PLATE 25. Vol. 11. PLATE 26. VoL 11. PLATE 27. Vol. 11. COUPE-PILLARED SIX-SEAT PtOCKAWAY.—£ i>\ scale. Designed exf/ressly for the New York Coach-maker's Magazine. Explained on page 105, PLATE 28. VoJ. H. NONPAREIL TOP BUGGY.— £ i n . scale*. Designed expressly for the N'ew York Coach-maker's Magazine. Explained on page 105. DEVOTED TO THE LITERARY, SOCIAL, AND MECHANICAL INTERESTS OF THE CRAFT. Vol. XI. 1STEW YOT^K, DECEMBER, 1869. No. 7- ^iterator*. THE ADVENTURES OF THREE JOURS. BY H. 8. WILLIAMS. Chapter VI. Saturday morning dawned as bright and beautiful as ever the flowery month of June could show in the sunny South. Not a cloud could be seen, while a cool western breeze betokened a pleasant day, and our two friends left their boarding-house, just as the sun was rising above Cap- itol Hill, in a light top-buggy, drawn by a pair of fiery iron grays. For once Gloner had taken extra pains with his toilet, for he was dressed with taste, thanks to his friend Loring and—his barber. As for Loring himself, he would have done honor to a Saratoga ball-room in the height of the season; and as he drew the reins in his buff- gloved hands, a stranger would have taken him for a gen- tleman of the Beau-Brummell stamp, in fact a little more of the dandy than the mechanic. Away from the hills that surround Montgomery, the broad, level country stretches out to the southward for fifty miles or more, forming a belt that runs diagonally across Alabama, and known as the cane-brake region. This belt comprises the finest cotton-producing region perhaps in the world, and forms the wealthiest portion of the State. Immense plantations stretch out on every side, presenting at a single view vast fields, containing hundreds of acres of the great staple of the commercial world—a sight full of beauty and interest to all, but more particu- larly to Northern eyes. Most of our readers, perhaps, have never seen a field of cotton; therefore, a brief de- scription would not, we trust, prove uninteresting. From an elevated spot, imagine a plantation stretching away as far as the eye can reach, alL planted in cotton, the rows as straight as a line, and just the same distance apart. At this time the weed is about two feet high, and one mass of bloom. All blossoms that open to-day are white as driven snow, but to-morrow they will have passed through a complete transformation, and will be a dark pink, so that the field in full bloom presents a variegated and most pleasing appearance. To us it is one of the most beauti- ful sights in the world, and every year as we look at it Vol. 3d.—13 we feel new sensations of delight. Is it a wonder, then, that our two friends, Gloner in particular, who was an enthusiastic lover of the beautiful, should pronounce it the most lovely scene they had ever gazed upon 1 " What a glorious picture !" exclaimed Gloner, with rapture ; " how pure the white blossoms look ; and such a white, not like the magnolia or japonica, dazzling one to look upon it, but so creamy and rich ! And then the pink; how delicate, and how beautifully tinged with white on the edge, and growing deeper and darker as you advance toward the young ball! I would love to live here forever. Here is independence for you, wedded to a life of ease and most elegant leisure. The planter with a hundred or two bags of cotton in his gin-house, is indeed independent of the world. It would be a life that I would delight in above all others." At the end of a couple of hours they approached the residence of Mr. Linden. Like all others they had passed during their morning's ride, they found its architecture peculiarly Southern—a low, rambling edifice, with a broad piazza in front, a large kitchen and a dozen outhouses to the rear, yet presenting a most comfortable and home-like appearance. Huge live-oaks and china-trees surrounded it, and as they drove over the well-graveled road, bor- dered by neatly-trimmed hedges, they were met by Mr. Linden, who gave them a hearty, old-fashioned welcome, that made them feel at home immediately. And then Miss Lucy, so charmingly beautiful in her plain muslin dress, greeted them so cordially, and with such a sweet smile, that Loring immediately extended his visit from " over Sunday " to a week at least. " You will find it rather lonesome here," she said, " for at this season we have but little company; yet we will do our best to make your visit a pleasant one." " Do not fear but what we shall enjoy ourselves," re- plied Gloner. "It is not in crowded saloons that I find pleasure, but in the society of a few true and warm- hearted friends. The only visit I ever paid in my life, upon which I look back with real pleasure, was to a very dear friend of mine upon the prairies of the far West, and the only company present was himself and wife." "I will agree with you," she replied, "that social pleasure does not depend upon the number of persons gathered together; and, like yourself, I can enjoy myself much better with two or three true friends than in a large, mixed company; and if the axiom holds good in all cases, 98 THE NEW YORK COACH-MAKER'S MAGAZINE. December, we ought to have a pleasant time, for, with the exception of a lady friend who will visit us this evening, we must depend upon ourselves for enjoyment." Here a servant announced breakfast, when she continued : " We have de- layed our morning meal in anticipation of your arrival." " To which we shall do ample justice," said Loring, " for our morning ride has given me a most excellent appetite." The old-fashioned Virginia custom of Mr. Linden's childhood was still retained by that gentleman, and with great good taste, too, as his well-supplied sideboard testi- fied, the contents of which helped to sharpen their appe- tites to such an extent that they both declared it one of the best breakfasts they ever sat down to. There was ham and eggs, young chicken most tender and nicely fried, hot biscuit and batter-cakes, the irrepressible corn-bread, coffee with the richest of cream, the sweetest of butter, and grits, a dish peculiarly Southern, and half way be- tween the mush of the Middle States and the hominy of the West—to all of which our friends did ample justice, as hinted above, and during the enjoyment of which they both silently voted Miss Lucy a most capital house- keeper. And then Mr. Linden proved himself such an agreeable host; he was polite, anticipating every wish of his guests, yet never seeming to insist on anything. "As this is your first visit to a cotton plantation," he said, " the mode and manner of cultivating the great Southern staple will undoubtedly prove both novel and interesting." "In the learning of which I expect a great deal of pleas- ure," replied Gloner, " for the further pursuit of knowledge in any useful department always affords me great pleasure. I know nothing of the cultivation of cotton practically; theoretically, I have learned something from your South- ern agricultural writers in the magazines of the day." " And after all," replied Mr. Linden, " it is all theory. Practically you know but little of anything. You may take the written modus operandi of the most successful planter or farmer in the country; you may study his manner of making any one crop of which you know nothing previously, and if you attempt to follow it, nine times out of ten you will meet with a complete failure. You will learn more by one year's practical experience than by reading his observations of twenty years. Cotton is at once the most interesting as well as the most curious of all plants ; it has a thousand enemies to contend with, from early frost up to the score or two of worms and cat- erpillars that prey upon it, yet it is the most susceptible of good treatment of any of the plants. Cultivate it well and it will generally repay you with an abundant crop, but a week's neglect at a certain stage of its growth, and it is ruined." After the meal was finished they found three horses saddled and bridled awaiting them. " I always take a ride over the plantation every morn- ing when the weather is pleasant," said Mr. Linden, " for overseers as well as field-hands need watching and looking after sometimes, and I thought, perhaps, you would like to accompany me." " You could not have divined our wishes better," said Gloner, as they lit their cigars and started off. At the end of a couple of hours they returned, warm and some- what wearied, but highly delighted with their ride and observations, and Gloner confessed that he had learned more by seeing the crop growing, and by listening to Mr. Linden's practical observations, than in all his previous reading. Then an hour's tite-d-tete with Lucy only seemed to confirm Gloner in his previously-formed opinion that she was the most delightful companion he had ever known. While looking over a large cabinet of curiosities that had been gathered up during an extended tour of Europe and the far East by Lucy and her father a couple of years before, they were interrupted by the swift sound of horses' feet on the hard graveled road without. "There comes Kate," cried Lucy; "I always know when she is coming, for she never rides unless at a full gallop. Let us go out and meet her." They reached the piazza just in time to see a lady halt and spring to the ground, when, turning to the serv- ant who followed her, she exclaimed, " Rub Bess off; let her stand half an hour in the shade, then water and feed her well! no mistake now ! " and with a bound she was by Lucy's side; seeing strangers present, however, she re- ceded a step, somewhat embarrassed, but was immediately reassured by Lucy, who grasped her hand, and, after kiss- ing her, exclaimed, " Dear, bonnie Kate, I am so glad to see you. Allow me to present Mr. Gloner. Mr. Gloner Miss Corneil—and Mr. Loring. You have heard me speak of them." " Ah ! " she exclaimed, losing her embarrassment in a moment, " your Mobile friends. I have heard Lucy speak so highly of you both, and having such faith in her good taste and correct judgment, I am confident we will be the best of friends." Gloner said something in reply, he never knew exactly what it was, for, cool and collected as he usually was, for once he was somewhat confused; she came upon him so suddenly, like a planet of the first magnitude, eclipsing and dazzling for the moment; and when she passed within to take off her riding habit, he remembered that she was tall and gloriously beautiful—an ideal queen, with a regal carriage, large, flashy, black eyes, raven hair, a complexion darkened by exposure, and a profile as perfect and classical as the marble graces of the ancient masters in the sculp- tor's art. " What a magnificent woman she is !" exclaimed Lor- ing, as they were preparing their toilet for dinner. " What life, what animation, what perfect health, and what a glo- rious flow of animal spirits !—a perfect type of the Lady Gay Spanker school, yet more womanly and more lovely. She charms, and at the same time awes one to think that such life is mortal." Such a dinner as followed they had never enjoyed be- fore. Mr. Linden was calm and dignified—such dignity as always envelops the true gentleman—yet genial as the noon-day sun in his boundless hospitality. His conversa- tion betokened the gentleman of refinement and education. He discussed grave questions of State with most liberal views in which he was ably seconded by Gloner, whose extensive reading was brought in play in a manner that presented his talents in their best array. Loring, under the influence of Miss Corneil, was witty and sparkling. Lucy quiet and unobtrusive ; while " bonnie Kate " was at home on all subjects, presenting original ideas in the richest language and most vivacious style. When the dessert was finished, Kate rose from the table and said : " Come, Lucy, let us leave the gentlemen to enjoy their wine undisturbed, after which we will take a ride over the plantation. I give you warning, Mr. Lin- den, that I am going to excel you this year, and I want to 1869. THE NEW YORK, COACH-MAKER'S MAGAZINE. 99 see what I have to do by taking notes on your crop; so be kind enough to order out the horses, while Lucy and my- self get ready for the ride." " What a charming creature !" exclaimed Loring as the door closed behind them. " Yes," returned Mr. Linden, " and as good as she is charming. She is one of my nearest, as well as one of my best neighbors. Five years ago she was as quiet, un- obtrusive, and dependent as Lucy now is; but her parents both died very suddenly while she was North at school, and unfortunately left the estate in debt. She immediate- ly returned home, took the whole business in her own hands, saw all the creditors, got time to pay the debts, and went to work. Though only fifteen years of age at that time, she managed everything so well that she has paid every dollar, and made money besides. Every morning you can see her at sunrise galloping over the fields, giving orders here and there with a quickness and precision that is really wonderful. Her ideas of farming are far in advance of the planters in the neighborhood generally; and she made no idle boast when she said she was going to excel me this year in her crops, for some twenty servants, out of pure love for her, have done more work than my thirty have." " Then she deserves the highest honors which we can confer upon her," returned Loring; " our love and admi- ration—love for her womanhood, and admiration for her energy and spirit. What an influence such a creature has upon us ! How they elevate and refine our feelings, caus- ing us to look up and away at the ever-glorious future, in- stead of bowing in gloomy melancholy over the wretched past. What a pity she is not poor!" " Why so V asked Mr. Linden, with a smile. " Because, then she would marry a man poor but am- bitious, and the two together would carve out a noble for- tune." " The mere fact that she is wealthy," returned Mr. Linden, " would not deter her from marrying a poor man if she found one that suited her. Yet I think she is some- what fastidious in her choice, for many of the young men in the neighborhood have knelt at her feet and sued in vain." " There is a chance for you," said Gloner, " so put your best foot forward and win her. You are ambitious, energetic, and independent; three things that will go far toward commanding her esteem and winning her favor, else I am no judge of her character." Loring did not reply, but sipped his wine in silence. Could it be that a vision of future bliss shaped itself be- fore his mind—such a vision as will come to gladden the heart of the low-born peasant, as well as the prince of royal blood 1 If it did exist it was blotted out by Mr. Linden's simple announcement, " The ladies are waiting." In a few moments they were off; for, as Loring truly remarked, Miss Corneil had an influence—in her presence everything was done expeditiously. " I see the secret of her superior management already," remarked Gloner aside to Loring when they were mounted. " It is the principle of modern go-ahead-a-tiveness that she infuses in everything with which she comes in contact." It took them only an hour to make the round of the plantation, and during that hour they saw more, and Glo- ner learned more, than in the two hours of the morning. " This is my remedy for dispelling the drowsiness and languor that ever follows a hearty meal, and I have al- ways found it infallible," said Miss Corneil. " Most per- sons prefer a siesta after dinner, but I prefer a good horse and a hard gallop. It infuses a new lease of life in every drop of one's blood. If it was more universally adopted, we would have fewer pale wall-flowers in the domestic conservatory." As they neared the house on their return, Mr. Linden left them, to visit the negro quarters, when Miss Corneil proposed a race. "Come, Lucy," she exclaimed, "it will do you good. That oak, a quarter of a mile away, is the winning post. A box of gloves to the lady—" " And a box of cigars to the gentleman who wins," cried Loring. " Good!" she cried. " Now, Bess, do your duty," and with her dainty riding whip she gave her one cut, when the intelligent little animal was off like a shot, followed close by Loring. It was a broad, smooth road, and they fairly flew over it. For a couple of hundred yards Loring gained slightly, then Miss Corneil drew the rein tighter, spoke to her horse, and she shot ahead, reached the oak, and was drawing up beyond, when Loring flew past at the top of his speed. " We have passed the winning post," she cried, but he paid no heed to her. " He has lost control of his horse," she added. " Sure enough ; I see now it is Mr. Linden's Thunderbolt he is riding. Come, Bess—come !" and she dashed after him, while Lucy and Gloner reined up at the oak. For three-quarters of a mile further Loring rode at the top of his speed—and it was a fearful speed too—more like flying than aught else, as he afterward expressed it. He was an excellent rider, thanks to the livery stables of Mobile and Montgomery, and he sat firmly in his saddle, and held a tight rein, else his prospect for coming out of the race at all would have been a poor one. At the end of a mile from the starting point, however, he felt his horse slacken his pace somewhat, and at the end of a hundred yards further he succeeded in stopping him, when, on turning, he beheld Miss Corneil by his side. " Do not laugh at me," he said, " for I confess I could not rein up my horse at your oak." And, woman-like, she did laugh, making the woods echo with her merry peals. " Forgive me," she said, " for I cannot help laughing, now that you are safe. Yet you need not feel the least mortified, for when you passed me I discovered that you were mounted on Mr. Linden's old race-horse Thunderbolt, and no wonder you could not stop him. I doubt if the best horseman in the State could have done it under the circumstances, for he is a mile horse, and five years ago nothing in this part of the country could beat him. I did not notice what you were riding, else I would not have proposed the race." "Then you won the gloves in the quarter race, but I won my cigars in the mile," replied Loring, laughing. " Very well," she replied ; " but let us return, or Lucy will think something serious has happened." " But not at the speed with which we came," he said, "for I do not care about Thunderbolt going another mile at that rate." They soon met Lucy and Gloner, who were riding on slowly after them, when they all returned to the house in the best of humor, and all laughing heartily over the result of the race. "When I reached the quarter stretch," exclaimed 100 THE NEW YORK COACH-MAKER'S MAGAZINE December, Loring," the harder I pulled, the faster he went; so I wisely let him go, although I must say I felt vexed at the thought of what a ridiculous figure I cut, letting a horse run away with me, and beaten by a lady, too." It was nearly dark when they reached the house, and most of the brief evening was passed in the library and billiard room, where Miss Corneil proved herself an ex- cellent billiard player, after which she beat Loring at a game of chess, while Lucy and Gloner discussed and crit- icised the various authors whose works they chanced to pick up, and compared notes on the current literature of the day, in which, strange to say, they both coincided to a remarkable degree. " Thus far, this visit promises to be the most delight- ful of my life," exclaimed Loring, when they reached their room. " Let us smoke a cigar before retiring, for I con- fess that I am too excited to sleep. Life is too happy, and the sense of living is too blissful just now to forget it all in slumber. What charming creatures they both are," he continued, as they seated themselves at the open win- dows, and inhaled the soft night air that stole up to them laden with the rich perfume of the flowers beneath; " and yet how different! Which do you admire the most ?" " They are both admirable in their way," replied Glo- ner. " I am naturally quiet and retiring in my disposi- tion, and of course it is but natural that I should admire Lucy the most. She is so artless, so dependent, so warm- hearted, that it needs but a glance from her dove-like eyes to kindle a flame of love in a lonely heart like mine. Upon the other hand, you are more of the world than I am—fonder of its bustle, its activity, and its busy life— consequently, Miss Corneil, with her dashing grace and daring, active spirit, is more congenial to you. There is a prize there, and if you have the spirit I think you have, you can win it." " There is but one serious obstacle in the way," re- plied Loring," and I cannot read her character well enough yet to decide whether it is a serious one or not." "And that is—" "That I am a mechanic." "Exactly. That obstacle is the veriest mole-hill. Suppose she should refuse your suit on that ground, what would you think of her ?" " I would pass her by with the contempt she deserved, and forget her, only regretting that a casket so beautiful should contain a gem so worthless." "Certainly; you would not have that independence which I know you to possess if you did not. Now mark me. I am a closer observer of character than you are, and I have read hers, and will wager my reputation that I am right. The fact that you are a mechanic will rather prepossess you in her favor than otherwise, for she hon- ors any man who is dependent only on his own right arm for support. She already knows you are a mechanic, for I told her so this evening, and I know that she respects you as a gentleman. It depends upon yourself whether you cannot change that respect to love." Loring replied not, but for an hour they sat thus, each busy with his own thoughts—such thoughts as will come like a blissful dream to the quiet sleep of innocence, shed- ding sunlight around, and scattering roses in our path- way—a pathway that leads to the perfect realization of our most sanguine hopes in the glorious future, when we have youth and love to gild the picture with their artistic touches of gold and azure. (To be continued.) TREATISE ON THE WOODWORK OF CAR- RIAGES. {Continued from, page 83.) L. Projections op a Straight Line.—The projec- tions of a straight line in space are determined by the projections of the two points of its extremities ; by join- ing those points by a straight line in each plane, the result will be the projections of the line in space. The projection of a line A B in space, perpendicular to one of the planes of pro- jection P (Fig. 32), is reduced to a single point a on that plane. In this case the two projections a' b', at bn on th other planes Q and R, are equal and parallel to the original straight line. LI. The projections of two parallel straight lines are parallel in each plane of projection. Sup- pose the case where the two lines are perpen- dicular to one of the planes of projection—for instance, to the horizontal plane : their projections in each of the other two planes are vertical lines, which, like the original straight lines, are all perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and consequently parallel to each other. In that case, not only would the projections of two lines be parallel on each of the vertical planes, but they are all parallel to each other; this is a feature pecu- liar to vertical lines. But if the original parallel lines were horizontal or in- clined, their projections would only be parallel to each plane of projection, that is, unless they were horizontal and parallel to one of the two vertical planes. In that case, the projections on that plane, on the horizontal plane, and the original lines, would all be paral- lel. LII. An inclined line A B in space, bearing on two planes of projection P and Q (Fig. 33), gives two projections a b, aJ b\ on those two planes, both shorter than the original line. If the line A B is parallel to the third plane R, its projection at b, in that plane will be both equal and parallel. 1869. THE NEW YORK COACH-MAKER'S MAGAZINE. 101 When a line A B (Fig. 34) is entirely included within one of the planes of projection P, it is confounded with its projection in that plane, and is pro- jected on the other planes in a'' b\ af bn along the ground line in each plane. LIII. Projections of a Curve.—The projection of a curve in space A E (Fig. 35) is obtained by projecting various points A B C D E, forming part of that curve in each plane of projection, suffi- cient in number to indicate the bound- ary of the projections of the curve. By joining the various points thus obtained in each plane by a line, it must follow that each line abed e, a' b' c' d' e\ af bf c- df ef, give exactly the projection of all the points of the original curve in the plane oa which it falls. When a curve in space AB (Fig. 36) is parallel to one of the planes of projec- tion R, its projec- tion a/ b/ in that plane is both equal and parallel to it, and its projection a b, a b , in each of the other planes P and Q, is a straight line. Where a curve A B is entirely com- prised within one of the planes of projec- tion P (Fig. 37), it is projected on the other planes Q and R, along the ground line a'b'}afbn in each plane. LIV. Projections of Surfaces.—Surfaces being bounded by lines, their projections are formed of the pro- jections of the lines by which they are bound. The sur- faces inclosed within the projected lines are consequently the projections of the original surfaces. This simple indi- 3'7 cation suffices for the projection of all kinds of surfaces. Never- theless, as plane sur- faces are of great importance in the system of projections, because they serve to solve all the opera- tions, we will give the projections of that species of sur- faces. LV. Projections of Plane Surfaces. —The projections of a plane surface L M N O (Fig. 38), per- pendicular to two planes of projection P and Q, are ex- pressed on those two planes by two lines on I'o'. In that case the surface L M N O being parallel to the auxiliary plane R, is projected on that plane by a surface 1/ mf nf on which is both eq'ual and paral- lel to it. The projections in space of a plane sur- face LMNO (Fig. 39), oblique to the planes of projection, are expressed by the surfaces Imno, I'm' n1 o\ 1/ m./ n, o,, on each plane P Q R, on a smaller scale than the original sur- face. LVI. The projec- tions of the different frames of a body will give on the faces dressed by the plane analogous projections to those just proved ; when it is required to determine the size of those surfaces their plane is supposed to be prolonged to the planes of projection. (To be continued.) A Curiosity.—In a forest tree lately cut down in Wisconsin was found an Indian arrow-head completely imbedded and grown over. It appears from counting the layers of wood over it, that ninety years have elapsed since the* arrow which it tipped was shot at the tree. / / // 7 / / / B /% / / <2 'o i / / /// ¥/ 1 / 102 THE NEW YORK COACH-MAKER'S MAGAZINE. December, SWEEP FOB SCALE DRAFTING. SWEEPS FOR SCALE DRAFTING.—VIII. We give our readers, this month, another in our series of sweeps for scale drafting. The mode of trans- ferring it to the veneer, and preparing the same for use will be found at page 5 of this volume. BABY'S STOCKING. Hang up the baby's stocking, Be sure you don't forget! The dear little dimpled darling! She ne'er saw Christmas yet. But I've told her all about it, And she cpened her big blue eyes, And I'm sure she understood me, She looked so funny and wise. Dear, dear! what a tiny stocking ! It doesn't take much to hold Such little pink toes as baby's Away from the frost and cold. But then for the baby's Christmas It never will do at all; Why, Santa Claus wouldn't be looking For anything half so small. I know what we'll do for the baby; I've thought of the very best plan; I'll borrow a stocking of grandma— The longest that ever I can. And you'll hang it by mine, dear mother, Right here in the corner, so, And write a letter to Santa, And fasten it on to the toe. Write, " This is the baby's stocking That hangs in the corner here; You never have seen her, Santa, For she only came this year; But she's just the blessedest baby, And now, before you go, Just cram her stocking with goodies From the top clear down to the toe." WINTER RAMBLINGS IN KENTUCKY. BY PORTE PENCIL. (Continued from page 8*7.) This brought into play the deep voice of my guide, and the alto tones of the little negroes : " You Jowler!" " Come out dah, you Venter!" " Git out, you Bow- man, you rascal, you ! " Under cover of this volley the bipeds rushed to the attack, and, by force of some good blows, the enemy was routed, horse, foot, and dragoons, the cries of the wounded mingling with shouts of the victors. This unwonted clamor had brought to the doors all the inmates of the houses, and 1 became the cynosure of all eyes. My guide conducted me to the entrance of his own habitation, and politely invited me to walk in. Scarcely had we crossed the threshold, when a female voice from an inner room inquired, "Who dat?" My host, "on hospitable cares intent," answered not, when the voice was heard again, in a higher tone, "You Polly, who dat come in dah?" The little girl to whom this seemed to be addressed, made no reply but gliding silently into the room from which the 1869. THE NEW YORK COACH-MAKER'S MAGAZINE. 103 voice had come, the hitherto concealed speaker made her appearance. " Sarvant, sir," said she, making a low courtesy, and evidently much confused, " I did thought t'was one of the men." " Polly," said my guide, looking around for the little girl; but Polly was gone, to tell, doubtless, the news. " Whah Polly ? She done gone out." "The gentleman want some water. Tell her to git the piggin—run to spring torecly." The woman went, and I heard her voice, shrill and loud—" Oh ! Polly ?" and then, dwelling long upon the in- terjection, " Oh!—!—! Polly ? Na-an, Oh!—!—! Polly ?" " Here me, mammy." " Here, gal; make 'ast an' fetch a piggin o' water. Run every step o' the way; you hear ? An' min' you don't fall down an' spill the water." "My good woman," said I, as she entered the house, " my walk has made me somewhat hungry ; can you give me anything to eat?" " I reckon, master, I am got nothin' you kin eat; but if you'll wait till Ijrun up to the gret 'ouse, I'll git somethin'." " It is scarcely worth while to take that trouble," said I, anxious to see how they were provided with food. " What have you in the house ? " "The gentleman too hongry to wait, Nanny," said her husband. "You git the sifter an' siff some meal, whell I go to hen 'ouse an' git some aggs." " Dah's taters," said the woman. " Sho' 'nough. You Polly," said he to the girl, who just entered, dripping like a water-nymph, having in her haste spilt a good quantity of the water upon herself—" you Polly,jump down in the tater-hole, an' git out some taters." The girl lifted two or three thick planks, bored with many holes, which, with six or eight others like them, oc- cupied the centre of the floor, and in a moment disap- peared in the dark cavity beneath, the existence of which I had not until that moment suspected. " Which sort you want, daddy ?" "Which sort you love bes', master; bx-imstone or moodus ?" Being puzzled, I desired him to choose for me. " Han' out de brimstone, gal." Whilst my lunch was in preparation, I employed my- self in surveying the room. The chimney occupied one entire end of the house—that is to say, was about fifteen feet in width. In the middle of this was the fire, leaving room on either side for seats. Opposite to each other were two small windows, or " light holes," as the negroes sometimes call them, each having a shelf beneath it. The two corners most remote from the fire-place were occu- pied, one by a little table, with a small triangular cup- board nailed above it to the wall; the other by a hominy mortar. Behind the door a very small shelf supported the good man's razors, etc.; and just above this depended from a nail a very irregular polygon of looking-glass, fitted into a piece of bark by way of frame. Near the fire stood, on one side, a bedstead and bed, and on the other a spinning-wheel. A short ladder in one corner terminated at a square hole in the ceiling, and formed a communica- tion with the loft, which is used as a stores-house for broom- corn, shuck mats, etc. It may be necessary to explain that " shuck" is a name here given to the husk that en- velopes the ear of the Indian corn, and of which the ne- groes make mats, chair-bottoms, and even horse-collars, for sale. High on the wall hung some half dozen dry, in- flated bladders, and many festoons of red peppers and capsicum. The family contained one individual not yet named, videlicet, the pig, who seemed to pass in and out just as his own humor dictated, liable, nevertheless, to an occasional cuff whenever his nose was detected in unlaw- ful places. A little cross-legged table was put before me, upon which were spread fried eggs, sweet potatoes roasted in hot ashes, bread baked upon a hoe (a kind of griddle), and a plate of honey. I found no difficulty in doing jus- tice to this display of hospitality, and was just finishing my demonstration, when Squire W------came in. After some conversation with me, he turned to my host: " Tom, here are a dollar and three bits ; the money Wilcox owed you for chickens. I deducted it from the price of the work he did for me. If I had not owed him, you would never have been able to get it from him. He wishes to buy your bacon. You will have sense enough, I hope, not to place yourself again in his power ; not to sell him your bacon on credit ?" " Thank'ee, master ; I ain' gwine le'm have it, no how." After giving some directions about his fences, W------ inquired of Nanny concerning her sister's health. " She mighty weak to-day, sir, I thank you." "What does she complain of?" " She thinks it's the rheumatis. Not so ; she's cotch a vi'lent cold, an' ole Aunt Molly, whah most in gin'ral stays with her when sick, was 'blice to lef her to-day, caze Big Tom's wife, as is bin gruntin' nigh upon a week, was tooken very sudden this mawnin." " Tell Polly to send to the house for any thing that may be required." " Yes, sir; but misses is bin down a'ready an' fotch every thing." I find it impossible to give on paper a just idea of their manner of pronouncing many words. Indeed, the same word comes in many different shapes from the same mouths. Those in which th occurs, are particularly liable to mutation. Take, for example, the word there. Besides the correct pronunciation, which they sometimes give it, we have " thah," and " dah," and " deyah." The varia- tions of that are " dat" and " at." They seem to have an especial dislike to the use of the letter r, and scarcely ever sound it but at the beginning of words. Feeling disposed to witness a corn-shucking, I left the house, and, guided by a negro boy, was placed at my request in a situation from which I could see and hear all that was going on, myself unseen. About eighty or a hundred men were seated around a huge heap of corn, tearing off the husk, and throwing off the denuded ears into spots where they were at once sep- arated from the corn pile, so called par excellence, and convenient to the operators. On the summit of the pile sat an ancient negro, selected for his skill in improvisation, who gave out a line in a sort of rapid chant, at the end of which the whole party joined in a chorus. The poet seemed to have no fixed object in view but to sing. He passed from one subject to another without regard to con- nection. I have retained in memory the following lines, which may serve to give some idea of their style of com- position. They seldom use the sign of the possessive case: " Oh, Jenny gone to Newtown ! Chorus—Oh, Jenny gone away ! She went because she would n't stay. Oh, Jenny gone away ! She run'd away, an' I know why, Oh, Jenny, ----------------- CHINESE AS INVENTORS. Although other nations have far outstripped the Chinese in carriage-making, yet to them belongs the honor of having led the way in many of the most remarkable inventions', and in many things anticipating us in the pos- session of some of those arts which constitute the boast of our modern civilization. Some of these we propose briefly to notice. " China-ware" was manufactured in the " Central flowery kingdom " long before any was produced in Eu- rope ; and some of it was so delicately and beautifully formed that the potteries of Europe have never yet been able to excel it in fineness. The silks which rustle in our parlors, or glisten on the sidewalks of our cities on sunny days, if not imported from the land of the " Brother of the Sun," still they remind us that these came originally from China. Gunpowder, which has had such a powerful effect as to revolutionize the art of war, and remove ob- structing mountains in the path of progress, came origin- ally from China. It is conceded, generally, that the mar- iner's compass was known to the Chinese many thousand years before Columbus discovered America. Its inven- tion cannot with justice be conceded to the Neapolitans (A. D. 1302), as some believe, for it was in use much earlier among various nations. Paper-making and print- ing, two of the civilized arts, are thought to have been practiced by the Chinese eight hundred years before the discoveries of Gutenberg and Faust. Inoculation, as- cribed to the genius of Jenner, was practiced as a protec- tion against the horrors of small-pox, years previous to his time. Four centuries ago they were ahead of most nations of the earth, and although they have not advanced since, they certainly have not retrograded. Although we may not place them in the highest niche of our art gal- leries, yet we are forced to admit that the Chinese are worthy of much credit from more progressive nations for the rich legacies they have given to the world. REVIEW OF TRADE. Generally speaking, carriage-manufacturing has been extremely—we may say—unusually dull, all over the country. This, no doubt, is due very much to the strin- gency of the money market, which has likewise affected other business relations as well. The old complaint, an overstock of manufactured work, still is heard. This, at this season of the year, is very much to be regretted, since such a state of things is not very favorable for the interests of the working classes during the coming win- ter. Nor is there much prospect of benefit from the manufacture of velocipedes, which did so much for the trade the past season. There are two things against it: the one their decreasing popularity, the other the claims put forth by certain speculators in pretended patent rights, which no business man, true to himself, can possibly recognize. This of itself is sufficient, unless supported by ready sale, to kill off almost any kind of business. Dull- ness in trade has had the tendency to force builders into the manufacture of sleighs, the consequence of which will be—unless we have frequent falls of snow and a rather hard winter—to shut up the funds of our friends in a kind of stock they will find it difficult to thaw out in the spring, when it will be very much needed. We have heard of several failures among builders al- ready, th.us early in the season, which we fear is but the forerunner of yet more before good times return. We have frequently felt ourselves called upon to caution our friends against the dangers engendered by the exercise of unlimited ambition. This, unless used with prudence, is quite as dangerous in its results, as is "masterly inactiv- ity." In other words, it is more prudent in doing too little than in doing too much. This every experienced carriage-maker will doubtless fully understand. We would incidentally add, before closing this article, that during the past year coaches have been almost totally ignored—Landaus, Clarences, etc., having taken their places among the aristocracy of our cities. The calls, too, in the heavier classes of work is for much heavier wheels than we have been accustomed to put on our carriages, the public—and builders too—having come to the conclusion that such run much easier and better than when made very light. In this respect we are beginning to copy after our trans-Atlantic cotemporaries, with profit. FIRE IN A CARRIAGE-SHOP. On the 29th of October, in the evening, the carriage manufactory of Jacob Dunn, located on the northwest cor- ner of Eighty-seventh street and Third avenue, was totally 1869. THE NEW YORK COACH-MAKER'S MAGAZINE. Ill destroyed by fire. The fire broke out in an old shed sit- uated in the rear of the shop, which was in the shape of an L, fronting on two streets, four stories high. The loss is estimated at $60,000, on which there is a partial in- surance of about $35,000. The building, which was owned by George W. Archer, was fully insured. We understand that a shop will be rebuilt on the old site, and Mr. Dunn will go on with his business as soon as it is completed. EDITORIAL CHIPS AND SHAVINGS. Traveling in New York in 1759.—The following advertisement, copied from the Weekly Mercury, will prove interesting to every " Lover of his Country," in these progressive times: The Philadelphia Stage Wagon, and New York Stage BoAtf perform their stages twice a week. John Butler, with his wagon, sets out on Monday from his house, at the sign of the death of the fox in strawberry alley, and drives the same day to Trenton Ferry, when Francis Holman meets him, and proceeds on Tuesday to Bruns- wick, and the passengers and goods being shifted into the wagon of Isaac Fitzrandolph, he takes them to the New Blazing Star to Jacob Fitzrandolph's the same day, where Rubin Fitzrandolph, with a boat well suited, will receive them, and take them to New York that night. John But- ler returning to Philadelphia on Tuesday with the pas- sengers and goods delivered to him by Francis Holman, will again set out for Trenton Ferry on Thursday, and Francis Holman, &c, will carry his passengers and goods, with the same expedition as above, to New York. Chariot of Peter the Great.—At St. Petersburg, in Russia, they have a gallery in which is preserved many memorials of Peter the Great. Among these is a gilt chariot in which he occasionally rude, and is one of the few gay curiosities in the collection. Besides this, there are turning-lathes and instruments for carving, worn smooth in the monarch's own hands while exercising as a mechanic, and the stuffed skin of the horse he rode at Poltava, the scene of his greatest victory. Leveling Oil-Stones.—The writer has always expe- rienced difficulty in attempting to shape an oil-stone or slip for shapening gouges. The ordinary way is to grind off the highest parts and then rub it on a gritty floor, or if near a foundry to get some parting sand and sprinkle on the floor or board on which you are rubbing; better still, if you can find the true surface of a casting before it is cleaned—this will cut it away quite fast. But recently, while trying to shape a small slip, it occurred to me to try some glass paper, and to my surprise I found that it cut away very fast. For trueing an ordinary oil-stone for sharpening planes, take a piece of glass paper, No. 2, and lay it on the bench and rub your stone on it; in this way you can true the stone in one quarter the time it would take in the ordinary way; and carpenters have always such means at hand. Five or ten minutes1 rubbing will be found sufficient. Your glass paper will not be spoiled by the operation. Wm. Penn's Old Carriage.—William Penn's old family carriage has come into the possession of the Michi- gan Central Railroad. The relic is over one hundred and sixty years old. A gentleman of Jackson, Michigan, either purchased or fell heir to it, but on its arrival he failed to pay express charges, and so the company took possession in default. It is one of the most interesting relics in the country. Would it not be well for some of our city or State authorities to endeavor to get possession of it? New Uses for Velocipedes.—An enterprising indi- vidual at Berlin has submitted the following plan to the authorities : He proposes to board over all the gutters on each side of the streets, and this roadway, three or four feet wide, is to be the future velocipede high-road of the ity. A thousand tricycles are to be placed on it, each with a practiced driver, dressed in a neat uniform, who will undertake to conduct one person, with letters, parcels, , along this road. As velocipedestrians always drive straight, room to turn is not required, and when the road is free it will serve as a footpath. A small charge for passengers, parcels, and letters will, it is estimated, give a fair return for the cost of construction. He argues that, besides the general convenience of his plair, it will be a great advantage to Berlin to bridge over the gutters, as they are at present very unsightly, and are liable to be frozen over in winter. Moreover, the establishment of foot-paths will facilitate the better regulation of the street traffic, and effect a great saving in the expense now incurred by cleaning the streets. The tricycles are to have a little canopy in winter, an umbrella being a sufficient protection in summer. The projector calculates that a speed may be obtained equal to that of an ordinary carriage at least, and guarantees all possible convenience and safety in the transit. Henry Ward Beecher in the Blacksmith's Shop.— Mr. Beecher lately said: I never saw anybody do anything that I did not watch them and see how they did it, for there is no telling but that some time I might have to do it myself. I was going across a prairie once—my horse began to limp. Luckily I came across a blacksmith's shop, but the smith was not at home. I asked the woman of the house if she would allow me to start fire and make the shoe. She said I might if I knew how; so I started a fire and heated the shoe red-hot, and turned it to fit my horse's foot, and pared the hoof, and turned the points of the nails out cun- ningly, as I had seen the blacksmith do, so that in driving into the hoof they should not go into the quick, and shod the horse. At the next place I came to I went straight to a smith, and told him to put the shoe on properly. He looked at the horse's foot, and paid me the greatest compliment I ever received in my life. He told me if I put on that shoe I had better follow blacksmithing all my life. Now, I never should have known how to do this if I had not looked on and seen others do it. New Mode of Watering Horses.—A patent has re- cently been granted for a method of refreshing horses while in harness, which consists in making the bit hollow, and having perforations in it. A rubber tube extends from one side of the bit to the carriage, and by pressing a rubber bag which contains water, the driver is enabled to refresh horses whenever he chooses, without stopping. For saddle horses, the water Bag is suspended from the horse's neck, or upon the pummel of the saddle. 112 THE NEW YORK COACH-MAKER'S MAGAZINE. December, 1869. Japanese Hostlers.—Japanese bettoes, or men who attend the horses of travelers, and run in advance to give warning of approach, perform some almost incredible exploits. They will travel forty miles in an afternoon, apparently without fatigue. A Centenarian.—A citizen of Richmond drives a wagon one hundred years old—the exact longevity of the memorable " one-horse shay," of which the poet discoursed. With a little tying up at the axles, and abstinence from sneezing on the part of the driver, it is said still to be a safe and serviceable vehicle. CURRENT PRICES FOR CARRIAGE MATERIALS. oorrected monthly for the new york coaoh-makefi's magazine. New York, Not. 20, 1869. Apron hooks and rings, per gross, $1 a $1.50 Axle-clips, according to length, per dozen, 60c. to 80c. Axles, common (loug stock), per IB. 7'/aC. Axles, plain taper, 1 in. and under, $5.50; 1J,$6.5O; H, $7.50; If, $9.50; H, $10.50. Do. Swelled taper, 1 in. and under, $7.00; \\, $7.50 ; 1£, $8.75; If, $10.75; 1$, $13.00. Do. Half pat., 1 in. $10; 1|,$11; 1J, $13; 1|, $15.50; li $18.50. Do. do. Homogeneous steel, § in., $11.00; |, $11; j, $12.00; long drafts, $2.50 extra. IC^"" These are prices for firEt-class axles. Inferior olass sold from $1 to $8 less. Bands, plated rim, 3 in., $1.75; 3 in., $2, larger sizes proportionate. Do. Mail patent, $3.00 a $5.00. Do. galvanized, 3^ in. and under, $1 ; larger, $1 a $2. Bent poles, each $1.00 to $1.50. Do. rims, extra hickory, $2.75 to $3.5<\ Do. seat rails, 50c. each, or $5.50 per doz. Do. shafts, $6 to $9 per bundle of 6 pairs. Bolts, Philadelphia, list. 35 off. Do. T, per 100, $3 a $3.50. Bows, per set, light, $1.00; heavy, $2.00. Buckles, pergrs. £in.,$l ; f, $1.12; |, $1.25; |, $1 75; 1, $2.00. Buckram, per yard, 18 a 23c. Burlap, per yard, 10 a 14c. Buttons, japanned, per paper, 20c; per large gross, $2.25. Carriage-parts, buggy, carved, $4.50 a $6. Carpets, Brussels, $1.75 a $2 ; velvet, $2.76 a$4; oil-cloth, 45 a 70c. Castings, malleable iron, per ft. 15c. Chapman rubber, $2, doz. pr. Clip-kingbolts, each, 40c, or $4.50 per dozen. Cloths, body, $3.50 a $5 ; lining, $2.50 a $3. (See Enameled.) Cord, seaming, per ft. 35c ; netting, per yard, 8c. Cotelines, per yard, $4 a $8. Curtain frames, per dozen, $1.25 a $2.50. Do. rollers, each, $1.50. Damask, German cotton, double width, per piece, $15 a $22. Dashes, buggy, $1.75. Door-handles, stiff, $1 a $3; coach drop, per pair, $3 a $4. Drugget, felt, $1.75 a $2. Enameled cloth, muslin, 6-4, 35c. ; 6-4, 60c. Enameled Drills, 48 in., 50c.; 5-4, 45c. Do. Ducks, 50 in., 70c. ; 54, 60c; 64, 80c. O^" No quotations for other enameled goods. Felloe plates, wrought, per lb., all sizes, 15 to 18c. Felloes (Rims), $1.50 a $3. Fifth-wheels, wrought, $1.50 a $2.00. Fringes, festoon, per piece, $2; nurrow, per yard, 18c. J5F" For a buggy-top two pieces are required, and sometimes three. Do. silk bullion, per yard, 50c. a $1. Do. worsted bullion, 4 in., 35c. Do. worsted carpet, per yard, 8c. a 15c. Frogs, 60c. a $1 per pair. Glue, per ft. 26c. a 30c Hair, picked, per ft. 40c. to 65c. Hubs, light, mortised, $1.20; unmortised, $1. Coach, mortised, $2. Japan, per gal., $1.75. Knobs, English, $1.40 a $1.50 per gross. Lacee, broad, silk, per yard, 60c. a $1.25 ; narrow, 10c. to 16c. Do. broad, worsted, per yard, 40c. a 60c. Lamps, coach. $10 a $30 per pair. Lazy backs, $9 per doz. Leather, collar, 25c; railing do. 23c.; soft dash, No. 1,15c; do., No. 2, 12c; hard dash, 15c; split do., 16c; No. 1, top, 25c; enam- eled top, No. 1, 25c, do., No. 2, 23c.; enameled trimming, 23c.; harness, per lb., 50c.; flap, per foot, 25c Moss, per bale, 8c. a 15c. Mouldings, plated, per foot, £ in. 14c; |, 16c a 20c; $, lead, door, per piece, 40c Nails, lining, silver, per paper, 7c.; ivory, per gross, 50c. Name-plates. (See Advertisement.) Oils, boiled, per gal., $1.25. Paints. "White lead, extra, $13.00, pure, $14.00 per 100 lbs.; Eng pat. black, 20 to 25c. Permanent wood-filling, $6 per gallon. Poles, $1.25 a $2 each, Pole-crabs, silver, $5 a $12; tips, $1.25 a $1.50. Pole-eyes, (S) No. 1, $2.25; No. 2, $2.40; No. 3, $2.66 ; No. 4, $4.50 per pr. Sand paper, per ream, under Nos. 2^ and under, $4.50. Screws, gimlet, manufacturer's 40 off per cent, off printed lists. Do. ivory headed, per dozen, 50c per gross, $5.50. Scrims (for canvassing), 16c. a 22c. Seats (carriage), $2 a $2.75 each. Seat-rails, 75c. per doz. Seat-risers, Linton's Patent, $2 per pair. Seats, buggy, pieced rails, $1.75 ; solid rails, $2.50. Shafts, $12 to $18 per doz. Shaft-jacks (M. S. & S.'s), No. 1, $2.40 ; 2, $2.60; 3, $3.00. Shaft-jacks, common, $1 a $1.35 per pair. Do. tips, extra plated, per pair, 25c. a 50c. Silk, curtain, per yard, $2 a $3.50. Slat-irons, wrought, 4 bow, 75c. a 90c ; 5 bow, $1.00 per set. Slides, ivory, white and black, per doz., $12; bone, per doz., $1.60 a $2.25; No. 18, $2.75 per doz. Speaking tubes, each, $10. Spindles, seat, per 100, $1.60 a $2.50. Spring-bars, carved, per pair, $1.75. Springs, black, 16c; bright, 16c; English (tempered), 20c; Swedes (tempered), 26c.; l£ in., lc. per lb. extra. If under 34 in., 2c per lb. additional. B^~ Two springs for a buggy weigh about 28 lbs. If both 4 plate, 84 to 40 lbs. Spokes (Best Elizabethport), buggy, |, ] and If in. 9£c. each; 1£ and 1$ in. 9c. each; 1^ in. 10c. each. 10 off cash. fS£T~ For extra hickory the charges are 10c. a 12Jc. each. Steel, Farist Steel Co.'s Homogeneous Tire (net prices): 1x3-16, and 1 x 1-4, 20 cts.; 7-8 x 1-8 and 7-8 x 3-16, 23 cts.; 3-4 x 1-8* 25 cts.; 3-4 x 1-16, 28 cts. Steel Tire—best Bessemer—net prices: 1-4x1 1-8, 15c.; 1-4 x 1, 15c; 3-16x1 1-8, 16c; 3-16 x 1, 16c; 3-16 x 7-8, 17c •' 3-16 x 3 4, 17; 1-8 x 7-8, 20; 1-8 x 3-4; 1-16 x. 3-4 23c. Stump-joints, per dozen, $1.40 a $2. Tacks, 7c and upwards. Tassels, holder, per pair, $1 a $2; inside, per dozen, $5 a $12: acorn trigger, per dozen, $2.25. Thread, linen, No. 25, $1.75; 30, $1.85; 35, $1.80. Do. stitching, No. 10, $1.00 ; 3, $1.20; 12, $1.35. Do. Marshall's Machine, 432, $3.25; 532, $3.75; 632, $4, gold. Top props, Thos. Pat, wrought, per set 80c ; capped complete, $1.50. Do. common, per set, 40c. Do. close-plated nuts and rivets, 75a80c. Tufts, common flat, worsted, per gross, 15c. Do. heavy black corded, worsted, per gross, $1. Do- do. do. silk, per gross, $2 Do. ball, $1 Turned collars, $1.26 a $3 per doz. Turpentine, pr gl., 63o Twine, tufting, pr ball, 50c.; per ft. 85c. a $1. Varnishes (Amer.), crown coach-body, $5.00; nonpareil, $5.25. Do. English, $6.25 to $7.50 in gold, or equivalent in currency. Webbing, per piece, 65c. ; per gross of 4 pieces, *2 40 Wheels, $12 to $22. Whiffle trees, coach, turned, each, 60c ; per dozen, $4.60. Whiffle-tree spring hooks, $4.50 per doz. Whip-sockets, flexible rubber, $4.50 a $6 per dozen ; hard rubber, $9 to $10 per doz.; leather imitation English, $5 per doz.' common American, $3.60 a $4 per doz. Window lifter plates, per dozen, $1.50. Yokes, pole, 60c.; per doz, $5.50. Yoke-tips, ext. plated, $1.50 pair.