Southern literary gazette. (Athens, Ga.) 1848-1849, August 26, 1848, Page 126, Image 6

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126 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