Mi 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY JOURNAL. 
BY L. WETHERELL. 
CRIMINAL STATISTICS. 
The Annual Report of the Secretary of 
State on the Criminal Statistics of this 
State, furnishes facts in which all our citi¬ 
zens have a common in'erest. The facts 
contained in this report were compiled from 
the returns of Clerks and Sheriffs of the 
several counties for the year 1850. 
The whole number of convictions in the 
State last year was 4,124, of which 425 
were females. Convicted for assault and 
battery 1,863; for petit, larceny 2,248; for 
trespass 13. Nearly one-half of the con¬ 
victions were for offences against person, 
while the balance were convicted for offen¬ 
ces against property. 
Much importance is usually attached to 
the fact, that many of those persons who 
are convicted for crime, “ cannot read nor 
write.” Noah Webster, the great Amer¬ 
ican Lexicographer says, “Human learn¬ 
ing, whatever advantages it may confer on 
individuals and a state, never corrects the 
dispositions and passions of the human 
mind from which proceed the disorders and 
corruptions of government. On the other 
hand, it may increase the evil by enlarging 
the power, multiplying the motives and 
augmenting the means of doing mischief. 
Men are not governed by knowledge, but 
by their passions, their habits, their preju¬ 
dices, and especially by their interests.— 
Knowledge and reason are useful to selfish 
men, when they coincide with interest; but 
either with or without better principles, is 
a useful practice. But such virtue as this 
will not save a republic—unless based on 
better principles than a regard to custom 
or to reputation—it will yield to selfihness 
— that is the desire for power and wealth— 
and when tempted by private interest, rea¬ 
son is enlisted in its service. 
Christian virtue, based on a reverence for 
the authority of God, can counteractand con¬ 
trol ambitious and selfish views. But when 
or where has this virtue been possessed by 
all, or even by a majority of the citizens of 
a State ? History does not authorize us to 
believe that such virtue has ever existed in 
the body of citizens in any community; or 
to presume that such a community will ev¬ 
er exist, unless in a millennial state. But 
with respect to intelligence, it may be ques 
tioned whether such a portion of it can be 
imparted to the mass of citizens as will se¬ 
cure the public from the most injurious, if 
not fatal mistakes.” 
We have thus quoted somewhat at length, 
the remarks of Dr. Noah Webster, who 
was a close observer of both men and 
things,—on the. connection between right 
action, and a knowledge of letters, or in 
other words, between “intelligenceand vir¬ 
tue ” as popularly used by statesmen. — 
We have thought that too much stress in 
“ Criminal Statistics ” is laid upon the bare 
fact that there are some convicted of crime, 
that “cannot read nor write.” We shall 
(d. v.) resume this subject again. 
GOOD MANNERS. 
It has been said that, a “mans’s manners 
form his fortune.” Whether this be really 
so or not, it is certain that his manners form 
his reputation,—stamp upon him, as it were, 
his current worth in the circles where he 
moves. If his manners are the products 
of a kind heart, they will please, though 
they may be destitute of graceful polish.— 
Theie is scarcely any thing of more im¬ 
portance to a child of either sex, than good 
breeding. If parents and teachers perform 
their duties to the young, faithfully, there 
will be comparatively, few destitute of good 
manners. 
‘HAD RATHER”—“HAD BETTER.” 
The use of the auxiliary had, before the 
when they are at variance with it, their in- a ^ v «*'hsro<4er and better is not unfrequent 
fluence is rejected, or they are, or may be, ‘hough, as we think, both inelegant, and in 
perverted and employed to justify measures violation of syntactical law. It is quite 
dictated by interest, whatever may be the common to hear such expressions as the 
moral character of such measures. The following: “ I had rather live in Rochester 
abstract opinion, therefore, that intelligence than in Buffalo”— “ I had rather bean hon- 
and virtue are the support of a republic, est man, than a knave,” &c., &c. Good 
is adapted to deceive us with fallacious speakers and correct writers us e would 
hopes.” such phrases; as, I would rather live in R. 
Again in a letter addressed to the Hon. than in B.—I would rather be an honest 
Daniel Webster, in 1837, he says, “ Sir: man than a knave. Would, live and would 
In your public addresses or speeches, and be, the form of speech after dropping the 
in those of other gentlemen of high politi- adverb rather from the phrase, sound very 
cal distinction, I have seen an opinion ex- unlike, “ had live,” and “ had be.” 
pressed like this—that intelligence and vir- Says an old Emdish writer 
are the basis of a republican govern- r d iJe that man rcL] 
ment, or that intelligence and virtue in the Approve my deeds, then worlds for my admirers 
people are necessary to the preservat : on and The phrase being abridged, as above, led 
support of a republican government. But probably to the use of had for would—“I’d 
sir, the opinion that intelligence in the peo- being rendered, “ I had rather have that 
pie of a country will preserve a republican man” instead of “I would rather,” <fec.— 
government, must depend for its accuracy, I had rather go—What tense is it? that i: 
on the fact of intimate, or necessary con- to say, what tense isAadfgo? Such anom 
nection between knowledge and 'principle. alisms should rather be abandoned than 
It must suppose that men who know what studied, in order to justify their usao- e . 
is right, will do what is right; for if this is « Had better” is less tolerable than' had 
not the general fact, then intelligence will rather. E. g. “ He had better do it » 
not preserve a just administration, nor T} . . . ' 
■ J . inere is no good reason to mstifv an ed 
maintain the constitution and laws. But i • ,, . \ y n <-d- 
, , , , ueated person m the use of such anomalies 
from what evidence can we infer that men ir,. __ „ , ,, . ... 
11( - may as well quote the familiar use of 
“ He aint,” for “ He i’nt,” or, is not, as the 
use of He had rather, for he would rather. 
If children were as thoroughly taught 
and instructed in English grammar and 
syntax, as in Latin, scholars would not be 
quoted to justify the use of such linguistic 
solecisms, as had rather, and had better.— 
A word to the wise is sufficient—while to 
others, an essay would not be enough. 
Go into a family where the parents are 
civil and courteous toward each other, and 
toward all within their household, whether 
as dwellers, or as guests, and their children 
will learn good manners just as they learn 
to talk, from imitation. But reverse this 
order of things concerning parents, and the 
children learn ill manners, just as in the 
former case, they learned good manners, by 
imitation. 
drain children to behave at home as you 
would have them act when abroad. It is 
almost certain, that they will, while children, 
conduct themselves when abroad, as they 
have been in the habit of doing under like 
circumstances when at home. “Be courte¬ 
ous,” is an apostolic injunction which all 
should ever remember and obey. Then 
would good manners be the common in¬ 
heritance of mankind. 
A VERITABLE SNAKE STORY. 
who know what is right will do what 
is right ? In what history of mankind, po¬ 
litical or ecclesiastical, are the facts record¬ 
ed, which authorize the presumption, much 
less the belief, that correct action will pro¬ 
ceed from correct knowledge ? Such an ef¬ 
fect would imply the absence of all deprav¬ 
ity in the hearts of men; a supposition 
which not only revelation, but all history 
forbids us to admit” 
He then refers to the history of Greece, LET CHILDREN BE EDUCATED AT HOME 
Rome and France, demonstrating there- - 
from, that “ intelligence alone has not yet We believe the practice of sending ehil 
saved any republic.” But intelligence it l ^ e , n (• om , ^ ome to be educated, is attended 
is said must be accompanied with vtae, & ve^peedt Tr 
and these united are to give duration to cumstances can justify such a course, 
a republic. Now, sir, what is this virtue ? The separation of children from their pa 
•ents, is an unnatural position, and their re¬ 
ion above cited ? What did Montesquieu movaI from . a ff 00(1 borne influence must be 
intend by virtue, when he wrote about its atten( ^^. w ^h effects more or less deleteri- 
jnfluencesin preserving a republic 9 — (Spirit ; r ^ " S ° n< i § reat , Vantages of 
r T „ . , & providing good schools at home, that par 
of Laws, passim.) ents can (Ju]y w j tness the development and 
“ The virtue of a Roman citizen,” says P ro g ress of their children. They can at- 
Dr. Webster, “consisted in personal bra- tenfJ ll ? em * n 8 ’ c b n ess, and minister to their 
very, and in devotion to the defence and *‘ U ! th fmu' 1 ! W, ” Ie the c .^ ll(iren on thcir 
,. c 4l , . “ part can fulfill those agreeable duties which 
extent of the commonwealth. In particu- are so pleasant to reflect upon in after 
lar men there existed a strong sense of years, when removed from the beloved 
right or political duty, which may take rank guardians of their infancy. And thus the 
as a moral virtue. But such instances were affectionR > which afford the best pledge 
rare, and most rare in the decline of the u . Ure wortl1 * 0 tlie individual, and the 
commonwealth when the citizens were State? will be mott^effStuafly^e^L^cA 
most intelligent. Their virtue extended —Michigan Union School Miscellany. 
the dominion, but did not secure the exist--—____ 
ence of the republic. If by virtue is in is . m uch easier to think right without 
tended the observance of the common so- r *gbt, than to do right without think- 
cial duties, this may proceed from a respect \ ng /? ht l Just thoughts may, and often 
for custom, and a regard to reputation; and deed's are j “‘ 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
A Manual of Morals for Common Schools.— 
Adapted, also, to the Use of Families. Boston: 
John P. Jewett. 
This is an interesting little volume, de¬ 
signed to aid the teacher in imparting, and 
the child in acquiring a knowledgeof Chris¬ 
tian Morals. Part First, treats of “..Duties 
to God;” Part Second, of “Duties to Our¬ 
selves;” Part Third, of “Duties toothers;” 
and Part Fourth,of “Miscellaneous Duties.” 
The numerous topics under these several 
divisions are discussed in an entertaining 
and profitable manner, and much valuable 
instruction given, which it is hoped will 
greatly benefit the young. 
Every person who engages in the high 
vocation of teaching the young, should be, 
as it were, a living embodiment of Christian 
Morals. It so, lie draws his instructions 
from the fountain of Truth, and daily en 
forces and impresses them upon his disci 
pies by a well-ordered life and chaste con 
versation. If it be not so with the teacher 
then it is well nigh in vain for him to spend 
time in giving preceptive instruction upon 
Morals—for it is the character—the life of 
the instructor, that infuses itself into the 
mind of the child—and not words alone — 
though delivered from the lips with the 
logical acuteness and power of a St. Paul, 
It is no less true of teaching other thing 
than of morals, that the instructor must 
possess the power of quickening into life, 
the latent capacities of the child, and the 
skill of so nurturing these as to bring them 
in due time; into vigorous action. No one 
as teacher, whether preacher or schoolmas¬ 
ter, can impart life to the intellectual and 
spiritual capacities of child or adult, unless 
he himself has life. Hence, the reason why 
so much preaching and teaching fall pow¬ 
erless upon the ears of hearers and learners 
—for where there is an organism and life, 
there will be fruit. 
Brownson’s Quarterly Review. —The 
July number contains Articles on the fol 
lowing subjects: Cooper’s Ways of the 
Hour; Nature and Faith; Bushnell on the 
Mystery of Redemption; The French Re¬ 
public, I he I’ugitive Slave Law; Literary 
Notices and Criticisms. The first article, 
and the last but one, discuss matters con¬ 
cerning Government and its affairs, as they 
pertain to our own Republic, and will be 
read with interest and profit. For sale at 
D. M. Dewey’s. 
The Massachusetts Teacher, for July, 
lias been received and is a good number. 
This in one of the best Educational period- 
cals that comes to our table. Published by 
Samuel Coolidge, Boston. Terms, $1 a 
year in advance. 
Such is the blessing of a benevolent 
heart, that, let the world frown as it will, 
it cannot possibly bereave it of all happi- j 
ness, since it can rejoice in the prosperity 
of others. J I 
While at the State Geological Hall, a 
few days ago, we were shown the “adder” 
and “blower” mentioned in the subjoined 
article from the Albany Knickerbocker._ 
Mr. Ciiatfield, of the Agricultural Rooms, 
witnessed the gorging operation, and assures 
us that the statement is correct: 
The visitors at the State Geological Hall, 
that museum of a million curiosities, must 
have observed, with interest, the collection 
of snakes peculiar to this State, which our 
friend Gebhard, preserves in large glass and 
wire cages. In one of these “crystal pala¬ 
ces,” during the past winter, there has been 
confined a “ Heterodon,” commonly called 
the “Blower,” twenty inches lon<r, a thick, 
clumsy snake, that subsists on frogs, and 
has swallowed five large toads within a 
year past. A spotted adder or “milk- 
snake, two feet and a half long, and very 
strong and muscular, and a ribbon snake 
about 18 inches long. These fellows were 
all caught in the Croton Mountains, of 
Westchester county, about a year ago, and 
sent to the State Geological Rooms. They 
have lived in peace and harmony together 
ever since, the blower attending to the toad 
department of feeding, the ribbon snake 
going into angle worms with the gusto of 
an epicure, while the adder, like the cha¬ 
meleon, fed on air. 
On Friday morning Mr. G. observed that 
on the night previous the ribbon snake had 
cast its skin, and came forth as bright yel¬ 
low and glossy as a golden coin fresh from 
the mint. Suddenly the adder advanced 
and seized the ribbon snake by the head, 
and wound his strong folds round’his body 
and,commenced the operation of swallowing 
him. The ribbon snake made all the eh 
foits in its power to escape, by contracting 
its muscular strength with all its might, but 
the adder held its head in his mouth by the 
lour small sharp hooks which are found in 
the upper and lower jaws of all of the ad¬ 
der tribe. The ribbon snake, with all the 
intensity it w-as capable of, expanded its 
body, to make the opperation of swallowing 
more difficult, but the adder holding on 
firmly by its small hooks, threw its body 
round it, and stretched out its victim like 
India rubber, each time swallowing a little 
more. The adder would loosen the upper 
hooks and advance forward a quarter of an 
inch, and loosen the lower ones and advance j 
them, the ribbon snake struggling all the | 
while until its' head reached its captors 
stomach, and the gastric juices worked, and 
the process of digestion commenced, when 
it slowly died. The adder was three hours 
in gorging himself, swallowing the whole of 
the ribbon snake, when he stretched him¬ 
self out as fat and happy as an alderman 
after dinner. I he blower looked on with 
perfect indifference, for the last big toad he 
eat had satisfied his appetite. 
To the scientific, this operation is highly- 
interesting, for dairymen and women have 
always proclaimed the received opinion that 
adders would climb about the legs of cows 
and gorge on milk from their teats. Mr. 
Gebhard, to test this, on several occasions 
has offered Mr. Adder milk, and even forc¬ 
ed it into his mouth, for he handles snakes 
as children do their toys, but he showed an 
aversion to it. It is evident that other snakes 
are his food, and lie can swallow one almost 
as large as himself, unless it possesses 
strength enough to resist him successfully. 
The adder has cast its skin three times 
within the past year. The next time it gets 
hungry it will go at the blower, unless liv¬ 
ing young snakes are given to it to feed up¬ 
on. Strange to say, it will not eat anything 
unless it is alive and kicking. It can be 
seen at the Geological Rooms. 
Siwtrmj ft cab mg, 
THE NOBLE MECHANIC. 
BY MRS. SIOOURNKY. 
Amid the clans of forges, and the flame 
From stricken anvils, full of ardor, wrought 
A bright-eyed hoy. His hand was hard with toil, 
Yet his clear mind o’er fields of thought ranged wide 
< athering the fruits of knowledge, and upborne 
By that nobility whose title rests 
Not on escutcheons, or a worn-out name, 
But honest, earnest labor. 
Boyhood changed 
lo manly beauty, and I satv him tread 
In foreign chines. Amid the Louvre’s pride, 
I lie storied haunts oi Albion’s glorious isle, 
I he strange enchantments of the castled Rhine, 
And ail the pomp whererein the royally 
Of the Old World doth wrap itself, he moved 
Undazzled and undaunted, simply bent 
On the firm purpose of utility, 
And in those unobtrusive virtues strong 
i hat makes republics prosperous. Yet free 
Flowed nature’s gentler current—for their deeds 
l)o nourish right reflections, and I marked 
The tear escaping from his manly eye 
At mention of the mother who had trained 
His infancy for heaven—and whose white lo. ks 
trercnely tending towards a lonely conch, 
\C ere bright with deathless hope. 
And thus he kept 
His course unswerving, with an upright aim. 
Giving to industry its highest crown 
Of pure example. Energy untired, 
And grace of manner, and a liberal zeal, 
Counting all men as brethren, put to shame 
That selfish indolence, with folded hands, 
Cumbering God’s busy world. 
But fell disease 
Came darkly on his frame—the vigorous frame 
Grew languid, while the soul looked fearless forth 
With faith undimmed, till to his narrow home 
The weepers slowly followed. 
So Farewell, 
I atriot and Christian! Hands and hearts like thine, 
Trace a fair record, both for earth and heaven. 
THOUGHT IMPERISHABLE. 
BY D. W. BALLOU, JR. 
Ihk Spider’s Thread. —The net of the 
Garden Spider consists of two kinds of 
thread. The threads forming the concen¬ 
tric;'circles are composed of a silk much 
more elastic than that ol the rays, and are 
covered with minute globules ol viscid gum, 
sufficiently adhesive to retain any fly com¬ 
ing in contact with it A net of average 
dimensions is estimated to contain 87,000 
of these globules, and a large net of four¬ 
teen or sixteen inches in diameter, 120,000; 
and yet such a net will be completed by 
one species of the garden spider in about 
forty minutes, on an average, if no inter¬ 
ruption occurs. 
Meiger, a German, collected and descri¬ 
bed 600 species of flies from a circle of 
country ten miles in circumference. There 
have been collected in Europe 27,000 spe¬ 
cies of insects preying on wheat. 
Animalcules have been discovered, 
whose magnitude is such, that a million of 
them do not exceed in bulk a grain of sand. 
The golden eagle flies 40 miles an hour 
pigeons from 40 to 60, the swift at about, 
the same speed. 
li lias been said and maintained by many 
eminent philosophers, that no impression, 
however slight, once made on the m nd,can 
ever afterwards wholly fade from its remem¬ 
brance. In the silent chambers of forget¬ 
fulness, through long years, it may remain 
undistui bed, but it is there, never more to 
pass away —its dim and almost effaced tra¬ 
cings ready to be brought vividly and fresh¬ 
ly before the mind in some future hour of 
gladness or suffering. If this be true, and 
it has been sustained by many strong argu¬ 
ments, drawn alike from the nature of mind 
ind the testimony of Revelation, how im¬ 
portant it is that we sacredly guard that 
never-failing but over flowing fountain of 
joy or sorrow, so that none but angel- 
thoughts of goodness and beauty will gain 
admission there, and only the noblest and 
purest sentiments of truth and wisdom be 
allowed to pass through the cloudless sky 
of the intellect " J 
If the recollection of our thoughts and 
actions, in this state of being, is to be the 
source oi so much pleasure or pain in the 
spirit-world to come, with what force and 
solemnity should we let facts like these sink 
deep into our hearts—salutary and genial 
would be the light they would shed over 
our daily walk on earth, were they permit¬ 
ted to have the influence that so appro¬ 
priately belongs to them. How constantly 
present to our minds should be the kindred 
ideas so gracefully expressed in the lines of 
one of the best of American poets, when 
he writes — 
“ We shape ourselves the joy or fear 
Of which the coming life is made, 
Ami fill our future atmosphere 
With sunshine or with shade.” 
And as if to finish the strain lie had so well 
begun, he then asks a question and answers 
it, in language of eloquent truthfulness and 
beauty: 
“ 1 hink ye the notes of holy song 
. On Milton’s tuneful ear havo died? 
T hink ye that Raphael s angel throng 
lias vanished from his side ? 
Oh no! wo live our life again; 
Or warmly touched or coldly dim 
The pictures of the I’nst remain— 
Man’s works do follow him !” 
THE IORD’S PRAYER. 
The bones of birds are hollow, and filled 
with air instead of marrow. 
I remember on one occasion travelling 
in this country with a companion who po- 
sesed some knowledge of medicine; we ar¬ 
rived at a door, near which we were about 
to pitch our tent, when a crowd of Arabs 
surrounded us, cursing and swearing at the 
rebellers against heaven. My friend who 
spoke a little Arabic to an elderly person 
whose garb bespoke him a priest, said— 
“ Who taught you that we are disbelievers ? 
Hear my daily prayer, and judge for your¬ 
selves.” He then repeated the Lord’s 
Prayer. All stood amazed and silent, till 
the priest exclaimed—“ May God punish 
me if ever I again curse those who hold 
such a belief; nay, more, the prayer shall 
be my prayer till my hour be come. I pray 
thee, O Nazarene, repeat that prayer, that 
it may be remembered among us in letters 
of gold.— Hay's Western. Barbary. 
Weigh every step that you are about fb 
take, whenever passions become involved. 
How often do things assume a different as¬ 
pect when they are fairly considered. 
