New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-01
Early Days Of New.Yssk and New.Jersey-
Lecsure Of Mr. J. BriaekerhsG.

At the regular meeting Of the North Dutch
Church Young Mems Christian Association. held at their
rooms on Fuon.st on Wednesday evening. Mr.. Jacob
Drinckerhof Of Brooklyn, a representative and de-
scerdnnt Of Of the best known Of the old Dutch
families OF NewYork. gave very interesting sketch
frahers during the latter part OF the last and the
earlier part OF the present Century. 49,
In commencing, the speaker said that be dld no.
come before them as professional lecturer or even a.
literary man In any sense but simply as an old friend
Who desired TO and perhaps instruct his young
friends BY detailing few "Reminiscences OF his OWE
earlier days At the time when he was boy covering
the period from 1895 to 1876 the facilities which existed
for obtaining education were far different from those
enjoyed By the present generation During the entire
period OF his boy hood he the inside OF col
lege, an academy or grammar school, 49,
The only schooling he ever received was In ilt'ie
log schooihouse situated in Bergen County NewJer
ser where those few children OF the ncghborng Duch
farmers whose parents had conceived some dim notion
Of the yaRc Of book learning we've accustomed to be IN
ducted In the mysteries OF "readin. rtin and rthme
tic by ankee peddler who had surrendered tbe
pack Tor the TRIPOD and taught the young idea how to
shoot at the moderate charge of eight shiDgs per
ter for the younger and l2 shines per quarter 10Y
not extend beyond the three Rs" mentioned above
which were considered to be fully adequate to oil the
intellectual needs of the then rising generation.
The young aud maidens OF that day looked ior'
ward TO different future from tba. anticipated by our
boys and girls The highest ambition oil the iorner
to be able to keep good horses and successfully TIL
tury these should be transferred to them as they had
been 70 their fathers before thcm while the girls icund
their rosy ideal In anticipating the cnsnarg OF tue
heart OF some stout farmers boy and Quafying them
selves 10 keep his house. wash and mend his clothes
cook his meals and perhaps take proper care oi tnosc
Young responsibilities which In the natural course OF
events would probably at some tiue claim her attcn
tion. -,
Assn illustration of the popular Ignorance which
allied that day in srespect 20 topics perfectly
related an attempt which he himself made to convince
an elderly neighbor iamiiarly known as Uncle henry
Drinker Of tho fact which he bad somehow learned
that the earth Its own axis instead or the sun
aud moon moving around it, This heresy Uncle Hen:y
stoutly denied and argued his case somewhat after ms
fashion; Now. Jacob that Is all foolishness because
see here's When my wife and 60 to bed We hong the
suppavn kettle on tho hook over the fire. and when
we get up in the morning we find 1t there.
Now II the world turns upside down during tae
night wouldn't the suppawn be all split into the hr
aud woaldn't the kettle be at the other end oi inc
chimney. and wouldn't my wife and be tumb!ed cut
OF bed Besides, its contrary TO the Bible. Doesn't
the Bible say that Joshua commanded the sun aud
moon 70 stand STILL and he wouldn't have done that II
| they hadn't been moving. No no. jacob We can't
believe that" The logic OF the old man was too much
FOX the newly fonnd knowledge OF the boy and he was
Obliged to give up the point.
In those days there were railroads, steamboats,,
no telegraph The trip from New'York to Albany
occupied week, and esteemed so dangerous that
men frequently made their wills before attempting It.
The mails were carried between New York and Phis.
dephia on horseback in three days. New.York itself
was very different city from the present Then
Msiden. lane was really the mailens walk when they
went on pleasant afternoons to shop at the two three
dry goods stores which scattered along its north
Il ern border.
II Fultonst. then ParitiOn-st and was the North.
ern edge OF the village At Canast the country road
II which has since become Broadway. WAS crossed by
deep slough in which stepping stones were laid 70 en-
able passengers to reach the open meadows WHOM ~
II beyond. Afterward canal cut to dram III
slough and the street which first bordered ana s's'
\ ward covered 1t took the same name
The speaker gave IN interesting sketcn o. .s:t
life among the Dutch inhabitants OF NewJersey
tme describing their simplicity their fruga9, .d
abundant hospitality. and the perfect eooo 1 18th
honesty which characterized all their
sud custons Of vIns sstius. eourtship and burials
The lecture was interesting and in.!rucsse snS 81
out snd We kstsnsd to WITH gEeas ssssn'a sn~ WI
/ dent satisfaetiea By the ssdiene~