Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1877 — Page 3

The Rensselaer Union, RENSSELAER, . * INDIANA.

THE FAIRIES' TABLE-CLOTH. Here Is the fairies’ table, vined Over with llchened buhl work bright; Here U the cloth they left behind. After their feast was done last night. Never such napery mot mv eyes; Never such cobweb woof I've found; Dotted with dew-drop- damask-wlse. Bordered with seed pearl all around. Service of creamiest lily-ware; Spoons of gold from the tulip a heart; Sliver eper.nee of callae rare; Napkins fringed by the gentian's art. Wine from the spice-wood's vintage, poured Out oftbe bubble's Venice glass; Bread fiolll the pollen of wild pease stored; Cates from the buds of suseafras; Meats from the hazels: sweets and sours Fashioned alone for fairy lips, Ont of the cores of pungent flowers, Out of the purple haws and hips. Fruits from the wlnter-greyu, alder, grape; Barberries red with ruby glows; Wildings ol elfln size and shape, Folded in leaves of brier-rose. Satiny toad-stools ranged as chairs; Moon mid-sky for a chandelier; Crickets and tree-frogs crooning airs L'p In the green orchestra near. Ah, what a supper it must have been I Bountiful, zested, racy, rare; Ab, if I only had fairy kin I Ah, If I only had been there I —Margaret Preston, in Harper's Magazine for August. .

THE BIG-HEADED MEDICINE MAN.

The North American Indians, especial, ly the Algonquin tribes, were exceedingly superstitious in regard to deformed persons, deeming them divine in some sense, or in league with the Great Spirit. Many of the “medicine men”—"manitowatou”—among Ahoee tribes were hunchbacked, club-footeOThare-lipped or something ot the kind. Red Jacket, a famous Seneca Chief, had a brother who was considered a prophet because deformed. Elskatawa, twin brother of Tecumseh, and Ute most renowned of all Bhawanese medicine men, did not belong to the regular priestly family of the tribe, but assumed his office “ because the Great Spirit gave him six toes on each foot and six fingers on each hand.” Enos Owen was a deformity belonging o a family of pioneer whites. His father and brothers were stalwart and athletic, engaging in all the struggles of their times; but Enos was a dwarf. He used to say of himself that he was all “ understanding," for at the age of thirty his head and feet were as large as other men's, while his body was like a child of twelve. He had the mind necessary to endow a first-class man, but his shrunken frame made him dependent and incapable. In the year 1782, in a night attack by the Indians, Enos found himself dragged out of bed in the darkness, and instead of having his big head tomahawked and scalped, he was tied in a gang of captured women and children and marched off into the northwest wilderness. A summer of bondage followed in the Indian towns, probably somewhere in the Wabash or Maumee country . But be made the best ot it, acquiring quite a smattering of the red people’s language, and conducting himself so admirably according to their notions as to become a general favorite with Sachem, squaw and pappoose. No doubt the Indian superstition regarding deformed persons had much to do with the respect and kindness shown him by the savages, and he was not slow to take advantage of their bigotry by the use of every superior art and power known to him as a white man. Tne Indians called him “ Ge-che nin-de-ba me-dah," —“ big-headed medicine-man.” And, furthermore, they knew he could neither escape to his home nearly two hundred miles distant nor do any harm if he remained in their villages. Therefore he was gradually liberated from every species of control and went and came as he chose. Most of his time was passed among the lads at their games, oi in learning Indian lore ot venerable Chiefs too old to join the hunt or the war party. But he took particular care also to so associate with the able-bodied warriors as to keep himself posted in passing events and plans for new campaigns. Thus he heard of the attack of a blockhouse, tlie destruction of a flat-boat on the Ohio, the scalping of a farmer in bis field and tlie capture'* of school children by the road-side; and also the reverses that befell the red men at the hands of the whites.

He contrived to place his ears within hearing of a council of war that occurred in the autumn, and comprehended enough of the sonorous speeches to know that the tribe were about to send an army on the warpath. How ho wished then that he had the strength of other men, to fly to the settlements and spread the alarm. At length the usual message arrived from the Chief selected ta lead the expedition, “ Let the braves keep their shoes ready to join the warriors,” and Enos’ heart sickened at thought of the cruelties that were about to fall somewhere along the line of the settlements. With a man’s spirit, but a child’s strength, he chafed at his inability to do anything to avert the bloody blow. And he pondered and grieved over the matter until he was wrought up to decide upon some expedient by which to warn his countrymen. But how, and where, and by whom ? t There were scores "of frontier points where the whites were exposed, and which one of these was to be attacked was known only to the Chief in command, and he dwelt in a distant village. 80 that whatever Enos should undertake would depend on guess-work, and might be even hundreds of miles out of the wav. But " where there’s a will there’s a way,” and adopting Miles Standish’s motto, “If you want anything well done do ft yourself,” he resolved to wait the departure of the warriors, and, haunting their steps until he knew where they meant to strike, give the alarm at the last moment. To be sure such a venture would involve, perhaps, greater endurance than he possessed; but he could do no more than perish in the effort, which was only what would befall the settlers if he did not warn them. And should the Indians discover him on their trail, he believed their superstition respecting his deformity would save him from their vengeance. At length the night of the Anal wardance and pow-wow came and passed, and early in the morning the painted, blood-thirsty band departed, Enos witnessed the scene and then returned into the wigwam where he lodged, only to emerge at the rear and disappear in the dense forest that skirted the Indian village on that side. Half an hour later he mght have been seen gliding like a shadow along the train of the marching red-skins. No wild animal was ever more alert than he against surprise. His eyes and ears had need to look and listen every way qt once lest some warrior who had lagged behind or loitered by the side of the trail, should discover him. For five hard days he kept the path, eating nuts and roots, and sometimes finding a morsel dropped by the Indians. Occasionally he caught a glimpse of the object of his pursuit, but always taking care not to be seen in turn. At the close of each day when the savages made their camp for the night he crept within -hearing, and thus gleaned some Information concerning their plans. The story seems incredible that any person, and especially an invalid, should

succeed without detection, in dogging the steps of two or three hundred of the wildest and wariest warriors that ever took the war-path; but the writer is sketching history, mA fiction, confirmed by abundant personal testimony. On the fifth day of the march, soon after breaking camp, the savages crossed a stream by a ford where the current was too deep and rapid tor Enos to follow. And fortunate was It that he could not. Watching from a thicket, he saw the Indians turn down the stream and he fol-' lowed on the opposite shore, venturing even nearer than when on their direct trail; but not knowing whither their route led, and the river becoming broader and stronger at every mile, he thought himself defeated and his pursuit during these weary days a lost effort. As the day advanced, however, he began to perceive indications that white men had been there before him. The ax goes a! wavs in the van of civilization in a wooded country; and marks of the ax become frequent as night drew near. Boon, across a great bend in the valley that cradled tlie stream, Edos saw several miles ahead that sure signal of the pioneer’s presence—the smoke of a burning fallow. And what was the exhausted fellow’s joy to discover that it was on the same side of the water with himself; now he felt that In not being able to cross in the morning Providence was helping him, and courage lent new strength to his feeble frame. lie also readily guessed out the object of tlie Indians in taking the more wild and rugged side of the stream —it was to avoid being discovered by tlie whites until they had approached near enough to surprise the block-house of the settlement. As the shadows began to drop down on the woods and water, there were multiplied evidences of civilized people not far distant. And now be knew by the movements of the savages that they were seeking a camp, and soon they disappeared in a narrow ravine thickly grown with hemlocks. Here, doubtless they would pass most of the night and attack the settlement at daybreak. This was the usual method of Indians in such expeditions, and it was no great display of wisdom for Enos to guess out their intentions.

Waiting opposite their halting place until darkness sheltered him, lie stole down to the river’s edge and saw their fires under the low-bending hemlocks not twenty rods away. But the camp was very quiet as compared with former nights, another proof of proximity to the whites. Now if he had strength enough left to reach the settlement his object would be accomplished. Stealthily he crept away from the vicinity of the red-skins, and following the water pushed on as best he could toward those whom he sought to warn and save. But ah, what a night march was that for Enos! His moccasins were worn to strings, his big feet were blistered and swollen, and his big head ached effects of weariness and hunger. He was almost ready to drop to the ground. Another day of such hardships would have put an end to his ability to track the savages. At length, as he limped and struggled on his ears were saluted by the barking of a dog. This was the signal he longed for, and he pressed his way directly toward it. Soon he came so near as to greatly excite the animal, and he expected its furious barking would presently arouse its master; nor was he mistaken. In a moment he heard a low voice addressed to the dog, and then the creature was still. Now Enos called out, and his voice and words being recognized as belonging to a white man or boy, he was at once welcomed into the cabin. Before the firelight within he gave his name, briefly told the story of his captivity, and how he had come to approach the settlement thus at midnight. Of course the first result of his revelations was to send the alarm along the valley and prepare the people for defense. The women and children were hurried into the blockhouse, and the men, though but a handful, armed for -battle, and arranged an ambush at the spot where, owing to the conformity of the banks, the Indians would be most likely to cross the river. In the meantime poor Enos was fed, his blisters were dressed, and he was enabled to obtain a few hours' sleep. At daybreak came the enemy as was anticipated. A few shots were exchanged, when, discovering the advantages of the whites, the savages drew back under shelter of the bank and a parley ensued. But there being no interpreter on either side, Enos volunteered his services. Now appeared the superstition of the Indian nature. With a few words explaining to the Chiefe that he was about to take Ids post where he could talk with both sides, the dwarf walked out midway between whites and red men, very near and in plain view of both.

As he came in sight of the Indians tbeir amazement seemed to know no bounds. Scores of them ejaculated in alarm, “ Geche nin-de-ba me dahl” and by gestures peculiar to their religious ceremonies indicated their confusion. He instantly recognized the state of their feelings, and was not slow to avail himself of it. He told them the Great Spirit had brought him from the distant village in order to defeat their bloody purposes; which was true, considering his feebleness and the length of the journey. He warned tliem to return homo, or Manito would be offended and destroy them; which again was true, for it cannot be that the Great Spirit takes pleasure in carnage, and from the advantages of the whites and tlie proximitv of reinforcements the overthrow of the savages was probable. But, to shorten the story, it may be stated that the prudence of the Indians overbalanced their valor, and they retreated without scalp or spoil; and it was subsequently ascertained that the whole force returned demoralized to their distant villages. But they were disgraced in the estimation of the tribe, and their fruitless campaign was called in derision “ the battle of theoig-headed medicine-man."—lrving L. Reman, in Christian Union.

A Mortifying Mistake.

A well-known young lady of this city recently made herself the victim of a ridiculous mistake. A handsome and wealthy gentleman, whose acquaintance she had just formed, invited her to attend a dress party in his company. She accepted, and arrayed herself for the event with unusual care. To her surprise and mortification he appeared, to escort her to the party, attired in'a white linen coat. She invited him to be seated and then begged to be excused for a few moments. To her mother she stated the fact that she would be ashamed to go wjth him if he wore “ that coat.” It was finally decided that she should ask the gentleman to pass the evening at the house. Ashamed, but determined, she told him that she did not believe that any of the gentlemen would wear linen coats at the party; that they had better not go; a delightful evening could be passed at home, etc. The gentieman took the matter good-naturedly and remuked, “ Why. this is only my duster.’’ He revealed beneath it a garment of shining broadcloth. The lady recovered from her mortification zufficiently to attend the party, but she feels ashamed of her stupidity to this day. Her companion was the best dressed man there.— Milwaukee Wisconsin.

INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS.

—A youth of seventeen, at Utica. N. Y., fatally injured himself a few days ago while trying to turn a back handspring. —A lady in Hazardville, Conn., has lost five husbands by powder-mill explosions, and now she is about to marry her sixth husband, who is also connected with a powder-mill. Moat wives prefer to blow up their husbands themselves, instead of letting the job out to a powdermill. * —A clergyman at Elizabeth, N. J.. was recently asked to escort a young lady to New York. He consented gladly, took up an armtul of packages, pots ot preserves, etc., that lay beside her, placed them in the car, and some time after the train had started, discovered that they didn’t belong to his ctftnpanion. At Jersey City he was arrested on a telegram from Elizabeth, but he succeeded in explaining matters. —A carriage is a strange place to be drowned in, yet Dr. E. H. Reed and Miss Bailey lost their lives recently in that manner while in their carriage. A party of four procured a hack at Trenton, N. J-, and went out for a drive. The night became dark and stormy. The horses ran away and precipitated themselves and vehicle into a canal. Mr. Paxton and Miss Smith escaped, but the other occupants were drowned before they could get out of the hack. —During a thunder-storm, a few evenings since, a young woman, seated at a sewing-aiachine, in a house on Wylie avenue, was frightened from it by peculiar demonstrations of the electric fluid, which seemed to fill the room, and made a hissing sound as it played upon the steel work of the machine. After the |tonn had subsided, it was noticed that the glass in the room windows was cracked, but no crash had been heard or flash observed.— Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette.

Mankind sometimes invents strange methods to escape death. One of the most remarkable plans was tried a few days since by George Brown, of New York, who was haunted by a fear that he would be assassinated. He kept dodging his supposed murderers by continually changing his place of abode, residing one day with his family at 325 Stanton street, and another with his sister at 214 Delaney street, but at last he determined to foil his pursuers, and so committed suicide at the residence of his sister. —A few days ago a woman in Bridgeport, Conn., met with a narrow escape. She went into the woodhouse to get coal, when suddenly the floor gave way, ana left her suspnded by her arms and unable to touch ground with her feet. She was finally rescued from her position, when it was discovered that she had fallen through the top of an old well, long ago discarded, which had a depth of eleven feet, and -ttontained four or five feet of water. Had she fallen through, death would soon have followed, as the place was filled with poisonous gases. —A man named George Martin, who keeps a tavern on Washington street, Sherbrooke, recently drove to a farm he owns in the vicinity, taking with him a bottle of whisky, ana a son aged under six years. After treating his hands, he left the child in the barn, with the remains of the whisky—supposed to have been about a pint. On his return the whisky bottle was empty, and the poor boy lay stupidly drunk and insensible upon the barn floor. In spite of everything that could be done, and without one interval of consciousness, the poor child died in a little over twenty-four hours, with all the distinctive symptoms of alcoholic poisoning.— Montreal Witness.

Fire-Crackers and Joss-Sticks.

These two articles have more connection in the mind of a Cantonese than they have among people in this country. Here, the first is associated chiefly with the noise and license of Fourth of July, when boys have the annual privilege of firing them off; and the second is known for the convenience they afford in lighting cigars. But among the Chinese, firecrackers and fire-works are used in worshiping the gods, and to drive off evil and hungry spirits which may be prowling about the house; while joss-sticks are lighted to invite genial influences from the gods by pleasing them with the smoke of fragrant incense. The names for fire-crackers, hiangpao, and pao chun, mean sonorous cracklings, and crackling bamboos; the latter term is given from their resemblance in sjze to the little twigs of that plant. There is a proverb among the people, “ One explosion of fireworks does away with the old year,” which is explained by the following legend: “LiMan lived in the hills, and the house of his neighbor, old Chung, was continually infested with elves. Man sent him every morning and evening to a hall to burn bamboo sticks, whose crackling alarmed them so that they let him sleep in quiet till morning. On this account people have since used fire-works to terrify the spirits, so that no malicious ones may mar the harmony of the coming New Year; crackers are also let off whenever an enterprise, as a voyage or a journey, is undertaken—not so much to get good luck to attend it, as to drive away all evil from hindering it.”

Fire-crackers are made of coarse bamboo paper rolled around a little gunpowder and a match of paper as a fuse to fire it. They are always covered with red paper, because that, is the color of joy among the Chinese, and are exploded on every festive or important occasion. The bride steps into her gay sedan, and gets out to enter her husband’s house, amid their crackling; and when they both first bow before the ancestral, tablet, it warns malicious spirits to retire far away. The sailor burns them as he weighs anchor, and invokes favorable winds. The annual offerings at the ancestral tomb are presented amid their crackling, and its inmates left in repose for the coming year with the same salute. The public courts are closed and the official seal put away during the new year holidays under the same auspices; while in each household the god of the kitchen is thus dismissed on his journey to report on the conduct of its members to Bhangli, the Supreme Ruler. But the demand for this miniature artillery is greatest on New Year’s Eve, when the! whole empire resounds with its deafening noise amid the lanes And streets of the cities. In Canton City, their consumption is so great that the streets are red with the fragments which the farmers sweep up to use as manure. The consumption of fire crackers among the Chinese aa may readily be inferred, is enormous, for they enter into all their religious acts, and many of the customs of daily life. The export is more than 2,000 tons annually, of which perhaps 1,500 tons come to this country. How could American boys get through Fourth of July without them? Joss sticks derive their name from the effort of the Canton shopkeeper to describe to his foreign customer the incense sticks often seen burning on the counter. He knew that idols of every kind were called joss by the Portuguese at Macao, (derived from, their word dies or God and corrupted in bis mouth to joss) and so he summarily called incense sticks, God's sticks, as the phrase most likely to be understood. On the same principle, he calls a temple a joss house; tne Sabbath a joss day; foreign'or native priests, joss man; and worship of any kind, joss pidgin. All these words he supposed to be good English, and therefore they will be clearly understood by the foreigner. Incense sticks are usually made of needle-like slips of bamboo which are covered with a Composition ot sawdust and clay in fine powder. The best kind are made

of sandal, garoo, or other fragrant woods reduced to powder; the cheaper and common sorts are of fir, cedar, juni per, etc. On the altar before every idol an open jar or vase of bronze, crockery or iron, contains incense sticks in one form or other constantly burning. Another way of making them is to mix the dust with glutinous water and clay, and roll the composition into a quill-shaped strip, uniform in size throughout. It is sometimes ten or twelve feet long, and is then coiled into if sort of conical roll supported by wire; it burns so regularly that it is marked off into certain distances to indicate the hour ot day; and in fact one name for this Kind means “ time incense,” from its double use as a time-keeper and an offering to the gods. It is only this kind which is exported for the convenience of segar smokers, but the native manufacturer probably supposes that his foreign customers burns them for tlie same purpose that he docs. Incense sticks are also made of powdered artemisia mixed with clay, and burned to drive away musquitoes, which the smoke does effectually.— B. Wells Williams, in N. Y. Observer.

Machinery and Workingmen.

The orlncipal speakers at the so-called “ workingmen’s meetings" held-in varlous citiesTiave alluded frequently to the injury done the working classes by the wide use of labor-saving machinery. One spoke of the good old times when a man was able to earn an honorable livelihood for himself and his family by wheeling coal and elevating grain in a basket. Another said that machinery enabled the proprietors to control labor and reduce wages to starvation prices. Descending to epigram, he declared the machine to be the capitalists’ servant but the workingmen’s master. The argument between the advocates and opponents of labor-sav-ing processes and machinery is too full, too old and too tiresome to be reopened here. But if, as we believe is the case, a great many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of workingmen in Chicago believe the doctrines put out by the speakers al those meetings, it is worth while to place before them some of the evidence that they are wrong. All that is now said against machinery in general has been said specifically against every new invention. The steam-engine, the knitting-machine, the power-loom, the railroad, have all met with the bitterest opposition from unreflecting workingmen. The latest case is most interesting. The same arguments in almost the same words that have been used in all these other cases were directed against the sewing-machine. It would be employed to oppress the laboring classes, to lower wages. It would be the capitalist’s servant, the workingman’s master. How have the actual results compared with these theories ? Our workingmen can find the evidence on these points in a very interesting paper by Mr. John Plummer, in ths “ Companion to the Almanac,” published in England. Before the sewing-machine was invented, the wages of needlewomen were absolutely at starvation point. In the “ Bong of tlie Shirt” the poor sewing-woman, clad in unwomanly rags, cries to Heaven that “ Bread should be so dear and flesh and blood so cheap.” In the trades in which men had to use the needle—making shoes, harness and other manufactures of leather and of heavy sewn goods—a similar state of affairs prevailed, with the usual margin of superior wages in favor of the male workers. But the whole class, male and female, were the worst paid, hardest worked and most unhealthy working-peo-ple. Philanthropic efforts were made to better the situation, of the women especially. Kiud-hearted people, stirred by the cry of wrong and suffering that burst out in the “Song of the Shirt,” formed associations to help the needle-women. All these efforts were in vain. The needlewomen, the shoemakers, the harnessmakers and all that worked by the needle remained sunk in squalor, poverty and ili-health. About this time a new invention appeared. It was resisted by the workingmen. It was certain, this sewingmachine, to throw labor out of employment, and depress their already too low condition. But the new machine, with tlie vitality and persistence of such pests, forced its way into universal use. What was the result? The appearance of the sewing-machine changed for the better the condition of tlie operatives of every trade where it was introduced. Hours of labor of needlewomen decreased from eighteen to eleven and ten hours a day; their wages rose from three and four shillings a week in England, to eight, twelve, fourteen, and for the best workers, twenty and twentyfour shillings a week. The work became so attractive on account ot good wages and easy hours, that it drew young women from every direction. Domestic servants became scarce, and their wages rose greatly. The revolution produced in the boot and shoe manufacture by the sewingmachine was the same. In Northampton oqe-half the present employers have reached their position by the aid of the sewing-machine. As 'n the case of the needlewomen, machinery multiplied instead of diminishing the number of the employed. In the Town of Leicester, when the sewing-machine was first introduced and resisted by the Crispins, there were 1,375 operatives; in 1871 they had increased to 5,703. Generalizing all the results of his observations, Mr. Plummer says that, taking all the various industries in which the machine is used, the wages of the machinist may be estimated as being 50 to 100 per cent, higher than the wages received by hand-workers before the machine appeared. The physical and social condition of the workers, their health and their homes, have correspondingly improved. The cheapness and superiority of the new products enlarged the demand, so that it kept pace with the production, and the profits of the manufacture were divided between employers and employed in a far more equitable ratio than before the sewing-machine was introduced. These are facts, and they are not peculiar to the sewing-machine. The history of eveiy invention has been the same Let workingmen cease to accept and repeat mere declamation on this subject and investigate the facts. If the workingman, if he was a workingman, who spoke of “ the good old times when a man was able to earn an honorable livelihood for himself and family by wheeling coal and elevating grain in a basket” had been perfectly familiar with the facts, he would have had to confess that the condition of the workingman to-day is incomparably better than it was then, and if he had stopped to think he would see that if ho had worked for others with handbarrows, end rope, and baskets, others would be working for him with wagons instead of freight-cars, mules instead of locomotives, treadmills instead of steam-engines —that, in short, a great deal less would be produced, and consequently a great deal less distributed among the producers. Workingmen should see, also, that the march of machinery is irresistible, and that the part of wise men is to use it, 'and not throw themselves under its wheels.— Chicago Tribune. Extract from a letter in a recent breach-of-promise case; “My ownest own.” ’ ' f Tn Gbbat Favobitb I—The popular Chill Cure of the age!! Composed of pnre and simple drugs, Wllboft's Tonic has long held the highest place in the long line of remedies for Chills and Fever. It is not only Anti-Periodic but Is Anti-Panic, for it curtails the heavy expense of Doctor’s visits, where friendly calls are all itemized in the account current A penny saved is a penny gained, andsavingitin this wav adds to health and comfort Try Wilhoft’s Tonic aa a certainty and you will never regret it G. R. Finlay A Co., Proprietors, New Orleant. Fob salbmt all Dxvooists.

HOME, FARM AND GARDEN.

—Fix up a decoction of wnlnnt-leaves to put on your horses and cows, and drive the flies away. —A bit of cotton put into a bird’s cage over night will attract the insects. The cotton may be removed in the morning and burned at once. —Fanners should make a careful 'distinction between tramps and the honest harvest hands who go about at this time of the season seeking work. —Sometimes, when no corkscrew is handy, one is puzzled how to remove the cork of a bottle. Try this method: Fill the hollow at the bottom of the bottle with a handkerchief or towel, grasp the neck with one hand, and strike firmly and steadily with the other upon the handkerchief.— Atfierican Cultivator. —When planted in very rich soil, tomatoes often produee much wood and little fruit. The best crop ot tomatoes I ever saw was furnished by main stems as free from side growth as a walking stick. All growths except the leaves and flowers attached to the principal stem had been pinched off as tney appeared.— The Carden. Tomato Honey.—To each pound of tomatoes allow the grated peel of a lemon, and six fresh peach leaves, boil them slowly till they are all to pieces, then squeeze them through a bag; to each pound of liquid allow a pound of sugar, and the juice of ono lemon, boil them together until they become thick jelly, then put into glasses. —French Pickle.—Take three quarts of green tomatoes, three quarts cucumbers, and three quarts onions, two good handfuls salt, one ounce celery seed, one ounce allspice, one ounce black pepper, ten cups mustard-seed, one tablespoon tumeric, one pound brown sugar, two tablespoons ground mustard, one gallon vinegar, cauliflower, put all in bi ine, let it stand two days, then boil it from three to four hours; this is splendid. - —A correspondent, discouraged at the many failures of prominent agriculturists about him, wants to know of us the true key of success. In answer we would say, it is an attentive supervision which never sleeps, the exercise of muscles which never tire, the strain of muscles which never re.ax, the employment of eyes which never blanch, and the concentration of the thought which never wanders from the business of the farm.— lowa State Register.

—To Extinguish Kerosen? Flames. — One of the must ready means is to throw a cloth of some kind over the flames, and thus stifle them; but as the cloth is not always convenient to the kitchen, where such accidents are most likely to occur, some one recommends flour as a substitute, which, it is said, promptly extinguishes the flames. It rapidly absorbs the fluid, deadens the flames, and can be readily gathered up and thrown out of doors when the Are is extinguished. —lce-Cream. —To one quart of cream take six ounces sugar, grate in one-quar-ter of a vanilla bean, strain it and put it into your freezer, add the whites of two eggs beaten very light, with three tablespoonfuls of powdered sugar to stiffen them. It your cream is not very rich, boil a littie milk, sweeten it, beat two eggs very light and stir in and cook like soft custard. The flavor will perhaps be better if the vanilla bean is boiled a few minutes in a little milk, which may be added to the cream when cool.

Birds, the Farmers’ Friends.

Birds are a source of unfailing pleasure to man. Adorned with the richest colors, they delight the eye; chanting the sweetest music, they charm the ear. For this reason, if for no others, we should invite them to visit our homes, and sport upon the trees in our cultivated grounds. And birds not only please, but profit the farmer. They are our co-laborers in the field of industry. They feed upon the insects which destroy the fruits of our gardens and fields. Without their timely service our labor would be in vain. The usefulness of birds in destroying inaects can hardly be over-estimated. Mr. Bradley, a writer on gardening and husbandry, informs us that a pair of sparrows once carried to their nest, on an average, fortv caterpillars every hour during the day. Hence, nearly five hundred of these destructive insects were disposed of in twelve hours by two little birds. Ten pairs of sparrows would therefore destroy thirty thousand caterpillars per week—enough to ruin any garden or fruit orchard in the land. An interesting question here arises: Were those insects created to annoy the “ lords of creation,” or to feed the birds? It is evident that they answer both purposes; and we cannot doubt that each race holds an important position, and serves an important purpose, in the economy of nature. It is enough for us to know that these inferior creatures enjoy a temporary existence, constitute a link in Nature’s chain, and display the wonderful wisdom and benevolence of the Creator. No matter if they are destroyed; their death is the life of a nobler race. We say they trouble us; so do we trouble them. Have they not a right to a place and a living as well as ourselves? We have not a prior, if we have abetter, claim than they. But conceding this superior right to man, the trouble these insects give us is only one of the many annoyances which we meet in our intercourse with the world, suited to cultivate our patience, care and industry. Birds are our helpers, and labor to relieve us of these annoyances. Hence it is a crime to hunt and destroy them. The sporting boy, who seeks enjoyment in shooting and robbing their nests, should be sent to the House of Correction, with many stripes.” Let us invite to our inclosures these harmless and useful animals. Let them frequent our groves, and build their nests in our shade trees, and we shall be happier, wiser and better for our intercourse with them.

The domestic bird is part and parcel of every farm yard; he is the companion of our children, and dependent upon our care and protection. Domestication has produced changes, both in the figure and color of these fowls. The wild birds of the same species always appear alike, each individual being a correct representative of the whole race. But the cock and hen represent every variety of color and size. These changes are doubtless owing to difference of climate and manner of feeding. The original stock, from which our domestic fowls came, are found on the islands of the Indian Ocean, and on the coast of Malabar, in the East Indies. These wild hens are black and yellow, and always of the same size. The cock, like the “ man of honor,” is brave in domestic quarrels, but cowardly before a foreign foe. Let another cock crow in his presence, and he will attack him with great violence, and frequently they will fight until both die. But when the hawk approaches, that same cock will skulk away to some hiding place for safety, without regard to the safety of the family over which he presides. In the fighting habits of the cock the duelist finds an example. A few sharp words — then the challenge, and finally the pistol —that decides the controversy. If both are not mortally wounded (a?'they ought to be), the victor exults over his fallen foe, and seems satisfied to have avenged his insulted honor. And it is a question not yet decided, Which has the most honor and the most brains, the cock or the duelist T— Oor. Rural World. The New Hampshire State Prison has only 180 convicts, and the year just closed cleared above all expenses the sum of SB.OOO.

The Great peculator, Simmons’ Livkb Rxoulatob. Bummer !• the season of the year, above all others, when the system Is liable io get ont of order, and severe and dangerous bilious attacks frequently follow. The principal cause of nearly all sickness at this time of the year has its origin In a disordered Liver, the largest organ in the body, which, if not Regulated in time, great suffering, wretchedness and Dbath will ensue. A little precaution taken in time, In the shape of a reliable and efficacious Liver Regulator, will in most eases prevent illness and fatal consequences. No medielne in modern times has rained a wider reputation than Simmons' Liver Regulator. manufactured by J. H ZEILIN &CO. This justly-celebrated medielne Regulates the Liver, promotes digestion and fortifies the system against malarial diseases.

Our Dally Bread. We claim that there is greater certainty and uniformity in the production of good bread, biscuits, cake, etc., in the use of Doolbt’s Yxabt Powdbb, and that the articles made with it are more wholesome and digestible than if made with any other kind of yeaat or baking powder. Test it by the only reliable and truthful test, a trial by the oven. We claim also that it is Just as represented, and just what the public expect ft to be by the name under which it is sold. Tub proprietors of Hatch’s Universal Cough Syrup gave me the virtual formula of this medicine. Knowing from this that it must bo of value, I recommended it to my customers. An experience with it of six lears.has shown me that it has no superior. have sold by far more bottles during that six years than of any similar preparation. I consider it safe in all cases. W. H-ioorr, M. D., Friendship, N. T. For sale“y Van Scbaack, Stevenson A Reid, Chicago, 111.

Correction. In the notice, a week or two ago, of the offer of the National Silver Plating Co., an error occurred in the address, which should have been 704 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, instead of 204, as it appeared. The liberal offer still holds good. Parties ordering goods will please take notice of this correction. In 1842, Mr. T. Kingsford invented and produced the first starch made from Indian corn. His mammoth factory at Oswego now produces over 33 tons per day. Kingsford’s Oswego Starch is sold in nearly all the principal cities and towns in the world, and for purity and strength has no equal. Mothers, Mothers, Mother*. Don’t fail to procure Mbs. Winslow’s Soothing Bybup for all diseases of teething in children. It relieves the child from pain, cures wind colic, regulates the bowels, and, by giving relief and health to the child, gives rest to the mother. Cramps and Pains, Colds and Chills, Chills and Fevers, and all disturbances of the digestive organs are cured by a few doses of Sanford’s Jamaica Ginger, a remedy that possesses none of the revolting features of medicines generally. Hofmann’s Hop Pills for lever and Ague. They cure at once and are a preventive. Sbb adv. of Bettie Stuart Institute this week.

VEGETHiE. For Bilious, Remittent, and Intermittent Fever, Or what is more commonly termed Fever and Ague, with pain in the loins and through th* back, and indescribable chilly sensation down the spine, an Irresistible disposition to yawn, pain in the eyes, which is increased by moving them, a blue tinge in the skin, and great listlessness and debility, Vucxtinx is a safe and positive remedy. It is compounded exclusively from the Juices of carefully-selected barks and herbs, and so strongly concentrated that it is one of the greatest cleansers of the blood that Is or can be put together. VsobtiNß does not stop with breaking Chills and Fever, but it extends its wonderful influence into every part of the human system, aud entirely eradicates every taint of disease. Vxoxtinx dobs not act as a powerful cathartic, or debilitate the bowels and cause the patient to dread other serious complaints which must inevitably follow; but it strikes at the root of disease by purifying the blood, restores the liver and Kidney* to healthy action, regulates the bowels, and assists Nature In performing all the duties tnat devolve upon her. Thousands of invalids are suffering to-day from the effects of powerful purgative nostrums, frightful quantities of quinine, and poison doses of arsenic, neither of which ever have, or ever could, reach the true cause of their complaint. VEGETINE Works in the human system in perfect harmony with nature’s laws, and while It is pleasant to the taste, genial to the stomach, and mild in its Influence on the bowels, it is absolute in its action on disease, and is not a vile, nauseous Bitters, purging the invalid into false bope that they are being cared. VxaxTtxx is a purely Vegetable Medielne, compounded upon scientific principles. It is indorsed by the best physicians where its virtues have been tested, is recommended only where medicine la needed, and is not. a mixture of cheap whiskey sold under the cloak of Bitters. CHee* Health, Strength and Appetite. My daughter has received great benefit from ths use of VEGETINE. Her declining health was a source of great anxletyto all of her friends. A few bottles or the VEGETINE restored her health, strength and appetite. N. H. TILDEN, Insurance and Heal Estate Agent. No. AS Sears Building. Boston, Mas*. VEGETINE. Police Testimony. Boston, Nov. 18,1878. H. B.STUvxss.Esq.: Dear str— During the part five years I have had amRle opportunity to Judge ot the merits ot Vxoxtixx. ty wife has used it for complaints attending a lady of delicate health, with more beneficial results than anything else which she ever tried. I have given it to my children under almost every circumstance attending a large family, and always with marked benefit. I have taken It myself with such great benefit that I cannot find words to express my unqualified Appreciation of Its goodness. _ while performing my duties as a Police Officer In this city. It has been my lot to fall In with a great deal Of sickness. I unhesitatingly recommend Vxoxtihx, and I never knew of a ease where It did not prove all that was claimed for It. Particularly In cases of debilitated or Impoverished state of the blood. It* effect* are really wonderful; and, for all complaint* arising from an impure state ot the blood. It appeals to work like a charm; and I do not believe there arc any circumstances under which Vuerrixx can be rued with Injurious result*; and it will al way* afford me pleasure to gtve any further Information a* to what I know about Vxcxtixx. WILLIAM K HILL. Police Statical. VEGETINE PREPARED BT H. R. STEVENS* Boston* Mass. I Vegetine is Sold by All Druggists.

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COLLINS & CO'S z '\ CT TA Ct ' PIO* S - /v °uced iJßfci-' 7 - Colling Co. 212 WATER St, NIW YORK City

POMONA Best Strawberries * Inches around. Tan acres Bmp*»U TelMnp Wtost «auf Mnw to JPtasU. fiasassmK«s«.iers

Risle stovepoushl

sl2 tr DIIHC Revolver* sent fre* for examiner*. Prle*-||a> " UURd free. Grs.tWs.CnGnaWorka PlttstauKK 855 ? 877 j $5 to Me PAY S2O for 2. A fTBAVKInyo nr own town. Tarms and *5 ontfitfree, H, Hsu-stt A Co„ Portland, Me. A EtMMI Made by 17 Agents In Jan. 77 with A nM.I f my UnewartlclM. Sample.free. *W VV V • Addrea* C. M. Ltnington. CUcepe. RO* _■> Address Queen Oty Lamp Morke. CtnctnnaU.o. Oiftn * month to Agents, permanently, selfing our *IUV many Novelties. Bend stamp for circulars and forms. G. W. Foster A Co.. 182 D,»r bor n,t.ChlcJrojfi. n MILLS. No “Dead Center." Don’t stop when “lifting.” Last and best. Waatntrtfo* _ tobutld Ou royalty. Beals A Co., Amboy JIL ALBANY LAW SCHOOL* N. Y. One of the best Institutions in the country. The annual course begin, on th* lint Tuesday of September. For circulars inquire of Ibaao Y. COMMON SENSE! discovery.A positive cure for Catarrh and Bronchitis. Send 25 cts. for sample or 81.00 per box. FARNHAM A CO., St. Louis, Ho. YOUNG MENS®®® Wire* In School. Address, with stamp, WESTERN SCHOOL OF TELEGRAPHY, EXOLXWOQB, 111 N. F. BCBNHAH’B “1874” WATER-WHEEL Is declared the "STANDARD TURBISK” by over Sst> persona who use it. price* reduced. New pamphlet, free. N. F. BUHNHAM. York, Pa

Bones and Cracklims BOUGHT TOR OAhJKBC. SHIPPERS can DEPEND on PROMPT RETURNS. BAUGH Jb SONS, PhiltuMpMe, Bet. JMXSmSTS BEST position, for It* fine chewing qualltle*, the *xo*ilene* and lasting character of It* sweetening and flavoring. If you want the BEST TOBACCO ever made, ask your g ocer for this, and see that each plug bean our blue strap trade mark with word* Jackson’* Beat on It. Sold Op all Jobber*. Send for sample to C, A. JACKSON A CO.. Manufacturer*, Petersburg, Va THE “POULTRY WORLD” ; The leadingAmert- A On trial, only Wets, can Magazine of It* J* KN for 8 mo*. (12 Chroelsss. An elegantly fl&BK mo* In present voL Illustrated Monthly. MM 1877.) 7BcU.«atra, for Bias a year. Alwsy* yew, with th*** fresh, practical. pictures, to Inal and instructive. annual subscriber*. tr The 12 Chromo* ar* the be** ever Issued. | H. H. STODDARD, Hartford, Ct ONLY FIVE DOLLARS "" For an Acre! Of ths BEST LAN 12 IN AMERICA, near the Gaxar Uxiox Pacific Railboau. A FARM FOR S2OO. In Easy Payment*, with Low Rates of Interest BBCVHB IT BOW I Full Information sent free. Address O. F. DAVIS, Land Agent, V. P. &. Oxana. Nxb. DR. WJkZIIVMR’D & HEALTH CORSET With Skirt-Supporter and Self-Adjusting Pad*. Secure* Exalts and Coxvoxt of body, with Gasca and Bxavtt ot Form. Three Garments la on*. Approved by all physicians. acEirra wajma Samples by mall. In CoutlL *2; Batteen, 11.25. To Agent* at 25 cU. less Order size two Inches smaller thae waist measure over the dress. DIPLOMAS kBS-SSs Ho,forEastern Nebraska! Rich, Smooth, Tillable Prairie at *1 to 8A per acre. Climate healthy, water good; accnsibl* to the Great Trans-Continental Railroad; In latitude of Central and Southern lowa. Running streams, but no swami*. Residence not required. Unmrpused for Grain. Dairy and Stock business. For Man* and free Information, and Round-Trip Ticket*, at Excursion rates, good for 60 days, apply to J. A, BENT, Wheaton, m. Ynu ta art WmetfOF. EDUCATION To fit themselves for the practical duties of lUh, should patronize the only Institution in the West that Is conducted on the Al’tl AL BUSINESS PLAN. For full information address TOLEDO BUSINESS COLLEGE, Toledo, Ohio.

Sale & Exchange Bureau FOR FAZEUMCSh Any one wwhlng to sell a farm. send tor circular and blank. Any one wishing to buy tend, fttll particular* ot what b wanted. FOB SALE—The flneet Farm in IHlnois. Coat over <200.000: Mil tor SW4X». In Iroquois County. Want Oner, would consider part exchange. FOB SALE—Great Bargain*—Farms with Uno growing crops: Delaware County, lowa, ISO acre*. <3,20(1 Jefferson County, Kansas, ISO acre*. £100(1 Colon County, fill: ot*. liO acres, <3,230. And 300 other Choice Fanns, cheap. E. P. HOTCHKISS* CO., IO LaSalle Street, Chicago, HL DNITEDjjjTn STITES!!"!!. Beautifully monnted on CLOTH, and varnished, 7 feet 3 Inches by 3 feet 7 Inches, with roller*, will be tent, without charge, to any address, on receipt ot ds<>oo Theresnter);rlM9( these Map* is <1(1 A. N. KELLOGG, 77 db 79 Jackooa St., Chicago, JU* eJsSwg rested without delay. Tone the relaxed uomaeb. calm the excited bndn, InvlgoraM the nervous Wetern, and regulate the bowels, with Tarraat’a Effervesces! Seltzer ApariMt WSSfMr 8 «.’ny W »«g violent bilious attacks, nervous paroxystn*, aadother terrible aliments might be prevented If this Sre«Mle as 25 25 A ~ K- KS? - ? I,wmssx irwgrziva re az>wmti»iwml plenae mb «•** Mae th* ABwwrWPMwJH