MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
€huatiffitaL 
THE PEOPLE’S COLLEGE, 
It may not be generally known to the 
readers of the Rural, that an Act was pass¬ 
ed at the last session of the Legislature of 
this State, incorporating an institution by 
tho above name. The trustees named in 
the Act have had a mooting and organized, 
and nothing now remains but to raise the 
funds, to go on with tho project. 
As this is to be emphatically the People’s 
College, it has got to depend in a great de¬ 
gree upon tho farmers and mechanics for its 
endowment. It is for their benefit, and they 
must put their shoulders to the wheel and 
set it in motion. We want $50,000 at once, 
before any thing can bo done towards lo¬ 
cating; and wo must have it too. The 
shares are at one dollar. Let, therefore, 
every man, woman and child subscribe.— 
And let us show to tho world that tho Far¬ 
mers and Mechanics of this Stato are not 
only able, but willing to endow a College, as 
no other institution has ever been endowed. 
It is proposed to mako this an institution 
whero every ono who desires it, can obtain 
an education, however humble their means, 
and at tho same time fit themselves for 
some mechanical business, that will insure 
them employment tho moment they leave 
the College. All the moans will bo furnish¬ 
ed that can bo found at any other College, 
for a thorough and finished collegiate edu¬ 
cation, while at tho same time the body and 
hands will bo educated as well as tho mind. 
For instance there will bo a shop for tho 
manufacture of steam engines, and at the 
head of it will bo a man thoroughly versed 
in every thing pertaining to that very im¬ 
portant motive power. There will be a rail¬ 
way and a modol locomotivo upon it, and 
every thing relative to running railways will 
be on the grounds. A student is required 
to labor a cortain number of hours, and 
wishing to become an engino driver, ho is 
permitted to go into the shop, and to be¬ 
come thoroughly acquainted with the whole 
subject of the steam engino, by actual la¬ 
bor upon its various parts. Nor will he be 
permitted to receive a diploma until ho has 
thoroughly mastered the subject. Ho will 
be required to bo able to take any part of a 
locomotivo or other engino, assign its 
place and tell its use, and the reason for its 
occupying its appointed position. Ho will 
bo required to know how much pressure 
can be carried with safety, at what point 
there is danger, and how to obviate it; in 
fine, he must know all that is known, and 
can bo taught. While ho is obtaining this 
knowledge, he is also obtaining a thorough 
elucationin tho other and usual branches 
taught at Collegos, and in such a course as 
his time will permit him to master. For 
tho student can, at entering, select his 
studies, or the course ho wishes to tako, but 
ho will be required to master it. 
Suppose the student to have proporly 
graduated, and received his diploma as mas¬ 
ter of tho art of steam engineering. That 
diploma is a fortune to him, and he need 
not bo twenty-four hours out of employ¬ 
ment. Such young men would be sought 
with avidity by all the first class railroads, 
and steamers, and their fortunes aro made 
at once. What is true in regard to tho 
steam engine, will bo also true in regard to 
all the other leading branches of mechani¬ 
cal skill, as well as to Farming and Garden¬ 
ing, and Horticulture. Equal facilities will 
bo given to girls for a useful and cheap ed¬ 
ucation, if roquired. 
Do you not see then, fathors and moth¬ 
ers, that, however humblo your position, 
hore is a chance to give your children a 
good education ? Boys, now is tho time for 
you. Put in your mite, be it a month’s or 
a week’s wages, and get your parents to put 
in liberally to this groat work. Girls, give 
us your help. If you cannot give us the 
dollars, you can give to tho work your 
smiles and influence. Let us have this 
great and glorious institution in full opera¬ 
tion within another year. Wo have only 
to will, and it’s done. 
Mr. H. Howard, of Lockport, is the gen¬ 
eral agent, and young gentlemen or ladies 
who aro willing to canvass their town or 
county, can apply to him, and ho will fur¬ 
nish them with instructions. Heaven pros¬ 
per your efforts. T. C. Peters. 
Normal Jubilee.— We learn from tho 
New York Teacher, that the biennial gath¬ 
ering of tho “ Association of Normal Grad¬ 
uates” will bo hold at the Normal School 
building, Albany, on Wednesday, July 13. 
All tho old teachers are expected and invit¬ 
ed to be present, and tho prospect is favor¬ 
able for the attendance of most of the 
members of the Association. Tho businoss 
meeting will bo held in the foronoon and 
the public exorcises, consisting of poems, 
addresses, music, &c., will take place in the 
afternoon of the same day. 
LEARNING TOO SOON. 
At sixteen, tho girl’s education is often 
considered finished. At tho very ago w hen, 
if a right system of physical and mental 
discipline had been pursued, she would have 
been prepared, with a strong mind in a 
strong body, to commence serious study, her 
education is pronounced finished, and she 
willingly lays aside her task to enter society 
more fully than was possible during tho pe¬ 
riod of schooling. Henceforth, pleasure is 
tho chief object—for tho plans that, per¬ 
haps, were formed on leaving school, for 
reading and study, aro never executed ; the 
mind is not prepared to exert its power 
alono. The knowledge already acquired 
has no connect on with her present life; her 
social nature needs companionship ; and the 
temptations of society aro too strong to bo 
long resisted. 
And what has been gained during those 
long yeai’S of school, at such a sacrifice of 
physical strength ? Tho logic has not 
taught her to reason well on any subject; 
the mental and moral philosophy will iur- 
nish her no guide to goodness or happiness; 
tho chemistry will never aid bor in the pre¬ 
paration of wholesome food, or taking 
stains out of her furniture ; tho botany will 
not render more interesting the country 
ramblos that she does not care to take.— 
Sho will never use her natural philosophy 
to mako tho firo burn, or ventilate her house. 
Those studies will be completely dropped 
and soon forgotten—for they were learned 
too soon ; tho mind could not retain them : 
they were acquired too superficially, too 
unpractically, to bo of any use in strength¬ 
ening tho understanding or aiding in daily 
life. 
The music may bo useful in society, if 
there is any natural taste for it; it it is sim¬ 
ply acquired with much drudgery, it will bo 
at once dropped. The French will be of 
doubtful service ; tho young lady is too shy 
to speak it, if tho occasion should present 
itself; if natural taste or circumstances in¬ 
duce lior to persevere in its study it may 
prove an elegant accomplishment—but in 
general that, too, is dropped. What, then, 
is made serviceable out of tho long list of 
studies ? A little reading and writing (for 
it is very rare to find an eloganl writer, 
still rare ono who can road well aloud.) some 
arithmetic, and tho general outlines of his¬ 
tory and geography—this may be retained 
for life, and this is about all! Little real 
knowledge is gained but an evil habit of 
mind has been acquired ;—a habit of care¬ 
less, superficial thought, and inability to 
apply tho mind closely to any subject; and 
this habit, unfortunately, cannot bo dropped 
with the superficial acquirements which 
produced it. What a result is this for years 
of time spent and much money !—surely 
we may call it a criminal waste of life. 
COURTESY—THINK OF THIS. 
Tiie power of diffusing happiness is not 
tho exclusive power of tho rich. All are 
capable of it. Tho poorest man can cheer 
mo by his affection, or distress me by his 
hatred or contempt. Every may is depend 
ent on another. A piece of neglect, even 
from the lowest and most contemptible of 
men, is fit to ruffle tho serenity of my hap¬ 
piness ; and a civil attention oven from the 
humblest of our land, carries a gracious and 
exl i orating influence along with it. 
Let mo never hoar, then, that the 
poor have nothing in their power. They 
have it in their power to give or withhold 
kind or obliging expressions. They have it 
in their power to give or withhold the 
smiles of affection and sincerity of tender at¬ 
tachment. Lot not tho humblo offerings of 
povorty be disregarded. The man of senti¬ 
ment knows how to value them ; ho prizes 
them as tho bestdoeds o‘'beneficence. They 
lighten the weary anxieties of this world, 
and carry him on with a cheerful heart to 
the end of tho journey. 
NOTHING IS LOST. 
The drop that minglos with tho flood— 
the sand dropped on tho sea shore—the 
word you have spoken, will not be lost.— 
Each will have its influence and bo felt, till 
time shall be no more. Have you ever 
thought of the effect that might be produced 
by a single word ? Drop it pleasantly 
among a group, and it will make a dozen 
happy, to return to their homes and pro¬ 
duce tho same effect on a hundred perhaps. 
A bad word may arouse tho indignation of 
a whole neighborhood ; it may spread like 
wild-fire, to produce disastrous effects. As 
no word is lost, bo careful how you spoak 
—spoak right—spoak kindly. The influ¬ 
ence you may exert by a life of kindness— 
by words dropped among the young and the 
old—is incalculable : it will not cease when 
your bodies lie in the grave, but will bo felt, 
wider and still wider as year after year pas¬ 
ses away. Who then will not exert himsolf 
for tho welfare of millions ? 
A BUSINESS GIRL. 
We are acquainted with a girl, says tho ac¬ 
complished editor of tho Merchant’s Ledger, 
who has tho principal charge of a largo mer¬ 
cantile establishment in a flourishing coun¬ 
try town, who visits different cities alono, 
stops at hotels, purchases supplies of dry 
goods, hardware, china, groceries, shoes, 
nick-nacks and multifarious saleables, which 
make up “ stock ” in a miscellaneous store. 
Sho gives notes, mako scontracts, and does 
all such business as belongs to her; and we 
have novor yet learned that sho has sacri¬ 
ficed one iota of tho dignity, admiration and 
respect which aro her just duo, as a young, 
amiablo, and very pretty woman. 
The elder brother “ is one who made hasto 
to como into the world to bring his parents 
the first nows of male posterity, and is well 
rewarded for his tidings.”-— Fuller. 
mm . ■*-.? ; J 
THE LAMMEEGEYER. 
In its attitudes this bird resembles the \ 
eagles more than tho vultures, its confident j 
and sprightly bearing strongly contrasting 
with tho crouching and suspicious postures | 
of the latter. Like these, however, it gen¬ 
erally retains its wings in a stato of half ex¬ 
pansion when at rest, and its neck more or 
less retracted within its shoulders. Its food, 
is more frequently sought in a living prey 
than on a putrefying carcass; and for this 
reason it is not often found, like tho vul¬ 
tures, assembling in considerable troops.— 
The increased curvature of its talons also 
contributes to the same object, by enabling 
it to carry off its prey, whether living or 
dead. A careful comparison will show how 
nearly this bird holds the middle station be¬ 
tween tho two large groups to which it is 
almost equally related. 
In size it is the largest of European birds of 
prey, measuring, when fully grown, upwards 
of four feet from beak to tail, and in the 
expanse of its wings no less than nine or 
ten. M. Fortis indeed asserts that ho had 
seen an individual in Dalmatia, the expand¬ 
ed wings of which measured twelvo feet.— 
Tho general color of tho upper part of this 
remarkable bird is a dull brown with a mix¬ 
ture of gray; its wings and tail are of a 
grayish ash color; tho upper part of its head 
is a dirty white; a black band extends back¬ 
wards from the base of the beak across the 
eye, and joins a narrower stripe of the same 
that passes upwards to unite with its follow 
on the back of the head; and tho nock, 
breast, and under parts aro white with a 
shade of reddish brown or orange, which is 
deeper on tho breast and throat, and grad¬ 
ually becomes less distinct on the abdomen 
and legs. 
In its habits this bird combines the au¬ 
dacity and cruelty of the eagles, with the 
appetite for carrion which distinguishes the 
vultures. It seizes by preference living vic¬ 
tims, chiefly quadrupeds, and especially 
those which aro incapable of making an ef¬ 
fectual resistance, such as rabbits, hares, 
sheep and lambs, or even young goats and 
calves; and thus proves an extremely dan¬ 
gerous neighbor to the peaceful flocks which 
graze on the declivities of the mountains in¬ 
habited by it, or in the intervening valleys. 
Sometimes, when rendered desperate by a 
long fast, it is said to attack tho chamois, or 
even man himself) choosing for the scene of 
its exploits the brink of a precipice, and de¬ 
scending upon its victim with such an irre¬ 
sistible impetus as to precipitate him head¬ 
long into the abyss below. But such bold 
attempts as this, although spoken of by 
many writers, are foreign to its usual hab¬ 
its, and may rather bo regarded as tradi¬ 
tions handed down from generation to gen¬ 
eration, than as a common or every day 
occurrence. In tho same manner it is 
probable that tho storios current in tho 
Alps, of children carried off by vultures to 
be devoured, aro rather tho expression of a 
natural dread of what might happen, than 
a relation of actual events. We aro not 
aware of any authentic testimony in proof 
of the fact, which may therefore be classed 
with the narratives of the same description 
with reference to tho condor. 
It is from the character in which it is best 
known to them, as the spoiler of tho fold, 
that this bird has received from the natives 
of tho German Alps its title of Lammor- 
geyer, tho Lamb Vulture. But although 
this is its food of choice, it feeds also upon 
carrion; and as when in pursuit of a living 
prey, it emulates tho eagles by soaring 
alone or in company only with its mate, so 
in its attack upon an unburied carcass it 
imitates the vultures by congregating in 
bands upon the spoil. In such circumstan¬ 
ces it does not usually descend from aloft, 
but sweeps slowly along tho ground towards 
its expected banquet. Bruce relates, in his 
Abyssinian Travels, a remarkable instance, 
illustrative at once of its boldness and vo¬ 
racity. His servants were preparing for 
dinner on the summit of a lofty mountain, 
when a bearded vulture, attracted by the 
smell of tho goat’s flesh, which they were 
cooking, slowly made his advances towards 
the party, and at length fairly seated him¬ 
self within tho ring which thoy had formed. 
The affrighted nativos started up and ran 
for their lances and shiolds; and the bird, 
after an ineffectual attempt to extract a 
portion of their meat from the boiling wa¬ 
ter, seized a largo pieco in each of his talons 
from a platter that stood by, and carried it 
off slowly along tho ground as ho camo.— 
Aftor an interval of a few minutes, the vul¬ 
ture returned for a second freight, but was 
shot by the travelor before it could carry its 
purpose into effect. The manner of its 
flight in this instance, as well as in many 
others, may be taken as an indication that 
this species does not usually mako its prey 
of birds, which it is rarely if ever known to 
attack .—Library of Natural History. 
THE GREAT GRAY OWL. 
Two specimens of this magnificent bird, 
(Syrnium cinereum,) have, this season, been 
shot, within a few weeks of each other, at 
tho Holderberg mountains, about 12 miles 
distant from our city, and are at tho present 
time, boautifully preserved in tho collection 
of James A. Hurst, tho able Taxidermist to 
tho State of New York. This lino grey owl 
is considered tho largest species of tho fami¬ 
ly to which it is attached, and has been 
chiefly confined in its wanderings to tho 
Arctic rogions of America; wo therefore 
tako groat pleasure in connecting this inter¬ 
esting hint to tho fauna of our State, as it 
has never boforo beon positively determined 
to have had a residence within its limits.— 
They aro generally to be found in pairs, and 
leed indiscriminately on mice, hares, and 
othor similar animals, which thoy aro known 
to seize with so much vigor, as somotimes to 
bury themsolvos a foot beneath tho surface 
of the snows during the pursuit; they have 
also frequently been seen to bear oft’ with 
ease, in their powerful claws, tho large Al¬ 
pine hare in a living condition.— Country 
Gentleman. 
ETHIOPIA. - THE IHFOPOTAMUS. 
Bayard Taylor, writing to tho Now York 
Tribune from Khartoum, tho capital of 
Egyptian Soudan, describes his ride down 
the Nile. Ho says : 
Hero, whore I oxpected to ride through a 
wilderness, I find a garden. Ethiopia might 
become in other hands the richest and most 
productive part of Africa. Tho people are 
industrious and peaceable, and doserve bet¬ 
ter masters. Thoir dread of tho Turks is 
oxtremo, and so is their hatred. I stopped 
ono evening at a village on the western 
bank. Tho sailors were sent to tho houses 
to procure eggs and fowls, and after a time 
two men appeared, bringing, as they said, 
tho only chicken in tho place. They came 
up slowly, stooped and touched the ground, 
and then laid their hands on their heads, 
signifying that thoy wore as dust boforo our 
feet. Aclimot paid them the thirty paras 
they asked and when they found the suppos¬ 
ed Turk had no disposition to cheat them, 
they wont back and brought moro fowls.— 
Travelers who go by land route, give tho peo- 
plo an excellent character for hospitality. I 
have beon informed that it is almost impos¬ 
sible to buy anything, even when double the 
value of the artcle is tendered; but by ask¬ 
ing for it as a favor, they will cheerfully 
give you whatever they have. 
On the third day I saw tho first hippopo¬ 
tamus. Tho men discerned him about a 
quartor of a mile off as he came up to 
breathe, and called my attention to him.— 
Our vessel was run toward him, and tho 
sailors shoutod to draw his attention, “ How 
is your wife, old boy ?” “ Is your son mar¬ 
ried yet T and othor oxclamations. They 
insisted on it that his curiosity would bo ex¬ 
cited by this means, and he would allow us 
to approach. I saw him at last within a 
hundred yards, but only tho enormous head, 
which was more than three feet across the 
ears. He raised it with a tromendous snort 
opening his mouth at the same time, and a 
moro frightful monster I never saw. Ho 
came up in our wake after we had passed, 
and followed us for some time. Diroctly 
afterwards we espied five crocodiles on a 
sand bank. Ono of them was a grayish col¬ 
or, and upwards of twenty five feet in length. 
Wo approached quietly to within a few 
yards of them, when my men raised their 
polos and shoutod. The beasts started 
from their sleop and dashed quickly into 
tho water, the big yellow ono striking so 
violently against the hull that I am sure he 
went off’ with a headache. 
A RAP AT THE RAPPERS. 
A long article in Blackwood, for May, 
upon “ Spiritual Manifestations,” thus hu¬ 
morously and caustically closes: 
“ Keep your mind easy, dear reader! 
You aro not ono whit moro likely to bo dis¬ 
turbed by ghosts than your fathers or 
grand-fathers were, and you may set them 
thoroughly at defiance. Comfort yourself 
woll, and you may bo assured that neither 
your shaving brush nor razor will spontane¬ 
ously smash tho window—go to church reg¬ 
ularly, and we give our guarantee against 
your being affixed to tho ceiling. Be easy 
on the score of your furniture, until you ob¬ 
serve it to bo inconveniently locomotivo, in 
which case, no doubt, you will bo ablo to 
dispose of it to some Railroad company.— 
And above all things, despise humbugs, and 
do not follow in the wake of men who aro 
called, or call themselves, philosophers. 
Many scientific men, in matters of reason¬ 
ing, aro asses; and it is a mercy that it iB so, 
since, otherwise, through their crudo con¬ 
ceits, thoy would dostroy tho equilibrium of 
tho material world.” 
Before the occurrence of an earthquake 
animals become uneasy. In that which took 
place in Calabria in 1783, it was noticed by 
Bartel that the sea fish wore disturbed, and 
were taken in vast numbors; many birds 
fluttered about distressed in the air; dogs 
ran about howling; the horses and oxen 
trembled, pawing tho ground and snorting 
as if in agony ; and the cats slunk about with 
their hair bristled up. 
For the Rural New-Yorker. 
REFLECTIONS IN A CHURCH YARD. 
Bkn'eatii these turfs and hillocks green, 
Oh 1 think what mouldering bodies lie, 
Which once, like us, alive were seen. 
To lightly laugh or sadly sigh. 
How many here the dead among, 
Have moved amid these silent tombs, 
With rosy cheek and flippant tongue, 
Uuthoughtful of their certain doom. 
But now promiscuous side by side 
The gay, the grave, tl>e vile and vain, 
Lie still, and still they must abide, 
As well the pious as profane. 
Alike in dust they mingle here, 
Greatness lias now its power forgot, 
The low no moro tho lordly fear, 
Alike their lone, unchanging lot. 
Enfield, Tompkins Co , N. Y., 1853. 
CONTENTMENT. 
It happened once, in a hot summer’s day, 
I was standing near a well, when a little 
bird flew down, seeking water. There was, 
indeed, a largo trough near the well, but it 
was empty, and I grieved for a moment to 
think that the little creature must go away 
thirsty ; but it sottlod upon the edge of the 
trough, bent its little head downwards, then 
raised it again, spread its wing and soared 
away singing; its thirst was appeased. I 
walked up to tho trough, and there in tho 
stone-work I saw a little hole about the size 
of a wren’s egg. Tho water held there had 
been a source of revival and refreshment; 
it had found enough for tho present and do- 
sired no more. This is contentment. 
Again I stood by a lovely sweet-smelling 
flower, and there camo a bee humming and 
sucking; and it chose tho flower for its field 
of sweets. But tho flowor had no honey. 
This I knew, for it had no nectary. What, 
then, thought I, will the boo do ? It camo 
buzzing out of tho cup to tako a further 
flight; but as it came up it spied the steam¬ 
ers full of golden farina, good for making 
wax, and it rolled its little legs against them 
till they looked like yellow hose as the bee- 
keepors say ; and then, thus heavily laden, 
flew away home. Then I said, “ Thou 
earnest seeking honey, and finding none hat t 
been satisfied with wax and hath stored it 
for thy house that thy labor might not bo 
in vain. Thou likewise shall ho to me a 
lesson of contentment.” 
Tho night is far spent—the dark night of 
trouble—that sometimes threatened to close 
around us, but tho day is at hand, and even 
in tho night there woro stars, and I have 
looked on them, and been comforted; for 
as ono set, I could always see another rise, 
and each was a lamp showing me somewhat 
of tho depth of tho riches both of the wis¬ 
dom and tho knowledge of God.— Parable 
from the German. 
BEAUTIFUL EXTRACT. 
We find the following rare gem in a 
southern paper. It boars the appearanco 
of an extract from some sermon, and is wor¬ 
thy of a careful and attentive perusal : 
Have you made ono happy heart to-day ?” 
How calmly can you seek your pillow, how 
sweetly sleep. In all this world, there is 
nothing so sweet as giving comfort to tho 
distressed, as getting a sun-ray into a 
gloomy heart. Children of to-morrow 
meet us wherever we turn. There is no 
moment that tears aro not shed and sighs 
uttered. 
Yet, how many of those sighs, thosotoars, 
aro caused by our own thoughtlessness !— 
How many a daughter wrings tho soul of a 
fond mother by acts of unkindness and in¬ 
gratitude. How many husbands, by ono 
little word, mako a wholo day of sad hours 
and unkind thoughts ? How many wives, 
by angry recriminations, estrange and em¬ 
bitter loving hearts ? How many brothers 
and sistors meet but to injure and vex each 
other, making wounds that no human heart 
can hoal! 
And if oach one worked upon this maxim 
day by day—striving to mako some heart 
happy—jealousy, revenge, madness, hate, 
with their kindred evil associates, would for¬ 
ever leave the earth. Our minds would be 
so occupied in tho contemplation of adding 
to the pleasure of others, that there would 
ho no room for the ugly fiends of discord.— 
Try it, discontontod devotees of sorrow, self- 
caused, it will make that little part of tho 
world in which you move, an Eden. 
The Memory of the Dead. —It is an ex¬ 
quisite and beautiful thing in our nature, 
that when tho heart is touched and soften¬ 
ed by some tranquil happiness or affection¬ 
ate feeling, the memory of tho dead comes 
over it most poworfully and irresistibly. It 
would seem almost as though our better 
thoughts and sympathies were charms, in 
vii’tuo of which the soul is enabled to hold 
some vaguo and mysterious intercourse with 
the spirits of those whom wo loved in life. 
Alas ! how often and how long may those 
patient angels hover around us, watching 
for tho spoil which is so seldom uttered and 
so soon forgotten !— Dickens. 
There is something higher in politeness 
than Christian moralists have recognised.— 
In its host forms as a simple, out-going, all- 
pervading spirit, none but tho truly religious 
man can show it. For it is tho sacrifice 
of self in tho littlo habitual matters of life 
—always tho best tost of our principles— 
together with a respect, unaffected for man, 
as our brothor undor the samo grand des¬ 
tiny. In its lower and more common de¬ 
velopment in every-day life, wo have very 
much to learn of the Europeans. 
