Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-11-11
Small beer CHRONICLES.

Under this head AaMe Year Round makes elo-
quent lamentation over the virtue and character
istcs of various institutions belonging to old
times. In the following manner the obituary of
the old-fashioned Door knocker is written:
The deceased door knocker had its good aud
bad qualities like other things. One got to know
the knocks of certain old friends and habitues OF
the house, and the well,known sound was often
very welcome A bell tells no tale of indivdu-
allty. In like manner the bore had his knock,
and one could fly by the back door. or hide, be-
tween the time when he raped and the moment
when the door was opened. The bell gives no
such warning. The single knock of the creditor
or the dependent and the smart crash of the
postman, again told their tale plainly enough.
And the mention Of that last knock, by the by,
brings us to n consideration of the troubles con
nected with the knocker. Whata thing it was
to be accidently passing through the hall or ac-
tually approaching the door when the postman
arrived To say your heart came into your mouth
at such moments is no sort of exageeration, and
| should think that except the pain, it give one
as near notion OF the sensation of heing shot as
could be attained without actually going through
the process itself
AS to the indications of character which were
to be got out of this deceased institution they
were as endless as they were infallihle. AL
other tests failing, here was one that could always
be relied on. Let man conceal his character
as carefully as he would, it came out on the
doorstep. have known people, apparently the
meekest of the meek and the gentlest of the
gentle, and who had the credit Of being 80 in So
cety, to expose themselves by sharp and fierce
manner of knocking at ones door, and have
never failed-having had my suspicious thus
aroused-to observe that under trying circum-
stances ferocous traits of character have come
out in such persons.
Here, then. at the very entrance to our domes-
tic establishment the visitor proclaimed himself
for what he was. How desirable this was You
might sit in your secret lair, the dniug-room,
and form your opinion on the character OF your
friend with perfect confidence, knowing that the
knocker test would not fail. Here, for instance,
was Younghusband coming to look after your
daughter. 1t was natural you should want to
know all about him. "Rat, tat, tatity, tatity."
Away with him, the match must be broken of,
man with such feebleness of character as that
will never do. "Tat, tat-tat-tat-TAT." The pas
siouate william, he would break the poor girls
heart in fortnight. Bubbler again had spoken
to you about certain investment, and had de-
scribed in glowing colors the certainty ofits sue
cess, and enlarged on the splendor OF your pros
poets if you went into it. He comes to talk the
matter over for the last time. Re, tatara, tatara
tatara, tatara tat, tat, tat" The shallow impos-
| tor The sanguine deceiyer of himself and every
body else If you do not button up your pockets
after that knock, you deserve anything you get
The irritable man, the obstinate man, the un-
decided man, the boastful man, all revealed them
selves as soon as they touched the knocker ant
SO did the truthful, the amiable, the firm II re
quired, however, great penetration and expert