ebru.'.ry.
THE WEST SHORE.
Ill
Tfje West $1oe,
Sliteeu PatfC Monthly Illustrated Piper, published at
Poktlixd, Obsqox, by
L. SAMUEL, BWuhlngbmgt
TKRMS OF SUBSCRIPTION,
eluding PosUtf to any part of the United State):
to foreign countries, ft cent additional.
If Subscription must be paid in advance, tnd all
l i;rv(ilioiiivly tnntopped at the end A the time
It tit oid (or.
u.mituuiut) can be made bv mistered tttnr nr hv
irier on any ( the Purtlaiid budiiusa home.
HE KNtlLISH BELIEVE IN THE SEA
SKKl'KNT.
The London Sptttator gives full credit to the
vt reported observation of the sea serpent Ita
ppesrance coiucmea who wnai it now agreea
ton, that it must be of a Saurian character,
ke the monster of geologic periods. The
fditior , in the btroilsoi Malacca the
1,4-monster, bo repeateiuy seen ana so repeat-1
hllv declared to be mythical, anueara at last to ;
Lre been carefully observed by competent wit-
Iejes, ine creature was seen uy tne passengers I
mil crew of the ship Nfntor, on her voyage to
tiinnhai; and on her arrival at Shanghai the
Later of the ship, Mr. John Keiller Webster,
:iJ the surgeon, Air. James Anderson, made a
:atutory declaration of what they had Been be
re a magistrate, as a mode, we suppose, of
rmally attesting that they spoke in gol faith,
lie creature (which resembled a hute salaman-
iwr, only that instead of being a1out six or eight
ncoes long, tnese ".intensions must lie muitl
lied by at least 75 or 100, the body being from
,i to 50 feet in length, the head 12 feet, and the
ail, it is said, no less than lftO feet) was first
teen at hall juist ten o clock on the 1 1 th of Sej
tcmlwr, 15 miles northwest of the North Sand
ighthmiM, in the Straits of Malacca. The
itather was fine, the sea smooth, and the air
lrfectly clear. The Chinese on deck were ter
nlilv alarmed and set u a howL The whole
hatch ami three saloon passengers saw the crca-
uracieany ana onserved its movements. It
nreled for a Ions time about as fast as the
kteamer, appearing to paddle itself by the help
u an uiniuiui.urj' iiiumuii ui its tau in a vortical
lane. ' The hotly and tail were marked as those
i the salamander are marked with alternatu
Bands, black and pale yellow in color. 'The
itArt was immediately connected with the body,
nthout any indication of a neck.' Both wit
iesses state positively that the only resemblance
ris to some creature of the froc or newt kind.
t'hifo one of them the surgeon) says the longer
observed it the more he was struck with its
hssmblance to a gtgnntic salamander. Its back
wis oval in form. No eves or fins were seen
knd it did not blow or spout in the manner of a
mate. ine greater part ot its head was
.ever seen, being beneath the surface. Proba
ly the creature is of a race which survives from
list very different world in which creatures of
bsantic size seem to have been so much com-
'i.mer than now. .Ut appears to be no man
ir of reason for a, . ii the very express evi
dence Mi BUCniiintlv anil aohnrlv nivoti "
.v B. .
A CRACK IN THE GREAT GUN.
W I,- fnmi i .
- v iuiuigiij (jitcu ou outline oi tne
malt fhmc m.rfl.
vnutiuiia. uu uu tne
eve of the completion of the 81 -ton gun, a vex-
mioiiujj una titi-urren wmcn iron savs is
serious enough, but not thought of sufficient im-1
....w . jnc.cim um varying hui oi me pro. i
gramme. 1 he holes pierced through the body 1
nf the, mm ftr iiw... .. J I
, "" v """" "TO pressure gauges,
have been calculated to weaken it considerably,
and it should be mentioned, to the credit of the
gun, that it has fired lG(i rounds, in which it
has consumed no less than 23 tons of powder I
and diiifhtipfHwl 191 t..n. Af i- rm. .'
- r-.. v.,. pi.-jouuicB, 10 inn
must be added the fact that the charge (ireil i
in tha nt ,.f tl I i . . 1
" "" " nimo uva immu mucn
heavier tlian contemplated when the gun was
originally designed, and that the closer con
finement of the powder gases obtained by the
use of the gas-check has also to some degree
added to the work imposed upon the irreat sun
Thn aiithni-itio. H.a.f !.,
atiU regard, with satisfaction, the unimiWd
wuuiuuu vi wv main iiruciure, wnue tliey at
done, that the steel tube, or lining of the gun.
. M)U uinruakwuruiy pan. in
this steel tube a crack has been discovered.
Gutta-pereha impressions of the bore have leeu
taken at various stages, and the examination
y, pn)tarawiry to tne renewed
trials arranged for this week, revealed evidence
nf tha inn;,. f.. I : :.l i
' u.Ki(i.i.iiniBi,miB, ib uuuaiuercti Mime.
what remarkable, although not surprising, that
miu ui-wii gun niuum UDIV IUIIUWVI1 WO CIJBeiy
THE DISTANCE OP THE SUN,
If some celestial railway could be imairined.
Ihe journey to tho sun, even if our trains ran tJO
lines an Hour, day and night and without a
wp, woum require over 175 years. Sensation,
en, woum not travel so lar in a human life-
me. To borrow the curious illustration of
'rf, Mendenhall, if we could imagine an infant
ith an arm long enough to enable him to
mich the sun and burn himself, he wnnld din nf
irt age before the pain could reach him. Accord
tig to the experiments of Helmholtx anil others,
nervous shock is communicated onlv at tlm
hte of about 100 feet per second, or I,37 miles
uay, ami wouiu need more than 100 years to
mi mite tne journey. Ewunct would do it in
kut 14 vears if it could be transmitted.
Ud a cannon-ball in about nine, if it were
t move uniformly with the same spued as when
i wit tne muzzie oi tne gun. 11 the earth could
f suddenly stoDlKHi in herorhiL and allowml ti
Wl unobstmctotl towanl the sun under the ac-
icrating mmience of his attraction, she would
ach tlie central tire in about four mnntha. 1
avc said if she could be atonped, but such is
pne compass of her orbit that, to make its cir
cuit in a year, she has to move nearly lit miles a
K-ond, or more than 50 times faster than the
Mnftert ritle ball; and in moving JU miles sho
'tes i nun eriect straiglitness by less than
"inuui oi an men. Aim yet, over all the
ircuiiiference of this tremendous orbit, the sun
terciae his dominion, and every pulsation of
' surface receives its response from the anh.
e&rth.l'rof. V. A. Youny, in ouNiir
Food mn lvriupvniir a ;
on the "relation of intnniiwp.
kce to foud" makes this point: What is the
proedy for intemperance? I answer, nerve food
"uumnfj matcnal to supply the waste of the
V reform in the present popular system of
r tciiia. iiv reuucinff tna nniiuirtinn m int and
1'io.BcIe forming elements, and increasing the
fiprve ami brain building material in a procr
Fttio. lt the ninnlv in aok m .n...f
j-. .iuiii wm no more. A study oi this subject,
a practical atmlication nf th t).krv tl..t 1
J-, - .uwuna ior tne past 10 vears, gives me a
r-'lld baaia nflmut nn n
f npd beverage a liquid food composed largely
I ' hnun and ,,-rv huil.lina .l.mM.i. . MR,i.
ition, concrete, soluble, and one that is so rap-
into tne circulation that the patient
i ln?'"e,litel)r .'to invigorating, energising
yhiys thirst and invigorates without stimula-
"(nmg to tne system a permanent ba
' "f nervous vigor and enervv.
run RntcMATiSM. Remain constantly
h . roon dh annx lemon juice ireely.
w Mia. naa cnneai uia mnat niwtinat
i of tnHammatory rheumatism. W hoever
uus is requested to report to the rust
CHANGING THE COURSE OF THE
DANUBE.
To avoid the rocks by which the navigation
of the Danube has for ages been obstructed at
the point known as the "Iron Gates," a new
bed has been prepared for the river, of which
tho Danube has taken possession for itself with
out waiting for any opening ceremony. This
river was dug out in three sections, separated
from each other by two dykes, which were left,
and over which the road led to the old bed.
The embankment has been raised all along the
line and reveted with stone. It was deter
mined to make an opening in the upper dyke so
as to allow the stone barges to (tast through.
Scarcely was the channel oftened when the
stream rushed in, widening tho gap soon from
iz leet to iuu, carrying away tne bridge which
hod been constructed. The dyke being in an
oblhme direction, the gap was made toward the
right bank, the consequence being that the force
oft he stream rushed in that direction, carrying
away the masonry and stone pavement for a
coiithiduraMu distance. In less thou 12 hours
the basin tilled. Curiously enough, the differ
ence in the level of the old channel is found to
be not near so great as might have been ex
pected, 18 inches being registered as the fall
and for the present there are two streams, the
old one not having been aa yet stopiml. The
new channel is nearly nine and one-half miles
long, and brings the water of the Danube with
in a short distance of Vienna, It consists of
two parts: The minor channel, which, in ordi
nary times, will receive all the waters of the
river, is 245 meters wide and three to 3.60
INSTRUCTIONS FOR HANDLING AND
USING TIU-NITRO-GLYCEIUNE.
The following rules are laid down by Mr.
Mowbray, in his excellent treatise on "Trf.
Nitro(Uyceriue," via.:
1. Handle carefully, avoiding a sudden jar or
concussion, and be very careful, if any is spilled
outside the can, to avoid 'striking it against any
hard substance.
2. When solid, thaw out by placing the cans
jn a tub of warm water, not hotter than the
wrist can bear, first pouring warm water into
the can, and always remove the can before add-
ng more hot water to the tub.
3. To till cartridges, etc. t Hold the cartridges
to be tilled over a tray, say two feet by three
feet, tho bottom of which should be covered
with plaster of pans (which will not readily ex
plode when saturated with nitroglycerine. )
Tho soiled plaster ui paria should bo iroqueutly
renewed.
4. If nitro-ulycerine in a liuuid state is kont
in a store or magatine for some time, the cork
should be loosely iuserted, and a pint of cold
water poured into each can, to Ui frequently
poured on and replaced with fresh cold water in
warm weather, taking caro to retain tho bladder
under tho cork, It is preferable, when ice
cau be procured, to congeal tho nitro-glycerine,
ft. Use funnel (gutta-percha, if they can be
had) for tilling water holes. Under no circum
stances wnatover attempt to tamp the drill
holes; it is unnecessary, and may kill tho man
who attempts it
tt. Hot iron to warm the water, or for sol
dering the cans, will be sura to cauto oxplo-
7. Never sledgo or attempt drillinir in a hole
or seam where nitro-glycerine ha been spilled;
nre an exploiter, which will elleclually clear
it up.
K. Never pour nitro-glycerine into a hole
unless iierfcctly sure that it is a sound hole.
or will hold water; if seamy always use car
tridges. 0. To obtain the best results with nitro
glycerine, drill deep holes, six feet or more. Use
powcnui exploders and well insulated wires. It
is cheaper to tire by electric battery with sim
ultaneous explosion, than to tire several holes
with tape fuse.
10. Look out after a blast for any unexplodod
cartridge lying around.
11. Never allow any but the must careful per
sons to handle or have charge of the nitro
glycerine, and inaist upon the use of every pre
caution to prevent an accident or explosion.
iz. ft ever allow empty glycermu cans to be
used for any other puritoso, but destroy thorn by
a fuao and exploder, or by building a lire under
them; tint, however, removing them to a safe
distance.
13. Examine your cans from time to time and
notice if, at the level of tho uitro-glycorine, any
pin holes have eaten through; in alien case pro
cure a new can, or stone jar, and empty the con
tents out, not trusting your hold to the upjwr
jiart of the can, lest it may give away.
14. When solid or congealed it is absolutely
safe; if possible, therefore, any surplus should
be stored surrounded with ice, since nu uxplo
iou can take place when it is solid.
GLADIOLUS..
the example of the original Woolwich infant
the tirat ICi-toli gun. which in a similar manner
endured some enormous pressure and then
cracked its steel lining; after which mishap it
however, tired many more very heavy rounds,
and proved that a defect in the steel tubing was
scarcely to be regarded as any very serious det
riment to the weapon. English artillerists, gen
erally seaking, have no faith in steel, in con
sequence of its brittle nature, but they require
a hard, smooth and unyielding surface within
the bore, to take the rilling ana endure the fric
tion of the projectile; and they have, therefore,
reluctantly adopted for this purpose a material,
the characteristics of which are the opposite of
the tough and elastic wrought-iron coils which
compose the body of the gun. The thickness
of the steel at the place where the crack has
occurred, is about four inches, and it is situ
ated at some distance from the powder chamber,
anil is at present scarcely perceptible, anil of
small extent It is calculated that two or three
rounds have been tired since the injury oc
curred, and that the gun is as tit for work as
ever it was, the tubing never being calculated
upon as contributing anything to the strength of
the barrel. The trial of the gun againat the
enormous armor-plated target will therefore
probably be made, as arranged, at Sboeburyness,
before it is retubed.
Weight or Belts. Rankine says: Leather
belts, when new, are not quite of the heaviness
of water say about 60 pounds per cubic foot;
but, after having been for some time in nse,
they become thinner and denser by compression,
and are then about as heavy as water. The
weight of a single belting may be approximately
estimated at 0.008 pounds per foot, length and
inch breadth.
meters deep; the other, which is to provide
against Hoods, is 515 meters wide and two me
ters deep, with a dam ti.'A'I meters high. Six
teen millions of cubic motors hail to be excavated
for raising the level of tho soil nud forming the
dam, and half of this by dredging; the stone
work of the new dams represented a cube nf
.vrtl.UOU meters, and the pitching nearly as much.
I lie quays almoroofl .tn,iKX cubic meters of con
creto and 30,000 meters of masonry.
THE GLADIOLUS.
This gorgeous Hower, grown annually from
bull, like the dahlia, is justly entitled to rank
among the favorites of the amateur culturist
It produces long brilliant spikes of showy
HdWers, of almost every conceivable shade of
color. The gladiolus presents itself at once as
tne most uesiraiiie ot our summer duiimius plants.
For center and large table bouquets, where mm
and ellect are de'ired, they are unetiualed. The
gladiolus ahould be planted from early in April
till the last of June, by which course a succes
sion of bloom will lis obtained. Tne best effect
is produced when planted in groups or rows.
The bulbs should 1 iilanted three inches deeu.
and for grou place them six to eight inches
atart, of six to ten in a group; or, they may lie
planted in rows two feet apart, and six inches
in the rows. If in exposed situations, they
snoum ue uea to neat etaaes, to prevent injury
from atrong winds. The bulbs should be taken
up in the fall, cleaned, and stored where they
will tie sais irom ireenng ana moisture.
Fio Watiil Boil a quarter of a pound of
best preserved figs with a ball ounce of ginger
in two quarts ol water. When reduced to a
pulp, strain off and bottle for use.
LEAD POISON IN SEWING SILK.
The Monitetir iMIttyitnt startles ita readers
with the revelation of an ingenious fraud, not
generally known, but likely to lw in the long
run very dangerous to the health of tailors,
seamstresses and others who use silk thread in
sewing. Nothing is more pernicious to the sys
tem than lead, and yet it may be constantly
introduced into the stomach by those who use
sewing silk. The fact is important if load lw
the metal used for giving weight to silk. Iead
acts very surreptitioualy on tho system; it ii
essentially "a slow poison," and it is very diili
cult to comliat its cttocts. It acts on the teeth
and on tho intestines, in which it produce par
alyris, frequently followed by death. "We
have seen, ' says the writer in the Montour
U'JIwiifiif, "among other cases, that of a lady
who keel a large sewing establishment, who,
by the use of such silk thread, was, together
with her workwomeu, attacked by lead colic,
some of them losing their teeth tho result of
tho habit of putting tho ends of the silk into the
mouth before passing it through the eye of the
needle. Such is tho way in which the lead
poison is directly sUorlmd, whilst, by contin
ually handling the ailk, the lingers may retain a
jtortion of the lead, to bo indirectly introduced
into the ayatcm with the food that may lie
touched by the hand. The poison may lie
avoided by refraining from put tins the ailk into
the mouth dipping it in gummcdwater instead
but perhaps the best remedy will lie found by
the large dealers refusing to buy silk thread by
weight unless it is proved to be free from metal
lic adulteration.
An Invkhtdr Wanted. -The American Man.
vueturer says: It isn't a new notion, buta lead,
iug Georgia cotton planter is renewing and em
phasizing the demand for a cotton-picker that
shall do for cotton what the reaping machines
do fur the grain crop of tha world. Since the
invention of the cotton-gin nothing is so much
needed in the South, and there can be but little
doubt that the man who solves this mechanical
problem will win not only fame but fortune. It
is not necessary, says the planter, that the cotton-picker
should do its work cleanly; if it can
but garner two-thirds or three-fourths of the
crop, manual labor will take care of the remain
der. The customary price of picking cotton by
hand is 7ft cento tier 100 pounds of seed cotton,
the average yield of which, in marketable lint,
is 33 pounds. The cost of band-picking, there
fore, is '2i cents per pound, a very large item,
which ouifht to be reduced, bv innniimii. m.
chinery, by mora than one-half. A successful
inventor, wno should exact as his royalty only
one-eightn of one per cent per pound upon the
cotton crop of the United States, might fairly
figure bis annual income at more than aftUM)..
000, a sun) worth striving for by any mechanic
wuv ut gut m snTenuon,