The star of the north. (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, September 16, 1857, Image 1

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    THE STAR OF I THE NORTE
\ . .
K, V Weaver, Proprietor.]
VOLUME 9.
THE STAR HE THE NORTH
IS PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY MOKNINU BY
it. w. WEAVER,
X>FlFl€lE—Upstairs, in the new brick build
ing, on the south side oj Main Street, third
square beloxo Market.
BBSIS : —Two Dollars per annum, if
paid within six months from the lime of sub
scribing ; two dollars and fifty cents if not
paid within the year. No subscription re
ceived for a less period than six months; no
discontinuance permitted until all arrearages
tere paid, unless at the option of the editor.
ADVERTISEMENTS not exceeding one square
Will be inserted three limes for One Dollar,
end twenty-five cents for each additional ill
veition. A liberal discount will be made to
those who advertise by the year.
<Cl)oi(e lloetrn.
SIiNDAV.
One more week of care and labor
Has lazily crept away ;
To the weaty word, rest and quiet
Are sent down from Heaven to-day.
The sun shines with holy splendor,
The wind is little and mild,
The trees to and fro heave as gently
As the breast of a sleeping child.
Scattered clouds are pacing slowly
Over glittering fields of blue;
And often they seem to turn and wail,
As church-going people do.
The bells arc at morning service
In the churches all around;
They ring not their week-day clangor
But a suftened, Sunday'sound.
Ah. ring they sadly or merrily,
Ring they loud or ever so low,
They can not still the struggle
That the living spirits must know.
In sunshine and in stormy weather
By night as well as by day,
The soul must still be striving,
Striving, laboring all away ;
Nover leel the noisy passions
The peace of a Sabbath day.
Yet shall there come in the future
A Sabbath for the soul;
The bells shall not ring in the morning,
Slowly, sadly,shall they loll;
In the graves so dark and silent,
Is the Sabbath of the soul.
HACK BETWEEN WAR STEAMERS.-OH relum
ing to England, alter the failure to lay the
telegraph cable, a trial of speed look place
between her Britannic Majesty's ship Aga
memnon and the United States steam frigates
Niagara and Susquehanna. They started at
nine o'clock in the morning, and by five
o'clock in the evening tlie Agamemnon was
so lar behind that her smoke only could be
seen, the Susquehanna was about seven or
eight miles behind. The Agamemnon is
said to be the "crack" vessel of [ho English
navy, easily making eleven or twenty knots
per hour.
THE MISSOURI ELECTION. —The official re
pott shows that Col. Stewart, the Democratic
candidate for Governor of Missouri, is elected
by 321 majority. The official vole stands,
For Stewart, 47,975; for Rollins, 47,641. In
announcing the election of Col. Stewart, the
St. Louis Leader, of the 27th, says :
"The Democratic party has beaten the
coalition, and remains on the field, in spite
of the rage and disappointment of the ene
mies of the Stale and of the South every
where, a clearly ascertained majority of the
whole people of Missouri."
ty Hero is a gem from Dombey that will
never giow dim ;
"She died," 6aid Polly, "and was never
seen again, for site was buried in the ground,
where the trees grow."
"The cold ground?" said the child shud
dering again.
"No, the warm ground," replied Polly,
"where the little seeds are turned into beau
tiful flowers, and where the good people turn
into angels and fly away to Heaven."
C 7* A happy comment on the annihilation
of time and space by locomotive agenry is
us follows.
" A little child who rode fifty miles in a
railroad train then took a coach to her uncle's
house, some five miles further, was asked on
her arrival if she came by the cars. 'We
came a little ways in the cars,' she replied,
'and then all the rest of the way in a car
riage."'
X3T An intelligent lady, whose little boy
was beginning to swear, anxious to express
■to the child her horror of profanity, hit upon
the novel process of wosbing out his mouth
with soap sads whenever be swore. It was
an effectual cure. The boy understood his
mother's sense of the corruption of an oath,
which, with the taste of the suds, produced
the desited result. The practice if universal-
Jy adopted, would raise the price of soap.
I3T A Nebraska editor announced his
plans for celebrating the 4th ol July :
" We shall luxuriate over our dinner until
üboul 4 o'clock, when wo shall go and swim
for half an hour, Meter' for another half hour,
and then pitch pennies until dark. In the
evening we shall go a-courting."
t3T The best description of weakness we
have ever beard is contained in a wag's que
ry to bis wife when she gave him some chick
en broth, if she would try to coax (hat
chicken to wade through the soup once mote.
ET In France, all ladies who do not pos
sess a decided ample fortune, make it ■ point
to learn some practical art of business, which
in cases of reverses of fortune they may use i
it to obtain a living.
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1857,
ABSURDITIES OF SPEECII.
Insincerity and extravagant adulation often
betray people into uttering the most ridicu
lous absurdities quite unintentionally. A
great man addressing the House of Lords,
said, "It is my most painful duty to inform
your lordships that it has pleaeed the Almigh
ty Hod to release the king from his sufferings."
This was quite equivalent to saying that he
was sorry the king's sufferings were over.—
A maid of honor in France, being asked the
hour by her royal mistress, obsequiously an
swered, "What your majesty pleases:" an
answer even less indefinite than that of the
cow-boy, wh'o, after looking up at the town
clock, said it was only "half an inch past
eight." A nurse wishing to give a very po
lite answer to a gamteman Who incitrt red alter
the health of a sick baby entrusted to ber
care, 6aid, "Oh, sir, I flatter myself the child is
going to die." A nobleman told a visitor
that he had been talking to him in a dream.
"Pardon me," replied the other, "I really
did not hear you." A lady of rank having
had the professional services of a village pi
per at a little fete which she had given on her
estate, received the following ridiculously
civil note from him : Vour ladyship's pardon
fur my boldness in thus applying for payment
would be almost a sufficient compensation
for the labor of your humble piper, Patrick
Walsh " Lord Clatenden, in his essay on
the decay of respect paid to old age, says
that, ill his younger days, he never kept his
hat on before those older than himself, except
at dinner. In the present day, the wearing
of it at dinner would be thought more disre
spectful than at any other lime. George (he
Fourth, when Prince of Wales, used to return
the bows of all persons in the street, except
beggars. He justified this omission by re
marking, "that to return a beggar's bow,
without giving him anything, would be a
mockery, and to slop for the purpose of be
stowing a sixpence would seem ostentatious
in a prince." Sir Robert Graham, being in
formed that he had been found guilty of a
capital offence, desired the man to be again
placed on the dock, and hastily putting on the
blackcap, he said, "Prisoner at the bar, 1
beg your pardon," and then passed on him
the awful sentence of death. A country car
penter having neglected to make a gollows
that hud been ordered to be ready by a cer
tain day, the Judge himself went to the man,
and said, "Fellow, how came you to npg
lect making the gibbet that I ordered!"—
"I'm very sorry ; for had 1 known that it was
for your lordship it should have been done
immediately. While an officer was bowing,
a cannon ball passed over his head, and de
capitated a soldier who stood behind him.
"You see," said the officer to those near him,
"that a man never loses by politeness." Na
poleon's hat having fallen off, a young lieu
tenant stepped forward, picked it up, and
presented it to him. "Thank you captain,"
said the emperor, inadvertently. "In what
regiment, sire V' inquired the sub, quick as
lightning. Napoleon smiled, and forthwith
promoted the witty youth to a captaincy.—
Notwithstanding the fury with which the
battle of Fontenoy was contested, it began
with a great show of civility. Lord Charles
Hay, a captain of the English.guards, advan
ced before (ha ranks, and Count d'Auteroche
a lieutenant of grenadiers in the French
guards, stepped forward to meet him. "Fire,
gentlemen of the French guards!" exclaimed
the English captain. "No my lord," replied
the French Lieutenant,' "we never fire first."
This reminds us of an anecdote told of Cur
ran who, being called out to give satislaclion
to an officer for some imaginary oflence, was
told by bis antagonist to fire first, which he
declined, saying, "As you gave the invita
tion, I beg you will open the ball."
Good Taste iu Dress.
It was an observation of Lavater, says a
wriier in the Boston Post, that persons habit
ually atientive to dress display the same reg
ularity in their domestic affairs. "Young
women," lays he, "who neglect their toilet,
and manifest little concern about their appar
el, indicate in this very particular a disregard
of order; a mind but little adapted to the de
tails of housekeeping ; a deficiency of taste
and of the qualities that inspire love. The
girl of eighteen who desires not to please,
will be a shrew and a slut at twenty-five."
It is a great mistake in women to suppose
that thay may safely throw off all care about
dress with their celibacy, as if husbands had
less taste than suiters ; or as if wives had less
need than mistiesses of the advantage of el
egant and tasteful apparel. An old writer
says, with a hearty emphasis, "It is one of
the moral duties of every married woman
always to appear well dressed in the presence
of her husband." To effect this, however,
expensive attire is by no means essential.—
The simplest robe may evince the wearer's
taste as truly as the most costly gown of
"moire antique." But how rare a quality is
good taste! In the matter of propriety and
harmony of color, there is room for a trea
tise, which has yet to be written by some
one thoroughly proficient in'the asthetics of
dress. Even the simpler laws, though pretty
generally understood, are constantly neglect
ed. Some of these canons have been laid
down, in a most sensible maoner, by the au
thor of an Englisb poem ol the last century-
To brunettes he recommends high colors—
rose, oraDge, or even scarlet; to rosy-cheeked
girls he permits b!ue and the color of the sea;
and administers a caution to pale women
agaiust vernal hues.
BP" Labor and prudence relieve us from
three great evils—vice, want and indolence.
Iy India rubber pies are said to go fur
ther than any other iuuse.
The t'htlosopby and Beauty of Manners.
Manners are the garments of the spirit—
the eternal clothing of the being, in which
i character ullimates itself. If the character
be simple and sincere, the manners will ho
! at one with it—will bo the natural oulbirth
of its trails and peculiarities. If it be com
plex with self seeking, the manners will be
artificial, affected, or insincere. So.tte per
sons make up, put on, take off, alter, or patch
their manners to suit times and seasons, with
as much facility, and as little apparent con
sciousness of duplicity, as if they were treat
ing their clothes in light fashion. The fine
lady of this class may be polished to the last
degree, when, arrayed in silks and laces, she
I glides over the rich carpets of the drawing
room—and vt. with her servants at home,
she is possibly less the lady -j~ t , —,
worse still, the fine lady, married, perhaps,
to a fine gentleman of character similar to
her own, in the privacy of domestic life car
ries on a civil war with him, in which all re
restraint of courtesy is set aside. The best
manners possible are the simple bringing
down of the perfect law of charity into the
most external ul'imates of social life. Until
character lends at all times and in all places,
and towards all persons, to ultimate itself up
on a sure foundation. This is the golden rule
of true manners.
Mho Is h Gentleman f
A gentleman is not merely a person ac
quainted with certain forms and convention
alities of life, easy and self possessed in
the world without awkwardness, and free
from habits which are vulgar aud in bad
taste. A gentleman it something much be
yond this. At the base of all bis ease and
refinement, and tact and power of pleasing,
is the same spirit which lies at the root of
every christian virtue. It is the thoughtful
desire of doing in every instance to others as
he would that others should do unto him.—
He is constantly thinking, not indeed how he
my give pleasure to others for the mere
sense of pleasing, but how ho can ehuw them
respect, how he may avoid hurting their
feelings. When he is in society he scrupu
lously ascertains the position of every one
with whom ho is brought in contact, thai he
may give to each his honor due. He studies
how he may avoid touching upon any sub
ject which may needlessly hurl their feelings
—how he may abstain from any allusion
may call up a disagreeable or offen
sive association. A gentleman never alludes
to, never appears conscious of any personal
defect, bodily deformity, inferiority of talent,
of rank, of reputation, in the persons in
whose society he is placed. He never as
sumes any superiority—never ridicules, nev
er boasts, never makes a display of (lis own
powers, or rank, or advantages; never in
dulges in tiabits whicb may be offensive to
outers.
Counterfeit l.iquors.
The London limes notices, in a list of joint
stock companies in Paris, formally sanctioned
by the perfect of police, the name of the
•'General company of Fictitious or Counter
feit Wines." The Company boldly state that
no grape juice or alcohol'is used, but do not
specily the ingredients. The article is sold
at from four to eight sous per quait, and the
company has a capital of six million francs.
These liquors are, of course, sold as gonuino.
Our markets are flooded with spurious liquors,
and no one can tell when he buys the genu
ine article. The Springfield Republican says
that an informant of that paper was on a visit
to a friend, a liquor dealer at a western city,
and, in the space of an hour, he saw him
transform a barrel of high wines into "pure
French brandy," The barrel was stamped
with the custom house brand, and had all
the appearance of a sea voyage. The man )t
ufaclurer poured in the basis of the ingredi
eits (the high wines,) and then, having
scented it with about two ounces of the oil of
cognac, added a pail-full of a compound
which he had mixed from one bucket to an
other, and which was to give to it its taste
and color. The component parts of this last
mixture were absolute poisons, directly des
tined to sap the energy, and finally destroy
the life of the poor victims to a habit that
leads them to the use of such stimulants.—
When such facts are taken into considera
tion, there is no wonder that a prohibitive
law is demanded for the suppression of the
traffic.
SFOTS ON THE SUN.-— According to obser
vations made by M. Iludolphe Wolf, Direc
tor of the Observatory of Berne, it appears
that the number of spots on the sun have
their maximum and minimum at the same
time as the variations of the needle. It fol
lows from this, that the causes of these two
changes on the sun and on the earth must
be the same, and conseqently, from this dis
covery, it will be possible to solve several
important problems, in connection with
these well-known phenomena, the solution
of which has hitherto never been attempted.
CP* The bar-rooms in New York are clo
sing on Sundays. No cock-tails, bitters, or
eye-openers! Even the German lager-beer
dealers have to succumb. One fellow put
over his shop—"No admittance on Holy
Sabbath, except on Private Mattors," and
in German, "Hintere Thuer Oflan for Moine
Boarders."
CP" Flowers have bloomed in our prai
ries and passed away, from age to age, un
seen by man, and multitudes of virtues have
been acted out in obscure places, without
note or admiration. Tho sweetness of both
has gone up to heaven!
Troth and Right GodTOSFVfIr Country.
COMMON SCHOOL MATTEUB.
From the Penn'a School Journal for September.
Monthly Decisions and Instructions of the
Mule superintendent-
DEI'ISIUNS.
Deduction for prompt payment of tax.—Di
rectors have no authority to allow a deduc
tion of five per cent., or any other amount,
for prompt payment of school tax. That pro
vision of the law of 1849 was omitted in the
act of 1854. The collector's warrant is broad
enough and strong enough to ensure the
payment of all taxes that the directors do not
choose to exonerate.
To Superintendents.
Permanent Certificates.—The first three years
m tire voumy gnpenntsiiuunuy '
of experiment, aud errors ot administration
were naturally to be expected. The act of
1854 inagurated an entirely new system of
common school operations, especially as re
garded the examination of teachers. But
owing to the wide difference in the.relalive
professional qualifications and judgment of
the first corps DI Superintendents, there were
radical differences in the respective standards
o( attainment and skill to entitle an applicant
to the permanent certificate. Some Super
intendents, also, possessed more firmness
and decision, while others feared to give of
fence and create undue opposition by a rigid
adherence to the instructions of the Depart
ment. The cause of education was much
more backward in some counties than in
others ; and in some instancea it was unfor
tunately lite case that first-class certificates
were grantud to from
favoritism, or to accommodate influential di
rectors. In addition to this, some Superin
tendents received none but first-class certifi
cates, aud of course could issue no others;
and even the best and most cautious Super
intendents discovered, in the course of time,
that they had made mistakes in their esti
mates of teachers' qualifications.
It results from these various oauees, (hat a
considerable number of teachers holcl the
permanent certificate whose qualifications
do not entitle them to it; especially in that
essential item, the "art of teaching." In or
der to protect the public and vindicate the
school system, it is obligatory upon Superin
tendents, under the provisions of the 41st
section of the act of 1854, to vacate and an
nul all such certificates when dircovered;
and if the holders desire to continue in the
vocation, to substitute a temporary certificate
of lite proper grade.
To facilitate this exchange, a new edition
of the permanent certificate nas been pre
pared, considerably modified in styla and ap
pearance, and will be mailed to Superintend
ents about the time this notice reaches them.
They will deliver the new style of certificate,
without a re-examination, to ail such hold
ers of the old style as they are ratisfiod, from
what they know of their qualifications, are
fairly entitled to it. In all other instances
they are instructed to requires re-examina
tion, aud grant such certificates as the result
may justify. The safely antf success of the
school system require that the standard of
qualification should be high: In all cases a
want of tact and skill in the 'art of teaching'
will be a fatal objection to ike issuing of the
permanent certificate, no matter how great
the superiority of mere sebnlawfcip may be.
Temporary Certificate. —A new edition of
the temporary certificate, slightly modified,
will be printed and mailed at the same tune,
and can be substituted for the old form aa
circumstances will permit.
Elementary Branches. —There is a preva
lent disposition amongst holders of the tem
porary certificate to extend their studies to
branches not named in it, including even
modern languages and the classics, and
have ihem inserted by the Superintendent,
while the figures in the elementary branches
are not higher than medium; under the im
pression, apparently, that this addition to
their accomplishments would look more re
spectable and increase their chances for
profitable employment. This impression is
erroneous, and the practice is not to be com
mended, because,
Ist. The great want of the time is a prac
tical education.
2d. The great defect in education, at the
present day, is want of thoroughness.
3d. Wherever else ,; smatterer" may be
tolerated, they cannot be afforded in our
common schools—where, above all other
places, the instruction imparled, whether in
the elementary or higher branches, should
bear the impress of genuine merit.
4th. Such enlarged certificates, if intend
ed for private schools, are of DO official
value; and if intended tor the public schools,
would fail of their object, as the higher
class of schools is not sufficiently numerous
to afford employment to a tithe of the ap
plicants who would thus present themselves.
And if it were otherwise, such certificates
would carry with them their own condem
nation, and defeat their intended purpose.
Thoroughness in the elementary branches
is of paramount importance, and i earnest
ly eujoined upon Superintendents and Teach
ers.
County Institutes. —Wherever Superintend
ents have had no experience in conducting
Institutes, they should secure the best assist
ance that their influence or resources can
command. After the ice is once broken,
they can rely upon themselves ami their prin
cipal teachers te a good purpose. Bot a great
deal depends upon a right start; and to ignore
or discard the assistance of experienced in
structors would be as unphilosophical and
impolitic' as for tbe unfledged teacher to
wotk bis own way in tbe school t(jom, with-
out the advantages of either experience or
normal Irainiug.
Private Examinations. —These have been ]
tolerated heretofore to an injurious extent, I
and have consumed the time and seriously
crippled the movements of Superintendents.
The regularly appointed public examinations
are open to all applicants, and it is their duly I
to present themselves in their proper district.
Superintendents should refuse to make pri
vate examinations, except for special rea
sons, and not then unless applicants bting a
written request from at least three members
of the board of directors who desire to cm
ploy them.
TO OMECTOKB.
Secretary of the Board. —The Secretary,
whether appointed District Superintendent or
1 rrv;, fo ifre aStuvi t*f S
board, and as suoh, lie should make tt his
business to see that all needful preparations
are duly made lor the opening of the fall and
winter schools. Public notice should be giv
en of the time the schools of the district will
open, so that parents can have the children's
clothing ready, and text-books provided, in
order tha* pupils may commence punctually
on the iirst day of the term. He should see
that the school houses are in order, broken
windows mended, general repairs made, and
fuel provided. When the board have en
gaged the teachers, the Secretary should see
that a written contract be entered into with
each one, so as to avoid dispute and conse
quent ill-feeling afterwards. Blank contracts
can readily be procured of the printers at
the county seat for a mere trifle. The will
save much labor and insure greater accuracy.
The collector and treasurer should also be
looked after, in order that the funds may be
at hand to punctually meet the teacher's
wages and incidental expenses.
This iorethonghi may be a little trouble
some, but will save a vast deal more of (rou
ble and perplexity in the outcome. And at
any rate, public duties are of public impor
tance, and not to be lightly rpgatded; and if
any incumbent is not satisfied with the du
ties belonging to his position, nothing oan,
be easier than to vacate the post, and pe-mil
it to be filled by some one who will not
shrink from its responsibilities.
The Secretary should, however, receive a
reasonable compensation for his services,
wherever the resources of the district will
justify it.
Uniformity of Text books. —The provisions
of the 25th section of the act of 1854, were
intended to secure good text-books and ex
clude poor ones, but more especially to es
tablish local uniformity, for the reason that
without such uniformity pupils cannot be ar
ranged into suitable classes, and the differ
ent branches taught to the best advantage.—
Without proper classification, the efforts of
the teacher can accomplish but httle practi
cal good for the school; and the school term
results in little belter that a loss of time and
money for all parties. Text-books are now
published in almost countless thousands,
and book agents are to be found everywhere,
seeking to introduce litem; so that directors
cannot justly complain that ample facilities
are not furnished to their hand, for the dis
charge of this important branch of their offi
cial duty. They should make the best selec
tion that may be practicable, and then firm
ly adhere to it until fully introduced. Bui
this done, frequent changes are to be avoid
ed, and the annual meeting required by the
law, only used to correct palpable mistakes
that may have been made in former selec
tions. But directors 6houlri resist importuni
ties to introduce the works of one author or
publisher merely to displace those of another
when the difference between the two is prac
ticaily immaterial. Frequent changes of this
nature defeat the object of the law, create
great dissatisfaction oh the part of the parents,
and prejudice the public agaiusl the school
system; and are therefore greatly to be dep
recated. The greater portion o F text-books
now issued from the press are so nearly
equal in substantial merit, that the particular
series selected is of much less importance
than the uniformity of such as sre used.—
The great dependence of the school, under
all circumstances, must be upon the Teacher,
not upon the text-book. A good teacher
can be very successful with an inferior set
or text-books, if he but have enough of the
same kind to enable him to arrange his pu
pils into classes; while a poor teacher will
fail, no matter what the character and assort
ment of books.
County Superintendent's Postage.-The post
age on all official letters and documents to
and from the School Department is paid by
the Department. But each district should
defray the expense of its own local corres
pondence out of its own treasury. County
Superintendents are not provided with funds
to pay postage on their home official busi
ness, which, though made up of small items,
amounts to a large sum in the course of a
year, and becomes oppressive. Teachers,
directors, and others, who have occasion to
write to the County Superintendent on offi
cial business G7* should always enclose a
three cent stamp to pay the return postage.
The postage paid by directors should be du
ly refunded to them out of the disttict treas
ury.
Suggestions. —Some of the suggestions to
Superintendents this month will interest
Teachers; and their co-operation in the views
of the Department, and the movements of
Superintendents, is respectfully Invited. The
success of the school system, and the dig
nity and prosperity of the profession, depend
upon tbo impartial fidelity of the Supertn
teudents, ud tho voluntary eftorts of Teach-
ers to prove worthy of the honors and emol
uments of their calling. They owe it 10
themselves, to sustain by their iofiuence and
approval, lite rigid but just scrutiny, provi
ded by Ilia law, whose tendency and ob
ject is to thin tueir ranks of pretenders, and
open a wider aud richer field for lite merito
rious, wtio alone should be permitted to to
cupy it. Teachers have made extraordinary
efforts towards self-improvement within the
last three years, and a wonderful reforma
tion has been li e result. The coming three
years are radiant with promise foi them; and
they can labor with more of heart and hope
than heretofore, under the well grounded
conviction that they are slowly but surely
building up an independent and honorable
profession, thai shall command the respect
I and tbo patronage of the public. But to do
l thi. requires that tbey should be true in their
allegiance to themselves, and continue to
practically test their capacity in the crucible
of the school room; seeking no earlier or
higher reward than stern experience may
justify. This may be tedious now, but the
honest common sense of the people of
I'ennsylvatiia will not fail in the end, to ap
preciate and reward the deserving teacher:
and will as certainly discard the incompetent
and unworthy. Touchers who ate conscious
| of improperly holding die permanent certifi
cate, should seek and early opportunity to
surrender it, and receive one that shall be a
I true criteiion of their professional qualifica
tions. They will bo gainers in the outcome.
PHILOSOPHY IN COURT.
We obsorve that a prize is offered this year
by Harvard College of 8500 to any pupil
who shall be decided by the Corporation to
have attained the greatest skill in mathe
matics. The person who offers tho prize,
which is only proposed for this year, is Uri
ah A. Boydon, a civil engineer of Boston.
This gentleman was concerned in a suit
last year, brought by him in the Supreme j
Court of Massachusetts, against the Atlantic
Cotton Mills of Lawrence, which was of a
very interesting character, but has never so
far as wo are aware, coine before the public.
Mr. Boyden had agreed to make a turbine
water wheel for the Atlantic Cotton Mills,
which should save or "utilize," as it is term
ed, seventy-six per cent, of the watcrpowcr;
if he succeeded in saving that per centago,
he was to have 820,000, if not, he was to
have nothing; and for every one percent,
above that he was to receive $350. Mr.
Boyden went to work and produced awheel
which saved, as he affirmed, ninety six per
cent. Tho labor involved in this suit may
be imagined, from the fact that Mr. Boyden
spent more than 85,000 in the mere mathe
matical calculations. The Company had
provided no sufficient means of testing tho
question practically, and as the per centago
claimed by Mr. Boyden was altogether un
precedented, they contested the claim.
The ease went into Court. No jury on the
globe could comprehend tho question, and
the learned Bench also found himself en
tirely at fault. The case was accordingly
referred to three well-chosen parties : Judge
Joel Parker, of Cambridge; Professor Benja
min Pierce, the mathematician, and James
B. Francis, of Lowell, tho agent of the united
companies of Lowell in the management of
the common water power. Professor Park
er furnished the law, Mr. Francis tho prac
tical acquaintance with hydraulics, and
Professor Pierce the mathematical knowl
edge. That learned geometer had to dive
deep and study long before the problem was
settled. But settled it was, at last, and in
Mr. Boyden's favor, to whom tho referees
awarded the sum of eight thousand seven
hundred dollars. Mr. Boyden had previous
ly constructed turbine wheels which utilized
respectively the extraordinary amounts of
eighty-nine and ninety per cent ; the last
wheel utilizing ninety-six percent, exceeds
my thing of the kind that was ever made.
The wheel is one hundred and four and
three quarter inches in diameter.— New York
I'ost.
EVERY MAN HIS OWN IMURKR. —The fol
lowing suggestions to housekeepers, mer
chants, and those erecting new buildings,
may not be valueless:
Keep matches in metal boxes, and out of
the reach of children. Wax matches are
particularly dangerous and should bo kept
out of the way of rats and mice. Fill fluid
or camphette lamps only by daylight, and
never near a fire or light. Far belter dis
pense with them altogether. Do not depos
it coal or wood ashes in wooden vessels, and
bo sure burning cinders ara extinguished
before deposited. Never take a light or ash
es under a stair ease. Never take alight to
examine a gas meter, be careful never to
place gas or other lights near curtains.—
Never take a light into a closet. Do not
read in bed by candle or lamp light. Place
glass shades over gas lights in show win
dows, and do not crowd goods near thorn.
No smoking should be permitted in ware
houses or barns. Where furnaces are used,
tho principal register should always be fas
tened open. Build all chimneys from tho
earth. Stove pipes should be at least four
inches from woodwork, guarded by tin, and
enter substantial brick chimneys horizon
tally.
TY A young man, desirous of marrying
a daughter of a well known merchant, after
many attempts to broach the subject to the
old gentleman, in a very stuttering maimer
commenced—" Mr. 0 , are you willing
to let me have your daughter Jane?" "Of
course 1 am," gruffly replied the old man;
"and 1 wish you would get some other likely
fellows to ntarry the rest of them !"
[Two Dollars por Annas*
NUMBER 86.
A rtw wonns ON DUOS.
At this eson of the yesr much fear it
entertained for dog* becoming rabid or mad
from the supposed effect* of hoi weather.—
Statistics of rabies go to show that, contrary
to popular prejudice, it occurs moat frequent
ly in cold countries, and durnig autumn,
winter and spring, ( Trans. Am. Med. Asa.
1858.) In Prussia, from 1810 to 1819—•
1658 persons died from hydrophobia. (See
Kdmburg Med. and Sor. Jour. 1821.) lira
of Irequeni occurrence In ltussia, Poland,
Northern Europe, and in the Northern State#
of this Union. Dr. Mease says: "During
several hard winter months, within my re
membrance in this city, (Philadelphia,) es
pecially 1779 and 1780, dogs very common*
ly went mad." Rablee seems to bo a rafo
disease in tropical climates. Dr. Savary
aays .- "The disease' is not known in the
island of Cyprus or Syria." Carrey and Vol
neysay: "It is never seen in Egypt." Dr.
Barrow says : "It is extremely rare at the
Cape oi (food Hope, and in the interior of
Caffraria." Drs. Hamilton and Mosely both
say that "there was not a single case in Ja*
maica for a period of fitly years previous to
1783." The prevalei ce of rabies tn lha
island of Creta is in consequence of the oc
cupation ol the inhabitants, Who ate dog
fanciers, and the breeding of choice varie
ties of dogs for exportation is a source of
considerable revenue.
The bile of ao enraged dog (as when fight
ing) not affected with hydrophobia, may pro
duce hydrophobia in man, (*ee Morgagni,
Dr. Ce Dutx, Dr. Pipsombe, Dr. Newman,
&c. &c.) The true cause of the disease iu
the dog is not known, but the roost probable
causes are want of ptoper food and pure
water. An abundant supply of cold water
(or dogs would be a greater protection against
hydrophobia than "muzzles," which ere
worn only a part of the year, while hydro
phobia occurs almost as frequently in winter
as in summer It is a common practice and
a very serious mistake, when a person re
ceives a bile from a dog supposed to be rab
id, to kill tbe dog; this should in no case be
done, but secure the animal and keep it in a
safe place until it is fully known whether thn
tho dog really has hydrophobia. Dogs are
subject to fits, when they foam at tbe nroullt
and run around barking in a strange arid
' somewhat dangerous manner, and persons
are frequently b'itlen during such a paroxysm*.
Such bites are dangerous, certainly, but not
necessary fatal. Hydrophobia, which is fa
tal, may or may not follow such bite, but i!
i the dog is killed the awful dread and uncer*
j tainty of that frightful disease hangs over
j the unfortunate suiierer, lengthening his
! agony until death itselt would he a relief—
whereas if the dog is kept and does not be-
I como rabid, the mind is at once relieved
' from all anxiety. Hence, as a matter of
prudence and relief to the patient, the life
of tho dog should not immediately be ta
ken.—Ledger.
Brougham ou the Press.
In the course of a discussion in the British
, House of Lords, ou an article in the London
, Examiner," alleged to be a libel on Lord
Piuukett, Bishop of Tuain, Lord Brougham
remarked that, with regard to the article
which ho had read, it was, no doubt, strictly
' speaking, a breach of the privileges of their
j Lordships' House; bul of what use would
it bo to contend with the press iu such ca
! ses as these? Ho remembered, on oneod
j casion his Iriend, Mr. Mariott, was repre
! sented in a newspaper as having said, at a
j public meeting in the city, that he would
j not go in procession to that "d d old
- church," meaning some particular church
jin the city ot London. He felt much an
, noyed at the circumstance, and wrote a let*
i ter to the editor, in which he stated that his
! actual words were, that he would not go to
, that "damp old church." [A laugh j The
' next day there appeared in the newspaper
| a statement to this ellecl: —" We have given
j a place in our columns to the contradiction
! which Mr. Marriott has made: but at the
! same time, we think it right to say that we
have referred die matter to our reporter who
I is certain that lie used the words'd——d old
I church,' and to add that we have the most
'
! perfect confidence iu the accuracy of our
j reporter." [Great Laughter ] The gentle
' mati complained to him of that treatment,
j attd he (larrd Brougham) recommended him
j in future not to bo too hasty in contradicting
| any statement that might appear iu a uews
! P a P er -
How TO EDUCATE CHILDREN.— HaII's Jour
nal of Health contains the following sugges
tive paragraph, which ought to be remem
bered and acted upon by every parent anl
guardian in the land. The writer says:
"Had 1 the choice of only four things to
be taught my children, they should be: To
sing well, to rend well, to write well, and to
sketch well. Prefection in these will earn
their possessor a maintenance in any coun
try, and will eruble liim to amuse himself
or entertain n company, whether it be under
a rock in the desert or upon a crag in the
sea."' ■■--■ in -
CC The price asked for Mount Vernon
and the Tomb of Washington is $200,000.—'
It has beeu proposed in Virginia that the
Freemasons make up the money necessary
to purchase it by the subscription of oo dol
lar or less from each individual.
BT The Masonic Order of the United
Stales numbers three hundred thousand per
sons, and includes a large portion of all the
distinguished civil, military and professional
aett.