GIBSON PEACOCK. Editor
VOLti
(For the Philadelphia Evening Bnlletin.l
RASH STEPS.
A little company of old and new friends
eof mine, who bad dropped from the clouds
-into a queer Bretbn town, sat at night at the
- table d'hote at meat, and I sat also among
'them.
It felt sweet and strange to be shaping
- English speech again among people with
whom Thad many sympathies there in that
-occult little town called of the natives Pon'-
.Amo'n.
But such a set of apparitions! h man
was a "long-haired,long-bearded, solitary,"
like an Enoch Arden after six months' ab
atinence from barber shops. They were
heavily browned upon the face, hands and
back of the neck. There was something
•ontlandieh in their dress. Brown men with
long hair have a lonely look, even when
they go in bands. I should have expected
them to retire at bed time into caves, irra
tionally upholstered with skulls and crosses,
and pass the night in misanthropy and bad
-church music. To make the company more
bewildering, it included a lady ; a solitary
:and petted lady, with gold ribbons around
her hair, no waist worth mentioning and a
torrent ofekirts.
"Go ou t dear," said the lady, "it's so aw
fully nice !"
"It was over two miles to shore," said a
languid youth, pursuing his theme, "and
the tide running out very strong and ruin.
'You're a rum Cove,' said I to my cousin,you
know, 'to funk at two miles and a quarter.'
But my cousin was in a funk, poor cove,
and his teeth rattled in him like a box of
Gillott's steel nibs. feel awfully knocked
up,' said my cousin, 'you know.' "
"Yes, go on, dear," said the lady as 'be
fore, "ifs so awfully interesting."
"Teeny," said the youth, gravely, "you
put me out awfully, you know. You make
me quite nervous. I must have something
-:in my tea. So I just dropped overboard
(first stopping five minutes to make a wa
ter-color study of the scene),_ and _swam
ashore, leaving my cousin gayping in the
yacht. 'Stand and gaype,' I sung to him
from the water, 'you're only fit for a clerk,
as you'll acknowledge after this.' Bat at
that moment I felt a —"
":Yes, yes, go on, dear," said the Lady
once more, "it's aw—"
"Ah, you'.ve plat me out again. There, I
am quite nervous and faint. You put ene
out so awfully, you know."
"Yes, but never mind, dear. I want them
to bear the rest: It's awfully jolly."
"Why, I —" the young man's eyebrows
went,up at the centre like: a',tragic mask.
"I believe I forget all about it. lam
rather , faint. I don't feel at all capable of
that a..ory now." -
'I:. e lady looked tip at her youthful lord,
and her eyes filled with mortified tears.
She said she had something to do in her
chamber. She jumped for her hat, whose
peg_, was above her, and missed it. This
increased her nervous confusion. Then her
husband jumped and missed it. Then they
jumped together, and their hands clashed,
and there was a sound of rending milli
mery. Then he carried her out in something
very like hysterics.
"What language was that they spoke?"
said I to my neighbor and patron at my
elbow. "It is not French—l don't think it
can be Breton ?"
My neighborwas the serene and sage Ben
Adhem. Ben Adhem is the best counselor
I have in this world of perplexities. He
has been, everywhere, met everybody,
learned everything; I believe he has lived
forever, like the character in Bulwer.
"That was the English language," said
Ben Adhem, in his musical Boston accent,
"‘or:at itny rate the language of the English.
They are English tourists."
I started back, more amazed than Fitz
James when Roderic Dhu discovered him
self.' Of the creature thus suddenly indi
- cate'd - to nalo, I had been brought up in a
panic fekr. Among these wild shores and
Landes I was not unprepared for the wolf and
the bear, but against this human pest I had
blindly dashed myself, and against him I
bad no weapons.
" in a mild form," continued Ben
Adtiem.
"Oi," said /, a little relieved, and recol
lecting the look, and bearing of the couple
"in a mild form."
"Yes," said the sage, "a mild form."
Amid the conversation which rattled
around the table there was plenty which
dent 44 the - Profession of the men I found
myself among. One enthusiast was button.
holing his neighbor.
yes, the effect was the most stun
ning I've hit, upon yet. You know the first
curve in the river? Well, there's a huge face
of rook there, a little bigger than Couture's
`Deeadence 'it's a mass of gray lichen, very
pure- Courbettolor, plenty of silvers along
the gray, with some faint malachite reflec
tions from the - trees, and a goad bit of burnt
umber •where•they bad bad a, fire against it.
Now aldg, that bad-been out crabbing in
the *ndat-hiw fWater,when.l_ passed, had
just' glitie',4ap to . rub Itself—a monstrous
animal.: ;Well, you gray on a
pig'it back IS the laiaveillest Color: well, it
justliarried off the'gray Of the .rock, slick as
larcftben the' fieshAblt beginning . to show
through the bristles &wt.' the sides of the
anixhiil took` the eye' safely dOwn into the
mu4i'which showed some very,4r,arm rodeo!
tionaiftloni a gainboge cloud • that hung
bandYf-it was' the'hottest - "Mod i I've fallen
upon yet—remarkable for softness and feel
ing: qulte - jiticy, you know, and singularly
clean. Altogetberl was enchanted. I made
a sketch' on the spot: I'm thinking of a
Might into Egypt."
The sketch was passed round. In design
It resembled. a plasterer's board when emp
tied for another supply. After some mis
givings, I ventured to ask whether he pro-
.
__,.
.-..
~.
. I .
~ _.. .... _ cite
.
- io,:: : ,..::: :4_, • . ir , .'. - r . . ,- . ' . ,
o . ILI
..
.. .. 111 ' '...-
1
, . ~.
. .
,
....„ ~..4,..„
It) dir P .
:it , ,
_
.
.
_____........._.........
. „ . .
O. 186
posed to introduce a pig into the subject be
meditated.
"Well, yes, I think so. Sheep are con
stantly shown along with the Flight in
Egypt, and I.don't know why I shouldn't
introduce some pigs. The pig is greatly
preferable to the sheep, both for sentiment
and texture--less wooliness, you know, and
a more sustained feeling. By the way, you
have been looking at it upside down.
Hallo !" continued the artist, in great ex
citement,.bendit' ig across the table with his
nose over my seup, "it's quite a new effect,
so, and infinitely preferable. It would make
a capital Brazen Serpent; groves and peo
ple, you know, something like -a Watteau,
all soft and plumy. I can easily make a
Moses out of the pig."
Meantime another artist was ruining my'
peace of mind by furtively modeling me in
bread under the table ledge. The chimney
piece behind me displayed, among some
cheap artificials, a cameo-profile of the land
lord, which, upon examination proved to be
made out of a sort of cake resembling gin
ger-bread.
The closet-doors were paneled off into
convenient spaces, each of which was a
painting. Many of these were studies of the
neighboring landscape. Ben Adhem had
painted a lovely Italian scene, with stone
pines, a Bay of Naples, and a rich sky. In
romantic contrast to this was a sombre
Breton subject near by, with peasants,
wheeled ploughs,oxen, anda Druid column,
overshadowed by dark and rolling clouds-
On another panel a strong and graceful
Bretonne girl was sifting buckwheat, lifting
the sieve high in the air for the wind to
catch the chaff, and managing her simple
implement with all the grace of a tambou
rine; From another board depended a large
and gorg9ous drake, apparently just killed,
for a dark drop was oozing from his bill.
" We ate him before his portrait was quite
dry," said Ben Adhem with a smile
" These doors are our wet-weather gallery . .
When it rains too much for landscape study,
we exercise here. We have had a long and
rainy season, more like a winter in Pate
gonia than a summer in France. We are.
rather exhausted, and we know all each
* other's pet jokes by heart. We look to you
to freshen las up. There will be a panel
saved for you. - • -
" That is unnecessary," said-I, in great
alarm. "It wouldn't succeed very well to
'pretend being an artist among you,. All I
ask is to be allowed to stay among you for
a little time, and contemplate, your ways,
like Du Chailla among the gorillas.- You
bayen't in idea how interesting you are to
the world at. large. Nothing is known of
-the lace of-artists except that-they sleep - in
'their hats and sit all day long under white
umbrellas in the foreground of their own
pictures."
" No, no," replied the philosopher se
verely, "we admit no white crows among
us ; if they refuse to put on our feather we
pick them to death. You must be with us
and be of us. We'll make an artist of you
fast enough."
The dinner had lasted an hour and a halt',
by the simple device of making a separate
course of each dish, with a fresh plate and a
fresh wipe of the table knives, we had been
convinced that we were partaking of a meal
of seven or eight courses. This fashion
gave the table a rather bare appearance,and
we could most of the time have played bil
liards upon it, but for the mountain of but.
er in the,centre, a carved structure of five
or six pounds weight, something like a Co
losseum. The servant now entered. with an
omelette au rhwm.
"The Breton proverb says," remarked
Ben Adhem, "Bretagne, the land of good
priests, good soldiers and good servants. You
will like Jefrik more and more the oftener
you see her. Look at her dressing the
omelette."
Jefilk, having closed the door for fear of
a draught, stood in a corner in the fading
light, with the blazing dish sustained by one
strong hand. The dish was a flat white rock
of great weight, but her solid little hand
made nothing of it, and she poured the
flaming rum over the omqette again and
again until it burned itselflout. I wish I
could describe her so that all might see her
as I see her every day. Jeffik has a short
and muscular figure. Her face is perfectly
circular, like the faces described by our In
dians in their simple pictures. She carries
the peasant dress of heavy cloth, and there
is a little dandy embroidery upon her bodice
and along the edge of her enormous ruff.
Ordinarily the most frank and obvious of
mortals, she wears a little suitable soleinnity
when standing in the twilight corner of her
great work of dressing the omelette. This
is her only reserve, and this the only mo
ment when it is dangerous to trifle with her.
The spirit flares irregularly rover her
sphynx's face, in its Egyptian cap; She be
comes for the moment a priestess of Isis,
busied with mysterious rites. It is the criti
cal moment between sunset and candles,
and we are all fitfully illuminated by the
leaping flames which she distributes with
her ladle. Her own features shake and
waver behind the column of fire that bursts
from her hand. Such is Jeflik in her great
'hour.
"Meanwhile,"! said Ben li.dhem, striving
to say it easily, as showing that he had xe
covered from the impressive scene, "we
have lOt onr golden time -- while dawdling
over.the. table. To the rrrlnd of the land
scape painter there is something tyrannical
in their perpetually laying dinner just be
fore and after sunset. They always, do it,
and I lose my._priceless opportunity_ daY
afte.r day." •
"Bat wliy not make a row, and have , them
alter it?"
_ .
"Oh, well,"iaid Ben Adhem,and he struck
in this reply the key-note of his kind and
noble ohar,aoter, "they have their own ens- -
toms, I suppose, and it would pain them to
change. There is something sacred to me
even in a dinner-hour, when it is placed by a
whole nation at the Striking Of the Angello."
PHILADELPHIA. SATURDAY, NOIEMBE
He half blushed, as if he had praised
himself. I changed the subject.
"Is it true, 0 Ben Adhem, that you all go
and paint when you choose in a ruined cas
tle? I have heard rather thrilling stories of
your disappearing day after day into the
bowels of this fastness, accompanied by the
fairest girls of Pon'-Am'n. But it does mot
sound very credible, and I wait for ocular
proof, just as Ido in the case of German
stories and the Venus-berg."
"You will see to-morrow. We shall have
no secrets from you, and you can keep none
from us. It is true we have an old chateau,
but it is not very large, and it is not quite
deserted, for the ancient kitehen is let to an
old woman and her pig. I will take you in
the morning, and you can make a study
from the model."
I reiterated my terrors at being classed
with artists.
"Oh, never fear," was my encouragement,
"you are a painter on compulsion. It is a
matter quite outside yourself. Tomorrow
you begin to be a painter, at our atelier is
the Chateau. de Les-49n'n.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Ticknor cr. Fields have just issued a second
series of the "Biglow Papers," which will
take the same high rank in the estimation
of American readers which was attained by
Mr. Lowell's first series. There is just the
least soup-con of pedantry in the five quo
tations in Greek, French, German, Latin
and Spanish that adorn the title page, but
there is real and valuable erudition in the
capital introduction, wherein Mr. Lowell
defends his use of the "Yankee dialect" in
these "Biglow Papers." It is the raciest of
protests against the stilted conventionalism
that shrinks with horror from every expres
sion which it conceives to be un-classical.
He declares, with warm emphasis—" There
is death in the dictionary; and where lan
guage is too strictly limited by convention,
the ground for expression to grow in is
limited also; and we get a potted literature.
Chinese dwarfs instead of healthy trees."
He goes on to demonstrate that the majority
of What are called "Yeinkeeifuns," have
their warrant in the English and French
classics, and in amplifying his argu
ment be has given us a most admirable
philological dissertation nixin our Arne_
rican' uses of language. • He
,draws
a broad distinction between provincialism
and slang, and says that "Mr. Biglow"
would have failed in his design if his had
not "made it appear that high and even re
fined sentiment may co-exist with the
shrewder and more comic eleMents of the
Yankee character." Mr. Lowell's number.
less friends will regret tobear his announce
ment that the present is to be thelast of the
"Biglow Papers." In resigning his post,
he'gracefully lets his mantle fall upon "that
genuine and delightful humorist, Rev. Pe
troleum V. Nasby."
As for the "Papers" themselves, they are
already too famous to need anything but
the reviewer's announcement of their pub
lication in this neat book-form to secure for
them a hearty reception. Their home thrusts
I at the political fallacies and sophistries of
slavery and secession, and their masterly
discussion, though in so quaint a guise, of
the great questions of the country, have long
eince put Hosea Biglow high up in the esti
mation of reading America and carried hi
fame across the water to European ears
Those who are familiar with the Biglow Pa
pers will hail their new appearance as the
face of a dear friend, and as those who know
them not are in danger of "arguing them
elves unknown," thre will certainly be
lan active demand for the volume. For
Bale by Claxton.
Dick & Fitzgerald, New York, publish
"The American Card Player," giving the
most approved directions for almost every
imaginable game of cards, from the elegant
"Bezique" down to the rowdy-sounding
"Whisky Poker."
The same house has just published the
"Book of Household Pets," a
,diasertation
on cage birds, with full instructions upon
their breeding, training and management,
a very nseful little book indeed. It is co
piously illustrated with more than a hun
dred engravings.
Dick & Fitzgerald also publish "Athletic
Sports for Boys,"ra most attractive book for
"Young America," giving fall instructions
in all manner of gymnastic exercises and in
every department of manly, out-door
amusements. It is illustrated by nearly
two hundred engravings.
"Lady Ashleigh" is another publication
just issued by the same house. It'is by the
well-known author, Mr. j, F. Smith, whose
numerous successful romances are a guar
antee for a most readable book in this, his
last production. The above -mentioned
works are all'for sale by T. B. Peterson (ft
Brothers.
Lee £ Shepard, Boston, have, just pub
lished two more of their popular "Oliver
Optic" juveniles. They are entitled " Ho p e and Have," and • "Hast e and Waite," and
complete the " Woodville _Stories," in six
unas, "Hope and. Have? .is, a girl's
book, based upon the terrible iritian , mas
sacre In - M.intektota',. in '462, While "Haste .
and Wiste" is de - signed' for boYs, 'and ha's
its plot cast upon the shores.of La ke Chain
plain. Both convey exce ll ent morals and
are admirably adapted both to interest and
benefit' the young 'folks: 'They are 'very
haneisOpielY nrintgd; bound and illitetrated-
Por saleby Claxton.
Little, Brown dr, Co., have publiebed the
9th volume of Bancroft's History - - of the
;United States: Mr. Bancroft-commenced
this work about twenty Years ago, and, haS
brought' it down to 1778, so that he Is ninety
years behind in' his undertaking. ; The his
tory of this .country grows a good deal faster
than Mr. Bancroft's record of it, and it is tp
be hoped that he will be able to make mofe
OVA WISIOTM
Messrs. Ticknor 4; Fields, of Boston, are
early in the geld with attractive holiday
books. Whittier's charming idyl, "Maud
Muller," has been issued %by them in peen
liarly beautiful style, exquisitely printed,
and each page bearing a beautiful illustra
tion, the designs being by W. J. Hennessey.
These are worthy of all praise, and com
bined with the fine paper and elegant bind
ing, they make a book that will delight
every person of taste. The book is for sale
at Pitcher's.
'esars. T. B. Peterson & Brothers publish
to-day "The National Cook Book," bY r :a
lady of this city, who has had much praC,-,
tical experience as a housewife. It is
most excellent work, and every possible
.usefal receipt will be found in it. An ad
vertisement to-day gives full particulars of
its contents.
Longfellow's Evangeline," with illustra
tions by Darley,is another charming volume
for the holidays, issued by Ilicknor & Fields.
It is printed in the best style of the Univer
sity Press, and the paper and binding are
perfect. The illustrations, ten in number,
are in Mr. Darley's best manner.
ENFANT PERDU.
Mr. 'Lieber has received the October
number of the Westminster Beztieiv, contain
ing a capital variety of articles on "The
Irish Church," " Renan's Apostles,"
"Dante," "Canada," "Oar North Pacific
Colonies," "The Forest of Fontainblean,"
and other interesting topics.
T. B. Peterson LS: Brothers 'publish "The
Law and Practice of Euchre," which will be
a useful little handbook for the devotees of
that game.
Cooper d: Canard, Ninth and Market.
There are few' things more pleasant to
contemplate in the development of a large
city, than substantial evidence of the sac
cess of her enterprising and deserving busi
ness firms. Ind.eed, in a very important
sense, the life of a great city is involved in
the vitality of her merchants. To chronicle
the indications of mercantile prosperity is
therefore always an agreeable duty.
The old corner of Ninth and market streets
has long been associated with the selling of
dry goods. It" is to-day for all - practical
purposes a neto corner; but its uses remain
unchanged in kind, though greatly aug
mented in degree. The proprietors, Messrs.
,Cooper &Collard, belong to the indomitable
athletic school of business men, who take no
account of obstacles except to render them
subservient to increased success,and having
just completed one of the finest improve
ments in that section of our city,the present
is a fit time for some remark uposs the his
tory of this establishment.
Messrs. Cooper &Conard commenced bus
iness at this locality in the spring of 1&52,in
one room fronting on Market street, having
small show windows and old fashioned
porches over the doors. Their store then
was what would now be called a contracted,
badly lighted and poorly ventilated place.
Their first progressive step was to add a
basement for the storage and sale of domestic
goods, and modernize the windows, and
doors and front generally, which was then
acknowledged to be a decided improvement.
Soon they felt the want of a Cloak and
Shawl room, which they obtained on the
second floor. But the march of trade again
straitened their premises, which eventuated
in their obtaining possession of the whole of
the original building. This they continued to
occupy for a number of years, making the
most of its facilities. But again enlargement
became a necessity, to prepare for which
Messrs. Cooper t Canard purchased the pro
perty running back to the next street, giv
ing them a Ninth street front of 120 feet.
On the lot thus secured, they commenced
I the erection of a new and substantial basi
-1 ness edifice in July last, the interior of
which is now receiving finishing touches.
To their old store of fifty feet by twenty-two
feet, they have thus made a seventy-feet ad
dition, making the entire premises twenty
two feet by one hundred and twenty fest,the
whole being three stories high, with a well
furnished and admirably-lighted basement.
The new structure, just completed, is as
beautiful and substantial a specimen of
brick work as our city affords. The very
best mechanical talent was secured to su
perintend its erection, and we believe noth
ing has been omitted to render it a com
plete business edifice. Its internal' arrange
ments anticipate every want for the conve
nience of customers and clerks, and in the
-construction of counters, shelving, stakes- '
sings—which area mixture of walnut and
ash—together with the means of lighting,
warming and ventilating. no expense has
been spared nor labor slighted to make a
building which should be' adapted to all the
requirements of the firm, whether it be for
carrying on the businea of refeiting, whole
saling or j ebbing.
In some respects this structure is a model.
All the water from the roof s , waste water,
water closets, &c., are conducted into the
sewer at Jayne's street, the light throughout
the building is uniform and excellent,
which is of the utmost importance to pur
chasers in,selecting goods, and the easy ac
cess to every part of the house will be ap 7
preciated by all as a convenience, and by
the lazy as a luxury. "
The basement of the building is divided
into three rooms or apartments, the princi
pal of which is about seventy feet long,
and 3s 'better lighted than 'are many first
floors.' It is dqvoted principally to the sale
of Blankets and Quilts.
Thefirst,'or ground floor, is in one entire
rooni, 120 feet in length (and a most beauti
ful and attractive salesroom it /13) i devotai
whollyrte, the sale, of cloths, cassimeres, do
mestics and diesagoods.'
AScending by two ett.sy flights of stairs to'
the seeorid. story,•We- find -two distinct de
partments, in both of which this house ex
cels, viz: Cloaks — for — Zetilies and' Boys'
Clothing—the south. end .being devoted to
the former, mid the middle portions as a
-salesroom, 22 . feet by 36 feet, andis used as
the cutting room, and for-taking 'orders for.
ordered work.
Tim third story is occupied in'manufac
taring garments that are exhibited for sale
in the seoond story.
The present stocks of goods offered by this
firm, in. all their departments, are in keep
ing with their.eidarged' facilities for selling
them. In.one respect, we may state that the
temporary delay to which they were sub
jected bY this improvement haS been of de
cided advantage to purohasers. Instead of
buying their goods, both imparted and do
mestic, at the usual time, they were com
pelled to waif for the completion Of their
10, 1866.
rapid:progress with Ms remaining, volumes.
The new volume is enriched by .a fine en
graving of Lafayette. It is for sale by. Jas.
K. Simon.
g SHEET.
warerocons, and the result has been in their
favor by a very large percentage, as nearly
all kinds of goods have suffered a material
decline from the opening prices of the sea
son. Messrs. Cooper de Conard are hence
enabled to' sell dress goods, such as plain
and plaid poplins, French merinoes, mourn
ing goods, cloths, cassimeres, flannels, im
ported goods generally, and all domestic
woolens . at a reduction in prices which
buyers will appreciate. They deserve credit
for giving their customers the benefit of this
reduction, instead of turning it to their own
advantage, as they might . have done; and
persons who have waited for the completion
of these improvements in order to patronize
their favorite store, will thus find a suitable 1
compensation for their patience.
Tile career of this house from the start
has followed the Excelsior motto—''Onward
and upward." The ern' Os of 1857, and the
universal stagnation df 1880, interposed a
temporelry check to their progress, bat en
fled no retrogression. Their mode of
transacting business is straightforward.
Every want of their patrons is carefully
studied and met, The classes of goods they
keep cover a wide range, though if we were'
obliged to name a special feature in this re
gard it would be that their stock excels in
what are termed medium grades—those
adapted to the great mass of the people.
This does not hold, however, with reference
to their cloths, cassimeres and domestics, in
which their stock is unsurpassed by any
other in the city. Their facilities for buying
goods at first hands are unusually good; and
as they buy mainly for cash, and attend the
best sales, of French goods more particu
larly, their prices are uniformly moderate,
We observe that in poplins, reps, and other
fashionable dress fabrics their prices are
now lower than the same articles have sold
at since the fall of 1862.
But we will leave our readers to visit this
enlarged and greatly-improved establish
ment, and decide upon its additional merits
for themselves.
•
AltusEmtvrs: —
MR. DAN 13 nresT.—Last night this co
median took a benefit at the Arch Street
Theatre, where he has been filling the house
during the past week to repletion. The hill
was changed, and Mr. Bryant appeared . in
three pieces, sustaining the characters of
Paddy O'Rafterty, Danny the Baron and
Larry Hooligan. During the week he has
.
essayed but the two parts, Tim O'Brien and
Handy Andy, and we are free to acknow
ledge that' in these impersonations he has
no living superior. Natural, graceful and
easy in his style of delivery, with no over
strained action, his personation at once
have a claim to superiority. Not the.least
attractive portion of this comedian's per
formance is the song and dance, which re
-ceive so hearty an encore every night.
The dance- especially pleases us. Some
dancers call into requisition the feet alone,
while Mr. Bryant uses the whole bedy.
Life is expressed, and a broad sense of
humor depicted from the very cro'vn of his
bat to the brognesen hisfeet. -This evening
the Irish drama of "Ireland as it Was" will
be performed for the first and only time
during the engagement, in which Mr. Bry
ant will enact the character of Ragged Pat
On Monday, beautifully placed upon the
stage, will be performed the very successful
Irish drama, founded upon Lover's poem of
the same name, entitled "Shamus O'Brien;
or, the Bold Boy of GlengalL" This piece
was played in New York last summer, we
believe, some eight weeks at Wallack's
Theatre, and was so successful that it might
have been continued 'some weeks longer,
but for the regular opening of the fall and .
winter season and expiration of Mr. Bry
ant's term of lease. It is a piece calculated
to interest and amuse all. It abounds with
glees, choruses, Irish dances, jigs and reels,
ruction jigs, &c., and Is one scene of merri
ment from beginning to end. The cast will
include the entire company; also,, Miss
Louise Wall, whose very pleasing per
formances recommend her totheenconra,,oe
ment of all. The drama will, no doubt,
have an extended run.
Mn, JOSEPH JEFFERSON at the Chestnut
took his benefit last evening, appearing in
an entirely new bill. The house was the
fullest and most fashionable we have seen
since his remarkably prosperous engage
ment began. His comic hits were asTelici
tons as any of the pathetic or funny ones in
"Rip Van Winkle," and the audience was
kept in an ecstasy of delight for nearly four
hours. To-night last evening's splendid
bill will be repeated. It eomprises "Wood
cock's Little Game," "The Windmill" and
"The Spitfire," Mr. Jefferson will be capi
tally supported by hliss Harris (a valuable
accession to the company),Miss Josie Orton,
Miss .0. Jefferson, Mr. Mackay, Mr. Jen
nings, Mr. M. Woolf, Mr. S. Dubois, &c.
Mn. EDWIN BOOTH. appears this evening
at the Walnut - in a character peculiarly
adapted to his fine tragic powers, that of the
"Stranger," in Kotzbue's pathetic five ac
play of that name. Boncicault's powerful.
drama of "The Willow Copse" will also
be performed this evening, with that excel
lent actor, Mr. Barton Hill, as Luke Field
ing. For the first time this season, , Mr.
Booth will perform at a matinee this after
noon. He appears in his great part of
Hamlet.
•
HERR DAVISON AT zu..e. ACADEMY.—
While bestowing their critiques upon this
artist, we would guard our readers against
a prejudiced view of what to many of them
must seem , strange' as well as new. Herr
Dawison is a noted example , of a style of
acting with which our audiences are, unfor
tunately, but seldom favored. It were,
therefore, unfair to judge his performance
by canons which apply to another school of
acting, fatnitiarity with which has blunted
a sense of its many absurdities and almost
.
constant • divergence from nature. Herr
Da wison
,possesses, in a great degree the
ars 'ee/are artem. His acting is so quietlY
natural, so free from all rant or affectation,
that the simplicity ofhis performance almost
causes one to overlook , the highslegree of art
which such , acting demands. °li IT•bysiihh .
simple, life-like portraiture ofchataitter that
Ihis , greatartist sways his audience,who, for
getting to admire,a re unconsciously led cap
tive by fhis skill. Whether this-be•genius or
talent we care not to inquire. We look to
the effect produced; while we know that
Dawison's triumphs are legitimate. As
with the other fine actor who plays Hamlet
to-day, his, intellectuality raises his per
formance tar shove that of most of the-pub
lic's favorites. A few mote of such artists
would do much toward reforming , ' popular
taste, an. matters theatrical, .and would
greatly weaken the attractiveness of the
ranters who still' draw nightly crowds.
-Whether careless audiences have caused poor,
actors, or Wee versa, we cannot determine.
So much is bertain, however, both shOw
room for :improvement, signs of • whintk we
qball always gladly welcome when recog
nized. Tonight Herr Da wison sustains
three characters in "Hans Sue*" and "The
Unfortunate."
FETHERSTO
MISS RATE PysnrEn tr,,ivav r tbls afternom!,
her last "Mazeppa" matinee: at the amen
can Theatre. She is a capita! representa
tive of the Tartar Prince. This evening
will be her last night helm, area. she Plays in
three characters.
SIGNOR BLITZ app earn this afernoon and
evening at the Assembly Building. His
programmes are the heal be - has ever an
nounced. •
THE 311.msaansIs fill thee bpera-Mouse ort
Eleventh street, nightly. Theygivs- hill's of
a varied and fascinating ckraeter.
Homehold
. .
[rontributed by George 3. Renkelt , ..enbinet .1)6713.3 - er
Thirteenth ioni-ChestlatG) _
FILIIN/TERE COPERIN.C.-- - Plushis thS
most durable of any kind of covering
ever used for furniture; and. always , '
fashionable. It is called plushithesame
as all fabrics that have the-fibre perpen
dicular. The proper name should be
wool or goats' hair velvet. The -manu
facture of velvets is one of the-oldest in
fine weaving. The first fabric was cor
du,oy, or king's cord; The French cord
du roi is corrupted by us to corduroy in
English. This met with such-favor in
the eyes of royalty that their subjects
were not allowed to wear it. Many per
sons are not aware of the fact that cor
duroy is made the same as velvet, and is
cut into ribs because it can be dime
cheaper than to have the surface smooth.
French silk velvets are the finest of this
kind of fabric. The next is goats' hair
velvet (or plush) for furniture. Then fol•
lows wool velvet or plush, Utrecht vel
vet or stamped pliish, Mochette, velvet -
carpet, corduroys, beaverteens. velvet
eens and cotton or tabby velvets. Goats'
hair and wool velvet,Utrecht velvet and
Mochette are the only kinds used for fur
niture coverings. The best a uaLity goats'
hair velvet is made in Amiens, France,
varies in quality from 600 to 1000 poile,or
600 to 1,000 hairs to the inch. 800 poile is
the best quality imported, unless spe
cially ordered,and is the quality used for
fine furniture. The Germans make
an inferior article of plush which is used
extensively on furniture in this country,
.-
and purchasers who are not judges are- -
deceived by its appearance. It is very
thin and soft to the touch from being '
made of wool instead of *goat's hair..
Printed or stamped plush used to be
very fashionable; and much of the old :.
furniture in our city is still- covered
with it. Like all other goods, the qual
iEy fifteen or twenty years ago was much• -
better than at present. This plush was
first woven plain and the figures were
made by the pressure of hot rollers with
the design raised on them. Of late years
this character ofgoods has beeia exclusive
ly used for omnibusea and railroad cam.
Mochette is the most expensive of all of
the plush furniture. It is made like the
finest carpets with the figures woven in
colors, mostly on bouquets set in medal
lions. They manufacture a cheap arti
cle of Mochette in Scotland and in
England, which is very tempting in -
appearance but miserable in service
se .
The greatest drawback to the uof
plush is the width-24 inches—which
makes it necessary to piece it on sofas
and armchairs; also the danger of moths
eating it as it is their favorite food. If
the manufacturers would make plush of
the same width as they make satins and
terry it would cut more econotni--
cally on furniture and need no
seams. The effort is now being
made to have" it manufactured 6e..
inches wide. In putting plush on fur-- •
niture the nap should run down the seats
and backs as it will wear much better
and will not show the dust which ne
cessarily collects on it. This plan require
the seams to run across the seat instead'
of one long seam along the back of the
seat. Upholsterers do not generally pay
much attention to running the nap the
right way because purchasers object to
seams. Green, garnet, crimson and
scarlet plush has heretofore been the
only colors to be obtained, but since the;
discovery of the finest principle of dye
in the residue or waste of petroleum in
distillation—we have Magenta, green,
and a new color called Aurelia which is
a shade between royal purple and violet.
All of the petroleum colors stand the
sunlight and vegetable acids without
changing color which is •an important
advantage over vegetable colors. Au
relia plush soaked all night in lemon •
juice did not change color at all, whilst
logwood purple changed to an ugly
brown immediately after beingsativated
with it. We will no doubt before long
have all of the finest colors produced
from petroleum. We have no silk goods
in those colors, but there is no doubt it
can be adapted to the fine silk. fabrics as
well as to those of wool or hair. •
• ,
Lefler from Mts. General Grant. •
WASHINGTON, D. C., October '24, 1866.
Grover d: Baker S. M. Co.—Garrrimazt:
It affords me great pleasure to bear witness
to the excellence of the Family Sewing
Machine manufactured. by - your Compiny:
I have had one of them in my family for
some two
„years; and frout.what I know of. -
its workings, and from the testimony of
many of. my friends who use the same, 1....
can hardly see how anything could be more
complete or give better.satisfaction. .
The machine I have is one of the most
elegant I have ever seen, and was presented.
to me by friends who purchased it at' the -
Sanitary Fair at Philadelphia in 1864, •
i Very truly yours, etc.,
- Mxs U. S. VriCtaiT.
MINISTERIAL LABORS.—Several yeans
...ago a Scotch pastor. being asked , by a mer.: : f
chant, '"What is the amount of your
aerial work?" replied: "In the first place s ,
will write every yearwhat if printed, wouht
fill two octavo volumes as large as any man •
who devotes himselfto authorship -wonkL,
think of composing in the.samalime; seur
ondly, I speak as much every year: los a s
latvyer in good practice speaks ; at the :hart :
thirdiy, - I spend nearly as many hours
maltingand receiving professional visits
are spent by an ordinary physician." The
merchant answered. "None of ue would fick -
half 'Your work for four' times •your pay."
A.,N,WAsza Itaonenorro-,A.- young gent in
Arkansas, in:attempting to scare. a young
lady Mend by crawling into her window'
if la ght)st4 was nearly scalded to death by a
bueigig Apt •Nnikter, • k-
.111"..i0 E EPi TS..