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MOORE’S RURAL NEW- YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER, 
EDDYSTON'E LIGHT - HOUSE. 
Who that lias crossed the Atlantic, has failed 
to see theEddystonc Light-house? It is erect¬ 
ed on one of the rocks of that name, which lie 
in the English Channel, about fourteen miles 
S. S. W. from Plymouth, and ten miles from 
the nearest land. These rocks are now much 
elevated above the sea, and at high water are 
covered with it so that many gallant and valu¬ 
able ships, with all on board, formerly perished. 
In 1696, and in 1706, light-houses were built 
on one of these rocks, the first of stone, and 
the second of wood, but both perished; the 
first being washed away, and the second burnt 
So that, at the end of 1755, passing ships were 
exposed to all their former dangers. 
In the early part of the following year, Mr. 
Smeaton, a self-taught civil engineer, was re¬ 
commended by Lord Macclesfield the President 
of the Royal Society, and he undertook to 
erect a new light-house, which should resist 
alike the winds, the waves, and the flames.— 
This plan, it was almost universally believed, 
would fail; but the fact was, that the public 
did not understand the great principles on 
which he was about to proceed. Men were 
set to cut deep into the rock for a foundation, 
which was at length secured. The whole work 
was a solid mass, for every stone in the vast 
circular building was dove-tailed to flic rest; 
so that it was impossible any part should move 
without the whole moving, and the rock also. 
By the labors of 2,674 hours, which was all the 
time they could work in more than three years, 
the whole undertaking was completed. It has 
stood the most terrific storms which history has 
recorded, without the slightest injury, for near¬ 
ly a century, to the vast delight of its friends, 
and is one of the grand objects of which the 
English- people boast .—Watchman and Ref. 
AN ANGEL IN CLOUDS, 
[For Moore’s Rural New-Yorker.] 
SCHOOL TEACHING. 
Having for some time made this occupation 
a business, and, during that time, been an at¬ 
tentive observer of the organization, arrange¬ 
ment, and government of common schools, and 
feeling a deep and lasting interest in the well¬ 
being and education of the youth of our land; 
and knowing that by far the greatest portion of 
them receive their book learning at the Dis- 
riet School,—I propose now and then to say a 
few words to the public, through the medium 
of the Rural New-Yorker on this subject. 
Nor is the teacher free from the cares attend¬ 
ant upon his profession, from the commence¬ 
ment till the close of the term. They follow 
him by day, and at night his mind is not free 
from them. Any thing that tends to hasten 
and make more lasting and useful impression 
upon the minds of his scholars, is full of living 
interest to him. He sees in them men of future 
growth and action ; whose thoughts and deeds 
are but the exemplification of his precepts and 
examples upon the young and susceptible mind. 
They are, in his hands, as clay in the hands of 
the potter. He may form their minds at his 
will,—giving tone and shape to their future 
course in life. And the thoughts that are so 
easily impressed to-day, may not be oblitera¬ 
ted to-morrow, but remain as indelible as the 
natural colors of the African race. 
And however well the individual may be 
educated that proposes to enter upon the du¬ 
ties of a teacher, although he may have spent 
four of the best years of his life in college, 
and spared no pains to cultivate his mind 
thoroughly and correctly in all that may per¬ 
tain to a liberal education, yet, in the true 
sense of the word lie is not fully prepared to 
enter successfully upon duties of so vast im¬ 
portance, until he has candidly weighed these 
facts, viz:—that he needs a constitution like 
iron, a delicate sense of duty, and an unwaver¬ 
ing spirit of perseverance in all he finds to do. 
Without these qualifications, he will find him¬ 
self unarmed with the necessary instruments, 
offensive and defensive, to combat all the oppo¬ 
sitions, all the coldness, all the prejudices and 
all the ignorance of those who should be his 
most zealous friends. I mean the patrons of 
his school. I have found by long experience, 
and close observation, that the only course 
which can be pursued with safety to both 
teacher and scholar, is for the former to study 
and know his duty and act accordingly, regard¬ 
less of the very many different and erroneous 
opinions often entertained and advocated by 
communities and districts. 
Hunt’s Hollow, Jan., 1854. 
Methoucht the clouds in Heaven so fair 
Were isles with cities filled— 
With spin s and turrets gleaming there, 
Just like the castles in the air 
We often build. 
These islands, in the realms of space, 
Sailed on through seas of blue, 
And there I could distinctly trace 
The azure wing and angel face 
Of one I knew. 
She sat upon a radiant throne, 
And wore a crown of light; 
More glorious than the sun at noon, 
A heavenly halo round her shone— 
Her robes were white. 
She was a pleasant angel here, 
Before wings had been given 
To bear her to that blissful shore 
Beyond the silver cloud so near— 
Her native Heaven. 
I’ve seen her at the sick child’s bed— 
Watch with unsleeping eye, 
Until its gentle spirit lied, 
On rosy pinions from the dead, 
To God on high. 
When sunlit clouds are floating by, 
I often bow to hear 
The sweep of wings from yonder sky, 
W'here ministering angels fly 
From sphere to sphere. 
SCENE IN THE ARABIAN DESERT. 
The above engraving represents a scene in 
the deserts of Arabia, where the sons of Isn- 
! mael, whose hands arc against every man, and 
every man’s hand against them, are reposing 
; in the shadow of their tents. These are pitch- 
i cd upon one of those singular oases scattered 
j here and there over the broad surface of the 
' desert like the islands of the ocean, affording 
j rest, shelter, and fresh water, to the wandering 
and restless followers of the Prophet. 
The fleet and noble courser, who is the fa¬ 
vorite animal and constant companion of the 
Arab, is appropriately mingled in the scene.— 
Of all the” numerous andwaluable variteies of 
the equine race, the Arabian is the most cele¬ 
brated in history, in romance, and in song; and 
next to his favorite wife, the steed that bears 
him over the sands with the fleetness of the 
wind, stands nearest in the affections of this 
wild wanderer of the desert. And the dumb 
but intelligent brute, is not a whit behind his 
master in his affections; following him like a 
dog, obeying his voice and gesture with as¬ 
tonishing sagacity, sleeping with him in the 
same tent, sporting in harmless gambols with 
his'cliildrcn, and sharing with them even the 
last meal. 
The camel is the most useful of all animals 
to the inhabitants of desert countries, for with¬ 
out them existence could not be maintained; 
but in this, as in an infinite number of instan¬ 
ces besides, the thing absolutely necessary is 
placed in the affections of mankind behind that 
which ministers to luxury or show; and thus 
the horse is made the companion of the Arab, 
while the camel is made his slave. 
Sir Walter Scott in the outset of one of 
his best stories, entitled the “ Talisman,” has 
given a thrilling sketch of an encounter be¬ 
tween a redoubtable Crusader, Sir Kenneth, of 
Scotland, and a Saracen, which took place be¬ 
side a spring called “The Diamond of the 
desert,” that welled out amid a trackless waste 
of sand. The narrator contrasts in the most 
vivid manner, the heavy, unwieldy, but resist¬ 
less power of the Christian knight in his mail of 
proof, and the light and agile evolutions of the 
Arab and his steed. The former was like the 
sword of Richard of the lion heart, that would 
sever, at a single stroke, an iron stanchion; the 
latter was like the scimitar of Saladin, that 
would cut a web of gossamer while floating up¬ 
on the breeze. The knight proved afterwards 
to be the Earl of Huntington and heir to the 
Scottish crown, and the Saracen the renowned 
Saladin himself ; and both lived, according to 
the romancer’s account of the affair, to do yeo¬ 
man as well as kingly service in the cause of 
their respective religious faiths. The courser 
of Saladin may be represented by that in the 
accompanying cut, and that of Sir Kenneth 
by one of our best imported Clydesdale steeds. 
[Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker.] 
see it shiver all over, like a man exposed to 
cold without clothes. But by degrees the hair 
grows again: at first it is extremely fine and 
beautiful, and when it is once more long and 
thick the camel can brave the severest frost.— 
It delights then in marching against the north 
wind, or standing on the top of a hill to be 
beaten by the tempest and breathe the freezing 
air. Naturalists have sometimes said that cam¬ 
els cannot live in cold countries; but they could 
hardly have meant to speak of Tartar camels, 
which the least heart exhausts, and which cer¬ 
tainly could not bear the climate of Arabia. 
The fur of an ordinary camel weighs ten 
pounds; it is sometimes as soft as silk. That 
which the entire animal has under his neck and 
along its legs is rough, tufted, and black; but 
the hair in general is reddish or gray. Tartars 
do not take any care of it, but sutler it, when 
it falls off; to be lost. In the place where the 
camels feed upon you may see great bunches of 
it, like old rags, blowing about; and sometimes, 
in the hollows and corners of the hills, large 
quantities will be drifted by the wind. But it 
is never picked up, or only a small portion of 
it, to make a coarse sort of sacks and carpets. 
The milk of the camel is excellent both for 
butter and cheese: the flesh is tough, ill-flavor¬ 
ed, and little esteemed by the Tartars. They 
make use, however, of the hump, which they 
cut in slices and take with their tea. 
It is said that Heliogabalus had camel’s flesh 
served at his banquets, and that he was espe¬ 
cially partial to the food. Of this latter dainty, 
which the emperor had the glory of discover¬ 
ing, we cannot speak; but we can affirm from 
our own experience, that the flesh of the camel 
is detestable.— Hue's Journey through r l'ar¬ 
tary. 
\ Early impressions are considered the most 
interesting and important of all those which 
arc received during life. Interesting because 
they are full of all the buoyant feelings expe¬ 
rienced by those who are in the morning of 
youth, in the spring time of life. The mind at 
this time begins to expand, and may bo com¬ 
pared to the opening bud, spreading its leaves 
to the enlivening and beautifying influence of 
the sun. 
In early youth, the mind, that living princi¬ 
ple within, is continually seeking something to 
satisfy the craving of its insatiate appetite. It 
seizes upon that which lies within its grasp.— 
It acquires habits and indulges feelings which 
form the whole character, and control the sub¬ 
sequent acts of life, thus causing the most triv¬ 
ial and insignificant things to tell on the desti¬ 
nies of a future existence. The youthful mind 
unsuspectingly quaffs copious draughts from 
the pure ocean of pleasure which rolls in sweet¬ 
ness o’er the soul. The rich treasures of tho’t 
are just disclosed to our view with bright and 
joyous images gathered from the storehouse of 
nature, which will accompany us through the 
dark vale of human existence, divesting it of 
many real and fancied ills. 
Early impressions are the food which nour¬ 
ishes and supports our intellectual nature, or a 
corroding poison, that, mingling with the stream 
which follows us, for refreshment gives only 
weakness, for support destruction. It is an in¬ 
controvertible truth that they can never be en¬ 
tirely erased, however low or exalted the sta¬ 
tion fortune may allot us. How often in after 
life, when hope’s fairy visions have tied, when 
ambition’s gaudy laurels no longer delight the 
heart, does memory, that faithful chronicler of 
the past, revert to those illusory dreams of 
childhood’s sunny hours; and though experi¬ 
ence has taught us their falsity, we turn to them 
as the polar star of the future. 
It is in childhood’s early day, before the 
mind has become indurated by the vicissitudes 
of life, that superstition exposes its direful form 
and seeks to enter the portals of the youthful 
mind. It is easy, thus early, to imbue the liv¬ 
ing fountain with unholy principles, which will 
poison the pleasing cup of existence. With 
what rigid scrutiny ought we to select those 
objects with which wo suffer our attention to 
be engrossed; for in youth we riot in a profu¬ 
sion of blissful anticipations, and revel in the 
enjoyment of society. May we study with 
zealous care to improve the golden hours which 
we now enjoy, and as we drink deep from 
hope’s perennial fount, strive by faithful efforts 
to experience the reality of her bright visions, 
that when time has furrowed the cheek with 
the cares of life, and the eye is dimmed with 
age, we can look back upon the reminiscences 
of youth with a pleasure that will shed a rich¬ 
ness and a beauty around our pathway, and 
like yEolian melody call back those kindred 
spirits that dwelt with us in happier days, and 
which seem to linger near apd pour their per¬ 
suasive strains upon the ear, until a gentle 
zephyr wafts them to a brighter clime. 
But when we consider these impressions im¬ 
perishable as the soul, and that when time with 
all its scenes and changes shall have passed 
away, the mind, with the impress it receives 
during the early period of its brief existence 
here, will yet live on during untold ages, how 
important then does it appear that they be 
such as will fit us for a higher, holier state, and 
enable us while eternity rolls on to bo forever 
ascending in the scale of intellectual and moral 
excellence. e. b. e. 
North Ridgeway, N. Y. Jun., 1864. 
TEMPERANCE 
lx regard to temperance, I am inclined to 
think that the inhabitants of southern Italy, 
and of the wine-growing countries generally, 
enjoy a reputation somewhat beyond their des¬ 
erts. It is true that it is very rare to see a 
man absolutely drunk; but it is not uncommon 
to see those who have drank more than is good 
for them. But even where excess is avoided, 
the constant use of wine in considerable quan¬ 
tities is unfavorable both to health and good 
morals; to health, from the febrile and inflama- 
tory state of the system to which it leads, and 
to good morals, from the irritability of temper 
and quarrelsome spirit which it induces. If 
the proportion of the cases of stabbing brought 
to the Roman hospitals which occur in or near 
wine-shops could be known, 1 have no question 
that it would furnish a strong fact wherewith 
to point the exhortations of a temperance lec¬ 
turer. There is an added temptation to drink 
abundantly of wine, from the nature of the 
usual food of the common people. This, being 
principally vegetable, does not* especially in 
cold weather, supply the waste of nervous ener¬ 
gy, but leaves, even when the appetite is satis¬ 
fied, a certain dull and indefinable craving, like 
being filled but not fed. Wine relieves this 
sense of flatness and inertness by the momenta¬ 
ry glow and fillip it gives to the languid blood; 
but the relief thus derived is like the heat of a 
hire of thorn, and there is thus constant induce¬ 
ment to repeat and increase the remedy. If 
the common people of Rome and its neighbor¬ 
hood could eat more meat and would drink 
less wine, there is little question that their 
health and morals would be the better for the 
change.— Hillard's Six Months in Italy. 
[Written for the Rural New-Yorker.] 
ERRORS IN TEACHING. 
Every new specimen of human intelligence, 
is an item, occupying an original position in¬ 
dependent of all present and preceding, except 
in those influences accessible to reason and 
judgment through the alembic of the mind, 
with no advantages over the first of its race, 
excepting the assistance of others in the appli¬ 
cation of influences, to hasten maturity of the 
reasoning powers, so as to be able, not only to 
reflect the light of others, but to emanate light 
of its own, constituting the true philosophy of 
education. 
And though it is claimed there is no rule to 
demonstrate the existence of intelligence, with¬ 
out material organization, yet in imagination 
myriads may exist in all conceivable forms and 
conditions; and it might be considered folly to 
attempt to prove, and the height of presumption 
to insist upon others believing, in the truth of 
imagined conjecture only. Still, what matters 
it, if those who desire to hide ignorance, clothe 
the incomprehensible operations of Nature 
with the attributes of Divine Intelligence, or 
with the qualities of a demon, when, as her 
laws are obeyed or contravened, so will the at¬ 
tributes of a Deity, or the qualities of a demon, 
be exhibited in evidence of the truth of such 
conjecture. 
Although it might be difficult to admire that 
faith which believes true an inferred conjec¬ 
ture based on an unsolved problem, yet such 
faith would compare with that which believes it 
possible to convince an intelligent mind of a 
truth without evidence. 
An d after all, similar results are pursued in 
our present system of juvenile education; the 
abstruse studies are presented to the candidate 
for knowledge, before reason and judgment 
are matured, so as to be able to understand 
what is presented as evidence of truths taught 
consequently many juveniles pass for prodigies, 
if able to advance a few score of opinions, on 
obstruse subjects, and at the same time, unable 
to give a reason, other than what is found in 
books, for one of them. 
Knowledge is not surely gained, until the 
pupil Is able to give reasons of his own, in lan 
guage of his own, and still be the true reason- 
S. Graves. 
Marsellus, Jan* 2nd, 1854. 
DICKENS’ TRIBUTE TO AMERICA, 
Ebony is-a wood that is very hard and close 
grained, susceptible of a very high polish, and 
its colors are black, red, green, and sometimes 
variegated. 
Black ebony is found in the Indies, St Do¬ 
mingo, Ethiopia, the Island of St. Maurice, 
and Madagascar, where the natives call it black 
w’ood. The green is found also in the Antilles 
and in the Isle of Tobago. 
Authors and travelers give very different 
accounts of the tree that yields black ebony.— 
By some of their descriptions it would be like 
a palm tree, by others, a oytisus. M. Flaeourt, 
who resided many years at Madagascar, as 
Governor, says that it grows very high and 
large ; its bark is black and its leaves resem¬ 
bling those of our myrtle, of a deep, dusky 
green color. It yields an agreeable perfume 
when laid on burning coals. When green, 
it readily takes fire from the abundance of its 
fat 
Candia also bears a little shrub -which goes 
by the name of Ebenus Oretica; it is a slender, 
elegant- shrub, with silky leaves and ro^p-colored 
flowers. It is called ebony because its wood is 
hard and black. It is said to be heavier than 
water. 
The tree that yields the green ebony is very- 
bushy, its leaves are smooth, of a fine green 
color. Beneath its bark is a white layer about 
two inches thick; all beneath which, to the 
very heart, is a dark green, approaching 
towards a black, though sometimes streaked 
with yellow veins, It is used for the purpose 
of coloring, and is said to possess some medi¬ 
cinal qualities. 
The black is used for ornamental purposes, 
such as M osaic work, toys, canes, handles for 
tools, knives and some kinds of musical in¬ 
struments. The Indians make statues of 
their gods, and sceptres for their princes of 
this wood. Black ebony is used more than 
the other colors ; the best is a jet black, free 
of veins. It is now much less used than it 
was by the ancients, since the discovery of so 
many ways of giving other hard wood, a black 
color. 
Dickens closes his Child’s History of En¬ 
gland, in the Household Words of December 
10, with the following tribute to America: 
“It was in the reign of George III, that 
England lost North America, by persisting in 
taxing her without her own consent That 
immense country, made independent under 
Washington, and left to itself, became the 
United States: one of the greatest nations of 
the earth. In these times in which I write, it 
is honorably remarkable for protecting its sub¬ 
jects, wherever they may travel, with a dignity 
and determination which is a model for En¬ 
gland. Between you and me, England has 
rather lost ground in this respect since the 
days of Oliver Cromwell.” 
We commend this as a lenitive to the 
wounded sensibility of those who absurdly took 
offence, where no offence was intended, at the 
allusion in the JYeivcomes, by Thackeray, to 
Washington. If we smart under the lash of 
one English author, there is another to pat us 
on the back. If Dickens, in his book of trav¬ 
els, touched us on the raw, there was Cham¬ 
bers, in his petting letter, the other day, to 
coax and wheedle us. If we quarrel with 
Thackeray in his novel, here is Dickens, in his 
history, to make peace with us. If Americans 
cannot suffer criticism, no one will deny their 
power of endurance under flattery. We do 
not doubt, then, that our vanity will absorb all 
the good that is said of us. As we were quick 
to square off with Thackeray, so we shall not 
be slow to embrace Dickens. 
ABOUT THE CAMEL. 
The want of good pastures and fresh streams 
is very unfavorable to cattle, but the camel 
makes amends to the Tartars of the Ortous for 
the absence of th.e rest. It is the real treasure 
of the desert. It can remain fifteen days or 
even a month without eating or drinking; and 
however miserable the country, it always finds 
something to satisfy it, especially if the soil is 
impregnated with salt or nitre: plants that other 
animals will not touch, brambles, or even dr]' 
wood, serve it for food. Yet little as it costs 
to keep, the camel is more useful than ’ can be 
imagined out of the countries where Providence 
has placed it. Its ordinary burden is seven or 
eight hundred weight, and thus laden it can go 
forty miles a day. In many Tartar countries 
they are used to draw the coaches of the kings 
or princes; but this can only be on flat ground, 
for their fleshy feet would not permit them to 
ascend hills and draw a carriage after them. 
Notwithstanding this softness of its foot, how¬ 
ever, the camel can walk over the roughest 
roads, stones, sharp thorns, roots of trees, etc., 
without being hurt. But if obliged to walk 
too far, the real sole of its foot wears out, and 
the flesh is laid bare. The Tartars, under such 
circumstances, make it shoes of sheep-skin; but 
if after this the journey is still much prolonged, 
the creature lies down and must be abandoned. 
Our Country a Hundred Years Hence,— 
A hundred years hence, and the population of 
the United States, if it increases as it has in 
times past, will be about three hundred and 
seventy-nine millions. That will be equal to 
one-third of the present populat ion of the whole 
globe. Where there is one person now there 
will be 16 then. AVliat a teeming host! And 
yet there will be room for all. Uncle Sam is 
rich in lands, and all may have land and em¬ 
ployment But what will be the state of the 
country then? Will education be far advanced? 
Will virtue and religion be generally extend¬ 
ed? Where will the seat of government be? 
Washington will be about as far from the cen¬ 
tre as Boston would have been from that of 
the thirteen original States. What will be the 
state of politics? What will be the honor of 
the President? But it is useless to ask ques¬ 
tions in regard to these matters. Time will 
bring forth. Our duty is to be good and do 
good. Thus we may lay the foundation for 
good in the future.— Exeter JYcivs Letter. 
Mahogany. —This is one of the most useful 
as well as one of the most ornamental woods 
in the world. It grows in immense forests on 
the American continent within the tropics, from 
whence it is exported in the log, to all the civ¬ 
ilized countries. It is then cut into thin slabs 
and used in the manufacture of elegant furni¬ 
ture, which is thus made to assume the appear¬ 
ance of solid mahogany. 
The brevity of human life is recognized in 
the abstract by all men, and yet they act as if 
it would endure forever. 
