6 THE VOLTA BLOWN UP COL. COLT SUPERVISED THE RE MARKABLE EXHIBITION. Forty IIKIUHILIHI Saw the First (explosion By the s'l ,| Mlontrtelty—The Srcro tary ot War Wan l'lcnviit la Cuatlft I Oardfii. The civilized world had a hearty laugh at the unique proposal that some one in authority arrange a naval battle hotween the United States and Spain outside the harbor of New York. It was received u3 the suggestion of a humorist. And yet there is no reason why a fierce encounter between the naval fleets would not furnish a grand spectacular demonstration in compar ison with which yacht races would be the tamest of pastimes. The crowds who would take all risks in order to witness such an engagement would bo unparalleled. To-day we consider It ultra-sensational to have two engines run into each other to show how ter rible a railroad collision ma/ be, and if the crowds that visit a wreck long after it has taken place be an - index to the public appetite, fully half of New York's three millions would go upon the water to see a real naval battle. Fifty-six years ago over 40,000 people witnessed the explosion of a steamer in New York harbor by Colonel Colt. This was one of the great events of sub-marine history, and in these cora- paratively quiet times caused the ad journment of Congress and the suspen- Islon from his duties of no less a per sonage than the Secretary of War. Though Robert Fulton was one of fie first improvers of the torpedo, It is . ot generally known that Samuel Colt, of the Colt revolver fame, was the father of the modern submarine bat tery In the days of President Tyler. ; Indeed the use of torpedoes in war ■ "own to the days of Tyler was regarded I w.n the same nameless feeling of hor i ror as the Guy Fawkes story produced Tor three hundred years in England. In was considered an inhuman inven tion due to "water-worms, fire-devils, nd submarine assassins." Fulton himself was described by a squeamish writer in the Naval Chronicle, as "a crafty, murderous ruffian." But Pres ident TyW took a different view of tho submarine battery. He had an appro artation of $17,000 made to Colt for the perfection of his invention under the 'ollowiug circumstances. The Government placed a schooner at Colt's disposal In August, 1842, to ex periment upon on the Potomac. The President. General Winfleld Scott and he heads of tho various Departments n Washington took a day off to see Colt experiment on her. He destroyed :he schooner from an observation :ower on the banks of the Potomac while five miles distant; a feat which was then considered a most unparal leled an ex'... a. dluary triumph of sci nce. He asserted that he could ex plode a shell under water at a distance if ten miles by the same methods, and it was in order to produce such a feat •.hat Congress voted the appropriation. Two months later, October 18, 1842, Colt's battery produced a still more rotable effect In New York Harbor In .he presence of 40,000 citizens, who went down the Bay to see it with as much interest as they now would go .o see a yacht race. It is worth reproducing the report nade in the Evening Post of October s. 1842 of this event, not only to show the entire success of the experiment and the manner of reporting the events jf that period, but to contrast the space afforded and the utter absence if that vivid description with a similar spectacular event of the present day journalism: "A vast multitude assembled yester lay afternoon to witness the explosion jf Colt's Submarine battery placed un der a vessel of 260 tons. The North Carolina, seienty-t'our, about four /clock gave a salute of thirteen gun 3. Immediately afterwards the signal for the explosion was given. The vessel rose bodily out of the water and then separated into fragments which were thrown about seventy feet in the air. The next moment nothing was seen of her except a few pieces of the wreck which were floating on the water and jf which the boats lying near hastened o possess themselves. The Secretary if War was present in Castle Garden." The name of the vessel was the brig "Volta." The experiment was per formed under the auspices of the American Institute, while Colonel Colt tpplled the electric spark from a bat :ery on board the revenue cutter 'Swing." It Is also noteworthy, en passant, that other papers like the 'Morning Courier and Inquirer," did lot give a single line to this phenom enal triumph of American science; bough the "Courier" of tho next day Vive a whole column to a foreign dis patch relating to a fire In Liverpool which took place on the same day that Colt's battery blew up this brig, and he very explosion of which must have ihaken the windows of the "Courier" pflSce. The same paper also printed a detailed map of those streets In Liver pool between which the Are occurred; out the editor obviously had no time tor a local American event that brought the Secretary of War from Washington, and 40,000 of his fellow litlzens out upon the water. Need it se said that the "Courier" has long since gone. In the month of April following a prig of 800 tons was blown to pieces while sailing at the rate of 5 knots an hour .while Colonel Colt tnc operator jf the battery was on shore five miles iway. Both Houses of Congress ad journed to witness this event which was performed by tho arrangement of iroups of torpedoes connected by in sulated wires nnd with a galvanic bat •ery operated by a method similar to '.hat already described. CHILDREN'S TRAINING. Each Little One Needs Careful ami Earn est htmly. The unformed characters of children are so different, that in a family of brothers and sisters no two are alike, and each little one needs careful and earnest study. This is the more im portant if we remember what a wise man once said: —"Give me a child till it is six years old, and then it does not matter who comes after me." It is in deed a fact that the salient points of the character take root during that ear ly period of life and a little one of six who is hard-hearted, Ur untruthful, or spiteful, Is exceedingly difficult to re form. A wise mother must discriminate Ju diciously between natural Juvenile fail ings and real naughtiness. There are so many acts and words which must aot pass by unchecked, and yet do not deserve a censure or too much stress let upon them, and other offences which must never be overlooked. All healthy, strong, vivacious chll- Iren are restless, wilful, and mi - ihievous in a greater or less degree. The boy of three years old. full of spirits, and the Jole de vlvre, often pitches his toys about In a reckless fashion very unsafe for the other denl sens of the nursery. This, of course, must be stopped. At the same time, there is no naughtiness In the motive, itid it need not call forth a punish ment, unless the youngster has re peated the misdemeanor Immediately ifter being cautioned. Very imaginative children, on the )ther hand, will circumstantially nar •ate incidents which they declare they have seen, or as having happened to .hemselves, and it is not easy to make •hem grasp the fact that this is a r alsehood. The best way is to take 'or granted that it is a fiction, and my, "Yes, dear, that is a nice little story you have made up. Now, shall nother read one, or can you make her ip another?" In this way the child •ealizes that one may relate things not '.rue, if they are honestly labelled as such. Always avoid arousing the violence of a really passionate child. Remem ber that nine times out of ten it is the Reposition of you, your husband, or tome relative that has descended upon he littie one, who is really more to be pitied than blamed. After a certain tge one can reason with a child In its quiet moments, and explain the danger snd pain of these headstrong out bursts, and assist it to learn the hard lesson of self-control; but a tiny mite Is too young for this, and, if possible, without giving way weakly, by a lit le tact and diverting the child's mind, .he exhausting torrent of passion should he averted. When very Juvenile youngsters hold .heir breath in that alarming fashion in the middle of a cry, the quickest way to bring them round is to rub a wet sponge or flannel on the face; the inexpected shock speedily produces the leslred effect. At the same time, this tolding of the breath is hardly ever ittendcd with danger, though it ap jears most appaltng to anyone unac nistomed to children. The great secret of management lie 3, however, after all, In discipline. Have is few rules and regulations as you jossibly can, but have those kept to he letter. Don't excuse any deviation herefrom, but insist with quiet flrm tess on their fulfilment. The child dls rlplined to implicit obedience has earnt the hardest and most important esson of all. Aliont Freclnni Stones, Agate quenches thirst, and If held In :he mouth allays fever. All precious stones are said to be jurified by a bath In honey. Amber is a cure for sore throats and ill glandular swellirg3. Amethyst banishes the desire for lrink and promotes chastity. Cat's-eye is considered by the Cinga ,ese as a charm against witch-craft, md to be the abode of some genii. Coral is a talisman against enchant nents, thunder, witchcraft, and perils jy flood and field. Diamond produces somnambulism ind promotes spiritual ecstasy. Emerald promotes friendship and ;onstancy of mind. Garnet preserves health and Joy. Loadstone produces somnambulism, Is dedicated to Mercury, and in metal urgy stands fur quicksilver. Moonstone has the virtue of making ;rees fruitful and of curing epilepsy. Onyx contains In It an imprisoned levll, which wakes at sunset and :auses terror to the wearer, disturb ng with ugly dreams. Opal Is fatal to love, and sows dis cord between the giver and receiver. Sapphire produces somnambulism, ind Impels the wearer to all good vorks. Topaz Is favorable to hemorrhages, mparts strength, and promotes diges ion. She Stopped to Flar with ■ Kitten. An authority on the subject of uurs ng, In discussing the question of the ige at which training should besin, leclares that twenty-three is quite ear y enough. "I have known," she adds, 'some small hospitals and nursing lomes, take girls to train as young as leventeen; and, In one Instance I re number, a girl who had been sent for i splint in a great hurry stopped on ihe way to play with a kitten and for sot all about what she was sent for." | Mrs. Greeu (who thinks of hiring)— ! But is the girl honest? Can she be i trusted? Mrs. Brown (the girl's former mls- I tress)— You need not he In the least alarmed. She is perfectly honest. All the time she was with me I never knew her to take a thing—not even my advice as to how tilings should be | done.—Boston Transcript. THE COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSBURG. PA. HOW BICYCLES ARE USED IN WAR Armies of All Nation* Mi|i|illv<l With the •'.Silent iStrcil." Great progress has been made with the bicycle as an adjunct to military service both here and in European countries. Actual warfare, in which the value of the wheel could he thor oughly tested, has not prevailed since the adoption of the bicycle by the ar mies of the great Powers, but enough experience has been gained to warrant the belief that it will be of vital im portance in the next conflict. Proba bility of hostilities with the ai'med forces of Spain has arouse" great pa triotism in the breasts of American cy clists, and many offers have been made the Government by wheelmen who de sire to form bicycle companies and flght for their country. While the av erage cyclist has an Idea that the bi cycle will greatly aid the army at some future day. he has little conception of bow really useful it will prove if em ployed on lines now laid out. In the United States the military cy clist has attained considerable promi aence, largely due, perhaps, to the gen tral popularity of the bicycle. In En gland, France, Russia and Germany, However, the army cyclists are in high lavor and the service is constantly be ng improved. General Miles has al ways been an enthusiastic advocate of :he bicycle for military purposes, and '.his is one reason why it has reached such a state of perfection, in our rcg- Jlar army. For courier service, scouting, road sketching, surveying and route recon naissance he regards the bicycle as in valuable. A patent is now under con sideration that will help the bicycla tervlce very much. It is a contriv tnce that will enable the soldier-cyclist .0 come to a stop and retain his seat. :t keeps the wheel upright and firm, ind Is Just the thing needed to give tho wheel greater value in the eyes of army jfficers. The machines now in use In the reg ilar service, together with the usual •quipment, tip the scales at about sev enty pounds. This makes a heavy load 'or long journeys, and the tendency tow is to decrease the weight as much is possible without sacrificing the sufe y of the riders. The customary gear of the army gheels is G6l£. Puncture-proof pneu matic tires arc used and every wheel las a brake, the weight of the outfit leing such that it is almost impossibla 0 stop by back-pedaliug when going lown hill. An ordinary mouse, with rousers and leggins, double-breasted hlrts, felt hat and bicycle shoes con titute the uniform of the at my cy list. Throughout the country there nro nany cycle corps In National Guard egiments. Greater New York has half •. dozen, the Thirteenth and Eight reg ments comprising specially well- Irilled companies. In the cycle corps •f the National Guard eacn member urnishes his own machine. A variety if makes, therefore, provides a dissira larity not observable in the corps of he regular army. The National Guard yclists always make a fine appearance, ind that branch of the service fiud3 treat favor in the eyes of the militia ncn. It Is said that within a short time a fill will be introduced in Congress au horizing the purchase of a sufficient lumber of bicycles to supply each fort ind military station in the country vith ten machines. The bicycle in the Russian army has ieen a source of gratification to the Jreat White Czar. The folding bicycle s used and the service has reached a tlgh state of perfection. In the last nanoeuvres of the army the cyclists ippeared to such good advantage that he Czar commanded them to defile M'ice before htm. They co-operate vith the independent cavalry. As long ago as ISB7 the French ndop ed the bicycle for use iu military oper ttious. The folding machine is used, t being perferred to any other. It ian be closed Instantly and is suitable or rough work. Compagnie Gerard is he name of the French military cy iling corps, so called after the Inventor if the folding machine. It is divided nto two companies, each under the ommand of a lieutenant. Each com •any is divided into sections, each of vhich is in charge of a sergeant. A due peajacket, a jersey of the same olor, red knickerbockers and cloth ;aiters complete the uniform. At icouting, pursuing and harassing an ■nemy the French military cyclists are ixceedingly well-trained and against in enemy would probably prove vary iffectivfc. Germany's military cycling corps :omprlses sevoral thousand experts iu he use of the wheel. They are well rained in map reading and revolver irlng and some of them are fast rid irs. Naturally the latter would be de ailed to messenger service in active leld duty. One of the drawbacks to the German lycilng service is the use of cushion ires. The time Is not far distant, how iver, when pneumatic tires will tako he place of the old-fashioned and les3 •esilient kind. A folding wheel which can easily be jut in ridable condition in less than .hirty seconds is in use In the Austrian irmy. Ambulances also have been ried by the Austrians with every iromise of satisfaction in actual ser vice. Hereafter they will be used in ill manoeuvres. A writer in the Ram- Jler says that these ambulances are tothing more or less than an ordinary olding safety, furnished with two long jarallel shafts joined together by a itrong square of sacking. While not n use as an ambulance the vehicle can ie employed to carry car.tp articles or jecessities for the commissary depart -11 cut. "Come Into the woocl.-hetl with me." "Hold on, pa. I ain't moved to go nto no executive session," A SOMBRE EASTER. The Moravians Olrbrnto the Day at the Cemetery. Moravians as a body are the most cheerful and literal-minded of Chris tians. When a Moravian repeats from the crepd. "I lieiievo in the resurrec tion of the body," he makes no mental reservations. As in the grave ail men are equal, there- are 110 monuments in Moravian cemeteries; rich and poor alike have their resting-places marked only by email slabs of stone, briefly inscribed. On Easter morning the cemetery of a Moravian village is the scene of the most significant portion of the church these marvelous gymnastlcal feats, service. At. the first sign of dawn a band of trumpeters, their instruments being in accord with tho Scriptural de scription of the general arousing on Resurrection Day, gather on the roof or in the tower of the church and play all believers are awakened. Shortly afterward the services begin in the ehurcn. The time and the cere monies are so arranged that the cul mination of the service shall be at sun rise. A few moments before sunrise t'n© congregation, led by the pastor and the trumpeters, file out of the church and march to the cemetery. The throng clusters at the eastern end of the grounds and the service is resumed; as the sun rises, the concluding words of the pastor are spoken, and the trum pets raise a Joyous anthem in which the entire congregation joins. ' ~~ . r3t!J A Speedy Cure. In a.i out-of-the-way part of West moreland. a old farmer, well known for his miserly habits, in order to save the candles, used to give the farm hands their supper in semi-darkness. The laborers grumbled at this, but the farmer took no notice. Things went on much in the same way for some time, till the farmer had occa sion to hire another farm-hand, named Tam Waring. Tam, who was well known to some of the other laborers as a wild and reck less sort of character, and always ready for mischief, was informed how mat ters stood. That night at supper, which consist ed of porridge, Tam took his seat on the right-hand side of the farmer, and watching his opportunity, quickly plunged a spoonful of hot porridge in to the farmer's mouth. The farmer jumped up with a roar of agony, an d demanded an explanation. "Weel, fairmer," replied Tam, "it's sae daurk, Ah couldn't tell whaur Ah was pittia' it. Ah thoclit it was i' my ain mooth." After that the farmer always took good care to have the kitchen well lighted. Til© Origin of a Name. games and mechanical toys oi ai! kinds are apt to make the hatching of the eggs on Easter day an exceedingly en joyable occupation for the children. The lovely Marechal Niel rose owes its name to the Empress Eugenie. When General Niel returned from the scene of his triumphs over the Aus trians in Italy after the battles of Sol ferino and Magenta a poor man gave him a basket filled with exquisite yel low roses. The general had a cutting struck from one of the blooms, and when the rose tree from it had grown he took it to the Empress Eugenie. She was charmed with the gift, but when she asked the name of the rose, she was told that It was unknown. "Ah!" she said. VI will give it a name; it shall be tho Marechal Niel." By this she conveyed to the gallant officer that he had been made a marshal of France for his services to the country, as well as naming the lovely blossom. To t'lrsn SIIOCH. Orange Juice Is an excellent cleanser of black boots and shoes. A slice of orange should be rubbed upon the shoe or boot, and as soon as it is dry should be brushed with a soft brush until it shines brightly. The Inside of a ba nana skin will be found most edwjve for cleaning tan shoes, the skin beinf rubbed all over the shoe, which should be carefully wiped with a soft cloth, and then briskly polished with a flan nel cloth. Patent leather boots of shoes should never be touched with blacking. They are the most difficult of all boots to keep in good order, and require constant care. A damp sponge rubbed over them, and an application of a little sweet oil or vaseline after they have been thoroughly dried will keep them soft and bright, and prevent them cracking. A Xovel I'ae of Catacomb*. A great portion of subterranean Par is is honeycombed with catacombs which were once used as burying places. A novel use has now been made of these underground galleries that lie beneath the Jardiu des Plantes, for they have been converted into a laboratory and aquarium. A number of them have been filled with reser voirs and glass tanks, whilst in others the niches that once contained human bodies bave been turned into cages, so that scientists may be able to study the effect upon animal life of total and partial darkness. It Is said that Succl, who recently completed his sixty-fourth public fast iu Rome, has abstained from food in his performances for 2,500 days of his life —nearly 7 years. The novel feature of a gas-motor lately invented is stated to be tho bringing of the fuel in the working cylinder into contact with air so highly compressed as to be Intensely hot. Many of the new velvet bolts for spring are studded with medallions so large as almost to cover the velvet band. Jt "A PERFECT FOOD —as Wholesome its it is Delicious."/\ 0 yi WALTER BAKER & CO.'S O 1 BREAKFAST COCOA 1 yC J ; W il \\\ \ \)\ classes, and for purity and honest worth is unequalled." #V Kfl ] jjft., V-pYm —Medical and .Surjical Journal. M\ ffl if l\ >1 Costs less than ONE CENT a Cup. yx V LtoJ I 'fr, j i Trade-Mark on Every Package, WALTER BAKER & CO. LTD., X A TRAot-MARK. Established I 780. DORCHESTER, MASS. X ALEXANDER BROTHERS & CO. DEALERS IN Cigars, Tobacco, Candies. Fruits and Nuts SOLE AGENTS FOR Henry Mail lard's Fine Candies. Fresh Every Week. 3?Xotsr3S7"2 OrOOXDEJ SOLE AGENTS FOR F. F. Adams & Co's Fine Cut Chewing Tobacco Solo agents for the following brands of Cigars- Henry Clay, Londres, Normal. Indian Princess, Samson, Silver Asb Bloomsburg Pa. IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF CAai'KT, MATVIIG, OF OIL CLOTH, YOU WILL FIND A NICE LINE AT W. M. IBM©WEE'S 2nd Door above Court, Ilouf-c. A large lot of Window Curtains in stock. a A YEAR FOR —■ 2k I 00 DEHOREST'S ~~ FAMILY The subscription price of DEMOREST'S a TiAin is reduced to SI.OO a year, i 1 AGaAA I IN E. DEMORKST'S FAMILY MAGAZINE IS MORE THAN A FASHION MAGAZINE, although gives the very latest home and foreign fashions each month ; this is only one of i s many valuable features. It has Something fo: each member of the family, for every department of the household, and its varied contents are of the highest grade, making it, pre-eminently. THE FAMILY MAGAZINE OF THE WORLD. It furnishes the best thoughts of the most in teresting and most progressive writers of the day, and is abreast of the times in everything, —Art, Literature, Science, Society Affairs, Fiction, Household Matters, Sports, etc, —a hing'e number frequently containing trom 200 to 300 tine engravings, making it the MOST COM FLLTE AND MOST PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED of the GREAT MONTHLIES. DEMOREST'S MAGAZINE Fashion Department is in every way far ahead of that con tained in any other publication. Subscribers are entitled each month to patterns of the latest fashions in womans' atli AT NO COST TO THEM other than that necessary for postage and wrapping, NO BETTER GIFT than a year's subscription to DEMOREST'S MAGAZINE can be made. By subscribing AT ONCE you can got the magazine at the reduced price, and will also receive the handsome 25-oent Xmas Number with its beautiful panel picture supplement. Remit §1 oo by money order, rcgistcrcd'letter or check to the DEMOREST PUBLISHING CO., 110 Fifth Ave., N. Y. City. GREAT SPECIAL CLUBBING OFFER FOR PROMPT SUBSCRIPTIONS. r ONLY $1.75 FOR b THE COLUMBIAN | , and Demorest's Family Magazine. f t Send your subscriptions to this office. J The Oregon's Great Record. After a 13.000-mile Journey She Meeds No Repairs At All. The navy department is proud of the record made by the Oregon from an engineering point of view. The reports to the department from the ship show that she does not need five cents worth of repairs to her machin ery after her 13,000 miles of contin uous run. The record is said never to have been equaled since the build ing of the first iron warship. The Buffalo, which comes with the Oregon from Brazil, is to be overhauled at Newport News, furnished with armor, given a good battery of five-inch guns, and altogether made a very effective modern cruiser. This will take about two months. Regarding the Philippines "there appear but two courses which we can consistently pursue," a Philadelphia newspaper thinks. "One is to return the islands to Spain after the war has been concluded, and the other is to give the people there who have been in revolt against Spanish tyranny an opportunity to set up a stable inde pendent government. The war we are engaged in is for humanity's sake, not conquest." Consequently we cannot give •'flic islands up to the old oppressors. No Lack of Attention- Miss New—l can't get my watch to keep time properly. Jeweler —Perhaps it needs regula ting. Miss New—Surely not. I move the regulator over the entire scale every day. OA9TORIA. Boars the Jon Havo Always Bought Statu Troops' Pay Koll- Word from Harrisburg says that the Adjutant-General's department is making out the pay rolls of the late National Guard, and it is expected that all of the work will be completed by next week. Those of the Guard who were ac cepted by the government and enter ed the volunteer service wiil be paid up to the day they were mustered in, while those who were at the camp and did not enlist or were rejected will be paid up to the time the order was is sued sending them to their homes. Owing to the fact that the Guard had a real service camp, there will be no encampments of any kind held this year, and the money for that pur pose will be used to pay the expenses of the State incut red in calling the Guard to Camp Hastings. To give you an opportunity of test ing the great merit of Ely's Cream Balm, the most reliable cure for catarrh and cold in the head, a gener ous 10 cent tffal size can be had of your druggist or we mail it for 10 cents. Full size 50 cents. ELY BROS.. 56 Warren St., N. Y. City. It is the medicine above all others for catarrh, and is worth its weight in gold. I can use Ely's Cream Balm with safety and it does all that is claimed for it.—B. W. Sperry, Hart ford, Conn. The number of steamers wrecked upon rocks and shoals and in high winds on.the passage from Pacific coast cities to Alaska show that the pilots have not yet learned the chan nels on their routes and do not know their business. OA-SlTOinaiA. Bears the The Kind You Have Always Buugfi
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers