Also, HOWQUA gave 800,000 dollars to assist the ransom of his
beloved Canton from the fangs of the late war; to the excessive
delight of the Fighting-minded Barbarians.

Weep, then, for HOWQUA, even as I weep. He was the friend of my
youth. Together we grew old, walking toward our fathers' tombs. We
might have died together; but it is well that one old friend
should be left a little while to weep.'

* * * * *

The paper upon '_American Interior and Exterior Architecture_' we are
quite certain would not have the tendency which the writer contemplates.
It would discourage rather than foster that better taste which is gaining
ground among us. In this city, how great have been the improvements in the
exterior and interior decorations of our dwellings, within the last eight
years! We remember the time as it were but yesterday, when the beautiful
muslin window-shades, first introduced among us by Mr. GEORGE PLATT, were
considered a luxury of interior decoration--as indeed many of them were.
But from these small yet promising beginnings, our accomplished artist has
gone on, until his extensive establishment is filled with specimens of
rich and elaborate architectural decorations, for the various styles of
which the reigns of French and English sovereigns have been put under the
most liberal contribution. Our wealthy and tasteful citizens have vied
with each other in the enriching and beautifying of their mansions; while,
also emulous, a kindred class in our sister-cities have laid requisitions
upon Mr. PLATT'S architectural and decorative genius, (for in him it _is_
genius, and of no intermediate order,) which have convinced _him_ at
least, that the 'laggard taste' which our correspondent arraigns, is 'not
so slow' as he seems to imagine. . . . WHO was '_Dandy Jim from
Caroline_,' of whom every boy in the street is either whistling or
singing, and whom we 'have heard spoken of' by musical instruments and
that of all sorts, at every party or ball which we have found leisure to
attend during the gay season? We are the more anxious to glean some
particulars touching the origin and history of this personage, because his
fame is rife among our legislators, and the 'lobby-interest' at Albany; if
we may judge from a quatrain before us, which hints at a verbal
peculiarity of our excellent representative, Alderman VARIAN, whose _v_
always takes the form of a _w_, especially in hi