Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-04-23
For the Southern Standard.
A History Of the City of New York.
FROM THE TIME OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE tsIASp
IN 1909, TO THE PRESENT DATE.
INTRODUCTION.

New York as 1t now is, to believe that but little
over two centuries ago, it commenced its career as
little village,-that little more than hundred
since the city contained population of but 1858,
and it is scarcely possible that an observing and
considerate spectator, who had seen New York in
its lOwlness, some forty years ago. should be in
sensible to its rapidly rising gIores now and not feel
grateful emotions of surprise and exultation at the
many imposing proofs of its distinguished pros
perty.
If any of the good old Dutch burghers, who
formerly inhabited the city, could be permitted to
visit it, he would like Rip-V Wrinkle, on awak
ening from his twenty years sleep, find bis heart
die away at hearing the changes in his home and
friends. Alas the good old city of the Knicker-
bockers is fast disappearing from the world of re-
alties, and their homes are following them to the
vast shadow of oblivion. Tiled roofs and high
peaked gable ends have already undergone the
fate of the cooked hats, the eel-skn queues, and
the multitudinous small-cothes that once gave as
surance of race of Dutchmen in this venerable
city, are all gone; and in a few short years there
will be none even to remember that such things
were! st. Nicholas has abandoned his once fa-
vorite metropolis; and how should it be otherwise
since there is not Dutch chimney corner left for
him to nestle in? He and his chosen people loved
snug, low houses, making up in breadth and solid
ity for what they lacked in height, with huge chin
neys and little windows; an honest Knickerbocker
would have been unhappy in room against the
ceiling of which he could not knock his head by
standing upon tiptoe. Nothing will serve us now
a-days but houses of four stories, ceilings of if
teen feet vast saircases, and plate glass windows
with panes large enough for looking glass;
Peach orchard coal and Russia-Iron CRATES have
banished the homely but cheerful chimney corner;
Sing marble has taken place of the instruc-
tive painted tiles with which our forefathers de-
lighted to keep up their knowledge of the Bible
stories; cold, smooth plaster has succeeded to the
rich, elaborate wainscot of enduring oak; cigars
have ousted the fair long pipes, with which they
used to carry on the double process of thinking
and digestion; and, to sum up all in brief express
sive phrase, show has triumphed over comfort,
and we seek to please the eye alone, forgetting all
the other inlets of enjoyment.
1t is a melancholy thing to see the desolation
that is wrought by fashion. How it sweeps away
all relics of the venerable past cutting short the
term for which they might have been spared by
the fell scythe of the inevitable destroyer, Time,
and anticipating even his too speedy operations
Where is the mansion Of the StuyvesantS We
had fondly hoped that if but for the sake of the
immortal Peter that hallowed edfce would bt
suffered to remain until its crumbling walls should
yield to the slow corroson of the elements; tina
generations yet unborn might gaze upon it will
respect, as the dwelling of hero. 1t is gone
the hand of violence has fallen upon it, and th,
: hallowed ground on which it stood now groans be
, meath the weight of tall mansion, whose tape
: chimneys "fout the pale blue Skies, and who's
air Of lghtness forms perfect contrast with tn
massive and solemn grandeur of the time-worl
edifce it has supplanted. The Walton house, in
deed remains; but where are the beautiful littI
sauygeries that even within the last few year
gave SO dgnifed an air to the narrow precincts Q
Garden (now Excbange) street? We look 70
d them in vain. They are all gone now. But
= thanks to Watson curious and amusing 'Histori
o Tales Of the Olden Time in which are collecte
J. and preserved more copious notices of our munic
pal antiquities than are to be found in any othe
;. work extant, their memory is embalmed for tn
admiration and regret of future generations.
Diedrich Knickerbocker in his history of Ne
York. has impaired much light as to the manner
and customs of the first settlers of New-Amstel
r dam. If the good old man were permitted t
again walk the earth, and could come once MOI
r to look upon the city with whose early history
y name is linked forever, how would he groan
n mark the changes that have passed upon its al
cent glories! A walk through Broad street woul
~ bring greater sorrow to the old mans heart tina
,r even that which overwhelmed his favorite her
IS. Peter the Head strong, when he found himse
compelled by his faint-hearted fellow citizens
yield submission to the power of his English en-
mics. ''Alas!' he would exclam, '.fOr Mania
p ia The glory has departed from her borders
he A new race has taken possession of her dwelling
NJ quiet and content have deserted her high place
OF Of Innovation has swept over her with bosom
re destruction; the honest, simple manners of h
lot youth have given place to fashion, folly and frvo
DE ty; the Dutchmen are extinct, and there is n
even one brick left upon another, to point out t
scene of their past happiness and gloryp
uld HISTORY.
ate srg
I el Chapt. /.
Let us wander back to the month Of Septemt
z l.