FOKEST AND STREAM. 



217 



GUN COTTON. 



| EVERAL of the recent experiments made in England 

 with gun cotton are worth recording. This substance, 

 somewhat modified, is now quite serviceable for lire-arms. 

 In its crude condition, as an explosive material for projec- 

 tiles, the fault lies in the spontaneous nature of its com- 

 bustion, as it is quite as likely to burst a gun barrel as it is 

 to drive out the ball or shot. In fact, like the fulminates, 

 it requires to be tamed down. The curious point worthy 

 of note in gun cotton is this: That its intensity of action, 

 strange to say, depends upon the nature of the substance 

 used to explode it; or in other words, gun cotton is sym- 

 pathetic. If gently exploded with a spark, gun cotton in 

 the form of yarn smoulders; if set on fire by a flame, it 

 burns rapidly, behaving like gunpowder; but if fired by a 

 fulminate it detonates with terrible energy. Prof. Able 

 and Mr. E. O. Brown have shown that even when damp- 

 ened and exploded with a fulminate, gun cotton does not 

 lose a particle of its strength. This discovery is of the 

 utmost importance, as it allows this dangerous material to 

 be stored when wet. In this condition it is absolutely 

 inert, there being no more danger about it than in wet 

 paper; but once apply to it the fulminate of mercury, and 

 all its tremendous latent powers are called into play. A 

 quantity of gun cotton can be thrown into the water, one 

 cake of it only being dried, and when to this is applied a 

 fuse terminating in a charge of fulminate of mercury, an 

 explosion of the most violent character takes place. It is 

 the wonderful rapidity of the ignition of gun cotton which 

 is attracting the attention of those interested in these sub- 

 jects. With the exception of light and electricty, so says 

 Nature, "the detonation of gun cotton travels faster than 

 anything else we are cognizant of." About three miles a 

 second is calculated to be the rapidity of the communication 

 of gun cotton, one piece to another, or about 19,000 to 

 20,000 feet per second. Now, the transit of a bullet is about 

 1,300 feet per second, or 1,400 at the utmost. Sound 

 travels, under normal conditions, about 1,100 feet per 

 second. It may then be safely asserted that, save electricity 

 and light, the detonation of gun cotton is faster than that 

 of any other known substance. A train of gunpowder 

 would act as if at a snail's pace when compared with it. 

 We repeat that the curious point in these researches is not 

 only in regard to the rapidity of the explosion, but the re- 

 markable fact that gun cotton acts in sympathy with the 

 method of firing it. Nature thus expresses it quite clearly: 

 "That a certain number of vibrations require to be set up, 

 a certain key-note to be struck, in order to secure the de- 

 composition of the material." These subjects are worthy 

 of our attention, for it is not impossible to imagine that, 

 before long, in the United States, compositions of gun 

 cotton may be in general use for our guns. In England, 

 what is called Reeves gun felt for sporting purposes, finds 

 every clay strong advocates. 



LOUISA MUHLBACH'S GRAVE. 



T may not be uninteresting to the manjr literary readers 

 and admirers of this gifted authoress to know that her 

 ashes now repose in the grave which for eleven years has 

 been the repository of the remains of her husband, Theo- 

 dore Mundt, the author of "Mirabeau." Among the mour- 

 ners on this occasion were many men and women eminent 

 in art and literature. Here with reverend head uncovered 

 stood the aged Carl Gutzhow, Adolph Glassbrunner, Ger- 

 many's great humorist ; Dr. Max Ring, the celebrated au- 

 thor of " John Milton and His Times." Janke, the eminent. 

 German publisher, was* quite a prominent personage. The 

 Emperor William sent a representative of His Majesty in 

 one of the Court Carriages, and otherwise signified his 

 great respect for the gifted authoress. 

 ' The grave of Louisa Muhlbach is between two celebrated 

 men, Hegel, the eminent philosopher, reposing on one side, 

 and a celebrated German actor on the other. 



The funeral oration was delivered by Rev. Dr. Lydow, 

 who, it will be recollected, played so prominent a part not 

 long since, and whose triumphant acquittal of heresy and 

 the charge of infidelity b} r the Brandenburg Consistory 

 created so great a sensation throughout Germany. 



The coffin was opened and a glance at the deceased, in a 

 rich black suit, wdiose face still maintained the peaceful 

 quiet smile so remarkable in life, produced a thrilling 

 effect upon all who stood around the casket. In his open- 

 ing remarks, the Doctor said : " Far beyond this country 

 will this mournful scene excite regrets in innumerable 

 hearts. Critical judgment grows dumb in view of an open 

 grave. Her works will live after her. Millions have read 

 and admired them. Her's was a life of work. For years 

 she was an invalid, and yet she never ivavered in perform- 

 ing what she deemed the great duty of her life. Heroes 

 greater than they who face the cannon's mouth, are those 

 who, with the germ of death within them, come smiling 

 up, day after day, to their life's work. It has been said 

 that she whose death we mourn to-day has been a disbe- 

 liever in the immortality of the soul. I know it is a cal- 

 umny, and I will repeat here what I heard her exclaim 

 eleven years ago at this very grave at the moment when 

 her husband's coffin was lowered into it, and she stood here, 

 frantic with grief, with her two little daughters. 'No,' 

 she cried, in a voice ehoked by tears, ' no, a mind that has 

 created so many original works, in which it will live here 

 on earth, cannot sink back into nothing.'" 



Then Carl Gutzlnnv laid a laurel wreath on the coffin, 

 saying only, " Adieu, dear gifted, faithful friend." The pro- 

 cession filed away in sadness. On the next d ly after the 



burial a plain slab w^as placed upon the mound, upon 

 which was engraved: "Clara Mundt, aged 59 : the his- 

 torical novelist of Germany." 



-*.**»- . 



THE YAP, FINANCIALLY. 



N this period of panic, when questions of gold and silver, 

 of a metallic basis, of greenbacks, of fractional curren- 

 cy, arc agitating mens' minds; when the solemn words of 

 Adam Smith or Ricardo are forgotten, what a comfort it is 

 to find a really national people, the Yaps, by name, who 

 have as a basis of currency a money which is indeed as 

 solid as a rock. No fluctuations can affect the Yaps' 

 money. It has a fundamental value about it which defies 

 all the vicissitudes of fortune. 



The Yap, whose financial skill we are about to explain, 

 dwells on an island of the same name, which is to be found 

 in the Caroline group. The bullion which passes current 

 there is even more cumbersome than the iron money of the 

 Spartan. Small change is represented by stones. A penny 

 is about the size of a Swiss cheese, while a dollar is about 

 as big as a mill-stone. Every stone is neatly rounded, and 

 has a hole cut in the middle of it so that when a Yap lady 

 wants to go shopping, a stout pole is run through the stones 

 and attendants must be employed to transport her money. 

 The natural Yap Mint is situated on an island called Pilau, 

 and is a rock of a whitish-yellow color. The Yaps go far 

 out to sea to procure it, and loading their frail canoes with 

 the crude article, the stone ingots, take their rocks home 

 and cut, bore and coin them at their leisure. 



The advantages of such a circulating medium must be 

 immediately apparent to those the least familiar with mon- 

 etary affairs. For instance, a misanthropic Yap, a miser 

 withal, desirous of hoarding to the very last his sordid 

 gains, could most conveniently take one of these hard cash 

 mill-stones, tie it round his neck and drown himself. Then 

 again, if an importunate tailor should be too persistent in 

 his calls, what would be easier than for a spendthrift dandy 

 Yap, goaded to death by the dun, to clamber up to the top 

 of his hut and let his little bill be settled by dropping the 

 money in a lump on the tiresome tradesman's head. It 

 might be, too, quite available for tee purposes of collecting 

 revenue. On the approach of the tax collector this func- 

 tionary might be pelted with stones, and yet receive his 

 dues. There is something admirable, too, in the idea of 

 converting one's treasures into a handy w T eapon. The Yap 

 highwayman, attempting to waylay the wealthy Yap, 

 might have has brains knocked out by the ven r object he 

 was feloniously trying to obtain. One thing certain, with 

 stone money would be, that such common events as we hear 

 of every day in this most civilized country, of treasurers 

 and cashiers running off with other people's money, w T ould 

 indeed be rendered physically impossible. 



SYBTLLINE LEAVES.— IV. 



HINTS TO SPORTSMEN. 



IN preparing for a winter's campaign in Florida, one 

 should take with him, if practicable, a tent and small 

 boat. If they can be shipped by sailing vessel two weeks 

 in advance of his sailing, they will reach Jacksonville in 

 season for use and at little cost. If sent by steamer 

 the charge for'freight will be enormous. A shot gun, rifle, 

 ammunition, and fishing tackle should be taken from the 

 north. The tent should be as light as possible and so con- 

 structed that all the room can be utilized. The boat should 

 be small, flat-bottomed and light. A large sail boat can be 

 hired in Jacksonville at a reasonable price, and a man to 

 sail it and do the cooking. Gun and rifle should be breech- 

 loading, thus securing safety and dispatch in loading. Re- 

 volvers and big bowie knives are superfluities. Eveiybody 

 takes them, and everybody finds them in the way. Wear 

 old clothes; half the pleasure in camping out is to be able 

 to rough it. Don't put on fancy costumes expecting to 

 "make a spread," as no one, will appreciate the effort or 

 effect. Wear woollen clothing at all times. For the feet, 

 take good stout shoes, lacing up tightly about the ankle. 

 A pair of tight (not tight fitting) boots, may be very good 

 for a short, w r et walk, but for an all-day's tramp, through 

 swamp and pine-woods, shoes are far superior. Two pairs 

 good woollen, and one rubber blanket. A mosquito bar is 

 indispensible, as many nights the tormenting insects call 

 their own. If the country on the coast be visited, the 

 "bar" should be made of thin cotton or lawn, to keep out 

 the "sand-flies," insects so small as hardly to be discern- 

 ible, but with a bite like the burn of a hot iron. It would 

 be well to take a little salve ana thin plaster for cuts and 

 bruises. In the line of medicine, one can take a whole 

 apothecary's shop, if so disposed, but, excepting a little 

 whiskey and quinine, the former for snake-bites, which 

 never occur, and the latter for imaginary fever, no medi- 

 cine will be needed, except for particularly squeamish folks 

 who think life not w r orth the living out of sight of an "R," 

 or quack-doctor's laboratory. For light at night, a lantern 

 and candles will be sufficient, though kerosene, where little 

 transportation is to be made, is preferable. Buy it in New 

 York in 5 gal. can, boxed. It will always sell for twice 

 its cost. The keen bracing air gives more pungency to a 

 haunch of vension or brace of quail than all the sauces 

 piquante ever concocted. A bunch of Spanish moss is in- 

 finitely superier to a napkin, and the clear waters of some 

 spring to the finger-bowl. And here a word as to water. 



Nearly all the water in East Florida is impregnated more 

 or less with lime or some mineral or salt that gives it a 

 "fiat" taste to the uninitiated, and a drink of raw unadul- 

 terated water is not always acceptable. Some people 



"qualify" it— indeed the majority of settlers "qualify" it so 

 much that the original taste of the aqua is lost in that of 

 the qualifier. That is all— a word to the wise. We advise 

 a plain mode of living. Take hard-bread, "self-raising 

 flour," pork,, salt, potatoes, brown sugar, rice or harmony, 

 Borden's condensed milk and coffee, a little jelly for ven- 

 ison, butter, pepper and mustard. Venison, fish and game 

 birds may be on the bill of fare every day, but again they 

 may not. No oue should start down the river depending 

 upon a supply, as the game is regulated and controlled by a 

 multitude of laws that the visitor knows nothing about. 

 Preserved fruits, meats, etc., are not necessary, though. some - 

 times found acceptable — they don't stay in camp long. 

 Regarding cooking utensils, if cooking is to be done in the 

 usual way over an open fire, they should be a "bake kettle'' 

 or oven, a foot diameter; frying-pan, same dimensions, 

 with a long handle; tin plates, plated knives and forks, 

 pint tin-cups, iron or tin spoons, and butcher knife. A 

 regular camp kit is preferable, however. If a stove is pre- 

 ferred, go to the tin-smith's and have him make a sheet- 

 iron box, two %eet long, one broad, open at'one end. The 

 door a sheet of iron, to slide in a groove, perpendicularly^ 

 acting as draught regulator. The legs should be flat, 

 fastened to the box by hinges, shutting under it when 

 packed. The pipe small and in joints, to be packed in the 

 stove. A piece of tin should be taken to fasten to the tent 

 to run the pipe through. With such a stove, well supplied 

 with "light wood" or pitch pine, a fire can be sustained 

 that will vacate the tent in short metre. If the camper-out 

 prefers to embark upon one of the many steamers that nav- 

 igate the St. John's, he can reach an} r point available in 

 East Florida. To assist him a list of prices will be given 

 to the different places on the river, as they arc reached in a 

 sail down the stream. The steamers "City Point," "Dicta- 

 tor," "Nick King," and "Lizzie Baker" make the trips to 

 Palatka, (75 miles from Jacksonville), upon arrival from 

 Savannah and Charleston. The "Florence," afine steamer, 

 makes daily trips to Palatka, The "Darlington," "llattie" 

 and "Starlight" to Enterprise, 200 miles, twice a week, 

 each. The "Ocklawaha" and "Silver Springs" to Lake 

 Harney and Salt Lake, one a week. 



HOW TO STUFF BIRDS. 



[We are so often asked how r to stuff birds that we feel we 

 can do no better than to turn our inquirers after knowdedge 

 over to a w r ell known taxidermist, Mr. J. H. Batty, wdio will 

 supplement the instructions here given by others of equal 

 value. We trust our readers will appreciate the kindly 

 and generous motive which prompts him to overstep his 

 professional line and give them free gratis, some portion 

 of the knowdedge wdiich he has gathered by hard study 

 and constant practice. — Ed. F. and S.] 

 Editor Forest and Stream :— 



Being a taxidermist, and having had a great deal of ex- 

 perience in mounting all objects of natural history, I give 

 the following details on bird stuffing for the benefit of the 

 readers of Forest and Stream. The first step is to secure 

 the bird. Every one knows how to load a gun with a light 

 charge of fine shot, and shoot a bird at a proper distance, 

 so it may not be blown to pieces at a few paces away from 

 the collector. Therefore, supposing the bird to be already 

 cleanly killed, w r e wdll prepare it for the cabinet at once. 



When a bird is first shot a piece of cotton should be put 

 down the throat to prevent the saliva from flowing out of 

 the mouth and soiling the plumage. The larger birds should 

 have their nostrils stopped up by means of cotton crowded 

 tightly into them with some pointed instrument. When 

 reaching home the bird should be prepared as follows: 

 Lay it on its back, having first broken the wings close to 

 the body. Make a longitudinal cut from the base of the 

 breast bone (sternum) to the vent. Taking hold of the skin 

 with rhe thumb nail and forefinger of the left hand., push 

 the flesh from the skin with the scalpel which is held in the 

 right hand. The knife should not be used to cut, unless it 

 be at some part of the skin that is attached to the body of 

 the bird by small tendons, or at the base of the tail, or 

 when severing the legs, wings and head from the body. 

 As the skin is removed sprinkle corn meal or sawdust 

 (meal is preferable) on the flesh exposed, thus absorbing- 

 all moisture of the body, and preserving the plumage from 

 becoming bloody. Remove the skin as far as the legs, sev- 

 ering them at the knee joint, and cutting entirely through 

 the flesh around the bone until the skin is bare between the 

 severed leg and the body. Sever both legs alike, and wdien 

 that is done, cut off the extremity of the body below the 

 vent, thus removing the skin from the body, to wdiich the 

 tail is fastened. Proceed to remove the skin as far as the 

 wings, cut those off where the bone has been broken, and 

 wdien the wings are freed from the body, continue to skin 

 down to below the eyes. 



Great caution is needed in removing the eyelids from the 

 eyes and the ears from the skull without cutting them. 

 The skin is now turned inside out. Cut the body free 

 from the skin, severing the neck close behind the skull. 

 Cut away the under part of the skull, and from the hole 

 thus made remove the brains. Cut the flesh from the leo- 

 bone, and skin the wings from the inside of the skin down 

 to the first joint, (extremity of fore arm,) removing all flesh 

 and the broken bone at the second joint, where it is at- 

 tached to the double bones of the wing; also cut away all 

 superfluous flesh from the base of the tail, and dust the 

 whole fleshy side of the skin with dry arsenic. When this 

 is done crowd the eye holes in the skull full of cotton or 

 tow, and tie the wing bones nearly together, and return the 

 skin. In no case should the wing bones be left untied; if 



