\ 
. 
tm 
ing. Time and free institutions may revise them, 
or at least improve their descendants. Who can 
rightly estimate the blessings of freedom? None 
surely bat a free man- s. b. r. 
WESTERN NEW YORK.—No. VII 
THE FUTURE OF AFRICA. 
The political and religions movement that has 
lately been visible in many portions of Africa, 
seems destined to usher in a brighter era than any 
that has yet dawned on that benighted land; and 
the moral and intellectual darkness which has set¬ 
tled for ages on the great continent shows signs 
of a gradual dispersion. Geographical explorers 
are daily opening up regions rich in all the ele¬ 
ments of future wealth, and British commerce is 
steadily and firmly advancing into the interior, 
scattering in its progress the seeds of European 
knowledge and refinement. Itseems to have been 
ordained that Africa should receive the rudiments 
of its ultimate civilization from a people differing 
essentially in moral attributes from all that have 
hitherto ohtained a temporary dominion on its 
shores. That which neither the religion of The¬ 
bes, nor the civilization of Egypt, nor the mili¬ 
tary energy of Carthage, nor Roman ambition, 
nor Moorish fanaticism, nor Portuguese zeal, 
could have ever accomplished, may have been re 
served for a nation not even in embryo at the 
most brilliant eras of the ancient world, but now 
one of the foremost on earth. 
The occasional ptesence of an Rnglishmean in 
the interior of Africa, is regarded with the live¬ 
liest interest by its inhabitants, and he is hailed 
as the procursor of some mighty change that is 
about to affect the whole African race. From the 
southern extremity of the continent, we trust, a 
spirit will go forth which will rouse it from its 
torpor, and impart to It a moral and political ex¬ 
istence, and a new and invigorating life. Christ¬ 
ianity, as yet a light only faintly shining in a dark 
place, will doubtless eventually illumine the land; 
and may the cross which glitters in solitary splen¬ 
dor in the southern midnight heavens be speedily 
the sign of peaceful conquests as extensive as any 
that have hitherto changed the religious aspect 
of the world, as it is tire symbol of that univer¬ 
sal sovereignty in which all the nations of the 
earth will be finally comprehended and blessed.— 
Quarterly Review. 
[Special Correspondence of Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
YOUTH AT AGRICULTURAL FAIR3. 
A TRIP TO CALIFORNIA. 
At all large gatherings of people there are some 
who make it their business to obtain money by 
teaching youth foolish and ruinous practices. All 
should he on their guard. What appears simple 
and innocent at first, may be but the first down¬ 
ward step. The Sketch Hook gives tho following 
account of a scene at the last Connecticut Btate 
Fair: 
Outside the grounds, behind or within tents or 
booths, were many who gambled and led others 
to do so. Now, it is a very simple thing to gamble; 
so simple, and often it appears so fair, that many 
a boy is led to take the first step before ho knows It 
There was behind one of the oyster stands a 
circle of men and boys; on the ground sat a poor 
degraded, dissipated mao, poorly clothed, and 
looking si ok and weak. He held In his hand 
several iron rings, and before him was a board 
with large nails driven in it, which stood upright 
A clear-faced, bright-eyed, haudsome little follow 
stepped np to him. Ho was just such a boy as ia 
prompt at a day school, and always has his lessons 
at Sabbath School, lie showed this in his face aa 
ho stepped up to tho nmn and said; 
‘•What’sthat for?” 
“Give me a cent, and yon may pitch one of these 
rings, and if it catches over a nail, I’ll give you 
six cents.” 
That seemed fair enough; so the boy handed 
him a cent and took the ring. He stepped back 
to a stake, tossed the ring and it caught on one of 
the nails. 
“ Will you take six rings to pitch again, or six 
cents? ” 
“8ix cents,” was the answer; and two three 
cent pieces were put into his hand, and he Btepped 
off well satisfied with what he had done, and 
probably not having an idea that he had done 
wrong. 
A gentleman standing near had watohed him, 
and now before ho had time to look about and re¬ 
join his companions, laid his hand on his shoulder. 
“ My lad, that is your first lesson in gambling.” 
“Gambling, sir?” 
“You staked your penny and won six, did you 
not?” 
“Yes, I did.” 
“ You did not earn them, and they were not 
given you; you won them just as a t'ambler wins 
money. You have taken the first step in the path; 
that man has gone through it, and you can see 
the end. Now I advise you to go ami give him 
tl»e six cents back, and ask him for your penny; 
stand square with the world again. 
He had hung his head down, but raised it quick¬ 
ly, and his bright, open look, as he said, “ I’ll do 
it,” will not be forgotten. He ran back, and soon 
emerged from tho ring, looking happierthan ever. 
He touched his cap and bowed pleasantly, as he 
ran away to join his comrades. 
This was an honest boy. 
Politics—Mode of making Flat-Heads —The Oak and its 
Parasites — War debt of Oregon and Washington Ter¬ 
ritory—What is a “Piker !” 
Salkm, Oregon, May 15, I860. 
Politics are politics, right enough In their 
place, to be used as mud-boats on obstructed 
rivers, and then cast upon the beach to rot as 
worthless. [Wealsothiuk “politics right enough 
in their place,” but us that place is not in the Ru¬ 
ral, we omit the extended remarks of our cor¬ 
respondent on the subject.—Ei>.] 
As ter the native tribes of Indians, the Flat- 
Heads prevail here. In an adjoining county are 
twelve hundred, located npon a reservation, and 
are aided by tho general government They 
are peaoeable, and the majority have given over 
the chase and have become cultivators of the soil. 
The flattened head is a curiosity. The method 
adopted to produce this deformity may not bo un¬ 
interesting. It Is as follows. A cradle like a 
bread-trough is hollowed out of a piece of cedar, 
and, according to the taste of the parent Is either 
fancifully carved, or is os simple in its artistic ap¬ 
pearance as a pig’s trough. This cradle, or canitn, 
or ctmoe, as they term it, ia lined inside with the 
softest of cedar bark, well pounded and cleaned, 
so as to be as soft as wool. On this tho infant is 
placed as soon as it is born, and covered with the 
softest cloths or Bkins they can find. A little pil¬ 
low at one end, slightly elevates the bead. The 
child ia placed flat on its back, and a cushion of 
wool or feathers laid on the forehead. An oblong 
Bquarc piece of wood or bark, having one end 
fastened by strings to tho head of the canoe, is 
now brought down on the cushion and firmly se¬ 
cured by strings tied to the aides of the canoe or 
cradle, and causing the cushion to press upon the 
childa forehead. The infant is then so bound in 
the cradle that it cannot stir hand nor foot, and 
in this position it remains a year or more, only 
being taken out to be washed and for exercise. 
The pressure on the forehead causes the head to 
expand laterally, giving an expression of great 
broadness to the face, thus disfiguring them very 
much in appearance. I have seen several whose 
heads had not been thus pressed, and they were 
smart, Intelligent, and good-looking; bat they 
were laughed at by the others, who asserted that 
their mother’s were too lazy to shape their heads 
properly. This flattening of the head appears to 
be a sort of mark of royalty, or badge of aristoc¬ 
racy, for their slaves are not permited to treat 
their children thus. The oldest white citizens 
say that they are acquainted “ with Indians both 
with and without thiB deformity, but have never 
been able to discover any iutellectual superiority 
of one over the other.” 
The oak, which is everywhere here very abund¬ 
ant, presents a unique aud singular appearance. 
It is covered with the mistletoe,—a parasite, re¬ 
sembling at a little distance, huge crows’ neBta in 
the winter, and in summer a mammoth cabbage 
head. Occasionally these parasitic productions 
are seen on the fir and other trees. In winter, 
the forests have a oheerful aspect, caused by an 
immense parasitic growth of Hilver-gray moss, 
covering every branch and twig, hanging like a 
fringe of silver all through these primeval groves, 
converting the woods into one vast flower gar¬ 
den! Thus nature revels in creative fancies, and 
delights in multiplying herBeif in a thousand 
varied forms. The Druids considered the mistle¬ 
toe of the oak efficacious in all sorts of disease, 
and in many parts of Germany it is still supposed 
to cure wounds, rather by its charming, than its 
healing properties, for the peasants also believe 
that if the hunters carry it in their hands, it will 
insure success. The mistletoe is found, when 
glowing on the apple, to contain twice as much 
potash, aad five times as much phosphoric acid 
aathe tree itself;—and when parasitic on the oak, 
its bark is astringent Now-a-days, however, it 
has lost its renown as a medicine, and the magical 
properties ascribed to it by Virgil, and other 
ancient poets, are remembered only as by-gone 
superstitions. 
We have previously alluded to the war claim of 
Oregon and Washington Territory. This claim, 
exclusive of five years Interest, is about $6,000,- 
000. I have taken some steps necessary to ascer¬ 
tain the justness of the claim upon the federal 
treasury, and I am satisfied, that with some few 
exceptions, it is an honest one,— that the efforts 
to cut it down one-half, or more, are not only un¬ 
just, but furnish a bad precident in future emer¬ 
gencies. Congress should ponder well the conse¬ 
quences of repudiation and dodging in matters of 
such vital importance, not only to the claimants 
but to hrr own future welfare. I think that if the 
face of the claims were paid, government would 
only acquit herself honorably, and the claimants 
would rest satisfied. Nothing short of this will 
give satisfaction, nor in our judgment answer the 
ends of honorable dealing. 
“Pike” or “ Piker” is a term applied to a class 
of drones from Pike Co., Missouri, scattered 
through several counties in this State. They are 
tbe laziest and moBt shiftless Bet to be found in 
any free country. They are of that class called 
in the South “ poor whites,” and had just energy 
enough to push into Oregon and avail themselves 
of the “ Donation Act,” by which they obtained a 
half or whole section of laud, but are too abom¬ 
inably lazy to improve it, or get out of the way 
aud let others! I am credibly told that num¬ 
bers of them have forty to fifty cows, aud never 
have a gallon of fresh milk in their houses at a 
time, or seldom have an ounce of butter on their 
tables, hot bread and bacon being their chief liv- 
FALLS OF FALL CREEK, NEAR ITHACA, 
its source exceeds 1,000 feet. At the principal 
fall, of which our engraving gives a view, the 
whole sheet of water is precipitated 116 feet. On 
the Cascadilla, Six Mile, and Buttermilk creeks, 
around Ithaca, are several fine cascades. On the 
Cascadilla the waterfalls over asuccesslon of rock 
ledges, 10*) feet, In the form of a gigantic stair¬ 
way. On Five Mile creek is another fall, still more 
surprising. Indeed, the visitor of this beautiful and 
picturesque district, will be led to exclaim with 
one who visited It thirty years ago, “ Every val¬ 
ley has its stream, and every hill its waterfall.” 
Runnino into the lakes of Central and Western 
New York, cf which we have given our readers 
several fine views, are many beautiful streamSj 
some of which form oataracts that, for picturesque 
beauty, cannot be excelled. Among the finest oi 
these are those of Fall Crock, near Ithaca. Fall 
Creek takes its rise in Cayuga county, and runs 
in a south and southwest course for thirty miles, 
through Groton and Dryden, to Cayuga Lake, 
near Ithaca. Within the distance of a mile, it 
falls, in a succession of cataracts, 438 feet, over 
rocks of dark slate, and its whole descent from 
On Friday, October 7, 1777, the surrender of 
Saratoga was made, which had such power and 
influence in inducing France to declare for our 
cause. On Friday,September 22,1780, the treason 
of Arnold was laid bare, which saved us from 
destruction. On Friday, October 10, 1781, tho 
surrender of Yorktowri, tho crowning glory of 
the American arms, occurred. On Friday, -Inly 
t, 1776, the motion in Congress was made by John 
Adams, seconded by Richard Henry Loo, that the 
United Colonies were, and of right ought to be, 
free and independent.” 
are Deir el Kamar, 7,000; Hasbeija, G,000; and 
Rashaira, 2,500. The entire population live in 
towns and villages, and go out into the fields to 
cultivate them. 
There is no liomogeneonB community of peo¬ 
ples in Byria. Every tribe lives apart, and hates 
every other with a hearty hate. The two Moslem 
Beets excommunicato each other. Both hate tho 
DrnBea, and all these three detest the Nuaairiyeh. 
The Maronites love nobody, and nobody loves 
them. The Greeks despise tho Catholics, and all 
sects look down with contempt on the Jews. 
Except the Jews and tho Ucdawin Arabs, no 
tribe can trace back its origin to any ancient race. 
The Moslems are a mixed race, derived from the 
people of the Greek Empire at the time of Mo¬ 
hammed. In tho nominally Christian sects, there 
is the same blending of races, and a large infusion 
of European blood during the times of the Cru¬ 
sades. Dr. Thompson thinks that the Maronites 
are the descendants of the ancient Syrians, but. 
the Nuaairiyeh say they are the “miserable de- 
briH of the accursed CanaaniteB.” But this theo¬ 
ry doeH not comport with that of Dr. Alexander 
II. Stevens, of Georgia, for they are not black! 
The MetawalieB, a class of dirty Arabs, who 
joined the Druses in their late crusade against the 
Christians, and very much like tho Jews, and 
claim to have come from Persia. There is a large 
infusion of Egyptian bloood in the Moslems from 
Carmel southward. Dr. Thompson thinks that 
their peculiarities are to be traced back to the old 
Philistines, who, according to his theory, came 
from Egypt, and not from Cyprus, as is commonly 
thought He finds traces in I^banon of the ori¬ 
ginal Phoenicians. 
In fine, the people of Syria answer completely 
to the prophecies respecting them—they are “a 
people divided, meted out and trodden down.” 
These facts will explain the ferocity of the 
Druses and tltfe sympathy of the Moslems with 
them. And their antipathies to all other races 
will continue, so long as Moslem authority con¬ 
tinues in that ill-fated land. When Mehemet Ali 
declared bimseir independent of the Porte, and 
subjugated Syria to his yoke, all was peace in 
that land, and had he been left in possession by 
the European powers, his dynasty would have 
made a homogenous people out of those divided 
tribes, long ere this. It is to be hoped, that 
France and England will make haste to bring 
light out of the present darkness. Their joint 
word can put an end forever to the disgraceful 
civil war now prevailing in Syria.— Selected. 
TRAVELING IN ITALY 
The most pleasant, and decidedly the most 
profitable way of traveling in Italy, is on foot 
You dress in peasant costume, which is easy, 
comfortable, and suited to walking; and besides, 
you are not so harassed by beggars, nor so liable 
to be imposed upon by guides and hotel-keepers. 
Yon Bet ont from Leghorn, for instance, at day¬ 
light with a few clothes and something to eat 
strapped on your back. By eight or nine o’clock 
you arrive at Pisa, having, if you are alive to the 
beauties of Nature, enjoyed yonr walk, and with 
» most healtbv appetite. In some quiet, little inn 
you make a delicious breakfast of broiled chick¬ 
en, fresh eggs, luscious fruits, and a bottle of 
pure country wine. After resting awhile, you 
go around the city, and visit its numerous objects 
of interest. Late in the afternoon, when the 
heat of the day is past, you set out again, and by 
dark you arrive at some other place, rich in asso¬ 
ciations, painting, and celebrated ruins connected 
with ancient history. Hometitnes you are charm¬ 
ed with the scenery of some mountain lake, and 
you take np your abode in a picturesque cottage 
of some old peasant, and wauder around its 
Bhores, or sail npon its blae waters, and read and 
fish. The country is so densely settled, so richly 
cultivated, and so tbiokly studded with cities, 
towns and villages, that you never feel lonely. 
There is always something to interest you; and 
after walking fifteen or twenty miles, you feel as 
if you had merely taken a morning promenade.— 
Cor. N. C, Presbyterian. 
AIR POISON. 
People have often said that no difference can 
be detected in the unalyzation of pure and Impure 
air. This is one of the vulgar errors difficult to 
dislodge from the public brain. The fact is, that 
the condensed air of a crowded room gives a de¬ 
posit which, if allowed to remain fora few days, 
forma a solid, thick, glntiuous uihsm. having ft 
strong odor of animal matter. If examined by 
the miscroscope, it. is seen to undergo a remark¬ 
able change. First of all, it is converted into a 
vegetable growth, and this is followed by the pro¬ 
duction of multitudes of animalcules; a decisive 
proof that it. must contain organic matter, other¬ 
wise it could' not nourish organic beings. This 
was the result arrived at by Ur. Angus Smith, in 
his beautiful experiments on the air aud water of 
towns, where he showed how the lungs and skin 
gave out organic matter, which is in itself a dead¬ 
ly poison, producing headache, sickness, disease, 
or epidemic, according to its strength. 
Why, if “ a few drops of the liquid matter, ob¬ 
tained by the condensation of the air of a foul 
locality, introduced into the vein of a dog, can 
produce death with tho usual phenomena of ty¬ 
phus fever,” what incalculable evil must It not 
produce on those human beings who breathe it 
again and again, rendered fouler and less capable 
of sustaining life with every breath drawn? Each 
contamination of the air, and consequent hot-bed 
of fever and epidemic, it is easily within the pow¬ 
er of man to remove. Ventilation and cleanliness 
will do all, so far as tbe abolition of this evil goes, 
and ventilation and cleanliness are not miracles 
to bo prayed for, but certain results of common 
obedience to the laws of God.— Dicken's House¬ 
hold Words. 
EXPERIENCE IN CITY LIFE. 
A. Yormi who we think is troubled with a. 
disease which no physiciun can cure, commonly 
called “home-sickness,” sends us his experience, 
and a warning that ho hopes will keep others out 
of dangor. He loft a pleasant home to seek for¬ 
tune and fame in a city, but soon found that “ ho 
had left a dear and cherished home, a loving and 
sympathizing circle of friends, for a cold and 
cheerless place among strangers in a strange 
land,—a miscellaneous collection of griping, 
struggling, self-interest-seeking souls, with whom 
he must battle in a perpetual warfare of bitterest 
and most determined competition, and thon, 
barely gain the morsel that sustains life. 
“ It is a delusive phantom that draws so many 
intelligent young men from the honest and hon¬ 
orable occupation of tilling the soil, and an on- 
sound and unhealthy aspiration that causes them 
to ignore and to despise their lot, because lack¬ 
ing that hollow and superficial glare—those gild¬ 
ed vices, and thoBe exciting and fftlsely-brilliant 
attractions, so prevalent in the densely crowded 
metropolis. 
“Itrfoernow and then happen that a country 
youth, either through the aid or influence of 
wealth, friends, or rare talents, succeeds iu the 
city; but, in nine cases out of ten, the talent that 
would have given honor, luster and strength in 
the rural district, is Bwept by the city’s boisterous 
tide into oblivion.” 
Unci.k Sam’s Farm. — The amount of land the 
United States Government has for sale is almost 
incalculable. All the people of fourteen States 
and live Territories derive their title to their land 
from the Federal Government, and the records 
and files evincing the inception of their rights 
are preserved in the General Land Office at Wash¬ 
ington. The public domain now covers a surface, 
exclusive of water, of 1,450,000,000 acres. The 
Government has sold about 120,000,000 acres of 
land during the last quarter of a century, for less 
than $150,000,000. It will thus be seen, Uncle 
Sam’s farm is still sufficiently large for practical 
purposes, and though he should sell off lands for 
centuries to come no would have an abundance 
still, even if he does not enlarge his borders by 
the annexation of Cuba, Mexico, and half the rest 
of the world. 
FRIDAY AN UNLUCKY DAY, 
Americans, at any rate, have no reason to 
be afraid of Friday. Mr. Timbs gives this cata¬ 
logue of fortunate circumstances occurring on 
that day: 
On Friday, August 21, 1492, Christopher Col¬ 
umbus sailed on his great voyage of discovery. 
On Friday, October, 12, 1492, he first discovered 
land. On Friday, January 4, 1493, he sailed on 
his return to Spain, which, had he not reached in 
safety, the happy result would never have been 
known which led to the settlement of thiB vast 
continent. On Friday, March 15,1493, he arrived 
at Palos in safety. On Friday, November 22, 
1493, he arrived at Hispaniola, on his Becond 
voyage to America. On Friday, June 13, 1494, 
he, though unknown to himself, discovered the 
continent of America. 
On Friday, March 6, 1496, Henry VIII, of Eng¬ 
land, gave to John Cabot his commission, which 
led to the discovery of North America. This is 
the first American State paper in England. On 
Friday, September 7, 1563, Melendez founded St. 
Augustine, the oldest town in the United States 
by more than forty years. On Friday, November 
10, 1620, the May Flower, with the Pilgrims, made 
the harbor of Provincetown; and on the same 
day they signed the august compact, the forerun¬ 
ner of our present glorious constitution. On 
Friday, December 22, 1620, the Pilgrims made 
their final landing at Plymouth Rock. 
On Friday, February 22, 1732, George Washing¬ 
ton, the father of American freedom was bora. 
Hubbard Bqcasher— From your statement of 
the quality of the Hubbard Squash, I was induced 
to purchase some seed and plant a pretty large 
piece of ground. They are doing very well, so 
far aa growing is concerned, but they are of all 
shapes and colors. What is the matter? Pleasa 
tell me.— Young Rukaklist. 
Thh matter is, that the seed generally sold is 
impure, just us we said last season it wonld be, 
unless particular pains was taken to keep it pure. 
Family Economy. — There ib nothing which 
goes so far toward placing young people beyond 
the reach of poverty, as economy iu the manage¬ 
ment of their domestic affairs. It is as much im¬ 
possible to get a ship across the Atlantic with 
half a dozen butts started, or as many bolt holes 
in her hull, as to conduct the concerns of a family 
without economy. It matters not whether a man 
furnish little or much for his family, if there be a 
continual leakage in the kitchen, or in the parlor, 
it runs away, he knows not how; and that demon, 
Waste, cries “More,” like the borse-leech’a 
daughter, until he that provides has no more to 
give. It is the husband's duty to bring into the 
house, and it is the duty of the wife to see that 
nothing goes wrongfully out of it. 
Microscopes. — ( hyuirer.j — Glass for micro¬ 
scopes can be obtainod in this city, or in any of 
tho large cities, we presume. A microscope to 
magnify 75 times will cost about $3; from 150 to 
20b times, $8. 
God has placed a judgment seat in every heart. 
Carry everything foreign there, and let it be 
weighed; if it agrees with your own unprejudiced 
opinion, then accept it; if not, lay it one side; 
time may determine what the present cannot un¬ 
ravel. 
It matters not whether a man be mathemati¬ 
cally, philologically, or artistically cultivated, so 
he be cultivated. 
Say nothing, do nothing, which a mother would 
not approve, and you are on the certain road to 
happiness. 
