Willamette farmer., March 12, 1875, Page 2, Image 2

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WILLAMETTE FARMER.
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TtyE Ho(e Circle.
Lift a Little.
Lift a little tWt a little I
Neighbor, lend a helping hind
To tbtt heavy-laden brother,
Who, for weakaee, scarce tin aland;
What to thee, with thy etrong mnacle,
Beeme a ll(ht and eaay load,
I Kblm a ponderous harden,
Cumbering hli pilgrim road.
Lift a little I lift a little I
Effort give one added trmgthi
That which attggera him when riling
Thou canat hold at arm'a length.
Not hli fault that he la feeble.
Mot thy praise that thon art atrong;
It la Ood makea Urea to differ,
Borne from walling, some from song.
Lift a little I lift a little)
Many the? who need thine aid;
Mny living by the road-aide,
'Neath mlsfortune'a dreary abade,
Pasa not by, like prleat or Levlte,
Bet dleia of tby fellow man ;
Bat, with heart and arms extended.
Be the Oood Samaritan.
Farm House Chat.
(From the Paclflo Rural PreBl.J
'Will it do any good to scold about injurious
fashions, and try to persuade women to rebel
quietly and firmly against them?
So many women are sensible and capable in
11 other matters; but when tbey come to the
Important business of dress there is great loss
of gelf-relianoe; either through direet fear of
Grundy, or the consciousness that a small and
feeble resistance counts as nothing against the
tremendous current of fashionable conformity.
And "fashionable conformity " means a grea
deal more tban the make-up of the outward
man or woman, and would include the mental
outgrowth and fashioning of souls into all sorts
of intrioate patterns, orthodox and otherwise.
This is a pretty broad subject oud pretty well
skirmished over already by pens of different
caliber. So there is no sermon impending
from that text to-day; but let mo say just one
thing that I like to believe; never before in the
world's history, have there been so many
people capable of thinking and deciding for
themselves in all matters pertaining to the real
welfare of the soul and body. And now that
I have broadened into that big assertion it is
quite a hardship to narrow back to my special
topio and recall one romonslrance against an
injurious fashion that did at first seem almost
absurd in its feebleness. But there wore several
women who dared to pity themselves and their
children enough to declare war against
Those Wicked Boolhcels.
Every pair of new boots purchased by those
rebels hud to bo shorn of one-third or one-half
its fashionable glory of heels, and the vexation
of so much cutting and slushing finally resulted
in urgent appeals to the headquarters oi the
great boot business. Broad and well placed
eels are now offered for old fogy admiration,
and if not generally adopted, let us hope
at least that the feet of the little children
will be made more comfortable and all the
tender toes relieved from the "corning"
process.
I hoard one little girl' complaining of her
corns but sho was only laughed at as if it was
a sood joke. When the little one persisted aud
cried out: "O, they do ache so!" the mother was
almost vexed and said: " Now, what nonsense
for a child to be fretting about corns. You
might as well go bare-footed and stub your toes
flko the little girls did when I was young.
There were no such pretty boots in those days.
aud yon ought to be thankful." And the little
martyr of an absurd fashion pulled on her
pretty boots and hopped off, wishing she could
go barefoot long enough to cure her sore toes,
and she didn't know what to be thankful for."
I have beon to town again not exactly in the
interest of dress reform but I "improved the
ocoasion" and studied the women who drag their
clothes about the streets. In the case of the
careless, easy going woman there in not much
harm done, She never frets over an) thing
thank heaven aud if fashion bids her draggle
about, in the dirt she onn do it with perfect
serenity. But the neat woman who trails her
dainty garments in improper places 1b haunted
and hurt continually by the thought of gather
ing impurities. True, she murohes bravely on,
and il she cannot easily go around the tobaooo
slops and other filth she gallantly iguores them
or gives tho heavy drapery a furtive twitch
with the hope of leaving some for the next
woman to sweep up. The effort seems to be to
Impress beholders with the idea that she oares
nothing for her clothes, when, in fact, the
hardly forgets them for a momeut, aud goos
home completely fagged with the worry of this
strange iguoblo fasliion. And the delioate
woman is well nigh vanquished by the weight
of her trailing finery and has very little
strength for the public busiuees of street sweep
ing. A lady in San Francisco rejoices In a new
suit, the skirt of which, covered with trimming
and bugles weighs fllty (SO) pouuds. Many
ladles may be more heavily draped for ought I
know, aud in that oase my lady's skirts is not
worth mentioning; but to oountry ears it sounds
quite remarkable, aud we hope the lady is
strong and hearty. Very few men would under
take to carry suoh weight, either for business
or pleasure.
Our genial friend, the Doctor, had a birthday
(number of years no consequence when hearts
axe forever young) and being there to "assist,"
x naa inu pleasure oi meeting a lady from
Wyandotte, Kansas. Among our memories of
Sioneer we on tne border, daring those stirring
mee when Kanias topic filled the country,
one central figure of a woman stands pre-eminent,
central aud chief as of one we delight to
honor. A woman who toiled side by aide with
liberal-hearted men; not for benelf, but that
all the women of that broad new State might
have a oertaln vantage ground of privilege,
which, if not quite freedom, was still a step in
advance of what had been obtained in older
communities. Kansas aisn and woman are
proud of thiir Slate constitution, and I hold in
mattul remembrance the brave souls who bat
tled (or it through much tribulation. And this
woman, who gave all her energies to this work,
la by no weans forgotten now, when the strife
la over and thouaanda enter peacefully in to
enjoy the frails of her toll. Her name U ten
derly oheriahed and was mentioned to me with
a glow of affection that made the eyes ebioe:
and now yon all want to know .who ahe Isf No
other than our rural friend, Mrs. O. J. H.
Nichols; and I hope ahe will some day fight her
battle over again and give us a leaf from the
" Kanae oaaipelgn."
A Wdow Woara Havukj, Widow Phil
Lambert, ol West Georgia, VI, afty-Mx year
old, haa for fifUen year supported eight chil
dren y laying atone wall, narvaeiiagand other
heavy farm work, and ha not only mad her.
aeuosner oianoaseaaaaiew acre or lea
bat ha given her ohUdren a good education.
How to Reduce Gas Bills.
Probably not one person in ten who pays gas
bills knows anything about his metre, much
less how to read its record; and, from personal
experience, I can assure all such that it pays,
in more ways than one, to be possessed of such
knowledge. Do we burn our lamps all' day, or
extinguish them, to save consumption ? Be'
equally careful with your gas, and rtmember
that you have not stopped consumption when
you have simply turned it off at the burner.
You can save one-tenth of yonr gas bill by go
ing each night, or morning, when you need no
more light, and tarn it off at the metre; and
the greater the length of pipe in your house,
the larger in proportion will be your saving;
for, no matter bow tight and perfeot your fit
tings, there is also some leakage. This you
save, it notning more. Again, gas u always
condensing, and the waste from this cause
alone, at times, is beyond calculation, and in
certain qualities, and at certain seasons, is
greater than others; and here, too, the greater
the length of the pine the more waste.
Now, it is expected that every foot of gas
which passes through the metre into your service-pipes
is registered. I think I hear you
exclaim, "Would to God it did no more 1" It
follows then that if the gas is shut off before
it gets into the metre there can be no registra
tion. Have you never heard your metre giv
ing forth a crackling, snapping sound in the
daytime, when you were usiDg no gas ? It is
recording this waste, the leakage and conden
sation; and you will find it dollars and cents
in your next bill. But there is still another
saving. If each one of those persons who
complained that their bills present great irreg
ularities will learn to read the metre, and on
the day when the company's agent calls to
"take it," "take it" also themselves when he
is gone, they will find, as many others have
found, a very large-sized African stowed away
among the figures rendered in the company's
bill. I do not meen to say there is Any dis
honesty. But I have known very great mis
takes to happen, and to the credit of the com
panies, I will say that they have always cor
rected them when shown. Chicago Tribune.
Manners of Young Ladies.
This is a very important subject, and one
which should bo well studied by every young
lady while at school, for if she does not aoeus
torn herself to being polite, not only to her
teacher but also to her companions, the will
find it difficult, when entering society, to piac
tise what she never acquired. True politeness
has its origin in the heart. Due respect should
be paid to the aged. If on entering a church
or car, it be bo crowded that Bhe finds it im
possible to obtain a seat without causing some
old gentleman to rise, a lady should prefer to
remain standing rather than inoommode the
aged. There was a time when crev hairs were
respected, but, alas! it is fast passing away,
the old must too olten give place to thoso fall
of youth, though the latter be better able of
undergo fatigue.
When attending public places of amusement,
young ladies cannot be too quiet. Their con
stant chatter is very annoying to those who
have come to bear. It is notonly ill-mannered,
but it is very unjust to deprive those persons of
their rights. They should know when "silence
is golden."
Politeness must become a habit; it cannot be
put off and on at pleasure, as we can change
our dress. As an oduoation is necessary to gain
the esteem of mankind, politeness is necessary to
be agreeable in conversation. It is extremely
rude not to pay attention to one who may be
speaking to you; inattention proves ill-breeding.
We Bhould not be exact in all we say,
otherwise, instead of informing or entertaining
our friendi, we will only weary or puzzle them.
We should speak distinctly, and not half swal
low tne words we are uttering, some may
have acquired a habit of speaking very loud, as
though they were conversing with people who
aro deaf, and tbey thus give the idea to their
friends that they are boisterous.
inese, and many other points may be con
sidered trilling, but inattention to them may
place us in an embarrassing position; while by
observing them, we feel at ease when sur
roundod by others. Our life is made up of
little thing, therefore we should not despise
even the smallest, but by close attention attain
as near perfection as it is possible for human
nature to reach. Cor. Call.
Charge It.
A simple little sentence is this, to be sure,
and yet it may be considered as one ot the
nioBt insiduous enemies with which people
have to doal. It is very pleasant to have all
the little commodities offered for Bale in the
market, and it is hard to deny one's self of the
samo wnen tney can be obtained ty saying
"charge it." But this habit of getting articles,
however small the charge may be, without pav
ing for them, keeps one's funds in a low state
most of the time,
"I have no money to-day, but should like
the atticle very much."
"Never mind," says the gentlemanly clerk,
"you aro good for it,"
" Well, I will take it and you may charge
And so it is (hat little accounts are opened at
one place and another, till the young man is
surprised at his liabilities.
In many instances, if the oash were required,
the purohsse would not be made, even had the
person the money by him; but to some, getting
an article charged does not seem like parting
with an equivalent.
Still when pay day comes, as always it does,
this delusion vanishes, and a feelins is exoe-
rienced of parting with money and receiving
uuiuiuu in return.
If there is an actual neocssity of making a
purouase, and the means are not at hand, there
is a reasonable excuse for obtaining the same
on credit; but when the article can be dispensed
with until payment can be made, it is much to
the advantage of the purchaser to do so.
How Boti in Sroiuo. There are few boys
who are taught modesty at home, made to obey
their parents, Unght to reapeot their elders,
that would be guilty of what is charged by
the ladies. Oar boy in Anlloch are allowed
to perambulate the treU at late hour of the
night; they learn to amok, chaw, play cards
and gmbi; they hear all manner of stale
joke, slang phrase, rough, vulgar language;
they at time may be seen In saloon Intently
watching gam ot ohano. Thee boys, like
all children, are great Imitator. What won
der, then, that they rehears what they have
learned? What wonder they us such vile
language 1 Home la the place to correct the
evil, cr, rather, the plao to keep the
boy that they may not com In con
tact with that large class of. floating population,
to be found in every California town, whoa
word are not such as parent with their chil
dren to imitate. There i lack of discipline
omawhrre. Society la too looee; better adopt
the rigid training of tbe old Puritan school,
and grow op good man and woman, than to al
low in children to be contaminated with all
the vulgarity, obecanlty and bad praetioa
of
saw mtu.suuKKA
Fashions tor February.
Individual taste In the matter of fashion is
becoming more and more powerful. Fashion
no longer holds perfect sway, and all sensible
women should make good use of the privilege
now so universally accorded for exercising in
dividual taste to the end that it may become
a fixed law hereafter.
At this season of the year February and
especially here in California, individual taste
has its fullest sway, and almost anybody might
make her own fashion and not be unfavorably
criticised, provided she keeps within reasonable
bounds. The prevailing fashion at the present
time is given substantially as follows:
Wear short dresses in the street, demi-trains
in the house, and regular train for evening
dresses. Over-skirts with jaunty basques, pol
onaises and plain or full trimmed skirts, are
equally fashionable. For walking costumes,
the heavy woolen fabrics are still in favor, and
nothing can be more suitable or appropriate.
The colors are gray, orown, zinc, siaie, aarx
green, blue and black. The various shades
this winter for evening toilets are indescribably
beautiful and delicate, enhanced by the masses
of lovely flowers and foliage so profusely used
upon dresses this season. Bali and evening
dresses for Tounu ladles nre made almost uni
versally of thin material, wnereas those of
young married ladies are u combination of Bilk
or crtne lisse and tulle, organdy and tarleton.
Where light, airy trimmings are used, an old
silk can be nicely retninmea witn pans and
pleating of tulle or tarletau, and be made to
look bright and fresh as new. With silk skirts
the triple apron front of white, gauzy material,
each one bordered with a vine of gieeu leaves,
is much admired this season. Outside wraps,
bats and bonnets are as individual in their
style as costumes, and if ladies could be per
suaded to wear only such as were becoming,
there would be nothing more to wish for.
Walking jackets long and short, single and
double breasted, with and without taps, long
saqaes, Bhott saques, polanaise and paletots,
are seen upon the promenade in amiable socia
bility, each one fondly imagining that it is the
most fashionable.
In hats we have had many prophecies to the
contrary, but modern taste does not Boem just
yet to run into simplicity. Where gros grain
is now used for trimming, the edges all around
are raveled out instead of being lined as here
tofore. Sometimes these Bcarfs are long enough
to be crossed in the back, and fastened on the
bosom with a clutter of Mowers. Scarfs of this
description for evening wear are made of black
or white tulle, simply hemmed. Valenciennes
lace is used for tiimming evening hats. In
trimmings, the new and handsome braids seem
just now to become the leading article for
spring Buiti, both for ladies aud misses. Vel
vet also will be again in favor, both black and
colored.
In children's fashions, the tendency seems
to be toward practical, useful, easy and health
ful modes. Very pretty costumes for little
ones are made of black and white plaid, all
wool serge, with sleeves and jacket of German
velvet or American silk. These are both dura
ble and cheap. These pretty suits o in be made
with plain colored sleeves and trimmings upon
the plaid. The short jacket and long walkinp
coat are both made for misses and little girls
Womanly Dignity.
Some one writing of womanly dignity says in
the Saturday Review. But there are various kinds
of dignity, and if some aro more exasperating
tban others, some are very lovely, and among
the greatest charms of womanhood. There is
in particular that soft dignity whioh belongs to
women who are affectionate by nature and
timid by temperament, but have a reserve of
self respect that defends them against them
selves as well as against others. These have a
quiet dignity, tempered by much sweetness of
speech and manner, that is tbe lovliest kind of
all, and the most subtle as well as the most
beautiful. They are like the Lady in Comus,
and seem to cast the spell of respect on all with
whom they are associated. No man, save of
the coarsest fiber, such as only physical
strength can control, could be rude to them in
word or brutal in deed; for there is something
about them very indefinite but very strong
withal, which seem to give them special pro
tection from insolenoe; and a loving woman of
soft runners, whose mind is pure and who ro
spects herself, is armed with a power which
none but the vilest can despise. This is the
woman who gets a precise obedience from her
servants without exaoting it, and whose chil
dren, do not dream of disputing her wishes;
who, though bo gentle and affable, stop short
of that kind of familiarity .whioh breeds con
tempt, und with whom no one takes a libetty.
For this one can scarcely give a reason. She
would not rant or rave if she was displeased,
she would not scold, she would not strike; but
there is a certain quality in which we may net
le able to familiarize, yet which would make
us ashamed to pass beyond the boundaries of
tbe strictest re.-pect, and which restrains others
less consciously critical than ourselves as cer
tainly as fear. It is respect we pay to those
who respect themselves; the consideration and
honor which all real purity ot nature demands
and obtains. This is the womanly dignity in
its loveliest aspects, the kind we all desire to
see in women whom it would not harden, nor
render less loving.
Statistical. Tbe following statistics about
women may prove interesting: Women prin
ters were known half a century before the rev
olution. A woman, Margaret Draper, of Bos
ton, conduoted the first newspaper in America,
The original Declaration of Independence was
Iirinted by Mary Catharine Goddard. Four
adies of position In London have become dec
orative artists. Out of the entire quantity ol
silk imported into America last veer, if eauallv
dtvifal, each woman would have five dollars'
worih. Mr. Sanderson, of Albany, haa lost
two sons by elopement, and has shut up the
third, so that he cannot behold a woman with
his right eye!
Mom Thau Tarm' Right. Mrs. Llvermore
thinks that Massachusetts women have in some
respects got more than their rights. The last
Legislature passed a law under which a wife may
go into business on her own account, and no mat
ter how much money ah may make, or how
poor her husband may be, can force him to
support her. Mr. Llvermore regard this as
unjust to hatband and unasked for by wive.
A M Tartar. It i a deep mystery the way
the heart of a man turn fo ana woman out of
all the rest he's' seen in the world, and makea
it raster for him to work seven years for htr,
like Jacob did lor lUchel, sooner than have
any other woman for the asking. I often think
of tho word: "And Jacob served seven year
tor juoui; ana tney ema out a lew days,
for the love he had to W."-Geory -BW.
Max la tb on universal daageroua animal.
Of all th wild brood of God' creature In the
field, f oret and flood, not a thing love to keep
company with him. If there Is aom sort of
universal aanttmanl among th lower tribe, It
la that man la a ermel and naaoeial areatar.
And so w ar shut ont. Bnmraaawav from
u. bird fly away, flak swim away. Man I
th ototar of repulaion. What doe Kt oar.
In general, nothing. Jteeker.
Golden Words on Marriage.
The Golden Age thus concludes an article nn
Anr the rantinn of "Whv don't they Marry?"
There is bo question that our costly style of
living, in cities, diminishes tne numoer oi
marriages, and indirectly recruits the ranks of
the vicious and depraved. So long as fashion
demands a style of living which only million
aires cau really afford, and a young married
couple must support an expensive establish
ment or be excluded from the circle in which
they moved before marriage, a bar is raised to
matrimonial engagements which only the very
courageous or very unscrupulous will have the
hardihood to overstep, Tbe opportunities and
eurea to a single life of easy indulgence and
dissipation, have a constantly increasing influ
ence over the young men of our cities, while a
oontinually increasing number of young ladies
are educated to a life of ease, display and ex
travagance, which only a few young men can
possibly support them in, and be honest. So
our fashions put a premium upon bachelorism
and vice on one hand, and untold waste on the
other.
What is wanted more tban anything in our
society to-day, is the courage on tbe part of
the young men and womeu to break away from
the oresent thraldom, and set a new and nobler
fashion of independence and economy. A
score or two of examples of that heroism which
defies the foolish sentiment and custom of the
time, and dares be true to the noble instincts
of the heart, and live simply and honestly in a
small quiet wav, would create a reform, if not
a revolution. The Question comes to a very
young heart, what are the shows and shams of so
ciety i Alas, that so many yield tbe former to
the latter. For love is the religion of tho
young, and whoever suppresses it for the sake
of ease or display, whoever sacrifices it for
fashion, commits a sacrilege for which nothing
cau atone. Love is not a thing to be ashamed
of or laughed at, and at any sacrifice it may
require, is cheap so long as it adds fuel to the
precious flame which purifies tbe heart, refines
and ennobles the character, and makes a man
hood and womanhood worth the name.
Little Mary in the Desert.
"Alice," a contributor to a popular magazine
tells of a little grave whioh she found among
the bleaching bones of the desert, with tbis
inscription on the head board: "Mary, the
Pet Lamb Our only one." The writer adds:
"There was no grassy turf with wild flowers,
to make a green coverlet for the little one, no
low moan of the sea to chant a requiem oyer
its lonely pillow, no voice but the vulture's by
day and the hoarse growl of the wolf by night.
All is a dreary desolation."
we guess not, Alice I Where tbe dust ol in
nocence sleeps, all is not a desolation; no mat
ter whether it be in tbe deep solitude of tbe
wilderness where the cataract lifts its thunder
ing voice higher and louder, in the vain effort
to reach the ears of living human or to wake
tbe slumbering dead, no matter whether it be
deep in the desert where no dew drops ever
fell from the robes of night or tears irom the
eye-lids of the morning, there is still an invisi
ble prtsence lingering about the grave of the
sinless child which wars perpetually with des
olation; there are feet treading on the sand
whioh leave no track save the foot-prints of
angels, and there is a voice, not loud, out deep
and full of the eloquence of immortality which
says to silence even where she thought to
reign forever, "I am the resurrection and the
life I"
A 'Cute Little Gibl. A New Hampshire
newspaper tells about a little six-year-old girl
in a country town in that State who went into
a store where her father was lounging, the
other day, and slyly approaohing htm, said:
"Papa, won't you buy me a new dress?"
"What, buy yon a new dress, Busy?" "Yes,
papa, won't you ?" "Well, I'll see, I'll speak
to your motner aDout it." Elongation to an
alarming extent rapidly spread over the little
face, but a thought suddenly struck her, and
with a smile she looked up into ber father's
face and said, "Well, papa, if you do speak to
mama about it, touch her easy, or she may
want the new dress herself 1" The father at
once saw the point, and the new dress was
purchased without consultation.
The Sono of Sixpence, Mr, Tyler in his
"Primitive Culture," thus applies to this work
ine law oi tne interpretation oi myths: ubvi
ously, the four and twenty blackbirds are
four and twenty hours and the pie which holds
them is the underlying earth, covered with the
overarohing sky. How true a touch of nature
it is, when the day breaks the birds begin to
sing I The king is the sun, and his counting
out his money In pouting out the sunshine,
the golden showers of Dana). The queen is
the moon, and her transparent honey the
moonlight. Tbe maid is the rosy-fingered
dawn, who rises before tbe sun, her master,
and bangs ont the clouds, his clothes, across
the sky. The particular 'blnckbird who so
tragically ends the tale by snipping off her
nose is the hour of sunset.
Sensible on Lkaiinino How to Cook.
George Augustus Sala, who knows all about
cooking, just as he knows all about balloons
and everything else, maintains that all your
public schools of cookery are so much moon
shine and amiable lunaoy. The way to learn
to cook is not to make an exhibition of one's
self in public, but to descend into one's own
kitchen, there to learn tbe process of roastinc.
boiling, baking, frying and stewing, and to
study the mysteries of peeling potatoes, bf slic
ing carrots and turnips, of rolling ple-orust, of
whipping cream and eggs and of scrubbing
pots and pans. There may be nothing "nice,"
nothing titillatiog and nothing piquant about
tbis schooling, but it's the way, nevertheless,
says George Augustus.
Growth or Childex. An old citizen of
Dayton, O., who ha raised two families, haa
been for many year in tbe habit of observing,
among other things, the growth of the boys and
girls, and makea tome surprising assertions.
He takes their measure In January and July,
and ha rtsoovered that growing children grow
far more between January and July than in tbe
other half of the year. In fact, almost tbe en
tire growth of the year is during the former
period. This philosopher Infer from this that
all nature I harmonious, and that the nhvsieal
growth of humanity is goverened by the aame
taw wuicn prevail over tne vegetable kingdom
Diubikatb worker are those who acoom-
filiah the rot work in a given time, and are
ras tired at the end of the day than many who
uavw uut ooompuueu nau aa mucn; in nur
ried worker ha often to do hi work twiee n.
and even then It 1 seldom don in th bttt
manner, eitbar a to aeetnea or aa to durability.
It 1 the deliberat and measured expenditure
of strength which Invigorates the constitution
and buiida up th health.
A Butmrn, Tabu Comma. At a dinner
recently given by a Kaaaiaa lady in London,
the tab) was entirely covered by sua, and th
only vtdBo of n whit Uble-oloth wm aa In
that portion which hangs at the tda of th
table. Flower were profusely introduced, and
th efftotwas altogether unique.
Organic Matter in Water.
Water enters uo largely into everything that
relates ti life and health, that w,e ought never
to tire of the study, especially of all the sani
tary phenomena connected with that element.
The London Chtmioal JVetes, in reviewing a re
cent French scientific work, by Henri de Par
ville, makes the following interesting and sug
gestive extracts and remarks:
"How does organio matter become dangerous?
The phenomenon is complex. The organio
matter in suspension or in solution creates in
the water a peculiar medium, suitable for the
development of exceedingly small beings of the
genus Fiirio. It is no longer mere water it
is a world of mioroscopio animals and plants
wbioh are born, live, and increase with be
wildering rapidity. Tbe infusoria find in the
water calcareous, magnesian, and ammoniaoal
salts, and their maintenance is thus secure.
Drink a drop of this liquid and you swallow
millions of minute beings. There aro those
which are capable of Betting up putrefaction in
our tissues. These are our enemies; often our
mortal enemies. Let water be placed in con
tact with organio remains capable ofnourishing
these malignant vibrios, and it at once becomes
more dangerous than any poison."
The author points out that, according to the
researches of the late Dr. Calvert, charcoal,
lime, and permanganate of potash, contrary to
the received opinion, facilitate putrefaction and
actually promote the formation of aniinaloulas.
Charcoal when used for the purification of
polluted waters, undoubtedly absorbs into its
pores offensive gases held in solution, as well
as liquid coloring and flavoring matters. It
can render such waters colorless and tasteless.
But upon living animalcules and their germs it
is absolutely powerless. Nay, water containing
a known amount of "albumenoid ammonia"
when experimentally filtered over animal char
coal has been found on analysis worse than
before. Permanganate of potash may oxidise
in fact, burn up dead organio matter sus
pended or dissolved in water; but upon living
organisms it is almost powerless. We have
seen animalcules remain in full life and appar
ent vigor for hours in water to which permanga
nate had been added in a large proportion. M.
Davalne found that putrid blood after treat
ment with charcoal became more putrid than
before. It is possible that the gases dissolved
in the liquid hinder the development of the
infusoria. The author oonsiders carbolic, or
better still cresylio acid, as the only agent
which extirpates these animalcules. Accord
ing to Woehler, alumina in the gelatinous state
precipitates the dissolved animal matter whioh
serves as a pabulum for these minute animal
and vegetable beings. The experiments of M.
Davaine on the power of antiseptics to destroy
the virus of carbuncle belong rather to medi
cine than to chemistry. Solution of iodine
seems the most effectual remedy.
Natural Phenomena.
The store of human knowledge in the science
of natural phenomena is receiving constant ac
cessions from intelligent observers in every
field of observation, whether upon land or
water. Among the latest recorded cases we
may instance the following whioh have come
to hand in this locality during the last week:
On Wednesday of last week, about half past
ten a.m., some topographical students who
were out on the Presidio, near this city, while
adjusting their instruments, suddenly heard a
sharp whistling in the direction of the north
west. The sound increised, and passed over
head as if a shell or rocket, a whistle at first,
increasing to a scream; then as a park of artil
lery rapidly rolling over a rough road, it 'dwin
dled into silence, passing to the southeast.
Nothing was vi-lble in the air. But the most
curious thing about it was, that before the
sound the needle pointed two and three-quarter
degrees to the west of north. But, when
the sound had ceased, and the students with
fiale faces gave their attention to their theodo
ite, it showed a variation of twenty-two and
three fourth degrees to the east.
A contemporary in recording tbe above says;
Who can explain this curious phenomenon?
"Here is a nut for some of tho members of the
Philosophical Society to crack." If the facts
are correctly reported a large meteor, invisible
on account of the noon-day sun. mast have
passed over the city in a southeasterly direc
tion. The highly metallio character of such a
large body could scaroely have failed to have
affected the compass precisely as indicated.
Coming from the northwest the needle would
first have been depleted to tbe west as stated;
and after its passage "overhead" it would have
been as surely depleted to the east as was ob
served and noted by the "topographical stu
dents." Another phenomena, indicative of the exis
tence of submarine volcanoes has been report
ed the past week by Captain McKenzie, from
the South Sea Ixlands. While Captain Mc
Kenzie, on April 30, was sailing with his ship
among these islands, about twelve miles from
land, he observed a large column of water
shoot up fully one hundred feet in tbe air.
From this water arose a dense cloud of what
appeared to be steam. The spot where this '
phenomena occurred is marked on the maps as
a shoal. As long as be wrs in sight of this
water it continued to be sent up with equal
force.
Tbe Aoe of Coal Intebhbttno Facts. Be
cent observations render it highly probable that
vegetable matter may, under favorable condi
tions, be 'converted into ooal much more rapidly
than geologists are in tbe habit of assuming. A
curious instance has been brought before the
German Geological Society by Herr Hirschwald,
of Berlin. In the Dorothea mine, near Claus
tbal wood originally employed as timbering
has become so far altered as to assume most of
the oharactera of a true lignite or brown coal.
It appears that certain of the levels in the
ancient workings of this mine are filled with
refuse matter, consisting chiefly of fragments
of clay-slate, more or leu saturated with mine
water, and containing here and there fragments
of the old timbering. This wood, when in the
mine, 1 wet and of a leathery consistency, but
on exposure to the air it rapidly hardens to a
soldid substance, bavins most if not all. th
characters of a true lignite. It breaks with a well
marked conchoid! fracture, and the narta whleh
are most altered preaent the black lustrous ap- ;
pearanc characteristic of the German "pitch
coals." At th aame time, chemical lamina
tion of th altered wood ahow that It stands
actually nearer to true ooal than do soma of tha
younger tertiary lignite. This instance seem
therefore, to prove that pine wood, when placed
under highly favorable ooadition. may b con
verted into a genuine lignite within a period
which, from what we know of th history of
mining In th Harts, cannot hay extended he
pond four centuries. AUtmcatm London.
A Wokax' Wnx. Th let Julia Smith, of
New York, beaueath her hnahand "on dollar
and her forgiven;" th remainder of bar
mate, aom $40,000, ah bequeath to hr
nio.
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