more vigorous or a more frequent puffing only- 
indicating the inward working of the mind. If 
something transpired which he deemed needed 
his personal attention, away he darted to the 
immediate scene, with one or two of his aids 
and an orderly exerting their utmost to keep up 
with him. Arrived on the spot, he calmly con¬ 
sidered the matter requiring his attention, with 
ready judgment communicated the necessary 
orders, and then galloped away to another part 
ot the field, or to his seat beneath the pine tree, 
there to enter on the order book some order of 
the battle’s progress! It was amusing again at 
times to see him — the commander-in-chief— 
whittling away with his knife upon the bark of 
a tree, pausing now and then to throw in a 
word or sentence in the conversation to those 
giouped about, and then going to work with 
renewed \igor upon the incision of the pine. 
stars, whether fixed stars or planets, have all 
the same globular form: yet, when minutely 
examined, there is not much difficulty to identity 
each individual star. Thus, by its generic out¬ 
ward form, and Its own individual character, 
exhibited in its various parts, everything may 
be recoguized as readily as a shepherd knows 
each individual sheep of his flock. 
Without examination of a close and careful 
character, we are apt to assume that a drop of 
any known fluid has oue form. It is round; and 
whether it be a drop of oil, a drop of water, a 
drop of ether, or any other of the innumerable 
fluids which are known, they all appear to be 
round. Xow, however, comes the ingenious 
discovery of Professor Tomlinson, of King’s 
College, London, to bear upon the subject. lie 
finds, if we do but examine a drop of any known 
liquid under certain conditions, that fluid drops 
assume each a form peculiar to its own kind of 
liquid, by which it may be known and identified. 
A drop of otto Of lavender puts on one shape, a 
drop of turpentine another. Drops of sperm 
oil, olive oil. colza oil, naptha, creosote—indeed, 
each individual drop, lie the fluid what it may- 
can be easily recognized by its form. 
In order to test any of these forms or shapes, 
we have but to place a drop of the fluid under 
examination upon water. For this purpose we 
GOSSIP ABOUT TEA, 
be overrated. To them tea is virtually tissue, 
and makes a supply of food that would other¬ 
wise be inadequate to maintain the weight of 
the body, sufficient for that purpose. Doubtless, 
an unlimited supply of food, capable of replac¬ 
ing auy effete tissue, would be preferable to a 
substance which simply goes to prevent tissue 
from becoming effete; but this Is impracticable— 
the unlimited supply of nitrogenous food being 
a thing that as yet neither Providence nor politi¬ 
cians have given to us. 
Doubtless, too, alcohol lias, in common with 
tea and other substances, this power of retarding 
the waste of the tissues of the body; probably 
it acts dill'erently. and certainly it is open to 
objections which cannot be made against tea. 
This preservative power of tea over the tls.-ues 
canuotbe explained. Perhaps it may not be alto¬ 
gether unconnected with another influence over 
the tissues eonnot be explained. Perhaps it 
may not bo altogether unconnected with another 
influence of tea, which we proceed to notice, 
viz: an influence over the temper, or rather the 
mood, or, speaking physically, after our fashion, 
over the nerves. Nothing effects the wear of 
the tissues more than mood, and tea has a 
strange influence over the mood — a strange 
power of changing the look of things, and chang¬ 
ing it for the better, so that we can believe and 
hope and do under the influence of tea, what we 
should otherwise give up in discouragement or 
despair—feelings under the influence of which 
tissue wears rapidly. In the language of the 
poor, who, in London, we are told, spend an 
eighth of their income in buying tea. it produces 
a feeling of coiiifort. Neither the philosopher 
nor the philanthropist will despise this property 
ot tea, this power of conferring comfort or remov¬ 
ing mnui, of promoting those happier feelings 
ot our nature, under which we can do most and 
bear most. 
There is no denying the considerable depend¬ 
ence of our moods and frames upon substances; 
as moods are a? iinportent as muscles, ns they 
effect as largely a man’s ability’- for the great 
ends ol life, we cannot regard the cheapening 
ot subsistence—when devoid of noxious qualities 
—as other thanu most interesting experiment for 
medical observers to watch. 
Tea is indeed, a great fact in our present 
mode of life. It has been the making of an 
additional meat among us since the "good old 
day” when people lived on three meals a day. 
Justioe has scarcely been done to the magnitude 
of the change which gentlemen—aye, and ladies, 
too—took beer to their early breakfast, when 
they dined at eleven, supped between live and 
six, and went to bed at ten. Tea and coffee 
Shooting a Chimney. 
The effectiveness of our batteries is prover¬ 
bial. The rebels have a holy horror of them. 
While advancing on Eesaca, wnen Sweeny’s 
division was on the right and in reserve, Cap¬ 
tain Arndt’s Michigan battery was wheeled into 
position. 
said the Captain, 
'a one of his gunners, and pointing to 
“ Do you see that house 
addressing < 
a building a mile away. 
“ I do,. Captain," was the response. 
“Can you hit it?” 
“ l"es, sir!” 
The piece was leveled, the lanyard drawn, 
and the chimney of the house fell with a crash! 
Any of Sherman’s batteries could have done 
the same thing. 
Wasted Cartridges. 
Ox the occasion of the assualt and surrender 
of Arkansas Post, January 11th, 1 Si> 3, after our 
forces had occupied the enemy’s works, Col. 
Malmborg, of the 55th Illinois infantry, whose 
regiment hod been exposed to a galling fire dur¬ 
ing the assuait, was roughly accosted by a rebel 
sharpshooter, who threw toward him Ms car¬ 
tridge box, in the following style:—“ You are 
the old fellow that I wasted nearly all mv car¬ 
tridges on. I know you from that light-colored 
lelt hat. There, take the balance of the car¬ 
tridges—I make you a present of them.” It is 
unnecessary to add that the cartridges, wMeh 
proved to be of English manufacture, were care¬ 
fully preserved, by the gallant Colonel 
the greatest care that it is quite clean. It must 
I even be rinsed after being wiped, Jest there be 
the least fluff from the cloth adhering to the ves¬ 
sel. The glass being* then filled with distilled 
or clean filtered river water, we let full upon it 
a drop of the fluid, and watch the shape or form 
it puts on. A very little practice will show how 
easy it is thus to distinguish a drop of one fluid 
from that of another. Even more; if one fluid 
be mixed with another for any sinister motive 
or design, we can thus detect the mixture, be¬ 
cause we can sec each fluid in one drop of the 
mixture. Thus, by the examination of one 
drop of sperm oil adulterated with one-twentieth 
of colza oil, the mixture is instantly discovered. 
So, if turpentine be mixed with otto of lemons, 
or otto of lavender, we have now a ready mode 
of discovering the cheat. 
IIow useful may not this knowledge become 
to muml'i 'urers and others, now that we are 
enabled to recognize the individuality of each 
fluid from a single drop .—Septimus Piesst . 
"Winfield Scott Hancock, whose portrait 
we give herewith, has proved himself one of 
the bravest of the brave leaders in the Union 
Army since the opening of the rebellion. His 
recent brilliant achievements as commander of 
the 2d corps have rendered Gen. H. famous, and 
for his successes dudug the last “ on to Kich- 
moud " campaign he has been justly prouounced 
the “Hero of the Wilderness.” His star has 
been in the ascendant from the opening of the 
war, and if life and health are spared, we doubt 
not he will continue to perform deeds worthy 
the honored names he bears —more fully en¬ 
titling him to the esteem and admiration of 
every loyal American. The biography of Gen. 
H. is, in brief, ils follows: 
Maj.-Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, com¬ 
mander of the 2d corps, whose late exploit 
gives him title to fame, is a native of Montgom¬ 
ery Co.. Pa.. 40 years of age ou the 14th of 
February last. He graduated at West Point in 
1*44, and entered the 6th infantry. He served 
in the Indian Territory, in the Mexican war 
where he won brevets, in the Florida war 
against the Semi notes, and in Harney's expe¬ 
dition across the continent via. Fort Bridger to 
Benicia, California. When the war broke out 
his position was, as it now is, that of an Assist¬ 
ant Quartermaster with the rank of Captain. 
In September, 15*11, he was made a Brigadier, 
ami assigned to a command in the army of the 
Potomac. He served under Franklin on the 
Chickahominy. At Williamsburg he distin- 
guished himself in a bayonet charge which 
McClellan, in his official report, pronunced 
••brilliant in the extreme." At Sugar Loaf 
Mountain, Antietam, and in all the battles of 
the Army of the Potomac since, Hancock has 
made his mark. His Maj.-General’s commission 
bears date Nov. 2:1, l^G2. 
HOW TO TAKE LEAF IMPRESSIONS. 
Too Worn to Fight 
■■ Observation of the field yesterday fore¬ 
noon revealed a curious sight. The advance 
forces of both armies were quietly digging 
within four hundred yards of each other, expos¬ 
ing their bodies in full view without firing a shot. 
Batteries were coolly placed in position, and the 
aspect showed that the troops on both sides 
were too worn out by hard fighting and march¬ 
ing to waste their strength in the useless ani¬ 
mosities of the picket line.” 
I tue evergreen oranenes tne hashes flame upon 
| ’he starry heavens. No artist can picture it. no 
| language describe it. It a terrific, yet grand 
and sublime. It makes one nervous to hear it. 
stirs the blood, rouses aud excites, to know 
that the defenders of those works are holding 
their ground. You need no telegraphic dispatch 
to assure you of the fact. A sadden lull, after 
a savage cry, would indicate disaster; hut there 
is the cry, the Indian yell, not the cheer 
which distinguishes the charge of Union troops 
from that of the enemy. There is no cessation 
ot the roar. It deepens rather. The erv which 
a moment ago rose sharp and clear above the 
bat tle tide becomes fainter. There is a percept¬ 
ible ebbing of the tide. It has been at Ml 
flood a half hour. You have been two minutes 
reading this narrative. How little you know 
of the reality. I hear it. but have little con¬ 
ception of what is takiug place. I shall realize 
it more fully in the morning, when the ambu¬ 
lances come in with the wounded. But to be 
there, in it, a part of it—with blood at fever 
heat—with the air full of strange, terrifying 
uoises—hissings, screechings, howling of balls, 
bullets, and deafening explosions—all darkness, 
excepting the blinding flashes and sheets of 
flame! The altar of our country drips with 
blood. It is a Sabbath evening sacrifice, pure 
and precious, freely offered. Fathers and moth¬ 
ers have given the firstlings of their flocks, 
with thanks that they had them to give; they 
have given the best, they have given all. Patri¬ 
otism is not dead. 
Headquarters During Battle. 
While the cannonade and musketry were 
rolling so terribly last night, I rode up to Gen. 
Meade’s headquarters. It was past 1) o'clock. 
The pile of brush on tire in front of Gen. Meade's 
tent lighted up the main front. Gen. Meade 
was passing up and down in front of his tent, 
looking now upon the ground and new upon 
the flashes lighting the western sky. “These 
are .Smith’s batteries; those are Bussell's,” he 
said, as the batteries, oue after another opened 
their thunders. “It is going all right. I 
should like to have them try it every day aud 
every night,” he continued, listening to the up¬ 
roar. 
Au aid came in with a telegraphic dispatch. 
Holding it to the light, he read what Hancock 
For Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
MISCELLANEOUS ENIGMA 
I ax composed of 31 letters. 
My 1, St, 30,24 is a girl's name. 
My V, 11, lt> is a domestic animal. 
My 10, 25, 30 Is a kind of grain. 
My 10, 2.19,9 is a public highway. 
My IS, 25, 30, 4 will help solve this enigma. 
My 1, 24,18, S, 22,14, 29, IS, 10, 20,14,1. 21,11,15 is one 
who has done much for our navy. 
My 6. 4, 21,19, 20, 4,14, 3 is a murderer. 
My 19, 7, 21,28, 3 ts a boy's name. 
My 17, 6,10 Is the cause of much sorrow. 
My 5,14,12, 18 ,18, 27 is an article for the neck. 
My 23,14,13, 30 is a beverage. 
My whole is an old and true saying. 
Naples, N- Y., 1861. Alice E. Rexer. 
cr Answer in two weeks. 
For Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
GEOGRAPHICAL ENIGMA 
MOORISH LEGEND OF THE RAVENS. 
I ax composed of 29 letters. 
My 6. 21,17, 22 is a lake in the United States. 
My 19,13, 14. 24, 2b. 1 is a city in Africa. 
My 21,15, 7, IS, 27.19 is a country in Europe. 
My 11, 3,19, 9, 23, 7 is a river in Great Britain. 
My 2.19, 7, 3,17,13,14, 20, 4.13 is a city of the U. S. 
My 5,10,1, 25 is a river in Mississippi. 
My 28, 21, IB, 9.12. 13. 11. IS is a peak of the Rocky 
Mountains. 
My 21, 8, 9, 29 is a city of Europe. 
My whole is one of Solomon’s Proverbs. 
Hamilton, N. Y. t 1884. H. H. Pyxe. 
t3T Answer in two weeks. 
Gen. Grant During Battle. 
Gen. Grant's headquarters 
were located 
iu a field betweeu the plank road and a small 
road leading to a little hamlet known as Par¬ 
ker’s Store. During the fight however, he was 
principally with Gen. Meade, whose headquar¬ 
ters were ou apiney knoll in the rear of 'W arren's 
corps. As I strolled through the group of 
ofllcers reclining under the trees at headquarters, 
l looked for him s^me time in vain, such was 
his insignificant, unpretending aspect and con¬ 
duct while the battle was raging in all its fury. 
A stranger to the insignia of military rank 
would have little dreamed that the plain, quiet 
man who sat with Ins back against a tree, ap¬ 
parently heedless and unmoved, was the one 
upon whom the fortunes of the day. if not of 
the age and country, were hanging. It was 
only when some .A! or orderly rode up in hot 
haste with a communication from some portion 
of the battle-field that his eyes upturned to seek 
iu those of the messenger the purport of the 
message. The consultation of Gen. Meade or 
the direct suggestion or command—all took 
place with that same imperturbility of coun-* 
tanoe for which he has always been remarkable. 
No movement of the enemy seemed to puzzle | 
or disconcert him, 
For Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
ANAGRAMS OF PLACES. 
Enukrid, 
Citua, 
Egbupeshkpise, 
Hilliskf, 
So. Granby, N. Y.. 1S64. 
faf Answer in two week; 
More, 
Cathai, 
Mrs Nay, 
Evagne. 
Oliver A. Hale. 
THE FORM OF A DROP, 
W e arc accustomed to >ee substances of all 
binds, each in some peculiar and characteristic 
shape or form, aud we recognize them all by 
their shape—in fact, we know them as we know 
persons, by their features. Throughout all 
substances there is some one general feature 
peculiar to each class, no less than au in- 
I dividual character to each subdivision of its 
class, by which we can identify and individualize 
hem. Thus, there is a general form of coal, by 
ij .kick ^ is recoguized as coal, and an individual 
H ;m by which cadi kind Is known from other 
t No two P* eces of chalk-flint are 
a hints have a form by which they 
v ,,1° ’f owu fr' om ol hor stones. There is gray 
J ti , :Uul red granite; but no one will mis-, 
jf ke b’r.dto for Portland stone. 
I Ul ^!‘ m,tal * have a general metallic lustre, but 
| g l **•« mi ‘y he heavy and yellow, as is gold, 
For Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
AN ANAGRAM. 
Hyt righboae? ti si eh ohwm outh 
Asth rewop ot dD nad slebs, 
Howse nigach retail nad nigbum wrob 
Hyt osotmeb nadh yam pesrs. 
Whitewater, Wis., 1864. Q. W. Cargill, 
cr Answer iu two weeks. 
A Night Attack. 
There it comes, one, two, three, a dozen, a 
hundred shots, a roll, deep, heavy, prolonged, 
like the rush of a mighty torrent suddenly let 
loose. IIow it deepens: It is like the ripping 
of tho mower, swinging his scythe in the ri¬ 
pened grass, dried aud scorched by summer 
heat. The great Reaper is out there upon that 
field, stalking unseen between the trenches, 
walking iu darkness bordered with lightning 
flashes, showering it with leaden rain, making it 
the Valley of the Shadow of Death! There 
are the cannon. Boom, boom, boom, five, ten, 
ANSWERS TO ENIGMAS. &c„ IN No. 755. 
Answer to Miscellaneous EnigmaWhere Liberty 
dwells, there is my country. 
Answer to Geographical Enigma —Strait of Bab-el 
Mandeb. 
Answer to puzzleCIVILITY 
Answer o Algebraical Problem6, 9, 2 and 3. 
Fertile in resources, the 
petition for reinforcement was speedily answered. 
And while all this transpired he stood calmly in 
the group, at times smoking his favorite cigar—a 
Money is the metal wheel-work of human ac¬ 
tion, the dial-plate of our value. 
