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crank and cog wheel, the motion causes the
air to rush down the tube into the milk and
produces a commotion like boiling water. —
The butter began to come immediately, and
after it was made the milk was as sweet as
new. By this process good churn butter may
be made for breakfast by’ any family after the
milkman has come in the morning, and the
luxury of pure fresh butter enjoyed the year
round. While the cakes are baking or the
muffins toasting, the head of the family may
be amusing himself by churning the butter to
eat with them.
REMEDIES AGAINST MOTHS.
It is an old custom with some housewives
to throw into their drawers every year, a
number of fir cones, under the idea that their
strong resinous smell might keep away the
moth. Now as the odor of these cones is
due to turpentine, it occurred to Reaumur to
try the effect of this volatile liquid. He rub
bed one side of a piece of cloth with turpen
tine, and put some grubs on the othefjf the
next day they were all dead, and strange to
say, ihey had voluntarily abandoned their
sheaths. On smearing some paper slightly
with oil, and putting this into a bottle with
some of the grubs, the weakest were immedi
ately killed; the most vigorous struggled vio
lently for two or or three hours, quitted their
.sheaths and died in convulsions. It was
soon abundantly evident that the vapor of oil
or spirits of turpentine acts as terrible poison
to the grubs. Perhaps it may be said that
even this remedy is worse than the disease,
but as Reaumur justly observes, we keep a
way from a newly painted room, or leave off
for a few days a coat from which stains have
been removed by turpentine, why therefore
can we not once a year keep away for a day
or two from rooms that have been fumigated
with turpentine ?
It is however surprising, how small a quan
tity of turpentine is required ; a small piece
of paper or linen just moistened therewith,
and put into the wardrobe or drawers a single
day, two or three times a year, is a preserva
tion against moths. A small quantity of tur
pentine dissolved in a little spirits of wine
(the vapor of which is also fatal to the moth)
will entirely remove the offensive odor, and
yet be a sufficient preservative. The fumes
of burning paper, wool, linen, feathers, and
of leather, are also effectual, for the insects
perish in any thick smoke, but the most effec
tual smoke is that of tobacco. A coat smel
ling but slightly of tobacco is sufficient to
preserve a whole drawer. We trust our fair
readers will not scold us for thus affording
their husbands or lovers an additional excuse
for perpetuating a bad habit. The vapor of
turpentine and the smoke of tobacco are also
effectual in driving away flies, spiders, ants,
earwigs, bugs and fleas. The latter tormen
ters so abundant in Mexico.
STRAW FOR BONNETS.
Directions for curing straw, to adapt it for
the manufacture of straw bonnets, hats, &c., —
‘•Cut wheat or rye straw while in full blos
som, or as the blossoms begin to fall. Scald
it in a few hours after it is cut (the head being
first cut off) in boiling water about a quarter
of a minute, then spread and dry it in the
sun. —Take care that neither rain nor dew falls
upon it. It will cure in three days sunshine.
Then keep it in a dry place.” To split the
straw after it is properly cured, so as to re
duce it to a proper texture, it is only necessa
ry to fit the point of a penknife in a piece of
board, leaving about the eigth or a fourth of
an inch above the board, then pulling the
straw against it. Straw of any size can be
made.
TO CLEAN OIL PAINT.
The best thing for cleaning oil paint is a
sponge dipped in ammonia which has been
copiously diluted with water. Soap dissolves
the turpentine as well as the linseed oil, and
not only destroys the smooth and shiny, sur
face, but it exposes also the white lead to the
influence of the air and water, and is there
fore not practical.
TO POLISH FINE FURNITURE,
The simplest and best thing for polishing
fine parlor furniture is milk. After cleaning
the furniture from dust and dirt, fresh milk,
which has not been skimmed, is spread upon
the wood, which is then rubbed with a fine
woollen rag, until it is completely dry. This
has to be repeated several times. Milk of
fers, besides not producing an offensive smell,
i the advantage that the furniture can be used
again without delay.
MU IE !ill & 0 THE IE AIB ¥ ♦
21 Column Crcctci) to Jam.
THE DOG WHO HAD NO OWNER.
We were traveling through Canada, says a
contemporary, in the winter of 1839, and after
a very long day’s ride, stopped at the Lioto
Inn ; and the contents of the stage, numbering
about nine persons, soon gathered around the
cheerful fire. Among the occupants of the
room, we observed an ill-looking cur, who
had shown his wit by taking up his quarters
in so comfortable an apartment. After a
few minutes, the landlord entered, and, ob
serving the specimen of the canine species, re
marked—
“ Fine dog, that! Is he yours, sir?” ap
pealling to one of the passengers.
“No. sir.”
“Beautiful dog!—Yours’ sir?” addressing
himself to a second.
“No!” was the blunt reply.
“ Come here, Pup!—Perhaps he is yours,
sir?”
“ No,” was the reply.
“Very sageious animal!—Belongs to you,
I suppose, sir ?”
“ No he doesen’t, ” was the answer.
••Then he is yours, and you have a treasure”
(throwing the animal a cracker.)
“Nothing of the kind.”
“Oh! (with a smile.) he belongs to you as
a matter of course?” addressing himself to the
last passenger.
“ Would't have him as a gift.”
“Then you infernal, dirty, mean, contemp
tible whelp, get out!” and with that , the host
gave the poor dog such a kick, as sent the ani
mal yelling into the street, amid the roars of
the company!
SETTLING THE BILL.
A gentleman from somewhere, (says the
Maine Farmer,) not long since put up at one
of our public houses. Undoubtedly he was*
not familiar with all the ways and usages of
the world. He had supper, lodgings, and
breakfast. When dinner carne he seated him
self at the table with numerous others. He
thought the board was slimly furnished, but
said nothing. Presently a waiter passed him
a “ bill of fare.” Struck all aback by thus,
as he thought, having his bill thrust in his
face before a company of entire strangers, he
gave the formidable document but a single
glance, and deliberately folding it up anil put
ting it in his vest pocket, he very coolly
said:
“ All right—l will settle with you immedi
ately after dinner.”
A few waistbands—just a few—were some
what shattered, along the tables.
A WITTY LADY.
Miss Smix took a ride, the other day, to
the Lake-end of the Ponchartrain Railroad—
distance, about five miles, which was accom
plished in about twenty minutes.
“Awful slow traveling, this,” said a gen
tleman opposite her, whom she immediately
recognized as a Virginian. “I remember,”
said lie, “going to dine with a gentleman, re
siding six miles from Richmond, (who own
ed all the land on each side of the road,) and
on the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, it
only took us fourteen minutes! What do you
think of that?”
“ Did the gentleman accompany you ?”
asked Miss Smix, with a half smile.
“ Certainly.”
“Well, then, I think he ran through his
property in an uncommon short time.— N. O.
Delta.
A CURIOUS RELIC.
A Frenchman, who was exhibiting some
sacred relics, and other curiosities, produced
among other things, a sword, which lie assur
ed his visitors was “de sword dat Balaam had
when he would kill de ass.” A spectator re
marked, that Balaam had no sword, but only
wished for one. “ Ver well—dis is de one
he wish for.”
KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS.
A clergyman finding his flock very ignorant,
resolved to pay them domiciliary visits, and
inspect them at their own houses. Coming
to a poor woman’s cabin, amongst other ques
tions, he asked her how many commandments
there were. “Truly, sir,” said she, “1 can
not tell.” “Why ten,” said he. “A fine
company,” replied she; “ God bless you and
them together.” “ Well, but, neighbor,”
says lie, “do you think you can keep these
commandments?” “Ah, the Lord in heaven
bless you, sir, I'm a poor woman, and can
hardly keep myself, so how can I bear the
charge of keepingso'many commandments?”
Nmiapapcr
NELSON'S PLAYFUL DECISION.
Lord Nelson’s manner, apart from duty, was
universally kind and even playful to all around
him; an amusing instance of which, as well
as of his extreme quickness, occurred during
the cruise in the Mediterranean. One bright
morning, when the ship was moving about
four knots an hour through a very smooth
sea, everything on board being orderly, and
quiet, there was a sudden cry, “ a man over
boara!” A midshipman named Flimn, a good
draughtsman, who had been sitting on deck
comfortably sketching, started at the cry: and
looking over the side of the ship, saw his
own servant, who was no swimmer, flounder
ing in the sea. Before Flimn’scoat could be off
the captain of marines had thrown the man
a chair through the port-hole in the ward
room, to keep him floating, and the next in
stant Flimn had flung himself overboard, and
was swimming to the rescue. The admiral,
having witnessed the whole affair from the
quarter-deck, was highly delighted with the
scene; and when the party, chair and all,
had been hauled upon deck, he called Mr.
Flimn, praised his conduct, and made him
lieutenant on the spot. A loud huzza from
the midshipmen, whom the incident had col
lected on deck, and who were throwing up
their hats in honor of Flimn’s good fortune,
arrested Lord Nelson’s attention. There was
something significant in the tone of their cheer
which he immediately recognized ; and put
ting up his hand lor silence,- and leaning over
to the crowd of middies, he said, withagood
natured smile on his face, “Stop, young gen
tlemen. Mr. Flimn has done a gallant thing
to-day—and he has done many gallant things
before—for which he has got his reward;
but mind, I’ll have no more making lieuten
ants for servants falling overboard.”— Memoirs
of Dr. Scott , Nelson's Chaplain.
NIAGARA FALLS SUSPENSION
BRIDGE.
The suspension bridge is the most sublime
work of art on the continent. It makes the
head dizzy to look at it, and yet it is travers
ed with as much security as any other bridge
of the same width. We were present while
the workmen were engaged in hanging the
planks over the fearful chasm. It looked
like a work of peril, but it was prosecuted
with entire safety. Not an accident lias
happened since the first cord was carried
across the river at the tail of a kite.
It is impossible to give the reader a clear
idea of the work. Imagine a foot bridge
800 feet in length, hung in the air at the
height of 230 feel, over a vast body of wa
ter, rushing through a narrow gorge at the
rate of thirty miles an hour. If you are be
low it, it looks like a strip of paper suspend
ed by a cobweb. When the wind is strong,
the frail, gossamer-looking structure sways
to and fro, as if ready to start from its fasten
ings, and it shakes from extremity to centre
under the firm tread of the pedestrian. But
there is no danger. Men pass over it with
perfect safety, while the head of the timid
looker-on swims with apprehension.
We saw the first person pass over—Mr.
Kllet, Builder. His courageous wife soon
followed him, and for two days, hundreds,
attracted by the novelty of the tiling, took
the fearful journey.
It is worth a trip to the falls to see this
great work, although it is not probable that
one in twenty will have the nerve to cross
upon it. For, strange as it may seem, there
were those who had no hesitation to slide
over the awful chasm, in a basket, upon a
single wire cable, who could not be induced
to walk over the bridge. And this aerial ex
cursion is thrillingly exciting. A seat on a
locomotive, traveling at the rate of sixty miles
an hour, is nothing to it. When you find
yourself suspended in the air, with the roar
ing, rushing, boiling Niagara two hundred
and fifty feet below you. if your heart don’t
flutter, you will have nerve enough to swing
over Vesuvius.
And yet the sensation is not altogether un
pleasant. The ride itself, as the old lady said
about skinning eels, “is nothing when you
get used to it.”— Rochester Democrat.
VISIT TO LORD ROSSE’S TELE
SCOPE.
Dr. Robinson lately gave an interesting ac
count, to the Royal Dublin Academy r of the
present condition of Lord Rosse s telescope..
The figure of the speculum not being quite
perfect, it was resolved to repeat the polish
ing process, which requires to be performed
at a temperature of 55 degs. r whilst the artifi
cial heat by means of which this lias to be
fucctedj in winter occnsioiiis a dryness in tiife
| air in consequence of which the polishing
j material will not remain on the speculum.—
I This difficulty was ingeniously obviated by &
jet of steam. The result was admirable. The
telescope is to receive a removal in right as
cension from the ground, connected with clock
work : an eye-piece of large field, but capa
ble of being replaced by the usual one in an
instant, to obviate the difficulty of finding ob
jects ; and a peculiar micrometer of parallel
glass with a position circle attached. Unfa
vorable weather had prevented much being
done with the telescope. But in one good
night Dr. Robinson observed in the moon the
large flat bottom of the crater covered with
fragments, and became satisfied that one of the
bright stripes so often discussed had no visi
ble elevation above the general surface.— In
the belts of Jupiter, streaks liks those of Pyr
rhus’ cloud were seen, evidently through a
considerable and imperfectly transparent at
mosphere. The nebula of Orion, even with
the imperfect mirror and in bad nights, was
seen to be composed of stars in that part
which presents the strange flocculent appear
ance described by Sir John Herschel. Butin
addition to the two stars of the trapezium dis
covered by the telescope of Dorpat and Ken
sington, the six feet showed the other two af
ter the first glance at its polish was comple
ted. The planetary nebula situated in the
splendid cluster Messier was seen to be adise
of small stars uniformly distributed and sur
rounded by the larger. The most remarkable
nebula arrangement which the instrument has
revealed is that where the stars arc grouped
in spirals, one of which Lord Rosse described
in 1845. Dr. Robinson lias now discovered
others—h. GO4, seen by Herschel as a bicen
tral nebula—Messier 99, in which the centre
is a cluster of stars —Messier 97 looking with
the finding eye-piece like a figure 8, but
shown by the higher powers to be star spirals,
related to two centres, appearing like stars
with dark spaces qround them. Struve, in
computing the limit of the milky way, assumes
it in its greatest extent “unfathomable by the
telescope.” l)r. Robinson is certain that its
remotest stars are very far within the limit
of the 6-feet, and very much larger than those
of the nebula of Orion.
HARD ARGUMENTS.
A jolly son of Neptune came up to a rev
erend gentleman in Charleston, not long
since, shaking a handful of silver dollars. —
“ V hy, Jack,” said the pastor, jestingly,
“your are flush to-day—do you intend to
make me a present of all these dollars ?”
“Faith, no,” said the honest tar ; “these are
not dollars—they are arguments.” “ Argu
ments ! Why, what do they prove ?” “Faith
and they prove that temperance is a good
thing. Now, sir, I received my wages when
I got into port here the other day. and had
just twenty dollars, anil says I to myself, now
this goes for grog and fun. Well sir, the first
night I spent rive dollars at the grog shop,
leaving me just fifteen. But as you had ap
pointed the next night for a temperance meet
ing, and begged us all to come up, I thought
I would just go to hear what you had to say.
Well, sir, I signed the pledge that night, and
her es the rest of my grog-money all saved.
Now, sir, continued Jack, shaking his mon
ey at the parson and laughing, “don’t you
call these fifteen good hard arguments in fa
vor ol temperance ?”— lllustrated Anecdetes.
£ljc Dark Comer.
CHARADE,
B Y THE RE V. J. H. CL I NC H.
Upon the coast of sunny Spain,
In Biscay’s stormy bay,
A peaceful hamlet, near the main,
Sleeps in the morning ray,
And from its doors a swarthy train,
Wend slow their downward way,
To where upon the shining sand,
Their boats, secure from danger, stand.
And soon with ready hands, they guide
Their light skiffs to the sea,
Where gaily on the waves they ride,
Like sea-birds wheeling free,
V bile the strong rowers side by side,
~ Keep stroke right merrily ;
lor on those waves their strength was
Ihey brave them now to make m yfirst.
But ore they left the sandy shore,
Ur took their seats on board—
Eve any baud had grasped an oar,
Or loosed the fastening cord,
Each from his home my second bore,
Where safely it was stored,
And there, within each boat it lay,
Ready to use when far away.
And when the daily toil was o’er,
Home speeds each laden bark,
And from the rustic cottage door,
Their course the maidens mark,
And with light song they seek the shore,.
To hail the crews:—and hark !
While waiting on the level mole,
llow gaily, sweetly sounds my whole r