AN OLD NEW YORK MERCHANT'S DAY BOOK

Have yoti ever seen a merchant's day book over a hun¬
dred years old? There is one before us as we write, its
inner pages of sturdy paper, quite intact; its leather bind¬
ing and a few adjacent pages tattered with over a century's
ravages. There is a book plate that we reproduce as a
specimen of the printer's craft of Old New York. The
chirography of the accounts is the "fine Italian hand" of
the quill penman. The records extend from 1814 to 1822
—a most momentous period in the world's history. In
1814 Napoleon had not yet come to Waterloo; the "War
of 1812" was still being fought; Fulton's steamboats were
making regular trips at five miles an hour up the Hudson
River. In the succeeding years recorded by this book, the
Erie Canal was in course of construction and the com¬
mercial greatness of New York City was in its infant
stage. The town's population at that time was about
100,000 and its principal activities confined to within a
mile north of the Battery.

On October 17, 1814, according to the ancient tome,
there were sold, among other items, to Richard Marvin
at 90 days, 1 Box 2j4—39 Tafty Ribbons (probably our
modem Taffeta). On Dec. 8, "Sold for Cash," 4 dozen
woolen hose, $15.50. On Jan. 21, 1815, Hones & Town
were paid cash for sundry pieces of "cambrick." The
Hones of this firm included the celebrated Philip Hone,
one of New York's Mayors and social aristocrats.

Then there are quaint items of purple shawls, and buff
ditto, and we have cash from Mr. Morrison for 66 "Ele¬
gant Fancy Shawls," "Eight Pieces Superfine Prints," and
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