Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume], August 31, 1871, Image 1

About Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875

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Eaton Weekly
BMOCEAT.
F. T. FOSTER, Publisher. Devoted lo llie Interet or tlie Democratic Party, and the Collection of Local and General TTcwi. TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM. IN ADVANCE.
'
VOL. IV-NO. 52. EATON, OHIO, THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1871. WHOLE NUMBER -227.
Kentucky and Railroads.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky,
through her Legislature, has entered
a solemn protest against the con-
" struction of the proposed Southern
Railroad through her territory.
Many accept the decision in a broad
sense, and claim that her action de
monstrates an unreasonable opposi
tion to all such popular innovations
as steam transportation, notwith
standing she has permitted the lay
ing of some hundreds of miles ol
track through her most favored and
wealthy regions, and has steam craft
plying all her navigable waters. She
has been. sharply criticized in all
quarters, although the fact is gener
ally conceded that her representa
tives consulted their own -individual
interests, if not those of the Louis
ville and Nashville Railroad Com
pany, in denying tlie right to the Cin
cinnati Southern Railroad Company.
"When it is considered that the city
of Cincinnati, had guaranteed the
payment of 810,000,000 ; toward
building the proposed road, and that
Kentucky would have been enriched
by that amount of taxable property
being added to her assessment roll,
we naturally wonder at her indiffer-
. ence, and are disposed to judge her
rather harshly, especially as there is
no apparent reason for the refusal.
Well, it is a notable fact that the
State of "old Kentucky" is not in the
van of progress". ' Her movements
in all public enterprises and of in
ternal improvements, it must be con
fessed, are slow, to say the least, and
she seems to be indifferent whether
her inaptitude for exertion and her
inertness are agreeable to the world
at large or not.
But there is a reason, and a very
good reason, for all this. The peo
ple of Kentucky are physically and
morally, and perhaps to some extent
socially, very similar to .those of
other portions of the country. A
class of citizens who trace their de
scent from Plymouth Rock Aay take
exceptions to this assertion ; but they
are at liberty to discredit it ifthey
wish ; the fact standg, nevertheless,
whatever hideous visions of Kuklux
- may be conjured up in the minds of
these doubting Thomases, by the
mention of Kentucky. But the soil,
climate, and geographical peculiar
ities, of the State render her dissimi
lar to any other in the broad expanse
of the Union. Kentucky is 'a hap
pily favored spot. Her smiling val
leys, lofty hills, lovely streams,
- proud forests, and bounteous soil all
contribute to render children self
sustaining, self-reliant and independ
ent of the thrift and material pros
perity of her neighbors. The peo
ple of Kentucky the proud, gallant
and hospitable (if self-contained and
self-satisfied) people of Kentucky
have heretofore lived within their
own confines, upon the products of
their own soil principally, and clothed
themselves comfortably with fab
rics made in their own looms, from
the fleece of their own sheep and the
flax from their own fields. And
they fared well. The cattle upon a
thousand hills were theirs, and their
granaries were filled to repletion
with the products of their farms.
Her fine grazing lands were the mag
azines from which the markets of
distant cities were supplied with such
juicy beef and pork as no other
State could produce, and vast herds
of horses and mules were shipped
every year from her borders ; while
a glance' at the Turf Register will
satisfy any one of the superiority of
her blooded racers. Every variety of
cereal responds in abundance to the
moderate labor of the husbandman ;
it is a land that,' literally, "if tickled
with a hoe laughs with a harvest.''
Delicious vegetables and fruits come
early to their tables and linger late
each year, and every blessing of con
tent and plenty is cast with a lavish
hand in Kentucky's lap. A prudent,
energetic Kentuckian need scarcely
stir from the confines of his own
land to possess himself of any ar
ticle of use or luxury that a reasona
ble creature could wish. Of course,
when he wants articles of ornament,
rather than of use, such as china
ware, Brussels carpets, gilt wall pa
per and exotics, he must obtain them
from abroad. But these barren van
ities are counteibalanced by indige
nous luxuries which are not unpalata
ble even to that species of the genus
homo which sports the cerulean ab
domen old Bourbon and tobacco.
In view of these facts, which are
indisputable, is it a matter of sur
prise that Kentucky should be in
a measure apathetic when overtures
arc made to cut up her fair fields
with the avenues of commerce and
send the iron horse shrieking down
her valleys and through the bowels of
her everlasting hills? When it is
proposed to disturb tlie quiet that
has so long reigned over her verdant
fields and woodlands, and exchange
the plaintive cry of the whippoorwill
for the crash and clang and rattle of
the express train ? It is asking a
great sacrifice of those whose memo
ries are green, and whose fancy an
ticipates pictures of the future and
contrasts them with the delicious
liinnings of the peaceful past.
But the logic of events cannot be
withstood. Civilization is a great
tyrant and destroyer of idols. Per
haps it erects new ones in their
places, but that is neither here or
there. Those things and places, as
well as people, which . are endeared
by time and association must yield
to the inevitable edict of mutation.
Old things pass away, and new
things, new ways, new habits, new
styles and new people- take their
places. In time, the new become the
old, and must abide the same order
of inexorable fate.
And so we say to Kentucky: The
palmy days of your glory, your hap
piness, your hospitality in short,
your mode of living and letting live
is passing quietly, but surely, away,
never to return. You must accept
the issue, whether graciously or not.
Man is not the absolute master of all
his title deeds define. He may plow,
and sow, and reap, and enjoy the
fruits of his labors, but when the
great spirit o" progress foreshadows
improvements for the general good,
and says a canal must run through
here, a railroad there, and a telegraph
line at another place, and the termini
to be at such and such .places, poor
man, whose garden has been dese
crated, and proprietary rights out
raged, must submit to the fiat, for it
is unalterable. It is a waste of shoe
leather and an aggravation of corns
to kick against the pricks. -
Now, the Cincinnati Southern
Railroad is an indispensable neces
sity to one-half the Southern States
and to one-fourth of the West. It
mast and will be built ; and any at
tempt of the Legislature or people of
Kentucky to defeat it will but render
the majority more resolute in seek
ing their own interests. While we
appreciate, and, to some extent, sym
pathize with the spirit which mista
kenly places obstructions in the way
of this great and ' necessary work, in
so far as they may only desire to en
force their ancient rights and privili
ges, we must at the same time con
cede that the road will be of immense
value to the State itself, and there
fore wish to see it built, however
much it may at first blush seem to
outrage the sentiments of its oppos-
ers. We beg the people of Ken
tucky to look at the subject in the
light of the times, and we warn the
Legislative that they are doing their
constituents a wrong in refusing to
grant the right of way. We hope to
see a more progressive spirit evinced
at the next session at Frankfort, and
confidently expect to see, within two
years, cars arriving in Cincinnati
through from Tennessee without
change, laden with the products of
Southern Kentucky, Tennessee and
Georgia, and returning with the mer
chandise which will be exchanged
for them in this market.
A People on Stilts.
The pictures of Rosa Bonheur have
made us all acquainted with the singular
habits which the shepherds of the lands
south ot Bordeaux nave adopted 01 pass
ing the creater part of their lives on
stilts. The first time that a group of
these people is seen, there is a curious
emotion in the mind as of a strange
prodigy. Dressed in sheep-skins, worn
by time, knitting stockings or spinning
thread, they grayely pass over the reeds
or furze; the spectator, buried as it
were, in the bushes, they lifted nearer
the sky on the verge ot the norizon.
The long stick which they handle with
so much address, serving as a balancing
pole or support for the arm, contributes
still more to the strangeness of their ap
pearance : the look like gigantic crickets
preparing to spring. In the lands of
Medoc, not only ine snepnera, Dut every
one nses this style of locomotion ; the
children have no fear, and the women
who are invariably dressed in black, re
semble large ravens perched on dead
branches. The origin of stilts is un
known ; but it is probable that they were
not in use before the Middle Ages, as
ancient authors make no mention of
them. Perched on these borrowed legs,
the shepherd watches over his charge
concealed in the brush-wood, crosses
uninjured the marshes and quicksands,
fears not to be torn by thorns and dry
twigs, and can at any time double the
speed with which he ordinarily walks.
These people are habitually retiring, and
do not seem to like to be watched by
strangers, who come to see them out of
curiosity.
For Job Printing call at this office.
USEFUL INFORMATION.
Lacquering Varnish. A varnish re
commended as well adapted for lacquer
ing pictures and engravings, as well as
for preserving dried plants and flowers,
is prepared by pounding up ten ounces
of gum sandarac, four ounces of mastic,
and half an ounce of camphor, and add
ing three quarts of strong alcohol. The
mass is to be frequently shaken up, and
finally placed in a warm situation until
it settles. Plants coated with this var
nish will, it is said, be protected from
destruction by insects, and will retain
their color frish and unchanged. This
varnish does not peel off, and, therefore,
can be applied very thin.
Galvanized Iron. A method of es
timating the quantity of zinc existing
in the plating of galvanized iron has
been communicated to the Philosophical
Magazine by Mr. T. Warren. The prin
ciple of this method consists In the use
of mercury to dissolve the zinc, when
the loss of weight can be easily ascer
tained. But a thin coating of an amal
gam of iron and zinc will remain, which
will take up a certain quantity of mer
cury, and the amount of this amalgam
present is measurable by the quantity of
mercury it will take up. To determine
this quantity of mercury, the iron is
weighed, then heated to drive the mer
cury off, and then weighed again, when
the weight of mercury which has mixed
with the amalgam will be at once ascer
tained. The manufacture of gun-cotton has
been so much improved that it is more
and more used for quarrying, mining
and military purposes. The cotton is
now made in a compressed form, which
can be handled and transported with
safety, and can bo exploded by detona
tion only. If set on lire without deto
nation, it burns away harmlessly. This
fact is generally in favor of increasing
its use. About one hundred tons of the
cotton are now sold yearly for blasting
in quarries and mines a quantity equal
to at least five hundred tons of gunpow
der. In the slate quarries in Wales it is
largely employed ; and there and in the
mines the workmen find the advantage
of having no smoke after a blast.
Another New Cement. Among the
novelties recently introduced, is a new
cement in imitation of marble. It is
well known that a cement, partly com
posed of marble dust, was used by the
ancients in coating the columns and
walls of their buildings. It is found in
Italy and other genial climes, to he not
inferior to their native marble on expos
ure to the effects of the atmosphere.
The cement now under notice does not,
however, contain any portion of marble
dust, but is composed of gypsum de
prived of its water of crystalization by
great heat, and is then saturated with a
solution of alum of proper strength.
The mixture being then subjected to in
tense heat, is equal in durability and ca
pability of polish and color to the finest
maible. Sulphate of alum, being the
Dase on which most colors were struck,
and alum the mordant used to fix them
affords a sufficient proof, of the aptitude
of the cement to receive any of the col
ors in imitation of marbles, granite
woods, etc.
Smoking as a Surgical Appliance.
Smoking is so evidently on the increase
that the Food Journal thinks it highly
desirable to dispel all ignorance upon
the subject, and so far popularize all es
sential facts peculiar to tobacco as to re
duce such of its effects as are injurious
to tne numan organism in the minimum.
"Long known as a prophylatic," says
that journal, "the dreadful war on the
continent has revealed in tobacco a qual
ity wnicn renders it a very lair ansees
thetic. The soothing cigar has come to
De a natural sequence to the cruel kmte
in army surgery, and it is now notorious
that the ex-Emperor of the French de
rived no small part of his political safe
ty previous to the war from the simple
circumstance that he caretully supplied
the army with large allowances of good
tobacco a privilege that was highly ap
preciated."
City Cousins.
It is wise and well lor city people to
visit their menus and relations in the
country. In order for them to have a
good time, and to enjoy what the city
does not anora green neias, wild flow
ers, the song ol birds these visits should
bs made in summer. City people, how
ever, who go to the country to enjoy out
door pleasures, should be content to make
the most of them without taking up the
time or interfering with the duties of the
people they visit. If they wish to share
the society of their country friends, thev
should visit them in winter ; at least they
should defer their visit till after haying
and harvest. During the winter, there
is plenty of time to talk and be social ;
but when there is a field of lodged clover,
of full grown timothy, or of over ripe
wheat to be cut, there is no time to enter
tain company. The farmer has no choice
in the time to do his work. Seed time
and harvest are ordained at particular
seasons, and their duties must be at
tended to then or never. Many a load of
clover has been Diackened or ruined be
cause the team had to go to the depot, a
dozen miles away, to bring the Saratoga
trunks 01 some city gin, who was pining
to see her country aunt during the straw
berry and cherry season . Alany a country
cousin has had to hand-rake the morn
ing mowing of timothy, because the gen
tle horse that was used on the horse-rake
had to go to the distant post office to
carry letters for his pretty but trouble
some city cousin.
Country people are ordinarily glad to
see their city friends, even in haying and
harvest time, providing they "will make
themselves at home ;" and will be satis
fied with the enjoyment they can find in
orchard, field, pasture and forest. Boys
who can rake after the cart, get the cows
and carry luncheon into the field ; and
girls who will pick and prepare berries
for the table, make beds and wash dishes
will always be welcome to farmers'
homes even in the season of hay and grain
cutting. Genteel misses, however, who
do not wish to rise till nine o'clock in the
morning, who require an escort when
crossing a pasture for fear of an attack
from some pet cow ; who wish company
from the house or field to assist in a game
of croquet, in the middle of the alternoon,
and who insist in thumping a piano or
singing airs from the last opera at mid
night, had better defer their visits till a
time more convenient to their hosts. The
same remark will apply to dyspeptic in
dividuals, of all ages and of both sexes,
who can not eat farmers fare at the hours
they have it ready, but who require a
great variety of foreign dainties served
up in the latest city style.
"VT.. 1 1. I . . . - .1 .
IlUb KJlliy LUG 1UCU, UUb UlUt'Il Oil I
the farm are busy during the summer.
Thpir liavA the (lalrvr.n sa tin fruit tn '
put up for winter use; extra farm help
to provide for with no extra house help,
beside the ordinary cooking, washing
and ironing for the family. In the city
it is very easy to procure anything for
the table at a very rew minutes' notice;
but it is not easy to do so in the country.
Hence persons with appetites so dainty
that they can not eat baked beans, corned
beef and bread and milk, should not
crowed themselves on their country
friends at a time when every hour is em
ployed in necessary work, and every
minute has its care. They should not
want farmers' wives and daughters to
make themselves uncomfortable that they
may enjoy some extra comforts. Country
cousins may be old-fashioned, ungenteel
in the eyes of their city relatives, but
after all they have some rights, that the
latter are bound in reason to respect. If
it is pleasant to escape from the close air
ot the city into the open fields, they
should he content to put up with country
fare, and to receive little attention from
the persons they visit during the most
busy season of the year. Coleman's Rural
A Native Genius.
One of the acqaintances of a New York
editor, while traveling in the "far West,"
was at a loss what course to steer, and
was rejoiced when a farm house pre
sented itself before him. Near the road
was a tall, raw-boned, overgrown, lantern-jawed
boy, probably seventeen years
of age, digging potatoes. He was a curi
ous tigure to behold. What was lacking
in the length of his tow breeches was
amply made up for in width; his sus
penders appeared to be composed of birch
bark, grapvine and sheepskin ; and as for
his hat (which was of a dingy white felt)
poor thing, it had evidently seen better
days but now, alas! it was only the
shadow of its glory. Whether the tem
pest of time had beaten the top in, or the
lad's expanding genius had burst it out,
it was difficult to tell; at any rate it was
missing, and through the aperature red
hairs in abundance stood looking six
ways for Sunday. In short, he was one
of the roughest specimens of domestic
manufacture that mortal ever beheld.
Our traveling friend (we quote the New
Yorker), feeling an itching to scrape an
acquaintance with the critter, drew up
the reins of his horse, and began :
"Halloo, my good friend, can you in
form me how far it is to the next house ?"
Jonathan started up, leaned on his hoe
handle, rested one foot on the gambril of
his sinister leg, and replied :
"Halloo yourself ! how'd ye do? wall,
I guess I can. 'Taint near as far as afore
they cut the woods away. Then it was
generally reckoned four mile ; but now
the sun shrivels up the road, and don't
make more'n two. The fust house you
come to though is a barn, and the next
is a haystack; but old Hoskins' house
is on beyant. You'll be sure to meet his
gals long afore you get there tarnal
romping critters ; they plague our folks
more'n a little. His sheep gets into our
paster every day, and his gals into our
orchard. Dad sets the dog al ter the sheep,
and me arter the gals, and the way he
makes the wool, and l the petticoats ny,
is a sin to snakes."
"I see you are inclined to be facetious,
young man. Pray tell me how it hap
pens that one of your legs is shorter than
the other ?"
"I never 'lows anybody to meddle with
my grass tanglers, mistur ; but seein' it's
you, I'll tell you. I was born so at my
tickular request, so that when I hold
plow I can go with one in the furrow and
t'other on land, and not lop over ; 'sides
it is convenient when I mow round a
side hill?"
"Very good, Indeed. How do your po
tatoes come on this year ?"
'They don't come on. I digs 'em out,
and there's an everlastin' snarl of 'em in
each hill."
"But they are small, I perceive."
"Yes, I knows that. You see we
planted some whoppin' bluenoses over in
that 'ere patch there, and they flourished
so allfiredly that this 'ere stopt growin',
jest out of spite, 'cause they knowed they
couldn't begin to keep up."
'You appear to be pretty smart, and I
should think you could afford a better
hat than the one you wear."
"The looks ain't nothin' ; it's all in be
havior. This 'ere hat was my religious
Sunday-go-to-meetin' hat, and it's chock
full of piety now. I've got a better one
to hum ! but I don't dig 'taters in it, no
how."
'Then you say it's about three and a
half miles to the next house?"
"Yes, sir, 'twas a spell ago, and I don't
believe it's growed much shorter since."
"Much obliged. Good-bye."
"Good-bye to ye. That's a dar'n slick
mare to your'n."
There, reader, is a Jonathan of the first
water lor you. You don't find his equal
everywhere.
Train.
George Francis Train was recently in
vited to address an Irish Emancipation
meetin at Cork. He refused in a mod
est little note, as follows :
"I have already run off six hundred
and eighty of my one thousand campaign
mass meetings, where I have been un
amiously nominated everywhere by the
people for the Presidency, besides going
round the world, via San Francisco, Ja
pan, China, India, and the Suez Canal
running the French Republic until bas
tiled by Gamhetta, liberating O'Donovan
Rossa (who, he told me, was my passen
ger agent years ago at Skibbereen) and
the Irish exiles, putting the San Domingo
Grant clique and the Tammany Hall
Tweed swindlers into chancery. I am
consequently under the weather, and am
laid up in 'dry-docks for repairs.'
Two Turkish baths a day,
fishing on Dr. Barter's lake simple diet
the air of St. Anne's and the exercise
in the beautiful groves of Blarney, are
putting me in good shape to leave next
week lor Switzerland, where my chil
dren are to finish their education at Ve
vay go then at once to France, and or
ganize through Kountz Brothers, my
Omaha hankers, my French colonization
in Nebraska, commencing with one hun
dred thousand French Communists.
Hence, I must say 'no' to speaking in
Ireland. What's the use of upsetting the
Lord-Lieutenant; imprisoning the Chief
of Police creating a panic in the Glad
stone Ministry putting Disraeli into
power making the Royal Household
shake with the palsy Bismarck quake
with paralysis Thiers go to bed with
Banquo's ghost under the table and the
swindling treaties of the High Joint
'dead-beats' scattered to the wind ! How
does the Government know but what
Mrs. Train's trunks, that Head Center
Cotton of the Imperial sent out to Head
Center Barter, at St. Anne's Hill, are
packed with revolvers and Alabama mu
nitions of war ?
"GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN."
"GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN." "Next President of America--St. Anne's
Hill, Blarney, July 14, 1871."
ALL SORTS.
Out of three hundred and seven mil
lion people carried on English railroads
in 13C9, only seventeen were killed by
causes beyond their own control ; while
in the streets of London one hundred
and forty persons were killed. It is es
timated that the orange peel on London
pavements kills more people than all the
English railroads.
A Detroit druggist has on exhibition
the hand and part of the arm of a man
perfectly petrified, hut still showing
every wrinkle of the flesh, the nails on
the fingers, and the joints. The cords
and muscles can be distinctly traced in
the stone. It was found near a Mis
souri battle field, and it is believed to be
a relic of surgical work, the arm
having the appearance of being un
jointed at the elbow. The druggist calls
it a "strange curiosity."
Expenses op American Travelers.
It is estimated that since the 1st of Jan
uary not less than forty thousand of our
citizens have sailed from the city of New
York as European tourists. Estimating
that the expenses of each one of these
will average one thousand dollars and
that is a small estimate we have the
fact staring us in the face that, in this
one item of pleasure travel alone, we
spend forty millions of dollars, in gold,
for mere pleasure and recreation. The
question at once arises whether these
tourists would not profit far more in
personal pleasure and instruction to
say nothing of the resulting benefit to
the country, both financially and in a
higher standard of citizenship if this
money were expended in domestic travel
The first pastime indulged in by the
Versaillists. after overthrowing the
Commune, was to go out gunning after
journalists. The sport proved to be very
enlivening, about one thousand being
popped over in less than forty-eight
hours. It is earnestly to be hoped that
this practice of making game of journal
ists will not extend ; they are already
surrounded with tribulations and annoy
ances enough, without the certainty of
Decoming targets lor crazy soldiers, in
the event of an insurrection. iV. O.
Times.
Cleanse the Skin. It is a curious
fact, illustrating the necessity of cleanli
ness and ol keeping the pores of the skin
open, that if a coat of varnish or other
substance impervious to moisture be
applied to the exterior of the body, death
will ensue in about six hours. The ex
periment was once tried on a child at
Florence. On the occasion of Pope Leo
the Tenth's accession to the papal chair,
it was desired to have a living figure to
represent the Golden Age, and so a child
was gilded all over with varnish and
gold leaf. The child died in a few
hours. If the fur of a rabbit or the skin
of a pig be covered with a solution or
India rubber in naptha, the animal
ceases to breath in a couple of hours.
Jo-operation of Tirr Wttt Tl ?
ia-much good'sense'aha'truth in the re
marks of a modern author, that no man
ever prospered in the world without the
co-operation of his wife. If she unites in
mutual endeavors, or rewards his labor
with an endearing smile, with what con
fidence will he resort to his merchandise
or his farm, fly over lands, sail upon the
seas, meet difficulty and encounter dan
ger, if he knows he is not spending his
strength in vain, but that his labor will
be rewarded by the sweets of home.
Solitude and disappointment enter the
history of man's life ; and he is but half
provided for his voyage who finds but an
associate for happy hours, while for his
months of darkness and distress no sym
pathizing nartner is prepared.
Onlt an Idea. Bulwer says povertj
is only an idea in nine cases out of ten
Some men with ten thousand dollars a
year suffer more for want of means than
others with live hundred dollars. The
reason is, the richer man has artificial
wants. His income is ten thousand dol
lars a year, and he suffers enough in
being dunned for unpaid debts to kill a
sensitive man. . A man who earns a dol
lar a day and does not go in debt is the
happier of the two. Very few people
who have never been rich will believe
this ; but it is true. There are thousands
and thousands with princely incomes
who never know a minutes peace
There is really more happiness among
the workingmen in the world than
among those who are called rich.
Good Books. A good book is a
treasury oi gold. Jllacaulay says or good
books: "These are old friends who are
never seen with new faces, who are the
same in wealth and in poverty, in glory
and in obscurity. In the dead there is
no change. Plato is never sullen. Cer
vantes is never petulant. Demosthenes
never comes unreasonably. Dante never
stays too long. No difference of political
opinion can alienate Cicero. No heresy
can excite the horror of Bossuet."
Thanks to God for good books. They
afford joy and comfort without stint.
There is one book we cannot read too
often or too much. God's word is above
all others. It is a living fountain of
everlasting peace. Study the Scriptures,
for they are able to make you wise unto
salvation.
In the United States there are eight
cities of over two hundred thousand in
habitants each, namely, New York, Phil
adelphia, Brooklyn, St. Louis, Chicago,
Baltimore, Boston and Cincinnati. The
combined population of these cities is
ttree million three hundred thousand in
round numbers less actually than that
of the city of London. Most of our cities,
however, are comparatively in their in
fancy, while London is two thousand
years old. Forty years ago the popula
tion of London was a million and a half,
and for the last hundred years its annual
growth has been very uniformly limited
to about sixteen per :ent., while our
cities have been advancing at rates vary
ing from fifteen to one hundred and
eighty five per cent.
A horrid Ku-Klux band near Dublin,
Georgia, visited an old man and his two
sons, who are able-dodied men, but so
miserably lazy that their little coming
crop had disappeared in tall grass and
weeds, and they had become a burden to
the community. Calling the father out,
the chief, in husky tones, announced to
him that their mission on earth was to
instruct him to plow his land. The old
man and his sons, all trembling at the
sight of the unearthly visitors and their
direful tones, asked with what must they
plough ; would an ox do ?" "Yes," an
swered the chief demon, "anything,"
and so the dreadful company withdrew.
The school-boys in passing by the grass
eaen farm next day, witnessed the sin
gu.ar sight of the old man ploughing with
all his might, and one of the sons driving
the other, who was pulling the plow
through the matted grass with the
strength and facility of a beast of burden.
Tlie Plaee of Lee's Surrender.
Edward A. Pollard contributes to Old
and New, for August, a paper on his
"Recollections of Appomatox Court
house," in which he thus refers to the
meeting between Gens. Grant and Lee,
on the occasion of the latter's surrender :
It has been popularly reported that the
interview between the two commanders
took place under an apple tree, which
has consequently been crowned with
historic associations. It is false. The
fact is, that, in the morning of the 9th
of April, Gen. Lee, with a single mem
ber of his staff, was resting under an
apple tree, when Col. Babcock, of Gen.
Grant's staff, rode up under a flag of
truce, saying, that 11 Gen. Liee remained
where he was, Gen. Grant would come
to him by the road the latter was then
pursuing. This was the only interview
under or near the apple tree ; and It may
be mentioned here, that the following
day Col. Marshall, who attended Gen.
Lee on the occasion, was surpried to find
Federal soldiers hacking at the tree, and
was amused at their idea of obtaining
from it mementoes of the surrender.
Obtaining news of Grant's approach,
Gen. Lee at once ordered Col. Marshall
to find a fit and convenient house for the
interview. Col. Marshall applied to the
first citizen he met, Mr. Wilmer McLean,
and was directed to a house vacant and
dismantled. He refused to use it; and
Mr. McLean then offered to conduct him
and the General to his own residence, a
comfortable house, with a long portico
and convenient ."sitting-room," furn
ished after the bare style of the times.
The house was about half a mile dis
tant from Gen. Lee's camp. The Con
federate commander was attended only
by one of his aids, Col. Marshall, a
youthful, boyish-looking scion of the old
and illustrious Marshall family of Vir
ginia, who had been the constant com
panion of Gen. Lee in all his campaigns,
and, as his private secretary, had done
good literary service in the preparation
of reports of battles, etc., which are now
historical. With Grant there were sev
eral of his staff-officers ; and a number
of Federal generals, including Ord and
Sheridan, entered the room, and joined
in the slight general conversation that
took place there.
The Interview opened without the least
ceremony. The story has been frequent
ly repeated, that Gen. Lee tendered his
sword, and that Gen. Grant returned it
with a complimentary remark. There
was no such absurdity. Gen. Lee wore
his sword (which wa3 not his usual
habit), and, on the exchange of saluta
tions, Gen. Grant remarked: "I must
apologize. General, for not wearing my
sword ; it had gone off in my baggage
when I received your note." Gen. Lee
bowed, and at once, and without further
conversation, asked that Gen. Grant
would state in writing, if he preferred it.
the terms on which he would receive the
surrender of the Army of Northern
Virginia. Gen. Grant complied by sit
ting at a tauiuin mo loom, and writing
with a common lead pencil the note so
wen remembered. ,
Three-foot Gauge Locomotive.
This locomotive, with two others for
freight service, has just been completed
at the Baldwin Locomotive Works, and
by the time this meets the public eve will
undoubtedly be at work on the pioneer
narrow-gauge line in tne united states
As this machine is entitled to the desig
nation of the first narrow-gauge pas
senger locomotive built or operated in
this country, a brief description of it
will be of interest both to the railroad
and general public.
Its dimensions are as follows : :
Cylinders.. ..9 laches diameter.
stroke ol piston lb Indies
Diameter of driving wheels 49 ' .
" ponv wheels 21 . "
Distance between center of pony wheels
and centerof front drivers 6 feet 8ainches
Distance between driving-wheel centers
6 feet S inces
Total wheel-base of engine 11 feet 11 inches
Kigid wheel-base (distance between
driving-wheel centers).. 6 feet 3 inches
Capacity of tender .. 600 gallons
Diameter of tender wheels 24 inches
Distance between centers of tender wheels 6 feet
Total wheel-base or engine and tender.. Lb ft. 6Js In.
Length of engine and tender over all 35 feet 4 in.
Weight of tender empty pounds
neiijub uieugiue iu wuraius uruer. ...zoauj
" " on drivers 211,5000 "
" k " on each pair of driv
ers 10,250 "
Weisrht of engine on ponv wheels 4.800 "
Helghth of smoke stack above rail 9 feet 9 Inches
Heiiihth of cab from foot board to
celling; .6 feet 3 Inches
It will be seen that the rigid wheel-
base is given as 6 feet 3 inches, the dis
tance between centers ol drivlhg wheels.
This is due to the fact that the leading
or pony wheels are fitted with a swing
bolster and radius bar, allowing them to
move laterally under the engine in pass
ing curves. These wheels are also equal
ized with the front pair of drivers. By
this arrangement, while the pony truck
assists in gmuing tne engine on a curve
and so relieves the front pair of drivers
irom the excessive wear of tires which
would otherwise result, the rigid wheel
base is reduced so that the engine will
pass curves ol very short radii without
difficulty. It is, in fact, only about two-
thirds that ol the lour-wheeled cars
designed and built for the same road.
As much interest attaches to the sub
ject of the speed practicable on narrow-
gauge roads, we may remark that the
proportions of this machine are such
that it develops the same total travel of
piston in going one mile as does a loco
motive having 24 inches stroke ol piston
and driving-wheels 5 feet -in diameter.
It is therefore apparent that equal or
nearly equal speeds are possible with
this engine as with the engine of the
usual pattern on the full gauge, i. e., 23
inches stroke and five feet drivers.
The plan of this engine gives some
what more than four-fifths of the whole
weight on the drivers, so utilizing it for
adhesion. Its tractive power on a good
rail, exclusive of the resistence of curves,
is as follows :
On a level 5H gross tons'
On a grade of 40 feet to the nille Iti4
On a grade of SO leet to the mile ! " "
From the figures should he deducted 17
gross tons, the weight of the engine and
tender in working order, to get the total
weight of cars and lading which can be
drawn on a level or on the grades named.
Tlie freight locomotives built built for
the same road have three pairs of drivers
and a swing bolster pony truck. Their
cylinders are 11 inches diameter and 16
inches stroke; drivers, 30 inches. The
total weight of engine in working order
is 33,500 pounds, of which about 29,000
are on the drivers. Being distributed to
three pair of wheels, the weight on each
pair of drivers is a little less than 10,000
pounds, nearly the same result as with
the passenger engine. Railroad Gazette.
Tlarriov "WJllinrYia anil " -M-i frt huva ..i
eluded an engagement with Mr. Web
ster, of the Adelphia Theater, London,
for one hundred nights, to commence
on the first Monday in Novem
ber.
DOMESTIC RECIPES.
Making Cheese Without Artificial
Heat. Take the milk as soon as milked,
strain in tubs, add . rennet sufficient to
curd, work off the whey, hang tip the
curd to drain until morning, when the
warm milk is brought in, and again,
without any extra heat whatever, her
curd is prepared-. Then the two curds
are put together, chopped fine, salted
well, put to press, and without any extra
heat whatever. There is no waste of
cream by standing over night; no waste
Dy neat or scalding or cooking curd.
When the cheese is pressed, 'tis fine and
rich having all the richness contained
in the new milk: no sour curd: no
trouble with warming milk, as each
milking is put In curd while warm from
tne cow.
Safett from Moths. A lady of large
experience writes us as follows : There
is no absolute safety from moths except
ing in the absolute exclusion of the mil
ler. It put away early In the season, be
fore the millers make their, appearance.
furs Can be kept in their own boxes with
out danger of any kind, by simply past
ing thin paper closely around them. No
aperture must be left for the entrance of
the miller, though the paste need not
touch the boxes. Articles of any kind
can be tied up very, tightly in pillow
cases, or sewed up in sheets. To keep
uresses, cloaks, etc., without creasing,
suspend them near the upper edge of the
sheet, then lay another sheet. over, sew
the two sheets together at the edges,
then sew loops at the Doner ede-e of this
bag, and hang it up wherever you please.
Be careful that there be no hole for the
miller to enter: In order to secure fur
ther safety it Js well to beat and brush
the furs and garments well beiore put
ting them away, and if it is any thing
that can.be heated, it may not be amiss
to heat it enough to destroy the eggs that
may be already laid.
Management of Brooms. If brooms
are wet in boiling suds' once-a week,
tney .tviu oecome ery-tough.--wHl not
cut a carpet, last much longer, and
sweep like a new broom. A handful or
so ol salt, sprinkled on, the carpet, will
carry the dust with it, and make the car
pet look bright and clean. A dusty car
pet may be cleaned, by setting a pail of
cold water out by the. door, wet the
broom in it, knock it to get off all the
drops, sweep a yard or so, then wash the
broom as before, and sweep -again, iieing
careful to shake all the drops off the
broom, and not sweep far at a time. If
done with care, it -wiH clean a carpet
very nicely, and you will he surprised at
the quantity of dirt in the water The
water may need changing once r twice
if the carpet is very dirty. Snow
sprinkled over a carpet, and swept off
before it has had time to dissolve or melt,
it is also nice for renovating a soiled carpet.-
Moistened Indian meal is used with
good effect by house-keepers.. What is
said in the followin-fa-true: -In many
town aiid city houses, the apartments re
ceive but .one through, sweeping a week.
Brooms wear out carpets quite as much
as feet do.
. Polished Shirts. Put! littleTcom
mon wax in your starch, say two ounces
to the ponnd ; then if you useany thin
patent starch, be sure you use it warm,
otherwise the wax will get cold and
gritty, and spot your linen, giving it the
appearance of being stained with grease.
It is different with colar starch it can
be used quite. cold ; -however, oft that
anon. Now; then, about polishing shirts ;
starch the fronts and wristbands as stiff
as you can. "Always starch twice, that
Is, starch and dry, then starch again.
Iron your shirts tn the usual way, mak
ing the linen nice and firm, but Without
any attempt at a good flnisbi ilon!t lift
the plaits ; your shirt is now ready for
polishing, but you ought to have a board
the same size as a common shirt board,
made of hard wood, and covered, with
only one ply of plain cotton cloth. 1 Put
this board into the breast of your "shirt,
then take a polishing iron,. which is flat
and beveled at one end polish, gently
with the beveled part, taking care-omt to
drive the linen up into wave-like blist
ers ; of course, this requires a little" prac
tice, hut if you are careful and presevere,
in a short time you will be able to give
that enamel-like finish which, seems to
be so much wanted.
. . - '
Build Him a Fire.
Ferrin, the landlord of the Westmin
ster Hotel, in New York, is not often
nonplussed, but last August a dapper
little Frenchman staggered him for a
moment. Walkinor im fn tlio nffloo Ha
accosted Ferrin with : . . ,,. i
"If you please, Monsieur, you, shall
send bill de fire in my room." '
"A what!" said Fearin, looking at the
thermometer, which indicated ninety
two degrees. ...
"I wish ze bill de fire in my apart
ment," repeated the Frenchman.
"All right, sir," said Ferrin, wHK that
outward imperturbality with which the
true hotel-keeper receives an order for
an.Vthinsr. if it he. o-nld liner rnrllinar nrSfh
diamond plums.
"John I fire in 10,001." 1 ' '
"Yes sur-r-r I" said John ; and by the
time the Frenchman had arrived at his
room. John, with nmanlnifinn imii.tniv
off of him, had the grate filled and a
uia.ee roaring Up me emmney iiko mad.
"Vat ze diable you do ?" cried the as
tonished foreigner.
"Built a fire, sir, as ye ordered," re
plied the other exile.
"Fire betam!" screamed the French
man. "T shall roast mvaplf mith th
heat!" and, rushing down stairs, he ap-
peareu at me omce witn in named lace
and moistened shirt-collar, exclaiming:
"I ask von not for zp f!n. Vsr.f think T
wish to make myself more hot, eh ? I
call for bill de fire ze bill, ze carte, so I
can eat myself wiz my dinnalre."
-uiii oi iare r un i yes.slr," said Fer
rin. "I beg your nardon." And h
politely passed out the programme for
the dav. but dertuted nne nf rim
of the restaurant: tn nnanror imr I'nrtha.
orders from the subject of Napoleon.
Self Esteem.
A man may be addicted to manv viees.
and yet there may be a hope of reclaim
ing him. But the moment he loses all
sense of character, and all consciousness
of a superior nature that is, the moment
lie begins to look upon himself and his
vices as worthy of one another that
moment an nope of reclaiming hhn per
ishes ; for the last ground is surrendered
on which it is posiible for his remaining
good principles to rally and make a
stand. We have often known men who
have retained their self-respect long after
they had lost their regard for principle:
but never one who retained his regard
for principle alter he had lost his self-re
spect. Destroy this, and you destroy
everything: for a man who does not re
spect himself, respects nothing.