S2 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



JVl.y 26. 1R43. 



MISCELLANEOUS 



Chinese Ciisfoms.-'Among the sins of the Clii- 

 nese, certainly cannolbe counted ihatof an excess 

 of ce'remoniai (levntion; for their temples of wor- 

 ship arc almost always empty. A newly appoint- 

 ed official somelimes seems to consider it a duty, 

 when tlie place obtained is a lucrative one, to visit 

 all the temples in the city, which he docs alter the 

 following manner:— He carries into the temple a 

 bundle of tapers, made of the bark of trees and 

 Bwcet-scented oil, and kindles them before the 

 idols, whilst the priest strikes witli a stick on a 

 metal plate. The worshipper ti)en makes a few 

 prostrations, throws down some money, and the 

 business is settled. The common people never 

 enter the temples but on particular occasions, such 

 for instance, as in time of preat drought, when 

 they go thither in troops to pray for rain. Of any 

 other prayer than a su|)plication for immediate 

 temporal benefit, they do not seem to have any 



idea. 



During certain days in every year, indeed, the 

 temples are much frequented, but for the purpose 

 of trade, not of devotion. The courts are then 

 filled with traders, who display their goods, princi- 

 pally of the ornamental kind, and the visitors stroll 

 about or make purchases as at a fair. Enormous 

 prices are demanded on these occasions. For a 

 stone of crass-green color, much valued by the 

 Chinese for rings, bracelets, &,c., a nierchant asked 

 me 250 hn, (upwards of £100,) and took 2G. The 

 scene is further enlivened by the exhibition ef con- 

 jurers throwing knives, tumblers walking on their 

 hands, and other similar diversions; but by the 

 evening, the temple is again left silent and deso- 

 late. The priest alone has the ceremony to per- 

 form of burning, three times in the day, a small ta- 

 per before the idols, prostrating himself at the 

 same time. Should this duty become too onerous, 

 he sends one of his scholars to do it for him, and, 

 if the scholar should not happen to be in the way, 

 perhaps a conmion laborer. As long as the tapers 

 are lighted at the proper time, and the due portion 

 of prostration performed, all is right. It must be 

 a very unreasonable idol that would require more. 

 If the houses of religious worship stand empty, 

 the houses of entertainment, on the other hand, arc 

 almost full. The prices charged at these places 

 are enormously high, and among the young men 

 of the wealthy classes, it is by no means uncommon 

 for n supper party of three or four, to spend 50 tans 

 (£23 10s.) The dainties consumed on these occa- 

 eions are of a very recherche description, and prin- 

 cipally recommended by the difficulty of procuring 

 them. A favorite dish, for in>tance, is roasted ice, 

 which is enormously dear, and very few cooks pos- 

 eess the skill and dexterity required for its pre- 

 paration. A lump of ice is taken upon a sieve, and 

 after being quickly enveloped in a sort of paste 

 made of sugar, eggs, and spices, is plunged into 

 a pan full of boiling pork fat or lard. The grand 

 pomt is then to serve it up before the ice has time 

 to melt. What may be the peculiar attraction of 

 this dainty dish, it would be hard to say; for, 

 though frozen inside, it burns the mouth when first 

 tasted. A small plateful costs six tans, (about 3fi 

 shilling.s.) 'i'lie Chinese viands in general are dis- 

 agreeable to a J^uropean, as they do not use salt 

 in their cookery, and do use an immoderate quanti- 

 ty of pork fat, besides ginger and garlic. The 

 roast meats, however, it nuist be admitted, form an 

 honorable exception, and v/ould be acceptable even 



at the table of a Parisian gastronome. The im- 

 mense number of taverns or trailtvrs in Pekin find 

 no want of support, as it is the custom to entertain 

 guests there, and not at private houses, to which 

 relationship or very particular intimacy alone can 

 give a claim to be invited. A banquet at one of 

 these houses is considered to be a necessary con- 

 clusion to the pleasure of a theatrical entertain- 

 ment, which is generally over by six in the even- 

 ing, beginning at eleven in the foreno(.n. — Recol- 

 lections of Pekin. 



Cookin::: a Husband. — Many of our married lady 

 readers are not aware how a good htishand ought 

 to be conked so as to make a good dish of him. 

 We have lately seen a recipe in an English p;iper, 

 contributed by one " Mary," which points out the 

 modus operandi of preparing and cooking a hus- 

 band. Mary states that many good husbands are 

 spoiled in cooking. Some women go about it as 

 if their lords were bladders, and " blow them np." 

 Others keep them constantly in hot water, while 

 others again freeze them by conjugal coldness. 

 Some smother them in tlie hottest beds of conten- 

 tion and variance, and some keep them in pickle 

 all their lives. These women always serve them 

 m in sauce. Now it cannot be supposed that hus- 

 bands will be tender and good, managed in this 

 way, but they are, on the contrary, quite delicious 

 when preserved. Mary points out the manner 

 thus : — " Get ajar, called the jar of cheeri'ulness, 

 (which, by the by, all good wives have at hand.) 

 Being placed in it, set him near the fire of conju- 

 gal love, let the fire be pretty hot, and the heat 

 constant and regular. Cover him over with quan- 

 tities of aflection, kindness and subjection. Keep 

 plenty of those things by you, and bo very atten- 

 tive to supply the place of any that may waste by 

 evaporation, or any other cause. Garnish with 

 modest, becoming familiarity, and innocent plea- 

 santry, and if you add kisses or other confecliona- 

 ries, accompany them with a sufficient secrecy ; 

 and it would not be amiss to add a little prudence 

 and moderation." — Cheshire Rep. 



HOWARD'S IMPROVED EASY DRAUGHT PLOUGH.' 



Great iniproveinenis have teen maile the past year in I 

 form and workmanship of llifse Plnughs; ilie niuuM Ix a 

 has heen so formed as lo lay the Jiirroi^ covinlclely ort 

 turning in every particle of g^-ass or si uhbte, and lenr'intr t 

 ground in the best possible manner. The leiijlli of 1 

 mould lioard has lu ii very murh increased, sij that 1 

 Plough works with the f;reatesl ease, holh wiih respect 

 the holding and lire team. The Committee al the late Iri 

 uf Ploughs al Worcester, say, 



" Should onr opinion he asked as lo which of the Plougi 

 we should prefer for use on a farm, we miijhl perhaps saj 

 the inquirer, it your land is mostly light and easy to woi 

 try Prouty & Mears, Iml if your landis licavij, hard orruct 

 BKGiN WITH Mr. Howard's.'" 



At the above me-.t;oned trial the Howard Plough < 

 more work, wiih the same power of team, than any oil 

 plough exhibited. No other turned more than Iwentysev 

 and one half inches, to the 112 ihs. draught, while! 

 Howard. Plough turned twcnlt/nine and one half inches 

 the same power of team ! All acknowledge that Howar 

 Ploughs are much the strongest and niosl suhslantio 

 made. 



There has I'een quite an improvement made on the sh 

 or land side of this Plough, which can he renewed with> 

 having to furnish a new landsiile: this shoe likewise seen 

 the mould hoard and landside together, and sirenglhens 

 Plough very much. 



The price of ihe Ploughs is from $6 to Sj5. A Plou 

 snfhcient for breaking up with four ealtle, v.ill cost 

 S;n 50, and with culler Si, with wheel and cutter, S2 

 extra. 



The above Ploughs are for sale, wholesale and retail 

 the New England Agricnltural Wareho:ise and Seed Si. 

 Nos. 51 & 52 North Market Street, by 



JOSKPH liRECK & CO 



Oh! 

 ing girl 



it is a fearful sight to see a young, confid- 

 approach the altnr with one who loves to 

 linger around the wine-cup. He may pass un- 

 scathed through the fiery ordeal, and the bright 

 hopes of the bride may ripen into fruition. But, 

 fair reader, let not the splendors of wealth, nor the 

 allurements of pleasure, nor the promised triumphs 

 of ambition, tempt you to a risk so fraught with 

 danger to all you hold dear. Honest industry, 

 jfiinod with temperance, may carve a fortune, and 

 all that ambition should covet ; but wealth, talents, 

 fame, can never gild the drunkard's home, nor sooth 

 the sorrows of a drunkard's wife. — Selected. 



Mas, the Bachelor! — We dropped in suddenly 

 on a bachelor acquaintance the other day, and just 

 as wc made our appearance, he put somelhing in 

 liis pocket very hurriedly, and looked as guilty as 

 if he had been caught on a spinster. We cast our 

 eves at his pocket, and half way out hung the se- 

 cret. It was his stocking ! The poor, miserable 

 fellow had been darning it, and it astonished us 

 to see what perfection lie had arrived al in that 

 branch of home industry. You may give liini uj), 

 girls. — Exch. pap. 



The influenza has extended as far west as Wis- 

 consin. 



GRINDSTONES ON FRICTION ROLLEHS 



Grindstones of different sizes, hung on friction roller.^ 

 moved wiih a foot treader, is lound to be a great impr 

 ment on the old mode of hanging grindstones. Stones li 

 in this manner are becoming daily more in use, and wher 

 used, give universal satisfaclion. «The rollers can be all 

 ed to stones hung in the common way. For sale ' ■ 

 liREC'K & Co., No. 51 North Market street. 



LACTOMETERS— a simple instrument for tes 

 the quality of milk. For sale by J. liKECK & C( 



KEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



A WEKKLT PAPER. 



Terms, §2 per year tK advance, or $'2 53 if not 

 within sixty days. 



N. \i. — Postmasters are permitted by law to fran 

 subscriptions and remittancts for newspapers, wit 

 expense to subscribers. 



TUTTLE ANT) DENNETT. PRINTERS. 



<il School Street. 



