r.
f r-.
' 7'
THE WIIOLK AKT OF GOVERNMENT CONSISTS IN THE ART OF BEING HON EST. J EFFEIISON.
i :
VOL. 13.
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, "1853.
No 16.
Published ly Theodore Sclioch.
TERMS Two dollars per annnuni in advance
Tvn
dollars and a quarter, half yearly- und if not paid be-
aore me cnuoi incyear, 1 wouoiiarsanua nan. mose
-who receive their papers by a carrier or stage drivers
employed by the proprietor, will be chaiged 37 1-2
enis, per year, extra,
No papers ditcontinuedujitil all arrearages are paid, I
except at the option of the Editor.
U3- Advertisements not exceeding one square (six-,
teen lines) will be inserted three weeks for one dollar.
And twenty-five cents for every subsequent insertion. ;
Th Phnnn fnr
orouoanu inree insertions uiu sauio.
t .i . - .i. . .
A lioerai discount maue to yearly nuveiirers.
ITT All letter :tt!(lrppr1 tn tlio Wilnr mUSlDe OOSt-
pvld.
JOB PRIflfTIKG.
P I
Type, we are prcpa
to execute every description of
Cards, Gtrcuiirs, mil ticaus, iotes, HianK iccccipis
justices, LeSai and other Blanks. Pamphlets, ac.
printed with neatness and despatch, on icaxiiiable j
terms,
AT THE OFFICE OF THE
JTeffcrsoiiiau Kcimblicau
The Kcnfuckian in Malt
TVc passed three weeks in Malta, wait
ing for despatches. Various plans were
devised to kill time, and never did it
pass so pleasantly away. Fishing, row
ing, dinners, suppers, etc., formed our
principal amusements, and as the harbor
was filled with vessels of all nations, au
interchange of national courtesies was
kept up until our anchor wa3 weighedj
and old Ironsides again before the breeze.
At one of the entertainments given on
fihore by the ofneers of a British frigate,
the conversation turned upon rifle shoot
ing, which led to an animated discussion,
in which our officers took part. j
1 nave oiten Heard, said the command- .
cr of the Thunderer, 'that you have some
fellows in your countiy called Kentucki-
ans, who are reckoned great shots with
the rifle.'
'Yes, sir,' replied Lieut. X ,
'their fame in that hue is great, which is .
easilv accounted for. As soon as thev
aro able to shoulder a rifle they com
mence practicing, and in course of time
become excellent marksmen.'
ml V
'They may be very clever, but I be- lovcs, for fear oi lriction on the knuck- 30Ui nou"c' OUUb lu ULt uu jand all of thorn go by one central pendu
Jievo we have better shots on board our L that i a symptom. When he leaves Hurry home or the engines will be there lum, accurately, five hundred clocks alike
i a friend's house in tlia eveinrr. to avoid a before VOU ! to a second !
'I do not belong to that section of the
country, observed thc lieutenant, 'and
v' nhsprvri tlif linfrTrinr 'nn
have had but little practice with the rifle;
but if I mistake not, we have a Kentuck
ian iu company, who will stand up for
his native State.'
'Yes, on all occasions,' said our purser,
a tall, muscular descendant of one of the
first settlers in the State.
'What say you, then, "entlemen, to a '
shooting match to-morrow morning?' ask-
ed the Englishman.
'Agreed, with all our hearts.' said the
Vl.
The next morning the party met in a
.. f J
beautitul grove, with tueir target seven-
tj-five yards distant. I he J!iDghsh rifle
ic il. ftoTAnt. trnin f.ho A monnnn tho hrr-
rel beinf shorter and the stock heavier.
Six picked men from the Thunderer were
on the ground, all of whom fired. No
one, however, 'cut the paper' the size of
a dollar although several of the balls
were close to it.
The shots were considered excellent:
the English and French officers present
were eroatelv astonished at the profici-
ency of the riflemen. The commander
of the Thunderer, turning o the purser,
said with a smile.
'What do you say to that? I take it
you'll find it difficult to come up to it.' audna at the time, called to condole with ; That would fun a3 3ad as tne ' tioQ fQ fcho practical business of life.
'You may think so but I consider it is Majesty, hoping that he might turn KflW York plan 0f keeping watchmen up ' Something may be said by way of apolo
, ,. , , -j x, rr l i- hw bereavement to the advantage of his . . , i i ,
no shooting at all,' said the Kentuckian. souJ and make a WQod cnri3t;au f uim in the fire towers, on a perpetual looky for this habit, but it is unquestionably
'Vous montez le haut cheval.J said a But'the old Heathen at once tabooed re- out- That would not be scientific enough : productive of great evil. All readers
French officer. ligions topics, and having ordered a pipe for a " uiiST'' way. But you kuow a know a great deal about a great many
'Je vous montrai said the Kentucki- for his visitor, inveterately smoked on in church clock strikes the hours without subjects. But how much of this knowl-
an. : s51ece- f he UZSlTTyrft I?! Zk au3' help from thc sexton except to wind ' edgc is the result of their own experience?
,. , -a ,i -r. i ward. He could espy no opening tor a , ., , fa r
,Fire away,' said tho Englishman. conversation, nor did he know how to get lfc UP Jusfc so the bells are ruugfor urc : Were all they have acquired from other
Ti bet a wine supper for all hands," out of the royal presence. At last, mak- in every steeple there is a machine like sources erased from the tablet of their
said the Kentuckian, 'that I make three ing a desperate effort, he remarked that the striking train of a clock. These ma- minds, they would be very much inclined
shots, every one of which will be better his Majesty must be left nearly, it not chines will strike several hundred blows' to shave their heads, and play tho monk
than any yet .made, and each succeeding th eir heaJ hammers by being till they havo qualified themselves anew
one better than the .first.7 j M nearly childness I luive but one und up once. When you sent off your' for the stations they now occupy.
'Ill take it,' said the Englishman, em'i- hundred and scve?dy-threc children left, dispatch, it went direct to a third story Whence was this knowledge chiefly ob
ling. ; but, Allah be praised.' j room on Court Square and was read by tained ? From two sources; reading and
Thc Kentuckian slowly raised a rifle
uc uau uiuugut irom nome, ana nrea.
fp. ,
Iho paper was cut! The second shot
was better than the first, and the third
bored tho centre.' Nothing could depict
the surprise of all present: the English-
mau acknowledged the corn, and said ho .cVd.That i wuling he shall to U. a good boll. When this gal
was satisfied. The Kentuckian enjoyed jjjs ra for 100 or any further a-. vanic current passes into the several stee
a hearty laugh, declaring it was nothing mount he may please. I am not a sport-' pies, it circulates in each around a bar of
to what he could do that he would be ing character, but I cannot allow the soft iron, which instantly becomes a pow
ashamed of such firing in old Kentuck. great State of Ohio tp be backed out by . crful rnagDet, strong enough to lift the
Boiling a.quid from one quarter of his a Philadelphia rat. j detent that keeps the striking machines
capacious 'receiver' to another, ho con-! ' " ! from running. Now these machines aro
tinued , , i The Legislature oFFlonda passed, a bil , go rf one and
tT . . 'requiring -a tax or 8200' on all retailers J , ,
I must have another shot to showwhat 0f spirftbus liquors, and 8500, fine for a stop, unless the magnet keeps the detent
can be done with a riflcfanoTto cVnhce violation of theiaw! 1 ": 'imin ' I back and leaves the wheels unlocked' and
my French friend that I am not boast- j
luo
The whole party stood'silent in a row,
and the Kentuclcian retreated about for-'
rv vflrds. makinor the disfcrmeft frnm the1
,v- o
tree to where he stood near one hundred
and twentv vards. Ordnrinrr a naner of
-- j i I I
- - ,
mc same S1ZC 01 tUC OtUer 10 be PUE Up in '
1 r
; the same place, he reloaded drew his
broad brimmed beaver over his eyes, and
after takinS dellbcrate ann fared-
'That was rather too low, he said, 'the
ball is about the eigth of an inch below .
. m. ,. T,n , . ., ,
the paper. The next time 1 11 bring it.'
r. i. u-.il . .
On examination, the ball was found
: to be exactly where he said it was,
; which increased the astonishment the re-'
markable shot had produced on all pres-
' cnt, with the exception of the Yankees, :
who were used to it.
'This lick will bring thc persimmons,'
said tho Kentuckian, as he raised his
piece high up, gradually lowered it, and i
uicu. xm; ijai xi .ivui iu ncu, u.u
ball driving home the nail that supported
it! Language cannot describe the looks
.! J i' 11 ?t i
oi tue loreigner, auu particularly oi cue
natives, who crowded m numbers around
the Kentuckian. That hiuht the wine
flowpd frolv it tho 'Old dmir-"l' ' and
ilowai troely t tae M Admire .nd
a more joyous party never met m Malta.
P$
p
fto
itic production, as an offset to an article
which we published in last weeks lle-
publican, entitled, 'Symptoms of Old
Maidism:'
When he cuts a certain number of lit-
tie suuare bits of
if n-innr pvpi-v P.ri.f, o,i 1
lavs them on his toilet table, ready to
is toilet table, ready to
wipe his razor wheu ho shaves in the
mornbg-thafs a symptom. When he
carries his fingers perfectly straight in his
? J" & a lafy-that's a symp-;
, ... i .
ture-room to tue latest pertnuteu minute,
ou
jounfcofa draft that's a svinntoin.
flBnn:t.PV Qvnnfrne tl c,h 1)0 not make vurself recl iu the face and . larm will be given, bells rung, boxes con-Ciaoail-Jr'
mpiOaSS CI uJ UiU cunt:n p.lf nn W.' suited, fire found, hose nrocured and
F8 ilUiliaU HlllU CUUUUUgi J. JUU 7 7 r
blicLCU"i 5 1 ,.,! , fn vnnrlnr nrnfir where vou see screwed to a Cochituate fire plug, and the
anny Fern scuds us fsavs the X. Y. " , . . . . fire extinguished, ere the family in dan-
f. . luii.;-;. .1 that little iron box msteneu up againSD . - , Manv a time, the!
When he wears a large mustache and other parts oi (he city men witli glazed jgas. Telegraphic time wires will be mtro
beard to conceal certains defects that's hats and bi-ass trumpets may be seen run-' duced just as now the water pipes and gas
a svmptom. When he turns a huse coat t w enmn l ?mn lmvn t ! fixtures are. What a milleuium of punc-
collar up over his ears, every time there's
a cloud in the sky that's a symptom.-
When he refuses a hymn-book in church,
because he don't line to be seen using
glasses that s a symptom. When he
sleeP h h d
whether theseamof the sheetis precisely in
. the middle or the bed that s a symptom.
Whn an nntlirnnito firr nnrl a warlrlflfl
'trr. - mnor hnvn irronfnr ohnvi fnr lum I
. i . . - M 1 1-
cuaa a Pau 01 DnSuc eyes, jinguug wwgu-
bells: and a tcte-a-tcte under a buffalo robe
svm-tnm Whpn a wi1;si;ev
-that's a svmntom When a whiskev
lus a bujpiona. n neu a umsuej
inch and a flannel nightcap are the ne
'us ultra of his earthly felicity that's a
punch
ne ttsfm r Im: nirfhh- fnlunfTr,
symptom. When he calls women 'hum-
bugs, says 'pshaws to children, and nas bles the grinder to play one tune well, e-' PU1A 4, luau-au-au, luauea uui luo
a growing partiality for stuffed rocking-' vcn though he be R0 organist. You turn-1 ba,uid' fire-destroying life preserving va
chaira and well-aired linen that's a . , b c- .. &n , ipor. The unseasonable fire surrenders and
symptom. .turned it six times. Once would have gQes QUt Bnt long ere th;Sj tho solid
! been enough, but six times over, and cv-nian has rolled himself back into bed a-
A Bereaved Parer
ini,m t,, p.,cko nf T,inn riC
III
5aid to be very fond of his children for a ,
Pasha and was apt to take the death of ,
anJ of them much to heart. One sickly
T.
.,;nf, ne t.ilfi iiasiia'R orr.nrin. AnlWlish
missionary, who chanced to be in Alex-
i t . . r. T.i-
of
-r,, ., , , , . , - , nA
Philadelphia, having challenged all the
dogs in 0hi0 to a combat with a fighting
Yai Q his possessieu, Daniel Shead, of
Columbus, writes to him as follows: " I
now talre leave t0 infor'u, Mr- pollan
A Boston Notion.
Boston is a city of notions, everybody
;aows. America can show no other city
,ftfnii nf matured systems, useful contri-
, '
.1 onnnc tlilc Rnmn
.vaiiro auu uuuuumvuvw-
-d.,..- rpn c;tv maxim seems to be.
XOSlon. J-iiu city iuai.im .uw. ,
mi r,t-f ,vott nf rlmno- nil 1
I 11 : ' I . i 1 1 1 i t ' r il uuiu
- w
!,:,,;
Ulllliro.
In public and domestic affairs
tQ soj men 0f Boston are not content
simpie achievements, but they must
have achievement by the best methods
The latest illustration of this is their
scentifi.o way of giving a fire alarm, and
rf . . , in U t tWo ,,tnr.,l i:i. i i
CVLn out and "uiding their fire depart- a kQy t0 tuese useful little iron boxes, and
6 . . . . . ,i!eft wlmn l.n W t (n :..:c.i
ment A yery simpie matter, one would
tlh tQ raise thc winaow SiSh and shout
, fw nr. i, f;mp, nri(i ipave the a-
, . snread Everv villager knows ,
llQW tQ pull aHjcH.rop and ring till he's
tired. Every New Yorker knows how
tQ CQUnt the kooming strokes of tho big
as 'they tell offthe district number.
. u fi,: i rnn h.
gQod ag another so long aS a TOUSlUg a-
jarm -g starte
UQ means These Bostou men haye
fouud oufc a besfc .
If your house takes fire, and gets past j
.1 , : . ,4-.l o,il rynii -frvnl Jf nof(Qonrr
i , t al i'
tQ nppeal fco fche mumcipa authorities tor j
hep do not be afc all excited or aIarmed.
the wall ; step into the store, ask quietly ,
for tho key, adding, "My house is on fire,"
bv way of an apology for the intrusion,
i i t j .wi
mah nlrtrtir flirt rinnr onri VArnotn nrvi nrr
'. ' . .. .
longest
way is sometimes the
shortest way home obey the inscription
and "turn six times slowly." Your re-;
and "turn six times slowly." lour re-,
sponsibility is ended. You've done all
you nccd to. Boston will take care of
J . ot A 4 t,
Every bell in the city and several more
across cne waier are xeuing people
o 1 i
npnn
"wua A" :
- m. mm a t- I A a, - a mm a a a a -v C A Trt
, ,. , . z, j
seem to whisper a mument, then they lis- j
ten, and then they look very knowing, and ;
siap tue aoor io; ana acre tuey come pen-;
mell to your help. How much time has
elapsed since you needed help T Perhaps
thrce rainutes TUerc u a besfc of iy
. , .
inS an alaria that'S a faCt
But hOW WaS it doUC ?
m'...i irii.1 : 1 1 '
iuau naw uuu uu, juu op.juuu waa a
tw..ml, Ktnfinn; vnn r-nr. W( u, wir:
, " t ' i , .
where they come down through those two
. m, , ,
iron P1?23 mto thc bos' The crank you
. - ------- " 1
turned is merely a contrivance to at eua- (
cry time the same number, there would
be no mistake.
The central office knew
1D au lllSiant ot your distress.
Yes, but how did that make the bells
ring au 0Ver the city and East Boston too?
they keep a sexton at every bell rope j
all the time ready to pull when any body
telegraphs ?
a man whose business it is to attend to t
such messages. From the same room he
can, by touching a key, send by another set
of wires a current of galvanism to every
steeple in the city. If you look you can J
see these wires entering every steeple
free to run. So this man in the little
third story room by the Court House, (he'll
show you how it is done if you call upon
him, for he is very corteous to visitors,)
'can, by pressing the Kroner knoh nr knv
, ,
Imake these heavy bell hammers strike
, . .
any number lie chooses. And he m alms
them strike the number of our ward.
But how happened the engines and fire
men to come straight to my house?
There are two or thee thousand houses
in the ward.
The foreman of every fire company has
so when he has got to the ward signified
by the bells, runs to the nearest box, and
sends a private signal to the man in Court
Square, asking "just where is thc fire ?"
1 and tlien ne listens while thc answer comes
ibackinlittle tal)S
j tm ho learus tte number of the very box
!you Pened when yu Save the alarm in
'the first place. Every box has its own
number. The bells tolled the firemen what
ward, and the telegraph taps whispered
what station box the alarm came from.
I sec. But is it worth all this trouble
of aud ginnery and boxes and
UUlt-riCS .
Yes, indeed, hive minutes at the be-
. ' f fi afQ ye . B
SQ id is fhisl t aQ a.
flrst thing a man knows of his danger by
' fire, is that his room is flooded with wa-
,tcr.
i Hut this municipal telegraph is used
t G I
for more purposes than one. Incase of
to head quarters. To catch an abscond-
ing thief by setting guard at eve
mgtuiet by setting guard at every railroad
and steamboat, can be done in five minutes.
T!:f" lo foon ,al1 ,tUe cl?cks
will be hitched together by these wires,
u!
Wc shall soon hear of
next move will
:i-,i
dc to introduce into every first class house
city ?ze as well as city water and city
tuality I Twenty tuousand clocks ticKing
r ,
of a refinement of the fire system. Phil-
ip s anninuators vm dc duih into uie
walls, their nozzles just peeping out into
the room. Convenient wires will be ar
ranged so that a man waked at midnight
by a smell of fire or a red light in his
room, will only need reach out his arm
to the fire knob, and pull it " six times
clnTrl r " ? nrl Inst onfl w tli of Ttrnl.'Aful imffli
- -
ful handJ man on Court Square will touch
his wires not to tnghteu sleep trom all
-ftT -f, A- - , , f . ;rtfi
city with his dinging bells, but quietly
he'll touch the wire, and smash go the a-
A wires not to frighten sleep from all
cid bottles in the ambushed anmmiators ;
gain, tucked the blanket snug about his
euin ana iallen asleep, blessing tbc best,
the very Ocst, the Boton way of putting
out fires.
prom uLC p0W) tie Loom and thc Anvil
ParmerB and gook Learli
Jt . vfi common thinfT t0 de
very common tlnng to decry
i " book-learninsr," especially in its rela-
conversation. This is true of all kinds of
knowledge, both of the arts and sciences,
But conversation can be carried on only
by a limited number of individuals.
Ears are not constituted so as to enable
us to hear all that is worth hearing. The
pen and press step in, and do what they
can to supply this deficiency, and commu
nicating with multitudes who, without their
aid, could know nothing of these things.
We can now hear thousands of miles; and
thus is scattered, as on the wings of tho
wind, the information which would other
wise attract the attention of but. few.
In th'eory, the pen ahd 'press commu
nicate the better part of what is thought
or spoken ; and though they sometimes
err, the thought is not unpardonable, nor
fatal. We should be thankful that we
are obliged to read and hear so little of
what is worthless.
Note another fact. Nine-tenths of all
that appears in the ponderous volume,
relating to matters of general interest,
first appeared in some periodical. Nei
ther in the arts nor in the sciences, do we
find an exception to this remark. Nay,
more. In the periodical, this truth first
appears in a form suited to the wants of
the public. Afterwards it is remodelled,
and, being clothed in a scholastic dress,
forms a volume of science, suited only to
thc learned. An illustration of thi3, fresh
in the recollection of our readers, is found
iu the "pendulum experiment," as illus
trating the revolution of the earth. You
may remember the story of the young
gentleman, born and bred in the city,
who having purchased a farm in the coun
try was offered his choice out of a large
herd of cows. Through a little embar
rassment, lest he should display his igno
rance, he soon made a selection, saying,
"I will take the thick necked one." Upon
this, the boy was ordered with a partially
suppressed laugh from all hands to drive
to the young farmer's new establishment
a fine, stout bull. Had this youth but
examined even the pictures in our agricul
tural journals, he might have avoided so
rediculous a blunder, and the milk-maid
would have been spared the mortification
of being sent out to obtain her supply for
the dairy from an animal unaccustomed
to render such service.
There is a deal of fancy farming. The
incident just detailed belongs to this de
partment. The youug farmer selected his
" cow," on that principle. Thousands do
the same thing. Some of this class carry
on their farms very much as somebody is
said to have bought a library by the ap
pearance of the covers. Each has his own
fancy, and is controlled by it; while true
science and common sense, have not even
a seat at the council board.
Nor is this class of farmers confined to
to the novice. It may be found among
those who have grown gray upon a farm.
True, in outward form, there may some
times be a fair appearance. One may
manifest an ardent desire to adopt the best
modes, and yet may belong in these ranks.
He Ve fuses thoroughly to inform himself
but is governed by his fancy in following
the lead of a mere pretender. This is
his fancy. He prefers this to the study
of science.
I remember visiting one of the best
farming towns in Massachusets some two
years ago, and when in conversation with
some of thc most intelligent farmers in
the place, one of them enquired "Are you
concerned in Boramer's patent?" An
emphatic "No, Sir," and a smile, materi
ally affected a visage already unnatural
ly prolonged by the recollection of ten
dollars thrown away on that humbug.
Five dollars paid for a single paper that
explained that mysterious fertilizer, would
have saved other five dollars, not only for
him, but for several of his neighbors.
"Experience" as thc word is jjopularly
used, is but an imperfect security against
the thousand cheats and humbugs to be
found in every7 community.
He is but a fancy farmer who chooses
to continue the modes and methods of his
ancestors. His father and grandfather
used to do so, and hence it must be right.
This is his only principle of action. In
other words, it is his fancy to do so be
cause they did. He knows how to con
duct a farm only by imitation, and looks
to the past for his models, without know
ing or understanding the results of his
own or their operations. To him there
is no such thing as progress, and failure
and success arc words without meaning.
Twenty bushels of corn to the acre is quite
satisfactory, so long as he depart from
no established usage, and is not outdone
by his neighbors. I know not why he
should be called a wise man more than
our city-born friend before spoken of.
Both are governed alike by considerations
undeserving of confidence.
The subject of maures is a great sci
ence. Our fathers knew but little of it.
They had less occasion to know than we
have, for they had not so thoroughly ex
hausted their soils. But tho process was
carried on with a terribly destructive con
stancy. We are trying to carry it a lit
tle farther; and in some instances the
work seems complete through almost en
tire States. Harvests fail to support the
laborer, aud this, iu any other employ
ment, would be considered aud treated as
a failure. No other class of men would
remain content with this condition. The
farmer alone manifests patience so perfect,
and that two when he might double and
quadruple his inaome.
How entire is the revolution in the
mode of conducting most of the manucl
operations of the day ! Every art has
its improved tools and reformed methods.
Agriculture ought not to be counted an.
exception. The youngest of our readers
can remember the publication of the first'
I
work worthy of the name of agricultural
Chemistry ; and science necessarily pre
ceeds judicious, intelligent practice. Un
der other circumstances, we can only blu?i
der upon success. We may happen to
guess right but the chances are strongly
against us. But with correct views of
the chemistry of agriculture, the way is
opened for a judicious application of ma
nures, and a wiser successsion of crops.
Hence there is no apology for such a con
dition of things.
Finely Caught,
Some two miles up the river from St.
Johnsbury, Vermont, is a primative sort
of a little village, called 'The Centre.'
Here, not long since, the rustic youth of
the vicinity congregated for 'a dance,'
'and dance they did,' said our informant,
'with an unction unknown to your city
bellers and beaux.' One young man hav
ing 'imbibed' rather too freely, became
'fatigued' in the course of the evening, and
wisely concluded to 'retire' for a short
rest. A door ajar near the dancing hall
revealed, invitingly, a glimpse of a com
fortable bed, of which he took possession,
with a prospect of an undisturbed 'snooze.'
Jt so happened, howbeit, that this was the
ladies' withdrawing room, and no sooner
had he closed his eyes, than a pair of
blooming damsels came in from the hall,
and began adjusting their disordered
ringlets, the dim light of the candle not
disclosing thc tenant of the bed. The
girls had tongues, (like mo3t of their
'seek') which ran on in this wise: 'What
a nice dance we're having? nave you
heard any body say any thing about me,
Jane?' 'La, yes, Sally! Jim Brown says
he never see you look so handsome as
you do to-night. Have your heard any
body say anything about me?' 'About
you! why sartin: I heard Joe Flint tell
Sam Jone3 that you were the prettiest
dressed girl in the room.' Whereupon
thc dear things chuckled, 'fixed up, a lit
tle more, and made off to-wards the ball
room. They had hardly reached the
door, when our half-conscious friend
raised himself upon his elbow, and quite
intelligibly, though slowly, inquired,
'Ha' you heard anybody say anything a
bout me, girlsV 'Phansy their pheelinks'
at this juncture! They fled with an ex
plosive scream. Knickerbocker.
The Transmutation of Metals.
Many of the fundamental and leading
ideas of the present time, appear, to him
who knows not what science has already
achieved, as extravagant as the notions
of the alchemist. Not, indeed, the trans
mutation of metals, which seemed so
propable to the ancients, but stranger
things are held by us to be attainable.
We have became so accustomed to won
ders, that nothing any longer excites our
wonder. We fix the solar rays on paper,
and send our thoughts literally with the
velocity of lightning to the greatest dis
tance. We can, as it were, melt copper
in could water, and cast it into statues.
We can freeze water into ice, or mercury
into a solid malleable mass, in white hot
crucibles; and we consider it quite prac
ticable to illuminate most brightly entire
cities with lamps devoid of flamo and
fire, and to which the air has no access.
We produce artificially, ultramarine, ono
of the most precious minerals; and we be
lieve that to-morrow or next day some
one may discover a method of producing
from a piece of charcoal a splended dia
mond, from a bit of alum saphires or
rubbies, or from coal-tar tho beautiful
coloring principle of madder, or the val
uable remedies known as quinine and
morphine. All these things are more
valuable than gold. Every one is occu
pied in thc attempt to discover them, and
yet this is the occupation of no individu
al inquirer. All are occupied with these
things, inasmuch as they study the laws
of the changes and transformations to
which matter is subject; and yet no one
individual ia especially engaged in theso
researches, inasmuch as no one for exam
ple devotes his life aud energies to the
solultion of the problem of making dia
monds og quinine. Did such a man ex
ist, furnished with the necessary knowl
edge, and with the courage and persever
ance of the old gold makers, he would
have a good, prospect of being enabled to
solve such problems. Liebig's Letters on
Chemistry.
Our " devil" says, when a feller falla
in love, the sensation is like a hay-bug
crawling up the leg of hi3 trowsers. At
least that is the way he suffered, when
he first squeezed the hand of the gal he
loved.
The Supreme Court of Ohio have de
cided that any person losing money in a
bet at any election may recover the amount
lost by suit, and if the loser fail to sue in
six months, any other porson may aue fo?
and recover it for his own use.
I