decamped,' 'levanted,'' vamosed the ranch!'

How can we respond

to the kindness of our friend T-,' who sent us such an acceptable present from the shores of Old Massachusetts Bay?' It was a most sensible, valuable, welcome gift; and when around our well-filled table, the little people's rosy mouths are made rosier still by the ruddy fruit. We feel a renewed regret that we cannot personally thank the generous donor for his timely and considerate tribute: FIVE pages of brief book-notices, two of 'Children's Gossip,' with capital communications from 'JOHN HONEYWELL,' 'H. P. L.,' etc., await insertion in our next. It will be seen that we are much crowded in this department of our magazine the present month. -BEHOLD the great JOHN PHENIX, alias' SQUIBOB!' The likeness (a daguerreotype) is perfect:

Yours respectively
John P. Squibob

NOTE.-This autograph may be relied on as authentic, as it was written by one of

Mr. Squibob's most intimate friends.

It seems impossible for Mr. PHENIX to touch any subject, without educing some 'food for fun' out of it. Being in Monterey, and writing of pecuniary and local matters there, he thus describes the 'State of the Markets :'

'THE arrival of a stranger by the Maj. TOMPKINS from San-Francisco, during the past week, with specie to the amount of $4.87, most of which has been put in circulation, has produced an unprecedented activity among our business men. Confidence is in a great measure restored, and our merchants have had no reason to complain of want of Occupation. The following is the state of our market, for the principal articles of domestic consumption:

We

'FLOUR-Twenty-five pounds, imported by BosTON & Co. per Major TOMPKINS, still in first hands: flour in small quantities is jobbing readily at 15 @ 18 cents. notice sales of 10 by BOSTON & Co., to Judge MERRITT, on private terms.

'PORK-The half bbl. imported by Col. RUSSELL, in March last, is nearly all in the hands of jobbers: sales of 4 at $1, half-cash: remainder in note at 4 months. A halt bbl. expected by BOOTJACK & Co., early in September, will overstock the market.

'CANDY Sales of 6 sticks by BOSTON & Co. to purser of Maj. TOMPKINS, on private terms: the market has a downward tendency: candy is jobbing in sticks at 6 @ 8

cents.

'POTATOES - We notice arrival of 10 t from the Santa Cruz: no sales.

'DRY GOODS - Sales of two cotton pocket hdkfs. by MCKINLEY & Co. at 62 @ 75 cents: indorsed note at 6 months.'

Heavy commercial sales' there! By a paragraph in the marine department of our metropolitan newspapers, it will have been seen, that four ELEPHANTS recently arrived at this port from the neighborhood of Siam. A friend who crossed the Atlantic with them, represents their sufferings by seasickness as terrible in the extreme. In order to trim ship,' they were kept in pairs on each side of the main upper-deck, where they were accustomed to walk for exercise. Their trunks had been examined at the 'customs' in Liverpool, and nothing contraband found in them. About five hundred miles out, with a heavy head sea,' they began to manifest symptoms of distress: and our friend says, that as often as he has crossed the ocean, he never saw any passengers so afflicted with nausea-marina. The elder of the four, who had until now escaped, and who had cheered his companions by his counsel and his example, when he saw the depth of their distress, as they leaned over the taffrail, and gave vent to their uncontrollable malady, was himself compelled to 'give in' to the nauseous infection. Indeed, he was more powerfully affected than either of the others. In his agony, he took a 'bight' with his trunk upon the main-mast fifty feet above the deck, and endeavored to swing himself into the sea: but he was too weak to effect his suicidal purpose. It is dreadful even to think of what those half-reasoning creatures must have suffered in that lingering voyage! EUREKA!- we have found it! Steel-pens there are, of various kinds; some are very good-others sharp, wiry, splitty, splashy. You can't always tell,' and don't want at any time to have a pen fail you. But the best steel, or gold, or metal pen, of whatsoever kind, only simulates in excellence a well-made quill-pen. Fact. Our objection to quills has been, that they are not long enough above the tube. never touch a pen within at least two-and-a-half inches from its distilling point. But the other day, watching the magical touch of our old and distinguished artist-friend ELLIOTT's pencil, as he was finishing the noble portrait of Ex-Governor WASHINGTON HUNT — which, among several other splendid productions of his pencil, pictures of men eminent in civil and political life, now grace his studio, in the upper apartments of the old Art-Union Building - we noticed

We

and 'unto ourself Now for the real

the long, light, fairy fabric of his pencil-handles, of cedar we said:''That is the pen-handle we have long sought. pen- the quill-pen!' Weeks have since gone by-yet nothing but a noiseless quill-pen glides over our 'slips' for the printer. No sputtering-no splashing no blacking of fingers'-ends, since the grateful present of disabled pencil-holders from our preeminent American portrait-painter. Pen-mending, when required, is a delight. It is an agreeable interruption, and always comes at a time when you have written enough to pause, and 'mend your hand.' It is as good as stopping to read. RIGHT well pleased are we to see the elevation of SAMUEL B. WOOLWORTH, Esq., to the Secretaryship of the Board of Regents of our State Normal School, of which he has been for a long time the capable and popular Principal. A fine scholar, an excellent preceptor, a true gentleman, a warm-hearted friend, under whose instructions we sat, in our earlier academic days, (in common with many more fortunate fellow-students, not now unknown to fame,) we cannot resist an impulse - born of reminiscences which go back to pregnant instruction and pleasant hours to say how much, in our long-settled judgment, the State has gained by such an addition to her educational force.

"THE PRISONS OF WELTEVREDEN,' ETC., BY CAPTAIN GIBSON.-Mr. J. C. RIKER, one of our well-known publishers, at Number 129 Fulton-street, has issued a very handsome volume, illustrated by some forty wood-cuts, from original sketches by the author, entitled the 'The Prisons of Weltevreden, and a Glance at the East-Indian Archipelago.' It may be said of the pictorial portions of the work, that they claim to be literal and truthful descriptions of the characters and costumes of Java and Sumatra:

'CAPTAIN GIBSON's volume embraces some mention of early influences, which led the author to adventure in the East; his voyage thither in his own vessel, the Flirt,' visiting many small islands but little known in the South-Atlantic and Indian Oceans; his arrival in the Malayan Archipelago, and sojourn in the interior of Sumatra, where he saw apparent evidences of semi-human beings and became acquainted with princes and nobles of the island, and their families; visiting them at their homes and partaking of their hospitality, studying their literature, and observing their religion, laws, customs, and social habits, as peculiar to the Malay race, and as affected by European influences; and forming intimate friendly relations, which were interrupted by the jealousy of Dutch officials, causing his arrest, the seizure of his vessel, his confinement in the prison of Weltevreden, in the island of Java, where he remained one year and a half, undergoing a most extraordinary prosecution at the hands of the government of Netherland India. The grand-daughter of a Sumatran prince befriended him there, and he had, within his prison-cell, a most interesting experience of Malay and Javanese character; meeting with a heroism of devotion bordering upon the regions of romance-which brightened many prison hours, and finally enabled him, when his life was in danger, to effect his escape.

The romantic beauty and poetic life of Indian isles are arrayed in the vesture of Eastern story; while the graver facts of the country's resources, and of European influence and dominion, are set forth in more sober garb. But facts alone are presented, and are all but a small portion of what might be said about isles and races so little known to this Western world; about weak and worthless princes, and simple, heroic women; about climes of perpetual spring, lands of unfading verdure, rocks seamed with gold, groves filled with spices, and an unsurpassed beauty and bounty of Nature everywhere.

'New and interesting prospects in the future destiny of the East-Indian Archipelago are opened up for the contemplation of the Christian philosopher and statesman.'

'THE OLD PLAY-GROUND,' is the taking title of quite a pretty song, just published by FIRTH, POND AND COMPANY, the words by EDWARD I. ALLEN, and the music by I. DE RUVER. ‘Any body' could sing it and play the accompaniment. —and almost any body would like it. The music is suited for a tenor or baritone, but is not beyond the compass of most base voices. A 'hypercritic' once complained of the exquisite 'Ben Bolt,' that its rhythmical structure was imperfect, some of the lines not being full, while others were redundant. Yet who does not think the song, when sung, all the better for these defects? The same fault might perhaps be found with the song before us; and a similar defence of it made.

'HOME COMFORTS,' is the title of a very useful book, published by BUNce and Brother, Nassau-street, New-York.

THE KNICKERBOCKER.

VOL. XLVII.

MARCH, 1856.

No. 3.

OLD HABITS COMPARED WITH NEW.

To a person who, like the writer, can look back upon more than threescore and ten years of intelligent existence, it is amusing if not instructive - and may be both to others – to recall the changes in the habits, manners, and conveniences of social life he has witnessed within that period.

6

If, among habits, we include 'the fashions,' the alterations, or rather alternations, will be found much greater than in either of the other classes. But before exhibiting them, it may be as well to generalize the term, and notice some of those customs of society which, next to fashions, have undergone the greatest oscillations, and, like comets still in their aphelion, may return before the sun sets upon the present generation. One of these prevailed once in Denmark, where it was denounced by the Prince-philosopher of that ancient kingdom, as more honored in the breach than in the observance.' The present age deserves no greater credit for any thing than for its improvement in the particular which called forth the animadversion of Hamlet. When I was a young man — and I was told it was so earlier - it was only by a resolute exertion of self-denial and resistance to temptation that a guest could escape sober from a dinner-party. Nor was the difficulty peculiar to parties consisting wholly of young men; nor to those composed of the young and the old together; for many who were old enough to know better,' were apt to indulge in greater excesses than those who were young enough to call them fathers. Some of these grave and reverend seniors, were renowned as three, or even five-bottle men, especially two wine-merchants of the same name, as well as of the same trade, who, if they agreed in nothing else, agreed in setting the same example to their customers.

These bibulous heroes, however, though Irishmen, were excelled by a certain Scotch peer, who held a military command in Canada during the war of 1812. Upon the restoration of peace, this doubly-redoubtable hero visited New-York, and shortly after his arrival was invited to

dine by one of the most famous of our Amphytrions, and in honor of the occasion carried off the contents of six bottles under his belt; but, by way of apology, declared that he had never tasted such Madeira before! The reformation in this respect is to be ascribed to the general refinement of the sentiments and manners of the community, and to the example of temperate, not temperance-men.

Connected with this excess was the fashion of challenging each other during the repast to 'take wine,' and this repeatedly, till the circle of the table had been completed. Thus, at large parties, the weak heads were endangered before the cloth was removed. Nor was this practice confined to the gentlemen, except as challengers. Where ladies were of the party, the invitation was, in preference and politeness, given to them, and readily accepted; but not as promptly as by the ladies in Dublin, of whom it is reported that if a gentleman looked at one, she would answer, Port, Sir, if you please.'

Then again, at the dessert, toasts were given, and an opportunity thus afforded to both belles and beaux, of proposing the health of their favorites; while statesmen and politicians availed themselves of it, to honor their associates and leaders. A memorable instance of this kind occurred at the table of the elder President Adams, where Governeur Morris, then a senator in Congress from this State, was among the invited. It was at the time of the feud existing between the President and General Hamilton, arising from the animadversions of the latter upon the sudden and disgraceful compromise of our differences with the French Republic. Mr. Morris was called on by Mrs. Adams for a toast. Madam,' said he, I will give you the health of my friend Hamilton.' The lady indignantly replied:Sir, that is a toast never drank at this table.' 'Suppose then, Madam,' was the cool rejoinder,' we drink it now for the first time.' 'Mr. Morris!' exclaimed the excited hostess, 'if you persist, I shall invite the ladies to withdraw.' 'Perhaps,' retorted the imperturbable Senator, it is time for them to retire." The signal was given, and as the ladies rose in obedience to it, the Senator sprang from his seat, and stumped upon his wooden leg to the door, threw it wide open, and with his constitutional effrontery fairly bowed Mrs. Adams and her ladies out of the room.

After his retirement from public life, Mr. Morris, so long as he remained a bachelor, dispensed a liberal hospitality at his seat at Morrissania. He was noted for the excellence of his cuisine, and for the quality of his French and German wines, not less than for other luxuries which, as a Sybarite, he indulged in, as well as for the splendor of his whole establishment. With a generosity and discrimination not very common among his contemporaries, he sometimes extended his dinnerinvitations to rising young men.' Whether falling within that category or not, I happened to be present at one of these parties, when my neighbor at table, who was addicted to smoking, inquired of the host, by way of hint for the introduction of segars, whether the gentlemen in France,' (where Mr. Morris had been Minister,)' ever smoked?' 'Gentlemen smoke nowhere,' was the curt and emphatic answer.

From the habits of convivial life, the transition is natural to those which adorn or disfigure the person; and in these the contrast, if not