1810: Irving's home town, New York City, is a major metropolitan center with a population of 80,000. The population of the United States is 7,239,881.

1990: The population of New York City is 7,322,564.

1810s: Women's bodies are thought to be attractive if they are, like, Katrina Van Tassel's, "plump as a partridge." Many women think it is vulgar to be thin enough that the shape of their bones is revealed.

1990s: Women are expected to be thin. Defined cheekbones are a mark of beauty.

1810s: Few people in a rural village are educated enough to teach school. Most people are not able to read and write. Therefore, teachers come from outside, often from the cities.

1990s: Adults who cannot read or write have great difficulties managing daily life.

1810s: Veterans of the American Revolution are still alive, and enjoy telling true and exaggerated war stories at social occasions...