other provinces the men wear nothing but plain suits of
a rusty black, whereas in New York there are frequently
seen suits of brown, snuff-colour and even of
pepper-and-salt. The costumes of the New York women are
equally daring, and differ notably from the quiet dress
of New England.

"In fine, it is commonly said in the provinces that a
New Yorker can be recognized anywhere, with his wife, by
their modish costumes, their easy manners and their
willingness to spend money--two, three and even five
cents being paid for the smallest service."

"Dear me," I thought, as I paused a moment in my reading,
"so they had begun it even then."

"The whole spirit of the place"--the account continued--"has
recently been admirably embodied in literary form by an
American writer, Mr. Washington Irving (not to be confounded
with George Washington). His creation of Father Knickerbocker
is so lifelike that it may be said to embody the very
spirit of New York. The accompanying woodcut--which was
drawn on wood especially for this periodical--recalls at
once the delightful figure of Father Knickerbocker. The
New Yorkers of to-day are accustomed, indeed, to laugh
at Mr. Irving's fancy and to say that Knickerbocker
belongs to a day long since past. Yet those who know tell
us that the image of the amiable old gentleman, kindly
but irascible, generous and yet frugal, loving his town
and seeing little beyond it, may be held once and for