pier and mantle glasses came into fashion. Pictures, such as they were, abounded; but they were for the most part poor engravings of Dutch cities and naval engagements. Chintz calico of inferior quality formed the only window curtains, without any cornices. There were no carpets

among the early Dutch, nor any in general use among New Yorkers until up to the period of the Revolution. The famous Captain Kidd, it is said, owned the first modern carpet in his best room, and the pirate's house was the best furnished in the city. It was made of Turkey work, at a cost of twenty-five dollars, and resembled a large rug. The custom of sanding the floor of the principal room, or parlor, was universal, and much taste was displayed in the many fanciful devices and figures made in the sand with the brooms of the smart Dutch matrons and daughters. Our Holland ancestors knew nothing of lounges or sofas, or even that comfortable American invention, the rocking-chair. Their best chairs. were straight and high-backed, covered with Russia leather, and elaborately, ornamented with double and triple rows of brass nails. In addition to these, the parlor was decorated with one or two chairs having embroidered seats and backs, the handiwork of the daughters. Some of the oldest families also displayed in their best rooms two chairs with cushions of tapestry, or velvet, trimmed with lace. About the year 1700, cane seats became fashionable, and thirty years after came the leather chairs, worth from five to ten dollars each. These led the fashion about thirty years more, when mahogany and black walnut chairs, with their crimson damask cushions, appeared.

But the most ornamental piece of furniture in the parlor was the bed, with its heavy curtains and valance of camlet. No mattresses then, but a substantial bed of live geese feathers, with a very light one of down for the covering. These beds were the boast and pride of the most respectable Dutch matrons, and, with their well-filled chests of homemade linen, supplied their claims to skill in housekeeping. A check covering cased the beds and pillows; the sheets were made of homespun linen, and over the whole was thrown a bedquilt of patchwork, wrought into every conceivable shape and pattern.

The "betste" (bedstead) was at this period a part of the house. It was constructed something like a cupboard, with closing doors, so that by day when unoccupied, the apartment could be used for a sittingroom. In more humble houses, the "sloap banck," or 66 bunk," was the sleeping place. In Dutch taverns, the good vrow or her maid opened the doors of the "betste" for the traveler, and, like a kind mother, bade him "mel te rusten"-"good-night," and always, as an old friend, "hoo-y rees"-"good-by." To this day, in Holland, travelers meet similar receptions at the taverns; and all the guests, assembling in one room, eat, drink, and smoke.

Our Dutch forefathers were fond of pure, good milk-a luxury

unknown to their unfortunate descendants. It was the common practice for all who could afford stable room to keep their own cows, and thus furnish their families with milk and butter. Rip Van Dam, in 1748, kept two cows; and Abraham De Peyster, one of the wealthiest merchants, owned the same number. Good pasturage, too, surrounded the town, no further off than the present Park. A man with a bell came along early in the morning for the cows, driving them through Wall to the city-gate, at the corner of that street and Water; thence to the fields about the Collect, where the Tombs now stand; in the evening, he brought them back to their owners.

In the earlier period of New Amsterdam, the grain was made into flour by pestle and mortar, every family adopting this method. Coin then as now (1868) was exceedingly scarce; nor was there even any paper currency. Hence, grain became as much the circulating medium as greenbacks" are at the present day with us. From this circumstance, the pestle and mortar constituted the real mints of the people; the pounded grain passing current for goods and labor, like bank-notes.

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The horses of those days were bred wild in the woods and pastures which covered the upper part of Manhattan Island. Thousands of them ran at large, their owners, at certain seasons, branding them with their names, when they were turned loose again, until winter rendered a shelter for them necessary. Such was their great increase, that it is said the Island was overrun by the animals, now become as wild and dangerous as the buffaloes of the prairies; the breed was, consequently, inferior, the price of a horse ranging from ten dollars to forty dollars, according to the strength, and not the speed, of the animal. This great plenty of horseflesh, however, afforded ample opportunity for the fair Dutch dames to indulge in their favorite pastime-riding on horseback. The ladies, at this period, however, did not ride on horseback, alone, as is now the fashion, but were mounted upon a pillion, or padded cushion, placed behind the gentleman's saddle (or a servant's), upon whose support they depended. This was the common custom, as the roads were unbroken, being, in fact, little better than bridle-paths. Early in the eighteenth century, sidesaddles came into partial use. The gentlemen's housings were made of bright-colored cloths or velvet, often trimmed with silver lace; holsters

were common.

The literature of New Amsterdam was entirely different from that of modern times. In the place of the novels, magazines, and light reading which now fill the center-tables, there was to be found little else than Bibles, Testaments, and psalm-books. The matrons' church books were generally costly bound, with silver clasps and edgings, and sometimes of gold. These were suspended to the girdle by silver and gold chains, and distinguished the style of the families using them, on the Sabbath days.

The Sundays in New Amsterdam were, moreover, better observed by its inhabitants than at the present day. All classes, arrayed in their best, then attended the public services of religion; and the people, almost exclusively Calvinists, attended the Dutch Reformed Church. The "Koeck," or bell-ringer and sexton, was an important personage on the Sabbath. He not only summoned the congregation by the sound of the church-going bell, but formed a procession of himself and his assistants to carry the cushions of the burgomasters and schepens from the City Hall to the pews appropriated to these officials. At the same time, the Schout went his rounds, to see that quiet was kept in the streets during Divine worship, and also to stop the games of the negro slaves and Indians to whom the Sabbath was allowed as a day of recreation, except during church hours.

Small pieces of wampum were obtained by the deacons, and sold at great value to the heads of the Dutch families. These, having been distributed among the different members of families, were then taken to church, and deposited in the collection-bags, which were attached to long poles. Such was the custom a long while; nor, in some of the interior Dutch settlements, has it been entirely abandoned at the present day. Formerly, a small bell was attached to the bottom of the bags, to remind the drowsy of the collection. The deacons, being thus prepared to receive the benefactions of the congregation, presented themselves in front of the pulpit, when, the Dominie having addressed a few appropriate words to them, they forthwith proceeded to collect the contributions. At that day, also, the "Koorleser," or Clerk, occupied a little pew in front of the pulpit, holding in his hand a rod, on the end of which all notices were placed, and thus passed up to the Dominie. The moment the minister reached the pulpit stairs, he offered a private prayer, holding his hat before his face, until, having sought the aid of his Lord and Master, he ascended the sacred desk.

It was, also at this time, the custom to publish from the pulpit the bans three times before a marriage could be solemnized.

The Dutch Church was, at this period, within the fort at the Battery; and the present Bowling Green, an open field, exhibited many country wagons, arranged in regular order, while their horses were allowed to graze on the green slopes that led down to the Hudson River. And here, in the old Church of St. Nicholas, for half a century, from 1642 to 1693, the early Dutch worshipped God in His Holy Temple.

Every house in New Amsterdam was surrounded by a garden, sufficiently large to accommodate a horse, a cow, two pigs, fowls, a patch of cabbages, and a tulip-bed. Indeed, the love of flowers seems to have been inherent to the Dutch dames. While the head of a family carefully watched the growth of some ancient household tree, planted in accordance with a universal custom in New Amsterdam directly before

the door-way, the matron might have been seen with her large calash over her shoulders, and her little painted basket of seeds in her hand, going to the labors of the garden. Nor is this figurative. It was the universal custom for a Dutch lady in independent circumstances, gentle of form and manner, to sow, plant, and cultivate. These fair gardeners were also good florists. Where has there ever been found choicer hyacinths and tulips than among the Hollanders? Indeed, all New Yorkers may well feel proud of their great-great-great Holland grandmothers. They were fair and unblemished religious dames, with great grasp of mind and of exemplary industry. The important task of religious instruction chiefly devolved upon them; and the essentials, especially the ceremonials of piety, were instilled upon the minds of their children. Hence mothers among the early Dutch were always regarded with peculiar reverence.

The Dutch ladies wore no bonnets, as is still the fashion with some of the German emigrants who now arrive at Castle Garden. At New Amsterdam the fashionable dress was a colored petticoat, rather short (for ease in walking), waist jacket, colored hose of homespun woolen, and high-heeled shoes, suitable to a city destitute of pavements or sidewalks of any kind. The Dutch burghers wore long-waisted coats, with skirts reaching almost to their ankles, and adorned with large silver buttons, The wardrobe of a prominent burgomaster at the transfer of New Amsterdam to the British, was as follows: A cloth coat, with silver buttons, worth fifteen dollars; a stuff coat, ten dollars; cloth breeches. ten shillings; a cloth coat, with gimp buttons, seven dollars and fifty cents; a black cloth coat, seven dollars; a black velvet coat, fifteen dollars; a silk coat, breeches, and doublet, six dollars; a silver cloth breeches and doublet, five dollars; a velvet waistcoat, with silver lace, five dollars; a buff coat and silk sleeves, five dollars; three grass-green cloaks, six dollars each; besides several old suits. To these, also, must be added linen, hose, shoes with silver buckles, a cane with an ivory head, and a hat. It may be doubted if Mayor Hoffman, with all his cloths and cassimers, can "begin " to "turn out" such an assortment of coats, pants, and vests, as this official Dutchman, his predecessor, in "ye olden time."*

In the good old Dutch times respectable tradesmen worked hard; none were drones or mere lookers-on. There existed but little competition among tradesmen, as with us. No tempting display of goods in show-windows attracted the attention and excited the desire of passers

* A little later, in 1690, we find among a fashionable gentleman's apparel, green silk breeches, flued with silver and gold; silver gauze-breeches, scarlet and blue silk stockings, laced shirt, a blue cloth stuff and frieze coat, a gun and a pair of pistols, a silver-hilted sword, a silver spoon and fork, a lacku hat, a campaign, shutbob, old-bob wigs, and periwigs.

by to go beyond their means. Content to sell their goods at a fair profit, they secured both good customers and a reputation for probity and fair dealing. It was the English who first introduced display, fashion, and extravagance. It was they who first introduced the custom of keeping the shops open at night-a needless and expensive fashion, and greatly injurious to the health and morals of the clerks. In these early days, however, the diligent closed their stores and shops at an early hour. All classes went on foot, for carriages and wheeled vehicles were very scarce. Even physicians paid all their visits on foot; and in another respect they differ widely from the doctors of the present day--their charges were very moderate.

At funerals, it was the custom to give hot wine in winter, and winesangaree in summer. Ladies generally attended on such mournful occasions, especially if the deceased was a female, when burnt wine was served in silver tankards. At a later era, on the death of Mrs. Daniel Phoenix, the wife of the City Treasurer, all the pall-bearers were ladies.

The workingman always wore his leather-apron, no matter what his employment. Tradesmen were accustomed to saw their own wood; and a most healthful exercise it was. cumstances fear to carry home his market. On the contrary, it would have avoided such a burden.

Nor did any man in middle cirone hundred weight" of meal from have been considered a disgrace to

A greater change, however, in the habits of the people, cannot be named than in that of hired servants or "help." The female servants formerly wore short gowns of green baize, with petticoats of linseywoolsey, receiving only half a dollar a week for their wages. Now, they demand from eight to fourteen dollars a month, and dress like fashionable ladies, displaying all their pride and show.

In these primitive days, also, when a man "set up business," he invariably took down his own shutters, opened the door, swept the store, and dusted the goods himself by the gray dawn. Then men grew rich by early rising, economy, and industry, and by attending to their own business themselves, and not leaving their interests in the charge of boys, agents, or clerks. The only capital of most young men then was industry and punctuality; and labor and honesty were as fashionable at this early day as stylish young men, defaulting cashiers, fast living, and fast horses are now. Neither would any sensible matron permit her daughter to encourage the attentions of any young man who was not his own servant.

Shortly before the cession of New Amsterdam to the British rule, the settlement was celebrated for its number of young people, as the children of the early emigrants had then reached adult age. Several daughters of the wealthy burghers were married to young Englishmen whose visits were only of a temporary character. Many romantic rural spots, everywhere surrounding the settlements at New Netherland, were