WWW 
AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER 
It was formerly supposed to be necessary that this 
should be made of “Swiss Fir,” but while the 
British ports were closed during the revolutionary 
war, necessity obliged mailers to try the American 
white spruce, which was found equal in all respects 
to the former material. In this department Messrs. 
Boardman, Gray & Co. have applied one of the 
most valuable of all improvements in the piano 
forte, by the introduction of their patent 
O’ORUCOATED SOUNDING-BOARD, 
which adds one-half more vibrating surface to the 
board, thereby largely increasing the volume of 
sound, while it gives a peculiar, bold distinctness 
to the tone, without at all impairing its richness. 
For Moore’g Rural New-Yorker. 
YESTERDAY. 
W ftp.ru are the bright hop«s barieO, and thejojs 
That shed their hallowed radiance o’er our way? 
The saddened heart turns mourning to their grave, 
And whispers, they were lost with yesterday. 
The happiness that lights the eye of youth, 
With innocence and virtue's kindliest ray;— 
How has it faded with the sun that shone 
On the glad earth, in splendor, yesterday! 
The love that guided and controll’d the soul, 
So prone to wander from the narrow way— 
The voice that gently wooed our hearts horn sin. 
Rest with the precious gems ot yesterday. 
And they, whose presence made our being blest, 
Their smiles the sunlight of earth's shadowy way— 
They, though our spirits yearned and wept for them, 
They, too, have gone from us, with yesterday. 
Now from that Future, where we loved to dwell 
In those past hours, ere sorrow’s darksome ray 
Had turned our thought from peace, we render back 
in mournful tones, our wail for yesterday. 
The blessings, heaven so graciously bestowed — 
Oh, were they now our solace and our stay! 
r'o oft unheeded! Can their light have flown 
Forever with the light of yesterday? 
One hope is left—oh, God that hope is Thee! 
Tesch us to turn onr thoughts from earth away, 
Trusting that In Thy laud we yet shall find, 
Undimmed, aye, brightened, our lost yesterday. 
Hastings. N. Y., 1857 ROSBLIA 
r,,i mm 
From Graham's Magazine 
the Bachs, 
It is bat a few yeara since the Piano Forte was 
a rare and expensive article of ornamental luxury, 
in which, by reason of its extravagant cost, and 
scarcity of performers, only a favored few might 
indulge. But now. when a knowledge of the piano 
forte constitutes an important part of female edu¬ 
cation throughout onr land, and the price of the 
instrument is brought within the bounds of mode¬ 
ration, it has become an almost indispensable 
requisite in every parlor; and as oar numerous 
lady friends are supposed to have that taste for 
music, which so universally aooompanies a love 
for the fine arts, we have thought that an article 
like the present could not fail to interest the vast 
majority of our readers. 
Therefore, upon the inspiration derived from a 
visit to the extensive manufactory of Messrs. 
Boardman, Gray & Co., at Albany, N. Y„ whose 
pianos have attained a world-wide celebrity, we 
have essayed to write of piano fortes generally, 
and of those of Messrs. Boardman, Gray & Co., 
CORRUGATED BOARD IN PIANO FORTE. 
Another very important advantage derived from 
the nse of the corrugated board is, that as from its 
peculiar construction, it cannot warp out of shape 
or place, it entirely avoids the danger of splitting 
or “checking, 1 ' so common in the ordinary board. 
Thus it not only adds materially to the quantity 
and good quality of the tone, but also renders the 
piano forte more durable and less liable to be 
affected by any changes of temperature or climate. 
The cut gives quite a correct representation of a 
piano minus the strings, with the front portion of 
the case and iron frame cut away, showing the 
corrugated board. This invention has been thor¬ 
oughly tested in the manufacture of over 1,500 of 
them, not one of which has ever failed in any respect. 
It wub patented by Messrs. Boardman, Gray & Co. 
in 1855, and has received the highest commenda¬ 
tions throughout the United States. 
Now that the sounding-board, with its graceful 
miniature waves, iB properly placed so as to have 
the greatest possible amount of vibrating power, 
the iron frame is to be fitted over alL Here the 
ingenious skill of Messrs. B. G. & Co. is again dis¬ 
played in a recent invention, (secured by letters 
patent, applied for,) by which the massive iron frame 
is entirely esparated from all contact, or connection 
in any manner with the sounding-board. 
The only objection to tbe iron frame pianos has 
arisen from the deadening effect produced by the 
partial resting of such a mass of metal upon the 
sounding-board. This new improvement, however, 
For Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
TO-MORROW. 
Thk ,-rrcscnt. ours,—the .future rests with. God. 
“I wild think of these things to-morrow,'' said 
the votary of pleasure, as the still small voice of 
conscience whispered that he wa3 perilling his 
immortal soul for that “which satisfieth not”— 
Alas! for the morrow, to him it never came; “that 
night his soul was required of him.” 
«I will reform to-morrow , r said the poor inebri¬ 
ate in reply to the pleadings of his wife and fami¬ 
ly; but that night reason tottered on her throne, 
and the morrow found him a raving madman. 
“ I will arise and go to my father,” said the un¬ 
happy prodigal,—“ to-morrow I will confess my er¬ 
rors—I will say father, I have, sinned before 
heaven and in thy sight,”—but ere the morrow 
dawned hia father was no more. 
“I will certainly give up my evil associates; to¬ 
morrow I will enter upon a new course of life;”— 
suoh was the resolve of one who had fallen into 
had company—but that night, maddened with wine 
and infuriated with anger, he lifted his hand 
against hia fellow, and the mark of Cain was on 
his brow. “ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do 
it with thy might,” for who can tell what a day 
may bring forth. Mrs. Pidslby. 
Truxton, N. Y., 1857. 
of Messrs. Boardman, Gray & Co., 
in particular. 
ORIGIN OF THE PIANO FORTE. 
The first rude idea, from which was developed, 
step by step, the conception of a piano forte, was 
probably suggested by the psaltmon, or tympanum, 
an ancient instrument similar to that now known 
as the dulcimer, which was simply a box, across 
which wires were extended, and tuned so as to 
form a perfect scale. It was played upon by means 
of light wooden hammers or rods, with which the ( 
performer, holding one in each hand, struck the 
strings. It was much used by tbe ancient Hebrews, 
and by them called Neb el. The canoon, common 
among the Egyptians, i3 of similar form, and is 
supposed to have originated with the Greeks. 
We regard as next in order, the Clavichord, an 
improvement upon the psalterion in the addition 
of a clavier (from clavis, a key,) or key-board, by 
means of which little plates of copper were made 
to act upon the Btxiugs, Afterwards came the 
Clavicthtrium, with strings of gut, which were 
acted upon by soft leather hammers put in motion 
by the keys. 
The Virginal, made memorable by the English 
Palestrina, William Byrde, and others, was a keyed 
instrument, with metallic strings vibrated by quills 
attached to the end of the lever or key. It 13 said 
that Queen Elizabeth was not only very fond of the 
virginal, but was herself an exceedingly skillful 
performer upon it 
The Spinet was originally called the “crouched 
harp,” the tone of which was produced in a man¬ 
ner similar to that t f the v irginaL It is an instru¬ 
ment of great antiquity, and received its present 
from its quills, denominated in Latin spinae. 
DRILLING MACHINE. I * 
Apropos—we quote the following from Moors's 
Encyclopedia of Music 
“A FEW WORDS TO THOSE WHO WOULD SELECT A * 
Piano Forts. —The tone of this instrument de- j 
pends almost wholly upon the seasoning of the ’ 
wood, particularly in that part of it called the 
sound-board, which should consist of the finest 
spruce, or pine, similar to that used in the upper 
side of a violin. The case, too, has some influence 
upon the viuality of its voice, and the mechanical 
part should never be formed of green wood.— 
Therefore it is always best to purchase an instru¬ 
ment from those factories whose means enable 
them to expose their materials to heat and cold, 
in fact to all vicissitudes of seasons, for years to¬ 
gether. It is most important that the wood form¬ 
ing the block upon which the wires are strung, 
should he thoroughly seasoned, as it is termed, for 
if untempered timber be used, the instrument not 
only will not remain in tune, but the quality of the 
tone will he very greatly injured. A poor man 
may be a good artisan, but he cannot produce^ in 
every respect, a good or durable piano forte.— 
Moreover, tbe shape or the form of an instrument, 
has something to do with its musical quality. To 
those who wish a piano forte merely as a handsome 
piece of furniture, it were well to recommend the 
various modifications of upright constructions, in 
handsome cases of mahogany, rose,or zebra wood; 
bat to the musician, amateur, or artist, it would be 
better to advise the choice of a good square or 
grand piano; they have better tone, are more 
durable, and their action is less liable to be out of 
order.” 
In the machine-room are also made the “ bot¬ 
toms” of all the cases; these are constructed in 
the most thorough manner, and as all the materials 
have been seasoned for years, they cannot be affeet- 
bv any change of climate, or yield in the least to 
the tension of the strings, amounting :o several 
tons.* 
Now step upon this platform; we touch a lever t 
and a steam elevator carries ua to the next floor, 
in the midst of the busy 
CASE-MAKING DBl’ARTMENT, 
occupying three adjoining rooms, giving an ag¬ 
gregate length of 175 feet, each of which is fur¬ 
nished with its steam ovens, glue-heaters and every 
facility lor carrying on this branch of the business 
In all its forms, from the plain “square” to the 
moat elaborately carved " grand.” The rim and 
Where lie the clearest proofs of a heavenly 
watchfulness over onr heads, if not in the shelters 
where wo lay those heads at night? Consider 
what securities home afiections bind about tempted 
virtue; bow the man of business carries a zone of 
moral purity woven about him by the caresses of 
children, from his house to the market-place; how 
the false and fraudulent purpose, half conceived 
in the counting-room, is rebuked and put to shame 
by the innocence that gazes into liis eyes and 
clings about his neck when he goes home and 
shuts the door on the world at night Consider 
what a hindrance household love interposes to 
stay the erring feet of dissipation—what a triple 
shield it holds up against the sins of prodigality, 
indulgence, or dishonor! Consider that,withmost 
of us, whatever impulses of generosity visit the 
soul, whatever prayers we breathe, whatever holy 
vows of religious consecratiou we pledge, what¬ 
ever aspiring resolves we form, are apt to spring 
up within the sacred enclosures of the house!— 
Consider Low the mere memory of that spot, with 
all its precious endearments, goes forth with the 
traveler, sails with the sailor, keeps vigils over the 
exposed heart among the perils of the foreign city, 
sweetens the feverish dreams and softens the pain 
of the sickly climate, and, by calling his love 
homeward, calls his faith to Heaven! Consider 
that the discipline of disease, the purification of 
bereavement, the tears of mourners, are all ele- 
menta in the sanctity of home; that closets ot de¬ 
votion are parts of the architecture of the house; 
that Bibles are opened on its tables; that the eyes 
of new-born children open, and their first breaths 
are drawn in its chambers; and that the dead 
body is borne out of its doors;—how fast do the 
gathering proofs accumulate, that the human 
dwelling is a sanctuary of the Moat High!— Hun¬ 
tington. 
among other causes, jea to me construction ot 
pianos in America. 
At first, deficient in skill and taste, our artists 
were not very successful; but they possessed in¬ 
genuity and perseverance, while experience soon 
gave them the rest, so that now, for excellence of 
material, elegance in style and finish, faithful 
workmanship, and above all, for permanence, 
volume, richness, and brilliancy of tone, American 
pianos challenge competition from all parts of the 
world. 
Prominent among the best of American piano 
forte makers, stands the enterprising firm of 
Boardman, Gray & Co., Albany, N. Y., manu¬ 
facturers of the celebrated Dolce Campana and 
Corrugated Sounding-Board Piano Fortes. 
Possessing superior skill, fine taste, great busi¬ 
ness tact, and the means to carry on an extensive 
business, with over twenty years of practical ex¬ 
perience in all the branches of piano lorte making, 
it is not a matter of wonder that they have attained 
an enviable superiority. Let us glance at the in¬ 
terior as well as exterior of their extensive manu¬ 
factory, which is certainly a model of its kind. 
The building, which is of brick, is situated on 
the corner of Broadway and North Ferry streets, 
name 
From the form of the spinet, was probably derived 
the idea of a square piano forte. The date of its 
orign is not certainly known, but it wa3 certainly 
anterior to tbe Harpsichord, which, according to 
M. Fetis, was in existence previous to 1530. This 
instrument, now nearly obsolete, was in shape 
somewhat like the modern grand piano, and had 
two key-boards, which could be used separately or 
together; in the latter case, the keys of the upper 
board giving at the same touch, the octave above 
The action consisted Of a key. 
people ever « go to bed" or bid you “ good night;” 
they invariably “retire” ot gijg you “good even¬ 
ing.” Nobody is a u woman” that doesn't work out 
for a living. Invalids do not “ get wellthey only 
<>convalesce;” ladies dispose their head dresses, 
though they never comb their hair; when gentle¬ 
men eat cold beans, they dignify it into partaking 
of a “slight repast;” there basnt been such a thing 
as a naked Cupid in several years; it is only “ nude;” 
and the “ posies” are all bouquets. 
Plain Saxon is fig-leaved, and household words 
are tricked out with Latin and Greek aprons, as if, 
«In Adam's Call, 
They sin-ned atl.’* 
Let a man put on a jacket—price ten shillings 
—and nobody would suspect him of having done 
anything so grand as snaking his toilette. We 
were greatly impressed with the^refinement of a 
lady who fairly awed us with the inquiry if we 
would have some - asparrowgrass,” giving us to 
understand that she used no such plebeian term as 
“ sparrergrass." She might very well have been 
1 the identical personage who contemplated build- 
| ing a pi/.arro around the house, 
I It ia a curious fact that if a man is quite angry, 
I or thoroughly in earnest, he proceeds at^once to 
the work of expressions without aprons, and talks 
plain English. We should have added, and terri¬ 
bly frightened, did not the “ exorciso te" of Domi¬ 
nie Sampson come to mind, when he encountered 
Meg Merrilies, and his Latin stood its ground like 
a born Roman. 
The dray horses hear better Saxon—but worse 
morality, it may be—than some of the audiences, 
those of the lower, 
Do NOT Condemn Hastily.— Be patient with 
your erring brethren; for God is very patient with 
yon, aud it is your duty to imitate your Father in 
Heaven as much as possible. For one or two acts 
which may he proved to be wrong, do not condemn 
and cast out, forever a brother beloved. You may 
not understand the whole case, and if yon were 
faithfully and prayerfully to visit that brother, and 
labor with that brother, as Christ has labored with 
you, ho might be saved. Wo cannot always see 
into the heart, and our judgment would perhaps 
be condemned as often as approved by onr Savior. 
Instead of casting stones at nu individual, we 
would often, if wo knew and felt as Jesus does, 
sympathizingly say to the erring, “Go and sin no 
moro.” Wo are not called upon to exercise judg¬ 
ment so much as mercy and love. 
Last Words of President Edwards.— When 
the great thoologian was dying, having taken leave 
of his family, he looked about and said: “Now, 
whero is Jesus of Nazareth, my true and never 
failing friend?” and so he fell asleep and went to 
the Lord he loved. Uow unfailing is the instinct 
which leads the piouB heart to cry out for Jesus in 
the last hour! The mighty intellect of Edwards 
after all its acquisitions during a life of usefulness, 
must then leau upon the Savior’s arm with the 
same helpless dependence as a young child jnat 
able to syllable that precious name. 
snotnb7 anr boiler. 
with a front on three streets of 31'2 feet, and is five 
stories in height- Passing into the office, at the 
right of the grand entrance, and putting ourselves 
under guardianship of one of the gentlemanly 
proprietors, we are escorted first to the 
ENGINE-ROOM, 
where we find a model steam-engine of forty horse 
power, which, while it drives all the machinery of 
he vast establishment, does its work with suoh 
and what was called a jack, which was a piece of 
pear tree, with a small moveable tongue of white 
holly, through whioh was passed a cutting of crow- 
quill, to touch the strings by tho action of the 
jack. Some writer has sarcastically compared the 
tone of the harpsichord to a “scratch with a sound 
at the end of it.” However, it is entitled to vene¬ 
ration as having been the instrument upon which 
were developed some of tho noblest inspirations 
