Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1886 — Did Washington Eat Green Peas with a Knife? [ARTICLE]

Did Washington Eat Green Peas with a Knife?

The following extract is taken from the “Elementary History of the United States,” bj G. P. qiuackenbos, 188’6. The author has not siuiu d enough in repeating an absurd story about an attempt to poison Gen. Washington, in June, 1776, which has no foundation, but he is also guilty of accusing the great hero of eat ng green peas with a knife: . “Fixing bis eyes upon the guilty man, he put a spoonful of peas on his plate, and asked him, ‘Shall I eat of these?’ ‘I don’t know,’ stammered the man, turning deadly pale. Washington took some on liis knife, and again asked, ‘Shall I-eat of these?’ The man could not say a word, hut raised his hand as if to prevent it.” It is interesting also to note that this “history” has been adopted by tiie authorities of the city of Brooklyn for use in their schools.— Corre pondence Magazine of American History. At the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Buffalo, Professor B. S. "Woodward, of Washington, read a paper on the rate of recession of Niagara Falls. He said that the area of rock worn away at Horseshoe Falls between the years 1542 and 1875 was 1f,500 square feet, equal to 4.25 acres; between 1812 and 1880, 24,5Q0 square feet, or 5.U2 acres-; between 1875 and 1880, 00,000 square feet, or 13.7 acres. The main length of the contour of the falls is 2,300 feet. The time required to recede one mile, if the rate is V. 4 feet per year, is 2,200 years. The minimum values for the yearly rate of recession, i. e., average rate along tho whole contour, are: From 1842 to 1875, 2.44 feet: 1842 to 1886, 2=42; 1875 to 1886, 2.38 feet. O ' : u According to the results of some experiment on the ignition of coal-dust and fire-damp, which have been published by Mr. C. Hitt in the FeVue des Mines , coals containing from sixteen to twenty-four per cent, of volatile matter appear more dangerous than either richer or poorer qualities. The ignition of coal-dust may bo induced by an explosion of fire-damp as well as by a blast ; and the explos on may I>e occasioned on firing a blast by electricity aB well as by a safety-match or a port fire. "With dynamite there is less danger, and with gun-cotton dissolved in nitro-glycerine, practically none, if it is ignited by a cap of sufficient force. Investigations by Dr. R.Von Helmholtz, described at the Berlin lloyal Society, confirm the statements that the formation of cloud in saturated air is induced solely by particles of dust, and that the finer and sparser are the dust particles the more slowly is the cloud formed. These results are also confirmatory of 1 rofessor Tyndall’s explanation that the blue color of the sky is due to floating dust. " r vjr “You had better change that rug,” said a lady to her servant. “Don’t you think it corroborates better with the 7 carpet in this Way ?” was the response. A\Jaluab!e Medical Treatise. The edition for 18S7 of the sterling Medical Annual, know n as Hostetter’s Almanac, is now ready, anff inay Tie obtained, free of cost, of druggists and general country dealers in all parts of the United States, Mexico, and indeed in every civilized portion of tho Western Hemisphere. . This Almanac has boen issued regularly at the commencement of every year for o\er one-fifth of a century. It combines, with the soundest practical novice for tho preservation and restoration ot health, a large amount of interesting and amusing light reading, end the calendar, astronomical calculations, chronological items, etc., are prepared with great care, and will be found entirely accurate. The issue of Hostetter's Almanac for 1887 will probably bo the largest edition ol a medical work ever published in any country. The proprietors.. Messrs. Hostetler <fc Co., Pittsburgh, Fa., on receipt of a two-cent stamp, will forward a copy by mail to any person who cannot procure - one in liis neighborhood. ■ -

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