61380N - PEADOCK. Editlt
VOLUME XX.-11*0. 180.,
[For the Alla. Evening Belletin.l
What,. after all, laa.Freachwoman?
When I had passed.over a great doe' of
heathery cliff, untill thought I could pass
mo further on account of passing into the
'ocean, I was suddenly relieved - by seeing
- .beneath my feet the little Country -house of
any htistess, Mediate Th—. It was be
mea_th my feet, but at a graat depth; and
paying a visit in it seemed like visiting into ,
a tiPlic4 I felt' temPted to dive, and know all
znyfate at once. I had my, entertainment
At a great advantage, as the fish-hawk• has
the - Mackerel. I could look clOwn the throats .
-of ! the chiturteye, and ail but see my,
.
breakfast. • preparing. I really could
=see the cooks opening oysters at the
kitchen door, • and Madame
tying black lace around her throat 'at
•onOvitalow, and the nurse decorating my
friend Nini at another. The little.terraced
,ha r dly
lay below me like a map.; -It was
'hardly reclaimed from the sea-beach, and
the celery and garlic were stuck into the
•
sand like the gardens of children at a
- watering-place. As 'for the house, I could
represent it very cleverly witbfotir or five
Tolaying-cards, and the • walls and outhouses
and everything seemed to have been re
.cently taken out of moss from an oval box,
and left a moment for me to examine before
they should be packed away again. The
sun: was blaking over it all. There was
.something unreal, fantastic, and theatrical
in this tiny establishment, set between the
blasts of the heath and the bosom of the
'ocean. It was impossible to think of ever
..finding it again, in a perfect condition, but
reflected with satisfaction that the tide was
•ebbing, and that all was probably safe for
my particular visit.
I descended the terraces by a path similar
to the worm of a still, and found Nini and
her,mother at the toy-gate of the toy-
sarden.
"Behold you !" cried my friend from a
distance, "you have come in excellent
•time, and you have brought me my darling
Mees!"
Mesa was Miss, a little white bulldog
- whi4h,Madame Th-- had bought during
-a residence in England on acconnt,as every
body supposed, of its -resemblance to her
-self. They had the same face; especially
rthe same nose; and there was something
- very similar-in the neat, muscular shoulders
.and arms of each. I had been charged to
bring Mess from the villa of a mutual
friend, for whom,: at the last visit of its
mistrete, - the dog - lia - d - iisibibiteda prefer
-Elm* which - made+ its Withdrawal 'difficult.
It had, therefore, in an evil hour, been left
for me; and it accompanied me now, but
- with regrets of sti - ch a tenacious character,
that . drawiag it alter me had been like
-drawing a harrow, or drawing a doubl e
-tooth.
My friend gave me her left hand and re
•ceived her pet with the right; and I was
more, than ever struck with the resemblance.
They looked at each other with sympathy
.and affinity, out of four eyes that were gen
uine matches; but the dog went bare-headed,
- while its mistress tossed from her forehead
.a thicket of ostrich feathers without feeling
- their weight—looking as if she had taken
pattern from the Polonaise chickens who
were running up from every quarter to be
fed. My good friend was not a beauty
though she certainly had eyes, hands, and a
figure; these were allowed to impress them
selves upon the attention, while her less
successful points were withdrawnfrom you
- with a Frenchwoman's address. Her com
plexion she had long ago given up as
unimprovable, and she exhibited herself to
_me with a akin like a Malay's, from mach
•exposure on the beach.
"You are caressing ; that is right ;
*while I take this tiresome string from the
"little Miss, and bark for a moment. She is
forgetting me, but I am irresistible to her
when I bark. Ah, you are a little awkward,
you have caught my gown!"
A woman may be considered perfectly
•educated when she is able to let herskirt be
- torn from her body without losing her ele
gange, and shooting herself backward in the
attitude of Lord Ross's telescope. Madame
educated, and she continued step.
ping forward in an undulating manner,
while my foot was stripping the flounces
from her robe. Then she showed an addi
lional grace in taking the subject by the
,horns, and insensibly leading it away.
" Bachelors always have - pin -cushions.
Have you a pin-cushion, my poor bachelor?
_Never mind, I shall find one in an instant.
Ab, you are a useful man!"
We had each discovered the remedy at the
same instant—Madame her little glancing
.spike of silver, and I my scarf-pin. She
adroitly concealed hers, accepted mine with
_just a nod, and arranged the rent in a mo
.ment. I no snore know where all that trail
ing ellipse of trimming bad .found _a _lodgf.
.anent on her garment's hem,, than I know
?to* the feathers are accommodated in the
„juggler's handkerchief: but she cleverly rose
to the difficulty, and cut the knot by tying it.
"There, I have made a rosette, and set it
..on the train in a moment. I think that is
,pretty. Does my gown. Strike yon as too
anuch creased? I only :Wok it: out of my
•mhest for you. • In 'receiving gentlemen I
.am not BO particular about the dress, tint I
usually put on - anumber of jewels. They
;are quite satisfied, and it is no trouble.
- When ladies are coming; r asstire ion it 'is
-difficult.. A lady would have tried to burn
any gown with her eye-glass!''
And so the mischance was taiiiterateals
- we fell to defending our different sexes.
Nini was a little fairy, all white to the
tips of hfr white boots. The.true child of
her mother, she had always 'accepted my
attentions with perfect grace and freedom,
'without a ;trace-of the Saxon's ahyneP
though little over three years old. 'She did
'the honors of her play room. Her play
,
room• Was an endless reach,ofdazzling sand,
d her Vlayfeltow par, excellence ' was the
Bay-of Biscay, which crouched , before us
bridling an ,d brindled, now stretching
back upon itself *and now Swimming up
to smooth: the beach with a
bright and ; '
sweeping tongue. We all
three played ball delightfully by the lisping
Waves, until the ceean, insulted at not be
ing made a fourth in the game, caught the ,
plaything, spun it back, relled'it' up again
almost into our hands, and then carried it
- hopelessly out to sea on :Abe swell of the •
ebbing tide. The bubble of caout chows
rides among the bells of foam, and the
'French &did is dancing end screaming with
anger, no* red and now very pale. Why,
my little spendthrift; can you, afford to
squander all your: resources of -expresaiort
upon the loss of a bubble? - What are you
going to do when life really comes to you,
and lobe is to bespoken of,and jealousy and
remorse and death!
The mother watched the exhibition with
little sympathy;" and a spies of cynicism.
"Icannot helpher,"shesaid,"lhtive oome
ihrongh more than that myself. How
graceful she is on her ankles !—There ,
now," she added a minute after, as Nin!
began to draw moody curves upon the sand
with a fragment of cuttle-fish bone, "she
seeks the quadrature of the circle !"
I hated to leave a fellow-creature all en
thralled by her difficulties, but the mother
drew me off, and — we - gathered shells, and
found a monstrous rusty nail from some
foundered ship, and the delicate ivory skel
eton of a curlew, and the tireless wonders of
the shore.
"You will now wait on me to the house,
and Nini will follow. I retire to arrange the
breakfast table, and you go yonder ,down
the cliffs to admire the smugglers' caves.
You admire them for half an hour, and re
turn at one precisely, with a stalactite to
prove that you have not been sleeping
among the thyme. No, you must not pick
a water-cress, because you are to be sur
prised with water-creases at breakfast. 0-
ater-erace, how nicely I can say it! 0-ater-
Grace! There! To see you again!"
At the stipulated minute I presented my
self again at the house, charged with the ob
servations proper _to be made abcmt the
caves of the smugglerar--- The table was of
course exquisitely beautiful; the various
salads resembled bouquets, and the vast
pyramid of oysters reposing on the half
shell was pearly, architectural and elegant.
I need not plead for the aelicacy of the
silver, porcelain and crystal, and I can find
no words to indicate the enervating luxury
of the sauce that went with the cold round
of beef. We placed ourselves at the long
table, set at a window commanding the
r cean, a wavering reflection from which
played on the flap, of the cloth. The aide
next the window was left unoccupied, that
the view might be at once unobstructed.
and common to all. The fishing schooners
passed and repassed with the silence of
ahadows before the casement, and a distant
island lay upon the horizon like a sharp
cloud, The house was absolutely alone
upon a solitary shore, everything was like a
romaitce; and I purposely scalded myself
with black coffee to find if I was not dream
tug.
"Yon are breakfasting, you know, with
Robinson Crusoe, and our man Friday shall
be the beautiful Janie, who has often served
you for a model. Will you save me trouble
by taking anything you like upon the table
in your Own order, and reaching the wine
you prefer ? Janie is far from strong after
her fever, and we shall amuse ourselves bet
ter by helping each other."
Janie, having entered, did a little orna
mental waiting. She was• a slender and ex
quisitely beautiful Bretonne, rather like our
ideas of Italian girls than like Italian girls
in reality. As she served me a deep color
mounted to her clear brown cheek, and then
subsided into the touching pallor of ill
health. Her table-service was executed
with the delicate attention and address
which renders the three or four Breton
waiters I have seen my types of the perfect
or ideal servant.
"Our summer is nearly over," observed
Madam Th--, " and we return to Paris in
ten days. lam terribly afraid Janie will
regret her Britanny ana vanish from us in
the night like the young Bedouin. But I
shall be able to steal a march upon Janie.
She will confess to my own priest, who is
my particular friend, and visits familiarly
in the house, and Ishall know-tier thoughts
before,she knows them herself."
The boats passed and repassed the win
dow. some near and some like idlepotes
that do not seem to move, but insensibly
are gone in the lapses of your attention.
The sea-fowl likewise sailed by with now
then a desolate
,scream. The little events
of the prospect' followed and grew out of
each other like the branches of a reverie,
while inside progressed the gentle tourna
ment of good French society.
To be a Frenchwoman one must have in
tellect. Madame paid her guest the respect
of not falling asleep an instant. My own
poor little coruscations were every one no
ticed, not with surprise but as gratifying
matters of, course,and made the basis of the
next . remark. But the burden of the con
versation fell upon my hostess, who sup-_
ports 'a high reputation for bril
liancy. Her remarks flowed on
with the utmost waywardness, and
I was simply sensible that plentY of good
things were being said, While hardly con
scious that I was not saying them myself.
She was not once guilty of forcing a witti
cism, 'or of leading on an anecdote. To
have betrayed any intention of shining
would have shattered the, elegant •structure
she was'rearing.:..
Sometimes table incidents provoked the
theme. When chartreuse was filled into
our little glames, she began to describe, the
convent so named, which she had . seen and
I had not. She built %little group of blociso
PHULDELPHIA, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, i866.-TRIPLg SHEET.
of sugar with the tongs In the bottom of the
sugarbowl,ind said ,
‘, 4 V0,11p, ! La GrinAe hithrelzie!"
—and went on to describe the efforts of her
self and a similarly efficient lady friend to
entek the quarterS of the ritorike. •
"YotCare so ugly, flither r we never should
attempt to mislead you."
The friar answered that their very feet
would pollute the stones: -
".Ab ! then see my foot instantly upon the
stone. Is the stone the, worse?" Bat he
brotight a wisp of straw and burned my
'footsteps off the sill. Ant. was ship
wrecked soon afterwards, but the dear Vir
gin brought me'safe to land when Iprayed
'to her—with my dresses all spoiled, how
ever.
The-barriers which-restrict conversation
in society she avoided with cultivated tact,
without seeking to be in the least aware of
them. She came . nearer than American
ladies-to the•confines which separate "the
thing" from "not the thing at all." At the
same time she sacredly observed the usages
which she had been taught. A French
woman has liberty to use words, and allude
so things, which would make an American
chignon stand out stiff , with fright. My
friend, with a lofty innocence, passed me
for my admiration a • photograph of in
actress, taken in some - male role, with a
pair of trunks on shorter than I had dreamed
or imagined trunks could be, forming the
capital to a brace of shapely columns in
silk tights. I took the card from her fin
gers, and made the artistic criticisms
expected of me, while I tried to fancy one of
my own beautiful Chestnut street girls with
such a picture in her album.
I admire my kind entertainer. I like
to see her illustrating some anecdote with
statuesque attitudes of her tall figure, and
free waving motions of her large and grace
ful hands. But too much of her would
somehow annoy me. With all her perfect
and invisible art she has not succeeded in
making the attraction to her aide quite per
fect. It is four o'clock in the afternoon,
and I think I had better go.
It was four o'clock in the afternoon when
we rose from the exquisite breakfast-table.
Madame made no attempt at detention; it
was not to be supposed that I would leave
her until necessity compelled it.
Monsieur Th— will accompany you for
some distance. He will carry the little Nini.
I have quite forgotten to mention that
there waa a husband. A small brown man
in a white silk cravat, who sat under my
shoulder at table like a carving on a chair,
and sometimes fed the conversation with
short remarks, was Monsieur Th—. He
is interested in a number of sciences, and
speaks several words of Engliish with a
natural pride. - Nini rode upon his shoulder
and continued her mother's polite atten
tions, conversing in that lady's manner on
a smaller scale. She obliged me as far as
the ferry, and I could see her over the water
waving adieu with her tiny handkerchief.
EXTANT PERDT.T.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
"An American Family in Germany" is
the title of - 3. Roes Browne's latest work,
published by Harper &Brothers, New York,
and for sale by J. B. Lippincott dr Co. The
readers of Harper's Magazine will recog
nize several of the sketches contained in
this volume as having heretofore afforded
them much amusement, in a detached shape.
The author has, of course, modified them
when revising them for the present publi
cation, and has illustrated the entire volume
with all his usual humor. On a small scale
we might consider him a pictorial follower
of Hogarth, but that be disdains seriousness
and avows his superficial views. Still we
cannot but delight in his descriptions and
revel in his humor, and we do not doubt
that his accounts of life in Germany, with
the "Whirl Through Algeria" and "Visit
to the Salt Mines of Wieliczka," which are
incorporated in the volume, will give great
delight to all intelligent readers of books of
travel.
- The forty-fifth number of "Every Satur
day" lacks none of the freshness and variety
which have characterized it from the first.
We are always sure to find in its pages two
or tbree admirable essays, from the English
and French journals; the latest short poem
of any celebrated author, and the beat
magazine story of the week. The contents
of the present issue do not disappoint that
expectation. "Mr. Buchanan on Immo
rality in Literature," and a translation
from the .Revue Moderne, "The Italian
Opera in Paris," are two essays as admira
ble in their way as the four stories which
accompany them.
Joseph Rodman Drake's exquisite and
fanciful poem, "The Culprit Fay." •has
been republished by Carleton in a style
that will make it sought after by those look
ing for elegant gilt books. We have not
seen anything more <beautiful in typo
giaphy, paper and binding. Bat a new
charm is in the illustrations, one hundred
in number, by Arthur Lumley. Some are
quitelarge,others are dainty little vignettes,
while others are mere head and tail pieces,
But all are full of fancy and they fitly adorn
the delicate work of the poet. Mr. Lumley
has been fortunate in his engravers, for we
have - seldom seen nicer work.
The clever author of "Rutledge," "St.
Philip's" and otherpopular tales •for mature
readers, comes this season before the public
with a volume - for younger ones, called
"Ronndhearts and Other Stories." It is'
published by Carleton, of New York, and
for sale here Ly James J. Claxton. The
titles of the "other stories" are "The Christ
mas Sister," "The Boy Regiment" and
"Willy Collins," All are lively, interesting,
and well adapted to juvenile oomPrehen
sion. Some excellent designs for illustra
tions, by Mr. W. E. Cresson, of this city,
}rove been spotted by the engraver.
owt. WHOLE ogincnt*.
_ . ,
"Saratogi;, An ruffle= Tale .of , Frontier
Life," published;by T. B. rbterafrn & Bre
f there,. has been laid on our table. Its ground
work is a lively, romantic plOVand many
i historical traditions of life in the State of
I New York are interwoven; ith. the thread
of the story. The delineations e' character
are true to nature, and theromartee is every
pleasing one.
"Our Artist in Peru" is the title of a pie , -
tnre book, giving caricatures of liftrittPernr
and on the voyage thither from New 'York.
Geo. •W. Carleton is both author and pub
lisher, and the book has been brought out
quite elegantly so far as paper and typog
raphy go. It is for sale by James 13;
Claxton.
'New Masts.
• C. W. A..Trumpler has just published '3
new version of Kingsley's' famous "Three
Fishers," by "S. D. S." Thesong composed
to these beautiful words, several years ago,
-by the same gentleman, has enjoyed a well
deserved celebrity and is certainly one of
the finest Ainerican ballad compositions we
have ever seen. Its author, however, has
conceived a still more beautiful and striking
method of treating this pecullir ballad, and
his new composition will take rank side by
side with, if it does not quite supersede its
predecessor.
•Mr. 'Dumpier has also just issued "The
Malvern Mazurka," an exceedingly at
tractive composition by Mr. Wm. H. Fen
ney. Mr. Penney is one of our most ac
complished musicians, and his numerous
friends and pupils will be glad to have this
capital piece of music from his hands. It
is very unlike many of the common-place
productions which inconsiderate teachers
too often place in the hands of their pupils,
and at the same time is not too elaborate or
difficult to be mastered•by those who are
engaged in the study of music.
Reed Meyer has also published quite a
variety of new music. "Ave Maria" by
F. Luis Groebl; "Would Thou Wert Mine,"
words by J. E. McCaullay and music by
Jean LOU* "Down by the Sea" a ballad
by Jean Louis; "Sweet Thoughts Fantasies"
by B. H. Malian; "My • First Schottische"
by B. Frank Walters, and "Wild Garland
Mazurka" by F. Luis Groebl. Mr. Meyer's
catalogue is being rapidly enriched by a
choice variety of new vocal and instru
mental music, and the pieces enumerated
above possess a degree of merit and origi
nality which will make them very popular
with musicians generally.
AItIISEXENTS.
THEATRICAL.—The benefits last night
were all very successful, the Walnut having
probaltlP the lafgest hou.se. "Richard ZIP'
passed off splendidly, as did "Rip Van
Winkle" as given by Jefferson at the
Chestnut. Mrs. John Drew brought out at
the Mob the drama of "The Winning Suit,"
and played the heroine charmingly. She
received the most magnificent support from
Mr. Mordaunt, who never acted with more
mature ease, grace and power in his life.
His voice was liquid music, and every ges
ture was full of dignity and conscious
power. Mr. Marlowe, Mr. Craig and Mr.
James also acted capitally, and so did Mrs.
Creese. At the American "The Cataract of
the Ganges" was the attraction. and the
spectacle drew a large house. The lively
scenes of this romantic and striking drama,
with its battle.tields, sacred temples, Sepoy
troops, were greatly applauded. To
night's bills are as follows: Chestnut—
Jefferson in "Rip Van Winkle;" afterpiece,
"The Pirate's Legacy." Walnut—Booth in
"Richard III;" afterpiece, "The Lost Ship."
Arch—" The Winning Suit" and "Women
Will Talk." American—" The Cataract of
the Ganges." City Museum—A varied,
light and lively bill.
SIGNOR BLITZ'S star is in the ascendant at
Assembly Building. His programmes are
very good and very sew. They increase in
interest nightly.
TEE MINSTRELS at the Eleventh Street
Opera House give good programmes and
draw crowded houses nightly.
THE PENSION BUREAU. The following
regulations in regard to applications for in
crease of pensions were issued from the
Pension Office yesterday : Applications for
increase of pensions under the acts of June
6 and July 25, 1866, form a part of the adju
dicated or pending• claim, and their receipt
is not acknowledged by this office. The
condition of all unadjudicated claims is re
ported from time to time by circular or by
letter, and will not be reported to any agent
unless he shall have been recognized by this
office as the attorney in the case, nor unless
the application shall have been on file at
leapt three months, special cases excepted.
Only a duly executed power of attorney
confers upon an agent the right to appear in
a case, and no adjudicated claim will'be
taken from the file for examination unless
material evidence shall have been offered to
establish its validity.
NAVAL.—Despatches have been received
from Rear Admiral Palmer, commanding
the North Atlantic squadron, under date of
October 25tb, announcing the arrival at Ha
vana of the flag-ship -.Rhode Island, and
from Commander Carter, commanding the
United States steamer Monocacy, - ander the
same date, at Carlisle bay, Bar badoes. The
United States steamer Mackinaw had, on
the 19th of October, left Point-a-Petre, Goa
dalonpe, for a cruise among the Windward
islands. On the 16th ult. the United States
steamer Swatara was at Bordeaux, Prance.
Commander William J. Temple has been
detached from the command of the United
States steamer Tacony, and granted leave
of absence. Commanders Kilby and Cad
walader Ringgold have been detached from
special duty at New York, and placed on
waiting orders. •
' Diosmo the epidemic of intermittents in
the West this , season, the whole immense
stook 'or Ayer's Ague Cure became ex
hausted; and the producing power of his
Laboratory was found inadequate to meet
the demand. Many who knew its extraor-
Ainary virtues for the cure of CHILLS AND
FavEp., paid exorbitant prices for it to those
who were fortunate enough to have a supply
on hand. Some of oar neighbors paid ten
dollars for a bottle, while the regular price
is but one, and assure us it was onthe whole
the vheapest remedy they could buy, even at
that figure. They praise it for two qualities;
first, that it cures, and last that it leaves the
health unimpaired,—reit'a Pftn4cird*-
A tLECHA.II,IIIC/M.TBIIUMPH.
Seine Goa/ft about Machinery.
The rapid growth and development of our
country in the last three-quarters of a
" century, and the wonderful progress of our
i
people in the' mechanic arts, has furnished
an unprecedented example of productive
industry and of the ereallon — and e3tablish
, !vent of all the essential elements of a great
and increasing material prosperity. The re
cord of such progression may properly be
expected to show. remarkable illustrations
'r of nation al characteristics, of publiescemomy
and of individual' genius and enterprise. To
trace the history of American mannfaettiles
and inventions would be a task of more
than ordinary Interest, but our limited space
• and our more limited knowledger forbids an
ail empt. •
We live in an age of machinery. The
scarcity of native journeymen mechanics
`who are content to remain such,. the ertinir
i tabs supply of the demand through the
"channel of immigration, and , above all, the
! natural genius and inventive talent of our
people,, hat% necessitated the performance
of much of the labor in our large manufac
tories by rapidly-running machinery. The
last thirty years have been especially pro
lific in labor-saying machines; for the swift
and perfect performance of all kinds of
manufacturing and farming work, andeven
the simple duties of housekeeping, such
as washing, baby-tending, sewing, and an
infinite variety of culinary operations; In
the abort apace of ten years, between 1840'
and 1850; the number of distinct inventions
patented in the United States was 5,941,and
among these may be mentioned two of the
most important mechanical discoveries of
the century—the magnetic telegraph and
the sewing machine.
No invention of a similar labor-saving
character ever resulted in the same practical
benefits to the people, or has come into such
general use as that wonderfully simple piece
of mechanism—the sewing machine. What
could we do without it? Where would we
now find hands enough to accomplish the
labor which these busy little workers are
doing? These are questions which deter
mine the unfalness of an invention, and by
them we may gauge the importance of sew
ing machines. The history of this discovery
is full of interest, being another Instance of
the almost invariable rule that those univer
sal geniuses who conceive brilliant ideas
and make grand discoveries and inventions
seldom derive the benefit of them. As
early as 1836 an ingenious and prolific in
ventor, named William Hunt, of New
York, invented the first machine that was
of any practical value for performing the
ordinary work of family sewing. Being of
a rather indolent disposition and disin
clined to undertake the labor of introducing
so novel an invention into general use, he
neglected to patent his discovery, and sold
the right to manufacture such machines to
a Mr. Arrowamith, who,
however, neg
lected to test the practical value of his pur
chase or to secure it by apatent. This was
not the first sewing mae h"m e invented, for
many years before s machines had been used
in England and France to stitch the
maker's name on cloths.; but the improve
ments and discoveries of Mr. Hunt first
made it of. any practical value for the ac
complishment of ordinary shop and house
hold-needlework.
Six years elapsed before any farther ac
tion was taken toward the introduction of
sewing machines, and then, on the 12th of
February, 1842, the first American patent
was granted to John J.Greenough,of Wash
ington. This machine was a curiosity,taa
king what is called the through and through
stitch.:the needle being pointed at both
ends, with an eye in the middle, and drawn
back and forth through the cloth by an ar
rangement of pincers. Only the model of
this machine was made, however, and it
never came into general use.
The next recorded attempt at an applica
tion of the idea was made and patented by
Benjamin W. Bean, of New York. His
machine required that the cloth should be
laid in plaits or folds, through which a long
needle was driven, forming a sort of running
cr basting stitch. This machine shared the
fate of Mr. Greenough's patent, and soon
passed into disuse or oblivion. In the same
ear (1843) a sewing machine was patented
by George R. Collies, of Greenwich, N. Y„
but no one seems to know much about it—
an evidence that its practical value was
small. These abortive attempts had the
effect, however, of calling the attention of
inventors to the subject of sewing machines.
and on the 10th of September, 1846, Elias
Howe, Jr., of Cambridge, Mass., patented
the first sewing machine at all adapted to
the generalities into which it was destined to
come. The main features of this machine
are similar to those of nearly all the more
recent improvements that have been made
upon it, and as the general principles are
familiar to nearly all of our readers, we will
not pause to describe them.
Although to the inventor and to other
thinking mechanics the practical value of
this invention was apparent, people were
shy of placing confidence in so startling an
innovation, and no capitalistcould be found
who was willing to risk his money in an
enterprise as hazardous as the manufacture
of sewing machines appeared to be. Dia
couraged at home, Mr. Howe sought the
needed assistance in• England; but regard
ing the scheme as chimerical, and treating
the project with even more skepticism than
had been expressed by his own countrymen,
the English capitalists allowed the patentee
to bring his machine back to America, to
accomplish which he was obliged to work
his passage on a sailing vessel. Once more
in his own country, Mr. Howe made another
effort to obtain the money necessary to the
manufacturing of his machine, and his
persistent and patient efforts at last met
with the recognition and success which
they deserved. Although the machine
patented by Mr. Howe would now be
considered worthless if compared with the
more recent improvements of Messrs. Gro
ver & :Baker, yet he stands at the door of
the sewing-machine business,as it were,and
levies a tax of one dollar on each finished
machine in which the principles he invent
ed are used. A fortune closely approaching
two million dollars has thus been accumu
lated by Mr. Howe--a very fair return,con- •
sidering the fact thatthe Howe machine has
been left far behind by those whose subie
quent improvements have effected a revolu- ,
tion in the manufacture of clothing, shirts,
caps, boots, shoes embroidery : and house
furnishing goods: The census of 1860 shows
an aggregate of 116,830 machines made in
nine States during that year,which is a small
number compared, to what a - census of the
present time would show; the value of these
machines being $5,605,345, and the amount
saved to manufacturers of stitched goods:
is estimated at some sixteen million dollars
annually. ,
Since tho date of Mr. Howe's invention,
some three hundred improvements have
been made and patented, the most perfect of
which is the Grover 6c Baker machine,
which makes a WWII peculiar M itself, arid
F. L. nnTERgrON. PubUuxr
THREE CENTS.
. ,
bearimg the name of the proprietors. The
utility of a sewing machine depends upon
its adaptability to the greatest variety of
work, aad this article would be incomplete
if, after tracing the rise and progress of the
idea, we should fail to point out from among
the thousand varieties the one that: comes
nearest to perfection f and combines the
greatest number of useful qualities. For
certain kinds of works there may be
machines • more peculiarly • adapted
than others, but for. all tire number ,
less requirements of a family we
unhesitatingly pronounce Gr aver thly si
lently and swiftly running ds Bs icer
machine the beat. The competition which
the:infinite variety of machines has:created
in the market, gives one but a slim chance
of judging of the merits of a particular
patent by its advertisement. Each &deo
/or itself an immeaserable superiority over
all others, and the bewildered buyer is lost.
in a maze of allurements and attractions—
some true, but more false representations.
It is to award to our favorite Grover AIX Ba
ker machine the encomiums which it as
wrll deserves, that we have protracted this
hastily-written article; and as aft:ill-and ac
curate statement of its relative and compa
rative merits would necessitate thedevotioni
of an additional column, we will close with
a brief summary of whilt, from experience,
we know to be its principal characteristic
excellences.
One great advantage is that the- thread is
drawn direct from the spools, and requires
no previous winding on shuttles;. and the
simplicity of all its parts and -the easy
adjustment of needle, thread and work,
makes it more readily comprehensible to
the learner than any we have yet seen.
Another important fact is that they perform
without an alteration of the adjustment, a
much greatfr variety of work than is possi
ble on others; fastening b Ith. ends—two
threads, it is true, and a considerable hue
and cry has been made over the
waste of cotton, but our experienoe
leads us to be.leve that this- objection
is more of an advertising dodge than
the discovery of a real fault by its compe
taors—of the seam and requiring no tying..
We might thus enumerate quality after
quality in our own way, but oar limited
knowledge of both machinery and sewing
would prevent our making ourselves very
intelligible, and we think we do the inven
tors and makers full justice, and at the-same
time relate our experience in terms which
there is no mistaking, when we say that the
Grover ct Baker , machine may be chosen
from among the now nearly four hundred.
improvements on Mr. Howe's patent, as the
beat, simplest and most reliable sewing
machine in the market.
The trade in these necessities, which have
now become so indispensable, is assuming
gigantic . proportions, which the fortunate
inventor of the principle never dreamed of
in his most sanguine and hopefully pro
phetic moments. The value of ttte machines.
made annually in America is not rein - int
twenty million dollars, and the business is
yet in its infancy. Grover tlt Baker alone
send many thousands to foreign nuirketa t
and this popularity abroad is an evidemie
of their, merit and superiority. Ainerican
sewing machines • are used all over the
world, and like Anierican pianos,, have
furnished the principles which have been
adopted by a great majority of foa.
manufacturers; To us belongs the
of first making the idea 'a practical success,
and to us should come the profit. The sew
ing machine has been needed ever since- ve
made her fig-leaf aprons, but it 'remained
for the 'Yankees to devise the means .‘ by
which to relieve the patiently toiling 1701118111
from the wearing effects of endlessly tedious
needlework. Thousands now dependon the
sewing machine for their support, the gentle
exercise of propelling the treadles and the
merry clicking of its busily working steel
fingers keeping up the health and spirits of
the seamstress. They are a blessing, and an
such should they be regarded by the multi
tude of those to whom the sewing niPtAht
bas come as a beneficent fairy, bringing joy '
and comfort with it.
We have published the advertisement or
the Grover fit Baker Manufacturing Com
pany ever since THE CrrfzEs had a local
habitation and a name. The indorsements
of the many prominent citizens who,, frond
time to time, have forwarded commenda
tory letters for publication, is sufficient cor
roboration of the statements we have made,
and as the notice still graces oar adver
tising columns we need only refer our
readers to it.
The inventive genius of the age has flooded
us with labor-saving machines, and unless
something occurs to put a check on the end
less recurrence of discovery and improve..
ment, we shall soon live and die by ma
chinery. The duties of life may, before
long, be performed for us by clockwork;
and deprived of the great mental and
physical counterbalance, labor, we will
gradually drift into an inert dolcefar niente;
work will become play, and •
"Life will be ravished of its zest',
And shorn of its amnion '
Ann sink into the dreamless rest
Of inanition."
The Fort Riley Excursionists—Fleeting of
the Eastern and Western Delegation...
LEAVENWORTH, Nov. 2.—The Tinian
Pacific Railroad excursionists, who left St.
Louis yesterday afternoon, arrived here at
10 o'clock to-day. They were joined by the
Eastern party, consisting of Thomas A.
Biddle, Edward Miller, Strickland Kneass
and Dr. Le Compte, of Philadelphia; G. M.
Peck, of New York; Elias D. Kennedy . and
Josiah Copley, of Pittsburgh; Captain John
McCook, of Ohio, and representatives of
New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
journals. Both parties havebeen the guests
of the city, during the day partaking of a
sumptuous dinner, at -the Planters' House,
and a ball at the same place, to-night.
During the evening the parties held a
meeting in the hotel, at which the members
of both delegations were formally intro
duced to each other. Several speeches were
made,setting forth the obstacles surmounted
in the construction of the road, the present
condition and the future prospects of the
company. The excursionists start at seven
A. M. tomorrow for Fort Riley, and return
to Lawrence in the evening, where a grand
supper and ball will be given by the city
authorities.
From texas.
GALvEsTmc, Nov; 2—The gang of ma
rauders have all been captured, shot or
hung. The leader, Colonel Young, formerly
chief of Shermmt's scouts, was hung by the
rancheros.
NATIONAL BANS CIRCULATION. The
Comptroller of the Currency announces that
bonds have been received for deposit With
the Treasurer of the United States to an
amount sufficient to secure the entire three
hundred millions of national circulation au
thorized by law, and that ILO' snore' can be
received after this date.' The linnthas bees
reached, and hereafter it Will be useless' to
forward bonds or to apply for increase of
capital or for the organizatiOn of new banks,
or to do anything with the expectation of
getting circulating no*,