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Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker, 
MODES OF INSTRUCTION. 
BAMBOO PAPER 
FREDDIE AND TEE ROBINS, 
The manufacture of paper from bamboo wood 
is another of those modern inventions which 
follow so hard upon each other; and the works 
of “The Fiber Disintegrating Company,” as 
the compiny owuing the patent is styled, at 
Red Hook (Brooklyn,) are well wortbyiof a 
visit. 
The company was organized about a year 
since, and have recently commenced the manu¬ 
facture of paper under their patent, in the build¬ 
ing formerly kuown to the police as “Sebasto¬ 
pol,” and occupied by a company engaged in the 
manufacture of paraflno candles. The works 
cau hardly be 6 dd to be complete as yet, inas¬ 
much ns only brown, or what is styled hardware 
paper is manufactured on the premises, but we 
believe it is the intention of the company to 
shortly erect suitable machinery and appliances 
for the manufacture of all kinds of paper. As 
it may be interesting to many of our readers to 
know how paper can be made out of wood, a 
short sketch of the modus operandi will not be 
without interest, utid will fittingly close this 
hurried sketch. 
Bamboo, which grows in unlimited quantities 
in the i-land of Jamaica, beyond serving to 
form partitions between the various ships’ car¬ 
goes leaving that island, has never been export¬ 
ed, and only used on the i.-land for few purposes. 
It has now suddenly becomo as article of ex¬ 
port, and the vast jangles of bamboo promise 
to become almost as valuable as fields of waving 
grain. The bamboo, after being taken out of 
the ship, is tied in bundles about five feet long, 
which are soaked in a large tank for about 24 
hours. The bnndlcs arc then placed in five 
large steam guns, each 34 feet in length and 15 
inches in diameter. Here for half an hour the 
bamboo is subjected to a pressure of 180 pounds 
of steam, which redaces it to such a condition 
that when, upon a given signal, the guns are 
discharged by the opening of one of the ends, 
the bamboo, in the shape of a quantity of fib¬ 
rous material, looking as much like hemp as 
poesibte, is thrown out. 
This fibrous matter is then placed in a tank 
and 6oaked in a solution of spent alkali. It is 
next washed, and goes into what are called the 
“ egg-boilers,” so called from tbeir resemblance 
to that useful article of domestic consumption. 
Here the matter is subjected to another boiling 
and steam pressure, and from thence it is con¬ 
veyed to the pulp boilers, where it is boiled in a 
6troug solution of alkali at 90 pounds pressure. 
The remainder of the process is similar to that 
of ordinary paper manufacture.— Brooklyn Eagle. 
A Robin's home was the topmost bough, 
Of a spreading willow tree. 
That shaded a family window-fill. 
Where crumbs were laid for the dainty bill 
That pecked till tie little ones had their fill, 
Then sang right merrily. 
“ Chirp, chirp," they warbled at op’ning day— 
•‘Chirp, chirp," at the fall of even, 
And Freddie knelt at his mother's knee, 
As sweet notes swelled from the homestead tree— 
'•They say ’Oar Father' as well aa we— 
1 Our Father who art In Heaven.’ ” 
“Does God take care or the little birds 
As well as of girls and boys ?" 
And his aentle mother told him how 
The nest wa9 rocked on the willow bongh, 
As baby rocks in her cr»di« now, 
With her little world of toys. 
“And hy-and-by, when their wings have grown 
They will Hit from tree to tree. 
A very beautiful world la theirs— 
They form a part of onr Father 8 cares." 
“No wonder then, that they sing their prayers," 
Said Freddie, each morn with me.” 
[North-wesUm Christian Advocate. 
It is a fortunate thing for the hnman family 
I that the acquisition and enjoyment of knowl¬ 
edge are not limited by a generous use and 
disposition of what we know The responsi¬ 
bility of liberally imparting knowledge always 
! accompanys its acquirliion ; and the tme enjoy- 
I incut of Its blessings is found most abundant 
when we use it for the benefit of others, How 
important, it is then that we use the boat means 
i to impart our knowledge! Wo should fre¬ 
quently examine our methods of teaching to see 
whether we are working with the long or the 
short arm of the lever. 
Now, in view of these facte, I propose to give 
yon a few thoughts which I think may be worth 
remembering whenever we are considering a 
1 plan of instruction In any department of youth- 
I ful education. 
We should remember that the eod wo have in 
veiw in the education of yonth, is mental devel¬ 
opment—not strictly mental accretion. The 
j successful lesson die-s in the mind, and from it 
j springs up a new creation, and new form of 
thought. The mind ot the learner should bo 
the soil, and the knowledge imparted the seed ; 
! then is the fruit his real possession. Some peo- 
I pie peem to think that it is their duty to 
THE ADOPTED RABBITS, 
“We have plenty of cats now,” Eaid mother, 
ominously, as little Nellie came in with gTeat 
delight, her small apron gathered up in her 
hands, and fonr blind kittens mewing in it. 
Jake understood that to mean that they were 
to be treated to a cold bath in the river; but 
nothing was said to tender-hearted little NeUy 
on the subject. I do not know what she would 
have thought of her kind mother, if she had 
known that she was a party to any such trans¬ 
action. So it came to pass that there was a 
mysterious disappearance of the young cats that 
very night. Pussy was disconsolate over her 
loss, and Mrs. Keene herself felt very unhappy 
when she heard her calling them up stairs and 
down. 
“She will get over it In two or three days,” 
thought she; “ cat3 never cry for their kittens 
longer than that, and I am thankful they can 
forget their sorrows so well. I would not have 
one killed for anything, if 6he went on this way 
a week.” 
“Where can those kittens have gone to?” 
said little Nellie, as she searched in company 
with old pussy, “ np stairs and down stairs, and 
in my lady’s chamber.” But no kittens could 
they find, and little Nellie comforted old Heppy 
as best she could, telling her that they would 
likely creep out of some comer before long, glad 
enough to see their mother. 
As Jake, the enterprising farmer’s lad, was 
prowling around the grove, according to his 
custom when off duty, he came upon a little rab¬ 
bit’s nest. There were two tiny rabbits in it, 
and their mother thought she had hid them 
ever so nice, but I think Jake’s dog scented 
them out. 
“ Hallo” said Jake; “ now I’ll give old Hep¬ 
py a good dinner. Maybe it will take her mind 
off trom them Kits ” nis own mind had beem 
rather ill at ease on the share he had taken in 
the matter, particularly since superstitious 
Aunt Chloe, in the k'tchen, had told him he 
would have nine misfortunes for every cat he 
killed. 
So Jake brought home the rabbits, and gave 
them to Heppy as a peace-offering. She took 
them np in her mouth and carried them off to 
her old basket, oue by one, and .then what do 
you think that cat did ? She snugged down on 
her old carpet with those rabbits, and kissed 
their faces and smoothed their ruffled coats, and 
mads them just as much at home as IT she were 
their own mother. She brought them up just 
| as it they were her own children, only she could 
j never teach them to catch mice. The little 
happy family was the curiosity of the neighbor¬ 
hood. 
cram a 
child’s mind with aa many cold, unpalatable and 
indigestible facts as possible, believing that be¬ 
cause the principles are sound the young mind 
will make them a part of its mental substance 
and will grow and thrive upon them. This is all 
a mistake. Is it healthy for any one to eat indi¬ 
gestible food ? Can we expect the food to be 
converted into blood unless it is first digested? 
No one really believes in this kind oi teaching, 
hut the practice of many, iu reality, ia at vari¬ 
ance with their own judgment. 
In considering a plan of instruction then, we 
should remember that knowledge imparted, in 
order to produce mental growth, must be 
digested by the mind receiving it. If the food 
is of such a character that the mind cannot di¬ 
gest it, it not only produces no growth, bat it 
induces mental dyspepsia. 
T* is no less true that in order to grow and 
thrive the mind of the learner must act of itself. 
The young mind (or the old one either,) in order 
to grow, must do something. Alt the plans of 
instruction that were ever devised, can accom¬ 
plish nothing towards developing the mind, ex¬ 
cept as they act Indirectly to make it use its own 
sources of growth and development. The mem¬ 
ory, in order to be sharpened, must be exercised. 
The reasoning powers, to become more vigorous 
must bo exercised. All the mental powers must 
natural parapet of rock at the sides, rendered firm 
by rocks and trees. The view from above, for 
those who dare to take if, is awfully grand, hut the 
best prospect is obtained from beneath, where the 
astonished spectator has full scope to grasp, at a 
singleglance, this magnificent work of nature. If 
a survey from the top is paioftll and intolerable, 
that from below is pleasing in an equal degree. 
The beauty, elevation and lightness of the arch, 
springing, as it were, up to heaven, present a 
striking instance of the graceful in combination 
with the sublime. 
Ix Rockbridge county, Virginia, is to be found 
one of the greatest cariosities in the United 
States. Spanning a small and unimportant creek 
(the Cedar i is this world’s wonder — the Natural 
Bridge. This bridge consists ot'a stupendous arch 
of limestone rock, over a chasm 50 feet wide at its 
base, and 90 feet at the top. The height of the 
bridge above the stream, to the top, Is 215 feet; its 
average width is SO feet; its extreme length at top, 
93 feet, and its thickness, from the under to the 
upper 6ide, 55 feet. A clayey earth covers it to the 
depth of from four to six feet, and it possesses a 
OUR ANTIPODES, 
Japan is a country of paradoxes and anom¬ 
alies. They write from top to bottom, from 
right to left, in perpendicular instead of hori¬ 
zontal lines. Their books begin where ours 
end. Their locks turn from left to right. Their 
day is our night. Shops go to customers. Peo¬ 
ple sit upon their heels. Horses' heads are 
where their tails would be in an English stable, 
facing the entrance, the food hung from the 
roof in a basket. Tbeir old men fly kites, while 
the children gravely look on ; the carpenter uses 
his plane by drawing it to him; their tailors 
stitch from them; they mount their horses from 
the off side ; the bells to their harness arc always 
attached to their hind quarters instead of the 
front; ladies black their teeth instead of keep¬ 
ing them white; their hair Is turned back from 
tbeir lace, which is elaborately painted and pow¬ 
dered, aud their anti-crinoline tendencies are 
carried to the point ot interfering with not only 
the grace of movement, but with all locomotion, 
so tightly arc Ihe lower limbs, from the waist 
downward, girt round with their garments. 
Top-spinning is followed as a profession. They 
indulge in frequent and loud exultations, as 
evidence of a good meal. Their pocket is their 
sleeve. They wipe the face with a nice square 
piece of paper, and carefully fold the envelope 
iuto the sleeve, or give it to an attendant to 
throw away. Their music is without melody; 
their landscape without perspective, light or 
shade; their figures without drawing, — mere 
crude colors aud grotesque firms dancing in 
mid-air, without ground to rest on. They have 
bank notes of the value of a farthing. They 
have long perfectly understood the utilization 
of sewerage, and the manufacture of paper, not 
from rags, but from the bark of trees, of which 
they have sixty-seven different kinds, all with 
different uses. They use no milk or animal 
food ; horses and oxen aud cows ore employed 
for purposes of draught only; tl oy have no 
sheep or pigs; the flowers have no scout, the 
birds uo song, and their fruits and vegetables 
have no flavor. 
WASHINGTON ALLSTO^'3 PRAYER. 
Soon after Allston’s marriage with his first 
wife, the sister of the late Dr. Channlng, he 
made his second visit to Europe. After a resi¬ 
dence there of little more than a year, his 
pecuniary wants became very pressing and 
urgent—more so than at any other period of 
bis life. On one of these occasions, as lie him¬ 
self used to narrate the event, he was in his 
studio, reflecting with a feeling of almost des¬ 
peration upon his condition. His conscience 
seemed to tell him he had deserved his afflic¬ 
tions, and drawn them upon himself, by bis 
want of due gratitude for past lavors from 
heaven. His heart, all at once, seemed tilled 
with the hope that God would listen to his 
prayers, if he would offer np his direct expres¬ 
sions of penitence, and ask for divine aid. He, 
accordingly, locked his door, withdrew to a 
corner of the room, threw himself upon his 
knees, and prayed for a loaf of bread for kimself 
aud his wife. While thus employed, a knock 
was heard at the door. A feeling of momentary 
shame at being detected in this position, and a 
feeling of fear lest he might have been observed, 
Induced him to hasten and open the door. A 
Btranger inquired for Mr. Atlston. lie was anx¬ 
ious to learn who was the fortunate purchaser 
of the painting of “Angel Uriel,” regarded by 
the artist aa one of his master-pieces, and which 
bad won the prize at the exhibition of the Acad¬ 
emy. He was told that it had not been sold. 
“ Can it be possible! Not sold! Where is it to 
be bad?" “In this very room. Here it is,” 
producing the painting from a corner, and 
wiping off the dust “ It is for sale—but its 
value has never yet, to my idea of its worth, 
been adequately appreciated—and I would not 
part with it” “What is its price?” “I have 
done affixing auy nominal suoi. I have always, 
60 far, exceeded my offers. I leave it for you to 
uaine the price.” “Will four hundred pounds 
be an adequate recompense?” “It is more 
thun I have ever asked for it.” “Then the 
painting is mine.” The stranger introduced 
himself us the Marquis of Stafford; and he 
became, from that moment, one of the warmest 
friends of Mr. Allston. By him Mr. A was 
introduced to the society of the nobility and 
gentry, and be became one >f the most favored 
among the many gifted minds that adorned the 
circle, in which he was never fond of appearing 
often.— Spooner. 
THE TOWER OF BABEL 
Tue Tower of Babel, on which late accounts 
announce that a cross was recently placed by a 
missionary, consists now of only two ot the 
eight stories formerly erected. The remains are, 
however, visible lrom a great distance. Each 
side ot ihe quadrangular basis measures two 
huudred yards in length, and the bricks of 
which it is composed are of the purest white 
clay, with a very slight brownish tint, which iu 
the sun. assumes a wondertully rich hue, scarcely 
to be imitated by the painter. The bricks, be¬ 
fore being baked, were covered with charac¬ 
ters, traced most surely with the hand, in a clear 
and regular style. The bitumen which served lor 
cement was derived from a fountain which still 
exists near the tower, which flows with such 
abundance that it forms a 6tream, and would 
invade the neighboring river, did not the natives 
from time to time settireto the stream of bitumen, 
tmd then wait quietly until the flames should 
cease for want of aliment.— Galignani. 
THE I KATYDIID 
The Katydid is a grasshopper — that is, it be¬ 
longs to the grasshopper tribe. Its 'shape is 
quite curious: this is iu consequence of its 
wings, which take the form of a sharpTridge 
somewhat like a pod, the wings incasing almost 
the whole body, which is rather blunt and 
thick in comparison with the wings which ex¬ 
tend beyond the insect nearly double its length. 
It is of a pale grass color, wings aud all. In¬ 
stead of hopping in the grass, it lives in the 
trees, generally in the tops. Night] is its gala 
time. All night it is busy, calling ito Tits mate. 
the male does this. And this call.is the “ katy¬ 
did” note about which so much issaid and sung. 
The imitation is not a good one.’ .Iustead of 
three notes, there are often four or five; aud 
when a number of these insects are together 
they make night hideous. 
some facts were presented in regard to the 
wages paid to teachers. The Tribune says: 
“It appears from this report that in Chicago, 
principals in the public schools receive 81,400 a 
year, whereas in Boston they receive $2,200; in 
New York, $3,250; in Brooklyn, $2,000; in Phil¬ 
adelphia, $1,500; in St. Louis, $1,400 to $1,500; 
and in Cincinnati, $1,500. In Chicago, tho num¬ 
ber of pupils to each teacher is fib’; in Boston, 
' 0; In St. Louis, 42, and in Cincinnati, 50. In 
Chicago, female assistants receive $500; In New 
York, from $400 to $800; in Boston, $550; iu 
Brooklyn, $300 to $500; aud in St. Louis, $-150 
THE SKY AN INDICATOR OF THE WEATHER 
The eeflor of the sky at particular times 
affords wonderful good guidance. Not only 
does a rosy sunset presage good weather and 
ruddy sunrise bad weather, but there are other 
tints which apeak with equal clearness and accu¬ 
racy. A bright yellow sky iu the evening indi¬ 
cates wind, a pale yellow, wet; a neutral gray 
color constitutes a favorable sign in tho evening 
aud an unfavorable one in the morning. The 
clouds again are full of meaning in themselves. 
If their forms are soft, undefined, full, feathery, 
the weather will be line; it their edges are hard, 
sharp and definite, it will bo foul. Generally 
speaking, any deep, unusual hues betoken wind 
or rain, while the more quiet and delicate tints 
bespeak fair weather. These are simple max¬ 
ims; and yet not so simple but that the British 
Board of Trade has thought tit to publish them 
for the use of sea faring men. 
JOHN ADAMS. 
FOR BOYS AND^GIRLS. 
Mb. Webster visited Mr. Adams a short time 
before his death, and found him reclining on a 
sofa, evidently iu feeble health. He remarked 
to Mr. Adams: 
“ I am glad to see j - ou, sir, and I hope you are 
gettiug along pretty well.” 
Mr. A. replied in the following figurative lan¬ 
guage 
“Ah, sir, quite the contrary. I find I am a 
poor tenaut, occupying a house much shattered 
by time, it sways and trembles with every 
wind, and what is worse, sir, the landlord, as 
near as I can find out, don’t intend to make any 
repairs.” 
The Little Corporal. —TheTittsburg Chris¬ 
tian Advocate says“ The best paper for chil¬ 
dren, published iu this great country of ours, i« 
The Little Corporal. It is a gem in the cata¬ 
logue of monthlies,.” Published monthly in 
Chicago, III., by Alfred L. Sewell. Terms, $1 a 
year; 10 cents for a specimen number.. 
Ox oh in a conversation upon dynamics, the 
late George Stcvensou, the celebrated engineer, 
havitig been asked, “ Wbat do yon consider the 
most powerful force in nature?” “iwlll soon 
answer that question,” he replied:—“It is the 
eye of a woman to tho man who loves her; for 
if a woman looks with affection on a man, 
should ho gc to the utmost ends of the earth 
the recollection of that look will bring lfim 
TEA AS A SUMMER DRINK, 
Frederick Sala, writing from Russia to the 
Household Words, mentions that on a table 
near him stauds “a large tumbler filled with 
steaming liquid of a goldeu color, in which 
floats a thin slice of lemon. It is tea; the most 
delicious, the most soothing, the most thirst- 
allayiug drink you can have in summer time, 
and in Russia.” Tea, flavored with the slice of 
Ambition often plays the wrestler’s trick of 
raising a man up merely to fling him down. 
