34S 
MOORE’S  RURAL  WEW-VORKER. 
MAY  ar 
®I]C 
CENTENNIAL  COERESPONDENCE. 
Colonnade  Hotel,  Pdila.,  Jlay  20,  1876. 
Keoabdino  the  matorial  comfort  of  viKitora  to 
tho  Conte  uiiial,  it  would  8oem  that  Bolf-intercst 
and  boapitality  had  conapirod  to  mako  the 
joiu-ney  of  tho  Ktranyer  jmtha  of  pleaBantucsB. 
He  wiU  have  )d«  dinner  of  horba  and  content¬ 
ment  if  he  is  wiao. 
Tho  Journoy  boin^;  ended  and  tho  paHHonger 
having  arrived  in  I’hiladclpliia,  the  noit  ques¬ 
tion  is  whore  to  obtain  board  and  lodging,  lie 
can  have  a  choice  betwwm  the  down-town 
hotels,  tho  private  houses  under  the  manage¬ 
ment  of  tho  Lodging  Jhniso  Agency,  the  regular 
j)rivaU>  boarding  houses,  and  the  nuiueroua 
liotcls  located  near  the  Exhibition  buildings. 
If  ho  decides  to  go  to  one  of  tlio  latter,  and 
aiTivos  via  the  I’eunsylvania  Itoad,  he  need  not 
look  for  a  carriage  or  an  ouinibu  s,  for  ho  can  | 
easily  walk  the  few  blocks  intervening  between  | 
the  Conteiunal  station  and  the  hotel.  Hut  if  ho 
avails  hiins<Jf  of  accomnuahitionH  in  tho  city,  j 
which  will  be  from  two  to  llvo  miles  distant  : 
from  tho  depot,  he  will  lake  one  of  tho  'Jhansfer  , 
Company’s  coaches  and  pay  fifty  cents  for  a 
ride  and  forty  cents  for  each  piece  of  heavy 
baggage.  If  he  is  acquainted  in  the  city,  or 
can  learn  of  tho  exact  location  of  his  proposed 
lodgings,  lie  can  go  by  street  car,  tho  fai’o  being 
seven  cents.  | 
Several  lines  of  street  cars  stoi't  from  near  the  ; 
station  and  run  to  all  parts  of  Philadelphia.  Tf 
the  visitor  does  not  wish  lo  step  at  the  Centen¬ 
nial  station,  ho  can  go  to  Iho  regular  Peiinsyl- 
vaiiia  depot  iu  West  Phila<lolithia,  whicli  is  a 
mile  noai-or  the  heart  of  the  city,  from  whence  j 
ho  can  take  a  transfer  coach  or  a  street  car  to  ^ 
the  exhibition,  or  to  any  pai  t  of  the  city.  Those 
who  go  to  down-town  hotels  or  boarding  houses 
will  save  time,  by  going  to  tho  West  I’liiladelphia 
depot.  If  for  any  reason  tho  visitor  should 
decide  not  to  bike  a  transfer  coach  or  street  car 
he  can  avail  himself  of  a  carriage  or  cab,  with 
trunk  or  valise,  and  go  not  exceeding  one  mile 
for  fifty  cents ;  over  one  mile  and  not  exceeding 
two,  Bovciity-live  cents.  If  tlie  distance  be  over 
two  miles,  each  additional  mile  will  he  twenty- 
five  cents.  Carriages  and  cabs  can  be  liirod  at 
tho  rate  of  $1  per  hour,  going  from  place  to 
place  and  stopping  as  often  as  required. 
Among  tho  limited  corporations  formed  for 
the  care  and  comfort  of  tho  ruilliou  is  tho  Ccu- 
tenuial  Lodging  Honso  Agency.  This  agency 
was  orgaiiizisi  to  supply  tlie  demand  for  lodgings 
on  the  part  of  tJiosc  unable  to  seenro  satisfactory 
hotel  accommodations,  'i'ho  agency  has  secured 
about  4,000  rooms  in  1,700  differout  private 
liouscs,  where  they  expect  to  be  able  to  furnish 
lodging,  breakfast,  and  supper  to  10,000  or  15,000 
visitors.  AppUcatious  are  received  ft'om  house¬ 
holders  who  are  willing  to  roeeivo  guests,  and 
tho  agency  sends  an  inspector  to  survey  the 
premises,  and  determine  wliether  tho  accommo¬ 
dations  are  likely  to  be  satisfactory.  If  the  in¬ 
spector  reports  favorably  a  contract  is  made,  of 
which  Uio  following  is  one  of  Uie  pro\isiou8 : 
And  I  do  hereby  further  couti'act  and  agree 
that  said  lodging  rooms  shall  ho  fimiishcd  with 
such  good,  clean,  and  comfortable  beds  and 
bedding,  soap,  towels,  chamber-sots,  aud  furni- 
tiwe  as  shall  meet  with  the  approval  of  said 
agency's  inspector,  and  that  daily  changes  of 
said  linen,  towels,  eto.,  shall  bo  made  unless 
occupied  by  same  lodger  more  than  one  night, 
and  then  such  change  shall  he  made  not  loss 
than  twice  ea<di  week*,  also,  to  furnish  good, 
cleanly,  and  comfortable  meals.  Breakfast  to 
consist  of  cofToe  and  tea,  with  bread  and  butter, 
warm  moat  or  li-sli,  and  vogetablos.  Hupper  to 
consist  of  ton  and  coffee,  with  moat,  bread,  and 
butter,  etc.,  and  wliat  may  be  regarded  as  con¬ 
stituting  a  good,  ordinary  meal.  The  agency 
not  to  ho  responsible  for  extra  meals  furnishod 
said  guests. 
Orders  for  tickets  issued  by  tins  associatiou 
will  bo  for  sale  at  railroad  olfiees  tbrongliout 
tho  connrry.  Messengers  in  tho  employ  of  tho 
agency  will  he  on  passenger  tf.ams  apiwoaohing 
I’hiladeljrhia.  and  will  furnish  each  holder  of  an 
order  with  a  ticket  in  exchange,  supplying 
minute  directions  by  which  such  lodgings  as  are 
desired  may  ho  reached  by  street  ear  or  other¬ 
wise.  'The  ticket  is  the  stranger’s  letter  of  intro¬ 
duction  to  the  householder.  The  charge  will  be 
$2.50.per  day  for  lodging,  supper,  aud  breakfa.st, 
tho  gue.st  to  pay  the  agency,  aud  tho  latter  to 
settle  with  the  householder.  Tho  agency  have 
uo  couLracts  by  which  they  will  be  enabled  to 
furnish  board  l>y  tbo  week.  If  in  any  ease  more 
tickets  are  purebased  than  are  required,  the 
agency  will  redeem  tlieni  without  discount. 
The  agency  houses  fuiTUsh  no  dinners ;  these 
will  have  to  be  iirocured  at  or  near  the  grounds. 
In  addition  to  the  boai’ding  houses  controlled 
by  the  agency,  there  are  about  2,00(1  which  are 
“regulai-,”  aud  which  must  be  hunted  up  by 
the  visitor.  At  Some  of  those  board  by  the  v 
week  may  lie  obtained  at  from  S<T2  to  5*16.  I 
As  will  Iwt  seen  from  the  above  showing,  the  t 
visitor  will  iRicessarily  bo  comjKdled  to  pay  f 
from  5*3.50  per  day  (which  allows  51  for  dinner  < 
for  I.odgitig  Ilonso  Agency  gniiKts)  to  56  per  » 
flay,  for  tbo  wherewithal  to  keep  soul  and  body  » 
together.  Tho«o  who  stop  at  the  hotels  near  i 
the  grounds  will  have  no  transfer  charges  to  < 
pay,  but  jiersons  lodging  in  the  city  at  hotels  or  < 
boarding  lionses  will  have  added  to  their  otJier 
expenses  sti'eet  car,  coa<di,  or  cab  fare,  seven  ^ 
cents  for  tlie  former  ami  fifty  cents  for  the 
latter.  Whether  the  visitor  resorts  to  a  coach,  a 
cur,  or  his  legs,  ho  will  not  ho  able  to  compass 
tlie  distanca  het\vi.ieM  the  Exhibition  buildings 
and  tho  city  in  less  time  than  an  hour. 
Tlie  PatiTina  of  lluslmndry,  or  as  they  are 
more  familiarly  called,  the  (!  rangers,  have  made 
preparations  on  an  exteiiKive  scale  for  tho 
accommodation  of  memlitTs  of  their  ord<r  ' 
during  the  exhibition.  A  tract  of  land  at  Elm 
station  on  the  Tcmisylvania  road,  alxiut  four 
miles  aud  a-half  from  the  (lontcnnial  grounds 
haa  lioen  secured,  and  aiTangoments  have  been 
made  with  the  railroaii  company  by  which 
jiassongcrs  are  to  bo  couveyed  to  and  from  the 
groimds,  from  this  locality  for  fifteen  eeiita  a 
round  trii>  or  ten  cents  one  way.  Wooden 
buildings  have  been  erectoil  cajiahle  of  accom¬ 
modating  two  thou.sand  f.mr  hnndrod  iiooplo, 
and  the  tariff  of  prices  has  boon  fixed  at  fifty 
cents  for  evei’y  meal  ami  fifty  cents  for  a  night’s 
lodging.  For  persons  who  desire  to  spend  the 
I  day  within  the  tlcntenuial  gi'ounds.  but  who 
I  may  not  care  to  go  to  the  rostauranta  iu  tho 
:  grounds,  lunches  will  be  pi’cparcd.  Tho  hiiild- 
inga  arc  kniated  upon  high  giound,  with  a 
immher  of  springs  and  fine  trees  in  tho  vicinity. 
The  buildings  each  contain  ninety-two  rooms, 
I  forty-six  on  either  side  of  a  brood  corridor, 
'  The  rooms  are  twelve  by  eight  feet;  and  tho 
]  doors  all  ojien  on  tho  corridor,  light  and  ah’ 
being  admitted  by  uejnerous  windows  and  trau- 
floms. 
As  a  mle,  I  have  found  that  the  dwap  hotels 
coniignouH  to  tho  gronuds  too  fully  justify  tho 
appellation.  It  soems  to  Imve  been  tho  object 
of  the  owners  to  ilirow  up  crude  structuros  and 
trust  to  luck  and  the.  w  all  paper  to  hold  them 
togetlior ;  hut  there  is  an  lionorablo  cxceptiou. 
At  the  foot  of  George's  Hill,  within  easy  ilistanco 
to  that  enti’ancc,  stands  a  monster  huilding,  tho 
I  Atlas  Hotel,  wliieh,  on  insjjeetion,  loaves  an 
agreeable  impression.  Eulikc  tho  other  hotels 
near  tho  grounds,  it  is  ideaaantly  located,  ha  ving 
an  abundance  of  shade  trees.  Tho  fittings  arc 
not  precisely  such  a.s  one  would  find  iu  a  palace, 
!  hut  they  are  neat  aud  cUnn.  Tho  re.staurant  is 
'  indoiiendeut  of  tlie  hotel,  or  a  la  vurtf,  and  is 
under  the  management  of  Mr.  Michael  Itii.EV. 
Tho  lodging  acconnuodations  are  51  jici’  day,  and 
the  jiricf  s  in  Uie  restaurant  are  a  grateful  con¬ 
trast  to  w  hat  is  charged  in  and  about  tho  Exhibi¬ 
tion  grounda.  Mi’.  JIilkv  is  tlie  caterer  who  has 
made  the  L’olonuade  talile  famous,  which  fact  is 
an  appetbiing  iudorsciiicnt  of  this  resUiurant. 
This  hotel  sliould  not  bo  loft  out  of  the  expense 
c.Hlculation  of  tho  visitor. 
As  for  looking  up  jirivate  lodgings  the  files  of 
the  Philiwlelphia  Ledger  ”  will  furnish  copious 
information.  Youxo  Rukal. 
CENTURY  BLOSSOMS. 
The  main  cnclc  of  the  grand  chandelier  for 
the  Mam  Building  is  75  foot  in  diameter. 
The  riiiladelphia  horso  railways  are  capable 
of  delivering  40,000  people  an  bom-  at  tho  Cen¬ 
tennial  grounds. 
The  mammoth  vases  sent  from  tho  celebrated 
Sevres  establishment  will  attract  great  attention 
in  the  French  dcpai’tmcnt. 
The  Canadian  goods,  consisting  of  caqiet- 
looms,  silks,  worsteils,  and  ribbons,  are  in  tlieir 
places  in  the  Women's  Tavillion. 
The  original  Declarjition  of  Indejiendence  will 
he  on  exhibition  in  tho  National  Museum  in  In¬ 
dependence  Hall  dui’ing  the  entire  time  of  the 
Exposition. 
The  choicest  works  of  the  Royal  Porcelain  man¬ 
ufactory  at  Berlin  are  in  an  elegant  pavilion  which 
tho  Prussians  have  erected  iu  tho  Main  Build¬ 
ing, 
The  post-office  aiTangcments  within  the 
'  grounds  are  very  complete.  Collections  are 
made  by  the  carriers  every  hour  at  prominent 
points. 
*  Enultsh  cattle-breeders,  designing  to  compete 
'  at  the  Centennial,  are  making  numerous  appli- 
I  cations  to  tho  English  Ceutemual  Commission  in 
^  Loudon. 
(  tiEvpN  Short-Horned  cattle  purchased  dii’cct 
)  from  the  farm  of  Queen  Victoria  will  be  among 
^  tho  exhibits  of  Mi’.  Grant,  tho  large  landholder 
j  I  of  Kansas. 
.  \  The  great  steam  engine  at  tue  Centennial 
I  I  weighs  GOO  tons;  will  diivo  eight  miles  of  shaft- 
D  ing ;  has  a  Hy-weoel  thiity  feet  in  diameter,  and 
f  weiglung  seventy  tons  ;  is  of  1400  horse-power, 
with  a  capacity  of  being  forced  to  2500  horso. 
power;  has  two wul king-beams,  weighing twonty- 
two  tons  each  ;  two  forty-inch  cylinders,  a  ten- 
foot  stroke;  a  crank  shaft  nineteen  inches  in 
iliametcr  and  twelve  feet  in  Icnth  ;  connecting- 
rods  twunly-foiu’  feet  in  Icnth,  anil  piston-rods  4 
inches  in  iliameter.  Tho  platform  nixm  which  it 
rests  is  fifty-five  foot  in  diamotei’,  and  composed 
of  iKilished  iron  plates  resting  upon  brick  foun¬ 
dations  that  extend  far  down  into  the  earth. 
The  bight  from  the  floor  to  the  top  of  the 
walking-beam  is  tliirty-nino  feet. 
FIRE  BLIGHT  IN  THE  PEAR. 
This  disease  of  the  pear  has  been  for  years  a  ’ 
soiu’cc  of  annoyance  and  loss  to  our  orchardists. 
and  its  cause  wholly  unknown.  Sidontists,  until  • 
lately,  have  alai>  failed  to  iliscover  its  origin,  and, 
alfliougli  hometimes  attributed  to  the  attacks  of  ' 
microscotiic  fmigi,  tho  assertious  were  httle  more 
than  a  matter  of  opinion  ;  no  one  seeming  to  know 
IKisitivuly  whether  a  fungus  was  tlie  cause  or  not. 
But  ill  an  essay  on  “  Fungi  and  Fruit  IliseaHos,’ 
mail  by  Tik).vias  Meehan  before  the  last  session 
of  the  American  Poinological  Society,  wo  find  a 
very  clear  and  eoncise  description  of  the  disease, 
as  well  as  the  latest  discoveries  in  regard  to  its 
fungoid  origin,  Mr.  Meehan  says  :  **  That  tliis 
(pear  blight)  is  of  fungoid  origin  is  now  clear, 
from  the  researches  of  Dr.  .1.  OinBONS  Hvnt. 
J>r.  H.  is  President  of  the  Biological  Hcction  of 
the  Academy  of  N’atiu’al  Rdeiices  of  1‘hiladelphia, 
an  excellent  botanist,  and  one,  as  a  rule,  skilled 
in  microscopy  as  you  and  I  are  with  Ibe  pi’uniug- 
knifo.  He  finds  that  a  very  minute  fungus  ger¬ 
minates  on  the  bark,  enters  the  stniotnre, 
destroying  the  cells  as  it  goes  till  it  reaches  tho 
alburnum,  and  then  it  peuotrates  clear  to  the 
pith  by  tbe  way  of  the  medullary  rays,  totally 
destroying  tlie  branch  from  centor  to  cucumfer- 
onco.  Hr.  Hunt  was  not  one  of  those  who  be¬ 
lieved  in  fungoid  liiseasoH.  Indeed,  I  believe  Dr. 
U.,  if  he  really  liad  any  iirejudiro  at  all,  was 
iiiipresswl  'with  the  idea  that  the  fungus  found 
iu  pear  blight  was  bnt  a  follower  of  tho  dis¬ 
ease.  But  there  is  no  other  conclusion  here 
than  that  arrived  at  by  Dr.  IL,  that  in  the  true 
tire  blight  fungi  are  the  cause  of  the  disease. 
The  fire  blight  attacked  large  branches,  de¬ 
stroying  them  rapidly,  liecatise  all  oonuoction  , 
with  sap-collccling  roots  was  cut  off ;  hut  tliere 
were  numerous  diseases  of  tho  pear  similar  to 
(ire  blight,  hut  not  so  destruotivo,  because  the 
fungus  did  not  penetrate  the  roots. 
It  may  be  that  fimgi  causing  these  ajipear- 
ances  are  forms  of  other  fungus,  for  it  is  now 
known  that  many  choractors  are  assumed  at  va¬ 
rious  stages  of  growth  of  those  little  plants. 
One  of  these  diseases  appears  ns  a  sort 
of  bark -scaling  at  a  period  anterior  to  tliat 
Avhen  the  pear  becomes  natmally  rough-barked, 
which  is  not  till  its  twelfth  year.  This  does  not 
jwnoti’ato  deep  enough  to  affect  seriously  tho 
inner  bark,  still  that  it  has  a  bad  effect  on  health 
is  apparent,  from  the  fact  that  trees  with  it  have 
their  leaves  turn  a  red  or  brow’ii  color  early  in 
the  fall,  showing  that  theii’  nutrition  has  not 
been  perfect. 
.Another  fom  attacks  the  green  bark  of  five  and 
six  yeai’  old  branches,  making  dead  iiatehes  of 
an  inch  or  more,  surrounded  by  the  healthy 
green  baik.  Where  the  destruction  terminates 
tliere  is  a  separation,  and  thoappeai’anco  is  much 
as  if  the  ii’regnlai’  iiatch  had  been  marked  by  the 
edge  of  a  knife.  Still  another  form  seems  to 
confine  itself  to  the  sinirs.  It  eat«  out  the  struct¬ 
ure  at  the  junction  with  the  main  branch,  aud 
gives  the  tree  a  poculiar  appearance.  Dead 
leaves  aud  spurs  every  where,  hut  the  maiu  shoots 
and  branches  as  healt  hy  as  they  possibly  can  be. 
—  — 
LATE  TRANSPLANTING  OF  TREES, 
It  sometimes  ocem’s  that  it  becomes  necessary 
to  transplant  trees  late  in  the  season,  or  after  the 
buds  have  sw'clled  or  new  gi’owth  commenced. 
This  can  bo  done  quite  safely  if  duo  caution  is 
given  in  protecting  the  roots  from  light  and  ah’. 
In  removing  trees  or  small  shi-uhs  after  growth 
has  commenced,  ive  have  a  watering-pot  full  of 
water  near  by,  and  ns  soon  as  the  tree  is  dug  up, 
the  roots  arc  ro-sprlnkled  until  every  one  is 
thoroughly  wet,  then  fine  earth  is  scattered  over 
aU  the  largo  roots  and  small  fibers,  thus  pre¬ 
venting  them  from  being  affected  by  the  light, 
as  Avell  as  becoming  dry  while  being  packed  up  or 
removed  from  one  part  of  the  grounds  to  an¬ 
other. 
A  portion  of  the  branches  is  also  removed, 
and  usually  it  is  best  to  do  this  before  digging  up, 
because  the  pruning  can  be  done  much '  more 
systematically  and  readily  while  the  tree  is  fixed 
in  the  earth  than  afterwards ;  besides,  it  lessens 
evaporation  in  proportion  to  the  niunber  of 
young  shoots  and  loaves  removed. 
Trees  and  sliruhK  of  moderate  size  may  be 
removed  quite  safely,  even  after  growih  has 
commenced  in  spring,  if  those  precautionary 
measures  are  strictly  followed. 
Where  trees  hare  been  left  beelod-in  until 
growth  has  commenced,  the  roots  may  be  puddled 
ns  taken  out,  that  is,  dipiied  into  a  solution  of 
earth  and  water  of  tho  consistency  of  thin  mor¬ 
tar.  This  should  always  be  done  when  trees  are 
to  ho  set  out  in  a  windy  day,  for  a  few  moments 
drying  will  frcqucutly  make  one-half  difference 
iu  the  groAvlli  of  a  tree  tho  first  season,  even  if 
!  all  otlier  couditions  be  favorable. 
I  - - 
EARLY -RIPENING  TREE -SEEDS. 
There  are  many  persons  who  have  spent  a 
long  life  among  elms  and  silver  maple  ti’ces,  hut 
never  noticed  Uiat  their  seeds  riiieued  in  the 
spring  instead  of  fall.  This  is  not  strange,  be¬ 
cause  wo  are  not  inclined  to  notice  things  in 
which  wo  are  not  particularly  interested. 
But  should  there  he  any  of  our  readers  who 
care  to  grow  silver  or  K^arlet  maples,  or  the 
American  elm,  from  seed,  wo  would  adA'ise  llicru 
to  commence  liKiking  out  for  seed  this  month,  or 
the  first  of  tbe  next,  in  more  nortlicm  localities. 
The  seeds  of  these  trees  ripcu  quite  early  in  the 
sen  Slip,  and  if  gathered  as  soon  os  they  begin  to 
fall,  or  soon  afttir  they  have  fallen,  and  sown 
inimeiliatcly  in  a  Avcll-prcpared  seed-bed,  young 
trees  one  to  two  feet  high  caii  be  grown  from 
them  lieforo  next  Avintcr. 
Very  freiiuently  one  can  find  trees  along  tbe 
roadsides  whens  seeds  falling  on  clean,  hard  soU 
can  1)0  swept  up  iu  largo  quantities  if  they  are 
wanted.  The  seeds  of  tbe  trees  named  arc  very 
delicate,  aud  will  not  reinaln  sound  for  any  con- 
sideralilc  time,  even  if  kept  in  a  cool,  dry  place, 
therefore  it  is  always  best  to  sow  them  soon  af¬ 
ter  gathering.  But  a  very  slight  covering  of  soil 
ii  I’oquireil,  not  more  than  a  half-inch,  and  less 
is  better,  esiHicially  if  it  is  inclineil  to  become 
I  hard  after  a  shower.  A  hint  to  tho  wise  on  this 
matter  should  be  suftioiout  to  inako  them  open 
their  eyes  and  look  about,  if  ncAV  plantations  of 
these  trees  be  desired  or  old  ones  extended. 
lusimuift  gfjiartmnit. 
INSURANCE  NOTES  AND  NEWS. 
Ab/  a  raying  Buatne.s.?.— The  commouly-re- 
ceiA’ed  opinion  that  the  business  of  lire  iiisuranco 
ia  a  profitable  one,  as  compared  Avilh  otlicrs,  is 
cntllliHl  to  many  grains  of  alloAvance.  Hero  and 
there  a  small  company,  confining  its  insurance  to 
the  A’icinity  of  its  ofiii’.e,  may  make  a  large  divi¬ 
dend  out  of  tho  savings  of  an  exceptionally  for- 
lunate  year,  but,  taking  a  mimljcr  of  years  to¬ 
gether,  the  leading  agency  companies  ha\’C  tnaile 
very  small  profits  indeed.  It  appears  from  some 
recoil tly-publishcd  statistics  that  the  premiums 
of  twenty-eight  targe  companies,  from  the  date 
of  their  orgauiEtttioii  to  tlie  time  of  the  (Chicago 
fire,  but  not  including  this  calamity,  Avere  two 
hiuidred  and  fifty  inilliouB,  and  tho  expenditures 
tAvo  hundred  aud  twenty -three  millions.  The 
difference  of  these  figm’os  amounts  to  a  little 
more  than  a  profit  of  ten  per  cent.— a  rate 
usually  regarded  as  uuremunerative  iioav  in  loss 
hazanlouH  times  of  husinoss.  Ite.sides,  nearly  a 
dozen  of  these  tAventy-cight  Avere  ruined  by  the 
great  fire  alluded  to,  leaving  tbe  aggregate  gain 
of  the  remainder  even  less  satisfaetory. 
Lurking  I)ang<rs.—l>w:\ng  tho  Centennial 
year,  with  its  ebullitions  of  noisy  patriotism, 
there  Avill  be  a  largo  sale  and  use  of  explosive 
toys.  Most,  if  not  uU,  of  those  that  explode  by 
concussion  are  composed  of  some  preparation  or 
combination  of  nitro  glyceriue.  Children  es¬ 
pecially  AA-ill  purchase  and  ‘'pop”  innocent- 
looking  Avafers  aud  long  strips  of  prepared 
paper,  which,  taken  singly,  are  comparatively 
safe,  but  are  capable,  used  in  considerable  quan¬ 
tities,  of  a  deal  of  hurt.  A  few  years  ago  the 
accidental  fall  of  a  box  nf  candy  torpedoes  caused 
a  feai-ful  explosion,  and,  later,  a  similar  accident 
to  a  lot  of  toj-B  in  a  show  Avindow  on  Broadway 
did  Bcoi’cely  less  damage.  The  best  Aray  to  avoid 
the  consequent  danger  w  to  avoid  the  use  of  such 
toys.  A  grain  or  so  of  dj'uamite  betAveen  the 
thumb  aud  fiuger  of  a  child  may  lead  tp  a  great 
destructiou  of  proiicrty. 
r/tis  Wid  lluH  Surndiody— For  mauy  years 
some  of  tlie  bfo  companies  have  required  of 
those  Avho  obtain  loans  of  money  from  them 
some  additional  security  (?)  iu  the  shape  of  a 
heavy  life  insiu’ance  policy.  This  practice  has 
been  condenmed  by  a  Kansas  Court  as  being 
usurious,  because  the  borrower  pays  soniething 
more  than  interest  upon  the  loan.  In  this  erm- 
demnation  is  included  also  tho  exaotiou  of  bo¬ 
nuses  aud  fees,  or  any  oonsidoiation  whatever 
other  than  legal  iiiteyest  The  companies  re¬ 
ferred  to,  will  doubtless  take  measAires  to  avoid 
violations  of  tbe  rule  based  tiiion  this  decision. 
Good  A'eiPS.— We  are  glad  to  learn  that  the 
better  class  of  companies  confining  then’  insur¬ 
ances  to  detached  and  form  risks  we  more  pros¬ 
perous  than  at  anv  former  period.  We  claim  no 
small  share  of  the  credit  of  this,  because  of  our 
pei’Klrtont  advocacy  of  the  expediency  and  safety 
of  conflhirig  fww  risks  to  fanners’  oonipBuits. 
