inexperienced reader a faint con- 
 ception of the extent of the Empire City by glancing 
 briefly at the numerical display of a few of the pro- 
 fessions, trades, &c., although the following table 
 falls short of the reality, as directories are imperfect 
 guides. Moreover, it does not include clerks, jour- 
 neymen, apprentices, &c. 
 
 Merchants, Dry Goods, 
 
 1,268 
 
 Upholsterers, 
 
 100 
 
 Silks, &c., 
 
 - 103 
 
 Lawyers, 
 
 1.265 
 
 " Fancy Goods, 
 
 502 
 
 Physicians, 
 
 900 
 
 «« Th'-ead & Nedlee 
 
 5, 243 
 
 Druggists, 
 
 265 
 
 Toy, 
 
 35 
 
 Dentists, 
 
 136 
 
 Hard Ware, 
 
 282 
 
 Butchers, 
 
 666 
 
 «* Iron, 
 
 57 
 
 Bakers, 
 
 467 
 
 «« Stove, 
 
 73 
 
 Tailors, 
 
 601 
 
 «« Commission, 
 
 679 
 
 Dress-makers, - 
 
 447 
 
 « General, - 
 
 133 
 
 Boot & Shoe-makers 
 
 1,221 
 
 <« Forwarding, 
 
 73 
 
 Soap & Candle-makers, 
 
 45 
 
 «« Crockery & Glass, 
 
 165 
 
 Chair-makers, - 
 
 277 
 
 «* Book, 
 
 231 
 
 Cabinet-makers, 
 
 278 
 
 « Grocers, 
 
 2,639 
 
 Masons, (incorrect) 
 
 44 
 
 ' Wine and Liquor 
 
 239 
 
 Machinists, 
 
 79 
 
 ** Produce & Pro vis' 
 
 n 414 
 
 Painters, 
 
 354 
 
 
 
 
 Printing Establishments, 
 
 264 
 
 Total, 
 
 7,136 
 
 Jewelers, 
 
 105 
 
 
 
 Coopers, 
 
 133 
 
 Porter Houses, 
 
 2,002 
 
 Carpenters, 
 
 230 
 
 Hotels, 
 
 6S 
 
 Barbers & Hair-dressers, 
 
 406 
 
 Expresses, 
 
 27 
 
 Confectioners, 
 
 271 
 
 Tin Smiths, 
 
 223 
 
 Boarding Houses, 
 
 561 
 
 Engravers, 
 
 151 
 
 Wheelwrights, 
 
 56 
 
 Teachers (incorrect) 
 
 100 
 
 Milk and Butter Dealers, 
 
 182 
 
 Milliners, 
 
 257 
 
 Brokers, Exchange, &c. 
 
 422 
 
 Livery Stables, 
 
 137 
 
 Notaries, Public, 
 
 87 
 
 Varnish-makers, ' - 
 
 16 
 
 Fishmongers, 
 
 115 
 
 Iron Founders, 
 
 39 
 
 Sugar Refiners, 
 
 13 
 
 Flour Dealers, 
 
 74 
 
 Washerwomen, 
 
 200 
 
SHIPPING. 
 
 Few persons can be found who are not interested 
 in taking a view of our forests of shipping ; for in our 
 karbor, which is one of the best in the world, may be 
 seen, every day in the 3'ear, a very large number of 
 vessels of various sizes, kinds, and names, from differ- 
 ent lands, or rather waters ; which sail under a 
 variety of colors — and come, and go, laden with the 
 productions of every clime. 
 
 The total number of arrivals at this port during 
 the year 1850 was 3,854, and for these statistics we 
 are greatly indebted to Hamilton Bruce, Esq., of the 
 Cus-tom House. 
 
 Many of these vessels belong to regular lines, and 
 move like clock-work, having fixed periods for sail- 
 ing, freight or no freight, passengers or not. 
 
 Others, are more unsteady and wandering, having 
 the special right of sailing in any direction which 
 offers the greatest inducements, or the most gold. 
 
 Some of these ships, both the sailing and the 
 steam packets, are magnificent " floating palaces" 
 in earnest. The stranger will of course take delight 
 in paying them a visit, and if he is fortunate enough 
 to get into a circle of Jack Tars who have both the 
 leisure and the inclination to exchange " yarns^'' he 
 will probably be greatly amused with the thrilling 
 descriptions of incidents in the lives of these gallant 
 sons of the ocean. But he mus'n't mind the huvipers. 
 
PROFITS OF A SINGLE VOYAGE. 235 
 
 About six months are required to build a first class 
 sailing packet of 1,200 tons, as I am informed by a 
 gentleman who has been long and successfully 
 engaged in the shipping business ; and, including the 
 rigging, it will take 20,000 days' work to finish it, 
 and will cost when completed about 890,000. Her 
 average trip to Liverpool will be about nineteen days ; 
 her return trip twenty-seven days. Her fare $75 out, 
 and $80 back, for cabin passage. Freight about $5 
 per ton, to Liverpool or London. 
 
 The number of vessels built at this port the past 
 year, says the " Tribune," was eighty-seven, and the 
 aggregate tunnage was 89,74L 
 
 PROFITS OF A SINGLE VOYAGE. 
 
 To give the reader a faint idea of the profits of the 
 shipping business when successful, I will briefly 
 notice the proceeds of one trip of a single vessel 
 which left this port something over a year ago. She 
 took in a cargo for San Francisco, and after reach- 
 ing that port and discharging her freight, she started 
 for China. There she reloaded and safely returned 
 to New York, dividing among her owners $90,009 
 net profit. This I had from one of the compan)^ 
 But it will be remembered that such profitable trips 
 are not quite so numerous as the drops of the ocean. 
 
 I recently inquired of a wealthy ship owner, how 
 many vessels he had lost during a long career of 
 commercial operations on the Atlantic. He replied 
 eight. 1 then asked him how many men in his 
 employ had gone to the bottom of the ocean. To 
 this solemn question he replied with a trembling lip, 
 
236 STEAM-SHIPS. 
 
 " One hundred and seventy-five^'' besides here and 
 there one who had been lost over board, either by 
 his own carelessness and folly, or by accident or un- 
 avoidable causes. 
 
 Here we have at least two hundred individuals 
 suddenly cut off v^^hile in the honest employment of 
 a single man ; and a truthful list of all who sleep in 
 the great deep who once sailed from this single port, 
 would be frightfully interesting. 
 
 STEAM-SHIPS. 
 
 As steam-ships are becoming quite numerous and 
 popular, I will briefly notice one, to which I have 
 already alluded, namely, ihe " Arctic'^ and the only 
 one which T have taken pains to examine — a model 
 steamer of the Collins line. This vessel is 290 feet 
 in length upon the upper deck, 46 feet deep, and 32 
 feet hold. Her cabins are ample, convenient, and 
 beautiful, though there is less display of " ginger- 
 bread work," than in some modern vessels. 
 
 Her " Side Lever Engine" is of beautiful work- 
 manship, and has a ninety-five inch cylinder, and ten 
 feet stroke. Her wheels are thirty-five feet, six 
 inches in diameter, being armed with thirty-six 
 paddles, each twelve feet, six inches in length. The 
 engines rest upon immense cast iron bed pieces, 
 thirty-two feet in length and nine feet in width. The 
 shafts are 23 inches in diameter. There are four 
 immense boilers. The weight of the engine and 
 boilers, exclusive of water, is 800 tons ! This ship 
 cost$600,000, and when at sea, requires the services 
 of about 130 men. 
 
STEAM-BOATS. 237 
 
 The steam-ships of this line average a trip in about 
 eleven days. The quickest passage ever j^et made 
 from New York to Liverpool is nine days and eigh- 
 teen hours, which v\'as recently accomplished by the 
 " P«ci/ic " of this line. The shortest return trip on 
 record, is nine days eighteen hours and forty-five 
 minutes, which was iachieved by the " Baltic^^ also 
 of the Collins hne, which has completel}^ taken the 
 palm. John Bull must do a little better, or stop 
 bragging. These ships consume from 58 to 60 tons 
 of coal per day. Passengers' fare is 8130 out, and 
 about il75 from Liverpool to New York. 
 
 The day of steam is full of wonders, and the pre- 
 sent period is an age of astounding discoveries and 
 marvelous achievements. But great as are the im- 
 provements which have been introduced through the 
 aid of this potent agent, yet, for aught we know, 
 steam may soon be superseded by some motive power 
 still more available. 
 
 STEAM BOATS. 
 
 As for ordinary steam hoats, our harbor, bay, and 
 rivers are perfectly alive with them. Many of them 
 are . commodious, and feome, magnificent almost 
 beyond description, and move through the water as 
 though they were in a hurry to cut up the element 
 into ribbons: some of them measuring off nearly 
 twenty-five miles in an hour. 
 
 During the summer, more than a dozen are devoted 
 to excursions, and frequently give our citizens the 
 benefit of an agreeable . and healthful gliding over 
 the waters of the Atlantic and Hudson, twenty or 
 
238 STEAM-BOATS. 
 
 thirty miles for one York shilling. And in this re- 
 spect, no other city in the world can hardly com- 
 pare with New York. 
 
 These steam-boats, many of which are constantly 
 plying between the city and neighboring country 
 towns, not only afford great facilities for travelling, 
 but bring daily to our markets the indispensable pro- 
 ductions of the farmer and gardener. 
 
RAIL-ROADS. 
 
 Perhaps I ought to say a word about Rail-Roads 
 and their benefit to the town. Our sister city in the 
 old " Bay State," has rather taken the lead of us, 
 in the Rail-Road enterprise. Yet the iron horse and 
 his whistling rider are daily heard in our midst. 
 There are at present but three rail-roads that directly 
 reach the city — namely, the " Harlem," " New York 
 and New Haven," and " Hudson River" Rail-Roads. 
 But there are seven other roads — namely, " Camden 
 and Amboy," " Central Rail-Road of New Jersey," 
 " Long Island," " Morris and Essex," " Ramapo and 
 Paterson," " New York and Erie," and " New J-ersey" 
 Rail-Roads and their tributaries, which pour their 
 cargoes of milk and honey into the lap of the metro- 
 polis. But more of the former than of the latter. 
 
 The immense benefit which our citizens daily 
 derive from the facilities afforded by our rail-roads 
 for obtaining the single article of pure milk, can 
 hardly be computed. Neither can the evil which is 
 still poured out upon the city through the medium of 
 a flood of impure, poisonous, filth}', still-slop milk, be 
 estimated. Its deadly influence falls more heavily 
 upon children than upon any other class, and its dis- 
 astrous and fatal effects are witnessed in the fright- 
 ful bills of mortality from week to week. Its impure 
 and indigestible qualities eminently fit it for produc- 
 
240 RAIL-ROAnS. 
 
 ing great derangement of the delicate organs of the 
 child. 
 
 Almost every disease of children is the result of 
 derangement in the stomach and bowels„ This filthy 
 milk, for refusing to touch which a hog ought to be 
 extoled for his wisdom, and for not refusing ought to 
 be considered unclean as much by the Gentile as by 
 the Jew ; this deadly slop, this whitened upas, which 
 would be far less a curse to the city if it instantly 
 paralyzed every hand that touched it, is fed to 
 children by thousands and millions of quarts every 
 season, and diarrhoea, cholera morbus, cholera infan- 
 tum, scrofula, cachexia, marasmus, convulsions, &c., 
 follow in its train. We do not deny that many other 
 preventable causes of disease and death, exist, to an 
 ala,rming extent. 
 
 But this is no excuse for the continued use of 
 impure milk. Instead of making the matter better, 
 it only makes it worse. The press has spoken long 
 and loud, with its almost omnipresent voice, and 
 w^ith line upon line and precept upon precept has 
 urged the people to take heed. Medical men have 
 spoken from their own personal knowledge of its 
 effects — and death itself has spoken in aw^ful tones, 
 and fearful frequency, and yet, strange as it may 
 appear, the sale of this deleterious article of food is 
 daily on the increase, although a pure and healthful 
 article from the country can be had for about the 
 same price that is paid for sioill ! 
 
 And now what shall be done ? Fathers, or rather 
 mothei^s, what more shall be said to you, to check this 
 w^ork of destruction ? If it were proper, I w^ould 
 
RAIL ROADS. 241 
 
 pray God to send back some of your untimely buried 
 children, to sit in their grave-clothes between the 
 slop-jar and death-peddler, with a solemn charge to 
 ride through the streets every morning on the hearse- 
 forerunner, to warn every customer of approaching 
 ruin. Yes, we would do anything which is lawful, 
 to prevent premature death and a generation of 
 invalids. But if this were actually and literally ful- 
 filled, it is to be feared that to even a voice from the 
 grave-yard, many would turn a deaf ear ; for if in- 
 formation were wanted, enough has been given ; if 
 not wanted, too much has been said already. 
 
 But some may say, how shall we put a stop to this 
 wretched, ruinous traffic ? 
 
 I answer, let every one peremptorily refuse to admit 
 on any terms, one drop of this still-slop milk upon 
 his premises. Let him rest not, until the question 
 whether his milk man is supplied from a pure or an 
 impure fountain, be satisfactorily settled ; and let the 
 Legislature pass a law making it as criminal for any 
 man to poison the community with a spurious article 
 called " pure country milk," as with a solution of 
 arsenic, or anything else. 
 
 The time was, and but a few years since, when, 
 the immense amount of milk which is now consumed 
 in the city, could hardly have been furnished from 
 the country in good condition, at any price. But the 
 opening of railroads has happily remedied the 
 difficulty, and this leads me to speak of their great 
 and untold benefit to the city. I look upon every 
 dollar which is judiciously expended in these im- 
 provements, as so much added to the common stock 
 16 
 
242 RAIL-ROADS. 
 
 for the public good ; and as much as has been done 
 in this enterprise, I think that we are not yet aware 
 of half the value of railroads, to speak only of the 
 health and comfort of the public, which they directly 
 and indirectly promote. Indeed, every man, woman 
 and child in the city, is every day reaping the benefit 
 which these public works confer upon them, whether 
 thej^ ever step into a car or not. 
 
 Having been favored with some interesting statis- 
 tics in relation to the milk trade of New York, by 
 R. M. Hartley, Esq., who has perhaps done more 
 than any other man in town to expose the disgraceful 
 and disastrous traffic in the filthy article already 
 spoken of, and, as many thousands are interested in 
 the facts presented, I am happy to introduce them. 
 
 *' About twenty years having elapsed since our 
 attention was first directed to the improper mode of 
 producing milk for the supply of large cities, and 
 having in the interval endeavored in various ways 
 to effect a reform of this great evil, it is natural that 
 we should feel a deep interest in whatever relates to 
 the topic. Previous to that period little or nothing- 
 was known on the subject. It appeared to have 
 been unthought of; and as no information in respect 
 to it could be obtained from oral intercourse, or from 
 books, we were ourselves induced to undertake its 
 investigation. 
 
 '^ For this purpose we made a careful survey of the 
 distilleries ■ and their indispensable appendages, the 
 dairies ; ascertained the peculiar characteristics of 
 slop-milk, and its deleterious effects on health, espe- 
 cially young children ; and, following causes to their 
 
RAIL-ROADS. 243 
 
 results, discovered that tVie system was as rife with 
 moral as with physical evils ; that it was of great 
 extent, and had become firmly established by a com- 
 bination of distillers,' slop-dairymen and their pa- 
 trons, whose mutual interests had united them in its 
 support. 
 
 " Having in short, demonstrated that our views on 
 the subject were incontrovertable, we endeavored to 
 spread them before the people, through the public 
 journals, and by numerous lectures, which so exas- 
 perated the distillers and slop-men, whose craft was 
 endangered, as to expose us to personal peril, and in 
 some instances to actual assault. 
 
 " At that time there was not one pure milk dairy 
 in the city of New-York or vicinitj^ All supplied 
 an article more or less deleterious, while the popula- 
 tion were profoundly ignorant of the evils thus in- 
 flicted upon them. But when facts revealed the na- 
 ture and magnitude of this iniquitous and destructive 
 system, the public mind became highly incensed, and 
 there was a loud and an earnest demand for pure 
 milk." 
 
 After speaking of addressing a circular to the far- 
 mers of the surrounding country to induce them to 
 establish pure milk dairies, and of partial though in- 
 sufficient success, he says, " The opening of the Eri^ 
 Railroad, which intersects some of the richest graz- 
 ing regions in the State, formed a new era in the 
 milk business. 
 
 " The first milk that passed over the road to New 
 York, came in a demijohn to our office, and so supe- 
 rior was its flavor and richness, we feared deception 
 
244 
 
 RAIL-nOADS. 
 
 had been practiced by putting more cream in the 
 milk than belonged to it. In order to show the rapid 
 increase of the supply, from this small beginning, we 
 have been at the pains to obtain the statistics of the 
 milk-trade by this road, which we subjoin as a mat- 
 ter of economic interest. 
 
 "the amount of milk transported over the NEW- 
 YORK AND ERIE RAILROAD SINCE ITS OPENING." 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 No. of Quarts. 
 
 1842, 
 
 
 388.505 
 
 1843, 
 
 
 3,181,505 
 
 1844, 
 
 
 5,095,762 
 
 J 845, 
 
 
 6,227,288 
 
 1846, 
 
 
 7,090,348 
 
 1847, 
 
 
 8,696,172 
 
 1848, 
 
 
 9,514,440 
 
 1849, 
 
 
 9,480,476 
 
 6 mo. of 1850, 
 
 Total 
 
 4,038,748 
 
 
 53,713,244 
 
 " We annex a statement of the present annual 
 consumption of milk in this city. The data being 
 furnished by official returns, and by other authentic 
 sources, it may be relied upon as not an overstate- 
 ment, but as coming as near the truth as possible. 
 The daily consumption amounts to about 150,000 
 quarts, and the aggregate for the year, to 54,750,000 
 quarts, which is chiefly supplied as follows, viz : 
 
 Pure milk per Erie Railroad, say, 9,500,000 
 
 Do. N. J., L. Island, Hudson River, 
 
 Harlem, 6z: N. Haven R. R., &c., 7,200,000 
 
 Total pure milk, 16,700,000 
 
 Distillery and other impure milk, 38,050,000 
 
 Grand total. 
 
 54,750,000 
 
RAIL-ROADS. 245 
 
 " It is worthy of notice," " that the quantity of pure 
 milk brought to this city, is now greater than was 
 the aggregate of all kinds in 1841 ; also, that the 
 consumption has far exceeded the ratio of the in- 
 crease of the inhabitants. In 1841, with a popula- 
 tion of 312,000, the daily supply was about 45,000 
 quarts ; in 1851, with a population of 515,000, the 
 daily supply is 150,000 quarts, showing an augmen- 
 tation of quantity above the ratio of the increase of 
 population of more than 100 per cent." 
 
 "The diminished priceof milk, also merits notice." 
 "In 1841, because of the expense of transportation, 
 pure milk produced from natural food, rich and 
 wholesome, could not be brought to our doors in sum- 
 mer for less than six cents a quart, nor in winter for 
 less than eight cents, making the yearly average 
 price, about seven cents, while slop-milk sold at four 
 and six cents, or at an average for the year of about 
 five cents." 
 
 Now pure country milk may be had for four 
 cents in summer, and five cents in winter, while the 
 average price of slop-milk is about four cents. *' Pro- 
 bably the decrease in the price of milk, is chiefly 
 owing to the competition consequent on the increas- 
 ed supply by the improved facilities of transporta- 
 tion." 
 
 "The introduction of pure milk, therefore, has re- 
 sulted, as may be seen on comparing prices, in a pe- 
 cuniary saving to the city of New- York and vicinity, 
 of at least a million of dollars a year.''^ 
 
 Now, dollars and cents are not the sole items to be 
 taken into the account, for health and life, though 
 
246 RAIL-ROADS. 
 
 too little valued, are still considered of some impor- 
 tance, even in this benighted city; and when we call 
 to mind the frightful amount of impure milk which 
 is still given to little ones who require healthful food, 
 we feel constrained to say to our dairy and railroad 
 friends, multiply your cows, increase your cans, en- 
 large your cars, and put on the steam, for two hun- 
 dred thousand children are worth more than all the 
 distilleries (and we feel almost inclined to add distil- 
 lers) in North America. 
 
 " But a question of primary importance here arises. 
 Can New-York and the adjacent places be^ ade- 
 quately supplied with pure milk ?" " From the iso- 
 lated situation of this city, there is very little good 
 pasturage in its vicinity ; and the little there was, 
 has in late years been put in requisition for ether 
 uses. There has been indeed, no period within the 
 last forty years, in which the country in the imme- 
 diate vicinage of New-York could adequately supply 
 the inhabitants with wholesome vegetables and pure 
 milk. 
 
 " But the opening of railroads within the past ten 
 years, has entirely revolutionized our condition in 
 this respect, so that the products of the richest graz- 
 ing regions may now be brought to our doors. We 
 are convinced both by our own observation, and the 
 opinion of those most conversant with the subject, 
 that the country along the line of the Erie Railroad, 
 not too remote for the transportation of so perishable 
 an article as milk, w^hich now supplies about 26.000 
 quarts of milk per day, could be made to furnish 
 150^000 quarts daily, or sufficient for the present de 
 
RAIL- ROADS. 247 
 
 maiid of the city — that the Harlem and Hudson River 
 railroads could each supply 50,000 quarts, and other 
 sources about 15,000 quarts," which might, "by the 
 present facilities of conveyance, be brought to the 
 city, at prices not exceeding those now paid for the 
 diseased dregs of the distillery." 
 
 The manuscript from which we select the above 
 items, contains several communications from eminent 
 physicians, confirmatory of the morbific influence of 
 slop-milk, but our limits will permit us to call the 
 reader's attention to only one. 
 
 "Dr. Alexander H. Stevens, Professor of the New 
 York College of Physicians and Surgeons, states of a 
 child about eighteen months old, who, while a resi- 
 dent in his family, was in perfect health ; on remov- 
 ing to a hotel, was constantly afflicted with uncon- 
 trolable vomiting. The milk being suspected to be 
 the cause, it was thenceforward sent from the Doc- 
 tor's family, when the complaint entirely ceased, and 
 was renewed only with a renewal of the milk from 
 the hotel, and this occurring so repeatedly as to 
 leave no doubt of the cause." 
 
 I may add that the " New-York Academy of Medi- 
 cine" have recently adopted the following resolution: 
 
 ^^ Resolved, That in the opinion of this Academy, the 
 milk of cows shut up in stables and fed on distillery 
 slops, is not only less nutritious than unconfined and 
 well fed animals, but is positively deleterious, espe- 
 cially to young children, and is a fruitful cause of 
 many fatal diseases." 
 
 But not only do our railroads afford facilities for 
 bringing to our doors pure milk, in good condition, 
 
248 OMNIBUSES. 
 
 and at fair rates, but almost every other edible can 
 be brought to us in a fresh and healthful state. 
 Hence we may reasonably conclude that railroads 
 are an inestimable blessing to our city. 
 
 OMNIBUSES. 
 
 The city traveller is not confined to one set of vehi- 
 cles, and, in addition to cars, there is a perfect swarm 
 of stages which, for the want of a worse name, are 
 commonly called omnibuses ; which means, although, 
 perhaps Mr. Webster does not exactly say so, a ve- 
 hicle for the accommodation and transportation of 
 Adam's race, of every kind, whether good or bad, 
 rich or poor, great or small. There are now twenty- 
 four lines, and the total number of stages on these 
 routes amounts to five hundred and fift3^-four, each 
 of which has two or more horses. 
 
 The number of these dutiful and useful animals, 
 which are annually worn out in this service, I am 
 told, averages about one to every stage. 
 
 The vehicles are somewhat more durable, though 
 each one needs more or less repairs during its first 
 year's running. The cost of a good omnibus is about 
 8450. 
 
 The number of hacks, cabs and coaches, to say 
 nothing of various other vehicles, I am not able to 
 give. At any rate there appears to be no lack for 
 all who have time and inclination to ride, and mo- 
 ney to pay the bill. But that the reader may see 
 that many in our town have other things to do be- 
 side riding in " a coach and four," we must turn our 
 attention to certain other appendages of Ne\^ York. 
 
LITERARY INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 I have already spoken of our common schools, 
 which are likely to prove a great blessing to our city 
 and country. In addition to these, we have a host 
 of select schools and seminaries of the highest order, 
 which are prosecuting a great and good work. 
 Then we have writing-schools, grammar-schools, 
 evening-schools, and private schools for improve- 
 ment in the arts of music, painting, drawing, &c. 
 
 But I must notice other institutions of learning. 
 And to one of the most venerable and noble, I would 
 now invite the reader's attention, namely, 
 
 COLUMBIA COLLEGE. 
 
 The writer is happy to acknowledge his indebted- 
 ness to Charles King, Esq., the worthy President of 
 this esteemed institution, for his kind and ready as- 
 sistance in furnishing such data as the author desired. 
 My notices of colleges must necessarily be very 
 brief. 
 
 This college was chartered in the year 1754, and 
 was called " King's College," and it is King^s Col- 
 lege still, although the reign of Charles contrasts 
 very favorably with that of George, because the pre- 
 sent king and all his subjects can sing " Hail Co- 
 lumbia." 
 
 In 1787, this institution received the name by 
 
250 COLUMBIA COLLEGE. 
 
 which it has ever since been distinguished. On the 
 6th of April, 1776, the Committee of Public Safety 
 issued an order directing the Treasurer to prepare 
 the college buildings within six days for the recep- 
 tion of the military, and these halls of learning w^ere 
 converted into a military hospital. 
 
 The students were of course dispersed, and proba- 
 bly took to their muskets. At this memorable pe- 
 riod, our fathers thought more of liberty than of 
 academical honors, and well for their posterity that 
 they did, though they were very far from thinking 
 lightly of the latter. 
 
 Our late distinguished De Witt Clinton received 
 his academical honors from this institution, in 1786, 
 there being only eight graduates that year. In 1789, 
 the late Rev. John M. Mason, D. D., graduated at 
 this college, and subsequently became one of the 
 most eloquent preachers that ever adorned the Ame- 
 rican pulpit. The first honors conferred by this 
 college, occurred in 1758. 
 
 The faculty of Medicine in Columbia College ceas- 
 ed in the year 1813. Among the distinguished me- 
 dical gentlemen who received their diplomas from 
 this department, may be noticed, Alexander Hosack, 
 M. D. (deceased), James R. Manley, M. D., Thomas 
 Cock, M. D., William James Macneven, M. D. (de- 
 ceased), and Valentine Mott, M. D. 
 
 The annual tuition fee of each student is $90, to 
 be paid at the commencement of each academic 
 year. Each student has access to a library of 15,000 
 volumes. The number of students the past year was 
 one hundred and thirteen. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NEW- YORK. 251 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. 
 
 This institution, though less venerable in some res- 
 pects than the college just noticed, at least so far as 
 agb is concerned, yet in other respects I believe that 
 it is vSecond to none in our State. True, it never 
 had a king, yet it has had royal blood to sustain it ; 
 and its usefulness is now too widely known to be in 
 any way benefited by any thing which the writer 
 can say in its praise. But, almost any liberal man 
 who has plenty of money, can greatly augment its 
 prosperity, by paying off its debts. The expenses 
 attending a course of studies at this institution, 
 amount to about the same as at Columbia College. 
 The number of students the past year was one hun- 
 dred and fifteen. 
 
 The University was chartered April 21, 1831. 
 The building is a substantial edifice, being built of 
 Sing Sing marble — is four stories high, and extends 
 from Washington Place, to Waverly Place, and fronts 
 on Washington Square, which was once the Potter's 
 Field, but is now a beautiful Park, containing nearly 
 ten acres, and which affords the students a fine airy 
 place for exercise and amusement, very much to 
 their satisfaction and profit. 
 
 The medical department of this Institution was 
 organized, and under favorable auspices entered upon 
 the discharge of a duty of much responsibility^ 
 during the year 1841. Since its first beginning, it 
 has apparently remained in a prosperous condition. 
 The number of students during the last session was 
 411.' Number of graduates, 116. Fees for a full 
 courseof lectures, ^105. Graduation fee, $30. The 
 
252 COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS. 
 
 qualifications required of the candidate for medical 
 honors, are, lawful age — namely, twenty-one years, 
 three years study with a regular physician, and two 
 courses of medical lectures. The term of lectures 
 begins on the last Monday in October, and ends on 
 the last day of February. 
 
 " COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS IN THE CITY 
 OF NEW YORK." 
 
 This is the oldest Medical College in the State, and 
 was chartered in 1807. It has ever aimed at a 
 thorough course of instruction, and especially for the 
 last decennial period can the writer speak with con- 
 fidence from personal observation. But we do not 
 mean to say that all who either here or any where 
 else, attend medical lectures, and read medical books, 
 and receive medical honors, and make medical visits, 
 are fit to practice the healing art. Far from it. 
 Oh, no, we must be content with second-rate doctors, 
 and second-rate patients, second-rate lawyers, and 
 third-rate clients, second-rate preachers, and fourth- 
 rate hearers. 
 
 The session of this College commences on the 
 second Monday in October, and continues until about 
 the middle of March, making five months. Fees for 
 a full course of lectures $94. Demonstrator's ticket 
 $5. Graduation fee $25. The pre-requisites for 
 graduation are the same as noticed above. The 
 number of students during the last session was 230. 
 Number of graduates, 56. 
 
 We have recently had the third doctor-making 
 factory chartered, called the " New York Medical 
 
LITERARY AND MEDICAL COLLEGES. 253 
 
 College," but as it is not a year old, and as I know 
 very little about its prospects, I can say little. 
 
 In the sixty-third Annual Report of the Regents of 
 the University of the State of New York, we notice 
 that the number of students in general literature and 
 science, reported by the several Colleges, was 948. 
 And this is a small number for the Empire State. 
 Whereas, in the medical department, there were 848 
 students reported. This we call a pretty fair sprink- 
 ling of doctors, and although it may have nothing to 
 do with " What I saw in New York," yet it will have 
 something to do with somebody, and for their sake 
 and the doctors', we hope that at least one-half of 
 these candidates for medical honors will repent, 
 after the " sober second thought," and wield the sickle 
 instead of the lancet, lest they starve. 
 
 LITERARY AND MEDICAL COLLEGES IN THE STATE OP 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 Columbia College. 
 
 Union 
 
 Hamilton " 
 
 Geneva " and its Medical Department. 
 
 University of the City of N. Y. and its Med. Dep't. - 
 
 '* " Buffalo, " 
 
 College of Physicians and Surgeons in the City of 
 
 New York. 
 St. John's College. 
 Madison University. 
 Albany Medical College. 
 New York Medical College. 
 Genesee College. 
 
254 SEMINARIES. 
 
 THE (episcopal) GENERAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 For some brief statistics of this Seminar}^ the 
 writer is indebted to Professor Benjamin I. Haight, 
 D. D. This institution was chartered in the year 
 1822, and is now in a prosperous condition. The 
 plot of ground on which the buildings stand, extends 
 from Twentieth to Twenty-first street, and from 
 the Ninth to the Tenth avenues ; and is said to be 
 w^orth at least ^200,000, and increasing in value 
 every day. Moreover, a recent legacy of 8100,000 
 has contributed in no small degree to place the insti- 
 tution on a good foundation. 
 
 Qualifications for admission are as follows : — 
 " Either a certificate of being a candidate for Holy 
 Orders, with full qualifications ; or a certificate of 
 religious and moral character, of classical and scien- 
 tific attainments, of attachment to the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church, and of such dispositions and habits 
 as may render the individual apt and meet to exer- 
 cise the ministry ; and then passing a satisfactory 
 examination on the following subjects :^ — 1. The 
 Primary Elements of the Hebrew Tongue ; 2. The 
 Greek Grammar, and the Gospels and Acts in the 
 original ; 3. The rules and principles of English 
 composition, with a specimen of composition. These 
 examinations are strictly enforced, in all cases." 
 This institution has an able Faculty. 
 
 The number of students in 1850 was 48. Total 
 number of the Alumni, 390. Volumes in the Library 
 10,300. 
 
SEMINARIES. 255 
 
 UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 
 
 For statistics from this Seminary, the writer is 
 indebted to Professor Edward Robinson, D.D., L.L.D. 
 
 This institution was founded and opened for in- 
 struction in 1836. The seminary is No. 9 University 
 Place. It contains a Chapel, Library, four Lecture 
 Rooms, and private rooms sufficient for more than 
 thirty students. The Library contains about 17,000 
 volumes, many of which are rare and valuable 
 works. 
 
 This institution, though in a prosperous condition, 
 and an ornament to Zion, is by no means so well 
 supplied with funds as the one last noticed, or as it 
 deserves to be. It needs, and richly merits a liberal 
 support. But it has reason to take courage, and go 
 on in its glorious work, for it has friends — warm 
 friends — many friends — friends on earth, and friends 
 in Heaven. Friends for time, and friends for eternity. 
 It has moreover a Faculty of strong men, combining 
 a great variety of gifts a^nd graces. 
 
 This seminary is open for the admission of students 
 from every denomination of Christians. 
 
 " Every person applying for admission, must pro- 
 duce a certificate or other satisfactory evidence of 
 his good standing in some Evangelical Church ; and 
 must either present testimonials of his having had a 
 regular college education, or submit to an examina- 
 tion by the Faculty on the branches usually taught 
 in such a course." 
 
 " The academic year consists of a siijgle term, be- 
 
256 WHAT I SAW IN CHURCH. 
 
 ginning on the third Wednesday in September, and 
 ending on the third Wednesday in June." 
 
 The regular course of instructions in the seminary 
 occupies three full years, and comprises the following 
 branches, namely — Exercise in Hebrew and Greek — 
 mental and moral science — natural theolog}' — evi- 
 dences of Revelation — Biblical history — systematic 
 theology, polemic theology, pastoral theology — 
 church government — ecclesiastical history, compo- 
 sition, delivery of sermons, &c. &c. 
 
 Every student is subject to a charge of only ten 
 dollars a year. The number of students the past 
 year was seventy-six. Alumni, nineteen. Whole 
 number of Alumni, three hundred and fourteen. 
 
 WHAT I SAW IN CHURCH. 
 
 On a Sabbath morning have I often listened with 
 satisfaction to the musical tones of the sanctuary- 
 bell which seemed to say, Come, come, immortal, the 
 doors of the sacred courts are widely open — come to 
 the house of God where life eternal is proclaimed to 
 all the dead in sin. 
 
 I have also witnessed with pleasure, the happy, 
 obedient throng wending their way thitherward — 
 the father, son, mother, daughter, hoary head, and the 
 little child, and felt it a privilege to be among them, 
 as they presented themselves before the mercy-seat 
 of Him who is Lord of lords and King of kings, to 
 invoke Heaven's richest gift and greatest blessing. 
 
 I have fondly listened to the deep and solemn tones 
 of the organ, and with still greater and far greater 
 pleasure, to the heaven-like anthems of the choir. 
 
WHAT I SAW IN CHURCH. 257 
 
 I have, moreover, heard the man of God in the 
 name of his Master eloquently, faithfully and affec- 
 tionately warn the people to flee from the wrath to 
 come, as he set before them life and death, with 
 thrilling pathos, glowing zeal, and moving tender- 
 ness, and I felt that it was good to be there. 
 
 But I have seen even in this sacred place, some 
 things to deplore. We occasionally find a man in 
 the pulpit trying to enlighten the congregation on 
 some subject which he either does not understand, or 
 of which he has no faculty of giving an intelligible 
 exposition. 
 
 But as I did not intend to speak either of pulpit 
 errors or pulpit deficiences, I will briefly notice a 
 few congregational imperfections which possibly 
 might be modified for the better. Though I would 
 have it distinctly understood that I am not quite 
 certain that I have not seen an equal demand for an 
 improvement in the country. 
 
 When the congregation have taken their seats, and 
 
 the preacher has taken his text, and the hearer has 
 
 taken his Bible, and the people are ready to take heed, 
 
 in come the late-sleepers, rattling into church to be 
 
 seen and heard, and to kick a good share of the hats 
 
 in the broad aisle, a little nearer to the pulpit, setting 
 
 some to chasing them, and*bthers to jumping up to 
 
 give them seats. This is anything but edification ; 
 
 but it is not all. They seem to think that as they 
 
 are late at church, they ought to be early home, and 
 
 so take the liberty of retracing their steps before the 
 
 service is ended, greatly to the annoyance of those 
 
 who have an ear to Jiear. A certain class seem to 
 17 
 
258 WHAT I SAW IN CHURCH. 
 
 think that it makes little or no difference whether the 
 congregation can hear the preacher's voice or not, 
 nor how much they are disturbed. 
 
 Then, there is a class who rise betimes and make 
 haste to church lest they should lose an hour's sleep 
 where they usually take the sweetest nap in the 
 "whole week, and seem to hesitate not to follow their 
 accustomed calling even to nodding, if not to snoring , 
 "which gross violation of the rules of decency, very 
 often slightly disturbs the equilibrium of those who 
 are wakefully nervous. 
 
 Then again, there are those who are so fond of 
 music, that they neither sleep themselves nor give 
 others a chance to become drowsy. Cold, or no cold, 
 they must blow, and blow, harder and harder — louder 
 and louder — no matter vi^ho sings, who preaches, 
 ■who prays. It is a part of the service never to be 
 dispensed with — and toot-toot, goes the living, ill-used 
 and ill-tuned trombone, which should be decently 
 muffled with a respectable kerchief, and the music 
 reserved for a more suitable occasion. 
 
 But there is often more than all this to disturb the 
 congregation, and the preacher too, for unfortunate- 
 ly he happens to have a few nerves as well as his 
 hearers, and I have more than once known it to be 
 necessary for him to give from the sacred desk such 
 hints on the subject of congregational disturbances, 
 as ought to have been intelligible to the most stupid 
 hearer. And more frequently still, have I seen such 
 a lecture demanded, and I have said to myself what 
 ails the people that they can't keep still long enough 
 for the parson to read his text, when not one of them 
 
WHAT I SAW IS CHURCH. 259 
 
 would make half so much noise in reading a morn- 
 ing paper for a whole hour. 
 
 But never mind that. They don't go to church to 
 hear the news, but to be seen and heard, to whisper 
 and laugh, to ruffle their books, and rattle their doors, 
 and if the preacher should be guilty of half as many 
 improprieties in the pulpit, as his hearers practice in 
 their seats, the whole congregation would leave the 
 house, and declare him a maniac, and not a few 
 ministers of the gospel would sanction the verdict. 
 
 But I do not intend to accuse the congregations of 
 our goodly town of intentionally committing all the 
 aoove improprieties. That such and other sources 
 of disturbance too much abound at times, throughout 
 Christendom, I suppose nobody doubts. But, that I 
 have seen very little, and can know very little about 
 the demeanor of the several congregations of New- 
 York, will be very apparent to the reader, by his 
 calling to mind the number of churches in the city, 
 as given in the table below. Although it may not 
 be perfectly free from errors, yet we believe it to be 
 sufficiently so to answer our purpose. We have col- 
 lected these statistics partly from our own inquiries, 
 partly from City Directories, and partly from "New 
 York, Past, Present and Future," which I believe is 
 better authority as far as it goes, than any of our 
 directories, which must all necessarily be imperfect 
 at the best. 
 
 We find, for example, in Doggett's *' Directory" for 
 the present year, only 40 Protestant Episcopal 
 churches, but in Rode's last year's Directory, there 
 are 43 ; whereas in " New- York, Past, Present and 
 
260 WHAT 1 SAW IN CHURCH. 
 
 Future," there are 47, which is doubtless correct, as 
 the location of every church is given. That men 
 who grope about town to collect statistics for a direc- 
 tory from year to year, should miss some poor mor- 
 tals in their hiding-places, is not very strange. But 
 seven churches out of forty-seven, we think are a lit- 
 tle too many to be lost. 
 
 But I perceive that I am accidentally as it were, 
 giving a chapter on Directories, and my only apology 
 for this digression is, that our country friends when 
 they come to town and look at these useful guide- 
 boards, and find a church or a pastor lacking, may 
 not be too soon discouraged. 
 
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 
 
 Protestant Episcopal, 47 
 
 Methodist, " - - 32 
 
 Methodist (not Episcopal,) 10 
 
 Mariners', _ - . 1 
 
 Cliristian, - - - 2 
 
 Mount Zion, - - - 1 
 
 Congregational, . - 8 
 
 Moravian, ... 1 
 
 Roman Catholic, - - 22 
 
 Second Advent, - - 3 
 
 New Jerusalem, - - 2 
 
 Universal i St, - - 4 
 
 Unitarian, - - 2 
 
 Presbyterian, - - 35 
 
 Reformed Presbyterian, - 4 
 
 Associate Presbyterian, 5 
 
 Associate Relormed, " - 2 
 
 Reformed Dutch, - - 19 
 
 " French, - - 1 
 
 Lutheran, ... Q 
 
 Free German Catholic, - 1 
 
 Baptist, - - - 29 
 
 Seventh-Day Baptist, 1 
 
 Free Will " - 1 
 
 Independent " - - 1 
 
 Campbellites, . _ i 
 
 Union Mission, - > i 
 
 Jewish Synagogues, - 10 
 
 Friends, - - - • 4 
 
 Total, - 257 
 
 Now here may appear, at first view, to be a pretty- 
 good supply of churches, yet all the houses of wor- 
 ship in the city can hardly accommodate two hun- 
 dred thousand persons, and then we have more than 
 three hundred thousand inhabitants left unsupplied, 
 to stroll about — visit the groggery, and become hca- 
 thenized. This I regard as one of the saddest things 
 in the account which I have to give of New-York. 
 
 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 
 
 As churches would be nothing without the blessed 
 gospel, we will turn our attention for a moment to 
 that glorious institution whose object is to multiply 
 and circulate the word of life. 
 
262 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 
 
 BIBLE SOCIETY HOUSE. 
 
 From the last Annual Report, &c., we gather the 
 following interesting facts. Thirty-five years ago 
 this society began its operatiojis. " The building on 
 Nassau-street, New-York, is one hundred feet square, 
 with a court in the centre, in which the printing and 
 binding are done, and in which the depositoiy and 
 ofRces of business are located. 
 
 " This building is an object of interest to strangers 
 visiting the city, and is at all times open to the in- 
 spection of those who would be pleased to see the 
 various departments of manufacture here in progress. 
 Two hundred and twenty-two individuals are engaged 
 in this establishment, which is able to produce on an 
 average, two thousand Bibles and Testaments each 
 working day." 
 
 " It has been computed that there are now about 
 forty millions of Bibles on the face of the earth. If 
 these were equally distributed among the inhabitants 
 of the world, it would be one Bible to every thirty- 
 one souls /" It is estimated that the 
 
 English language is spoken by 55,000,000 
 
 French, " " 35,000,000 
 
 German, " " 40,000,000 
 
 Russian, *' " 45,000,000 
 
 "The other languages of Europe would hardly 
 embrace 50,000,000 of people ; making a total of 
 225,000,000 ; not so many as there are in the single 
 empire of China, which has been hid in darkness 
 until now, when the Sun of Righteousness seems to 
 be rising upon her." Let us send her the lamp of 
 life. 
 
AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 263 
 
 " Sixty or seventy Protestant missionaries are now 
 perfecting a version of the Scriptures for China, and 
 when completed, the energies of Christendom should 
 be summoned to give it to the people with rapidity 
 and prayer." 
 
 The society printed during the past year 270,000 
 Bibles, and 402,800 Testaments, making a total of 
 672,800 copies. Since the society was organized in 
 1816, about 8,000,000 volumes have been issued, be- 
 sides more or less aid extended to the press in foreign 
 lands. 
 
 Moreover, the society has published during the 
 past year 149 volumes of raised letters for the blind. 
 The facility with which this unfortunate class are 
 able to read the written word with the ends of their 
 fingers, is truly astonishing, and highly gratifying to 
 all who witness their attainments. 
 
 The receipts for the year amounted to 8276,882 53, 
 and the expenditures about the same sum. 
 
 The income of the '' British and Foreign Bible So- 
 ciety" during the year 1849 was $480,000. And its 
 issues since its beginning, in 1804, amount to 21,973,- 
 355 copies. 
 
 The whole number of languages and dialects, in 
 which the sacred scriptures, or some portions thereof, 
 have been published, is about two hundred. This 
 great work has been accomplished almost entirely 
 through the influence of Bible societies. And the 
 amount of good which has thus been done, no mortal 
 or finite mind can estimate. 
 
 Now, let me say to the reader, if you have not a 
 deep sense of the importance of sending the gospel 
 
264 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 
 
 to the destitute, for a moment suppose yourself to be 
 a husband and a father in this benighted state. You 
 sigh for some object of worship. This you would 
 surely do, for man is a religious being. At length 
 you fancy that the proper object has occurred to 
 you, both as regards size, form and texture, and you 
 carve it out accordingly — set it up — fall down 
 before it, and invoke its protection, crave its bless- 
 ing, and offer it a tribute of adoration and praise, 
 and thus go on confessing your dependence upon it 
 and offering to the poor block your best sacrifices. 
 
 Your companion, not satisfied with your selection, 
 adores the sun, and every morning as soon as it rises 
 above the horizon, calls loudly and earnestly for 
 help, and offers it the sacrifice of a poor benighted 
 heart. 
 
 Your child in due time begins to question the 
 choice of both father and mother, and fancies the 
 moon to be of as much service by night as the 
 sun is by day, and as he can behold its beautiful face 
 without pain, and even with pleasure, the moon be- 
 comes his god. 
 
 Another child, as he arrives at a sufficient age to 
 choose for himself, begins to doubt the propriety of 
 the choice of the whole household, and questions you 
 concerning his making a selection, and you try to 
 satisfy him that your idol is all that he can ask. But 
 as you have no proper standard, your arguments 
 fail. 
 
 *' Father, it won't do," he replies; "it is dead. It 
 can't stir. I want a god that is alive, and can move, 
 or what good can it do me ?" 
 
AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 265 
 
 You then refer him to the sun. moon and stars, 
 which so many worship, and tell him that he may- 
 call upon them. 
 
 Again he responds, " Father, they won't do. They 
 are too far off. But here is a beautiful serpent, and 
 this shall be my god ;" and thus you would all grope 
 in darkness and stumble at noonday, while calling 
 upon gods that could neither hear nor save. Shall 
 we not return thanks to the Giver, for an unerring 
 standard, and send it abroad to bless the world ? 
 
 Only one dollar will send to the destitute, four co- 
 pies of the Bible, or sixteen copies of the New Tes- 
 tament. This of course includes only those of the 
 lowest price. Now who are so poor that they can- 
 not afford to send to the perishing one copy every 
 month ? Send in your contributions to Joseph Hyde, 
 Esq., Assistant Treasurer, Bible House, New York, 
 
 AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 
 
 As Bibles will not go abroad to promulgate their 
 glorious doctrines, after being printed, without the 
 help of man, it is very proper that I should briefly 
 notice the operations of such societies as in no small 
 degree scatter broad-cast the leaves of the tree of 
 life which are for the healing of the nations. 
 
 This society, whose object is to assist congrega- 
 tions which need help, and to send the Gospel to the 
 destitute within the United States ; also to co-operate 
 with evangelical Christians in the support of Home 
 Missions in nominally christian countries, commenc- 
 ed its labor of love in the year 1826, and is so wide- 
 ly known that perhaps few of my readers will re- 
 12 
 
266 AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 
 
 quire any thing to be said concerning its history, im- 
 portance, prosperity, &c. 
 
 From the last Annual Report we collect the fol- 
 lowing interesting statistics. 
 
 The receipts of this society during the first year of 
 its operations, were eS18,l40 76. The last year, 
 $150,940 2.5. Total for the 25 years, $2,205,358 16. 
 Total of years of labor, ] 3,098. " The average ex- 
 penditure for a year of missionary labor for the twen- 
 ty-years is SI 67." " The whole number of additions 
 to the churches, is 107,781." The number of labor- 
 ers has been, the last year, 1,065. They have been 
 distributed in 26 different states and territories. 
 " The aggregate of ministprial labor performed the 
 past year is equal to 853 years. The number of 
 congregations and missionary districts supplied in 
 whole or in part, at stated intervals, is 1,820 ; while 
 many others have enjoyed the occasional labors of 
 the missionaries." And what is not a little encou- 
 raging, no less than forty-three have become self- 
 supporting churches. 
 
 Moreover, sixty houses of worship have during the 
 year been completed ; fifty-five others repaired, and 
 forty others are in process of erection. 
 
 " The number of pupils in the Sabbath-schools and 
 Bible classes connected with the Missionary churches 
 is not far from 70,000." Now we hope that this, 
 though imperfect and brief notice, will stimulate 
 some of our readers to double and treble their con- 
 tributions to this glorious and heaven-favored insti- 
 tution. 
 
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 
 
 267 
 
 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. 
 
 As this Society has an office in this city, and here 
 does a large share of its home business, I will briefly 
 notice some of the interesting statistics which the last 
 annual report furnishes. 
 
 The receipts of this Society during its first year 
 (1811), were only $999 52. The amount received dur- 
 ing the year 1850, was 251,862 28. There have been 
 six j^ears, however, in which the annual receipts ex- 
 ceeded those of the last, and during the forty years 
 in which the society has been engaged in its glorious 
 work of carrying the gospel to the palaces and the 
 hovels of the heathen, the largest amount contributed 
 was in the year 1842, namely, $318,396 53. The 
 sum total for the whole period, is $5,313,566 76. 
 
 The whole number of laborers now connected with 
 the missions, foreign and native who depend for their 
 means of living and usefulness, on the treasury of 
 the Board, is five hundred and seventeen. The 
 number of churches formed in the missions, is eighty- 
 five. These contain 25,875 members in regular 
 standing. 
 
 Now, will the reader lend a helping had to carry 
 forward this redeeming work ? If so, whenever you 
 hear the Macedonian cry, " Come over and help us," 
 just cast into the treasury (if you cannot go yourself) 
 such an ofiering as will enable you to say intelli- 
 gently and honestly, Lord, tliou dost not require of me 
 at the present time, any more, and let the offering be 
 perfumed with faith and prayer. 
 
268 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 
 
 AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY. 
 
 The above Missionary Societies, to which I have 
 briefly adverted, together with other benevolent in- 
 stitutions which might with propriety be noticed, have 
 each an office in the " Tract House," to which 1 must 
 now take the reader, for it is a sacred spot, which 
 every one who can ought to visit, and become a 
 Colporteur. From the annual report, pamphlet, &c., 
 the following interesting items are selected : — 
 
 TRACT HOUSE. 
 
 This building, which belongs to the society, and 
 which stands on the corner of Nassau and Spruce 
 streets, "is eighty feet by ninety-four, and five stories 
 high, besides basement and cellar. The first floor is 
 occupied by the society's sales-room and other stores ; 
 the second furnishes offices for several benevolent 
 societies ; the third contains the general depository 
 and executive offices ; the fourth is the bindery, and 
 the fifth the printing office. 
 
 " The printing and hydraulic presses — of which there 
 are twenty — and other machinery, are propelled by 
 steam. The number of printers, binders, and other 
 persons employed in the building, is not far from 
 250 ; and the daily issues of the society are about 
 25,000 publications, including 3,000 books." 
 
 " The American Tract Society was formed May 
 11, 1825, by Christians of various denominations," to 
 " circulate religious publications, calculated to bene- 
 fit the world and receive the approbation of all evan- 
 gelical Christians." " The publishing, distributing, 
 and finance committees, together composing the exe- 
 
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 269 
 
 cutive committee, consist of members of six different 
 denominations; and their services are wholly gra- 
 tuitous." 
 
 This society sells its publications to those who are 
 able to purchase, at about first cost, and circulates 
 gratuitously among the poor, millions of pages annu- 
 ally. This is effected through various agencies, such 
 as auxiliaries, travellers, pastors, missionaries, &c. 
 But more especially by Colporteurs. 
 
 The system of Colportage is beginning to be ap- 
 preciated ; and these plain, humble, devoted men, who 
 go from house to house, through the most destitute 
 portions of our country, scattering the good seed 
 broad-cast over an immense field, leaving a book 
 here, and a tract there, accompanied with religious 
 conversation and prayer, are doing far more to per- 
 petuate our glorious institutions than all our army 
 and navy put together. 
 
 The amount of the first year's donations was 
 $6,925 56. The donations and legacies the last year 
 reached the sum of $109,897 76. The receipts 
 for sales, during the same period, were $202,720 33, 
 making, including $110 23 in the treasury April 1, 
 1850, the total resources $310,728 32. The total ex- 
 penditures were $310,619 30. 
 
 There have heen printed during the year 1,040,500 
 volumes, 7,931,500 publications, 285,914,500 pages ; 
 and circulated 886,692 volumes, 7,837,692 publica- 
 tions, 269,984,615 pages. 
 
 *' The New York City Tract Society" is also an 
 efficient organization, and very successfully and noise- 
 lessly brings into requisition such agencies as are 
 
270 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 
 
 daily blessed to the untold benefit of precious immor- 
 tals, ready to perish. 
 
 Now, in view of all these facts, who will not re- 
 joice and give thanks that the Great and Good Shep- 
 herd had such a regard for his wandering lambs, that 
 he moved his servant, the Rev. George Burden, after 
 a missionary sermon in the Chapel of the Rev. Row- 
 land Hill, London, May 8, 1799, to invite a meeting 
 to form a society for printing and distributing reli- 
 gious tracts ; which meeting was adjourned until the 
 next morning, when the glorious deed was done, and 
 which society was the germ from whence have 
 sprung all kindred branches. 
 
 Now, reader, you perceive that here is a very good 
 beginning in half a century, though much more was 
 demanded and ought to have been done. What say 
 you, will you bear in mind the decision of the good 
 old '' Friend," who, when called upon to aid in build- 
 ing a *' Meeting-house" in a certain place, though 
 not for his own sect, remarked, " The Lord shall not 
 have a house built in my neighborhood, that I do 
 not drive a nail in it, and I will give thee " 
 
 Behold ! the great spiritual building is going up. 
 What say you? Will you drive a nail in it? Aye, 
 one nail is better than none, and if you can spare a 
 pound, the building will go up all the sooner. Don't 
 forget that. Yes, all the nails you drive here, shall 
 by and by beautify the temple to your everlasting 
 joy, for they shall be polished and shine like brilliant 
 gems, and glittering diamonds in your own spiritual 
 habitation. Send in your nails to the American 
 Tract Society, 150 Nassau-street, New York. 
 
HARPER & BROTHERS' PUBLISHING ESTA- 
 BLISHMENT. 
 
 I beg leave to notice this well-known establish- 
 ment, which every stranger in coming to town would 
 do well to visit. The writer was recently much 
 interested in going through it. The like cannot be 
 seen any where else in this country, if in the world. 
 If the reader is not accustomed to visit large book 
 concerns, he will very imperfectly apprehend the 
 reality from any description that the writer can give 
 of this celebrated Book Mill. 
 
 From the gentlemanly proprietors, I obtained some 
 statistics which will doubtless interest some portion 
 of my readers. But rather than take such a misera- 
 ble substitute, you will do far better to go and see 
 the reality. They ask nothing for the sight, and if 
 they didn't, it would be cheap at that. Moreover, 
 the man who goes there to read a little, and turns 
 over page after page, in going from room to room, 
 and from house to house, will subsequently turn 
 over the pages of smaller volumes a little more in- 
 telligently. 
 
 The various departments are distributed through 
 eight buildings, half of which are four and the re- 
 mainder five stories in height. In two large compos- 
 ing rooms, thirty-six hands are employed, each of 
 whom averages 5,000 ems a day, with four proof 
 
272 HARPER & brothers' PUBLISHING ESTABLISHIVIENT. 
 
 readers. In a stereotype foundry twelve, hands are 
 employed in making stereotype plates, a great im- 
 provement in the art of printing, as each plate is 
 capable of giving at least 100,000 impressions, and 
 only costs about one-third more than ordinary com- 
 position. 
 
 There is also a copper-plate and steel-plate print- 
 ing room, and a paper room with a large stock, ready 
 to fly through the land on the wings of the wind as 
 soon as it receives its message. The counting rooms 
 are on the first floor, in which eight clerks and three 
 book-keepers are employed. The press-rooms have 
 forty hands and twenty-seven " Adams Presses.^^ 
 
 It will be recollected that for rapid printing, 
 nothing can compete with the " Cylinder Press." 
 But iov fine work, the Adams Press takes the palm, 
 and for this improved press, our Boston neighbor is 
 entitled to much praise. For doing work with a good 
 degree of dispatch, and producing a fine artistic ap- 
 pearance, this press stands unrivalled. Each press 
 can print 6,000 sheets in ten hours. 
 
 In the ware-rooms where the sheets are dried and 
 arranged into volumes for binding, the number of 
 hands is 150, and the number of hydraulic presses 
 three. About fifty hands are employed in the sew- 
 ing-rooms. Two large store-rooms are filled with 
 books ready for binding. The bindery employs 125 
 hands. 
 
 This establishment uses in the course of a year 
 fifty-three barrels of the best flour — about the same 
 quantity of glue — 14,326 sheepskins, about 40,Q00 
 yards of muslin, and can turn out 3,000 books per 
 
HARPER & brothers' PUBLISHING ESTABLISHMENT. 273 
 
 da^^ And as they use up 120 reams of paper daily, 
 and with all their facilities for such an immense busi- 
 ness, are under the necessity of still giving out many 
 jobs to other establishments ; and from a brief notice 
 already given of a few other of the many printing 
 w^orks in the city, the reader will see at once, that 
 '^ rag picket^ s^^ whom we have already placed almost 
 in the front rank of our fellow-citizens, find no incon- 
 siderable inducements to rake the gutters. 
 
 The whole number of persons employed in this 
 celebrated bookery is between four and five hundred, 
 of whom one hundred and forty are females, who do 
 their share of the work with neatness and despatch, 
 and for which they are well paid, and appear happy, 
 and pretty too ; and if all the fair sex only knew how 
 much it adds to their charms and good personal ap- 
 pearance to be seen in some useful employment, 
 there would soon be a hundred and forty more 
 knocking at Messrs. Harpers' door, begging the pri- 
 vilege of joining the ranks within. 
 18 
 
METHODIST BOOK CONCERN. 
 
 This establishment, which has long prosecuted a 
 good work, is extensively known throughout the 
 United States. But perhaps some of my readers 
 may not be altogether familiar with its operations. 
 It publishes nothing but religious books, and is 
 strictly a denominational concern. It was estab- 
 lished in 1789, in Philadelphia, Pa., by John Dickens, 
 who loaned the concern 8600 with which to com- 
 mence business. Of course, like almost every other 
 good thing, it had a small beginning. 
 
 In 1804 it was transferred to New York. But pre- 
 vious to 1824, the concern had no press of its own, 
 and depended upon hiring its printing done out of 
 the establishment. It now has ten presses in use, 
 and employs about two hundred persons, nearly half 
 of whom are females. The buildings occupied are 
 two in number, each one hundred and twenty-one by 
 thirty feet, . four stories high besides the basement. 
 Another building, twenty-five by ninety feet, five 
 stories high, is about to be added. The amount of 
 business done at this establishment is much less 
 than at Harpers'. The profits of this concern, which 
 amount to about 820,000 annually, are divided 
 among the several Conferences in the United States 
 for the support of superanuated and supernumerary 
 preachers, their wives, and children ; a very worthy 
 
METHODIST BOOK CONCERN. 275 
 
 distribution. It is strictly a self-supporting concern, 
 and under the control of the clergy. For the above 
 items I am indebted to one of the gentlemanly assis- 
 tants of the establishment. 
 
 There are many other book establishments in the 
 city, which are worthy of notice, and which the stran- 
 ger in coming to town, will do well to examine. But 
 we can at present say little more about books. We 
 have not seen all the books in New- York, much 
 less have we read them. Many of them probably 
 never will be read ; and some of them never should 
 be read — while a few are, like dictionaries, not made 
 to be read. 
 
LIBRARIES. 
 
 We may with much propriety say a word about 
 Libraries. We have already incidentally spoken of 
 several. There are others which claim a special 
 notice,. and we would gladly speak in detail of more 
 than our limits will permit, for they are fountains of 
 intellectual and moral power of no inconsiderable 
 importance. 
 
 MERCANTILE LIBRARY. 
 
 From the Twenty-ninth Annual Report of the JMer- 
 cantile Librar}^ we obtain the following statistics : 
 
 The number of members is 2,846. Number of 
 volumes 31,674. In addition to this large number 
 of tomes, the reading-room is supplied with twelve 
 American and four foreign daily journals ; fourteen 
 American and four foreign weeklies ; twenty- four 
 American and twenty-nine foreign monthlies ; and 
 twelve American and ten foreign quarterlies ; mak- 
 ing in all one hundred and nine publications, which 
 ought to add to such a worthy place of resort for our 
 young men, an important attraction. 
 
 " Terms of Membership." — " Any person engaged 
 in mercantile pursuits as a clerk, may become a 
 member of this Association, if approved by the Board 
 of Direction, when he shall have subscribed to the 
 
NEW-YORK HISTORTCAL SOCIETY. 277 
 
 constitution, paid an initiation fee of one dollar, and 
 one dollar for the first six months. His further re- 
 gular dues shall be thereafter fifty cents, quarterly, in 
 advance." 
 
 "Merchants, also, may become members by pay- 
 ing 85 annually, but no merchant shall be entitled to 
 vote, or be eligible to any office. Persons not engaged 
 in mercantile pursuits, if approved by the Board of 
 Direction, may be admitted to the use of the Library 
 and Reading-rooms, upon the same terms as mer- 
 chants." 
 
 Young gentlemen who spend as many leisure 
 hours in these reading-rooms as circumstances indi- 
 cate, are in a fair way to acquire a reputation which 
 will compare very favorably with that gained at the 
 bowling-allies, billiard-tables, and sipping-houses ; 
 to say nothing about theatres, and other robbers of 
 time, money and character. 
 
 Probably our merchants also do well in taxing 
 their own pockets for every clerk, fifty cents per 
 quarter, to encourage them to become members, and 
 walk in the way of wisdom. They seldom make a 
 better investment. It is money at compound inter- 
 est. 
 
 NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 This institution is deservedly entitled to our con- 
 sideration. Having failed of receiving from the Li- 
 brarian such statistics as we supposed that we had 
 reason to expect, we shall briefly notice this, and also 
 the following institution, in the language of Mr. E. 
 Porter Belden. 
 
278 NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 " The New-York Historical Society was organized 
 in 1804, by a few public spirited citizens, and the 
 foundation of a library soon after commenced by the 
 purchase of a collection made by one of the mem- 
 bers. 
 
 "In 1814, the Legislature granted free access at 
 all times to the documents and records of the State, 
 and soon after contributed $12,000 to aid the society 
 in procuring books, manuscripts, and other mate- 
 rials to illustrate the natural, literary, civil and ec- 
 clesiastical history of America. Thus patronized by 
 the state, and aided by the contributions and exer- 
 tions of the citizens of New-York, the institution has 
 been able to collect one of the best historical libra- 
 ries in the country. 
 
 " The rooms of the society, in the University, on 
 Washington Square, are open exclusively to mem- 
 bers, and strangers introduced by members. The 
 library at present contains about twelve thousand 
 printed volumes, several thousand pamphlets-, two 
 thousand maps and charts, and over one thousand 
 bound volumes of newspapers, including a regular 
 series from the first published in the country, in 1704, 
 to the present time. 
 
 " The institution likewise possesses a valuable 
 cabinet of coins, medals, busts, portraits and curio- 
 sities. Several volumes of collections have been 
 published by the society. 
 
 " The stated meetings are held on the first Tues- 
 day evening of every month, with the exception of 
 July, August and September." 
 
NEW-YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY. 279 
 
 NEW-YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY. 
 
 This institution is the oldest public library of the 
 kind in the United St^ites. It originated in an insti- 
 tution founded in 1700, during the administration of 
 the Earl of Bellamont, and denominated " The Public 
 Library of New York." 
 
 "Various records occur on the minutes of the 
 Common Council relative to this library ; the most 
 important of which, is the mention of the bequest of 
 the Rev. Dr. IMillington, Rector of Newington, Eng- 
 land, who gave 1000 volumes to ' the Society for the 
 promotion of Christian Knowledge,' for the use of the 
 clergy and gentlemen of New-York and the neigh- 
 boring provinces. " 
 
 "In 1754, a number of gentlemen undertook to 
 establish a library, which they designated ' The New 
 York Society Library.' The old 'Public Library' 
 having fallen into disuse, the trustees obtained per- 
 mission from the corporation of the city to engraft 
 their collection on the former. 
 
 " The new library was in successful operation 
 when the war of the revolution arrested its progress, 
 and scattered many of its treasures beyond the reach 
 of recovery. But after the restoration of peace, it 
 w^as re-established. 
 
 "In 1754, we find the society in the possession of 
 a building, evincing much architectural taste, situated 
 in Nassau street, opposite the Middle Dutch Church. 
 Here, until the crowding demands of commerce drove 
 it further from her domains, the library continued to 
 
280 THE ASTOR LIBRARY. 
 
 dispense its benefits, and to accumulate gradually a 
 collection, now become one of inappreciable value. 
 
 " In 1840, the society entered upon a new phase in 
 its progress, by the completion of its present edifice 
 on the corner of Broadway and Leonard-street. This 
 building, 100 feet long, by 60 wide, is constructed of 
 finely-cut brown sand stone, and presents on Broad- 
 way a chaste facade of Ionic columns. On passing 
 the structure, the eye is arrested by its bold and mas- 
 sive front, while the beauty of its proportions, and 
 its highly finished masonry, elicit the approbation of 
 good taste and critical observation. The cost of the 
 ground, building, and furniture was $] 18,000. 
 
 "The society numbers over 1000 members, and 
 possesses a library of about 40,000 volumes. The 
 terms of membership require a payment of $25 for a 
 share, liable to an annual charge of six dollars." 
 
 THE ASTOR LIBRARY. 
 
 This library, which owes its existence to the ge- 
 nerosity of its founder, was designed by Mr. Astor to 
 be essentially public in its character, and is destined 
 to become one of the largest and most useful institu- 
 tions of the kind in our country. For some statis- 
 tics, I am indebted to the last annual report. 
 
 From an " extract of the third Codicil to the will 
 of John Jacob Astor," who died on the 29th day of 
 March, 1848, 1 quote the following : 
 
 " I, John Jacob Astor, do make this additional co- 
 dicil to my last will, bearing date the fourth day of 
 July, in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hun- 
 deed and thirty-six. 
 
THE ASTOR LIBRARY. 281 
 
 " Desiring to render a public benefit to the city of 
 New- York, and to contribute to the advancement of 
 useful knowledge and the general good of society, I 
 do, by this codicil, appropriate/o7ir hundred thousand 
 dollars out of my residuary estate to the establishment 
 of a public library in the city of New-York.''^ 
 
 " The said sum shall be payable, one third in the 
 year after my decease, one third in the year following, 
 and the residue in equal sums, in the fourth and fifth 
 years after my decease. 
 
 " The said library is to be accessible at all rea- 
 sonable hours and times, for general use, free of ex- 
 pense to persons resorting thereto, subject only to 
 such control and regulations as the trustees may 
 from time to time exercise and establish for general 
 convenience." 
 
 Of the above liberal sum 875,000 was to be appro- 
 priated to the building of a suitable edifice, $25,000 
 to the purchase of a lot, $120,000 for the purchase 
 of books and other objects for the establishing of the 
 library, and the balance, $180,000, was to be invested 
 in such manner as the giver directed, as a fund for 
 sustaining and increasing the library, the annual in- 
 terest of which sum at 6 per cent, is $10,800. "And 
 in case the income of the fund shall at any time ex- 
 ceed the amounts which the trustees may find useful 
 to expend for the purposes above named and parti- 
 cularized, they may expend such surplus in procuring 
 public lectures, to be delivered in connection with 
 the library, upon useful subjects of literature, philo- 
 sophy, science, history and the fine arts, or in pro- 
 
282 THE ASTOR LIBRARY. 
 
 moting, in any other mode, the objects of the institu- 
 tion as above expressed." 
 
 The library edifice, which stands on the east side 
 of Lafa3^ette Place, is a beautiful and substantial 
 brick building 65 feet front by 120 in depth, and is 
 about 70 in height, from the foundation to the roof. 
 This building is to be completed in the spring of 
 1852, and the library will probably be open to the 
 public in the following summer. 
 
 The present number of volumes in tho library is 
 28,364. The enterprising superintendent of this in- 
 stitution, Mr. Cogswell, is now in Europe for the 
 purpose of obtaining such rare and valuable works 
 as an eye of vigilance can discover, and as money 
 can buy, and in due time an important addition may 
 be expected. 
 
 Now, who can estimate the value of such an insti- 
 tution in our midst, accessible to all, no matter how 
 poor? This is another of our bright spots, which 
 needs no polishing or praising. 
 
 It may now be proper for us to turn our attention to 
 other sources and plans of benevolence for which our 
 city is somewhat famous, though a little more repu- 
 tation still, would be no disparagement, nor cause of 
 regret. 
 
ASYLUMS. 
 
 ORPHAN ASYLUM. 
 
 This humane institution was incorporated April 7, 
 1807. Like most benevolent institutions, its begin- 
 ning was on a small scale. The society first com- 
 menced their labor of love in a hired house. Since 
 that time the location has been twice changed. The 
 present edifice and home of the Orphan, was com- 
 pleted in 1840, and stands a little back, but in full 
 view of the beautiful Hudson, and on that portion 
 of the island which is called Bloomingdale, being 
 four or five miles from the City Hall. 
 
 The lot on which the building stands, embraces 
 nine acres and three-fourths. The edifice is four 
 stories high, including the basement, which is all 
 occupied. The location is pleasant, healthful, and 
 retired. The present number of children is one 
 hundred and fifty-nine. 
 
 To see such a company of little ones, without 
 father or mother, well-fed, clothed, sheltered, in- 
 structed, and every way cared for, is a sight well 
 calculated to affect the heart. What a blessed work 
 to take up these forsaken, homeless children, and 
 furnish them with a better home and better every 
 thing, than many of their parents ever provided for 
 them. Truly this institution commends itself to the 
 sympathy and aid of the community. 
 
284 HALF ORPHAN ASYLUM. 
 
 " Orphans are admitted into the Asylum until they 
 attain the age of ten years, if the Board be satisfied 
 that they are proper subjects for this institution. 
 Their guardians or connexions must relinquish all 
 claim to their future disposal." " No child shall leave 
 the Asylum until he has been at least one year under 
 the care of the society, and until he can read, write, 
 cipher," &c. — {By Laws, Page 8.) 
 
 The boys and girls, when they arrive at suitable 
 age, are bound (on trial) to such persons as the Board 
 shall approve, the former, until they attain the age 
 of twenty-one years, the latter, eighteen years. The 
 friends of the Orphans are permitted to visit them on 
 the first Monday of every month. The total number 
 of children which have been received by this society, 
 since its beginning, is 1293, that is, up to the time of 
 the last report, for which I am indebted to the insti- 
 tution. 
 
 HALF ORPHAN ASYLUM. 
 
 " The society for the relief of half orphan and 
 destitute children^' was established December 16, 
 1835. Since then, it has steadily and uninterruptedly 
 extended its field of usefulness, a work which none 
 but those who are familiar with its ceaseless labor 
 of love, can fully appreciate. To have one glimpse 
 of these well cared-lbr children, at the dinner table, 
 in the school-room, or in the sanctuary, is or ought to 
 be enough to satisfy any one, and ever}' one, that here 
 is an institution which at once commends itself to all 
 the wise, rich, and good ; and the tender-hearted, 
 liberal-minded well wisher of little helpless ones, 
 
HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS. 285 
 
 cannot fail to heartily approve of such disinterested 
 benevolence. 
 
 True the children of this institution are but half 
 orphans, yet who does not know^ that many children 
 who have both father and mother, are worse off than 
 if they had neither ; while others who have one 
 parent, are often wretchedly provided for, or what 
 is worse, subjected to an influence ruinously perni- 
 cious. 
 
 " The requisite conditions lor admission are, 
 
 ** 1st. The death of one parent. 
 
 " 2d. Freedom from all contagious disease. 
 
 " 3d. A promise from the parents to pay fifty cents 
 weekly for the board of the child, unless satisfactory 
 reasons can be given to the managers why they 
 should be exempted. 
 
 " 4th. That the child be not under two nor over 
 ten years of age." — {Annual Report.) 
 
 The total number of children which have enjoyed 
 the benefits of this humane institution during its 
 fifteen years of usefulness, is 1,223. The present 
 number is 186. 
 
 HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS. 
 
 The " American Female Guardian Society and 
 Home for the Friendless,^'' has been some sixteen 
 years carrying forward a good work, and is entitled 
 to the co-operation of all those who have silver and 
 sympathy for that class to which this institution is 
 daily extending important aid. The number of in- 
 mates received since 1847 to May, 1850, is, adults, 
 1,074, children, 744— total 1,818. 
 
 Now, if the reader should doubt for a moment the 
 
286 HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS. 
 
 Utility or humanity of this institution, let him just go 
 up to the " Home" on east 30th street, near Madison 
 Avenue, and see what kind friends, clean beds, airy 
 rooms, and well-spread tables are there for those un- 
 protected females whose only crime is want of 
 shelter, work, and bread, and if he is not then 
 thoroughly convinced, he must be marvelously incre- 
 dulous. To say that the writer was exceedingly 
 gratified to have the privilege of a brief introduction 
 to such a Home, is not saying enough, and yet it is 
 saying about as much as he has time to say. But 
 one word from the " Rulesr 
 
 '* Adult females, of good moral c^fltrac^er, destitute 
 of funds, friends, or home, shall be received into this 
 institution by order of any two of the managers, 
 until their case can he examined, after which, if ap- 
 proved as worthy applicants, they shall be boarded 
 and employed till suitable places can be found for 
 them ; with the understanding, that, in all cases they 
 shall conform strictly to the rules of the house, 
 accept cheerfully such situations, or service-places 
 as may be deemed suitable, and endeavor to acquit 
 themselves creditably. All inmates of the institution 
 of sufficient age, shall be expected" " to appropriate 
 a suitable portion of their time to manual labor while 
 they may remain, and to be under the control and 
 direction of the Matron." 
 
 " Children for whom admission to the Home is 
 desired, should have a permit, signed by a member 
 of the Committee or Board." 
 
 "Friendless or destitute girls, under the age of 
 sixteen, and over three years of age, and boys under 
 
ASYLUM FOR AGED INDIGENT FEMALES. 287 
 
 six and over three years old, either orphans, half- 
 orphans, or abandoned by their parents, may be re- 
 ceived and provided for until permanent homes in 
 Christian families can be secured for them by adop- 
 tion or otherwise. 
 
 " Hours of rising and retiring, for adults, shall be at 
 five o'clock, A. M., and at ten o'clock, p. m., in summer, 
 and at six o'clock, a. m., and nine o'clock, p. m., in win- 
 ter. The children shall retire soon after supper, and 
 rise in season for bathing and dressing before break- 
 fast. The matron shall pass through the dormitories 
 after the hour of retiring, and see that the lights are 
 extinguished, and the lamps removed." ^^ The disci- 
 pline of the institution shall be strictly parental in its 
 character." The receipts and disbursements during 
 the past year amounted to $14,141 69. 
 
 ASYLUM FOR AGED INDIGENT FEMALES. 
 
 The " Association for the relief of respectable aged 
 Indigent Females''' has been laboring in a very im- 
 portant field for thirty-seven years, and the praise- 
 worthy efforts of this institution have not been in 
 vain. The Asylum was founded in 1838. The 
 report for 1850, and for which I am indebted to the 
 institution, presents the following statistics : — 
 
 The family of the Asylum consists of eighty-five 
 members, and precisely the same number of aged 
 females, termed " out-door pensioners," have also been 
 cared for by this society. Of the inmates, during the 
 past year, seven have died, whose united ages were 
 507 years. Of the out-door pensioners, nine have 
 died. One at the advanced age of 105 years, and 
 
238 ASYLUM FOR AGED INDIGENT FEMALES. 
 
 five others, at 80, 84, 86, 86, and 90 years ; their 
 united ages being 531 years — average age 88 J 
 years. The rule of the society is to receive none 
 but those of the character above stated, nor any 
 under sixty years of age. 
 
 The writer visited this " Home for Old Ladies'^ 
 about the first of February last, and though his time 
 vv^as limited to a short period, yet he saw enough to 
 produce a desire and a determination to call again. 
 The Matron kindly conducted him through the 
 several apartments which were comfortably furnished 
 and in good order. 
 
 It being about the dinner hour, I received an invi- 
 tation to visit the dining room, the room of all others 
 which I most desired to see, and especially at such a 
 favorable time. Not so much, however, to see the 
 room, or what was on the table, nor even to eat it, 
 though it was good enough for the king, as to see 
 the guests in such a favorable attitude for exhibiting 
 a lively sense of their distinguished comforts. And 
 this, for me, was feast enough, to fast the rest of the 
 day. 
 
 The company constituted a very respectable fami- 
 ly, though many from infirmity and other causes, took 
 their meals in their own rooms. I counted fifty at 
 the tables which were abundantly spread with fish, 
 such as no man, fresh from " Cape Cod," could object - 
 to, (for they have fish once a week,) and potatoes 
 that would have pleased the palate of " Father Ma- 
 thew," and as good bread as bakers know how to 
 make, and, to top off* with, a large allowance of rice 
 pudding. Many of them looked contented and hap- 
 
NEW-YORK INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND. 289 
 
 py, and appeared to feel as much at home as it 
 is easy for one to feel outside of his or her own cabin. 
 
 To me, it was indeed a blessed thought that so 
 many afflicted ones could spend the remainder of 
 their days, the decline of life, in peace, at this quiet 
 home, and 1 love to call to mind my visit to that 
 charitable institution, for it adds much to my stock 
 of comfortable thoughts, as often as I do so, and I 
 doubt whether any one can visit it and not feel com- 
 pelled to admit that he is well paid for his trou- 
 ble. 
 
 And now, reader, whether your mother is among 
 the number or not, if she is among the living, you 
 know not how soon she may be there, and so take 
 our advice, and furnish an apartment there, and have 
 it ready for her, and should she never need such a 
 provision, others will. Put a comfortable bed there, 
 and get some good mother's blessing, and see if your 
 own bed don't grow softer every night. The first 
 man that will try it, and is not satisfied, we will take 
 the bed off* of his hands forthwith. 
 
 NEW-YORK INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND. 
 
 This excellent institution was incorporated April 
 17, 1831. The plot of ground on which the noble 
 building stands, is one entire block, being 800 feet 
 long and 200 feet wide, bounded by 33d and 34th 
 streets and 8th and 9th avenues. The edifice is 
 built of Sing Sing marble, and is three stories high 
 and 175 feet in length. 
 
 I had the pleasure of visiting this institution last 
 autumn in company with Prof. Geo. F. Root, their 
 19 
 
290 NEW-YORK INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND. 
 
 able instructor in music. I went at a particular 
 hour, on purpose to hear them siiig^ and although 
 there was a plenty to be seen which was worth see- 
 ing, yet there was more just then to be heard, and if 
 I was not minus a gift, I would tell the reader what 
 it was, although I am not bound to tell him anything 
 but what I saw. 
 
 But didn't they sing ? Suffice it to say, I felt much 
 inclined to look around for Jenny Lind, knowing that 
 she was expected there about that time. Well, let 
 her go — they are ready for her, as I can assure the 
 reader that they are no strangers to nightingales. 
 
 But as the Blind Authoress, Miss Frances Crosby, 
 who is so well and favorably known, kindly furnish- 
 ed me (after conducting me through the building) 
 with some statistics, w^hich I know will interest the 
 reader more than anything which I can add, I take 
 pleasure in presenting them. 
 
 " Its location is perhaps one of the most healthy 
 on the island ; and under the direction of its excel- 
 lent superintendent, James F. Chamberlain, aided by 
 the co-operation of an efficient and highly estimable 
 board of managers, it may be said to have reached 
 the achme of its prosperity. The present number of 
 pupils is 116, many of whom are children from eight 
 to fourteen years of age. 
 
 " They are instructed in the various branches, such 
 as reading, writing, geography, grammar, and arith- 
 metic, together with those of a higher order — name- 
 ly, moral philosophy, astronomy and rhetoric. 
 
 ** Reading is taught by means of raised letters — 
 the impression being made upon one side of the page> 
 
NEW-YORK INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND. 291 
 
 thus enabling the individual to trace it with the fin- 
 gers. The faculty acquired in this art is truly as- 
 tonishing. Instances have not unfrequently occur- 
 red, in which those totally deprived of sight have 
 learned the entire alphabet in a single day, and at 
 the expiration of two months, have been able to read 
 the Bible fluently." 
 
 " The system of educating the blind, differs in many 
 respects from that generally pursued in a school of 
 seeing children. It is principally oral." 
 
 '^ Arithmetic is taught by means of metallic plates, 
 with apertures sufficient to admit a small type some- 
 what resembling that used in printing. This type 
 or figure, is designed to represent two characters, a 
 T and a v. The former being placed at one end, and 
 the latter at the other. The t, placed in its natural 
 position, represents 1. Turned to the right (^) 2. 
 Inverted {jl) 3, and to the left, ( h ) 4. The v, in its 
 natural position, represents 5, turned to the left ( > ) 6, 
 Inverted, (a) 7, to the right (<) S. The 9 is repre- 
 sented by an l, in its proper position, and inverfed 
 ( T ) it forms a 0. 
 
 '' Music, both vocal and instrumental, is taught 
 thoroughly and scientifically, and not as many sup- 
 pose by ear. Those who have attended concerts 
 given by the Blind, either at the institution or else- 
 where, can give ample testimony to the correctness 
 and precision with which they have executed some 
 of the most difficult pieces. 
 
 " Many of them have graduated, and are employed 
 as teachers and organists in our city, and also in va- 
 rious parts of the country. In the acquisition of this, 
 
292 NEW-YORK INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND. 
 
 as well as every other branch, there are many ob- 
 stacles to be encountered, and many difficulties to be 
 overcome. The deprivation under which they labor 
 necessarily obliges them to depend wholly upon their 
 memory. Yet with them there is no such word as 
 fail, for the}^ have long since learned the truth of the 
 old adage, 'Persevere and you shall succeed.' 
 
 "While their intellectual powers are undergoing 
 a system of the most careful cultivation, their reli- 
 gious instruction is by no means neglected. Many 
 of them have become hopefully pious, and have 
 united with different evangelical churches. There 
 is a chapel connected with the institution in which 
 divine service is held every Sabbath. Morning and 
 evening worship is conducted by the Superintendent, 
 and the strict attendance of every pupil is required. 
 
 " For the benefit of those who may be ignorant of 
 the fact, it will be proper to remark that the insti- 
 tution is under the patronage of the State, and re- 
 ceives 8130 annually for each pupil. Those who 
 are in circumstances to pay the amount, are of 
 course expected to do so. Those who cannot, may 
 be admitted free of expense, if a certificate be pro- 
 cured to that effect, by their parents or friends, from 
 the Supervisors of the counties to which they be- 
 long." 
 
 " We are exceedingly anxious that the reader 
 should become more thoroughly acquainted with our 
 establishment, and therefore, if he will do us the fa- 
 vor to visit us, we will promise to conduct him 
 through our various departments, and endeavor to 
 explain every thing to his entire satisfaction." 
 
DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION. 293 
 
 Yes, she may well say that, for when the writer 
 visited this noble and highly useful institution, she 
 conducted him through the different apartments as 
 well as if she had been all eyes, and as fluently des- 
 cribed every thing on the way, as if she had been all 
 tongue. Hence, he came to the conclusion that she 
 could not be " all earsj^ according to the old saying, 
 although it was quite evident that there was no defi- 
 ciency in these important organs. 
 
 As there are no two classes, in whose welfare the 
 community feels a deeper interest than in the Blind, 
 and the Deaf and Dumb — and as I have glanced at 
 the institution for the benefit of the former, it is very 
 proper that I should now bring to view the Asylum 
 for the latter ; and, in so doing, brief and imperfect 
 as may be the sketch, the writer indulges the hope 
 that it will not be altogether unsatisfactory to the 
 reader. 
 
 INSTITUTION FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF THE DEAF AND 
 DUMB. 
 
 1 visited this noble, this greatly favored, and highly 
 successful institution during the past winter, and re- 
 ceived from the much esteemed and worthy Presi- 
 dent, Harvey Prindle Peet, L.L. D., much valuable 
 information, all of which I should be glad to lay be- 
 fore my readers, if circumstances would permit. 
 
 This institution received its charter on the 15th of 
 April, 1817, and went into operation the following 
 spring. Since that time it has been steadily enlarg- 
 ing its operations, augmenting its usefulness, and 
 increasing in favor with the community, and never 
 
294 DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION. 
 
 was more prosperous than at the present moment, 
 although for a short period it has had to dispense 
 with the valuable services of its distinguished Presi- 
 dent, who, to acquire more information, if possible, 
 touching the most perfect method of developing the 
 intellectual powers of the Deaf Mute, left New 
 York early the present season, for Europe. While 
 we feel satisfied that he is not " to;) old to learn" — 
 that if there is any thing valuable there to be picked 
 up, he will not return without it — we are equally 
 confident that he will never leave the Europeans 
 much in their debt, for if he does not lend quite as 
 much as he borrows, we are greatly mistaken in the 
 man. 
 
 This was one of the first institutions in our coun- 
 try to commence the teaching of Deaf Mutes ; and 
 we trust that it will be one of the last to discontinue 
 so good a work. There is probably no institution of 
 the kind which is better conducted than this. None 
 more eminently successful and entitled to the sym- 
 pathy and hearty co-operation of the community. 
 And I am happy to add, that there are few if any, 
 more liberally sustained. Indeed there is but one 
 opinion concerning its importance, so far as it is fully 
 known. 
 
 But possibly some of my readers may have (though 
 I hope not) as little definite knowledge of its real 
 merits as had the writer previous to visiting it, and 
 seeing for himself. Indeed in taking a little pains 
 to see what there is in the city worth seeing, 
 he will undoubtedly be more benefited than the 
 reader. 
 
TERMS OF ADMISSION. 295 
 
 But a desire to interest the latter, has stimulated 
 the former to give a simple, unvarnished notice of 
 such institutions and places as it has been convenient 
 for him to visit, and he can surely call the reader's 
 attention to no institution in the city, v^ith more plea- 
 sure than to this. 
 
 The number of pupils in the institution at the time 
 of my visit, was 227. Of these 160 v^^ere beneficia- 
 ries of the State ; 16 of the City ; 13 of the State of 
 New Jersey ; 24 were supported by their friends ; 
 and 14 gratuitously by the institution ; these last 
 being mostly children. The course of instruction 
 embraces a period of seven years. 
 
 TERMS OF ADMISSION. 
 
 1. " Pupils are provided for by the institution in 
 all respects, clothing and travelling expenses excepted, 
 at the rate of 8130 each, per annum." " Payment is 
 required semi-annually in advance, 
 
 2. " The regular time of admission, is at the close 
 of the vacation, which extends from the second 
 Wednesday of July, to the first Wednesday of 
 September." 
 
 3. " No deduction will be made from the annual 
 charge in consequence of absence, or on any account 
 whatever, except sickness." 
 
 4. " Pupils are at liberty to reside, during the vaca 
 tion, in the institution, without charge." 
 
 5. "Applicants for admission to be educated at 
 the public expense, should be between the ages of 
 twelve and twenty-five years," &c. Other items in 
 the terms I shall omit. 
 
296 DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTFON. 
 
 BUILDINGS. 
 
 " The buildings consist of a principal edifice, 
 work-shops — in which book-binding, shoe-making, 
 cabinet-making, and tailoring are done by the pupils — 
 stables, wash-house, and bathing-house. The prin- 
 cipal edifice is a connected building, consisting of a 
 centre, sixty by one hundred and ten feet, having five 
 stories, divided into a kitchen, bake-room, store-room, 
 rooms for the accommodation of the President's 
 family ; library, cabinet and office, eleven school- 
 rooms, each twenty by twenty-five feet; a chapel, 
 occupying the centre of the fourth and fifth stories, 
 on each side of which are lodging rooms, capable of 
 accommodating one hundred and twent3'-five pupils ; 
 two wings, each eighty-five by thirty feet, divided 
 into day and evening rooms, lodging-rooms, and 
 washing-rooms, and two connecting wings each 
 twenty by tv/enty feet, divided into passage ways 
 and hospitals. 
 
 " The government is entrusted wholly to the Pre- 
 sident, advised by a Board of Directors. In the in- 
 tellectual, mechanical, and domestic departments, 
 there are eleven teachers, a book-binder, cabinet- 
 maker, tailor, shoe-maker, gardener, and laborers ; a 
 matron and her assistant, a cook and other female 
 domestics. 
 
 " The hour for rising, is uniformly at half-past five, 
 in summer ; in winter, half an hour later. Breakfast 
 at six or half-past six o'clock ; after which, each 
 pupil goes to labor in the shops, the garden, or about 
 the house. At nine o'clock the pupils assemble in 
 
EXERCISES. 297 
 
 the Chapel for prayers, after which they go to their 
 respective class-rooms. At twelve o'clock, dinner. 
 After dinner they play for an hour. 
 
 " At half-past one o'clock, school is again called. 
 At ten minutes to four, prayers are again held in the 
 Chapel. The pupils then return to their respective 
 occupations and remain till six o'clock, when they 
 are called to tea, after which, they are allowed a 
 short season of relaxation, when they are called to 
 their evening lessons. At nine, the younger portion^ 
 of the pupils retire to bed ; the older are permitted 
 to sit up till ten. 
 
 " Religious services are held twice in the Chapel 
 on Sunday, and the intervals of the day are spent 
 in reading, or committing to memory a Sabbath- 
 school lesson. 
 
 " Bathing is encouraged, and made imperative 
 once a week. 
 
 " The diet consists of the best and greatest variety 
 of food. The President, officers, pupils, and domestics 
 all fare alike." — {Annual Report.) 
 
 The ^arJen produces an abundance of vegetables, 
 and the grounds are ample for physical exercise, em- 
 bracing in all ten acres. I am happy to say, that 
 exercise, which is so essential to health and life, as 
 I have already said, once and again, is here greatly 
 encouraged, and we hope that its importance will 
 never be lost sight of. 
 
 But I must say a word about my visit to this 
 favored spot. It was short, but sweet. My first, but 
 not my last. Unceremonious, but not unprofitable. 
 Unbidden but not unwelcome. 
 
298 DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION. 
 
 The reader will readily perceive that. I was highly 
 entertained by being informed that I left home at an 
 early hour in the morning intending to return at ele- 
 ven, and found it no eas}^ matter to break the spell 
 in time to get back at one o'clock ; and this was ac- 
 complished only by doing violence to my own f cl- 
 ings in such a manner as to remind me of some thirs- 
 ty mortals being snatched avv^ay from a refreshing 
 fountain, after taking one sup. 
 
 The Deaf and Dumib, without instruction, are un- 
 questionably in a state of moral, social and intellec- 
 tual isolation more deplorablf^ tiian even the blind. 
 But the benefits of education to this unfortunate 
 class of our fellow-men, are too great to be here des- 
 cribed. 
 
 If there are any who grope in doubt and darkness 
 on this subject, let them compare one who has been 
 instructed in such an institution with one in his na- 
 tive ignorance, and we think their incredulity will 
 soon become as volatile as darkness before the rising 
 -Sun. 
 
 One moment's reflection must convince every in- 
 telligent mind that the deaf mute untaught, m.ust ne- 
 cessarily have a very narrow range of ideas, for 
 where is the man, no matter how good his eyes or 
 ears, or how great his fund of knowledge, w-Ao knows 
 any more than he has Icdrn.cd ? 
 
 The reader is aware that this class of whom we 
 are now speaking, must be taught by signs instead 
 of sounds. That they are very apt to learn, is be- 
 yond all controversy ; ^nd they^ are the last ones to 
 believe that "ij^norance is bliss." 
 
DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION. 299 
 
 The first class that I visited had been but a few 
 months in the institution, and I was greatly gratified 
 and not a little surprised to see how much they had 
 learned. It was to me delightful beyond description 
 to witness their activit}^ teachable dispositions, and 
 happy faces. But my time was so limited that I 
 could hardly take more than a glimpse. 
 
 I then visited one of the higher classes, and after 
 an introduction to the teacher, he introduced his class 
 to as awkward a guest as ever got upon the "black- 
 board." 
 
 The reader may here ask how I got upon their 
 huge slates which stood up all around the room as 
 high as their heads. 
 
 Well, the teacher made a few playful turns of the 
 hand, which I thought could amount to a little more 
 than enough for one word, and as quick as thought 
 they flew to their slates, and to let me know that 
 they perfectly understood him, even as well as I did 
 when he spoke to me in plain English, their nimble 
 fingers — and they are remarkably expert in writing — 
 had it all down in black and white — who I v/as, 
 where I lived, and my object in visiting their institu- 
 tion, their "noble institution," as they called it, and 
 well they might. Their penmanship was excellent, 
 and much of their composition highly creditable ; 
 some of them showing talent much above medioc- 
 rity. 
 
 Although their thoughts neither came in through 
 their ears, nor walked out upon their tongues, yet 
 there was no lack of ideas or ability to express them. 
 J i\^as so pleased with their apt, ofF-hand, unpremedi- 
 
300 DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION. 
 
 tated reply to their teacher as the}^ translated what 
 was to me unintelligible living hieroglyphics (as I 
 knew not the lirst letter of the alphabet), that had 
 the author been a little less mixed up in the para- 
 graphs, he would gladly give the reader the benefit 
 of them. At any rate when they said that they 
 hoped that I would give a good report of their noble 
 institution, I must say that I felt very much inclined 
 to adopt the language of" Sam Slick." 
 
 As a specimen of their ability to express their 
 thoughts in writing, the following composition will 
 probably satisfy the reader. It is taken from the 
 Annual Report of 1850. The pupil who wrote it, 
 had been only four j^ears under instruction, and we 
 think that few children with as limited a season of 
 instruction, and as good tongues and better ec/r.?, will 
 be likely to produce a better specimen. 
 
 " AN IMAGINARY CONVERSATION BETWEEN A FLY AND A 
 BEE." 
 
 **One day a poor fly, while passing a bee-hive full 
 of honey, in a beautiful garden, was perceived by a 
 bee which proudly flew at it and insultingly said, 
 * Why do you come here ? You design to steal my 
 honey.' 
 
 " The fly replied, *I do not wish to steal it, but feel 
 a desire to learn how to make honey as you do.' 
 
 " The bee answering, said, ' You are such a dirty 
 insect, that it is impossible for you to make it. You 
 must not come near my hive, because you have de- 
 voured almost every bad thing ; but I have always 
 sucked sweet beautiful flowers, and I have made ho- 
 
DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION. 301 
 
 ney of them.' The bee continued to say, 'Most peo- 
 ple love bees more than flies, for they are useless, 
 and can make nothing ; they are also very trouble- 
 some to all creatures.' 
 
 "The fly was than full of anger, and said, 'You 
 have a long sharp sting, and yon cruelly sting many 
 persons, and cause the wound to swell, very much 
 like a noxious snake. It is very dangerous to sting. 
 I, however, have never been cruel to any one since I 
 was born.' 
 
 " The bee said to the fly, ' I have a strong natural 
 propensity to sting, when any one provokes me. 
 God gave me a sharp sting to defend myself with it ; 
 but if I am no.t attacked, I do not sting. If you had 
 a sting, you would do much more harm than I. You 
 always get into mischief, and fall into milk, molasses, 
 butter, &c. While people are partaking of refresh- 
 ments, flies rush and devour it like dogs, and inter- 
 rupt the people so much that they cannot eat. You 
 creep on their faces and make them uneasy. You 
 are very impolite and rude.' 
 
 " The fly replied, ' You are quite as troublesome 
 as I, for you often enter a house, creep about the 
 window, and frighten the people so much that they 
 endeavor to catch you with a pair of tongs, and pitch 
 you into the flre.' 
 
 " The bee, on hearing this, was much enraged, and 
 said, ' You are too lazy to build a house of your own, 
 and ramble everywhere. It seems as if you were a 
 vagabond. You will soon die when the. weather be- 
 gins to be cold." 
 
 "The fly replied, 'I shall become torpid and rest 
 
302 METHOD OF INSniUCTING TIJii DEAF AND DUMB. 
 
 till spring*. I Shall live again. It is not necessary 
 for me to work. I hate to see a bee of such great 
 pride and boastful ness.' 
 
 " The bee replied, 'Well, you are right in thinking 
 that I am proud. You are certainly jealous of me.' 
 
 " The fly said, ' No, I am not, but you are such a 
 passionate creature, I do not wish to talk with you 
 any longer.' 
 
 " The bee said, ' Never provoke me, and I will al- 
 ways be kind to you ; but if you do provoke me, I 
 will kill you.' 
 
 "The fly replied, 'I will continue to talk to you as 
 I please.' So the angry bee stung the fly so much 
 that it laid the poor insect dead. E. L." 
 
 Since writing the above, a communication from a 
 gentleman who was recently a pupil, but who is now 
 a teacher in this institution, has been received, con- 
 taining a clear, brief and intelligible account of the 
 present mode of instructing deaf mutes; and with 
 pleasure we lay it before our readers, as it will serve 
 a two-fold purpose. It not only unfolds to some ex- 
 tent, the present method of teaching in the institu- 
 tion, but it shows conclusively that the writer, al- 
 though deprived of holding intercourse with the sur- 
 rounding world through the medium of sound, is ne- 
 vertheless better prepared to communicate his ideas, 
 than many who are blessed with all the natural fa- 
 culties. 
 
 " METHOD OF INSTRUCTING THE DEAF AND DUMB. 
 
 " Many gentlemen and ladies who come to this 
 benevolent institution for the purpose of viewing the 
 
METHOD OF INSTRUCTl?'^G THi: DEAF AXD DUMB. 303 
 
 exercises of the deaf mates, and the internal arrange- 
 ments of the institution, frequent!}- express a strong 
 desire to know the elementary process by which this 
 important work is commenced. 
 
 " T imagine that those who visit the institution for 
 the deaf and dumb, ask these two questions — ' How 
 can deaf mutes learn, without the aid of hearing? 
 How do you commence teaching them?' 
 
 " Some of the deaf and dumb are born without the 
 faculty of hearing ; and a majority of them are de- 
 prived of hearing, either in infancy, or in childhood, 
 by almost an endless variety of diseases and acci- 
 dents. They, when they are placed in common- 
 schools, are unable to learn without using the 
 language of gesticulation. Sometimes they are edu- 
 cated by means of articulation ; but they cannot well 
 acquire a knowledge of spoken language. 
 
 " It is easier to communicate knowledge by panto- 
 mimic language to deaf mutes, than to teach them 
 how to read on the lips of their master. The lan- 
 guage of signs is so expressive and intelligible, that 
 the deaf mutes seem to have the ability to hear 
 through their eyes. When a pupil entering into the 
 institution, is brought into the school-room where a 
 class of young pupils is assembled, the teacher en- 
 deavors to establish some kind of intercourse with 
 him by showing him some moveable objects, and ques- 
 tioning him concerning their uses. 
 
 " A book for instance, is presented to him, and he 
 is asked what it is for. He answers by a look of 
 wonder. The inquiry is varied, and the teacher asks 
 
304 METHOD OF INSTEUCTING THE DEAF AND DUMB. 
 
 him, by gestures, if the book can be eaten. He 
 answers in the negative, by shalfing his head. 
 
 " The pupil is again questioned about its use. If 
 he catches the idea, bringing the iiands together 
 spread out with the palms upwards to represent an 
 open book, he indicates its use by running the eyes 
 from one side to the other, as if in the act of reading. 
 
 " A key, is represented by the act of turning the 
 hand, in imitation of locking or unlocking; a knife, 
 by whetting ; a pen, by writing ; a watch, by putting 
 it to the ear, or imitating the hands over the dial, 
 and a hat, by putting it on the head. 
 
 " The teacher writes on one of the large slates, the 
 name of an object. The pupils have no conception 
 of its meaning. A pupil is called from another class. 
 The teacher points to the name and the pupil points 
 to the object. 
 
 " Other words are then written down, and the ob- 
 jects respectively pointed out. After the pupils have 
 obtained the ideas of them, one of them begins to 
 point to the names and objects, when they receiv'C 
 ideas from this course in connection with the panto- 
 mimic signs of the teacher. 
 
 ** A book entitled the * Elementary Lessons,' pre- 
 pared by the President, containing the Manual 
 Alphabet, or an engraved representation of the diffe- 
 rent positions of the hand and fingers, denoting the 
 letters of the alphabet ; easy lesson in each of which 
 five or six engravings of common objects are repre- 
 sented, and simple words, phrases, and sentences 
 printed, is given to the pupils. 
 
 " They are taught the Manual Alphabet, the cor- 
 
METHOD OF INSTRUCTING THE DEAF AND DUMB. 305 
 
 respondence between the written and printed cha- 
 racter, and then to form letters with a crayon. A 
 word of three or four letters — the names of some ob- 
 jects, such as a hat, a dog, a goat, a horse, &c., is 
 written on the slate. The pupils are required to spell 
 it repeatedly on the fingers, as a hearing child re- 
 peats words in its spelling-book, till the words are 
 retained in its mind. 
 
 The teacher, by pointing to the names of objects, 
 or by spelling them on the fingers, calls forth the ap- 
 propriate gestures from them. The pupils are sum- 
 moned to the large slates, arranged around the room, 
 and, with craj^ons prepared for the purpose, taught 
 to write. The pupils observe the teacher with their 
 eyes closely fixed on him while he expresses by signs, 
 a horse, by placing the two fingers of the hand on 
 each side of the head, and moving them in imitation 
 of the horse's ears. They, receiving the idea of this 
 sign, immediately write the word on the slate, and so 
 in like manner, other words which they have learned. 
 
 " Adjectives denoting color, shape, and size, are 
 added to substantives. Appropriate signs are made, 
 indicating such qualities as black, white, red, long, 
 short, thick and thin. These words in adjectives, 
 placed before nouns, are written on the slate by the 
 teacher, and illustrated by signs ; and the pupils 
 commit them to memory by means of the manual 
 alphabet, and then recite them in written language. 
 
 ^' In this way the pupils advance step by step, from 
 the simple to the more difiicult parts of language, till 
 they have acquired a knowledge of the proper use of 
 language in all its variety of forms. They obtain 
 
S06 
 
 METHOD OF INSTRUCTING THE DEAF AND DUMB. 
 
 such an acquaintance with the various phrases of 
 languages, by much practice and care in reading, 
 that they are able to express their thoughts freely, in 
 correct language. 
 
 " I should inform you that Messrs. Clerc, Loring, 
 Spofford, Carlin, and other distinguished deaf mutes, 
 have made proficiency in the acquisition of language, 
 and can write as elegantly as many intelligent 
 speaking people. 
 
 " The art of teaching deaf mutes through the 
 medium of signs, leads us to admire the power and 
 wisdom of our Almighty Maker who has placed 
 benevolent institutions for the deaf and dumb on the 
 earth by the influence of his word." 
 
 " I. H. B." 
 
 A a 
 
 MANUAL ALPHABET. 
 
 B b 
 
 D.d 
 
 C c 
 
 Ff 
 
MANUAL ALPHABKT. 
 
 307 
 
 S s 
 
 T t 
 
 U.VL 
 
 \>/ 
 
308 
 
 BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 Vv 
 
 Wa ^^ 
 
 There are many other benevolent societies and in- 
 stitutions which are well worthy of notice in our 
 goodly town. But to speak of them all in detail, 
 would altogether extend the volume beyond our in- 
 tended limits. Some of the principal and most im- 
 portant ones, together with those which I have no- 
 ticed, will be found in the table below. 
 
 BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. 
 
 Institution for the Blind. 
 Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. 
 Bloomingdale Asylum for the Insane. 
 Magdalen Female Benevolent Asylum 
 New-York Orphan Asylum. 
 Catholic Orphan Asylum. 
 
 Do. Half-Orphan Asylum. 
 Mariners' Family Industrial Society. 
 Protestant Half-Orphan Asylum. 
 
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. 309 
 
 Leake and Watts Orphan House. 
 
 Colored Orphan Asylum. 
 
 Colored Home. 
 
 Sailors' Home. 
 
 Asylum for Respectable, Aged, Indigent Females. 
 
 Home for Sailors' Children. 
 
 House of Industry and Home for the Friendless, 
 
 Home for Discharged Prisoners. 
 
 House and School of Industry. 
 
 Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of 
 
 Medical Men. 
 Ladies' Union Aid Society. 
 Mariners' Family Industrial Society. 
 Asylum for Friendless Boys. 
 
DIVERSITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES. 
 
 In this city may be found, as I have already inti- 
 mated, almost every modification of character, con- 
 dition and pursuit. Some put their best foot forward, 
 and some their worst ; for it can hardly be denied 
 that some actually appear worse in some respects 
 than they really are ; while in that deception which 
 is the most common the world over, the great ma- 
 jority are possibly largely involved. Ah, yes, many 
 who at the first view appear to be almost without 
 faults, are almost or altogether destitute of every- 
 thing else. 
 
 But this is not all. A man's condition in town, as 
 well as everywhere else, is greatly modified by the 
 view he takes of it. Some are actually more happy 
 in barracks and garrets, than others are in glittering 
 palaces and towering mansions, surrounded by a re- 
 tinue of servants, whose enjoj^ments are often greater 
 than their masters', notwithstanding the latter roll in 
 wealth, and lounge on velveted divans to inherit ma- 
 nia, gout, dyspepsia, and hypocondriasis. 
 
 Some in town are rich without a dollar, and others 
 are miserably poor with gold and silver enough to 
 crush them. 
 
 I have seen old men at thirty, and young men at 
 seventy. 
 
 I have heard men of little sense and less virtue 
 
VICTIMS TO FOLLY. 311 
 
 extolled for their wisdom, and praised for their good 
 deeds, while the wise and upright were denounced as 
 fools and bigots. 
 
 VICTIMS TO FOLLY. 
 
 I have seen men go on headlong in business as 
 though they would drive all before them, but 
 it was soon evident that they were driving down 
 hill ! 
 
 I have seen individuals who seemed to be so con- 
 stituted that it made them unhappy to see any man 
 have a larger house, a faster horse, a swifter dog, a 
 better coat, or a brighter button. I have moreover, 
 seen them exchange a convenient, comfortable dwell- 
 ing, for a larger and possibly more splendid, and 
 positively more expensive edifice, where to their great 
 disappointment they took far less comfort than be- 
 fore, and where, to their shame and ruin, the redjiag^ 
 that significant emblem, soon fluttered in the wind 
 over their door, advertising an auction^ and telling 
 their creditors that they were lucky if they got fifty 
 cents on a dollar. And I thought of Franklin's con- 
 clusion in regard to buying the whistle. 
 
 I have seen individuals determined to follow the 
 fashion, no matter how expensive, no matter how ri- 
 diculous, no matter how pernicious to health. And, 
 more than this, I have seen them sicken and die, vic- 
 tims to their own folly ! 
 
 I have seen men go on increasing their dominions, 
 spreading themselves out " like a green bay-tree," 
 adding dollar to dollar, and lot to lot, and house to 
 house, heaping up treasure and hoarding up wealth, 
 
312 VICTIMS TO FOLLY. 
 
 with which to ruin their children and distract them- 
 selves. They frequently begin the world with nothing 
 but good health and good habits, and too often leave 
 their offspring without either, because they have 
 sadly neglected to train them up in the way that they 
 should go. 
 
 True, these successful citizens intend that all their 
 prosperity shall largely contribute to their children's 
 welfare ; but the future too often discloses their mis- 
 take. When it is too late, they discover that they 
 have exhibited more sagacity in obtaining means 
 with which to foster pride, and encourage idleness, 
 dissipation, and prodigality, than in inculcating right 
 principles and habits. And without any " guessing," 
 I hesitate not in the least to say that there are more 
 than ten thus ruined in the city, to one in the coun- 
 try. 
 
 But perhaps the reader may say, " Give us an ex- 
 ample." Well, enough could be given to fill a vo- 
 lume. One, however, will suffice. 
 
 A certain down-town merchant who had been 
 greatly prospered in business, took into co-partner- 
 ship with him, two sons. The older son, in addition 
 to his share of the profits, received annually ten thou- 
 sand dollars for entertaining their customers, friends 
 and others with dinners, suppers, champagne, &c. 
 
 At length the father said to his sons, " Well, I have 
 made money enough, and therefore I do not wish any 
 of the profits of the concern ; so take it and make as 
 much for yourselves as you can. Here is a splendid 
 business, long established. You have plenty of ca- 
 
VICTIMS OF FOLLY. 313 
 
 pital ; no debts to trouble you — no bank notes to pay 
 and nothing to fear." 
 
 But, alas ! it was not long before the father be- 
 came sensible that he had something to fear ! Nei- 
 ther was it long before he advertised the dissolution 
 of the co-partnership, and re-entered the counting- 
 room to discharge existing obligations, and save the 
 reputation and retain the business of the house. 
 
 But could he as easily re-establish a good charac- 
 ter for his sons ? No, never ! Money had no power 
 to do that. 
 
 As it had been the cause of a sad departure from 
 the path of safety, it could not well become the cure. 
 He had unwittingly laid the foundation for a misera- 
 ble superstructure ; and no expostulation, warning, or 
 tears, could now prevent the most disastrous conse- 
 quences. Rum and ruin. Doctor's and delirium 
 tremens, disgrace and distress were the fearful wit- 
 nesses to the folly of the misguided father. 
 
 I have seen a young man, a little less than twenty- 
 one, who was flattered and followed, both day and 
 night, by many professed friends. He lived but a 
 short distance from the writer, and was known to 
 him personally. But why had he so many admirers ? 
 Was it because he was virtuous, industrious, tempe- 
 rate, and useful ? 
 
 Far otherwise. Not one of these traits did he 
 possess ; though he might have possessed them all, 
 had it not been for the folly of his grandfather, who 
 left for him a large fortune, upon which he had 
 already begun to draw. But neither did the money 
 or the man last long. Delirium tremens hurried to a 
 
314 VICTIMS TO FOLLY. 
 
 drunkard's grave, and his poor widowed mother 
 quickly foUov^^ed her ruined son ! 
 
 " But no matter for this," many seem to say, and 
 while they even stand upon the grave's mouth, cry, 
 *' Rum, rum ! No matter how many tears, and 
 groans, and broken vows, and broken hearts — no 
 matter who lives — who dies — only give us a little 
 more money and a little more rum /" 
 
DEATH-BED SCENES. 
 
 I have seen men bid adieu to the joys and sorrows 
 of earth, under a variety of circumstances. Stran- 
 gers sometimes come to town to do the business of a 
 day, or a week, and are suddenly and unexpectedly 
 prostrated by disease, and hurried to the tomb. Not 
 however, because the city is prejudicial to life, 
 so much, as because their " time is up," as the poor 
 maniac said, in the " Tombs" after hanging himself. 
 
 Others, who live to a good old age, and hardly 
 breathe outside the city, leave the town almost or 
 quite, for the first time, as they fly away to the spirit- 
 land. 
 
 Some die among strangers, yet surrounded with 
 sympathizing friends. Others leave the world in the 
 midst of kindred, and leave more behind to rejoice 
 than mourn. 
 
 A greater diversity of circumstances, and a more 
 frequent approach of the " King of terrors," was per- 
 haps never experienced in this city than in the 
 Cholera 3^ear 1849, when, from all diseases, the aver- 
 age mortality for the j^ear was one death in every 
 twenty-two minutes and tw^enty seconds, and for two 
 weeks, one death in every seven minutes and fourteen 
 seconds ! 
 
316 DEATH-BED SCENES. 
 
 DEATH OF A STRANGER. 
 
 I once saw a poor man suddenly cut down by dis- 
 ease, under circumstances somewhat trying. He 
 was a stranger in a strange land. He had neither 
 kindred to sympathize with him during his suffer- 
 ings, nor friends to mourn for him, after his depar- 
 ture. 
 
 But he had one to watch for the last breath, as a 
 hungry shark waits and watches for the lifeless 
 corpse. 
 
 I found him in a garret, sitting up in bed, laboring 
 under very difficult respiration, and although it was 
 at once apparent that he was in a critical condition, 
 yet I did not suspect his end to be so near. 
 
 Soon after my arrival, he turned his attention to 
 the woman with whom he was boarding, and began 
 to give directions concerning his burial, &c. She 
 tried to persuade him that he was not going to die, 
 and endeavored to turn his thoughts in another 
 direction. 
 
 But he knew better than that, and steadily perse- 
 vered as he was able to speak. He told her how 
 and where he wanted to be buried — how to dispose 
 of his watch, clothes, &c., naming certain individuals 
 with whom he had become partially acquainted, 
 although but a few weeks in the new world, and to 
 whom he desired to give the articles mentioned. He 
 then said, " Pay the doctor out of my money which 
 you have in your possession, and keep the rest your- 
 self," all of which she promised to do, and he laid 
 down, and was dead in less than ten minutes ! 
 
DEATH-BED SCENES. 317 
 
 At that moment, a man came in, her husband per- 
 haps, though I know not that she had any, and I 
 hope that she had not, and she said to him, ^' See ! 
 this man is dead, and he told me, the last thing that 
 he said, that I should have all his things for my 
 trouble, and the doctor heard him ;" and as she ap- 
 pealed to me to sanction as black a lie as was ever 
 told, I must confess that I was so thunderstruck at 
 her audacious robbery, that instead of disputing her 
 over the dead body not half cold, I hurried away out 
 of her sight, and was afterwards provoked with 
 myself that I neglected to have her arrested. 
 
 I have also seen the rich, both old and young, 
 sicken and die, while surrounded by friends, physi- 
 cians, kindred, comforts, and every desirable agent 
 that earth could furnish. Every thing that it was 
 possible for man to do, v/as done to preserve the 
 " brittle thread of life ;" yet death w^as too much for 
 all. " The silver cord was loosed, the golden bowl 
 was broken, the pitcher broken at the fountain, and 
 wheel broken at the cistern," and " the mourners 
 went about the streets." 
 
 I have seen a little one who was too young to 
 know aught of the destiny of mortals, or the wages 
 of sin — fade away under the withering touch of the 
 ** King of Terrors," like a tender bud nipped by a 
 premature frost. I have heard him cry and moan 
 with a solemn tone — have felt the unnatural beating 
 of a struggling, fluttering heart ; and as he drew 
 nearer and still nearer to the gates of death, I have 
 seen the father with aching heart drop a tear, and turn 
 
318 DEATH-BED SCENES. 
 
 aside to roll ofi^ a portion of his burden upon Him 
 who has an ear to hear, and is might}^ to save. 
 
 I heard the stricken mother, sigh, and cry aloud in 
 anguish of spirit, "O Savior of the World, have 
 mercy on my child !" and she walked the room, and 
 wrung her hands, and kissed her babe, and watched 
 and wept, and groaned, and prayed, and said, " What 
 shall I do ?" while the little sufferer panted on, breath- 
 ing shorter and shorter, and growing weaker and 
 weaker. 
 
 The house, almost as still as the grave, except an 
 occasional outburst of grief — a whisper from the 
 nurse, or a stifled sigh, appeared unlike surrounding 
 habitations, while the voice of death seemed to ac- 
 company the noiseless footsteps of every attendant, 
 and the dim glimmering, half-extinguished flame of 
 the gas-burner, threw over the patient, spectators, 
 and every thing present, such lurid rays as seemed 
 mournfully appropriate, where the lamp of life had 
 almost ceased to burn ! 
 
 The physician did all that he could do, and friends 
 and attendants did all that they could do to keep the 
 tender lamb a little longer in the dark, cold, perilous 
 valley of earth ; but Death, the best friend of all, 
 opened the gate, and welcomed the little sufferer 
 into the Paradise of God, but left the bereaved 
 parents behind, to morn their loss, of which they 
 were prone to be more sensible, than of its gain. 
 
 Although it is hard, very hard, for parents to part 
 with their tender offspring — to cover them up in the 
 dark, cold grave, to moulder in the dust; yet whenever 
 I see a little one cut down, and hurried away from 
 
DEATH-BED SCENES. 319 
 
 this unfriendly, sinful, selfish world, I feel almost con- 
 strained to cry out, a happy escape, and feel that it 
 would be a sin to wish it back. 
 
 I once witnessed a death-bed scene in the city that 
 I shall not soon forget. The sufferer was a lovely 
 boy about six years of age, the son of a worthy phy- 
 sician. 
 
 It had been remarked, prior to his illness, that he 
 was no ordinary child. He took a deep interest in 
 Missions, and all benevolent institutions : more es- 
 pecially the Sabbath School enterprise. He had a 
 sweet disposition, pure spirit, and heavenly tempera- 
 ment. But at no time did the heaven-born spirit 
 within, exhibit its lovely traits in such a glorious and 
 touching manner, as during the hours of extreme 
 bodily suffering. I felt that the place contained the 
 inhabitants of Heaven, even ministering spirits. 
 
 Moreover, I was conscious that it was such a scene 
 as I might never again witness, and was, therefore, re- 
 luctant to leave the spot. Accordingly, although aware 
 that I could be of very little service to the poor, suf- 
 fering boy, I proposed to stay with him through the 
 night, and felt that it was a privilege that my servi- 
 ces were accepted. 
 
 That night was a night by itself I have seen 
 brighter nights, and darker nights — nights of greater 
 joy, and deeper grief. But I never saw such a 
 night. 
 
 Probably the reader is aware that one of the most 
 distressing maladies with which poor mortals ever 
 suffer, and especially the young, is the croup. This 
 was the terrible disease which had been commission- 
 
320 DEATH-BED SCENES. 
 
 ed to tear down the clayey tabernacle, and remove 
 the spirit — too pure for earth to longer tarnish, to a 
 brighter abode. 
 
 To die of croup, is to be suffocated by inches. The 
 disease is inflammation of the windpipe, which gra- 
 dually and entirely closes it, so that breathing ulti- 
 mately becomes as much impossible as if the person 
 was hung up by the neck. 
 
 But, notwithstanding his intense suffering, I scarce- 
 ly ever saw a patient, old or young, so composed and 
 uncomplaining. He was as patient as a lamb, and 
 conducted like a man ripe for heaven. Indeed his 
 name was already registered there, in the Book of 
 Life. I did not, and do not doubt it. 
 
 From the nature of his disease it was very difficult 
 for him to speak. While his father, mother, and my- 
 self were standing around his bed, in breathless anxie- 
 ty, he suddenly raised his head and whispered forth a 
 request which was, that an absent member of the 
 family might be called in. Although we knew not 
 the object of the request, it was quickly granted. 
 
 When the individual arrived, he kissed her and 
 bade her good bye. Then, he deliberatel}^ called for 
 another, and kissed, and affectionately parted with 
 that individual in the same way. And thus he pro- 
 ceeded until he had given every member of the house- 
 hold, ten or a dozen, a parting kiss, in the most affec- 
 tionate and solemn manner. All this was of his own 
 accord, as not a word had been said to him on the 
 subject. 
 
 After this, his father and mother retired to an ad- 
 joining room to get a little rest, and I carefully 
 
DEATH-BED SCENES. 321 
 
 watched the receding tide of life, without perceiving 
 any very marked change, for perhaps two hours. At 
 length I thought the time of his departure had ar- 
 rived, and accordingly called his parents. He made 
 a motion to be raised up, and his father took him up 
 in his arms, and carried him into an adjoining room, 
 and he lifted his radiant eyes, pointing upward, and 
 said, " Father, see the angels.^^ I thought that the 
 dear boy was expiring in his father's arms, though 
 he again revived. 
 
 But he is no longer within the reach or region of 
 suffering. The little seraph is chanting heavenly 
 anthems where the weary are at rest. Blessed little 
 angel, sing on, for "mortality is swallowed up of 
 life." Sing on with sweet and countless voices, the 
 blessed angels did conduct thee home. Sing on, sing 
 praises forever more to Him whom thou didst love in 
 life, and trust in death, and meet in glory everlast- 
 ing. For a little season, blessed boy, farewell. Hap- 
 py George, farewell. 
 21 
 
GREENWOOD CEMETERY. 
 
 In conclusion, it may be proper to turn our thouglits, 
 for a moment, whither we are all tending, namely, to 
 the tomb. And no resting place for those who slum- 
 ber in the dust, can be more appropriately noticed on 
 the present occasion, than "Greenwood Cemetery," 
 although it is not in New York, being on Long 
 Island, about four miles from the city, and near to the 
 suburbs of Brooklyn. 
 
 It is well, for more reasons than one, to have such 
 a sacred spot removed from the bustling, intruding 
 disturbing multitude. 
 
 For those of my readers who have visited this spot, 
 which has become so celebrated for its beauty and 
 fitness for the purposes for which it has been set 
 apart, I have nothing to offer that will be new. For 
 those w^ho have been less favored, the following 
 brief and imperfect sketch is designed. 
 
 This lovely, consecrated spot, where the old and 
 the young, in unbroken and unconscious silence, 
 slumber and moulder, is highly picturesque in its 
 appearance, and strikingly and invitingly beautiful, 
 as it appears in nature's loveliest attire, to the ad- 
 miration of all who visit it, especially in the sum- 
 mer season. 
 
 This city of the dead was chartered in 1838, and 
 the grounds were opened for interments in 1842. It 
 
GREENWOOD CEMETERY. 323 
 
 is a public Institution, unconnected with any pur- 
 poses of profit or gain to any individual whatsoever. 
 All the receipts of the Institution must be expended 
 in improving the grounds, &c. 
 
 The grounds contain over 250 acres, composed 
 
 of hills and dells, lakes and vales, lawns and 
 
 groves, and cliffs and mounds, together with almost 
 
 umberless labyrinthine a, venues, in which it is 
 
 auch easier for the traveller to lose his way than 
 
 o find it. 
 
 The size of an ordinary burial lot is 12 by 25 feet, 
 tvith an allowance of an extra foot on the margin 
 .or the purposes of inclosure. Such a lot costs $110. 
 Half lots can be obtained at proportionate rates. 
 The form of the lot varies according to circum- 
 stances. Lots for single graves for adults are sold 
 at 810, and for children under ten years of age, $5, 
 
 The ground is exempt from all taxes, and q^ot sub- 
 ject to any assessment for improvements, and hence 
 the proprietor cannot be forcibly deprived of his pos- 
 session, though he has a perfect right to sell, at his 
 pleasure. 
 
 Although this lovely spot has not yet been occu- 
 pied ten years by earth's silent sleepers, yet it contains 
 the last remains of many loved and cherished ones, 
 and day by day receives the out-gushing memo- 
 rials of affection, while others are gently borne to 
 the bosom of the cold and insatiable grave. 
 
 In the year 1805, thecity of New-York contained a 
 population of 75,770. Since that time up to January, 
 1851, there have been 279,148 interments, or more 
 inhabitants buried than the city contained as late as 
 
324 GREENWOOD CEMETERY. 
 
 1835, and more than any other city in the Union now 
 contains, with one exception. Such solemn and de- 
 cisive proof of our mortality, seems to say, select a 
 proper place for your dead, and " bury them out of 
 your sight." 
 
 On this lovely spot may be seen many monuments 
 of great beauty and appropriate design. But in 
 looking at these works of art, one is sometimes re- 
 minded of the folly which is so frequently exhibited 
 by living mortals who spare no time or expense in 
 beautifying a spot for a handful of dust and ashes, 
 •while they make no provision for the immortal spi- 
 rit, which, with ever-expanding and ever-enduring 
 capacity, will forever strive in vain to fully compre- 
 hend the cost and consequences of such a fatal, wo- 
 ful mistake. 
 
 Among the monuments of Greenwood Cemetery 
 there are none which attract more attention than 
 that which points out the resting-place of Charlotte 
 Cauda. 
 
 Miss Cauda was a young lady of superior attain- 
 ments, and lovely disposition, as many in the city 
 very well know, and while returning home from the 
 festive enjoyments of a small part}^ of friends, on the 
 evening of her seventeenth birth-day, her sudden and 
 unlooked-for death cast a shade of gloom over the 
 community. 
 
 Her father left the carriage to accompany a young 
 friend of hers into her residence, while she remained 
 in the vehicle ; but before he returned, the horses 
 took fright and ran away, while the driver was stand- 
 ing on the side-walk, and as they turned the cor- 
 
GREENWOOD CEMETERY. 325 
 
 ner of one of our streets, she either fell out, or 
 jumped out, and was killed, almost instantly. 
 
 The principal features of Miss Canda's monument, 
 it is said, were sketched by herself, though intended 
 as a tribute to a friend. The expense of the Mauso- 
 leum, it is supposed, was about #25,000. 
 
 "The extent and magnificence of the work, the 
 variety and richness of its details, its significant and 
 symbolic sculpture, its profusion of ornament — in 
 fine, its lavish beauty, and ungrudged expense, could 
 not fail to make it an object of strong attraction," 
 and " in it were seen the records of grief too vast for 
 utterance." — {Greenwood Directory.) 
 
 But as I have already far exceeded the intended 
 limits of this work, I must draw to a close. The 
 highest points of this beautiful and sacred spot, com- 
 mand a magnificent view of neighboring cities, love- 
 ly islands, the noble and capacious bay, and the sur- 
 rounding country ; and every way it is justly entitled 
 to the admiration of the spectator, whether citizen or 
 stranger. 
 
 But, after all. Greenwood Cemetery is but a very 
 feeble representation of earth's great grave-yard. 
 Wherever we go, the dust which cleaves to our feet, 
 settles upon our garments, or floats upon the breeze, 
 has, for aught we can tell, formed an important part 
 of the eye which once sparkled with lustrous beau- 
 ty — or the cheek which oft received a mother's kiss ; 
 the tongue, whose eloquence charmed the ear, or the 
 muscular arm before which, the mighty quailed. 
 The unchangeable decree, " Dust thou art, and unto 
 dust shalt thou return," is still sweeping to the gap- 
 
326 GREENWOOD CEMETERY. 
 
 ing tomb, generation after generation in rapid suc- 
 cession with irresistible power, and those who slum- 
 ber in the dust, vastly outnumber the living, and ever 
 will, until that glorious morn when all the unforgot- 
 ten myriads of countless mortals shall hear the blast 
 of the life-giving trumpet, and earth and sea at once 
 give up their dead, both small and great, and every 
 one of Adam's race stand forth with a living, spiri- 
 tual, imperishable body. That will be a glorious 
 day, not only to airthe wise and good, who shall have 
 stood in their lot and place on Manhattan Island, but 
 to all such as shall have finished their day of proba- 
 tion in the triumphs of faith, no matter from whence 
 their dust shall be gathered, nor in what way it shall 
 be united to form a glorious habitation for the thrice 
 happy spirit. O, the blessedness of that Gospel 
 which brings life and immortality to light. 
 
 ** There is a land of pure delight. 
 
 Where saints immortal reign, 
 Infinite day excludes the night. 
 
 And pleasures banish pain.** 
 
BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBF & MILLER. 
 
 Headley's Women of the Bible: Historical and 
 descriptive sketches of tlie Women of the Bible, as maidens, 
 wives, and mothers; from Eve of the Old, to the Marys of 
 the New Testament: by Rev. P. C. Headley, in one 12mo. 
 volume, illustrated — uniform with " Headley's Sacred 
 Mountains." $1,25. 
 
 The author of this work possesses enough traits of resemblance to the author of 
 the Sacred Mountains, to leave no doubt of his right to the name of Headley. There 
 is much of that spirited descriptive power, which has made the elder brother a 
 popular favorite, and gives promise of a successful career on his own account. The 
 sketches are brief, and embody all the historic incidents recorded of them.— New 
 York Evangelist. 
 
 A younger brother of J. T. Headley is the author of this beautiful volume. It will 
 Drobably have a larger circulation than the splendid work issued last fall by the 
 Mef'srs. Appleton, being better adapted for the general reader, in form and price, 
 while it is ornamental enough for the cenlre table. It contains nineteen descriptive 
 biographical sketches, arranged in chronological order, including nearly all the 
 distinguished women of the sacred annals, and forming an outline of Scripture 
 history. The illustrations are from original designs, and are numerous and appro- 
 Criaie. No ordinaxy powers of imagination and expression are shown in the vivid 
 and picturesque descriptions ; and the fine portraitures of character rivet the 
 interest, and set forth the Scripture delineations in a stronger light. Li this respect 
 the book has no rival, for no other is so complete, following so closely at the same 
 time, the sacred narrative. We hope it is but an earnest of other works from the 
 pen of its gifted author. — Home Journal. 
 
 We were so struck with the title of this work, and the prepossessing appearance 
 of its typography, that we have so far departed from the usual course adopted in 
 like cases, as to read carefully the work in hand, before recornrnending it to our 
 readers. And we are prepared to say, that a more attractive volume haa "xot fallen 
 in our way for a long time. It is made up of brief historicarand descriptive eulogies 
 of the most I'emarkable females of a most extraordinary era in the world'« history. 
 The author has appropriated very much of the poetry and romance of the Qible, in 
 the sketches he has given of nineteen women, who have come down to U9 ""hrough 
 their peculiar merits, embalmed in sacred inspiration. Whoever reads the "tory of 
 Sarah, the beautiful Hebrew maiden, the admiration of the Chaldean shephi~.-ds and 
 the pride of her kindred ; or of Rebecca, whom the " faithful steward of Abraham * 
 journeyed to the land of Nahor and selected as the bride of Isaac, and wh^, it is 
 eald, "was rery fair to look upon ;" or of Rachel, the beautiful shephcrde^-s who 
 tended her fiithcr's flocks in the valley of Haran ; or of Merriam, Deborah. Jotha's 
 Daughter, Delilah, Ruth, Queen of Sheba, the Shunamite, Esther, Elizabeth, v^irgin 
 Mary, Dorcas, and others — will read a story far more interesting and attractive than 
 any romance or novel. Every young lady in town should read this work ; ai>i we 
 will venture to say that they will do so if they but once get hold of it, for it is a lMM>k 
 that cannof, be laid aside.— Oswego Times. 
 
BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBX <t MILLER. 
 
 The Life of Gen. Zachary Taylor, 12th Presidem 
 of the United States, broiiglit down to his inauguration 
 Steel portrait, 12mo., muslin; a new edition, by H. Mont 
 gomerj. 81,25. 
 
 *^* 18,000 of the above work have been sold by us. 
 
 "The Life of Gen. Z. Taylor."— S". Montgomery^ Esq., editor of the Auburn 
 Daily Advertiser, has found leisure, amid the multitude of his engagements, lo get 
 up the most respectable looking and carefully prepared biography of the old General 
 we have yet seen. It makes a neat volume, and is printed on excellent paper and 
 new type, and bound in the very best style. It cannot fail to find a tremendous sale ; 
 ft result due alike to the book itself, and the enterprise of its busy publishers. — 
 Albany Evening Journal. 
 
 " Life op General Zachary Taylor, by H. Montgomery,''^ is the latest and 
 most complete of the numerous volumes purporting to be ' Lives' of the General. 
 The author of this work — likewise editor of the Auburn Journal — is already known 
 as a forcible and pleasing writer, handling his subject with a n'.asterly hand ; these 
 characteristics are fully developed in the book before us. The stirring incidents of 
 General Taylor's life, and the recent battles on Mexican soil are well portrayed — 
 the very fair and impartial style of narration being a rare quality in depicting battle 
 scenes. The book will repay an attentivs perusal. — N. Y. Tribune. 
 
 The Life op Major General Zachary Taylor. By H. Montgomery.— 
 Another and still another " illustrated " Life of the gi-eat American, (would that he 
 had as many lives as the publishers give him,) the American whom Carlyle would 
 recognise as " a hero" worthy of his pen's most eloquent recognition ; the man op 
 DUTY in an age of Self. An American in everything ; in valor, in strong musculai 
 sense ; in simplicity and directness and cordiality of feeling ; an American in everj 
 thing, save in devotion to our new political God of Expediency. 
 
 The volume before us is put forth in Auburn, by the editor of the Auburn Dail) 
 Advertiser, whose vigorous, fluent style, and skill in compressing his materials. 
 must make his elegant volume very generally acceptable. Many of the trait: 
 ascribed to General Taylor have been assimilated by some of his admirers to tht. 
 leading military characteristics of Frederick the Great. But, unlike Frederick 
 Taylor is anything but a martinet in discipline ; and, though his movements of smal 
 bodies of troops against vast odds, are characterized by the vigorous will and iroi. 
 determination of Frederick, the arbitrary disposition of the Prussian despot is wholI> 
 alien to his tolerant and candid nature. Taylor's atfectionate and almost parental 
 relation to his soldiers, perhaps, alone first suggested the parallel, as we find it 
 hinted in the following stanza of some verses upon one of his battles, quoted by Mr. 
 Montgomery : 
 
 " • Old Zach !' ' Old Zach !' the war cry rattles 
 
 Among those men of iron tread. 
 As rung ' Old Fritz' in Europe's battles 
 When thus his host Great Frederick led." 
 
 Literary Worui. 
 
BOOKS RECENTLY rUBLISHED BY DERBY & MILLER. 
 
 History of the War with Mexico, from the com 
 mencement of hostilities with the United States, to the 
 ratification of Peace; embracing detailed accounts of the 
 brilliant achievements of Generals Taylor, Scott, Worth, 
 Wool, Twiggs, Kearney, and others; by John S. Jenkins, 
 8yo., 20 illustratians, morocco gilt. $2,50. 
 
 A History of the late war prepared for popular circulation The writer takes a 
 patriotic view of his subject. His narrative of tlie conimeucement of the war would, 
 we presume, not displease Mr. Polk. He follows the campaign throughout with 
 industry and spirit, drawing from public documents, diplomatic correspondence, and 
 tiic newspaper letter writers by the way. More facts, we believe, are brought 
 togeilier than in any single publication of the kind. The narratives of adventure m 
 California, Col. Doniphan's march, and other passages, are told with interest; the 
 writer evidently seeking to make a useful book. The portraits and illustrations of 
 Ecenes are numerous ; the mechanical execution of the whole work being highly 
 creditable to the Auburn publishers. — Literary World. 
 
 This is a volume of over 500 pages. The publishers have brought it out in excel- 
 lent style. The paper, type, printing and binding, are admirable. The book has 
 been written with due regard to accuracy, and in a popular style. It is the most 
 elaborate, and probably llie best History of the War yet published. — Albany 
 Evening Journal. 
 
 We have been unable to notice, until now, this new work from the pen of the 
 author of " The Generals of the last War with Great Britain, etc." In this volume 
 we have at last a complete and interesting history of the late collision between the 
 two Republics of the Continent. To a minute and detailed account of the position 
 and policy of Mexico, the origin and causes of War, are added soul-stirring descrip- 
 tions of the brilliant and successful engagements of our army with the enemy. This 
 narrative is written after a carel'ul examination of the diplomatic correspondenco 
 and the various publications, of a public or private character, that have appeared 
 from time to time, calculated to throw light on the subject. To render the work 
 Blili more interesting and desirable, it has been illustrated with portraits of the most 
 distinguished officers of our own and the Mexican army, with views of the ever 
 memorable battle-fields of Buena Vista and Cerro Gordo. The reputation of tha 
 author will insure for this history a very general circulation.— .4/6ant/ Atlas. 
 
BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBY <fc MILLER. 
 
 The American Fruit Culturist : Bj J. J. Thomas; 
 containing directions for the propagation and culture of 
 Fruit Trees, in the Nursery, Orchard, and Garden; with 
 descriptions of the principal American and Foreign varieties 
 cultivated in the United States: with oOO accurate illustra- 
 tions. 1 volume, of over 400 pages, 12mo. $1,00. 
 
 A cheaper, but- equally valuable book with Downiug's was wanted by the great 
 mass. Just such a work has Mr. Thomas given us. We consider it an invaluable 
 dddiiion to our agricultural libraries. — Wool Grower. 
 
 We predict for it a very rapid sale ; it should be in ihe hands of every fruit growei 
 and especially every nurseryman. It is a very cheap book for its price. — Ohio 
 Cultivator. 
 
 It is a most valuable work to all engaged in the culture of fruit ixees.— Utict- 
 Herald. 
 
 It is a book of great value. — Genesee farmer. 
 
 Among all the writers on fruits, we do not know of one who is Mr. Thomas' 
 ouperior, if his equal, in condensing important matter. He gets right at the pith of 
 the thing — he gives you that which you wish to know at once ; stripped of all use- 
 less talk and twattle. No man has a keener eye for the best ways of doing things. 
 Hense we always look into his writings with the assurance that we shall find some- 
 thing new, or some improvements on the old ; and we are seldom disappomted. 
 This book is no exception. It is full. There is no vacant space in it. It is like a 
 fresh egg— all good, and packed to the shell full.— Prairie Farmer. 
 
 In the volume before us we have the result of the author's experience and obser- 
 vations, continued with untiring pei-severance for many years, in language at once 
 concise and perspicuous.— Albany Cultivator. 
 
 We can say with confidence to our readers, that if you need a book to instruct you 
 in the modes of growing trees, &c., from the first start, the systems of pruning, etc., 
 etc., you will find the American Fruit Culturist an extremely valuable work. The 
 million who purchase it, will find matter adapted to their wants, superior to any 
 work as yet published. — Cleveland Herald. 
 
 For sale in New York by M. H. NEWMAN & CO. and C. M. SAXTON. 
 Boston, B. B. MUSSEY «fe CO. PhUadelphia, THOMAS, COWPERTHWAITE <k 
 CO. 
 
 I^F" Copies in paper covers sent by mail, free of expense, on receipt of $1,00 
 po5t paid. Direct to DERBY & MILLER, 
 
 5-1 ly -y^ 
 
BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBY & MILLER. 
 
 The Life of the Empress Josephine, first vrife 
 of Napoleon. By t*. C. Headley. 12mo., pp. 378. 
 Derby, Miller & Co., Auburn, New York. 
 
 There are few of the female characters of modern history whose lives abound with 
 more interesting events than that of the Empress Josejjhine. Her whole course was 
 one of romantic, and also of tragic interest. If the illustrious husband was eminent, 
 far above all other men of his time, for vast intellect and prodigious achievements, 
 Josephine seemed, in the more lofty and majestic traits of character, to transcend the 
 most distinguished of her female cotemporaries. Like her husband, she is a great 
 subject for biography. Many memoirs have been written of her, possessing more or 
 less merit, but none have been without interest. The author of the present book has, 
 we think, been very successful. It is by far the most interesting history of Josephine 
 that we have yet seen." He seems to have had recourse to the best sources for hi3 
 materials, which he has combined and put together with skill and judgment. His 
 Btyle is flowing, elegant, and often eloquent. In short, it is a book well worth read- 
 ing. It will not fail to attract the public attention. As to the mechanical execution 
 of the book, it is but justice to the proprietors to say, that it will compare favorably 
 with the productions of the press of any city in the Union. It contams a fine mezzo- 
 lint portrait of Josejjhine, showing a beauty of person equalled only by the moral 
 grandeur of her character. — Washington Union. 
 
 It is not without its sparkling gems. Occasional flashes of thought make the rea- 
 der pause to contemplate their~freshness and beauty, and reveal a well-stored mind 
 in sympathy with the noblest human traits, in close communion with the glories of 
 nature. His text, too, is happily chosen. Who lias not felt a lingering, peculiar, 
 undefinable interest in the highly extraordinary and tragic career of the Empress 
 Josephine 1 Would it not extend "this notice too far, we should like to touch the more 
 prominent of the many eventful passages which marked the history of this remark- 
 able child of superstition, to gaze for a moment upon the vascillaling star of her des- 
 tiny, and trace its luminous ascent from the veriest depths of agonizing gloom and 
 despair, to the loftiest i)inacle of worldly splendor and renown, where she grasped 
 for a moment the fleeting phantom of happiness, only to sink again into the arms of 
 misfortune, and feel still more keenly tiie bitter pangs of adversity. But all this will 
 be found in a very readable form in this interesting volume, and we cheerfully com- 
 mend it to notice. — Utica Observer. 
 
 We do not know of a biography of this important and interesting personage, so 
 complete in its historic details, and so congenial to the spirit of her life, as this : 
 while it has also the advantage of a popular style, and of that view of the subject 
 which accords with the general sentiment. Mr.Headley writes in a clear, well-sus- 
 tained and engaging style— evidently entertaining a warm approbation of his subject, 
 and alive to the sublimity and purity of her life. Treating of one of the most impor- 
 tant epochs of French history, the work is finely adapted to enlist the interest of the 
 reader, and to supply a kind and degree of information not readily accessible else- 
 where. It can hardly fail of proving a highly popular, as it is a highly creditable 
 work.— iV. y. Evangelist. 
 
 The writer of this book is a brother of J. T. Headley, the author of" Napoleon and 
 his Marshals" -" Washington and his Generals," &c. There is a strong family re- 
 semblance between the two. The qualities which have given such a wide celebrity 
 to the one, seem to be fully enjoyed by the other. Both brothers are characterized 
 by that peculiar vividness and, so to speak, intensity of style which always makes a 
 book readable and interesting. The " Life of Josephine" possesses much of this pe- 
 culiar charm. The author has studied his subject well and could hardly have chosen 
 a better one to write upon. Josephine is a charmed name to many hearts. There 
 are few who do not feel an interest in her singularly eventful career. At first the 
 daughter of a West India planter, — then the wife of a French nobleman,— anon ti\d 
 consort of Gen. Bonaparte and afterwards Empress of France; — her picture presents 
 us with a scene of constantly increasing brightness, where the dark shades never 
 chase away the light, till we behold her ending a career of dazzling splendor as a de- 
 throned Empress and repudiated wife. Josephine was in many respects a model of » 
 ytaaaxi.— Amherst Express. 
 
BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBY & MILLER. 
 
 The Lives of Mary and Martha, mother and 
 wife of Washington : by Margaret C. Conkiing, 
 with a steel porti-ait, ISmo, scarlet cloth. 
 
 Miss CoNKLiNG, who is a daughter ef Judge Conkimg of Auburn, is favorably 
 known as the auiiior of IIarj)er's iranslaiion of '' Flunan's History ol the Moors 
 oi Spain." She also wrote " Isabel, or the Trials of the Heart." In the prc])aratJo;i 
 oi' the pretty little volume she has done a praiseworthy deed, and we hope she wili 
 receive t)ie reward she merits. She has taught us in the work 
 " how divine a thing 
 A woman may be made." 
 
 The mother and wife of Washington were, in many respects, model women, and 
 the daughters of America will do well to study their character — which is hnely 
 drawn on these pages. — Literary Messenger. 
 
 This beautifully printed and elegantly bound little work, reflecting the highest 
 credit upon the skill and task of the publishers, contains biographical sketches of 
 Mary, the mother, and Martha, the wiie of the Father of his country. It is a most 
 valuable contribution to the history of the American people, embracing not only the 
 great public events of the century during which the subjects lived, but those pictures 
 of home life, and that exhibition of social manners and customs, which constitute 
 the most important part of lil'e, but which, from the (act of their apj)arent triviality 
 and intangibiiuy, the historian generally passes over. The authoress evidently 
 sympathises earnestly with her subject, and feels tiiat in the exhibition ol those 
 womanly virtues which char;t.cterized the heroines ol' lier narrative, she makes the 
 most eloquent plea in favor of the dignity of her sex. It is dedicated to Mrs. Wm 
 H. Sewakd, and contains a finely executed engraving of the wile of Washington. 
 We cordially commend it to the public, and most especially oiu- lady readers.— 
 Syracuse Journal. 
 
 This acceptable and well written volume goes forth upon a happy mission, 
 
 " To teach us how divine a thing 
 
 A woman may be made," 
 by unfolding those charms of cliaracter which belong to the mother and wife of the 
 hero of the Land of the Free ; and in the companionship of which, while they illus- 
 trated the watchful tenderness of a mother, and the conliding atlections of a wile, 
 is shown those iulluences which made up the moral sentiments of a man, whose 
 moral grandeur will be felt in all that is future in government or divine in 
 philosophy ; and one whose name is adored by all nations, as the leader of man in 
 in the progress of government, to that perfection of human rights where all enjoy 
 liberty and equality. To say that flliss Conkiing has fulfilled the task she says a 
 "too partial friendship has assigned her" faultlessly, would perhaps be too 
 unmeasured praise, for perfection is seldom attained ; but it will not be denied but 
 that her biographies are traced in the chaste elegances that belong to the finished 
 periods of a refined style, which fascinates the reader with what she has thus contri- 
 buted to our national literature. 
 
 The design of the volume is, to picture a mother fitting the " Father of his 
 Country '- in a light full of the inexhaustible nobleness of woman's nature, and yet 
 as possessing thai subdued and quiet simplicity, where Truth becomes the Hope on 
 which Faith looks at the future with a smile. The mother ol' Washington was 
 tried in a school of practice where frugal habits and active industry were combined 
 with the proverbial excellences of those Virginia matrons, who were worthy mothers 
 of such men as Washington, Jelferson, Marshall, and Henry. Miss C. has pictured 
 with fidelity and elegance, her views of this remarkable woman ; not less beauii- 
 fuUy has she sketched the character of Martha, the wife ; following her from her 
 brilliant manners as tl-ie Virginia belle, through the various phases of her life, she 
 gives a rapid but comprehensive view of those characteristics which make up the 
 quiet refinement of manners native to her, and which ever gave her the reputation 
 of an accomplished wife and lady. And with peculiar delicacy Miss Conkiing haa 
 portrayed the thousand virtues with which she embellished a home ; her amiable 
 disposition and winning manners made the happiest to the purest and best of al. 
 jaen fame has chosen for its noblest achievments.— Syracuse Star. 
 
BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBY <Si MILLER. 
 
 The Odd Fellows' Amulet : or the principles of Odd 
 Fellowship defined ; the objections to the order answered ; 
 and its advantages maintained ; with an addi'ess to the pub- 
 lic, the ladies, and the order. By Rev. D. W. Bristol, Pas- 
 tor of the M. E. Church, and P. G. of Osco Lodge, No. 304, 
 at Auburn, IST. Y. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Bristol, the author of the above work, is a popular clergyman of tha 
 Methodist church. He appears to have written the work not merely for Odd FellowSj 
 but to disabuse the public mind, if possible, of prejudices formed against the Order. 
 A spirit and design of apparent sincerity appears to pervade the entire work, and the 
 writer discusses his themes and meets the objections urged against Odd Fellows, with 
 a great deal of candor and respect. No person, we think, can read it, whatever may 
 have been his prejudices hitherto, without having those prejudices at least, conside- 
 rably softened, if not wholly taken away. The style of the writer is captivating, 
 while the arrangement and classification of his subjects adds interest to the volume. 
 We have no hesitancy in recommending the Amulet as a book that may be read by 
 the public. — Genesee Evangelist. 
 
 We have wiled away several hours pleasantly and profitably in its perusal, and can 
 recommend it as a work deserving of a large circulation. The principles of the Or- 
 der are set forth by its auihor, the Rev. D. W. Bristol, a distinguished Methodist 
 clergyman, in a masterly manner, objections instituted by many to the Order, are 
 fairly tested, and answered in a mild and satisfactory way. It is a cheap and useful 
 v/ork, and we cheerfully recommend it to public favor.— M/rro?- of the Times. 
 
 Able and exceedingly interesting articles, that we would most cordially commend 
 to the attention of every reader, while we are gratified at being able to bring them 
 under the notice of members of the great Order. The work contains also Addresses 
 by Rev. D. W. Bristol, and is embellished with several fine Steel Engravings. Fully 
 and correctly defining the principles of O. F., it should fill a niche in the library of 
 every Odd Fellow, where it will furnish a mine of valuable matter whence he can 
 draw at all times for the facts illustrative of the great principles of the noble institu 
 lion of Odd Fellowship. — Golden Rule. 
 
 It is an excellent work, and worthy of the patronage of the Order. The objections 
 often urged against our institution, are most thoroughly exammed, and ably answer- 
 ed. The book is got up in good style, and is offered at a low price.— 27*6 Ark. 
 
 We should think that every lover of the Order which this book upholds would 
 adorn his library with it ; and every person that is opposed to it should also have 
 one so that they could see their objections answered. We would say to every lover 
 of the poor and afflicted, buy one and peruse it for yourselves and see what the Odd 
 Fellows do for them. Its motto is " Do unto others as ye would have others do unto 
 you."— T^Ae Bee. 
 
 This is a clear, forcible, and well written exposition of the subjects above named > 
 and a book that every Odd Fellow in the country should be in possession of. The 
 work is well got up, and embellished with several fine engravings appropriate to the 
 subject of which it treats. It is sold at the low price of one dollar^ and can be mailed 
 to any part of the United States.— £a»ner of the Union. 
 
BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBY 4 MILLER. 
 
 The Young Man's Book : or Lectures for the Times 
 By William W. Patton. One 12mo. voL 
 
 The lectures contained in this volume are not made up of merely common placa 
 remarks. They are elevates! in sentiment, chaste in style, and impressive in manner. 
 No person who reads the volume can fail to pi'otit by it, or to admire the evangelical 
 views and elegant language of the author. The work deserves to be a favorite with 
 young men.— Norther7i Christian Advocate. 
 
 It is a genial, earnest, manly book. The author is himself a remarkable example 
 of independent thinking and philanthropic feeling. The bugle note which he sounds 
 to young men is no uncertain sound. He goes with his whole soul for bettering the 
 world, where he thinks it bad, and few of the young men who heard his lectures oi 
 shall read his book, will not be strongly inclined to go with him. We cordially advise 
 all young men who are anxious to do and be something in this universe, to cultivate 
 an acquaintance with Mr. Patton or his hook.— Boston Chronotype. 
 
 There are seven lectures in this volume devoted to subjects rather unusual in a 
 work of this kind, and having the impress of earnest feeling and reflection. That 
 Bome of the points are overstated does not detract from the exceeding value and im- 
 portance of most of the views presented- all the more important because so infre- 
 quently attended to in the pulpit, or in works designed for the young. The book i.s 
 written in a perspicuous and forcible style, and both from its matter and spirit is 
 likely to become popular and useful. — Neio York Evangelist. 
 
 This is an excellent book— excellent in its purpose, in its execution, and in its 
 adaptation to the present day. In some respects this book di tiers from all kindred 
 works that we have seen. As a writer Mr. Patton is lucid, earnest, and direct, never 
 obscure and seldom other than forcible. Regarded merely as a literary perlbrmance 
 we must pronounce these lectures highly creditable. Their timely and important 
 moral inculcations should commend them more especially to the friends of religion 
 and entitle them to a place in every christian household. — Charter Oak. 
 
 These are able and earnest lectures to young men, delivered to the author's con 
 gregation in Hartford, and contain many valuable considerations and glowing appeals 
 to rouse the youth to diligence, courage, and faith in the struggle of life. — New York 
 Observer. 
 
 The counsels, warnings, and encouragements, to the young, contained in this vol- 
 ume, are, as desisned, adapted to the times. It is interesting in its style as well as 
 matter, and cannot fail to profit that class to whom it is addressed.— 7'Ae {Boston) 
 Puritan. 
 
 The author of these lectures is himsel f a young man. He has addressed those of 
 his own age, not with the stern reproof or grave counsel of a father, but with the af- 
 fectionate entreaty, kind, yet faithful warning of a brother. The subjects of the lec- 
 tures are judiciously selected and cannot fail of doing good to those wlio are soon to 
 bear the burdens and responsibilities of society.— Boston Recorder. 
 
 A volume of lectures, seven in number, on subjects of vast importance, and writ- 
 ten with much force. The book will profit those who read it. — New York Co77imer- 
 cial Advertiser. 
 
 The lectures were delivered on Sabbath evenings to densely crowded audiences, 
 and were spoken of in terms of high praise at the time. At the request of many who 
 heard them they are now published. The lectures are valuable, containing a vast 
 amount of goodadvice and information for that class of persons for whom they were 
 originally designed, and in a time like the present, when pernicious literature ap- 
 pears to be the order of the day, they are still mors acceptable.— (i7ar//br<i) Chris- 
 tian Secretary. 
 
 We can positively say that the object of the work is most praiseworthy, the sub- 
 jects treated of are im))ortant, the counsels it contains are weighty, and are enforced 
 in a happy style with a spirit well calculated to gain the attention of those who are 
 addressed. — Hartford (Ct.) Courant. 
 
 In design and execution it is worthy to go side by side with the late popvlar ane" 
 widely circulated work known as Beacher's LectQres to Young Men. The fifth lee 
 ture is well suited to our columns and we hope to give it a place ere long.— iV. Y 
 Advocate and Family Guardian. 
 
The American Lady's System o£ Cookery, com- 
 prising every variety of information for ordinary and Holiday 
 occasions. By ]Mrs. T. J. Crovten. 
 
 The "American System of Cookery " is a capital book of its class, and for which 
 we bespeak the good word of all thrifty housekeepers. It introduces us into a wil- 
 derness of sweets, where no rude surfeit reigns! The almost innumerable variety of 
 good things, clearly and orderly set forth, is most apetizing for the hungry reader, 
 just before dinner. 
 
 Here is an American housewife, sensible and thrifty, who has laid down directions 
 for making all sorts of dishes, baking all kinds of cakes and pies, manufacturing every 
 variety of confectionery, preserving, pickling, «Src., so plainly that a housekeeper of 
 a week's standing can easily act upon her directions, and yet taken so comprehensive 
 a sco]>e, that the very best and most skilful will find something new. We take for 
 granted, that as the latest, it is the best book of its class. 
 
 The vvnter of this volume has previously published a similar work, on a smaller 
 scale — " Every Lady's Book" — of which more than two hundred thousand copies are 
 said to have been sold. If this is not populaiity, we know not what is.— Literary 
 World. 
 
 The "American System of Cookery," is the title of a goodly sized duodecimo, pub- 
 lished in New York. The authoress of this work has obtained considerable celebrity, 
 by a work which she entitled " Every Lady's hook," and we believe she will add tc 
 her deserved credit by the present volume, which conies home to the stomach of 
 every man. The receipts are abundant and practical. — North American. 
 
 Of all the reforms, none is more loudly called for than one in American Cookery— 
 that being one in which everybody is mterested. That the national health would be 
 belter, if the national kitchen were more philosophically and phyorologically mana- 
 ged, there seems to be no doubt anywhere. Even morals suffer, beyond question, 
 through the influence of crude, ill-selected aliment. Who knows but the Mexicix- 
 war may be traced to an ill-cooked, ill-assorted, contradictory, and irritating cabint^o 
 dinner 7 
 
 A Lady of New York tells us how to make a great many nice, wholesome thmgS; 
 and we beg our readers not to imagine we speak rashly, or even theoretically, upon 
 this all-important subject— we have tasted, and we testify without a misgiving. " The 
 proof of the pudding," etc. — Union Magazine. 
 
 Thus our wife settles the question. The same author's " Every Lady's Book," she 
 said, might be useful for some folks, but the real simon pure, Yankee, American 
 Cook Book, was the thing exactly, just such a book as she should have made, if she 
 had cooked it up herself. She says it is made on common sense principles ; the rulea 
 are exactly such as sensible folks follow in this democratic land, who regard taste, 
 health, and economy. Our wife says, that, with some Cook Books, one has to deduct 
 half the spice, shortning and sugar. Our book, however, as our wife declares, i3 
 practicable, and is to be followed to the letter .—Central Washingtonian News. 
 
 This book is compiled by a person of practical knowledge of the subject, who, as 
 stated in the preface, has been for the last eight years employed in collecting infor- 
 mation on the subject of the work, and in reducing to practice the receipts obtained. 
 — Evening Post. 
 
 By the spiciness of the preface, and by the very funny epistle with which the au- 
 thoress of this book sends us a copy, we cannot doubt her to be a woman of talent ; 
 and as Mrs. Child has applied her "genins to the making of such a book, we can be- 
 lieve even a Cooking Book may be belter for genius in the writer.— jyome Journal. 
 
 This appears to be the most complete and satisfactory collection of receipts m the 
 culinary art, which the skill and enterprise of American ladies, devoted to the subject, 
 have produced. It contains a large amount of matter in a volume of very good size, 
 as a manual, and we have confidence, from the decided testimony of those who have 
 tested its merits, in recommending it to house-keepers.— Pro^esZanf Churchman, 
 
BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBY & MILLER. 
 
 G-olden Steps to Respectability, Usefulness and 
 Happiness ; being a series of Lectures to the youth of 
 both sexes on Character, Principles, Associates, Amuse- 
 ments, Rehgion, and Marriage. By John Mather Austin. 
 Derby, Miller & Co., Auburn, 1850. 243 pp. 
 
 The author of this book is a writer of superior attraction, and has here selected a 
 subject of deep interest. Could the youth of the country be induced to exchange the 
 Buntline, Lippard, and Ingraham literature of the day, for such reading as this, the 
 benefits to themselves and society would be incalculable. — Lockport Courier. 
 
 We honor the heart of the writer of this volume as well as his head. He has here 
 addressed an earnest and manly aj^peal to the young, every page of which proves his 
 sincerity and his desire for their welfare. The subjects treated of in the diflerent lec- 
 tures are those indicated on the title page. Integrity and virtue, usefulness, truth 
 and honor, are the " Golden Steps " by which the young may ascend to respectability, 
 usefulness, and happiness. We trust the seed thus sown will not be without its fruit, 
 and that his readers will imbibe the spirit of the motto he has chosen — 
 " Onward ! onward ! toils despising. 
 Upward ! upward ! turn thine eyes, 
 Only be content when rising, 
 Fix thy goal amid the skies." 
 ^Albany State Register. 
 
 The work of Mr. Austin, written in a pleasing style, and nervous and pointed in it» 
 argumentation, will hold a prominent position among the fortunate endeavors by 
 which the rising generation are to be influenced. The volume before us is beautiful 
 in its exterior, and this, combined with the aim of the author, in which he has admi- 
 rably succeeded, will give it a wide range, and secure for it, we hope, an invaluable 
 influence.— ^u^a^o Christian Advocate. 
 
 A plain, familiar, forcible exposition of the duties and responsibilities of Youth, 
 which can hardly be read without exerting a salutary and lasting influence. Judging 
 from the popularity of Mr. Austin's former works, we predict for it a wide circula- 
 tion.-— iVcu? York Tribune. 
 
 If the precepts eloquently and forcibly urged in these pages could be brought homo 
 and impressed upon the minds of the mass of youth in our land, they would confei 
 lasting and incalculable benefits upon the rising generation. We cordially commend 
 this work to the attention of the young and all who have charge of them. 
 
 The publishers have executed their work admirable, and have brought out an ele 
 gant and beautiful book. Their work will compare favorably with any of the Ne\» 
 York houses.— TVoy Post. 
 
 The following extract has reference to iha " golden steps" of the Presideat of th 
 raited States, Millard Fillmore :— (See page 69.) 
 
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