when but a boy he became the purchased slave of one of the most ancient and respectable merchant princes of the olden time, Volckert P. Douw, of Wolvenhoeck. Charles's costume as king was that of a British brigadier-ample broadcloth scarlet coat, with wide flaps, almost reaching to his heels, and gayly ornamented everywhere with broad tracings of bright gold-lace. His small-clothes were of yellow buckskin, fresh and new, with stockings blue, and burnished silver buckles to his well-blacked shoe. And when we add the three-cornered cocked hat, trimmed also with gold-lace, and which so gracefully sat upon his noble globular pate, we complete this rude sketch of the Pinkster king. The majority of early settlers used no surnames, and it was customary to prefix the child's to the father's Christian name, terminating in se for a girl and sen for a boy. Ke, je, or ken added to a name signified little so-and-so. But one name was given in baptism. The Jufvrouw* had the privilege of resuming her maiden name at pleasure to show her descent, and on other occasions she would affix her husband's first name to hers, adding se. The use of surnames increased among the Dutch from the time the province was occupied by the English, in 1664, and after the first quarter of the following century few names were written without the addition of the family name. The houses in Beverwyck were very neat without and within. They were built chiefly of brick or stone, and covered with white pine shingles, or tiles from Holland. Most of them had terraced gables fronting the street, with gutters extending from the eaves beyond the sidewalk to carry off the rain-water; hence the streets were almost impassable during a heavy storm of wind and rain. The streets were broad, and lined with Both he and his followers were covered with Pinkster blummies the wild azalea, or swamp-apple. The procession started from "young massa's house" (82 State Street, where now stands the large seed store of Knickerbocker and Price), and went up State Street to Bleecker Hill, on the crown of which was the Bleecker Burying-ground. In front of the king always marched Dick Simpson and Pete Halenbeck, the latter the Beau Brum-shade trees, with here and there a bit of mel of his time. The last parade was in 1822. The king died two years later. During Pinkster-day the negroes made merry with games and feasting, all paying homage to the king, who was held in awe and reverence as an African prince. In the evening there was a grand dance, led by Charles and some sable beauty, to the music of Pete Halenbeck's fiddle. Although King Charley often boasted of his bravery, his master and fellowservants would twit him with coward ice, and call out to him, "Saratoga"a most sensitive point with him, which is thus explained: His master was en route to join the army at Saratoga, and Charles was following him on horseback as body-servant. It was moonlight, and he saw moving with the wind a quantity of Indian salt, commonly known as sumac, which, when ripe, presents a red appearance. Charley, supposing it to be the red feathers of the enemy, cried out, "Heer, ik zag een vyand,"* and putting spurs to his horse, he rode in hot haste for home, proclaiming that his master had been captured, and he, after hard fighting, had escaped. *"Master. I saw the enemy." pavement. The houses were generally but a story and a half high, and well spread out on the ground-floor. Each bouwery had its grass-plot, and garden in the rear, where vegetables were produced in great abundance. Mrs. Grant, in her Memoir of the American Lady, says, "The Schuylers and one or two other families had very large gardens laid out in fanciful European style." The "stoops" of the houses were raised above the street, and shaded by trees planted in commemoration of some event, or the birth of some member of the family, and here gathered the young and old at twilight. Every family had its cow pastured in a common field at the end of the town, and it was a picturesque sight at evening to see each animal going home of its own accord to be milked, the tinkling bells hung round its neck heralding its approach. At eight o'clock the suppaant bell was rung, a signal that work was over for the day. And here just a brief glance at the interior of the Dutch home. The kitchen fire-places were enormous-large enough * Wife. + Corn meal boiled in water until a smooth paste, and then eaten with milk and salt. to roast a whole sheep or hog; and over the crackling hickory logs, suspended on hooks and trammels, bubbled and hissed the large iron pots and kettles. Here the family gathered, while, by the light of the glowing fire and a tallow dip, the jufvrouws spun their linen and the burghers smoked their pipes. In the parlor, that reverenced apartment of state, was a similar large fire-place, with its hickory back-log, and its shovel and tongs keeping guard over the brass andirons (or fire - dogs) and fender. chimney jambs were inlaid with party-colored tiles of Scriptural designs brought from Holland, and extremely were The in silvery tones some antique air. In still another corner stood the Holland cupboard, with its glass doors, displaying the family plate and china. There was the massive tankard, the richly engraved punch-bowl, the shell-shaped sugar-bowl, with provisions for the "bite and stir," and the ooma,* or sifter for cinnamon and sugar. On the top stood a decanter of large size, always filled with rum, and be The Dutch oom means uncle, and an ooma was the gift of an uncle to a niece. MYNHEER'S MORNING HORN. side it a piece of a cow's horn, smooth on each end, and hollow, tipped with silver. And every morning before breakfast Mynheer must "take a horn" as an appetizer, hence the origin of the term. In another corner stood the huge oaken, iron-bound chest, brimful of fine linen of home production. Later this gave place to the "chest of drawers," with its brass rings and key-holes. On the wall hung the pipe-case of mahogany, with the drawer underneath for tobacco. Every house of pretension had its cock-loft in OLD DUTCH SCONCE. the steep roof for house slaves. In the middle of the hall was the "hoist door," through which the wheat was hoisted up by a crane and stored in the loft. Over the front door was a shelf, with steps leading up to it. Here was placed a large tobacco box, always kept filled, and for every one to help himself. On the parlor walls hung the dim portraits of relatives in the Vaderlandt, and "ye sconce, a hanging candlestick, with a mirror to reflect ye rays." Chintz calico formed the curtains, which were put up without cornices. The windows were of very small panes of glass set in lead frames. The floors were sanded, with fanciful figures made in the sand with a broom handle. The best chairs were straight and high-backed, covered with hair-cloth, and ornamented with double and triple rows of brass nails. About 1700 the claw-foot sideboards, sofas, and tables were generally used. The highpost bedstead had its heavy curtains and valance of camlet, and on it a bed of livegeese feathers, with a lighter one for covering. The patch-quilt was a most marvellous affair. Over each door was usually a stone with the date of erection and name or initials of the builder. In later times the date was built in anywhere, and the general style of architecture was altered. The table dainties of the higher classes were supaan en melk,* hoofd-kass,+ worst, koolslaa, § and the famous Dutch oile-koek, with the chopped raisin and apple in the centre. The renowned Peter Kalm says of the Dutch: "They rise early, and go to bed late, and are almost overwise and cleanly in regard to the floor. The use of tea is general; coffee seldom. They seldom put sugar or milk in their tea, but take a small piece of the former in their mouths while sipping the beverage." They breakfasted at seven, dined at twelve, and supped at six. Sweet milk and buttermilk were used at every meal. Cheese at dinner and breakfast was grated instead of sliced. The prevailing beverages were beer and water-though, to be candid, the Dutch thought the latter somewhat injurious when taken inwardly. Fish, flesh, and fowls, preserves of the richest kind, pastry, nuts, fruits, and various wines, were used by the richer classes, especially when entertaining company. As an example of the richness of the food, an old receipt for wedding cake says it must be "mixed in a wash-tub," and contain twelve dozen eggs. Hospitality was pure and generous without formality, but nothing was allowed to interfere with household or farm duties. Every family had its brass mortar and pestle, used for grinding the grain for the household. The Each house had its dood-kamer, where the dead were placed until the funeral. Dutch ladies were famous for their attendance on such occasions, and, if the deceased were of their sex, burnt wine was served them in silver tankards. funeral was always a great event, and the goedt vrouw's** skill was spent to the utmost to load her table with choicest delicacies for the dood-feest,++ the most prominent dish being the dood-koeks. ‡‡ + Head-cheese. § Cabbage, hence our coldslaw. Dead-chamber. ++ Dead-feast. * Suppaun and milk. Sausages. Literally oil-cake **Goodwife. ‡‡ Dead-cakes. ter of Philip P. Schuyler, and widow of Dominie Nicholas Van Rensselaer. In Robert Livingston's Bible are the following quaint records: the mourners were often in a mournful | ther was the lovely Alida Schuyler, daughcondition after the event; and in this connection we recall an incident. A familiar name in the old Dutch times in Albany was Wyngaard. Skipper Block, in his cruise of discovery, called an island he came across, Martin Wyngaard's Island, Martin Vineyard's Island, corrupted to Martha's Vineyard; and likewise Wyngaard's Point is now known as Vineyard Point. The last in the male line was one Lucas Wyngaard, who died about 1756, unmarried, and leaving estate. The invitations to the funeral were general-a custom still kept up among old Dutch families in Albany-and all relatives and friends received a written invitation to be present. Of course the attendance was large, and those who attended returned, as was the custom, to the house, not leaving till morning's light. In the course of the night a pipe of wine was drunk, dozens of pounds of tobacco consumed, grosses of pipes bro VOL. LXII.-No. 370.-34 worthy helpmeet Alida Schuyler, widow of Dominie "1679, I Robert Livingston was wedded to my Nicholas Van Rensselaer, in the Presbyterian church at Albany, America, by Dom. Giddon Staats. May God be with us and bless us!" "1686, on the 9 of July, being Friday evening, at 10 of the clock, my second son Philip was born. God grant he may grow up in wisdom! He was named after my wife's father, and on the 25 was baptized by Dom. Giddon Staats; the witnesses were Uncle Father, he was held to baptism by Sister Corneles David Schuyler, and Brother Philip Schuyler as God Schuyler, Brother Brant's wife." Philip Livingston married Catrina, daughter of Peter Van Brugh, and was second Lord of the Manor. He resided in New York, in a fine old house on Broad Street, where he died in 1749, and was buried in the family vault at Linlithgo, Columbia County. His funeral services PHILIP LIVINGSTON. were held at his New York house, as well as at the Manor. As usual, there was the spiced wine, and each of the eight bearers was given a pair of gloves, a monkeyspoon,* and a mourning ring. This ceremony was repeated at the Manor, and an additional present of a kerchief was given the tenants. The cost was £500. The Livingstons claim descent from Livingus, who lived in 1124, through a long and complicated line of nobility, for the truth of which we can not vouch. This love of ancient ancestry is laughably displayed by the Lewis family of England, who are said to have in their possession a picture of the Ark, with Noah emerging from it, bearing a large trunk, labelled, "Papers belonging to the Lewis Family." This we do know, however, that the Livingstons were a remarkable family. All the daughters married distinguished men, and the sons held prominent positions in the state. Robert Livingston emigrated to America in 1674, and was first Lord of the Manor. His son Robert married Margarita Schuyler, and was head of the Clermont Manor. Another son, Gilbert, married Cornelia Beekman, and was head of the Poughkeepsie Manor. The daughter of this marriage, Joanna, married General Pierre Van Cortlandt. Of Philip Livingston's children-Sarah married Lord Stirling; Alida married, Used for liquor, and so called from the figure of a monkey carved in solids on the handle. It had a circular and very shallow bowl. first, Henry Hawson, second, Martin Hoffman; Catherina married John I. Lawrence; Peter married Mary, daughter of James Alexander; John married Catherine, daughter of Abraham De Peyster; William married Susanna French, and became the celebrated Governor of New Jersey, called the "Don Quixote of the Jerseys"; Robert married, first, Mary Thong, and second, Mrs. Gertrude Schuyler; Philip was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. On the corner of State and Pearl streets stood one of the oldest trees in Albany. Tradition whispers that in 1736 Philip Livingston, one of the signers of the Declaration, saved the life of this historical elm by staying the hand of a sailor who was threatening to cut it down with his penknife. The frosts of centuries had been powerless to kill the old elm; but at last Pearl Street required widening, and about two years since the venerable landmark joined the things of the past. The margin of the river, save a landing at the foot of State Street, was overhung with willows, and the picturesque -little islands below the town were covered with foliage, and bordered by stately trees. Albany was indeed Dutch-the buildings were Dutch, the people were Dutch, the horses were Dutch, and even the dogs barked in Dutch. Every house having any pretension to dignity was placed with its gable end toward the street, and was surmounted by a rooster. The Dutch were not the most enterprising or active people; most of them possessing, by saving, snug fortunes, in their old age made use of their accumulations, and left their descendants to build up their own. There were none among them. however, very rich or very poor, learned or ignorant, rude or polished. Intercourse was so free that gossip was almost unknown. Every pleasant afternoon the worthy burgher took his pipe, and, seated in the Market-house, settled the affairs of the Colonie. When the Governor of the province, with others of rank, visited the town to hold conferences with the Six Nations, there were balls, parties, and every simple kind of amusement known. And then the Van Rensselaers, the Lansings, the Bogerts, the Schuylers, Wessels, Ten Broecks, Douws, Staats, Bleeckers, De Peysters, Gansevoorts, Ten Eycks, Cuylers, and other leading families, opened their hospitable doors. And speaking |