February, 1879.
THE WEST SHORE.
53
A REVIEW OF THE PAST YEAR. work has rendered it.
In engineering, the year juit put can scarce
ly be uud to have afforded much matter of
interest ; for beyond the progreaa made upon a
number of important works of improvement,
and the completion of a few others, there is but
little to notice. The only speoially novel
engineering undertaking to record is the suc
cessful transfer of the Cleopatra Obelisk from
Egypt to England to its present site on the
Thames embankment in London. The engineer
ing skill is displayed in this work by the con
tractors has been highly praised by the leading
he difficulty, however, appears' to have been
satisfactorily adjusted.
in mechanics, we have nothing of special im
portance to report to the credit of the iaat year.
anijinterma MM Jiinim; Journal.
professional journals of England, and appears to
be deservod. The practical completion of the
great Sutro tunnol was by all odds the most
interesting and important performance in this
department of the United States during the
year, t he improvements works at me moutn
of the Mississippi do not appear to realise the
sanguine expectations and predictions of their
projector to the extent that his many warm
advocates had hoped. It would, however, be
premature to pass judgment at this time upon
the merits of the controversy that is known to
exist between Capt. hade and the U. S. hugi
peering department, on whieh our readers are
generally informed.
The partial completion and practical intra
duction of an elaborate system of elevated
street railways, in New York city, is an event
of special intercut, and, though some serious
obiections have buen found against them, their
utility in solving the problem of rapid transit is
generally admitted.
The canal across the American isthmus at
traded considerable attention at the scientific
congresses assembled in Paris during the late
exposition, and the results of the several ex
ulorations, just made under the direction of the
French naval officer, Lieut. Wyso, for a mute
across the Darien isthmus, enjoyed special
prominence. The periodical sending out of ex
tieditions to survey around that has lieen al
ready surveyed and reaurveyed in the hope of
linding some passage across this troublesome
neck of land, that mav. perchance, have escaped
the observation of previous expeditious, might
as well be stopped before the performance be
comes farcical. Our own engineers have cx
plored every ridge, valley, aud stream along the
whole isthmus from Panama to the (iulf of San
Bios: and their reports, which are full anil ex
haustive. futiv confirm Trautwine's conclusions
that a canel across the isthmus at tho narrowest
Kiint, from the (lulf of San Miguel to the (Iulf
of San Bias, with a tunnel of HI milos in length,
at a cost of $300,000,000, is the best that can lie
done in a region where nature has interMieed so
many obstacles. Whether so stupendous a
work will ever be undertaken by private capital
and enterprise may well be doubted, and the
prediction may, we believe, be safely made
that the inter-oceanic oanal across the American
isthmus, if ever accomplished, will be done by
the united efforts of the leading commercial
nations of the world, in the interest of the
world's commerce and of civiliiation. Vrrlmm
The Cape Cod ship canal, a project that has
I wen periodically agitated for a oratory and a
hall found an Vie champion, last year, in Mr.
Clemens Herscheli: and aeveral schemes for the
construction of a direct water-way across the
peninsula of Florida ware brought forward more
or leas prominently.
Regarding the Channel tunnel to counsel
England and France, the reclamation of the
Zuyder Zee, and the flooding of the Sahara,
brilliant projects that have attracted more or
leas attention on the part of the engineering
world for several years past, nothing has been
done beyond the regular amount of discassioo.
The 8t Oothard tunnel, the greatest enginter
ing work at present undaf way in hurope, met
with a serious set-back, last year, by the refusal
of the Swiss cantons to vote the snrplus of sub
sidy which the unforeseen tipensiveoeee of the
Tiik Mohminq Comm. The mucous rheum
which calls out the morning cough is due to
the changes of temperature to which tho liuing
membrane uf the air passages is exposed in oold
and stormy weather. People pass rapidly from
in-door to out door temperatures, and then
changes in the vascular supply of the mucous
membrane of the air passages are set up. It
everybody at all times only breathed through
the nose, the inspired air would lie warmed by
passing over the ooils of blood heated plates
which exist in the noso for that purpose, and
would not affect the air passages behind the
turbinated bones. Hut such is not the esse
they probably commence to talk, and in doing
so draw in by the mouth oold air, which, on
mixing with the residual air in the chest, lowers
its temperature, and then a nuxinnary nypur.
remia followa, and after it, in its train, a mu
cous rheum. The best plan for persons who
are subject to colds and ooughs to adopt, is to
keep their mouths closed; talk as nine as pos
sible, and avoid stopping or standing still. If
one out of doors keeps moving, and wun ins
mouth constantly closed, there is very little
danger of taking oold or contracting a catarrh.
PukkAir. -Pure air is an essential of pure
blood. Pure blood makes stout nervesj conse-
lueutly pure air which makes the good Mood is
an essential of the nervous system (lood nerves
insure good digestion; therefore pure air, which
through the blo.nl makes tho nerves good, is an
essential of the digestive functions. Oood
digestion makes good blood, which brings us to
our starting point, and proves that pure air is
the first element in animal existence. From the
cradle to the grave we breathe overy moment,
during working and sleeping hours. Pure living
air therefore wo require evory instant. Bail air
is a blood poisoner. Air once passed through
the hinos is poisonous It is not only deprived
nl its livinu and life uivillg constituents, but it
l I,, ...I,., I with impurities, especially when ei
spired by unhealthy subjects. Fever malaria
conies alwavs from poisoned air. There may be
tin smu Itoisoll than the noison emanating from
the skins and lungs of a mass of human twinge
If therefore you would escape "BWBVfmmmf
have constant free ventilation.
Take (or instance the beautiful hybrid per
petual roses. Out of the many hundreds of
varietioa many oonld be selected that would
form a really ornamental hedge, while "the
girls" would uortaiuly have a good chance to
make rose bouquets. A hedge of rosea would
attract attention of every one passing by, The
whole lawn would havu a lively look Hut
what beyond the rose hedge? Ilraievitii, t
say. Why could uot you and your neighbor
have a good hedge of vines as well as roses I
Both tho vinos and the bushes will etsud prim
ing. Both are ornamental aud useful. And
here 1 would remark that, in my judgment. In
many fine places, there is too much span de
voted to lawns. I have actually seen places
where every tree and shrub was cut dowu tu
make a lawn, just because an axteusive lawn
was the prevailing rage. There st.u.ls the
house isolated, and all ynu can see in the back
ground is the poet for the clothes-line. Now
lora roso-heilge you may choose either "Johu
Hopper'' or "(ieueral Washington," "Madam
Ufay" or "Pius IX.," or any other. For any
ornamental hedge of vinea I should take tho
Delaware i its (oliage is graceful, and its growth
is just rank enough, while it is vory hardy, For
a wih bedue. on whieh vou do not mean to
bestow any care, take the ( 'linton. If you want
food gi ap. s at the same lime, ami wisn to seep
t in trim, lingers No, 4, In, or Haloes, are
good. 1 would also recommend the Brighton,
with Its In ih and lieaiitllul green. A. A. r.i
Kimurr, in Fruit H'mntrr.
In-. 1 1 MU Hani. A good authority says
on this subject. Use shallow pans, Idled one
VsssuBU Caiihom -The carbon contained
in beans, iieaa. cornmcal, oatmeal, and other
fariuacea is of a different character eeeautially
- .k.i ,hih , nits in animal fat. The
-i ;.t n.. nt Hud a difference in his last
analysis, so far as the elements are oonoerued
k... it.. " " - effects are dilferent positively
One may aat largely of vegetable food without
the resultant lunolioiiai iiersiigeuieus
induced by eating largely of animal fat, not
withstanding that the quantity of carbon may
be actually greater by analysis in the vegetable
food. No kind of fo,l will supply the lues of
bones Eat good, nourishing food when suffer
ing Irom any local disturbance, like a felon or
boil; but avoid oils, fate, grease, anu wsssmii
stimulants. Kat fruit liberally, so that the
blood shall be kept cool and the digestive fuse
tion in good order. - I'krtmlo-ju-al Jourmil.
p., .is., Itissa now Hrn To
from seed, take the awl when fully ripe, sepa
rate them from the pulp. mis them ''
and put them in a little or flower pot,
d O.en place them in the cellar, taking cere
that they are kept nvial all winter, fa the
spring sow sand aad all in a common hot bed
.'..I -k. ih. uhuile are about an loch high
transplant them into light, rich soil, shading
them till well rouwu.
third lull of brokoii crockery for drainage i fill
one pan to the top with a mixture of Hut peat
and silver saud, water it witn a line sonneier,
and it is ready to receive the seed. Neat take
a ripe froml containing Hie seed, ami poos me
hand over it as you hold It over the pea, until
you can see the line dust lall, which Is tue seeu
Itself; when you have scattered it well over the
surface, cover with a b. II glass and place in a
dark but warm spot hw.p moist, hut never
drench with water, and by and by you will per
ceive a little lllui of green upon the top, and
next a little mosey growth, out of which tiny
fern fronds will come forth. But you must
uot hurry or disturb their tender growth, a
year is not too long to let them stoy In the seed
pan, and by that time they will have learned to
do without the b. II glaea anil may be safely
transplanted into little te. keep them con
stantly moist, but never wet, for no ferns lika
to have wet feet. Kven in the wouda aad by the
hrookside, where the air is damp and the euil
sp. uigv . the fern la sure to keep olear a! the
water. W.- have often adapted for a seedling
b.-d a i .ism Baa idled half full of l on poet, set
tied well by two or three thumps m the ground,
then we have sowed the seed as above die-
crilied. fitted a pans of glass over the top, and
planed it in a dark corner in the hot house aa
tll the plants become sufficiently strong to be
potted. This plan haa always worked well.
HitiTll asp II u i in i One of the meet la.
imrtant means of securing end retaining good
health, is to live happily Home one haa beaa
iifutlv said Idee in the sunshine at home,
although clouds of perpleiily en v tree you in the
huilneee marts, nrlng sanies inwi ie nsirn
where so much heart service is as ponded tef
your comfort. Be a welcome presence to the
suialleet child, even to the very house ilog, to
puss upon the rug. A beneficent and loving
spirit diffuses it influence from the highest to
the loweet Fter the home ae yoa would
some pleasant, safe' retreat, where love end pteaee
await you, leaving behind all that am... ye aad
worriaa aad dlatarbs you oeteide. As before
marriage ton always revealed tour better self
alone to toe eyee of the beloved, so eoaUaae to
be that higher self throughout