1856.] Washing Preparation. 867 



^'EuSEBTUs" writes to the N. Y. Observer, from Rome, as follows: 

 "The Tiber is not only rich in historic associations, it is rich in 

 treasure. An English company has actually offered to turn the current 

 of the stream far above the city and around it, provided, the govern- 

 ment would give them what they might discover in its present bed. 

 This would be attended with a vast expense, but it would pay. 

 Treasures of art, from age to age, have found their way into the 

 stream, which would bring in the market a perfect remuneration. 

 In the museum of St. John Lateran, a magnificent column of stone 

 is lying, which was taken not long since from the Tiber, a portion 

 of which has been polished to display its beauty, and no one can see 

 it without wishing to have more of the secrets of this river revealed. 

 Statuary more perfect and perhaps more beautiful than any of the 

 ancient works of art now seen in Rome, lies embedded in groups 

 beneath the stream. Agostino Chigi, the famous banker at the time 

 of Leo X., once gave a splendid entertainment to the Pope and his 

 Cardinals, at which the dishes were all precious metals. The price 

 paid for three fish was two hundred and fifty crowns. It is said 

 that these dishes were all thrown into the Tiber, by order of the 

 rich banker, in order that no less illustrious guest might ever use 

 them. The sacred vessels brought from Jerusalem by Titus, among 

 them the golden candlestick, are reported to have been lost from the 

 Milvain bridge, and if so, are still lying there." 



We give below a recipe for a washing preparation, which we take 

 from the American Agricidturi&t. It is one that has been exten- 

 sively published, and which we consider valuable : 



To each pound of common hard soap add from one-half to three- 

 quarters of an ounce of common borax, with one quart of water. 

 Put the water in any convenient vessel upon the stove, add the borax, 

 somewhat pulverized, and then put in the soap cut up in thin pieces. 

 Keep them hot — but not boiling — for two or three hours, or until 

 the whole is well dissolved, and then set it aside to cool, when a 

 solid mass will be formed. If the vessel is set upon the warm stove 

 at night, the operation will be completed in the morning, though we 

 think it is better to stir the mass just before it is cooled. 



