The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-10-11
From tho New York Evening Mirror.
Fifty One Years Age;
wANDERINGs or AN EMIGRANT.

NEW YoPK. In

New YoRK, JUNE 10, IS45
Fifty one years ago to-day, friend Morris, stept
on shore at Governeur's wharf. New York then
contained about fifty thousand inhabitants Dutch
houses Dutch goods, Dutch manners Dutch words
Dutch men, and Dutch lasses were much in vogue
noticed that great majority OF the vessels advertis-
cd were bound for Amsterdam, and Rotterdam; but
few then went TO Liverpool or London. The "Bear''
(now Washington market was supplied principally
from Hnverstraw, lIackensack, Bergin and Commun-
paw, and, unless you could talk reasonable quanti-
ty OF Dutch,t was unnecessary go 10 that market
"Paus" and ''pinkstcr'' were then universally OBJ
served. Boys and negroes, young men and old men,
"boss' mechanics, and all sorts Of people, might be
seen the live eng day, standing idle in the market
place, laughing, joking, and cracking eggs. In the
afternoon, the grown up apprentices and servant grls
used 10 dance the green, in Bayurd farm, in the
Bowery
had n conversation the other day with an old
friend, about tho men and Of fifty years ago.
Fifty five years since, said he, Il was in my sew
cnteenih year, and an apprentice TO a rush bottom
chair maker "a craft not much known at the pres
ent day) The boys then used to save their earnings
SO as 10 have lrolic at paus. had laid aside ff-
teen dollars for the purpose, but, having been told,
during the week before the holiday, that 'Ios'
selling out oftown-wherc Leonafd street now is
for that sum, resolved purchase one, and orego
the pleasure Of the frolic was, however, waited
about three o'clock in the afternoon of paus day.
and persuaded to go TO the Bowery, and before ten
at night, continued the old gentleman, Il had danced
away lot now worth three thousand dollars
In those days women satisfied with the shape
in which God had made them, and did not seek to
II h, Col n
sulted-now art holds undsputcd sway; then there
corsets stays,uor(w what do you call lhom)
bustles! Then men (!) and women were not as now,
braced up with whaebone, stee-sprngs, iron wires,
and spnters from the hickory tree Gust a sailor,
would fix mast that is ready TO give way a storm!
Then tho women could breathe freely and the lungs
would have room 10 play. Now tho back bone is
nearly squeezed to the breast When they laugh or
talk loud, they loose their breath and seem ready to
faint. The consequence is, that in almost every
street have the doctor, the undertaken, and the
grave digger, living and growing Fat on the folly and
vanity Of men and women kind.
AT the time am speaking Of, there only one
doctor in New York who kopt gig. I
That was the venerable DR.. Charlton. Now the
medical gentlemen sport about like MOBILES, and the
undertakers like nabobs. AT that period ST. Paul's
steeple and this City Hotel were being erected. 1
forged the nails which hold the states and roof of
the latter building II was the fret roof that was
covered with slate in America.
There camc to wor, in our shops by the
name Of Williams. lie brought with him from Eng
land, nice little woman for wife, and also two
Young children Williams genuine radical Of
of the 'now school'-could talk long and loud, about
the perectibity OF human nature the 'powe. of the
mind and the sound sense ofthe people, who had
the capacity of converting this world Of ours into
Paradise lie was soon taken up by thetrue Repub
lcans ofthat day, and honored with IA seat in The
wigwam, by the side of Burr Fellows and other
philosophers of the French school. Such an honor
heapod upon the hoad of English Manchester jour
newman blacksmith, nearly turned his brain.
Soon after this there appeared in our streets
n blind man. who was either borEe so, or who had
los,shis sight by the visitation of Providence His
name was Palmer He Proacler of infdelhy.
His church was the Assembly room in William