that
year, the American army, under General Washington, marched into the
Bowery early in the morning, and remained until noon, when the British
troops evacuated the city and its defences. This done, the Americans
marched down the Bowery, through Chatham and Pearl streets, to the
Battery, where they lowered the British flag which had been left flying
by the enemy, and hoisted in its place the "stars and stripes" of the new
Republic.

After the city began to extend up the island, the Bowery commenced to
lose caste. Decent people forsook it, and the poorer and more
disreputable classes took possession. Finally, it became notorious. It
was known all over the country for its roughs or "Bowery B'hoys," as they
were called, its rowdy firemen, and its doubtful women. In short, it was
the paradise of the worst element of New York. On this street the Bowery
boy was in his glory. You might see him "strutting along like a king"
with his breeches stuck in his boots, his coat on his arm, his flaming
red shirt tied at the collar with a cravat such as could be seen nowhere
else; with crape on his hat, the hat set deftly on the side of his head,
his hair evenly plastered down to his skull, and a cigar in his mouth.
If he condescended to adorn his manly breast with any ornament it was
generally a large gold or brass figure representing the number of "der
mersheen" with which he ran. None so ready as he for a fight, none so
quick to resent the intrusion of a respectable man into his haunts. So
he had money enough to procure his peculiar garb, a "mersheen" to run
with and fight for, a girl to console him, the "Old Bowery Theatre" to
beguile him from his ennui, and the Bowery itself to disport his glory
in, he was content. Rows were numerous in this quarter, and they
afforded him all the other relaxation he desired. If there be any truth
in the theories of Spiritualism, let us be sure his ghost still haunts
the Bowery.

And the Bowery girl--who shall describe her? She was a "Bowery b'hoy" in
petticoats; unlike him in this, however, that she loved the greatest
combination of bright colors, while he clung religiously to red and
black. Her bonnet was a perfect museum of ribbons and ornaments, and it
sat jauntily on the side of her head. Her skirts came to the shoe top
and displayed her pretty feet and well-turned ankle, equipped with
irreproachable gaiters and the most stunning of stockings. One arm swung
loosely to the motio