MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKERs AN AGRICULTURAL. LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER, 185 
Oe €in:tatflr* Useful Dliu 
PUBLIC BENEFACTORS. 
A news item has been floating around 
among the newspapers, to the effect that the 
Blackstone Manufacturing Company of Mas¬ 
sachusetts had erected at their own expense a 
public school house worth ten thousand dol¬ 
lars. The assertion seemed so extraordinary, 
and if true so deserving of a more extended 
notice, that we took occasion to write to the 
Postmaster at Blackstone, inquiring into the 
truth of the report, and have received an an¬ 
swer to our inquiry more than confirmatory 
of the statement made. 
The capital of the company amounts to 
$1,000,000, and it operates 40,000 spindles 
and 1,100 looms. The village contains a fixed 
population of about 1,500, while the former 
village of Waterford adjoining (now united 
with Blackstone) contains about as many 
more. There are two district school houses 
in the village, one of which is that spoken of 
above. As a matter of course, where so ma¬ 
ny operatives are congregated, a large number 
of whom are men with families, there are 
youth and children to be provided with the 
means of education, or the community would 
speedily be overrun with ignorance and crime. 
Many of these operatives are of foreign birlh 
and have not themselves receive! the benefits 
of an education. The children must therefore 
look for instruction outside of the paternal 
roof. 
With a wise foresight for the well being of 
the children, as well as eye to the best inte¬ 
rests of the Commonwealth, the corporation 
came forward voluntarily and erected, at their 
own expense, a public school house which cost 
them Fifteen Thousand Dollars ! It con¬ 
tains three large schoolrooms, with the neces¬ 
sary ante and recitation rooms, and au ample 
reception room where the scholars assemble 
regularly for prayers. Not only the children 
of the operatives, but of all the other residents 
of the district also are permitted to attend. 
The chief stockholder of the Blackstone 
corporation is Alexander Duncan, Esq., of 
the well known banking firm of Duncan, 
Sherman <fc Co., in New York city. Ilis 
family reside at Providence, II. I, he himself 
being in Scotland; and the fact of his non¬ 
residence at Blackstone, and consequently of 
possessing no further interest in the welfare of 
its people than any other citizen of the Repub¬ 
lic, is a still stronger proof of his liberality 
and patriotism. An act of voluntary aid like 
this in the cause of education, is worthy of 
honorable mention ; and those who step for¬ 
ward in such a cause deserve the award of 
civic crowns. Who will say hereafter that 
corporations have no souls ? 
OBJECTS OF EDUCATION. 
The objects of a good education are to im¬ 
prove aud develop the mind ai d increase the 
physical comforts of life. The last idea is 
properly included in the first, since the well 
educated mind teuds constantly to put into 
practical use every fact it learns or discovers. 
The more a person knows of scientific truths, 
the happier he ought to be ; and a well learn¬ 
ed man ought to live better aud enjoy more, 
physically speaking, than his ignoraut neigh¬ 
bor, at the same expense, or equally well at 
less expense. Is this apparently the case?— 
Must there not then be made two classes—the 
apparently and the really learned ; the memo¬ 
rizes and the examiners, thinkers, appliers; 
those who having eyes see not, and ears hear 
not, and those who observe and make their ob¬ 
servations tell to their own and neighbors’ 
good ?— N. F. Teadier. 
A Word from Wisconsin. —The cause of 
education in our young state is steadily ad¬ 
vancing, although the embarassmeuts are so 
mauy. Our school fund is ample, our schools 
numerous, and higher seminaries of learning 
are starting in every direction all over the 
State. The patrons of our schools are so en¬ 
gaged in money making operations, that they 
do not take the interest they should iu our 
schools ; but 1 hope as they become more en¬ 
lightened, they will manifest more interest.— 
The time was. when a log school-house and a 
man that could be employed at $10 per month, 
were sufficient. But people have learned that 
a good school house and good wages will em¬ 
ploy good teachers, and many schools are now 
paying $40, some $50, while $30 per mouth 
is but a common price. 
Our State is young, but we have got mate¬ 
rial to make some eminent scholars, and l 
hojie to see it moulded into the right shape.— 
J. F. W., in N. Y. Teadier. 
Libraries in Constantinople. —A writer 
in a recent English journal suggests that the 
present campaign in the Crimea, and the 
friendly rela ions subsisting between England 
and Turkey, presents the long-desired oppor- 
tunity for Englishmen to obtain access to 
places that have long been shut up from them, 
and that they are likely to obtaiu manuscripts 
and other spoils inherited by the conquerors 
of the Byzantine Empire, lie says, “ in this 
way the evils of war may be made eventually 
productive of good to mankind, bv the bring¬ 
ing to light again of some of the long-lost 
treasures of Greece or Rome; or more pre¬ 
cious still, of some works of Christian an¬ 
tiquity.” 
Zeal without judgmeut is an evil, though 
it be zeal unto good. 
CAPTURE OF HAVANA. 
I am astonished at the frivolous manner in 
which some simple people talk of taking the 
Moro Castle and the cityof Havana. There 
are thousands in the Uuited States who have 
been induced by the press to believe, that this 
celebrated fortification can be taken with a 
few frigates and a few hundred soldiers. This 
is a gross fallacy. All our navy, and 20 000 
soldiers, would find full occupation in making 
the attempt. 
The English government, in 1762, fitted out 
a very large fleet, with transports conveying 
10 000 soldiers, to attack Havana, which was 
captured after a siege of 22 days, with a loss 
of over 10,000 men. 
For the benefit of those who never read or 
heard of this famous siege, 1 abridge an ac¬ 
count of that event for their information— 
hoping the press will re publish it for the en¬ 
lightenment of the masses on this interesting 
topic. 
In the year 1762, 19 ships of the line and 
18 frigates, with various smaller vessels of war, 
and some 200 transports, under command of 
Pocock, and 10.000 soldiers, under Gen. 
Monckton, arrived off the Moro Castle, with 
the avowed purpose of capturing that celebra 
ted fortress. The army lauded to the east¬ 
ward of the Moro, without opposition, and 
immediately besieged the fort. Five thousand 
men were employed in the attack, and five 
thousand in covering the siege and protecting 
the parties engaged in procuring water. 
The hardship endured by the troops in car¬ 
rying on this siege was incredible. The earth 
or soil was everywhere so thin, that it was 
with difficulty they could cover themselves iu 
their approaches. The want of water was also 
very distressing. The army was obliged to 
fetch water from a great distance. So scanty 
and precarious was the supply procured with 
great labor that they were obliged to have re¬ 
course to what the ships could afford. The 
heavy artillery had to be dragged a long way 
over a rough aud rocky shore. Under these 
painful circumstances the men in great num¬ 
bers dropped dead, with thirst, heat, and 
fatigue. 
The navy aided Ihe siege by placing their 
ships of the line in position, and bombarded 
the fort for seven hours without intermission. 
This divided the Spanish forces, who were now 
compelled to defend themselves, at the same 
time, on the sea side. The treops in the fort 
(situated on a rock one hundred and twenty 
feet high) defended fhemselves gallantly ; and 
the English suffered severely, and in order to 
save tLcir ships were compiled to draw them 
off out of reach of the Spanish guns. 
As soon as the Spaniards were relieved from 
the bombardment of the navy, the artillerists 
returned to the land side. The fight now be¬ 
came very desperate and destructive. The 
cannonade continued seven days; the siege had 
lasted twenty days, with little hope of iaking 
the Moro. At this time the English received 
a reinforcement of four thousand fresh troops. 
Now, inspired with new hopes, the attack 
was renewed ; their exertions redoubled, and 
at last widi success. On the 22d day of this 
memorable siege, the fort was captured. The 
city held out a few days and then surrender¬ 
ed, to prevent unnecessary sacrifice of life. 
The loss.sustained by the English army and 
navy was horrible. The English historian, 
aware how dearly the victory was obtained, 
prudently omitted to record the number of 
killed and wounded. Cotemporary writers 
(not English) say, ‘‘ this fort cost Euglaud 
over ten thousand men ” 
OLIVE CULTIVATION IN UNITED STATES. 
There have recently arrived some choice 
cuttings of the olive, selected some months 
siuce by the agent of the office iu France, and 
they have been distributed iu the Southern 
States bordering on the Atlantic aud Gulf of 
Mexico. It is already well known that this 
product has been cultivated in some parts of 
Florida and California for many years ; and 
doubtless there are other tracts of country 
uniting the conditions necessary for thegrowth 
aud perfection of its roots. It may be stated 
that, while the Floridas were held by the En¬ 
glish iu 1759, one Dr. Turnbull, a famous ad- 
venturer of that nation, brought over from 
Smyrna a colony of fifteen hundred Greeks 
and Minorcans, and founded the settlement of 
New Smyrna, on Mosquito river. One of the 
principal treasures which they brought from 
their native land was the olive. Hartram, 
who visited this colony in 1775, describes that 
place as a nourishing town. Its prosperity, 
however, was of momentary duration. 
Driven to despair by hardship, oppression 
aud disease, and precluded from escape by land, 
where they were intercepted by the 6avages of 
the wilderness, a part of these unhappy exiles 
died, while others conceived the hardy enter¬ 
prise of embarking for Havana in an open 
boat, and iu three years their uumber was re¬ 
duced to five hundred. The rest removed to 
St. Augustine, when the Spaniards resumed 
possession of the country, aud in 1783 a few 
decaying huts and several large olive trees 
were the only remains to be seen of their 
wearied industry. Numerous attempts, at 
different times, have beeu made to propagate 
the olive from seeds, iu various parts of the 
South, which have proved unsuccessful. This 
want of success may be attributed in part to 
the teudency of the olive to sport into inferior 
varieties when propagated from seeds, but af¬ 
ter ihe experiment lia3 beeu fairly tested by 
cuttings of choice and well proved varieties, 
it is hoped that this “ first among trees” will, 
sooner or later, become celebrated in the re¬ 
gions of the South.— Washington Union. 
Poverty is, except where there is an actual 
want of food and raiment, a thing much more 
imaginary than real. The shame of poverty— 
the shame of being thought poor—is a great 
and fatal weakness. 
GENESEE MODEL SCHOOL. 
The pleasant and healthful little village of 
Lima, in the county of Living-ton, is a model 
in many respects ; but above all in the special 
attention and encouragement it has given to 
the cause of education. But we should err 
in awarding to the villagers all, or even a ma¬ 
jor part, of the credit due for the founding 
among them of those noble educational insti¬ 
tutions—although at the same time vie can 
.cay, from our own acquaintance wilh them 
and their schools, that the inhabitants have 
heretofore paid liberally towards their estab- 
ment and maintenance. To the Methodist 
Episcopal Church the village is especially 
indebted for the founding of the Genesee 
Wesley an Seminary and the Genesee College, 
and the thousands of students, both male and 
female, who have received the benefit of in¬ 
struction there, and gone forth to fields of 
active life in nearly every State and Territory 
in the Union, can bear witness to the far-see¬ 
ing and beneficent activity of the Methodist 
denomination iu the cause of education. It 
was for years a standing reproach against 
them, that their preachers and leaders were 
ignorant men. That reproach may possibly 
have been partially merited years ago, but iu 
these latter days of Methodist prosperity no 
denomination has been before them in well di 
rected efforts to diffuse among the people the 
benefits of liberal learning. 
It is not our purpose here to speak particu¬ 
larly of the Seminary aud College at Lima,, 
but to give a view of another institution lo -1 
cated in that town, and about half a mile 
west of the Seminary buildings. It is enti 
tied The Genesee Model School for Boys, | 
and, iu the language of the circular, “ has been 
established for the purpose of putting into | 
practice that system of general education 
which combines Physical, Intellectual and j 
PROPERTIES OF CHARCOAL- 
_ i 
The following is an interesting ariicle, by 
J. Steuhouse, F. R. S-, in the Journal of the 
Society of Arts, Loudon : 
“ My attention was particularly drawn to 
the importance of charcoal as a disinfecting 
agent, by my friend, John Turnbull, Esq., of 
Glasgow, Scotland, the well known extensive 
chemical manufacturer. Mr. Turnbull, about 
nine months ago, placed the bodies of two 
dogs in a woodt n box, on a layer of charcoal 
powder a few iuches in depth, and covered 
them over with a quantity of the same mate- ; 
rial. Though the box was quite open, and ; 
kept in his laboratory, no effluvium was ever j 
perceptible ; and, od examining the bodies of j 
the animals at the eud of six months, scarcely j 
anything remained of them except the bones. 
Mr. Turnbull sent me a portion of the char¬ 
coal which had been most closely in contact 
with the bodies of the dogs. I submitted it 
for examination to oue of my pupils, who found 
it contained comparatively little ammonia, not 
a trace of sulphuretted hydrogen, but very ap¬ 
preciable quantities of nitric aud sulphuric 
acids, with acid phosphate of lime. 
Mr. Turnbull subsequently, about three 
months ago, buried two rats in about two 
iuches of charcoal powder, aud a few days af¬ 
terwards, the body of a full grown cat was | 
similarly treated.' Though the bodies of these j 
animals are now in a highly putrid state, not j 
the sligh'est odor is perceptible in the labora- j 
tory. . 
From this short statement of facts, the util¬ 
ity of charcoal powder as a means of prevent- j 
ing noxious effluvia from church-yards, aud ' 
from dead bodies in other situations, such as I 
on board a ship, is sufficiently evident. Cov-! 
ering a church-yard to the depth of from two 
to three inches with coarsely powdered char¬ 
coal, would prevent any putrid exhalations | 
ever finding their way into the atmosphere.— : 
Chare >al powder, also, greatly favors the rap-: 
id decomposition of ihe dead bodies wilh ; 
which it is in contact, so that in the course of j 
six or eight mouths, little is loft except the | 
bones. 
In all the modern systems of chemistry, such i 
for instance, as the iast edition of Turner’s 
Elements, charcoal is described as possessing [ 
autiseptic properties, while the very reverse is 
the fact. Common salt, nitre, corrosive sub-! 
limate, arsenious acid, alcohol, camphor, ere- j 
osote, and most essential oils, are certainly ; 
antiseptic substances, and, therefore, retard j 
tiie decay of animal and vegetable matters.— ■ 
Charcoal, on the contrary as we have just 
seen, greatly facilitates the oxyelation, and con- ! 
sequent!y, the decomposition of any organic! 
substances with which it is in e uitact it is, j 
therefore, the very opposite of au antiseptic.” 
Moral training—a system which has been 
theoretically sanctioned throughout this coun¬ 
try and in Europe, as the only means of de¬ 
veloping all the faculties of the man." 
The pupils board ia the institution, and are 
under the immediate supervision of the teach¬ 
ers, whose authority is exercised in a paternal 
and least offensive possible form. A Gym¬ 
nasium, and suite of bathing rooms, ample 
grounds for exercise, and all appliances need¬ 
ful to develop all the powers of an elevated 
manhood are connected with the school. The 
boy who seconds the efforts of his instructors 
is fitted for entering at once upon the higher 
walks of literature or o! active life. 
The building, as will be seen by the cut, is 
three stories high, built of brick, and sur¬ 
rounded with fine rural scenery. The writer 
remembers the spot well, on account of an in¬ 
cident that several years ago, and before “ The 
Model School” was thought of, happened to 
him in that vicinity. The place was at that 
time a pasture surrounded by woods, and oc¬ 
cupied as grazing ground by a herd of cattle. 
By the election of his fellow students, the 
valedictory at the Seminary Commencement 
devolved on him; and, after a good deal of 
mental effort, and not a little anxiety, the 
manuscript was prepared, duly submitted to 
and approved by the Faculty, and then com¬ 
mitted to memory. To make all sure in its 
proper elocution, the orator retired to the sol- 
I itary pasture to declaim. The prologue was 
I scarcely uttered before the herd, one and all, 
ceased their feeding, pricked up their ears, and 
gathered around the speaker in mute and pro¬ 
found amazement. Whether or not they were 
greatly edified by the performance, has never 
become known, but they certainly were as re- 
j spectful and as attentive listeners as any au- 
! dience that ever filled the Seminarv hall. 
Written for Moore’a Knrai New-Yorker 
GEOGRAPHICAL ENIGMA. 
I am composed of 26 letters. 
My 3, 11, 17, 8, 23, 16 is a town in Mexico. 
My 12, 2, 21, 26 is a cape in South America. 
My 15, 11, 21, 6,16, 25 is a town in Europe. 
Mv 19, 24, 23, 11, 14 is an island in Malaysia. 
My 21, 2, 7, 11 is a cape in Africa. 
My 23, 18, 14. 16 is a river in South America. 
My 6, 14, 8, 13, 15, 20, 4 is a town in Europe. 
My 12, 22, 14, 1, 4 is a river in Mexico. 
My 9, 5, 16, 23 is a country in Asia. 
My 10,11, 14, 22, 16 is a peninsula in Asia. 
My whole is worthy the remembrance of all. 
Genoa, N. Y., 1865. a o p 
nr Answer next week. 
Written for Moore’s Rnral New-Yorfee?. 
ALGEBRAIC PROBLEM. 
A bot gave to one of his companions a cer¬ 
tain number of apples; to the second twice as 
many as to the first; to the third three times 
as many as to the first; and to the fourth four 
times as many as to the first, and then found 
that he had as many left as he had given 
away, and two apples more. If he had given 
each half as many as he did give, he would 
then have had left as many as he would have 
given away, and twenty-two apples more.— 
How many had he in the beginning ? 
Answer next week. 
MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM. 
Tire sides of a certain triangular field are 
to each other as the numbers 9, 7 and 10.— 
The distance from a point without to the 
vertex of the first anode, is 210 rods,—to that 
of the second 191,265,—and to that of the 
third 200 rods. It is required to determine 
the area of the field from these data. 
West Somerset, X. Y., 1S55. x. r. a 
Answer next week. 
CHARADE. 
My first is negative, 
My second too often positive ; 
If you have them in their double capacity, 
You are more than man ; 
If you are seriously ray whole, 
You will certainly be none. 
gigT * xYnswer next week. 
Answer to Miscellaneous Enigma hi No. 2862 
United Stotts. 
THE ”.IN COMMANDMENTS. 
The Decalognu Is thus tersely aud quaintly rendered 
into rhyme, and would, ia this form, be a good exercise 
for the memories of the young : 
I. I am the Lord thy God—serve on'y me : 
II. Before no idols bow the impious knee : 
III. Use not my name in trifles, nor in jest: 
IV. Dare not profane my sacred day of rest: 
V Ever to parents, due obedience pay : 
VI. Thy fellow creature man thou ehalt not slay : 
VII. Iu no adulterous action hear a part: 
VIII. From stealing, keep both hand and heart; 
XI. All false reports against thy neighbors hate ; 
X. Anti ne’er indulge a wish for his estate. 
Written for the [tarsi New-Yorker. 
ALL THINGS SHALL WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD. 
That “ all things shall work together for 
good to them that love God,” is a fact which 
needs but little, if aoy, proof to substantiate. 
The evidences of it have been accumulating 
ever siuce Enoch walked with God. The 
experience of every Christian, from him who 
first went down to the grave “ in peace,” to 
him who just now “fell asleep in Jesus,” 
proves that God loves those who love him ; 
and that however straitened they may be at 
times, He will bring them safely out and set 
“ them ia a large place.” Undeniable, how¬ 
ever, as the truth of this would seem to be, 
there have been, and now are, those who 
doubt it. 
In regard to the effects of positive and man¬ 
ifest blessing, there is no incredulity in the 
minds of the most skeptical; but when ad¬ 
versity, “ like a strong man armed,” sets upon 
him — when sore affliction, sorrow that rends 
the heart, and griefs that beggar description, 
overtake him—even the faith of the Christian 
will sometimes stagger. Hard does he find it, 
to believe that these severe trials will purify 
and refine him, and enhance his glory and 
happiness in the world to come. It is difficult 
oft-times to believe that his f light afflictions, 
which are but for a moment, will work out for 
him a far more exceeding and eternal weight 
of glory.” At such times scriptural facts, as 
well as scriptural deciaratio s, come to his 
assistance—among which the history of Jacob 
stands conspicuous. 
Famine had overspread and desolated the 
land of Canaan, threatening a lingering and 
torturing death to the aged Patriarch and his 
family. Joseph, “ whom Israel loved more 
than all his brethren, because he wa3 the son 
of his old age,” having excited the envy of his 
brethren, had been privately sold into Egypt. 
While Israel rent his clothes and refused to 
lie comforted because Joseph was not—while 
he exclaii. ed, ia the bitterness of his sorrow, 
“ I will go down unto my grave unto my son” 
—behold how God leads that son lafely 
through many dangers, and at last, in effect, 
places him upon the throne of Egypt, a king. 
Impelled by hunger, h's brethren come a d 
bow down before him. Simeon is seized and 
retained, while Benjamin, the youngest, best 
beloved , is demanded, in proof that they are 
not spies. Again the Patriarch bows himself 
to the earth with sorrow, while he exc 1 aims, 
“ Me have ye bereft of my children”—“ all 
these things are against me.” Doubtless, as 
Israel watched the receding form of his be¬ 
loved son as it grew dim and at last was lost 
in the distance, he wondered how all this 
should be a blessing to him ; but when the 
absent ones return, not only laden with corn, 
but bringing the glad intelligence that “ Jo¬ 
seph is yet alive, aud Governor over all the 
land of Egypt,” how soon does sorrow give 
place to untold joy. And when, at last, the 
arms of his long-lost and loDg-lamented son 
are about his neck, aud the warm tears falling 
upon his face, how richly is he repaid for ev¬ 
ery anguish his soul had felt. Truly they 
know nothing of the luxury of joy who have 
not also felt the bitterness of sorrow. 
Thus does God deal with all his children. 
In each cup he wisely mingles joy and grief, 
prosperity and adversity, as m one season he 
mingles sunshine and showers ; and as the 
sunshine would finally sap the very fountain 
of vegetable life, did not the cloud overspread 
the clear sky and the shower descend, so 
would prosperity dry up the springs of spirit¬ 
ual life, did not affliction at times overshadow 
the believer, and drive him for refuge to the 
arms of his Saviour. 
Who, then, so well as the Christian, can en¬ 
dure the ills'that flesh is heir to — who, with 
such heroic fortitude, can meet the difficulties 
that intercept at almost every step in the 
pathway of life—who, with such resignation 
; and calmness, can bear up under the heaviest 
| burden of sorrow, and look hopefully up 
while anguish, the keeuuess of which can be 
known only to the sufferer, is wringing the 
soul, and who, at last, “ when life is o'er,” 
can look with such tranquillity upon the 
“ King of Terrors ” when he comes with the 
summons which bids him prepare to meet hi: 
God, in the midst of the severest sufferings he 
can believe, aud rejoice that “ all things shal 
work together for good to them that love 
God,” and sing : 
“ Let cares like a wild deluge come, 
And storms of sorrow fall 1 
May I but safely reach my home, 
My God my heaven, my all.’’ 
Rochester, June I, 1865. 8. A. E. 
