girl who had no handkerchief, and no knowledge of the use of that article, is, we submit, a trial of no mean magnitude. Yet we have been there, and have been obliged to "sit up close," with big RACHEL, laughing and blushing, till we came to hate her name. We wonder where the overgrown, frowzy creature is now, and what the condition of her head is?

THE FIRST LONG-TAILED COAT.

We do not believe that any boy ever put on his longtailed coat without a sense of shame. He first twists his back half off, looking at it in the glass, and then, when he steps out of doors, it seems to him as if all creation was in a broad grin. The sun laughs in the sky; the cows turn to look at him; there are faces at every window; his very shadow mocks him. When he walks by the cottage where Jane lives, he dares not look up, for his life. The very boards creak with consciousness of the strange spectacle, and the old pair of pants that stop a light in the garret window nod with derision. If he is obliged to pass a group of men and boys, the trial assumes its most terrific stage. His legs get all mixed up with embarrassment, and the flap of the dangling appendage is felt upon them, moved by the wind of his own agitation; he could not feel worse were it a dishcloth, worn as a badge of disgrace. It is a happy time for him when he gets to the church, and sits down with his coat tails under him; but he is still apprehensive with thinking of the Sunday School, and wonders if any of the children will ask him to "swing his long-tailed blue."

GOING HOME WITH THE GIRLS.

The entrance into society may be said to take place after boyhood has passed away, yet a multitude take the initiative before their beards are presentable. It is a great trial, either to a tender or a tough age. For an overgrown boy to go to a door, and to knock or ring with absolute certainty that in two minutes all their eyes will be upon him, is a severe test of courage. To go before these girls, and make a satisfactory tour of the room without stepping on their toes, and then to sit down and dispose of one's hands, without putting them into one's pockets, is an achievement which few boys can boast. If a boy can get so far as to measure off ten yards of tape with one of these girls, and cut it short at each end, he may stand a chance to pass a pleasant evening, but let him not flatter himself that all the trials of the evening are over. Then comes, at last, the breaking up. The dear girls don their hoods, and put on their shawls, and look so saucy, and mischievous, and unimpressible, as if they did not wish any one to go home with them. Then comes the pinch, and the boy that has the most pluck makes up to the prettiest girl, his heart in his throat, and his tongue clinging to the roof of his mouth, and, crooking his elbows, stammers out the words, "Shall I see you home?" She touches her fingers to his arm, and they walk home about a foot apart, feeling as awkward as a couple of goslings. As soon as she is safe inside her own doors, he struts home, and thinks he has really been and gone and done it. Sleep comes to him at last, with dreams of CAROLINE and calico, and he awakes in the morning and finds the door of life open to him, and the pigs squealing for breakfast.

CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS.

We have passed over churning, and learning the catechism, because we are fearful of making this article too long, although we might have talked of butter that would

not be persuaded to come, and perplexities of a literary turn of mind, and a head that measured seven and a quarter when asked what the chief end of man was. Boyhood is a green passage in man's experience, in more senses than one. It is a pleasant thing to think over and laugh about now, though it was serious enough then. Many of our present trials are as ridiculous as those which now touch the risibles in the recollection; and when we get to the other world and look upon this, and upon the infancy of the soul through which we passed here, we have no doubt that we shall grin over the trials which we experienced when we lost our fortunes, when our mills were swept away or burned, and when we didn't get elected to the Legislature. Men are but boys of larger growth.

Dear Sir-As I have been asked, by two different parties, for a Six-seat Rockaway, I have concluded to send you the accompanying draft, thinking it may be acceptable to a few more of your patrons. It makes a very desirable family carriage, especially where a gentleman. wishes to drive without being separated from his family. It can be supplied with a movable glass-front, so as to shut off the proximity of the driver, which (as a refined young lady once said) "is vastly obnoxious." I have mounted it on platform springs, which makes it look more stylish. It can be hung on a perch carriage, with less cost, and will admit of any width of track required, as there is ample room for the front wheel to turn under. I also send a diagram, representing the manner of lowering the front carriage part, by dropping the beds. The body is made in the usual manner of coaches, with straight rocker. It will require rocker-irons 2x of an inch.

MESSRS. GOOLD & CO.'S BRETT.

Illustrated on Plate XXVIII.

WE are under obligations to the respectable firm of Messrs. Jas. Goold & Co., of Albany, New York, for this fine contribution to this plate. It is, we believe, drawn by Mr. Wm. H. Perry, and was originally designed by Mr. Walter R. Bush, a member of the firm. We need not tell our readers that it makes a fine carriage—this can be seen in the draft. The article we saw, on a late visit to Albany, standing in their repository, had a stationary opera board, although such an appendage does not appear in our drawing. The painting being a dark green, with mouldings painted black, and trimmed with green cloth and laces of the same color, imparted a fine contrast to the general ensemble of the carriage, exhibiting good taste in the getting up, which is characteristic of this establish

ment.

article, at this stage, must be put into an oven heated to 212°, until the glaze is completely dried, and afterwards put into a furnace and raised to a red heat sufficient to melt the powder, which, being accomplished, constitutes the glazed surface. After putting the article in some place where it will cool slowly, the annealing process completes the operation.

For the New York Coach-maker's Magazine. PERCH WITH THE FITH WHEEL COUPLED ON THE TOP.

CONTRIBUTED BY WM. GUNTHER, OF OHIO.

TROTTING AND BUSINESS SULKIES.

Illustrated on Plate XXIX.

We present our readers, this month, with two drafts of the sulky, both on the same plate. We do not offer them as showing any new feature, unless it may be in the formation of the boot of the business sulky. They will, however, answer the purpose for which they are intendedthat of exhibiting to a customer when such makes a call, and does not exactly know himself what he wants.

Sparks from the Anvil.

TO CASE-HARDEN IRON.

FIRST, make a paste of prussiate of potash, moistened with a little water, and apply to the surface of the article to be case-hardened, and, after giving it time to dry, put it in a clean fire until it assumes a low red color, after which it should be taken out and immersed in cold pure water. It is now what is termed steel converted, and, if designed to be bright, may be finished with the burnisher.

TO ENAMEL IRON.

The enameling or coating iron with glass may prove useful to our readers, and, consequently, we are induced to present them with the following process, which is said to be effective for this purpose, and to be the most simple and cheap of any yet discovered:

First, scour your iron with dilute acid and sand, after which wash and dry it. The surface of the iron must afterwards be covered with a thin coating of gum-arabic, put on with a fine brush, over which sift the enameled powder intended as a glaze, until the surface is covered sufficiently thick to give it the desired glaze or color. The

THE above gearing is applicable to a round-body with a wooden dash, where it is not convenient, by reason of the shape of the body, to have the front end of the perch straight. The fifth wheel is coupled above the perch by a hook, bent to the flat iron running along the top of the perch. The two head-block stays are joined at the fifth wheel, over which the united plate passes, as seen in the engraving. The wing-stays are rather more fanciful than useful, but will suit some of our friends, no doubt.

THE SMITH OF RAGENBACH.

In the principality of Hohenlohe, Laugenburg, is a village called Ragenbach, where, about twenty years ago, the following heart-rending, but also heroic event took place. One afternoon, in the early spring or autumn-my kind informant did not exactly know which-in the tavern-room of Ragenbach, several men and women having assembled from the village, sat at their ease, none anticipating what would happen on that eventful day. The smith formed one of the merry company-a strong, vigorous man, with a resolute countenance and daring mien, but also with such a good-natured smile upon his lips that every one who saw him admired him. Every evil-disposed person shunned him, for the valiant smith would allow nothing wrong in presence, and it was not advisable to have anything to do with him except in a proper manner. His arms were

his

like bars of iron, and his fists like fore-hammers, so that few could equal his strength of body.

The brave smith sat near the door chatting with one of his neighbors, I know not what. All at once the door sprang open, and a large dog came staggering into the room-a great, strong, powerful beast, with a ferocious, frightful aspect; his head was hanging down, and his eyes bloodshot, his red-colored tongue hanging half way out of his mouth, and his tail dropped between his legs. Thus the ferocious beast entered the room, out of which there was no escape but by one door. Scarcely had the smith's neighbor, who was bath-keeper of the place, seen the animal, when he became deathly pale, sprang up, and exclaimed with a horrid voice, "Good Heaven, the dog is mad!"

Then arose an outcry. The room was full of men and women, and the foaming beast stood before the only entrance; no one could leave without passing him. He snapped savagely right and left, and no one could pass him without being bitten. This increased the horrible confusion. All sprang up, and shrank from the furious dog with agonizing countenances. Who should deliver them from him? The smith also stood among them, and as he saw the anguish of the people, it flashed across his mind how many of his happy and contented neighbors would be made miserable by a mad dog, and he formed a resolution the like of which is scarcely to be found in the history of the human race for high-mindedness and nobleness. Certainly his brown cheek paled a little, but his eyes sparkled with Divine fire, and an elevated resolution shone from the smooth brow of the simple-minded man.

"Back all," thundered he, with his deep, strong voice. "Let no one stir; for no one can vanquish the brute but I. One victim must fall in order to save all, and I will be that victim; I will hold the brute, and while I do so, make your escape." The smith had scarcely spoken these words when the dog started toward the shrieking people. But he went not far. "With God's help!" cried the smith, and he rushed upon the foaming beast, seized him with an iron grasp, and dashed him to the floor.

O what a terrible struggle followed! The dog bit furiously, on every side, in a most frightful manner. His long teeth tore the arms and thighs of the heroic smith, but he would not let him loose. Regardless alike of the excessive pain, and the horrible death which must ensue, he held down, with an iron grasp, the snapping, biting, howling brute, until all had escaped-till all were rescued and in safety. He then flung the half-strangled beast from him against the wall, and dripping with blood and venomous foam, he left the room, locking the door after him. Some persons shot the dog through the windows. But, O! merciful God, what will become of the brave, unfortunate smith ?

"Be

Weeping and lamenting, the people surround him who had saved their lives at the expense of his own. quiet, my friends; do not weep for me, for I have only performed my duty. When I am dead think of me with love, and now pray for me, that God will not let me suffer long or too much. I will take care that no further mischief shall occur through me; for I must certainly become mad." He went straight to his work-shop, and selected a long chain, the heaviest and firmest from his whole stock. He then, with his own hands, welded it upon his own limbs and round the anvil so firmly that no power on earth could

break it. "There," said he, "it's done," after silently and solemnly completing the work. "Now you are secure; I am inoffensive. So long as I live bring me my food. The rest I leave to God: into his hands I commend my spirit." Nothing could save the brave smith; neither tears, lamentations, nor prayers. Madness seized him, and after nine days he died; but truly he died only to awake to a more beautiful and glorious life at the right hand of God. He died, but his memory will live from generation to generation, and will be venerated to the end of time.

Search history through, and you will find no action more glorious and sublime than the deeds of this simple-minded man, the smith of Ragenbach. It is easy for noble minds. to die like Winkelreid, or Martius Curtius, the high-spirited Roman youth; but to go to the sacrifice with the certainty of death, and, moreover, being obliged to wait a death so awful, during long, fearful hours and days, that is to die. not once, but a thousand times. And such a death was that of the smith of Ragenbach. Such a sacrifice the smith of Ragenbach made in order to save his neighbors. May his memory ever be sacred.

Paint Room.

For the New York Coach-Maker's Magazine. DRY-COLOR ORNAMENTING.

BY JAMES SCOTT.

In many localities this process is coming into general favor among painters. For designs, composed of flowers or fruit, it is well adapted, and, indeed, some of the plainer styles of scroll work; but for anything very elaborate or requiring high lights and deep shades, the system is, in my opinion, worthless. The very best specimens of work executed in dry-colors that I have yet seen, and in fact all of it, good, bad and indifferent, presents a peculiar flat appearance, seldom seen in ornaments done in oil. The advantages claimed for the process by its advocates are: First, the job can be varnished as soon as the ornament is finished, no time being required for it to dry (a great advantage, certainly). Secondly, the most delicate colors, such as lake, carmine, marine blue, Naples yellow, etc., can be made to cover perfectly at once, no repetition of coatings is necessary as in oil coloring, and lastly: Tints which do not assimilate can be blended into each other most beautifully; producing effects, particularly in flower painting, which it would be difficult to excel by any other method. In painting crests, dry colors may be employed very advantageously on some parts of the work; on a shield, for instance, where you require a field of some rich tint, purple, claret or violet, you can produce in a few minutes what would take, at least, two coats of oil color and an hour's work. acquiring a practical knowledge of the system, you will discover that in a great many cases it can be profitably employed in conjunction with the usual method.

After

Now for the process! Grind some white lead in varnish -English is best for this purpose, as it retains a tack" longer than any other-add sufficient sugar-of-lead to dry it in a couple of hours, I do not mean to dry it hard but so that it will have a strong tack similar to sizing for goldleaf or bronze, pounce your pattern on the panel and apply a coat of the mixture. Have all the colors you intend to

use finely pulverized, mix and arrange them on your palette, and, as soon as the sizing is dry enough, apply them with camel-hair or sable pencils just as you would oil colors. Commence at the bottom of your design, so that the particles dropping from the pencil will not adhere where they are not wanted. A little practice will make you acquainted with all the details, such as the size of pencils, etc., which I have not thought it necessary to introduce here.

The art, I have been informed, is a German one-it is practiced in that country in ornamenting clocks.

METHOD OF FILLING CARRIAGE-PARTS.

Sand-paper the work well; give it a coat of lead, and, when dry, putty up the holes; give the putty time to harden, and your gearing is ready for the filling, which is nothing more or less than keg lead mixed with a little japan-not enough to thin it much. Put it on with a short, stiff brush, and smooth it off with your hand, or a piece of thick harness-leather, using the edge. In two days this mixture will dry, when it may be sanded off. It fills the work better than three coats applied in the ordinary way, and I have been informed, by those who have used it for years, that it will stand full as well as any other method-an assertion which I have no reason to doubt, as there is certainly oil enough in it to prevent it from peeling off or cracking, as is often the case with the old-fashioned shop-work filling, made with whiting and japan, and applied in the same manner. For my own part, I prefer the common way of filling up with successive coats of leadcolor, but, in cases where work is hurried, it would be well enough to use this quick and effectual mode of filling. THE WRONG CAN."

A friend of mine, who is foreman of the paint-shop in a large establishment, tells the following good one:

"Being pushed with work, and short of hands, he hired a tramping jour., who happened to come along in search of a job. It was not long ere he discovered that the new hand possessed talents which fitted him for trundling a wheelbarrow on the railroad, better than for wielding a brush or drawing a stripe. Under ordinary circumstances his walking papers would have been tendered him forthwith, but the shop was full of repairing, which had to be done immediately, so the new-comer was introduced to several old rattle-traps of buggies, with orders to paint them black. At it he went, and in three or four days he had the bodies ready to varnish. With cup in hand he came to the foreman to inquire the kind of varnish he should use, and where it was kept. He was directed to that part of the shop where the oil, turpentine, japan, and varnish cans stood, on a raised platform, and told the particular can to draw from. In about an hour after he had commenced operations, the "boss" went into the varnishroom to see how he was progressing. The jour. had, in stage parlance, "struck a position" in the middle of the floor, and stood staring at a body which he had evidently just finished. The expression of his countenance was one of stupified astonishment-and well it might be, for the job looked as if it had been dipped in a mud-hole, then tarred, and hog-bristles stuck on, at irregular intervals, by way of

ornament.

"What, in the name of common sense, have you been doing to that body?" cried the foreman, recovering from the speechless amazement into which the strange appearance of the varnish had thrown him.

"I thought

"I hardly know, myself," answered the man. that I was varnishing; but if that 'ere aint the meanest, blackest, stickiest stuff to be called varnish I ever did see! The hog never grunted that had bristles strong enough to spread it."

"Which can did you draw it from?"

"The last but one from the end, as you told me." "Which end?"

"The furthest end, of course."

"Just as I thought. Why you must be a nice painter, not to know that you were using japan in place of varnish."

"Oh, that's it! Well, considering that it's japan, I didn't get such a bad coat on it; did I? If it wasn't for the bristles, it would look first rate. What will I at next?" go It is needless to say that he went at his coat and hat next, and it is a wonder that a pegged boot didn't go at him.

RED LEAD.

A small quantity of red lead mixed with your rough stuff or filling will help to harden it, as the lead is a dryer of itself. Try it.

BEAR-HAIR BRUSHES.

For varnishing bodies these brushes are excellent. They can be bought for one-third of the cost of badger, and are full as good for general purposes, perhaps better for varnishes which set quick, as the hair is stiffer, and yet perfectly free from wiry harshness. They can be procured all widths, from one inch to four. In style they are similar to the flat camel-hair tools. I have learned that they are much used for coloring cars, and do the work smoothly and without leaving brush-marks. They are manufactured, I believe, by Dechaux, the celebrated color and brush-maker, of New York, and can be found in all the painters' depots. in the principal cities.

A HINT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.

It is next to impossible to put on a clean coat of varnish when it is used out of a cup that is covered outside and in with dry gummy varnish. Every time you use

it some of the old stuff will become detached, and mix with the varnish you are putting on, or get into your brushes. To prevent this, clean your cup every time you use it. Take an old brush, pour a little turpentine into the cup and brush the varnish off, then wipe it dry with a cloth. The trouble is nothing when we consider the benefit arising from the operation.

ENGLISH VARNISH.

VERY great complaint has latterly been brought against the varnish of Noble & Hoare's manufacture, that it does not dry as well as formerly, and that it soon becomes dull by standing in the repository. Becoming dissatisfied with the article ourself the past season, in the belief that such was the case, we felt disposed "to try" somebody else's var. nish, and so "posted off" to our friend Kohnstamm's, No. 3 Tryon Row, City Hall Square, and bought a can of Blundel, Spence & Co.'s English varnish, which is 25 cents per gallon cheaper, and far superior. Our painter, who is posted, says it is first rate. Try it, friends.

Trimming Room.

A CHAPTER ON WHIP-SOCKETS. PERHAPS, small as the matter appears at first sight, there is nothing more annoying to a carriage-maker, than to have a customer, who has, but a few days since, bought a new vehicle, pay him a visit, not in any very good humor, with a bottomless whip-socket in his hand. We say bottomless, by which we mean, with the bottom gone, and a "bottomless" tale, about charging the damage to his account. Perhaps, in the vehemence of his passion, Mr. Findfault tells you he will bestow his patronage hereafter on Mr. Opposition, across the street, accompanied with the not very agreeable intimation, thrat "you do not understand your business," not knowing, in his ignorance, that both purchase the ready-made article from the same "improved " manufacturer, and that it is recommended to look better, wear longer, and cost less, than any other in the world.

We are accustomed to look back upon old things with a smile of contempt, and particularly when we recollect the old, "slimsy," cylindrically-formed leather-tubes, called whip-sockets, which ornamented the turn-outs of our ancestors, and were continued down to a recent date, in all their beauty! But CHANGE is written on all things here, and, from its laws, whip-sockets, among other things, were not exempt. Some genius, of the Yankee stripe, dreamed one day, that a stiffener of tin, placed inside,would constitute the article the ne plus ultra. But this, like Paddy's gin bottle, had its defects, the bottom would drop out and spill the contents. Well, this "improvement" must undergo another improvement, and so a change stuck a wooden plug in the lower end of the over-improved socket, which was even more faulty than its parent stock-more liable to fall out than even the tin bottom!

At this point we are disposed to wipe our pen, and lay it by, did we not think it to be our duty to present, before our readers, the latest improvement in this very essential appendage to a carriage. We are not inclined to puff any article which may appear in our advertising columns, and would not here, as we get nothing extra for the notice, did we not believe that "the Improved India-Rubber Whip Socket," of our friend Munson, deserved it. Backed up by such names as Messrs. Wood Bros., Brewster & Co., Fred. Wood & Co., and G. & D. Cook, it would seem to require no further recommendation. The illustration shows that these sockets have a bottom of a piece with the stock of the socket, and that they make a neat and durable article, impervious to the weather, without the addition of such "gingles" as tin and plugs. Try them.

S.

and D D. On line E E set your compass, and divide it from the centre into, say, four equal parts, numbering them from each end; then on the end lines, F F, divide them also into four equal parts, numbering them from the centre. This done, draw lines from the top and bottom points at D, to the numbered points at the side; then from the same points at D draw lines across the numbered points on line E E, till you come in contact with the corresponding numbered line. From the end, from those points, trace your curve, and you have a perfect oval. The dimensions of a well-proportioned oval should be in breadth two-thirds its length.

J. I.

EXPLANATION OF STITCHING PLATE C.

MR. E. M. STRATTON: The designs I send you are intended for light road-wagons, and when properly put on, and nicely stitched, make a very fine finish. I have used the whole pattern myself; but many trimmers would object to it, on account of the work. Still, as your Magazine is for fashion and style, I send you the patterns as I used them on a wagon that was in the Palace, and there destroyed by

fire.

No. 1 is the half for the centre-pieces to sides, and back to boot.

No. 5 furnishes the end-centre, having a silver ornament. No. 2 is the corner for the back of boot.

No. 3 is for the bottom corner ends to sides. The top corners must be altered to suit shape of boot, not thinking it worth while to put them on the block, as they are the same, only placed more on the square.

No. 4 is for the cushion facing and sides to seat-fall, by getting the required length, and making ends both alike. No. 6 is the centre ornament for a whip-socket. Respectfully yours, CHAS. T. LYON.

NEW YORK, Dec. 13th, 1858.

JULIUS CESAR HANNIBAL, giving an account of his seavoyage, says, "All de passengers was now heavin'; and, as if dat wasn't enough, de captain giv orders for de ship to heave-to, and she did heave too."