The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-21
LETTER FROM PETER sCHLEMIHL.

We have reason to believe the following to
be a veritable letter from the unknown Peter
Schiemihl and that it may be understood by
all our readers, we shall make few remarks
by way of explanation.
The Mr.. John Brown spoken of is no ghost,
but the living sexton Of Grace Church, at the
head of Broadway, in New York. Soon after
this magnificent edfice was opened MIR Brown,
in order that his sign should be something
neat and re-chair-chay" IA fayorite phrase of his
when speaking of Parties in high life, got
up under his immediate uperintendence-for,
like his illustrious predecessor, Caleb Quotem,
his vocatons are various,) he gave an order for
an heraldic escutcheon, on which was to be
emblazoned his name, Office, and residence
and, to make the sign more conspicuous MIR.
Brown, who has taste in all such matters,
thought proper to have bar put upon the
shield which the artist painted a bGr-Sinister !,
and as Mr. Brown is leader, in more senses
than one, in the circles up town, the fashion OF
bar. sinisters has become general-adOpted by
those who are so ignorant lin matters of her
aldry, at least,) as not to know the difference
between right and left 1t was while this
hstchmem was up that Mr., Schlemihl, who
was at that time a visiter in the city, saw this
symbol of bereavement and believed that peor
Mr.. Brown, who had looked with complacency
into the yawning graves of his patrons, had
now himself joined them in their last sleep;
and indeed this was the general impression in
the city, and was so spoken of in the papers
This will explain Peters impression that he had
seen the ghost of Mr.. John Brown. This sign,
or hatchment, was taken down soon after, aud
a modest sign now stands on the church, sgni-
flying the pleasure Mr. Brown will take in
burying all his friends in the most recherche
mode
As to the Bible question: society called
the Union Bible Society" was originated
among the Baptists, year or two since, whose
aim and end is the translation and circulation
of a new and improved version into English of
the Scriptures. The Baptists have long had a
Society for the circulation Of the English Bible,
and the translation and circulation of the
Scriptures as translated by their Missionaries
for the heather. This old Bible Society had
rooms beneath the pacoof worship spoken of
by Mr. Schlemihl from these rooms they have
been elected, and the Union Society put in
their place. And in their zeal the advocates
for a new version have surprised the world by
the manner in which they have spoken of our
old English Bible-that well-spring of the con-
stitutional liberty of England and the world
4" The big ha' Bible, ance our fathers pride,
as Burns sweetly sings in his Cotter's Saturday
Night" will yet hold its place in the hearts of
Christians, in all lands, to whom the English
tongue is yernacular.
With these remarks we introduce to the ac-
ouaintancc Of our readers, Peter Schlemhi,
whose wanderings in this country have been
made public in thick volume, printed by
Carey & Hart Philadelphia, in ls4s, and who
has not been heard of since. We hope THAcK-
FRAY. who is soon to be in New York, will add
to our many obligations to him. by writing the
result of his sightseeing while among US, in a
book 10 be entitled "THE SSoBs OF THE New
WORLD
Letter addressed 10 gentleman IN New fork,
dated
POVERTY Hollow, Sept. %, 1852.
My DEAR C#LG***: Now that am once
more at home find my thoughts going back
to the various sights saw in my travels and
nv visits ut Saratoga, Newport and New York.
The wonderful expansion Of yonr great city IL
still a subject of my daily thoughts. Those
magnificent residences! the creation OF the last
few wears, seem rather the work of Aladdin and
his Lamp, than Of common men and common
mortar. There they stand, in their stateliness
the sure signs Of the great wealth OF the city |
and the embodiment of the cOuntry's prosperi-
ty-the homes Of wise men whose wealth is
letters patent Of their wisdom, in spite Of the
proverbs of Sancho Panza, which it would not
be courteous in me to quote. Yet who will
question a proverb will make, as being about
the true exposition Of public sentiment slnong
us "Sueeess is The best test Of wisdom" tor in our
DAYS whose words areso weghty, whose laugh 10
hearty, whose presence 90 commanding, ~ the
man Of money! leave it to those who choose
to say bitter things about money; and IT was
a dunghiIl cock, might prefer kernel OF corn
AZ "A / stal MOI ha