New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-07-26

10 tie world IL covers p-fhd oi slbs guar inter
est while II presents the mvst stnhl0g illustration
Of rapid commercial snd social Development which
the records Of any country eau afford. la tas vol
ume now Issued, ". recognize 4 laudabe endeavor
10 supply 9 signal deficiency. Tue writer appears
te have diligently consulted the most yal,ole
sources of Information, add has wrought up the
materials thus oetaSoed igto compact and aPpro-
pirate narrative. She has wisely aostalned from
ambitious rhetorical hights in the performance OF
Der task aud for the most part her statements are
marked by simplicity ard good sense. As guide
Ia the mos, i'm >ortant points in Manhattan history.
the antiquarian student may consult II 10 adsaa-
tsge, while the general reader will 6dd many curl
Gus and attractive descriptions Of tie olden time.
The following paragraphs present rather lively
picture Of the condition and customs of the Dutch
forefa,hers about two hundred years ago:
NETWORK IN THE OLD DUTCH COLONY TIMES.
In the beginning u the settea ent, the people had
been forced To accommodate themselves 10 the neces-
stis Of rev country and their houses iarnlinre and
sppaTe had srarly been OF the Tudes hni bl',
al the tine OF which wTe, the city nad grown n.o
a state of comparative wealth and the unhahltaus
were beginning 10 enjoy the comforts OF aihu-pce ac
cordipg to the standard of tee times. TAis differed
zone hai from the modern estimate; burgher sortn
81 O10 was esteeued rich; sad his ne'ghbor, sonh
$500 a man IN easy circumstances. Bug money has
bur atlye vslue, and expenses were graded IN con-
fOruity with the standarr OF wealth.
In the beginning Of the settlement "a We have
all lady said the houses story in hig IT. with
two rooms a floor. The chimneys were OF wood,
and the roofs were thsicbed with reeds and straw.
The furniture Of the rudest Kind, carpets were
unknown, a. indeed they continued To be Tor msdy
years after; the stools and tables were hewn out OF
rough plar ks by the hands OF the cooni'ts WOODEN
plsers and pewter spoons took the place VI more sH
pensve croekery, ard naught but the indispensable
chest Of houespuD linen and stray piece OF plate or
porcelain, q treasured memerto OF the FatAefand,
was seen to remit d one Of civlhz ation.
Az the forests beca ne cleared away and the colony
increased, the style OF living experienced mserIai
change. The straw roofs aud wooden chinneys were
deemed unsafe and were ordered 20 be removed; AMI
the settlers commenced 10 build their houses OF onck
sDd stone. For come time the bricks were Imported
from Holland; in the Administration OF Stnyvesaot,
however some enterpuslng citizens established
brick ward on the island and the material hencetorth
became popular in the colony. The northern part OF
the island furnished abundance OF stones. Many OF the
wooden had checkerwork fronts or rather ga
BILE ends of small black ard yellow Dutch bricks, With
the date Of thu recion inserted 10 iron figures ing
the street. Most Of the houses indeed ironted the s.e
way; the roofs tiled or struggled, aud lnvariaoly
surmOnnted With q weathercock. The windows were
small and the doors large the latter were divided
y,
the burg her coulo lean the lover and Smoke his
pipe in peaceful contemplation. Not less comfortable
were the social scoops, and the low projecting
caves beneath which the friendly nelghbors c1nsre-
gated at twilight to smoke their long pipes and discuss
The price OF beaver skbs These institutions have
come down to own times, aud are still known ana
apprecl ated in the suburbs oil the city.
HORSES AND CARRIAGES.
Every house was surrounded by a garden, ranging
In size according to the locality, but ususly large
tnf cish ntlo horse.
a couple Of pgs score Of bsrndoor fowls, patton OF
cabbsges and bed of tulips. Owing 10 part 10 the
ted policy which discouraged the lntroduc-
ton of English horses and cattle into the Province the
stock had greatly deterlerated. The horses were
branded with the name Of the owner and turned out
in Summer to craze on the waste lands 10 tie upper
part Of the island where they bred rapidly; thea
were again collected and housed IN Autumn; Az
later period horses imported from the Ne~-En.
gland settlements, particularly the Management
PAGERS which the mos, highly walked. Gar
rsges we're unknown, and It was not uhth ai'et the
Revolution that these came into general use. Lumber
wagons and slei CHS the oUly modes OF convey
ance i'll the old Dutch colony times. la 1870 the hrst
hackney coach Introduced into the city; later,
oreborse chaises to be used by the wealthiest
inhabitants; bat, with or two EXCEPTIONS none Dot
the Royal Governors sspred to the luxury OF private
cariage.
Carpets too were almost unknown in the colony up
to the period Of the Revolution. Nov and then, piece
u.
pet all made TO serve for the purpose OF cfumb
cloth, was found in the houses Of the weaithest
buJRhers but these were not 10 general use. Tue
snow white floor spribkled with fine sand, which
was cuIiously strOked with broom mt ianta'uc
curves and angles. This adornment per aimed espe-
caly to the psrior; room that was only Used upon
state occasions The first carpet said TO nave been IN
troduced into the city found IN the house OF the
pirate KIDD; this was merely a good-szed turkey
rug, worth about twenty-five dollars.
THE BEDS.
The most ornamental piece Of furniture in the parIor
was usually the bed with its heavy curtains aud
valance Of camet aud kilemioster. Mattresses were
40 vet unheard of in their stead was used substantial
bed of live geese feathers with lighter one OF do va
for covering These beds the pride OF the
notable Dutch marons; in these aud tue well hle 1
chests of home made linen lay their claims to SKIN 10
housewifery The beds and pillows were eased check
coverings; the sheets were of hone-spun hoen, aaf
over the whole was thrown patch work bed'quut
made Ct bits of calico cut every conceivable shape
and tortured into the most grotesque patterns that
could possibly be invented by human ingenuity.
THE LINEN CHEST.
In corner Of the room stood huge oaken iron.
bound chest filed 10 overtO~ng with household linen,
spun by the feUinne part Of the IN My which they
always delighted in displaying before visitors. Al u
later date this gave place to the chest OF drawers
Of our ersndmothers' tImes-huge plies Of drawers,
placed one upon the other aud reaching 10 the ceiling,
with brass rngs the key holes 10 knobs
The escritoIe too, with its complication OF writing
tetk, drawers and nysf nous pigeon noles, came hIo
use about the same time but both Of these were un
know 70 the genuine Kuickerbockers.
THE CUPBOARD.
In another corner stood the Holland cupboard, with
it, glass DOOR displaying the family p.te and porce-
lain. The latter was rare, and general rule, was
" wisely kept Tor show Plate was more comm0n,
and there were wealthy families that hat cot their
porrIgers taIksrds and ladies' Of massive silver, Tor
plated ware was tnen unknown. A few had tea ser
wees Of china-tes pots and sugarbowls the size OF
nut-shel, with cups and saucers that might have
seryed for fairy adorned With quaint devices OF men
aud thiGg. in the most impossible positions woich all
con appreciate who have borne witness % the extreme
.. 3D., al. OIL. Hut