MOORE’S  RURAL  n£W-YORRER, 
iioiiifstir  Ccouomi). 
MEALY  AND  WAXY  POTATOES. 
An  cxaniiiialioii  of  the  potato  with  a  niicro- 
HCoi)o  haa  proved  tlic  relative  worth  of  tlio  mealy 
and  waxy  kinila  of  this  nsoful  vegetable.  On 
examining  a  thin  slice,  it  is  seen  to  ho  almost  en¬ 
tirely  composed  of  cells,  which  are  sometimes 
filled  with,  and  sometimes  contain  clnsters  of 
hoantifiU  little  oval  grains.  The  gi'ains  rem.ain 
nnehanged  in  cold  water ;  hut  when  it  is  warmed 
they  dissolve  in  it,  and  the  whole  becomes  a 
jtslly,  and  oecnjiieH  a  lai’ger  space  than  it  did  in 
the  form  of  grains.  tVlion  a  potato  is  boiled, 
then  (!a<'h  of  these  cells  of  which  it  is  composed 
hiHUiiiuis  a  little  vessel  fnll  of  jelly ;  and,  if  there 
ho  not  a  great  (piantity  of  starch  in  the  colls,  it 
may  bo  gelatlnizfsl  without  bursting  them. 
Hut,  if  the  unmhor  of  grains  or  their  size  be 
very  great,  the  cells  of  the  potato  are  broken  on 
all  sidcK  by  the  expansion  of  the  little  masses  of 
jolly,  and  the  app<!arauco  of  mealiness  is  pro¬ 
duced.  Hence  wo  see  that  mealy  potatoes  are 
the  most  valuable  and  waxincss  denotes  a  de¬ 
ficiency  of  starch  or  nourishing  matter. 
BOILING  VEGETABLES. 
WiiKN  peas,  beans  and  other  legumes,  do  not 
boil  easily,  it  has  been  imputed  to  the  coolness 
of  the  season  or  to  the  rains.  This  pojiular 
notion  is,  however,  on'oneous.  The  dillicuJty  of 
boiling  tlio  vegotabloH  soft  arises  from  their 
imbibuig  a  superabundaut  fpiantity  of  gypsum 
during  their  growth.  To  correct  tliis,  throw  a 
small  quantity  of  aub-carbonato  of  soda  into 
the  pot  along  with  tlio  vegetables,  the  carbonic 
acid  of  which  will  seize  upon  tho  lime  in  the 
gypsum,  and  free  tho  legumes  from  its  ialluencc. 
■  - 
ORIGINAL  RECIPES. 
JUiilrd  riddl’d  C'uhbrtf/c.  — Wash  tho  cabbage 
thoroughly,  cut  the  heads  into  (piarters,  boil  in 
salted  water  until  bmder ;  stick  whole  cloves 
Hcatteritig  ov<n‘  each  quarter,  then  put  them 
down  in  layers  in  a  jar  or  tub,  add  a  few  red 
lKjpj)er  pods,  cover  with  gooil  culer  vinegar. 
The  boiling  before  i)ickliug  is  a  tlecided  inqu-ovo- 
ment  upon  tho  usual  way  of  pickling  raw  cal;- 
bago  at  least,  so  says  a  frieml,  who  ate  it  at  my 
table  over  twenty  years  ago.  M  ns.  llusrio. 
SELECTED  RECIPES. 
}‘ii;Idcd  Onions. — lioil  small  onions  after  they 
arc  ijecled  until  they  are  half  cooked  in  salted 
water;  then,  while  hot,  drop  them  into  jars  or 
bottles  of  spiced  vinegar, 
Toiiioln  (JatHup. — One  bushel  of  ripe  tomaloos, 
wash  thoroughly,  then  boil  until  soft.  Bquecze 
through  a  sieve,  add  one  quart  of  vinegar,  half 
a  pint  of  salt,  oiio  ounce  doves,  one  of  allspice, 
half  an  ounce  of  cayenne  popper,  two  ounces 
mustard  seed,  lx>U  the  whole  three  hours. 
direct  J'wkUii  Cucumbera. — Pare  and  cut  in 
quarters,  rii)e  cucumbers.  Remove  tho  seeds ; 
(hen  to  one  quart  of  vinegar  put  three  pounds 
of  sugar,  and  spicos  to  suit  tho  taste.  Scald  tho 
vinegar  and  spices  together,  pack  tlio  cucumbers 
in  a  jar  and  pour  tho  vinegar  over  them  boiling 
hut. 
A /io//«T.— One-half  peck  of  tomatoes,  two 
tabloHiJOoiifuls  each  of  salt  and  pepper,  half  a 
tablcspoonfid  each  of  ground  mustard,  alls|/ice, 
elovos ;  one  pint  of  vinegar.  The  tomatoes 
must  be  cooked  until  soft  and  put  through  a 
sieve.  Then  add  the  other  ingredients  ami  cook 
until  it  thickens,  then  put  it  in  bottles  and  seal. 
dim  Another.  To  make  one-half  gallon : 
One  gallon  of  skimimsl  tomatoes,  two  tablespoon* 
fuls  of  salt,  three  tahlespoonf uls  of  mustard, 
one-half  tablesiKionful  of  elovos,  one  tablespoon¬ 
ful  of  allspice,  one  single  hand  fill  of  horsorailish, 
and  one  quiu"t  of  shar))  vinegar ;  stow  four  or 
live  hours  ;  then  .■strain,  bottle  and  seal  closely. 
The  removal  of  the  seeds  is  entii'oly  optional. 
ridded  Cnufi/fowr.— Break  off  tho  flowers, 
put  a  layer  of  them  in  a  jar  and  sprinkle  salt 
jdontifully  over  them;  then  another  layer  of 
the  caulillowers ;  then  salt  and  so  on.  Let 
them  nnnain  twenty-four  iiours,  then  wash  off 
the  salt  and  drain  dry,  pack  them  in  a  jar  and 
ixmr  spiced  vinegar  boiling  hot,  over  them.  In 
four  or  live  days  heat  tho  vinegar  again  and 
IHUir  boiling  hot  over  them. 
dpieed  2’omn/0(W.-  Take  a  busliel  of  ripe  toma¬ 
toes,  skin  and  boil  them  well,  then  add  a  teacup 
of  salt,  two  tablespoonfuls  of  black  iicpper,  one 
tablospoonful  of  cayenne  pepper,  an  ounce  owh 
of  ground  mace,  clover,  allspice,  and  oinnamon 
if  agrwablo  to  the  taste,  mix  well.  Put  tho  to- 
matot^H  in  jars  and  when  cold,  run  mutton  suet 
over  them,  and  tie  sti'ong  paper  over  the  tops ; 
or  better  put  them  in  air-tight  jars  of  glass. 
ridded  Toineitoes. — Take  tomatoes  before 
they  arc  thoroughly  ri])©.  Mix  in  a  stone  jar  an 
ounce  of  mustard,  half  an  ounce  each  ‘of  cloves, 
allspice,  pepper  and  nutmeg  ;  with  half  a  jar  of 
good  cider  vinegar.  T,ay  in  tho  tomatoes  with  a 
dozen  jwoled  onions  of  medium  size,  cover  close. 
They  will  bo  fit  for  use  in  a  month.  Tho  onions 
may  bo  omitted  if  not  agreoal>lo  to  tho  taste. 
Half  a  pound  of  sugar  added  to  tho  vinegar  is  an 
iinprovoment. 
Another. — Chop  fine  a  peck  of  green  tomatoes, 
mix  in  a  teacup  of  salt,  let  tliem  stand  twenty- 
four  hours ;  then  put  them  in  a  colander  with  a 
heavy  weight  on  toii  for  an  honr,  or  until  the 
hrino  is  all  iwessed  out,  spieo  to  taste  willi  cloves, 
cinnamon,  allspice  and  ivepper,  mix  in  a  lihoral 
allowaiico  of  white  mustard  seed,  jiaek  down  in  a 
jar,  and  cover  with  hot  vinegar  in  which  lias 
Inion  dissolved  one  teacup  of  sugar'.  They  will 
he  fit  for  use  in  a  fow  days. 
POISONOUS  PAPER, 
Eds.  IlriiAt.. — Perhaps  it  will  ho  a  benefit  to 
some  of  your  readers  to  call  their  attention  to 
this  subject.  Tho  Health  Commissioners  of  the 
State  of  Michigan  In  their  Uoporls  for  1S7I1-4, 
call  the  attention  of  tho  public  to  tho  ]K)isottouH 
colors  in  wall-papers,  eS|KicialJy  tho  briglit  green, 
though  not  confined  to  that  color,  as  containing 
arsenic  in  various  <iuaiititioK  from  1  to  C  grains  to 
tho  square  foot ;  and  many  coses  arc  given  of 
tho  bad  and  somotimes  fatal  effects  of  sleeping 
in  rooms  tho  walls  of  which  arc  covered  with 
such  paper.  Tho  Commissioners  have  placed  in 
tho  ju'inciiial  libraries  of  tho  State  bound  bnolts 
containing  nearly  one  hundi'od  specimens  of  dif¬ 
ferent  samples  of  this  iioisonous  jiaper,  in  many 
of  which  no  green  can  bo  detected. 
As  for  myself,  I  ovoi'  liave  had  a  horror  of  wall- 
paper,  not  susiiecting,  however,  that  there  was 
poison  in  the  color,  but  suspecting  an<l  believing 
that  tho  mold  and  doeoinpositiou  of  the  ]iaste 
used  was  unhealUiy.  Some  three  years  since,  I 
was  taken,  by  slow  degrees,  with  a  dull  and  dis¬ 
agreeable  fueling  ill  the  head,  with  a  throbbing 
pulse,  which  continued  for  more  than  two  years, 
being  morn  in  winter  lhau  Hummor,  and  worse  at 
niglit  than  dining  tho  day.  As  the  trouble  in  tho 
head  was  ouu  of  the  symptoms  described  in  tho 
report  mcutioiiod,  1  miglit  have  thought  of  arsen¬ 
ical  paper,  but  wo  had  neither  wall  nor  curtain 
paper  in  the  house,  and  nothing  gieen,  aswo 
thought,  (onrsolvcs  oxcoptod)  but  old  paper 
boxes  in  the  attic.  So  wo  looked  for  other 
oanses,  and  the  Hr.  thought  it  might  end  in  hy- 
jHrropliy  of  tluj  heart.  Erom  an  article  in  a 
newspaper,  relating  similar  symptoms  produced 
by  tho  uso  of  a  green  lamp-shade,  then  was 
brought  to  my  mind,  what  had  not  occurred  to  it 
before,  that  1  had  used  an  arsenical  lamp-shade 
from  a  fow  minutes  to  as  many  hours  per  night 
for  several  years.  Tlio  shade  middcnly  and  the 
bad  symptoms  more  deliberately  disappeared 
and  tho  hypertrophic  symptoms  no  longer  ex¬ 
isted.  S.  B.  Peck. 
-♦■♦4 - 
HINTS  ON  DISINFECTANTS. 
The  following  timely  hints  on  disinfectaiitH 
from  tho  Boston  Journal  of  Chemistry  should  ho 
lieodcd  by  housekoepors : 
If  liouseliold  drainage  were  always  wliat  it 
ought  to  bo,  we  should  liavo  small  need  of  disin¬ 
fectants,  hut,  nnforlunatoly,  defective  drains  are 
the  rule  and  faultless  ones  the  rare  exception. 
b(  cold  weatlier  tlie  former  may  not  in  all  i^asos 
prove  seriously  mischievous,  but  with  tlie  advent 
of  the  dog-days  tlioy  are  almost  certain  to  be¬ 
come  dangerous  to  lioaltli.  Tho  soeils  of  disease 
and  <leatli  wliicli  may  remain  dormant  in  winter 
spring  lip  into  rank  growth  and  bear  their  bale¬ 
ful  fruit  nndcr  tho  fostering  heat  of  summer.  If 
tho  cause  of  the  evil  cannot  bo  immediately  re¬ 
moved — and  often  it  camiot  ho  the  next  Lest 
thing  is  to  neutralize  it  by  meaii.s  of  disiufeet- 
aut.s.  If  the  poisonons  growth  cannot  bo  rooted 
up,  its  fatal  fruitago  may  bo  blasted  in  the  Inid. 
Tho  drain  that  cannot  bo  rebuilt  or  repairwl  un¬ 
til  a  more  favorable  season,  may  bo  rendered  in- 
offeusivo  and  innocuous  by  the  free  use  of  cheap 
hut  jKitent  disiuf octants,  like  carbolic  acid  audits 
compounds.  A  fow  dollars  invested  in  these  may 
save  hundreds  of  dollars  in  doctor’s  hills,  or  iu- 
ostimable  loss  in  hoaltli  and  life.  No  Iiouso- 
liold  should  lie  without  a  supply  of  them  in  hot 
wentlior,  for  oven  whore  tho  drainage  is  supposed 
to  be  iiorfoct,  it  is  well  to  bo  prejiared  for  tlie 
contingency  of  some  unforeseen  defect  or  disar¬ 
rangement. 
Those  of  our  Iriends  who  go  to  the  country  or 
seaside  for  a  summer  vacation,  will  do  well  to 
boar  in  mind  tho  iwculiar  perils  of  such  places. 
(If  late  years,  tho  close  of  tho  traveling  season 
has  brought  its  reports  of  typJioid  and  other  epi¬ 
demics  from  not  a  few  of  thewateriiig-jilncesatid 
summer  resorts.  Pestilontial  (Rains  and  poisoned 
wells  have  Hixiilod  all  tho  "  sweet  inlliiences  "  of 
jniro  mountain  air  or  bracing  ocean  breezes. 
Forewarned  is  forearmed,  and  all  who  leave  homo 
for  country  or  sea-shore  should  think  of  those 
tilings  at  tho  start.  It  may  save  them  many 
painful  rclleotions  after  their  return.  Ho  not  go 
to  a  place  where  the  drainage  and  other  sanitary 
arrangomonts  ai'o  not  uucxcoplionablo ;  or,  if 
yon  cannot  be  sure  on  that  point,  son  that  there 
is  a  good  supply  of  disinfectants  on  tho  promises, 
oven  if  yon  have  to  furnish  it  yourself.  A  few 
bottles  of  the  saturated  solution  of  carbolic  acid 
will  be  no  costly  or  hoavy  addition  to  your  lug¬ 
gage,  and  tlioy  may  savo  the  health  of  a  whole 
household.  'I’ho  epuleinios  that  have  prcvaileil 
in  country  hoarding-houses  and  hotels  mighl. 
often  have  been  provonted  by  such  forethought 
on  the  part  of  a  single  iniiiate. 
After  all  Hie  discussion  of  the  comparatiTO 
merits  of  disinrecting  agents,  and  the  many 
‘‘powders"  and  ‘Mlnids”  Unit  have  been  pat¬ 
ented  and  advertised,  carbolic  acid  and  its  com¬ 
pounds.  like  carbolatoof  lime,  whicli  were  among 
tho  first  to  bo  recognized  as  really  safe,  effective, 
and  cheap  agents  for  tlio  purpose,  still  retain 
that  wi'll-oarncd  repulatii.in  ;  or  rathur  they  liavc 
gained  steadily  in  favor,  while  many  of  their 
vaunted  rivals  have  passed  into  merited  oblivion. 
When  they  have  failed  to  give  complete  satis¬ 
faction,  it  has  been  hecaiiso  a  poor  or  soiiliistl- 
cated  jirojiaration,  witli  morn  odor  than  disin¬ 
fecting  power,  has  been  used.  A  geiiniiio  article 
from  a  trustwortliy  manuracluror  lias  never  dis- 
apixiinted  those  who  liavo  tested  it. 
- ♦♦♦ - 
EFFECT  OF  MEDICINE  ON  THE  TEEEH. 
I  Hn.  J.  F,.  P.  Hodhon  calls  attention  in  the  New 
York  Medical  Record  to  tlio  fact  Unit  in  any  ill¬ 
ness  involving  a  feverish  condition,  tho  lliiids  of 
the  month  are  constantly  as  iulensoly  acid,  as 
respects  tho  teeth,  as  in  any  medicine,  adminis¬ 
tered  l>y  the  physician  ;  and,  moreover,  from  tho 
high  temperatiu'o  of  Uio  Imceal  cavity  at  such 
times,  Uio  iHiwor  of  tlioso  acids  for  evil  is  gioatly 
aiignienb'd.  |Furtlicr,  a  direct  consispieiico  of 
those  conditions  is  tho  ospcoiiilly  rapid  fermenta¬ 
tion  and  doooiupoHitioii  of  all  food  lodged  be¬ 
tween  and  around  tho  teetii,  and  the  couse<iiienl 
elimination  of  otlior  doletcrions  acids,  “all  form¬ 
ing  a  mighty  power,  nndor  which  R  is  not  sur¬ 
prising  that  tooth-structnro  sJioiild  melt  away 
like  dew  heforo  tlio  sun.  It  is  indeed  a  very  siir 
prising  thing  that  any  toutli  slioiild  live  to  toll 
tho  tale.” 
Dr.  Ilodsonasks,  therefore,  a  little  attention 
to  tills  matter,  and  roconimends  rinsing  tlio 
mouth  with  Inpior  oalois,  diluted  according  to 
tlio  sonsitivenoss  of  tho  niiieiis  inenibrane,  and 
iluvonwwith  a  few  drops  of  winter-green  or  jiep- 
pcruiiilr  to  make  it  agreeable ;  or  to  nib  creta 
prep,  freely  about  and  between  the  teeth,  and 
allow  it  to  reiiuiiu  during  tho  night ;  or,  if  Uie 
patient  he  able  to  use  the  tooth-brush,  to  luld  a 
small  quantity  of  sodic  Incarb.  to  the  usual  tootli- 
powder  (for  tills  piirposo  only,  nnd  not  for  gen¬ 
eral  Use);  or,  in  short,  the  omployinent  of  any  of 
tho  manifold  methods  of  neutralizing  tho  acid 
condition  wliieli  may  bo  most  accessible  at  tho 
time. 
Ho  says  that  tho  tube  through  which  acid  rom- 
odioH  are  usually  directed  to  bo  taken  does  not 
prevent  thorn  from  rogurgitating  upon  tho  tooth 
in  tho  act  of  awiillowing,  so  that  it  practically 
acoomjilishos  very  littlo  of  tho  object  sought  to 
ho  attained  by  its  employment;  hut  if,  in  addi¬ 
tion,  tlio  month  bo  immediately  and  thoroughly 
rinsed  with  tlie  aolntioii  of  lime  above  referred 
to,  or  a  solution  of  sup.  oarb.  soda,  tho  evil  ef¬ 
fects  of  any  acid  remedy  upon  tlio  teeth  will  bo 
eiitiroly  obviated. 
In  tho  exhibition  of  strong  alkalies,  on  the 
other  hand,  which  lay  hold  of  tho  gelatinous  conj 
stitnonts  of  tho  teeth,  the  fiuids  of  tlie  inoutli 
during  illness  ore  usually  so  prononncodly  acid  as 
to  entirely  neutralize  this  condition :  hut  If  otli- 
therwise,  a  slight  rinsing  witli  a  very  dilute,  sim¬ 
ple  acid,  like  tartaric  or  citi'ic,  will  acoom|)lisli 
tho  result  desired,  though  tho  effect  of  tlicso 
remedies  upon  the  tooth  is  scarcely  worthy  of  con¬ 
sideration,  so  entirely  will  tho  matter  of  their 
neutralization  take  care  of  itself. 
■  - - 
EFFECTS  OF  ALCOHOL,  MEAT,  ETC.,  IN 
SUSTAINING  FATIGUE. 
J)ii.  E.  A.  Pakkh  writes  in  tlio  London  I’rac- 
titioner : 
“  Tho  exiierienco  gained  during  tho  Ashantco 
campaign  showed  that  total  ahstinenco  improved 
the  health,  and  that  alcohol,  though  apiiareiitly 
honoficial  when  given  with  food  after  tho  day’s 
inarch  was  done,  was  injurious  while  on  tho 
march,  tho  reviving  effect  passing  off  after,  at 
tho  utmost,  two  and  a  half  miles’  inarch  liad 
been  accomplislicd,  and  being  succeeded  by  lan¬ 
guor  and  exhaustion  as  great  or  greater  than  be¬ 
fore.  When  agahi  resorhid  to,  its  reviving 
power  was  less  marked ;  and  its  marcotizing  iii- 
llueiice  was  (fftoii  traceable  in  tho  dullness,  na- 
willingness  to  march,  and  loss  of  cheorfiilness  of 
tho  men.  Meat  extract,  on  tho  contrary,  in 
quantities  of  not  loss  than  lialf  an  ounce  at  a 
423  i 
time,  was  not  only  powerfully  reviving,  but  sus¬ 
taining,  and  so  was  oolToe,  tbongh  to  a  consider¬ 
ably  I(!sa  extent.  'I’liis  evidence  in  favor  of  meat 
extracts  is  of  great  value  at  the  present  lime, 
whoa  their  jiowcr  to  act  eit  her  as  food  or  slinin- 
lauts  is  so  imich  disputed.  'I’he  snsliiining  isiwer 
of  thin  gruel,  made  from  boiled  oatmeal,  during 
licavy  w<.>rk,  is  well  shown  in  one  of  tlio  aj(pon- 
diecs.  This  agrees  ])orfo(‘tly  with  tho  observa¬ 
tion  of  Alpine  triivolers,  that  small  quantities  of 
food  at  slioft  intervals  prevent  oxliaustion,  and 
with  onr  own  t*xpi!rionce  that,  iilthongh  niiaocus- 
Umiisl  to  exorcise,  wo  could  carry  a  knapsack  for 
tliirty  miles  a  day  wilhont  fatigno  by  sinqdy 
taking  something  to  cal  every  two  hours.’’ 
- - - 
HYGIENIC  NOTES. 
Children' »  Drink. — Arrowroot  made  into  a 
(lap,  witli  rresli  milk  and  some  water,  is  tlie  best 
thing  for  a  liaby.  It  is  as  good  as  the  besthroaHl 
milk.  Oatmeal  is  bettor  for  larger  eliildren. 
Hwooten  the  arrowroot  with  powdered  sugar,  not 
too  sweet.  But  it  is  ao  dour ;  liU  a  pound  for  tho 
best. — Kit. 
Drink  for  the  dick.-  Two  teaspoon  fills  arrow- 
root  m  a  (|nart  pitcher,  with  a  little  cold  water; 
three  tiihlespoonfiils  white  sugar,  juice  of  one 
lemon  and  part  of  the  rmd ;  stir  all  <iuickly 
while  ]ioiiring  boiling  wiitor  until  tlio  pitcher  is 
full.  Drink  cold. 
Iiisurantc  JlfHiirfiuciit, 
INSURANCE  NOTES  AND  NEWS. 
Litiijntionn  idth  Idfe  ! nfmranee  Compmnen.— 
Tliere  lias  boon  (piito  an  iiicrcaHo  of  litigations 
with  life  insnraneo  conqianios  within  a  couple  of 
years.  This  has  been  (iaiisud  in  a  great  nnjasiuo 
perluips  by  the  liiird  times,  wliicli  liiive  pressed 
very  heavily  upon  tlio  finauees  of  third-cliiss 
companies.  .Mncb  of  this  litigation  lias  boon 
of  a  novel  kind,  and  tlio  decisions  rendered  by 
tho  courts  have  done  ninch  to  define  tlio  (hilh- 
orto  illy  understood)  relations  of  insured  and 
nsurer. 
A  company  has  succeeded  in  evading  tho  pay¬ 
ment  of  a  (h'atli  claim  by  establishing  (wlmt  was 
not  denied)  that  the  statements  of  an  aiiplicant, 
though  strictly  true  when  made,  were  not  true 
when  tile  itiiJicy  was  issned.  Another  company 
is  sn.Htaiued  by  the  courts  in  forfeiting  a  policy 
on  wbieli  paymentH  had  been  snspeiulod  in  piir- 
Hiianeo  of  an  agreement  with  the  agent,  at  tho 
tinio  of  iipplicalion,  that  if  payments  continued 
until  11  lat  time  the  policy  slionidho  iionfoiToita- 
ble.  And  yet  another  company  seeks  to  avoid 
payment  because  tho  last  lU'oniium  was  iiaid 
partly  by  note  instead  of  cash  an  arrangomont 
liy  no  means  unusual  and  one  almost  universal, 
and  to  wliieh  in  this  case  tlio  conqiany  has  as¬ 
sented. 
The  records  of  tho  coiu'ts  are  full  of  a  variety 
of  such  cases  wliei'o  tlio  doci.si()us  rendered  ig¬ 
nore  all  parole  agreonumts  and  undorstaruhngs 
with  tho  agent  and  are  based  upon  tho  letter  of 
tho  (lOlicy. 
The  most  Inslnietivo  lesson  to  bo  learned  from 
all  tills  Is,  that  the  contratRs  of  a  certain  class  of 
ehronleally  litigious  compauios  are  fnll  of  trajis 
for  unwary  ami  unskillful  people,  and  that  in 
order  to  transact  any  kind  of  business  with  tlieir 
agents  wilii  safety,  it  is  neocsBary  for  tho  aiipli¬ 
cant  to  understand  tho  scope  and  limit  of  tho 
agents’  autiKirity  and  powers  considerably  bettor 
than  tlio  agents  thomsolvos. 
Nitiiiber  of  Cnmpnnie.’i, — 'Two  lumdied  and 
foui'tcen  companies  insiu’ing  property  against 
loss  by  lire  are  authorized  to  do  business  in  tlio 
Htato  of  New  York,  and  iierbaps  ii  hundred  more 
are  not  luhuitted  or  have  not  applied  for  luhnis- 
sion.  These  are  joint-stock  conijianios.  Tho 
number  of  mutualH,  or  companies  assessing  tho 
means  of  paynient  of  losses  and  expenses  cannot 
he  conveniently  nscertaiiied,  since  theso  compa¬ 
nies  are  not  compelled  everywhere  to  report  thoir 
condition  or  hiiHinoss,  and  many  of  tlicm  are  very 
small  affairs,  oonfiaing  their  businosH  to  a  singlo 
county  or  to  a  very  limited  territory.  51  any  of 
tho  mutual  companies  coufino  tlicR  businoss  to 
farm  and  other  detaelied  iiroviorty,  and  a  very 
fow  are  mattugod  with  telorablo  skill  and  econ¬ 
omy. 
In  dealing  with  Lhom  it  slionklbo  remembered 
that  whatever  may  be  claimed  on  tho  score  of 
clioapnoss,  tho  policy  liolder  is  not  only  insured, 
but  is  also  an  insurer  and  stockholder,  liable  for 
his  share  of  tho  losses  to  an  unlimited  extent, 
and  net  merely  to  the  extent  of  iho  note  ho 
gives,  and  that,  too,  for  part  losses  and  exiionscH, 
as  well  as  those  wiiich  may  ho  incniTfsl  during 
tho  holding  of  his  insurance.  In  other  words, 
lie  takes  an  nidiiniled  amount  of  stock  in  a  com¬ 
pany  and  agrees  to  porn  i  it  other  people  to  run  it. 
'iliis  is  not  “  business,"  nor  prudence.  Better 
far  Imy  so  much  insurance  from  a  sound,  reliable 
stock  company  and  pay  cash  for  it. 
t; 
