FARMERS AND FARMERS SONS. 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— I wish to say a 
word in behalf of farmers sons. It is a lamentable 
fact that the sons of good thrifty farmers get discon¬ 
tented and dissatisfied, and leave the parental roof 
to seek employment and fortune abroad, and why 
is this ? May not the cause too often be attributed 
to a pinching restraint on the part of the parent; 
in only partially and grudgingly remunerating 
him for services rendered; and partially in not 
supplying him with pleasant and profitable recrea¬ 
tion. It comes very hard for the farmer whose 
only ambition is to grasp the “ almighty dollar,” 
to hire his own son and pay him fair wages; and 
date his time of service on and after the day he is 
twenty-one — but will let him go to “shack” for 
himself, sometimes (muttering as he goes, “ he 
never earned his salt,”) and hire any one that 
comes along and pay him freely $10, $12 or $15 
per month, when the services of the absent son 
were worth far more, even if he did play for a day 
once in a while. 
Now, were it not better to enlist the attention of 
sons in the affairs of the farm, (the noblest calling 
pertaining to earth,) either by paying him well or 
by giving him a share in the proceeds; any way, 
only interest him. If you pay him more than he 
actually earns it is not lost, unless he be a miser¬ 
able spendthrift, and he is not this, if he has been 
rightly taught by precept and example. In short, 
parents, as you love your children do all you can 
to keep your sons on the farm, and under the 
wholesome influence of a quiet and peaceful home, 
and don’t mind the sacrifice. When you have 
done all this if he still persists in leaving home, 
let him go with a father’s blessing, and when he 
has “squandered all his substance and fed on 
husk3” awhile, he will know how to appreciate a 
parent’s home. 
To the youth, too, I would say, honor and love 
your parents; bear with any notions that to you 
seem unreasonable; for how often have they borne 
with your follies and your faults; how often for you 
have they spent sleepless nights and anxious days. 
Many things that look foolish to you now will ap¬ 
pear very different in twenty years. Things 
taught me by my father, which I once despised 
and considered the height of folly, now I hold to 
as my firmest principles—the sheet-anchor of my 
faith. Experience makes us wiser, much as we 
may now despise its teachings. 
Vernon, N. Y., 1859. G. N. L. 
The American Institute of Instruction recently 
held its Thirtieth Annual Meeting, at New 
Bedford, Mass., and, judging from tbe published 
reports, the assembling was one of extreme inter¬ 
est to educators. The exercises extended through 
three days, and while we would be gratified Jin 
publishing the transactions in detail, want of 
space forbids. We condense from the excel¬ 
lent phonographic report of the Massachusetts 
Teacher: 
The President, Hon. John D. Philbrick, called 
the meeting to order, when Rev. Mr. Ckaig, of 
Boston, invoked the Divine blessing. The records 
of the last meeting, held at Norwich, Conn., were 
read and approved. Mayor Nye addressed the 
Institute, extending a welcome on behalf of the 
city government and bis fellhw-citizens. 
The first address before the Institute, (and in 
this connection we can only mention the name 
of lecturer, and topic discussed,) was delivered by 
Geo. B. Emerson, LL. D., of Boston, on “ The 
Forest and Garden .” The second was by Prof. 
J. D. Butler, of Madison University,—subject, 
“ Claims of the Classics .” J. D. Runkle selected 
for bis theme, “ Mathematics as an element in 
Liberal Education." Mr. Charles Hutchins of 
tbe Dwight School, Boston, spoke upon “ The 
Parent Sidein the Work of Education." The Rev. 
R. C. Watkrston of Boston, followed, his subject, 
“ The Beautiful in Nature and Art as connected 
with Education." Prof. E. D. Sanborn, of Wash¬ 
ington University, St. Louis, addressed the 
Institute upon “ Aids in the Study of the Classics." 
At intervals during the meeting, individuals 
prominently identified with educational affairs, 
and residing in various portions of the Union, 
were “called out” in reference to the systems pur¬ 
sued in their respective localities, and the inter¬ 
change of thought and sentiment thus effected, 
heightened the interest and value of the Associ¬ 
ation, We segregate the following: 
Hon. Anson Smyth, School Commissioner of 
Ohio, was called upon to give some information of 
the schools in his State. He answered to the call 
by a highly interesting speech. I believe, said he, 
that our school system is as good as that of any 
other State in the Union, and in some points in 
advance of all other sister States, though I am far 
from believing that our schools or teachers, as a 
general thing, are as good as those here. We live 
in a great State, with eighty-eight counties; we 
count the inhabitants by millions, and have 
22,000 teachers. Our schools cost nearly four 
millions of dollars a year, which money is raised, 
in the greater part, by direct taxation. Our 
school libraries are growing in size and useful¬ 
ness, and are supported by a general taxation. 
Prof. Butler, of MadisoD, Wis., said that hehad 
lived in the West for the last seven years, which 
he reckoned about half his life, the remaining 
seven years he had lived in New England. Wis¬ 
consin is a state larger than Old England, but a I 
little smaller than New England, vrMi aor,ooo 
children of school age. She wants good teachers 
and offers them good wages. Although the State 
i 3 only eleven y cars oiu, ine Teachers’ Association 
has held, already, seven annual meetings. Prof. 
B. referred to a visit which he had recently made 
in Danvers, where be called on Ma’am Eden, who 
was upwards of ninety years of age. Conversing 
with her he learned that she had never been in 
Boston, and that the farthest place from home to 
which she had trave'ed, was Marblehead, a dis¬ 
tance of five miles. She went there before the 
Revolutionary war, to be vaccinated. Prof. B. 
thought that, great as the contrast was between 
Ma’am Eden and the present female teacher who 
had traveled, at least, it was not greater than it 
would be between that same teacher now, and 
what she would be when he should meet her next 
in Wisconsin. 
Mr. Nathan Hedges of Newark, spoke for New 
Jersey, which, daring the revolutionary time, 
was in the Union, but which now, according to a 
New York discovery, is in the State of Camden 
and Amboy. New Jersey has, for the foundation 
of her educational system, a Normal School, and 
connected with it a Model School, which will not 
suffer in comparison with any in the United 
States. We have a Preparatory School establish- 
times told; but it is the boldness and the origin¬ 
ality of the adventure, and its complete success, 
in the face not only of natural obstacles, but also 
of the discouraging prophesies of the most cele¬ 
brated scientific meD, which reader it remarkable. 
The distinguished English engineer, Stephen¬ 
son, recently deceased, pronounced adversely to 
its security, aud the public generally regarded it, 
at the best, a very doubtful experiment. But that 
experiment has proved eminently successful, and 
thousands of passengers, and immense quantities 
of freight, pass over it daily, and in security. 
The following table exhibits the proximate, if 
not the absolute capacities, dimensions aud cost 
of the Suspension Bridge: 
Length of span from centres of towers. 882 feet 
Height of tower above rock on American side.. 88 
Height of tower above rock on Canadian side.. 78 
Height of tower above floor of railway. 60 
Number of wire cables. ^ 
Diameter of each cable. 16X inc s 
Number of No. 9 wires in each cable. 3.6o9 
Ultimate aggregate strength of cables. 12,400 tuns 
Weight of superstructure. 
Weight of superstructure and maximum loads. 1,250 
Maximum weight cable and stays will support.. 7,300 
Height of track above water. 
Base of towers. 
Top of towers. 
Length of cables. 
Depth of anchor pits below surface of rock. 
Outside width of railroad floor. 
Total length of wire in miles. 
Cost of structure. 
day when completed, one of the wonders of tbe 
world. Far above the water, stretching over the 
fearful chasm, and apparently suspended by gossa¬ 
mer threads whose graceful curves describe lines 
of true sublimity as well a3 beauty, appears the 
last great triumph ot humau genius and engineer¬ 
ing skill. The distant observer is struck with 
surprise at its apparent frailness. Everything in 
nature, which surrounds it, is in such majestic 
proportion, that, the bridge itself seems a mere 
network of threads and lines, buoyed up by its 
own inherent lightness, and the elasticity of the 
surrounding air. And yet, when we descend to a 
mathematical calculation of its size and materials, 
its strength and capacities, quite another idea 
takes possession of the mind, and we merge its 
grace and beauty into its utility. 
Tbe passage way is divided into two parts or 
floors, one above the other. Tbe upper is used 
for the transit of cars; the lower floor i3 the 
passage way for pedestrians and carriages. 
Neither the cost of the bridge nor the magnitude 
of the undertaking is a matter of surprise or 
wonder. There are very many mechanical struc¬ 
tures, even in this country, already completed, 
_J i-V. ~ 
Lectures for tub People. By the Lev. Hugh Stow- 
ell Bkown, of Liverpool. First Series,— with a 
Biographical Introduction by Dr. Shelton Macken¬ 
zie. [16mo.—pp. 414] Philadelphia: G. G. Evans. 
As a devoted, able, and successful pastoral teacher, 
Hugh Stowell Beown takes high rank in the minds 
of the masses with whom he has been placed in con¬ 
tact, and has secured a large place in the hearts of his 
people. Although a young man, (36 years of age last 
August,) but few exercise greater influence upon all 
classes and conditions of society. Engaged in mechan¬ 
ical employments until he was twenty-one, he learned, 
by experience, the wants of the laboring orders, and is 
endeared to them by kindred associations-devout, 
earnest, zealous and talented, he has won the confi¬ 
dence and respect of all his hearers. The Lectures, 
(twenty-or.e in number,) composing a volume of more 
than 400 pages, were delivered in Concert Hall, Liver¬ 
pool, tp the working classes of that great commercial 
and industrial city who were unable to attend the 
churches for want of means. They are as much ser¬ 
mons as lectures, furnishing plain, practical truths for 
mental digestion—although the book of daily experi¬ 
ence furnishes the majority of the texts,—delivered 
Sabbath afternoons to a mixed auditory of from two to 
three thousand listeners from all denominations. So 
popular were they, hundreds were compelled to f.»r^o 
the pleasure of hearing, not even standing-places being 
obtainable. These Lectures are full of every-day, 
common-sense facts, gracefully and eloquently garbed, 
and their teachings will be found equally as applicable 
to the desires or the needs of both old and joung on 
this side of the' Atlantic, as in the Mother Country. 
From the Publisher. 
.. 1.256K feet 
..20 to 30 “ 
24 “ 
. 4,000 “ 
,$400,000 
HOW TO CURE COLDS, 
Hall’s Journal of Health says the moment a 
man is satisfied that he has taken cold, let him do 
three things1st, eat nothing; 2d, goto bed, 
cover up warm, in a warm room; 3d, drink as 
much cold water as he can and as he wants, or as 
much hot herb tea as he can, and in three cases 
out of four, he will be almost we. v in thirty-six 
hours. 
If he does nothing for his cold for forty-eight 
hours after the cough commences, there is nothing 
that he can swallow that will, byaay possibility, 
do him any good ; for the cold, wit’; such a s*art, 
will run its course of about a fortnight, in spite 
of all that can be done, and what is swallowed in 
the meantimc» in the way oi'physic-A a r indrance, 
and not a good. 
“ Feed a cold and starve a fever," is a misohiev- 
ous fallacy. A cold always brings a fever; the 
HOME MADE PICTURE FRAMES. 
For Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
BIOGRAPHICAL ENIGMA. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —W. B. W., of Penn 
Yan, asks for information about making “ picture 
frames ox burrs, acorns, beech nuts, Ac.” The 
frame should be of plain work, no moldings except 
perhaps what is terms a “ Jack-plane Molding,” a 
little beveled towards the inside. The particular 
order of placing the cones, acorns, &c., will depend 
on the taste of each individual. I have one 24 by 
28 inches, but it would be difficult to describe it. 
The corners are arranged something in the form of 
rosettes, of white and yellow pine cones, acorns, 
&c., and also the same midway between the cor¬ 
ners. The balance is filled up with acorns, cones, 
beech nuts, buckwheat, Madeira nuts, filberts, but¬ 
ternuts, black walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazel and 
almost everything else in the form of a nut with a 
rough outside, indiscriminately — the more so the 
better. The frame should be first stained—some¬ 
thing near the color of your materials for the out¬ 
side. The nuts, &c., are fastened on with very 
thick glue, and when dry varnished over with 
thin glue. When this is dry it may receive a 
couple of coats of ordinary varnish which puts on 
the polish. I would recommend that the work be 
done in a warm room, and allow it to remain there 
two or three days, as the glue will not be so apt to 
give out and let the nuts lose. Any person with 
ordinary good taste can thus make a very beautiful 
picture frame. 
Although not a “ Young Jluralist,” perhaps the 
above may not be the less appreciated by the 
inquirer. mus. a. s. c. 
Pittsford, N. Y., Nov., 1S59. 
My I, 3, 5, 2, 10, 21, 26, 4, S5, 29 is neatness ana iaswon. 
My 26,47, 59, 42, 43,19, 22,17, 6 is a metal and a name. 
My 34, 43, 8, 36 is a princely residence. 
My 21,18, 40, 30,13,16, 42, 26, 32 is a portion, an eleva- 
My 23 < | I 57, , 33, a 59, ir 37, 40 is an enemy to 21, IS, 40,30,13, 
16, 42, 26, 32. 
My 36, 35, 44, 26,15, 25, 41, 46, 89, 54 is a tall man. 
My 19, 51,8,11,14, 55 is an engine and a weight. 
My 31, 20,13, 30 is an animal. 
My 88, 28, 9, 56, 53, 44 is a legacy and an heir. 
My 12, 7, 4,17, 49, 29 is a nick-name and a number. 
My 24, 35, 39, 45 is an article of female apparel. 
My 50, 58, 46, 36 pertains to a ship and a nut. 
My whole is a problem. 
The wise and the prudent 
To solve it may try— 
The scholar and student 
I also defy. 
The loser and winner 
May not know the amount. 
Till the saint and the sinner 
Give their final account. 
Wauwatosa, Wis., 1S59. A. B. 
J3T Answer in two weeks. 
ILLUSTRATED REBUS. 
Wood is the healthiest, because it contains a 
large amount of oxygen; coal has none, hence, in 
burning it, the oxygen necessary for its combus¬ 
tion must be supplied from the air of the room, 
leaving it “closely” oppressive. A coal fire will 
FisnER’s River (North Carolina.) Scenes and uuarac- 
ters Bv “ Skitt,” “ who was raised tliar.” Illustra¬ 
ted’by John McLenan. [16mo.—pp. 269.] New 
York: Harpers. 
This is a book which the artist has well illustrated, 
and therein consists its principal merit. The author 
was “raised” in one of the dark corners of North 
Carolina, and, after an absence of twenty years, return¬ 
ed to visit the home of his childhood. During this 
visit, he states “ reminiscences of early years naturally 
revived,” and on his return he determined to “write 
out some of the scenes and stories of that age and 
section,” hence the book before us. The characters 
are a poor, ignorant, superstitious, whisky-drinking 
set, without a redeeming trait. The only ambition 
among them seemed to be which could tell the biggest 
and silliest stories. Our author was very fortunate in 
escaping from such a crowd, and wo wonder he ever 
wished to return. We think too much of human nature 
1 flush over such stories of its degradation. Roches- 
oppressive. 
go out unless it has a constant and large supply 1 
of air, while wood, with comparatively little, J 
having a large supply within itself, turns to “ live j 
coals.” Close-grained heavy wood, like hickory ; 
and oak, give out the most heat; while pine and 
poplar, being opened-grained, heat up the quick¬ 
est. The value of fuel, a3 a heating material, is 
determined by the amount of water which a pound 
will raise to a given temperature; thus one pound 
of wood will convert forty pounds of ice to boil 
ing water, while a pound of coal will thus heat 
near eighty pounds of ice cold water; hence 
pound for pound, coal is as good again for mere 
heating purposes, as wood is as good again as peat, 
the product of sedges, weeds, rushes, 
A few evenings since the preceding sentence 
was read to me,in connection with a circumstance 
which caused it to make a very deep impression 
on my mind. But, methinks I hear some impa¬ 
tient Young Ruralist ask the question, “Who 
are they that build, but do not enter?” I would 
say that they are dreamers, who spend their pre¬ 
cious moments in idly thinking of future joys and 
honors; and while they are thus dreaming the 
future advances; but where are the joys and 
honors they counted so surely theirs? Alas! 
poor dreamer; perhaps too late thou wilt find 
I that thou must toil ere thou will realize the joys 
and honors which thou dreamed were already 
within thy eager grasp. 
Arouse then, dreamer, and commence some 
noble work, so that when thy race is run and thou 
shalt be laid beneath the sod, the world shall be 
bettered for thy having lived in it. Let not your 
precious time be any longer spent in dreaming. 
Thou, and every human being, has a work to per¬ 
form. And when thou workest, strive to work 
well, and thus fulfill the purpose for which an 
all-wise Creator designed us. And He who seeth 
in secret shall reward us openly, in that great 
day when all nations shall appear before Him, and 
will greet us with the words, “Well done, thou 
good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy 
of thy Lord.” j. 
Pultneyville, WaynejCo., N. Y., Nov., 1S59. 
which is 
mosses, &c. 
But, if a tun of coal, that is twenty-eight bushels, 
or twenty-two hundred and forty pounds, cost 
five dollars, it is about equal to tho best wood at 
two dollars and a quarter a cord. Coal, at twelve 
dollars and a half a tun, is as cheap as wood at 
five dollars and one-half per cord. It would be 
more equitable, if wood was dry, to sell it by the 
pound. Such is the custom in France. For heat¬ 
ing sleeping apartments, wood should be used. 
A Natural Philosophy : Embracing the Most Recent 
Discoveries in the Various Branches of Physics, and 
Exhibiting tbe Application of Scientific Principles in 
Every-Day Life. Adapted to Use with or without 
Apparatus, and accompanied with Full Descriptions 
of Experiments, Practical Exercises, and Numerous 
Illustrations. By G. P. Quackenkos, A. M., Principal 
of the “ Collegiate School,” N. Y.; Author of 1 First 
Lessons in Composition, etc., etc. [16mo.—pp. 450.] 
New York: D. Appleton & Co. 
;ed, well illustrated School Philosophy, 
Answer iu two weeks. 
For Moore’s Rural NewYorker. 
PUZZLE. 
Messrs. Editors :—I have read the “ Lover’s Puz¬ 
zle,” and, could I make it conveuient, would certainly 
call and get the printer’s hat. As I cannot do so, I 
propose that the printer read the following Puzzle and 
call and get my bonnet: 
Stand your take to watch take to watch 
I ture and will you if you will me. 
Wiiliamsville, N. Y„ 1859. S. A. M. 
A well arran^ 
which a brief examination causes us to believe is 
remarkable for its clearness and its simple explanations 
of scientific principles as they appear in every-day life. 
We recommend this book to every young philosopher; 
in fact, to every one who wishes to know more of nature 
and its mysterious laws. Rochester— Liberty Hall, 
Rules for Good Habits. —1. Have a plan laid 
beforehand for every day. 2. Acquire the habit of 
untiring industry. 3. Cultivate perseverance. 4. 
Cultivate the habit of punctuality. 5. Be an early 
riser. 6. Be in the habit of learning something 
from every one with whom you meet. 7. Form 
fixed principles on which to thiDk and act. 8. Be 
simple and neat in your personal habits. 9. Ac¬ 
quire the habit of doing everything well. 10. Slake 
constaut efforts to be master of your temper. 11. 
Cultivate soundness of judgment. 12..Observe a 
proper treatment of parents, friends, and com¬ 
panions.— Todd. 
ANSWERS TO ENIGMAS, &c., IN No. 516. 
Philosophy and Christianity. —Philosophy, in 
tlie light of Paganism, was like the fire-fiy ol the 
tropics, making itself visible, but not irradiating 
the darkness. But Christianity, revealing the Sun 
of Righteousness, sheds more than the full sun¬ 
light of those tropics on all that we need to see, 
whether for time or eternity.— Coleridge. 
