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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 1889)
PITH AND POINT. Wlmt wo tiro at homo is a pretty uro teat of what wo really are. When a gentleman loses his temper in talking, it is a tolerably correct sign that ho is getting "tho worst of tho argument." Employment, which Galon calls "naturo' s physician,' la so essential to human hnppinoss that indolcnco is justly considered tho mother of misory. Robert Barton. Next to moral weakness, n. fear of tho difficulties to bo mot is, undoubted ly, tho most unfortunate mental trait of any young person. Most natures nro insolvent; can not satisfy their own wonts: havo an ambition out of all proportion to their practical force, and so do loan and bog day and night continually. Emorson. mo responsibilities of uro arc gauged not by what wo aro but by what wc may become Tho man who has ventured only to tho limits of his conscious force has only reached tho threshold of his possible attainments. F. G. Clark. -r-Thoughts aro tho first-born, the blossoms of tho soul, tho beginning of our strength, whothor for good or evil, and thoy aro tho greatest ovidenco for or against a person that nan be. "Thou understandest my thoughts afar off." "Try mo, and know my thoughts; and load mo in tho way over lasting." Thomas Brooks. Men that look no further than thoir outsldos, think health an ap purtenance unto life, and quarrel with thoir constitutions for being sick, but I, that havo oxamlned tho parts of man, and know upon what tender fila rnonts that fabric hangs, do wonder that wo aro not always so, and, con sidering tho thousand Moors that load ,to death, do thank my God that wo can alo hut once. Sir T. Browne. Originality is the cradlo in which -eminence is nursed, for originality lifts mon from tho boaton track of tho past into unexplored fields, giving tho world now productions in science, literature and art. To succood, a man must bo original, and his performing a certain net must not be becauso somo ouo olso did It, but becauso from his own ob servation ho knows it to bo proper and correct. It 1b hard to toll which of tho two Is tho mora pltlablo Uio ovor-nico ronsonor, who novor comes to any con clusion, or tho vacillating, doublo mindod man, who novor docldos to net. Ho is Uko tho farmer in tho Book of Ecclosiastos, who is always obsorvlng tho clouds and tho wind to make sure of tho exactly right tlmo for his work. As "tho I'roachor" says: "That man will novor sow and will novor roup;" or, as Sir Philip Sldnoy says: "Whoso ever, in great things, will think to pro vont (anticipate or forestall) all objec tions, must Ho still and do nothing," 8. S. Times. THE NATIONAL GAME. What Hliulcoupcnro Hnyn Almut tt In 111 Druiiiiitluul Works. Tho game of baso ball is gonorally Supposed to bo a modern pastlmo, but a look through Shakospoaro will con vlnco one that tho gnnio Is of remote origin. Your baso (foot) ball players. "King Lear." Why those balls bound. "Morry Wives." Now, lot's havo a catch. "Twelfth Night." I will run no baBO. "Morry Wivos." And so I shall catch tho ily. "Ilonry V." Lot mo bp umplro in this. "Ilonry VI." A hit, n piilpablohlt ."Hamlet." Ilootor shall havo a great catch. "Trollus and Crosslda." Moro Uko to run tho county baso. "Cymbollne" Ab swift In motion as a ball. "Borneo and Juliet." Ho'U loavo striking in tho Hold. "All's Well." After the score. "Othello." Ajak goes up and down tho flold. "Trollus and Crosslda." Havo you scored inoP "Winter's Tale." And tho third nlno. "Corlohuuts. " Ho proves tho best man In the Hold. "Henry IV." Tho word Is pitch and pay. "King John." Hovvovor men do catch. "Tompost." What foul play had wo. "Titus An dronlous." Unprovidod of a pair of bases. "Henry IV." His confounded base. "Henry V.M No other book but tho scorn. "Ilonry IV." I will fear to catch. "Tlinou ol Athons." Where go you with batsP "Corlo luiius." Lot us soo you in Uio Held. "Trollui and Crosslda." Thrice again to tnaku up nine. "Macbeth." Judgment. "HamloU" N. Y. Graphic. Violating tho Proprieties. "Such a dinner as you wish to give," laid tho fashionable caterer, "Includ ing champagne, of course, will cost $1 u plate." "But I don't care for champagne Wlmt will It coat with boor and lemon Ado Instead of ohnmpugnoP" "Just tho same," rupllod the dlgnl fled CRterer, sillily. "I could not, with propriety, ask any of my young gen tlonuin to watt upon the table at such a dinner without giving them extra iH)Hj)oiisutioi), Chicago Tribune AN OLD HORSE-THIEF. tl Ii Seventy-Eight Tmn Old and llu Done Some Carious Work. Tho man who claims to bo tho most celebrated horso-thlof in tho world is now under arrest in Louisburg, Kan His name Is Washington Waterman and ho is sevonty-oight yonrs of age. Ho acknowledges tho theft of ono hun drcd horses in Kansas alone, and tho authorities of tho State aro willing to admit that ho has made oil with flvo times that numbor. Tho old man takos his present arrest with great good nature. Ho is near tho end of his earthly pilgrimage, and ho docs not expect to bo jailed again in this world. Tho ponitontiarics of Mis sourl, Kansas and Nebraska have each held him on sovoral dlflerontoccaslons. In his earlier days It wall his custom to lead a party of tramps into a nolgh borhood which ho had previously pros pected, and, with a central rendezvous, all would mako a circuit of fivo or ten miles on a given night and round up boforo daylight at tho appointed place with all tho horses, harness, shovels, currycombs, chnlns, monkoy-wrenclios, whips, hammors, oil, scrow-d rivers and brooms that tho region alTorded. Barns would bo literally stripped of every thing of value. After the prohibitory law wont Into effect In Kansas, tho country being moro thicklysottled, Waterman found It nd- visablo to change his plan of opera Hons. Ho would visit towns In Mis souri and lay In a largo supply of whisky in quart bottles, and then, as a sccrot dispenser of this bovcrago, ho would attack tho Kansns farmer on his weak side. When ho found ono who properly appreciated tho luxury of having liquor brought to his very door, no wotuu tarry witn mm ana open bottlo or two on his own account. After tho farmer had yielded to tho ef fects of tho potations and had fallen undor tho table, Waterman would help himsolf at tho barn and disappear. Tho old man also enjoys tho raro dis tinction of being tho only man in tho world who over stolo a horse whilo he was an inmate of a State prison. When ho was serving tho last of his throo terms in tho Missouri penitentiary, his conduct was so good that ho was set down as a "trusty," and as such was on many occasions permitted to go out sldo tho walls. On ono of thoso excur sions ho was soizod with an irrosistlblo impulse to mako off with a horso, and flvo minutes later ho was astrldo a ilno animal which ho had lifted from a con voniont barn. With this exploit ho scorns to havo boon content, for ho prosently dismounted, loft tho horso to browso at will by" tho roadside, and hurrlod back to tho prison. Having had a taste of liberty Waterman longod for moro, and two wooks later ho stolo a team bolonging to ono of tho koopors and mado for tho country ut a broak neck pace. Ho found no dilllculty In disposing of tho horsos, and with tho monoy obtained ho Hod to Canada, where ho passed sovoral yoars without attracting much attention. Waterman, who doos not appear to bo as old as ho is, talks froely of his oxploits, and sooms to havo no concep tion of the fact that horso stealing ii not a perfectly logltlmato pursuit. Ho told ono of his visitors tho other day that ho was getting on In yoars, and that if any of tho boys wanted points in tho buslnoss ho would givo up at tho rate of flvo dollars a point. Cor. Chi cago Journal. EZRA CORNELL'S BOYHOOD. Tho Industry mid reinnvorimoo of the l'oiiuilor of ii (Irciit Unlvoritlty. Years ago thoro lived In tho Interior of Now York a boy, tho son of a farmer, who also worked at tho trado of a pot tor, Tho boy was a markod youth, be causo ho did with might whatever ho undertook. Ho was a loader In the or dinary sports of boyhood; and, whon ovor tho farm or tho pottery relaxed their hold upon Ulm ho would be found repairing somo damaged artlolo or de vising a new imploinout. Ills fathor was poor, tho farm was Binall, and could only bo enlarged by clearing up tho prlmoval forest. Tho boy was anxious to acqulro knowledge, but his services woro so necossary to his father that ho could not bo spared to attend tho winter term of tho com mon school. But tho hoy was In oarn ost. With tho aid of his brother, ono year his junior, ho chopped and cleared four acres of birch and maplo woodland, plowed it, planted it with corn, har vested tho corn, and then asked, as his compensation, to be allowed to attend Bohool during winter. Of course the father granted tho wish. Whon tho boy was Bovoutoon tho father's pottery buslnoss had so in creased as to demand a moro extensive factory. A carpenter was hired to build Uio now building, and tho boy assisted him. So familiar did ho bo come with tho tools and trado that ho determined, with tho aid of tho younger brothor, to oroot a two-story frame dwolllng-houso for his father's family. Tho two boys cut tho timber from tho forest, planned and framed the structure, and then invited tho neigh bors to assist at tho "raising." Thoy oamo from far and near to seo what a hid of seventeen had done. Whon eve ry mortise and tenon was found to tit in Us placo, and tho frame was soon to stand perfect and secure, tho veterans cheered tho youvg architect and build er. From that day ho was in demand as a muster carpenter. That boy was Kim Cornoll, tho foun der of Cornell Uulvorslty, KvangolU cal Messenger. By spraying tho region of tho ex ternal car with othor, Dim. Honoquo mid Frldul, of Paris, render tho dental nerves lmuiuthU, mid uxtraot tooth without pain or ifouoriil ttuwtUwlu. AMERICAN SARDINES. Ilin,' Herring Are Made to Ileiemble th French Finite. "Aro these tho genuine French sar dines?" asked a woll-drcsscd woman of a grocer as sho rocclvcd for inspection an oblong tin box, marked on ono side "Sardines a laFrancaiso." Tho grocer looked at hor with a slightly surprised air, and replied: "Certainly." "You may send mo threo boxes then," said sho, and, after ordering a fow moro things, wont out. As sho passed through the door a reporter, who had been standing by, inquired: "But woro they renl French sardines, after all?" Tho grocer tried to appear indignant, but couldn't. Finally ho laughed and said: "I guess you know all about It, but what can I say when a lndy asks mo such a question? I can't explain to hor that nine-tenths of tho sardines con sumed in tho United States como from Mnino, for, although they aro just ns good as tho French product, sho would not havo them, and I Bhould loeo her trado. Most of tho sardines sold now adays aro nothing but small herrings, put up in boxes with gaudy labels nnd French Inscriptions. In Last- port there nro nlneteon places whero thoy turn out sardines, besides threo at Lubec, two at Joncsport and ono each at Mlllbridgo, Lamoino and Kobbins ton. When it was. flfrst attempted to make sardines from herrings it was found that tho difficulty lay in eradicat ing tho herring flavor. It took years of experiment to accomplish this. Fi nally a manufacturer succeeded in pro ducing a combination of-oil and spices which removed the trouble. Ihehor- ringsiuscd in making sardinos nro about 4 inclics long, and can; bo bought of tho Maine and Now Brunswick fishermen. when plenty, for about $5 a hogshead, although when scarce they bring as high as $15 a hogshead. Tho fish- aro caught in huge nets sot along the- -shore. After capturo thoy aro takon- immediately to tho factory, and laid in heaps upon long tables, whero thoy aro decapitate 1 and cleaned by children, whoso dexterity is marvel ous. On tho average each child dresses 8ovonty-fivo fish a minute. Tho pay is 10c. for a box holding about a bushel. Somo of tho children mako as much as $1.50 per day. After boing washed,. tho fish aro pickled for half an hour, and aro thoa biid upon trays and placed in- a largo drying-room, heated by steam. When dry thoy aro thrown Into largo shallow pans of boiling o.l nnd thoroughly cooked. Thoy nro packed la boxes by women and girls, and into each box: is poured some of the patent mixture of oil andspices. Covors are- fitted on- tno boxes ana scaicu Dy men. Tho boxes aro noxt placed in boiling water for half an hour, and aro then romovod and put on an incline plane, so that tho enclosed tot air rushes to ono corner of tho box. This corner is punctured witn an nwi, anu the- air escapes; tho box then bolng mado nlr-tight again by a drop of soldor. Tho boxes aro ornamonted with attractive French labels, stating that tho enclosed nro "Sardines a la Francalso." Somo nro labeled in addi tion, "a Phuilo d'oiivo!" Tho oil gon orally used is cotton sood. Ollvo oil is. however, used for tho quality marked prime 'Almost tho ontiro product of those fnctorlos aro shipped to Now York, whence it goes to retailors all ovor tho country. Ono of tho Lubec housos pre pares about 4,500 boxes por day. Tho profit mado bj tho pnokors is from 4c to 6c a box." 'How do you happen to bo so woll Informed on tho subject?" was asked. "Woll, 1 hall from Eastport mysolf," said tho grocor, "and ns a boy I usod to work In a sardlno factory." N. 1. Evening Post Why She Was Enthusiastic "Seated to tho light of mo at a place of amusement," writes a Western mu ficnl crltlo, "was a lady whoso Intorost was not aroused till a thin, diseonsolnte looklng girl mado hor appearance Then sho bognn to applaud furiously. As I could dlscorn no posslblo occasion for such a manifestation, I felt sur prised; but, as sho kept it up all tho ovoning and soemod to havo no assist ance from any of tho audlonco, 1 took a hand, as thoy say, and also bogan ap plauding tho thin, disconsolate-looking girl. My good naturo, howovor, boro, as good naturo often does, bitter fruit Tho lady turnod and said: ' hat aro you applauding for?' I stammered an Insulllclent answer, lou don't think alio doos woll, do you?' sho continued. No, Madam.' 'Shea tfwkward, and sho can't sing,' said she, contemptuous ly. I hud tlmo to rccovor myself. Might I ask, I ssld, with conscious dignity, 'why, Madam, If such Is tho case, you aro so onthuslnstlo?' 'Sho owes mo nlno dollars and thirty-live cents,' said my neighbor, with Bcorn and asporlty, 'and, if this oro show don't succeed, I'll bo that much outP " N. Y. Lodger. A Truly Faithful Heart. Tumblothwnlto had proposed and beon accepted, and as ho slipped tho ongngomont ring upon hor finger, he said, tremulously: "Darling, you will always wear It upon this finger, won't youP" and the girl, with a shy glanco or love, rcplloti: "Always, uoorgo, niwuya wiion i am with you." Life, Tho church in Shnkor Vlllngo. Canterbury, N. H., although built In 1702, has novor beon ro-shlngled. lhe shingles are ot heart pine, and woro fastened on with wooden pegs. A Brookfleld, Conn., farmer found a silver fork Imticddod In tho btonmcli of a Jioa uo killed, ono day, lately. m HALPIN'S DUPLICITY. llow He Mnde It a Very Satisfactory Source of Revenue. Going ovor on a Weohawkcn ferry boat1 tho other day was an old fellow at tired in nn 1840 sporting costume, tho principal element of which was an Irish capo-coat reaching from his hat brim to his heels. His little ferret eyes snapped uneasily from under a pair of moustachio brows, nnd it was evident that ho wa4 pining for somebody to talk to. That somebody, In tho person of a Washington market butcher, carao in presently, and, taking an adjoining feat, opened tho ball by remarking that it was a wet day. "Wot ain't no .riamo for it," was tho prompt rejoindor, "it'sarcg'lar soaker. What ver from?" ;'Noo York." "Shot I didn't know but what yer might be from Sennygamby. - Did yor ever hair a man crow? "Whn-a-t?" "Ever hear a man crow liko a rcostcr?" 'Git outr "Botcher life, I kin." "Los hear ye," and tho mnrkotraan'3 eyes betrnyed an overwhelming curi osity. "Costs a quarter, my friend, and If ycr ain't satisfied, yer gits yer money back. If I can't crow to beat any Shanghai you ever heard, I'llgo 'njump overboard. Thanks. Any ono elw wantur hear m2" Sovoral coin woro handed to tho original professor, and an air of expect ancy pervaded tho cabin, as ho prepared for tho performance. Turning around) sideways, and "curv ing his chin deop down lathe recesses of his collar, ho suddenly let our a clear shrill' penetrating "Cock-a-doo-dlo-doo!" that was absolutely perfect in its imitation of a big-lungetl barn-yard king, and his effort was followed by a thunder of applause? which shook tho boat. "I told yor sV ho said, as-his face eanro- into viow again. "They ain't no. flies on Crower nalpin. Wanter hear another?" More- quarters wero-produced, and ho ra just going to repent tho feat when the- butcher by a quick spasmodic move ment reached down undor the skirls of the great-coat and pulled out a lino specimen of a Jersey chanticleer with tho- terse remark: "Say, friend, th' next time you try a chicken bunco, game, bo partic'lar that your pal keeps. his-tail-feathers from sliowin ." It was very fortunate for the ferry company that even the- boat was- left when the crowd followed that old. mam ashore-Time-. THE TELL LEGEND. A Thcntrlciil MnmiRer Kxplnln Why He Tnke It In "OoodFultli.' Do I believe' thoro was. such a person as. William Tell? Ida I hare faith in legends and folk lore. Even if there is- much that will not stand tho fierce light of critical research, I would not havo tho mind freed from thoso precious superstitions, if you choose to call them so. If you go on with this pernicious iconoclastic work what is to becomo of tho Minnesingors and tho Mastor slngors, the Nlbolungod Lied, and how then will Wagnor stand? I think I would murder tho man who should toll mo that tho grand incident of tho noblo Sydnoy denying himsolf tho proflorod drink of water to glvo it to tho humble soldior was a myth. Thoy will bo tell ing us pretty soon that Nelson in his last broath on tho quarter dock did not say, "Kiss mo. Hardy." Or that Law rence novor said, "Don't givo up tho ship," or that Perry fallod to romark, "Wo havo moot tho onomy. and thoy aro ours." No, sir, I won't havo it. I am awaro that tho old biting, bitter destroy or of myths and shams, tho groat Vol taire, was ono of tho first to east doubt upon tho reality of tho Swiss horo. But what olso could you oxpoctof a French man? Had ho lived to tills day he would havo said thoro was no such per son as Bismarck or at loist ho would havo wished there was not. Did not Voltnlro call Bismarck a savago? Take away Toll and his magic arrow, his son nnd thu upplo, and you rob Switzerland of its splendid romanco, and the mind of man of ono of Its lovollost illusions. Trust to tho poot; ho will always sot you right with his unerring instinct. Schiller has wrought for us ono of the grandost dramas out of tho logonds of tho sturdy Swiss In thoir strugglo for Independence To read or hoar his thrilling pootlo play Is to breatho tho air of Url and Untorwnlton, and to bo Inspired with tho lofty Ideas of liberty and vlrtuo Imparted by contact with Lie othor whero grows tho edolwois. Sheridan Knowles has given tho Eng lish stage an oxcollent play on tho sub ject of tho Swiss Liberator. Yos, sir; I boliovo in Wllllnm Toll St. Louis Globo-Domoernt A couploi lately of Alpharotta. Ga., wont to a Squiro'a oflleo to got married. Whilo thoy waited for tho Squlro to hunt up tho book containing tho formu la, tho man asked to bo excused a mo ment, and hurrying out, mounted n horso and rodo furiously away. As ho was leaving tho room ho whlspored to tho groomsman that ho was ashamed to get married boforo bo many persons. Tho groomsman told tho brldo, who promptly wild: "You helped to bring mo horo, and now you must tako hla place" Tho young man said ho was willing, and tho ceremony was perform ed. At its conclusion tho brldo said: "Whon I mako up my mind to do any thing I novor let any thing stand in the way." Tho man who would carry In his head tho names of nil tho streets in London roust a havo long memory. Thoro uro 28,000 of thorn. HAYTfAN VOUDOO ORGIES, Horrible Itltt nnd Sacrifices Practiced In the- r.i:ro Itepubllcv At dusk of CIiri;tmas Eve many of tho lowest of tho blacks loft Port au Prlnco on foot for tho valloy at tho foot of tho Lascello mountains, somo twelve miles south of tho town, whore several thousand of tho believers In voudooism wero found assembled, the greater portion being from tho vicinity of Jacmel, the most barbarous portion of tho island. Tho correspond ent, disguised and blackcnod. under tho protection of a liborally paid guide, arrived on tho spot just before midnight. There each of tho per formers put on a pair of sandals and fastened around his othorwiso nnked body a number of red handkorchiefs, the King of the Voudoos having an un usually largo number, with a blue girdle, and red handkerchiefs bound around his head and worn as a dia dem. Tho Queen, clothed in the charming simplicity of a slngte broad red sash, was seated with tho King on a largo box. whoro tho Wingless ser pent representing tho Deity was kopt Then began tho horrible adoration i tho serpent, lasting aoout inirty minutes, and ending in a wild satur nalia of delirium. Tho scene, amid tho glaring of burning torches and bon fires, can hardly bo described. All present took part in dancing around a largo altar, erected In tho center of an jpen space. Between the dances abundant potations of tho vilest native urn and gin, flavored with herbs and oots tending to increaso tho delirium, wero indulged in by all. After the Jancing the crowd sopnratcd andT ac cording to seniority, approached1 the I'erpont in tho cage. Dropping on Jioir stomachs they crawled forward imploring the aid of tho voudoo for blessings on themselves and friends ad malediction on enomlos, known and unknown. Tho answer to these appeals was interpreted to tho im beeilo crowd by tho Queen, thoy never doubting the most monstrous absurd ity, and only knowing how to obey what hi despotically dictated to them. They then bound themselves by tho most exucrablo oaths to obey tho dictates of the Queen aad minor priestesses until the next annual assemblage On this: occasion a white goat was sao--rifieed, but my guide informed mo thht last yoar ho was prosont at tho same assemblage, four miles north of Jac mel, whoro a female child was stupe fied by drugs. Its veins opened, and tho blood sucked therefrom by tho King, Queen and minor seniors, while tho rabblo toro tho corpso limb from limb and devoured tho flesh, still warm, tho bones and adhoring slips of' ilosh, with tho head, being' throwni into a kottlo of boiling water with the bodies of small snakes. Tho broth; seasoned with horbs and rum, was. eagerly partakon of by all prosont. Tills sooms incrodiblo. but woll au thonticated cases whoro recontly buriedi bodies havo beon oxhumod. cooked, and devoured by tho almost complete ly barbarous inhabitants of tho southv orn department tho brutalized de scendants of tho lowest tribes of. Africans havo beon heard of. In February, 1881, at St Marc a cask of so-callod pork was sold to- a foreign ship. Fingers and fingernails boing discovered, furthor investiga tion proved all tho flesh thoroin to bo human. An English colored clergyman near Capo Ilaytian re cently found that his wifo had pur chased human flesh Instead. of pork In public market. Four people were fined in tho capo for oating corpses. Cor. N. Y. World. KISSING THE LADIES. Unco n Very l'opulitr KiirIImIl SIod ol rollte Salutation. , Nlcolaus do Bothlon, a. pupil of Dr. Basiro at Alba Julia, visited England during tho winter of 1CG3-4, and iso lates the following in his "Autobiogra phy": "Boing unaware of tho fact that it was customary in England to kiss the cornor of tho mouth of ladies by way of salutation, instead of shak ing hands, as wo do in Hungary, my youngor brothor and I bohaved very rudoly on ono occasion. Wo woro in vited to dlnnor to tho houso of a gon tlemun of high, rank, and found his wifo and threo daughters, ono of thorn married, standing in array ready to recoivo us. Wo klssod tho girls, but not tho married ladles, and theroby greatly oifonded tho lattor, but Duval, (a French Protestant clergyman) apol ogised for our blundor, and explained to us that whon saluting wo must always kiss tho senior lady first and loavo tho girls and ohlldron to the last; after dlnnor it was considered sufUciont to kiss tho hostess only In recognition of tho hospitality ro colved." Thoroafter, ho adds, ho and all his traveling companions, with tho exception of one, who could not bo provallod upon, compllod most scru pulously with tho rules of otlquKte Bothlon moved In tho best socioty in London. Ho was rocolvod by Charlos II. "In publlca solonnl nudlontla" surrounded-by a throng of noblemen: ho called on tho Dux Ebornconsls, Uu par tus Palatlnus lihoni, and many noblo mon of high rank. At Oxford ho was entertained and mndo vory much of by tho profossors, who, ho Informs us, spoko Latin with dilllculty. In fact everybody in England, ho tells us, considered it a great torture to be obliged to speak Latin, and ho was, theroforo, compelled to air his broken English, which ho had picked up at Leyden undor tho tuition of n poor Englishman. Notes and Queries. A Lover's Stratagem "How Is it you always tako your intended to tho railway fetation?" "Becauso wo can Ihgro kiss undWturbod, nnd Om folks think wo nro unruly aylnggoodbyo." WELL-SEASONED TIMBER. ttovr Wood I Dried In the T.nrco Furni ture FactorJrn of the Bait. "It is mighty hard work to' buy thor oughly dried 'lumber' nowadays," said a furniture manufacturer, "becauso tho great demand for it in tho East for building nnd manufacturing purposes leads tho Western lumbermen to ship it boforo it has been thoroughly sea soned. A fow years ago it was custom ary to tako tho wood from tho saw and pile it up out-doors, whero it would remnln from eighteen monthB to two years before it was considered fit for shipping.. Now, six months is consid ered long' enough, nnd In consoquenco wo recoivo very little wood dry enough to bo worked to ndvantago." "How then do- you raanago to got along?" was askcd "Wo havo dry-rooms or kilns, in which wo placo tho wood and season it ourselves. Wo buy tho best-seasoned timber wo can got, and then shut it up for from ono to threo weeks until it is in fit condition for use" "How can you tell whon it is?" "In several ways. Wo notice how it cuts, and examlno tho saw-dust and shavings. Even then wo aro often de ceived, nnd discover wnrps and cracks In our manufactured product boforo it leaves tho salesrooms. You yourself have probably noticed cracks in tho fino bedsteads 6f ovon tho best makers, or have soon tho top of a nlco' hard wood desk split from sldo to side- All this comes from tho use of unseasoned lumber. It makes up neatly, and may 6eem to bo perfectly dry, but whon ox posed to tho changes of tho atmos phoro, tho molsturo In tho pores rjf. tho wood evaporates, shrlnkago ensues, and something gives. I was much mortified the othor day, and at tho. samo tlmo lost a good customer, by just this very thing happening. An ordor had been received from a wealthy woman In Now Haven for a finely carved cabinet Unfortunately, I was called out of town boforo I had fin ished selecting the wood for it and had to. loavo somo of tho solocting to an assistant. Tho cabinot was finished, and was an exquisite bit of workman ship. In threo weoks after dolivory it was sont back to mo, and right across one of tho finest panols thoro was a crock that you could put a pin into. That-customer has novor beon near tho store-since, and yet I vonturo to say that! tho same thing is liable to occur at any timo in any establishment" "How do you dry timbor artificial ly?" "There aro a numbor of ways. Naturally, heat is tho fundamental principlo in all. Tho kilns aro of all sizes and shapes. Somo aro heated by. furnaces, somo by steam-pipes, and somo by hot air sont from a dlstauco bjr fans. In somo a vacuum is croatod, in others compressed air is used. Tho groat point, I think, is to got a good, circulation all about tho lumber. Ono method is used by which a largo vol ume of hot air is sont into tho kiln at ono end and oxhausted at tho othor. Every minuto or two tho air in tho kiln is thus changed and tho moisture from tho wood passed off. Thero is an arrangement by which any degree of heat can bo produced, and dilTcrent kinds of wood aro treated differently. This process dries green 'lumber' in sovon or eight days. It would tako ono or two years of exposure to dry tho samo wood in tho open air." N. Y. Evening Post WHY MORTAR HARDENS. It Id Duo to tho Combination of I.lmo with Water. In writing upon this subject G. R, Burnoll says: Until vory recently it was hold by most onglnoors and archi tects, by mysolf among others, that tho solidification of mortars took placo in consequonco of tho nbsorption of carbonic acid gas by thp limo during tho process of crystallzation but it has beon fairly objected to this theory that tho quantity of carbonic acid gas con tained in tho atmosphoro which could bo brought Into contact with a large body of cement would not suillco to saturate tho latter. Tho goncrally recoived opinion on tho subject now is. that limo hardens simply in consequonco of tho combina tlon with water which takos placo dur ing tho sinking, and that tho rapidity of tho setting, and tho pormanonco of tho newly-formed hydrate of limo, de ponds upon its boing combined with somo other salt; tho puro hydrate of lime, In fact is solublo; tho hydrated silicate of limo is tolorably insoluble, but it forms slowly; whilo tho hydrated doublo silicate of limo and alumina, or of limo and magnesia, aro practically insoluble Tho facta actually obsorved seom to confirm theso viows, nnd thoy certain ly onablo us to account for not only tho dlfforont modes of sotting obsorvablo In dlfToront limes, but also for somo of tho moro gradual actions which tako placo In that matorlal, and the effects roclprocally producod by tho mlxturos of various ingredlonts. In tho caso of tho now generally used Portland comonts, and In that of undorburnt limo, somo vory curious phenomena may, howovor, bo ob sorved, which appear to indlcato that tho simple laws mentioned nbovo do not comprohond all tho conditions which may nrlso, 60 that tho above' theory Itsolf must only bo considorod as a stop toward tho attainment of n. complete ono of a moro general char acter. Tho phenomena to which I thu3 al lude are connected with tho obscure subjoct of tho chemical actions which take placo under the influonco of high dugroue of temperature. Boston Budget ' r r