Some Notes On Progress.

SOME NOTES ON PROGRESS .

Those AVIIO have lived during the last half century cannot fail to Avonder Avhen they think of the changes Avhich in their time have taken place , and how many of the once familiar objects have gone out of use , some of them so gradually that they have scarcely been missed ; indeed , it is only Avhen some peculiar circumstances occur , AA'hich bring the old things to the memory , that we are enabled to form some estimate of the numerous matters of

curiosity , Avhich cither have already vanished , 01 are rapidly vanishing , from the view . Now the bugle of the royal mail and the stagecoach guard no longer sounds its cheering notes in the thoroughfares of busy towns , cathedral cities , or rural hamlets , waking by the AA ^ ay the

echoes of hill and dale . The stage waggon—that huge uiiAvielcly vehicle , of greater bulk than that of half a dozen full-groAvn elephants , moving * at snail-like pace to and fro from thc metropolis—is no longer seen ; on the main roads the post-chaise is seldom to be met with ; and the feAv post-boys

Avho still linger about tho now deserted inns are old boys indeed , who have fallen into " the sere and yelloAv leaf . " From the turnpike-roads and their margiusmany formerly well-knoAvn objects have been removed , —amongst them the hastl ibbetAA'hich hero

g y g , and there marked scenes of robbery and murder ; the stocks and whipping-posts , the cages and other temporary prisons , have nearly all disappeared ; even the once Avell-known idiots are no longer allowed to roam abroad , but are gathered up and cared for in unions and asylums . The

pedlar and his pack and tho Avandcring " number man" have both nearl y lost their vocations—the one in consequence of the ready means of access Avhich there is to the neighbouring market towns , the other owing to tho extensive circulation of good and cheap periodical literature by other agencies .

Windmills — even water-mills — are declining before the power of steam machinery , which is rapidly changing the agricultural implements ; so that before long the hand-thrashing flail will be as rarely seen , as now are the distaff , the spinning-Avheel , or stocking knitting-needles and

sheath . From the middle-class schools there will be missed the truant-clog , the dunce ' s cap , the leathern taws , the black-4 iole , and other means of torture and persuasion ; also the goose-quill pens ; the pounce , which Avas formerly so much used

instead of blotting-paper ; the round ebony rulers AAdrich were required before the machine for ruling Avritiug-paper AA-BS im ^ ented ; the book of the "Heathen Mythology ; " and other matters , the absence of which will be as little regretted as those terrible " horsings , " and other punishments lvhich Avere so common in schools at the beginning of the present century , and for some time after-Avards .

In the streets of London Ave no longer see the yoked dogs in the cat ' s-meat barroAA r s , or the dancing dogs and bears , the camels , dromedaries , and other shows of the wandering * Italians ; the wooden puppets , and the galantee show . Even famous Mr . Punch is now not often to be met Avith . The

bells of the dustmen , and that of the parish bellman , and the cry of the little chimney-sweeps have been silenced . The aspect of the shops have been completely altered . After dark Ave no longer see in them dim lights stru ° 'o'lin ° * with the darkness ; and both in these places and throughout the

many miles of streets , brilliant gas has been the means of snuffing out the oil-lamps , Avhich served but little other purpose than that of rendering the darkness Aisible . The strong poAver of the lawhas prevented the exhibition of monster cars and other moving advertisements ; andby the same

, means , the matrimonial minstrelsjr of the marrowbones and cleavers , and the " rough music " Avhich Avas commonly performed on certain joyous occasions , have been nearly brought to an end .

In the last half century , the \ r ariety of costume Avhich has been seen in the streets of the metropolis is curious . Amongst the details were pigtails , hair powder , Avigs of various shapes , highcrowned , low-crowned , broad-brimmed , and narrow-brimmed hats , Hessian boots , shoes Avith

shoe-buckles , scanty skirts , short waists , and large coal-scuttle bonnets of the fair sex ; these and other toggery too numerous in the present space to mention , have gone out of use . It may , however , be noticed , that at thebeginning ofthe present century , hair-poAvder , pig-tails , cocked hats , dress

swords , & c , Avere Avorn by several artists , engravers , and gentlemen of other professions ; HOAV , hairpowder' is used only by servants ; and it is AA orth while to note how long fashion lingers in this Avay , and how much UOAV the footmen behind the carriages in St . James ' s-street resemble in their dresses the fine gentlemen of fifty or sixty

years ago . From most of the snuff and tobacco shops the friendly Highlander , carved of goodly size , and coloured to the life , proffering his gratuitous pinch , has been removed ; so have the men of Africa and the the party-coloured rolls which were

supposed to represent packages of the fragrant weed ; and the signs and emblems of particular trades have fallen much into disuse . Even the signs of public houses and taverns are noAv seldom delineated by either pictorial or sculptured art ; but "The Rising Sun , " "The Fox under the Hill , "

the red , white , and black Lions , " The Goat and Compasses , " are merely described by means of letters .

The changes in the manner of conveyance in London are very distinct ; but on this point Ave Avill only remark that tho Avriter has been informed ongootl authority that , including both the northand south side of the Thames , there Avas last year only