<$$ trf? &*** THE UNION SKETCH-BOOK: EXHIBITING THE HISTORY AND BUSINESS RESOURCES OF THE LEADING MERCANTILE AND MANUFACTURING FIRMS OF NEW YORK. INTERSPERSED WITH MANY IMPORTANT, VALUABLE, AND INTERESTING FACTS RELATING TO THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF TRADE, MANUFACTURE, AND THE MECHANIC ARTS. TO WHICH IS ADDED A DIRECTORY TO THE PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF INTEREST IN NEW YORK, AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST, FOR THE USE OF VISITING MERCHANTS. WRITTEN, ARRANGED, AND COMPILED FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES. Br GOBRIGHT AND DAWES. NEW YORK : RUDD & CARLETON, 130 GRAND STREET. M DCCC LXI. JOHNS & CROSLEY, Sole Manufacturers of the IMPROVED GUTTA PERCH A CEMENT ROOFING, The Cheapest and Most Durable Roofing in use. Is Fire and Water Proof. Can be applied to Roofs of all kinds, new or old, steep or flat. The cost is less than one-half that of Tin, and is twice as durable. GUTTA PERCHA CEMENT, For Preserving and Repairing Tin and other Metal Roofs, is more durable, when applied to Metals of all kinds, than any Paint known, and far cheaper. For Cementing Wood, Leather, Glass, China, Marble, Ivory, Bone, Porcelain, &c., &c. JOHNS & CROSLEY, WHOLESALE WAREHOUSE, 78 William Street, corner of Liberty, NEW YORK. FULL DESCRIPTIVE CIRCULARS FURNISHED ON APPLICATION. INDEX. PAGX Agricultural Implements, Ac., Grifflng Bros 112 Alcohol, Camphene, Ac., J. A. Webb <& Co 180 Alcohol and Liquors, Hoffman & Curtis 146 Ales, Wines, Ac., G. E. Mendum 134 American Gutta Percha Kooflng Co., Forbes Willis 55 American Porcelain Photograph Co., 186 American Cement Glue, John* <& Crosley 85 Amusements, Places of, in New York 117 Artificial Flowers, R. M. Mitchill 91 Bankers, Duncan, Sherman and can be immediately had when wanted. The third floor is divided into two parts ; one for open pack- ages, mortars, glass, slabs, and druggists' ware. The other is for patent medicines, Shakers, and other herbs, and such like, each under the charge of a separate .foreman, one of whom has been with the firm over twenty-nine years. The second story is used for putting up goods, and is divided into three compartments under .one superintendent. The first is the city department, for putting up alt orders for the city retail trade ; the second department is the oil and liquid room, where all goods for bottles or cans are put up ; while the third is used for tilling country orders. This floor is a constant scene of activity, yet with all the vast amount of work that has to be done, owing to the admirable system which prevails, neither here nor in any other part of the house, notwithstanding there are sixty men employed, is there tire slightest bustle or con- fusion. Everything moves like clock-work, in perfect order. 20 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. Descending to the basement, we find piles of dye stuffs, gums, &c., and other like articles, while on the William street front is situated the sponge room, containing all kinds and qualities, from the grass sponge of the Bahamas, to the finer qualities imported from Smyrna, Turkey, and Trieste, ranging from seven cents to forty dollars per pound. This is a most valuable stock, and it is believed Messrs. S. B. & Co. have the largest in the country. Passing from here under the sidewalk, which is lighted by means of the patent vault ligh'ts, our olfactories give notice that we are approaching the extracts and essences, which are ranged in a series of strongly built vaults to protect them from heat, where are also kept the essential oils, opium, &c. Turning round on the Beekman street side are another series of vaults containing all the combustible articles, such as ether, oil of vitriol, and other acids, none of which articles are ever allowed in the main building. Descending once again to the lowest deep, we come upon a miscellaneous assortment of heavy articles, such as soda, salsera- tus, salts, &c. Here also are the two steam engines for hoist- ing, and heating the building, the boilers supplying the steam being under the sidewalk, which is the only place where any fire throughout the whole building is allowed. There are also another range of vaults, where the balance of inflammable or explosive article* are kept. We now come to the first floor, which, though last, is not least. Entering from the corner, you come into a spacious room, on the left of which are a series of desks and partitions appropriated for the bookkeeper, cashier, and assistants. In the centre and right are a series of desks occupied by the members of the firm and the buyers and salesmen of the differ- ent departments, whilst at the end is an office devoted for the reception of customers or others having private business THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. . .2 with tlic house. Beyond this, separated by a partition, is the shipping room, where all goods are received and shipped. This room extends the whole width of the building, with an entrance on Beekraan street, and during the busy season is a scene of incessant activity. On the other side, with an entrance on William street, is the sample room and fancy goods depart- ment. But it would be an endless task to enumerate these. We can only give the principal headings : Perfumery, foreign and domestic, of all the best brands, toilet articles, reclictions, the needlewomen have been greatly benefited by the introduction of the machine. New branches THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 99 of needlework have been introduced, and the old ones greatly extended, resulting to the operator in better remuneration and lighter and more healthful toil. Indeed, the hygienic import- ance of the sewing-machine is not less than its commercial. The unhealthful nature of ordinary needle-work is proverbial. The cramped posture, the strain of the eyes, the derangement of the digestive organs, lungs, and the nerves, over a monoto- nous task, have told in- fearful effects upon the health and character- of needlewomen. The best medical opinion is, that the exercise of the lower limbs in operating the machine is highly invigorating. The following figures, showing the number of machines sold by WHEELER & WILSON, indicate the extent and increase of their business for seven y%ars : 1853, 799 machines; 1854, 956; 1855, 1171 ; 1856, 2210; 1857, 4591; 1858, 7978: 7859, 21,306. Their sales now exceed the combined sales of all other manufacturers in the United States. The small shop of this Company in Watertown in 1852, turning out eight or ten machines per week, and an obscure office of one room on the second floor, contrast strongly in 1861 with the manufactory at Bridgeport, Ct., covering an area of nearly four acres of ground, driven by immense steam- power, employing an army of mechanics, capable of turning out 500 machines per day (of a capacity greater than all the armories of the United States, and equalling them in the com- pleteness of its appointments), and the office and sales-room, No. 505 Broadway, extending 200 feet, and rivalling in finish and adornment the halls of royalty, and visited by ladies of the highest social position, with agencies in the principal places throughout the country, and in all the capitals of the civilized world. There is, too, a corresponding contrast between the machines 100- THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. manufactured by this Company now, and those made in 1852. Although not radically changed in operation, their range of application has been greatly extended, and for completeness of adaptation for family sewing, and for manufacturers in the same range of purpose and material, nothing further is desired. The successive application of the improved tension and loop- check, the hemmer, marker, binder, corder, and transparent cloth-presser, shows the disposition of this Company to give the public the benefit of all the improvements that mechanical genius produces ; while the machine vies in artistic finish with the piano in the boudoir. This machine is unrivalled for 1. Beauty and excellence of stitch alike upon each side of the fabric sewed. 2. Strength, firmness, and durability of seam, that will not rip nor ravel, and made with 3. Economy of thread. 4. Its attachments and wide range of application to purposes and materials. 5. Compactness and elegance of model and finish. 6. Simplicity and thoroughness of construction. 7. Speed, ease of operation and management, and quietness of movement. The lock-stitch made by this machine cannot be ravelled, and presents the same appearance upon each side of the seam, a single line of thread extending from stitch to stitch. It is formed with two threads, one upon each side of the fabric, and interlocked in the centre of it. In beauty and regularity, and in the firmness of the seam formed, it excels hand-sewing. The efficacy of this machine is equal to about ten hands. The WHEELER & WILSON COMPANY has prepared tables show- ing, by actual experiments of four different workers, the time required to Btitch each part of a garment by hand, and with THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 101 their sewing-machine. Subjoined is a summary of several of the tables : BY MACHINE. BY HAND. Hours. Minutes. Hours. Minutes. Gentlemen's Shirts 1 16 14 26 Frock Coats 2 38 16 35 Satin Vests 1 14 7 19 Linen Vests 48 5 14 Cloth Pants, 51 5 10 Summer Pants 38 2 60 Silk Dress. 1 13 8 27 Merino Dress 1 4 8 27 Calico Dress 67 6 37 Chemise 11 10 31 Moreen Skirt 35 7 28 Muslin Skirt 30 7 1 Drawers 28 46 Night Dress 1 7 10 2 SilkApron 15 4 16 Plain Apron 9 1 26 KCMBXB OF 8TITCHI8 MACK PER MINUTE. By Hand. With Machine. Ratio. Stitching Fine Linen 23 640 28 " Satin 24 520 22 Silk 30 550 18 Seaming Fine Cloth 38 594 16 Patent Leather, fine Stitching. . . 7 176 25 Fitting Ladies' Gaiters 28 610 18 Stitching Shoe Vamps 10 210 21 Binding Hats 33 374 11 When the machines are driven by power, the ratio is much higher 1500 to 2000 stitches per minute not being an unusual average. Seams of considerable length are ordinarily sewed with the best ma- chines at the rate of a yard a minute, and that, too, in a manner far supe- rior to hand-sewing. 102 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. The importance of the sewing-machine to the manufactur- ing interests of the United States is estimated at $342,000,000 annually. The annual saving by the machine is estimated on Men's and Boys' Clothing in New York city $7,500,000 Hats and Caps *. 462,500 Shirt Bosoms 832,750 Boots and Shoes in Massachusetts 7,500,000 It has revolutionized thirty-seven distinct departments of manufactures, and in no branch of sewing can it be dispensed with where time and health are regarded. The value of the imports of the free states during the fiscal year 1858-9, was $169,162,776 ; and the exports were $295,- 812,869. The imports of the slave states were $187,286,786, and the exports $31,985,680. Of the exclusive southern pro- duct, the exports from the United States were as follows : Cot- ton, $161,434,943; tobacco, $21,074,038; sugar, $574,869; molasses, $75,699 ; spirits from molasses, $760,889 ; tar, $141,- 058 ; rosin and turpentine, $2,248,281 ; rice, $2,207,148. Miss Susan Nipper, who lives in a snug tenement alone, was quite flustrated, the other morning, by an early call from a bachelor neighbor. " What do you come here after ? " said she. " I came for a match," says he, in the meekest manner possi- ble. "Why don't you make a match ?" says she, "I know what you're come for," cried the apparently exasperated virgin, as she backed him into a corner, "you're come here to hug and kiss me almost to death ! But you shan't, without you're the strongest, and Lord knows you are ! " VIEW OP BERLIN AND JONES'S FACTORY (No. 1). ENVELOPES. THEIR HISTORY, USES, PROGRESS OF MANUFACTURE, &c. Go, ring the bells, and fire the guns, And fling the starry banner out ; Shout " Freedom " till your lisping ones Give back their cradle shout. WHTTTIEU. Envelopes, as postal packages, came into use in Great llritain after the Act of Parliament, August 17th, 1839, regu- lating the postage by weight instead of the number of pieces. Their extreme availability was early detected in this country, but our postal laws were then hampered with the absurd regu- 104 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. Cation of charging for number of pieces instead of by weight ; this was done away with by Act of Congress, July 1st, 1845. In 1843, the' first envelope manufactory was established in New York, by a Mr. Pierson, by hand process, using little or no machinery. The process was so slow as to make the cost too great, consequently the business did not prosper, and was abandoned for a time. In 1847, Jacob Berlin, a man of sagacity and enterprise, bought out Pierson, and commenced the manufacture on a large scale, and with more improved modes, at 180 Fulton street, New York ; but still the business did not prosper, and for a time he was discouraged. But by energy and persever- ance he at length succeeded in awakening the public attention to their convenience and utility, since which time the business has continually increased. In 1853, Jacob Berlin retired, and was succeeded by Wm. G.'West and H. C. Berlin, who constantly increased their manufacturing facilities till, in 1856, Mr. West also retired, and the present firm of BERLIN & JONES was formed. In May, of that year, the new firm, to accommodate its im- mense business, moved its salesrooms to 134 William street, where they still remain, commanding and directing a heavy trade. So greatly had the business increased in 1857, as to compel the removal of the factory to more spacious premises up-town (see cut 1), where they have facilities for producing 400,000 per day, or 140,000,000 per year, of every size, quality, and kind known in the trade, as Business, Legal, Document, Detector, Embossed, Opaque Silvered, Wedding, Mourning, Drug, Pay, Cloth-lined, and Business-illustrated envelopes, to- gether with a very large variety of Union envelopes, Litho- graph, Comic, and the ordinary Flag styles, at from two dollars per thousand upwards. At the salesroom, a stock of from fif- THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 105 teen to twenty millions is always kept on Land to answer any demand. Orders come from all parts of the Union, the Cana- das and Provinces, South America, West Indies, East Indies, and even from Europe. Prices vary, of course, with quality, size, &c., running from sixty cents to sixty dollars per thou- sand. So steady has been the demand, that even during the "panic" (1857-8) this manufactory did not discharge any of their regular hands. As the process of manufacturing is very interesting, we will here briefly advert to it : A fine steel cutter, or die, does the work of cutting, the steam power applied being a two-horse power, which forces the cutter through from three hundred to VIKW OF Of.MMIXCr ROOM (*O. 2). five hundred sheets at one application. These s-hcvts are m;;du . 106 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. of specific surfaces for special kinds and sizes of envelopes, so that in cutting them there may be very little waste. When cut, the open form of the envelope is carried to the "gummer," who gums the lappets with the adhesive, generally made of dissolved gum Arabic. A good hand will gum from fifty to sixty thousand per day. After gumming, the still open envelopes are placed in a series of sliding shelves to dry. By the aid of hot air applied through steam pipes, the drying occupies but a few moments. They are then borne to the folding machine, through which VIEW OF FOLDING KOOM (NO. 3). they are passed witli great rapidity, coming out perfectly shaped and closed, ready for the counter's hands, who counts and bands them into packages of twenty-five, after having discarded THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 107 VIEW OF FOLDINi; MACHINE (NO 4). any that may not be perfectly folded and finished. With every second of time, an en- velope must be fed to the insatiate arms which extend to re- ceive it, then with- drawn into the machine where the side and bottom flap are pasted and folded over with unerring precision, and pressed ^ down to a perfect point upon the three impinging edges the fourth flap being folded over, but left unsealed. This is all done in a mere moment of time, and the envelope drops upon the table before the counter, ready for the bands and packing-box. Twenty -five are put in a package, and twenty packages in a box making five hun- dred in each box. The imperfect from any cause are laid aside, and afterwards sorted, packed, and sold as inferior quality. There is a count- ing apparatus attached to the folding-machine ; but as it counts both good and bad, it is not used, as the manufacturers allow no imperfect work to go out as perfect. The quantity of paper consumed in the manufacture is enor- mous. A large number of mills make paper exclusively for this business, employing many hundreds of people and heavy capital. The firm of UKKLIN SO, 33, 34, AND 36 PARK PLACE, N. SULLIVAN. ) ( J. P. HALSTED. P. P. RANDOLPH. X N F W YORK ! W. V. BROKAW. W. A. BUDD. ) ' ( J. H. CLARK. A new motive power has just been tried with success in Paris : an engine that dispenses with boiler, chimney, and the usual accessories, and economizes besides a saving of over 30 per cent, in steam. The machine utilizes the expansion caused in cold air by the spark of induction in a proper volume of " Marriage/' said an unfortunate husband, " is the churchyard of love." " And you men,'' replied tlic not less unhappy wife, "are the gnu (.'-dithers.'' AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. Crowns have their compass, length of days their date, Triumphs their tomb, felicity her fate ; Of naught but earth can earth make us partaker, But knowledge makes a king most like his Maker. SHAKSPEAEE. Man's inventive genius has during the last few years been highly prolific in producing many rare and ingenious specimens of labor-saving machines, but in no direction, we think, has that genius been so productive of real genuine benefit as in the production of the various machines now in successful use by the fanner and planter. As agriculture affords occupation to nearly three-fourths of the population of the United States, and employs as much capital as all other pursuits combined, it is natural that the mind of the inventor should be attracted towards it as opening a large field for his genius to work upon, and hence the production of the steam-plough, the harvester, the cultivator, the threshing-machine, corn-sheller, and others too numerous to mention. In the purchase of agricultural implements it is especially desirable that farmers do not incur more expense than is abso- lutely necessary for the proper management of the farm ; but at the same time it will be well to bear in mind that the oft repeated assertion that the " best is the cheapest " will, as here- tofore, be found a perfect truism. Farmers, however, are not the only persons interested in this matter. Country merchants are equally so ; for, if they desire the prosperity of their respective neighborhoods, they will take pleasure in introducing any invention that promises to be productive of general benefit, remembering always that what they see on their periodical visits to the large cities their neighbors at home have not the THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 113 opportunity of knowing anything about unless introduced to their notice by themselves. Two machines, the invention of the last few years, deserve the particular attention of the practical farmer, viz. Whitcomb's Spring-Tooth Horse-Rake, and Kirby's Combined Reaper and Mower. Whitcomb's Rake overcomes all objections, and is particu- larly adapted for raking hay on the light porous soil of the prairies, as the teeth pass lightly over without ploughing into the soil. It is a superior rake for gleaning grain fields, as the teeth are gauged in a moment so as to pass just above the sur- face of the ground, taking up the grain clear from dirt and stones, and will be found valuable in gleaning after the Har- vester. It is simple in construction, and will rake from fifteen to twenty acres of hay per day easier than any other rake. The distinctive feature of Kirby's Combined Reaper and Mower, and that which renders this Harvester the best in the market^ is their ability to work on rough ground, which is accom- plished by the independent action of the finger bar, which freely rises and falls in following thtj inequalities of the ground inde- pendently of the driving-wheel. This independent action gives the machine so many advantages on smooth as well as rough ground that it has distanced all other machines, which will soon have to be abandoned. Indeed, they are now being offered for sale at anything they will fetch, as farmers who have seen or used Kirby's Harvester will not have any other. The agents in New York for both these machines are Messrs. GRIFFING, BRO. & Co., who invite farmers and planters to inspect them at their store, the North River Agricultural and Seed Warehouse, No. 60 Cortlandt street, New York, where they have constantly on hand every description of Ploughs, Har- rows, Cutters, Fans, Spades, Hoes, and other farm implements, THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. together with the best assortment of Seeds, selected from the best growers with the utmost care. They would also especially call the attention of farmers to their No. 1 PERUVIAN GUANO, which they warrant to be genuine, as purchased from the Peruvian Government Agents. So many frauds have been practised of late years in this article, by the mixing of worth- less guano or earth with the genuine and then packing it in second-hand guano bags filled to the weight coi-responding with the government stamp upon them, that farmers cannot be too cautious in making' their purchases. They will find the genuine article, at the lowest market price, at GRIFFINO, BROTHER & Co., 60 Cortlandt street, New York, who are the largest dealers in it in the city. They have also always on hand Land Plaster, Ground Bone, Superphosphate of Lime, and other fer- tilizers. In addition to the great coal fields of Pennsylvania, 15,400 square miles, Illinois and Virginia possess together 65,000 ; while Kentucky and Ohio furnish 34.400 square miles of unde- veloped coal, and Southern and Western States yield 27,100. All Europe together has only 17,400 square miles of coal sur- face, of which 11,850 belong to Great Britain, and of the 40,000,000 tons annually produced there, only 6,918,195 tons were exported last year. The effect of climate on the human system is shown in a striking manner by the inhabitants of Australia, who in the course of two or three generations lose the corpulent character of Englishmen, and become a tall, gaunt, rawboned race, like the inhabitants of our Southern States. THE ART INSTITUTIONS. THE DUSSELDORF GALLKRT, removed to 625 Broadway, has for some years past been a popular resort for the lovers of the fine arts. Its collection embraces the works of many great masters. THE BRYAN GALLERY., OR GALLERY OF CHRISTIAN ART, which is situated on the corner of Broadway and Thirteenth- street, contains a very valuable collection of original pictures of high merit. THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN, directed and con- trolled by an association of artists and amateurs, have an annual exhibition of the works of living artists, during the months of April, May, and June. THE FREE FINE ART GALLERY OF MESSRS. WILLIAMS, STE- VENS & WILLIAMS, 353 Broadway, is likewise worthy of notice, from the fact that it contains at all times a rich collection of pictures, engravings, and other works. CHESS AND BILLIARD SALOONS. The popularity into which the truly rational and intellectual games of billiards and chess have grown within the past few years is fully evidenced in New York by the large number of places which have been exclusively appropriated to these scien- tific amusements. For the benefit of those seeking recreation of this character, we name a few only of the leading establish- ments. PHELAN'S BILLIARD SALOONS. The proprietor of these saloons is extensively known throughout the country as the inventor and patentee of " Phclan's Billiard Tables and Com- bination Cushions ;" and his knowledge of the beautiful art, 116 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. both practical and theoretical, is supposed to excel that of any man now living. This attractive establishment is located at No. 786 Broadway, and is daily visited by gentlemen of dis- tinction from all parts of the world. It combines three spacious rooms, 110 by 50 feet, fitted up in an elegant manner, and pro- vided with thirty tables of the most approved construction. There are many other large and attractive billiard saloons, of highly respectable character, among which we name : HONE HOUSE, corner Great Jones street and Broadway, four tables. COLUMBIA ROOMS, P. D. Kilduff, proprietor, 946 Broadway, nine tables. UNION SQUARE ROOMS, C. O'Connor, proprietor, 60 and 62 East Fourteenth street, twenty-two tables. PHELAN'S ROOMS, corner Tenth street and Broadway, M. Phelan, proprietor, twenty-seven tables. LAFAYETTE HALL, opposite Metropolitan Hotel, Broadway, John Cleveland, superintendent, ten tables. REEVES' ROOM, 214 Broadway, Captain Reeves, proprietor, eleven tables. KAVANAGH & FREEMAN, 140 Fulton street, five tables. BILLIARD HALL, 14 and 16 Fourth avenue, Peter Braisted, proprietor, eight tables. HIGGINS' ROOM, corner 57th street and Third avenue, two tables. ROBERTS' ROOM, " Times " Building, Mr. Roberts, proprietor, five tables. EPPSTEIN'S ROOM, Fourth avenue, cor. 19th street, four tables. In all matters, except a little matter of the tongue, a woman can generally hold her own. THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 117 AMUSEMENTS AND POPULAR RESORTS. New York is the headquarters of theatres, concerts, lectures, and miscellaneous enjoyments, and affords to pleasure seekers every opportunity for the gratification of their peculiar tastes. With a view of facilitating the operations of strangers visiting New York in pursuit of enjoyment, we propose briefly to point out some of the prominent and legitimate places of resort, leaving each one, of course, to follow the bent of his inclina- tions. We commence with the THEATRES. In no other city in the world than New York can theatrical entertainments be enjoyed with as much satisfaction. Specta- cles are put upon the stage utterly regardless of expenditure, while the performers employed comprise the highest talent of our own country, as well as that of Europe. Among the many magnificent temples dedicated to the drama, we enumerate LAURA KEENE'S VARIETIES, located at 622 Broadway. This establishment is justly celebrated for the beauty of its interior arrangements, the excellence of its company, and for the superb manner in which its productions are placed upon the stage. WALLACE'S THEATRE (now the Broadway Music Hall), at 485 Broadway, is well conducted, and a favorite resort. NIBLO'S GARDEN, in Broadway, corner of Prince street, has always been a very fashionable resort. It is capable of con- taining two thousand persons, and its interior arrangements bespeak much taste and elegance. THE WINTER GARDEN is a magnificent structure, situated at 641 Broadway. BOWERY THEATKK is at 46 Bowery. 118 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. NEW BOWERY, in the Bowery, above Canal-street. BARNUM'S AMERICAN MUSEUM is on the corner of Broadway and Ann street. THE NATIONAL THEATRE is in Chatham street, near Roosevelt. LAURA KEENE'S THEATRE, 624 Broadway. Besides these, there are, a French Theatre at 585 .Broad- way, and several German theatres in the Bowery, the prin- cipal one of which is known as the " STADT THEATRE." THE ACADEMY OF Music, or Italian Opera House, is situated on the corner of Fourteenth street and Irving Place. During the operatic season the highest order of foreign talent is employed, at salaries which would almost seem to preclude the possibility of rendering it a source of profit to its manager ; but the enterprise thus far has been well sustained. CANTERBURY Music HALL, 585 Broadway. THE MELODEON CONCERT HALL, 539 Broadway. One of the most popular resorts for general entertainment in New York. CUBA. The population of Cuba is estimated at 1,130,000, of which nearly 550,000 are white inhabitants, 180,000 free colored, 400,000 slaves, and 38,000 Asiatics and Indians. The sugar estates are immensely productive. Twenty-three of the princi- pal plantations, comprising about 100,000 acres of land and 10,175 slaves, are valued at $15,000,000. These twenty-three estates produced, in 1859, 235,000 boxes, the worth of which was four dollars each box, making in all $4,700,000. There are sixteen hundred sugar plantations in Cuba, the exported products of which amount to $50,000,000 per annum. MAW & CO.'S TILES FOR FLOORS. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or sway ; But to act that each to-morrow Finds us further than to-day. LONGFELLOW. Of the many attempts to meet modern architectural require- ments in the production of a paving material capable of com- bining appropriate design with extreme hardness and conse- quent durability, few have hitherto succeeded so as to bear comparison with the finest specimens of ancient tesselated work, or with its more useful mediaeval representative, the Geometrical Mosaic, known as Opus Alexandrinum, of which numerous interesting examples are still extant, not only as pave- ments, but on the interior and exterior surfaces of walls, in panels, tablets, pilasters, plinths, pedestals, string-courses, friezes, &c., on edifices bearing date from the time of Constantine the Great down to a comparatively modern period. The great beauty of such fragmentary illustrations of the art as time has spared leads us to regret those technical imperfections which have induced the destruction of an infinite number of graceful examples. It is, on this account, truly unfortunate that the materials generally composing them were either too soft to wear or too hard to work into tesserae of correct form. By the application of modern science, both chemical and mechanical, to peculiarly suitable mineral materials, MAW & Co. are not only enabled to produce tesserae free from either of the ancient imperfections of softness of texture or inaccuracy of outline, but manufacture forms which the materials of the ancient pavements rendered almost unattainable. With regard to the question of cost and economy, it must 120 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. be borne in mind that MAW & Co.'s pavements are as durable as the building of which they form in every respect a consistent portion. They are more easily kept clean than any other kind of floor, and entail no subsequent expense for those perishable ornamental and protective coverings, the frequent renewal of which in a few years involves an outlay exceeding the price of a choice specimen of mosaic. These tiles are adapted to halls, porches, porticoes, 2^ssages, conservatories, footpaces, gangways, verandas, balconies, hearths, exterior and interior wall panels, tablets, plinths, skirtings, pedes- tals, pilasters, string-courses, risers of steps, friezes, (fee., and while being as durable as marble, are capable of a variety of combinations of color unattainable in marble, and of a variety in pattern which could only be furnished in marble at three or four times the expense. Of the advantages of tiles over oil-cloth for vestibules and halls it is only necessary to say, that in addition to the greater facility of cleaning them, and the fact that the wear never obliterates the pattern or affects the surface, the necessity of renewing an oil-cloth within two or three years makes the expense of covering the floor more than the original cost of a beautiful tile pavement, which never requires renewing or repairing. The interest manifested in the manufacture of tiles is shown by the increasing demand for them, which has been so great as to oblige the manufacturers to double the size of their works (already the largest in the world) during the last year. A brief account of the manufacture may be appropriate in this connexion. The manufacture consists of two distinct branches, which are essentially different in nearly the whole of their processes. Firstly, the making of encaustic tiles, or those inlaid with a pattern of two colors, which is the reproduction of an art limited in mediaeval times to church decorations, but now hav- THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 121 ing a much more extended application. Secondly, the manu- facture of plain tiles and tessera) of a uniform color used iu the construction of geometrical mosaic pavements, similar in cha- racter to those found in the mediaeval buildings in Italy ; also moresque and tesselated mosaics similar to those occurring in Pompeii and almost all Roman remains in England and on the continent. The materials employed in both processes are nearly identical, and consist for the most part of the clays and marls of the Shropshire coal-measures, England. These, without any coloring matter, together with the clays from the south of Eng- land, form the red, buff, and fawn-colored tiles ; and, in con- nection with different proportions of oxides of iron and manga- nese, the black, chocolate, and grey tiles. The white, and all the richer colored tiles and tesserae, are formed of a species of porcelain or parian, the white left uncolored, and the blues and greens covered with oxides of chrome and cobalt. The prepara- tion of what is technically called the body of the tile, which is the first process in the order of manufacture, consists in mix- ing the constituent clays and other materials with water, and commingling and purifying them by passing them in a semi- liijuid state through a sieve made of the finest lawn, containing between 10,000 and 15,000 perforations to the square inch. All the coarse particles are by this means removed, and the texture of the clay rendered perfectly fine and even, as well as greatly adding to the brilliancy of the color. The semi-liquid purified clay is then dried on what is termed the slip-kilns, if for the manufacture of encaustic or inlaid tiles, to a plastic state ; or for plain or self-colored tiles, perfectly dry and hard. It is at this point that the two processes diverge and are essentially different; but as the space of this article will not permit a detailed account of the subsequent processes, it merely remains to mention, to those who are mterested in statistics, that the 6 122 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. manufacture consumes every year about 1500 tons of coal, and from 1100 to 1200 tons of clay, and various materials entering into the composition of the tiles, out of which between 20,000 and 30,000 square yards of tiles, tesserae, and mosaics are manu- factured, composed of 700 or 800 distinct shapes, sizes, and colors. A considerable proportion is sent to America, India, and the Colonies. Among the principal works, MAW & Co. have executed, or have in hand abroad, are the pavements of the entrance hall of the new University of Toronto ; also nearly the whole of Osgoode Hall, Toronto, laid by their own men sent out for the purpose ; the entrance hall of the Hong Kong Club ; deck-house and other parts of the steam yacht Said, for the Pasha of Egypt ; Jessore Church, Bengal ; the ground floor of the new General Post-Office, Calcutta ; and the Cathedral of Spanish town, Jamaica. The tiles are especially suitable fop warm climates in providing cool floors, and at the same time are not too cold in northern latitudes, as from the nature of the material the heat is retained for a long time when the house is warmed. Messrs. MAW & Co. have an agency at No. 93 Liberty street, New York, where specimens of their manufacture may be seen, and where any information, price lists, and specimen books can be obtained by addressing CHARLES D. GAMBRILL, agent. Several important improvements in the construction of wet gas-meters have been adopted in England, which are said to render them accurate indicators of the quantity of gas passed through them without regard to any variation of the water level. It is now well known that the common American meters are not accurate indicators of the quantity of gas that passes through them. LIFE INSURANCE Art is long, and time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums are beating Funeral marches to the grave. LONGFELLOW. So much'has been written about Life Insurance and so many people have experienced the benefits of it, that we shall content ourselfes on the present occasion with simply giving the re- corded opinion of two most eminent men, and a few reasons why every one having family connexions should avail him- self of its benefits. The late Lord Lyndhurst, Chancellor of England, said: "A policy of Life Insurance is always an evidence of prudent fore- thought, and no man with a dependent family is free from re- proach if his life is not insured, it is the exercise not only of prudence but benevolence as well." Prof, de Morgan, in his opinion of Life Insurance Companies, concludes, " On the whole, we cannot consider these institutions in any other light than as great public benefits, of which almost any class may avail them- selves with advantage to their rising families." Independently of such opinions from such high authorities, Life Insurance is a prudential measure in view of securing peace of mind, not only in sickness, but in native business life. Again we believe many men in limited circumstances have 'had their lives sacri- ficed to anxiety of mind. When taken sick they would not send for a doctor or take the necessary remedies because they could not afford it they had made no provision for their wives or little ones and could not bear to spend money, which in the event of their death would be so much needed had they 124 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. appropriated a small sum yearly in paying for a life policy, how much racking anxiety would be spared them. In a business point of view it possesses equal advantages, it is a sum of money yearly put out at interest, and should death deprive a man of his family, can always be sold for nearly the amount paid on it. It is also useful as a collateral in business transactions. One thing must always be borne in mind in effecting an In- surance, that is to see it done in an office whose system of busi- ness and standing is a guarantee of security and prompt pay- ment of losses. In this respect, amongst the many to b found in New York, the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company of Hartford is one of the oldest and amongst the first in extent of business. This Company, organized in 1846, on a system entirely Mutual, furnishes Insurance in all the various forms, and to meet all the various contingencies for which Life Insurance is desired, at the actual cost to the policy holder. There is no Stock or Guaranty Fund, to absorb the profits, but all the sur- plus is annually allocated to the policy holders, in proportion to the amount of the premium they pay, and may be appro- priated to the payment of renewal premiums, after the first four years. It offers abundant security, in a large accumulated Fund, derived from Premiums, amounting to over Three and a Half Millions. Its economy in the management of business permits large dividends to policy holders, which have averaged 50 per cent, per annum. Its Dividends are annual, and are paid during the life of the assured, in cash to those who pay their premiums in cash, or applied in cancelling the notes of those who pay their premium THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 125 partly by note. Nearly $200,000 have been thus refunded to policy holders during the past year. It is prompt in payment of losses. It has few directors, and these are always at their post at weekly meetings. It has an auditing committee appointed yearly, who meet and check the accounts weekly, thus afford- ing every safeguard to insure the policy holders from loss, and the extent of its business may be imagined from the fact, that during last year 1735 policies were issued from the office. The annual exhibit for the year ending January 31, 1861, shows the following gratifying result : Balance per Statement, Jan. 31st, 1860 $3,370,001.87 Amount received for Premiums during the year, $815,7 11.26 Amount received for Interest during the year, 261,427.15 Total Receipts for the year, $1,077,138.41 Deduct paid Salaries, Medical Ex- aminations, Advertising, Print- ing, Stationery, Taxes, Ex- change, a ONE OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF NEW YORK, and one that lias attained here greater perfection than in any other city on this continent, is its Wine and Ale Vaults. These are a kind of half wholesale and half retail establishments, where one can buy either a glass or a puncheon. The great difficulty of obtaining wines and ales, especially of foreign brand, pure and unadulterated, in small quantities, necessitated their establishment, and they have proved a great success. One of the oldest and largest of these is G. E. MENDUM'S, at the corner of Cedar street and Broadway. His place during busi- ness hours is constantly crowded, and his men are kept busy drawing ales, of which he keeps the following home and foreign brands always on draught : Allsopp's East India Tonic Pale Ale. Bass's East India Tonic Pale Ale. Younger's Scotch Ale. Burton "On Trent," 1856. Gaul's Philadelphia "Golden Ale." Howard & Fuller's Delicious Spring Water ditto. Jones's XXX Stock (Brewed from English Malt). Smith's American Bitter Ale (Brewed in Wheeling, Va.). Smith's Champagne Ale" (The finest ever offered in the U. S.). Smith's Kennet Ale (Highly recommended to Dyspeptics and Consumptives). Guinness' s world-renowned Dublin Porter. Murphy's celebrated Cork Porter. Marr's Saratoga Cream Ale (From the celebrated Saratoga Springs). Vassar's Imperial Ale, old and fresh. Gray's Philadelphia XXXX Extra. They are kept in cool cellars and drawn from the wood, thus THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 135 preserving their pure flavor, and many of the ales, being rare productions, cannot be obtained elsewhere on draught. Such a reputation have they obtained for purity and flavor that his retail trade is comparatively small to his bottling business, orders constantly coming in from all parts for wines, liquors, ales, porters, &c., in quantities of a pint to a cask. Besides these he keeps on hand various foreign pickles, sauces, ancho- vies, caviare, cheese, and other luxuries for the table, and having the best facilities for obtaining them, he has always the choicest the various markets afford. Strangers visiting New York, appreciating a glass of good ale, or requiring any other of MENDUM'S edibles or bibibles, should stop in at the vaults, corner of Cedar street and Broadway, as they will be sure of finding the best there. Comfort Bennet, the millionaire of Chemung county, is a remarkable man. He went to Big Haho without means, and worked for the farmers for eight years before he had means to buy land. In the meridian of life he lost his right hand. He is now eighty years old, has been blind four years, and has accumulated by earnings and savings, not speculations, a million dollars. The product of the wheat crop last year in six Northwestern States was 94,000,000 bushels. Illinois and Wisconsin 25,000,- 000 each; Indiana, 16,000,000; Michigan, 12,000,000 ; Iowa, 10,000,000; Minesota, 6,000,000. The whole grain' crop of Illinois in 1861 is estimated at 101 bushels to each inhabitant. Woman has found her true " sphere " at last. It is about twenty-seven feet round, made of hoops. DISTANCES IN THE CITY. FROM BATTERY. FROM EXCHANGE. FROM CITY HALL. TO i mile. Rector street. i i mile. Fulton. 4 * City HalL 1 t i mile. Leonard. li 1 i CanaL 1* li 4 Spring. 14 H 1 Houston. * 2 14 li Fourth. 2* 2 li Ninth. 2* H 14 Fourteenth. 2* a* 2 Nineteenth. 3 24 2i Twenty-fourth. 3i 3 a* Twenty-ninth. 8* H 2J Thirty-fourth. 8f 8i 3 Thirty-eighth. 4 34 3i Forty-fourth. 4i 4 ** Forty-ninth. ** 4i 31 Fifty-fourth. 41 4* 4 Fifty-eighth. 5 44 4i Sixty-third. 5i 5 *4 Sixty-eighth. 5i - 5i 4f Seventy-third. Bf 5i 5 Seventy -eighth. . 6 54 5i Eighty-third. 8J 6 . 5^ Eighty-eighth. i 6i 54 Ninety-third. 6| 6i 6 Ninety-seventh. 7 64 6i One Hundred and Second. u 7 8| One Hundred and Seventh. 7* H 64 One Hundred and Twelfth. ?! H 7 One Hundred and Seventeenth. 8 74 H One Hundred and Twenty-first. " 8* 8 H One Hundred and Twenty-sixth. Many persons are in advance of their age, but] an old maid generally manages to be about ten years behind hers. THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 137 HACKNEY COACH FARES. AS ESTABLISHED BY LAW. One Each Additional Distances. Passenger. Passenger. Not exceeding one mile $ 50 $0 Exceeding one mile and not exceed- ing two 75 To New Almshouse, and returning. 1 00. ...... 50 To 40th-street, and remaining half an hour and returning 1 50 50 To Gist-street, and remaining three quarters of an hour and returning. 2 00 50 To 86th-street, and remaining one hour and returning 2 50 75 To Harlem, and remaining three hours and returning 5 1 No extra charge To High Bridge, and remaining three hours and returning 5 00 ^ for additional To King's Bridge, and remaining three hours and returning 5 00 J For the use of a coach by the day, with one or more pas- sengers, five dollars. For the use of a coach by the hour, with one or more pas- sengers, with privilege of going from place to place, and stop- ping as often as may be required, one dollar per hour. . In all cases where the hiring of a coach is not at the time thereof specified to be by the day or hour, it shall be deemed to be by the mile. For children between two and fourteen years of age, half price only is to be charged, and for those under two years no charge is to be made. 138 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. The baggage to be taken without charge with each passenger, is one trunk, valise, saddle-bags, portmanteau, or box, if he be requested so to do ; but for any trunk, or other such articles above named, more than one for each passenger, six cents can be charged. In case of disagreement, as to the distance or price, the same shall be determined by the Mayor, or Superintendent of Coaches. No charge can be made unless the number of the carriage is placed on the outside, and the rates of fare in a conspicuous place inside said carriage. If more than the legal rates are asked, nothing can be col- lected for services. A violation of this ordinance subjects the offender to a fine of ten dollars. NEW LEATHER. Whale skin has been successfully tanned, and made into good leather. In illustration of the fact that the gelatinous substances compounded of the skin of nearly all animals are capable of being converted into leather, DR. JULES CLOQUET lately produced at the French Academy of Sciences a pair of boots made of the tanned skin of a boa constrictor. The introduction of the skins of the inferior vertebrata into trade was advocated in the Academy. A dealer in dry goods, in Paris, has engaged the services of several well dressed ladies, who promenade near his store, and wlfen they see any lady looking into the window, two of them approach and exclaim, " Oh, isn't it sweet !" or " How cheap ! Let us go in and buy it !" THE MANUFACTURE OF HOOP SKIRTS. woman I dear woman I whose form and whose soul Are the light and the life of each spell we pursue ; Whether sunned in the tropics, or chilled at the pole, If woman be there, there is happiness too. MOORE. L. A. O8BORN & CO.'s CELEBRATED ESTABLISHMENT. From reliable data we are enabled to state that 1746 was the era of hoop petticoats. In a quotation of prices of dry goods in those days we find the following articles enumerated : Hoop Petticoats of five rows, - - . $1 25 six rows, - 1 55 " " three rows, - 69 Whalebone Hoop Petticoats, - 3 75 Who the Osborn was of those days neither history nor tradi- tion has informed us; but hoop, petticoats were articles of female attire then as now. Will they be a hundred years hence ? Probably they will. The female shape and the female nature are not likely to alter. The importance of the hoop skirt business as conducted at the present period will appear from the following statement. There are in this city about nine large factories. Some of these employ in their busy seasons as many as eight and nine hun- dred hands. It is estimated that during their busy seasons, which last about eight months of the year, as many as five thousand dozen (or sixty thousand) hoop skirts are made each day. These, of course, are of all sizes, all patterns, common and fine, and run from five hoops to fifty. The manufacture of these most popular of all fashionable aids to the female figure has very considerably improved within these last few years. 140 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. Amongst those who have aided these improvements are Messrs. L. A. OSBORN & Co. These gentlemen occupy, in addition to seven spacious floors on Warren street, being the whole of the large building No. 92, a large building in the upper portion of the city. In these two establishments there is a force of from 800 to 1000 hands, most of whom are young ladies. In addi- tion to these two large establishments, we may add, as being directly and exclusively connected, one large factory for braid- ing the hoops, in Bridgeport, Ct., two in Paterson, N. J., besides several establishments for making the steel hoops, metal trim- mings, &c., in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. With this large force of hands, and the necessary machinery, Messrs. OSBORN fe Co. are enabled to produce from 2500 to 4000 skirts per day, for which large number they have a constantly increasing demand. In the various departments of manufacture they use 400,000 yards of steel springs per week, and in the same length of time consume 100,000 yards of tape, a much larger quantity of braid, and 2,000,000 clasps and slides. Mr. OSBORN is well known as the pioneer in extension skeleton hooped skirts, having been the first to introduce them in this country. By his patent, he has the exclusive right to make, use, or sell extension skirts, and from him all other manufacturers derive the privilege of making or using. Osborn's Patent Skirts are formed of a series of hoops, each being cut or parted so as to form two or more adjustable ends, so arranged that the diameter of the skirts may be enlarged or diminished, by connecting the ends of the hoops in such a manner that they will slide towards and from each other, to enlarge and diminish the diameter of the skirt, in combination with belts and cords, crossing the hoops to hold them together; constituting what is known as Ladies' Extension Skeleton Skirts. The other of the aforesaid patents contains three claims. THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 141 After patient and persevering effort during three years before the Patent Office, Mr. OSBORN obtained, on the second of April last, a valuable patent for making hoop skirts by means of forms or frames, on which the hoops are placed while the workman is fastening them with tapes or cords, so as to make the skirt the shape required. Mr. OSBORN had much opposition to contend against before he succeeded in getting it, but he has at length overcome all difficulties, and by means of this patent the firm at 92 Warren street are now enabled to manufacture skirts more durable and perfect in form than can be produced at any other establishment, unless they use his patent, which most manufac- turers are glad to pay him for the privilege of using. This last patent is issued under the new law, for seventeen years, during which time, as skirts cannot be made without OSBORN'S frames, every manufacturer must have a license from him to make them. THE INVISIBLE DISPATCH. The plan of writing with rice water, to be rendered visible by the application of iodine, was practised with great success in the correspondence during the lafe war in India. The first letter of this kind was received from Jellalabad, concealed in a quill. On opening it a small paper was unfolded, on which appeared only a single word, " iodine." The magic liquid was applied, and an important dispatch from Sir Robert Sale stood forth. It is said that a girl in England was struck dumb by the firing of a cannon. Since then a number of married men have invited the artillery to come and discharge their pieces on their premises. DRUGS, MEDICINES, AND CHEMICALS. This world is like a mint, we are no sooner Cast into the fire, taken out again, Hammer'd, stamp'd and made current, but Presently we are chang'd. DECKER. About twenty-six years ago Mr. A. B. SANDS, then just attained to his majority, after having acquired a thorough prac- tical knowledge of the drug business, which he obtained by being in two of the best wholesale and retail drug stores at that time extant; commenced in a very small way retailing drugs and medicines at the corner of William and Fulton streets (on the very spot where Washington Irving was born). He was assisted in this by his brother David, who had then recently graduated at the Medical College, and they both entered on their duties with the determination to succeed if constant appli- cation, strict integrity, and great care in the preparation and quality of their articles, could accomplish that result. At that time there was a large amount of deterioration in the preparation of medicines, but Mr. S. determined that his should be pure, and therefore pre'pared nothing but from the best raw material. In this he was greatly aided by his brother's know- ledge, and succeeded in getting his preparations into public notice, from which time they have had the gratification of see- ing them rise step by step higher and higher into public favor. In 1846 they removed to the corner of Gold and Fulton sts., while their present location was being enlarged, after which they returned to the old spot, where they have since remained. In such a manner and with such aims Mr. A. B. SANDS com- menced the business now carried on under the style of A. B. SANDS & Co. This firm, at the present time, is recognised as THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 143 one of the most prominent houses in New York for Drugs, Medicines, and Chemicals. With the advantages of their long experience of twenty-six years they have established valuable business connexions with foreign countries, giving them extra facilities for importing crude drugs and other species of mer- chandize required in their business direct from the places of their production. Their extensive capital enables them to purchase on the best terms, always paying cash, never under any circum- stances giving notes, and they therefore can sell on as advanta- geous terms as any house in the trade. Their facilities for manufacturing, and their thorough know- ledge of the theory and manipulation of drugs and chemicals, together with the purity of these articles, have obtained for their preparations a world-wide celebrity, and they have now constantly employed a force of about thirty hands in putting them up. Essential Oils and Select Powders are leading features of their business, being of the purest kinds and finest flavors. They are also the proprietors and manufacturers of the cele- brated Sands' Extract of Sarsaparilla. McMunn's Elixir of Opium. Sands' Remedy for Salt Rheum. Sands' Peruvian Febrifuge, &c., &c. All of which are well known and deservedly popular reme- dies. Their Seidlitz Powders have a universal reputation, orders arriving for them from all parts of the globe ; parties having once had these will not be satisfied with any other. Their Flavoring Extracts, although of comparative recent introduction, have met with great approval, and bid fair to become standard popular favorites. From littfe beginnings, twenty-six years ago, the house of A. B. 144 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. SANDS & Co. has grown to its present magnitude. The strict integrity these gentlemen have ever shown in all their business transactions has gained them hosts of friends, and we can cor- dially recommend them to all who require any articles they deal in. A. B. SANDS & CO. (Late A. B. & D. SANDS & CO.) IMPORTERS AND WHOLESALE DEALERS IN DRUGS, MEDICINES AND CHEMICALS, GLASSWARE, PAINTS, OILS, DYE-STUFFS, Brushes, Sponges, Soaps, Perfumery, &c. 141 WILLIAM STREET, Cor. of FULTON, ABRAHAM B. SANDS, MVW ALEXANDER V. BLAKE. JNiiW With the aid of machinery twenty-five persons turn out 600 pairs of shoes daily, at a factory at Haverhill, Mass. Every operation, from first to last, even to the final polish, is done by machinery, except fitting the shoes to the last. A BRUTE OF A HUSBAND. Wife (anxiously) ' What did that young lady observe who passed us just now ?" Husband (with a smile of calm delight) " Why, my love, she observed rather a good-looking man walking with quite an elderly female that's all. Ahem !" DOMESTIC LIQUORS. Then gently scan 'your brother man, Still gentler sister woman, Though they may gang a kennin wrang, To step aside is human. BUKNS. The title of onr article will, we know, not be attractive to many of our most excellent citizens, who are known as tem- perance men and tee-totallers ; still we hope they will read it, as we mean to put in a plea for domestic liquors in their pure state, as being, taken in moderation, a useful and decidedly necessary article of commerce. Our limits do not allow an extended argument on the con- stitution of man, but it is patent to every one, that each indi- vidual has his own peculiar idiosyncrasy, varying in degree, and form, and shape. Some show it in the form of excitement, others in their studious and retiring habits. These two classes taken in a generic sense form the world, but they are capable of an immense amount of subdivision. From the first we get our generals, soldiers, sailors, politicians, and most enterprising merchants ; from the latter our historians, poets, lawgivers, and philanthropists. Each of these classes is separate and distinct, and yet all possess features in common. When the man of excitement has overworked his animal nature, he wants a stimulant, and it does him good, preventing too great a reaction frcan sudden repose. When the student has over- worked his brain, he takes a stimulant, and that infuses life into his body. In each case they are useful and requisite, pro- vided the liquors taken are pure, benefiting both mind and body, when used in moderation. But the difficulty is to get simply the alcoholic rectified liquors, without any admixture 1 of fusil oils or foreign deleterious matter. The one imparts vigor to the system ; the other creates a morbid appetite for repetition, which, if indulged in, leads to a slow but sure THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. ' 147 destruction of both the mental arid bodily faculties. We know, from observation, unfortunately too well, that the majority of liquors vended, are composed of poisonous mix- tures ; and this, in this country, is caused from the great desire of all for foreign liquors. These, to be pure, must command a high price, but the majority drinking them cannot afford to pay it ; hence the poisonous mixtures sold under the names of French brandy, Scotch and Irish whiskeys, Holland gin, 708. The birds instructed man, And taught him songs before his art began. And while soft evening gales blew o'er the plains, And shook the sounding reeds, they taught the swains, And thus the pipe was framed, and tuneful reed. Such was Lucretius's idea of tlie origin of musical instru- ments of the inflatile kind as given us in his work on the Nature of things, which, if historians do not place much reliance on, has certainly the merit of being very poetical. The same notion concerning wind instruments is found in Ovid's beauti- ful account ofthe transformation of the nymph Syrinx into reeds. But Thomas Aquinas in his "Storia della Musica" dis- dains to follow the example of the heathen" author of the "Metamorphoses" or the disciple of Epicurus, and leaves the origin of music to chance ; contending that the first man was endowed with every kind of knowledge by the Creator, and that he excelled in music, as well as in all the arts and sciences* Leaving these ingenious guesses and fictions, we find the earliest authentic record of music in the Scriptures, where it is written that Jubal, the seventh in descent from Adam, was the father of such as handle the harp and organ. These terms, however, must not be taken quite literally, but rather in a generic sense signifying all instruments of a stringed and tube kind. ' Although this is recorded in Genesis, it is pretty certain that the Jews acquired their knowledge of music from the Egyptians, in which country it seems to be pretty well agreed the art originated, and acquired great perfection, as is evidenced by the researches of modern travellers. Bruce found in Thebes THE UNKXtf SKETCH BOOK. 153 a fresco painting of a harp evidently of a very ancient origin- In form, dimensions, and ornament, this instrument might be mistaken for one of modern date, insomuch, that when a draw-' ing was shown of it in London, doubts were thrown on its fidelity. Forty years after, however, M. Denon bore testimony to the truth of Bruce's description, and the accuracy of the sketch, thus evidencing that great proficiency was attained in the art centuries ago. The origin of the Square Piano Forte does not date back over a century ago ; it was the invention of a German mechanic, named Viator, the idea being taken from the Clavichord, but it is only like this latter instrument in its shape, with the same dispositions of strings and keys ; in action it is totally dissimilar. The invention was immediately taken up by other makers, who left their Clavichords and Harpsichords for the new instrument, the earliest and largest maker known being Zumpe, who realized a large fortune and retired. The Grand Piano Forte is supposed to be of earlier date than the square, and is variously attributed to a German named Schrceder, and to a harpsichord maker named Curistofali, of Padua. The Grand Piano Forte retains the shape of the instrument from which it was taken, the harpsichord, and to our minds is the natural outline of the instrument, its only objection being, its largeness. Although we are indebted to Europe for the invention of Piano Fortes, this country must bear away the palm for the vast and various improvements of the last few years ; if our space permitted we would mention some of thorn, but they fill too long- a list to do so without being invidious. But it is undoubtedly a fact, that owing to the superiority of American Manufacture, there are more Pianos made in New York than in any other part of the world, and while thirty years ago, we imported all our instruments, we now scarcely import one, 154 THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. having thus added the monopoly of a most important and lucrative branch of industry to our domestic resources. Prominent amongst those who have contributed to the improvement of this greatest of instruments, must be ranked the firm of Messrs. RAVEN, BACON & Co., established in 1829. They have now been over thirty years in business. During this lengthened period they have effected^" several improvements themselves, and have always encouraged any new invention that promised to be an inprovement ; by these means their instru- ments are now recognised as amongst the best to be had. We recently went over their manufactory, and although it was only a flying visit, thanks to their courteous and lucid explanations, we think we have mastered some of the mysteries of Piano Forte making, which for the benefit of our readers we will detail. Their factory, situated at 147, 149, 151 Baxter street, extends through to Mulberry street, having a frontage of fifty feet by two hundred feet deep. Part of this area is occupied by the Lumber Yard. In this yard, in lofty piles, are stored the various woods used in the manufacture of Pianos, such as Rose- wood, Mahogany, Cherry, Maple, Ash, White Wood, Pine, Ebony, White Holly, Bass Wood, &c. From the Lum- ber Yard, these woods are ^,aken to the drying rooms situated in the basement, and also on the first floor, where they undergo a thorough drying for three months, being subjected for the whole of that time to a high degree of heat. They are then fit for use, and are taken to the store room, from whence they are taken to the different departments of the five story building as required. Every department has different functions, and although each man may be perfect in his department, no one man could make a perfect Piano. In one room we sec the Rim maker, in another the Bottom maker ; we pass on through various rooms, THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 155 and we see the makers of Tops, Legs, Cases, and Keys, the bellyman, the finishers, the fly finishers, the regulators, tuners, varnishers and polishers, the block makers, the lyric action maker, and the stringer. Each of these is a separate branch of business, and it takes from six to nine months before a perfect piano can be turned out of their factory. During their thirty years' experience, they have manufactured about eight thousand pianos, ordinarily employing in the 'different departments about one hundred men. Messrs. Raven, Bacon & Co., have their warerooms at 135 Grand street, where they have on hand a beautiful assortment of Pianos, both Grand and Square. They have lately given their especial attention to the Grand, and have succeeded in manufacturing a very superior Piano, which will stand any climate without warping or losing tone. These Pianos are pronounced by judges as being perfect both in tone and make. Let those intending purchasing, pay them a visit The following is given as the new mode of parsing, down east, " I court." Court is a verb active, indicative mood, present tense, and agrees with all the girls in the neighborhood. A lady In an omnibus at Washington espied the great unfinished dome of the capitol, and said innocently, " I suppose those are the gas-works ?" " Yes, madam, for the nation" was the reply of a fellow-passenger. An architect proposes to build a " Bachelors' Hall," which will differ from most houses in having no Eves. GUNPOWDER. For men (it is reported) dash and vapor Less on the field of battle than on paper. Thus in the history of each dire campaign More carnage loads the newspaper than plain. DR. "WOLCOTT. Now that "grim-visaged war" has appeared in our midst a few words about this most destructive article may not be out of place. The date of its invention is lost in obscurity ; some writers make mention of it as early as A.D. 85 ; others say it was used by the Arabs at the siege of Mecca, in 690, and others again ascribe the invention of it to Berthold Schwartz, a monk, about the year 1336. But the generally received opi_ ^nion is, that it was known to the Chinese and Indians, long prior to "the Christian era, and was doubtless discovered by accident. Gunpowder consists of a very intimate mixture of nitre, charcoal, and sulphur. The proportions vary for different kinds, but generally consist of about three-qXiarters nitre, to one-eighth charcoal, and one-eighth sulphur. The ingredients are separately ground to a fine powder, then mixed, rolled, and again ground, and taken to the corning Jjouse to be grained. The mixing process is a very delicate one, as the strength of the powder depends upon the proportions being equally pre- served. The powder when grained is passed through a series of sieves, first to separate the dust from it and also the different sized grains ; v from thence it is taken to the stove and dried, care being taken not to raise the heat so as to dissipate the sulphur. The theory of the action of gunpowder is this : That parti- cle of it on which a spark falls is immediately heated to a state THE UNION SKETCH BOOK. 157 of ignition, the nitre is decomposed, and its oxygen combines with the charcoal and sulphur which are also heated. The combination extricates as ranch heat as is sufficient to inflame successively, though rapidly, the remaining mass, liberating car- bonic acid, carbonic oxide, and nitrogen, which forms the explo- sive power of gunpowder. One of the largest works for the manufacture of this article in this country, or indeed we -may say in the world, is that known by the name of the HAZARD. POWDER COMPANY. The main works are situated at Hazard ville, upon the Scantic river. The Company have also mills at ScitTco, East Hartford, Conn., and at Canton in the same state. -They have been esta- blished for nearly a quarter of a century, and these mills at these various places extend over a distance of more than a mile in length, and half a mile in width ; these mills consist in part of eighteen sets of rolling mills, with iron wheels, each wheel weighing eight tons ; seven- different granulating mills ; seven screw presses, and three hydraulic presses of four hundred tons power each, some twenty-five to thirty dusting, sorting drying, glazing, and packing houses; with extensive saltpetre refineries and magazines; cooper shops, iron and wood machine shops, stables, outhouses, * H H M,I j HA A A* i ' I HA< U ,1,1,1,1 H i AUAO 1,1,1 i i < A AV N'jIAl 1, U ((l HI ' IA>A>AI > A L Uk J H 1 1 J> 1,1 I; 1 * ir 1,1 1 1 It 1 1 UAss I I I I I.I.I I I I I I I I I Cl f I (I H I I 1 (Til ( ( H H 1 1 1 .ll 1 1 1 1 n i 1 1 1 H I I < I H H H i 'M i H H H H I '( Jl |l H II H I'l I |l \ \ IAI'I ii ii UA< HI I t< .1 < < m ss$ H I.