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OREGON CITY, OREGON, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER lO, 1S6G,
No. 3.
PUBLISHED ETEET SATCEDAT MOHXIXQ "
By D. C. IRELAND,
6FFICET South east corner of Fourth and
Main- streets, in the building Utely known
as the Court House, Oregon City, Oregon.
. Terms of Subscription.
' One copy, one year in advance $3 00
-' t ii delayed 4 00
Terms of Advertising.
Transient advertisements, one square
(12 lines or less) first insertion . . .2 T0
'For each subsequent insertion. ..... 1 00
Business Cards one square per annum
i a. i . 10 A A
pajaoie quarterly '
One column per annum.
100 00
One half column
50 00
' CO 00
Leral advertising at the established rates.
C. JOnKSOK. F. O. M COWS.
JOHNSON St McCOWN,
OREGON CITY, OREGON.
jff Will attend to all business entrusted
toVu'r care in any of the Courts of the Stute,
collect money, negotiate loans, sell real es
tate, etc. , -yl
J. II. MITCHELL. J. " DOLPH. A SMITH.
Mitchell, Dolph & Smith,
Attorneys and Counsellors at Laic,
Solicitor sin Chancery, and Proc
tors in Admiralty.
lT OiTlce over the old Tost Office, Front
street, Portland, Oregon. (ly)
W. LAI It HILL.
M. F. MLLKEY.
HILL 2t MULKEY,
ATTORNEYS and COUNSELLORS
AT LAAV.
7"ILL both be found hereafter at their
r OSiice on the corner of Front and
Alder Streets, Portland, Oregon. 1yr-
BARLOW HOUSE,
Main Street, one door north of the "Woolen
Factory,
Oregon City . . Oregon.
Vm. Barlow, Proprietor.
The proprietor, thankful for the continued
patronage he has received, would inform the
public that he will continue bis eflbrts to
pleasthis guests. (2
JAMES Til. B100RE,
Justice of the Peace d City Recorder.
Office In the Court House and City
Council Room, Oregon City.
Will attend to the acknowledgment of
deeds, and all other duties appertaining to
the office of Justice of the Peace. 2:ly
Dr. F. Barclay, M. R. C Ln
(Formerly Surgeon to the Hon. II. B. Co.)
OFFICE; At Residence,
Main Street (52) Oregon City.
Dr. H. SafFarrans,
PHYSICIAN aud SURGE OX
OFFICE In J. Fleming's Book Store.
JIain street, Oregon City. (52
H. W. ROSS, M. D.,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON.
(Office over Charman Bros., Main st.,)
Oregon City. ly
William Eroughton,
CONTRA CTOR and BUILDER,
Main street, Oregon City.
Will attend to all work in his line, con
sisting in part of Carpenter and Joiner work
framing, building, etc. Jobbing promptly
attended to. (52
JOHN NESTOR,
AND DRAUGHTSMAN.
Front Street, Portland, Oregon.
"W Plans, Specifications, and accurate
workiug drawings prep irad oa short notice
after the latest approved style. (ly)
John Fleming,
DEALER in BOOKS and STATIONERY.
Thankful for the patronage heretofore re
ceived, respectfully solicits a continuance
of the favors of a generous public.
His store is between Jacobs' and Acker
man's bricks, on the west side of Main street.
Oregon Citv, October 27th, 'Oti. (tf
Yf DAVID SMITH
"VV. II. JIAHSHALL.
SMITH & MARSHALL,
Black Smiths and Boiler Makers
Corner of Main and Third streets,
viigou oicy. . . Ure
on.
: Blacksmith! ng in all its branches. Boiler
making and repairing. All work warranted
'To give satisfaction. w (52
LINCOLN BAKERY,
West SUle 3Iaiw gtret,
Oregon City Oregon.
L. BILLER
- - Proprietor.
The Proprietor would inform iha
that he still continues the manufacture of
Bread, Pies, Cakes, Pilot Bread, Bosiou
Butter, Sugar and Soda Crackers. In addi
tion to which he will keen rnnstantir
baud a large stock ot the best staple'and
family groceries, provisions, etc.
JOHjNT SCHRAM
Manufacturer and Dealer in
SADDLES, HARNESS, dc, dc,
Main street, betveen Third and Fourth,
Oregon City.
THE attention of parties desiring anything
in my line, is directed to my stock, be
fore making purchases elsewhere.
0.v) J9H' SCHRAM.
Flax Cotton : Its Adaptation to Cot
ton Machinery.
By Hon. Cliarlfs Jucfoo-n, Providence, R, I.
It is proposed to make this paper
very brief, and confine it mainly to
the inquiry whether or not fax fibre
can, by mechanical, chemical, or
other means, be converted into jtfax.
cotton of a suitable quality for use as
a substitute for cotton in the cotton
mills of our country. The vast
amount of capital invested in the
aiil.S, (nearly $100,000,000,) the ab
solute necessity of production to meet
the wants of consumers, the depend
ence of the loyal portion of the coun
try upon the disloyal portion for the
staple to insure that production, the
amazingly increased value of the
staple, and the uncertainty of a sup
ply at any price, all giye this ques
tion of substitution the. strongest
claim upon the atterlion of. the peo
ple and the government. That this
claim will be favorably recognized
by the government can hardly be
doubted.
No opposition to the enterprise
can arise from capital invested in flax
mills similar to the flax mills of Ire
land and Great Britain, for we nave
comparatively no such investments.
This is a most singular fact in our
industrial history, considering the
adaptation of our country to the cul
.lire of flax, the abundance of ouv
capital, the inventive and enterpris
ing character of our people, and our
immense consumption of flax pro-
duets. But such is the. fact, notwith
standing that in Ireland, as early as
in 185G, there were not less than
100 flax mills, with 560,000 spindles,
50.000 operatives, and $20,000,000
of capital ; and in Great Britain, at
the same time, not les. than 300 flax
mills, with 70000 spindles, 7,000
power looms, and 30,000,000 of
capital, while in this country, even
at the present day, there are not
more than 15,000 flax spindles, and
those are mostly employed in spin
ning flax yarn of the coarsest kind.
The question is not, however,
whether mills shall be built here
after the Irish and British models for
the manufacture of flax-yarn and
linen goods, but whether or not flax
can be so treated as to be available
for the manufacture of those staples
on the machinery of our cotton mills;
and, if so, whether the substitution
can be accomplished economically,
and on a scale commeusurate "with
the wants of the mills. Both phases
ot the inquiry being equally import
ant. they will be examined briefly in
detail. It is generally known that
flix and cotton are handled in a sim
ilar mariner, preparatory to the spin--,
ning process, i. e., they are first made
to assume the form of drawing and
roving, and also that they are both
spun from rolls moving at different
speeds to reduce the rovings to a
suitable fineness for the yarn, and
that the rolls are located at proper
distancrs from each other, to suit the
lengths of the two kinds of fibres.
These mechanical analogies seem to
favor, at the outset, the substitution
of flax for cotton. They should not
be overlooked. Neither should cor
responding analogies (if there be
any) between cotton and flax in their
natural state. Do any analogies of
the latttr kind exist Cotton con
sists of cylindrical fibres individual
ized and separated in the bolls of the
plants during the ripening process.
The fibres when first developed are
in a milky or glutinous state. As
the boils open under the influence of
the sun and air the moisture evapor
ates, and the fibres begin to assume
their distinctive character, until they
are finally separated from each other
and cohere only to the seeds, which
they partially envelop. In this lib
erated form they are characterized
by uniformity in length, firmness,
and strength, and by a slightly spiral
or bearded surface, which fits them
for uniting equably during the cards
ing, drawing, roving, and spinning
operations.
But cotton, as sold in the market
and worked by manufacturers, has
not, throughout its bulk, the charac
teristics of uniformity in length and
strength. The different pickings
from the fields frequently vary the
character of the fibres. A drouth or
a frost, by suspending their growth,
shortens their length and weakens
their strength, and, as the pickings
are usually ginned promiscuously,
the result is a variation in the fibres
of all cotton on the market, in both
these respects. These variations,
however, ore always attended with
one marked peculiarity, i. e., with
uniformity in length of a large pro
portion of all the fibres as a maximum
length. Sound gulf cotton has the
maximum number of its fibres, about
seven-eighths of an inch in length.;
uplands, about six-eighths of an inch.
Ihe greater or less percentage of
iui maximum length of fibre, with
the other properties of fiueness,
strength, and cleanness, give the
cgrade or cotton. When cotton is
disproportionately short and weak,
it i undesirable, becauso the fibres,
in the process of manufacturing, fly
off in the form of waste. But short
and weak fibres, in small quantities,
interspersed and commingled with
those that are long and strong, can
be carried with very little waste
through the different operations into
yarn.
Such are the leading characteristics
of cotton. What are the leading
properties of flax ? The fibre of flax
is the inner bark of the stein of the
plant. It was formerly considered,
when separated from the wood, a
continuous layer, capable of being
split into almost infinite fineness. But
flax fibres are now known to be cyl
indrical, and straight, like cotton,
and lapped upon each other in fila
ments about two or three inches in
length. The filaments cannot be
split. They are united by a glutin
ous substance that causes them to
cohere with the greatest tenacity, un
til it is more or less decomposed.
The decomposition of the gluten, to
a limited extent, has for ages been
effected by water or dew rotting, in
all flax designed for spinning from
" long or cut line." After the rot
ing the straw is subjected to the
operation of breaking, to rid it of the
woody portion or shives, and then
to the operation ot heckling,
to liberate the fibres. This is the
mode of preparing flax for the flax
mills of Ireland and Great Britain,
and also for hand spinning. But, as
the operation of water or dew rotting
i3 attended with much care, labor
and expense, and endangers the
strength of the fibre, the effect has
been to discourage the culture of flax
in this country, except for the seed.
These disadvantages have also
been felt abroad, and machines were
long ago invented and tried for break
ing and working flax in the unrolled
state. The results of repeated trials,
both in Ireland and Great Britain, ot
machines for this purpose not having
been satisfactorj', ihe " cottonizing"
of jlax from tinrotled straw was at
tempted. Very little success was
achieved in cottonizing until the time
of Claussen. His modes consisted
mainly of cutting the flax into short
lengths, and bleaching it, to explode
and liberate the fihres. He created
a great sensation in the United King
dom, and in this country, by his sup
posed discoveries; but it was soon
ascertained that the glutinous matter
was too imperfectly dissolved under
his patents, and that his preliminary
process of cutting was too unreliable
to secure a sufficient assimilation of
the fibres to the fibres of cotton, in
fneness and length, for cotton ma
chinery. Since then the trade has
been constantly experimenting, and
it is now well anther. ticaied that the
gluten of flax can be effectually dis
solved by alkalies and acids, and the
fibre evenly liberated lengthwise, and
also transversely at the laps. With
this knowledge the attention of man
ufacturers and flix growers is at pre
sent intensely directed to the " get
ting up" of cheap mechanical contriv
ances for cutting or breaking flax
straw to the requisite length for cot.
tonizng the fibres and throwing off
the shives.
From this summary it is apparent
that theaualogies between the fibres
of flax and coiton are striking. While
they differ from each other in length,
they agree in being cylindrical, fine,
and strong ; flax having the advan
tage in strength and perhaps in fine
ness. Both cohere in their natural
state ; cotton fibres to the seeds, and
flax fibres to the stem and to each
other. And the cohesion of both is
overcome by art one by the cotton
gin, and the other by the shive break
er and gluten solvent.
The machinery for manufacturing
cotton into yarn is arranged for fibres
mostly of a length not exceeding
seven-eighths of an inch. Any in
crease beyond this length is objec
tionable in the spinning operation, as
there is only room between the rolls
for an equable draft of fibre of the
usual length. Hence it will be de
sirable, in spinning flix on cotton
machinery, to have the maximum
number of all the fibres correspond
in length, as nearly as possible, to
the maximum number of the fibres
of cotton. It will also be desirable
to have the fibres evenly liberated by
the joint operation of the solvent of
the glutinous substance and mechan
ical force to secure uniformity in their
fneness, and thereby avoid, whau is
termed by the trade, "stumpy ends."'
The want of equality in length of the
portion of the flix fibres that are
shorter than those having the desired
maximum length, which will not be
more injurious than the same -want
of equality in cotton, renders the as
similation of flax-cotton to cotton
more complete ; so that if a cutting
machine is used Tor reducing the
length of flax straw ro the length of
cotton, it willot be an objection to
the machine that it -makes some of
the fibres of an uneven length by cut
ting at or near the laps of the fila
ments as well as intermediately.
The slightly spiral or bearded sur
face cf the cotton nbre is probably
the result of its 1'ght specific gravity.
All gossamer fibres have more or
less tendency to assume this form
according to their density. Flax is
specifically heavier than cotton.
Hence the fibres of the former of the
same fineness as the latter would
have less dispositions assume aform
favorable to a unicn, which would
make it rather more difficult to keep
the fibres in contact during the card
ing, drawing, and spinning opera,
tions. But this difficulty could prob
ably be entirely overcome by the
capacity of flax to an almost infinite
subdivision of fibre. Should machin
ery be used to break or pull apart
the straw (instead of cutting it) to a
length agreeing, as nearly as possible,
to the length of cotton, the result
would not give a decided uniformity
of length to the maximum number of
fibres, and would, thereby, cause a
partial failure of the analogies be
tween the two kinds of fibre. The
disagreement, however, might not
injuriously affect the carding opera
tion : but it would be necessary to
change the condition of the rolls as
arranged for drawing and spinning
cotton, and arrange them to draw
the lengths of the flax fibre that ex
cfeded the maximum length of cot
ton. This could be accomplished
without expense by relieving the in
termediate rolls of their weights,
which would enable the long fibres
to be drawn and spun into yarn of
nearly a uniform diameter. Which
of these modes for equalizing the
length of the fibre will be eventuidly
adopted for flaxcotton is uncertain.
Perhaps both will be successfully
ued. At present the process of cot
tonizing is too undefined to warrant
the prediction of details of a fixed
and positive character ; but enough
has already, been discovered to au
thorize the prediction of an early
and satisfactory mode of cottonizing,
in a simple and feasible way, under
suitable encouragement from govern
ment. Such encouragement should,
of course, be based upon the expec
tation that it is not only practicable
to cottonize flax, but that its cottons
izing can be effected economically,
and on a scale commensurate ith
the wants of the mills. That it may
be so cottonized, it is indispensable
that the preliminary operations of
cutting or breaking the flax straw of
suitable lengths, .md divesting it of
the shives, should be performed at
convenient paints in the producing
districts, to save the transportation
of the seeds. These operations would
not only give another analogy be"
tween flax and cotton, but would, in
connexion with the abandonment of
water and dev rotting, remove the
greatest impediment to the extensive
culture of the former throughout the
country. Flax under such handling
would, like cotton, be baled for mar
ket in the growing districts. This
arrangement, whether connected or
not wiili the decomposition of the
glutinous substance, and the fining of
the fibres at the reducing points,
would insure the transportation at a
cost as low as that of cotton. It
would be desirable to decompose the
gluten before transportation, as this
substance constitutes a considerable
percentage of the weight of flax. If
this was effected, the cost of trans
portation would bo less than that of
cotton.
The difference in specific gravity of
the two kinds of fibre is said to be
equal to twenty per cent, in favor of
cotton This is shown by the differ
ent modes of ascertaining the num
bers of flax and cotton yarn. A reel
for flax yarn is two and a half yards
in circumference, and 120 threads
make a lea of 300 yards in length.
The number of leas to the pound
gives the number of the yarn. The
fineness of flax yarn necessary for
fine shirtii gs or print cloths is about
number 70, equal to 21,000 yards in
length to the pound. The reel for
cotton yarn is one and a half yards
in circumference, and 7 knots of SO
threads each make a skein of 8-10
yards in length. The number of
skeins to the pound gives the number
of the yarn. The fineness of cotton
yarn necessary for fine shirtings or
print cloths is about number 30, equal
to 25,200 yards in length to the
pound, If the same number of flax
or cotton threads to the square inch
are put into shirtings or print cloths,
then a pound of flax jam, number 70,
will fall short, of the length of a
pound of cotton yarn number 30,
4,200 yards, which is equal to twenty
per cent, of its number of yards.
Hence in the substitution of fax
cotton for cotton, there must be added
about twenty per cent, to its weight
to obtain cloths ot the same number
of threads to the square inch and
yarn of the same size. This, although
a fetriking difference in the weight of
cloth of the same fineness and the
same number of threads, will, fortu
nately, not soo enhance the cost of
flax cotton, as compared -with the
value of cotton in ordinary times, as
to render its substitution impractica
ble. The loss of weight in flax cot
tou by the decomposition of the glu
tinous subjtance of the fibres is con-
sidered to be about twelve per ceut.,
which is less than the average loss of
cotton in waste : so that the diminu
tion of the weight of flax from loss of
gluten will be more than balanced by
the corresponding loss of cotton in
waste.
It remains to , show what will be
the probable cost of flax cotton after
the adoption of the necessary facilis
ties of production to determine
w hether or not it can be afforded at
rates that will compare favorably
with the value of cotton in ordinary
times. Much has been said about
the proper time for harvesting flax
to secure the fibre in the, best condi
tion for cottonizing. Some suppose
it should be harvested before the ma
turity of the seeds ; others that it
may be safely permitted to stand un
til the seed is in the glaze; and others,
again, that it may be harvested when
the seed is fully ripe, without injury
to the fibre. Berthollel taught that
all fibres of flax are equally fine,
whether harvested early or late. But
while there is a diversity of opinion
on the subject of harvesting, it is uni
versally admitted that in order to
prevent lateral ramifications from the
stems, which would clog the vertical
filaments, it is r.eces-sary ro sow
plenty of seed more than has gen
erally been sown in this country ; at
least two bushels and a peck to the
acre. Thick sowing may reduce the
quantity of the seed crop, but this
will be more than compensated in
the improved quality of the fibre.
Cutting the flax at harvest time will
probably be found the best and cheap
est mode of securing the crop. This
would greatly favor the handling of
the straw for liberating tho fibres and
the shives, and be just as well for
obtaining the seed. The quantity of
flax cotton that can be obtained from
a ton of flax straw properly sown
and harvested, and grown upon good
soil, is said to be about 400 pounds.
This, at ten dollars per ton for the
straw, would be two and a half cents
per pound for the fibre. To this
may be added the twenty per cent,
for the additional weight of flax to
make itof the same number of threads
us cotton, equal to half a cent per
pound. What it will cost per pound to
break or cut it, and free it from the
shives also, with machinery properly
constructed and chemical processes
properly used, besides baling it for
the market, cannot be stated with
certainty but may be safely estima
ted not to exceed five cents, thereby
giving an entire cost of about eight
cents per pouud.
From the preceding analysis it is
infprred, first, that flax can be suffi
ciently assimilated to cotton to be
drawn and spun on cotton machinery;
and. second, that the assimilation
can be accomplished economically,
and m quantities commensurate with
the wants of all the cotton mills of
the country.
The Language of Youxg Ladies.
One cannot inveigh too much
against the use of exaggerated, ex1
travagant forms of speech by yonng
ladies saying splendid for pretty,
magnificent for handsome, horrid or
horrible for unpleasant, immense for
large, thousands or myriads for any
number more than two. " Were I,"
says a clever writer, 44 to write down
for one day the conversation of some
young ladies of my acqua ntance, and
then to, interpret it literally, it
would imply that, within twelve or
fourteen hours, they had met with
more marvelous adventures and hair
breadth escapes, had passed through
more distressing experiences, had
seen more imposing spectacles, had
endured more fright, had enjoyed
more rapture, than would suffice for
a dozon common lives."
An Apt Simile. Mr. Mudie, the
author of some popular works on
Ihe Reasons, was originally a
teacher in Dundee. He happened to
be one of a tea party at the house of
the Rev. Dr. M. The Doctor was
reputed fur the suavity of his man
ners, and his especial politeness to
wards the fair sex. Handing a dish
of honey to one of the ladies, he said
in his wonderful manner: ' Do take
a little noney, Miss; hs so sweet so
like yourself." Mr. Mudie could not
restrain his native tendency to hu
mor, so, hauding the butter dish to
the host he exclaimed: 44 Do take a
little butter, Doctor, 'tis so soft
like yourself."
-so
A gentlemen met a half-witted lad
on the road, and placing in one of
his hands a dime and a cent, asked
him whtchof the two he would choose.
The 'lad replied he would not be
greedy ; he'd take the smallest.
" Fm afraid you'll come to want,"
said an old lady to a young gentle.
man. 44 i have come to waut al
ready," was the reply. " I wantyour
daughter."
Like cures like. Sulphur comes
from Yesuviu6; therefore it ie good
! far eruptions.
Is the world Growing Larger?
Is there not reason to think that
this world is daily increasing in size?
Is there not an action taking place
on its surface analagousto that which
Occurs in a plastic cell, when placed
in ci'cum stances favorable for its de
velopment? To illustrate': We plant a little
acorn, weighing a few grains, in the
ground. In the course of time it be
comes the large oak, weighing many
thousands of ounds. and spreading
its branches far and wide in every di
rection. This oak gels its weight and
bulk principally from the air we in
hale, and remains upon the earth for
thousands of years, perhaps, and un
dergoes a gre; t many changes before
it is finally restored to the atmosphere
even if this event ever does take
place. So animals derive their weight
and bulk partly from the vegetable
productions which they devour.
When animals die. their bodies, it
is true, are partly decomposed into
gas, and restored to the atmosphere,
but thy are principally seized upon
and appropriated by growing vegeta
bles, which in their turn, are devoured
by other animals.
It thus seems to me that the earth
through the agency of its animal and
vegetable productions, must be daily
increasing at the expense of the at
mosphere by which it is surrounded.
In other words : the plauts and ani
mals of the earth are all the time ap
propriating to themselves the ele
ments of the atmosphere, and form
ing out of them new compounds that
remain upon the earth an almost in
definite length or time, before they
are decomposed and restored to the
atmosphere.
This idea is illustrated in otrr coal
mines. All coal was originally wood,
and like all wood, was formed prin
cipally at the expense of the elements
of the atmosphere.
This coal has remained upon the
earth millions of years, perhaps, and
now men urged on by their necessi
ties, are digging it up, and by burning
it, restoring it in the shape of carbonic
acid to the atmosphere, from which
it originally came. No one, it seems
to me. can doubt that the earth is
larger now than k was when this coal
existed in the form of wood. Altho
the world may be increasing now, it
does not follow that it will continue
to increase for all time. Sooner or
later an equilibrium will be establish
ed between the amounts of element
ary principles which the earth akes
from and restores to the atmosphere
But at present, m my opinion, it is
like a growing animal ; its absorption
exceeds its waste. In a word, our
planet is not a full grown earth; it is
merely tin " earthling.'' Scienfifc
American.
Experiments with Food. From
experiments made by celebrated
chemists, we find that in bread, eve
ry 100 pounds' weight is found to
contain 80 pounds of nutritious mat
ter; butchers meat, averaging the
various sorts, contains only 31 pounds
in the 100 pounds; French beans, 80
pounds; peas, 23 pounds, greens and
turnips, which are the most aqueou?
of all vegetables used for domestic
purposes, furnish only a pound of
solid nutritious substance in 100
pounds; carrots, 14 pounds; and
what is very remaikable, as being in
opposed to the hitherto acknowledg
ed theory, 100 pounds of potatoes
only yield 25 pounds of substance
valuable as nutritious. According
to this estimate, 1 pound of good
breed is equal to 3 pounds ot pota
toes; and 75 pounds of bread, and 30
pounds of butcher meat, are equal to
300 pounds of potatoes. Or, again,
1 pound of rice, or of broad beans, is
equal to 4 pounds of cabbage and
3 pounds of turnips. This calcula
tion is considered correct, and may
be useful to families, where the best
mode of supporting nature should be
adopted at the least expense.
Truth Will Out." Well, Mas.
ter Jackson," said his minister, walk
ing homeward after service with an
industrious laborer, who was a con
stant attendant " Well, Master
Jackson, Sunday must be a blessed
day of rest for you, who work so
hard all the week. And vou make
good use of the day, for you are al
ways to be seen at church." ' Ay,
1 sir,'' rep'ied Jackson, " it is indeed b
i blessed dav;
the week, and then I comes to church
o' Sandavs, and sets me down, and
lays my legs up, and thinks of noth
ing.
A Rare Smash. A hack, going
down a San Francisco hill had its
pole, broken, and ran on to the heels
of the horses, the driver could not
hold them, so he ran straddle of an
iron hitching post and brought up
the carriage all safe except the for
ward wheels and part of the body;
the horses went on, and one stuck
his head through a druggist's win
dow. Two ladies in the hack came
out safe and very cooJ, one remark
ing, 41 Why, I declare, the-carriage
. j n
us UTjurea. '
The Indian Basket Trick.
One of the most surprising feats of
the Indian jugglefs is known as the
44 Basket Trick." The performer bo
gins by bringing tipon the stage, first
a yenng girl and a long, sharp-looking
sword ; then a stand, or short
legged table: arid lastly, a large, deep,
oblong basket. This basket he turns
end first, top first, back and front to
the auaience, opening arid shutting its
flap or cover with a bang, and, in fact
doing everything lie can, even to the
thrusting of his sword ihroDgh the
side, to show that it is a basket, and
nothing else. He then places tho
basket on the table, so that the au
dience rnny see that there is do com
munication between it and the floor.
He again 'ostentatiously turns the
basket on its side, that the audience
may be finally satisfied that there is
really nothing inside.
44 Now," says he, " I interid to put
tho little girl in the basket ; and in
order that you may see the space in
side, 1 put in. this stool for her to sit
upon for a few moments, before I
pierce her with the sword !"
After that he turns the basket bet
ter downward on the table. He then
takes up the sword, and brandishes it
fiercely. At 'his he leads the girl
up to the basket, and bids her get
inside, but she runs off the stage,
screaming loudly. He fetches her
back, and asks her why "she is alarm
ed. She points to the sword, which
he then lays down, and tells her that
he will blindfold her so that she can
not see the dreadful weapon. He
then proceeds to blindfold her with a
handkerchief, which foearly covers
her face. He picks up the sword
again, when she once more runs off
screaming, even though she is blind
folded. At this the performer seems
to be very angry, runs after her, and
drags her back to the stage. Taking
out the stool, he lifts her quickly into
the basket and slams to the lid. The
audience are thus aware that the girl
is really in the basket, for everything
has been done in the most straight
forward and natural manner. The
performer then lifts the sword from
the ground, runs his finger along its
edge, feels Us point, and suddenly
thrusts it up to the hilt into the bas
ket. A piercing scream follows the
action, which he repeats again and a
gain, each thrust being followed by a
scream, which presently dies away
into a wailing moan. The girl is
evidently dying. Another thrust,
and no reply from the prisoned Tic,
tim. She is dead !
The juggler then turns the basket
on its side, opens the lid, and lo !
there is nothing inside 1 The mur
dered girl has mysteriously disap
peared, and while the audience are
wondering how the trick isperiormed
she is seen at a side box. She has
torn off the bandage and jumps upon
the stage, bowing and smiling. At
tendants come in and remove the
basket, and the performer retires
amidst great applause.
A Rough Diamond. Of the ecs
centric abruptness of the great sur
geon, John Abernethy, many aneo
dotes are in circulation. Those that
record his generosity should also be
made known. In the year 1818.
ieutei.ant D fell from his horse
in London, and sustained a fracture
of the scull and arm. Mr. Aber
nethy was the nearest surgeon, and
being sent for, continued daily for
months. When the patient became
convalescent, he was enjoined by Ab-
ernethv to proceed to Margate and
adopt shell fish diet. The patient rc
quested to know the extent of his
pecuniary liability.
44 Who is that young woman 1" in
quired Abernethy, smilingly.
41 She is my wife '
,4What is your rank in the arvoyt
" I am a half- pay lieutenant."
" O ! very weil, wait till you are
general ; then come and see me, and
we will talk about it."
An old minister enforced the neces
sity of difference of opinion by argu
ment; 44?Jow, if everybody had
been of my opinion, they would have
all war.ted my old woman." 'One or
the deacons, -who sat just behind him
responded : " Yes, and if everybody
was of my opinion, nobody would
have her."
If thou hope to please all. thy
hopes are vain ; if thou fear to dis
please some, thy fears are idle. The
way to please thyself is not to dis
please the best ; and the wav'to dis
please the' best is to please the1 most:
if thou canst'fashion thyself to please
all, thou shalt displease Hirn that is
all in all. Quarles.
.
They are but infidels- Christinar
whose faith and works are nt war
against each other. 'Fath which is
right can no taore'forbear'from good
works, than can the sun to shed
abroad its glorious beams, or a body
of perfumes to dispense a grateful
odor. Feltharn.
.
Be temperate in diet. Oar first
parents ato tbemse-lYes out of bout
and -homo.
o