Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker, 
THE NEED OF PURE AIR. 
Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
TALKS ABOUT CHEMISTRY — No. I 
ABOUT DUTCH DAIRIES 
Tub simple-hearted tnau we loved, 
Who through our streets such glory shed, 
Whom all revered, whom all approved, 
On this December morn lies dead. 
In olden time a wail would run 
Through grove and field for such a man, 
And, echoing the dirge begun, 
The hills would mourn a vanished Pan. 
For ho was wise in all the lore 
Of field ami wood, of rock and sky, 
lie knew the music of the shore, 
The elemental harmony. 
The birds that fill the summer hours 
With chirp ami song, to him were dear; 
He knew the secret of the flowers, 
The sweet succession of the year. 
The little grasses that God tends 
And fashions into perfect grace 
He loved, and saw their hidden ends, 
And found for each its worthy place. 
The- path of calm content he trod. 
Able, in years, his youth to keep; 
Where’er he went he walked with God, 
And in His arm6 he fell asleep. 
The flowers are shrouded in the earth, 
The birds are silent in the cold; 
But. Spring will miss his going forth, 
And, saddened, clasp him in her fold. 
And we who know his genial ways, 
* Who in his beauty could rejoice, 
Would send our feeble words of praise 
To mingle with the general voice. 
■Rochester Democrat. 3. a 
\\ e feel certain that our young friends of the Ru¬ 
ral Circle will read with much pleasure the follow¬ 
ing description of dairies iu Dutchland. We found 
it in a letter written by “Cauleton” to the Boston 
Journal, from Holland—that queer country, where 
the people have to build dykes to keep the land 
from being all overflowed by water: 
The farmers’ boys and girls of America, I am 
confidant, would like to go with me into a Dutch 
farm-house, stable and house, and dairy are under 
the same roof. The house which we visit is on the 
bank of the canal—the water iu the canal almost on 
a level with the ridge pole. »ne of the dairy maids 
has been out to the canal to wash hep pans and 
dishes, and now she Is taking them back to the 
house, drawing them iu a little cart. Look at her 
shoes—wooden ones, turned up at the toes like a. 
skate—clump, clump, dump they go as she steps. 
She leaves them outside the door, and puts on a pair 
of slippers as she enters. She has a bonnet so curi¬ 
ous that I shall not attempt to describe it, but of 
just such a pattern as those worn by her grand¬ 
mother. Some of the cattle are in the fields, blank¬ 
eted to keep them warm. 
A girl with red cheeks and bright eyes opens the 
door of the stable, and takes us along the stalls to 
see the cows— twenty-six cows standing by their 
cribs, or lying down chewing their Cuds, fastened 
with rope halter—and funniest of all sights, each 
cow has her tail drawn up to the ceding by a cord 
and pully, so that iu lime their tails grow straight 
up in the air' There are great tubs filled with milk 
and curds and whey; there is a fire-place in the 
stables, where they scald their milk; also, the 
cheese-press. We enter a little room, and sec pots 
of butter and rows of cheese—not such great ones 
as the Vermont and New Hampshire girls turn out, 
but cheeses about the size of a (14-pounder cannon 
ball, not quite round, but like the earth, flattened a 
trifle at the poles. If you were to go with me into 
some of the ware-houses of Amsterdam you would 
see cart-loads of these cheeses, enough to freight 
scores of ships. They are kept for months, and 
years even, and never lose their goodness, it is said. 
You have read how a Dutch admiral, iu a sea-fight. 
When the country was new, and wood plenty, 
houses were built with fire-places in them, where 
the great wood lire was built to warm the house 
and cook the food of its occupants; and the fire¬ 
place, though unconsciously to many, was the great 
ventilator, by day and by night. Since stoves have 
been used for cooking food and warming rooms, the 
fire-place has been thought unnecessary, and there¬ 
fore seldom built. As other modes of ventilation 
have been very imperfect, people have suffered 
much from the impurity of the air they breathe. 
Those having fire-places, who did not understand 
their use as ventilators, have shut them up or re¬ 
moved thorn. But those who have them should let 
them remain, and open them by night, and when 
their rooms are not otherwise ventilated, that they 
may be supplied with one of the most needed ele¬ 
ments of life and health. It is wiser and easier to 
prevent diseases than to cure them, even when they 
can be cured. When impure air is breathed, the 
blood is not sufficiently cleansed as It is brought 
through its air-cleansing process in the lungs; the 
strength is more or less impaired; and the individ¬ 
ual becomes an easy prey to any prevailing disease. 
The necessity of breathing pure air will be better 
understood by showing how soon people die when 
wholly deprived of it. One hundred and forty-six 
soldiers having been taken prisoners at Calcutta, 
were thrnst into a room eighteen feet square, which 
had only two small windows, closely barred with 
iron, on the west side, being shut up on all other 
sides, so there was no circulation of fresh air 
through it. They soon fell into a profuse perspira¬ 
tion, with raging thirst and delirium, that termi¬ 
nated in death in a short time; so that when the 
doors were Opened, at six in the morning, or ten 
hours after they were placed therein, only twenty- 
three still breathed. 
Another later instance of speedy death for want 
of air occurred on board of the steamer London¬ 
derry, which left Liverpool for Bligo, December 2d, 
1848, with two hundred passengers on board. A 
storm soon came on, and the captain, not knowing 
the necessity of pure air to sustain life, or the 
quantity required by each individual, ordered the 
passengers into the steerage cabin, a room eighteen 
feet long, eleven wide, and seven high; closed the 
hatches, and fastened a tarpaulin over the only en¬ 
trance to the cabin. Thus they were compelled to 
breathe the same air over and over again, or break 
open the hatches, which they did after awhile, but 
not till seventy-two of the passengers were dead. 
The blood started from their nostrils, eyes and ears; 
their bodies were convulsed, and their sufferings 
very intense. Both these examples prove that the 
want of pure air was the immediate cause of death. 
The breathing of impure air by fewer individuals 
in a room is less marked, and slower in its delete¬ 
rious effects, so that those who do not understand 
those effects do not see the causes which produee 
them. Hence, costly dwellings, churches, stores, 
manufactories, shops, steamers and ears are built 
without any effectual mode of healthful ventilation, 
and those who occupy them gradually but surely 
decline in health and strength. These things ought 
not so to be. Life and health are too precious to 
be injured when it can be avoided. All people, in 
all places, either for a longer or shorter time, should 
if possible have, a constant supply of pure air. Ven¬ 
tilation may be so planned as to preclude any iu 
convenience from the ingress of cold air. Indi¬ 
vidual and public heuitb would be greatly improved 
and life prolonged if all people and animals had at 
all times sufficient pure air to support healthful 
respiration. But iu families and societies this is 
now the exception rather than the general rule. 
Hattie Hopeful. 
Bend lightly, snowy blossoms, 
Above the honored bier! 
One who hat h loved your beauty 
Is calmly sleeping here; 
The. voice that never faltered — 
The eye that grew not dim; 
With tender hearts, and loving, 
We come to bury him. 
And with a deep thanksgiving 
Ilia finished work we view, 
With naught to mar the record 
So beautiful and t rue. 
His life was in its winter, 
As human seasons roll; 
Tet snows of ago oh filed never 
The spring-time of his soul! 
The words of truth autl wisdom 
Fell sweetly from his tongue ; 
Am t thro’ earth’s weary changes 
His heart was always young. 
The winding paths of Science 
With eager feet he trod; 
Yet ever up from Nature 
He looked to Nature’s God! 
We may not mourn the passing 
Of life so pure and bright; 
We know beyond death’s shadows 
He walks in cloudless light. 
Higher than this world’s honors, 
Better than earth’s renown, 
To-day he wears in Heaven 
A saint’s immortal crown ! 
Rochester, Dec., 1867. Kate Cameron. 
liquid, gaseous, animate or inanimate—is composed, 
as far as known, of sixty-three simple substances, 
called by Chemists, “elements,” and the compound} 
formed of them either by nature or artificially. Of 
the whole n umber of elementary materials but thirtccn, 
are non-metallic, viz: — Oxygon, nitrogen, hydrogen, 
carbon, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, sulphur, 
phosphorus, silenium, silicon and boron. The first 
four elements named enter more universally into 
animal and vegetable matter than any or all the others. 
Elementary substances cannot be decomposed : 
that is, two or more distinct solids or fluids never 
can be obtained from any me thing which is an ele¬ 
ment. For instance, oxygen cannot be separated or 
divided so as to make two or more things from it, 
though susceptible of entering into thousands of 
forms or componnds with other matter. Wood, 
on the contrary, a compound, one of the ingredients 
of which is oxygen, when burned is partially re¬ 
duced to the original elements, the matter of its or¬ 
ganization passing off in vapor or gases, leaving a 
residuum of ashes which is a compound of several ele¬ 
ments, and may be entirely decomposed, as also the 
vapor (water) — oxygen and hydrogen — mixed w ith 
other gases. Gold, an clement, may be melted, dis¬ 
solved or combined with other metals; it is still 
gold, and will remain so through all time, while brass, 
a compound, may be resolved into copper and zinc. 
Oxygen is properly placed at the head of all the 
other simple substances. Though iu itself incom¬ 
bustible, it is the great supporter of combustion, as 
well as of animal life. It is never found in a sepa¬ 
rate state, yet it pervades a large majority of every¬ 
thing among the compounds or elements, naturally, 
or may be made to do so by the skill of the man of 
science. When extracted from matter it, is a color¬ 
less, tasteless and odorless gas, a little heavier than 
air; it is the almost universal generator of acids, and 
forms oxides of all the metals. Considerable more 
than one-half of the whole earth, solid and liquid, is 
oxygen, ami one-fifth of the atmosphere. 
Nitrogen, in its free state, is also a gas, and is 
sometimes found separated from other substances. 
It will not support combustion or animal life, 
though entering largely into the composition of 
most vegetables, while, iu the animal kingdom, it is, 
next to oxygen, the great esseutial. Ammonia, the 
great fertilizer in animal manures, is composed of 
nitrogen and hydrogen. Nitrogen is lighter than 
common air, of which it constitutes four-fifths. 
Hydrogen, a gas, is the lightest of all things 
in nature, being fourteen times less in weight than 
air, and of course the most buoyant substance for 
the inflation of air-balloons. Lt is very Inflamma¬ 
ble itself, though a burning body plunged mto a ves¬ 
sel of it will be extinguished. The water iu many 
springs (sulphur water) is highly charged with hy¬ 
drogen and sulphur. It is regarded very detrimen¬ 
tal to health to inhai* uneomblned hydrogen; at 
least, if not affecting the system as a poison, pros¬ 
tration or death may result from suffocation. 
Carbon, when pure, is a solid, and the hardest of 
all material matter. The diamond has been proved 
to be pure carbon, is inflammable, and even fusible by 
the aid of electricity. Charcoal, lampblack and plum¬ 
bago, (black lead, of which pencils are made,) are, 
after the diamond, the. purest forms of this element. 
Black lead consists of ninety-five parts of carbon and 
five of iron; east-iron and steel owe their hardness 
to its presence. Many compounds contain it com¬ 
bined with other elements, but it is never a free gas 
except when mixed with oxygen, forming carbonic- 
acid gas. Its peculiarities are varied and very curious. 
Fluorine is a yellowish gas obtained from fluor¬ 
spar, and is the only element that will not unite 
with oxygen. Fluor-spar is composed of fluorine 
and calcium, the metallic base of lime. This gas 
will corrode glass. Etching on glass is performed 
by coveriug the surface with a thin coating of bees¬ 
wax, making the drawiugs upon it (cutting through 
to the glass) and subjecting it to the gas; it has no 
effect on the wax, bnt instantly takes hold of the 
prominent ingredient of glass —silicon. 
Chlorine is a yellowish-green gas, very pungent 
and Suffocating, and is obtained from common salt, 
■which is a compound of chlorine and sodium. It is 
a supporter of combustion, and has great blecching 
and disinfecting qualities. 
Bromine and iodine are obtained from the ashes of 
sea-weeds. The former is a fluid of a red color, and 
has a very disagreeable odor; the latter is obtained 
in scales, and is of a brownish color. Preparations of 
iodine are used in the arts and as a medicine. Bro¬ 
mine has great corrosive qualities, and is poisonous. 
Sulphur, phosphorusandsilentum are distinguished 
as fire-elements. Sulphur is obtained in great quan¬ 
tities around the mouths of volcauoes; many ores 
also contain it; likewise all animals and some veget¬ 
ables. The flower of sulphur Is prepared from the 
crude material by heating it to 600 degrees, when it 
is vaporized and then condensed. Phosphorus is 
obtained from the bones of auirualo and auimal re¬ 
mains. It appears to be one of the great requisites 
of the animal kingdom. It fuses at 113 deg., and at 
550 deg. becomes vapor. Silenium resembles sul¬ 
phur, and is obtained sparingly from ores iu Europe. 
Silicon, also called silicium, is the base of sand, 
flint, quarts, rocks, Ac.; the purest of the precious 
stones are made up largely of this clement. Silcx or 
silica is silicon and.oxygen. Silcx is found in plants, 
and especially in the straw of grain. The hard, out¬ 
side covering of straw is the result of liquid silex 
being taken up by the roots. Silicon may be ob¬ 
tained by heating quartz to a high degree and then 
plunging it into cold water. 
Boron is a greenish-brown powder. Oxygen and 
boron form boracicaeid. Borucic acid and soda form 
borax, used by blacksmiths iu welding Iron — pre¬ 
venting a scale or oxide of iron forming while the 
operation is progressing. 
Some more of the uses and peculiarities of the 
above elements, and also the metallic, we shall take 
occasiou to “ talk about ” hereafter. l. 
Tub death~of]the learned, hlgrfiy esteemed and 
venerated Dr. Dewey has already been chronicled 
in the Rural, as occurring on the 15th of December 
last, at the advanced age of S3 yeare. We embrace 
the earliest opportunity^ presenting a finely exe¬ 
cuted and essentiallyjcorreet portrait, with a more 
extended notice Of his long, useful and most exem¬ 
plary career— though, compared with his life-labor 
and its results, our sketch can only be regarded as a 
synoptical biography; for a volume would not con¬ 
tain all that might ^ind should be written in com¬ 
memoration. of the virtues, character and life-work 
of such a rare man, in all the relations of life, as was 
Chester Dewev. The material for our necessarily 
brief sketch is derived from the New American Cy¬ 
clopedia, biographical notices which have recently 
been published here and elsewhere, and our own 
personal recollections after »u acquaintance and 
friendship of nearly thirty years. 
Professor Dewey — for by this familiar and hon¬ 
ored title he was known for over half a century—was 
a native of Sheffield, Muss., born October 25,1784. 
Graduating at Williams College in 180*3, he imme¬ 
diately commenced studying for the ministry, was 
licensed to preach iu 1808, and officiated at Tyring- 
ham, Mass. The same year he accepted a tutorship 
iu Williams College, and iu 1810 was appointed Pro¬ 
fessor of Mathematics aud Natural Philosophy, a 
position which be occupied for seventeen years with 
credit to himself and the institution. During his 
connection with the College he did much to advance 
the standard of scholarship, and enlarge the course 
of study iu his own and kindred departments,—while 
his Influence over students was often beneficially 
oxerted. Subsequently he was for ten years in 
charge of the “Gymnasium,” a high school for 
boys in Pittsfield, Mass., where he was eminently 
successful, and is still held in grateful remembrance 
by former pupils and acquaintances. 
In 1S36 Prof. Dewev removed to Rochester and 
became principal of the High School, the name of 
which was then changed to the Rochester Collegiate 
Institute. With honor and credit to himself, and 
benefit to the pupils and community,—as thousands 
eau attest,—he occupied this position until 1850, 
when he was elected Professor of Chemistry and 
Natural Philosophy in the then new and promising 
University of Rochester. Dr. D. filled this impor¬ 
tant professorship for ten years or more, when 
(having labored much beyond the allotted three 
score and ten) advanced age constrained him to sur¬ 
render the chair, though consenting to retain a 
nominal connection with the University for some 
years later—giving instruction whenever his strength 
and convenience permitted. After reachiffg the age 
of eighty, though remarkably vigorous, both men¬ 
tally and physically, be lived in greater retlracy, 
avoiding public life and duties, yet was a frequent 
contributor to the Press (as our readers, who arc 
familiar with his signature, “C. D.,” are aware,) and 
occasionally his fellow-citizens, and religious, benev¬ 
olent and educational Institutions were benefited 
by the orally-given results of his rare knowledge, 
experience and observation—for lie was ever doing 
good whenever health and opportunity permitted. 
And this continued until within a few days or weeks 
of his saint like departure from earth,—when our 
whole community, and thousands of distant friends, 
sincerely mourned an irreparable loss. 
As a teacher of the Natural Sciences, Prof. Dun by 
was ever eminently practical, lucid and Successful. 
Though familiar with all branches of science, he 
made special discoveries in one, and attained the 
reputation of a meant abroad, so that he was consid¬ 
ered an authority both iu his own and other lands. 
Chemistry and Botany were, we think, his favorite 
sciences, but the latter received more of his atten¬ 
tion than any other during the last twenty years of 
his life. Iu this branch he was an enthusiast and 
expert, and it haw been well said that “his name is 
connected with those beautiful grasses which will 
be his monument as long as they grow at the river 
margin, where he delighted to find them.” As an 
instaoce of his enthusiasm, wo may here mention 
that oue of the wealthiest citizens of Western New 
York, when a poor boy, received his first dollar from 
Prof. Dewey In return for a botanical specimen. 
But he was well versed iit other sciences, and long 
the peer of such scientists as Professors Silliman, 
Hare, llrrcncocic and Eaton. Associated with 
such pioneers in scientific inquiry. Prof. D. greatly 
aided in developing, classifying and popularizing the 
Natural Sciences—thereby conferring great aud per¬ 
manent benefit upon mankind and tbe world. 
But we cannot attempt even an outline of Prof. 
Dewey’s career,—for scarcely an index to his life- 
work and example as an instructor, preacher, lec¬ 
turer, writer, citizen and Christian gentleman, could 
be given in a page of this journal. In every relation 
of life he was above reproach. A Rochester contem¬ 
porary truly says; — “Though he had attained the 
ripe age of eighty-three years, aud had considerably I 
passed the period allotted to most men, his day of 
usefulness hail not passed, and his death is a cause 
for sincere regret iu all classes of community. Few 
men have left a more perfect record of life than has 
Dr. Dewey, either viewed as an example of deport¬ 
ment before his fellow men, or as a useful citizen 
laboring in all things to promote the welfare of 
society by the diffusion of knowledge and the pro¬ 
motion of every Christian aud benevolent design. 
This said, as it is in all sincerity,— this indorsed as it 
will be by every good citizen who knew deceased,— 
and what more can be uttered by way of eulogium 
to the dead?” 
In conclusion, wo may be permitted to speak of the 
lamented deceased from our personal recollections 
of aud relations to him for the lust twenty years of 
his life —during which period he was a kind friend 
aud wise counselor, as well a- an able contributor 
to the pages of tbe Journals we conducted. We not 
only respected aud venerated, but loved “C. D.,” 
as must all who knew him well, for his qualities of 
head and heart could but inspire love and admira¬ 
tion. He was alike the friend of the young, the 
middle-aged and those advanced in life,— for he 
never grew old, and could sympathize with aud 
adapt himself to persons of all ages aud conditions. 
And yet he was neither a policy man, nor ambitious; 
had he been he would have long ago occupied far 
more prominent, though no more useful and hon¬ 
orable, positions than those ho attained. He was 
pre-eminently a good muu; his presence alone ever 
Indicated this, as his conversation abundantly dem¬ 
onstrated. Dignified, kindly affable, of tine per¬ 
sonal appearance, Prof. Dewey was ever welcomed 
with pleasure by both friends and strangers,—aud, 
on becoming acquainted, the strangers invariably 
became his friends and admirers. 
— One of Prof Dewey’s former pupils suggests, 
through the papers, that the hoys (now men) of the 
old Rochester High School erect a monument at Mt. 
Hope to perpetuate his memory. The idea is a good 
one, but we think many other citizens of Rochester, 
Western New York, and other localities, would take 
mournful pleasure iu aiding a like object, and there¬ 
fore suggest that a fund be raised on such basis that 
all disposed may participate by contributing. And 
let the monument, be alike worthy of the dead, and 
creditable to the living. 
Perhaps some of the boys and girls have heard of 
William L. Marcy. lie was long known as a pub¬ 
lic man. Twice he was elected Governor of New 
York, then United States Senator, and finally was 
appointed Secretary of War. He died only a few 
years since. Here is a little anecdote about him, 
by which you will get an idea of his boyhood: 
Many years ago, in a country town in Massachu¬ 
setts, a teacher saw a boy come into school whom he 
knew to be one of the worst boys in town. He de¬ 
termined, if he could, to make a good boy of him. 
So he spoke kindly to him, and he behaved well that 
day. The Prudential Committee (as he was called) 
came in and said: —“Mr. Towne, 1 hear that bad 
fellow. Bill Morey, has come to your school. Turn 
him out at once. He will spoil tbe rest of the boys.” 
“No, sir,” replied the teacher, “1 will leave the 
school if you say so, but I cannot expel a boy so 
long as he behaves well.” So he kept him aud en¬ 
couraged him, confided in him, till Bill Marcy 
became one of the best boys in school, and after¬ 
wards, whenever Willihm L. Marcy came from 
Washington, he took pains to go and see his old 
teacher, Salem Towne, and thank him for having 
been the means of saving him and making him the 
man he was. 
EFFECTS OF ABSENCE OF SOUND 
Dr. H. Ralls Smith of Louisville, Ky., by certain 
investigations claims to have established the truth 
of the theory that animals living permanently in 
the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky are uot only with¬ 
out a trace of the optic nerve, but are also destitute 
of the sense of hearing. At one time be penetrated 
about four miles into the interior of the cave, and 
some four hundred feet below the surface of the 
earth. The solitude and total absence of sound 
produced a very distressing and almost insupporta¬ 
ble effect upon him, resulting in a very perceptible, 
although temporary, defection of hearing and aber¬ 
ration of mind. This explains the fact why persons 
lost in the cave for one, two or three days have 
always been found, when rescued, in a state of tem¬ 
porary insanity. The mind aud special senses, de¬ 
prived of their natural pabulum and stimulus, 
gradually become weakened, paralyzed, atrophied, 
and finally, as far as external manifestations are 
concerned, nearly if not quite extinct. This fact 
may afford some clue to the cause of cretinism in 
the Alpine valley. 
Silver Tongue,— When I was a boy, I and a 
number of my playmates had rambled through the 
fields and woods till, quite forgetting the fading 
light, we found ourselves fur from home. Indeed, 
we had lost our way. It did so happen that we were 
nearer home than we thought; but, how to get to it 
was the question. By the edge of the field we saw 
a man comiug along, aud we ran to ask him to tell 
us. Whether he was iu trouble or not I do not 
know, bnt he gave us some very surly answers. 
Just then came along another man, a neighbor, with 
a merry smile on his face. “ Jim,” said he, “a man’s 
tongue is like that of a cat. It Ls either a piece of vel¬ 
vet or a piece of sand-paper, just as ho likes to use 
it or to make it; and I declare you always use your 
tongue like satid-paper. Try the velvet, man, try 
the velvet principle.” This was said to the surly 
man, but I have always remembered it .—Mind Amos. 
Alfred Churchill, Esq., residing in East Hub- 
bardtou, Vt., closes a business letter, of recent date, 
with some references to the Genesee country in an 
early day, of which he was then a resident. His 
father, Gen, Wortuy L. Churchill, settled in the 
county of Genesee, four miles east of Batavia, iu 
1808. At this time ho visited the falls of Genesee, 
where a saw-mill was in operation, owned by a. Mr. 
Allen, who was possessed of the entire waterpower 
on the west side of the river. The family were all 
sick and tired of the place, and Allen 0fibred Gen. 
Churcuill the whole property for a one hundred 
dollar bill which he chanced to exhibit on the occa¬ 
sion. Between the years 1806 and 1808 Harry Mar¬ 
vin of West Bloomfield passed west with a square- 
rigged covered wagon, calling on the people to 
repair their roads, as a mail stage was about to com¬ 
mence running between Albuny aud Buffalo once 
a week. Our correspondent appropriately adds, 
“ slightly changed since.” 
Flowers. — I was sitting one day in the parlor 
alone, aud little Katie came running in with a hand¬ 
ful of snow-white chrysanthemum- in her hands that 
some kind lady had given her. “ Pa,” said she “ does 
God ever forget any thing ?” “ No, my child why do 
you ask?” “ Because be forgot I think, to put any 
soul into the beautiful flowers, and yet put one into 
wicked people, aud the flowers are much prettier 
and better than they.” I felt that there was no 
chance for argument with a child. 
Climate of Abyssinia. —During the rainyseason, 
marching and hunting are impracticable, the mud 
knee deep, fevers prevalent, the terrible scroot fly 
and vermin of all kinds iu swarms, and some six un¬ 
healthy weeks of “a complete vapor baUi” at its 
close, in September aud October. During the dry 
season, oil the other hand “ every variety of herb 
and bush is moro or loss armed with lances, swords, 
daggers, bayonets, knives, spikes, needles, pins, fish¬ 
hooks, hay-forks, harpoons, and every abomination 
in the shape of point-." -o that one is thoroughly 
scarified until it becomes dry enough to fire the 
grass aud make roads wholesale. 
Incombustible Wood.—A French chemist has 
recently been experimenting to find au easy and 
cheap way of making wood incombustible. Ho 
reports chloride of lime to be the best agent for 
this. It is true that this will only protect the sur¬ 
face, but it will prevent the flames from spreading. 
Chloride of lime, or, more properly, chloride of cal¬ 
cium, is obtained ou a large scale by decomposing 
bones with hydrochloric acid, which dissolves the 
calcareous parts without attacking the gelatine they 
contain. This neutral aud liquid chloride contains 
-15 per cent, of anhydrous chloride. To thus liquid 
an equal weight of slacked lime should be added, 
and it may then be applied to the woodwork to be 
preserved. The operation should be repeated twice 
with a common white-wash brush. 
That man lives most perfectly whose constant 
happiness is found iu the consciousness that, in 
doing the best that he can for himself, lie Ls also 
doing the best that he can for every being that is 
capable of having good done to It. 
If small streams are not able t* bear great -kips, 
or yield great treasures, they may, at least, water 
some drooping flower ; if uot by the fireside of 
home, by the wayside in life’s pathway. 
The cheerful arc the busy. When trouble knocks 
at your door, or rings the bell, he will generally re¬ 
tire if you send him word you are engaged. 
