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In southern Malawi, Majete Wildlife Reserve covers about 700km² of fairly rugged, hilly bush of the Lower Shire Valley – and has been intensively protected and re-stocked with game since about 2003. Vegetation is diverse, ranging from moist miombo woodland in the western hills, to dry savannah in the east with prominent thickets along the riverbanks. Up to date, more than 2,550 animals of 12 different species have been reintroduced to Majete. These include most notably elephant and black rhino. Others include buffalo eland waterbuck hartebeest impala zebra and warthog Resident mammal species that were present in Majete prior to intense poaching in the 1990s. These were the kudu reedbuck the common duiker bushbuck Sharpe’s grysbok, suni and the bush pig. As part of the undertaking to rehabilitate the reserve to create a functioning ecosystem, an extensive restocking program was initiated. The reintroduction of all species was based on historic records of their occurrence in the area. Recommended Malawi Tours Places: Shire Highlands (2 days) → Majete Wildlife Reserve (2) → Zomba Plateau (1) → Liwonde National Park (2) → Likoma Island (4) → Lilongwe (1) Tour Highlights: Cycling and Walking Trails, Beautiful Tea Plantations, Tea Factory Visits, Shire Valley, Diverse Vegetation, Amazing...

At the end of a long, cold winter many of us are eagerly waiting for the first signs of spring. When the last of the snow melts away, the earliest wildflowers begin to appear in March and April. The earliest group of wildflowers to emerge in our forests are referred to as spring ephemerals. Ephemeral means “lasting for a very short time.” Before the trees leaf out, an abundance of sunlight is able to reach the forest floor, warming the soil and encouraging the first wildflowers to push through the leaf litter. These plants emerge, bloom, set seed, then die back and enter dormancy before the canopy leafs out and blocks the sunlight. Frequent walks in the woods are necessary if you hope to catch a glimpse of these fleeting displays of spring. Resist the urge to pick the alluring flowers; they are often sensitive to disturbance and some have laws protecting them. Below is a list of some of our most common spring ephemeral wildflowers. Keep an eye out for them this spring; tread lightly, take only photos and leave only footprints. Emerging from an underground reddish rhizome, bloodroot typically grows less than a foot tall, the single large basal leaf clasping the flower stem. Commonly found in moist to dry woods and thickets, on flood plains, and near shores or streams. This wildflower blooms in early April, before the foliage unfolds. A single, white flower with 8-12 delicate petals, yellow stamens, and two sepals. The flowers produce pollen but no nectar. Colonies are formed through underground spreading rhizomes containing reddish-orange toxic sap, the reason for the common name. Bloodroot produces toxic alkaloids, primarily sanguinarine, which are stored in the rhizome. Sanguinarine kills animal cells. Contact with skin may destroy tissue and result in a scab. Ingestion can lead to vomiting and loss of consciousness. Small bees and flies act as pollinators. Native Americans used bloodroot as a medicine and as a dye for fabric. Eastern White Trillium As the name implies, the plant’s growth form is based in threes. Trilliums have three leaf-like bracts whorled around a stem, producing a single flower with three sepals, three petals, and six stamens in the center with three stigmas. There are 39 varieties of native trilliums in the United States. The most common trillium in Michigan is the eastern white trillium, occurring in every county. Large, white, odorless flowers grow pinker as they age. Honey bees, bumblebees and wasps act as pollinators. Trillium are a long lived (25 years) yet very delicate plant and can be killed unintentionally by picking the flowers. Some species of trillium are listed as threatened or endangered and collecting these species is illegal in Michigan. High deer population density decreases or eliminates trillium in an area. The pinkish late flowers are sometimes confused with the related red trillium (Trillium erectum) which is rare and displays deep red flowers that have no nectar and exude an odor of rotting meat to attract flies and beetles as pollinators. Yellow Trout Lily Other common names include yellow dogtooth violet and Adder's tongue. The name “trout lily” refers to the appearance of its green leaves mottled with brown or gray, resembling brook trout. Often only the leaves will be present as the trout lily does not flower for the first 4-7 years of its life. Young plants will only grow one leaf until it has reached maturity and will then grow two leaves with a single yellow, stalked, nodding flower. Trout lilies grow in colonies that may be up to 300 years old. White trout lily (Erythronium albidum) occurs in the southern lower peninsula and along the Ontonagon River. Look for this peculiar plant in wetlands when snow is still prevalent. A thermogenic plant, skunk cabbage is able to produce its own heat through cellular respiration. The plant can be found poking through circles of melted snow. Flowers emerge in very early spring, a 4-6” mottled purple spathe with a spadix inside. Large green leaves emerge later. When bruised, the plant exudes a strong fetid odor resembling decaying flesh to lure insects for pollination. Native Americans used skunk cabbage as a medicinal plant, seasoning, and magical talisman. The roots and leaves are toxic raw, but the leaves may be dried and used in soups and stews. This small, low-growing wildflower rarely reaches 1 foot in height and produces a single pair of slender leaves. The pale pink flowers are accentuated by darker pink veins consisting of five petals and have a pleasant floral fragrance. Blooming lasts a mere three days and the anther is only active for one day. Spring beauties are noted for their abundance in forests, lawns, parks, roadsides, and wetlands. The Iroquois would give a cold infusion of the powdered roots to children suffering from convulsions. Many Native Americans cooked the root like a potato. The entire plant is considered safe for human consumption and is rich in nutrients like potassium, calcium and vitamins A and C. Harbinger of Spring A member of the carrot family, this wildflower reaches 6” tall on average and produces flowers with white petals and large, dark-reddish anthers. The five teardrop petals are widely spaced, not touching each other. Another common name is pepper-and-salt plant, referring to the black anthers and the bright white petals. This wildflower is one of the earliest to emerge in rich hardwood forests in spring. Pollination is performed by solitary bees, flies, and honey bees. The Cherokee were known to chew this plant to treat toothaches, and the bulb may be eaten cooked or raw. The two species of toothwort in Michigan are two-leaved toothwort (C. diphylla) and cutleaf toothwort (C. concatenata). Two-leaved toothwort has large, broad leaves and occupies moist cedar swamps while cutleaf toothwort has slender leaves and prefers rich beech-maple forests. A smooth, unbranched plant up to 1 foot tall, both species display white to pinkish flowers and have four petals held above the foliage in a spike. Emerging foliage may be purple initially, turning green in time. Toothwort is a host plant for the West Virginia white butterfly; however, the invasive species garlic mustard is threatening the survival of the butterfly. The butterfly confuses the similar looking flowers; if they lay their eggs on the invasive plant the offspring will die. Native Americans used the plant for a vinegar-based relish and medicinally to treat many illnesses. Other common names include: windflower, thimbleweed, and smell fox, an allusion to the musky smell of the leaves. The foliage reaches an average height of 6” with flowers held above on short stems. The solitary flowers are usually white, but may be pink, lilac or blue. Hoverflies are a primary pollinator. In woodland conditions they can carpet large areas quickly as the rhizomes spread just below the soil surface. The slender stems allow the plant to tremble in the wind, earning the common name windflower. Although Native Americans utilized the plant as medicine, wood anemone is considered toxic to animals and humans, causing severe skin and gastrointestinal irritation. Out of a mass of fern-like leaves emerge stalks of 3 to 14 white or pinkish unscented flowers. The flowers resemble a pair of breeches hanging upside down, hence the common name Dutchman’s Breeches. The unique flower shape is adapted for pollination by bumblebees as they are able to separate the outer and inner petals of the flower to access the pollen. The flowers wilt almost immediately upon picking, so they should not be picked in the wild. Native Americans utilized the plant as a medicine to treat syphilis, skin conditions, and as a blood purifier. However, this plant may be toxic and causes dermatitis in some people. A similar and closely related wildflower, Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis) has fragrant, heart-shaped flowers. The delicate blue-green foliage of this wildflower typically grows up to 1 foot tall and often blankets the forest floor in dense colonies. The foliage is almost identical to dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), the most distinguishable difference being the flower. Squirrel corn blooms a week or so later than dutchman’s breeches, and the flowers are heart-shaped, creamy white to pale lavender in color and have a slight fragrance. There is no yellow waistband on squirrel corn’s flowers. Pollination is highly specialized with the unique flower shape; only the bumble bee is equipped with a tongue long enough to reach the deep recesses of the flower. The common name refers to the nodule-like yellow tubers clustered along the rootstock that resemble corn kernels. Mice and chipmunk commonly transplant the tubers. All parts of the plant are toxic in large quantities and deer do not like to graze on them. The Menominee Indians valued the wildflower as a love charm, a young man would throw the flowers to his intended love or chew the roots giving a perfumed smell in the face of the woman. The Onondaga called this plant the “Ghost Corn” believing it was “food for the spirits.” Many of our spring flowering plants have evolved mutualistically with ants in an interesting seed dispersal relationship called myrmecochory. Seeds of these plants have an extra appendage on their seed called an elaiosome. The ants transport the elaiosomes, which are rich in lipids and proteins, to their dens and dispose of the seeds in underground nest waste disposal areas, the optimal environment for germination and protection from seed predation. Bloodroot, trillium, trout lily, spring beauty, dutchman’s breeches, and squirrel corn all utilize this fascinating adaptation.

Chocolate pecan brownie fudge cake Total time: 50 minutes, plus cooling time 1/3 cup potato starch 1/2 cup finely ground blanched almonds 1 cup turbinado sugar (or granulated sugar) 1/2 cup canola oil 1 teaspoon kosher-for-Passover vanilla extract 3 1/2 ounces good-quality bittersweet chocolate, melted 1 cup chopped pecans 1. Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9-inch round or square baking pan and line it with parchment paper so that the paper extends 2 inches beyond the pan. (This will create "handles" to remove the cake after baking.) 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the potato starch, ground almonds, sugar and salt. 3. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs and vanilla. Pour the oil mixture over the dry ingredients and stir together with a wooden spoon until thoroughly combined and smooth. Stir in the melted chocolate and nuts. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and, if necessary, level with a frosting spatula dipped in cold water. 4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out slightly moist but without crumbs. While still warm, cut into 8 equal pieces, leaving the cake in the pan. Set aside the cake to cool completely, then chill. Bring the cake back to room temperature before lifting it out of the pan (using the parchment handles), and gently separate into portions.

Our Top 20 Reader Favorites from the Last 30 Years In honor of our 30th anniversary, we've rounded up our all-time favorite recipes. Whether a brilliant makeover or a super fast weeknight winner, these dishes show off what we do best. It's our anniversary, and we're giving you the gift of this carefully-cultivated collection of top-rated dishes we pulled together by examining top search data and polling staff to arrive at these 20 favorites. Best Soup Recipe: Quinoa and Roasted Pepper Chili This hearty vegetarian chili from December 2011 uses quinoa, which adds body, texture, and protein. Best Steak Recipe: Pan-Seared Strip Steak Master techniques stand the test of time, which is why our April 2011 method for grass-fed strip steak (a lean, flavorful cut) remains one of our favorites. Best Cheesy Recipe: Creamy, Light Macaroni and Cheese A trio of bold, nutty cheeses and a velvety butternut squash puree helped create our cheesiest mac and cheese in September 2011. The squash trick lets us cut back on cheese overall for an impressive makeover, shaving 500 calories and 30g sat fat. Best 5-Ingredient Recipe: Pork Medallions with Scallions and Magic Green Sauce This August 2015 dish is way more than the sum of its parts. Green onions do triple duty: in the sauce, with the pork in the pan, and as a curly garnish. Caper brine thins and brightens the sauce, a brilliant second use for the jar. Best Speedy Chicken Recipe: Chicken Piccata Easy and quick (and starring our favorite dinner bird), this January 2012 classic continues to be a weeknight rock star. Serve the chicken with polenta or whole-wheat angel hair pasta to catch all of the lemony, garlicky pan sauce. Best Last-Minute Recipe: Shrimp and Broccolini Rotini Keep pasta in the pantry and shrimp in the freezer, and you've got an easy last-minute meal—which is why the recipe from September 2015 remains a regular go-to for busy weeknights. Best Fall Comfort Recipe: Fall Vegetable Curry You'll use this staff fave from October 2010 in heavy rotation as the days turn cooler. Madras curry powder is a blend of several fragrant spices and has more depth than regular curry powder; it's the only spice you need here (look for it in specialty stores or online). You can also change it up. Keep the broth, curry, and tomato base, but switch up the vegetables. Try butternut squash and red bell pepper, spinach and eggplant, or lacinato kale and potato. Best One-Pan Recipe: One-Pot Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes In March 2015, we made pasta night easier by cooking the noodles right in the sauce. This not only saves on cleanup; the stock also infuses the pasta with flavor as it cooks, and the starch helps to thicken the sauce so it clings. When using one pan, it's important to cook in stages so flavors build on each other and every element cooks to just the right doneness by the time you're finished. Best Sheet-Pan Recipe: Sumac Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots This sheet-pan dinner made chicken a winner in January 2017, with a ground sumac and brown sugar rub. You can also use sumac on roasted vegetables, stir it into vinaigrette, or try it in our Maple-Sumac Roasted Walnuts recipe. Best Restaurant-Quality Recipe: Crab Cakes with Spicy Rémoulade These light, tender crab cakes from April 2012 are ready in just 20 minutes, making them an easy, elegant main. Look for fresh lump crabmeat at the fish counter for a sweet, clean flavor. Serve with a salad of mixed greens and fennel. Best 20-Minute Recipe: 20-Minute Chicken Enchiladas We hacked this Mexican favorite in July 2013 to get it to the table with lightning speed. One richly-spiced sauce doubles as the filling and the topper to save time. And since every element is already cooked, the dish needs just three minutes under the broiler to melt the cheese. Best Fast Fish Recipe: Dijon-Herb Crusted Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce Simple and kid-friendly, this April 2017 main is an easy way to work more fish into your diet. Look for thicket center-cut fillets, which will stay more moist. Best Makeover Recipe: Eggplant Parmesan Traditional versions of this dish can tip the scales at nearly 1,000 calories and 30g sat fat per serving. Our September 2010 makeover cuts that by more than two-thirds and still has plenty of marinara, melty cheese, and crispy baked eggplant. Best Quick Chinese Recipe: Szechuan Chicken Stir-Fry Ginger and sambal oelek, a chile-garlic paste that's now at most supermarkets in the international aisle, made this January 2012 recipe a favorite by providing bold flavor in no time. Have all ingredients ready at the stove so they can go in at just the right moment. Best Carb-Conscious Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Lasagna with Spinach This reader favorite from December 2015 has half the carbs of classic lasagna. If you bake the squash ahead, store the squeeze-dried strands in a zip-top bag, and stack the empty squash "boats" between damp paper towels before refrigerating. Best Get-Together Recipe: Classic Beef Pot Roast This dish is our most popular recipe over. It has kept that distinction since it was first published in October 2006, probably because it's such a crowd-pleaser. To serve, carve the roast into large pieces, ladle the rich broth over the top, and sprinkle with fresh flat-leaf parsley. Best Mash-Up Recipe: Chicken Potpie Skillet Pizza The genius of this November 2016 recipe is the skillet-seared crust, which gives you a pizzeria-quality pie in less than half the bake time. The potpie-style topper is a fun twist on a white pizza and a great way to pack extra veggies onto each slice. This dish combines two kid favorites in one fast recipe. You get all the creamy goodness from potpie filling with the crisp crust and melty cheese of a pan pizza. Best Meatless Recipe: Vegetable "Meat" Loaf This umami-rich recipe received our Test Kitchen's highest rating in March 2012 and continues to get raves from both vegetarians and meat lovers. Be sure to tightly pack the mushroom mixture into the pan so the slices hold their shape after baking. Best Family-Friendly Recipe: Hamburger Steak with Onion Gravy These smothered burger patties from April 2013 are a unanimous family favorite—easy, filling, and fun. Serve with speedy sides like frozen mashed potatoes and microwave-in-bag haricots verts (slender green beans!). Best Slow Cooker Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork with Peach Barbecue Sauce A generous spice rub and a good sear gave this July 2014 roast the crust and smoke of great barbecue with the hands-off ease of the slow cooker. The sauce alone—thick, smoky, sweet, and tangy—is reason enough to make this dish year-round.

Another surprise discovery in my endless quest for Bay Area Peaks was this 2031 foot summit high above the rocky cliffs of Stags Leap (famous as a Napa wine appellation ). The peak was listed as having over 500 feet of prominence, but it took quite a bit of scouring about on Google to find a way up. It turns out that there’s a well-used trail off Soda Canyon Road, that had been featured in a Napa Adventure video. It was a rainy afternoon when I set out explore my new discovery. The well groomed, slightly muddy trail switchbacked up though manzanita and bay trees, and emerged on a rock (and foggy summit) with marvelous views directly down across the Napa vineyards. This tiny tree clung the the rough rocks in the mist, and was the most interesting composition on a cloudy and moist day

Segmented worms: bristleworms, ragworms, earthworms, leeches and their alliesGreg W. Rouse, Fredrik Pleijel, and Damhnait McHugh This tree diagram shows the relationships between several groups of organisms. The root of the current tree connects the organisms featured in this tree to their containing group and the rest of the Tree of Life. The basal branching point in the tree represents the ancestor of the other groups in the tree. This ancestor diversified over time into several descendent subgroups, which are represented as internal nodes and terminal taxa to the right. You can click on the root to travel down the Tree of Life all the way to the root of all Life, and you can click on the names of descendent subgroups to travel up the Tree of Life all the way to individual species.close box Figure 1: Summary of phylogenetic hypothesis in Rouse and Pleijel (2001). Alternative arrangements are discussed in the Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships. The position of Clitellata/Oligochaeta (includes earthworms and leeches) and Echiura is yet to be resolved. Annelida is a group commonly referred to as segmented worms, and they are found worldwide from the deepest marine sediments to the soils in our city parks and yards. Through most of the 20th century Annelida was split into three major groups; Polychaeta, Oligochaeta (earthworms etc.) and Hirudinea (leeches). Earthworms and leeches are the familiar annelids for most people, but polychaetes comprise the bulk of the diversity of Annelida and are found in nearly every marine habitat, from intertidal algal mats downwards. There are even pelagic polychaetes that swim or drift, preying on other plankton, and a few groups occurring in fresh water and moist terrestrial surroundings. Around 9000 species of polychaetes are currently recognized with several thousand more names in synonymy, and the overall systematics of the group remains unstable (Rouse and Pleijel, 2001). It is now recognized that Oligochaeta and Hirudinea, comprised of several thousand species, form a clade and should be referred to either as Oligochaeta (Siddall et al., 2001) or Clitellata (Martin, 2001). Moreover, it is possible that this group may well belong inside Polychaeta, thus making Polychaeta synonymous with Annelida (McHugh, 1997; Westheide, 1997; Westheide et al., 1999). Echiura (spoon worms), at one time regarded as an annelid group (Sedgwick, 1898), has been excluded from Annelida for many years (Newby, 1940). Evidence now suggests they are in fact annelids (Hessling and Westheide, 2002; McHugh, 1997), though their placement within the group is unresolved. The former phyla Pogonophora and Vestimentifera have also recently become regarded as a single, clearly annelid, group (Bartolomaeus, 1995; Nielsen, 1995; Rouse and Fauchald, 1995), and are now known by the original name, Siboglinidae (see Rouse and Fauchald , 1997 and McHugh 1997). Undoubted annelid fossils, such as Canadia, are known from the Burgess Shale deposits. Until relatively recently the most commonly used system to divide polychaetes was as 'Errantia' and 'Sedentaria'. This was essentially a system of convenience with no real intention of depicting evolutionary relationships. This classification was supplanted in the 1960s and 1970s by ones which split polychaetes into as many as 22 orders with no explicit linkage between them (Fauchald and Rouse, 1997). A recent cladistic analysis of Annelida and other groups has resulted in a new classification of polychaetes (Rouse and Fauchald, 1997), with the group split into two main clades Scolecida and Palpata. Scolecida is a small group of less than 1000 named species, and these worms are all burrowers of one form or another, with bodies reminiscent of earthworms. Palpata comprises the vast majority of polychaetes and is divided into Aciculata and Canalipalpata. Aciculata contains about half of the polychaete species and largely encompasses the old taxonomic group Errantia. Representatives of this lineage are characterized by having internal supporting chaetae, or aciculae, in the parapodia. It includes major groups such as Phyllodocida and Eunicida, which tend to be mobile forms with well developed eyes and parapodia for rapid locomotion. Canalipalpata, a group with more than 5000 named species, is distinguished by having long grooved palp structures that are used for feeding. Canalipalpata is divided into Sabellida, Spionida and Terebellida. Most of these groups’ members live in tubes and use their palps to feed in various ways. Synapomorphies of Annelida The monophyly of Annelida is not well supported and only two morphological features are worthy of discussion; segmentation and chaetae. Nuchal organs represent another possible apomorphy and are discussed in the section on sensory structures (see plesiomorphies and other features). 1. Metamerism (segmentation) Annelids have three body regions (Fig. 2). The majority of the body is comprised of repeated units called segments. The original French use of the name Annélides (Lamarck, 1802) comes from the Latin word ‘anellus’, meaning a little ring, in reference to the presence of the ring-like segments. Each segment is, in principle, limited by septa dividing it from neighbouring segments, and has a fluid-filled cavity within referred to as a coelom. Structures such as the excretory, locomotory and respiratory organs are generally repeated in each segment. Segments are formed sequentially in annelids and are established during development from growth zones located at the posterior end of the body; so the youngest segment in the body of an annelid is always the most posterior. The only parts of the annelid body that are not segmental are the head and a terminal post-segmental region called the pygidium. The head is comprised of two units, the prostomium and the peristomium. The postsegmental pygidium includes the zone from which new segments are proliferated during growth. The proposed homology of segmentation seen in annelids with that seen in Arthropoda has been used to unite the two as Articulata, a grouping that dates back to Cuvier (1817). The homology of this segmentation has been questioned recently, with arthropods now viewed by many as closer to taxa such as Nematoda (Aguinaldo et al., 1997). This suggests that the form of segmentation seen in annelids may in fact represent an apomorphy. With regards to the supposedly unsegmented Echiura, their reinstatement within Annelida (see McHugh 1997) suggests that their apparently unsegmented body in fact represents a series of fused segments (see Hessling and Westheide 2002). Figure 2. Ophryotrocha (Dorvilleidae). Sandgerdi Iceland. Copyright © 20001 Greg Rouse. A distinctive feature of annelids are structures called chaetae (Fig. 3). Chaetae (also called setae) are bundles of chitinous, thin-walled cylinders held together by sclerotinized protein. They are produced by a microvillar border of certain invaginated epidermal cells and so can be defined as cuticular structures that develop within epidermal follicles. Chaetae show a huge amount of variation, from long thin filaments (capillary chaetae) to stout multi-pronged hooks (Fig. 3). Apart from annelids, chaetae are found in Echiura and Brachiopoda. There is now good evidence (Hessling and Westheide, 2002; McHugh, 1997) that the former group falls within Annelida. The position of Brachiopoda is controversial (Lüter, 2000b; Lüter and Bartolomaeus, 1997; Stechmann and Schlegel, 1999) and the homology of their chaetae with those of annelids is unresolved (Lüter, 2000a). There is a distinct possibility therefore that chaetae represent an apomorphy for Annelida. The most recent comprehensive systematization of polychaetes, that proposed by Rouse and Fauchald (1997) from their cladistic parsimony analyses, has been used here (Fig. 1) with some alterations (see Rouse and Pleijel, 2001). Allowing for the likely errors in the placement of many taxa, and the fact that there were conflicting results included in the original analyses, the most fundamental problem inherent in the systematization used here may be that of the placement of the root for any tree of Annelida. Basal annelids, according to Rouse and Fauchald (1997), are taxa such as Clitellata/Oligochaeta and simple-bodied forms within Scolecida. Their trees also excludes Echiura from Annelida. This result was based on outgroup choices such as Mollusca and Sipuncula, and may well be misleading. Alternative hypotheses are therefore worth outlining, though they do not follow normal cladistic practice. Storch (1968), following a detailed study on the musculature of Annelida, proposed that scale-worms, a diverse clade within Phyllodocida, are representative of the plesiomorphic condition for Annelida. He suggested that there was a radiation from this group, but that Chrysopetalidae were most closely related to scale-worms. The implication of his hypothesis is that Phyllodocida represents a paraphyletic group, from which all other polychaete taxa arise. Westheide (1997) (and see Westheide et al., 1999) suggests that the basic (i.e., plesiomorphic) 'body plan' of Annelida comprises features meaning that the root of the Annelida tree would be placed with taxa from Aciculata. This would either result in a paraphyletic Phyllodocida or Amphinomida, depending on which taxon is used as the root (Fig. 4). From a molecular perspective, McHugh (1997) found Clitellata, Pogonophora (= Siboglinidae) and Echiura nested among various polychaetes using sequence data from elongation factor 1 alpha in a parsimony analysis (Fig. 4). The placement by McHugh (1997) of Pogonophora as a polychaete group was congruent with Rouse and Fauchald’s (1997) results, but those of Clitellata and Echiura were markedly different. The conflict between this molecular sequence data and the morphological results could be caused by several factors. One possibility is that Clitellata/Oligochaeta and Echiura have lost a number of morphological features that would help identify their sister group among polychaetes. Further morphological study, combined with sequence data, may uncover these 'losses' (see Hessling and Westheide, 2002). However, the molecular sequence data sets assembled to date have been marked by both a limited number of taxa and characters. An exception is Brown et al. (1999), where DNA sequence data from three nuclear genes across a wide taxonomic diversity of annelids was subject to parsimony analysis. They recovered some morphological groupings such as Cirratulidae, Terebellidae and Eunicida, but did not show a monophyletic Phyllodocida or Aciculata, nor did they find any parts of these taxa to be basal groups of Annelida. However, some expected groupings were not recovered. Martin (2001) found that the placement of Clitellata/Oligochaeta among polychaetes could not be resolved, and he could not recover a monophyletic Annelida owing to the placement of taxa such as Mollusca and Sipuncula. None of the major taxa used here, such as Palpata, Aciculata, Phyllodocida, Canalipalpata, Sabellida or Terebellida were recovered in Martin's (2001) analysis. Also less diverse taxa such as Nereididae, Spionidae and Aphroditiformia were not recovered. Does the fossil record help? In a review of the fossil record of annelids Rouse and Pleijel (2001) suggested that the oldest unequivocal fossil polychaetes, such as Canadia from the Cambrian, belong within Phyllodocida. Subsequent fossil polychaetes that can be confidently placed outside Phyllodocida do not appear until the Carboniferous. No other fossil polychaetes from the Cambrian can be unequivocally assigned to extant polychaete taxa. There are several likely appearances from the Ordovician, including Serpulidae, Spionidae and the radiation of Eunicida. Ensuing appearances suggest that by the end of the Carboniferous most major polychaetes lineages had appeared. The exception appears to be Scolecida, with the earliest known fossils being the dubious Archarenicola (Arenicolidae) from the Triassic, and one assignable to Paraonidae from the Cretaceous. With the rooting option employed in Figure 1, it appears that some of the earliest appearing fossil polychaetes belong to derived clades (e.g., Eunicida and Phyllodocida). This could be interpreted in two ways: (1) the root placement in Figure 1 is wrong, and so Aciculata, comprised of Amphinomida, Eunicida and Phyllodocida, may in fact represent a paraphyletic 'stem' group for the rest of polychaetes; (2) a number of major polychaete clades had already evolved in, or before, the 'Cambrian explosion', but fossils have not yet been found. The third possibility is that the overall topology used in Figure 1 may be profoundly incorrect. If we accept that the basic topology shown in Figure 1 is correct, but do not root the tree, then a diagram as shown in Figure 5 is the result. This may represent the most conservative representation of our understanding of annelid relationships. Aguinaldo, A. M. A., J. M. Turbeville, L. S. Linford, M. C. Rivera, J. R. Garey, R. A. Raff, and J. A. Lake. 1997. Evidence for a clade of nematodes, arthropods and other moulting animals. Nature 387:489-493. Bartolomaeus, T. 1995. Structure and formation of the uncini in Pectinaria koreni, Pectinaria auricoma (Terebellida) and Spirorbis spirorbis (Sabellida): implications for annelid phylogeny and the position of the Pogonophora. Zoomorph. 115:161-177. Brown, S., G. Rouse, P. Hutchings, and D. Colgan. 1999. Assessing the usefulness of histone H3, U2 snRNA and 28S rDNA in analyses of polychaete relationships. Aust. J. Zool. 47:499-516. Cuvier, G. 1817. Le régne animal distribué d'après son organisation, pour servir de base à l'histoire naturelle des animaux et d'introduction à l'anatomie comparée. Deterville, Paris. Eibye-Jacobsen, D., and R. M. Kristensen. 1994. A new genus and species of Dorvilleidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) from Bermuda, with a phylogenetic analysis of Dorvilleidae, Iphitimidae and Dinophilidae. Zool. Scri. 23:107-131. Fauchald, K. 1977. The polychaete worms. Definitions and keys to the orders, families and genera. Nat. Hist. Mus. Los Angeles County. Sci. Ser. 28:1-188. Fauchald, K., and G. W. Rouse. 1997. Polychaete systematics: Past and present. Zool. Scr. 26:71-138. Hessling, R., and W. Westheide. 2002. Are Echiura derived from a segmented ancestor? Immunohistochemical analysis of the nervous system in developmental stages of Bonellia viridis. J. Morph. 252:100-113. Jamieson, B. G. M. 1981. The ultrastructure of the Oligochaeta. Academic Press, London. Lamarck, J.-B. d. 1802. La nouvelle classes des Annélides. Bulletin du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris An X:Disc. d'ouverture, 27 Floréal (Reprinted in 1907 in Bulletin biologique de la France et de la Belgique 60:56). Lüter, C. 2000a. Ultrastructure of larval and adult setae of Brachiopoda. Zoologischer Anzeiger 239:75-90. Lüter, C. 2000b. The origin of the coelom in Brachiopoda and its phylogenetic significance. Zoomorph. 120:15-28. Lüter, C., and T. Bartolomaeus. 1997. The phylogenetic position of Brachiopoda- a comparison of morphological and molecular data. Zool. Scri. 26:245-253. Martin, P. 2001. On the origin of the Hirudinea and the demise of the Oligochaeta. Proc. Royal Soc. London Ser. B: Biol. Sci. 268:1089-1098. McHugh, D. 1997. Molecular evidence that echiurans and pogonophorans are derived annelids. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 94:8006-8009. McHugh, D. 2000. Molecular phylogeny of the Annelida. Can. J. Zool. 78:1873-1884. Newby, W. W. 1940. The embryology of the echiuroid worm Urechis caupo. Mem. Am. phil. Soc. 16:1-219. Nielsen, C. 1995. Animal evolution. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Purschke, G., R. Hessling, and W. Westheide. 2000. The phylogenetic position of the Clitellata and the Echiura - on the problematic assessment of absent characters. J. Zool. Syst. Evol. Res. 38:165-173. Rouse, G. W. 2001. A cladistic analysis of Siboglinidae Caullery, 1914 (Polychaeta, Annelida): formerly the phyla Pogonophora and Vestimentifera. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 132:55-80. Rouse, G. W., and K. Fauchald. 1995. The articulation of annelids. Zool. Scr. 24:269-301. Rouse, G. W., and K. Fauchald. 1997. Cladistics and polychaetes. Zool. Scr. 26:139-204. Rouse, G. W., and F. Pleijel. 2001. Polychaetes. Oxford University Press, London. Sawyer, R. T. 1986. Leech biology and behaviour. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Sedgwick, A. 1898. A student's textbook of zoology. Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Ltd., London. Siddall, M. E., K. Apakupakul, E. M. Burreson, K. A. Coates, C. Erseus, S. R. Gelder, M. Kallersjo, and H. Trapido-Rosenthal. 2001. Validating Livanow: Molecular data agree that leeches, branchiobdellidans, and Acanthobdella peledina form a monophyletic group of oligochaetes. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 21:346-351. Stechmann, A., and M. Schlegel. 1999. Analysis of the complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the brachiopod Terebratulina retusa places Brachiopoda within the protostomes. Proc. Royal Soc. London Ser. B: Biol. Sci. 266:2043-2052. Storch, V. 1968. Zur vergleichenden Anatomie der segmentalen Muskelsysteme und zur Verwandtschaft der Polychaeten-Familien. Z. Morph. Ökol. Tiere 63:251-342. Westheide, W. 1997. The direction of evolution within the Polychaeta. J. Nat. Hist. 31:1-15. Westheide, W., D. McHugh, G. Purschke, and G. W. Rouse. 1999. Systematization of the Annelida: different approaches. Hydrobiol. 402:291-307. - Annelid Resources: Another can of Worms: Phylum Annelida, polychaetes, oligochaetes, leeches, vent worms, etc. A guide to information on annelids, and current worm research and researchers. Geoffrey B. Read, NIWA, Wellington, NZ. - WormNet. Reconstructing the early evolution of segmented annelid worms. - Giant Gippsland Earthworm. Natural Resources and Environment (Victoria, Australia) - Polychaeta Terebellida homepage. Torleif Holthe, Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology. - Leeches Hirudinea. Photographed and compiled by Mark E. Siddall and Eugene M. Burreson. - Introduction to the Annelida: Everybody's favorite, worms. . . UCMP Berkeley. - Center for Annelida Resources. Mark J. Wetzel, Illinois Natural History Survey Center for Biodiversity, Champaign. - Taxonomic Information Across The Internet. Darwin Initiative project with a focus on Spionidae, Nereidae, and Eunicida. - Superannuated Annelids. Article about tube worms at cold hydrocarbon seeps. The Why files. University of Wisconsin. Thanks to the Australian Research Council and the South Australian Museum and University of Adelaide for support to GWR. The authors would like to thank Katja Schulz for her help in editing and constructing this page. Greg W. Rouse Scripps Institution of Oceanography Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle Paris, France Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, USA Page copyright © 2002 Greg W. Rouse, , and Page: Tree of Life Annelida. Segmented worms: bristleworms, ragworms, earthworms, leeches and their allies. Authored by Greg W. Rouse, Fredrik Pleijel, and Damhnait McHugh. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies. - First online 07 August 2002 Citing this page: Rouse, Greg W., Fredrik Pleijel, and Damhnait McHugh. 2002. Annelida. Segmented worms: bristleworms, ragworms, earthworms, leeches and their allies. Version 07 August 2002. http://tolweb.org/Annelida/2486/2002.08.07 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

Keeping your cutting board or butcher block for the long-term is precisely what you desire from the very first day you purchase either of the two. Maintaining a cutting board and butcher block does not have to be a difficult task. Instead, it should be a manageable process that will help you keep the board looking new and clean in every occasion you want to use it. Nevertheless, these tools are essential in the kitchen as they ensure easy slicing, dicing, and preparation of a variety of foods. For the above reason, you might be prompted to research about protecting, maintaining, and finishing your wooden surface from various sources. While the information varies from one source to the other, the basics you need to know to maintain the life of your cutting board and butcher blocks are described below. Always remember to wash your cutting board or butcher block with warm water and soap after each use. Scrub the board efficiently to flush bacteria including food particles off the surface of the board. In case your board or block has undesirable smell or food stains, consider applying lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar on the affected area. Lemon juice and vinegar contain an acid that neutralizes organic materials causing the bad odor or unwanted stain. Equally, hydrogen peroxide is extremely useful in combating common wood bugs and dangerous bacteria. However, make sure you use it sparingly since it can cause skin or respiratory irritations. After cleaning the board/block, dry it instantly with a towel and stand it to let air flow. Do not put it flat since only the upper side will dry which, might cause warping or cracking of the wood. The following points are equally important when cleaning your board/ block: - Bleaches are not safe, and should not be used to clean the board since they are likely to stain the wood or make It dry excessively. When considering to use bleaching agents, mix them with equal proportions of water, spray the solution on the board, wipe it with a clean piece of clean cloth, then rinse it off with warm water and allow to dry. - Remember to remove the board out of water when you are not ready to wash it since the wood may absorb more than enough water that may make it warp. - And never fully soak or submerge your cutting board in water Apply drying oils instead of non-drying oils Another necessity routine is to directly apply the drying oils onto the surface once the board is completely dry. Remember to be lenient with the process, more so if the board or butcher block is still new. If your primary goal is to apply both surfaces at a go, consider using a bristle brush or a rag to spread the oil; be cautious enough not to soak the oil up. Leave the board to dry overnight or some few hours. Drying oils are central to maintaining your cutting board or butcher block. The oils form a solid substance (polymer), which toughens the surface of your board, making it resistance to knife marks and effects of constant cleaning. Drying oils will not only stop liquids and moisture from soaking the board, but they will also prevent the board from shrinking or expanding, which is the primary cause of warped cutting boards. Why say no to non-drying oils? Non-drying oils will only saturate the fibers without hardening the surface of your board. Conversely, they can only be used when combined with wax that functions to seal the wood, thus, preventing, juices, water, or blood from seeping into your board or block. However, these effects may not be long-lasting since wax wears off with time, which will automatically let the oil to seep out with every wash. Consider using initial Protection Wooden high-density blocks such as maple or cherry are naturally resistant to marking. That means that they may not need finishes. Instead, applying initial protection and maintaining the board regularly will help you go a long way in preserving your block. Since maintaining your block or cutting board requires frequent cleaning with sanitizing products or water and soap, the wood is likely to dry faster, which might tarnish or make it wear off including cracking when excessively moist or dry. In that case, applying initial protection will hydrate the surface of your board, make it easier to clean, and maintain its original color. All that matters is your ability to sustain the life of your board or block whether you use finishes or initial protection. Be cautious when applying board cream While board creams are fundamental in maintaining your cutting board or butcher block, how you apply them matters a lot. To efficiently apply the cream, ensure that the board is dry after oiling or washing it. Make sure to apply a small amount of the cream on the board, use a soft cloth to buff the cream in a circular motion that will allow for the formation of a thin coat. Repeat the procedure over the entire surface of your board including the sides. For maximum result, apply the cream when you are oiling your board. To what extent you value the life of your cutting board or butcher block is a matter of individual preference. With its friendly tone and shiny surface, a wood cutting board is more than what you need to complete your kitchen. Care for your board or block by cleaning it daily, regularly sanitizing and maintaining, as well as oiling it, and it will last for years.

Lantern Tree (Crinodendron hookerianum) Chilean Lantern Tree - Crinodendron hookerianum Crinodendron hookerianum known as Chilean Lantern Tree is an evergreen tree endemic to Chile in the Elaeocarpaceae family, it grows from Cautin to Palena (38 to 43°S). It occurs near streams or very humid sites or highly shady Introduced to UK by William Lobb in 1848 from Chile. The name Crinodendron is Greek: beautiful flowers’ tree and hookerianum in honor of William Jackson Hooker, English botanist who studied many Chilean plants It is a shrub or small tree that measures up to 8 metres (26 ft) tall and 30 centimetres (12 in) in diameter, ash color. The leaves are alternate, with toothed edge and lanceolate shaped with acute apex, petiolate 4–7 cm long and 0.7-1.8 wide, dark green above and hairy whitish green The flowers are hermaphrodite, solitary and axillary, pinkish to red. Pedicels about 3–6 cm long, the calyx is formed by 5 fused sepals green colored, the bell-shaped Corolla made up by 5 free petals which end in 3 teeth, 15-18 with the style longer than the stamen. The Chilean Lantern Tree is an evergreen which produces long, stalked buds in the autumn/fall. But it is not until the following spring that they swell up and form these 3cm long flowers, looking a bit like tulips hanging upside down. They appear from mid-spring to late-summer. The fruit is an inedible capsule with 3 to 5 valves that splits open when ripe. The seeds are roundish. A temperate climate plant and acid-lover performs best under somewhat acidic soil conditions like other plants that hale from this part of South America. Lantern tree likes moist, but well-drained acidic soil and is tolerant of a semi-shade exposure. It has no disease or pest problems and requires no What limitation there may be is simply that it is half-hardy. In the UK it is better suited to southern England and Wales, while it has been planted as far north as Scotland. In the US it best suited to moderate coastal areas. It does well also in temperate Australia and New Zealand. It can be appreciated year-round as well as serving as a useful hedge or screen. Another asset is its size. It will slowly reach 25 feet after many years, which is convenient as it's not likely to overwhelm any adjacent structures or reach up into power lines. And its eventual spread is only 15 feet making it a good fit for modern gardens. But it's most impressive asset is the nodding, urn-like (or lantern shaped) flowers. They're small, and delicate and are a striking rose-crimson that contrasts beautifully with the dark green foliage. Its beautiful flowers make it a highly valued ornamental tree.

This article was prescribed with success in dropsy, by Dr. KNAPP, and by Dr. PARRISH of this city. It was likewise used in intermittent fever, in bilious affections, amaurosis, hernia humoralis, dysentery, chronic rheumatism, &c. Dr. KNAPP appears to have derived benefit from its use as an alterative in a case of fever in a child, attended with disordered bowels. "The powders (gr. ii. each at intervals of three hours,) were regularly persisted in for a week, and the child's health went on gradually improving. Neither vomiting nor purging was produced, but the morbid heat and thirst were allayed, the stools became natural, the skin soft and moist, and the functions of digestion and assimilation were gradually restored, and the child is at this time fat and healthy."—American Medical Review, &c. April 1826. 30. Remarkable effects from the external application of the Acetate of Morphia.—M. DUBOURG has recently published the result of an experiment made at the hospital de la Pitie, with the acetate of morphia, which we regard as sufficiently interesting to be noticed in this place. The patient had been affected twelve months before with puerperal peritoneal inflammation, complicated with cerebral symptoms, from which, notwithstanding a most energetic antiphlogistic treatment, she never entirely recovered. When she was admitted into the hospital, she presented the following symptoms:—"considerable emaciation; skin hot and pungent to the feel; pulse small and frequent; tongue of a pale rose colour, dry at the tip and edges, brown and smooth in the centre as far as the basis; severe pain on the least pressure on the epigastrium and over the whole abdomen; cardialgia, nausea, vomiting of all solid and liquid aliments, and during the empty state of the stomach, violent efforts to vomit occurring at irregular intervals; abdomen tense and tympanitic; violent intermittent pain along the course of the intestines; constipation; sensation of fatigue and lassitude in the lumbar region and in the extremities; dragging pains in the inter-scapular region; extinction of the voice; urine red and scanty; the face animated and bearing no marks of profound suffering; agitation, and total want of sleep." The disease was regarded as a chronic gastro-entero-peritonitis, and treated accordingly, by the antiphlogistic regimen; but no benefit was derived from this plan. The patient continued to vomit almost every thing she took, with the exception of sugar and a paste made with the Iceland moss. A blister was applied to the epigastrium on the 15th of February, seven days after her admission. Called to her assistance on the 22nd of February, on account of an aggravation of the vomiting, M. LAMBERT, one of the house pupils of the hospital, endeavoured to calm the symptoms by means of the acetate of morphia in powder, applied to the raw surface of the blister. Half a grain was used in this way, and in a few minutes the vomiting disappeared, and the patient passed a better night than she had yet done. M. SERRES having authorized the continuance of this method, M. DUBOURG the next day applied half a grain in the same way; and the patient slept the whole night. The remedy was applied every day with the same effect, and was gradually increased to two grains and a half. From the first application of the remedy, the symptoms gradually subsided; aliments were retained and properly digested; the pain and swelling of the abdomen disappeared, and on the 14th of March the patient was regarded as in a fair way of recovery.—Archives Generales, March 1826. In some remarks which accompany this interesting case, M. DUBOURG, seems to doubt the correctness of the first diagnosis, and to view the disease as a nervous, rather than as an inflammatory affection of the abdominal viscera. 31. Cure of Urinary Calculi by means of the internal use of the Bicarbonate of Soda.—At a late meeting of the Academy of Medicine, Mr. ROBIQUET read a memoir on the use of this salt in cases of urinary calculi. Having learnt from Mr. DARCET, that the use of the waters of Vichy changes the quality of the urine from acid to alkaline, Mr. R. conjectured, that this effect should be attributed to the bicarbonate of soda contained in them; and from this circumstance, he was led to administer this salt internally, in cases of calculi composed of uric acid. In July last, he made the experiment on a man 74 years of age, who had laboured under symptoms of the disease since the month of February, and in whom, by means of the sound, a small and soft calculus had been detected. Mr. R. ordered him 10 grains of the bicarbonate in the course of the day, dissolved in two pounds of water—prescribing at the same time, hip baths, injections, &c. At the end of fifteen days, much benefit had already resulted from this treatment; and in a month, the patient appeared to be cured. Nevertheless, the remedy was continued until November, when the patient passed through the urethra, a small calculus composed of uric acid, which appeared to have been the nucleus of a much larger one, the exterior strata of which had been worn off. From that period, the patient has not experienced any unpleasant symptom; but the sound was not resorted to, to ascertain whether the first calculus before felt, could be detected.—Archives Generales, February, 1826. 32. Attempt to cure Abdominal Dropsy, by exciting Peritoneal Inflammation.—In the number of the London Medical and Physical Journal for April, 1826, a case of ascites is related by H. R. OSWALD, Esq. in which the cure was attempted to be effected, by exciting peritoneal inflammation. The following symptoms were noticed at the time of application for advice: the abdomen measured nearly six feet in circumference, was exceedingly hard and tense; but not tender. The patient "could hardly walk across her cabin from dyspnoea and debility, and the weight and tension of the tumour; which caused her to bend the body much forward, leaning her hands on her knees. The emaciation was very considerable; the appetite good; thirst considerable; tongue clean; pulse 120, and small; skin dry, harsh, and rough; bowels habitually costive; urine scanty." "This affection commenced about twelve months ago, after an obstruction of the catamenia for nearly a year, arising, as was supposed, from exposure to cold. The swelling was preceded by lancinating pains in the abdominal and lower part of the thoracic cavities, but which, after a few months, ceased entirely; and the disease had, in a chronic manner, gradually arrived at its present oppressive form." Paracentesis was performed several times; cathartics, diuretics, the lancet, blisters, and tonics were resorted to, with relief from some of the symptoms. The tumour, however, returned several times, so that M. OSWALD despairing of effecting a cure by following the same plan, and recollecting a case of ascites, which was cured apparently by an inflammation having supervened in the peritoneum, from the orifice made by tapping remaining open, attempted to produce the same effect in the present patient, by keeping the orifice of the wound open by means of a small tent. In this he partly succeeded, for in the course of a few months, all symptoms of the effusion had disappeared; health and strength had much improved, and the patient had experienced a return of the menstrual discharge, which had been suppressed for nearly three years. About a year afterwards, however, the disease returned. Paracentesis was again performed several times, and a tumour was perceived to have formed in the lower part of the abdomen. The patient died in about five or six months from the re-appearance of the effusion. On dissection, much water was found in the abdominal cavity, which was lined by a dense, white, and rough looking membrane, of a fragile and diseased structure. The intestines behind this membrane, were unusually small, and of a dark leaden colour. The tumour above alluded to, was discovered to be situated in the region of the right ovarium; it was a tubercular, carcinomatous, and pale coloured fungus, possessing a structure not unlike that of the placenta, and was formed in the interior of the sac, which being traced further back, was found to be the cyst of a dropsy, originating in the right ovarium at the fundus of the sac, or "more properly speaking of its neck." "The foregoing statement," Mr. O. remarks, "involves four facts and questions of considerable importance in pathology. 1st. The great quantity of fluids evacuated in so short a space of time: no less than ninety-six quarts in eight months, by four operations; and fifty-nine quarts from August to December, 1824, by three. 2nd. The variety in the nature, consistence and colour of these fluids. 3d. The possibility of curing ascites and dropsy of the ovaria, by exciting inflammation in the abdominal sac, either by the admission of air into it, or mechanical irritation; and 4th. The possibility of a thickening of the parietes of the abdomen by inflammation, or by an exudation of a carcinomatous sort, being mistaken for a tumour rising out of the pelvis." 33. Artificial Respiration.—Dr. J. WARE of Boston, relates in the New England Jour. for April last, that he was led by the experiments of the justly celebrated physiologist Mr. BRODIE, to employ artificial respiration in the case of an infant 9 weeks old, whose system was prostrated from an over dose of laudanum. "The action of the heart was reduced to an occasional throb; the pulse had entirely ceased, and the efforts at respiration, which for some time had consisted merely in an occasional gasp, became more and more unfrequent." The child had been afflicted for five or six weeks with hooping-cough, and had been very sick and feeble when the laudanum (about 15 drops) was administered. By means of the stem of a tobacco-pipe, artificial respiration was excited, and continued for several minutes: the action of the heart was immediately renewed, and the pulse could be again felt. At the end of an hour, during which the artificial respiration was repeated at intervals; "the respiration became natural, the pulse distinct and tolerably strong, and the heat began to return." A fit of coughing, preceded by a livid appearance of the forehead and face, arrested the breathing, "which did not return till assisted by the artificial process." The child, assisted by these measures, and by attention to the more usual means of recovery, struggled through the night, but died during a paroxysm of coughing in the morning. The conclusions of Mr. BRODIE are, that narcotics destroy life through the organs of respiration, and hence, if respiration can be artificially carried on until the effects of the narcotic subside, life may be preserved. Dr. WARE'S case would seem to confirm this idea; for it is probable his patient would have recovered from the effects of the narcotic, if the paroxysms of coughing had not interfered. 34. Secale Cornutum.—Mr. CHARLES WALLER has lately published (London Medical and Physical Journal, April 1826,) several cases illustrative of the action and efficacy of secale cornutum. We have not room for any of the cases, and content ourselves with transcribing Mr. W.'s inferences. These are: "That the secale cornutum is a remedy which is capable of increasing the force of the uterine contractions in a most remarkable manner, under certain circumstances; but that the effect is doubtful, unless there be some degree of action present. In other words, that, although it will increase the contractions when already present, it will not always renew them when they are suspended. "That the effect is more certain if the infusion be of greater strength than is usually recommended; two drachms of the secale to six ounces of water being barely sufficient for the purpose. "That it appears to be a stimulus peculiarly fitted for irritable, and what are generally termed nervous habits. "That the fears entertained by some practitioners of its proving detrimental to the child, are groundless. "But, although it is in general necessary, not only that there should be a disposition for labour, but that this process should have actually commenced, before we can expect the secale cornutum to have any effect upon the uterus, still one solitary case has indirectly come to my knowledge (and I will vouch for the authenticity of it,) where this remedy was given for the purpose of producing abortion in a female, about the second month of utero-gestation; and this effect was accomplished in a few hours after its exhibition." 35. Animal Magnetism.—This strange doctrine begins to acquire considerable vogue in France, and other European countries, from which it seemed to have been expelled, by the contempt and ridicule which it met with, from most of the learned of the latter part of the last century. ANTHONY MESMER, the great choroegus of the magnetic mummers, was born in 1733, and excited a vast deal of attention, by the enormous pretensions which he set forth on the subject of magnetism. MESMER came from Austria to Paris in 1778. He addressed the Academy of Sciences, and that of Medicine, but no attention was paid to him, till a commission was appointed to examine carefully into the merits of the question. This commission in 1784, so fully exposed the fallacy of MESMER'S theories and practice, that he soon afterwards quitted Paris, and retired to England under a feigned name. He subsequently went to Germany, and died in obscurity, in the year 1815. In December last, M. HUSSON (for himself, and MM. ADELON, BURDIN, MARC, and PARISET,) read a report to the Royal Academy of Medicine, on the question, whether it was fitting for the section to undertake new researches on animal magnetism, as it had been thought to be definitively settled by the decisions of 1784. The report concluded affirmatively, for several reasons; among which the principal seems to be, that magnetism has at present fallen into the hands of the learned, whereas it was formerly under the domain only of quacks and the vulgar. M. HUSSON'S report was discussed at subsequent sittings of the Academy, for the purpose of ascertaining whether a new commission should be appointed; and as this topic is certainly one of the greatest novelties of the day, we shall give some account of the discussions, making free use of the report of them, contained in the Revue Medicale, Mars. 1826. M. DESGENETTES, declared against the appointment of a commission, because he considered the magnetism of the present day, quite as much a matter of jugglery as that of 1784; and he informs us, that the publicity given to the report, had already increased the audacity of the magnetisers, who look on it as an approbation of their art. M. VIREY, regretted that the report had not spoken in strong terms, against the ridiculous practices, and shameful jugglery, which disgrace the cause of magnetism; he wished the committee had announced an intention, to make only physiological, or psychological researches, on the influence, which magnetism really appears to exercise on the nervous system; and gave his voice for the formation of a commission of experiments. M. BALLY, voted against it for several reasons, and among others, because of the fact announced by all the magnetisers, that the person who magnetises, acquires a sovereign power over the magnetisee; and he inferred from this, all the inconvenient and even dangerous consequences which may result to public morals!—Finally, he voted against it, because magnetism is ridiculed every where, because it is all darkness and confusion, and especially, because it being an inexhaustible mine of empiricism, the section ought not to lay open such a fertile field for those gentry who live by quackery. M. ORFILA, (eheu!) defended the propositions of the reporters. It is opposed, said he, on the three grounds following: 1st. Because the section has not been invited to the examination now recommended. 2nd. Because magnetism is nothing but juggling. 3d. Because commissions will not commonly do any work. The first ground is not correct: M. FOISSAC, a physician of Paris, has invited our attention to it, and offered to subject a magnetic somnambulist to its exploration; and very reputable physicians, members of the Academy, MM. ROSTAN, (the ramollissement man, is his head soft too?) and GEORGET, have in their recent publications called the attention of the learned to this subject. Secondly, if there be any jugglery, in the magnetic phenomena we are told of; it is nevertheless certain, that the whole of them are not simulated. The testimony of well taught physicians, ought to be received on this head. That the phenomena are extraordinary, is no argument; for those of electricity must have been quite as marvellous, at the period of their discovery, &c. &c. M. DOUBLE, blamed the report as being nothing more than an apology for magnetism, which is tarred with the same stick as that of 1784, and only modified a little, by the esprit de notre temps, &c. &c. He said he had made magnetism a special subject of study, and never saw a phenomenon produced by it.——He thinks the commission could only do injury to science, and compromit the Academy, &c. &c. He would vote against the appointment, and advised the section to wait until some scientific memoirs should be sent to it. M. LAENNEC, agreed with M. DOUBLE, because after studying the subject for twenty years, he is satisfied, that it is almost nothing but deception and juggling; although, when he commenced the study, he was prejudiced in its favour. According to M. LAENNEC, among the magnetic influences, there are several, attributable to the impressions, which one individual naturally makes on another in correlation with him; and he cited a mistake, which he saw committed by a somnambulist woman. She was magnetised by two persons, one of whom was handsome, but anaphrodisiac, the other ugly, yet possessing in integrity, the genital faculties. She received no impression, except from the first individual; so that the impression which this female had received by the organs of vision, before the experiment, superseded that, which the pretended magnetic sense ought to have made on her. He thinks, the academy ought to observe the magnetisers, but what he has seen, has convinced him, that nine-tenths of the facts in magnetism are supposititious. The phenomena effected by magnetism, and the oracles uttered by the somnambulist, vary with every magnetiser. MESMER excited convulsions; DESLIN effected crises, such as are seen in diseases. The somnambulists of Mr. DELEUZE, a learned man, are much better taught than those of PUYSEGUR, who is ignorant of the sciences, and finally, Mr. LAENNEC has seen a somnambulist under the direction of a pharmacien, who was quite distinguished, by the art with which she compounded the medicines, she recommended. The discussion was now adjourned to the next sitting. On the 24th of January, it was resumed. M. CHARDEL, bears witness to a reality of the magnetic phenomena, as he has witnessed them himself, in a case of what is called somnambulism. He dares not pronounce on the question of magnetism, as a therapeutical agent; but is disposed to think it ought, if ever, to be used with great reserve. Whether it consist of nervous phenomena of a particular order, or whether it be a product of the imagination, in either case, it deserves to be studied, &c. &c. M. RONCHOUX, thought the proposed examination would be impossible; for the magnetisers assert, that if one of the parties have a will opposed to that of the magnetiser, no phenomena can be produced. Their confessed inability to surmount any opposite will, seems to Mr. RONCHOUX, an invincible obstacle to any exploration to be attempted by a commission. M. MARC, gave some explanation of the labours undertaken in Germany. According to the opposition, nothing conclusive can be derived from these labours; because Germany is the native soil of sects and of thaumaturgae but, Mr. M. proved by citations, that they are not to be attributed to excited imaginations, as has been urged, but to the most celebrated Savans of that country, as for example, OERSTDT, KLAPROTH, and HUFELAND, to learned bodies, and to governments. The Royal Academy of Berlin, offered in 1818, a prize of 3300 francs, for an essay on this topic. The governments of Prussia, Russia, and Denmark, have founded medical commissions for the examination of it, and subjected its therapeutical application to certain regulations. He thought, therefore, that the Academy could follow without compromising its dignity, such good examples. He added, that the examination was absolutely necessary, unless they desired that every French practitioner should hereafter reject the whole subject, and for ever abandon its employment to jugglers and credulous fools. M. NACQUART thought, that as magnetic somnambulism is something wholly independent of organical, physical, or physiological laws; that as the senses here have no need of organs; as time, space, and intermediate bodies, wholly disappear; we can avail ourselves of no method of appreciating magnetical facts, and consequently, the Academy ought not to trouble their heads about it—a very good joke truly: but M. ITARD said, that jokes had nothing to do with the question, because they are meant only for the abuses and extravagancies of magnetism; but we want to get at the truth, and to eschew the folly. Magnetism, says he, is either a real or imaginary agent; it ought to be examined. To refuse this, is to despise the path of experiment, which can alone lead to truth, &c. &c. M. RECAMIER, could add nothing to the observations of MM. DESGENETTES, BALLY, and DOUBLE; but he wished the section to know, that he been a witness to the magnetic phenomena—he had been present at the oracles of the marichale of M. DE PUYSEGUR, who was represented as the most lucid of all possible somnambulists. He had reason to suspect a cheat in this case, as he was denied the means of dissipating his doubts; and heard this woman repeat what he had before said to the patient himself. How ridiculous, moreover, is it, to hear one drachm of glauber's salt prescribed as a transcendental remedy for phthisis pulmonalis! He also attended at the Hotel Dieu, at experiments made on one woman and two men. He saw the woman go to sleep (as was asserted,) at the simple will of the magnetiser, who for that purpose was concealed in a closet of the apartment. The only mode adopted, to prove that she was really asleep, consisted in some slight pinching of her ears, and some noises; yet, in the recital, these slight impressions have been transformed into most painful tortures. In the experiments made on the men, he employed a more powerful proof, which was the application of moxa; and that he did, because it was indicated by a coxalgia, with which the patient was affected: it is a fact, says he, that the man did not awake, or show the slightest sensibility. Mr. R. believes, therefore, in magnetical action; but does not think it can ever be available in the practice of physic. In Germany, said he, where magnetism is so much employed, do they cure better than elsewhere? And has magnetism been the occasion of any therapeutical discovery any where? In somnambulism there is only a disordered sensibility, and not an increase of it; and the pretended clairvoyance of the somnambulists, has no real existence, &c. &c. M. GEORGET, cited in proof of the existence of magnetic power, the names of many physicians, members of the Academy, as MM. ROSTAN and FOUQUIER—he cited the experiments made at the Hotel Dieu, by Dr. DUPORTET, in the presence of many members, who had signed the results, as MM. HUSSON, GEOFFROY, RECAMIER, DELENS, PATISSIER, MARTIN, SOLON, BRICHETEAU and KERGARADEC. If there be any analogy between magnetic and natural somnambulism, ought we to be astonished at the production of the former by certain practices? The magnetisers conceal nothing, but publish all their proceedings, and do you call these the tactics of jugglers and charlatans? M. MAGENDIE thought the examination expedient, and wished commissioners to be appointed to examine the somnambulist, offered by Dr. FOISSAC. M. GUERSENT was in the affirmative: he himself had magnetised, and witnessed several phenomena, &c. The discussion was then adjourned to the next setting, and on the 14th February, after hearing M. GASC against, and M. LHERMINER for the report, M. HUSSON the reporter was heard. The section then closed the discussion, and it was decided by a majority of ten, (35 to 25,) that a commission should be appointed to examine animal magnetism. We are indebted for the above account to the Revue Medicale for March—the No. for February, also contains a review of M. DUPAU'S Lettres Physiologiques et Morales sur le Magnetisme Animal, 8vo. Paris, 1826. In order to show our readers how they manage these matters, we shall translate the following from p. 269. "Here, says M. ROSTAN, is an experiment that I have often repeated, but which I was finally obliged to interrupt, because it fatigued my somnambulist prodigiously, who assured me, that if I continued, it would make her go mad. This experiment was made in presence of my colleague and friend, M. FERRUS. I took my watch, which I placed three or four inches from her occiput. I asked my somnambulist, if she saw any thing: "certainly, I see something that shines; it hurts me." Her countenance was expressive of pain, and ours expressed astonishment. We looked at each other, and M. FERRUS breaking silence, said, if she sees something shine, she can doubtless tell what it is. "What do you see that shines?—Oh! I don't know, I can't tell. Look at it well—Stop, it fatigues me, wait—(and after a moment of great attention) It's a watch." More astonishment. But, if she sees the watch, said M. FERRUS, she will doubtless see what o'clock it is. "Could you tell me what o'clock it is?—Oh! no, it is too difficult." "Look at it, try." "Wait then, I'll try; may be I can tell the hour, but I never shall be able to see the minutes;" and after the greatest attention—"It wants ten minutes of eight o'clock:" which was exact. M. FERRUS now desired to make the experiment himself, and repeated it with the same success. He made me turn the hands of his watch several times, and when presented to her (occiput we suppose,) without her having seen it, she never made any mistake." These statements we have thought fit to lay before our readers, who will observe the respectable names which are connected with them. We shall seize the first opportunity to give the report of the new commission, and if they confirm the miracles, we can still say, credat Judaeus apella. If it will make no cure, it will probably make much pay; since MESMER got upwards of 340,000 francs for his mumming exhibitions, to the spectacle loving quidnuncs of Paris. The commission consists of 11 members, viz. LEROUX, BOURDOIS, DOUBLE, MAGENDIE, GUERSENT, LAENNEC, THILLAYE, MARC, ITARD, FOUQUIER and GUENEAU DE MUSSY. 36. Sketch of the Medical Literature of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway—by Dr. C. OTTO, of Copenhagen, apud Bulletin des Sci. Med. Feb. and March.—"Denmark is richer in medical literature, than the other countries which in conjunction with it, composed the ancient Scandinavia. Although it does not in this respect, bear a comparison with France, Germany, England, and Italy, nevertheless, medicine, of all the sciences, seems to be that which is most successfully cultivated, and Copenhagen contains a great number of learned, and able physicians." In proof of what Denmark has done, Dr. O. refers us to the great names of the two BARTHOLINS, of STENO, of WINSLOW, of CALLISEN, &c. "In the 16th century, Denmark possessed the anatomical works of the two BARTHOLINS: (Instit. Anatomicae de vasis lymphaticis, &c.) and other works of the same kind, which have been translated into all the languages of Europe. STENO, the disciple of THOMAS BARTHOLIN, followed the career of his master, with an equal success. HALLER never spoke of this anatomist, without the highest admiration. RODE enriched the literature of Germany and Denmark, with works which have made his name illustrious, wherever science is cultivated. Among these, we may chiefly distinguish his Bibliotheca, and Materia Medica." The Danes are indebted to him for several popular works on medicine, which are in the judgment of Dr. OTTO, chef d'oeuvres of this sort of writing. He published more than 13 volumes on these topics. "To the celebrated CALLISEN, who is recently deceased, we are indebted for 1st, a Systema Chirurgiae Hodiernae, a work of the highest merit, and which has reached a fourth edition. 2nd, a Medical Topography of Copenhagen, published in Danish. (2 vols. 8vo. Copen. 1807.) 3d, the Director of the Academy of Surgery. He is also the author of several important memoirs, inserted in those of the Roy. Soc. of Sciences, of Denmark, and in some other collections. The late professor MATH. SAXTORPH, composed an excellent manual of labours, for the use of midwives. A second edition with plates, appeared in 1804. T. L. BANG, has given a Praxis Medica, an excellent guide to young physicians in their first outset in practice. HERHOLDT has shed some lustre on Danish Physiology: his dissertations on the life of the foetus, and on the question, whether vision is performed with both eyes, or with one only, bear testimony to his genius and penetration: he is also author of a memoir on penetrating wounds of the Chest, inserted, as well as the former dissertation, and many other pieces, in various medical journals. "TYSCHEN published in 1804, a Treatise on Pharmacy, in Danish; and professor MYNSTER, gave a work on Pharmacology, of which two volumes only had appeared, when death interrupted his useful labours. In 1794, he commenced the publication of a journal, the Bibliothek for Physik Oeconomic og Medicin, which was continued in 1799, by BAHN, and afterwards under several names, till 1807. We now come to the existing state of Danish medical literature. "The Royal Medical Society of Copenhagen, which, without contradiction, holds the first rank among those of Scandinavia, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1822. It publishes at irregular periods, its memoirs, under the title of Nova Acta Societatis Medicae Havniensis. The last volume appeared in 1821. Professor JACOBSEN, is ardently devoted to the study of Comparative Anatomy, and has published several works on the subject, inserted in the Mem. of the Roy. Soc. of Sciences, extracts from which have appeared also in several foreign journals. The collection we have just now cited, (for 1824, V. I.) contains a memoir of Dr. GARTNER, which confirms the opinion entertained by the ancients, as to the presence of a glandular body in the uterus of some animals. The author has added a plate to this interesting dissertation. Dr. OTTO has enriched the physiological sciences with his Phrenology, and is zealously occupied with all that relates to this subject. Professor WENDT, physician to the General Hospital of Copenhagen, has recently published several small medical works. We may cite his Historical and Chemical Supplements, to the knowledge of some therapeutical agents, of the class Euphorbiae; some notices on small pox, vaccina, and modified small pox. "Denmark possesses three periodical journals of medicine, without counting those of the Royal Societies of Sciences and of Medicine of Copenhagen. The first and best of these journals, is the Bibliothek for Laeger, published by a society instituted for the advancement of medical studies. CLASSEN, the founder of this association, bequeathed to it a sum of money, to purchase annually, some foreign medical works. This collection is composed of original memoirs, extracts, and announcements of other works, and a review of the course of the faculty of medicine. It is specially consecrated to the practical department of the art—(three numbers per ann. of 70, to 100 pages each.) The 2nd collection, is the Nye Hygaea, the editor of which, (M. OTTO,) embraces in his plan, all the medical sciences. This journal, although specially devoted to physicians, is in reach of all those persons of education, who can be interested in a variety of important medical questions. It contains original memoirs, and extracts from foreign works, (five leaves per month.) The 3d collection, Archives for the History of Medicine in Denmark, (Archiv. for laegevidens kabens historie in Danmark,) does not appear periodically, but at indefinite times. Professor HERHOLDT, the editor, has only published one number, in 1823. "As to inaugural dissertations for the doctorate, the number amounts only to three or four in the space of ten years; because the title of M. D. is not requisite to the practitioner in Denmark." The above is taken from the Bulletin for February, the ensuing portion of the sketch is contained in the March number of the same journal. "The medical literature of Sweden, must have been very insignificant in past ages, if we may form an opinion, from the total want of documents in relation to it. There existed no scientific lien between the physicians of that country, or even among those of the capital. A medical society might in vain have been sought for there, at a period, when they were common in all other countries. The Royal Academy of Sciences, published some essays relating to medicine, from time to time, but until 1807, a work on this topic was regarded as a sort of rarity. However, in the course of that year, seven physicians of Stockholm, united in order to found a society, which received the royal sanction, and took the title of Svenska Loekare Soellskapet, (Society of Swedish Physicians.) This institution, seemed to communicate to the practitioners of Sweden a new existence, and then really commenced the aera of medical literature in that country. The number of works published since that period, has scarcely amounted to more than one or two per annum. Dr. RABEN is the author of three works, which, though not large, give evidence of considerable knowledge and penetration: Their titles are: 1st. De praecipuis causis mali Scrophul. ejusque remediis Commentation. Lund. 1807. 2nd. A second volume on the same subject, written in the Swedish language, Lund. 1819. 3d. Observationes in Syphilidem, ejusque curationem, ubi novae quoque proponuntur curandi rationes. Lund. Goth. 1821. "We shall also mention among the works recently published in Sweden, 1st. A biographical and literary gallery of the physicians of that country, from the reign of Gustavus I. down to our own times, by Dr. J. F. SAKLEN. 2nd. FLORMANN'S Manual of Anatomy. Finally, a collection of the laws of the kingdom, which relate to medicine. The Medical Society of Stockholm, regularly publishes its transactions, Svenska Loekare Soellskapets Handlingar, the 10th vol. of which has just appeared. In it, are some remarkable cases, a table of the constitution of the atmosphere, and of the diseases which have prevailed at Stockholm, and in its environs; reports on the hospitals and baths of the whole kingdom; extracts from Medico-legal Examinations, recent discoveries, &c. M. ECKSTROM promises to publish a complete description of the variolous epidemic, which prevailed last year at Stockholm, and in the provinces. Besides these transactions, the secretary makes an annual report, on what passes at the sittings. To this he adds, short notices of the most interesting recent discoveries and observations, which he derives from foreign medical literature. He publishes this collection once a year, and adds some nosological articles. In closing this review, we ought not to forget to mention the collection of theses, defended at the university of Upsal, which is published yearly by Dr. ZETTERSTROM." 37. Erysipelatous Mumps or Angina Parotidiana.—Dr. BEHR of Bernberg, has published in the Journ. der Pract. Heilkund for July, 1825, an account of this disease, which we find in the Bulletin for Feb. 1826. Dr. BEHR'S "memoir is intended to pourtray the principal features of an epidemic prevalence of parotitis at Bernberg, in the months of December, 1822, and January and February, 1823. Dr. B. attributes it to the frequent and sudden variations of the atmosphere at that period." He says, "the disease is so rare in this country, that physicians of 30 years standing had never met with it before." Bernberg contains 6000 souls; it is divided into two parts by the Saale, and it is situated on the great road from Leipsic to Magdeburg, in a narrow valley, which runs from N. W. to S. E. The precursory symptoms were rigors followed by heat, heaviness of the limbs, pains in the joints, especially in the evening, sense of tension in the region of the lower jaw, and sometimes a difficulty in mastication. The appetite was usually natural, with gastric symptoms only in the most severe cases. On the evening of the 3d day, there was an increase of uneasiness with chills and heat, after which the patient commonly enjoyed sweet sleep. The next day, on awaking, he felt tolerably well, and had no more sense of heaviness in his limbs, but his face was swelled on one or both sides. Speech and mastication were effected with difficulty; the lower jaw was comme engourdie, and a dull pain was felt in the ligaments of the joints; the tumefaction increased and soon extended from the ear to the cheek. On a careful examination, it was found to affect the parotid gland, and the surrounding cellular tissue. The tumour was hard, diffused, and not very painful, except on pressure. The colour and temperature of the swollen part were natural. In the evening, the pulse became hard and accelerated, the tongue white, the stools more consistent than common, and the urine pale. The following night he was agitated, frequently awakened by lancinating pains in the affected part, and sometimes by a sense of tension in the head. The following day, the tumour reached its maximum of elevation, and sometimes comprised the submaxillary glands of the same side. From this time, the pains did not increase, and the skin became slightly red only in a very few examples. The disease having thus reached its acme, a gentle sweat commenced behind the ears, then extended over the whole tumour, and remained as long as the swelling lasted. This evening there was no fever, but a gentle perspiration continued throughout the night. The day following, being the 6th of the disease, the tumour was evidently diminished, and continued decreasing until its final disappearance, which occurred on the 9th, and sometimes on the 7th day. Until this period, abundant local perspirations in the day-time, less abundant, but more general ones in the night, were observable. When the disease was critical by urine with sediment, the diminution of the swelling was dated from this appearance; but the resolution was not perfected in some cases till the 14th day, and in such cases, the integuments of the part were covered with a mealy desquamation. Dr. BEHR did not observe any metastasis to the genitals, but he saw cases, in which the disappearance of the swelling, was followed by considerable fever with augoisse, and then an oedema, commonly situated on the head. He often saw the termination by induration, but this soon yielded to a proper treatment. As to the contagion of mumps, the author thinks, it can only occur where there is desquamation of the integuments; and remarks on the analogy of this circumstance, with what occurs in scarlatina. Dr. BEHR thinks, that antiphlogistics are rarely indicated in the treatment of parotitis. 38. Taenia.—In several cases in which gum. gutt., salts of tin, and other medicines, were unsuccessfully used for the expulsion of tape worm, Dr. BOUGARD succeeded in expelling them with pills compounded as follows: Merc. dulc. Extr. aloes, aa. gr. iij. divided into three pills. This dose was given every evening for eight days, and gradually increased or diminished, so as to procure three stools per diem. A rigorous diet was observed during this treatment.—Rust's Magazin fur die gesamte Heilkunde apud Bulletin des Sci. Med. March, 1826. 39. Scrophula.—Dr. WETZ recommends the employment of caustic potassa in scrophula. He dissolves x grs. of caustic potassa in one ounce of orange-peel water, and gives from xij to xx gtt. four times a day, in a cup of broth. A solution of caustic potassa in six ounces of distilled water, is applied as a wash to the ulcers.—Ibid. 40. Digitalis.—We find in the Propagateur des Sciences Medicales for Feb. 1826, an account of the directions of Dr. NEUMANN of Berlin, for the employment of digitalis in pulmonic diseases: they are said to be the result of long experience. Digitalis is useless, says the writer, in all cases of suppuration of the lung, consequent to tubercles of that organ. It is of no avail in those suppurations, which succeed inflammatory haemoptysis. It is employed without success in local phlegmorrhagies of the lungs; but it almost invariably cures those chronic catarrhs, which depend on a state of erethism of the mucous lining of the bronchiae. This disease is sometimes called chronic bronchitis, sometimes mucous consumption, pulmonic catarrh, and galloping consumption. If the diagnosis in this case be well made out, hopes may be entertained of a cure, one of the two following conditions being present: A. The patient must be susceptible of the stimulant action of the remedy: this is often not the case. We may be sure the digitalis will not produce its effect, where the pulse of the patient remains uniform and frequent after he has taken it for several days. It does not suit such persons. B. The medicine ought to be administered in a proper manner. To be good, the leaves, even in the dried state, should be perfectly green and free from any brown spots. Two ounces of the leaves, should be infused in six ounces of boiling water; and the patient may take a table spoonful every hour, until he feels nausea, or a sense of constriction in his throat, or flashing of the eyes, or irregular pulse. The use of the foxglove should then be interrupted for seven or eight days, in which interval, the full action of the medicine is developed, the pulse remaining irregular, and the mucous secretion diminishing gradually. If the first trial does not remove it entirely, a second course may be commenced after a few days. Series of Engravings to the morbid anatomy; fasc. 1. pl. 6. fig. 1, 2. Lond. Med. Review; vol. 4. Pathological Researches; Essay 1. Medical Researches on the Effects of Iodine in Bronchocele, Paralysis, Chorea Scrofula, Fistula Lachrymalis, Deafness, Dysphagia, White Swelling, and Distortions of the Spine. By Alexander Manson, M. D., &c. London, 1825. Carthamus Tinctorius. 41. Dr. Physick's operation for artificial anus, denied to have been performed!—We have often had occasion to remark the claiming, and, we fully hope, the actual re-invention of American operations and practices among physicians on the other side of the Atlantic. As we are not a publishing people, it is, perhaps, not very strange that the French and English should be generally unacquainted with the discoveries and inventions which have been made among us; but here comes an actual denial of the invention having ever taken place! Every American who has any pretensions to the character of a surgeon, is most probably familiar with the proposal and performance, by Dr. PHYSICK, of a peculiar operation for those cases of artificial anus, where the two ends of the divided or opened intestine adhere laterally to each other, in the manner of a double-barrelled gun. We are now told that M. RICHERAND, in his new work "On the recent progress of Surgery," "avoids giving this the least confidence." (Archives Generales, Janvier, 1826.) The reviewer in the Archives, in a paroxysm of angry jealousy for the honour of French surgery, deeply wounded, as he conceives, in the admissions by M. RICHERAND of discoveries and inventions among the English and others, adds no small amount of ill-nature to this unworthy intimation, and makes the observations which we have translated below. It is certainly an easy method of erecting reputations, to deny, directly, the priority of others in operations which a favourite has repeated. No matter though the knowledge of this priority be widely diffused; if readers can, by means of national predilections, be induced to place confidence in your denial, the effect, as far as relates to them, is completely obtained. Yet one would think it an ungenerous act, to call in question, and before partial judges, the veracity of such men as are here named. Where a physician reports cases which agree too well with his preconceived theories, we doubt the correctness of his observations; and with justice: for we know that an already formed belief will greatly tinge the most honest seeings and hearings of very sensible and honourable heads. But this is a far different thing from impeaching, in a manner entirely gratuitous, the moral honesty of the record of a historical fact, made by men at the head of their profession. The reviewer, Mr. and probably Dr. L. C. ROCHE, comments as follows: "1. Dr. PHYSICK never published any thing on this subject. "2. Dr. DORSEY, who makes the claim for him, never published the work in which he does so, [the Elements of Surgery,] till 1813. "3. In the English journal (?) and in that work, he contents himself with a simple assertion, without giving either the date of the operation, the name, age, or sex of the patient, the names of his assistants, or the details of the operation; all points which men never forget to make known, when treating of the first attempt in a new operation of this importance." To the first of these comments we reply, that Dr. PHYSICK, to the great regret of his countrymen, has never been in the habit of publishing; but still possesses many useful improvements in medicine and surgery, which he has not committed to the press. On the other hand, however, he has taught this operation annually, to from three to four hundred pupils, in his lectures, during about twelve successive years; and this is no mean substitute for a publication in types. M. ROCHE'S memory will supply him with an instance of an eminent French surgeon, whom we shall not attempt to defraud of his laurels, who also made it his practice to leave the publication of his observations and improvements to his pupils. To the second remark, the above is also a sufficient reply; but we will add that it was recorded in the case book of the Pennsylvania Hospital in 1809. Our comment on the third observation of Mr. ROCHE may be brief. It is that we promise an account of the case for the next number of this Journal. In the mean time, the patient was well known to us and to many persons now living. The operation was performed in 1809. In reply to that portion of the last observation, which we have marked with italics, we can assure the reviewer that he is mistaken; at least with regard to this side of the ocean. We Americans are a very peculiar people, and but little affected, as yet, with the cacoethes scribendi; a malady which the present work, in its humble sphere, is designed to disseminate. We are not in the habit of frequently publishing, and above all, of publishing volumes. Books are dear, private libraries small, public ones few, and encouragement for even the best original publications but limited. Of this we have known some melancholy instances. It is impossible for either a Frenchman or an Englishman to judge correctly of a country, which, in many important respects, is in such a different situation from his own. It is a thing of by no means uncommon occurrence here, to make a valuable discovery or improvement in the healing art, and not to make it public. A striking instance of this fact, at least with the exception of the insertion of an imperfect account in the Eclectic Repertory, which very probably never reached England, is mentioned in our last number. We allude to the extirpations of diseased ovaria, by Dr. M'DOWALL, of Kentucky. Here a unique and brilliantly successful operation was performed, successful as yet beyond European imitations, and still the inventor and achiever of it did not possess vanity or industry sufficient to treat the public with a full account of it. M. ROCHE may find it hard to explain modesty of this species; but we can promise him, should these sheets ever reach his eye, and he still continue skeptical, abundance of proofs, and some more instances of the same kind. 42. Gangrenous Sore Mouth of Children.—Dr. COATES begs permission to add the following quotation from FABRICIUS HILDANUS to the authorities quoted in his paper on gangrenous ulcer of the mouth, at the commencement of the present number. "Gingivarum inflammatio maxime in infantibus in gangraenam interdum degenerat. Morbus enim magnus, vehemens et peracutus; magna quoque requirit remedia: sed quis illa in ore adhibere ausus?"—De Gangraena et Sphacelo, Cap. IV. p. 773. col. 2. Edit. Beyeri. Francofurt ad Maen. 1646. "Gangraena in partibus humidis, gingivis, palato, naribus, &c. raro sanabilis; in sphacelum autem degenerans, insanabilis."—Cap. XI. p. 781. col. 2. This is all I find in that author, relative to the subject. 43. Operation for Phymosis.—M. J. CLOQUET, has so improved this operation that no deformity results. He recommends the incision to be made at the inferior surface, near, and parallel to, the fraenum praeputii. The longitudinal wound thus made, becomes transverse, as soon as the prepuce is drawn behind the glans penis, and cicatrizes in a line scarcely visible; so that the prepuce acquires in breadth what it loses in length. M. CLOQUET has, in this way, perfectly cured many patients; the prepuce appearing to possess its natural conformation.—La Propagateur des Sci. Med. for March. 44. Lunar Caustic on Wounds and Ulcers.—The practice of healing wounds and ulcers by natural or artificial scabs, to which the attention of the profession was first directed by Mr. J. HUNTER, has been too much neglected, and the circumstances under which it is useful, have not been accurately stated. In a small work published by Mr. HIGGINBOTTOM, in January last, at London, the practice of forming an eschar by the lunar caustic over small ulcers and recent wounds, has been strongly recommended as saving the patient much pain, trouble, and danger. The whole surface is to be pencilled with the solid caustic so as to form an eschar, and where this remains adherent, the wound or ulcer invariably heals with comparatively little inconvenience. When effusion occurs under the eschar, whether of serum or of pus, there is more difficulty; but if this fluid be evacuated by a puncture, and the caustic applied to the orifice, the eschar will often remain adherent. Sometimes the fluid must be frequently evacuated. If the eschar does not separate favourably, a cold poultice may be applied, which not only removes the eschar, but lessens the irritation and inflammation. Should the sore not be healed, Mr. H. recommends the reapplication of the caustic. To prevent effusion under the eschar, and to preserve it adhering, he advises the whole to be covered with a piece of gold-beater's skin; but we may add, that as this effusion arises from too much inflammation, more powerful means may occasionally be employed, especially a solution of acetate of lead. LARREY recommends with the same view, after the application of moxa, the use of the aq. ammoniae. Indeed any evaporating, cold, astringent lotion will be advantageous. The application of the caustic, of course, produces some pain, but this soon subsides, and the patient experiences more ease than under any other mode of treatment. Particular cases in which the Caustic is useful.—In punctured wounds, it should be applied to the orifice and surrounding skin, and the eschar allowed to dry. The terrible effects of punctured wounds, are thus completely prevented, whether caused by needles, hooks, bayonets, &c. So also of wounds from saws; of bites from leeches and animals; of the stings of insects; and especially of those small scratches, and punctures, received in anatomical dissections. The danger of these last mentioned accidents may, according to Mr. H., be completely arrested by the prompt and free application of the lunar caustic. Even in neglected cases, when a small tumour has formed under the skin, attended with a smart stinging pain, he advises the tumour to be removed, and an adherent eschar to be formed by the caustic; and in still more neglected and advanced cases, where inflammation of the absorbents has supervened, "a free crucial incision is to be made, the caustic to be freely applied, and afterwards, the cold poultice and lotion; the usual constitutional remedies being actively enforced." In bruises, especially of the shin, the adherent eschar from lunar caustic, has, with Mr. H., always effected a cure; and even when a slough has been produced, the application of the caustic will moderate the inflammation. In ulcers, which are small, not exposed to friction or motion, and discharging little, the cure by eschar will be preferable; especially in those little irritable and painful ulcers often seen about the ancle and tendo Achillis. Apply first a cold poultice, and then form the eschar, which may be freely exposed to the air. Should the matter, nevertheless, collect, it should be evacuated by puncture as often as necessary, until the eschar remains adherent. This practice is recommended by Mr. H., in various other affections; as in inflammation of the fingers; in the fungous ulcer of the navel in infants; in tinea capitis, &c. In this last case, we have ourselves used it with marked advantage. In all cases, the lunar caustic has a decided effect in diminishing the irritability of the parts to which it is applied; and hence should usually be preferred for the purpose of forming a "scab," for such the eschar really is, in a practical view; and we think that our author has hardly done justice to nature's methodus medendi by "scabbing;" while he so ably and strenuously recommends his own imitation of her process. Scabs may be formed by the coagulation of blood; by the drying of mucus or pus; and by the formation of an eschar, by the actual or potential cautery. The surgeon may frequently reduce parts to the same situation, by the use of gold-beater's skin, court-plaster, or other unirritating applications, which prevent exposure and evaporation. In all cases, care must be taken to prevent the surrounding inflammation from transcending the adhesive stage. 45. Haemorrhage from Lithotomy.—In the London Med. and Phys. Jour. for Jan. Mr. JOHN SHAW has published an account of a patient, who unfortunately perished from haemorrhage, in consequence of being cut for the stone. The parts being injected after death, it was found, that the bleeding proceeded from the unusual distribution of a branch of the pudic artery, which traversed the neck of the bladder, and lay directly in the way of the incision. The pudic artery was uninjured. 46. Extirpation of the Parotid Gland.—The best surgical writers have condemned this operation, if not as absolutely impracticable, nevertheless, as too dangerous to be ever attempted. Successful cases have however been reported, and Mr. A. COOPER, in a letter to the operator in the following case, avers, that he twice removed the parotid gland in one year. Mr. KIRBY, late president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, in a work published in 1825 at Dublin, on haemorrhoidal excrescences, has given the details of a diseased parotid, and of the operation for its removal. We condense from Johnson's Review for April, 1826. The patient was a poor female, aged 40, who had a tumour extending from above the zygoma downwards on the neck, two inches below the angle of the jaw, stretching as far forwards as the anterior edge of the masseter muscle, forcing the ear backwards, and raising it outwards from its natural position. Above the surface, it was about the size of a goose-egg; immoveable; painful when handled; irregular on the surface, and of a deep livid colour over the prominent points. Pains of a lancinating character, extended over the head and neck, producing sickness and want of sleep. The operation was performed chiefly by the fingers and the handle of the knife, after dividing the integuments by a crucial incision. The branches of the portio dura were of course divided, and great embarrassment arose from a copious haemorrhage, caused by the bursting of the tumour, while Mr. K. was rooting it out from between the pterygoid muscles. The bleeding was restrained by the finger of an assistant, and the complete extirpation of the diseased gland was effected. Mr. KIRBY says, "the space between the pterygoid muscles was void—the auditory tube was fully exposed—the articular capsule of the jaw was brought into view—the finger could trace the length of the styloid process, and on sponging the wound of its blood, it could be seen by those who surrounded the chair." The haemorrhage was restrained by a sponge firmly lodged at the bottom of the wound, covered by compresses of lint, and the whole secured by a double-headed roller. The patient was much exhausted, slept tolerably well the next night, complaining of thirst and inability to swallow. On the 2nd day, inflammation, swelling, and fever followed—erysipelas appeared on the neck—patient lethargic—pulse small and frequent. Fourth day, suppuration—symptoms improving—no relapse. The patient completely recovered, without any regeneration of the tumour. In FERUSSAC'S Bulletin Universel for Jan. 1826, we observe the following notice, from a German Medical Magazine, conducted by M. D. Schmidt. A female, aged 33 years, had suffered for 9 years from a diseased parotid gland, which had gradually attained a large size. It was extirpated by Dr. PRIEGER, and the patient soon returned home in good health, and little disfigured. The tumour measured 8 inches in circumference, and weighed three and a half pounds. (Livres.) Dr. PRIEGER had previously extirpated a scirrhous parotid successfully. M. WIENHOLD affirms, that he has extirpated three parotids; the details of these operations are published. M. SCHMIDT, however, suggests some doubts, as to the nature and seat of the tumours removed. 47. Aneurism from a Wound, cured by Valsalva's method.—This interesting and valuable case, is condensed from Le Propagateur des Sci. Med. for March, 1826. M. Antouard, a healthy female, aet. 18, was wounded on the 18th of June, 1825, by a poniard, in the left carotid artery, below the superior extremity of the sternum; the instrument passing obliquely inwards and downwards. The anterior and lateral portions of the neck, were enormously distended with blood, and syncope supervened. Four days after the injury was received, an aneurismal tumour was observed at the edge of the sternum, the surrounding effusion being greatly diminished by absorption; and at the expiration of a month, when she was first seen by Dr. SOUCHIER, it was of the size of the two fists of the young female. The pulsations at this time, were nearly equal over the whole surface of the tumour; but rather more distinct over the orifice in the vessel. The surrounding blood was entirely absorbed. No pain was experienced, unless from the pressure of the swelling; from which cause also, resulted a troublesome and continued headach. Dr. SOUCHIER, not believing an operation adviseable, during the warm season of the year, and on a tumour, situated so much under the sternum, determined to fulfil the following indications: 1st. To lessen the quantity of blood; and thus, to diminish the stimulus to the heart, the projectile force it exercises, and consequently, the rapidity with which the blood escaped from the ruptured vessel, and the impulse hence imparted to the sides of the tumour, preventing, in some degree, the coagulation of the blood. 2nd. To increase the effect of general and local bleeding by the use of cold, of pressure, and especially, of the digitalis purpurea: that thus the force of the circulation may be lessened, the blood allowed to coagulate, and a radical cure be accomplished. Mademoiselle Antouard, determined to yield herself to this plan, and was directed: 1st. Rice-water, acidulated with lemon-juice, and an infusion of mallows, for food and drink. 2nd. To employ frictions on the abdomen, and on the insides of the thighs, morning and evening, with eight grains of the pulverized leaves of digitalis, previously macerated for 24 hours in a sufficient quantity of saliva. 3d. To apply every day 12 leeches, near the aneurismal tumour, and after favouring the flow of blood by emollient fomentations, to cover the part with compresses, wet with a saturated solution of the acetate of lead, to be frequently renewed, so as to be kept below the temperature of the skin. 4th. The effect of these means to be augmented by pressure, made by means of the base of a glass tumbler, fixed by the hands of assistants; and 5th. To be kept at rest, and in perfect silence. Fourth day of treatment, being 2nd of Aug. 1825. Pulsations more central; tumour very sensibly diminished; pulse less strong and reduced from 86 to 74 in the minute; the menses, which had been suppressed for two months, appeared on the 31st ulto. and still flow. Prescription, V. S. [Symbol: ounce]xviij. next day, twelve leeches, on the lateral parts of the tumour; gr. xxiv. of digitalis in three applications through the day. Continue ut supra. Aug. 8th. Patient tranquil; pulse 60, full, not active; face not flushed, but preserving a delicate tinge of red; headach now slight; no nausea; menses continued until the 6th inst. Prescription, V. S. [Symbol: ounce]xij.—fifteen leeches to-morrow; increase digitalis to gr. xxviij. daily; the rest, ut supra. The tumour has diminished at least one-fourth. Aug. 12th. Tumour reduced to 3-5ths of its former volume; pulse at 56; her nights are comfortable; has some headach, and lately, cardialgia; complains of hunger and weakness, and from the fatigue of her assistants, the pressure was made with a bandage less effectually than before. This was allowed, as the pulsations are weakened, and more and more central, while the elevation of the tumour is trifling. For fear her health might be injured, she was permitted to rise a little from bed, and to add to her rice water, some light jellies, (cremes) made from the same grain. V. S. [Symbol: ounce]x. and every 2nd day, eight leeches around the tumour; digitalis increased to 32 grains daily; warm pediluvium for one hour, morning and evening; silence as complete as possible. Aug. 18th. No tumour visible; pulsations can yet be felt; the skin is thickened; pulse at the wrist is at 50. V. S. [Symbol: ounce]viij.—six leeches every 4th day until menstrual period; digitalis reduced to gr. xx. and still to the same parts; continue the pressure; allow some rice jelly, vermicelli soup, gentle exercise; silence to be preserved, continue pediluvium, and relieve constipation by simple enemata. In 15 days, Dr. SOUCHIER again visited his patient. It required an experienced hand to distinguish, at the spot where the artery was cicatrized, an elevation rather more evident, than over the rest of the artery. Pulse 48 per minute; hunger great, and the remedies now unpleasant. Most of them were suspended, and fruit and the white flesh of poultry added to her diet list. The digitalis reduced to 12 grains a day. Compression, silence, and moderate exercise, to be continued as before. The menses appeared at the expiration of twenty-five days, and were more abundant than at the last period. At the end of a month, no trace of the tumour was discoverable. The young lady had carefully increased her nutriment and exercise without inconvenience, and all remedial measures were now omitted. During the months of December and January last, she remained free from any inconvenience from the tumour, and the union of the parietes of the artery was therefore regarded as complete. In the above account, we have only to regret that the state of the artery above the tumour, before and after the treatment, had not been noticed. Perhaps this may be supplied by Dr. SOUCHIER, in the commentary, which he proposes publishing on the above case. 48. Protrusion and Wound of the Stomach.—Mr. TRAVERS, in the Edin. Journ. of the Med. Sciences, for Jan. 1826, relates, that a female, aged 53, and the mother of nineteen children, inflicted on herself a wound in the abdomen, three inches in length, and in a transverse direction. When admitted into St. Thomas' Hospital, at the expiration of six hours, the greater part of the large curvature of the stomach, the arch of the colon, and the entire large omentum, were protruded and strangulated in the wound. The omentum was partially detached from the stomach, which organ was wounded in two places; one, half an inch long through the peritoneal coat; the other, a perforation of all the coats, admitting the head of a large probe, and giving issue to a considerable quantity of mucus. Patient faint; pain slight; pulse 102, and irregular; some hiccup. A silk ligature was placed round the small puncture in the stomach, and the displaced viscera returned, after enlarging the external wound. This last was closed by the quill suture. Warm fomentations and abstinence from food and drink enjoined. 2nd day, some re-action; had been sick in the night from some drink given; is free from pain; pulse 120; pain on pressure; an enema ordered. Evening, a dose of castor oil, and twenty leeches to the abdomen. 3d, much fever; V.S. [Symbol: ounce]xviij. and 20 leeches to the abdomen; bowels not opened. 4th day, two stools; pulse 98; tension of the abdomen; three more stools during the day. 5th, sutures removed; wound united, except at its right extremity, where a serous fluid is discharged in considerable quantities. On the 6th day, was allowed food, and on the 23d of Dec., about two months after the accident, was discharged cured. 49. Oesophagotomy.—This operation has been objected to, not only on account of the dangers attending its performance, but from the alleged difficulty of promoting the union of the wound in the oesophagus; as it is seldom at rest, the lips of the incision being often separated, and the mucous coat adhering with difficulty under any circumstances. Hence we are induced to notice the following case, in which the operation was successfully executed on an inferior animal, by M. FELIX, a veterinary surgeon of Bergelac. The account is published in the Feb. No. of Le Propagateur des Sci. Med. A Cow was threatened with immediate suffocation from the lodgment of a potato in the oesophagus. It had shortness of respiration, an incapacity of swallowing even its saliva, which flowed from the mouth, was in great distress, and covered with a cold sweat. Being properly secured in a horizontal posture, an external incision was made on the inside of the sterno-mastoid muscle, and a cautious dissection practised until the tumour was completely exposed. The oesophagus was divided by "an incision extending the whole length of the foreign body, which was extracted without any force, which is almost always fatal. I immediately made two close sutures; and also two others in the skin, on each side, adapting to them two pieces of packthread, more easily to fix the dressings. I dressed the wound with brandy, filling the opening with hemp soaked with brandy." The animal was kept on very little food or drink. On the third day the wound was dressed for the first time, and a digestive ointment applied. In the course of the 2nd week, the cicatrization of the oesophagus occurred; the part was dressed with lint; and by the 20th day after the operation, the animal was quite restored. This case would have been more useful, if more precision had been employed in describing the dressing and subsequent treatment of the wound. It would seem that the sutures were passed through the parietes of the oesophagus only, and that the external wound was kept open by being filled with tow. Certainly, union by the adhesive inflammation ought to have been attempted in all parts of the wound; but whether sutures in the oesophagus are advantageous, or whether the uniting bandage be preferable, is not so easily determined. In the two cases described in 3d vol. of the Mem. de l'Acad. de Chirur. the uniting bandage was alone employed, and with success. 50. Retention of Urine, caused by a Stricture of the Urethra, relieved by a forcible but gradual Injection.—The editor of Le Propagateur des Sci. Med. in the No. for Feb. 1826, introduces the following case, by observing, that it reflects great honour on M. AMUSSAT, and that his discovery merits the greatest praise. M. D... aged 70 years, of a plethoric constitution, had suffered about 30 years before from three attacks of gonorrhoea; since which period he has had a difficulty in urinating, and can never discharge more than one or two ounces of urine at a time. At eight o'clock, P. M. of the 1st of Feb. he tried to urinate, but could not succeed. He suffered great pain. Pulse agitated; face flushed; belly swelled, and globular at its inferior part; the subcutaneous abdominal veins distended, and the penis in a state of semi-erection. All attempts to urinate were painful and ineffectual. At ten o'clock, A. M., on the 2nd, M. AMUSSAT visited him, and passed a bougie. This was arrested by a contraction near the bulb of the urethra, and caused the discharge of some blood. No urine had been passed for 14 hours, while ordinarily he urinated 12 or 16 times through the night. The obstruction was so great, that none of the usual means of relief remained, except the forcible introduction of the catheter, or the puncture of the bladder. M. AMUSSAT resorted to the following plan which he had devised, and which completely succeeded. He injected warm water forcibly, but gradually, into the urethra, which, dilating the orifice of the stricture, forced backwards the thickened mucus which had obstructed it. As soon as the liquid injection met the urine, the patient cried out that he was saved, and immediately was able to urinate as formerly. At two trials, he discharged nearly two pints of thick urine. There was no return of the retention, the patient continuing well. Should subsequent experience confirm this experiment of M. AMUSSAT, this simple measure will be a most valuable substitute for those dangerous measures hitherto resorted to for retention of urine, in cases where the obstruction arises from thickened mucus, from small calculi closing the orifice of a stricture, from inflammation, or from what are termed, (justly or not,) spasmodic strictures. 51. Tracheotomy.—In the Amer. Med. Review for April, Dr. JOHN ATLEE, of Lancaster, mentions that on Wednesday, Aug. 11th, he was consulted by a child ten years old, who had that morning, while running, put a button-mould into his mouth, which during respiration was drawn into the trachea. He complained of uneasiness in respiration, with a slight rattling, and pointed towards the upper part of the sternum, as the situation of the button. On coughing, a rattling was heard, and immediately after, a sudden check to expiration, from the lodgment of the button near the rima glottidis, requiring a sudden and violent effort of inspiration to remove the sense of suffocation. An emetic was given with no advantage. During the night, he had two or three spells of coughing, threatening suffocation. An operation was urged, to avoid immediate and subsequent dangers from the lodgment of this extraneous body, and was agreed to by the parents, and by Dr. HUMES, who was called in consultation. It was performed on the 14th of Aug.; a cathartic, and afterwards an opiate, having been given. An incision, one inch and a half long, was made through the integuments, extending downwards from above the cricoid cartilage, and exposing the sterno-hyoid and thyroid muscles, which were then separated. After exposing the trachea, a longitudinal incision, about three-quarters of an inch in length, was made through its parietes at the third ring. This was held open, and the patient requested to cough. This was ineffectual. The wound being closed, the button was, by coughing, thrown up against the rima glottidis. A probe passed into the trachea, produced a violent effort to cough, by which, as soon as the instrument was withdrawn, the button was thrown through the wound, to some distance from the patient. The wound was dressed with two sutures and adhesive strips. Most of it united by the first intention: and in a few days the patient completely recovered. 52. Fistula Lachrymalis—At the session of the Royal Academy, on the 15th of December, M. J. CLOQUET related the case of a female, who, three years previously, had submitted to the operation for fistul. lachrym. according to the method of M. FOUBUT. The canula which had been allowed to remain in the nasal canal, had ulcerated through the floor of the nose, and presented its inferior extremity on the inside of the mouth. A practical commentary on this mode of operating, which is still recommended by able surgeons! 53. Aneurisma Herniosum.—This form of aneurism is supposed to consist of a dilatation of the internal and muscular coats of the artery; the external cellular having been destroyed. It is termed by ARNAUD, and by Dr. WILLIAM HUNTER, aneurisma herniam arteriae sistens. Its existence in any case has, however, been denied by a large majority of surgeons; and perhaps the only cases reported are those of DUBOIS, in 1804, found in the thoracic and abdominal aorta of a dead subject. The reporter of the following case, quotes also MONRO, as having cited examples of this kind of aneurism. But what MONRO termed a "mixt aneurism," arose from the rupture of the coats of a "true aneurism," by which it was reduced to the state of a "false aneurism;" very different from that here contended for. SABATIER and BOYER, also, deny the existence of this hernia of the artery, and a good summary of facts and arguments is given by BOYER in his Surgery, in support of this opinion, (vide article Aneurism, tome i.) which it would be difficult to invalidate, especially by cases analogous to the following. The reporter, M. BONNET, of the late French army, considers this case as proving a hernia of the artery in a vessel of medium diameter; those of DUBOIS having been noticed in the largest arteries. A Prussian soldier was wounded over the femoral artery by a musket ball. No haemorrhage ensued, and the wound cicatrized. In this state, M. BONNET visited him for a mortification of the foot of the same limb, which had been frozen. Amputation of the leg was performed, the stump healed readily, and in 12 days the ligatures came away. On the 13th day, (being six weeks since wounded in the thigh,) the patient perceived a tumour at the original cicatrix on his thigh, which had appeared during the preceding night. On the 14th, it had enlarged to three times its former size: it was painful; fluctuation was evident; but there was no pulsation, not even the thrilling noise, which is evident in the last stage of aneurism. A consultation was called, to determine whether it was an abscess or an aneurism. The question could not be satisfactorily answered, and it was determined to open it, after having made the necessary arrangements to secure the artery, should the tumour prove aneurismal. As soon as the integuments were punctured, the jet of blood evinced the nature of the complaint; and the artery was secured by ligatures above and below the tumour. The coagula were numerous, and the superficial ones, quite hard and cartilaginous. The patient did well, and there was every prospect of his recovery on the 1st day, when M. BONNET was forced by the movement of the armies to leave him at Meaux. Such are the facts, from which the Reporter infers, that the aneurism consisted of a protrusion of the internal and middle coats of the artery. The reasoning, founded on them, appears to us inconclusive; but we have not space to insert it, and must refer to the March No. of Le Propagateur des Sci. Med. 54. Extirpation of the Two Dental Arches, affected with Osteo-sarcoma.—Dr. GIORGI REGNOLI, physician at Pesaro, performed this operation on a female 35 years of age, who had from infancy, been troubled with pain and diseases of the teeth and jaws. When Dr. R. visited her, both dental arches were enormously swelled; red and sanguineous tumours had formed over their whole surface, and covered the teeth. The alveolar processes were entirely softened. The diameters of the mouth were greatly lessened; but by the touch, it was evident, that the disease was confined to the alveolar processes of the two ossa maxillaria. A foetid odour exhaled from the mouth. Lancinating pains continually tormented the patient; especially on attempting to masticate. The slightest touch was very painful, and was always followed by an effusion of blood. There was also an alteration of voice; a disgusting deformity of the mouth, with emaciation, fever, &c. The operation was performed on the 18th May, 1825. The patient was seated opposite to a window; her head being supported against the breast of an assistant, who, at the same time, pressed upon the labial arteries. The inferior lip was divided perpendicularly, and detached laterally from the inferior jaw, so as to expose the whole extent of the carcinoma. Some strokes of the saw were made on the anterior and most prominent part of the bone, and into the groove thus formed, the blade of a very strong knife was inserted, by means of which, aided by some slight strokes with a mallet, all the diseased portion was removed. The soft parts had been previously detached from the internal surface of the jaw. The last left molar tooth, not being diseased, was alone left. The haemorrhage from the dental artery was arrested by the actual cautery. The dental arch of the upper jaw, was then completely removed in the same manner. The bleeding was here more profuse, but was arrested by a hot iron. The alveolar processes thus removed, were enlarged, and of a lardaceous colour, and the fungous growths had the appearance and consistence of indurated albumen. In 25 days, the patient was discharged well. Her general health was good; the foetor had quite gone; the cicatrix over the bone was regular, white, hard, and could be pressed upon without causing pain. The patient can triturate her food with facility; the lips are slightly drawn inwards, without any sensible inconvenience; and the voice is a little altered, but this even is daily improving.—Le Propagateur des Sci. Med. for Jan. 1826. 55. Traumatic Erysipelas.—In the Feb. No. of the Revue Medicale, is a clinical report of the celebrated Baron LARREY, surgeon in chief of the Hospital de la Garde Royale; in which he criticises severely the use of leeches in erysipelas, and recommends in that variety of the disease, arising from wounds, &c. the application of the actual cautery, as effectual in arresting immediately the progress of the disease. It causes, he says, but little pain; destroys the burning and tense pain of the disease, as also the redness and swelling of the part; is not followed by suppuration, and does not cause gangrene in the contiguous parts. The eschar separates, without leaving a cicatrix. Various other advantages are enumerated, all of which are confirmed by a list of cases, as treated at the hospital. We have no room for details, which would, if known universally, hardly render us Americans, whether surgeons or patients, as fond of the cautery, as our trans-atlantic brethren of the French school. 56. Obliteration of a portion of the Urethra, remedied by an operation.—M. VANIER of Cherbourgh, relates in the Jan. No. of "Le Propagateur des Sciences Medicales," the case of a man aged 27 years, who, on the 16th of June, 1815, was wounded in the penis by a musket ball, which completely divided the urethra at its middle portion, without injuring the corpora cavernosa. The wound healed up; but by degrees, the passage contracted, so that in May, 1819, the patient could pass his urine only guttatim, with pain and difficulty, and was threatened with inflammation, &c. of the perineum. Bougies afforded no relief. An incision was then made externally, in the direction of the urethra, so as to divide the cicatrix, and open the canal above and below the contracted part. The lips of the incision were drawn together over a sound, passed into the bladder; and by the 5th day, the wound was completely cicatrized. The sound was then removed, and a short bougie inserted, so as to pass beyond the cicatrix. This was worn occasionally, and the patient completely recovered. At the end of three years, he was able to "urinate with ease, and in a full stream." 57. Artificial Joint cured by Caustic.—Dr. J. RHEA BARTON, has applied the caustic potash to the extremities of the fragments of a broken tibia, after an artificial joint had fully formed. Exfoliation was produced, followed by bony union. In three months, the patient recovered. Dr. B. alludes to other cases, by Mr. WHITE of Manchester, and Mr. HENRY CLINE, thus treated with success; to two instances, in which the practice failed in the hands of Mr. EARLE; and finally, to one case by Mr. A. COOPER, the result of which he has not learnt. He does not recommend the operation, as usually preferable to the seton, for which, the profession is indebted to Dr. PHYSICK; but as an additional expedient, when other means fail.—Med. Record. April, 1826. 58. Epilepsy cured by Trephining.—In the 17th No. of the New-York Medical and Physical Journal, Dr. DAVID L. ROGERS relates an interesting case of a man, aged 46, who had been subject to epileptic convulsions for 14 years, and who, of late years, had been unable to labour, and rapidly sinking into a state of idiocy, from their frequent recurrence. These fits were preceded by a fracture of the os frontis, with depression, from which he readily recovered; but soon after he was attacked with convulsions. He now suffers pain on the injured side extending down the neck and left arm—the eye of the same side is diminished—the sight much impaired, and his memory almost entirely destroyed. A cicatrix covering a slight depression was easily found, above the left superciliary ridge of the frontal bone, and over the superior orbitar foramen. Under these circumstances, the operation of trephining was performed on the 7th of July, 1825, but with some difficulty, from the irregular thickness of the bone, and from the saw having to pass through the upper part of the frontal sinus. "The dura mater was unfortunately cut through for one-half the circumference of the circle." The parts were found more vascular than usual, and the under surface had a ridge corresponding to the internal depression, but too slight to have caused compression of the brain. "Having made a section of the frontal sinus, [with a trephine?] a part of the posterior table was removed with the circular piece. This portion of the internal table had been fractured, and separated to some distance from its inferior attachments to the frontal plate, and driven back upon the substance of the brain. Its sharp edge was worn round and smooth." This seemed to have been the cause of all the mischief. After the operation, the patient suffered from pain in his head, with some moderate excitement, which was relieved by cathartics. He had no return of fits until the 25th day, when the wound was entirely healed. These had been brought on by overloading his stomach with food, and were followed by high arterial excitement and inflammation of the brain. He was relieved in a few days by active depletion, and was discharged cured on the 20th of August. Nine months afterwards, this man continued free from fits, his memory had nearly recovered its usual strength, and he could attend to his business without any inconvenience. 59. Gastrotomy.—M. BULK, in Germany, has successfully performed this operation on a female, aged 36 years, of good constitution, under the following circumstances. The patient, during her pregnancy, suffered from a severe pain at the left and inferior portion of the abdomen; her menses were not suppressed, and every six or eight days, a clot of blood and mucus came from the vagina. Her general health was very good. About the middle of her 8th month, she was washing some linen, and suddenly felt as if something was tearing in her abdomen; at the same time, a swelling of the size of two fists (poings) formed on the right side, below the umbilicus. She fainted, and for six weeks suffered dull pains in the abdomen. At this time, she had true labour pains for 48 hours, and was attended by a midwife. The os uteri dilated so as to admit one finger only. The tumour disappeared during these pains. The patient recovered, with the size of the abdomen undiminished. In this state she continued for two years and three months, menstruating regularly. She became again pregnant, with little inconvenience until the 7th month, when her abdomen was painfully distended, and of a bluish colour, and fluctuation was induced on the least motion. At the full period, she was delivered of a large foetus, which she suckled for 15 days. The infant then died of an aphthous affection. Her milk ceasing, she rapidly declined with hectic symptoms. The tumour reappeared below the umbilicus about the size of an egg, and soon opened, discharging from small orifices a little pus. The opening was enlarged, and some skin and hairs were removed. The patient's constitution was fast yielding, and gastrotomy was immediately performed. An incision was made, with the requisite precautions, through the linea alba into the cavity of the abdomen, from two and a half inches above the umbilicus to within nine lines of the pubis, care being taken to prevent the escape of the intestines. A foetus of full size, in which putrefaction had commenced, was found on the right side of the uterus. "I raised," says the operator, "the body with much care, and endeavoured to trace the umbilical cord. This was turned over the fundus of the uterus to the left side, and terminated in a vascular substance in a state of suppuration, (probably, the remains of the placenta,) which was situated below the great omentum. I pressed out, and dried up the pus, which covered these parts, by means of a sponge. The uterus was an inch and a half in length and an inch in breadth, of a pale rose colour, and could easily be distended (se laissait distendre aisement.) It was otherwise in a good condition." The wound in the abdomen was closed with sutures. The patient was in great danger from inflammatory symptoms for 8 days, but eventually recovered. She left her bed on the 55th day. 60. Caesarian operation, performed with safety to the Mother and Foetus.—We condense from JOHNSON'S Review for April last, the following summary of a case of Caesarian section performed by GRAEFE, on the 20th of September, 1825. Carolina Bechang, was admitted into GRAEFE'S Clinicum, in an advanced stage of pregnancy; being 30 years of age, much deformed by rickets, and only four feet (Rhenish) in height. On the 20th of Sept. after having been five days in labour at the full period, pains severe, and os uteri dilated, she consented to the Caesarian section. A little after 2 o'clock, GRAEFE placed the fore finger of his left hand, immediately below the umbilicus, and with a large scalpel, made an incision downwards in the linea alba, to within one inch of the pubis; dividing the entire parietes, and even penetrating the substance of the uterus. A second incision penetrated the uterus and exposed the placenta; which, as had been anticipated, was found on the fore part of the fundus. The assistants now compressed firmly the edges of the divided abdominal parietes upon the uterus, to prevent the protrusion of the intestines, in which they succeeded; and GRAEFE carried his hand in a moment into the uterus, separated the placenta with his finger and thumb, and then withdrew it and the child almost together. The child was very active, and cried lustily. The uterus immediately and suddenly contracted, and the bleeding was inconsiderable. Not more than twelve ounces of blood were lost, and no ligature was required. The whole operation was completed in four minutes and a half. The wound was secured by three broad sutures, and adhesive plasters, assisted by a bandage round the abdomen. The child weighed six pounds and was well formed. During the operation, the patient was sick, and once vomited slightly. In two hours had pain and fever: V.S. [Symbol: ounce]xij. Draught with ten drops of the aqua laurocerasi was given, and repeated in a few hours. The patient passed a quiet night. The symptoms of pain, inflammation, and fever, were threatening for some days, and were promptly resisted by the lancet, by enamata, by narcotics, especially the laurocerasus and hyosciamus, by fomentations, &c. By the 9th day, the wound had cicatrized, excepting near the symphisis; symptoms all favourable. The lochia were discharged regularly; and in three weeks, she was able to sit up, and in three more, quite well. Early in November, she returned home with her child, both in perfect health. In FERUSSAC'S Bulletin Universel; for February, another case, in which the Caesarian operation was performed with safety to the mother and infant, is copied from RUST'S Magazine. 61. Extirpation of the Uterus.—Dr. RHEINECK, of Memmingen, was consulted by a female, who in December, 1824, was attacked by fever, from which she slowly recovered. A prolapsus of the uterus, which gradually became inverted, followed, attended with frequent haemorrhage and discharge, by which she was almost worn to the grave. The whole of the uterus was inverted, and without the labia externa; its surface loose, fungous, and in several places easily broken down upon pressure; but there was no hardening nor ulceration. The irritation was so great, as to threaten the patient's life, and after a consultation, in which it was agreed, that the swelling was really formed by the uterus, the tumour was laid hold of and drawn forwards, and a broad ligature, secured with a double surgeon's knot, was applied round its base. In about three weeks, the whole had separated, and the part above the ligature was cicatrized. During this period, the patient was dangerously ill, and was only rescued by great care and attention. The operator had before performed a similar operation, in which case, the patient died suddenly from haemorrhage, on the separation of the ligature. OSIANDER, STRUVE, LONGENBACK, SAUTER, SIEBOLD, and ZAUG, have in late years performed the same operation, with various degrees of success.—Johnson's Review for April, 1826, who quotes from Siebold's Journal fur Geburtshulfe, 1826. 62. Uterine Haemorrhage.—In the Bulletin Universel for Jan. 1826, the following case is detailed from the Gazette de Sante, for Dec. 1825. A female aged 32 years, was taken with labour with her first child, on the 12th Feb. 1825. The pains soon ceased, and on the 15th of Feb. M. BEDEL, physician at Schirmack, was consulted, who speedily delivered her, by means of the forceps, of a dead child. The haemorrhage was so considerable, as to render the immediate removal of the placenta necessary; but the uterus did not contract, and the bleeding continued, with tremblings, syncope, cold sweats, &c. Irritation on the internal surface of the uterus, the use of cold water to the abdomen, injections into the uterus of cold water and vinegar, were unavailing. Plugging the vagina, and also the uterus, was now resorted to, as the only means of safety remaining. The uterus was filled with pieces of rags, for fear the patient could not sustain the loss of blood necessary to fill that cavity; while a methodic compression was at the same time made to the abdomen. The haemorrhage was immediately arrested, and soon after reaction ensued. On the 16th, M. BEDEL extracted the plugs from the uterus, cautiously and in succession; and had the pleasure of finding the uterus regularly contracting after each removal. The lochial discharge continued, and there was no secretion of milk. The patient recovered slowly. It is in such cases as the above, that the physicians of the United States have employed the Secale Cornutum (Ergot,) the judicious use of which would have probably superseded the necessity of instruments, and prevented or arrested the haemorrhagic discharge. VII. CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY. 63. State in which Morphia exists in Opium.—In the 80th article of our Quarterly Summary for January, we stated that MR. ROBINET had announced the discovery of a new acid in opium, with which the morphia was combined; while the meconic acid was alleged to be united with soda. To the former salt, he gave the name of codeate of morphia. MR. ROBIQUET, however, has shown, that the pretended codeate, is a muriate of morphia, formed by double decomposition between the muriate of soda, employed by MR. ROBINET in his analysis, and meconate of morphia. The same decomposition shows the source of the meconate of soda. We observe that MR. ROBINET admits his mistake.—Archives Generales de Medicine.

Speed up compost with this no-turn bin I love these instructions for making a bin for a compost pile that you don’t have to turn. It’s cheap and very, very easy. Compost piles need oxygen to carry on the decomposition process. One way to speed up your compost pile is to turn the pile with a pitch fork. This design by Fred Davis of Hill Gardens of Maine allows air to circulate throughout the pile so you don’t need to turn it. First, he uses pallets to form the floor and walls of the bin. One pallet forms the floor and four pallets form the walls. You simply tie the pallets together with clothesline to hold them in place. The pallets are free–stores just throw them away! You’ll find free pallets at the back doors of any shopping plaza or mall. Next, buy some PVC pipe and drill holes into it. Lay the pipe in pairs on top of the first layer of material in your pile. Add a couple more feet of material and lay another pair of pipes, perpendicular to the first set. You can see detailed instructions here. Davis says you can get fully decomposed compost in 21 days using this method. I think that’s possible. I didn’t get those amazing results, but there were many steps I skipped. For the best results, you need to use a mixture of ingredients in your compost pile. Unfortunately, we have a rat problem in our neighborhood and I don’t put kitchen scraps such as banana peels in this outdoor compost pile, so it doesn’t have the optimal balance. (I compost food scraps in a garbage can with a tight-fitting lid in my garage. I add some yard scraps, too.) Your compost pile also needs water. This summer I couldn’t even keep up on the watering for my garden. My compost pile got the occasional splash, but not nearly what it needed for speedy decomposition. In general, compost piles also work better if they are big. They will get hotter, speeding up the decomposition process. My bin started out less than half full and has never gotten more than half full. (The height of the pile decreases as it settles and as things in the pile begin to decompose.) I think if I had been able to mix my ingredients, keep the pile moist and start out with a larger pile I would have gotten better results. Still, I’m pleased with this bin. It gives me lots of room for yard waste that I had been throwing in garbage cans to compost. This frees up space in my garage. Plus, the compost in garbage cans has very little air circulation, so using the bin might be faster. If you try this method, please leave a comment below to tell us how it worked for you. Do you have any other composting tips? Please share! Seniors who participated in community gardens are sought for research project Beryl Milstein, a master’s student in occupational therapy at D’Youville College, needs to talk to gardeners for her graduate research project. Basically, you will be asked questions regarding about your experience with your particular community garden. 1. Be age 65 and older 2. Live in Buffalo, NY 3. Have participated in a community garden in the spring/summer of 2012 4. Be English speaking “Simply put, I am seeking input as to how your gardening pursuits have enhanced your quality of life,” she said. More technically, her research looks at the perceptions of well-being in community dwelling adults age 65 and older who participated in community gardens. “It would be wonderful if you could join me and several of your peers to discuss this,” Milstein said. “I’m confident that it would be a meaningful experience for all of us. Your experiences would greatly enhance my study and aid in the collection of valuable data. Please join us!” A variety of refreshments will be available. The discussion will take place at 9:30 a.m. Friday, September 14 in the Westside Community Services conference room, 161 Vermont St., Buffalo, NY 14213. Free parking is available behind the building as well as on street. The discussion will run no longer than 1 ½ hours, and the session will end by 11:30am. You can contact Milstein to her know you are coming, or you can just show up. If you have any questions, contact her at BerylMilstein@gmail.com or at 845-781-6051. Thought for today “To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. ” ~George Santayana, philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist

How long does a roof last? 4 roof replacement factors to consider How do you know when you need a roof replacement? After all, the time to replace your roof isn’t always as obvious as it is in the photo below. Plus, a 20-year warranty doesn’t necessarily mean that your roof will fall apart in Year 21, or that your lifetime roofing warranty guarantees a perfect roof until the day that, well…your own warranty runs out. A simple, 3-tab shingle roof may be warranted for 20 to 25 years. An architectural shingle roof that can take a little more punishment may be warranted to last 50 years. Specialty roofs, like slate or tile, may not need a roof replacement for decades. So, how long does a roof last? The type of roof matters. The quality of the roofing products matter. The installation process matters. First, let’s take a look at how your roof is structured. Understanding the whole roof system 4 factors that influence a roof’s lifespan The shingles on your roof make a big difference. Super-luxury options like slate, tile and cedar may outlive several homeowners. Four out of five homes are topped with asphalt shingles because they are affordable, look good and get the job done. “Shingles are one part of a whole roof system,” Jeff Frantz, CertainTeed Products Territory Manager for the Washington, D.C. metro area, says. “If any part of that system fails, your roof may fail. The shingles work with the underlayment, flashing and ventilation to maximize the life of your roof. Most whole roof systems using our laminate shingles are warranted for 30 years to lifetime because, with proper installation, they will last at least that long.” Roofing underlayment is water-resistant or waterproof material installed over your roof deck. Underlayment goes beneath all of the other roofing materials to offer an added layer of protection against rain, snow and ice. An investment in underlayment may add years to your roof. Homes in the northeastern United States, for example, benefit greatly from premium waterproof underlayment designed to withstand the tough winter weather. Ventilation is another roof component that is unique to each home. A well-vented attic can add years from one roof replacement to the next. A vented roof stays cooler, preventing snow melt and ice damming in the winter. Ventilation also keeps your attic from getting too warm and moist, which can rot out your roofing material from the inside. Affordable products like ridge vents and eave vents are almost totally invisible and they are critical to proper ventilation. Additional ventilation options such as power vents may be needed based on the slope, size and architectural features of your roof. Talk with your roofing specialist to understand what ventilation options will be most beneficial. How was your roof installed? There may be more than one acceptable way to install a roofing product. Other times, though, there are specific installation requirements for products or regions to achieve maximum durability. Nailed it: There are different size, count and placement requirements for fasteners (typically nails) used with different shingles. Air flow woes: As mentioned above, attic ventilation is very important for the life of your roof. Poor ventilation can prematurely deteriorate asphalt shingles from the inside out. Manufacturers often set ventilation standards to maintain a product warranty. Swabbing the deck: A clean roof deck is another standard installation requirement under most product warranty terms. What’s a clean deck? It means old shingles and underlayment are completely removed before new roofing materials are applied. Stacking new material on old is a recipe for long-term problems. Working with the roof replacement experts Who’s your roofing specialist? Choose an installer who knows their product, your region and installation best practices. “Correct installation is a key factor in determining the longevity of your roof,” Mr. Frantz adds. “That’s why CertainTeed offers credentialing programs like Master Shingle Applicator, Shingle Master1 and SELECT ShingleMaster. These programs give roofing specialists and roofing companies manufacturer-based training so that you can be certain the products are being installed exactly as they should be.” Long Roofing is one of only a handful of CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster-accredited roofing companies in the nation. “We understand how stressful it can be for a homeowner to purchase a new roof,” says Jeff Caron, Director of Sales for Long Roofing. “It is a big investment, but more importantly, it protects one of our customer’s greatest investments — their home. Knowing this, it was important for us to be sure that all of our staff, from installers to salespeople, understand the products that we are using and the ways that they are to be installed.” Looking for a home improvement contractor? The Long family has served the home improvement needs of families for over 70 years. *On initial visit only. Minimum purchase required. For windows, three or more windows required. Cannot be combined with other offers. Prior sales excluded. Some exclusions may apply. Discounts not valid on restoration division purchases. Offer expires 8/25/19.

|Northern Lower Michigan| |Lower Peninsula of Michigan| Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan (known colloquially to residents of more southerly parts of the state and summer residents from cities such as Chicago as "up north"), is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan popular as a tourist destination. It is home to several small- to medium-sized cities, extensive state and national forests, lakes and rivers, and a large portion of Great Lakes shoreline. The region has a significant seasonal population much like other regions that depend on tourism as their main industry. Northern Michigan is distinguished from the more northerly Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The southern boundary of the region is not precisely defined. Some residents in the southern part of the state consider its southern limit to be just north of Flint and Grand Rapids, but more northern residents restrict it to the area north of Mount Pleasant: the "fingers" of the mitten-like shape of the Lower Peninsula. The 45th parallel runs across Northern Michigan. Signs in the Lower Peninsula that mark that line are at Mission Point Light. (just north of Traverse City), Suttons Bay, Cairn Highway in Elk Lake, Gaylord, and Alpena. These are five of 29 places in the U.S.A. where such signs or monuments are known to exist. One other such sign is in Menominee, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula. People from Northern Michigan generally use the term "down south" or (less commonly) "downstate" to refer to people and places south of the region. The geographical theme of this region is shaped by rolling hills, Great Lakes shorelines including coastal dunes on the west coast, large inland lakes, numerous rivers and large forests. A tension zone is identified running from Muskegon to Saginaw Bay marked by a change in soil type and common tree species. North of the line the historic presettlement forests were beech and sugar maple, mixed with hemlock, white pine, and yellow birch which only grew on moist soils father south. Southern Michigan forests were primarily deciduous with oaks, red maple, shagbark hickory, basswood and cottonwood which are uncommon further north. Northern Michigan soils tend to be coarser, and the growing season is shorter with a cooler climate. Lake effect weather brings significant snowfalls to snow belt areas of Northern Michigan. Across the Straits of Mackinac, to the north, west and northeast, lies the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (the "U.P."). Despite its geographic location as the most northerly part of Michigan, the Upper Peninsula is not usually included in the definition of Northern Michigan (although Northern Michigan University is located in the U.P. city of Marquette), and is instead regarded by Michigan residents as a distinct region of the state. The two regions are connected by the Mackinac Bridge. All of the northern Lower Peninsula – north of a line from Manistee County on the west to Iosco County on the east (the second orange tier up on the map) – is considered to be part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord. There were more than 150 past and present lighthouses around Michigan's Great Lakes coasts, including several in Northern Michigan. They serve as functioning warnings to mariners, but are also integral to the region's culture and history. See the list of Michigan lighthouses for more information on individual lighthouses. - Eight islands off the Lakes Michigan and Huron coasts – Charlevoix and Alpena counties, respectively – are part of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Adjacent to the Traverse City Cherry Capital Airport is a United States Coast Guard air station (CGAS), which is responsible for both maritime and land-based search and rescue operations in the northern Great Lakes region. The state forests in the U.S. state of Michigan are managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Forest, Mineral and Fire Management unit. It is the largest state forest system in the nation at 3,900,000 acres (15,800 km2). See List of Michigan state forests. The Northern lower peninsula includes three forests: - Mackinaw State Forest - Atlanta FMU (Alpena, northeast Cheboygan, most of Montmorency, and most of Presque Isle counties) - Gaylord FMU (Antrim, Charlevoix, most of Cheboygan, Emmet, and most of Otsego counties) - Pigeon River Country FMU (southeast Cheboygan, northwest Montmorency, northeast Otsego, and southwest Presque Isle counties) - Pere Marquette State Forest - Cadillac FMU (Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, and Wexford counties) - Traverse City FMU (Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Kalkaska, Manistee counties) - Au Sable State Forest - Gladwin FMU (Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, southern Iosco, Isabella, and Midland counties) - Grayling FMU (Alcona, Crawford, Oscoda, and northern Iosco counties) - Roscommon FMU (Ogemaw and Roscommon counties) In addition, large portions of this area are covered by the Manistee National Forest and the Huron National Forest. In the former, a unique environment is present at the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness. This relatively small area of 3,450 acres (13.96 km2), on Lake Michigan's east shore, is one of few wilderness areas in the U.S. with an extensive lake shore dunes ecosystem. The dunes are 3500 to 4000 years old, and rise to nearly 140 feet (43 m) higher than the lake. The Nordhouse Dunes are interspersed with woody vegetation such as jack pine, juniper and hemlock. Many small water holes and marshes dot the landscape, and dune grass covers some of the dunes. The wide and sandy beach is ideal for walks and sunset viewing. Glaciers shaped the area, creating a unique regional ecosystem. A large portion of the area is the so-called Grayling outwash plain, which consists of broad outwash plain including sandy ice-disintegration ridges; jack pine barrens, some white pine-red pine forest, and northern hardwood forest. Large lakes were created by glacial action. Michigan is a unique travel environment. Consequently, drivers should be forewarned: travel distances should not be underestimated. Michigan's overall length is only 456 miles (734 km) and width 386 miles (621 km) – but because of the lakes those distances cannot be traveled directly. The distance from northwest to the southeast corner is 456 miles (734 km) 'as the crow flies'. Unlike the crows, travelers must go around the Great Lakes. For example, when traveling to the Upper Peninsula, it is well to realize that it is roughly 300 miles (480 km) from Detroit to the Mackinac Bridge, but it is another 300 miles (480 km) from St. Ignace to Ironwood. Likewise direct routes are few and far between I-75 and M-115 do angle from the southeast to the northwest), but most roads are oriented either east-west or north-south (oriented with township lines) (See Land Ordinance of 1785). So travel may take longer than newcomers might otherwise think. Boating, golf, and camping are leading activities. Sailing, kayaking, canoeing, birding, bicycling, horse back riding, motorcycling, and 'off roading' are important avocations. The forest activities are available everywhere. There are a great many Michigan state parks and other protected areas which make these truly a 'pleasant peninsula.' These would include the Huron National Forest and the Manistee National Forest, plus the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (a 35-mile stretch of eastern Lake Michigan dunes) and the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness. - Many city dwellers from "downstate" and nearby areas (notably Chicago) have summer vacation homes in Northern Michigan. The largest resort cities in Northern Michigan are in the west on Lake Michigan, with its sandy beaches and warm bays. Popular tourist towns in Northern Michigan include Traverse City, Elk Rapids, Charlevoix, Petoskey, Manistee, Ludington, Bear Lake, Empire, Frankfort, Harbor Springs, and Leland. It should also be noted that there is a large wine district in the area along the Lake Michigan Shore. - At the top of the lower peninsula are Mackinaw City, and Mackinac Island (which lies between the Lower and Upper Peninsulas in the Straits of Mackinac). - Less well known and less developed is the northeastern lower peninsula along the Lake Huron shore. It offers many great vacation spots, particularly along the coast. These are, in order from south-to-north, Standish, Omer, Au Gres, Tawas City, East Tawas, Oscoda, Greenbush, Harrisville, Alpena, Presque Isle, Rogers City, Cheboygan, and points in between. Some consider these to be more 'up north' than the relatively congested west coast. Indeed, the Detroit Free Press noted that the area between Oscoda and Ossineke included beaches that are "overlooked" and among the "top ten in Michigan." This would include the area around Harrisville (and two state parks). It was noted that: "Old-fashioned lake vacations abound on this pretty stretch of Lake Huron." - In between the two (or three, depending on how you count) coasts, there are a large number of inland cities and lakes (Michigan has 11,037 lakes), and a varied landscape that has many rivers. Such places as Cadillac, Kalkaska, Grayling, West Branch and Gaylord are also prized summer destinations for Michiganders and visitors from other states. Among many others, Houghton Lake, Higgins Lake, Torch Lake, called Grand Lake (there are at least two in northern Michigan) and Hubbard Lake are massive inland lake resorts that are worth exploring. - The Michigan Shore to Shore Riding & Hiking Trail runs from Empire to Oscoda, and points north and south. It is a 500-mile (800 km) interconnected system of trails. - The Great Lakes Circle Tour is a designated scenic road system connecting all of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Some of the downhill and Nordic skiing resorts located on the western side include Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands, Otsego Club & Resort (since 1939), Crystal Mountain Resort, Nub's Nob, Caberfae Peaks and Schuss Mountain. Some of these also serve as summer golf resorts. Frederic, Michigan is a particularly noteworthy center for cross country skiing. Fall activities include harvest festivals, and driving around in the woods to watch the colorful fall leaves. Hunting in Northern Michigan is a popular fall pastime. There are seasons for bow hunting and a muzzle-loader season as well as for using modern rifle season. The opening day of deer season (November 15) is a major day for some residents. In winter, a variety of sports are enjoyed by the locals which also draw visitors to Northern Michigan. Snowmobiling, also called sledding, is popular, and with hundreds of miles of interconnected groomed trails cross the region. Ice fishing is also popular. Tip-up Town on Houghton Lake is a major ice-fishing, snowmobiling and winter sports festival, and is unique in that it is a village that assembles out on the frozen lake surface. Higgins Lake also offers good ice fishing and has many snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing trails at the North Higgins Lake State Park. Grayling and Gaylord and their environs are recognized for Nordic skiing. Cadillac is reputed to be even more popular during the winter than it is in the summer. History and local cultureEdit Northern Michigan was inhabited by Native American tribes, most recently Ojibwa and Odawa, well before English settlers founded a fort on Mackinac Island. Later, industry depended on natural resources such as lumber and fur trading which contributed to the rise of Traverse City. When the railroads connected Northern Michigan to the large cities through Kalamazoo, some wealthy urbanites established summer home associations in Charlevoix, Harbor Point,and Bay View. As passenger railroad usage ended in the 1960s because of increased automobile travel, aggressive promotion of Northern Michigan by local chambers of commerce led to many of the festivals and attractions that bring visitors north even today. The area was populated by many different ethnicities, including groups from New England, Germany, and Poland. The Odawa nation is located in Emmet County.(Little Traverse Band of Odawa Indians)Native American reservations exist at Mount Pleasant and on the Leelanau Peninsula. The Lumberman's Monument honors lumberjacks that shaped the area, exploiting the natural resource. It is located on River Road, which runs parallel with the beautiful Au Sable River, and is a designated National Scenic Byway for the 23 miles (37 km) that go into Oscoda. The State of Michigan has designated Oscoda as the official home of Paul Bunyan due to the earliest documented publications in the Oscoda Press, August 10, 1906 by James MacGillivray (later revised and published in the Detroit News in 1910). Hartwick Pines State Park is a 9,672-acre (39.1 km2) State Park and Logging museum located in Crawford County near Grayling and Interstate 75. It is the third largest state park on Michigan's Lower Peninsula and the state's fifth-biggest park overall. The park contains an old growth forest of white pines and red pines that resembles the appearance of all of Northern Michigan prior to the logging era. Also to be noted is Interlochen State Park, which is the oldest state park and the other remaining stand of virgin Eastern White Pine in the Lower Peninsula. Interlochen Center for the Arts is a notable arts center that offers a high-school-level academy and summer camp near Traverse City. There are also several institutions of higher education in Northern Michigan. Community colleges include North Central Michigan College (NCMC, pronounced "nuck-muck" by locals), Alpena Community College, Huron Shores Campus-Alpena Community College, Kirtland Community College, and Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) including the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, the only U.S. maritime academy on freshwater. Northern Michigan has arguably only one four-year university (depending on the definition of the southern boundary of the region), Ferris State University in Big Rapids. Other nearby universities are in the Upper Peninsula (Northern Michigan University and Lake Superior State University), as well as Central Michigan University and Ferris State University in the more southern reaches of the state. The University of Michigan runs the University of Michigan Biological Station out of Pellston, MI. Central Michigan University runs the CMU Biological Station on Beaver Island. Hillsdale College runs the biological station in Lake County. Many four-year univeristies located downstate offer Bachelor and Master degree programs through Northwestern Michigan College's unique University Center program, located in Traverse City. The University Center, located in Traverse City, is a joint program with Northwestern Michigan College and various universities around the state that allows local students to "attend" univeristies that offer bachelor and master degree programs not available through NMC, a two-year college, locally with out leaving Northern Michigan. NMC supplies the facilities while the senior universities provide the education and endorsement. Universities offering programs here include Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Ferris State University, Spring Arbor University, and others. The economy of Northern Michigan is limited by its lower population, few industries and reduced agriculture compared to lower Michigan. Seasonal and tourism related employment is significant. Unemployment rates are generally high. (In June 2007, seven of the ten highest unemployment rates occurred in counties in the Northern Michigan area. The northeast corner has an industrial base. In particular, Alpena is home to the LaFarge Company's holdings in the world's largest cement plant and is home to Besser Block Co. (the inventor of concrete block and maker of concrete block making machine), and has a drywall board manufacturing facility owned by Abitibe; and Rogers City is the locale of the world's largest limestone quarry, which is also used in steel making all along the Great Lakes. Nearer to the Lake Michigan shore, Cadillac and Manistee have manufacturing and chemical industries, including the world's largest salt plant. Also, the East Jordan Iron Works corporate offices, as well as the original foundry, are located in East Jordan. Historically, lumbering and commercial fishing were among the most important industries. Logging is still important but at a mere fraction of its heyday output. Commercial fishing is a minor activity. A major draw to Northern Michigan is tourism. Real Estate, especially condominiums and summer homes, is another significant source of income. Because money spent in the real estate and tourism market in Northern Michigan is dependent upon visitors from southern Michigan and the Chicago area, the Northern Michigan economy is sensitive to downswings in the automobile and other industries. See Also: Economy of Detroit and Economy of Chicago Agriculture is limited by the climate and soil conditions compared to southern regions of the state. However, there are significant potato and dry bean farms in the east. wine grapes, vegetables and cherries are produced in the west in the protected microclimates around Grand Traverse Bay. The Grand Traverse region has two of Michigan's four federally-recognized wine growing areas. The Grand Traverse Bay area is listed as one of the most endangered agricultural regions in the U.S. as its scenic land is highly sought after for vacation homes. Large industries are sparse; cement-making and the mining of limestone and gypsum on the Lake Huron shore are the major exports of the area. Much of Michigan's natural gas extraction is from wells in Northern Michigan. A small number of men work on the Great Lakes freighters. The only military presence in Northern Michigan is in two places: - Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Michigan is run by the Air National Guard and is co-located with the Alpena County Regional Airport. - Camp Grayling near Grayling, Michigan. Camp Grayling is the largest military installation east of the Mississippi River, and the nation's largest National Guard training site. It is used by the U.S. National Guard, as well as active and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Year-round training is conducted on its 147,000 acres (595 km2) in Crawford, Kalkaska and Otsego counties. Much of the land (including Lake Margrethe) is accessible to the public for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and other recreational uses (when military training is not happening). - Wurtsmith Air Force Base near Oscoda closed in 1993.and has been converted to civilian use as Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Airports serving Northern Michigan include MBS International Airport near Freeland, Pellston Regional Airport, Traverse City Cherry Capital Airport and Alpena County Regional Airport in the Lower peninsula. Depending on one's destination, Chippewa County International Airport in Sault Ste. Marie, in the eastern Upper peninsula might be a viable alternative. Grand Rapids and Bishop airport at Flint (although neither is within the area) also have scheduled service proximate to parts of the region. The Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport is now a public airport which gives 24 hour near-all-weather service for general aviation. The primary means of transportation in Northern Michigan is by automobile. Northern Michigan is served by one interstate, and a number of U.S. highways and Michigan state trunklines. (Roads are organized by number.) - I-75 continues from the Ohio border, passing Detroit, Flint, Saginaw and Bay City; it then proceeds in a roughly north to West Branch and then to a northwesterly route, touching Grayling and Gaylord, and connects with the Mackinac Bridge at Mackinaw City, which leads on to the Upper Peninsula and Sault Ste. Marie). - US 10 enters Michigan after it crosses Lake Michigan from Manitowoc to Ludington. US 10 is concurrent with US 31 from Ludington to Scottville before US 31 heads north. The road then heads east through Baldwin and Reed City before it becomes a freeway west of US 127 near the junction with M-115. US 127 and US 10 overlap for a short distance near Clare. US 10 bypasses Midland and terminates at I-75 in Bay City. Viewed from an east-west orientation, it provides a mainly westerly road across Northern Michigan from Bay City off I-75 toward Ludington. - US 23 comes out of Ohio merges near Flint with I-75, and then breaks away at Standish. It then proceeds 200 miles (320 km) along (or parallel with) the Lake Huron shoreline, eventually rejoining I-75 at the Mackinac Bridge at Mackinaw City. This section of US 23 has been designated the Sunrise Side Coastal Highway. - US 27, now US 127 - US 31 mainly parallels the Lake Michigan shore, and runs for 356 miles (573 km) in a northerly direction from the Indiana-Michigan state line southwest of Niles to its terminus at I-75 south of Mackinaw City. From Traverse City, it runs west across the base of the Leelanau peninsula to Benzonia before continuing south to Manistee and other points on the Lake Michigan shore. Northwards, it continues along the east shore of Grand Traverse Bay to Charlevoix and Petoskey, ending just before reaching Mackinaw City and the Mackinac Bridge. - US 127 ends its 758 mile (1,220 km) journey at Grayling. and directly connects northern Michigan (and the Mackinac Bridge via I-75) to Lansing, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee (all the way down to Chattanooga) - US 131 is a primary north-south highway that is a freeway from north of Cadillac south to major cities such as Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. North of the freeway terminus, the highway is mostly two lanes, connecting Kalkaska, Mancelona, and ending at US-31 in Petoskey. - M-13 is a 72.22-mile (116.23 km) north-south highway that cuts through the bay region of the U.S. state of Michigan. The southern terminus is at I-69 south of the town of Lennon with its northern terminus located south of Standish. It is a shorter alternative route, instead of I-75, from Bay City to US 23 in Standish. - M-22 follows the Lake Michigan shoreline from Traverse City to Manistee and is a scenic drive. It is 114.5 miles (184.3 km) long and traverses Manistee, Benzie, Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties. For most of its length, it closely parallels the Lake Michigan shore. It also passes through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. - M-27 is a short state highway which runs along the old route of US 27. It officially begins at exit 313 (Indian River) off of I-75 and runs through Topinabee into Cheboygan, where it meets US 23. An old stretch of US 27 which runs from Wolverine to Indian River is designated as the "Straits Highway," but is not an actual part of M-27. - M-32 is 100.14 miles (161.16 km) long. Although it is not a true 'cross-peninsular' highway – it crosses the Lower Peninsula from near Lake Michigan to Lake Huron – it is close, and there are efforts being made to restore the road and the status. - M-46 is a transpeninsular road, as is M-55 and M-72. - M-55 is a 155 miles (249 km) transpeninsular road. It starts in Tawas City and ends two miles (3 km) north of Manistee across the Lower Peninsula. - M-65 runs northward from US 23 at Au Gres (just north of Standish), and is the most direct route to Rogers City and Alpena from the south. - M-66 is the only state highway to traverse almost the entire north-south distance of the lower peninsula. It runs from the Indiana state line in the south to Charlevoix in the north. It starts as a continuation of State Road 9 and gives access to the Indiana Toll Road. - M-68 is an east-west state highway that runs from US 31 in Alanson to BUS US 23 in Rogers City. It passes through Indian River, Afton, Tower, and Onaway. - M-72 starts at downtown Harrisville as its eastern terminus and ends at Empire on the west. In 133 miles (214 kilometers) M-72 runs across the Lower Peninsula, and is one of three true cross-peninsular highways. - M-115 is a 'diagonal highway,' taking a generally northwest-to-southeast direction from Frankfort, at a junction with M-22 on Lake Michigan to an intersection with US 10 to the east of Clare. - M-168 is one of the shortest state highways in Michigan, extending 0.95 miles (1.53 km) from a junction with M-22 in downtown Elberta northwest to the former Ann Arbor Railroad ferry docks. Ferries and bridgesEdit Several ferries still operate in the region. - The SS Badger carferry departs from Ludington and arrives in Wisconsin. - Another begins in Charlevoix and goes to Beaver Island. - The Straits of Mackinac is home to lake ferries that take passengers to Mackinac Island from either Mackinaw City in the Lower Peninsula or St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula. - A ferry for tours of Charity Island in the middle of Saginaw Bay and the Charity Island Light (and even dinner cruises) are available. It leaves from Au Gres on the mainland, south of Tawas. - The Kristen D is a ferry which operates between Cheboygan and Bois Blanc Island. While train lines like the Chicago and West Michigan Railway (later the Pere Marquette Railway) and several commercial cruise lines were early in generating traffic to Northern Michigan destinations, most of these have been discontinued. A number of annual festivals occur in Northern Michigan including: - Alpenfest (Gaylord) including the Alpenfest run/walk. - Art On The Beach (Oscoda) - "Arts and Crafts shows calendar". http://www.netstreetfair.com/MI_Events.html. around the state. - Weyerhauser Au Sable River Canoe Marathon – Grayling to Oscoda, one leg of the "Triple Crown of Canoe Racing”. This is one of the few pro-am canoeing events in the U.S., and winning times may be as long as 21 hours. - Bass Festival (Mancelona) - Blissfest (folk festival) (Bliss Township) - Brown Trout Festival (Alpena) - Cedar Polka Festival (Cedar) - Cadillac Chestnut Harvest Festival is held every year, on the second Saturday of October - Celebration Days (Tawas Point State Park) - Charlevoix Waterfront Art Fair, 2nd weekend in August. - Chicago to Mackinac Boat Race ends on Mackinac Island - Coho Salmon Festival (Honor) - Dulcimer FunFest - (Evart) - Festival on the Bay Petoskey - Firemen's Memorial Festival (Roscommon) - Freedom Festival (East Jordan) - Great Lakes Bioneers Conference - Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival which provides funding and support for lighthouses. 2nd weekend in October. (Alpena) According to Tim Harrison, Editor in Chief & Publisher of Lighthouse Digest Magazine and President of American Lighthouse Foundation states “There is no other festival like it in the United States. . ." - Harrisville Arts & Crafts Show - Each Labor Day weekend there is a regional craft show (one of the largest and best attended in Northern Michigan), parade, and national jamboree often referred to as Harmony Weekend. I - Hoxeyville Music Festival (Hoxeyville) - Kirtland Warbler Festival and links. - Leelanau Peninsula Wine & fOOD Festival with Blues (Northport) - Mackinac Island Fudge Festival - Mackinac Island Lilac Festival - Mackinac Island Music Festival - Annual Mushroom Festival (Mesick) - National Cherry Festival (Traverse City) - National Forest Festival (Manistee) - National Morel Mushroom Festival (Boyne City) - National Trout Festival (Kalkaska) end of April - Nautical Festival (Rogers City) - North American Snowmobile Festival (Cadillac) - Northport's Harbor Day and July 4 Celebration (Northport) - Ox Market and Flea Roast (Irons) -- one of the oldest festivals in the state. - Paul Bunyan Festival & Great Lakes Chainsaw Carving Competition last weekend in August. (Oscoda) - Polish Festival (Boyne Falls) - Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race ends on Mackinac Island - Posen Potato Festival - Salmon Slam (Northport, Michigan) - Scottville Harvest Festival - Traverse City Film Festival - Tip-Up Town (Houghton Lake) - Venetian Festival (Charlevoix) - WinterFest including a sled dog race (Kalkaska) - World Famous Labor Day Fish Boil (Northport, Michigan) Flora and faunaEdit Northern Michigan has many tree types including maple, birch, Oak, white cedar, aspen, pine, and beech. Ferns, milkweed, Queen Anne's lace, and chicory grow in the open fields and along roadsides. Forest plants include wild leeks, morel mushrooms, and trilliums. Marram grass grows on beaches. Several mosses cover the land. Common animals in Northern Michigan include white-tailed deer, fox, racoons, and rabbits. black bear, elk, coyote, bobcat, wolves, and mountain lions are also present. Fish include whitefish, yellow perch, trout, bass, northern pike, walleye, muskie, and sunfish. Common birds are ducks, seagulls, wild turkey, blue herons, cardinals, blue jays, black-capped chickadees, Hummingbirds, Baltimore Oriole, and ruffed grouse. Canada Geese may be seen flying over head in spring and fall. Less well known birds that are unique in Michigan to the Northern Lower Peninsula are spruce grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, red-throated loon, Swainson's hawk, and the boreal owl. . The Au Sable State Forest is a state forest in the north-central Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Much of the forest is used for wildlife game management and the fostering of endangered and rare species, such as the Kirtland's warbler – there are regular controlled burns to maintain its habitat. The Kirtland's Warbler has its habitat in an increasing part of the area. There is a Kirtland's Warbler Festival, which is sponsored in part by Kirtland Community College. Insect populations are similar to those found elsewhere in the midwestern United States. Lady bugs, crickets, dragonflies, mosquitoes, ants, house flies, and grasshoppers are common, as is the Western conifer seed bug, and several kinds of butterflies and moths (for example, monarch butterflies and tomato worm moths). Notable deviations in insect populations are a high population of June bugs during June as well as a scarcity of lightning bugs because of the lower average temperatures year round and especially in the summer. Northern Michigan is home to Michigan's most endangered species and one of the most endangered species in the world: the Hungerford's crawling water beetle. The species lives in only five locations in the world, four of which are in Northern Michigan (one is in Bruce County, Ontario. Indeed, the only stable population of the rare beetle occurs along a two and a half mile stretch of the East Branch of the Maple River in Emmet County, Michigan. There are no fatally poisonous snakes native to Northern Michigan. The poisonous Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake lives in Michigan, but it is not common, particularly in Northern Michigan. In any event, its non-fatal bite may make an adult sick, but it should be medically treated without delay. Snakes present include the eastern hog-nosed snake, brown snake, common garter snake, eastern milk snake and the northern ribbon snake. The only common reptiles and amphibians are various pond frogs, toads, salamanders, and small turtles. Prominent Northern Michigan corporations include: - Jesse M. Besser invented concrete block in 1904 and founded the Besser Block Co. in Alpena, Michigan. - Morton Salt operates one of the largest salt plants in the world in Manistee, Michigan. - USG Corporation, also known as United States Gypsum Corporation, operates several quarries, including one at Alabaster, Michigan, and one in Rogers City, Michigan. - Lafarge operates one of the world's largest cement plants at Alpena, Michigan. More comprehensive lists are available at individual cities, villages, etc. - Bruce Catton, Civil War Historian - Constance Cappel, author - Ernest Hemingway, author. - Claude Shannon, Information Theorist. - Sufjan Stevens, singer/songwriter - Dave Campbell, baseball player and sportscaster - Fred Green, Governor of Michigan, 1927–1931 - James Earl Jones, actor first began acting at the Ramsdell Theater in Manistee. - Edward Kozlowski, Polish-American priest, later Bishop of Milwaukee - Harriet Quimby, pioneering aviatrix - Robert Pershing Wadlow, known as the World's Tallest Man - Mark Brammer, Michigan State University football player who received the All-America accolade in 1978. - Jeremy Davies, an actor in Saving Private Ryan and other films. - Jazz musician Bob James, who created the instrumental theme song Angela for the sitcom Taxi. - Dan Majerle, former NBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers - William G. Milliken, Republican Governor of Michigan from 1969 to 1983 - Doug Mirabelli, MLB baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants resides in Traverse City. - Matt Noveskey, musician in the bands Blue October and (a+) machines. - Kenny Olson, guitarist for the pop music artist Kid Rock - Craig Thompson, cartoonist and graphic novelist best known for Blankets - Barry Watson, an actor whose credits include the television programs 7th Heaven and What About Brian - Composer and producer Jeff Gibbs, "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Bowling for Columbine," has a residence in Traverse City. - Alcona County Review in Harrisville, Michigan - Alpena News - Cadillac Evening News - Charlevoix Courier - Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Citizen-Journal (Boyne City/ East Jordan) - Crawford County Avalanche published in Grayling, Michigan. - Gaylord Herald Times - Grand Traverse Herald, weekly newspaper - Iosco County News-Herald in Iosco County. - Ludington Daily News - The Leader and the Kalkaskian - Leelanau Enterprise - Mackinac Island Town Crier - Manistee Daily News Advocate - Midland Daily News - Missaukee Sentinel - Northern Express Weekly is the largest weekly newspaper in Northern Michigan, with distribution of up to 30,000 copies in 13 counties - Oscoda Press serving northern Iosco County and southern Alcona County - Petoskey News Review - Presque Isle County Advance - St. Ignace News (serving the Straits area) - The Town Meeting (Elk Rapids) - Traverse City Record-Eagle - White Pine Press at Northwestern Michigan College, with a circulation of 4,000. - Daily editions of the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News are also available throughout the area. - Daily editions of the Bay City Times and Saginaw News are available in eastern portions of the area. - Daily editions of the Grand Rapids Press also are available on news stands in the western portions of the region. - Traverse is published monthly with a focus on regional interests. // designates a simulcast. - 88.1 W201 cm Traverse City - Christian - Rejoice Radio - 88.5 WIAB Mackinaw City - //88.7 WIAA - 88.5 WSFP Rust Twp/Alpena - Smile FM - 88.7 WIAA Interlochen - Classical "IPR Music Radio" - 89.3 WTLI Bear Creek Twp. (Petoskey) - Contemporary Christian; Smile FM (//88.1 WLGH Lansing) - 89.7 WJOJ Harrisville/Alpena - Smile FM - 89.9 WLJN Traverse City - Religious - 90.5 WPHN Gaylord - Adult Contemporary Christian "Northern Christian Radio"; also airs on 99.7 FM translator in Petoskey - 90.7 WNMC Traverse City - Variety, College - 90.9 WTCK Charlevoix - Catholic; also airs on translators 92.1 FM Gaylord/95.3 FM Mackinaw City - 90.9 WMSD Rose Township (Ogemaw County) - Religious - 91.1 WOLW Cadillac - //90.5 WPHN - 91.3 WJOG Good Hart/Petoskey - Smile FM - 91.3 WZHN East Tawas - //90.5 WPHN - 91.5 WICA Traverse City - NPR, Public News/Talk - 91.7 WCML Alpena - Public Music Variety/News/Talk "CMU Public Radio" - 92.1 WTWS Houghton Lake - Hot Country "92-1 The Twister" - 92.3 WOUF Beulah - currently silent - 92.5 WFDX Atlanta - //94.3 WFCX - 92.9 WJZQ Cadillac/Traverse City - Contemporary Hits "Z-93" - 93.5 WBCM Boyne City - //103.5 WTCM - 93.7 WKAD Harrietta/Cadillac - Oldies "Oldies 93.7" - 93.9 WAVC Mio - //102.9 WMKC - 94.3 WFCX Leland/Traverse City - Classic Hits "94.3 the Fox FM" - 94.5 WLJZ Mackinaw City - Classic Rock "The Bear" - 94.9 WKJZ Hillman/Alpena - //103.3 WQLB; also airs on 98.1 FM translator in Alpena proper - 95.5 WJZJ Glen Arbor - Modern Rock "The Zone" - 95.7 WCMB Oscoda - CMU Public Radio - 96.1 WHNN Bay City - Classic Hits; listenable in the West Branch and Tawas areas - 96.3 WLXT Petoskey - Adult Contemporary "Lite 96" - 96.7 WLXV Cadillac - Hot Adult Contemporary "Mix 96" - 96.7 WRGZ Rogers City - //99.3 WATZ - 96.9 WWCM Standish - CMU Public Radio - 97.3 WDEE-FM Reed City/Big Rapids - Oldies "Sunny 97.3" - 97.5 WKLT Kalkaska/Traverse City - Classic Rock "KLT the Rock Station" - 97.7 WMLQ Manistee - Soft Adult Contemporary/EZ Listening "97 Coast-FM" - 97.7 WMRX-FM Beaverton - Oldies/Adult Standards "Timeless Favourites" - 98.1 WGFN Glen Arbor/Traverse City - Classic Rock "The Bear" - 98.5 WUPS Harrison/Mount Pleasant - Classic Hits "98.5 UPS" - 98.9 WKLZ Petoskey - //WKLT 97.5 - 99.3 WATZ Alpena - Country - 99.3 WBNZ Frankfort - Soft Rock - 99.9 WHAK-FM Rogers City - Oldies "99-9 The Wave" - 100.3 WGRY Grayling - Country "Y100" - 100.7 WWTH Oscoda - Country "Thunder Country" also airs on 94.1 FM translator in Alpena - 100.9 WICV East Jordan/Charlevoix - //88.7 WIAA - 101.1 WQON Roscommon/Grayling - Adult Contemporary "Decades 101" - 101.5 WMJZ Gaylord - Adult Hits "Eagle 101.5" - 101.5 WMTE Manistee - Classic Hits "Kool 101.5" - 101.9 WLDR Traverse City - Country "Sunny Country" - 102.1 WLEW Bad Axe - Adult Hits; listenable on the Lake Huron west shore up to Harrisville. - 102.7 WMOM Ludington/Pentwater - Top 40 "Always Listen to your Mom" - 102.9 WMKC St. Ignace - Country "102.9 Big Country Hits" - 103.3 WQLB Tawas City - Classic Hits "Hits FM" - 103.5 WTCM-FM Traverse City - Country "Today's Country Music" - 103.9 WCMW Harbor Springs - CMU Public Radio - 104.3 WRDS-LP Roscommon - Southern Gospel "The Lighthouse" - 104.7 WKJC Tawas City - Country - 104.9 WAIR Lake City/Cadillac - Smile FM - 105.1 WGFM Cheboygan - //98.1 WGFN - 105.5 WSJR Honor/Traverse City - //106.7 WSRT - 105.5 WBMI West Branch - Classic Country - 105.9 WKHQ Charlevoix - Contemporary Hits "106 KHQ" - 106.1 WHST Tawas City - //90.5 WPHN - 106.3 WKLA Ludington - Hot Adult Contemporary "The Lakeshore's Hit Music Station" - 106.7 WSRT Gaylord - Adult Contemporary "106.7 You FM" also airs on 95.3 FM translator in Petoskey area - 107.1 WCKC Cadillac - //98.1 WGFN - 107.5 WCCW Traverse City - Oldies "Oldies 107.5" - 107.7 WHSB Alpena - Hot Adult Contemporary "107-7 The Bay" - 107.9 WCZW Charlevoix/Petoskey - //107.5 WCCW Streaming Internet RadioEdit - Radio Mackinac official website - WTCM 580 50000 watt day, 1100 night, directional day and night, Talk, Traverse City - WARD 750 1000 watt day, 330 night, directional day and night, Country (with WLDR-FM 101.9), Petoskey - WMMI 830 1000 day only, talk, Shepherd - WIDG 940 5000 watt day, 4 watt night, Catholic Talk, St. Ignace - WHAK 960 5000 watt day, 137 night, Country (simulcasting WWTH FM Oscoda), Rogers City - simulcast of WWTH 100.7 FM - WJML 1110 10000 watt day, 10 night, directional day and night, Talk, Petoskey - WJNL 1210 50000 watt day, 2500 critical hours, day only, Talk (with WJML-AM), Kingsley - WGRY 1230 1000 watt day and night, Adult Standards, Grayling - WATT 1240 1000 watt day and night, Talk, Cadillac - WCBY 1240 1000 watt day and night, Classic Country "Big Country Gold" - WMKT 1270 27000 watt day, 5000 night, directional night, Talk, Charlevoix - WMBN 1340 1000 watt day and night, Adult Standards, Petoskey - WLJW 1370 5000 watt day, 1000 night, directional day and night, Christian Talk, Cadillac - WLJN 1400 1000 watt day and night, Christian, Traverse City - WATZ 1450 - news, talk and sports, Alpena - WIOS 1480 1000 watt day only, directional, Adult Standards, Tawas City "The Bay's Best" - WPBN-TV 7/WTOM-TV 4 - (NBC) (Traverse City/Cadillac) - WWTV 9 - (CBS) (Cadillac) - WCMU-TV 14 (PBS): WCML (TV) 6 (Alpena) / WCMW 21 (Manistee) / WCMV 27 (Cadillac) / W46AD 46 (Traverse City) / W69AV 69 (Leland) - WBKB-TV 11 - (CBS) (Alpena) - WGTU 29 - (ABC) (Traverse City) - WFQX-TV 33/WFUP 45 - (FOX/UPN, secondary, until September) (Cadillac) - WLLZ-LP 12 (Traverse City/Cedar) Cities, villages and townsEdit - Alpena, Michigan - Atlanta, Michigan - Au Gres, Michigan - Beaver Island (Lake Michigan) - Boyne City, Michigan - Boyne Falls, Michigan - Cadillac, Michigan - Charlevoix, Michigan - Cheboygan, Michigan - East Jordan, Michigan - East Tawas, Michigan - Elk Rapids, Michigan - Empire, Michigan - Fairview, Michigan - Frankfort, Michigan - Gaylord, Michigan - Glennie, Michigan - Grayling, Michigan - Greenbush, Michigan - Harbor Springs, Michigan - Harrisville, Michigan - Hubbard Lake, Alcona County, Michigan - Indian River, Michigan - Interlochen, Michigan - Kalkaska, Michigan - Kaleva, Michigan - Lincoln, Michigan - Ludington, Michigan - Mackinac Bridge - Mackinac Island, Michigan - Mackinaw City, Michigan - Manistee, Michigan - Maple City, Michigan - Mio, Michigan - Northport, Michigan - Onaway, Michigan - Oscoda, Michigan - Ossineke, Michigan - Pellston, Michigan - Petoskey, Michigan - Posen, Michigan - Presque Isle, Michigan - Rogers City, Michigan - Roscommon, Michigan - Spruce, Michigan - Tawas City, Michigan - Thompsonville, Michigan - Traverse City, Michigan - ^ Photographs, Old Mission 45th Parallel signs. - ^ Photographs, Cairn Highway 45th Parallel cairn (83 county-named rocks) and sign. - ^ Gaylord signs denoting the 45th Parallel. - ^ Alpena, Michigan 45th Parallel sign - ^ List and map of 45th Parallel markers, with links to pictures (accessed 12/17/2007). - ^ Managing Michigan Wildlife: A Landowners Guide., Sargent, M.S and Carter, K.S., 1999, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, East Lansing, MI. - ^ "Diocese of Gaylord.". http://www.dioceseofgaylord.org/. - ^ "Michigan regional geology.". http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/habitat/rlandscp/s7-2-2.htm. - ^ "Map and links for sea kayaking in Michigan.". http://www.trails.com/stateactivity.asp?area=10642. - ^ Mansnerus, Laura (June 6, 1993). "Bicycling in western Michigan, New York Times". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE1DA1E3EF935A35755C0A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=3. Retrieved May 20, 2010. - ^ "Cherry capital cycling club map". http://www.cherrycapitalcyclingclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=87045&module_id=19676. - ^ "Michigan Department of Natural Resources on bicycling". http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365_16816-39693--,00.html. - ^ "Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore Visitors Bureau.". http://www.sleepingbeardunes.com/. - ^ "Frankford Elberta Chamber of Commerce". http://www.frankfort-elberta.com/. - ^ *Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau. - ^ Detroit Free Press, May 26, 2007 - ^ "Michigan Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail". http://www.kerchevalave.com/mtra/sh2sh.html. - ^ Great Lakes Circle Tour. - ^ "River Road Scenic Byway at America's Byways.". http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/10781/. - ^ "Oscoda Press on Paul Bunyan designation". http://www.oscodapress.com/articles/2005/11/08/news/news01.txt. - ^ Michigan Historical Markers Traveling Through time: A guide to Michigan Historical Markers - ^ http://www.nmc.edu/uc/index.html - ^ Michigan employment rates. - ^ "Pellston Regional Airport". http://www.pellstonairport.com/. - ^ Bessert, Christopher J.. "US-10". MichiganHighways.org. http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/MichHwys10-19.html#US-010. - ^ Picture of northern terminus US 127 at Grayling, Michigan - ^ "Endpoints of US highways". Archived from the original on 2009-10-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20091027072021/http://www.geocities.com/usend2029/End127/end127.htm. - ^ "M-32 history, Michigan Highways". http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/MichHwys30-39.html. - ^ "M-46 Endpoint Photos". http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/m46/. - ^ "M-55 end point photos". http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/m55/. - ^ "Photos of ends of M-72.". http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/m/72/. - ^ History of Michigan highways. - ^ "M-168 Endpoint Photos". http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/m168/. - ^ "Charity Island ferry service.". http://www.charityisland.net/ferry.html. - ^ Plaunt Transportation, Inc., Bois Blanc Island Ferry. - ^ "Detroit and Mackinac Railway pictures and history.". http://www.railroadmichigan.com/detroitmackinac.html. - ^ "Michigan Railroad history for Alpena.". http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/Stories/RailroadOriginsInAlpenaMI.htm. - ^ Weyerhauser Au Sable River Canoe Marathon - ^ a b Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival causes. - ^ West Michigan Tourist Association, FLea Roast and Ox Market. - ^ Scottville Harvest Festival. - ^ Sled Dog Central, Kalkaska race. - ^ DNRE Confirms Cougar Sighting in Michigan, The Morning Sun - ^ Save the Cougar home page. - ^ Michigan Wildlife Conservancy 1/29/2009 Lawmakers Look At Cougar Evidence - ^ "Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Kirtland's Warbler Populations Continue to Grow.". http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10371_10402-175411--,00.html. - ^ "Kirtland Warbler Festival and links.". http://warbler.kirtland.edu/. - ^ Michigan Michigan Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program - ^ "Alcona County Review". http://www.alconareview.com/. - ^ "The Alpena News". http://www.thealpenanews.com. - ^ "The Cadillac Evening News". http://www.cadillacnews.com/. - ^ "Charlevoix Courier". http://www.charlevoixcourier.com/privacy/. - ^ "Cheboygan Daily Tribune". http://www.cheboygannews.com/. - ^ "The Citizen-Journal (Boyne City/ East Jordan)". http://www.citizenandjournal.com/aboutus.shtml. - ^ "Crawford County Avalanche". http://www.crawfordcountyavalanche.com/. - ^ "Gaylord Herald Times". http://www.gaylordheraldtimes.com/. - ^ "Grand Traverse Herald". http://www.gtherald.com/. - ^ "Iosco County News Herald home page". http://www.iosconews.com/about_us/. - ^ "Ludington Daily News.". http://www.ludingtondailynews.com/. - ^ "The Leader and the Kalkaskian.". http://morningstarpublishing.com/leader_and_kalkaskian/. - ^ "Leelanau Enterprise.". http://www.leelanaunews.com/drupal/. - ^ "Manistee Daily News Advocate". http://www.manisteenews.com/. - ^ "Midland Daily News". http://www.ourmidland.com/site/news.asp?brd=2289. - ^ "Northern Express Weekly.". http://www.northernexpress.com/aboutus.asp. - ^ "Oscoda Press home page". http://www.oscodapress.com/about_us/. - ^ "Petoskey News Review home page". http://www.petoskeynews.com/. - ^ "Presque Isle County Advance.". http://www.piadvance.com/. - ^ "St. Ignace News.". http://www.stignacenews.com/. - ^ "Traverse City Record-Eagle". http://www.record-eagle.com/. - ^ "Bay City Times". http://www.mlive.com/bctimes/. - ^ "Saginaw News". http://www.mlive.com/saginawnews/. - Bogue, Margaret. Around the Shores of Lake Michigan: A Guide to Historic Sites. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1985. ISBN 978-0-299-10004-9. - Cappel, Constance,Editor, Odawa Language and Legends: Andrew J. Blackbird and Raymond Kiogima,2006. ISBN 1-59926-920-1. - Cappel, Constance, The Smallpox Genocide of the Odawa Tribe at L'Arbre Croche, 1763: The History if a Native American People, Lewiston,NY: The Edwin Mellen Press; Lewiston, NY, 2007, ISBN 10; 0-7734-5220-6 - McRae, Shannon, Images of America: Manistee County (2003). - Reed, Earl H. The Dune Country. Berrien Springs, MI: Hardscrabble Books, 1979. Reprint of 1916 Edition. - Ruchhoft, Robert H. Exploring North Manitou, South Manitou, High and Garden Islands of the Lake Michigan Archipelago. Cincinnati, OH: Pucelle Press, 1991. ISBN 978-0-940029-02-6. - Russell, Curran N., and Dona Degen Baer, The Lumberman's Legacy (1954). - Wood, Mable C. Scooterville, U.S.A. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1962. - Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, bibliographies organized by county and region. - Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Michigan (arranged by counties and regions). - Enchanted forest, Northern Michigan source for information, calendars, etc. - Great Lakes Coast Watch - Info Michigan, detailed information on 630 cities - Life and Activities in the Area, from lifeinnorthernmichigan.com - Michigan Geology – Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. - List of Museums, other attractions compiled by state government. - Michigan's Official Economic Development and Travel Site, including interactive map, information on attractions, museums, etc. - Michigan Historical Markers. - Northern Michigan Culture and Community Website. - Michigan Department of Natural Resources Harbors, hunting, resources and more. - Northern Michigan history from insiders.com - Northern Michigan travel article from the Petoskey News Review - Webcams for Northern Michigan |This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Northern Michigan. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.|

My final bucket-list post features the wonderful rose gardens of Italy and Germany, starting with one of the most famous romantic rose gardens of all time: Ninfa (Giardini di Ninfa) Via Provinciale Ninfina, 68, 04012 Cisterna di Latina LT, Italy Near Sermonetta Ninfa has been described as one of the 10 most beautiful gardens in the world. In fact, Monty Don states in his video, Italian Gardens (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y8wh7Xqw7U, at the 2:48:20-2:56:0 mark), that he considers it to be THE most romantic garden in the world! It is located in the province of Latina, 40 miles south-west of Rome (one hour drive), at the foot of the Lepina Mountains, from which numerous springs run down to form a small lake, which feeds into a river, which runs through the centre of the town, which was surrounded by marshlands. Ninfa was an ancient Etruscan town, founded in the 8th Century, by the Volscians and named after a small temple near the springs, dedicated to the Nymph goddess, Ninfa. During the Middle Ages, it was a rich merchant stopover between Rome and Naples on the Appian Way. It included a 12th century castle; seven churches; palazzos; medieval clock towers; a town hall, mills, bakeries, a blacksmith; a 1400 metre long defensive wall, bridges, two hospices; and 2000 people living in 150 homes. It was acquired by the Caetani family in 1298. In 1381, the town was sacked by mercenaries and pillaged by neighbouring towns during a civil war, caused by a schism in the Roman Catholic Church. Attempts to resettle were thwarted by outbreaks of malaria and gradually, the town was abandoned and overgrown with ivy and weeds. It lay sleeping for six centuries, still attracting the odd visitor for its melancholic air, like Edward Lear in 1840, who also described it as one of the most romantic visions in Italy. In 1921, Gelasio Caetani, the second youngest son of Prince Onorata Caetani and his English-born wife, Ada Wilbraham, drained the marshes; cleared the undergrowth, weeds and ivy; restored some of the medieval buildings, in particular, the tower and town hall, for a Summer residence; and started a garden in the romantic English Landscape style. His sister-in-law, Marguerite Chapin (1880-1963), who was married to musician, Roffredo Caetani, in 1911, planted on a grand scale with thousands of trees and shrubs, imported from from all over the world, including fastigiate cypress, Chamaecyparis sempervirens; holm oaks (Quercus ilex); poplars; beeches; crab apples; prunus; magnolias; camellias; rhododendrons; and roses. Their daughter Leila continued her work after World War II, leaving the garden to the Roffredo Caetani Foundation. While the whole park is 105 hectares (260 acres), the garden is 8 hectares (20 acres) and is managed organically by a curator and six full-time gardeners. It is only open 25 days a year between April and October and attracts 70 000 visitors a year. Guided tours of up to 20 visitors are conducted on a prescribed path 10 to 15 minutes apart and last 1.5 hours. It is best in April and May for rose lovers! It is a gorgeous wild garden, which thrives with the rich well-drained moist soil, benign Winter temperatures and hot Summers. Plants ramble over ruined towers, walls and archways and overhang the stream. Other trees include: Stone pine, Pinus pinea; Judas trees; Ribbonwood, Hoheria sexstylosa (New Zealand); wattles; birch; hawthorne; liquidambars; Persian Silk Tree , Albizia julibrissin; Dragon’s Claw Willow, Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’; walnuts; weeping cherries; maples like Acer griseum; Himalayan and Mexican Pines; American walnuts; Gingko biloba; Catalpas; Dogwoods; Casuarina tenuissima; and banana trees. Other shrubs include: bamboos; papyrus; buddleja; viburnums; smoke bush, Cotinus coggygria ‘Flame’; Photinia serrulata; lavenders andMagnolia stellata. Climbers include Clematis armandi; star jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides; Wisteria floribunda ‘Macrobotrys’ and climbing hydrangea, H. petiolaris. Hazelnuts; Acer saccharinum; Liriodendron tuilpifera, Arum lilies, Iris and Gunnera manicata line the river. Other plantings include: Salvias; lilies; cannas; anemones; alliums; Iris; Acanthis mollis; and ferns. The rock garden contains Iberis; Eschscholzia; Veronica; Golden Alyssum; Aquilegia; Dianthus and Pomegranates. There are over 200 different roses including: a hedge of 100 plants of R. roxburghii plena; R. hugonis; R. bracteata; American Pillar; Banksia rose; R. filipes ‘Kiftsgate’; Rambling Rector; Paul’s Himalayan Musk; Mme Alfred Carrière and Gloire de Dijon; Général Schablikine; Mutabilis; Complicata; Iceberg; Max Graf; The Garland; Desprez à Fleurs Jaunes; Seagull; Comtesse du Cayla; Dr W Van Fleet; Cramoisi Supérieur; R. brunonii ‘La Mortola’; Rêve d’Or; David Austin roses and Hybrid Musks: Penelope; Vanity; Ballerina and Buff Beauty. Penelope is such a beautiful romantic rose, I have chosen it as my feature photo for Ninfa (see below)! Ninfa is on the flyway for migrating birds between Africa and Europe and 152 birds have been sighted. In 1976, under the auspices of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), 2000 acres were set aside for a wildlife sanctuary with brush plantings and the creation of more wetlands, as well as re-establishing 15 ha (37 acres) of native vegetation. The river contains brown and Mediterranean trout populations. If you would like to read more about Ninfa, Charles Quest-Ritson wrote Ninfa: the Most Romantic garden in the World in 2009.Because I adore the rose Mutabilis, I would have to include La Landriana on my bucket list! Via Campo di Carne, 51, 00040, Tor San Lorenzo, Ardea (Roma) A few kilometres from Rome, in the city of Ardea, this 10 ha garden is owned by the Marquise Lavinia Tavernain, who started it from scratch in 1956. She commissioned Sir Russell Page to design a series of themed rooms, arranged in a geometric pattern. There are 23 different areas in the garden with many Australian and South African plants due to the maritime Mediterranean climate. They are separated by clipped hedges of Buxus sempervirens; Viburnum tinus and Laurus nobilis. The house is covered in climbers including roses: R. laevigata; R. banksiae lutea; and R. bracteata ‘Mermaid’, as well as Solanum jasminoides; Solanum crispa; Vitis coignetiae and Vitis ‘Brant’. There is a pergola covered with Wisteria sinensis and Rosa bracteata, as well as a lily pool and a water fountain. It is worth consulting the map on the website for an idea of the different garden areas, but for this post, I will be concentrating on the roses, of which there are 350 different varieties, contained mainly in the Rooms of the Rose; the White Walk; the Antique Rose Valley; and Valley of Roses Mutabilis. Rooms of the Rose: Hundreds of plants of Bonica 82 are planted beneath olive trees and a Pinus pinea along this cobbled walkway, interplanted with Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Queen’; White Walk: Flanked by Hybrid Musk, Penelope, and semi-procumbent Seafoam; and many white and grey plants, including Romneya coulterii and Carpenteria californica, with Mme Alfred Carrière in the background; Antique Rose Valley: A large informal area with wide grass walkways between irregular beds and borders of different shapes and sizes, crammed with roses, underplanted with lavender, nepeta, pinks and Pavonia hastata. They include: Rugosas (eg Blanc Double de Coubert; and Sarah Van Fleet); Gallicas; Damasks; Centifolias and Mosses; Portlands (eg Jacques Cartier; Comte de Chambord; and Rose de Rescht); Hybrid Musks (eg Prosperity; Cornelia; and Moonlight); David Austin roses (eg Abraham Darby; Claire Rose; and Mary Rose); and finally, there is … The Valley of Roses Mutabilis: 300 bushes of 2 metre high Mutabilis are grown en masse in huge drifts with mown walkways between. Their peachy-pink, yellow, orange and crimson single open flowers bloom right through to Christmas, giving the appearance of a host of butterflies hovering over a dark sea of Ophiopogon japonicus. A rare tea rose, ‘Belle Lyonnaise’ climbs up Melia azederach trees. The garden is open to the public from April to November and there are two major plant fairs in Spring and Autumn.Il Roseto Botanico Gianfranco and Carla Fineschi Casalone 76, 52022, Cavriglia (Arezzo),Italy 50 km south of Florence And for those of us who cannot read or speak Italian: Charles Quest-Ritson dedicated his book, Climbing Roses of the World, to his wife and ‘Gianfranco Fineschi, who has done more for the rose in one lifetime than the Empress Josephine herself ‘, so I would have to visit this amazing living museum, dedicated to the rose! Professor Gianfranco (1923-2010) started his rose collection fifty years ago in 1967 on his family estate in Casalone, near Cavrigio, overlooking the Tuscan Hills. It is now the world’s largest private rose garden in the world with 6500 different species of rose, each represented by a single plant, which is tagged with its botanical name; its year of introduction to Europe and its ability to hybridize. Roses are organized according to their scientific classification and are planted in separate beds according to their species, subspecies and hybrids, with climbers and ramblers forming division walls. Many of the beds of modern roses are grouped according to their hybridizers eg Lens, Kordes, Harkness, Buisman, Leenders, Mc Gredy, Meilland, Poulsen, Noack, Beales, Austin, Dickson, and Verschuren. This botanical and historical emphasis makes this garden particularly valuable for rose historians. Its reputation as the world’s largest private rose garden refers to the number of rose species in the collection, rather than the size of the garden, which is only one acre! Hence, the roses are planted very close together, which necessitates the use of chemicals to control diseases! The garden has been reopened and can be visited in May and June. I have chosen R.brunonii as my feature photo for this garden, as well as the main feature photo for this post on Italian rose gardens, as it has a hybrid ‘La Mortola’, named after the famous Italian garden, La Mortola, in Liguria.And finally, and especially for my daughter, who is living in Germany and still hasn’t visited this amazing garden!: On the Rosengarten 2a 06526 Sangerhausen, Germany South-West of Berlin and just west of Leipzig http://europa-rosarium.de, translated into English at: Sangerhausen is a huge historic public rose garden, the German equivalent of L’Hay des Roses, France, with 75 000 rose plants of over 70 classes of rose; and 8 600 rose cultivars, including 500 species roses, 1 350 historic roses, over 2 000 modern roses since the 1950s and 850 climbing roses. 2 000 cultivars are only found in Sangerhausen. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the largest collection of roses in the world! It was proposed by rose breeder, Peter Lambert, in 1898, as a refuge for roses and rose classes at risk of oblivion with the rising dominance of the Hybrid Tea and as a genetic pool for hybridizers. Albert Hoffman donated his rose collection of 1 100 different roses as a basis for the new rosarium. In 1899, landscape architect Friedrich Erich Doerr, Erfurt, designed a formal rose garden, which was extended to include an agricultural area in 1902. The 1.5 ha garden, at that stage owned by the German Rose Society, was opened to the public in 1903 with a collection of 1 500 roses. It was extended in 1913 to 12 ha and became a trial ground for testing new German roses prior to their introduction. By 1939, there were 5 000 roses and the site was extended again to its current size of 12.5 ha (31 acres). Sangerhausen was kept going through the Great Depression; the Second World War and the Cold War by Richard Vogel and his son, Max. Being located in what became East Germany after World War II and the erection of the Berlin Wall in 1961, rosarians in the West were largely cut off from contact from it for over thirty years. The first visits from the West occurred in the early 1970s, but direct exchange and donations of roses were still not allowed, so would often reach Sangerhausen via Poland. During this time, 800 different cultivars of Polyanthas were planted together en masse for a spectacular effect and the irrigation system renewed. The rosary was revived with the reunification of Germany. In 2003 (its 100 year anniversary), a new entrance gate with bright tourist-attracting modern roses; a restaurant and three new gardens were created, including a Jubilee Garden (a classical rosary design showing the historical development of the rose in the last 100 years); a Sea of Roses and an ADR Garden, ADR standing for Allgemeine Deutsche Rosenneuheitenprufung, the group which conducts rose trials, assessing roses over three years for disease-resistance; hardiness; attractiveness; and habit and judging 50 new cultivars annually. Since then, a Rose Information Centre with a lecture hall and souvenir shop; a glasshouse conservatory for the more tender roses; and a fragrance garden has been opened. There is also an arboretum of over 250 rare trees and shrubs and an outdoor theatre. Situated 170 metres above sea level on the scenic mountain slopes of the Southern Harz, with an average annual rainfall of 500 mm and a continental climate of hot dry Summers and minimum Winter temperatures of Minus 20 degrees Celsius, it would need a glasshouse for some of the more delicate Tea and China roses! No chemical pesticides have been used since 1997 and the garden is managed by 27 gardeners. It is now owned by the City of Sangerhausen. In 2003, the World Federation of Rose Societies awarded Sangerhausen an Award of Garden Excellence. The main blooming season for the Old Roses (pre-1867) is from the end of May to the middle of June, but other roses bloom till October, followed by a superb display of rose hips. Apparently, the old city entrance is very romantic with all the old roses in bloom. Sangerhausen attracts a huge number of visitors. The garden had over 132 000 visitors in 2009 alone! On the last weekend in June, there is a Festival of Mining and Roses and on the 2nd Saturday in August is a ‘Night of a Thousand Lights’ featuring fireworks, food, music and dance . The garden is also an important research centre, being named the German Rose Gene Bank in 2009, as well as acquiring a New German Rose Library, and also is a major supplier of budwood for hybridizers. Below is a photo of Maigold, bred by German breeding family, Kordes, in 1953. Wilhelm Kordes II was very involved in implementing ADR testing in the 1950s, so this rose is a very suitable feature rose for Sangerhausen! I hope you have enjoyed my bucket-list of overseas gardens and that you (and I!) get to visit them some day, but here is the thing about blogging! Even if we never make it overseas again, I have had so much pleasure researching all these beautiful gardens to the extent that I almost feel that I have been there! Even though nothing can really replace the real experience, the enjoyment of such visits can be tempered by huge crowds in Summer, the peak rose blooming time, bad weather and sheer fatigue! And their websites these days are so comprehensive, so many lessons can be learnt digitally from these gardens from garden design to companion planting for roses! For the next month, I am returning to further reviews of the books in our home library and some wonderful visual treats, with two weeks dedicated to architecture books and the following fortnight to art books, before returning to posts on today’s roses: the Hybrid Teas and Floribundas; and David Austin roses.

In the beginning of Kim Ponders’s well-crafted first novel, The Art of Uncontrolled Flight, five-year-old Annie Shaw dreams of becoming a pilot just like her dad. In 1972, my father flew cargo planes out of Thailand…. He often surprised my mother and me, returning a day or two early, and my mother would stick her sewing needle in the little battle-weary pincushion or drop the laundry basket at her feet and run to the back door as soon as she heard his boots on the stairs. Like William Maxwell’s remarkable boy narrator in So Long, See You Tomorrow, Annie Shaw is a retrospective character in the first chapter. Here Ponders aptly fuses the child’s point of view—“The men’s knees poked up from the edge of the sofa like a column of spires”—with an adult’s ability to draw conclusions—“[My mother] argued with herself as she cooked, as if negotiating something between the two halves of herself, the one that wanted my father home and the one that didn’t.” Young Annie sees things acutely: the “battle-weary pincushion,” the “narrow, frostbitten roads,” and her distraught mother, who stands with “a towel twisted fiercely in her hands.” Things start getting worse: Dad has affairs, Mom drives like hell to the state line with Annie in tow. And then something very bad happens, shockingly, in the space of a paragraph, something Annie will have to recount in a lifetime of shrink sessions, we assume. Instead, thirteen years later, she joins the armed forces; she’ll eventually serve as a pilot in the first Gulf War. Why would the sharp, sweet girl from chapter 1 want this life? In Ponders’s Air Force there are frat-boy types, frequent dares, and bored, empty hours spent waiting. In a strip club Annie’s buddies cajole her into a lap dance with a woman whose skin is “soaked in vanilla… moist as the inside of a peach.” For this, Annie receives the unsettling pronouncement, “You’re one of us now.” But Annie welcomes it all—the tests and drills and rules. She needs not to think, and this what makes her military career memorable: it lets her escape. Throughout the novel, Ponders shifts between first- and third-person perspective. The frequent changes in viewpoint provide an appropriate push and pull, and help to further emphasize the detachment Annie orchestrates for herself. In flight, Annie likes “the distance between [herself] and the rest of the world thirty thousand feet below.” But she has to land eventually. Implicit in the act of “bolting” is the niggling hope of getting caught, the wish for someone left behind to say, “Stop it, come here, come back to me.” Enter Annie’s husband, Dexter, an oil speculator: loyal, patient, grounded. As Annie packs for another tour of duty, wearing her flight suit and throwing things haphazardly into her duffel bag, Dexter clips his toenails and makes a tiny pile of nail shards on their bed. The story of a woman on active duty is an intriguing one, but I wanted to return to the puzzle of young Annie, to know how the girl who noticed the twisted towel would learn to cope as an adult civilian. As Annie teaches her husband how to fly in the novel’s final chapter, Ponders satisfies this curiosity. We learn here how it feels to leave the earth so drastically, and to return again with skill.

Word has it that Palma’s Sant Agustí neighbourhood is on the up, and most symptomatic of its rising fortunes is the redevelopment of its Calanova Port area. Opened in 1976 (by the king and queen of Spain no less) a 2018 makeover has given the multi-functional marina a swish contemporary look, as well as adding a new waterfront dining option in the form of the Muelle 327 Gastrodock. Stepping inside, the decor feels aptly fresh and modern; simply styled with turquoise velvet seating, busy leaf-print wallpaper, and a scattering of potted palms creating a breezy, Mediterranean vibe. But the alfresco terrace is the restaurant’s prime real estate, with tables overlooking the water and pleasingly broad views of the adjacent marina. Our tasting menu began with a selection of alioli, which cycled through traditional, lime, saffron, and black garlic varieties; freshly baked bread provided the vehicle for the well-made dips. Croquettes next made a predictably early appearance, and featured a satisfyingly crunchy shell with an extraordinarily creamy centre. Less expected was the arrival of the next dish, a bowl shimmering with an emulsion of gold under which lay Shiitake mushrooms in creamy honeyed foam. The overwhelming sweetness sadly left little room for fungi flavours. Next, what the red prawn carpaccio lacked in presentation it made up for in flavour, with kimchee sauce providing a spicy hit and a small pile of seaweed adding a hint of the ocean. A red tuna tartare then provided the highlight of the meal, with avocado cream and wakame, the meaty fish brought to life with some subtle smoky notes. By this point along, when the kilo’s worth of T-bone arrived there was little room left to put it. Cooked on a Josper grill, the 30-day aged meat was rare but with a rich, depth of flavour where browned. The accompanying fries were chunky and crispy, with a fluffy middle reminiscent of a good roast potato. Despite barely denting the steak, dessert space was found. One was a tiramisu, which was (rather over) elaborately constructed via the sections of a mocha coffee pot; it was a solid example of the classic, but with unnecessary ceremony and popping candy. A cheesecake was firm and moist, with mango sorbet providing a final palette cleanser. By the end we had tasted a good cross-section of the extensive menu, which ranges from traditional Mallorcan cooking through pan-Asian fusion, Mediterranean seafood, and gourmet beef. While all the ingredients are there for a top-class eatery, the dining experience – and general consistency of the offering – might be improved by a shorter menu with greater focus. Why eat here? A varied menu cooked with quality ingredients in relaxed marina-front setting.

Anyone who fished at Port Canaveral in the 1970s and ‘80s can tell you stories about the hordes of Northern weakfish that were caught. January and February were the peak months for the seasonal migrants that moved down the Eastern Seaboard and would make a hard right turn into the port where they’d group into tight schools near the 40-foot bottoms in the middle and west turning basins. On most days 30 or 40 boats would be anchored in the basins with the fishing parties catching dozens. I recall a particularly cold winter day in the mid ‘70s while fishing with Mike Ramsey and the late Whitey Holzlohner for a fish fry at Dave Tingley’s Barge Canal Fishing Camp on Merritt Island. For years Ramsey was an officer with the Florida Marine Patrol in Brevard County and Holzlohner was a retired contractor who seldom missed a day of fishing out of Tingley’s. They knew exactly where a big school of weakfish was holding in the west basin and we caught over 60 fish that day. That was long before cruise ships at Canaveral. Today, during times when cruise ships are docked in the west basin, the boating public is not allowed to enter the area. But the middle turning basin remains open. The Northern weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) is akin to the spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), another weakfish sometimes called speckled trout that is prevalent along the Space Coast and throughout Florida. While nearly identical in body shape and features, the Northern weakfish has smaller and more numerous spots and it grows larger, with the all-tackle world record being 19 pounds, 2 ounces. The all-tackle record the spotted seatrout is 17 pounds, 7 ounces. Also the Northern weakfish should not be mistaken for the smaller silver trout and sand trout. There’s no question that the high numbers at Canaveral no longer exist. Why? No one really seems to know. Weakfish have supported commercial fisheries along the Atlantic coast since the 1800s, and according to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission there was a peak in 1980 when commercial landings stood at 36 million pounds. Since then commercial landings have dropped dramatically, falling from over 19 million pounds landed in 1982 to 141,433 pounds in 2015. There have been winters when fair numbers have been taken inside Port Canaveral, while other anglers have found concentrations around the tip of Cape Canaveral and in the Canaveral Bight. Because many fishermen don’t realize the weakfish may be there, they don’t target them. The Florida bag limit is all but unlimited – 100 pounds per harvester and no minimum size limit. One exception is at the Weakfish Management Area in northeast Florida’s Nassau County where the limit is one fish per harvester, and a 12-inch minimum size limit. Weakfish school close to the bottom and they seek out deep water like that at Canaveral, therefore a depth recorder is all but required to find a school. Or else you spend a lot of time jigging blindly along the bottom. Several years ago Tom Ference of Merritt Island, who has been fishing along the Space Coast going on 50 years, called to say the weakfish were stacked inside the port “as good as the old days.” It was a welcomed surprise. The following morning Ference and I were joined by Phil Woodham of Titusville and we were on the water in the middle turning basin by 6:30 a.m. Ference had motored his skiff to a spot where he had caught dozens two days before and within minutes he had pinpointed a school with a depth recorder that showed a mass of fish about 3 feet off the bottom. Like Ference had promised, we had a fish on nearly every drop. Sometimes they’d strike our small yellow jigs before they hit bottom or otherwise a jigging action would get their attention. All the “weaks” were 2 pounds or larger. Some smaller silver trout were mixed with them. We didn’t keep a count of our releases but in a couple hours we accumulated 12 of the larger ones in a cooler and added a half dozen of the silvers. Weakfish are good eating when they’re fresh because their meat is moist and soft. Using 1/4th-ounce jigs on ultralight spinning tackle with light fluorocarbon leader, we dropped the jigs directly under the boat. As a means of boosting our hookups we clipped the nylon tails on the jigs close to the hook thereby eliminating short strikes. On several occasions the fish moved away from our anchored positions but usually not far and we’d find them again either with the recorder or by casting in varying directions and twitching the jigs along the bottom. Northern weakfish are perfect for light tackle. The term “weakfish” refers to the easily torn membrane around the fish’s mouth, not its fighting ability. Besides the weakfish and silver trout, we also caught Spanish mackerel, bluefish, lane and mutton snapper, a 3-pound black grouper, a couple pompano, sheepshead, jack crevalle and puffers, all on the small yellow jigs. We kept an accounting and scored a dozen different species, not including flounder, whiting, mangrove snapper and other snappers that hang near the bottom in Canaveral. None of the weakfish that day approached 4 or 5 pounds, which usually was part of a day’s catch during the heydays. Occasionally in those early years we’d hear of fish to 8 or 9 pounds. Catch records I’ve compiled over the years show a 9-pound, 5-ounce weakfish in 1973 by Charlie Ernst of Merritt Island. In December 1987 George Mizell of North Charleston, South Carolina, was inside Port Canaveral when he landed a 10-pounder that still stands as the Florida record. In all cases security restrictions for boaters inside Port Canaveral require the public to remain 25 feet from all Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) piers, wharfs and docks, 100 feet from moored vessels and 200 feet from the Navy Pier. All restrictions are posted at the launch ramps. Two major launch sites serve boaters at Canaveral, both on the south side of the port, at the Freddie Patrick Park immediately west of Jetty Park, and at the Rodney Ketcham Boat Ramp at Port’s End Park. Bill Sargent of Melbourne has been writing about sports and outdoor subjects for FLORIDA TODAY for 49 years. Contact Sargent at firstname.lastname@example.org.

Copyright by: George D. Gann, 2015 In habitat, Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park, Florida General Landscape Uses: Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Grown by enthusiasts. Small herbaceous wildflower. About 12-18 inches in height. Erect or spreading and forming small patches as broad or broader than tall. Endemic to South Florida from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin, Hendry and Collier counties. In the Monroe County Keys, disjunct from Miami-Dade County to the pine rocklands of Big Pine Key. Very rare or perhaps extirpated in Broward County. Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida. Pinelands and prairies. Moist, well-drained limestone soils, without humus. Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. High; does not require any supplemental water once established. Can be grown from seed. It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida.

Premium quality succulent and cactus plants, gifts, dish gardens, wedding favors, desert gardens, Christmas cactus is a prolific grower that eventually needs to be repotted. While this is not too complicated, the key is knowing when and how to repot a Christmas cactus. This. 1. Water Christmas cactus one or two days before you plan to repot the plant. Pot bound plants are easier to repot when the potting mixture is moist and clings to the roots. Dec 07, 2014 · Transplanting Large succulents: Christmas Cactus. My Great Grandmother's Christmas Cactus, ready for repotting I have been graced to own my great grandmothers Christmas cactus. I. Vegetable Container Gardens - Growing Sweet Corn. Mar 23, 2018 · A Christmas cactus plant likes feeling a little cramped and flowers best when rootbound. So don't be in a rush to get it into a bigger pot. Repotting a Christmas Cactus; Gardenality: How to. The best time to repot a Christmas cactus is after the blooming season when the flowers have all wilted. Moving a Christmas cactus during the bud phase can destroy the plant. Taking it from its original soil during the blooming can only harm the flowers. Christmas Cactus Care covers the growing needs of the Zygocactus. Once you've been growing a Christmas cactus for a few years, it will need to be repotted. Once the plant has become so large that you can barely see the pot, it's time to either shift it into a larger container or divide it. Christmas cactus do not have a large root system and they prefer to be slightly potbound. It’s better to replant in a pot that is 1 inch larger than the current pot and keep re-potting as it grows. It’s better to replant in a pot that is 1 inch larger than the current pot and keep re-potting as it grows. Repotting Christmas Cactus. ezendor April 3, 2009. I was hoping somebody could share some advice on how I should go about repotting a Christmas cactus. I am unsure of the scientific name, but I know it's the christmas cactus with the sharp, pointed leaf margins (I believe the tag called it a" Zygo" cactus). I have a very large very old. Aug 13, 2018 · How to Care for a Christmas Cactus. A beautiful holiday plant (botanically known as Schlumbergera or Zygocactus), the Christmas Cactus unsurprisingly blooms at Christmas and also sometimes around Easter time if cared for properly. A month. Jan 02, 2008 · Pruning a Christmas Cactus after blooming. Watch Reply. More. Skip to new; Mark unread Print Skip to new. oldhat Lacey, WA Dec 24, 2007. My Christmas cactus is getting to large for the living room and I need to prune it down but don't know where or how to start. It is over 37 inches wide and stands over 30 inches tall. I need to repot. Apr 4, 2018. Repotting Christmas Cactus: How And When To Repot Christmas Cactus. Repot Christmas cactus into a pot only slightly larger than the. Mar 23, 2018. Only move a Christmas cactus to a bigger pot when the roots are really. Repot the plant in February, March or April, but don't overplay the. A tropical cactus with flat, segmented leaves, Christmas cactus. Don't use a larger pot as the volume of potting mix holds too much moisture and can cause the. This tropical plant known as Christmas cactus has very fragile roots. Transferring it. Place the plant in a larger one to avoid future repotting activities. Frequent. Dec 13, 2017. Posts about Repotting Christmas cactus written by Laidback Gardener. Note it need not be a larger pot. In fact, if the plant has lost roots. Feb 2, 2018. The best time for repotting is between February and April, about once. Just be sure not to give it a pot that's too big; the Christmas Cactus. Jan 26, 2002. ow is a good time to repot Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera spp. ). Following flowering they should have begun growing, or will begin soon. Christmas cactus is a prolific grower that eventually needs to be repotted. While this is not too complicated, the key is knowing when and how to repot a Christmas. A Christmas cactus plant likes feeling a little cramped and flowers best when rootbound. So don't be in a rush to get it into a bigger pot. Repotting a Christmas Cactus; Gardenality: How to.

On this date, 65 years ago, the double-helix structure of DNA was discovered. The two Cambridge University scientists, James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick, announced that they had figured out the structure of DNA, the molecule that contains human genes. They put together the pieces of knowledge that had been assembled and had important collaborators who provided experimental results. Paving the way to discovery There was a lot of research and build-up to this discovery. DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, was first discovered in 1869 by the Swiss physician Friedrich Miescher. He investigated the proteins in leucocytes, and during his work he found a substance that was not a protein. He performed a crude extraction of the substance and named it “nuclein” due to its presence in the nuclei of the cells. The current name for it is nucleic acid. Around the same time, Gregor Mendel, the Czech monk, was performing experiments on peas that demonstrated that certain traits can be inherited. However, these two pieces of the puzzle were not put together until 1944 when the American scientist Oswald Avery transferred the nucleic acid from one pathogenic bacterium to a harmless bacterium. The previously harmless bacteria now passed on the ability to cause disease to the next generation. Therefore, the link between inheritance and nucleic acid was established. In 1949, Erwin Chargoff had obtained the information for the base-pairing of DNA, by finding out that the amount of adenine also equals the amount of thymine, and that the amount of guanine and cytosine is also always equal, regardless of the amount of DNA total. At this point, researchers knew that DNA contained the four bases adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine, but they had no idea what the DNA molecule actually looked like. Putting the pieces together As you can imagine, many other researchers were working to uncover the fundamental molecule of inheritance. Another researcher, a chemist from California called Linus Pauling, suggested a triple helix model at the beginning of 1953. Watson and Crick were racing with him to be the first to discover the true form of DNA. Watson and Crick did the theoretical work, making ball and stick models and interpreting experimental results. They collaborated with Maurice Wilkins and his collaborator, Rosalind Franklin, who did experimental work. The experimental results involved X-ray diffraction. The principle behind this method is that shining X-rays on DNA can form crystals if treated a certain way. The rays then bounce off of the sample, creating patterns on photographic film that can then be analyzed for the structure. Watson figured out the pairing of the bases from Chargoff’s work and on February 21st, 1953, he had a breakthrough when he saw that the adenine-thymine bond was the same length as the cytosine-guanine bond. This meant that each level in the DNA helix would be the same length and the phosphate backbone would be smooth. Photograph 51 provided crucial information to deduce the structure of DNA. The famous photograph was taken by Raymond Gosling, a PhD student under the supervision of Rosalind Franklin at King’s College London, in May 1952. The DNA had been crystallized under moist conditions and the picture shows a fuzzy “X” which may not mean much to the untrained eye, but is indicative of a double helical structure with anti-parallel strands. Watson and Crick were able to deduce that the outside of the DNA chain has a backbone of alternating deoxyribose and phosphate molecules, and the base pairs are inside the helix. Their calculations from the photos produced important parameters for the size and structure of the helix. There is controversy regarding this photo as Maurice Wilkins showed it to Watson and Crick without Rosalind Franklin’s approval or even knowledge. The double helical structure also made a lot of sense because it offered a mechanism for DNA replication. The helix structure allows DNA to replicate by separating into one strand and becoming the template for a new helix. Publication & Prize Watson and Crick had their “Eureka moment” on the morning of February 28th. They had successfully put together all of the pieces of information to come to the double helical structure of DNA. In his autobiography, Watson wrote that, after their realization, Crick walked into a nearby pub and announced that “we had found the secret of life”. Watson and Crick published their discovery formally on April 25, 1953 in Nature magazine. Watson was only 25 years old at this point, though Crick was 12 years his senior. The modest page-long article began with the understatement of the century: “This structure has novel features which are of considerable biological interest.” They were “stimulated by a knowledge of the general nature of the unpublished experimental results and ideas” of Wilkins and Franklin, as they stated in their acknowledgements. Crick, Watson, and Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962. Franklin died four years prior of ovarian cancer and therefore was ineligible for the award, as they are not awarded posthumously. Watson has said that she should have shared the prize with them. Sixty-five years is not a long time to know about the structure of DNA– it has been a fundamental discovery that has revolutionized healthcare, research, agriculture, and much more!

Vegan Layer Cake The Delicious Details We are super proud to offer a variety of vegan cakes! They are tender, moist, and full of flavor. Choose your cake flavor and icing flavor to create your own combination. We don't use nuts or nut oils unless it's stated in the component title (ie: "peanut butter icing" or "almond cake"); we do use soy in many of our vegan treats. We take lots of care to prevent crossover when preparing our vegan items, but they are baked in our kitchen where we use and store butter, eggs, milk, etc so we cannot guarantee against trace elements. Very generously serves: 10-14 adults (8 inch cake) or 4-6 adults (6 inch cake).

Our weekend can be summed up with lots of rain, indoor truck-crane play, chocolate cake, and watching General Conference. Yep, it was chilly and rainy all day Saturday so we postponed Rowan's outdoor gathering and exchanged it for a morning at Chocolate World in Hershey, PA for their ever-exciting free ride (and chocolate!) + then to Costco for all the magic that can be found there. ;) The truck crane. I'm so happy with Rowan's [amazon_link id="B00006IJHY" target="_blank" ]crane[/amazon_link]. (Thank you FB friends that helped me out.) Super impressed by the German company Bruder for their well built, real life trucks! Rowan and his Daddy spent much of the weekend with a plastic cup (tied to a hook) scooping up lentils from one bowl and then "unloading" them in another bowl. I was pleased with this Decadent Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake; it was very moist and rich. The great thing about making a construction site cake is that it's good if it looks messy. Which was helpful in pouring my already thin frosting over the cake. Because I added a little xanthan gum to the frosting it set nicely on the outside of the cake (so I could build on it) but was still moist once you cut into the cake. I couldn't get myself to buy Oreos for dirt so poured a bit of the frosting on a few spots and topped them with whatever I had on hand: shredded coconut and my homemade dark chocolate chunks. (Chocolate chunks recipe on my Instagram feed @nshiffler.) And Rowan was very excited to see his trucks in action on his cake. I've got to tell you--I needed this recharging, recentering of my soul this weekend. I haven't felt so inspired to be better, be more patient with myself, and invest in what really matters this intensely for a while. Our family spent many hours this weekend watching and listening to our church's annual worldwide conference from home and it truly was the highlight of the weekend. If you need a real pick me up, here's an incredible talk about mothers from this weekend. the sleepy time gal

Making a great burgerTuesday, January 15 We are half way through the first month of the year and your resolution is either going well, or, and much more likely, life has gotten in the way and you have already forgotten about your plan to change. Well, if you haven’t completely thrown in the towel yet and need a little convincing to give up your master plan to get in shape, this column should go a long way to pushing you over the edge. This week we discuss the food group that probably causes us to have to make resolutions in the first place. That food group is the burger. Okay, okay, I know, it’s not actually a recognized food group on Canada’s food guide, but given our insatiable appetite for them, maybe they should be. Where to start with making a great burger though? Well, you have to start with the meat. Whether you favour a classic beef burger or prefer a little more variety in your patties, the key is to start with top quality meat. What you choose is almost limitless. We have featured bison, Kobe beef, ostrich, venison, chicken, turkey and lamb just to name a few, but you can create a patty out of virtually any meat you choose. You can even prepare a vegetable patty. I’m not suggesting you grind up tenderloin to make your burger better. That would be a pointless waste of great tenderloin. I am referring to the calibre of meat you choose. For example, rather than simply buying grade A Alberta beef, which would probably do a decent job for making a burger, we work with exclusively use Heritage Angus Beef from Spirit View Ranch for our burgers. They pride themselves on raising hormone and antibiotic free beef that are raised naturally, as was intended. When preparing a top-quality beef burger, it is also imperative to consider the blend. I am referring to the various cuts that one can choose from to prepare your ground beef. Just because it’s all beef, it doesn’t mean it’s all the same tasting and texturally. Each cut provides its own unique addition to our blend. After much testing and sampling, we have concluded that the best blend for our burgers is as follows. Sirloin- 40% by weight: although it lacks some flavour on its own, it’s very tender and binds quite well once it has been ground Short Rib- 30% by weight: with its rich and nutty flavour and high degree of fine marbling (intramuscular fat) it helps to pack the flavour in and keep the patty moist Brisket— 30% by weight: providing a distinct aroma and flavour of iron and liver and with its moderate to low-fat content, it provides the right balance to round out the burger Grinding these three cuts together allows us to have a nice balance of flavor and texture and helps us achieve our desired 85% lean blend. This is crucial because too lean and it will result in a dry burger, but if it’s too fatty the result will be a great deal of flare-ups over the open flame and a greasy tasting end result. The next priority: the bun. The balance of burger patty to bun needs to be just right. Too much bread and the taste of the beef and condiments is lost. Not enough bun and your burger won’t hold together. This can also be the case with a bun that is too soft, without enough structure to stay together as the juices of the burger permeate into the bun. I tend to be a traditionalist when it comes to my bun choice, sticking with a good quality classic hamburger bun, but sometimes, when I am really indulging, I lean towards a brioche bun. Its buttery goodness almost melts in your mouth, but the bun manages to hold together. From there, it comes down to selecting the toppings. There is one simple key to keep in mind. How will all of the flavours work together? I try to stick to a theme or focus when putting my creations together. If I am feeling spicy I might throw some hot sauce in the patty mixture, jalapeno havarti, and salsa for toppings, and round it out with a nice chipotle mayo. They are all ingredients that work well together. Here is a Classic Burger Recipe and I’ll let you make your own decisions about just how far you want to take it. Classic Burger Recipe Makes: Six 6 oz. burgers Prep Time: 15 minutes Rest Time: 30 minutes Cooking Time: 8-10 minutes Special Tools: meat grinder or grinder attachment for Kitchenaid 400 gr. fresh sirloin 300 gr. fresh short rib 300 gr. fresh brisket ¾ cup panko bread crumbs 1 tsp. fresh thyme 1 Tbsp. garlic powder 1 Tbsp. onion powder 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire 1 tsp. Tabasco Salt and pepper You may be surprised to see the bread crumbs in the burgers. If you don’t have a small amount of bread crumbs acting as a binding agent in your patties you are asking for trouble when grilling your burgers. If you are pan searing them you can get away without it, but decrease the eggs to one. Cube the meat into manageable sized pieces to feed into your grinder Using the grinder attachment on your Kitchenaid, or a grinder, work the meat through the grinder with a medium sized extruder attachment Once blended,place in a large bowl with the remaining ingredients and using your hands, work to combine everything evenly, without overworking the mixture Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow the mixture to bind Split the mixture into 6 equal portions and then form into patties If you are confident your meat is fresh and from a reliable source then you can safely serve these less than well done, even cooking them to medium if you choose, do not attempt to do this if the beef has been in your fridge overnight, or if it is not the absolute freshest Cook them to your desired liking and then begin to put your very own Resolution Buster burger! To help you take your burger to the next level, try preparing a little bit of chipotle mayo to go with it. 1 Tbsp. chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, pureed 1 cup mayonnaise ¼ cup ketchup 1 Tbsp. honey salt and pepper to taste Combine ingredients and mix until homogenous Prepare this at least 30 minutes in advance and refrigerate to allow the flavours to come together

Excellent for fresh, slightly moist snow, Swix VR65 Red/Yellow/Silver Fluor grip wax is fluorinated and made for racing, as well as, recreational and sport nordic skiing. Each VR-wax has two specified temperature ranges, one for falling and new fallen snow, characterized by sharp snow crystals with relatively strong penetration capacity, and one range for older snow, when the crystals are rounded off and have less penetration power. When used below freezing high humidity is required, or old, fine grained snow. - Excellent grip properties, particularly around 32° F (0° C) |Temperature range||Fresh snow 38º F to 32º F (3º C to 0º C) / Transformed fine grained snow 34ºF to 30ºF (1º C to -1º C)|

Faux stone is designed to give the look of real stone, but without the high price. Many homeowners use faux stone outdoors to accentuate their siding and sitting areas, but faux stone can also be used indoors to enhance your home’s interior. From your kitchen to your bathroom, faux stone can transform any indoor room. 1- Accentuate your Fireplace A fireplace is supposed to be the focal point of the room. If you feel that your fireplace is lacking that impressive touch, faux stone could help. Faux stone around a fireplace creates a rustic feel and gives the illusion of an expensive fireplace installation. There are many different colors, types, and shapes of stones available so that you can easily blend them in with your chosen decor. Don’t have a fireplace? There are plenty of faux stone electric fireplaces on the market that can give your home the look and feel of a cozy cabin. 2- Create an Accent Wall As an alternative to paint or wallpaper, faux stone can be used to create an accent wall. An accent wall is a wall that is different from the other walls surrounding it. Accent walls are usually a different color, but with faux stone, you can create add an entirely new texture in the room. If you have an open floor plan, accent walls can be especially helpful, as they allow you to create a more defined space. Faux stone walls add an element of nature, which blend beautifully with other natural aspects, such as plants, water fountains, or floral decor. If you’re partial to full accent walls but still want to implement faux stone, remember that you can use as much or as little as you’d like. Create two-toned walls, use it like paneling, or even use it to create a headboard for your bed. 3- Decorate Posts, Columns, or Doors You can use faux stone to decorate outdoor posts and columns, but you can also use them to decorate any posts or columns indoors. Both freestanding and attached posts look beautiful when covered with faux stone. For a truly unique look, don’t have to cover the entire post, but instead, attach faux stone halfway up and top it off with molding. If you have interesting shaped doorways, such as arches, faux stone will attract the eye to these areas and create a rustic, antiquated look. Alternatively, you can decorate entire doors with faux stone to give a strong, castle-like appeal to specific areas of your home. 4- Decorate your Bath Tub Give your bath a more upscale appearance by adding faux stone to the side. Foam faux stone will not do well here, as it is not waterproof. You’ll need to be sure that you’re choosing a waterproof stone and a waterproof adhesive for the best results. There are many other materials to choose from, including plastic, that will hold up very well in moist environments and after exposure to water. With waterproof faux stone, you can also decorate the interior of your shower. This can create a soothing, natural, spa-like feel. Add plenty of greenery near the area and you have a shower fit for relaxation. 5- Make a Kitchen Back Splash When you think about updating your kitchen, your first thought may be redoing your floors or upgrading your counter tops. Interestingly enough, simply updating your kitchen’s back splash—that is the wall behind your counters—can really transform the look of your kitchen. Finding stone that blends well with your current counter tops and flooring can prevent you from having to upgrade those areas at all. Back splash can easily bring a room together. For many homeowners, real stone is simply too expensive when it comes to home renovation costs. Faux stone reduces this cost while also still providing the all-natural beauty of the real thing. Faux stone is also versatile and can be used in a number of different ways in nearly every room of your home.

And was it his destined part Only one moment in his life To be close to your heart? Or was he fated from the start to live for just one fleeting instant, within the purlieus of your heart. -- Ivan Turgenev, "The Flower" It was a wonderful night, such a night as is only possible when we are young, dear reader. The sky was so starry, so bright that, looking at it, one could not help asking oneself whether ill-humoured and capricious people could live under such a sky. That is a youthful question too, dear reader, very youthful, but may the Lord put it more frequently into your heart!... Speaking of capricious and ill-humoured people, I cannot help recalling my moral condition all that day. From early morning I had been oppressed by a strange despondency. It suddenly seemed to me that I was lonely, that every one was forsaking me and going away from me. Of course, any one is entitled to ask who "every one" was. For though I had been living almost eight years in Petersburg I had hardly an acquaintance. But what did I want with acquaintances? I was acquainted with all Petersburg as it was; that was why I felt as though they were all deserting me when all Petersburg packed up and went to its summer villa. I felt afraid of being left alone, and for three whole days I wandered about the town in profound dejection, not knowing what to do with myself. Whether I walked in the Nevsky, went to the Gardens or sauntered on the embankment, there was not one face of those I had been accustomed to meet at the same time and place all the year. They, of course, do not know me, but I know them. I know them intimately, I have almost made a study of their faces, and am delighted when they are gay, and downcast when they are under a cloud. I have almost struck up a friendship with one old man whom I meet every blessed day, at the same hour in Fontanka. Such a grave, pensive countenance; he is always whispering to himself and brandishing his left arm, while in his right hand he holds a long gnarled stick with a gold knob. He even notices me and takes a warm interest in me. If I happen not to be at a certain time in the same spot in Fontanka, I am certain he feels disappointed. That is how it is that we almost bow to each other, especially when we are both in good humour. The other day, when we had not seen each other for two days and met on the third, we were actually touching our hats, but, realizing in time, dropped our hands and passed each other with a look of interest. I know the houses too. As I walk along they seem to run forward in the streets to look out at me from every window, and almost to say: "Good-morning! How do you do? I am quite well, thank God, and I am to have a new storey in May," or, "How are you? I am being redecorated to-morrow;" or, "I was almost burnt down and had such a fright," and so on. I have my favourites among them, some are dear friends; one of them intends to be treated by the architect this summer. I shall go every day on purpose to see that the operation is not a failure. God forbid! But I shall never forget an incident with a very pretty little house of a light pink colour. It was such a charming little brick house, it looked so hospitably at me, and so proudly at its ungainly neighbours, that my heart rejoiced whenever I happened to pass it. Suddenly last week I walked along the street, and when I looked at my friend I heard a plaintive, "They are painting me yellow!" The villains! The barbarians! They had spared nothing, neither columns, nor cornices, and my poor little friend was as yellow as a canary. It almost made me bilious. And to this day I have not had the courage to visit my poor disfigured friend, painted the colour of the Celestial Empire. So now you understand, reader, in what sense I am acquainted with all Petersburg. I have mentioned already that I had felt worried for three whole days before I guessed the cause of my uneasiness. And I felt ill at ease in the street—this one had gone and that one had gone, and what had become of the other?—and at home I did not feel like myself either. For two evenings I was puzzling my brains to think what was amiss in my corner; why I felt so uncomfortable in it. And in perplexity I scanned my grimy green walls, my ceiling covered with a spider's web, the growth of which Matrona has so successfully encouraged. I looked over all my furniture, examined every chair, wondering whether the trouble lay there (for if one chair is not standing in the same position as it stood the day before, I am not myself). I looked at the window, but it was all in vain ... I was not a bit the better for it! I even bethought me to send for Matrona, and was giving her some fatherly admonitions in regard to the spider's web and sluttishness in general; but she simply stared at me in amazement and went away without saying a word, so that the spider's web is comfortably hanging in its place to this day. I only at last this morning realized what was wrong. Aie! Why, they are giving me the slip and making off to their summer villas! Forgive the triviality of the expression, but I am in no mood for fine language ... for everything that had been in Petersburg had gone or was going away for the holidays; for every respectable gentleman of dignified appearance who took a cab was at once transformed, in my eyes, into a respectable head of a household who after his daily duties were over, was making his way to the bosom of his family, to the summer villa; for all the passers-by had now quite a peculiar air which seemed to say to every one they met: "We are only here for the moment, gentlemen, and in another two hours we shall be going off to the summer villa." If a window opened after delicate fingers, white as snow, had tapped upon the pane, and the head of a pretty girl was thrust out, calling to a street-seller with pots of flowers—at once on the spot I fancied that those flowers were being bought not simply in order to enjoy the flowers and the spring in stuffy town lodgings, but because they would all be very soon moving into the country and could take the flowers with them. What is more, I made such progress in my new peculiar sort of investigation that I could distinguish correctly from the mere air of each in what summer villa he was living. The inhabitants of Kamenny and Aptekarsky Islands or of the Peterhof Road were marked by the studied elegance of their manner, their fashionable summer suits, and the fine carriages in which they drove to town. Visitors to Pargolovo and places further away impressed one at first sight by their reasonable and dignified air; the tripper to Krestovsky Island could be recognized by his look of irrepressible gaiety. If I chanced to meet a long procession of waggoners walking lazily with the reins in their hands beside waggons loaded with regular mountains of furniture, tables, chairs, ottomans and sofas and domestic utensils of all sorts, frequently with a decrepit cook sitting on the top of it all, guarding her master's property as though it were the apple of her eye; or if I saw boats heavily loaded with household goods crawling along the Neva or Fontanka to the Black River or the Islands—the waggons and the boats were multiplied tenfold, a hundredfold, in my eyes. I fancied that everything was astir and moving, everything was going in regular caravans to the summer villas. It seemed as though Petersburg threatened to become a wilderness, so that at last I felt ashamed, mortified and sad that I had nowhere to go for the holidays and no reason to go away. I was ready to go away with every waggon, to drive off with every gentleman of respectable appearance who took a cab; but no one—absolutely no one—invited me; it seemed they had forgotten me, as though really I were a stranger to them! I took long walks, succeeding, as I usually did, in quite forgetting where I was, when I suddenly found myself at the city gates. Instantly I felt lighthearted, and I passed the barrier and walked between cultivated fields and meadows, unconscious of fatigue, and feeling only all over as though a burden were falling off my soul. All the passers-by gave me such friendly looks that they seemed almost greeting me, they all seemed so pleased at something. They were all smoking cigars, every one of them. And I felt pleased as I never had before. It was as though I had suddenly found myself in Italy—so strong was the effect of nature upon a half-sick townsman like me, almost stifling between city walls. There is something inexpressibly touching in nature round Petersburg, when at the approach of spring she puts forth all her might, all the powers bestowed on her by Heaven, when she breaks into leaf, decks herself out and spangles herself with flowers.... Somehow I cannot help being reminded of a frail, consumptive girl, at whom one sometimes looks with compassion, sometimes with sympathetic love, whom sometimes one simply does not notice; though suddenly in one instant she becomes, as though by chance, inexplicably lovely and exquisite, and, impressed and intoxicated, one cannot help asking oneself what power made those sad, pensive eyes flash with such fire? What summoned the blood to those pale, wan cheeks? What bathed with passion those soft features? What set that bosom heaving? What so suddenly called strength, life and beauty into the poor girl's face, making it gleam with such a smile, kindle with such bright, sparkling laughter? You look round, you seek for some one, you conjecture.... But the moment passes, and next day you meet, maybe, the same pensive and preoccupied look as before, the same pale face, the same meek and timid movements, and even signs of remorse, traces of a mortal anguish and regret for the fleeting distraction.... And you grieve that the momentary beauty has faded so soon never to return, that it flashed upon you so treacherously, so vainly, grieve because you had not even time to love her.... And yet my night was better than my day! This was how it happened. I came back to the town very late, and it had struck ten as I was going towards my lodgings. My way lay along the canal embankment, where at that hour you never meet a soul. It is true that I live in a very remote part of the town. I walked along singing, for when I am happy I am always humming to myself like every happy man who has no friend or acquaintance with whom to share his joy. Suddenly I had a most unexpected adventure. Leaning on the canal railing stood a woman with her elbows on the rail, she was apparently looking with great attention at the muddy water of the canal. She was wearing a very charming yellow hat and a jaunty little black mantle. "She's a girl, and I am sure she is dark," I thought. She did not seem to hear my footsteps, and did not even stir when I passed by with bated breath and loudly throbbing heart. "Strange," I thought; "she must be deeply absorbed in something," and all at once I stopped as though petrified. I heard a muffled sob. Yes! I was not mistaken, the girl was crying, and a minute later I heard sob after sob. Good Heavens! My heart sank. And timid as I was with women, yet this was such a moment!... I turned, took a step towards her, and should certainly have pronounced the word "Madam!" if I had not known that that exclamation has been uttered a thousand times in every Russian society novel. It was only that reflection stopped me. But while I was seeking for a word, the girl came to herself, looked round, started, cast down her eyes and slipped by me along the embankment. I at once followed her; but she, divining this, left the embankment, crossed the road and walked along the pavement. I dared not cross the street after her. My heart was fluttering like a captured bird. All at once a chance came to my aid. Along the same side of the pavement there suddenly came into sight, not far from the girl, a gentleman in evening dress, of dignified years, though by no means of dignified carriage; he was staggering and cautiously leaning against the wall. The girl flew straight as an arrow, with the timid haste one sees in all girls who do not want any one to volunteer to accompany them home at night, and no doubt the staggering gentleman would not have pursued her, if my good luck had not prompted him. Suddenly, without a word to any one, the gentleman set off and flew full speed in pursuit of my unknown lady. She was racing like the wind, but the staggering gentleman was overtaking—overtook her. The girl uttered a shriek, and ... I bless my luck for the excellent knotted stick, which happened on that occasion to be in my right hand. In a flash I was on the other side of the street; in a flash the obtrusive gentleman had taken in the position, had grasped the irresistible argument, fallen back without a word, and only when we were very far away protested against my action in rather vigorous language. But his words hardly reached us. "Give me your arm," I said to the girl. "And he won't dare to annoy us further." She took my arm without a word, still trembling with excitement and terror. Oh, obtrusive gentleman! How I blessed you at that moment! I stole a glance at her, she was very charming and dark—I had guessed right. On her black eyelashes there still glistened a tear—from her recent terror or her former grief—I don't know. But there was already a gleam of a smile on her lips. She too stole a glance at me, faintly blushed and looked down. "There, you see; why did you drive me away? If I had been here, nothing would have happened...." "But I did not know you; I thought that you too...." "Why, do you know me now?" "A little! Here, for instance, why are you trembling?" "Oh, you are right at the first guess!" I answered, delighted that my girl had intelligence; that is never out of place in company with beauty. "Yes, from the first glance you have guessed the sort of man you have to do with. Precisely; I am shy with women, I am agitated, I don't deny it, as much so as you were a minute ago when that gentleman alarmed you. I am in some alarm now. It's like a dream, and I never guessed even in my sleep that I should ever talk with any woman." "Yes; if my arm trembles, it is because it has never been held by a pretty little hand like yours. I am a complete stranger to women; that is, I have never been used to them. You see, I am alone.... I don't even know how to talk to them. Here, I don't know now whether I have not said something silly to you! Tell me frankly; I assure you beforehand that I am not quick to take offence?..." "No, nothing, nothing, quite the contrary. And if you insist on my speaking frankly, I will tell you that women like such timidity; and if you want to know more, I like it too, and I won't drive you away till I get home." "You will make me," I said, breathless with delight, "lose my timidity, and then farewell to all my chances...." "Chances! What chances—of what? That's not so nice." "I beg your pardon, I am sorry, it was a slip of the tongue; but how can you expect one at such a moment to have no desire...." "To be liked, eh?" "Well, yes; but do, for goodness' sake, be kind. Think what I am! Here, I am twenty-six and I have never seen any one. How can I speak well, tactfully, and to the point? It will seem better to you when I have told you everything openly.... I don't know how to be silent when my heart is speaking. Well, never mind.... Believe me, not one woman, never, never! No acquaintance of any sort! And I do nothing but dream every day that at last I shall meet some one. Oh, if only you knew how often I have been in love in that way...." "How? With whom?..." "Why, with no one, with an ideal, with the one I dream of in my sleep. I make up regular romances in my dreams. Ah, you don't know me! It's true, of course, I have met two or three women, but what sort of women were they? They were all landladies, that.... But I shall make you laugh if I tell you that I have several times thought of speaking, just simply speaking, to some aristocratic lady in the street, when she is alone, I need hardly say; speaking to her, of course, timidly, respectfully, passionately; telling her that I am perishing in solitude, begging her not to send me away; saying that I have no chance of making the acquaintance of any woman; impressing upon her that it is a positive duty for a woman not to repulse so timid a prayer from such a luckless man as me. That, in fact, all I ask is, that she should say two or three sisterly words with sympathy, should not repulse me at first sight; should take me on trust and listen to what I say; should laugh at me if she likes, encourage me, say two words to me, only two words, even though we never meet again afterwards!... But you are laughing; however, that is why I am telling you...." "Don't be vexed; I am only laughing at your being your own enemy, and if you had tried you would have succeeded, perhaps, even though it had been in the street; the simpler the better.... No kind-hearted woman, unless she were stupid or, still more, vexed about something at the moment, could bring herself to send you away without those two words which you ask for so timidly.... But what am I saying? Of course she would take you for a madman. I was judging by myself; I know a good deal about other people's lives." "Oh, thank you," I cried; "you don't know what you have done for me now!" "I am glad! I am glad! But tell me how did you find out that I was the sort of woman with whom ... well, whom you think worthy ... of attention and friendship ... in fact, not a landlady as you say? What made you decide to come up to me?" "What made me?... But you were alone; that gentleman was too insolent; it's night. You must admit that it was a duty...." "No, no; I mean before, on the other side—you know you meant to come up to me." "On the other side? Really I don't know how to answer; I am afraid to.... Do you know I have been happy to-day? I walked along singing; I went out into the country; I have never had such happy moments. You ... perhaps it was my fancy.... Forgive me for referring to it; I fancied you were crying, and I ... could not bear to hear it ... it made my heart ache.... Oh, my goodness! Surely I might be troubled about you? Surely there was no harm in feeling brotherly compassion for you.... I beg your pardon, I said compassion.... Well, in short, surely you would not be offended at my involuntary impulse to go up to you?..." "Stop, that's enough, don't talk of it," said the girl, looking down, and pressing my hand. "It's my fault for having spoken of it; but I am glad I was not mistaken in you.... But here I am home; I must go down this turning, it's two steps from here.... Good-bye, thank you!..." "Surely ... surely you don't mean ... that we shall never see each other again?... Surely this is not to be the end?" "You see," said the girl, laughing, "at first you only wanted two words, and now.... However, I won't say anything ... perhaps we shall meet...." "I shall come here to-morrow," I said. "Oh, forgive me, I am already making demands...." "Yes, you are not very patient ... you are almost insisting." "Listen, listen!" I interrupted her. "Forgive me if I tell you something else.... I tell you what, I can't help coming here to-morrow, I am a dreamer; I have so little real life that I look upon such moments as this now, as so rare, that I cannot help going over such moments again in my dreams. I shall be dreaming of you all night, a whole week, a whole year. I shall certainly come here to-morrow, just here to this place, just at the same hour, and I shall be happy remembering to-day. This place is dear to me already. I have already two or three such places in Petersburg. I once shed tears over memories ... like you.... Who knows, perhaps you were weeping ten minutes ago over some memory.... But, forgive me, I have forgotten myself again; perhaps you have once been particularly happy here...." "Very good," said the girl, "perhaps I will come here to-morrow, too, at ten o'clock. I see that I can't forbid you.... The fact is, I have to be here; don't imagine that I am making an appointment with you; I tell you beforehand that I have to be here on my own account. But ... well, I tell you straight out, I don't mind if you do come. To begin with, something unpleasant might happen as it did to-day, but never mind that.... In short, I should simply like to see you ... to say two words to you. Only, mind, you must not think the worse of me now! Don't think I make appointments so lightly.... I shouldn't make it except that.... But let that be my secret! Only a compact beforehand...." "A compact! Speak, tell me, tell me all beforehand; I agree to anything, I am ready for anything," I cried delighted. "I answer for myself, I will be obedient, respectful ... you know me...." "It's just because I do know you that I ask you to come to-morrow," said the girl, laughing. "I know you perfectly. But mind you will come on the condition, in the first place (only be good, do what I ask—you see, I speak frankly), you won't fall in love with me.... That's impossible, I assure you. I am ready for friendship; here's my hand.... But you mustn't fall in love with me, I beg you!" "I swear," I cried, gripping her hand.... "Hush, don't swear, I know you are ready to flare up like gunpowder. Don't think ill of me for saying so. If only you knew.... I, too, have no one to whom I can say a word, whose advice I can ask. Of course, one does not look for an adviser in the street; but you are an exception. I know you as though we had been friends for twenty years.... You won't deceive me, will you?..." "You will see ... the only thing is, I don't know how I am going to survive the next twenty-four hours." "Sleep soundly. Good-night, and remember that I have trusted you already. But you exclaimed so nicely just now, 'Surely one can't be held responsible for every feeling, even for brotherly sympathy!' Do you know, that was so nicely said, that the idea struck me at once, that I might confide in you?" "For God's sake do; but about what? What is it?" "Wait till to-morrow. Meanwhile, let that be a secret. So much the better for you; it will give it a faint flavour of romance. Perhaps I will tell you to-morrow, and perhaps not.... I will talk to you a little more beforehand; we will get to know each other better...." "Oh yes, I will tell you all about myself to-morrow! But what has happened? It is as though a miracle had befallen me.... My God, where am I? Come, tell me aren't you glad that you were not angry and did not drive me away at the first moment, as any other woman would have done? In two minutes you have made me happy for ever. Yes, happy; who knows, perhaps, you have reconciled me with myself, solved my doubts!... Perhaps such moments come upon me.... But there I will tell you all about it to-morrow, you shall know everything, everything...." "Very well, I consent; you shall begin...." "Good-bye till to-morrow!" And we parted. I walked about all night; I could not make up my mind to go home. I was so happy.... To-morrow! "Well, so you have survived!" she said, pressing both my hands. "I've been here for the last two hours; you don't know what a state I have been in all day." "I know, I know. But to business. Do you know why I have come? Not to talk nonsense, as I did yesterday. I tell you what, we must behave more sensibly in future. I thought a great deal about it last night." "In what way—in what must we be more sensible? I am ready for my part; but, really, nothing more sensible has happened to me in my life than this, now." "Really? In the first place, I beg you not to squeeze my hands so; secondly, I must tell you that I spent a long time thinking about you and feeling doubtful to-day." "And how did it end?" "How did it end? The upshot of it is that we must begin all over again, because the conclusion I reached to-day was that I don't know you at all; that I behaved like a baby last night, like a little girl; and, of course, the fact of it is, that it's my soft heart that is to blame—that is, I sang my own praises, as one always does in the end when one analyses one's conduct. And therefore to correct my mistake, I've made up my mind to find out all about you minutely. But as I have no one from whom I can find out anything, you must tell me everything fully yourself. Well, what sort of man are you? Come, make haste—begin—tell me your whole history." "My history!" I cried in alarm. "My history! But who has told you I have a history? I have no history...." "Then how have you lived, if you have no history?" she interrupted, laughing. "Absolutely without any history! I have lived, as they say, keeping myself to myself, that is, utterly alone—alone, entirely alone. Do you know what it means to be alone?" "But how alone? Do you mean you never saw any one?" "Oh no, I see people, of course; but still I am alone." "Why, do you never talk to any one?" "Strictly speaking, with no one." "Who are you then? Explain yourself! Stay, I guess: most likely, like me you have a grandmother. She is blind and will never let me go anywhere, so that I have almost forgotten how to talk; and when I played some pranks two years ago, and she saw there was no holding me in, she called me up and pinned my dress to hers, and ever since we sit like that for days together; she knits a stocking, though she's blind, and I sit beside her, sew or read aloud to her—it's such a queer habit, here for two years I've been pinned to her...." "Good Heavens! what misery! But no, I haven't a grandmother like that." "Well, if you haven't why do you sit at home?..." "Listen, do you want to know the sort of man I am?" "In the strict sense of the word?" "In the very strictest sense of the word." "Very well, I am a type!" "Type, type! What sort of type?" cried the girl, laughing, as though she had not had a chance of laughing for a whole year. "Yes, it's very amusing talking to you. Look, here's a seat, let us sit down. No one is passing here, no one will hear us, and—begin your history. For it's no good your telling me, I know you have a history; only you are concealing it. To begin with, what is a type?" "A type? A type is an original, it's an absurd person!" I said, infected by her childish laughter. "It's a character. Listen; do you know what is meant by a dreamer?" "A dreamer! Indeed I should think I do know. I am a dreamer myself. Sometimes, as I sit by grandmother, all sorts of things come into my head. Why, when one begins dreaming one lets one's fancy run away with one—why, I marry a Chinese Prince!... Though sometimes it is a good thing to dream! But, goodness knows! Especially when one has something to think of apart from dreams," added the girl, this time rather seriously. "Excellent! If you have been married to a Chinese Emperor, you will quite understand me. Come, listen.... But one minute, I don't know your name yet." "At last! You have been in no hurry to think of it!" "Oh, my goodness! It never entered my head, I felt quite happy as it was...." "My name is Nastenka." "Nastenka! And nothing else?" "Nothing else! Why, is not that enough for you, you insatiable person?" "Not enough? On the contrary, it's a great deal, a very great deal, Nastenka; you kind girl, if you are Nastenka for me from the first." "Quite so! Well?" "Well, listen, Nastenka, now for this absurd history." I sat down beside her, assumed a pedantically serious attitude, and began as though reading from a manuscript:— "There are, Nastenka, though you may not know it, strange nooks in Petersburg. It seems as though the same sun as shines for all Petersburg people does not peep into those spots, but some other different new one, bespoken expressly for those nooks, and it throws a different light on everything. In these corners, dear Nastenka, quite a different life is lived, quite unlike the life that is surging round us, but such as perhaps exists in some unknown realm, not among us in our serious, over-serious, time. Well, that life is a mixture of something purely fantastic, fervently ideal, with something (alas! Nastenka) dingily prosaic and ordinary, not to say incredibly vulgar." "Foo! Good Heavens! What a preface! What do I hear?" "Listen, Nastenka. (It seems to me I shall never be tired of calling you Nastenka.) Let me tell you that in these corners live strange people—dreamers. The dreamer—if you want an exact definition—is not a human being, but a creature of an intermediate sort. For the most part he settles in some inaccessible corner, as though hiding from the light of day; once he slips into his corner, he grows to it like a snail, or, anyway, he is in that respect very much like that remarkable creature, which is an animal and a house both at once, and is called a tortoise. Why do you suppose he is so fond of his four walls, which are invariably painted green, grimy, dismal and reeking unpardonably of tobacco smoke? Why is it that when this absurd gentleman is visited by one of his few acquaintances (and he ends by getting rid of all his friends), why does this absurd person meet him with such embarrassment, changing countenance and overcome with confusion, as though he had only just committed some crime within his four walls; as though he had been forging counterfeit notes, or as though he were writing verses to be sent to a journal with an anonymous letter, in which he states that the real poet is dead, and that his friend thinks it his sacred duty to publish his things? Why, tell me, Nastenka, why is it conversation is not easy between the two friends? Why is there no laughter? Why does no lively word fly from the tongue of the perplexed newcomer, who at other times may be very fond of laughter, lively words, conversation about the fair sex, and other cheerful subjects? And why does this friend, probably a new friend and on his first visit—for there will hardly be a second, and the friend will never come again—why is the friend himself so confused, so tongue-tied, in spite of his wit (if he has any), as he looks at the downcast face of his host, who in his turn becomes utterly helpless and at his wits' end after gigantic but fruitless efforts to smooth things over and enliven the conversation, to show his knowledge of polite society, to talk, too, of the fair sex, and by such humble endeavour, to please the poor man, who like a fish out of water has mistakenly come to visit him? Why does the gentleman, all at once remembering some very necessary business which never existed, suddenly seize his hat and hurriedly make off, snatching away his hand from the warm grip of his host, who was trying his utmost to show his regret and retrieve the lost position? Why does the friend chuckle as he goes out of the door, and swear never to come and see this queer creature again, though the queer creature is really a very good fellow, and at the same time he cannot refuse his imagination the little diversion of comparing the queer fellow's countenance during their conversation with the expression of an unhappy kitten treacherously captured, roughly handled, frightened and subjected to all sorts of indignities by children, till, utterly crestfallen, it hides away from them under a chair in the dark, and there must needs at its leisure bristle up, spit, and wash its insulted face with both paws, and long afterwards look angrily at life and nature, and even at the bits saved from the master's dinner for it by the sympathetic housekeeper?" "Listen," interrupted Nastenka, who had listened to me all the time in amazement, opening her eyes and her little mouth. "Listen; I don't know in the least why it happened and why you ask me such absurd questions; all I know is, that this adventure must have happened word for word to you." "Doubtless," I answered, with the gravest face. "Well, since there is no doubt about it, go on," said Nastenka, "because I want very much to know how it will end." "You want to know, Nastenka, what our hero, that is I—for the hero of the whole business was my humble self—did in his corner? You want to know why I lost my head and was upset for the whole day by the unexpected visit of a friend? You want to know why I was so startled, why I blushed when the door of my room was opened, why I was not able to entertain my visitor, and why I was crushed under the weight of my own hospitality?" "Why, yes, yes," answered Nastenka, "that's the point. Listen. You describe it all splendidly, but couldn't you perhaps describe it a little less splendidly? You talk as though you were reading it out of a book." "Nastenka," I answered in a stern and dignified voice, hardly able to keep from laughing, "dear Nastenka, I know I describe splendidly, but, excuse me, I don't know how else to do it. At this moment, dear Nastenka, at this moment I am like the spirit of King Solomon when, after lying a thousand years under seven seals in his urn, those seven seals were at last taken off. At this moment, Nastenka, when we have met at last after such a long separation—for I have known you for ages, Nastenka, because I have been looking for some one for ages, and that is a sign that it was you I was looking for, and it was ordained that we should meet now—at this moment a thousand valves have opened in my head, and I must let myself flow in a river of words, or I shall choke. And so I beg you not to interrupt me, Nastenka, but listen humbly and obediently, or I will be silent." "No, no, no! Not at all. Go on! I won't say a word!" "I will continue. There is, my friend Nastenka, one hour in my day which I like extremely. That is the hour when almost all business, work and duties are over, and every one is hurrying home to dinner, to lie down, to rest, and on the way all are cogitating on other more cheerful subjects relating to their evenings, their nights, and all the rest of their free time. At that hour our hero—for allow me, Nastenka, to tell my story in the third person, for one feels awfully ashamed to tell it in the first person—and so at that hour our hero, who had his work too, was pacing along after the others. But a strange feeling of pleasure set his pale, rather crumpled-looking face working. He looked not with indifference on the evening glow which was slowly fading on the cold Petersburg sky. When I say he looked, I am lying: he did not look at it, but saw it as it were without realizing, as though tired or preoccupied with some other more interesting subject, so that he could scarcely spare a glance for anything about him. He was pleased because till next day he was released from business irksome to him, and happy as a schoolboy let out from the class-room to his games and mischief. Take a look at him, Nastenka; you will see at once that joyful emotion has already had an effect on his weak nerves and morbidly excited fancy. You see he is thinking of something.... Of dinner, do you imagine? Of the evening? What is he looking at like that? Is it at that gentleman of dignified appearance who is bowing so picturesquely to the lady who rolls by in a carriage drawn by prancing horses? No, Nastenka; what are all those trivialities to him now! He is rich now with his own individual life; he has suddenly become rich, and it is not for nothing that the fading sunset sheds its farewell gleams so gaily before him, and calls forth a swarm of impressions from his warmed heart. Now he hardly notices the road, on which the tiniest details at other times would strike him. Now 'the Goddess of Fancy' (if you have read Zhukovsky, dear Nastenka) has already with fantastic hand spun her golden warp and begun weaving upon it patterns of marvellous magic life—and who knows, maybe, her fantastic hand has borne him to the seventh crystal heaven far from the excellent granite pavement on which he was walking his way? Try stopping him now, ask him suddenly where he is standing now, through what streets he is going—he will, probably remember nothing, neither where he is going nor where he is standing now, and flushing with vexation he will certainly tell some lie to save appearances. That is why he starts, almost cries out, and looks round with horror when a respectable old lady stops him politely in the middle of the pavement and asks her way. Frowning with vexation he strides on, scarcely noticing that more than one passer-by smiles and turns round to look after him, and that a little girl, moving out of his way in alarm, laughs aloud, gazing open-eyed at his broad meditative smile and gesticulations. But fancy catches up in its playful flight the old woman, the curious passers-by, and the laughing child, and the peasants spending their nights in their barges on Fontanka (our hero, let us suppose, is walking along the canal-side at that moment), and capriciously weaves every one and everything into the canvas like a fly in a spider's web. And it is only after the queer fellow has returned to his comfortable den with fresh stores for his mind to work on, has sat down and finished his dinner, that he comes to himself, when Matrona who waits upon him—always thoughtful and depressed—clears the table and gives him his pipe; he comes to himself then and recalls with surprise that he has dined, though he has absolutely no notion how it has happened. It has grown dark in the room; his soul is sad and empty; the whole kingdom of fancies drops to pieces about him, drops to pieces without a trace, without a sound, floats away like a dream, and he cannot himself remember what he was dreaming. But a vague sensation faintly stirs his heart and sets it aching, some new desire temptingly tickles and excites his fancy, and imperceptibly evokes a swarm of fresh phantoms. Stillness reigns in the little room; imagination is fostered by solitude and idleness; it is faintly smouldering, faintly simmering, like the water with which old Matrona is making her coffee as she moves quietly about in the kitchen close by. Now it breaks out spasmodically; and the book, picked up aimlessly and at random, drops from my dreamer's hand before he has reached the third page. His imagination is again stirred and at work, and again a new world, a new fascinating life opens vistas before him. A fresh dream—fresh happiness! A fresh rush of delicate, voluptuous poison! What is real life to him! To his corrupted eyes we live, you and I, Nastenka, so torpidly, slowly, insipidly; in his eyes we are all so dissatisfied with our fate, so exhausted by our life! And, truly, see how at first sight everything is cold, morose, as though ill-humoured among us.... Poor things! thinks our dreamer. And it is no wonder that he thinks it! Look at these magic phantasms, which so enchantingly, so whimsically, so carelessly and freely group before him in such a magic, animated picture, in which the most prominent figure in the foreground is of course himself, our dreamer, in his precious person. See what varied adventures, what an endless swarm of ecstatic dreams. You ask, perhaps, what he is dreaming of. Why ask that?—why, of everything ... of the lot of the poet, first unrecognized, then crowned with laurels; of friendship with Hoffmann, St. Bartholomew's Night, of Diana Vernon, of playing the hero at the taking of Kazan by Ivan Vassilyevitch, of Clara Mowbray, of Effie Deans, of the council of the prelates and Huss before them, of the rising of the dead in 'Robert the Devil' (do you remember the music, it smells of the churchyard!), of Minna and Brenda, of the battle of Berezina, of the reading of a poem at Countess V. D.'s, of Danton, of Cleopatra ei suoi amanti, of a little house in Kolomna, of a little home of one's own and beside one a dear creature who listens to one on a winter's evening, opening her little mouth and eyes as you are listening to me now, my angel.... No, Nastenka, what is there, what is there for him, voluptuous sluggard, in this life, for which you and I have such a longing? He thinks that this is a poor pitiful life, not foreseeing that for him too, maybe, sometime the mournful hour may strike, when for one day of that pitiful life he would give all his years of phantasy, and would give them not only for joy and for happiness, but without caring to make distinctions in that hour of sadness, remorse and unchecked grief. But so far that threatening has not arrived—he desires nothing, because he is superior to all desire, because he has everything, because he is satiated, because he is the artist of his own life, and creates it for himself every hour to suit his latest whim. And you know this fantastic world of fairyland is so easily, so naturally created! As though it were not a delusion! Indeed, he is ready to believe at some moments that all this life is not suggested by feeling, is not mirage, not a delusion of the imagination, but that it is concrete, real, substantial! Why is it, Nastenka, why is it at such moments one holds one's breath? Why, by what sorcery, through what incomprehensible caprice, is the pulse quickened, does a tear start from the dreamer's eye, while his pale moist cheeks glow, while his whole being is suffused with an inexpressible sense of consolation? Why is it that whole sleepless nights pass like a flash in inexhaustible gladness and happiness, and when the dawn gleams rosy at the window and daybreak floods the gloomy room with uncertain, fantastic light, as in Petersburg, our dreamer, worn out and exhausted, flings himself on his bed and drops asleep with thrills of delight in his morbidly overwrought spirit, and with a weary sweet ache in his heart? Yes, Nastenka, one deceives oneself and unconsciously believes that real true passion is stirring one's soul; one unconsciously believes that there is something living, tangible in one's immaterial dreams! And is it delusion? Here love, for instance, is bound up with all its fathomless joy, all its torturing agonies in his bosom.... Only look at him, and you will be convinced! Would you believe, looking at him, dear Nastenka, that he has never known her whom he loves in his ecstatic dreams? Can it be that he has only seen her in seductive visions, and that this passion has been nothing but a dream? Surely they must have spent years hand in hand together—alone the two of them, casting off all the world and each uniting his or her life with the other's? Surely when the hour of parting came she must have lain sobbing and grieving on his bosom, heedless of the tempest raging under the sullen sky, heedless of the wind which snatches and bears away the tears from her black eyelashes? Can all of that have been a dream—and that garden, dejected, forsaken, run wild, with its little moss-grown paths, solitary, gloomy, where they used to walk so happily together, where they hoped, grieved, loved, loved each other so long, "so long and so fondly?" And that queer ancestral house where she spent so many years lonely and sad with her morose old husband, always silent and splenetic, who frightened them, while timid as children they hid their love from each other? What torments they suffered, what agonies of terror, how innocent, how pure was their love, and how (I need hardly say, Nastenka) malicious people were! And, good Heavens! surely he met her afterwards, far from their native shores, under alien skies, in the hot south in the divinely eternal city, in the dazzling splendour of the ball to the crash of music, in a palazzo (it must be in a palazzo), drowned in a sea of lights, on the balcony, wreathed in myrtle and roses, where, recognizing him, she hurriedly removes her mask and whispering, 'I am free,' flings herself trembling into his arms, and with a cry of rapture, clinging to one another, in one instant they forget their sorrow and their parting and all their agonies, and the gloomy house and the old man and the dismal garden in that distant land, and the seat on which with a last passionate kiss she tore herself away from his arms numb with anguish and despair.... Oh, Nastenka, you must admit that one would start, betray confusion, and blush like a schoolboy who has just stuffed in his pocket an apple stolen from a neighbour's garden, when your uninvited visitor, some stalwart, lanky fellow, a festive soul fond of a joke, opens your door and shouts out as though nothing were happening: 'My dear boy, I have this minute come from Pavlovsk.' My goodness! the old count is dead, unutterable happiness is close at hand—and people arrive from Pavlovsk!" Finishing my pathetic appeal, I paused pathetically. I remembered that I had an intense desire to force myself to laugh, for I was already feeling that a malignant demon was stirring within me, that there was a lump in my throat, that my chin was beginning to twitch, and that my eyes were growing more and more moist. I expected Nastenka, who listened to me opening her clever eyes, would break into her childish, irrepressible laugh; and I was already regretting that I had gone so far, that I had unnecessarily described what had long been simmering in my heart, about which I could speak as though from a written account of it, because I had long ago passed judgment on myself and now could not resist reading it, making my confession, without expecting to be understood; but to my surprise she was silent, waiting a little, then she faintly pressed my hand and with timid sympathy asked— "Surely you haven't lived like that all your life?" "All my life, Nastenka," I answered; "all my life, and it seems to me I shall go on so to the end." "No, that won't do," she said uneasily, "that must not be; and so, maybe, I shall spend all my life beside grandmother. Do you know, it is not at all good to live like that?" "I know, Nastenka, I know!" I cried, unable to restrain my feelings longer. "And I realize now, more than ever, that I have lost all my best years! And now I know it and feel it more painfully from recognizing that God has sent me you, my good angel, to tell me that and show it. Now that I sit beside you and talk to you it is strange for me to think of the future, for in the future—there is loneliness again, again this musty, useless life; and what shall I have to dream of when I have been so happy in reality beside you! Oh, may you be blessed, dear girl, for not having repulsed me at first, for enabling me to say that for two evenings, at least, I have lived." "Oh, no, no!" cried Nastenka and tears glistened in her eyes. "No, it mustn't be so any more; we must not part like that! what are two evenings?" "Oh, Nastenka, Nastenka! Do you know how far you have reconciled me to myself? Do you know now that I shall not think so ill of myself, as I have at some moments? Do you know that, maybe, I shall leave off grieving over the crime and sin of my life? for such a life is a crime and a sin. And do not imagine that I have been exaggerating anything—for goodness' sake don't think that, Nastenka: for at times such misery comes over me, such misery.... Because it begins to seem to me at such times that I am incapable of beginning a life in real life, because it has seemed to me that I have lost all touch, all instinct for the actual, the real; because at last I have cursed myself; because after my fantastic nights I have moments of returning sobriety, which are awful! Meanwhile, you hear the whirl and roar of the crowd in the vortex of life around you; you hear, you see, men living in reality; you see that life for them is not forbidden, that their life does not float away like a dream, like a vision; that their life is being eternally renewed, eternally youthful, and not one hour of it is the same as another; while fancy is so spiritless, monotonous to vulgarity and easily scared, the slave of shadows, of the idea, the slave of the first cloud that shrouds the sun, and overcasts with depression the true Petersburg heart so devoted to the sun—and what is fancy in depression! One feels that this inexhaustible fancy is weary at last and worn out with continual exercise, because one is growing into manhood, outgrowing one's old ideals: they are being shattered into fragments, into dust; if there is no other life one must build one up from the fragments. And meanwhile the soul longs and craves for something else! And in vain the dreamer rakes over his old dreams, as though seeking a spark among the embers, to fan them into flame, to warm his chilled heart by the rekindled fire, and to rouse up in it again all that was so sweet, that touched his heart, that set his blood boiling, drew tears from his eyes, and so luxuriously deceived him! Do you know, Nastenka, the point I have reached? Do you know that I am forced now to celebrate the anniversary of my own sensations, the anniversary of that which was once so sweet, which never existed in reality—for this anniversary is kept in memory of those same foolish, shadowy dreams—and to do this because those foolish dreams are no more, because I have nothing to earn them with; you know even dreams do not come for nothing! Do you know that I love now to recall and visit at certain dates the places where I was once happy in my own way? I love to build up my present in harmony with the irrevocable past, and I often wander like a shadow, aimless, sad and dejected, about the streets and crooked lanes of Petersburg. What memories they are! To remember, for instance, that here just a year ago, just at this time, at this hour, on this pavement, I wandered just as lonely, just as dejected as to-day. And one remembers that then one's dreams were sad, and though the past was no better one feels as though it had somehow been better, and that life was more peaceful, that one was free from the black thoughts that haunt one now; that one was free from the gnawing of conscience—the gloomy, sullen gnawing which now gives me no rest by day or by night. And one asks oneself where are one's dreams. And one shakes one's head and says how rapidly the years fly by! And again one asks oneself what has one done with one's years. Where have you buried your best days? Have you lived or not? Look, one says to oneself, look how cold the world is growing. Some more years will pass, and after them will come gloomy solitude; then will come old age trembling on its crutch, and after it misery and desolation. Your fantastic world will grow pale, your dreams will fade and die and will fall like the yellow leaves from the trees.... Oh, Nastenka! you know it will be sad to be left alone, utterly alone, and to have not even anything to regret—nothing, absolutely nothing ... for all that you have lost, all that, all was nothing, stupid, simple nullity, there has been nothing but dreams!" "Come, don't work on my feelings any more," said Nastenka, wiping away a tear which was trickling down her cheek. "Now it's over! Now we shall be two together. Now, whatever happens to me, we will never part. Listen; I am a simple girl, I have not had much education, though grandmother did get a teacher for me, but truly I understand you, for all that you have described I have been through myself, when grandmother pinned me to her dress. Of course, I should not have described it so well as you have; I am not educated," she added timidly, for she was still feeling a sort of respect for my pathetic eloquence and lofty style; "but I am very glad that you have been quite open with me. Now I know you thoroughly, all of you. And do you know what? I want to tell you my history too, all without concealment, and after that you must give me advice. You are a very clever man; will you promise to give me advice?" "Ah, Nastenka," I cried, "though I have never given advice, still less sensible advice, yet I see now that if we always go on like this that it will be very sensible, and that each of us will give the other a great deal of sensible advice! Well, my pretty Nastenka, what sort of advice do you want? Tell me frankly; at this moment I am so gay and happy, so bold and sensible, that it won't be difficult for me to find words." "No, no!" Nastenka interrupted, laughing. "I don't only want sensible advice, I want warm brotherly advice, as though you had been fond of me all your life!" "Agreed, Nastenka, agreed!" I cried delighted; "and if I had been fond of you for twenty years, I couldn't have been fonder of you than I am now." "Your hand," said Nastenka. "Here it is," said I, giving her my hand. "And so let us begin my history!" "Half my story you know already—that is, you know that I have an old grandmother...." "If the other half is as brief as that ..." I interrupted, laughing. "Be quiet and listen. First of all you must agree not to interrupt me, or else, perhaps I shall get in a muddle! Come, listen quietly. "I have an old grandmother. I came into her hands when I was quite a little girl, for my father and mother are dead. It must be supposed that grandmother was once richer, for now she recalls better days. She taught me French, and then got a teacher for me. When I was fifteen (and now I am seventeen) we gave up having lessons. It was at that time that I got into mischief; what I did I won't tell you; it's enough to say that it wasn't very important. But grandmother called me to her one morning and said that as she was blind she could not look after me; she took a pin and pinned my dress to hers, and said that we should sit like that for the rest of our lives if, of course, I did not become a better girl. In fact, at first it was impossible to get away from her: I had to work, to read and to study all beside grandmother. I tried to deceive her once, and persuaded Fekla to sit in my place. Fekla is our charwoman, she is deaf. Fekla sat there instead of me; grandmother was asleep in her armchair at the time, and I went off to see a friend close by. Well, it ended in trouble. Grandmother woke up while I was out, and asked some questions; she thought I was still sitting quietly in my place. Fekla saw that grandmother was asking her something, but could not tell what it was; she wondered what to do, undid the pin and ran away...." At this point Nastenka stopped and began laughing. I laughed with her. She left off at once. "I tell you what, don't you laugh at grandmother. I laugh because it's funny.... What can I do, since grandmother is like that; but yet I am fond of her in a way. Oh, well, I did catch it that time. I had to sit down in my place at once, and after that I was not allowed to stir. "Oh, I forgot to tell you that our house belongs to us, that is to grandmother; it is a little wooden house with three windows as old as grandmother herself, with a little upper storey; well, there moved into our upper storey a new lodger." "Then you had an old lodger," I observed casually. "Yes, of course," answered Nastenka, "and one who knew how to hold his tongue better than you do. In fact, he hardly ever used his tongue at all. He was a dumb, blind, lame, dried-up little old man, so that at last he could not go on living, he died; so then we had to find a new lodger, for we could not live without a lodger—the rent, together with grandmother's pension, is almost all we have. But the new lodger, as luck would have it, was a young man, a stranger not of these parts. As he did not haggle over the rent, grandmother accepted him, and only afterwards she asked me: 'Tell me, Nastenka, what is our lodger like—is he young or old?' I did not want to lie, so I told grandmother that he wasn't exactly young and that he wasn't old. "'And is he pleasant looking?' asked grandmother. "Again I did not want to tell a lie: 'Yes, he is pleasant looking, grandmother,' I said. And grandmother said: 'Oh, what a nuisance, what a nuisance! I tell you this, grandchild, that you may not be looking after him. What times these are! Why a paltry lodger like this, and he must be pleasant looking too; it was very different in the old days!'" "Grandmother was always regretting the old days—she was younger in old days, and the sun was warmer in old days, and cream did not turn so sour in old days—it was always the old days! I would sit still and hold my tongue and think to myself: why did grandmother suggest it to me? Why did she ask whether the lodger was young and good-looking? But that was all, I just thought it, began counting my stitches again, went on knitting my stocking, and forgot all about it. "Well, one morning the lodger came in to see us; he asked about a promise to paper his rooms. One thing led to another. Grandmother was talkative, and she said: 'Go, Nastenka, into my bedroom and bring me my reckoner.' I jumped up at once; I blushed all over, I don't know why, and forgot I was sitting pinned to grandmother; instead of quietly undoing the pin, so that the lodger should not see—I jumped so that grandmother's chair moved. When I saw that the lodger knew all about me now, I blushed, stood still as though I had been shot, and suddenly began to cry—I felt so ashamed and miserable at that minute, that I didn't know where to look! Grandmother called out, 'What are you waiting for?' and I went on worse than ever. When the lodger saw, saw that I was ashamed on his account, he bowed and went away at once! "After that I felt ready to die at the least sound in the passage. 'It's the lodger,' I kept thinking; I stealthily undid the pin in case. But it always turned out not to be, he never came. A fortnight passed; the lodger sent word through Fyokla that he had a great number of French books, and that they were all good books that I might read, so would not grandmother like me to read them that I might not be dull? Grandmother agreed with gratitude, but kept asking if they were moral books, for if the books were immoral it would be out of the question, one would learn evil from them." "'And what should I learn, grandmother? What is there written in them?' "'Ah,' she said, 'what's described in them, is how young men seduce virtuous girls; how, on the excuse that they want to marry them, they carry them off from their parents' houses; how afterwards they leave these unhappy girls to their fate, and they perish in the most pitiful way. I read a great many books,' said grandmother, 'and it is all so well described that one sits up all night and reads them on the sly. So mind you don't read them, Nastenka,' said she. 'What books has he sent?' "'They are all Walter Scott's novels, grandmother.' "'Walter Scott's novels! But stay, isn't there some trick about it? Look, hasn't he stuck a love-letter among them?' "'No, grandmother,' I said, 'there isn't a love-letter.' "'But look under the binding; they sometimes stuff it under the bindings, the rascals!' "'No, grandmother, there is nothing under the binding.' "'Well, that's all right.' "So we began reading Walter Scott, and in a month or so we had read almost half. Then he sent us more and more. He sent us Pushkin, too; so that at last I could not get on without a book and left off dreaming of how fine it would be to marry a Chinese Prince. "That's how things were when I chanced one day to meet our lodger on the stairs. Grandmother had sent me to fetch something. He stopped, I blushed and he blushed; he laughed, though, said good-morning to me, asked after grandmother, and said, 'Well, have you read the books?' I answered that I had. 'Which did you like best?' he asked. I said, 'Ivanhoe, and Pushkin best of all,' and so our talk ended for that time. "A week later I met him again on the stairs. That time grandmother had not sent me, I wanted to get something for myself. It was past two, and the lodger used to come home at that time. 'Good-afternoon,' said he. I said good-afternoon, too. "'Aren't you dull,' he said, 'sitting all day with your grandmother?' "When he asked that, I blushed, I don't know why; I felt ashamed, and again I felt offended—I suppose because other people had begun to ask me about that. I wanted to go away without answering, but I hadn't the strength. "'Listen,' he said, 'you are a good girl. Excuse my speaking to you like that, but I assure you that I wish for your welfare quite as much as your grandmother. Have you no friends that you could go and visit?' "I told him I hadn't any, that I had had no friend but Mashenka, and she had gone away to Pskov. "'Listen,' he said, 'would you like to go to the theatre with me?' "'To the theatre. What about grandmother?' "'But you must go without your grandmother's knowing it,' he said. "'No,' I said, 'I don't want to deceive grandmother. Good-bye.' "'Well, good-bye,' he answered, and said nothing more. "Only after dinner he came to see us; sat a long time talking to grandmother; asked her whether she ever went out anywhere, whether she had acquaintances, and suddenly said: 'I have taken a box at the opera for this evening; they are giving The Barber of Seville. My friends meant to go, but afterwards refused, so the ticket is left on my hands.' 'The Barber of Seville,' cried grandmother; 'why, the same they used to act in old days?' "'Yes, it's the same barber,' he said, and glanced at me. I saw what it meant and turned crimson, and my heart began throbbing with suspense. "'To be sure, I know it,' said grandmother; 'why, I took the part of Rosina myself in old days, at a private performance!' "'So wouldn't you like to go to-day?' said the lodger. 'Or my ticket will be wasted.' "'By all means let us go,' said grandmother; why shouldn't we? And my Nastenka here has never been to the theatre.' "My goodness, what joy! We got ready at once, put on our best clothes, and set off. Though grandmother was blind, still she wanted to hear the music; besides, she is a kind old soul, what she cared most for was to amuse me, we should never have gone of ourselves. "What my impressions of The Barber of Seville were I won't tell you; but all that evening our lodger looked at me so nicely, talked so nicely, that I saw at once that he had meant to test me in the morning when he proposed that I should go with him alone. Well, it was joy! I went to bed so proud, so gay, my heart beat so that I was a little feverish, and all night I was raving about The Barber of Seville. "I expected that he would come and see us more and more often after that, but it wasn't so at all. He almost entirely gave up coming. He would just come in about once a month, and then only to invite us to the theatre. We went twice again. Only I wasn't at all pleased with that; I saw that he was simply sorry for me because I was so hardly treated by grandmother, and that was all. As time went on, I grew more and more restless, I couldn't sit still, I couldn't read, I couldn't work; sometimes I laughed and did something to annoy grandmother, at another time I would cry. At last I grew thin and was very nearly ill. The opera season was over, and our lodger had quite given up coming to see us; whenever we met—always on the same staircase, of course—he would bow so silently, so gravely, as though he did not want to speak, and go down to the front door, while I went on standing in the middle of the stairs, as red as a cherry, for all the blood rushed to my head at the sight of him. "Now the end is near. Just a year ago, in May, the lodger came to us and said to grandmother that he had finished his business here, and that he must go back to Moscow for a year. When I heard that, I sank into a chair half dead; grandmother did not notice anything; and having informed us that he should be leaving us, he bowed and went away. "What was I to do? I thought and thought and fretted and fretted, and at last I made up my mind. Next day he was to go away, and I made up my mind to end it all that evening when grandmother went to bed. And so it happened. I made up all my clothes in a parcel—all the linen I needed—and with the parcel in my hand, more dead than alive, went upstairs to our lodger. I believe I must have stayed an hour on the staircase. When I opened his door he cried out as he looked at me. He thought I was a ghost, and rushed to give me some water, for I could hardly stand up. My heart beat so violently that my head ached, and I did not know what I was doing. When I recovered I began by laying my parcel on his bed, sat down beside it, hid my face in my hands and went into floods of tears. I think he understood it all at once, and looked at me so sadly that my heart was torn. "'Listen,' he began, 'listen, Nastenka, I can't do anything; I am a poor man, for I have nothing, not even a decent berth. How could we live, if I were to marry you?' "We talked a long time; but at last I got quite frantic, I said I could not go on living with grandmother, that I should run away from her, that I did not want to be pinned to her, and that I would go to Moscow if he liked, because I could not live without him. Shame and pride and love were all clamouring in me at once, and I fell on the bed almost in convulsions, I was so afraid of a refusal. "He sat for some minutes in silence, then got up, came up to me and took me by the hand. "'Listen, my dear good Nastenka, listen; I swear to you that if I am ever in a position to marry, you shall make my happiness. I assure you that now you are the only one who could make me happy. Listen, I am going to Moscow and shall be there just a year; I hope to establish my position. When I come back, if you still love me, I swear that we will be happy. Now it is impossible, I am not able, I have not the right to promise anything. Well, I repeat, if it is not within a year it will certainly be some time; that is, of course, if you do not prefer any one else, for I cannot and dare not bind you by any sort of promise.' "That was what he said to me, and next day he went away. We agreed together not to say a word to grandmother: that was his wish. Well, my history is nearly finished now. Just a year has past. He has arrived; he has been here three days, and, and "And what?" I cried, impatient to hear the end. "And up to now has not shown himself!" answered Nastenka, as though screwing up all her courage. "There's no sign or sound of him." Here she stopped, paused for a minute, bent her head, and covering her face with her hands broke into such sobs that it sent a pang to my heart to hear them. I had not in the least expected such a dénouement. "Nastenka," I began timidly in an ingratiating voice, "Nastenka! For goodness' sake don't cry! How do you know? Perhaps he is not here yet...." "He is, he is," Nastenka repeated. "He is here, and I know it. We made an agreement at the time, that evening, before he went away: when we said all that I have told you, and had come to an understanding, then we came out here for a walk on this embankment. It was ten o'clock; we sat on this seat. I was not crying then; it was sweet to me to hear what he said.... And he said that he would come to us directly he arrived, and if I did not refuse him, then we would tell grandmother about it all. Now he is here, I know it, and yet he does not come!" And again she burst into tears. "Good God, can I do nothing to help you in your sorrow?" I cried jumping up from the seat in utter despair. "Tell me, Nastenka, wouldn't it be possible for me to go to him?" "Would that be possible?" she asked suddenly, raising her head. "No, of course not," I said pulling myself up; "but I tell you what, write a letter." "No, that's impossible, I can't do that," she answered with decision, bending her head and not looking at me. "How impossible—why is it impossible?" I went on, clinging to my idea. "But, Nastenka, it depends what sort of letter; there are letters and letters and.... Ah, Nastenka, I am right; trust to me, trust to me, I will not give you bad advice. It can all be arranged! You took the first step—why not now?" "I can't. I can't! It would seem as though I were forcing myself on him...." "Ah, my good little Nastenka," I said, hardly able to conceal a smile; "no, no, you have a right to, in fact, because he made you a promise. Besides, I can see from everything that he is a man of delicate feeling; that he behaved very well," I went on, more and more carried away by the logic of my own arguments and convictions. "How did he behave? He bound himself by a promise: he said that if he married at all he would marry no one but you; he gave you full liberty to refuse him at once.... Under such circumstances you may take the first step; you have the right; you are in the privileged position—if, for instance, you wanted to free him from his promise...." "Listen; how would you write?" "I tell you how I would write: 'Dear Sir.'..." "Must I really begin like that, 'Dear Sir'?" "You certainly must! Though, after all, I don't know, I imagine...." "Well, well, what next?" "'Dear Sir,—I must apologize for——' But, no, there's no need to apologize; the fact itself justifies everything. Write simply:—"Yes, yes; that's exactly what I was thinking!" cried Nastenka, and her eyes beamed with delight. "Oh, you have solved my difficulties: God has sent you to me! Thank you, thank you!" "'I am writing to you. Forgive me my impatience; but I have been happy for a whole year in hope; am I to blame for being unable to endure a day of doubt now? Now that you have come, perhaps you have changed your mind. If so, this letter is to tell you that I do not repine, nor blame you. I do not blame you because I have no power over your heart, such is my fate! "'You are an honourable man. You will not smile or be vexed at these impatient lines. Remember they are written by a poor girl; that she is alone; that she has no one to direct her, no one to advise her, and that she herself could never control her heart. But forgive me that a doubt has stolen—if only for one instant—into my heart. You are not capable of insulting, even in thought, her who so loved and so loves you.'" "What for? What for? For God's sending me?" I answered, looking delighted at her joyful little face. "Why, yes; for that too." "Ah, Nastenka! Why, one thanks some people for being alive at the same time with one; I thank you for having met me, for my being able to remember you all my life!" "Well, enough, enough! But now I tell you what, listen: we made an agreement then that as soon as he arrived he would let me know, by leaving a letter with some good simple people of my acquaintance who know nothing about it; or, if it were impossible to write a letter to me, for a letter does not always tell everything, he would be here at ten o'clock on the day he arrived, where we had arranged to meet. I know he has arrived already; but now it's the third day, and there's no sign of him and no letter. It's impossible for me to get away from grandmother in the morning. Give my letter to-morrow to those kind people I spoke to you about: they will send it on to him, and if there is an answer you bring it to-morrow at ten o'clock." "But the letter, the letter! You see, you must write the letter first! So perhaps it must all be the day after to-morrow." "The letter ..." said Nastenka, a little confused, "the letter ... but...." But she did not finish. At first she turned her little face away from me, flushed like a rose, and suddenly I felt in my hand a letter which had evidently been written long before, all ready and sealed up. A familiar sweet and charming reminiscence floated through my mind. "R, o—Ro; s, i—si; n, a—na," I began. "Rosina!" we both hummed together; I almost embracing her with delight, while she blushed as only she could blush, and laughed through the tears which gleamed like pearls on her black eyelashes. "Come, enough, enough! Good-bye now," she said speaking rapidly. "Here is the letter, here is the address to which you are to take it. Good-bye, till we meet again! Till to-morrow!" She pressed both my hands warmly, nodded her head, and flew like an arrow down her side street. I stood still for a long time following her with my eyes. "Till to-morrow! till to-morrow!" was ringing in my ears as she vanished from my sight. To-day was a gloomy, rainy day without a glimmer of sunlight, like the old age before me. I am oppressed by such strange thoughts, such gloomy sensations; questions still so obscure to me are crowding into my brain—and I seem to have neither power nor will to settle them. It's not for me to settle all this! To-day we shall not meet. Yesterday, when we said good-bye, the clouds began gathering over the sky and a mist rose. I said that to-morrow it would be a bad day; she made no answer, she did not want to speak against her wishes; for her that day was bright and clear, not one cloud should obscure her happiness. "If it rains we shall not see each other," she said, "I shall not come." I thought that she would not notice to-day's rain, and yet she has not come. Yesterday was our third interview, our third white night.... But how fine joy and happiness makes any one! How brimming over with love the heart is! One seems longing to pour out one's whole heart; one wants everything to be gay, everything to be laughing. And how infectious that joy is! There was such a softness in her words, such a kindly feeling in her heart towards me yesterday.... How solicitous and friendly she was; how tenderly she tried to give me courage! Oh, the coquetry of happiness! While I ... I took it all for the genuine thing, I thought that she.... But, my God, how could I have thought it? How could I have been so blind, when everything had been taken by another already, when nothing was mine; when, in fact, her very tenderness to me, her anxiety, her love ... yes, love for me, was nothing else but joy at the thought of seeing another man so soon, desire to include me, too, in her happiness?... When he did not come, when we waited in vain, she frowned, she grew timid and discouraged. Her movements, her words, were no longer so light, so playful, so gay; and, strange to say, she redoubled her attentiveness to me, as though instinctively desiring to lavish on me what she desired for herself so anxiously, if her wishes were not accomplished. My Nastenka was so downcast, so dismayed, that I think she realized at last that I loved her, and was sorry for my poor love. So when we are unhappy we feel the unhappiness of others more; feeling is not destroyed but concentrated.... I went to meet her with a full heart, and was all impatience. I had no presentiment that I should feel as I do now, that it would not all end happily. She was beaming with pleasure; she was expecting an answer. The answer was himself. He was to come, to run at her call. She arrived a whole hour before I did. At first she giggled at everything, laughed at every word I said. I began talking, but relapsed into silence. "Do you know why I am so glad," she said, "so glad to look at you?—why I like you so much to-day?" "Well?" I asked, and my heart began throbbing. "I like you because you have not fallen in love with me. You know that some men in your place would have been pestering and worrying me, would have been sighing and miserable, while you are so nice!" Then she wrung my hand so hard that I almost cried out. She laughed. "Goodness, what a friend you are!" she began gravely a minute later. "God sent you to me. What would have happened to me if you had not been with me now? How disinterested you are! How truly you care for me! When I am married we will be great friends, more than brother and sister; I shall care almost as I do for him...." I felt horribly sad at that moment, yet something like laughter was stirring in my soul. "You are very much upset," I said; "you are frightened; you think he won't come." "Oh dear!" she answered; "if I were less happy, I believe I should cry at your lack of faith, at your reproaches. However, you have made me think and have given me a lot to think about; but I shall think later, and now I will own that you are right. Yes, I am somehow not myself; I am all suspense, and feel everything as it were too lightly. But hush! that's enough about feelings...." At that moment we heard footsteps, and in the darkness we saw a figure coming towards us. We both started; she almost cried out; I dropped her hand and made a movement as though to walk away. But we were mistaken, it was not he. "What are you afraid of? Why did you let go of my hand?" she said, giving it to me again. "Come, what is it? We will meet him together; I want him to see how fond we are of each other." "How fond we are of each other!" I cried. ("Oh, Nastenka, Nastenka," I thought, "how much you have told me in that saying! Such fondness at certain moments makes the heart cold and the soul heavy. Your hand is cold, mine burns like fire. How blind you are, Nastenka!... Oh, how unbearable a happy person is sometimes! But I could not be angry with you!") At last my heart was too full. "Listen, Nastenka!" I cried. "Do you know how it has been with me all day." "Why, how, how? Tell me quickly! Why have you said nothing all this time?" "To begin with, Nastenka, when I had carried out all your commissions, given the letter, gone to see your good friends, then ... then I went home and went to bed." "Is that all?" she interrupted, laughing. "Yes, almost all," I answered restraining myself, for foolish tears were already starting into my eyes. "I woke an hour before our appointment, and yet, as it were, I had not been asleep. I don't know what happened to me. I came to tell you all about it, feeling as though time were standing still, feeling as though one sensation, one feeling must remain with me from that time for ever; feeling as though one minute must go on for all eternity, and as though all life had come to a standstill for me.... When I woke up it seemed as though some musical motive long familiar, heard somewhere in the past, forgotten and voluptuously sweet, had come back to me now. It seemed to me that it had been clamouring at my heart all my life, and only now...." "Oh my goodness, my goodness," Nastenka interrupted, "what does all that mean? I don't understand a word." "Ah, Nastenka, I wanted somehow to convey to you that strange impression...." I began in a plaintive voice, in which there still lay hid a hope, though a very faint one. "Leave off. Hush!" she said, and in one instant the sly puss had guessed. Suddenly she became extraordinarily talkative, gay, mischievous; she took my arm, laughed, wanted me to laugh too, and every confused word I uttered evoked from her prolonged ringing laughter.... I began to feel angry, she had suddenly begun flirting. "Do you know," she began, "I feel a little vexed that you are not in love with me? There's no understanding human nature! But all the same, Mr. Unapproachable, you cannot blame me for being so simple; I tell you everything, everything, whatever foolish thought comes into my head." "Listen! That's eleven, I believe," I said as the slow chime of a bell rang out from a distant tower. She suddenly stopped, left off laughing and began to count. "Yes, it's eleven," she said at last in a timid, uncertain voice. I regretted at once that I had frightened her, making her count the strokes, and I cursed myself for my spiteful impulse; I felt sorry for her, and did not know how to atone for what I had done. I began comforting her, seeking for reasons for his not coming, advancing various arguments, proofs. No one could have been easier to deceive than she was at that moment; and, indeed, any one at such a moment listens gladly to any consolation, whatever it may be, and is overjoyed if a shadow of excuse can be found. "And indeed it's an absurd thing," I began, warming to my task and admiring the extraordinary clearness of my argument, "why, he could not have come; you have muddled and confused me, Nastenka, so that I too, have lost count of the time.... Only think: he can scarcely have received the letter; suppose he is not able to come, suppose he is going to answer the letter, could not come before to-morrow. I will go for it as soon as it's light to-morrow and let you know at once. Consider, there are thousands of possibilities; perhaps he was not at home when the letter came, and may not have read it even now! Anything may happen, you know." "Yes, yes!" said Nastenka. "I did not think of that. Of course anything may happen?" she went on in a tone that offered no opposition, though some other far-away thought could be heard like a vexatious discord in it. "I tell you what you must do," she said, "you go as early as possible to-morrow morning, and if you get anything let me know at once. You know where I live, don't you?" And she began repeating her address to me. Then she suddenly became so tender, so solicitous with me. She seemed to listen attentively to what I told her; but when I asked her some question she was silent, was confused, and turned her head away. I looked into her eyes—yes, she was crying. "How can you? How can you? Oh, what a baby you are! what childishness!... Come, come!" She tried to smile, to calm herself, but her chin was quivering and her bosom was still heaving. "I was thinking about you," she said after a minute's silence. "You are so kind that I should be a stone if I did not feel it. Do you know what has occurred to me now? I was comparing you two. Why isn't he you? Why isn't he like you? He is not as good as you, though I love him more than you." I made no answer. She seemed to expect me to say something. "Of course, it may be that I don't understand him fully yet. You know I was always as it were afraid of him; he was always so grave, as it were so proud. Of course I know it's only that he seems like that, I know there is more tenderness in his heart than in mine.... I remember how he looked at me when I went in to him—do you remember?—with my bundle; but yet I respect him too much, and doesn't that show that we are not equals?" "No, Nastenka, no," I answered, "it shows that you love him more than anything in the world, and far more than yourself." "Yes, supposing that is so," answered Nastenka naïvely. "But do you know what strikes me now? Only I am not talking about him now, but speaking generally; all this came into my mind some time ago. Tell me, how is it that we can't all be like brothers together? Why is it that even the best of men always seem to hide something from other people and to keep something back? Why not say straight out what is in one's heart, when one knows that one is not speaking idly? As it is every one seems harsher than he really is, as though all were afraid of doing injustice to their feelings, by being too quick to express them." "Oh, Nastenka, what you say is true; but there are many reasons for that," I broke in suppressing my own feelings at that moment more than ever. "No, no!" she answered with deep feeling. "Here you, for instance, are not like other people! I really don't know how to tell you what I feel; but it seems to me that you, for instance ... at the present moment ... it seems to me that you are sacrificing something for me," she added timidly, with a fleeting glance at me. "Forgive me for saying so, I am a simple girl you know. I have seen very little of life, and I really sometimes don't know how to say things," she added in a voice that quivered with some hidden feeling, while she tried to smile; "but I only wanted to tell you that I am grateful, that I feel it all too.... Oh, may God give you happiness for it! What you told me about your dreamer is quite untrue now—that is, I mean, it's not true of you. You are recovering, you are quite a different man from what you described. If you ever fall in love with some one, God give you happiness with her! I won't wish anything for her, for she will be happy with you. I know, I am a woman myself, so you must believe me when I tell you so." She ceased speaking, and pressed my hand warmly. I too could not speak without emotion. Some minutes passed. "Yes, it's clear he won't come to-night," she said at last raising her head. "It's late." "He will come to-morrow," I said in the most firm and convincing tone. "Yes," she added with no sign of her former depression. "I see for myself now that he could not come till to-morrow. Well, good-bye, till to-morrow. If it rains perhaps I shall not come. But the day after to-morrow, I shall come. I shall come for certain, whatever happens; be sure to be here, I want to see you, I will tell you everything." And then when we parted she gave me her hand and said, looking at me candidly: "We shall always be together, shan't we?" Oh, Nastenka, Nastenka! If only you knew how lonely I am now! As soon as it struck nine o'clock I could not stay indoors, but put on my things, and went out in spite of the weather. I was there, sitting on our seat. I went to her street, but I felt ashamed, and turned back without looking at their windows, when I was two steps from her door. I went home more depressed than I had ever been before. What a damp, dreary day! If it had been fine I should have walked about all night.... But to-morrow, to-morrow! To-morrow she will tell me everything. The letter has not come to-day, however. But that was to be expected. They are together by now.... My God, how it has all ended! What it has all ended in! I arrived at nine o'clock. She was already there. I noticed her a good way off; she was standing as she had been that first time, with her elbows on the railing, and she did not hear me coming up to her. "Nastenka!" I called to her, suppressing my agitation with an effort. She turned to me quickly. "Well?" she said. "Well? Make haste!" I looked at her in perplexity. "Well, where is the letter? Have you brought the letter?" she repeated clutching at the railing. "No, there is no letter," I said at last. "Hasn't he been to you yet?" She turned fearfully pale and looked at me for a long time without moving. I had shattered her last hope. "Well, God be with him," she said at last in a breaking voice; "God be with him if he leaves me like that." She dropped her eyes, then tried to look at me and could not. For several minutes she was struggling with her emotion. All at once she turned away, leaning her elbows against the railing and burst into tears. "Oh don't, don't!" I began; but looking at her I had not the heart to go on, and what was I to say to her? "Don't try and comfort me," she said; "don't talk about him; don't tell me that he will come, that he has not cast me off so cruelly and so inhumanly as he has. What for—what for? Can there have been something in my letter, that unlucky letter?" At that point sobs stifled her voice; my heart was torn as I looked at her. "Oh, how inhumanly cruel it is!" she began again. "And not a line, not a line! He might at least have written that he does not want me, that he rejects me—but not a line for three days! How easy it is for him to wound, to insult a poor, defenceless girl, whose only fault is that she loves him! Oh, what I've suffered during these three days! Oh, dear! When I think that I was the first to go to him, that I humbled myself before him, cried, that I begged of him a little love!... and after that! Listen," she said, turning to me, and her black eyes flashed, "it isn't so! It can't be so; it isn't natural. Either you are mistaken or I; perhaps he has not received the letter? Perhaps he still knows nothing about it? How could any one—judge for yourself, tell me, for goodness' sake explain it to me, I can't understand it—how could any one behave with such barbarous coarseness as he has behaved to me? Not one word! Why, the lowest creature on earth is treated more compassionately. Perhaps he has heard something, perhaps some one has told him something about me," she cried, turning to me inquiringly: "What do you think?" "Listen, Nastenka, I shall go to him to-morrow in your name." "I will question him about everything; I will tell him everything." "You write a letter. Don't say no, Nastenka, don't say no! I will make him respect your action, he shall hear all about it, and if——" "No, my friend, no," she interrupted. "Enough! Not another word, not another line from me—enough! I don't know him; I don't love him any more. I will ... forget him." She could not go on. "Calm yourself, calm yourself! Sit here, Nastenka," I said, making her sit down on the seat. "I am calm. Don't trouble. It's nothing! It's only tears, they will soon dry. Why, do you imagine I shall do away with myself, that I shall throw myself into the river?" My heart was full: I tried to speak, but I could not. "Listen," she said taking my hand. "Tell me: you wouldn't have behaved like this, would you? You would not have abandoned a girl who had come to you of herself, you would not have thrown into her face a shameless taunt at her weak foolish heart? You would have taken care of her? You would have realized that she was alone, that she did not know how to look after herself, that she could not guard herself from loving you, that it was not her fault, not her fault—that she had done nothing.... Oh dear, oh dear!" "Nastenka!" I cried at last, unable to control my emotion. "Nastenka, you torture me! You wound my heart, you are killing me, Nastenka! I cannot be silent! I must speak at last, give utterance to what is surging in my heart!" As I said this I got up from the seat. She took my hand and looked at me in surprise. "What is the matter with you?" she said at last. "Listen," I said resolutely. "Listen to me, Nastenka! What I am going to say to you now is all nonsense, all impossible, all stupid! I know that this can never be, but I cannot be silent. For the sake of what you are suffering now, I beg you beforehand to forgive me!" "What is it? What is it?" she said drying her tears and looking at me intently, while a strange curiosity gleamed in her astonished eyes. "What is the matter?" "It's impossible, but I love you, Nastenka! There it is! Now everything is told," I said with a wave of my hand. "Now you will see whether you can go on talking to me as you did just now, whether you can listen to what I am going to say to you."... "Well, what then?" Nastenka interrupted me. "What of it? I knew you loved me long ago, only I always thought that you simply liked me very much.... Oh dear, oh dear!" "At first it was simply liking, Nastenka, but now, now! I am just in the same position as you were when you went to him with your bundle. In a worse position than you, Nastenka, because he cared for no one else as you do." "What are you saying to me! I don't understand you in the least. But tell me, what's this for; I don't mean what for, but why are you ... so suddenly.... Oh dear, I am talking nonsense! But you...." And Nastenka broke off in confusion. Her cheeks flamed; she dropped her eyes. "What's to be done, Nastenka, what am I to do? I am to blame. I have abused your.... But no, no, I am not to blame, Nastenka; I feel that, I know that, because my heart tells me I am right, for I cannot hurt you in any way, I cannot wound you! I was your friend, but I am still your friend, I have betrayed no trust. Here my tears are falling, Nastenka. Let them flow, let them flow—they don't hurt anybody. They will dry, Nastenka." "Sit down, sit down," she said, making me sit down on the seat. "Oh, my God!" "No, Nastenka, I won't sit down; I cannot stay here any longer, you cannot see me again; I will tell you everything and go away. I only want to say that you would never have found out that I loved you. I should have kept my secret. I would not have worried you at such a moment with my egoism. No! But I could not resist it now; you spoke of it yourself, it is your fault, your fault and not mine. You cannot drive me away from you."... "No, no, I don't drive you away, no!" said Nastenka, concealing her confusion as best she could, poor child. "You don't drive me away? No! But I meant to run from you myself. I will go away, but first I will tell you all, for when you were crying here I could not sit unmoved, when you wept, when you were in torture at being—at being—I will speak of it, Nastenka—at being forsaken, at your love being repulsed, I felt that in my heart there was so much love for you, Nastenka, so much love! And it seemed so bitter that I could not help you with my love, that my heart was breaking and I ... I could not be silent, I had to speak, Nastenka, I had to speak!" "Yes, yes! tell me, talk to me," said Nastenka with an indescribable gesture. "Perhaps you think it strange that I talk to you like this, but ... speak! I will tell you afterwards! I will tell you everything." "You are sorry for me, Nastenka, you are simply sorry for me, my dear little friend! What's done can't be mended. What is said cannot be taken back. Isn't that so? Well, now you know. That's the starting-point. Very well. Now it's all right, only listen. When you were sitting crying I thought to myself (oh, let me tell you what I was thinking!), I thought, that (of course it cannot be, Nastenka), I thought that you ... I thought that you somehow ... quite apart from me, had ceased to love him. Then—I thought that yesterday and the day before yesterday, Nastenka—then I would—I certainly would—have succeeded in making you love me; you know, you said yourself, Nastenka, that you almost loved me. Well, what next? Well, that's nearly all I wanted to tell you; all that is left to say is how it would be if you loved me, only that, nothing more! Listen, my friend—for any way you are my friend—I am, of course, a poor, humble man, of no great consequence; but that's not the point (I don't seem to be able to say what I mean, Nastenka, I am so confused), only I would love you, I would love you so, that even if you still loved him, even if you went on loving the man I don't know, you would never feel that my love was a burden to you. You would only feel every minute that at your side was beating a grateful, grateful heart, a warm heart ready for your sake.... Oh Nastenka, Nastenka! What have you done to me?" "Don't cry; I don't want you to cry," said Nastenka getting up quickly from the seat. "Come along, get up, come with me, don't cry, don't cry," she said, drying her tears with her handkerchief; "let us go now; maybe I will tell you something.... If he has forsaken me now, if he has forgotten me, though I still love him (I do not want to deceive you) ... but listen, answer me. If I were to love you, for instance, that is, if I only.... Oh my friend, my friend! To think, to think how I wounded you, when I laughed at your love, when I praised you for not falling in love with me. Oh dear! How was it I did not foresee this, how was it I did not foresee this, how could I have been so stupid? But.... Well, I have made up my mind, I will tell you." "Look here, Nastenka, do you know what? I'll go away, that's what I'll do. I am simply tormenting you. Here you are remorseful for having laughed at me, and I won't have you ... in addition to your sorrow.... Of course it is my fault, Nastenka, but good-bye!" "Stay, listen to me: can you wait?" "What for? How?" "I love him; but I shall get over it, I must get over it, I cannot fail to get over it; I am getting over it, I feel that.... Who knows? Perhaps it will all end to-day, for I hate him, for he has been laughing at me, while you have been weeping here with me, for you have not repulsed me as he has, for you love me while he has never loved me, for in fact, I love you myself.... Yes, I love you! I love you as you love me; I have told you so before, you heard it yourself—I love you because you are better than he is, because you are nobler than he is, because, because he——" The poor girl's emotion was so violent that she could not say more; she laid her head upon my shoulder, then upon my bosom, and wept bitterly. I comforted her, I persuaded her, but she could not stop crying; she kept pressing my hand, and saying between her sobs: "Wait, wait, it will be over in a minute! I want to tell you ... you mustn't think that these tears—it's nothing, it's weakness, wait till it's over."... At last she left off crying, dried her eyes and we walked on again. I wanted to speak, but she still begged me to wait. We were silent.... At last she plucked up courage and began to speak. "It's like this," she began in a weak and quivering voice, in which, however, there was a note that pierced my heart with a sweet pang; "don't think that I am so light and inconstant, don't think that I can forget and change so quickly. I have loved him for a whole year, and I swear by God that I have never, never, even in thought, been unfaithful to him.... He has despised me, he has been laughing at me—God forgive him! But he has insulted me and wounded my heart. I ... I do not love him, for I can only love what is magnanimous, what understands me, what is generous; for I am like that myself and he is not worthy of me—well, that's enough of him. He has done better than if he had deceived my expectations later, and shown me later what he was.... Well, it's over! But who knows, my dear friend," she went on pressing my hand, "who knows, perhaps my whole love was a mistaken feeling, a delusion—perhaps it began in mischief, in nonsense, because I was kept so strictly by grandmother? Perhaps I ought to love another man, not him, a different man, who would have pity on me and ... and.... But don't let us say any more about that," Nastenka broke off, breathless with emotion, "I only wanted to tell you ... I wanted to tell you that if, although I love him (no, did love him), if, in spite of this you still say.... If you feel that your love is so great that it may at last drive from my heart my old feeling—if you will have pity on me—if you do not want to leave me alone to my fate, without hope, without consolation—if you are ready to love me always as you do now—I swear to you that gratitude ... that my love will be at last worthy of your love.... Will you take my hand?" "Nastenka!" I cried breathless with sobs. "Nastenka, oh Nastenka!" "Enough, enough! Well, now it's quite enough," she said, hardly able to control herself. "Well, now all has been said, hasn't it! Hasn't it? You are happy—I am happy too. Not another word about it, wait; spare me ... talk of something else, for God's sake." "Yes, Nastenka, yes! Enough about that, now I am happy. I—— Yes, Nastenka, yes, let us talk of other things, let us make haste and talk. Yes! I am ready." And we did not know what to say: we laughed, we wept, we said thousands of things meaningless and incoherent; at one moment we walked along the pavement, then suddenly turned back and crossed the road; then we stopped and went back again to the embankment; we were like children. "I am living alone now, Nastenka," I began, "but to-morrow! Of course you know, Nastenka, I am poor, I have only got twelve hundred roubles, but that doesn't matter." "Of course not, and granny has her pension, so she will be no burden. We must take granny." "Of course we must take granny. But there's Matrona." "Yes, and we've got Fyokla too!" "Matrona is a good woman, but she has one fault: she has no imagination, Nastenka, absolutely none; but that doesn't matter." "That's all right—they can live together; only you must move to us to-morrow." "To you? How so? All right, I am ready." "Yes, hire a room from us. We have a top floor, it's empty. We had an old lady lodging there, but she has gone away; and I know granny would like to have a young man. I said to her, 'Why a young man?' And she said, 'Oh, because I am old; only don't you fancy, Nastenka, that I want him as a husband for you.' So I guessed it was with that idea." And we both laughed. "Come, that's enough, that's enough. But where do you live? I've forgotten." "Over that way, near X bridge, Barannikov's Buildings." "It's that big house?" "Yes, that big house." "Oh, I know, a nice house; only you know you had better give it up and come to us as soon as possible." "To-morrow, Nastenka, to-morrow; I owe a little for my rent there but that doesn't matter. I shall soon get my salary." "And do you know I will perhaps give lessons; I will learn something myself and then give lessons." "Capital! And I shall soon get a bonus." "So by to-morrow you will be my lodger." "And we will go to The Barber of Seville, for they are soon going to give it again." "Yes, we'll go," said Nastenka, "but better see something else and not The Barber of Seville." "Very well, something else. Of course that will be better, I did not think——" As we talked like this we walked along in a sort of delirium, a sort of intoxication, as though we did not know what was happening to us. At one moment we stopped and talked for a long time at the same place; then we went on again, and goodness knows where we went; and again tears and again laughter. All of a sudden Nastenka would want to go home, and I would not dare to detain her but would want to see her to the house; we set off, and in a quarter of an hour found ourselves at the embankment by our seat. Then she would sigh, and tears would come into her eyes again; I would turn chill with dismay.... But she would press my hand and force me to walk, to talk, to chatter as before. "It's time I was home at last; I think it must be very late," Nastenka said at last. "We must give over being childish." "Yes, Nastenka, only I shan't sleep to-night; I am not going home." "I don't think I shall sleep either; only see me home." "I should think so!" "Only this time we really must get to the house." "We must, we must." "Honour bright? For you know one must go home some time!" "Honour bright," I answered laughing. "Well, come along!" "Come along! Look at the sky, Nastenka. Look! To-morrow it will be a lovely day; what a blue sky, what a moon! Look; that yellow cloud is covering it now, look, look! No, it has passed by. Look, look!" But Nastenka did not look at the cloud; she stood mute as though turned to stone; a minute later she huddled timidly close up to me. Her hand trembled in my hand; I looked at her. She pressed still more closely to me. At that moment a young man passed by us. He suddenly stopped, looked at us intently, and then again took a few steps on. My heart began throbbing. "Who is it, Nastenka?" I said in an undertone. "It's he," she answered in a whisper, huddling up to me, still more closely, still more tremulously.... I could hardly stand on my feet. "Nastenka, Nastenka! It's you!" I heard a voice behind us and at the same moment the young man took several steps towards us. My God, how she cried out! How she started! How she tore herself out of my arms and rushed to meet him! I stood and looked at them, utterly crushed. But she had hardly given him her hand, had hardly flung herself into his arms, when she turned to me again, was beside me again in a flash, and before I knew where I was she threw both arms round my neck and gave me a warm, tender kiss. Then, without saying a word to me, she rushed back to him again, took his hand, and drew him after her. I stood a long time looking after them. At last the two vanished from my sight. My night ended with the morning. It was a wet day. The rain was falling and beating disconsolately upon my window pane; it was dark in the room and grey outside. My head ached and I was giddy; fever was stealing over my limbs. "There's a letter for you, sir; the postman brought it," Matrona said stooping over me. "A letter? From whom?" I cried jumping up from my chair. "I don't know, sir, better look—maybe it is written there whom it is from." I broke the seal. It was from her! * * * * * "Oh, forgive me, forgive me! I beg you on my knees to forgive me! I deceived you and myself. It was a dream, a mirage.... My heart aches for you to-day; forgive me, forgive me! "Don't blame me, for I have not changed to you in the least. I told you that I would love you, I love you now, I more than love you. Oh, my God! If only I could love you both at once! Oh, if only you were he!" ["Oh, if only he were you," echoed in my mind. I remembered your words, Nastenka!] "God knows what I would do for you now! I know that you are sad and dreary. I have wounded you, but you know when one loves a wrong is soon forgotten. And you love me. "Thank you, yes, thank you for that love! For it will live in my memory like a sweet dream which lingers long after awakening; for I shall remember for ever that instant when you opened your heart to me like a brother and so generously accepted the gift of my shattered heart to care for it, nurse it, and heal it.... If you forgive me, the memory of you will be exalted by a feeling of everlasting gratitude which will never be effaced from my soul.... I will treasure that memory: I will be true to it, I will not betray it, I will not betray my heart: it is too constant. It returned so quickly yesterday to him to whom it has always belonged. "We shall meet, you will come to us, you will not leave us, you will be for ever a friend, a brother to me. And when you see me you will give me your hand ... yes? You will give it to me, you have forgiven me, haven't you? You love me as before? "Oh, love me, do not forsake me, because I love you so at this moment, because I am worthy of your love, because I will deserve it ... my dear! Next week I am to be married to him. He has come back in love, he has never forgotten me. You will not be angry at my writing about him. But I want to come and see you with him; you will like him, won't you? "Forgive me, remember and love your "Nastenka."* * * * * I read that letter over and over again for a long time; tears gushed to my eyes. At last it fell from my hands and I hid my face. "Dearie! I say, dearie——" Matrona began. "What is it, Matrona?" "I have taken all the cobwebs off the ceiling; you can have a wedding or give a party." I looked at Matrona. She was still a hearty, youngish old woman, but I don't know why all at once I suddenly pictured her with lustreless eyes, a wrinkled face, bent, decrepit.... I don't know why I suddenly pictured my room grown old like Matrona. The walls and the floors looked discoloured, everything seemed dingy; the spiders' webs were thicker than ever. I don't know why, but when I looked out of the window it seemed to me that the house opposite had grown old and dingy too, that the stucco on the columns was peeling off and crumbling, that the cornices were cracked and blackened, and that the walls, of a vivid deep yellow, were patchy. Either the sunbeams suddenly peeping out from the clouds for a moment were hidden again behind a veil of rain, and everything had grown dingy again before my eyes; or perhaps the whole vista of my future flashed before me so sad and forbidding, and I saw myself just as I was now, fifteen years hence, older, in the same room, just as solitary, with the same Matrona grown no cleverer for those fifteen years. But to imagine that I should bear you a grudge, Nastenka! That I should cast a dark cloud over your serene, untroubled happiness; that by my bitter reproaches I should cause distress to your heart, should poison it with secret remorse and should force it to throb with anguish at the moment of bliss; that I should crush a single one of those tender blossoms which you have twined in your dark tresses when you go with him to the altar.... Oh never, never! May your sky be clear, may your sweet smile be bright and untroubled, and may you be blessed for that moment of blissful happiness which you gave to another, lonely and grateful heart! My God, a whole moment of happiness! Is that too little for the whole of a man's life? Return to the Fyodor Dostoevsky Home Page

Ground Steak Loose One pound packages of >85% lean. Twice ground from whole muscle meats dedicated from one animal. No co mingling of trim from different animals. Ground Steak Burgers 1/3 Pound Enjoy our 1/3 pound burgers for a fast dinner or on the grill. 4 per package which are easily separated for preparation. The burgers are not compressed but are formed as a ribbon and then cut into the individual burgers. Ground Steak Burgers 1/2 Pound Enjoy our 1/2 pound burgers for a fast dinner or on the grill. 4 per package which are easily separated for preparation. These are great prepared as Salisbury Steaks too! Shoulder Petite Tender Roast A whole muscle roast from the shoulder. This single muscle cut is best braised. It is an economical alternative to tender loin and feeds a crowd of beef eaters. It ranges from 1 1/2 to 2 pounds in size. No waste all great meat. Chuck Pot Roast The pot roast is about 2-3 pounds in size. This cut is a traditional standby for slow cooking and provides a beefy flavor like no other. Country Style Ribs A new cut from the shoulder that resembles ribs by their cut. They are boneless and packaged 4-5 per package to the weight of about a pound. Braise with your favorite sauce. Brisket Full Cut This is a great, under-appreciated cut that weighs about 5-8 pounds. The full cut has the deckling on, an additional muscle that appears as a flap on the top of the brisket. Brisket preparation is a lengthy, slow cooking process but so worth the wait. Brisket Flat Cut This is the brisket with the deckling removed. It is considered one of the 29 lean cuts of beef in the entire animal. It weighs from 3-5 pounds and once cooked is easily sliced and served. This is a new roast cut from the sirloin that has been popularized by chefs on the West Coast. It can be either grilled with a rub or moist cooked as a roast in the oven. It is lean yet tender for the health conscious beef eater. Sirloin Tip Roast Traditional roast cut from the bottom of the sirloin weighing 2-4 pounds in size. This is considered one of the 24 lean cuts of beef as compared to a serving of chicken. Best prepared by roasting or braising. Eye of Round Roast This roast weighs 2-3 pounds and is a lean cut that economically serves a family with the dry age beef taste that everyone loves. Moist cooking is preferable. This is the roast that memories are made of. Celebrate with your family or friends with this roast. It melts in your mouth and leaves a great-tasting beef experience. The roast is the whole tenderloin muscle and usually weighs about 3-5 pounds. A holiday favorite, this roast is the most flavorful roast in the animal. It’s flavor outshines any other cut of beef and makes a beautfiul presentation on the table. Depending on how many people, it can be from 5-15 pounds in size. Delmonico/Rib Eye Steaks This steak is cut from the rib section of the animal and is one of the best tasting steaks—some would say the best tasting! The steak will be cut about an inch thick but will not be tied as pictured. Cut about an inch thick, it carries more internal marbling than other steaks—so much that the marbling bastes the meat as it cooks. One of the cuts that offers the best beef eating experience. New York Strip Steak This steak is a high-end steak cut from the top loin of the animal. It is traditionally one of the most tender steaks in the animal. It eats well no matter whether you eat your beef rare or well done. This steak is usually a little firmer and carries less fat than the other center cut steaks yet still tender to eat! This is THE beef cut. It exemplifies all the goodness of beef’s tenderness and flavor. This steaks is cut from the tenderloin muscle and the LFF production and dry aging make it the BEST! Top Sirloin Steak This steak is a tender cut from the center of the sirloin. It is lean and flavorful. It is great grilled or braised. 1-2 per package cut 1-1 ½ inches thick. This cut is recognized to be a great marinating piece of meat that offers quick grilling and tasty thin slices of meat. The flank weighs about a pound in size and is a favorite cut for many. This is an elongate muscle meat that is truly under-appreciated. It is a great piece of meat for a quick grill with some spices. It is best known for its use in Latin American cuisine. The size varies with one per package. This is a great convenience item for the working family. The fajita strips are cut from the top round of the animal with about a pound in each package. Flat Iron Steak This is a new cut from the top shoulder, which, according to research, is the second most tender muscle in the animal. It offers a beefy flavor and is great pan-fried, broiled, or grilled. There are only four of these per side of beef. This is also a new cut of steak from the under shoulder blade. It is said to be the fourth most tender muscle in the animal and offers great beef flavor similar to that of a pot roast. It can be grilled, broiled, or pan-fried. Time saving beef kabobs are cut from the sirloin tip. Use them on the grill, for braising, or in your favorite recipe of Beef Burgundy. There is about a pound in a package. These thin cut top round steaks are flash frozen in a fanned-out style for a quick fix meal. They can easily be separated for a single serving steak sandwich or cross cut for a speedy stir fry with vegetables. There is about a pound in each package. Ranch Roast is a new shoulder roast that carries great beef flavor. It is a single muscle cut and resembles a block of meat. It is very tender when braised and easily slices for a nice table presentation. It can range from eight to nine pounds if left whole or less if cut into smaller roast portions. Roasting or braising with moist heat is the best cooking method for this cut. The Sierra Cut is a new cut from the inside shoulder area and resembles a flank steak but offers a bolder beef flavor than a flank. The cut is thin and elongated and weighs about one pound on average. This lean, versatile steak is best when marinated before grilling, pan frying or broiling and should be sliced thin against the grain.

Pacific Northwest Wildlife: Info and photos of animals, fish, birds and amphibians specific to the Pacific Northwest, plus links to details. We love the uniqueness of our beautiful Pacific Northwest. This page will not possibly describe every last species of animal within the reach of the Pacific Northwest. Nevertheless this Northwest Wildlife page will call attention to animals that are specific to the Pacific Northwest rainforest or to the greater Pacific Northwest, animals that live year round in the Pacific Northwest, and those distinctive animals that we (and you) have personally observed. Plus, we included links to comprehensive and scientific resources below. Do you have a story or photos about Northwest wildlife? Or, what wildlife have you encountered in the Pacific Northwest not listed here? You are invited it share it below! See Temperate Rain Forest Plants for info on the flora and fungi that are native to the Pacific Northwest. Olympic Black Bear, subspecies of the American Black Bear The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) is the smallest of the North American bears and the most widely distributed throughout the USA. Olympic Black Bears, Ursus americanus altifrontalis, live throughout the Olympic and Cascade mountains from British Columbia to Northern California. Cinnamon-colored black bears are seen more frequently in British Columbia, while the Olympic Black Bear in Washington State is much more likely to be black in color. Roosevelt Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti; in some resources Cervus elaphus roosevelti) are a large subspecies of elk living on the Olympic Peninsula and the western slopes of the Cascades. The Douglas Squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii) lives in the coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest. Some researchers feel that the squirrel helps maintain the health of the Northwest forests. They are active year round. Lacking cheek pouches, they scatter stashes of douglas fir, sitka spruce and shore pine cones and seeds for eating later, supplementing their diet of seeds with berries, mushrooms, acorns and bird eggs. Douglas squirrels are grey-green with light rufous bellies in summer; while in winter their coats darken to brown, with grayer bellies. Outside my second-story office window in Port Angeles WA are Douglas and Grand Fir trees. Their branches serve as runways for resident Douglas squirrels, delightful distractions from my work. Washington Ground Squirrel The Washington Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus washingtoni) is endemic along the Columbia River Basin shared by the states of Washington and Oregon. They hibernate 7-8 months a year. Interestingly, adults awaken and breed in January - February, and are ready to go back into hibernation by June, while juveniles emerge later in spring and head back underground to hibernate as late as July. Birds and badgers are their main predators. Up to 56% of radio-collared youngsters survive to their first hibernation. The muskrat-sized Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufa) is not a true beaver at all, but a primitive, non-hibernating rodent called a sewellel. Their body shape is somewhat cavy-esque, however with smaller ears and eyes, and very large clawed feet. To compensate for small eyes and ears, they instead have well-developed senses of smell and touch, thanks to ample whiskers. Their main habitat is the rain forests of the Pacific Northwest, although not exclusively so. Look for them in areas that favor deciduous trees although they can be found amongst evergreens as well. Plant forage makes up their diet, which can include rhodendrons and stinging nettle which tend to be toxic to most other wildlife. Sewellels are only distantly related to familiar tail-slapping beavers, both being rodents. The Northwestwildlifeonline website has an excellent write-up on the mountain beaver. The Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens) is a small bird but quite handsome in its black, white, gray, and chestnut-colored plumage. It lives year round almost exclusively in the Pacific Northwest. Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histronicus) breed on fast-moving streams, and overwinters along rocky coastlines including those of the Pacific Northwest. The Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) lives year round in the Pacific Northwest. They can also be found in many other locations throughout the USA. You may indeed see one of these extravagant little diving ducks along the Washington coast, as we did. The Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a sea bird related to puffins. Unlike other sea birds, they nest on the huge horizontal branches of 200-feet-tall old-growth evergreen trees in the Pacific Northwest and north, and then overwinter at sea. Nests of marbled murrelets have been seen in or near the Heart o' the Hills Campground in the Olympic National Park. The Northwestern Crow (Corvus caurinus) is virtually identical in plumage to the very common American crow, however smaller, with a slender bill and smaller feet. They are reliably identified by range only – they can be found along the coasts, islands and beaches of south Alaska, British Columbia and Washington, and within some nearby urban areas. The Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) can be found all along the western coast and up into parts of BC, through the midsection of Mexico, and in pockets in AZ, UT, CO and NM. It is large, speckled, and lacks ear tufts. It is certainly native to the Pacific Northwest forests, where it was at the center of Oregon and Washington logging controversies due to environmental reasons. The Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) lives throughout the waters of the north Pacific, nesting in rocks and cliff burrows from Northern California to the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The photo above was taken at Cape Flattery, picturing one of a number of puffins and other seabirds feeding on a cold but clear February day. The Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) lives year round in the Pacific Northwest, but can be found in breeding grounds to the north as far as Alaska. Some may overwinter to the south and into California. It is a vibrant orange and black/gray bird not to be confused with the American Robin. The varied thrush has a black head with an orange stripe behind the eye and a black stripe across the lower neck in sharp contrast to its orange breast and belly. Females are patterned similarly, however with the black markings in gray. The distinctive Crescenti cutthroat trout have the "highest known gill raker and vertebrae counts of any coastal cutthroat population" (Wiki). These distinctions prompted subspecies recognition in the past, however they are currently considered to be a local form of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii). A genetically pure population of crescenti trout persists in the Lyre River. A second distinctive species of trout known as Beardslee trout also populated Lake Crescent and Barnes Creek at one time. These have interbred with non-native trout introduced into Lake Crescent. What now remains is a population of hybridized "cutbows." Pacific Salmon are a keystone species throughout the Pacific Northwest. Bears, eagles, wolves, other predators, and even the forests depend on the yearly salmon spawn for survival. Pacific Banana Slug The Pacific Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus) is the second largest terrestrial slug species in the world, growing up to 10 inches in length. The cool, moist climate of the Pacific Northwest temperate rainforest is ideal for this mollusk. They are yellow, brown, greenish, white or tan, with varying numbers of black blotches, up to and possibly so covered in spots as to appear black. With teeth on its tongue, it saws off pieces of forage which it then consumes. Pacific Chorus Frog The Pacific Chorus Frog (Pseudacris regilla), also known as the Pacific Tree Frog, is the Washington State amphibian, and can be found throughout Washington and Oregon. This little 2-inch frog comes in several shades of green or brown, and even a mix of green and brown (pictured above). On Spring evenings near any pond, the Pacific Chorus Frog makes a racket through much of the night. Mister-Toad.com is an excellent resource on the Pacific Chorus Frog, explaining the various reasons why the species has recently been re-classified a chorus frog rather than a tree frog.

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Do you like whoopie pies? I have to admit, my experiences with whoopie pies are pretty limited. It’s not a treat that defined my childhood in any way. But people seem to love them, so I decided to figure out what the fuss was about. Red velvet whoopie pies are nothing new– do a Google image search for them and you’ll get loads of these guys staring you in the face. And while they seem to have been tailored for Valentine’s Day, I thought they’d make for a great 4th of July dessert as well! Seeing as I’ve never made whoopie pies or red velvet cake, I didn’t feel like developing my own recipe for this one. So I found this one over at Recipe Girl. The only changes I made were to use 2 heaping tablespoons of cocoa, and I didn’t have enough cake flour so I subbed all-purpose flour for a cup or so. Also, if your level of baking is more on par with a boxed cake mix, there are a lot of recipes out there using that, too! After making up the batter as directed, I heated up my oven and prepped my baking sheets with parchment paper. I made my pies a bit larger than the recipe indicated, because I needed them to be big enough to cut stars out of. So I used a medium cookie scoop. I put only 6 cookies on each sheet to make sure they didn’t run together, and baked them for 6 minutes and they were perfectly done. I had 2 different star cutters I wanted to try out. (I may or may not have at least 2 more star cutters in my possession…) I experimented a little bit and found that the pies cut nicer when fully cool. Just press the cutter into the cooled pies to cut. As you can see, the edges do crack a little while you’re pressing. Update: These cut best the next day. But after you take them out of the cutter, the tops spring back & they don’t look cracked. Sidenote: As I was baking all the pans of pies, I thought to myself– hey, wouldn’t it have been easier to just bake up a jelly roll style cake & then cut out stars from a full sheet of this stuff? Eh, hindsight’s 20/20, I guess. 🙂 I’m not sure how long you’d need to bake it if you did that, but I think it would save some effort! Here’s the bigger star. I decided I liked the smaller ones better, since the star’s “arms” (seriously, what do you call them?) were shorter & less prone to breakage. But I think it would still work. Also, I’m bringing these to a barbecue where there will be more than 1 dessert, so mini is more conducive to sampling. 🙂 For the icing… I didn’t follow the recipe from Recipe Girl. I made my own up, but screwed it up somewhere along the way. I managed to salvage it for the pictures, but it’s not really what I was hoping for. Here’s what I should have done: 1 8-oz pkg cream cheese 1/4 cup butter 1 7-oz jar marshmallow creme Beat cream cheese & butter together until well mixed. Fold in marshmallow creme gently. Update: I remade this frosting as described above after getting more ingredients. This filling was exactly what I wanted. Make sure you fold the marshmallow creme in really gently and you’ll get a cream cheese marshmallow filling that’s just perfect. I used a disposable pastry bag with the tip snipped off to pipe these onto the back of one of the pies. You could use a ziplock bag or a large round piping tip if you like. Top with another of the stars and you’re good to go! While these didn’t turn out exactly how I planned (mostly because I screwed up the icing) and they’re a smidge rough around the edges, I think they’re totally cute. And they taste just like a little slice of red velvet cake. Only they’re more festive. And this cake? Really moist. Yum. Make sure you don’t stack these on top of one another without wax paper between at any point in the process (unless you’re taking pictures for your blog) because the pies will stick together and not be pretty. I hope all of you American readers have an awesome Independence Day!

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Air quality test is often conducted to determine the level of airborne mold spores. Interpretation of air quality test results is often difficult as the levels of mold spores in the air vary greatly depending on the activity in the room, changes in temperature and relative humidity, ventilation rate and season of the year. During summer for example, indoor mold spore counts can be relatively very high even in homes with no visible mold growth due to infiltration of spores from outdoors. It’s also possible to have very few airborne spores in buildings with visible mold growth. This is because there are biological differences between the fungi in terms of the way they produce their spores. The Aspergilli and Penicillia, for example, produce large quantities of dry spores that easily become airborne. On the other hand, Fusarium and some species of Stachybotrys (black mold) produce moist spores that are not easily released into the air. Some other molds such as Chaetomium and Phoma produce their spores in enclosed structures (fruiting bodies) and hence these spores may not be detected by air sampling until later when the material dries out or is broken on impact e.g., during renovation. For viable samples, the spores and fungal materials present in the air may be dead or may belong to molds that cannot be cultured in artificial media. The mold may also be alive but may not be culturable on the detection media used. Therefore a combination of air sampling (both viable and non-viable), surface (e.g., tape-lift) and bulk sampling is recommended. An air quality test alone is not enough to rule out mold growth. See the article Non-viable Fungal Air Sampling Alone May Not Be Adequate.

You recognize when you make a cupcake, I desire it to increase over the leading yet not splash all over and hav good far better topping, lhttp://toronto4foodies.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/#jp-carousel-101http://toronto4foodies.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/#jp-carousel-101ikethis: any type of dish web links would certainly excel also:-RRB- I seem like cooking! Here are 2 scrumptious cupcake dishes. And otherwise she has great deals of various other cool dishes on her website, cakes, cookies, and so on. — 1. Excellent active ingredients absolutely equivalent taste. When your teeth penetrate a cupcake, your palate ought to sign up just happiness. To send them right to cupcake paradise, think about spending lavishly on the top rate active ingredients, state the siblings. Exquisite tastes are highlighted in something as tiny as a cupcake, so make those 3-4 attacks matter. 2. Never ever, never ever over-bake a cupcake. “” We constantly suggest erring on the side of under-baking,”” claims Kallinis. “” If you over-bake a cupcake, there ' s no other way to wait. And it won ' t be moist on the within.”” Georgetown Cupcake ' s group of bakers also established 2 timers to make certain the cakes make it from the stove on schedule. For also far better outcomes, inspect your stove ' s warm with a stove thermostat, to establish it ' s real temperature level. You ' re doing it right when your cupcakes look a little sunken, as opposed to actually peaked, claims LaMontagne. Check them with a toothpick if you ' re uncertain– if no batter holds on to the choice, they ' re done. 3. Mix your batter with a light hand. If there ' s something we ' ve found out as bakers, it ' s to merely be a lot more mild, claims LaMontagne. “” Baking cosy, wet cupcakes is everything about developing air bubbles in your batter that broaden in the stove,”” she claims. “” If you over-mix your batter, you break down those bubbles and wind up with a brick-like cake.”” To prevent this, constantly blend on a reduced rate, quiting equally as all active ingredients mix. 4. Allow all active ingredients involve space temperature level prior to cooking. Take it from a pro: All active ingredients include right into batter far more conveniently if they ' re at comparable temperature levels, claims Kallinis. Certain, it needs a little bit a lot more intending to lay out eggs, butter, and various other cooled active ingredients 15-20mins prior to you ready to function, however, for a best cupcake, it ' s worth it. (And as for baking pointers go, this rankings amongst the simplest!) 5. Cooking ahead of time? Freeze your productions. “” If you ' ve baked them to consume as soon as possible, we suggest saving cupcakes at space temperature level,”” claims LaMontagne. “” But if they ' re for tomorrow, cold them will certainly keep their dampness far better compared to leaving them on a kitchen counter over night.””

Rubbing truffle butter under the skin takes this simple and beautiful dish to a whole new level—and makes your home smell incredible! Marge Perry & David Bonom Marge Perry is an author and a teacher. David Bonom is a recipe developer, food writer and restaurant consultant. Marge Perry writes, teaches, broadcasts and speaks about cooking, food, nutrition and travel. In her capacity as a syndicated food columnist for Newsday, Contributing Editor for Cooking Light and “Ask the Expert” columnist for myrecipes.com; through the articles she writes for The New York Times, Self, Prevention, More, Coastal Living, Relish, and Health; and through her appearances on television and radio, Marge is an accessible and authoritative guide for anyone who cooks, eats and travels. She is also the publisher of her blog, A Sweet and Savory Life. David Bonom, CCP is a recipe developer, food writer, and restaurant consultant. He is a contributing editor to Cooking Light Magazine and his writing and development clients include Weight Watchers International Publications, Weight Watchers Magazine, Rodale, Self, Health Magazine, Fine Cooking, Coastal Living, Better Homes and Gardens, Prevention Magazine, Lightstyles, Publications International Ltd., USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), The Peanut Council, California Fig Growers, California Pluot Growers, and the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission. Skillet-roasting spatchcocked chicken does nearly magical things to an ordinary chicken: the result is golden crisp skin and juicy tender meat. In fact, because of the way the bird sits in the pan, the breast cooks to an ideal 160° and the thigh to 170°-175°F in the same amount of time. Fresh spinach makes a delicious, simple, healthful basis for a quick blender pesto that allows you to get this delicious dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes. This is what happens when sweet potatoes meet nachos. Once you’ve had this killer mash-up, you may never eat regular nachos again. How could a dinner you put together this quickly be this good? Credit the grill pan, which lets you cook chicken to moist, juicy perfection! Then pair that perfectly cooked chicken with a salty pretzel bun and sweet-tart mango salsa, and you have an irresistible balance of flavors and textures—on the table in under 20 minutes. The slightly sweet, crunchy cornflake crust takes this French Toast to a new level. Drizzle the brown sugar syrup that forms in the pan over the French toast: all the nooks and crannies of the crust have a delightful way of holding the sauce. Make your entire dinner in one pot—you don’t even need to drain the pasta! In fact, by cooking the pasta in the pot with the sausage and tomatoes, the pasta absorbs even more flavor. Refrigerated prepared dough makes short work of this crisp-crusted, healthy pizza. Get fresh dough from your local pizza parlor, or find it in a 15-ounce bag at the grocery store. We lightened up the usual dense and heavy sweet potato puree by folding beaten egg whites into them. The result fluffy, light—and still full of rich sweet potato flavor. We also replaced the dated marshmallow topping with a golden, crunchy, sweet topping made from cornflake crumbs—it is sure to be the start of a new tradition. We believe caramelized onions may be the key to all culinary success—they make just about everything taste better! In this gratin, they are the perfect sweet, soft foil to hearty kale. The key to making achingly sweet, meltingly delicious caramelized onions is to take it nice and slow. Higher heat will cook the onions, but they won’t caramelize. The spectacular cake combines the best of apple pie with a moist, tender and fool-proof spice cake. It’s impressive good looks and fabulous flavor belie the simplicity with which it is made. This simple preparation brings out the very best in your turkey. Apples and vegetables lend their sweet goodness to the bird as it roasts, and the glaze, which simmers on the stove while the bird roasts (or may be made ahead, if you’d rather have the burner for other things) gently intensifies in flavor until it is time to baste. This no-fail glaze gives the bird beautiful sable brown color, and warm, savory flavor.

Ever heard people say, “If you don’t cut your hair to start afresh your hair will break?” Well, I heard that a lot, but I wasn’t ready to start with Teeny-weeny Afro (TWA). I couldn’t picture myself with short hair because I didn’t know if I would ‘rock it’ 😎. So I transitioned, to be honest with you it wasn’t easy because, I had two textures to deal with (my relaxed and kinky hair). Most blogs I read during my transition always said to moisturize, seal and to take care of the delicate part where relaxed meets kinky, else it will lead to breakage. (That is why most people say the hair will break) So I adopted the L.O.C method of moisturizing and sealing my hair to help prevent breakage. My ‘L’ which stands for liquid was always water, ‘O’ which stands for oil was mostly castor oil or EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil), then my ‘C’ which stands for cream was my Cantu Argan oil leave-in conditioner and/or shea butter. Sometimes it becomes L.C.O instead of L.O.C but it all gave me great results. For days when I was in a hurry but needed to moisturize and seal my hair, I usually had a spray bottle which contained 80% water and 20% oil and leave-in conditioner. My ingredients were water, castor oil, EVOO, Coconut oil, peppermint oil (my favorite essential oil, it gives a tingling sensation plus prevents dandruff) and finally Cantu argan oil leave-in conditioner. My routines were washing my hair at least once a week if I do not have a protective style like braids (if I have braids I wash 2 weeks) and in between I either do a deep conditioning with protein treatment or hot oil treatment. Note: my wash day routines and Hot oil treatments will be discussed into details later. I’ve already mentioned protective style, it was my convenient go to during my transition. I was mostly wearing wigs with my hair braided underneath or box braids for a month or two. I will discuss how I take care of my hair in box braids in maintaining my box braids. An advice I will give you if you decide to transition is to be patient, give your hair all the love you can (TLC), never work on your hair when you are tired, trust me, you will regret it. Have fun with your hair! Comb your hair with only a wide tooth comb; if you use a closed tooth comb you will break your hair. To be safe just finger de-tangle😉. Always keep your hair in protective styles or styles that require minimal handling. Get your self a satin scarf; never ever sleep without wrapping your hair in a silk/satin scarf. This helps your hair to retain the moisture; if you use any other scarf like cotton it will absorb the moisture, which will leave your hair dry and susceptible to breakages. Never work on your hair when it’s dry. Always make sure your hair is moist. You can do this by spraying water on it before working on it, or if it is right after a wash routine make sure it’s about 80% dry before you work on it. Do not dry the hair totally. Do not use towel to dry your hair. All you need is an old t-shirt, wrap it on your hair for a while to absorb some of the water then you work on it. If you rub the hair with a towel it can tangle the hair and break it. Always work on your hair in sections, if you don’t you will be battling with tangles, which will make you hate your hair. Feel free to ask questions in the comment section, and don’t worry, the reply will come sooner than you’d expect it.

2019/04/01 · A bee or wasp sting is an uncomfortable and often painful experience that is common during the warmer months when these stinging insects are most active and people spend more time outdoors. bees and wasps use. Bee venom, or apitoxin, is a colorless liquid composed primarily of proteins. It’s these proteins that cause the local inflammation and associated discomfort with a sting. A honey bee can inject roughly 0.1 mg venom, and most adults-barring those with allergic reactions-can safely withstand 10 stings per pound of body weight. You can take several steps to avoid bee stings – as well as hornet and wasp stings – and find out how to treat them if you do get stung. symptoms bee stings can produce different reactions, ranging from temporary pain and. Bee stings are so painful you feel like a burning torch has touched your skin! To get fast relief, here are 8 natural bee sting treatment options you can use at home. A bee sting is a sting from a bee The stings of most of these species can be quite painful, and. Drone bees, the males, are larger and do not have stingers. What May Be in Your Restaurant’s Drains? Restaurant Drain Maintenance – More than Grease Traps!. Drain-Net has spent years developing the perfect products to prevent food, waste, and grease from clogging up your drains. As an added bonus, you no longer have to keep expensive and dangerous drain cleaning chemicals in your store.Top Ten Things To Do For Termite Control I do pest control, termite control, whitefly specialist! No tent termite specialist , lawn pest control with fertilizer and weed control, rodent control, and small animal traping and removal. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 10 years in business dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology say it’s a good idea to know what to do – and not do – to treat a bee sting. “The first thing to do is to get the stinger out quickly,” said. Learn about bee and wasp stings. Bees and wasps inject a poisonous venom that can lead to an allergic reaction. About 40 deaths are reported each year from . When are Termites Active? Termites, like most insects in the world, prefer moist warm conditions in which they can thrive. Termites become most active during the spring and summer months. Termite season can occur year around. During these months, locating termites can be as easy as finding a fallen tree. The warmth allows even the smallest population of termites to thrive. Almost everyone has experienced a bee sting at some time. Wasps and hornets sting too! But I am referring to the honey bees. You may find yourself in need of some home remedies for bee stings.. We cant always prevent stings (especially if you like to walk barefoot through clover) but we can lessen the pain. Learn about bee and wasp stings. Bees and wasps inject a poisonous venom that can lead to an allergic reaction. About 40 deaths are reported each year from insect venom anaphylaxis. Allergy to insect stings can cause severe reactions. WebMD explains first aid treatment for people with and without allergies. Skip to main content.. "Bee and Wasp Stings." Venomous Spider and Spider Eggs Found in Bunch of Bananas A mum got the shock of her life when she opened up her bunch of bananas she bought from Lidl – and found one of the. contained a nest of smaller spiders (SWNS) He believes the spider – that is.

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Purchase Links: All Romance eBooks | Amazon | Bookstrand Blurb/Synopsis: Dan's drab life is a world away from his secret life as Danielle, the burlesque star of Tomasz's transvestite nightclub, Trans-Action. Having found 'her' inner T girl as a student, Danielle has discovered the power of her femininity and her talent to entice and excite—but she realizes that Dan's life is losing the passion it once had. As Danielle's relationship with Tomasz takes her deeper into both her lover and his world, encountering passions neither thought they dare explore, demure Francine is too often left to her own devices and desires. Her only release is in the fantasies inspired by the customers who pass through her life and her patisserie. Does she want a man in her life or a woman? Or both... Seeing her man exploring her wardrobe she decides to embrace the power of her own sexuality. Then a sizzling encounter with Tomasz unlocks the vixen in her and sets their two worlds on a collision course. Can Dan bring Dan's world and Danielle's together—especially when he discovers Danielle's secret lover secretly loving Francine? Or will Tomasz come between them both? Tomasz gazed at her, barely able to breathe, let alone speak. Her half closed eyes burned into him. He gazed deep into them for a moment, falling into them, then his attention fell to her hand, still resting on the damp silk mound of herpussy. Her breathing was labored and heavy, her lips, soft and red, parted. His hand cupped the bulge in his perfectly pressed trousers, slowly stroking along the length of its hardness but he couldn't stop. Her eyes locked onto the movement of his hand. A smile that was halfway between an angel and a slut spread over her face. She looked up and her eyes met his again, hers burning with a fire that held his gaze, and she slipped her fingers inside the dampness of her panties, gently sliding a single fingertip over her still pulsing clit. A soft moan escaped her parted lips like a whispered invitation. He stepped forward and cupped her face in his hands, gazing even deeper into the post orgasmic haze of the infinite depths of her green eyes. She looked up at him, inviting his kiss, wordlessly, and with her other hand reached for his hand, the hand that was slowly, rhythmically, rubbing up and down the aching need of his rigid cock. She flattened her palm on his and moved with him. They kissed, no words needed, his mouth on hers, but hers the more powerful, needing to own and control his mouth, her tongue seeking out his. Her hand pressed against his, taking control of his movement now, slowing it so that she could feel how long and hard he was. And he was, so very hard, and long. She wanted that, she needed that, in her, fucking her. She pulled his hand up over his confined erection, slowly, so that they both felt the total extent of his arousal, and then pushed it more forcefully down and out of the way. He complied totally with her direction .He was hers now, hers to play with, to use. The kiss intensified, and her fingers unzipped him, reaching in, finding and grasping him. She felt the wet silky tip of his cock under her fingers as she undid his belt with her other hand, unbuttoning and freeing it so that she could wrap her fingers around the full length of him. Then he lifted her, his hands on her hips, up onto the tabletop, and pulled himself closer to her. She responded, wrapping her legs around his waist as her fingers eased aside the wet silk of her panties. She guided the moist head of his cock to rub against her clit, still tingling and pulsing, before she slid it lower to rest, achingly, against her pussy lips. She denied him entry, her hot, wet labia brushing, teasing him. Her hand wrapped around him stopped him from thrusting into her, despite his burning desire now to just fuck her hard and fast and unload his tight balls deep inside her. She kept him there, for just a few seconds that seemed like hours to him. She let him enjoy the wet kiss of her pussy lips on the moist tip of his cock, savoring the moment before she let his thickness disappear into her, before she let him become enclosed in the hot, wet embrace of her cunt. She was going to ride him to heaven and he was going to love every second of it. Author Bio and Links Faberge Nostromo grew up in the East End of London before escaping to East Anglia. He has been a civil servant, a tea boy, sound engineer, a librarian and an IT consultant but always knew that he was a writer. He now lives deep in the heart of Suffolk with his wife, son and too many guitars. HAPPY RANTING AND RAVING!!!

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I mentioned this bread on my facebook page a week or so ago when I gave the choice between it or scones. The scones won. 😛 But I finally got around to making the bread yesterday. I wish now that I’d waited until today to make it. Mother nature seems to be confused as to month and it’s rainy, chilly and totally ICK here right now. I think we MIGHT have made it up to 50 degrees. And while I know that that would still seem balmy to some in May and would have to me too had I stayed in my hometown of Chicago, here in Kentucky, high 40’s in May is COLD darn it! So having the oven on and baking sounds like a great idea. I wasn’t sure about this bread when I first made it yesterday. You know how it goes… you make a quick bread, tell yourself to let it cool so it will slice better, then end up cutting it when it’s warm anyway because you just can’t resist. This however is one of those quick breads that NEEDS to meld for a day. yesterday, it seemed rather bland and boring and I wasn’t even sure I would blog about it. After sitting overnight however, I tried a piece and it was was quite good. It’s moist and dense; almost pound cakeish in texture, plus the ginger flavor is more pronounced as is the pear. Make sure though, that you use ripe flavorful pears in this. And I think that next time I make this I will add about a 1/2 teaspoon of fresh nutmeg. It just needs a bit of spice. Make sure you actually grease and flour your pan. With the pear and crystallized ginger in it, you’ll end up with parts sticking to the bottom if you just use cooking spray. Double Ginger And Pear Quick Bread - 3 ripe pears, chopped (I left the peel on; your choice) - 3 tablespoon freshly grated ginger - 1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger - 1/3 cup buttermilk - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract - 1 tablespoon lemon juice - zest of one lemon - zest of one orange - 2 cups flour - 1 teaspoon baking powder - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda - 1/4 teaspoon salt - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temp - 1/4 cup vegetable oil - 1 cup sugar - 2 eggs - Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a nine inch loaf pan. - Stir the pears, ginger and zests together in a small bowl. - Mix together the buttermilk, vanilla and lemon juice in a measuring cup. - In a medium bowl, mix your dry ingredients. - In yet another bowl (I know I know 😛 ) beat together your butter, oil and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. - Add the flour mixture, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, beating on low speed, just until combined. Fold in the pear/ginger mixture. - Pour the batter (it’s a fairly thick batter) into the prepared loaf pan. - bake at 350 for about 50 to 60 minutes or until the top is a golden brown color, firm to the touch and a skewer inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack in the pan for about five minutes, then carefully run a knife around the edges to loosen. Turn out onto the rack to finish cooling. - Now you can wrap it, wait a day and try it after flavors have blended or cut it now…but seriously, I advise the days wait. It’s delicious after the rest period 🙂

To eat or not to eat beef has been a discussion of topic in the recent history. Its a long answer for a very small looking question. It is not just a question of choice of food, its beyond somebody's food and choice. Indian value system is based on nature. Being with nature and living in harmony with nature. Every tradition in Indian system has some serious thought behind why it has been brought into practice. Be it spiritual living, architecture, food practices, art and culture etc. Everything has great rationale behind it, which is backed by scientific understanding. Let us now look at the some Frequently Asked Questions on consumption of beef. 1. Hindu scriptures advocate eating meat, Beef is supposed to be highest order of meat. Then why do some hindus oppose beef consumption? Ans: No, none of the Hindu scriptures promote meat eating, and specially not the Beef. You will not find even single reference in the Vedas or Upanishads of promoting beef. India has had no history of eating beef which was promoted by any known scriptures. Corrupt practices of meat and beef consumption are only seen in the last few thousand years. This is a result of invasion, attrocities, forced upon habits, corruption of Holy books and cultural dilution through westernized education by the invaders which are still alive in bits and pieces across the country. They are not sanctioned by our culture. In a Sharp contrast, we can find various verses in our holy books of why a cow is sacred to our society. There are 100s of verses, but only a few are listed below. Tatra ko mohah kah shokah ekatvamanupasyatah Those who see all beings as souls do not feel infatuation or anguish at their sight, for they experience oneness with them”. How could people who believed in the doctrines of indestructibility, transmigration dare to kill living animals in yajnas? They might be seeing the souls of their own near and dear ones of bygone days residing in those living beings. Anumantaa vishasitaa nihantaa krayavikrayee Samskartaa chopahartaa cha khadakashcheti ghaatakaah Those who permit slaying of animals; those who bring animals for slaughter; those who slaughter; those who sell meat; those who purchase meat; those who prepare dish out of it; those who serve that meat and those who eat are all murderers. Ghrtam duhaanaamaditim janaayaagne maa himsiheeh Do not kill cows and bulls who always deserve to be protected. Aare gohaa nrhaa vadho vo astu In Rigveda cow slaughter has been declared a heinous crime equivalent to human murder and it has been said that those who commits this crime should be punished. Sooyavasaad bhagavatee hi bhooyaa atho vayam bhagvantah syaama Addhi trnamaghnye vishwadaaneem piba shuddhamudakamaacharantee Rigveda 1.164.40 or Atharv 7.73.11 or Atharv 9.10.20 The Aghnya cows – which are not to be killed under any circumstances– may keep themselves healthy by use of pure water and green grass, so that we may be endowed with virtues, knowledge and wealth. 2. I dont believe in Hinduism or any other religion nor god. I am an Atheist. I believe in free ideas and Some people's sentiments cant stop me from eating my Ham. I go by science, consuming vegetarian animals is good for health. various studies have shown this. Ans : Really ? Do you know how many subsequent studies of beef consumption have concluded that all the medical problems in the US ( who is biggest beef consumer in the world) are related to beef? Beef and Pork are the biggest cause of chronic diseases in the world. US spends around $3.8 trillion on only health care !! 10% of the total GDP of India is spent on Health care. Pfizer once a bankrupt company, specialised in cardiac related medicine spins over 2 lakhs crores rupees every year. Where is that money going ? Obviously not India. And there are 100s of such pharmacuetical companies in India. Wondering a what a pound of beef or pork can do to our country? Vegetarianism is a craze in the US now. Not simply because it is fashion of the season. US has the worst health among the best healthcare providing countries in the world. Vegetarian food practices have come as a boon to its society. So if you want to be healthy, give up meat specially Beef. 3. I dont care, God has made animals to be eaten. Animals reproduction rate is more than that of humans. If they are not consumed as food, earth will be over populated by animals and will cause lot of other issues. Ans: Good argument to satisfy your taste buds. If humans are here to control the population of other animals, then who was controlling it before the advent of humans? How did Dinosaurs become extinct? There were no humans back then. There are various species of flora and fauna even today on the verge of extinction untouched by human existence, are you even aware? Growth, population explosion and birth rates are mere excuses to hog on to the beef culture. 4. Cows have human like emotions? Many animals are close to humans and share a great bond. They feel happy when we are happy, they feel sad when we are sad. So what is special with cow ? Ur arguments makes no sense to me. Ans: Ofcourse all animals have certain emotions. But none can match or even come closer to that of a cow. The other animals that are very close to humans are dogs and horses. There are various references in our holy books on how a cow feels your pain. Whenever there is going to be new born in the family, it is the cow which knows it first compared to other animals. If there is a death, cows even shed tears and in many cases they refused to be milked in their deep sorrow. Cows seldom get angry and hurt their owners unless it fears for any kind of pain inflicted to it. Dogs are very protective about its puppies and often get aggressive when someone even very close to it tries to get closer to the puppies. Have you seen that with a cow ? Like dogs, cows are one of the most alert animals on the planet. They guard your homes. Cows milk is most suited for human consumption among all milk yielding domesticated animals. Ayurveda has mutliple chapters dedicated only to cow and its products. Milk and milk products take highest priority in the medical benefits they provide us. Let us look at some extracts from various studies. - Listing down some major benefits of Cow milk. - Sweet in nature, easy to digest, has coolant effect on the tummy, Improves digestion in young and old - Improves Ojas : Ojas is the factor responsible for increasing immunity. - Nourishes the body tissues ( Dhatu vardaka) - Acts as natural Aphrodisiac - Has the highest and optimum amount of Omega-3 contents. - Increases life expectancy. - Increases Breast milk in feeding mothers. - Keeps intestines healthy ( peristalisis) - Cow milk is considered the next best to mothers milk for young children. The only other natural product that new born babies can digest other than mother's milk and cow milk is coconut oil ! - Cow milk is best source of calcium and easiest to digest. - Daily consumption of milk boost anti-ageing. - Charaka Samhita has multiple chapters dedicated to medicinal usage of Cow's milk. - One cup of cow’s milk provides 10.8% of the daily body’s need for potassium. Potassium is required for the contraction of muscles, including the heart and is also necessary for nerve transmission. 5. But cow milk is for its calves not humans. By taking away milk from the cows, you are denying food for its calves. Humans are so selfish. You are hurting the cow by milking it. Ans: Our Puranas have specific directions on how to, when to, how much to milk from each cow. Every indigenous breed of Indian cow has different milk yields. Some yield about 20 litres a day and some upto 70 Litres of milk a day. Kindly do a research on the milking Indian cows. Normally a cow gives birth to one calf at one time, more than one is a rarity. Each cow has 4 nipples. The Indian household milking practices are very sensitive to its calves and understand their needs. It is directed that we as humans only to milk 3 nipples and leave one full to the calf. The 3 nipples are milked only till they are 3/4 empty so that we dont hurt the cow. Cows are hurt only when they are milked with automated machines and not by human hands! Its is the industrailization that hurts the cow not household practices. Effects of not milking a milking cow : Calves usually can consume only 20-22% of milk produced by its mother. If the rest of the milk is not milked, its starts drying out and causes severe infections in the cow. In worst cases cause death. Also, it has been observed that the capacity of the milk production goes down if not milked everyday. This in turn starves the calves! Now can you tell me how are human's hurting the cow? The Gir breed of cow gives an avg of 60 litres per day and has become the highest exported breed to Brazil in the recent years. The quality of milk produced by Indian indigenous breed cows are unmatched. Studies in Denmark, US and Germany have shown that Indian breed cow produces the most healtiest milk in the world. 6. Indian Cows are superior to Other breeds? So you are now differentiating between the various God made cows? You have a superiority complex and cannot think beyond your Vedas, Puranas and culture! Such narrow minded people! Ans : Are you really educated or just a India (Hindu) hater? The Jersey cows are actually a cross breed between a indegenous European cow and a Fatter breed of Pigs. The other popular breed of Foreign cow is 'JUMAR' which is a cross breed of cow and Donkey! Some labs have confirmed that there are cross breeds of Horse and cows ! Did you notice that none of today's foreign breed cows have a 'hump' on their back? Why is that significant? Do Horses and Pigs have a hump ? The vanishing act happened after the cross breeding around early 1400s and mid 1500s. Do you even know what you have been drinking in the US and Europe in the name of cow milk ? God save Europeans! There are two kinds of milks. A1 and A2. These are actually a kind of gene named as A1 And A2. All Indian cow breeds possess a rich A2 allele gene that provides a better and healthier quality of milk than foreign breeds. “The A2 allele gene in Indian milk breeds of cows and buffalos are 100 per cent, while in foreign breeds, it is around 60 per cent,” scientists of the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) have said in a report. Furthermore the frequency of this allele in Indian milk breeds is 1.0 (100 per cent), while in exotic breeds, it has been reported to be nearly 0.6 (60 per cent) or less, they added. Set up in 1984, NBAGR is an arm of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and is based in Karnal, Haryana. The scientists scanned 22+ breeds of Indian cows and found that in five milk yielding Indian cows — Laal Sindhi, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Rathi and Gir — the status of the A2 allele was 100 per cent, while in other Indian breeds used for farming, its status was around 94 per cent! The scientists also scanned the status of this allele in the two most popular foreign breeds in India, Holstein Friesian and Jersey, in which the status of the A2 allele was 60 per cent only. What is significance of hump on the Indian cows? Abundant Sunlight that falls on the Hump of an Indian cow is absorbed by the special tissue mass in the hump and converted into 'gold'. Its is reported that Indian cows have dissolved Gold in its milk. 0.442 ppm of Gold is found on an average in the Indian cow milk. This ratio perfectly suits the need of Gold consumption in the humans. refer to the below links for the Importance of Gold in food. 7. But Humans are selfish. God did not make Cows to be used for ploughing and tilling in the land. We humans have extorted the nature! Ans : First, Cows are not used in Ploughing fields, its the Oxes! Oxes are physically more stronger and are bested suited for tilling and ploughing. Ancient Indians knew the drastic effects of using heavy machines in Agriculture. Thats why Cow based agriculture and cow based industries are given the most prominence. Are you saying the Hindus who could build the most magnificient temples in the world, lift heaviest carved rocks to upto 100 feet high and place it on the temple roof could not design a machine to plough their fields? One should really watch the Ancient Aliens episodes on History channel to understand how the magneficient temples are built 1000s of years back. The scientists are still clueless about the exact ancient Hindu techniques of rock cutting and temple architecture. To assume that HIndus could not invent a machine to plough their fields is as crap as concluding Hindus were just cave men. The use of Oxen in ploughing is far more scientific than using modern day heavy machines. What would do with the male calf if you are not going to use it in agriculture? Eat it? or keep feeding it in its cows shed? This is the best way to utilize a strong animal in harmony with nature. A farmer hardly needs 2-3 oxen for agriculture, whereas needs more milk yielding cows to feed his family. The birth rate of female calves to the male is at an average 3:1. The nature is so perfect !! If you think this is animal cruelty then you are a hypocrite. Why should your mother do the household work, cook for you and father should toil hard outside to feed you? Imagine a life without these two pillars? can you do everything on your own? Wash your clothes, work and earn for yourself, cook for yourself? So can i conclude you are cruel to your mother and father because you make them work for you? Not!! Similarly, everything in India is designed for a purpose. Indians are not barbaric, they plough their fields using oxens only to a certain age. After that, they are rested in the cow shed for the life time. We not only feed them with love, we worship them like we worship our mother. There is a complete natural menu for their fodder to keep them healthy and strong. 8. These methods are very primitive. They are no more effective to feed 7 billion people on this earth. You must be kidding to justify these methods in 21st century. Ans : I am not kidding, but these are the best methods. Find a solution to growing increase in population, dont blame the food cultivation methods. The more you alter these methods, the more you will push the land towards being barren. Every kind of soil around the world has a certain capacity of yielding any crop. Any method to alter its productivity will give adverse results. The finest example of this is the use of chemical fertilizers in India in the name of green revolution. Soil fertility is measured with various parameters, its natural chemicals and their composition, Acidity, Organice matter, Cation Exchange Capacity, Organic carbon etc. Usage of chemical fertiliser and heavy machines alters the nature's balance and therefore reducing the fertility of the soil. So with every crop, the soil fertility will be degraded and will need more chemicals every time. More chemicals means more need for water to keep the soil moist! The land is bound to die after few cycles! I am not listing down the issues created by chemically grown food. We all know it very well. So, the Only solution to this problem is cow based agriculture. Indians have always known how to utilize nature and not extort it. Cow product based manure has been proven to be the best compost for any kind of agriculture in the world. Cow dung and cow urine mixed with other herbals extracts and agricultural worms have yielded far better results than modern methods and even increased the fertility of the land. To keep your soil healthy and fertile, a cow is a must. Benefits of cow based manure: The highest rice, wheat , pulses, grains , vegetables and fruits are produced in the tropical countries like India, china, Thailand, Indonesia etc. Food produced in the entire world is equivalent to feed 14 billion people. Twice as much as the world population. Wondering what happens to the food? And this is produced using traditional methods. 9 billion humans worth food is actually consumed by the meat producing industry to grow fatter animals. Then animals are force fed with this food to produce more and more flesh. And the same flesh is consumed by the affluent rich countries who can afford read meat while the close to 2 billion of us on this planet sleep empty stomach. Worth it ? We can feed the entire world with just half of the food production, half of the water to produce that food, half of the land and resources to cultivate the same food. See the difference? Just giving away meat can reverse the global warming. 2 Kilos of rice can feed 20 people while 1 pound of beef can feed 5 people. 1 kilo is rice is produced at an average of 25 litres of water and one pound of beef is produced with 2000 litres of water. Did it concern you yet ? 9. Why should i not kill the cow and eat its meat after it pauses to give milk? Its a burden to on me to keep feeding it. A fully grown cow fetches me a 40000 rupees to 1 lakh depending upon the breed. Its a win win situation for me and the butcher, leather tanner etc.. Its provides livelihood for so many people. Why Should you oppose a killing of useless cow? Ans : We Indians are rational and practical not barbaric.Our thought process is not driven by business which only looks at benefits and balance sheets. Let us divert the topic to our families. What would do to your mother once she is old and completely dependant on you for a living? Would you send her to a butcher because she is no more useful to you or she is burden on you ? Am i Sounding ridiculous? So why cant you apply the same logic to a cow which has fed you for so long, worked for you for decades, fed you with ghee, butter, paneer and what not,nourished your children, gave you a healthy life ??? Lets talk Business, probably that is the only way you will understand. How much do you value a cow of its life time? Says 15 litres of milk a day for 20 years? consider 30/litre. 30*15 *365 *20 =3285000 rupees? Plus additional 50000 rupees if you sell it to the butcher for meat. 3335000/- and say if you have spent 200000/- rs on its food and care, your net profit is just 3135000/-. Does that make you a good businessman ? Lets see. Lets calculate in the Indian way.These figures that i am quoting are not hypothetical, they are already being used and records are available. An average Indian cow gives you around 5-8 kilos of cow dung, 3-4 litres of Urine and 20 litres of milk per day. Cow urine is sold for making compost mixture and medicine at a rate of 20rs/litre. 20rs*4litres*365days*35 years = 1022000/- only with cow urine. A single kilo of Cow dung mixed with wood-ash, dry herbs and leaves can create a compost manure of 30 kilos! This is sold in the market a wholesale prices of 10rs/kilo 10rs*5kg cow dung*30kg manure*365 days*35 yrs =1,91,62,500/- Staggering !! lets us give it 50% error correction (or say 50% of it is used for your own fields). Still is close to a crore rupees in 35 years. I dont know of any equity that can fetch me so much money! 20 litres milk*30rs*365days*20 years = 4380000 /- And i am not giving my cow to the butcher for meat even if it dies naturally. I will rather bury it with full respect. We don't sell our mothers. So the total income from a business perspective = 1022000(from urine) + 10000000 (From cowdung) + 4380000 from milk = 15402000/- 1.5 crores with just one cow. Imagine with 5 cows in the shed!! Which is better? I have not calculated the amount of money it saves you on chemical fertilisers or the money you will make out of it if you market milk products like ghee or butter! Spiritual and Scientific aspect for not killing a cow for meat. Cow is a very sacred to Hindus. It is revered as a mother for all the reasons i have put earlier in this post. It is the Divine vahana of Lord Shiva. Shiva is accompanied by the White Nandi wherever he goes. It is believed that Nandi is very close to Lord Shiva and anything you wish for urself in the nandi's ears will reach Lord Shiva directly. That is why you will see people secretly telling their wishes into the Nandi's ears in the temples. We believe it is not just an animal, but a home for 33 crores Gods. During the samudra manathana it is believed that the waters in all the oceans were poisoned. To save the world from Ending Lord Shiva scoops the poison from the oceans and drinks it. Fearing that it will cause Shiva's end, Parvati asks him to spit out the venom. It is the Nandi that drinks all that venom and by the grace of Lord Shiva it survives. The moral being , cow is sacred and takes all the pain for our sake and keeps us happy. It is a non-complaining living being. You will never ever see a cow in complaining mode. Never! Biologically, human body is designed only to digest vegetarian food. Meat is alien to Human body. If we closely observe the digestive system of the herbivorous animals and Humans, the digestive system are identical. Then how come so many meat eating people do not have any problems? That is because we cook food unlike the animals. But the meat if still meat. The health issues related to Beef and meat consumption is already discussed above. It is unnatural for human body to consume meat as it is simply not designed for it. Also, we are designed by God only to eat veg food. Look at the teeth pattern of herbivorous animals and humans. We all have flat teeth with half pointed canines. Human canines are designed to cut through the vegetable fibre and not to tear into the meat. Else we would all look like Draculas! Try biting into a sugar cane or a walnut without using your canines, you will know what i am saying! 10.Then how come some western countries where primary food is meat have longer lifespan and Indians who are primarily vegetarian have shorter lifespan? Ans: There are records until the 1500s that people lived upto 250 -300 years. Buddhist monk who lived 250 years 'http://www.spiritscienceandmetaphysics.com/256-year-old-man-reveals-the-secrets-to-his-longevity/'. It is utterly false that Indians have shorter lifespan. Various factors have to be considered to get to a conclusion. The west has deliberately injected poison in our heads. Shorter Lifespan is one amongst them. More than 65% of India is poor and they do not have access to sanitation and good food. They usual suffer from Malnutrition related dieases and die sooner. So the average of the all whole country comes down to the 65 yrs. Affluent villages in Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka where agriculture is the main occupation, there the average lifespan is more than 90 years which is above the world average. There is a group of villages in Northern Karnataka where the average life span of a man is 128 years and for a woman is 133 years even today. There are various such places in Punjab and Haryana. Life style and means of food defines a lot. So let us not be fooled by the propagandist west. Effect on Nature : Beef affects the nature directly. The more you produce beef, warmer the globe gets. Just to produce more and more beef,Brazil has cut down its Amazon jungle by a staggering 20%. The Amazon rainforest has been facing severe deforestation problems for several decades, it has lost about a fifth of its forest in the past three. While there are many causes, one of the main causes is cattle ranching, particularly in Brazil. Trees are cut and the land is converted into a pasture for cattle grazing. According to one report, an estimated 70 percent of deforestation in the Amazon basin can be attributed to cattle ranching. Using these numbers, cattle ranching in the Amazon has resulted in the loss of an area larger than the state of Washington. Kindly go through the links to understand how beef production is leading to Deforestation of last known rain forests on this planet. Additional Links on how giving up beef will benefit the nature by reducing carbon footprint in the world. This the best site to study the adverse effects of ranches for beef. And How cow based industry is the only solution to all problems faced by the earth today. What do the non-hindu scriptures say? You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. And wherever you live, you must not eat the blood of any bird or animal. "'I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, "You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off." But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water. Islam on Beef: You should instead take good care of these animals and use them for your benefit. Chapter 2 of Quran is Surah Bakar or Chapter of Holy Cow. Hence Cow is holy for you and should always be nurtured. Take her milk, ghee, butter and all benefits she bestows upon human beings without torturing her or depriving her calf of mother’s milk. The Hadith of Zâd al-ma‘âd by Ibn Qayyim says that: The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “You should use cows’ milk, because it is good for health, and cows’ ghee is good for health, but beef is bad for health.” Actually, the literal meaning of the words the Prophet used is much stronger than that. He said that milk is “healing,” ghee is “medicine,” and beef is “disease.” In the Book of Medicine of the Mustadrak al-Hakîm [a classical hadith commentary by al-Hakîm al-Nîsaburî], the first hadith is: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings upon him, said: “Allah did not create any disease without creating its cure; and in cows’ milk is a cure for every disease.” The third hadith in this book says on the subject of healing: “Because the cow grazes from every kind of plant.” It does not matter if you are an atheist or liberal thinker. If u think this earth is for everyone and we have to preserve it for our own future, then cow is the only solution. Conclusion is clear, to save the country for the future generations, save the holy cow. Promote cow based industry and agriculture to save the planet from becoming a big desert. I stand by the beef ban, as my belief, my nature, my country's future, my farmers' future is far more important than your taste buds.

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The food was to die for, the portions were just right and they accommodated everyone's d Recent review: "Very good, helpful and friendly chefs. Food was of a very good quality Only comment was that the vegetarian was cooked on the same grill as the meat" About: We can cater in London and outside London depending on the size of the booking. Recent review: "We booked The Greek Way for a corporate event providing lunch for all 80 staff. Simply, the experience was brilliant! Everything went really well, the food was delicious, the portions very generous, the choice for everyone including veggies was perfect and the chefs had great smiles on all da Recent review: "I hired London Pie and Mash for my wife's surprise 40th birthday party. It is her favorite stall food and London Pie and Mash didn't let us down! It was a house party and Olac setup in our garage, and it really made the party that extra special. Highly recommended !" Recent review: "Thank you so much for wonderful food on Saturday. Everyone loved all the food and the beautiful presentation of the starter and dessert canapés. Would happily use you again and recommend you to others. Kind regards Louise"

ROOT CANAL THERAPY: What is a root canal? With over 15 million root canal procedures performed every year in Canada and U.S.A., root canal aka endodontic therapy is one of the most common dental procedures. This simple treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need of dental implants or bridges. At the center of your tooth is the pulp. Pulp is a collection of connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves that helps to build the surrounding tooth. Infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma, deep decay, fractures, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms of the infection can be identified as a visible injury, swelling, sensitivity to temperature, or discomfort in the tooth and gums. The procedure itself is meant to relieve pain experienced from dental infection. How is a root canal performed? If you experience any of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend root canal treatment to eliminate the diseased pulp. This injured pulp is removed and the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned and sealed. This therapy usually involves local anesthesia and may be completed in one or more visits depending on the treatment required. Success for this type of treatment occurs over 95% of cases. If your tooth is not amenable to endodontic treatment or the chance of success is unfavorable, you will be informed at the time of consultation or when a complication becomes evident during or after treatment. What happens after treatment? When your root canal therapy has been completed, a report of your treatment will be sent to your dentist. You should contact their office for a follow-up restoration within a few weeks of completion at our office. Your restorative dentist will decide on what type of restoration is necessary to protect your tooth. Although patients may experience minor discomfort, it is rare for endodontic patients to experience complications after routine endodontic treatment or microsurgery. If a problem does occur, we are here to help you. How much will it cost? The cost associated with this procedure can vary depending on factors such as the severity of damage to the affected tooth and which tooth is affected. In general, endodontic treatment is much less expensive than tooth extraction and replacement with an artificial tooth. With the appropriate care, your teeth that have had endodontic treatment will last as long as other natural teeth. Yet, a tooth that has received treatment may fail to heal or pain may continue to exist. Sometimes, the pain may occur months or years after treatment. If so, Endodontic Retreatment may be needed. Improper healing may be caused by: - Curved or narrow canals that were not treated during the initial treatment. - Complicated canals that went undetected during the initial treatment. - If the crown or restoration was not placed within the appropriate amount of time following the procedure. - If the crown or restoration did not prevent saliva from contaminating the inside of the tooth. In some cases, new problems can influence a tooth that was successfully treated: - New decay can expose a root canal filling material, causing infection. - A cracked or loose filling or crown can expose the tooth to new infection. Once retreatment has been selected as a solution to your problem, Drs. Wager or Bhalla will reopen your tooth to gain access to the root canal filling material. This restorative material will be removed to enable access to the root canal. Drs. Wager or Bhalla will now clean your canals and carefully examine the inside of the problematic tooth. Once cleaned, the canals are disinfected, filled and sealed followed by the placement of a temporary filling in the tooth. At this point, you will need to return to your dentist as soon as possible in order to have a new crown or restoration placed on the tooth to restore full functionality. Why would I need Endodontic Surgery (also known as Apicoectomy)? Surgery can help save your tooth in a variety of situations such as in allowing us to visualize a fracture or hidden canal(s). Usually, a tooth that has undergone a root canal can last the rest of your life and never need further endodontic treatment. However, in a few cases, a tooth may fail to heal. The tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. If this is true for you, surgery may help save your tooth. The most common surgery used to save infected, root canal treated teeth is called an apicoectomy. In some cases, this is a simpler and direct approach to target the exact cause of the infection. What is an Apicoectomy? An incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the bone and surrounding inflamed tissue. The damaged tissue is removed along with the end of the root tip. A root-end filling is placed to prevent reinfection of the root and the gum is sutured. The bone naturally heals around the root over a period of months restoring full function. What should I expect after an Apicoectomy? Following the procedure, there may be some discomfort or slight swelling while the incision heals. This is normal for any surgical procedure. To alleviate any discomfort, an appropriate pain medication will be recommended. If you have pain that does not respond to medication, please call our office. There are multiple types of cracks that can be found in teeth. Cracks in teeth usually occur due to parafuntional habits such as bruxism (grinding teeth) or clenching. Cracks or fractures can be classified into different categories: - Craze lines: these are in the outer enamel of the tooth and only affect the appearance of the tooth. They are more common in adults and do not generally require endodontic treatment. - Fractured cusps: when a cusp of a tooth becomes weakened, it may fracture off. Usually there is pain associated with a tooth or area before the fracture and subsides after the tooth has fractured off. A fractured cusp may or may not involve the nerve of a tooth. Sometimes due to the extent of the fracture, a root canal may need needed in order to restore the tooth appropriately. - Root fractures: depending on the extent of a fracture, the tooth may be treatable or may be non-salvageable. Since Drs. Wagner and Bhalla use the surgical operating microscope while performing root canals, if a crack can be visualized, they have the tools to determine how far it may extend into the root. If a fracture is resulting in a split tooth, unfortunately extraction is the best option. Sometimes, endodontic microsurgery may be needed to determine if a vertical root fracture is present. If a cracked tooth can be saved, it needs to be treated or it can result in a split tooth resulting in the loss of the tooth. Cracks or fractures can also form from traumatic injuries. When your tooth is injured or fractured, you may need to see a professional trained in dental trauma to manage these traumatic injuries quickly. Types of Traumatic Fractures: Injuries to the mouth can cause teeth to be pushed back into their sockets. Your general dentist or one of our doctors may reposition and stabilize your tooth. Root canal treatment is usually started within a few weeks of the injury and a medication, such as calcium hydroxide, will be placed inside the tooth. Eventually, a permanent root canal filling will be placed. Sometimes a tooth may be pushed partially out of the socket. Again, your general dentist or one of our doctors may reposition and stabilize your tooth. If the pulp remains healthy, then no other treatment is necessary. Yet, if the pulp becomes damaged or infected, root canal treatment will be required. If an injury causes a tooth to be completely knocked out of your mouth, it is important that you are treated immediately! If this happens to you, keep the tooth moist. If possible, put it back into the socket. A tooth can be saved if it remains moist and reimplanted within an hour or being knocked out. You can even put the tooth in milk or your own saliva. Drs. Wagner and Bhalla may start root canal treatment based upon the stage of root development. The length of time the tooth was out of your mouth and the way the tooth was stored, may influence the type of treatment you receive and the ultimate prognosis of your tooth. Injuries in children An injured immature tooth may need one of the following procedures to improve the chances of saving the tooth: - Apexogenesis: This procedure encourages the root to continue development as the pulp is healed. Soft tissue is covered with medication to encourage growth. The tip of the root (apex) will continue to close as the child gets older. In turn, the walls of the root canal will thicken. If the pulp heals, no additional treatment will be necessary. The more mature the root becomes, the better the chance to save the tooth. - Apexification: In this case, the unhealthy pulp is removed. Drs. Wagner and Bhalla will place medication into the root to help a hard tissue form near the root tip. This hardened tissue provides a barrier for the root canal filling. At this point, the root canal walls will not continue to develop, making the tooth susceptible to fractures. So it is important to have the tooth properly restored by your dentist.

I’ve come to the realization that I am always going to be a year or so behind everyone else when it comes to trying new things, be it watching a TV show, shopping certain places or trying new foods. When everyone else was watching Glee, I refused. I started watching it on netflix after season two. I then stopped mid season 4 because it sucked, but that is neither here nor there. Greys Anatomy? End of season six is when I started watching. Stopped watching that also, because they got into subject matter I disliked. I have a hard time finding a modern show I can stick with :-p I’m also that person who didn’t realize what a wonderful place Target was until about a year and a half ago. Now, like most women over 12 and under 95, it’s one of my favorite stores. When it comes to foods, same thing. I didn’t try a Macaron until about a year ago and now I love them. I still haven’t tried making them myself though. Easier just to buy them frozen at Trader Joes. 😀 I didn’t try salted caramel until MAYBE two years ago, a full couple of years after you could find salted caramel everything (salted caramel shoe leather anyone? Maybe a nice salted caramel beef tongue?) on every food page on the internet. That’s one I regret not trying sooner, but live and learn. Stubbornness has its drawbacks and I doubt I’ll be changing anytime soon. The plus though is that, when everyone else has moved past it, yet it’s still a loved flavor, like salted caramel, you don’t have to compete with 5000000 posts each day to get seen. The rest of the foodie world has moved onto marinated llama feet in a balsamic reduction, so the salted caramel treats stand out more 😀 One thing I only recently tried was the whole sweet/salty idea. Sure, I’d had chocolate covered pretzels, which I don’t care for to be honest, but the idea of purposely sprinkling salt on top of a sweet food bewildered me. Until I tried it. Just trust me on this if you’re still as hesitant as I was. Will I be sprinkling salt on a Twinkie anytime soon? No. But on chocolate? It adds an indefinable something to the flavor. I’ve made browned butter brownies more than once in here and they are still a favorite, but these are totally over the top. Moist, chewy browned butter brownies and creamy chocolate chunks, covered with gooey salted caramel, then MORE salted caramel and some coarse salt for crunch and contrast. Totally delicious! You know the drill…. Brown Butter Salted Caramel Brownies - 10 tablespoons unsalted butter - 1 1/4 cups sugar - 3/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa - 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract - 1/4 teaspoon salt - 1 teaspoon instant coffee (optional; my addition. You can’t taste it, it just rounds out the chocolate flavor) - 2 teaspoons water - 2 large eggs, cold from the fridge - 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour - 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chunks or chips - 1/2 cup good quality salted caramel sauce plus more for drizzling - coarse salt for sprinkling on top - Position oven rack in the bottom third of oven and preheat to 325 degrees. - Line an 8 inch square pan with foil, letting it hang over the edges to use as a handle later. Lightly butter or spray the foil with cooking spray. - Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the butter isn’t foaming anymore and there are browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Stir often and keep an eye on this. It can go from lovely browned butter to a smelly burned mess in no time flat. This will probably take about 5 minutes or so. - Remove from the heat and immediately add in the cocoa, sugar, water, vanilla and salt. Stir well. - Let cool five minutes. Add the cold eggs to the hot mixture, one at a time, beating well (by hand) after each addition. When the mixture is thick and glossy, add in the flour. Beat well by hand for one minute. - Stir in chocolate chips or chunks. Spread batter into the prepared pan. Drizzle the salted caramel sauce over the top of the batter. You could swirl it in if preferred, but I just let it lay on top, where it gets all bubbly and more or less melts into the batter. - Bake at 325 for about 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out almost, but not quite, clean. Cool the pan on a rack then lift out by the edges of the paper. Cut into 16 squares. Drizzle more salted caramel over the top of the brownies and sprinkle with coarse salt. Enjoy! Copyright Notice: From Cupcakes To Caviar images and original content are copyright protected. Please do not publish these materials anywhere without prior permission.

Our Energy-Efficient Method As the cost of building materials increases, Canadian Spray Foam Solutions Ltd. adheres to the demands of energy efficient home building in Saskatoon by using spray polyurethane foam insulation. This multifunctional solution can be applied to walls, ceilings, floors, foundations, piping, attics, and crawl spaces. We use Bayseal CC, which begins as a liquid and expands. This single product can serve as an air barrier, vapor retarder, and insulation material. Structures with this type of insulation provide an aged R-value of 6.9 per inch while adding structural strength to walls and roof decks and keeping out pollen and dust. Closed-cell foam insulation can be installed in one day. For the construction crew, this insulation product allows you to downsize HVAC equipment, creating an unvented attic air for air handling units and ductwork to operate more efficiently. Bayseal CC can also withstand prolonged contact with water without damage. This product also eliminates thermal bridging and provides framing flexibility. It even reduces damages to walls and structural framing in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster. Closed-cell spray foam insulation is one of the most advanced insulating materials available to the construction industry. Closed-cell spray foam insulation for residential applications reduces moisture transmission and minimizes sound transmission. Mold is a common concern, and conventional insulation can lead to the growth of mold on organic debris that gets trapped under this type of insulation. Closed-cell spray foam insulation helps keep the indoor humidity at a level for which the growth of mildew and allergens can be minimized. Reducing moisture and controlling humidity can also add years to the life expectancy of a home. Air control is also improved in the use of this type of insulation. Eliminating unwanted air and heat exchange decreases the amount of moist air that leaks through the house, which will reduce adverse effects of mold and mildew. Controlling the air in your home effectively also prevents the cool or warm air you pay to heat or cool from escaping and being wasted.

The Moto-Bator provides clever dual action stimulation for your member, using two independent motors to create powerful suction and thrusting motions. The main cylinder is designed to replicate an amazing oral sex experience that is deep and satisfying. Once you pass the soft and inviting lips, which create a gorgeous suction seal around your cock, there are soft pleasure nubs inside the sleeve. As the motor moves back and forth these nubs massage your shaft, creating totally orgasmic sensations. Both the suction and the thrusting motion are accomplished hands-free because of the internal motors, which each have different settings for your preference. The thrusting motor has two difference intensities, whereas the pressure can be built up and released as you please with a simple buttons. The soft internal ABS plastic Stroker can be removed and cleaned very easily. The outer shell is incredibly durable, ergonomic and comfortable to hold, with the soft grip section for added pleasure and control. The Motor-Bator also comes with a handy prep kit including 3 designer silicone C-rings to get the most out of your member. It also includes Moist Body Lotion for lubrication, Refresh Toy Cleaner for easy clean up.

and Cornmeal, Pecans, Sesame Seeds, Coriander, and Cumin Yield 16 servings as a snack, or 8 servings to accompany a meal Suggested Music Track: Soundtrack “Wounds of Sorrow” by Arabian Knightz (featuring Sofia Baig) from UKnighted State of Arabia Dukkah is an Egyptian mixture of nuts, seeds, and spices enjoyed throughout the Middle East and North Africa. From all available evidence, there is no standard recipe; Dukkah varies depending on ingredients available, region, and family. It’s typically eaten as a snack or hors d’oeuvre on bread, by dipping the bread into olive oil then into the Dukkah. Therefore, I thought it would make a wonderful addition to skillet cornbread, a Southern staple. Of course, you can always make a streamlined version of this cornbread without the Dukkah. But once you make a batch of Dukkah, you can also sprinkle it on salads or vegetables for a burst of texture and flavor. Although I initially imagined this cornbread being cut into small squares and served as a snack, it can certainly accompany a meal. In fact, I suggest having it with Sweet Potato and Lima Bean Tagine. I don’t add any sugar to this recipe because authentic Southern cornbread typically doesn’t include it, but I suppose you could add a tablespoon or two of raw cane sugar to the dry ingredients if you absolutely need a sweet element. This cornbread also makes fantastic croutons, which I like to serve along with my recipe for Stewed Tomatoes and Black-Eyed Peas. 1¾ cups yellow cornmeal ¼ cup unbleached all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt ¼ cup Dukkah 2 tablespoons finely ground golden flaxseeds 6 tablespoons water 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, homemade or store-bought ¼ cup Creamed Cashews 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest ¼ cup coconut oil, melted, plus more for oiling Preheat the oven to 425° F. Put the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and Dukkah in a medium bowl and mix well. In a separate medium bowl, combine the flaxseeds and water and stir with a fork until well blended. Add the almond milk, cashew cream, vinegar, orange zest, and the ¼ cup oil and whisk until well blended. Oil a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, then put it in the oven. After the skillet has heated for 3 minutes, pour the almond milk mixture into the cornmeal mixture and mix gently just until the dry ingredients are moist; don’t overmix, or the texture of the cornbread will suffer. Remove the skillet from the oven and scrape the batter into it, spreading it in an even layer. Bake for about 20 minutes, until golden brown and firm to the touch, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Cut into even pieces and serve hot. Yield about ½ cup 7 tablespoons finely chopped pecans, toasted 2 tablespoons black sesame seeds, toasted ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt 2 teaspoons coriander seeds, toasted 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, toasted Put the pecans, sesame seeds, and salt in a small bowl. Combine the coriander and cumin seeds in a mortar and pound with a pestle until smashed but not finely ground. Add to the pecans and mix well. Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed By Bryant Terry Photography by Paige Green Ten Speed Press 2014

Ilex Opaca.—American Holly. Related entry: Prinos.—Black Alder The leaves of Ilex opaca, Aiton. COMMON NAME: American holly. Botanical Source.—This tree rises from 20 to 40 feet in height, having leaves which are alternate, coriaceous, evergreen, smooth, and shining, flat, oval, acute at the end, and the wavy margins armed with strong, scattered, spiny teeth. The flowers are small, greenish-white, arranged in scattered clusters along the base of the young branches, and borne from the axils of the leaves. The calyx is persistent; the calyx-teeth acute. The corolla is rotate, monopetalous, and 4-cleft; the stamens erect and alternate with the divisions. The ovary is globular, and 4-celled. Stigmas 4, subsessile, and obtuse. The fruit is a red, globular berry of 4 cells; the nutlets are 4 and striate (G.—W.). History and Chemical Composition.—The holly is found growing throughout the United States from Maine to Louisiana, in moist woodlands, and flowering in June. It is quite common to the Atlantic states, especially New Jersey. The viscid substance of the inner bark, like the mistletoe berry, furnishes an adhesive material known as birdlime. The berries are about as large as a whortleberry, of a red color, and an acrid, bitterish taste. The leaves are the medicinal parts. They have a bitter, somewhat harsh taste, but no odor, and yield their virtues to water or alcohol. They are believed to contain ilicin (see Related Species), wax, gum, salts, etc. (For the preparation of Rousseau's ilicin, see this Dispensatory, last revision.) Mr. D. P. Pancoast (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1856, Vol. XXVIII, p. 315) prepared from the leaves of American holly an aqueous decoction from which the bitterness was removed by charcoal, and subsequently abstracted from the latter by alcohol. An amorphous, non-hygroscopic, intensely bitter mass resulted upon evaporation of the solvent, partially soluble in water, and completely soluble in alcohol and ether. It could not be obtained in the crystallized state. By the same process the author isolated from the berries a crystallizable, very bitter principle, soluble in ether, water, and alcohol. Acids precipitate it from aqueous solution. The fruit contains tannin. Mr. Walter A. Smith (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1887, p. 230) obtained from the leaves, by extraction with benzin, a volatile oil of an acrid, mustard-like odor, and also identified a glucosid. The leaves contained 4.5 per cent of ash. Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Holly leaves are tonic and febrifuge; said to be very efficient in the treatment of intermittent fevers, in doses of 60 grains of their powder administered 1 or 2 hours previous to the chill. The infusion has also proved beneficial in icterus, pleuritis, catarrh, variola, arthritis, etc. The berries are said to be emeto-cathartic and cholagogue; from 8 to 15 of them will act as a hydragogue. According to Dr. Rousseau, ilicin acts decidedly upon the spleen, liver, and pancreas, producing a sedative effect, and is a cheap substitute for quinine. Its dose is 10 grains in pill form, gradually increased to 30 grains. Related Species.—Ilex aquifolium, Linné, European holly, together with several other species in this country, possess properties similar to those of American holly. Dr. F. Moldenhauer has found in the leaves a crystalline yellow coloring matter, which is scarce in the leaves when they are collected in January, but abundant when gathered in August. It is soluble in alcohol or hot water, but insoluble in ether of cold water, loses its color at 185° C. (365° F.), and fuses at 197.7° C. (388° F.), decomposing slightly above this temperature. He gave it the name ilixanthin (C17H22O11). He also isolated from the aqueous extract the crystallizable calcium salt of a syrupy acid, ilicic acid. Ilicin is the bitter principle upon which the febrifuge properties of the leaves depend; it has not been obtained as yet in a pure state. The leaves have been used in intermittent fevers and rheumatism, and the berries in dropsy. The leaves produce gastric heat, nausea, and colic. The berries have emeto-cathartic properties. Ilex Cassine, Walter (Ilex vomitoria, of Aiton), or South Sea tea, an evergreen shrub, growing in the southern states, is the Cassine of the Indians. It is also known as Cassena, Yaupon or Youpon. A liquid, called black drink, is prepared by boiling the toasted leaves in water; in the performance of their religious rites, and on great occasions when in council, the men only are permitted to drink this, for the purpose of cleansing their systems. The leaves have a rough, aromatic taste, no odor, and in large doses their decoction causes active emesis, catharsis, and diuresis; in small quantity it greatly increases the urinary discharge. A few leaves of this plant lessen the injurious influence of saline water, and it is used for this purpose by persons along the sea shore in North Carolina. According to the analysis of Dr. F. P. Venable (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1885, p. 390), the dried leaves contain 0.32 per cent of caffeine, 7.39 per cent of tannin, and 5.75 per cent of ash. Mr. Henry M. Smith (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1872, p. 216) found 0.011 per cent of a volatile oil, 3.4 per cent of resin, and 0.122 per cent of caffeine. (For a detailed and exhaustive article on Ilex Cassine see monograph by Edwin M. Hale, M. D., Bulletin No. 14, Division of Botany, U. S. Department of Agriculture.) Ilex paraguayensis, St. Hilaire; Argentine Republic, and Brazil.—This tree yields Paraguay tea or Yerba maté, St. Bartholomew's tea or Jesuit's tea, which is consumed in immense quantities in South America in place of Chinese tea. Its effects are said to more nearly resemble coca than tea. The plant grows along water courses, and from December to August collecting parties gather the leaves which, after a preparatory torrification to enhance their aroma, are powdered and enter into commerce and are sold to be prepared by infusion like common tea. Their chief constituent is caffeine, which exists in quantities varying from 0.2 per cent to 1.8 per cent, the average yield (Peciolt) being 0.64 per cent. Tannin (matetannic acid) is present in amounts of from 10 to 16 per cent (A. Robbins, Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1878, p. 273). The leaves are most aromatic just before the fruit is ripe. Volatile oil, a stearopten, and a crystallizable acid, mateviridic acid, have also been obtained from the leaves. The infusion of Paraguay tea is diuretic and sudorific, and in excessive doses acts as a drastic purgative. (For an interesting article on maté or Paraguay tea, see Th. Peckolt, Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1883, p. 570.)

Vacuum Sealer Benefits Vacuum sealers are great for a variety of reasons: (1) economy, (2) freshness, (3) convenience, and (4) for cooking. There are a lot of ways that a vacuum sealer will save you money. You can keep leftovers longer, store seasonal produce longer, buy things on sale and in bulk, and store your garden vegetables longer. If you eat leftovers, you know that a lot of people simply throw away a lot of food. The food budget is significant because it is one of the budgets that, if well-managed, can make a big difference in the typical families expendable income. Some people will simply vacuum seal their leftovers as if it is a TV dinner or else they will seal a portion of the meal for a future date. It is really up to you. If you do not want leftovers several days in a row, a good vacuum sealer can mitigate that problem. Then, you can happily pull out the future leftovers when it sound appealing again. If you do not eat leftovers, economy is still on your side. You can purchase seasonal fruits and vegetables when they are extra fresh and inexpensive. Then, you can use a vacuum sealer to reserve the fruits and vegetables for a long time. This process also works with meat. Some people buy meat, in bulk, and freeze it to save a lot of money. What you may notice is that a lot of people lose a large amount of their gardens and they will also not be able to buy large seasonal items in bulk because they have not figured economic ways to store things. Most people agree that fresh garden produce tastes better than store-bought produce that is much older. The fact that food is fresh makes a big difference in the taste. Also, items that are in season have a much better flavor than out of season items. When you purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, in season, it follows that your frozen fruits and vegetables will have much better flavor. If you care about how the food tastes, this is a big deal for you. It is convenient to have a way to store your meats and fruits and vegetables long-term. It is more convenient to be able to store something long-term and then eat it as you wish. If you are under pressure to eat food before it spoils, that is not convenient. It is also convenient to have freshly sealed items on hand. Many people love to pull out their garden produce that has been sealed and use it. If you put away a lot of your favorite items, it makes cooking a lot more convenient. For example, if you love fresh green beans, vacuum seal a bunch of them in the Summer and eat them all Winter long. There are cooking benefits to a vacuum sealer. For one thing, you can marinade meats and seal it that way for easy cooking. Some people find that they simply like to combing ingredients into a vacuum sealer pouch because it locks in all the flavors and keeps thing moist. You can also dehydrate fruits and vegetables and then use the vacuum sealer to make discharged soups. A popular way of cooking is called sous vide (French for under vacuum). We all know how much the French love food. What they do is to combing the ingredients into a vacuum sealed pouch and then cook it in the pouch. If you have ever ate this kind of food, you know how tender and moist everything is. What vacuum sealers are known for is locking in flavor and moisture. Lots of flavor and tender moist meat makes meals taste great. If you watch cooking shows, you may have seen this cooking technique in action. Some of the chefs on the Food Network use chamber vacuum sealers for this type of cooking. A popular trend is that of the chamber vacuum sealer. Historically, chamber sealers were only used in high-end gourmet kitchens. However, nowdays the price of chamber vacuum sealers is coming down so that many homeowners are purchasing them.

If you like lemon, you’re going to love these bars. They’re packed with bold lemon flavor and not for the faint of heart. I’ve seen recipes on Pinterest for similar bars that are called lemon blondies, lemon brownies, or lemon lemonies. My fast, easy, no-mixer version is heavy on the lemon zing and lemonies seems the most fitting. They’re the lemon equivalent of moist, fudgy brownies with zero traces of cakiness. They’re tooth-sinkingly dense with subtle buttery undertones like blondies have. The bars themselves are not super lemony, thanks to melted white chocolate that’s stirred into the batter, but the glaze is pretty zippy. If you want to dial back the overall lemon intensity of the dessert, halve the recipe for the glaze, and drizzle it on like this, rather than flooding the entire surface. But with lemon desserts, I generally prefer bold lemon flavor, and nothing is every too lemony for my daughter. She picks lemons slices out of ice water and eats them as if they were orange slices. Pucker much. After pouring the glaze over the warm bars right as they emerge from the oven, it sets up, seeps into the bars, and makes them even moister, softer, and more lemony. With each bite of a lemonie, I wanted another. It’s the type of food that the more you have, the more you want. The boldly tart-yet-sweet element really kept me going back to straighten the rows. And the texture is exactly what I want in bars. Dense, rich, moist, chewy, and thick enough to be so satisfying. Between my row straightening and my family’s love for lemon things, the lemonies disappeared fast. This fast, easy, no-mixer recipe is perfect for lemon lovers because the bars are packed with bold lemon flavor. They’re the lemon equivalent of moist, fudgy brownies with zero traces of cakiness. They’re tooth-sinkingly dense with subtle buttery undertones like blondies have. The bars themselves are not super lemony thanks to melted white chocolate in the batter, but the glaze is. Dial back the overall lemon intensity of the dessert by halving the glaze recipe, and drizzling it on rather than covering the entire surface. As the glaze sets up and seeps into the bars, it makes them even moister, softer, and more lemony. The boldly tart-yet-sweet element, combined with the thick, dense, chewy texture makes the lemonies richly satisfying. 3/4 cup white chocolate chips 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted 2 large eggs 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour pinch salt, optional and to taste 2 cups confectioners’ sugar about 1/3 cup lemon juice, or as necessary for consistency about 1 tablespoon lemon zest, or to taste - Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside. - Bars – In a large, microwave-safe bowl add the white chocolate, butter, and heat to melt, about 2 minutes on high power. Stop to check and stir after 1 minute, and then heat in 20-second bursts, stopping to stir after each burst, until mixture can be stirred smooth. White chocolate is very prone to scorching and seizing up, so watch it carefully and don’t overheat. - Wait momentarily before adding the eggs so you don’t scramble them. Add the eggs, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and whisk until combined. - Add the flour, optional salt, and stir until just combined; don’t overmix. - Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula. - Bake for about 27 to 28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter; set aside and make the glaze. - Glaze – In a medium bowl, add 2 cup confectioners’ sugar, 1/3 cup lemon juice, and whisk until smooth. As necessary, add additional lemon juice (or sugar) to reach desired glaze consistency. I used slightly over 1/3 cup lemon juice. Glaze should be fairly thin and easily pourable. - Evenly pour glaze over bars, smoothing it lightly with a spatula if necessary, but glaze will likely just slide into place. - Evenly sprinkle with lemon zest. - Allow bars to cool in pan uncovered for at least 2 to 3 hours, (or overnight and cover with a sheet of foil) before slicing and serving so glaze can set up. Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or simply link back to this post for the recipe. Thank you. The Best Lemon Bars – Truly the best lemon bars I’ve ever had Pink Lemonade Freezer Bars (no-bake) – Fast, easy, refreshing freezer bars Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting – Soft, fluffy, moist, very lemony cupcakes from scratch! Easy one-bowl, no-mixer recipe for cupcakes that taste like they’re from a bakery 5-Calorie Raspberry Lime Margarita Fizz (non-alcoholic, vegan, gluten-free) – 5-Calorie Raspberry Lime Margarita Fizz (non-alcoholic) – Cool, refreshing & won’t break your caloric bank with only 5 calories!

There are a number of traditions my family has every year. One that is shared amongst most families in America is that there is always a ton of food. As has been the case the past several years, we go to my mom’s sister’s for lunch, and to my dad’s mom’s for dinner – effectively having two Thanksgiving meals. It’s a great compromise I think. The food is pretty American with some Chinese dishes and influences. Turkey has never really been the centerpiece, but it’s always been included for ‘tradition sake.’ Lunch is served buffet-style, and is largely a potluck from a number of families, led by my aunt. Here we have fried wontons, Caesar salad, carved turkey and pork ribs. The turkey was beautifully carved and presented (see below for a close-up). The pork ribs are cooked low and slow over charcoal for a couple of hours to ensure they are moist and tender to the point that they are just about falling off the bone. Two of the main recurring sides each year are chinese sticky rice and chow mein. These both are made in huge quantities and pre-packed to aid in the leftovers process. There were an array of homemade desserts, including an apple-cranberry-nut tart below (there was another fancier tart-like word, but I don’t remember what that was). Also, there were a couple of pies made by Elizabeth Faulkner herself (of Citizen Cake, and Iron Chef America and Top Chef Masters fame). My cousin’s cousin’s husband works for her, and she gave them as a holiday gift. Naturally, I had to try these. There was a pecan pie I was expecting a lot from these pies given Faulkner’s resume. The pecan was first. The filling broke apart so easily that the first slices did not resemble a pie, rather clumps of filling over some crust. I found the crust to be a little underbaked, and the filling was kind of unremarkable. Now, I’m not a huge pecan pie person anyways, but the flavors of pecan, chocolate and whiskey didn’t do it for me. Next was the pumpkin pie, which was a lot better. The filling was smooth and pumpkin-cinnamon tasting, and the crust was nice and flaky here. Definitely closer to what I was expecting the pies to be. Dinner is a more traditional family-around-the-dinner table affair. Most everything is prepared by my grandmother. The centerpiece, as has been for as long as I can remember, is a roast of beef – in this case, a New York strip loan roast. Sweet Stop’s cakes are consistently moist and tasty, and this one was not an exception. We come to them for cakes for pretty much every special occasion. Two days later, I still feel full recounting all this food. Though, I’m already anticipating what will be cooked up for Christmas this year!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! What screams love more than chocolate and berries? Cheesecake. I vote for cheesecake every time. I decided to take my favorite chocolate cheesecake recipe and add in a little raspberry flavor. Just to make it extra special I included a brownie crust! This triple chocolate raspberry cheesecake is perfect for any day of the week, but extra special for a holiday. You guys! My life has been insanely busy the past month. Usually I am really good at finding balance, but I’ve honestly been a little overwhelmed. I told you all I started a new job back in November so I’ve been putting a lot of time into working, plus Patrick and I got engaged! So we have been planning the wedding and trying to come up with a lifestyle change for our diets. I ran out and renewed my gym membership. I bought lots of planners to organize my recipes and ideas for kelliericecakes.com! And now we just found out we need to move within the next few months! So far I’ve been to the gym zero times and my blog ideas end up on post-its in my purse haha! I know I will find my balance again soon. What is really important to me is providing you all quality recipes and content. Last year I became a brand ambassador for Rodelle Vanilla! They are truly my all time favorite baking brand and I thought there is no better way to kick off February than to post a dessert using two of my most used ingredients. Ok now just imagine taking a bite and tasting a layer of fudge brownie, a layer of creamy rich chocolate raspberry cheesecake, dark chocolate ganache, and if you are a little extra like me you can make this chocolate whipped cream! Layers of chocolate and raspberry come together to create a decedent cheesecake. 1 box of fudge brownie mix (follow directions on box to make batter) 3 (8oz) blocks of cream cheese room temperature ½ box of sugar free raspberry jello 1 cup of sugar 1 tsp of organic chocolate extract ½ cup of organic cocoa powder 3 eggs room temperature 4 cups of dark chocolate chips ¼ cup of milk 1 cup and 2 tbsp of cream 1 tsp of instant espresso another ¼ cup of cocoa powder 1 tbsp of sugar Preheat the oven to 350 degrees spray or grease a spring form pan pour brownie batter into the pan and bake for 10 minutes in a mixer whip the cream cheese and sugar add in the extract and eggs heat the milk just before boiling and pour over 2 cups of chocolate chips, stir to help chips melt completely add half the box of jello into the batter then the melted chocolate whip until you don't see any cream cheese chunks pour cheesecake batter into the spring form pan over the brownie batter bake 35-40 minutes until the top looks set but has a slight jiggle (it may take a littler longer depending on your oven) turn off the oven crack the door and let cool once easy to handle put in the fridge to finish cooling once completely chilled start making the ganache in a microwave safe bowl pour 2 tbsp of cream and espresso powder over 2 cups of chocolate and melt in intervals careful not to burn the chocolate drizzle over the cheesecake in a chilled bowl whip the cream with sugar and cocoa powder until you have light fluffy whipped cream You may have noticed the additional whipped cream on top of the chocolate whipped cream… my story is I had a little prepared whipped cream leftover that I just haaaaaaaaad to use up. And I’m sticking to it! Okay. That’s it. I am convinced that beef short rib meat is the only meat I will ever need. forever. Something about it just always results in the most tender juicy bites. Even though we have a constant rotation of beans, beef, chicken, various sea foods, and pork I always end up back at beef short ribs. We use them in every kind of recipe. So it shouldn’t surprise you that short rib chili is up next! I’ve always grown up eating ground beef chili or turkey chili. When I met Patrick he never liked any ground meats in my recipes. So I would start butchering my own cuts of meat tailored to the recipe. This short rib chili was made in the instapot. It is packed with flavor and ready in 30 minutes. You can definitely skip the meat in this version and have a vegetarian chili. I promise it would be just as good. This whole recipe really comes down to one very special ingredient. Rodelle organic cocoa powder. I’ve been putting cocoa in my chili for years, but something about the Rodelle cocoa really takes it over the edge. It is such a dark pure powder that pairs perfect with the chili spices. You can’t taste cocoa at all. It just gives the flavors so much more depth. This is the kind of meal I want in cold weather after a long day at work. It is so warm and filling. Perfect with a generous sprinkle of sharp cheddar. My favorite foods always incorporate some sort of fusion. We love foods from all cultures and sometimes we are torn between multiple dinner ideas. The easiest way to compromise is to fuse the two! PS. my mom gave us an insta pot for Christmas and we have used it almost every single day since. I seriously cannot recommend the insta pot enough. It makes life so easy during the week. You can make a full meal in 20 minutes. Mind blown. The filling is delicious enough to stand alone. So if you wanted to make this even lower carb you can use a lettuce wrap instead. We used low carb mission tortilla wraps and went very light handed on the rice. A layer of sesame ginger rice, teriyaki chicken, cheese, pico, sour cream, and hot sauce. Plus lots and lots of fresh lime juice. I will probably need to make these again this week after writing this. All my favorite flavors wrapped up together. Not sure what else I can ask for in a dinner! Sesame ginger rice, teriyaki chicken, cheese, sour cream and hot sauce! 1 pound chicken thighs ½ cup of teriyaki sauce 1 tsp brown sugar 1 tsp of garlic powder 1 tsp of cayenne pepper 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple 1 cup chopped onions 2 cups of cooked basmati rice 1 tsp of dried ginger 1 tsp of black sesame seeds or toasted sesame seeds 1 tsp of butter pico de gallo (chopped tomato, white onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice) low carb tortillas In a roasting pan lay out the chicken thighs and season with brown sugar, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Cover with onions and pineapple then drizzle teriyaki on top. Bake for 30 minutes, cool and shred. If making in an instant pot- use saute feature to brown the chicken and onions, switch to the stew/meat button. Season with salt pepper, cayenne, garlic, brown sugar, pineapple, and teriyaki. Cook for 15 minutes. Mix basmati rice with melted butter, ginger, and sesame seeds. Season with salt and pepper. Fill tortilla with rice, chicken, cheese, sour cream, and pico. Squeeze lots of lime over the top Serve with hot sauce Are you ready to run out and make these? I promise you will not regret it! One of our favorite new go to meals during the week. So fast, easy, and delish! 2018 is here! I can’t believe how fast the holidays flew by for us! I know everyone usually says “new year. new you”, but this year I have a wedding to get ready for! My game plan is a better healthier version of myself. We already cleaned up all the holiday decorations and removed a lot of the holiday sweets from the house. Now I am not a big snack person, but I think that is what has been holding me back. So instead of my usual one medium meal and one big meal a day I am going to have tiny meals throughout the day. I have also decided to give up diet coke Sunday-Friday. If I do well during the week I’m going to allow myself to have it on Saturdays because it really is my all time favorite treat. One of my favorite foods in the world are burritos. Breakfast, lunch or dinner there is a burrito for every time of the day. Obviously burritos are not going to help me on my health journey so I had to think outside of the tortilla. Burrito bowls are my go to at places like Chipotle, but I wanted to make it a little bit healthier. You can definitely switch out the ingredients that I used to make it even lower in calories. The most important ingredient for me is the homemade pico de gallo. I could eat this on literally anything. Yesterday I had some red pepper hummus and celery, but I topped each bite with pico because I am obsessed! I had so many recipes planned for December! Sorry I have not had a chance to post very much. I have had a very very busy month. I was with my company for 11 years and I suddenly had a great opportunity to make a very big career change. The beginning of December I moved to a new company and started a completely different career! On top of that I have some very big news!!!! Patrick proposed! He surprised me with my mom’s original engagement diamond which is what I’ve wanted since I was a little girl. It has just been a whirl wind ever since! I think I’ve taken maybe 4 days off this entire month. The cool thing is I still have been creating recipes and pictures so I will have tons of content for the new year! I hope you all understand why I needed the sudden time off! Wowee that was a mouth full! This chewy brown sugar cookies are rolled in coconut then toasted to perfection before filling the middle with chocolate hazelnut spread. These cookies stayed perfectly soft and chewy for several days after baking! I honestly liked them even better the day after baking. They were delicious warm from the oven, but the brown sugar was so much more prominent the following day. If you aren’t a fan of coconut you can easily skip it, but I looooooved toasted coconut! Rodelle launched another cookie campaign this year and I am so excited to be a part of it! A lot of the brand ambassadors came together to bring you Cookies By The Dozen ! Check out the link to see all the other cookie recipes! These are easy to package for gift giving! While the center never truly sets you can layer with parchment paper to avoid a mess. I think they look amazing in cookie tins. I used a healthy amount of Rodelle Vanilla Extract and a sprinkle of the Rodelle Organic Cocoa. These cookies remind me of a super soft chocolate chip cookie, minus the chocolate chips! This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pagoda®.The opinions and text are all mine. The holidays are almost here! We are planning a holiday game night soon and I have been trying to come up with fast easy appetizer recipes. Last year for our Christmas game night we prepared a lot of sandwich platters. This year I wanted to try something our guests could just pop into their mouth instead of having them put together a sandwich. I know the traditional appetizer is a dip of some sort, but we usually are not very traditional when it comes to our food! We love big bold flavors. If you have been following my blog for a while, you already know we love going out to eat dumplings and egg rolls. I know not everyone has easy access to authentic restaurants so I was planning on making dumplings and egg rolls by hand! As busy as the holiday season is I knew I would never have time and how many of my readers would have time? Thankfully Pagoda® carries a variety of appetizers! My two favorites are definitely the Pagoda Chicken Egg Rolls and the Pork Potstickers. The egg rolls come individually wrapped and the potstickers come in 2 packets making it easy not to waste anything! You can make them party ready by slicing the egg rolls into bite size pieces. My guests usually prefer something on the spicy side so I sprinkled a little crushed red pepper and fresh jalapeno over the top of the dumplings. I served my egg rolls with a side of cabbage and my dumplings with just a little of the dipping sauce drizzled over the top. Just imagine your favorite holiday platter loaded with these super tasty bites! We always have lots of disposable chopsticks on hand for our guests. These holiday treats are great in one or two bites and will be easy to grab with chopstick confidence! If you have ever been to an Asian market you know how hard it is to find a sauce to go along with your recipe. We have countless bottles of dumpling sauce experiments in our pantry. When you buy Pagoda they provide the perfect serving sauce in the box! The egg rolls come with a sweet chili dipping sauce, while the dumplings have a savory lime ponzu sauce. Additionally, Pagoda snacks are made with no certified artificial dyes, no MSG, no trans fats, no PHOs, no high fructose corn syrup, and no preservatives! Publix is currently running a digital coupon just in time for the holidays. You can check out the Publix weekly digital coupons here to save money on your next Pagoda snacks! Hot and crispy appetizers with barely any prep time? Ready in 20 minutes? Sign me up! We are all about some turkey in our house. I love trying different cooking methods in search of the perfect juicy bird. For those of you that do not want to go the traditional route this year I definitely recommend trying a beef roast. It is even easier to prep than a turkey and it is absolutely delicious with all the traditional Thanksgiving sides. The chimichurri is so fresh! I love drizzling it over the roast and veggies. Honestly we like dipping super soft rolls into our sauce too! I like a super thick crust on my roast. You do not have to char your meat as much as I did, but I promise it was fantastic! I just love the difference in textures between a crunchy seasoned crust and super juicy buttery meat. Smoked Gouda mashed potatoes are totally optional, but a big must in our house! The meat is so perfect by itself you could just roast off whatever veggies you have and serve. My all time favorite sandwiches consist of prime rib or roast beef. Layers of beef with a horseradish mayo, fresh lettuce, tomato, and peppers with some sort of melty cheese. I blame my dad. To this day he lives to find hole in the wall restaurants with incredible prime rib sandwiches. Flavorful crusted beef roast with fresh chimichurri. For the beef- One beef roast or prime rib round 8 pounds (more or less based on your serving needs) 5 garlic cloves smashed 2 tsp of sea salt or kosher salt 2 tsp fresh cracked pepper 1 tsp of garlic powder 1 tsp of dried oregano 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp of crushed red pepper 2 tbsp of butter, melted 1 cup of water ¼ cup of soy sauce ⅛ cup of Worcestershire sauce 2 tsp olive oil For the chimichurri: 1 cup of chopped fresh parsley ½ cup of chopped fresh basil 1 garlic clove ¼ cup of olive oil 2 tbsp of red wine vinegar juice from one large lemon salt and pepper 1 tsp of honey Use a fork to poke holes all over the beef roast In a large bowl mix together the water, Worcestershire, soy sauce, red pepper, garlic, sugar Add the beef and marinade in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes Dry the beef with paper towels and sprinkled liberally with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano Preheat the oven to 325 degrees In a large pan add a little olive oil and on medium high heat sear the meat on each side Move to a roasting pan and drizzle with a little more olive oil Roast for 30 minutes then check the internal temp (I just leave the thermometer in and cook until 120 degrees) Drizzle a little melted butter over the top and add a little more salt and pepper (just a pinch) Cook until 130 degrees for medium rare Let rest for at least 15 minutes this will bring the temp to around 135-140 For the chimichurri: In a food processor combined all the ingredients and pulse until smooth Add more olive oil if you want a more liquid consistency Season with the salt and pepper to your taste This roast is so juicy and packed full of flavor! You can even slice up the leftovers (if you have any!) for roast beef sandwiches! Just imagine a little of that roast on a soft fluffy roll with the chimichurri… yuuuum. Don’t forget to tag me @kelliericecakes if you try this recipe out!!!! Happy eating! 🙂 Blueberry muffins are my all time favorite snack. I love the bakery style muffins with the sugary tops! Big juicy pieces of fruit in every bite make them healthy though… right? When I partnered with Macon Appliance Mart I knew I wanted to incorporate my favorite blueberry muffin recipe. This time I added pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice to give it some fall vibes. I’ve always loved mixing blueberry pie filling with frozen or fresh blueberries for a little extra sweetness! These jumbo muffins will be a breakfast (or snack!) to remember this holiday season! I’m just going to keep this post short and sweet because these really are just so simple! This is one of my favorite recipes to pull out when we have company. Most of the time we have the ingredients in the pantry and it is super easy to throw them together! 1 can of blueberry pie filling (rinsed and drained) 1 cup of frozen or fresh blueberries ¼ cup of pumpkin puree ½ tsp of salt 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tbsp of pumpkin pie spice 2 tsp of baking powder 2 cups of AP flour 1 stick of soft butter 1 cup sugar 2 eggs room temp ½ cup of milk room temp extra sugar or brown sugar for topping Preheat oven to 350 degrees In a mixing bowl stir the butter and sugar Add in the eggs and vanilla Mix in the pumpkin Add the blueberry filling and frozen/fresh blueberries Mix in the dry ingredients on low - flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, salt Finish with the milk and stir lightly until just combined Pour into jumbo muffin tins Top with sugar Bake until golden brown about 20-25 minutes Just a few tips to make sure they come out perfect every time! As you know I was lucky enough to bake these muffins in a Viking Range kitchen. I tried baking them in a convection oven and a regular oven both at 350. The muffins almost doubled in size in the convection oven and were so light and airy. They came out slightly denser in the regular oven, but were super moist. I think the moral of the story is Viking just has awesome ovens, but if you have access to a convection oven definitely try it out! Room temp ingredients – this always works for me. When ingredients are all the same temperature they just mix together so easy. Rising the pie filling- I know this part seems strange, but I promise it is important! One you are taking off all that extra sugar and two you are controlling the moisture you are adding into the batter. Fresh or frozen blueberries? Honestly either work just fine. I personally buy fresh blueberries then freeze them. I want them to hold their shape as long as possible in the muffins. Final sprinkle of sugar- natural sugar works the best, but I usually use brown sugar just because I always have it on hand. This Jerk Chicken is a game changer! I actually had a dessert planned to go up today, but we have made this multiple times in the past two weeks! With the holidays right around the corner I knew you guys needed this recipe… TODAY! I love this dinner for multiple reasons. One- there is hardly any prep work. Everything is thrown into the oven and you can forget about it until they are done! Two- it is super cheap! Depending where you buy your chicken you can make this whole meal for $10-$15! Three- the flavors are out of this world! This recipe is based off a recipe from my new favorite YouTube channel, Sortedfood. It is a channel about 3 friends that learn new cooking techniques from their 2 chef friends. I cannot stop watching! They are so creative and they mix flavor combos that you just can’t find anywhere else! When I saw their version of jerk chicken I knew I had to make it immediately. As in I finished the episode and scavenged my kitchen in search of ingredients. I didn’t follow their recipe exactly, but I did follow their chicken butchering skills! The most important part of the dish is making sure you spatchcock the chicken (aka take out the backbone). This allows you to really get the marinade into each part of the chicken. I have never had such juicy meat before and we tried this technique with a few different sizes of chicken. I love this marinade because you get so many levels of flavor. The heat from the cayenne, the freshness from the herbs, and the bitterness from the lime zest all come together for the perfect balance.

The dreaded foxtails are here in full force again. "When the seed heads become brittle and dry, they are treacherous." says Beth Boynton, DVM, FNAP, professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. "They have a very sharp and persistent front point, like an arrowhead, and nasty backward spikes that keep the awn moving forward. That's good for burrowing into the ground-and digging deep into animals' skin, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, genitals, and feet." Shooting up in waves of green during the relatively moist winter season, foxtails begin to dry out in spring, starting around late march on the West Coast. That's when the trouble begins, and it persists until rain arrives in the late fall. "Foxtails have been seen to migrate from paws up the leg, into the chest, and deep in the ears or nose." Dr. Boynton says. "There are reports of dogs having foxtails that burrowed into the lungs, abdomen or brain." Frustratingly, foxtails cannot be seen on X-ray, leaving veterinarians to guess at the cause of a dog's unexplained infection. Locating the troublesome awn is akin to finding that proverbial needle in a haystack. Consider a "foxtail cut", in particular, removing hair from the paw area is important, since the space between the toes is a favorite spot for foxtails to migrate. The same goes for around the ears. Consider timing, visit foxtail-prone areas in the early mornings. At least in the coastal areas there is some fog that makes the foxtails damp and they don't break off or get sniffed up as easily. Consider OutFox Field Guard, (outfoxfordogs.com), a black mesh hood that attaches to a dog's collar and covers and protects the entire head. This information has been obtained from the May 2015 issue of The Whole Dog Journal. This year Fort Funston seems to have more foxtails than Stern Grove so I am avoiding Fort Funston until they disappear there.

As we summer desert dwellers struggle to survive record high temperatures and monsoon storms, please take a little time to consider the seasonal hazards your electronic servants face. Power surges and outages challenge the growing numbers of electronic minions in your household on a daily basis. Your expensive and important appliances should have surge protectors in place; more sensitive or critical devices are best protected by uninterruptable power sources, a.k.a.battery backup systems. These protective devices do not last forever; replacing every few years or after a single severe power surge is routinely advised. If you will be away from home for a prolonged interval, simply unplugging unused devices is safest of all. Temperatures in parked cars can reach 160+ degrees on our hottest Arizona summer days. We have all seen the announcements warning of the dangers to children and pets left in parked cars and the occasional tragic consequences of disregarding these hazards. This temperature level is hot enough to melt or deform some plastics. It is more than enough to melt the hot glues used to assemble many portable electronic devices. Battery life is permanently shortened for some rechargeable batteries exposed to such extreme heat. Some lithium batteries will swell and rupture under these conditions; once exposed to moist air, lithium can undergo an exothermic reaction – hot enough to start a fire! Not all heat related problems immediately result in catastrophic failure. Electronic devices all produce heat when working. Common signs of excessive heating include cooling fans running at high speeds, erratic or slow computer performance, distorted graphics, unexpected device shutdowns and laptops too hot to hold on your lap. Since component life is shortened by recurrent heat stress, electronic gadgets are designed to dissipate heat via air vents, radiators and internal fans. Additionally, most will automatically slow down to reduce heat production or shut off if the heat load is too hot to handle. These safeguards will be of little use if proper ventilation is compromised. Placing multiple devices in small, closed spaces is a common cause of overheating; inadvertently blocking laptop computer ventilation slots with loose papers or cloth padding is another frequent error. Even the most fastidious housekeeper may not note the gradual accumulation of a warming blanket of dust and lint inside laptop or desktop computers until problems arise. Most experts advise cleaning the interior of these computers at least annually, even more often if it sits on the floor, or if you smoke, or if you have furry creatures roaming your household. This can be a do-it-yourself chore and is usually described in the owner’s manual. Turn off and unplug the computer. For laptops, remove the battery and use a vacuum cleaner to suction debris from the air intake and exhaust ports. More thorough cleaning will involve disassembly, a task best turned over to experts. Desktop owners can usually remove a side panel to gain access to the interior. A can of compressed air will blow out the majority of dust from fans, radiators and corners. There may be removable air filters to clean as well.

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This will be another quick post as I am still running the gauntlet that is Rutgers Midterms. Sigh, why can't I just get graded for how delicious these cupcakes are? Key Lime Pie Cupcakes: what a thought. Now I am always a bit disappointed with citrus-y cupcakes, because the tartness from the fruit just isn't there. So I was pleasantly surprised when these cupcakes: moist, dense, and sweet, were also so full of lime flavor that I almost puckered a little when I ate one. Almost. The best part of this recipe though? The graham cracker cream cheese frosting. It turns these cupcakes as close to key lime pie cheesecakes as it gets, and I will admit I had trouble keeping myself from licking the Fresh, sweet, and summery, I am loving these Key Lime Pie Cupcakes. Though the frosting is sure to make any kind of cupcake decadent; I foresee a Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcake in the future! But for now, I hope you enjoy these cupcakes as much as I did; they sure made 3 exams and 2 papers a little less stressful. I will return to OnSugarMountain (hopefully) soon, with many more sweetly inspired posts and recipes that will make you want to get up and bake them yourself! As always, Happy Baking! Key Lime Pie Cupcakes Via TheCupcakeProject 1 1/2 cups cake flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk 3/4 cup key lime juice (or just lime juice if you can't find key lime) 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease/line 18 muffin cavities in muffin pans 2. Whisk together the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. 3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then beat in eggs (one at a time) until fully incorporated. 4. Add milk and key lime juice to egg mixture and beat until well incorporated. Fold in flour mixture gently until just combined. 5. Fill each muffin cup 3/4 of the way full with batter and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. The top of the cupcake should spring back when lightly touched with a finger (even if the center is still a bit wet!) 6. Let cool completely before icing. Graham Cracker Cream Cheese Frosting 1/4 cup butter, softened 8 oz cream cheese 3/4 cup crushed graham crackers 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups powdered sugar 1. Beat butter and cream cheese until well combined. Beat in vanilla extract and then slowly add powdered sugar. 2. Fold in graham cracker crumbs.

Hampton Bay Woodbury Metal Outdoor Patio Coffee Table outdoor patio coffee table canada Other Classification of Vanities Cabinets. One opposite of type of vanities cabinets are filling together with the modern day patio dressing table, conventional patio vanities, and modern-day patio vanities. I hope this guide will give you the clue to discover the suitable of this vanities cabinet based in what you need. So, let’s start to get an appearance for your hampton bay woodbury metal outdoor patio coffee table! Do you own a medium sized and maybe a huge patio and searching for a concept to fill it with furniture that is appropriate? Afterward, futuristic hampton bay woodbury metal outdoor patio coffee table may be your best strategy to mix together along with your patio design and style. They aren’t only able to increase your patio design to elegant seeming however they are also rather functional nevertheless functional! Below are some possibilities of futuristic patio doors. That’s exactly about it. I hope this guide will definitely open your thoughts and begin to make use of it for your own patio. But remember, you have to do a little bit of nursing of one’s oak wall cabinets regularly. The pine substance is quite sensitive. It will get moldy in the event the patio temperatures become moist. So, simply start to decide on it and consistently take good care of your hampton bay woodbury metal outdoor patio coffee table. When you’ve got the dimension hand, now is the time and energy to look at that the model. There is going to soon be a lot of type with all these rates. You better make sure everything you actually want and exactly what looks perfect in your patio. Traditional, modern, and contemporary can be found at the industry or you could order at the crafter for customize item. After that the style has been made a decision, you may face a variety of alternatives like the color and end, cloth, components choice, the storage and also a lot much more. While it can be hampton bay woodbury metal outdoor patio coffee table, you need to sensibly ponder over it before it is installed on your residence. Use pale aqua to get a little patio and mix it using blue or green. The combo will make a little patio look bigger and bigger. Aqua, green and blue are colors of oceans, seas and beaches, right? They have been still relaxing. To add it with a golden color will be a nice to accentuate, for example pick a gold coloration for all faucets, shower-head and gold bulb for the lights. Change all of your outdated Accessories Set with hampton bay woodbury metal outdoor patio coffee table! Why we must change ? Because the stainless steel materials are quite strong and easy to wash. In addition they will not secure moldy since the materials are different compared to woods and easy to detect as in this period of time, many insides shop promote stainless steel patio add-ons in their own shop. So, let’s start to modify your pulp tank, tissue container, and pulp container with all an stainless ! The first design is accommodate small tub with all the edge across the wall width. The built-in makes this style and design prepared to set additional space for placed floating shelves to personal toilet things. Then, for making your patio look roomy, adding glass on your patio right into tub is very good plan. This can cause illusion to get larger distance.

Lemon Curd Cream Cake I’m all about destroying cakes lately. For the first few years of being a food blogger, there was so much stress inherent in getting the perfect cake shot. I lived in fear of my pie falling apart when I sliced it, my cookie pile toppling over, something staining my tea towels. I struggle with perfectionism in many areas of my life. I know the best solution for it: letting go of being the best and sitting with the resulting discomfort until it becomes security. Turns out cake is no different. I started destroying my own cakes — serving them straight from the skillet with two forks; digging out the middle to create a space for ice creams, curds, berries, whipping cream; yanking them out of the oven hot and dousing them in roasted berries to serve as hot cakes — as a therapy of sorts. And what a delicious therapy it is. This cake started my destroyed skillet cake obsession. This Lemon Curd Cream Cake, though, is the first time I’ve destroyed a regular ol’ square cake, and I have to admit, I like it! When you lift the pieces out to serve, they all have different amounts of lemon curd and whipped cream on top — perfect for serving people with varying affinity to lemon (my weirdo husband asked for the piece with no lemon curd. I happily ate his share.) But the best part, of course, is how relaxed the whole mess is. Cake, glaze, curd, cream. Perfection. If you’re a lemon lover, welcome to paradise. One year ago: Lemon Blueberry Shortbread Cheesecake Dip Two years ago: Intense Chocolate Mocha Cake Three years ago: Flan Tres Leches Cake Four years ago: Brownie-Bottom Coconut Chocolate Cream Cake Five years ago: Banana Coconut Cream Easter Cupcakes Six years ago: Carrot Cake Waffles - 1/2 cup butter - 1/2 cup water - 1 1/8 cups cake flour - 1 cup white sugar - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1 egg, lightly beaten - 1/4 cup sour cream - 1/4 teaspoon almond extract - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract - 1 recipe lemon curd, prepared (I strongly homemade and not store-bought) - 2 teaspoons lemon juice - 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar - 1/2 tablespoon butter, melted - 3 tablespoons powdered sugar - 1 cup heavy whipping cream - Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease an 8-inch square baking pan (I usually use Wilton's Cake Release to grease my whole pan and then place a sheet of greased parchment in the bottom of the pan). In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the butter and water to a boil. In the meantime, in a separate large bowl, whisk together the cake flour and sugar before adding the egg, sour cream, almond extract, vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt. Mix to combine. While mixing, slowly pour in the boiling butter and water mixture. Mix to combine completely. Your batter will be very runny. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 17-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in several places comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely (I stick mine in the fridge and it was cool in about an hour). - Make the toppings: In a medium bowl, combine lemon juice and confectioners' sugar. Whisk in the melted butter and 1 tablespoon water. Pour just enough of the glaze over the cake to evenly coat the surface in a thin layer (use the back of the spoon to spread it around). Whip together whipping cream and powdered sugar to stiff peaks. Serve the cake with lemon curd and whipping cream.

by: Scott Lodder [ ] Rain Down the Drain Recently I did an in-box review of 135th Construction Battalions Drain Pipe Fittings (medium) #CO 0101 and their Plumbing Fixtures (medium) #CO 0096. This review is the built review of those pipes. I had started a building to review another 135th Construction Battalions product and these pieces dropped right into the same project. The fact that I could drop three products into one project is a statement to 135th Construction Battalions commitment to filling many different needs of a diorama builder. In light of this cohesiveness and apparent interoperability of 135th Construction Battalions products I added the Plumbing Fixtures kit into the mix. I did not want to scratch build a ½ circle gutter for my building. The building is a large building with stone accents. I went with a built in gutter leaving me to make a connection of the drain pipes and the gutter piece. Then mix and match the different angles of the connectors to get a good fit along the contour of my building. I planned on trying a number of different parts to achieve a nice look. I also wanted to remove a number of pieces from the blocks to get the best overall feel for the kit. In addition I knew I didn’t have enough straight pipe to cover a three story building so there would be some scratch building involved too. Removing the pieces from their resin blocks was no big deal. I used a motor tool to do the major removal then a bit of sandpaper and file to get the rest of the excess resin off. The end pieces cleaned up quickly and nicely with no problems at all. The resin is a soft easy to work with version. I enjoy working with it quite a lot. When I removed the resin block from the long straight pipe I was greeted by bubbles. Dreaded resin bubble! The piece was fixable with a bit of putty and another round of sanding. This was a small setback in time, nothing more than that. I ‘eyeballed’ the pieces I would need and cut out the shallow end connectors, the straight pipes, the steeper angles, and the shallow long connector pieces. I dry fit them together to get an idea of which ones would work best. This was a bit finicky. It was a bit difficult to hold three small resin pieces in three dimensions. I went with a very small touch of CA to tack the pieces together while I figured out the best combination of curves to get a good match. The CA was easy enough to snap apart and sand down when the look wasn’t quite right. I ended up using two of the shallow bend long end connectors to get a shallow “S” shape at the top where the pipe comes out of the gutter and then runs against the wall. I used the straight pipe then another straight connector then more straight pipe and at the bottom I have a barrel detail planned so I went with a Y connector. When I ran out the kits straight pipe I used EverGreen rod styrene as a substitute. It worked pretty well. There was a very slight difference in diameter, something in the neighborhood of .25mm difference. This was not a big deal because it was very hard to notice. Assembly was really dry fit plus glue in this case. There was no re-work or any different considerations to make. I used some CA and glued the pieces together one stage at a time. I started at the top and worked my way down the pipes. The Drain Pipe Fittings and the Plumbing Fixtures worked adequately together. There was a slight size difference. If these pieces were going to be the centerpiece of a diorama you definitely want to take this into account. In my application it was no problem what so ever. The very small difference didn’t create a problem and I could (and did) easily mask the joints with connector straps. The connector straps function is to hold the pipe to the wall and I strategically located them at the joints. In doing research on drain pipes I saw all kinds of materials used, copper, steel, stone, to name three. I wanted a bit of a different, bolder statement with these parts so I was looking for a new metallic look. I brush painted Tamiya gun metal as a base coat. When that dried, I ‘moist’ brushed Testors Brass over the base. “Moist” brushing is a hybrid of regular painting and dry brushing. I dip the brush in paint, then remove most of the excess. I don’t remove as much as with dry brushing though. I then dip the paint into a small container of thinner. I don’t touch the sides of the container or remove any paint. I simply load the brush with a bit of thinner. I then brush this on the part. It creates a thin coat of paint or a thick wash depending on your point of view. Either way a lot of the base coat will show through and that’s what I was going after. The resin took Tamiya paint very well and was easy to paint. The connectors are golden and worth the price of the kit. They work well together and are easy to work with. The bubbles in the straight pipe aren’t that big a deal and can be fixed or you can easily get some styrene replacements (any length you need). The interoperability of the Drain pipes and Plumbing fixtures was definitely adequate. There are a number of kits that will give you lots of different options.

Retrospect of Western Travel in Three Vols (London: Saunders and Otley, 1838). Vol. 2. https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/1700, |Available in the following formats:| |Facsimile PDF||8.36 MB||This is a facsimile or image-based PDF made from scans of the original book.| |Kindle||559 KB||This is an E-book formatted for Amazon Kindle devices.| |EBook PDF||412 KB||This text-based PDF or EBook was created from the HTML version of this book and is part of the Portable Library of Liberty.| |HTML||446 KB||This version has been converted from the original text. Every effort has been taken to translate the unique features of the printed book into the HTML medium.| |Simplified HTML||446 KB||This is a simplifed HTML format, intended for screen readers and other limited-function browsers.| |ePub||229 KB||ePub standard file for your iPad or any e-reader compatible with that format| After her trip to American in 1834-36, Martineau wrote a perceptive analysis of social and economic conditions in the U.S. The text is in the public domain. This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit. “For, neither by Reason, nor by her experience, is it impossible? that a Commonwealth should he immortal: seeing the people, being the materials, never dies; and the form, which is motion, must, without opposition, be endless. The bowl which is thrown from your hand, if there be no rub, no impediment, shall never cease; for which cause the glorious luminaries, that lire the bowls of God, were once thrown for ever.”—Harrington's Oceana. While I was at Washington, I received a kind invitation from Mr. and Mrs. Madison, to visit them at their seat, Montpelier, Virginia. I was happy to avail myself of it. and paid the visit on my way down to Richmond. At six o'clock, in the morning of the 18th of February, my party arrived at Orange Court House, five, miles from Montpelier; and while two proceeded to Charlottesville, where we were to join them in three or four days, a friend and I stopped, first to rest for a Edition: current; Page: few hours, and then to proceed to Mr. Madison's. After some sleep, and breakfast at noon, we took a carriage for the five miles of extremely bad road we had to travel. The people at the inn overcharged us for this carriage, and did not mention that Mr. Madison had desired that a messenger should be sent over for his carriage, as soon as we should arrive. This was the only occasion but one. in our journey of 10.000 miles in the United Slates, that we were overcharged: while. I suspect, the undercharges, where any literary reputation is in the case, are more numerous than can be reckoned. It was a sweet day of early spring. The patches of snow that were left under the fences and on the rising grounds were melting fast. The road was one continued slough, up to the very portico of the house. The dwelling stands on a gentle eminence, and is neat and even handsome in its exterior, with a flight of steps leading up to the portico. A lawn and wood, which must be pleasant in summer, stretch behind; and from the front there is a noble object on the horizon,—the mountain-chain which traverses the State, and makes it eminent for its scenery. The shifting lights upon these blue mountains were a delightful refreshment to the eye after so many weeks of city life as we had passed. We were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Madison and a niece, a young lady who was on a visit to her; Edition: current; Page: and when I left my room I was conducted to the apartment of Mr. Madison. He had. the preceding season, suffered so severely from rheumatism, that, during this winter, he confined himself to one room, rising after breakfast, before nine o'clock, and sitting in his easy chair till ten at night. He appeared perfectly well during my visit, and was a wonderful man of eighty-three. Me complained of one ear being deaf, and that his sight, which had never been perfect, prevented his reading much, so that his studies “lay in a nutshell:” but he could hear Mrs. Madison read; and I did not perceive that he lost any part of the conversation. He was in his chair, with a pillow behind him, when I first saw him; his little person wrapped in a black silk gown; a warm grey and white cap upon his head, which his lady took care should always sit becomingly; and grey worsted gloves, his hands having been rheumatic. His voice was clear and strong, and his manner of speaking particularly lively,— often playful. Except that the face was smaller, and of course older, the likeness to the common engraving of him was perfect. He seemed not to have lost any teeth, and the form of the face was therefore preserved, without any striking marks of age. It was an uncommonly pleasant countenance. His relish for conversation could never have been Edition: current; Page: keener. I was in perpetual fear of his being exhausted; and at the end of every few hours I left my seat by the arm of his chair, and went to the sofa by Mrs. Madison, on the other side of the room: but he was sure to follow, and sit down between us; so that when I found the only effect of my moving was to deprive him of the comfort of his chair, I returned to my station, and never left it but for food and sleep,—glad enough to make the most of my means of intercourse with one whose political philosophy I deeply venerated. There is, no need to add another to the many eulogies of Madison: I will only mention that the finest of his characteristics appeared to me to be his inexhaustible faith,—faith that a well-founded Commonwealth may, as our motto declares, be immortal; not only because the people, its constituency, never dies; but because the principles of justice in which such a Commonwealth originates never die out of the people's heart and mind. This faith shone brightly through the whole of Mr. Madison's conversation, except on one subject. With regard to slavery he owned himself to be almost in despair. He had been quite so till the institution of the Colonization Society. How such a mind as his could derive any alleviation to its anxiety from that source is surprising. I think it must have been from his overflowing faith; for the facts were before him Edition: current; Page: that in eighteen years the Colonization Society had removed only between two and three thousand persons, while the annual increase of the slave population in the United States was upwards of sixty thousand. He talked more on the subject of slavery than on any other, acknowledging without limitation or hesitation all the evils with which it has ever been charged. He told me that the black population in Virginia increases far faster than the white; and that the licentiousness only stops short of the destruction of the race; every slave girl being expected to be a mother by the time she is fifteen. He assumed from this, I could not make out why, that the negroes must go somewhere; and pointed out how the free States discourage the settlement of blacks; how Canada disagrees with them; how Hayti shuts them out; so that Africa is their only refuge. He did not assign any reason why they should not remain where they are when freed. He found, by the last returns from his estates, that one-third of his own slaves were under five years of age. He had parted with some of his best land to feed the increasing numbers, and had yet been obliged to sell a dozen of his slaves the preceding week. He observed that the whole bible is against negro slavery; but that the clergy do not preach this; and the people do not see it. He became animated Edition: current; Page: in describing what I have elsewhere related* of the cagerness of the clergy of the four denominations to catch converts among the slaves, and the effect of religious teaching of this kind upon those who, having no rights, can have no duties. He thought the condition of slaves much improved in his time, and, of course, their intellects. This remark was, I think, intended to apply to Virginia alone; for it is certainly not applicable to the south-western States. He accounted for his selling his slaves by mentioning their horror of going to Liberia, a horror which he admitted to be prevalent among the blacks, and which appears to me decisive as to the unnaturalness of the scheme. The willing mind is the first requisite to the emigrant's success. Mr. Madison complained of the difficulty and risk of throwing an additional population into the colony, at the rate of two or three cargoes a year, complained of it because he believed it was the fault of the residents, who were bent upon trading with the interior for luxuries, instead of raising food for the new comers. This again seems fatal to the scheme; since the compulsory direction of industry, if it could be enforced, would be almost as bad as slavery at home; and there are no means of preventing the emigrants Edition: current; Page: being wholly idle, if they are nor allowed to work in their own way for their own objects. Mr. Madison admitted the great and various difficulties attending the scheme; and recurred to the expression that he was only “less in despair than formerly about slavery.” He spoke with deep feeling of the sufferings of ladies under the system, declaring that he pitied them even their negroes; and that the saddest slavery of all was that of conscientious Southern women. They cannot trust their slaves in the smallest particulars, and have to superintend the execution of all their own orders: and they know that their estates are surrounded by vicious free blacks, who induce thievery among the negroes, and keep the minds of the owners in a state of perpetual suspicion, fear, and anger. Mr. Madison spoke strongly of the helplessness of all countries cursed with a servile population, in a conflict with a people wholly free; ridiculed the idea of the Southern States being able to maintain a rising against the North: and wondered that all thinkers were not agreed in a thing so plain. He believed that Congress has power to prohibit the internal slave-trade. He mentioned the astonishment of some strangers, who had an idea that slaves were always whipped all day long, at seeing his negroes go to church one Sunday. They were gaily dressed, the women in bright-coloured calicoes; Edition: current; Page: and when a sprinkling of rain came, up went a dozen umbrellas. The astonished strangers veered round to the conclusion that slaves were very happy; but were told of the degradation of their minds,—of their carelessness of each other in their nearest relations, and their cruelty to brutes. Mrs. Madison's son by a former marriage joined us before dinner. We dined in the next room to Mr. Madison, and found him eager for conversation again as soon as we had risen from table. Mrs. M. is celebrated throughout the country for the grace and dignity with which she discharged the arduous duties which devolve upon the President's lady. For a term of eight years she administered the hospitalities of the White House with such discretion, impartiality, and kindliness, that it is believed she gratified every one, and offended nobody. She is a strong-minded woman, fully capable of entering into her husband's occupations and cares; and there is little doubt that he owed much to her intellectual companionship, as well as to her ability in sustaining the outward dignity of his office. When I was her guest, she was in excellent health and lively spirits; and I trust that though she has since lost the great object of her life, she may yet find interests enough to occupy and cheer many years of an honoured old age. Mr. Madison expressed his regret at the death of Edition: current; Page: Mr. Malthus, whose works he had studied which close attention. He mentioned that Franklin and two others had anticipated Malthus in comparing the rates of increase of population and food; but that Malthus had been the first to draw out the doctrine;—with an attempt at too much precision, however, in determining the ratio of the increase of food. He laughed at Godwin's methods of accounting for the enormous increase of population in America by referring it to immigration, and having recourse to any supposition rather than the obvious one of an abundance of food. He declared himself very curious on the subject of the size of the Roman farms, and that he had asked many friends where the mistake lies in the accounts which have come down to us. Some Roman farms are represented as consisting of an acre and a quarter; the produce of which would be eaten up by a pair of oxen. The estate of Cincinnatus being three times this size, he could scarcely plough, after having lost half of it by being surety. Either there must be some great mistake about out notion of the measurement of Roman farms, or there must have been commons for grazing, and woods for fuel; the importation of grain from Sicily and other places not having taken place till long after. He asked by what influence our corn laws, so injurious to all, and so obviously so to the many, were kept up, and Edition: current; Page: whether it was possible that they should continue long. He declared himself in favour of free-trade, though believing that the freedom cannot be complete in any one country till universal peace shall afford opportunity for universal agreement. He expressed himself strongly in favour of arrangements for the security of literary property all over the would, and wished that English authors should be protected from piracy in the United States, without delay. He believed that the utterance of the national mind in America would be through small literature, rather than large, enduring works. After the schools and pulpits of the Union are all supplied, there will remain an immense number of educated sons of men of small property, who will have things to say; and all who can write, will. He thought it of the utmost importance to the country, and to human beings everywhere, that the brain and the hands should be trained together; and that no distinction in this respect should be made between men and women. He remembered an interesting conversation on this subject with Mr. Owen, from whom he learned with satisfaction that well educated women in this settlement turned with case and pleasure from playing the harp to milking the cows. The active old man, who declared himself cripped with rheumatism, had breakfasted, risen and was Edition: current; Page: dressed before we sat down to breakfast. He talked a good deal about the American Presidents, and some living politicians, for two hours, when his letters and newspapers were brought in. He gaily threw them aside, saying he could read the newspapers every day, and must make the most of his time with us, if we would go away so soon as we talked of. He asked me, smiling, if I thought it too vast and anti-republican a privilege for the ex-Presidents to have their letters and newspapers free, considering that this was the only worldly benefit they carried away from their office. I will not repeat his luminous history of the Nullification struggle; nor yet his exposition, simple and full, of the intricate questions involved in the anomalous institution of the American Senate,—about its power of sanctioning appointments to office, and whether its sanction necessary to removal from office; to which increase of power he was decidedly oppose. This part of his conversation, though very instructive to me at the time, would be uninteresting to the English reader, in this connexion. He declared himself perfectly satisfied that there is in the United States a far more ample and equal prevision for pastors, and of religious instruction for the people, than could have been secured by a religious establishment of any kind; and that one of Edition: current; Page: the greatest services which his country will be here-afier perceived to have rendered to the world, will be the having proved that religion is the more cared for, the more unreservedly it is committed to the a flections of the people. He quoted the remark of Voltaire, that if there were only one religion in a country, it would be a pure despotism; if two, they would be deadly enemies; but half a hundred subsist in fine harmony. He observed that this was the case in America; and that so true and pregnant a remark as this ought to be accepted as an atonement for many that would die of untruth. He went on to notice the remarkable fact that creeds which oppose each other, and which in concatenation would seem to be most demoralizing, do, by virtue of some one common principle, agree in causing the moral elevation of those who hold them. He instanced Philosophical Necessity, as held by Hume, Kaimes, Edwards, and Priestley. He told me how he had once been prejudiced against Priestley, and how surprised he was, when he first met the philosopher at Philadelphia, to find him absolutely mild and candid. The whole of this day was spent like the last, except that we went over the house, looking at the busts, and prints which gave nil English air to the dwelling,—otherwise wholly Virginian. During all our conversations, one or another slave was perpetually Edition: current; Page: coming to Mrs. Madison for the great bunch of keys; two or throes more lounged about in the room, leaning against the door-posts or the corner of the sofa; and the attendance of others was no less indefatigable in my own apartment. The next morning, we found our host in fine spirits. He described, with much vivacity, the variety of visits from strangers that he was subject to, saying that some were taxes and others bounties. He laughed about the ludicrous effect sometimes produced by an utter failure of sympathy in matters of grave pursuit; and told us of a ride he took with a young English geologist who was on a visit to him, and who spurred up to him in a lit of transport, holding a stone almost into his eyes, and exclaiming, “Graywacke, sir! graywacke, graywacke!” the host all the time being quite unable to understand or sympathize with this vehement rapture. I glanced at the newspapers when they came in; and found them full of the subject of the quarrel with France,—the great topic of the day. Mr. Madison gave me an account of the relations of the two countries, and of the grounds of his apprehensions that this quarrel might, in spite of its absurdity, issue in a war. This is all over now; but some of his observations remain. He said it would be an afflicting sight if the two representative governments Edition: current; Page: which are in the van of the world should go to war; it would squint towards a confirmation of what is said of the restlessness of popular governments. If the people, who pay for war, are eager for it, it is quite a different thing from potentates being so, who are at no cost He mentioned that George the Fourth, as Prince Regent, was u large gainer in the last war, from his share of the Droits of the Admiralty, amounting to 1,000,000/. per annum:—a pretty premium, Mr. Madison observed, to pay a king for going to war. He told me about the formation of the philosophical and humane agreement between Franklin and Frederick of Prussia, that merchant ships, unarmed, should go about their business as freely in the war as in peace. The Salem merchants, who were formerly in favour of war, and who suffered from captures in the course of it were, on the present occasion, petitioning against war, and for reprisals. Franklin was near seventy when Mr. Madison first knew him. He went to the Hall of Congress in a sedan, and sat all the time, writing what he had to say, and getting it read, because he could not stand. He was soon afterwards bedridden, when Madison was his frequent visitor. He had much self-command: and when seized by severe pain, soon roused himself to converse, almost as if it did not exist. One of the most striking points Edition: current; Page: about him was his dislike of argument. He would listen to his adversary, and then overthrow him with an anecdote. After avowing a very unfashionable admiration of Darwin's poetry. and declaring that the splendour of the diction put his imagination into a very gay state; Mr. Madison went into a speculation about what would eventually become of all existing languages and their literature; declaring that he had little hope of the stability of languages when terms of even classical derivation are perpetually changing their meanings with time. Then, by some channel, now forgotten, we got round to the less agreeable subject of national debts and taxation, when, as might be expected, Mr. Madison expressed his horror of the machinery necessary under a system of indirect levy, and his attachment to a plan of moderate expenditure, provided for by direct taxation. He remarked upon Pitt's success in obtaining revenue when every other man would rather have surrendered his plans than used the means he employed. He observed that King, Lords, and Commons, might constitute a government which would work a long while in a kingdom no bigger than Great Britain; but that it would soon become an absolute government in a country as large as Russia, from the magnitude of its executive power: and that it was a common but serious mistake to suppose Edition: current; Page: that a country must be small to be a republic; since a republican form. with a federal head, can be extended almost without limits, without losing its proportions.—becoming all the while less, instead of more, subject to change. In a small republic there is much noise from the fury of parries; while in a spreading, but simply working republic, like that of the union, the silent influence of the federal head keeps down more quarrels than ever appear. We were compelled to leave Montpelier while our intercourse was thus in full flow. Mr. Madison would not say farewell seriously: he was so confident that we should visit him again on our return from the South and West. I need not say that we earnestly wished to do so: but we never saw him again: not having an opportunity in the summer to diverge from our route so as to approach his residence. We heard excellent reports of him, from time to time: of his vigour and cheerfulness, and of his application to political and literary pursuits. In the spring of the following year, however, he declined, and died on the 28th of June, 1836. I have written of him under a strong desire to say nothing that he would have objected to have repeated, suppressing whatever he dropped relating to private persons, or to public men yet living, while attempting to afford what gratification I could to the strong interest felt in England about this virtuous Edition: current; Page: statesman. It is something that, living under institutions framed by the few for the subordination of the many, the English feel the interest they do about such men as Jefferson and Madison,—men inspired by the true religion of statesmanship, faith in men, and in the principles on which they combine in an agreement to do as they would be done by. This political religion religion resembles personal piety in its effect of sustaining the spirit through difficulty and change, and leaving no cause for repentance, or even solicitude, when, at the close of life, all things reveal their values to the meditative sage. Madision reposed cheerfully, gaily, to the last, on his faith in the people's power of wise self-government. As for Jefferson, he has left, in his last letter to Madison a few sentences which we may be thankful for, as golden links added to the chain by which the glorious memories of these two good men are indissolubly connected:— “The friendship which has subsisted between us, now half a century, and the harmony of our political principles and pursuits, have been sources of constant happiness to me through that long period. It has been a great solace to me to believe that you are engaged in vindicating to posterity the course we have pursued for preserving to them, in all their purity, the blessings of self-government, which we had assisted too in acquiring for them. Edition: current; Page: If ever the earth has beheld a system of administration conducted with a single and steadfast eye to the general interest and happiness of those committed to it.—one which, protected by truth, can never know reproach, it is that to which our lives have been devoted. To myself, you have been a pillar of support through life. Take care of me when dead, and be assured that I shall leave with you my last affections.”* “That the legislater should especially occupy himself with the education of youth, no one can dispute; for when this is not done in States, it is a cause of damage to the polity. For a State must be administered with reference to its polity: and that which is the peculiar characteristic of each polity is that which preserves and originally constitutes it; as, for instance, the democratical principle in a democracy, and the oligarchical in an oligarchy; and that which is the best principle always constitutes the best policy.”—Aristatic. Politik: Book viii. The existence of the university of Virginia is scarcely recognized by British travelers. I was welcomed there as the first who had ever visited it. Charlottesville lies out of the ordinary route of tourists: but Monticello, the seat of Jefferson, is within sight of his favourite institution; and Mr. Madison's residence is only about thirty-five miles off; and it seems surprising that such a combination of interesting objects should not have drawn more pilgrim feet that way. It was between five and six in the morning when we entered the stage at Orange Court House, which was to deposit us at Charlottesville before an early dinner. The snow had wholly disappeared; and I looked out eagerly to see what aspect the far-famed Edition: current; Page: Virginia wore. For the greater part of the way, all looked very desolate: the few dwellings were dingy: large mansions. With slave-dwellings clustered near. The trees were bare: the soil one dull red: the fences shabby. The eye found a welcome relief in the woods of stone-pine, and in an occasional apparition of the beautiful blue-bird, perching upon a stump, or flitting over the fallows. We breakfasted at a farm, a little way off the road, whither we had to pick our way by a field-path, which was a perfect slough. The hostess was friendly, and served an excellent breakfast to the stage-passengers in a bedchamber. From this point, the road improved. The mountains were before us: and as we approached them, the undulating surface of the country presented many beauties. It was Sunday. We mounted an eminence, all grown over with stone pine: and on the top found, in the heart of the grove, a small church. where worship was going on, while seventeen horses, two of them with side-saddles. were fastened to the trees around. This church was free to all seets: but at present used by the Presbyterians: they being the most numerous seet in the neighbourhood. We arrived at Charlottesvile, at the foot of the mountains, by one o'clock, and joined the friends whom we found awaiting us at dinner at the hotel. Edition: current; Page: A Unitarian clergyman was to preach in the Court House in the afternoon: a rare event. I imagine: for we heard afterwards that one of the Professor's ladies could not sleep, the night before, from the idea of a Unitarian being so near. We attended the service, which was very spiritless. The whole burden fell upon the minister; there being no preparation for singing, and apparently no interest beyond more curiosity. Two long rows of students from the University were there: and I thought I never saw so fine a set of youths. Their demeanour was gentlemanly, to the last degree, except in the one particular of spiting: and the seriousness of their manner must have been gratifying to the preacher. After the service, we walked to the University, at the distance, I think, of a little more than a mile from the town. The singular ranges of college buildings are visible from a considerable distance, as they advantageously crown an eminence, presenting the appearance of a piazza surrounding an oblong square, with the professors' houses rising at regular intervals. We found that the low buildings connecting these larger dwellings were the dermitories of the students; ground-floor apartments, opening into the piazza, and designed to serve as places of study as well as sleep. The professors' houses are inconveniently small. Jefferson wished in the Edition: current; Page: first instance, that the professors should be young men: and this fact, and the smallness of the dwellings, have given rise to the ridiculous belief, entertained by some people, that Jefferson made celibacy a condition of holding professorships in his University. Instead of this, ladies' faces may be seen at many windows, and plenty of children tripping along in the piazzas. At one end of the quadrangle is the Rotunda, containing the lecture-rooms, library, and other apartments: and outside the other end, a gothic chapel was about to be created. Well-kept grass-plats and gravel walks fill up the quadrangle. The number of students at the time of my visit was 206. They are not admitted under the age of sixteen, except in the case of a younger brother accompanying one above that age. Each dormitory is designed to accommodate two students: but when there is room, any student may rent a whole one, if he chooses. The ordinary expenses are so moderate as to be worth specifying:— |Board, including furniture, washing and attendance||100| |Fuel and candles||15| |Rent of half a dormitory||8| |Use of the library and public rooms||15| |Fees to professors, say||75| exclusive of books and stationery, clothing and pocket-money. The students wear a uniform, which is very becoming, and not at all conspicuous being merely a coat of particularly simple fashion, and dark colour. Of the 206 students whom I had the pleasure of seeing, 151 belonging to the State; 5 came from the Northern States; and the rest from the South and West; 6 from South Carolina, though there are colleges both at Charleston and Columbia. Professor Patterson spoke of the youths among whom he was living as being as steady and promising a set of young men as could be met with. We heard afterwards a somewhat different account in a stage coach: but, of course, the testimony of a resident professor is worth much more than that of two chance travellers; and all that I saw of the appearance and manners of the students was very creditable to the institution. Every student visits each professor's house twice in the session; once to dinner, and once to a ball; and, I suppose, as much oftener as he may be asked. The session lasts ten months; the vacation being in the hot months of July and August. The distinctive principle of this University is that each student is free to attend the schools of his choice, and no others; provided that, being under twenty-one years of age, he shall attend at Edition: current; Page: least three professors. The professors highly approve of this arrangement, finding that it enables young men to qualify themselves rapidly and effectually for particular callings, in cases where time is valuable; and that the youths put givour into tyheir pursuits, in proportion as they are free, within a reasonable limit, to gratify their tastes, and fulfil their own purposes, in the choice of their studies. There are nine professorships; and in each school there are three regular lectures a-week, besides the instructions suited to the several classes into which the school is divided. The Professors, when I was there, were— Professor Harrison; Ancient Languages and History. This gentleman must find himself fully occupied. He was the sole instructor, that session, of 75 young men in Latin and Greek, and, of such as desired it, in Hebrew. His qualifications are understood to be of a very high order. Professor Blœttermann had 64 pupils in Modern Languages; viz., French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Anglo-Saxon: and was ready to teach, more over, the Danish, Swedish; Dutch, and Portuguese language. Professor Bonnycastle (Mathematics) had a large attendance, consisting of 109, divided into five classes, beginning with the theory of Arithmetic, and concluding the course of pure Mathematics Edition: current; Page: with the Integral Calculus. There is, moreover, a class of Mixed Mathematics, for such of the more advanced students as choose to pursue it; and another of Civil Engineering. Professor Patterson undertakes the Natural Philosophy, having an attendance of 73 pupils. The apparatus provided for the use of this school is very extensive and complete; and an observatory, with the necessary astronomical instruments, is open to the students. Professor Emmet, Chemistry and Materia Medica; 89 pupils. Professor Magill, Medicine; 41 pupils. Professor Warner, Anatomy and Surgery; 44 pupils. An extensive musseum is attached to the Medical Department; and the anatomical school is regularly supplied with subjects, from which the lectures are delivered. The advantage claimed for this above all other medical schools in the country is that it session lasts ten months instead of four. Professor Tucker, Moral Philosophy; 67 pupils, who are divided into two classes: the examinations of the junior class being in Rhetoric, Belles Lettres, Logic, and Ethics, from the Professor's lectures, Blair's and Campbell's Rhetoric, and Stewart's “Active and Moral Powers.” The senior class studies Mental Philosophy, and Political Economy; and the examinations are from the Professor's lectures. Edition: current; Page: Brown's Lectures: Say's and Adam Smith's Political Economy. Professor Davis. Law; 48 pupils. The students of this school have instituted a Law Society, at whose meetings the Professor presides, and where the business of every branch of the profession is rehearsed. Three honorary distinctions are conferred in this University; a Certificate of Proficiency, conferred by the faculty on any proficient in a particular branch of study: that of Graduate in any school, and the third, of Master of Arts of the University of Virginia, is obtained by graduation, in the schools of Ancient and Modern Languages, Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, and Moral Philosophy. All these are obtained when deserved, and not in consequence of any prescribed term of study having been gone through. The title of Doctor of Medicine is conferred on the graduate in the Medical Department. The certificates and diplomas are delivered in the presence of all the members of the University, and of the public, on the last day of the session, in the Rotunda, amidst many observances and rites. It will be observed that there is no Theological professorship. It was noticed by the religious North, at the time of the foundation of the University, Edition: current; Page: that this was probably the first instance in the world of such an establishment exhibiting this kind of deficiency: and the experiment was denounced as a very hazardous one. The result seems to have been that, while theological instruction has been obtainable elsewhere, a greater number and variety of young men, of different religious persuasions, have been educated at this institution than would have been likely to resort to it if it had, by the choice of theological professor, identified itself with any single denomination. The reasons for the omission of professorship of Divinity are stated in the first Report of the Commissioners who met in August, 1818, at Rockfish Gap, on the Blue Ridge, for the purpose of organizing the plans of this institution. Jefferson was understood to be the author of the Report, which contains the following passage: “In conformity with the principles of our constitution, which places all sects of religion on an equal footing; with the jealousy of the different sects, in guarding that equality from encroachment and surprise; and with the sentiments of the legislature, in favour of freedom of religion, manifested on former occasions, we have proposed no professor of Divinity: and the rather, as the proofs of the being of a God, the Creator, Preserver, and supreme Ruler of the universe, the Author of all the relations Edition: current; Page: of morality, and of the laws and obligations these infer, will be within the province of the professor of Ethics; to which, adding the developments of those moral obligations, of those in which all sects agree, with a knowledge of the languages of Hebrew, Greek and Latin, a basis will be formed, common to all sects. Proceeding thus far without offence to the constitution, we have thought it proper at this point to leave ever sect to provide, as they think fittest, the means of further instruction in their own peculiar tenets.” There are no daily public prayers at this institution; but there are regular services on Sundays, administered by clergymen of the four denominations, in turns of a year each. These clergymen officiate on the invitation of the professors, officers, and students. The attendance upon public worship is purely voluntary; and, as might be expected as a consequence, it is regular and complete. This institution may well be called Jefferson's University. The first conception was his; the whole impulse and direction; the scheme of its studies, and the organization of its government. His letters to his intimate friends, during the last five years of his life, breathe a rational ardour about this enterprise which is very animating to those connected with the University, and which affords a fine stimulus to the students who are daily Edition: current; Page: reminded of what they owe to him, and what were his expectations from them. “I fear not to say,” he writes, “that within twelve or fifteen years from this time, (1825) a majority of the rulers of our State will have been educated here. They shall carry hence the correct principles of our day; and you may count assuredly that they will exhibit their country in a degree of sound respectability it has never known, either in our days, or those of our forefathers. I cannot live to see it. My joy must only be that of anticipation.” In his last letter to Madison, a few months later, he says, “And if I remove beyond the reach of attentions to the University, or beyond the bourne of life itself, as I soon must, it is a comfort to leave that institution under your care, and an assurance that it will not be wanting.” The following passage in the same letter renders strangers curious to learn the politics of the University. “In the selection of our Law Professor, we must be rigourously attentive to his political principles. You will recollect that, before the Revolution, Coke-Littleton was the universal elementary book of law students; and a sounder whig never wrote, nor of profounder learning in the orthodox doctrines of the British constitution, or in what were called English liberties. You remember also, that our lawyers were then all whigs. But when his black-letter Edition: current; Page: text, and uncouth but cunning learning got out of fashion, and the honied Mansfieldism of Blackstone became the student's horn-book, from that moment, that profession (the nursery of our Congress) began to slide into torysim, and nearly all the young brood of lawyers now are of that hue. They suppose themselves, indeed, to be whigs, because they no longer know what whigism or republicanism means. It is in our seminary that that vestal flame is to be kept alive; it is thence to spread anew over our own and the sister States.” On inquiry I found that, out of the 206 students, 7 held the principles of the democratic party. There seemed to be little or none of the federalism of the North; but a strong attachment to Calhoun on the part of the majority in the establishment. The evil influences of slavery have entered in to taint the work of the great champion of freedom. The political attachments of this once democratic institution are to the leader who, in order to uphold slavery, would, to judge him by himself, establish a Lacedemonian government throughout the South; making every white man a soldier, in order to preserve a false idea of honour, and to obviate danger from the oppressed servile class. To observing eyes it appears plain that the hour is approaching when these young men must, like all other American men, choose their part, and enter decisively into Edition: current; Page: struggle, to maintain or overthrow the first principles of freedom. It will then be seen whether “the vestal flame” has been kept alive, or whether the name of him who cherished it has been honoured with mere lip-worship, while the labours of his latter years have been despised and undone. The eyes of the world will be fixed on Jefferson's University during the impending conflict between slave-holders and freemen. To return to our Sunday afternoon. It was known that we should soon arrive at the University with our letters of introduction; and a truly hospitable welcome was prepared for us. We called first at Professor Patterson's, where we found ourselves, in half an hour, as much at home as if we had been acquainted for months. We were obliged to decline taking up our abode there at once; but promised to return the next morning, and remain for as long a time as we could spare. Professor Tucker, long known in England, and at present more extensively so, through his very acceptable Life of Jefferson, was recovering from an illness which confined him to his room, and sent to ask me to visit him there. I was glad that he was well enough to see me; and that I had thus the benefit of a good deal of his lively, sensible, and earnest conversation. A great disappointment awaited our rising on the Edition: current; Page: Monday morning. On the Sunday afternoon the sun had been so hot that we threw off our shawls. The next morning we looked out upon a snow-storm. There was, from the beginning, no hope of our getting to Monticello. Jefferson's house upon the mountain was actually in sight and there was no possibility of our reaching it: and we were obliged to satisfy ourselves with the traces we found of him about the University. Professor Patterson's carriage came for us early, and we passed a morning of the liveliest gossip with the ladies and children of the family, while the Professors were engaged in their duties. The frankness of the whole society was particularly winning; and so was the cordiality among themselves; a degree of mutual good understanding which is seldom found in the small society of a college, village-like in its seclusion and leisure, with added temptations to jealousy and censoriousness. The ladies of Professor Patterson's family gave me a spirited and amiable description of their arrival as strangers at the University, and of the zeal and kind consideration with which they were welcomed and aided on every hand. Two facts struck me, in the course of our feminine talk on the subject of housekeeping; that chickens are there to be had for a dollar a dozen; plump fowls ready for the fire: and that Mrs. Patterson's coachman, a slave, could read. Edition: current; Page: These ladies, seeing apparently only domestic slaves, kindly treated like their own, spoke lightly on the great subject, asking me if I did not think the slaves were happy: but their husbands used a very different tone, observing, with gloom, that it was a dark question every way. Four of the Professors, and two or three students, fine, well-mannered young men, joined us at dinner; and many ladies, and others of the Professors, in the evening. I was amused and gratified by the interest shown in the living authors of England, especially the ladies. Every particular that I could tell about Mrs. Somerville and Mrs. Marcet was eagerly listened to. The Herschel family, Mr. Malthus, and many more, were fully and affectionately discussed. The great treat of the evening to me was a long conversation with Professor Hamilton on the German language and literature, and on the mutual criticism of the Germans and the English. He offered a comparison of the genius of the Greek and German languages, which, for want of sufficient learning, I do not pretend to appreciate, but which impressed me strongly with admiration of his powers of conversation. One of the ladies took an opportunity of asking me privately to request leave to attend a lecture with the Natural Philosophy class, in the morning. Ladies are excluded by rule: but she thought that Edition: current; Page: the rule might for once be infringed without injury, in the case of foreign ladies. The Professor kindly made no difficulty; and my prompter highly enjoyed her single opportunity. We breakfasted before eight, and went immediately to survey the large building,—the Rotunda. First we saw the library, a well-chosen collection of books, the list of which was made out by Jefferson. The students read in the Rotunda, and take out books by order. In the gallery, above the books, the mineralogical collection, belonging to Professor Patterson, is arranged, and open to observation. Higher up still is a whispering gallery. The lecture to which we were admitted was on Heat. It was clear, fluent, and entertaining. The young men appeared to be good listeners; some wrote down almost all they heard; and many asked questions of the Professor at the conclusion of the lecture. Mr. Tucker begged us to go to his chamber to luncheon, as he was still unable to venture out of it. We had a delightful hour there. The sick gentleman's room was crowded with guests, all busy with question and remark, our time being short, and the quantity we had to say, like old friends in a brief meeting, being inexhaustible. A serious request was made to us that we would stay a month, giving up a portion of our southern journey in exchange Edition: current; Page: for the good offices of the University. We could not possibly do this; but there can be no doubt of what our enjoyment would have been, during a whole month of intimate intercourse with such stirring people as this graceful, kindly little society is composed of. Having said all that so many tongues could, in an hour's time, about the Theory of Rent, Colonel Thompson, and Mr. Malthus; the value of public censure and eulogy; Mrs. Somerville again, Philadelphia ale, American politics, and a hundred other things, we were obliged to go. Keepsakes of the ladies' work were put into our hands, and packets of sandwiches into the carriage; and a party escorted us to our inn, bad as the weather was. Letters of introduction were hastily prepared, and sent after us; and during our whole visit nothing was omitted which could concern our comfort, or enhance our pleasure. As I cast my last look from the window of the stage towards the University, it was with less regret than pleasurable astonishment at my own experience of the speed with which it is possible for foreign minds to communicate, and lasting regard to be established. “These views of the degradation of the Southern States receive a melancholy and impressive confirmation from the general aspect and condition of the country, viewed in contrast with its former prosperity. With natural advantages more bountiful than were ever dispensed by a kind Providence to any other people upon the face of the globe, there is, from the mountains to the sea-coast, cay.”—Southern Review, vol. ii., p. 513. There was no end to the kind cautions given me against travelling through the Southern States; not only on account of my opinions on -slavery, but because of the badness of the roads, and the poverty of the wayside accommodations. There was so much of this, that my companion and I held a consultation one day, in our room at Washington, spreading out the map, and surveying the vast extent of country we proposed to traverse before meeting my relatives at New Orleans. We found that neither was afraid; and afterwards that there was no cause for fear, except to persons who are annoyed Edition: current; Page: by irregularity and the absence of comfort. The evil prognostications went on multiplying as we advanced: but we learned to consider them as mere voices on the mountain of our enterprise, which must not deter us from accomplishing it. We had friends to visit at Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina; Augusta, Georgia; Montgomery, Alabama; and Mobile. At Richmond we were cautioned about the journey into South Carolina: at Charleston we met with dreadful reports of travelling in Georgia: in Georgia people spoke of the horrors of Alabama, and so on: and, after all, nothing could well be easier than the whole undertaking. I do not remember a single difficulty that occurred, all the way. There was much fatigue, of course. In going down from Richmond to Charleston, with a party of friends, we were nine days on the road, and had only three nights rest. Throughout the journey, we were obliged to accommodate ourselves to the stage hours, setting off sometimes in the evening, sometimes at midnight; or, of all uncomfortable seasons, at two or three in the morning. On a journey of many days, we had to inform ourselves of the longest time that the stage would stop at a supping or breakfasting place, so that we might manage to snatch an hour's sleep. While the meal was preparing, it was my wont to lie down and doze, in spite of hunger: if I could find a bed Edition: current; Page: or sofa, it was well: if not, I could wrap myself in my cloak, and make a pillow on the floor of my carpet-bag. I found that a sleep somewhat louder than this, when I could go to bed for two hours, was more fatiguing than refreshing. The being waked up at two, when I had lain down at midnight, was the greatest discomfort I experienced. But little sleep can be obtained in the stage, from the badness of the roads. It was only when quite wearied out that I could forget myself for an hour or two, amidst the joltings and rollings of the vehicle. In Alabama, some of the passengers in the stage were Southern gentlemen, coming from New York, in comparison with whose fatigues ours were nothing. I think they had then travelled eleven days and nights, with very short intervals of rest; and the badness of the roads at the end of a severe winter had obliged them to walk a good deal. They looked dreadfully haggard and nervous; and we heard afterwards that one of them had become incessantly convulsed in the face, after we had left them. It is not necessary, of course, to proceed without stopping, in such a way as this; but it is necessary to be patient of fatigue to travel in the South at all. Yet I was very fond of these long journeys. The traveller (if he be not an abolitionist) is perfectly secure of good treatment; and fatigue and indifferent Edition: current; Page: fare are the only evils which need be anticipated. The toils of society in the cities were so great to me that I generally felt my spirits rise when our packing began; and, the sorrow of parting with kind hosts once over, the prospect of a journey of many days was a very cheerful one. The novelty and the beauty of the scenery seemed inexhaustible; and the delightful American stages, open or closed all round at the will of the traveller, allow of everything being seen. The American can conceive of nothing more dismal than a pine-barren, on a rainy day: but the profound tranquillity made it beautiful to me, whose rainy days have been almost all passed in cities, amidst the rumbling of hackney-coaches, the clink of pattens, the gurgle of spouts, and the flitting by of umbrellas. It is very different in the pine-barrens. The sandy soil absorbs the rain, so that there is no mud: the pines stand meekly drooping, as if waiting to be fed: the drip is noiseless: and the brooks and pools are seen bubbling clear, or quietly filling, while not a wing cleaves the-air, each bird nestling in the covert of its domestic tree. When the rain ceases, towards evening, the whole region undergoes a change. If a parting ray from the west pierces the woods, the stems look lilac in the moist light; the vines glitter before they shake off their last drops; the red-bird startles the eye; the Edition: current; Page: butterflies come abroad in clouds; the frogs grow noisy, and all nature wakens up fresh as from her siesta. The planter may be seen on his pacing while horse, in a glade of the wood; or superintending the negroes who are repairing the fence of his estate. One black holds the large dibble, with which the holes for the stakes are made; others are warming their bands at the fire which blazes on the ground:—many hands to do slovenly work. While any light is left, the driver is apt to shorten his road by cutting across a knoll, instead of winding round it: and then the wheels are noiseless on the turf; the branches crash as the vehicle is forced between the trees; and the wood-pigeons, frightened from their roost, flutter abroad. When the sun has gone down, all is still within the stage: the passengers grow drowsy, unless hunger keeps them awake. Each one nods upon his neighbour's shoulder, till a red light, gradually illuminating all the faces, and every moment growing brighter, rouses the dullest. Each tells somebody else that we are coming to a fire in the woods. First there are lines of little yellow flames on each side the path:—the blazing up of twigs too dry to have been made incombustible by the morning's rain. Then there is a pond of red fire on either hand; and pillars of light rising from it.—tall burning stems, throwing out jets of flame on all Edition: current; Page: sides, or emitting a flood of sparks when touched by the night breeze. The succeeding darkness is intense. The horses seem to feel it; for they slacken to a foot-pace, and the grazing of a wheel against a pine-stem, or the zigzag motion of the vehicle, intimates that the driver's eyes have been dazzled. Presently the horses set off again; and the passengers sink once more into silence. They are next roused by the discordant horn of the driver, sending out as many distinct blasts as there are passengers; each blast more of a screech than the last; and the final flourish causing a shout of laughter in the coach; laughter animated a little, perhaps, by the prospect of supper. Right or left, soon appears the log-house, its open shutters and door giving token that a large fire is blazing within. The gentlemen hand out the ladies at the door, and then stand yawning and stretching, or draw to the fire while they can.—before the ladies take possession of the best place. The hostess, who is busy cooking, points to a lamp, with which the ladies light themselves to her chamber, to put up their hair under their bonnets for the night. Little impish blacks peep and grin from behind the stove, or shine in the heat of the chimney-earner. If any one of them has ever received a compliment on his dexterity, he serves with most ostentations bustle, his eyes wide open, his row of white teeth all in sight, and Edition: current; Page: his little body twisting about; with every affectation of activity. An observer may see some fun going on behind the mistress's back; a whisk of the carrying knife across a companion's throat; or a flourish of two plates like cymbals over the head. At last, supper is ready:—the broiled venison, the ham collops and eggs, and apple sauce; the infusion which is called tea or coffee; and the reeking corn-bread. Before the clatter of knives had ceases, the stage, with its fresh horses, is at the door; the ladies snatch a final warming, while the driver finishes his protracted meal, their eyes, being now at liberty to study the apartment, looking round for some other object than the old story.—the six Presidents who smile from the walls of almost every log-house in American, and the great map of the United States, with a thumb-mark. amounting to an erasure, on the spot of the very territory where this particular log-house happens to be. If we wanted to consult a map in a hurry, in such places as these, we never had to hunt out our present situation. There was always the worn spot, to serve as the center to our investigations. The passengers, however wearily they might have descended from the stage, are pretty sure to enter it again with a spring.—warm and satisfied, with a joke on their tongues, and a good supper to sleep or muse upon. The sleep seldom lasts long. however. You are Edition: current; Page: sure to come to a creek, where nobody has ever erected a bridge, or where a freshet has carried one away, and no measure have been taken to rebuild it. With drowsy groans, the passengers rouse themselves, and get out at the driver's bidding, under the cold stars, or the drifting clouds. The ladies slip on their India-rubber shoes; for their first step may be into soft mud. They stand upon a bank, if there be one, in order not to be run over in the dark; while the scow shows by the reflection of the light at her bow where the river is. When she touches the bank, the driver calls to everybody to keep out of the way, cracks his whip, and drives his lumbering carriage down the bank, and into the scow: the passengers follow; the scow is unchained, and the whole load is pushed across the stream, or pulled, if it happens to be a rope-ferry. When the expected shock tells you that have arrived at the other side, the driver again cracks his whip, and the horses scramble. If, they should refuse to mount the steep bank, and back a step upon the passengers instead, every one would infallibly be driven into the river. A delicate coaxing is therefore employed; and I imagine the animals must be aware what a ticklish thing any freak of theirs would be in such a situation; for I never know them decline mounting the bank, without a single back step. If the team bolt, or other fastening of equal consequence Edition: current; Page: should happen to break, there is a chance of two hours rest, or so. Something snaps; the vehicle stops; the gentlemen get out; the ladies gaze from the windows, while somebody half-dressed comes out with a lantern from any dwelling that may be in sight, and goes back again for hammer and nail, or, at worst, a piece of cord: and you proceed at a slow foot-pace, to the nearest hotel. There, the slaves, roused from the floor, where they are lying like dogs, go winking about, putting fresh logs on the smoldering fire, and lighting a lamp or two. After repeated inquiries on the part of the ladies, who feel the first miuntes of their two hours slipping away without any promise of rest, a female slave at last appears, staring as if she had never seen any body before. The ladies have already taken out nightcap, soap and towel from their carpet-bags. They motion the woman up-stairs, and follow her. They find the water-jug, if there be one, empty, of course. With coaxing, they get the attendant to fill it. Long after they are undressed, it comes, clear or “sort o' muddy,” as may be. If there are no sheets, or yellow ones, the ladies spread their dressing-gowns over the bed, and use their cloaks for a covering. As soon as they have lain down, a draught begins to blow in the strangest way on the top of their heads. They examine, and find a broken window behind the bed. Edition: current; Page: They wrap up their heads, and lie down again. AS soon as they are fairly dreaming that they are at home, and need not get up till they please, the horn startles them, they raise their, heads, see a light under the door, and the black woman looks in to drawl out that they must please to make haste. It seems like a week since they down; but they are not rested, turn away sick and dizzy from the flickering light. In the morning, you wonder where your fatigue is gone, As the day steals through the forest, kindling up beauty as it goes, the traveller's whole being is refreshed. The young aloes under the fallen trunks glitter with dew; the grey moss, dangling from the trees, waves in the breath of the morning. The busy little chameleons run along the fences, and the squirrel erects his brush as you pass. While the crescent moon and the morning star glittered low down in the sky, you had longed to stay the sun beneath the horizon; but now that he is come, fresh vigour and enjoyment seem to be shed down with his rays. At such an hour, you often come up with a family departing from the spot where they had “camped out” for the night. I never had the pleasure of camping out: but I know exactly what it must be like: for I have seen establishments of this sort in every stage of the process,—from the searching out Edition: current; Page: a spot blessed with a running stream, a shelter to windward, a dry soil, and plenty of fuel,—to the pilling the wagon with the pots, pans, and children, previous to starting at dawn. There is a striking air of cheer about the family when beginning their new day; leaving behind the desolation they have made; the scorched turf, the scattered brushwood, chips and meat bones, and setting forth in renewed strength in the fresh morning. I owe to these people many a picture such as will never meet my eye in the galleries of art. Our stationary rural life in the South was various and pleasant enough: all shaded with the presence of slavery; but without any other drawback. There is something in the make-shift irregular mode of life which exists where there are slaves that is amusing when the cause is forgotten. The waking in the morning is accomplished by two or three black women staring at you from the bed-posts. Then it is five minutes' work to get them out of the room. Perhaps before you are half dressed, you are summoned to breakfast. You look at your watch, and listen whether it has stopped; for it seems not to be seven o'clock yet. You hasten, however, and find your hostess making the coffee. The young people drop in when the meal is half done, and then it is discovered the breakfast has been served an hour too early, because the clock Edition: current; Page: has stopped, and cook has ordered affairs according to her own conjectures. Every body laughs, and nothing ensues. After breakfast, a farmer in homespun,—blue trowsers and an orange-brown coat.—or all over grey,—comes to speak with your host. A drunken white has shot one of his Negroes, and he fears no punishment can be obtained, because there were no witnesses of the deed but blacks. A consultation is held whether the affair shall go into court: and before the farmer departs, he is offered cake and liqueur. Your hostess, meantime, has given her orders, and is now engaged in a back room, or out the piazza behind the house, cutting out clothes for her slaves;—very laborious work in warm weather. There may be a pretence of lessons among the young people; and something more than pretence, if they happen to have a tutor or governess: but the probability is that their occupations are as various as their tempers. Rosa cannot be found: she is lying on the bed in her own room, reading a novel: Clara is weeping for her canary, which has flown away while she was playing with it: Alfred is trying to ascertain how soon we may all go out to ride; and the little ones are lounging about the court, with their arms round the necks of blacks, of their own size. You sit down to the piano, or to read and one slave or another enters every half hour to ask what is o'clock. Your hostess comes in, at Edition: current; Page: length; and you sit down to work with her; she gratifies your curiosity about her “people;” telling you how soon they burn out their shoes at the toes, and wear out their shoes at the toes, and wear out their winter woolens, and tear up their summer cottons; and how impossible it is to get black women to learn to cut out clothes without waste; and how she never inquires when and where the whipping is done, as it is the overseer's business, and not hers. She has not been seated many minutes when she is called away, and returns saying how babyish these people are, that they will not take medicine unless she gives it to them; and how careless of each other, so that she has been obliged to stand by and see Diana put clean linen upon her infant, and to compel Bet to get her sick husband some breakfast. Morning visitors next arrive. It may be the clergyman, with some new book that you want to look at; and inquiries whether your host sees any prospect of getting the requisite number of professors for the new college; or whether the present head of the insitution is to continue to fill all the chairs. It may be a lank judge from some raw district, with a quid in his cheek, a sword cane in his hand, and a legal doubt in his mind, which he wants your host to resolve. It may be a sensible woman, with courtesy in her countenance, and decision in her air, who is accustomed really to rule her household, and to make the host of such human Edition: current; Page: material and such a human lot as are pressing around and upon her. If so, the conversation between her and your hostess becomes rapid and interesting,—full of tales of perplexity and trouble, of droll anecdotes, and serious and benevolent plans. Or it may be a lady of a different cast, who is delighted at the prospect of seeing you soon again. You look perplexed, and mention that you fear you shall be unable to return this way, O, but you will come and live here. You plead family, friends, and occupation in England,—to say nothing of England being your home. O, but you can bring your family and friends with you. You laughingly ask why. She draws up the replies, “for the honour and glory of living in a republic.” Meantime, Clara has dried her tears, for some one has recovered her canary, and the door of the cage is shut. The carriage and saddle-horses are scrambling on the gravel before the door, and the children run in to know if they may ride with you. Cake, fruit and liqueurs, or perhaps tea, are brought in; and then the ladies depart. The clergyman thinks he will ride round with your party, hearing that you are going to inspect Mr. A.'s plantation. He warns you that it will not be “pleasant to see even the best plantations;” and your trembling heart fully agrees. You admire the horsemanship of your host on Edition: current; Page: his white horse, and the boys on their black ponies. The carriage goes at good speed, and yet the fast pace of the saddle-horses enables the party to keep together. While you are looking out upon a picturesque loghouse, peeping forth from a blossomy thicket, or admiring a splendid hedge of the Cherokee rose, in straggling bloom. Rosa rouses herself from a reverie, and asks you to tell her all about Victoria. “What shall I tell you?” “What religion is she? A Unitarian, I suppose, like you.” Church of Englandism and dissent being explained, Rosa resumes, in a plaintive voice, “Is she betrothed yet?” “Not that I know of.” “O, I hope she is! I wish I knew! When will she be queen? When she is eighteen, won't she?—O, I thought she was to be of age, and be made queen at eighteen. How long will she be a queen?” “As long as she lives.” “As long as she lives! Why I thought—” Rosa has no idea of rulers not being changed every four or eight years. Even her imagination is almost overpowered at the idea of being set above every body else for life. The carriage stops, and you are invited to step Edition: current; Page: out, and view the ravages of a tornado, a season or two ago; you see how clear a path it made for itself in the forest; and how it swept across the river, tearing down an answering gap through the tall cane-brake on the opposite bank. The prostrated trees lie sunk in swamp, half hidden by flowering reeds and bright mosses; while their stumps, twice as tall as yourself, are all cropped off, whatever may be their thickness, precisely at the same height; and so wrenched and twisted as to convince you that you never before conceived of the power of the winds. The boys show you a dry path down to the river side, that you may see the fish traps that arc laid in the stream, and watch the couples of shad fishers—dark figures amidst the flashing waters,—who are pursuing their occupation in the glare of noon. The girls tell you how father remembers the time when there were bears in that cane-brake, and there was great trouble in getting them to come out of their thick covert to be killed. When father first came here, this side of the river was all cane-brake too. Is not a cane-brake very ugly?—It may not have any picturesque beauty; but your eye rests upon it with satisfaction, as a tropical feature in the scene. You proceed, and point out with admiration a beautifully situated dwelling, which you declare takes your fancy more than any you have seen. Edition: current; Page: The children are amused that you should suppose any one lives there, overshadowed with trees as it is, so that its inhabitants would be devoured by mosquitoes. Your hostess tells you that it is called Mr. B.'s Folly. He spent a good deal of money, and much taste upon it; but it is uninhabitable from being rather too near the river. The fever appeared so immediately and decisively that the family had to leave it in three months; and there it stands, to be called B.'s Folly. Your host paces up to the carriage window, to tell you that you arc now on A.'s plantation. You are overtaking a long train of negroes going to their work from dinner. They look all over the colour of the soil they are walking on: dusky in clothing, dusky in complexion. An old man, blacker than the rest, is indicated to you as a native African; and you point out a child so light as to make you doubt whether he be a slave. A glance at the long heel settles the matter. You feel that it would be a relief to be assured that this was a troop of monkeys dressed up for sport, rather than that these dull, shuffling animals should be human. There is something inexpressibly disgusting in the sight of a, slave woman in the field. I do not share in the horror of the Americans at the idea of women being employed in out-door labour. It did Edition: current; Page: not particularly gratify me to sec the cows always milked by men (where there were no slaves); and the hay and harvest fields would have looked brighter in my eyes if women had been there to share the wholesome and cheerful toil; But a negro woman behind the plough presents a very different object from the English mother with her children in the turnip field, or the Scotch lassie among the reapers. In her pre-eminently ugly costume, the long, scanty, dirty woollen garment, with the shabby large bonnet at the back of her head, the perspiration streaming down her dull face, the heavy tread of the splay foot, the slovenly air with which she guides her plough,—a more hideous object cannot well be conceived; unless it be the same woman at home, in the negro quarter, as the cluster of slave dwellings is called. You are now taken to the cotton-gin, the building to your left, where you are shown how the cotton, as picked from the pods, is drawn between cylinders, so as to leave the seeds behind; and how it is afterwards packed, by hard pressure, into bales. The neighbouring creek is dammed up to supply the water-wheel by which this gin is worked. You afterwards sec the cotton-seed laid in handfuls round the stalks of the young springing corn, and used in the cotton field as manure. Meantime, you attempt to talk with the slaves. Edition: current; Page: You ask how old that very aged man is, or that boy; they will give you no intelligible answer. Slaves never know, or never will tell, their ages; and this is the reason why the census presents such extraordinary reports on this point; declaring a great number to be above a hundred rears old. If they have a kind master, they will boast to you of how much he gave for each of them, and what sums he has refused for them. If they have a hard master, they will tell you that they would have more to eat, and be less flogged, but that massa is busy, and has no time to come down, and see that they have enough to cat. Your hostess is well known on this plantation, and her kind face has been recognized from a distance; and already a negro woman has come to her with seven or eight eggs, for which she knows she shall receive a quarter dollar You follow her to the negro quarter, where yon see a tidy woman knitting, while the little children who are left in her charge are basking in the sun, or playing all kinds of anties in the road; little shining, plump, clear-eyed children, whose mirth makes you sad, when yon look round upon their parents, and see what these bright creatures arc to come to. You enter one of the dwellings, where every thing seems to be of the same dusky hue: the crib against the wall, the walls themselves, and the floor, all look one yellow. More children are crouched Edition: current; Page: round the wood fire, lying almost in the embers. You see a woman pressing up against the wall, like an idiot, with her shoulder turned towards you, and her apron held up to her face. You ask what is the matter with her, and are told that she is shy. You see a woman rolling herself about in a crib, with her head tied up, You ask if she is ill, and are to told that she has not a good temper; that she struck at a girl she was jealous of with an axe; and the weapon being taken from her, she threw herself into the well, and was nearly drowned before she was taken out, with her head much hurt. The overseer has, meantime, been telling your host about the fever having been more or less severe last season, and how well off he shall think himself if he has no more than so many days' illness this summer: how the vegetation has suffered from the late frosts, pointing out how many of the oranges have been cut off, but that the great magnolia in the centre of the court is safe. You are then invited to see the house, learning by the way the extent and value of the estate you are visiting, and of the “force” upon it. You admire the lofty, cool rooms, with their green blinds, and the width of the piazzas on both sides the house, built to compensate for the want of shade from trees, which cannot be allowed near the dwelling, for fear of mosquitoes. You visit the ice-house, and find it pretty full, the Edition: current; Page: last winter having been a severe one. You learn that for three or four seasons after this ice-house was built, there was not a spike of ice in the State; and a cargo had to be imported from Massachusetts. When you have walked in the field as long as the heat will allow, you step into the overseer's bare dwelling, within its bare enclosure, where fowls are strutting about, and refresh yourself with a small tumbler of milk,—a great luxury, which has been ordered for the party. The overseer's fishing tackle and rifle are on the wall: and there is a medicine chest, and a shelf of books. He is tall, sallow, and nonchalant, dropping nothing more about himself and his situation than that he does not know that he has had more than his share of sickness and trouble in his vocation, and so he is pretty well satisfied. Your hostess reminds the party that they are going out to dinner, and that it is quite time to be returning to dress. So you go straight home by a shorter road, stopping no more, but looking out, now at a glorious trumpet honeysuckle dangling from a branch; now at a lefty, spreading green tree, red hot close to the ground, while a sheet of flames is spreading all about its roots, the flames looking orange and blue in the bright sunshine. You are glad to find, on arriving at home, that you have half an hour to lie down before you dress, Edition: current; Page: and are surprised, on rising, to feel how you are refreshed. You have not very far to go to dinner,—only to Mr. E.'s cottage on the Sand Hills. The E.'s have just come for the summer; the distant city being their winter residence. If you find the accommodations poor, you must excuse it, in consideration of their recent removal, The E.'s live in very good style in the city. The cottage is half way up a gentle ascent, with a deep, sandy road leading to the wooden steps of the front piazza, and pine forests in the rear. The entertainment to-day is not solely on your account: it is a parting dinner to young Mr. and Mrs. F., who are going to reside further west. They are leaving their parents and friends, and the family estate, and are to live in a loghouse, till a proper dwelling can be built. Mrs. F. is rather low in spirits, but her mother means to send the old family nurse with her; so that she will have one comfort, at any rate, and will be able to trust her infant out of her sight now and then. As for Mrs. E., she informs you that she has come out to the cottage sooner than she usually does, as she is expecting her confinement. She has all her five children in her presence always; and as she cannot trust them for an hour with her “people,” their noise and the heat would be intolerable in town; but here, where her room opens upon the piazza, she can have the children always in her sight or Edition: current; Page: hearing, with less fatigue than in the city. You ask whether such a charge be not too much for her. Certainly; but there is no use in complaining, for it cannot be helped. She never had a nurse that was not more plague than use. It is not only that the servants tell the children improper things, and teach them falsehood, but it is impossible to get the little boys' faces washed without seeing it done; and the infant may, as likely as not, be dropped into the fire or out of the window. Ladies must make the best of their lot, for they cannot help themselves. The dinner is plentiful, including, of course, turkey, ham, and sweet potatoes; excellent claret, and large blocks of ice-cream. A slave makes gentle war against the flies with the enormous bunch of peacocks' feathers: and the agitation of the air is pleasant, while the ladies are engaged in eating, so that they cannot use their own fans, which are hung by loops on the backs of their chairs. The afternoon is spent in the piazza, where coffee is served. There the ladies sit, whisking their feather fans, jesting with the children, and talking over the last English poem, or American novel; or complaining bitterly of the dreadful incendiary publications which Mr. E. heard from Mr. H., who had heard it from Mr. M., that Judge R. had said that somebody had seen circulated among the negroes, Edition: current; Page: by some vile agent of the horrid abolitionists of the North. You go in to tea, and find the table strewed with prints, and the piano open; and Mrs. F. plays and sings. The gentlemen have done discussing the French war and the currency, and are praising the conduct of the Committee of Vigilance; frankly informing you, as a stranger, of the reasons of its formation, and the modes of its operation in deterring abolitionists from coming into the neighbourhood, in arresting them oil any suspicion of tampering with the negroes, and in punishing them summarily, if any facts are established against them. While you are endeavouring to learn the nature of the crime and its evidence, you are summoned. There is going to be a storm, and your party must get home, if possible, before it comes on. In such a case, Mrs. E. will say nothing in opposition to your leaving her so early. She would not be the means of exposing you to the storm. You hasten away, and reach home during the first explosion of thunder. You find there a bouquet, sent to you with Miss G.'s compliments; a splendid bunch of quince, yellow jessamine, arbor vitæ, hyacinths, cherry, and other blossoms. It is not nearly bed-time yet; and you sit on the sofa, fanning yourself, with the table-lamp, dimmed by the momentary glare of blue Edition: current; Page: lightning. Your hostess learns from the servants that poor Miss Clara went to bed in great grief; the cat having killed her canary in the afternoon. It has been a sad day for poor Clara, from the adventures of her bird: but she is now fast asleep. Your host amuses you with anecdotes of South country life. He asks you how you were struck with Mrs. L., whose call you returned yesterday. You reply that she seems a cheerful, hearty personage, who makes the best of a poor lot; and you relate how pleased you were at the frankness with which she owned, pointing to the stocking she was darning, that she knew little of books now-a-days, or of music, as she was making shirts and darning stockings for her sons, all the year round. You were sorry to see such evidences of poverty: chairs with broken backs, and a piano with three legs, and a cracked flute: but glad that Mrs. L. seemed able to look on the bright side of things. Your host throws himself back, and laughs for three minutes: and when he recovers, informs you that Mrs. L. is the wealthiest widow in the State. You protest that you looked upon her with respect as a meritorious widow, doing her best for a large family. Your host repeats that she is the richest widow in the State; and that she and all her family are odd about money. She has a sister in a neighbouring State, Mrs. M., who is even more bent upon economy. Edition: current; Page: Last year Mrs. L. visited this sister, who lives in a country town. The sisters went out in Mrs. M.'s carriage, to make calls and do shopping. Mrs. L. observed that her sister's carriage was attended by a little mulatto girl, who let down the steps, and put them up, and mounted behind very dexterously. “The child is clever enough,” said Mrs. L.: “but, sister, your carriage should have a proper footman. You should not be seen in town with a girl behind your carriage.” Mrs. M. promised to consider the matter. The next day, a spruce mulatto lad was in waiting, of whom Mrs. L. fully approved. When she looked in his face, however, as he was letting down the steps at the entrance of a store, she was struck by his remarkable like-ness to the girl of yesterday, and observed upon it. Mrs. M. laughed, and owned she had got suit of boy's clothes made since yesterday, for the girl to wear during morning drives: and she thought this an excellent plan. Many such a story does your host amuse you with; observing that, though America has fewer humourists than England, they may be met with in abundance in rare settlements and retired districts, where they can indulge their fancies without much suffering from public opinion. The storm abates. you are the oracle as to what o'clock it is; and, as you are confident that it is near eleven, the chamber lights are brought. You dismiss Edition: current; Page: your dusky attendants, and throw yourself on your sample sofa for half an hour, to recal what yon have seen and heard this day, and meditate on the scope and tendencies of Country Life in the Southern States. The disasters of our railroad journey to Charleston have been described elsewhere.* We were to have arrived at the city about six P.M. of the 10th of March, when every object would have looked bright in the sunshine of a spring evening. As it was, we reached the railroad station at ten minutes past four the next morning. There was much delay in obtaining our luggage, and getting away from the station. We could not think of disturbing the slumbers of the friends whose hospitality we were about to enjoy; and we therefore proceeded in the omnibus which was in waiting, to the Planters' Hotel. We were all hungry, having scarcely tasted food since noon the day before; and very weary, having travelled the whole of two nights, and enjoyed Edition: current; Page: no sufficient rest since we left Richmond, nine days before. Every little event became a great one to persons so exhausted. The omnibus jolted and stopped, and we were told that an accident had happened. The gentlemen got out, but the darkness was total. A light was brought from a private house, and it appeared that a wheel had touched the kirbstone! It seemed as if horses were never backed in Charleston, so long were we in proceeding. When I afterwards saw what the streets of Charleston are like. I did not wonder at any extreme of caution in a driver. The soil is a fine sand, which after rain turns into a most deceptive mud; and there is very little pavement yet. The deficiency of stone is, however, becoming supplied by importation, and the inhabitants hope soon to be able to walk about the city in all weathers, without danger of being lost in crossing the streets. They told me, as an on dit, that a horse was drowned, last winter, in a mud-hole, in a principal street. At the hotel, all was dark and comfortless. We made a stir among the servants: the gentlemen got two men to light a fire, and fetch us wine and biscuits; and we persuaded two women to make up beds, and warm some water. We were foolish enough to be tempted to take wine and water, as we could have neither tea nor coffee; and when we lose from our unrefreshing sleep, an hour after noon, Edition: current; Page: we formed such a dismal group of aching heads us could hardly be matched out of an hospital. Two of us proceeded, in a light pretty buck-carriage, to the friend's house where we were expected. Nothing could be more considerate than our reception. A pile of English and American letters and newspapers awaited us; and our hostess know that we must be fatigued: a fire was therefore immediately lighted in my chamber, and we were told that the day was our own; that our dinner would be sent up to us, and that we should not be expected in the drawing-room till we chose to join the family. I shall not soon forget the refreshment of lingering over family letters and London newspapers; of feeling that we were not liable to be called up in the dark for a fortnight at least; and of seeing my clothes laid in drawers, for the first time, I think, since I landed. A chest of drawers is seldom to be seen in the chambers,—or, at least, in the guest-chambers of American houses. We were favoured in the article of closets, with rows of pegs; but I believe I had the use of a chest of drawers only two or three times during my travels. A circumstance happened this day, which, as being illustrative of manners, may be worth relating. The day before I left Richmond, Virginia, two companions and myself had employed a hack-carriage, driven by a black, for some hours; and on Edition: current; Page: dismissing had paid the fare, which we thought reasonable.—two dollars and a half. The proprietor of the carriage, and master of the driver, had by some means heard who it was that had been his customer. Finding that I had left Richmond, he took the trouble to send the two dollars and a half down to Charleston. five hundred miles, with a message that it was not for the honour of Virginia that I should pay carriage hire! and the money was awaiting me on my arrival. I had soon reason to perceive that Charleston deserves its renown for hospitality. A lecturer on phrenology sent us tickets for his course: six carriages were immediately placed at my disposal, and the servants came every morning for orders for the day. The difficulty was to use them all and equally: but, by employing one for the morning drive, and another for the evening visiting, we contrived to show our friends that we were willing to avail ourselves of their kindness. I believe there was scarcely a morning during our stay when some pretty present did not arrive before I rose: sometimes it was a bouquet of hyacinths, which were extremely rare that year, from the lateness and severity of the frosts: sometimes it was a dish of preserve or marmalade; sometimes a feather fan. when the day promised to be hot; sometimes a piece of Indian work; sometimes of indigenous literary production. Edition: current; Page: One morning, I found on my window-seat a copy of the Southern Review, and a bonquet of hyacinths from General Hayne; and the next, a basket of wafers from Mrs. P.; and the third, a set of cambric handkerchiefs, inimitably marked with complimentary devices, from Mrs. W. In the midst of all this, there was no little watchfulness among a totally different set of persons, about my proceedings with regard to the negroes, I had not been in the city twenty-four hours before we were amused with ridiculous reports of my championship on behalf of the blacks; and long after I had left the place, reported speeches of mine were in circulation which were remarkably striking to me when I at length heard them. This circumstance shows how irritable the minds of the people are upon this topic. I met with no difficulty, however, among my associates. I made it a rule to allow others to introduce the subject of slavery, knowing that they would not fail to do so, and that I might learn as much from their method of approaching the topic as from any thing they could say upon it. Before half an hour had passed, every man, woman or child I might be conversing with had entered upon the question. As it was likewise a rule with me never to conceal or soften my own opinions, and never to allow mvself to be irritated by what I heard, (for it is too serious a subject to indulge frailtics Edition: current; Page: with.) the best understanding existed between slave-holders and myself. We never quarrelled; while I believe we never failed to perceive the extent of the difference of opinion and feeling between us. I met with much more cause for admiration in their frankness than reason to complain of illiberality. The following may serve as a specimen of this part of our intercourse:— The first time I met an eminent Southern gentleman, a defender of slavery, he said to me (within the half hour)— “I wish you would not be in such a hurry away. I wish you would stay a year in this city. I wish you would stay ten years; and then you would change your opinions.” “Your opinions on slavery.” “What do you know of my opinions on slavery?” “Oh, we know them well enough: we have all read ‘Demerara.’” “Very well: now we shall understand each other; for I must tell you that I think about slavery exactly as I did when I wrote that story. Nothing, that I have seen shows me that I have anything to qualify of what is said there. So now you do know my opinions.” “Oh yes. I don't want to know anything more of your opinions. I want you to know mine.”Edition: current; Page: “That is exactly what I want. When will you let me have them?” We had engaged to dine with this gentleman the next week: it was now arranged that our party should go two hours earlier than the other guests, in order to hear this gentleman's exposition of slavery. He was well prepared; and his statement of facts and reasons was clear, ready, and entertaining. The fault was in the narrowness of his premises; for his whole argument was grounded on the supposition that human rights consist in sufficient subsistence in return for labour. Before he began I told him that I fully understood his wish not to argue the question, and that I came to hear his statement, not to controvert it; but that I must warn liim not to take my silence for assent. Upon this understanding we proceeded; with some little irritability on his part when I asked questions, but with no danger of any quarrel. I never found the slightest difficulty in establishing a similar clear understanding with every slave-holder I met. In the drawing-room of the boarding-house at Richmond, Virginia, three gentlemen, two of whom were entire strangers, attacked me in the presence of a pretty large company, one afternoon. This was a direct challenge, which I did not think fit to decline, and we had it all out. They were irritable at first, but softened as they went on; and when, at Edition: current; Page: the end of three hours, we had exhausted the subject, we were better friends than when we began. Some of the reports of my championship of the negroes arose from a circumstance which occurred the day after my arrival at Charleston. Our host proposed to take us up a church steeple, to obtain a view of the city and its environs. The key of the church was at the Guard House opposite; and our host said we might as well go for it ourselves, and thus get a sight of the Guard House. One of the city authorities showed us over it; and we staid a few moments in a room where a lady was preferring a complaint against two negro boys for robbing a hen-roost. They were proved guilty, and sentenced to be flogged at the place of punishment at the other end of the city. The view from the church steeple was very fine; and the whole, steeped in spring sunshine, had an oriental air which took me by surprise. The city was spread out beneath us in a fan-like form, its streets converging towards the harbour. The heat and moisture of the climate give to the buildings the hue of age so as to leave nothing of the American air of spruceness in the aspect of the place. The sandy streets, the groups of mulattoes, the women with turbaned heads, surmounted with water-pots and baskets of fruit; the small panes of Edition: current; Page: the house windows; the yucca bristling in the gardens below us, and the hot haze through which we saw the blue main and its islands, all looked so oriental, as to strike us with wonder. We saw Ashley and Cooper rivers, bringing down produce to the main, and were taught the principal buildings,—the churches, and the Custom-house, built just before the Revolution,—and the leading streets,—Broad and Meeting Streets intersecting, and affording access to all that we were to see. It would be wise in travellers to make it their first business in a foreign city to climb the loftiest point they can reach, so as to have the scene they are to explore laid out as in a living map beneath them. It is scarcely credible how much time is saved, and confusion of ideas obviated by these means. I gained much by mounting the State House at Boston, Pennsylvania Hospital at Philadelphia; the new hotel at Baltimore; the Capitol at Washington; the high hills about Cincinnati; the college at Lexington; the hill where the State House is to be at Nashville; the Cotton-press at New Orleans; and this church steeple at Charleston. Another care of the traveller should be to glance at the local newspapers. This first morning I found a short newspaper article which told volumes. It was an Ordinance for raising ways and means for the city. Charitable and religious institutions were Edition: current; Page: left free from taxation; as were the salaries of the clergy and schoolmasters. There was a direct levy on real property, on slaves, and on carriages, and a special tax on free people of colour: a class who, being precluded from obtaining taxable property and luxuries, were yet made to pay by means of a poll-tax. Our mornings were divided between receiving callers, and drives about the city, and in the country. The country is flat and sandy; and the only objects arc planters' mansions, surrounded with evergreen woods; the gardens exhibiting the tropical yucca, and fenced with hedges of the Cherokee rose. From the lower part of the city, glimpses of the main may be had; but the intervening space is very ugly, except at high tide; an expanse of reeking slime, over which large flocks of buzzards are incessantly hovering. On the top of each of the long row of stakes discovered at low water sits a buzzard. A fine is imposed for killing one of these birds,—the unsalaricd scavengers of the moister districts of the city. The houses which we visited in returning calls were generally handsome; with capacious piazzas, rich plants and bouquets, and good furniture. The political bias of the inhabitant was often discoverable from the books on the table, or the prints and casts on the walls. In no society in the world Edition: current; Page: could the division of parties be more distinct, and their alienation more threatening than in Charleston, at the time I was there.* The Union gentlemen and ladies wore dispirited and timid. They asked one another's opinion whether there was not some mysterious stir among the Nullifiers; whether they were not concerting measures for a new defiance of the General Government. This anxious watchfulness contrasted strangely with the arrogant bearing of the leading Nullifiers. During my stay, Mr. Calhoun and his family arrived from Congress; and there was something very striking in the welcome he received, like that of a chief returned to the bosom of his clan. He stalked about like a monarch of the little domain; and there was certainly an air of mysterious understanding between him and his followers; whether there was really any great secret under it or not. One lady who had contributed ample amounts of money to the Nullification funds, and a catechism to Nullification lore, amused while she grieved me by the strength of her political feelings. While calling on her, one morning, the conversation turned on prints, and I asked an explanation of a strange-looking one which hung opposite my eye; the portrait of a Edition: current; Page: gentleman, the top of the head and the dress visible, but the face obliterated or covered over. She was only too ready to explain. It was a portrait of President Jackson, which she had hung up in days when he enjoyed her favour. Since Nullification she had covered over the face, to show how she hated him. A stranger hardly knows what to think of a cause whose leaders will flatter and cherish the perpetrators of a piece of petty spite like this: yet this lady is treated as if she were a main pillar of the Nullification party. Some of our mornings were spent in going with the Hayne and Calhoun families to the public library, to a panorama, and to the arsenal. The library is supported by private subscriptions, and is very creditable to the city, whose zeal about its books might well have been exhausted by the repeated destruction of the library by fire, and in the war. We amused ourselves with files of newspapers, which have survived all disasters,—old London Gazettes and colonial papers extending as far back as 1678. We visited the arsenal twice; the second time with Mr. Calhoun and Governor Hayne, when we saw the arms and ammunition, which were not visible the first time, because “the key was not on the premises;” a token that no invasion was immediately expected. There were two bombs brought Edition: current; Page: in by Governor Hayne; and all the warlike apparatus which was made ready during the Nullification struggle. It is difficult to believe that Mr. Calhoun seriously meant to go to war with such means as his impoverished State could furnish; but there is no doubt that he did intend it. The ladies were very animated in their accounts of their State Rights Ball, held in the area of the arsenal; and of their subscriptions of jewels to the war fund. They were certainly in earnest. The soldiers were paraded in our presence, some eleven or twelve recruits, I believe: and then Mr. Calhoun first, and Governor Hayne afterwards, uncovered and addressed them with us much gravity and effusion of patriotic sentiment, as if we had been standing on the verge of a battle-field. Some of our party were of Union politics; and they looked exceedingly arch during the speechifying. It will be too sad if this child's play should be turned into bloodshed after all, for the gratification of any man's restless ambition, or in the guilty hope of protracting slavery under the reprobation of the whole of society, except a small band of mercenaries. My chief interest in these expeditions was in the personages who accompanied me. Governor Hayne's name is well known in England, from his having furnished the provocation to Webster's renowed Edition: current; Page: speech, exhibiting the constitutional argument against Nullification: and from his being afterwards the leader of the struggle in South Carolina, while Mr. Calhoun fulfilled the same function in Congress. He is descended from the Haynes whose cruel sufferings in the Revolutionary War are notorious, to the disgrace of the British: one of the two brothers having perished through the miseries of a British prison-ship, and the other having been hanged by Lord Rawdon and Colonel Balfour, under circumstances which, I believe, justify the horror and reprobation with which the act is viewed by all who have heard the story. It is one of the most dreadful tales of the Revolutionary War; and the English have not been behind the Americans in their feeling with regard to the case. The circumstances are briefly these:— Colonel Isaac Hayne was a peaceful planter at the time of the breaking out of the war. He lived upon his estate all the year round, and was remarkably quiet and domestic in his temper and habits. He served in the American army during the siege of Charleston; and on the fall of the city returned to his plantation, under the guarantee of security to person and property, shared by all who had capitulated at Charleston. The small-pox broke out in his family; all his children had it; one was dead, and his wife dying, when Colonel Hayne Edition: current; Page: received peremptory orders to repair to the British standard, to take up arms as a British subject, or to surrender himself prisoner at Charleston. He declared that no force should separate him from his dying wife and children, and asserted his inviolability under the capitulation of Charleston. The British officer, Colonel Bellingall, who brought the order, assured him of his immediate return home if he would repair to Charleston, to give an assurance that he would “demean himself as a British subject, while the country should be covered with a British army.” Colonel Hayne went, with the written agreement of Colonel Bellingall in his hand. He was, however, detained, and offered the alternative of lasting imprisonment, or of signing an unconditional promise to obey orders as a British subject. He declared that he never would bear arms against his country, and was assured that this act would never ber equired of him. There were several witnesses to his having signed under this protest and assurance. He returned to his family, finding another of his children dead, and his wife just expiring. He observed the strictest neutrality while the promise under which he signed was kept. His house was alternately occupied by English and American troops, when the prospects of the republicans began to improve; and he is known to have Edition: current; Page: refused to let his horses be used by friends in the American force,—in short, to have kept his engagement like a man of honour. His position was, however, considered to perilous an one, and he was summoned to join the British standard. He considered that this was such a violation of a promise on the part of the British officers as set him free. He joined his countrymen, fought, and was captured. He was imprisoned at Charleston for some weeks till Lord Rawdon came to town, and then, after two days' notice, brought before a Court of Inquiry, consisting of four general officers and five captains. Having no idea that this was anything more than a preliminary measure, and finding that the members of the Court were not sworn, nor the witnesses examined on oath, Colonel Hayne called no witnesses, and the proceedings closed without his being aware that he had gone through an affair of life or death. He was wholly taken by surprise, therefore, at the news conveyed to him by letter that he was to die on the gibbet the next day but one. He was respited for forty-eight hours, in order that he might see his children, and in consideration of the “humane treatment shown by his hands;” and he spent the interval in the discharge of business and affectionate intercourse with his friends. His chief regret was, that this act would probably Edition: current; Page: provoke retaliation, and so lead to the shedding of much innocent blood. He required his eldest son, a boy of thirteen, to be present at his execution, in order to receive his body, and see that it was laid in the family burial place. The boy, frantic with grief, declared that he should not long survive him: and it is not surprising that he shortly became insane, and died. Colonel Hayne met his fate with a tranquility which convinced his enemies that (to use their own words) “though he did not die in a good cause, he must, at least, have acted from a persuasion of its being so.” Such stories are very painful; but they ought not to be forgotten. The horrors of colonial war may not be over; and it is well that the conflicts of duty and affection which can take place only in wars of this character should be remembered, while Great Britain has colonies which she may oppress, and noble subjects, like Colonel Hayne, whom she may be even now alienating, and whose contrariety of affections she may be yet again driven or tempted to solve in blood. The present representative of the family was made Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives at the age of twenty-seven. He was afterwards Attorney-General of the State, a senator in Congress, and Governor of the State. During the preparations for war in 1832, he was Edition: current; Page: the soul of every movement. He is now considered to be deeply involved in the Southern transactions relating to the acquisition of Texas, whatever these may in reality be, and to have linked his fortunes with the slavery question. When I saw him he was forty-four years of age, with a robust, active frame, a lively, pleasant countenance, and very engaging manners,—with much of the eagerness of the school-boy, mixed with the case of the gentleman. He can do everything better than reason, as appeared in the senatorial conflict, in which he was ground to powder by the tremendous weight and force of Webster's constitutional argument and sound declamation. Governor Hayne can state clearly, enforce ardently, illustrate gracefully, and boast magnificently; but he cannot reason. His best friends are probably the most anxious to admit this; for there is such want of reason in his present course of opposition to the first principles on which society is founded, and in his attachment to worn-out feudal institutions, that the observer, however friendly, finds himself reduced to the alternative of supposing this busy mind perverted by unholy passions, or by an unbalanced imagination. Governor Hamilton is less known at a distance; but he is, perhaps, a yet more perfect representative of the Southern gentlemen. He is handsome, and his manners have all the grace, without much of the Edition: current; Page: arrogance of the bearing of his class. I was much struck too with his generous appreciation of the powers and virtues of the great men of every party at Washington:—a moral grace which I should have been glad to see shared in a greater degree by some of his neighbours. Governor Hamilton has done what he could to impair the favourable impressions he makes upon all who know him by the atrocious Report he issued in 1835, as Chairman of a Committee of the South Carolina Legislature appointed to consider what steps should be taken in defence of “the peculiar domestic institutions of the South.” This report is unconstitutional in its requisitions, and savage in its spirit towards the abolitionist. With these gentlemen, their friends, and the ladies of their families, we saw many sights, and passed many pleasant hours: and with gentlemen and ladies of the opposite party we spent other portions of our leisure. I was told much of the Poor-House, rather in a tone of boasting; and I was anxious to see what a Poor-House could be in a region where all labourers are private property, and where pauperism would therefore seem to be obviated. Infirmity, vice, and orphanhood keep up a small amount of pauperism, even here; reducing capitalists to a state of dependance. There were about 120 inmates when I visited the institution; and the Edition: current; Page: number was soon to be reduced by the periodical clearance made by sending the children to the Orphan House, and the insane to the State asylum at Columbia. The intemperate and vagrants were employed in coffin-making and stone-breaking. By a slight stretch of the law, persons found drunk are sent here and locked up for a month. We saw two respectable-looking men who had been brought in intoxicated the day before, and who looked duly ashamed of their situation. The orphan House has been established about forty years; and it contained, at the time of my visit, 200 children. As none but whites are admitted, it is found to be no encouragement to vice to admit all destitute children whether orphans or not; for the licentiousness of the South takes the women of colour for its victims. The children in this establishment are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic; and the girls sewing: but the prejudice against work appears as much here as any where. No active labour goes on: the boys do not even garden. No employment is attempted which bears any resemblance to what is done by staves. The boys are apprenticed out to trades at fourteen; and the girls to mantua-making; almost the only employment in which a white Southern woman can earn a subsistence. The children are taken in from the age of two years; but they generally enter at Edition: current; Page: the ages of four, five, or six. I was rather surprised to see them badged; an anti-republican practice which had better be abolished; but I woundered the less when I observed the statue of Pitt still standing in the court-yard; with the right arm shot off in the war, however. There is a good-sized church connected with this establishment, which was well filled on the afternoon when I went with the family of a friend, who was taking his turn with his brother clergy to preach. Charleston is the place in which to see those contrasting seenes of human life brought under the eye which moralists gather together for the purpose of impressing the imagination. The stranger has but to pass from street to street, to live from hour to hour in this city, to witness in conjunction the extremes between which there is everywhere else a wide interval. The sights of one morning I should remember if every other particular of my travels were forgotten. I was driven round the city by a friend whose conversation was delightful all the way. Though I did not agree in all his views of society, the thoughtfulness of his mind and the benevolence of his exertions betokened a healthy state of feeling, and gave value to all he said. He had been a friend of the lamented Grimkeé; and he showed me the house where Grimké lived and died, and told me much of him,—of the nobleness of his Edition: current; Page: character, the extent of his attainments, and how, dying at fifty-four, he had lived by industry a long life. My mind was full of the contemplation of the heights which human beings are destined to reach, when I was plunged into a new scene.—one which it was my own conscientious choice to visit, but for which the preceding conversation had ill-prepared me. I went into the slave-market.-a place which the traveler ought not to avoid, to spare his feelings. There was a table, on which stood two auctioneers: one with a hammer, the other to exhibit “the article,” and count the bids. The slaves for sale were some of them in groups below; and some in a long row behind the auctioneers. The sale of a man was just concluding when we entered the market. A woman, with two children, one at the breast, and another holding by her apron, composed the next lot. The restless, jocose zeal of the auctioneer who counted the bids was the most infernal sight I ever beheld. The woman was a mulatto; she was nearly dressed, with a clean apron, and a yellow head-handkerchief. The elder child clung to her. She hung her head low, lower, and still lower on her breast, yet turning her eyes incessantly form side to side, with an intensity of expectation which showed that she had not reached the last stage of despair. I should have thought that her agony of shame and dread would have Edition: current; Page: silenced the tongue of every spectator: but it was not so. A lady chose this moment to turn to me and say, with a cheerful air of complacency:— “You know my theory,—that the one race must be subservient to the other. I do not car which; and if the blacks should ever have the upper hand, I should not mind standing on that table, and being sold with two of my children.” Who could help saying within himself. “Would you were! So that that mother were released!” Who could help seeing in vision the blacks driving the whites into the field, and preaching from the pulpits of Christian churches the doctrines now given out there, that God has respect of persons, that men are to hold each other as property, instead of regarding each other as brethren; and that the right interpretation of the golden rule by the slaveholder is, “Do unto your slaves as you would wish your master to do unto you, if you were a slave?” A little boy of eight or nine years old, apparently, was next put up alone. There was no bearing the child's look of helplessness and shame. It seemed like an outrange to be among the starers from whom he shrunk; and we went away before he was disposed of. We next entered a number of fine houses where we were presented with flowers, and entertained with lively talk about the small affairs of gay society which to little minds are great. To me every laugh Edition: current; Page: had lost its gaiety, every courtesy had lost its grace, all intercourse had lost its innocence. It was a relief to think of Grunké in his grave, escaped from the hell in which we were pent. If there be a scene which might stagger the faith of the spirit of Christianity itself,—if there be an experience which might overthrow its serenity, it is the transition from the slave-market to the abodes of the slave-masters, bright with sunshine, and gay with flowers, with courtesies and mirth. If the moral gloom which oppresses the spirit of the stranger were felt by the residents, of course this condition of society would not endure another day. Much trouble is experienced, and there are many sighs over the system; but the anxiety is not to any great number what it is to the sisters of Grimké,—such a poisoner of life as to induce them to sacrifice property, home, friends, and repose, in order to obtain case of mind for themselves, and to do something towards destroying the curse by which their native region is blighted. Every day shows how many mansions there are in this hell; how variously the universally allowed evil visits minds of different strength and discernment. All suffer, from the frivolous and sophisticated child to the farseeing and disciplined saint. The difficulty is to have patience with the diversity, and to wait, as God waits, till the moral gloom strikes upon every heart, Edition: current; Page: and causes every eye to turn for light where some already see it. At the same hour when the customary sins of the slave-market were being perpetrated, hundreds of the little people of Charleston were preparing for their childish pleasures,—their merry dancing schools, there juvenile fancy balls,—ordering their little slaves about, and allowing themselves to be fanned by black attendants while reposing in preparation for the fatigues of the evening: ministers of the gospel were agreeing to deprive persons of colour of all religious education: a distant Lynch mob was outraging the person of a free and innocent citizen: elegant ladies were administering hospitality, and exchanging gossip and sentiment: and Angelina Grunké was penning the letter which contains the following passages;—a private letter to a friend who was shortly to undergo the strengthening process of being mobbed:— “I can hardly express to thee the deep and solemn interest with which I have viewed the violent proceedings of the last few weeks. Although I expected opposition, yet I was not prepared for it so soon—it took me by surprise, and I greatly feared Abolitionists would be driven back in the first onset, and thrown into confusion. So fearful was I, that though I clung with unflinching firmness to our principles, yet I was afraid to even opening one of thy papers, lest I should see some indications Edition: current; Page: of compromise, some surrender, some palliation. Under these feelings. I was urged to read thy Appeal to the citizens of Boston. Judge, then, what were my feelings on finding that my fears were utterly groundless, and that thou stoodest firm in the midst of the storm, determined to suffer and to die, rather than yield one inch. “Religious persecution always begins with mobs. It is always unprecedented in the age or country in which it commences, and therefore there are no laws by which Reformers can be punished: consequently, a lawless band of unprincipled men determine to take the matter into their own hands, and act out in mobs what they know are the principles of a large majority of these who are too high in Church and State to condescend to mingle with them, though they secretly approve and rejoice over their violent measures. The first Christian martyr was stoned by a lawless mob; and if we look at the rise of various sects. Methodists, Friends, &c., we shall find that mobs began the persecution against them, and that it was not until after the people had spoken out their wishes that laws were framed to fine, imprison, or destroy them. Let us then be prepared for the enactment of laws, even in our free States, against Abolitionists. And how ardently has the prayer been breathed, that God would prepare us for all that he is preparing for us!Edition: current; Page: “My mind has been especially turned towards those who are standing in the forefront of the battle; and the prayer has gone up for their preservation—not the preservation of their lives, but the preservation of their minds in humility and patience, faith, hope, and charity. If persecution is the means which God has ordained for the accomplishment of this great ende,—Emancipation,—then, in dependence upon him for strength to bear it, I feel as if I could say, ‘Let it come;’ for it is my deep, solemn, deliberate conviction, that this is a cause worth dying for. “At one time, I thought this system would be overthrown in blood, with the confused noise of the warrior; but a hope gleams across my mind, that our blood will be spilt, instead of the slave-holder'; our lives will be taken, and theirs spared. I say ‘a hope,’ for of all things I desire to be spared the anguish of seeing our beloved country desolated with the horrors of a servile war.” The writer of this letter was born into the system, under the same circumstances with the ladies who repeatedly asked me if I did not find that the slaves were very happy. So widely different are the influences of the same circumstances upon different minds! Our evening engagements were as strangely contrasted as those of the morning. We were at Edition: current; Page: parties where we heard loud talk of justice and oppression,—appeals to the eternal principles of the one, when the tariff was the subject, and expressions of the most passionate detestation of the other which night, but for the presence of black faces in the rooms, lead a stranger to suppose that he was in the very sanctuary of human rights. We were at a young heiress's first ball, where every guest was presented with a bouquet on entering; where the young ladies waltzed, and the young gentlemen gave a loose to their spirits, and all who were present had kindly greetings for the stranger. Nothing could be gayer than the external aspect of these entertainments; but it is impossible for the stranger to avoid being struck with the anxiety which shows itself through it all. I think I never was in society in any of the southern cities without being asked what I would do if I had a legacy of slaves, or told, in vindictiveness or sorrow, that the prosperity of the North was obtained at the expense of the South. I was never in southern society without perceiving that its characteristic is a want of repose. It is restlessly gay, or restlessly sorrowful. It is angry, or exulting; it is hopeful, or apprehensive. It is never content; never in such a state of calm satisfaction as to forget itself. This peculiarity poisons the satisfaction of the stranger in the midst of the free and joyous Edition: current; Page: hospitality to which he would otherwise surrender himself with inconsiderate delight. While every thing is done that can be conceived of to make you happy, there is a weight pulling at your heartstrings, because you see that other hearts are heavy; and the nobler the heavier. While the host's little child comes to you at first sight, and holds up her mouth for a kiss, and offers to tell you a story, and pours out all her mirth and all her generosity upon you, the child's father tells you that there is a dark prospect before these young creatures, and Heaven knows what lot is in store for them. Your vigilance is kept active by continual suggestions that society is composed of two classes which entertain a mortal dread of each other. If ever you forget this for an hour, it is recalled by the sight of a soldier at the corner of a street, of a decaying mansion or deserted estate, or of some anti-republican arrangement for social or domestic defence. You reproach yourself because you are anxious and cannot be deceived; and feel as if it were ingratitude to your entertainers not to think them the secure and happy people which, in alternation with their complaints of all the external world, they assure you they are. Our evenings were diversified with attendance upon phrenological lectures, —which, however, soon ceases to be a variety, from the absolute sameness of all courses of lectures on that subject,—with Edition: current; Page: readings at home, and with a visit to a scene which I was strongly urged not to omit,—the Saturday night's market, hold by the slaves. I should have been sorry to miss this spectacle. The slaves enjoy the amusement and profit yielded by this market. They sit in rows, by lamp light, some with heaps of fruit and vegetables before them; or surrounded by articles of their own manufacture,—boxes, bedsteads, baskets, and other handiworks, very cheap, and of good workmanship. The bananas, pines, imported apples, and oranges, which are seen in threat abundance, arc usually the property of the master: while the manufactured articles, made at spare hours, are nominally the slave's own. Some are allowed to make use of their leisure in preparing for the market, on condition of bringing their masters six dollars each, per week, retaining whatever surplus they may gain. I could not learn the consequence of failing to bring in the six dollars per week. They enjoy the fun and bustle of the market, and look with complacency on any white customers who will attend it. Their activity and merriment at market were pointed out to me as an assurance of their satisfaction with their condition, their conviction that their present position is the one they were made for, and in which their true happiness is to be found. At the very same moment, I was shown the ruins Edition: current; Page: of the church of St, Philip, destroyed by fire, as they frowned in the roar of the lamp-light; and I was informed that the church had once before been on fire, but had been saved by the exertions of a slave, who “had his liberty given him for a reward.” “A reward!” said I; “What! when the slaves arc convinced that their true happiness lies in slavery?” The conversation had come to an awkward pass. A lady advanced to the rescue, saying that some few, too many, were haunted by a pernicious fancy, put into their heads by others, about liberty;—a mere fancy, which, however, made them like the idea of freedom. “So the benefactor of the city was rewarded by being indulged, to his own hurt, in a pernicious fancy?” “Why . . . yes.” My impressions of Charleston may easily be gathered from what I have said. It seems to me a place of great activity, without much intellectual result: of great gaiety, without much case and pleasure, I am confident that, whatever might be the reason, the general mind was full of mystery and anxiety at the time of my visit; and that some hearts were glowing with ambitious hopes, and others sinking in fears, more or less clearly defined, of the political crisis which seems to be now at hand. Edition: current; Page: These are the influences which are educating the youth of Charleston, more powerfully than all schools and colleges, and all books; inducing a reliance on physical rather than moral force, and strengthening attachment to feudal notions of honour, and of every kind of good,—notions which have no affinity with true republican morals. This prospects of the citizens are “dark every way;” as some declared: for the rising; generation must either ascend, through a severe discipline, and prodigious sacrifices, to a conformity with republican principles; or descend into a condition of solitary feudalism, neither sanctioned by the example nor cheered by the sympathy of the world; but, on the contrary, regarded with that compassion which is precisely the last species of regard which the feudal spirit is able to endure. We left Charleston in company with Mr. Callioun and his family, The great Nullifior told me many and long stories of his early days. Not being aware of my strong impressions respecting his present views and purposes, he could have no idea of the intense interest with which I listened to his accounts of the first kindling of his burning mind. He was five years old, standing between his father's knees, when his first political emotions stirred within him, awakened by his parent's talk of the colony and of free times, just after the Revolution. Edition: current; Page: If some good angel had at that, moment whispered the parent, inspiring him to direct that young ambition to the ultimate grandeur of meek service; to animate that high spirit to a moral conflict with all human wrongs, we might already have owed to a mind so energetic the redemption of the negro race from the affliction, and of the Republic from the disgrace of slavery, instead of mourning over tho dedication of such powers to the propagation and exasperation of the curse. I feared how it would be,—what part he would take in the present struggle between the two principles of greatness, physical force with territorial conquest, and moral power shown in self-conquest. I feared that Mr. Calhoun would organise and head the feudal party,—as he has done: but I never had any fears that that party would prevail. When we parted at Uranehvillo, he little knew,—he might have been offended if he had known,—with what affectionate solicitude those whom he left behind looked on into his perilous political path. I am glad we could not foresee how soon our fears would be justified. Mr. Calhonn is at present insisting that the pirate-colony of Texas shall be admitted into the honourable American Union; that a new impulse shall thereby be given to the slave-trade, and a new extension to slavery: and that his country shall thereby surrender her moral supremacy among the nations for a Edition: current; Page: gross and antiquated feudal ambition. He vows, taking the whole Union to witness, that these things shall be. The words have publicly passed his pen and his lips, “Texas shall be annexed to the United States.” His best friends must hope that the whole world will say, “It shall not.” The traveler in America hears, on every hand, of the foundness of slaves for slavery. If he points to the little picture of a runaway prefixed to advertisements of fugitives, and repeated down whole columns of the first newspaper that comes to hand, he is met with anecdotes of slaves who have been offered their freedom, and prefer remaining in bondage. Both aspects of the question are true; and yet more may be said on both sides. The traveler finds, as he proceeds, that suicides are very Edition: current; Page: frequent among slaves; and that there is a race of Africans who will not endure bondage at all, and who, when smuggled from Africa into Louisiana, are avoided in the market by purchasers, thought they have great bodily strength and comeliness. When one of this race is accidentally purchased and taken home, he is generally missed, before twenty-four hours are over, and found hanging behind a door, or drowned in the nearest pond. The Cuba slave-holders have volumes of stories to tell of his race proving their incapacity for slavery. On the other hand, the traveler may meet with a few negroes who have returned into slave-land from a state of freedom, and besought their masters to take them back. These seeming contradictions admit of an easy explanation. Slaves are more or less degraded by slavery in proportion to their orginal strength of character, or educational discipline of mind. The most degraded are satisfied, the least degraded are dissatisfied with slavery. The lowest order prefer release from duties and cares to the enjoyment of rights and the possession of themselves; and the highest order have a directly opposite taste. The mistake lies in not perceiving that slavery is emphatically condemned by the conduct of both. The stories on the one side of the question are all alike. The master offers freedom,—of course Edition: current; Page: to the worst of his slaves,—to those who are more plague than profit. Perhaps he sends the fellow he wants to get rid of an some errand into a free State, hoping that he will not return. The man comes back; and if questioned as to why he did not stay where he might have been free, he replies that he knows better than to work hard for a precarious living when he can be fed by his master without anxiety of his own, as long as he lives, As for those who return after having been free, they are usually the weak-minded, who have been persuaded into remaining in a free State where they have been carried in attendance on their masters families, and who want courage to sustain their unprotected freedom. I do not remember ever hearing of the return of a slave who, having long nourished the idea and purpose of liberty, had absconded with danger and difficulty. The prosecution of such a purpose argues a strength of mind worthy of freedom. The stories on this side of the question are as various as the characters and fortunes of the heroes of them. Many facts of this nature became known to me during my travels, most of which cannot be published, for fear of involving in difficulty either the escaped heroes, or those who assisted them in regaining their liberty. But a few may be safely related, which will show, as well as any greater Edition: current; Page: number, the kind of restlessness which is the torment of the lives of “persons held to labour,”—the constitutional description of the slave-class of the constituents of government. Slavery is nowhere more hopeless and helpless than in Alabama. The richness of the soil and the paucity of inhabitants make the labourer a most valuable possession: while his distance from any free State,—the extent of country overspread with enemies which the fugitive has to traverse,—makes the attempt to escape desperate. All coloured persons traveling in the Slave States without a pass,—a certificate of freedom or of leave,—are liable to be arrested and advertised, and if unclaimed at the end of a certain time, sold in the market. Yet slaves do continue to escape from the farthest corners of Alabama or Mississippi. Two slaves in Alabama, who had from their early manhood cherished the idea of freedom, planned their escape in concert, and laboured for many years at their scheme. They were allowed the profits of their labour at over-hours: and by strenuous toil and self-denial, saved and hid a large sum of money. Last year, they found they had enough, and that the time was come for the execution of their purpose. They engaged the services of “a mean white:”—one of the extremely degraded class who are driven by loss of character to labour in the slave States, Edition: current; Page: where, labour by whites being disgraceful, they are looked down upon by the slaves, no less than the slaves are by the superior whites. These two slaves hired a “mean white man” to personate a gentleman; bought him a suit of good clothes, a portmanteau, a carriage and houses, and proper costume for themselves. One night the three set off in style, as master, coachman and footman, and travelled rapidly through the whole country, without the slightet hindereance, to Buffalo. There the slaves sold their carriage, horses, and finery, paid off their white man, and escaped into Canada, where they now are in safety. They found in Canada a society of their own colour prepared to welcome and aid them. In Upper Canada there are upwards of 10,000 people of colour, chiefly fugitive slaves, who prosper in the country which they have chosen for a refuge. Scarcely an instance is known of any of them having received alms, and they are as respectable for their intelligence as for their morals. One peculiarity in them is the extravagance of their loyalty. They exert themselves vehemently in defence of all the acts of the Executive, whatever they may be. The reason for this is obvious:—they exceedingly dread the barest mention of the annexation of Canada to the United States. It is astonishing that, in the face of fact of daily Edition: current; Page: occurrence, like that of the escape of these men, it can be pleaded in behalf of slavery, that negroes cannot take care of themselves, and that they prefer beign held as property. A lady of a New York favoured me with some of her recollections of slavery in that State. She told me of a favourite servant who had been her father's property for five-and-twenty years. I believe the woman was the family nurse. She was treated with all possible indulgence, and was the object of the attachment of the whole household. The woman was never happy. During all these dreary years she was haunted with the longing for freedom, and at last fell ill. Apparently from anxiety of mind. From her sickbed she implored her master so movingly to make her free and her medical attendant was so convinced that her life depended on her request being granted, that her master made the desired promise.—very unwillingly, as he thought freedom would be more of a care than a blessing to her. She immediately recovered and in spite of all entreaty, pecuniary inducement, and appeals to her gratitude, left the family. She shed many tears, mourned over parting with the children, and thanked the family for all the favour with which she had been treated but declared that she could not remain. Every thing savoured too strongly of the bondage she had been unable to endure. She took a service not far off, deposited her earnings Edition: current; Page: with her old master, and frequently visited the family, but, to the last, shrank from all mention of returning to them. While I was in the United States, a New York friend of mine was counsel for a native African who sued his mistress for his earnings of many years. This man had been landed in the South after the year 1808, the date fixed by the Constitution for the cessation of the importation of negroes. He was purchased by a lady to whom he proved very profitable, his services being of a superior kind. She let him out and he paid over to her all the money he earned. After many years, she visited New York, bringing this man with her, not anticipation that, in that free city, he would gain new lights as to his relation to her. He refused to return, and brought his mistress into court to answer his demand for the repayment of all the money he had earned abroad, with interest, and compensation for his services at home, during his illegal bondage. As a knowledge of the law was necessarily supposed on both sides, the counsel for the slave made compulsion his plea. This was not allowed. The slave's maintenance was decided to be a sufficient compensation for his services at home; and he was decreed to receive only the earnings of his hired labour, without interest. His counsel had, however, the pleasure of seeing him in the Edition: current; Page: strength of his manhood, free, and in possession of a large sum of money to begin life with, on his own account. A woman once lived in Massachusetts, whose name ought to be preserved in all histories of the State, as one of its honours, though she was a slave, Some anecdotes of her were related in a Lyecum lecture delivered at Stockbridge in 1831. Others were told me by the Sedgwicks, who had the honour of knowing her best, by means of rendering her the greatest services. Mum Bett. Whose real name was Elizabeth Freeman, was born, it is supposed, about 1742. Her parents were native Africans, and she was a slave for about thirty years. At an early age she was purchased, with her sister, from the family into which she was born, in the States of New York, by Colonel Ashley, of Sheffield, Massachusetts. The lady of the mansion, in a fit of passion, one day struck at Mum Bett's sister with a heated kitchen shovel. Mum Bett interposed her arm, and received the blow, the scar of which she bore to the day of her death. “She resented the insult and outrage as a white person would have done.” Leaving the house, and refusing to return. Colonel Ashley appealed to the law for the recovery of his slave. Mum Bett called on Mr. Sedgwick, and asked him if she could not claim her liberty under the law. He inquired what could Edition: current; Page: put such an idea into her head. She replied that the “Bill o Rights” said that all were born free and equal, and that as she was not a dumb heast, she was certainly one of the nation. When afterwards asked how she learned the doctrine and facts on which she proceeded, she replied. “By keepin' still and mindin' things.” It was a favourits doctrine of hers, that people might learn by keeping still and minding things. But what did she mean, she was asked, by keeping still and minding things, Why, for instance, when she was waiting at table, she heard gentlemen talking over the Bill of Rights and the new constitution of Massachusetts; and in all they said she never heard but that all people were born free and equal, and she thought long about it, and resolved she would try whether she did not come in among them. Mr. Sedgwick undertook her cause, which was tried at Great Barrington. Mum Bett obtained her freedom, and compensation for her services from twenty-one years of age. “What shall I do with all this money of yours?” said Mr. Sedgwick, “Fee the lawyers handsomely,—pay 'em well,” said she, “and keep the rest till I want it.” She was offered every inducement to return to Colonel Ashley's: but she recoiled from all that reminded her of slavery. She begged the Sedgwicks to take her into their family, which they did; and with Edition: current; Page: them she spent twenty years of great, comfort. Her example was followed by many slaves; and from the day of her emancipation, in 1772. more and more claimants were decreed free under the Bill of Rights, till slavery was abolished in Massachusetts. Her services to the Sedgwick family are gratefully remembered by them. She is believed to have saved her master's life by following her own judgment in his treatment when she was nursing him in a dangerous fever. When her master was in Boston, and the rural districts were liable to nightly visitations from marauders after Shay's war (as an insurrection in Massachusetts was called). the village of Stockbridge. in the absence of the gentlemen. depended on Mum Bett for its safety; so general was the confidence in her wisdom and courage. The practice of the marauders was to enter and plunder gentlemen's houses in the night. on pretence of searching for ammunition and prisoners. Mum Bett declared that she could have no cowards in the village: as many as were afraid had better go up the hills to sleep. Several children and a few women went up the hills in the evening to farmhouses, which were safe from intrusion. All brought their valuables of small bulk to Mum Bett for security. Every body's watches, gold chains, rings, and other trinkets were deposited in Edition: current; Page: an iron chest in the garret where Mum Bett slept. The marauders arrived one night when Mrs. Sedgwick was very ill: and Mum Bett was unwilling to admit them. She quietly told her mistress that her pistols were loaded, and that, a low shots from the windows would probably send the wretches away, as they could not be sure but that there were gentlemen in the house. Her mistress, however, positively ordered her to let the people in. without delay. Mum Bett obeyed the order with much unwillingness. She appeared at the door with a large kitchen shovel in one hand, and a light in the other. and assured the strangers that they would find nothing of what they asked for, — neither Judge Sedgwick. nor ammunition and prisoners. They chose to search the he use, however, as she had exported. Her great fear was that they would drink themselves intoxicated in the cellar, and become unmanageable; and she had prepared for this by putting rows of porter bottles in front of the wine and spirits, having drawn the corks to let the porter get that, and put them in again. The intruders offered to take the light from her hand, but she held it back, saying that no one should carry the light but herself. Here was the way to the cellars, and there was the way to the chambers: she would light the gentlemen wherever they chose Edition: current; Page: to go: but she would not let the house he set on fire over her sick mistress's head. “The gentlemen” went down to the cellar first. One of the party broke the neck of a bottle of porter, for which she rebuked him, saying that if they wished to drink, she would fetch the corkscrew, and draw the cork, and they might drink like gentlemen: but that if any one broke the neck of another bottle, she would lay him low with her shovel. The flat porter was not to the taste of the visitors, who made wry faces, said, if gentlemen liked such cursed bitter stuff, they might keep it. and praised spirits in comparison; upon which Mum Bett coolly observed, that they were “sort of gentlemen that lived here that did not drink spirits.” At the foot of the cellar stairs stood a barrel of pickled pork, out of which the intruders began helping themselves. In a tone of utter scorn, Mum Bett exclaimed. “Ammunition and prisoners, indeed! You come for ammunition and prisoners, raid take up with pickled pork!” They were fairly ashamed, and threw back the pork into the barrel. They went through all the chambers, poking with their bayonets under the beds, lest Judge Sedgwick should be there. At last, to Mum Bett's sorrow, they decided to search the garrets. In hers, the iron chest came into view. She hoped in vain that they would pass it over. One of the party observed Edition: current; Page: that it looked as if it held something. Mum Bett put down the light, kneeled on the chest, and brandished her weapon, saying, “This is my chest, and let any man touch it at his peril.” The men considered the matter not worth contesting, and went down stairs. They were actually departing without having met with a single article of value enough to carry away, when a young lady, a niece of Judge Sedgwick's. wishing to be civil to the wretches, asked them, at the hall door, whether they would like to see the stables. They were glad of the hint, and stole one horse (if I remember right) and ruined another with hard riding. Mum Bett's expression of wrath was, “If I had thought the pesky fool would have done such a thing. I would have turned the horses loose over night in the meadow: they would have come back at my call in the morning.” She was considered as connected with Judge Sedgwick's family after she had left their house for a home of her own. By her great industry and frugality she supported a large family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There was nothing remarkable about her husband: and her descendants do not appear to have inherited her genius. Mum Bett lies in the Stockbridge graveyard,—in the corner where the people of colour lie Edition: current; Page: apart. Her epitaph, written by a son of Judge Sedgwick. is as follows:— As far as energy and talent are concerned. I should hesitate to say that in her own sphere Mum Bett “had no superior nor equal:” and the same may be said about the quality of fidelity. I know of a slave in Louisiana who picked up a parcel containing 10,000 dollars, and returned it. with much trouble, to its owner. I know of a slave in South Carolina, belonging to a physician, who drives his master's gig, and has made a wonderful use of what he sees in the course of his morning's duty. While waiting for his master at the doors of patients, this slave occupied himself with copying in the sandy soil the letters he saw on signs. When he believed he had caught the method, he begged a slate, or paper and pencil, and brought home his copies, coaxing the boys of the family to tell him Edition: current; Page: the names of the letters. He then put them together, and thus learned to read and write,—without any further help whatever. Having once discovered his own power of doing and learning, he went on in the only direction which seemed open to him. He turned his attention to mechanism, and makes miniature violins and pianos of surprising completeness, but no use. Here he will most likely stop: for there is no probability of his ever ceasing to be a slave, or having opportunity to turn to practical account a degree of energy, patience, and skill which, in happier circumstances, might have been the instruments of great deeds. The energies of slaves sometimes take a direction which their masters contrive to render profitable,— when they take to religion as a pursuit. The universal, unquenchable reverence for religion in the human mind is taken advantage of, when the imagination of the slave has been turned into the channel of superstition. It is a fact, that in the newspapers of New Orleans may be seen an advertisement, now and then, of a lot of “pious negroes.” Such “pious negroes” are convenient on a plantation where the treatment is not particularly mild; as they consider non-resistance a Christian duty, and are able to inspire a wonderful degree of patience into their fellow-sufferers.Edition: current; Page: The vigour which negroes show when their destiny is fairly placed in their own hands, is an answer to all arguments about their helplessness drawn from their dullness in a state of bondage. A highly satisfactory experiment upon the will, judgment, and talents of a large body of slaves was made, a few years ago, by a relative of Chief-Justice Marshall. This gentleman and his family had attached their negroes to them by a long course of judicious kindness. At length, an estate at some distance was left to the gentleman, and he saw, with much regret, that it was his duty to leave the plantation on which he was living. He could not bear the idea of turning over his people to the tender mercies or unproved judgment of a stranger overseer. He called his negroes together, told them the case, and asked whether they thought they could manage the estate themselves. If they were willing to undertake the task, they must choose an overseer from among themselves, provide comfortably for their own wants, and remit him the surplus of the profits. The negroes were full of grief at losing the family, but willing to try what they could do. They had an election for overseer, and chose the man their master would have pointed out; decidedly the strongest head on the estate. All being; arranged, the master left them, with a parting charge to keep Edition: current; Page: their festivals, and take their appointed holidays, as if he were present. Alter some time, he rode over to see how all went on, choosing a festival day, that he might meet them in their holiday gaiety. He was surprised, on approaching, to hear no merriment; and on entering his fields, he found his “force” all hard at work. As they flocked round him, he inquired why they were not making holiday. They told him that the crop would suffer in its present state by the loss of a day; and that they had therefore put off their holiday, which, however, they meant to take by-and-by. Not many days after, an express arrived to inform the proprietor that there was an insurrection, on his estate. He would not believe it; declared it impossible, as there was nobody to rise against; but the messenger, who had been sent by the neighbouring gentlemen, was so confident of the facts, that the master galloped, with the utmost speed, to his plantation, arriving as night was coming on. As he rode in, a cry of joy arose from his negroes, who pressed round to shake hands with him. They were in their holiday clothes, and had been singing and dancing. They were only enjoying the deferred festival. The neighbours, hearing the noise on a quiet working day, had jumped to the conclusion that it was an insurrection. There is no catastrophe yet to this story. When Edition: current; Page: the proprietor related it, he said that no trouble had arisen; and that for some seasons, ever since this estate had been wholly in the hands of his negroes, it had been more productive than it ever was while he managed it himself. The finest harvest field of romance perhaps in the world is the frontier between the United States and Canada. The vowed student of human nature could not do better than take up his abode there, and hear what fugitives and their friends have to tell. There have been no exhibitions of the forces of human character in any political revolution, or religious reformation, more wonderful and more interesting than may almost daily be witnessed there. The impression on even careless minds on the spot is very strong. I remember observing to a friend in the ferry-boat, when we were crossing the Niagara, from Lewiston to Queenston, that it seemed very absurd, on looking at the opposite banks of the river, to think that while the one belonged to the people who lived on it, the other was called the property of a nation three thousand miles off,—the shores looking so much alike as they do. My friend replied, with a smile, “Runaway slaves see a great difference.” “That they do!” cried the ferryman, in a tone of the deepest earnestness. He said that the leap ashore of an escaped slave is a sight unlike any other that can be seen.Edition: current; Page: On other parts of the frontier, I heard tales which I grieve that it is not in my power to tell,— so honourable are they to individuals of both races, —friends of the slaves. The time may come when no one will be injured by their being made public. Meantime, I will give one which happened many years ago, and which relates to a different part of the country. A., now an elderly man, was accustomed in his youth to go up and down the Mississippi, on trading expeditions; and both in these, and in subsequent wanderings of many years,—to Hayti among other places,—he has had opportunity to study the character of the negro race; and he is decidedly of opinion that there is in them only a superinduced inferiority to the whites. In relating his experiences among the coloured people, he told the following story:— When he was a young man, he was going down the Mississippi in a boat, with a cargo of salt; when he stopped at a small place on the Kentucky shore, called Unity, opposite to a part of Arkansas. While he was there, a slave-trader came up with his company of upwards of two hundred slaves, whom he was conveying to the New Orleans market. Among these, A. remarked a gigantic mulatto,—handsome in countenance, and proud in bearing,—who was nearly naked, and fettered. He Edition: current; Page: had an iron band round his waist, and round each wrist, and these bands were connected by chains. The trader observed to A. that tins man was the most valuable slave lie had ever had on sale. I think he said that he would not take two thousand dollars for him: he added that he was obliged to chain him, as he was bent on getting away. When the trader's back was turned, the mulatto looked at A. as if wishing to talk with him. “Why are you chained in this way?” asked A. “Because my master is afraid of losing me. He knows that I am the most valuable slave he has; and that I mean to get away.” “Have you told him so?” “And how do you mean to get away?” “I don't know: but I mean it.” After a pause, he said in a low voice to A., “Could not you give me a file?” “No,” said A., decidedly. “Do you think I don't know the law? Do you think I am going to help you away, and get punished for it? No; I can't give you a file.” As A. went back to his boat he saw the slave looking wist fully after him, and his heart smote him for what he had said. He bethought himself that if he could manage to put an instrument of deliverance in the man's way without touching it, he might Edition: current; Page: keep within the letter of the law; and he acted upon this notion. He looked about his boat, and found a strong three-sided file, which he put between his coat and waistcoat, so that it would be sure to drop out when the coat was unbuttoned. He sauntered back on shore, and the mulatto, who watched all his movements, came up to him, eagerly whispering, “Have you got a file? Are you going to give me a file?” “No,” said A. “I told you that I knew better than to give you a file.” The slave's countenance fell. “However,” continued A., “I should not wonder if I can tell you where to get one. If you look about by yonder wood-pile, I think perhaps you may find a file. No, not now. Go back to your company now, and don't look at me; and when I am gone on board my boat you can wander off to the wood-pile.” A. unbuttoned his coat as he appeared to be picking up the scattered wood round the pile, and presently returned to his boat, whence he saw the mulatto walk to the wood-pile, and stoop down just at the right spot. A. watched all day, and late into the night: but he saw and heard nothing more. In the morning, the slave-trader came on board Edition: current; Page: the boat; exclaiming angrily that A. had a slave of his concealed there. A. desired him to search the boat, which he did, looking behind every bag of salt. He was confident that A. must have helped the man away: chained as he was, he could not have got off without help. As for himself, he had rather have lost thousands of dollars than this man: but he always knew it would be so: the fellow always said he would get away. Thus grumbling, the trader departed, to make search in another direction. In an hour he returned, saying that the slave must either be drowned, or have got over into Arkansas. His irons and a strong file were lying on a point of land, projecting into the river, about a mile off; and the marks were visible where the fugitive had taken the water. A. went, and long did he stay, questioning and meditating: and during all the years that have since elapsed, it has been his frequent daily and nightly speculation whether the mulatto escaped or perished. Sometimes, when he remembers the gigantic frame of the man, and the force of the impulse which urged him, A. hopes that it may have been possible for him to reach the opposite shore. At other times, when he thinks of the width of the Mississippi at that part, and of the tremendous force of the current, which would warrant the assertion that it is impossible for a swimmer to cross, he believes Edition: current; Page: himself convinced that the fugitive has perished Yet still the hope returns that the strong man may be living in wild freedom in some place where the sense of safety and peace may have taught him to forgive and pity his oppressors. “Though every body eried ‘Shame!’ and ‘Shocking!’ yet every body visited them,”—miss Edgeworth. When we arrived at the extreme south-west point of our journey, it was amusing to recur to the warnings of our kind friends about its inconveniences and dangers. We had brought away tokens of the hospitality of Charleston, in the shape of a large basket of provision which had been prepared, on the supposition that we should find little that we could eat on the road. There was wine, tea, and cocoa; cases of French preserved meat, crackers (biscuits), and gingerbread. All these good things, except the wine and crackers, we found it expedient to leave behind, from place to place. There was no use in determining beforehand to eat them at any particular meal: when it came to the point, we always found hunger or, disgust so much more bearable than the shame of being ungracious to entertainers who were doing their best for us, that we could never bring ourselves to produce our stores. We took what was set before us, and found ourselves, at length, alive and well at New Orleans.Edition: current; Page: At Mobile I met some relatives who kindly urged my taking possession of their house at New Orleans, during my stay of ten days. I was thankful for the arrangement, as the weather was becoming hot, and we could secure more leisure and repose in a house of our own than in a boarding-house, or as the guests of a family. With the house, we were, of course, to have the services of my friend's slaves. He told me something of their history. He had tried all ways to obtain good service, and could not succeed. He had attempted wages, treating his people like free servants, &c. and all in vain. His present plan was promising them freedom and an establishment in a free State after a short term of years, in case of good desert. He offered to take care of the money they earned, during their leisure hours, and to pay them interest upon it; but they preferred keeping it in their own hands. One of them sewed up 150 dollars in her bed: she fell ill, and the person who nursed her is supposed to have got at the money; for when the poor slave recovered, her earnings were gone. We left Mobile for New Orleans on the 24th of April. The portion of forest which we crossed in going down from Mobile to the coast was the most beautiful I had seen. There was fresh grass under foot, and the woods were splendid with myrtles, magnolias, and many shrubs whose blossoms were Edition: current; Page: new to me, and their names unknown. We had plenty of time to look about us; for the back which carried the four passengers whom the stage would not contain broke down every half hour, and the stage company had to stop till it could proceed. We had an excellent dinner in the gallery of a log-house in the midst of the forest, where we were plentifully supplied with excellent claret. There had been showers all day, with intervals of sunshine, but towards sunset the settled gloom of the sky fore-boded a night of storm. I was on the watch for the first sight of the Gulf of Mexico. I traced the line where the forest retires to give place to the marsh, and the whole scene assumes a sudden air of desolation. At this moment the thunder burst, sheets of lightning glared over the boiling sea, and the rain poured down in floods. Our umbrellas were found to be broken, of course; and we had to run along the pier to the steam-boat in such a rain as I was never before exposed to: but it was well worth while getting wet for such a first sight of the Gulf of Mexico, it soon grew dark; and before morning we were in Lake Pontchartrain; so that this stormy view of the Gulf was the only one we had. We amused ourselves in die morning with tracing the dim shores of the State of Mississippi to the north, and of Louisiana to the west. About nine Edition: current; Page: o'clock we arrived in sight of the long piers which stretch out from the swamp into the lake, the mud-craft, the canoes, with blacks fishing for crabs; the baths, and the large Washington hotel, with its galleries and green blinds, built for coolness, where gentlemen from New Orleans go to eat fish and bathe. Next we saw the train of railroad cars waiting for us; and without the loss of a moment's time we were whirled away to the city,—five miles in a quarter of an hour. I have expressed elsewhere* my admiration of the swamp through which our road lay,—an admiration which faded as we traversed the lower faubourg, and died away in the Champs Elysées. Before ten o'clock we were breaking the seals of our English letters in the drawing-room of our temporary home. When we had satisfied ourselves with home news, unpacked, dressed, and lunched, we took our seats by the window, in the intervals of visits from callers. All was very new, very foreign in its aspect. Many of the ladies in the streets wore caps or veils instead of bonnets; the negroes who passed shouted their very peculiar kind of French; and every thing seemed to tell us that we had plunged into the dog-days. I never knew before how impressions of heat can be conveyed through the eye. The intensity Edition: current; Page: of glare and shadow in the streets, and the many evidences that the fear of heat is the prevailing idea of the place, affect the imagination even more than the scorching power of the sun does the bodily frame. I was presented with a pamphlet written by a physician, which denies the unhealthiness of New Orleans as strenuously as some of its inhabitants deny its immorality. To me it appears that everything depends on what is understood by Morals and Health. As to the morals of the city, I have elsewhere stated the principal facts on which my unfavourable judgment is founded*. In regard to another department of morals, the honourable fact of the generous charity of New Orleans to strangers should be stated. Great numbers of sick and destitute foreigners are perpetually thrown upon the mercy of the inhabitants; and that mercy is unbounded. I have reason to believe that the sick are not merely nursed and cured, but provided with funds before departing. When I visited the hospital, it contained 250 patients, not above 50 of whom were Americans. As to the health of the place, I believe the average is good among that portion of the population which can afford to remove northwards for the hot months: but very low if the total Edition: current; Page: white population be included, The pamphlet which I read argues that though the fever is very destructive during a portion of the year, mortality from other discuses is much below the common average; that tire variations of temperature are slight, though frequent; and that the average of children and old persons is high. All this may be true; but a place must be called peculiarly unhealthy whose inhabitants are compelled, on pain of death, to remove for three or four months of every year. Instead of arguing against such a fact as this, many citizens are hoping and striving to put an end to the necessity of such a removal. They hone, by means of draining and paving, to render their city habitable all the year round. Plans of drainage are under consideration, and I saw some importations of paving stones. The friends of the New Orleans people can hardly wish them a greater good than the success of such attempts: for the perpetual shitting about which they are subjected to by the dread of the fever is a serious evil to sober families of an industrious, domestic turn. It is very injurious ous to the minds of children, and to the habits of young people, and a great hardship to the aged. I was struck with a remark which fell from a lady about her children's exercise in the open air. She said that she always took them out when the wind blew from over the lake, and kept them at home in Edition: current; Page: warm weather when it blew from any other quarter, as it then only made them. “more languid” to go out. This did not tend to confirm the doctrine of the pamphlet; but I was not surprised at the remark when I looked abroad over the neighbouring country from the top of the hospital. Thence I saw the marsh which was given to Lafayette, and which he sold, not long before his death to a London firm, who sold it again. On this marsh, most of which was under water, the city of New Orleans was begun. A strip of buildings was carried to the river bank, where the city spread. In the midst of the flooded lots of ground stood the gas-works: surrounded by stagnant ponds lay the Catholic cemetery. The very churches of the city seemed to spring up out of the water. The blossomy beauties of the swamp could not be seen at this height, and all looked hideously desolate in the glaring sun. The view from the turret of the Cotton-press is much more advantageous. It commands many windings of the majestic river, and the point where it seems to lose itself in the distant forest; while below appears everything that is dry in all the landscape,—the shipping, the Levee, the busy streets of the city, and the shady avenues of the suburbs. The ladies of New Orleans walk more than their countrywomen of other cities, from the streets being in such bad order as to make walking the safest Edition: current; Page: means of locomotion. The streets are not very mumerous; they are well distinguished, and lie at right angles, and their names are clearly printed up; so that, strangers find no difficulty in going about, except when a fall of rain has made the crossings impassable. The heat is far less oppressive in the streets than in the open country, as there is generally a shady side. We were never kept within doors by the heat, though summer weather had fairly set in before our arrival. We made calls, and went shopping and sight-seeing, much as we do in London; and moreover, walked to dinner visits, to the theatre, and to church, while the sun was blazing as if he had drawn that part of the world some millions of miles nearer to himself than that in which we had been accustomed to live. It is in, vain to attempt describing what the moonlight is like. We walked under the long rows of Pride-of-India trees on the Remparts, amidst the picturesque low dwellings of the Quadroons, and almost felt the glow of the moonlight, so warm, so golden, so soft as I never saw it elsewhere. We were never tired of watching the lightning from our balcony, flashing through the first shades of twilight, and keeping the whole heaven in night-long conflagration. The mosquitoes were a great and perpetual plague, except while we were asleep. We found our mosquito curtains a sufficient protection at night: but Edition: current; Page: we had to be on the watch against these malicious insects all day, and wage war against them during the whole evening. Many ladies are accustomed, during the summer months, to get after breakfast into a large sack of muslin tied round the throat, with smaller sacks for the arms, and to sit thus at work or book, fanning themselves to protect their faces. Other sit all the morning on the bed, within their mosquito curtains. I were gloves and prunella boots all day long: but hands and feet were stung through all the defences I could devise. After a while the sting of the mosquito erases to irritate more than the English gnat-sting; but to strangers the suffering is serious; to those of feverish habit, sometimes dangerous. Sunday is the busiest day of the week to the stranger in New Orleans. There is first the negro market to be seen at five o'clock. We missed this sight as the mornings were foggy, and it was accounted unsafe to go out in the early damp. Then there is the cathedral to be attended, a place which the European gladly visits, as the only one in the United States where all men meet together as brethren. As he goes, the streets are noisy with traffic. Some of those who keep the Sunday sit at their doors or windows, reading the newspapers, or chatting with their acquaintance. Merchants are seen hastening to the counting-house or the wharf, or Edition: current; Page: busy in the stores, Others are streaming into the church doors. There are groups about the cathedral gates, the blacks and the whites parting company as if they had not been worshipping side by side. Within the edifice there is no separation. Some few persons may be in pews; but kneeling on the pavement may be seen a multitude, of every shade of complexion, from the fair Scotchwoman or German to the jet-black pure African. The Spanish eye flashes from beneath the veil; the French creole countenance, painted high, is surmounted by the neat cap or the showy bonnet; while between them may be thrust a grey-headed mulatto, following with his stupid eyes the evolutions of the priest; or the devout negro woman telling her beads,—a string of berries,—as if her life depended on her task. During the preaching, the multitude of anxious faces, thus various in tint and expression, turned up towards the pulpit, afforded one of those few spectacles which are apt to haunt the whole future life of the observer like a dream. Several Protestants spoke to me of the Catholic religion as being a great blessing to the ignorant negro,—viewing a ritual religion as a safe resting-place between barbarism and truth. Nothing that I saw disposed me to agree with them. I saw among Catholics of this class only the most abject worship of things without meaning, and no Edition: current; Page: comprehension whatever of symbols. I was persuaded that if a ritual religion be ever a good it is so in the case of the most not the least, enlightened: of those who accept the ritual as symbolical, and not of those who pay it literal worship. I could not but think that if the undisguised story of Jesus were presented to these last, as it was to the fishermen of Galilee, and the peasants on the reedy banks of Jordan, they would embrace a Christianity, in comparison with which their present religion is an unintelligible and ineffectual mythology. But such a primitive Christianity they, as slaves, never will and never can have as its whole spirit is destructive of slavery. Half a year before my visit to New Orleans, a great commotion had been raised in the city against a Presbyterian clergyman, the Rev. Joel Parker, on account of some expressions which he had been reported to have used, while on a visit in New England, respecting the morals of New Orleans, and especially the desecration of the Sunday. Some meddlesome person had called a public meeting, to consider what should be done with the Rev. Joel Parker, for having employed his constitutional freedom of speech in declaring what almost everybody knew or believed to be true. Many gentlemen of the city were vexed at this encroachment upon the liberty of the citizen, and at the ridicule which such Edition: current; Page: apparent sensitiveness about reputation would bring upon their society; and they determined to be present at the meeting, and support the pastor's rights. Matters were proceeding fast towards a condemnation of the accused, and sentence of banishment, when these gentlemen demanded that he should be heard in his own defence,—a guarantee for his personal safety being first passed by the meeting. This was agree to, and Mr. Parker appeared on the hustings. Unfortunately, he missed the opportunity,—a particularly favourable one,—of making a moral impressing which would never have been lost. A full declaration of what he had said, the grounds of it, and his right to say it, would have turned the emotions of the assemblage, already softened in his favour, towards himself and the right. As it was, he did nothing wrong; except in as far as that he did nothing very right: but there was a want of judgment and taste in his address which was much to be regretted. He was allowed to go free for the time; but the newspaper reported all the charges against him, suppressed his replies, and lauded the citizens for not having pulled the offender to pieces: and Mr. Parker's congregation were called upon, on the ground of the resolutions passed at the public meeting to banish their pastor. They refused, and appealed to all the citizens to protect them from such oppression as was threatened. No further Edition: current; Page: steps were taken, I believe, against the pastor and his people: his church flourished under this little gust of persecution; and when I was there, a handsome new edifice was rising up to accommodate the increased number of his congregation. I wished to hear this gentleman; and was glad to find that his flock met, while the building was going on, in the vestry of the new church; a spacious crypt, which was crowed when he preached, I had not expected much from his preaching, and was therefore taken by surprise by the exceeding beauty of his discourse;—beauty, by the style, of spirit. The lofty and tender earnestness of both his sentiments and manner put the observer off his watch about the composition of the sermon. I was surprised to perceive in conversation afterwards tokens that Mr. Parker was not a highly educated man. I was raised by the lofty tone of his preaching far abouve all critical vigilance. I had much opportunity of seeing in the United States what is the operation of persecution on strong and virtuous minds; and I trust the lesson of eucouragement will never be lost. As it is certain that the progression of the race must be carried on through persecution of some kind and degree,—as it is clear that the superior spirits to whom the race owes its advancement must, by their very act of anticipation, get out of the circle of general intelligence Edition: current; Page: and sympathy, and be thus subject to the trials of spiritual solitude and social enmity,—since thus it has ever been, and thus, by the laws of human nature, it must ever be,—it is heart-cheering and soul-staying to perceive that the effects of persecution may be and often are, more blessed than those of other kinds of discipline. Many quail under the apprehension of persecution; some are soured by it; but some pass through the suffering, the bitter suffering of popular hatred, with a strength which intermits less and less; and come out of it with new capacities for enjoyment, with affections which can no longer be cheeked by want of sympathy, and with an object in life which can never be overthrown. Mr. Parker's case was not one of any high or permanent character: though, as far as his trial went, it seemed to have given calmness and vigour to his mind. (I judge from his manner of speaking of the affair to me.) The Abolitionists are the persons I have had, and always shall have, chiefly in view in speaking of the effects of persecution. They often reminded me of the remark, that you may know a philanthropist in the street by his face. The life, light, and gentleness of their countenances, the cheerful earnestness of their speech, and the gaiety of their manners, were enough to assure the unprejudiced foreign observer of the integrity of their cause, and the blessedness of their pilgrim lives.Edition: current; Page: The afternoon or evening Sunday walk in New Orleans run not fail to convince the stranger of the truth of the sayings of Mr. Parker, for which he afterwards was subjected to so fierce a retribution. Whatever may be thought of the duty or expediency of a strict observance of the Sunday, no one can contend that in this city the observance is strict. In the market there is traffic in meat and vegetables, and the groups of foreigners make a Babel of the place with their loud talk in many tongues. The men are smoking outside their houses; the girls, with broad coloured ribbons streaming from the ends of their long braids of hair, are walking or flirting; while veiled ladies are stealing through the streets, or the graceful Quadroon women are taking their evening airing on the Levée. The river is crowded with shipping, to the hulls of which the walkers look up from a distance, the river being above the level of the neighbouring streets. It rushes along through the busy region, seeming to be touched with mercy, or to disdain its power of mischief. It might overwhelm in an instant the swarming inhabitants of the boundless level: it looks as if it could scarcely avoid doing so; yet it rolls on within its banks so steadily, that the citizens forget their insecurity. Its breadth is not striking to the eye; yet when one begins to calculate, the magnitude of the stream becomes apparent. A Edition: current; Page: steam-boat carries down six vessels at once; two on each side, and two behind; and this duster of seven vessels looks somewhat in the proportion of a constellation in the sky. From the Levée, the cathedral looks well, fronting the river, standing in the middle of a square, and presenting an appearance of great antiquity, hastened, no doubt, by the moisture of the atmosphere in which it stands. The Levée continues to be crowded long after the sun has set. The quivering summer lightning plays over the heads of the merry multitude, who are conversing in all the tongues, and gay in all the costumes of the world. Another bright scene is on the road to the lake, on a fine afternoon. This road winds for five miles through the swamp, and is bordered by cypress, flowering reeds, fleurs-de-lis of every colour, palmetto, and a hundred aquatic shrubs new to the eye of the stranger. The grey moss common in damp situations floats in streamers from the branches. Snakes abound, and coil about the negroes who are seen pushing their canoes through the rank vegetation, or towing their rafts, laden with wood, along the sluggish bayou. There is a small settlement, wholly French in its character, where the ancient dwellings, painted red, and with broad eaves, look highly picturesque in the green landscape. The winding white road is thronged with carriages, driven Edition: current; Page: at a very rapid rate, and full of families of children, or gay parties of young people, or a company of smoking merchants, going to the lake to drink or to bathe. Many go merely as we did,—for the sake of the drive, and of breathing the cool air of the lake, while enjoying a glass of iced lemonade or sangarce. It was along this road that Madame Lalaurie escaped from the hands of her exasperated countrymen, about five years ago. The remembrance or tradition of that day will always be fresh in New Orleans. In England the story is little if at all known. I was requested on the spot not to publish it as exhibiting a fair specimen of slave-holding in New Orleans: and no one could suppose it to be so: but it is a revelation of what, may happen in a slave-holding country, and can happen nowhere else. Even on the mildest supposition that the case admits of,—that Madame Lalaurie was insane, there remains the fact that the insanity could have taken such a direction, and perpetrated such deeds nowhere but in a slave country. There is, as every one knows, a mutual jealousy between the French and American Creoles* in Louisiana. Till lately the French Creoles have carried every thing their own way, from their superior Edition: current; Page: numbers. I believe that even yet no American expects to got a verdict, on any evidence, from a jury of French Creoles. Madame Lalaurie enjoyed a long impunity, from this circumstance. She was a French Creole, and her third husband, M. Lalaurie, was. I believe, a Frenchman. He was many years younger than his lady, and had nothing to do with the management of her property; so that he has been in no degree mixed up with her affairs and disgraces. It had been long observed that Madame Lalaurie's slaves looked singularly haggard and wretched, except the coachman, whose appearance was sleek and comfortable enough. Two daughters by a former marriage, who lived with her, were also thought to be spiritless and unhappy-looking. But the lady was so graceful and accomplished, so charming in her manners, and so hospitable, that no one ventured openly to question her perfect goodness. If a murmur of doubt began among the Americans, the French resented it. If the French had occasional suspicions, they concealed them for the credit of their faction. “She was very pleasant to whites,” I was told; and sometimes to blacks; but so broadly so as to excite suspicions of hypocrisy. When she had a dinner party at homo, she would hand the remains of her glass of wine to the emaciated negro behind her chair, with a smooth audible whisper, “Here, my friend, take this: it Edition: current; Page: will do you good.” At length, rumours spread which induced a friend of mine, an eminent lawyer, to send her a hint about the law which ordains that slaves who can be proved to have been cruelly treated shall be taken from the owner, and sold in the market for the benefit of the State. My friend, being of the American party, did not appear in the matter himself, but sent a young French crcole, who was studying law with him. The young man returned full of indignation against all who could suspect this amiable woman of doing anything wrong. He was confident that she could not harm a fly, or give pain to any human being. Soon after this, a lady living in a house which joined the premises of Madame Lalaurie, was going up stairs, when she heard a piercing shriek from the next court-yard. She looked out, and saw a little negro girl, apparently about eight years old, flying across the yard towards the house, and Madame Lalaurie pursuing her, cowhide in hand. The lady saw the poor child run from story to story, her mistress following, till both came out upon the top of the house. Seeing the child about to spring over, the witness put her hands before her eyes; but she heard the fall, and saw the child taken up, her body bending, and limbs hanging, as if every bone was broken. The lady watched for many hours; and at night she saw the body brought out Edition: current; Page: a shallow hole dug by torch-light in the corner of the yard, and the corpse covered over, No secret was made of what had been seen. Inquiry was instituted, and illegal cruelty proved in the case of nine slaves, who were forfeited according to law. It afterwards came out that this woman induced some family connexions of her own to purchase these slaves., and sell them again to her, conveying them back to her premises in the night. She must have desired to have them for purposes of torture; for she could not lot them be seen in a neighbour-hood where they were known. During all this time, she docs not appear to have lost caste, though it appears that she beat her daughters as often as they attempted in her absence to convey food to her miserable victims. She always knew of such attempts by means of the sleek coachman, who was her spy. It was necessary to have a spy, to preserve her life from the vengeance of her household: so she pampered this obsequious negro, and at length owed her escape to him. She kept her cook chained within eight yards of the fireplace, where sumptuous dinners were cooked in the most sultry season. It is a pity that some of the admiring guests whom she assembled round her hospitable table could not see through the floor, and be made aware at what a cost they were entertained One morning, the cook declared that Edition: current; Page: they had better all be burned together than lead such, a life; and she set the house on fire. The alarm spread over the city: the gallant French Creoles all ran to the aid of their accomplished friend, and the fire was presently extinguished. Many, whose curiosity had been roused about the domestic proceedings of the lady, seized the opportunity of entering those parts of the premises from which the whole world had been hitherto carefully excluded. They perceived that as often as they approached a particular outhouse, the lady became excessively uneasy lest some property in an opposite direction should be burned. When the fire was extinguished, they made bold to break open this outhouse. A horrible sight met their eyes. Of the nine slaves, the skeletons of two were afterwards found poked into the ground; the other seven could scarcely be recognised as human. Their faces had the wildness of famine, and their bones were coming through the skin. They were chained and tied in constrained postures; some on their knees, some with their hands above their heads. They had iron collars with spikes which kept their heads in one position. The cowhide, stiff with blood, hung against the wall; and there was a step-ladder on which this fiend stood while flogging her victims, in order to lay on the lashes with more effect. Every morning, it was her first employment Edition: current; Page: after breakfast to lock herself in with her captives, and flog them till her strength failed. Amidst shouts and groans, the sufferers were brought out into the air and light. Food was given them,—with too much haste; for two of them died in the course of the day. The rest, maimed and helpless, are pensioners of the city. The rage of the crowd, especially of the French Creoles, was excessive The lady shut herself up in the house, with her trembling daughters, while the street was filled, from end to end, with a yelling crowd of gentlemen. She consulted her coachman as to what she had best do. He advised that she should have her coach to the door after dinner, and appear to go forth for her afternoon drive, as usual; escaping or returning, according to the aspect of affairs. It is not told whether she ate her dinner that day, or prevailed on her remaining slaves to wait upon her. The carriage appeared at the door; she was ready, and stepped into it. Her assurance seems to have paralyzed the crowd. The moment the door was shut, they appeared to repent having allowed her to enter, and they tried to upset the carriage,—to hold the horses,—to make a snatch at the lady. But the coachman laid about him with his whip, made the horses plunge, and drove off. He took the road to the lake, where he could not be intercepted, as it winds through the swamp. Edition: current; Page: He outstripped the crowd, galloped to the lake, bribed the master of a schooner which was lying there to put off instantly with the lady to Mobile. She escaped to France, and took up her abode in Paris under a feigned name; but not for long. Late one evening, a party of gentlemen called on her, and told her she was Madame Lalaurie, and that she had better be off. She fled that night, and is supposed to be now skulking about in some French province, under a false name. The New Orleans mob met the carriage returning from the lake. What became of the coachman I do not know. The carriage was broken to pieces, and thrown into the swamp, and the horses stabbed, and left dead upon the road. The house was gutted,—the two poor girls having just time to escape from a window. They arc now living, in great poverty, in one of the faubourgs. The piano, tables, and chairs were burned before the house. The feather-beds were ripped up, and the feathers emptied into the street, where they afforded a delicate footing for sonic days. The house stands, and is meant to stand, in its ruined state. It was the strange sight of its gaping windows and empty walls, in the midst of a busy street, which excited my wonder, and was the cause of my being told the story, the first time. I gathered other particulars afterwards from eye-witnesses.Edition: current; Page: The crowd at first intended to proceed to the examination of other premises, whose proprietors were under suspicion of cruelty to their slaves; but the shouts of triumph which went up from the whose population of the city showed that this would not be safe. Fearing a general rising, the gentlemen organized themselves into a patrol, to watch the city, night and day, till the commotion should have subsided. They sent circulars to all proprietors suspected of cruelty, warning them that the eyes of the city were upon them. This is the only benefit the negroes have derived from the exposure. In reply to inquiries, I was told that it was very possible that cruelties like those of Madame Lalaurie might be incessantly in course of perpetration. It may be doubted whether any more such people exist: but if they do, there is nothing to prevent their following her example with impunity, as long as they can manage to preserve that secrecy which was put an end to by accident in her case. I could never get out of the way of the horrors of slavery in this region. Under one form or another, they met me in every house, in every street,—everywhere but in the intelligence pages of newspapers, where I might read on in perfect security of exemption from the subject. In the advertizing columns, there were offers of reward Edition: current; Page: for runaways, restored dead or alive; and notices of the capture of a fugitive with so many brands on his limbs and shoulders, and so many scars on his back. But from the other half of the newspaper, the existence of slavery could be discovered only by inference. What I saw elsewhere was, however, dreadful enough. In one house the girl who waited on me with singular officiousness, was so white, with blue eyes and light hair, that it never occurred to me that she could be a slave. Her mistress told me afterwards that this girl of fourteen was such a depraved hussey that she must be sold. I exclaimed involuntarily, but was referred to the long heel, in proof of the child's being of negro extraction. She had the long heel, sure enough. Her mistress stold me that it is very wrong to plead in behalf of slavery; that families are rarely separated; and gave me, as no unfair example of the dealings of masters, this girl's domestic history. The family had consisted of father, mot her, and four children; this girl being the eldest, and the youngest an infant at the breast. The father was first sold separately; and then the rest of the family were purchased in the market by the husband of my friend,—the mother being represented to be a good cook and house servant. She proved to be both; but of so violent a temper that it was necessary to keep her own children out of her way Edition: current; Page: when she had a knife in her hand, lest she should murder them. The anxiety of watching such a temper was not to be borne, and the woman was sold with her infant. Here was the second division of this family. The behaviour of the eldest girl was so outrageously profligate, that she was about to be disposed of also. And vet she was only a fair illustration of the results of the education by circumstance that slaves receive. When detected in some infamous practices, this young creature put on an air of prudery, and declared that it gave her great pain to be thought immodest: that so far from her being what she was thought, she had no wish to have any other lover than her master. Her master vas so enraged at this,—being a domestic Northern man, and not a planter,—that he tied her to the whipping-post, and flogged her severely with his own hands. The story of this dispersed and wretched family has nothing singular in it. With slight variations, it may be found repeated in every Southern settlement the traveller visits. Just about the time that this was happening, a family in the neighbourhood was poisoned by a slave. I think one died, and the others had a narrow escape. The poisoner was sold in the market, as the proprietor could not afford to lose his human property by the law taking its course. About the same time, the cashier of a bank in Edition: current; Page: New Orleans sent one of his slaves out of the way, in order to be undisturbed in the violence which he meditated against the negro's attached wife. The negro understood the case, but dared not refuse to go whore he was bid. Me returned unexpectedly soon, however; found his home occupied, and stabbed the defiler of it. The cashier was the stronger man: and in spite of his wound, he so maltreated the negro that he expired on the barrow on which he was being conveyed to goal. Nothing ensued on account of this affair; though, when the cashier was some time after found to be a defaulter, he absconded. I would fain know what has become of a mulatto child in whom I became much interested at New Orleans. Ailsic was eight years old, perfectly beautiful, and one of the most promising children I ever saw. She was quick, obedient, and affectionate, to a touching degree. She had a kind master and mistress. Her mistress's health was delicate; and the child would watch her countenance wistfully, in the constant hope of saving her trouble. She would look very grave if the lady went up stairs with a languid step, take hold of her gown, and timidly ask. “What, an't ye well?” I used to observe her helping to dress her mistress's hair, her little hands trembling with eagerness, her eye following every glance of the eye which ever looked Edition: current; Page: tenderly upon her. Her master declared he did not know what to make of the child, she looked so scared, and trembled so if she was spoken to: and she was indeed the most sensitive of children. As she stood at the corner of the dinner-table to fan away the flies, she was a picture from which it was difficult to turn away. Her little yellow headdress suited well with her clear brown complexion and large soft black eyes: nothing that she could at all understand of the conversation escaped her, while she never intermitted her waving of the huge brush of peacocks' feathers. Her face was then composed in its intelligence, for she stood by her mistress's elbow: a station where she seemed to think no harm could befal her. Alas! she has lost her kind mistress. Amidst the many sad thoughts which thronged into my mind when I heard of the death of this lady, one of the wisest and best of American women. I own that some of my earliest regrets were for little Ailsic; and when I think of her sensibility, her beauty, and the dreadful circumstances of her parentage, as told me by her mistress, I am almost in despair about her future lot; for what can her master, with all his goodness, do for the forlorn little creature's protection? None but a virtuous mistress can fully protect a female slave.—and that too seldom. Ailsic was born on an estate in Tennessee. Her Edition: current; Page: father is a white gentleman, not belonging to the family; her mother the family cook. The cook's black husband cherished such a deadly hatred against this poor child, as to be for ever threatening her life: and she was thought to be in such danger from his axe, that she was sent down the river to be taken into the family where I saw her, What a cruel world.—what a hard human life, must Ailsic find that she is born into! Such facts, occurring at every step, put the stranger on the watch for every revelation of the feelings of the masters about the relation of the two races. Some minute circumstances surprised me in this connexion. At the American theatre in New Orleans, one of the characters in the play which my party attended was a slave, one of whose speeches was, “I have no business to think and feel.” At a dinner party. where three negroes were waiting, and where Ailsic stood fanning, a gentleman of very high official rank told a facetious story, at which every body laughed heartily.—(being. indeed, quite unable to help it. the manner of the narrator was so droll.—except a gentleman next me, who had once been a slave-trader. The senator told us of a couple from the Green Island, Pat and Nancy, who had settled on the Mississippi, and in course of time (to use the language of the region) “acquired six children and nine negroes.” Pat Edition: current; Page: had a mind to better his fortunes and to go unincumbered higher up the river; and he therefore explained his plans to Nancy, finishing with,” and so, my darlin, I'll lave you; but I'll do inv best by you: I'll have you the six dear, nate, pretty little childer, and I'll take the nine nasty dirty negroes.” While every other American at the table laughed without control, I saw my neighbour, the former slave-trader, glance up at the negroes who were in attendance, and use a strong effort not to laugh. The stranger has great difficulty in satisfying himself as to the bounds of the unconsciousness oppression which he finds urged as the exculpatory plea of the slave-holder, while he mourns over it as the great hindrance in the way of social reformation. It has been seen that an audience at the theatre will quietly receive a hit which would subject the author to punishment if he were an Abolitionist. When I listened to the stories told by ladies to each other, in their morning calls, showing the cleverness of their slaves. I often saw that they could not but be as fully convinced as I was that their slaves were as altogether human as themselves. I heard so many anecdotes,—somewhat of the character of the following,—that I began to suspect that one use of slaves is to furnish topics for the amusement of their owners. Sam was sadly apt to get drunk, and had been Edition: current; Page: often reproved by his muster on that account, One day his master found him intoxicated, and cried out, “What drunk again, Sam? I scolded you for being drunk last night: and here you are drunk again.” “No. massa. same drunk, massa: same drunk.” But enough of this dark side of the social picture, I find myself dwelling long upon it, and frequently recurring to it, because all other subjects shrink into insignificance beside it: but these others must not be forgotten. The gay visiting season at New Orleans was over before we arrived: but: we were in several parties. The division between the American and French factions is visible even in the drawing-room. The French complain that the Americans will not speak French.—will not meet their neighbours even half way in accommodation of speech. The Americans ridicule the toilette practices of the French ladies.—their liberal use of rouge and pearl powder. If the French ladies do thus beautify themselves. they do it with great art, I could not be quite sure of the fact in any one instance: while I am disposed to bel eve it from the clumsy imitation of the art which I saw in the countenance of an American rival or two. I witnessed with strong disgust the efforts of a voting lady from Philadelphia to make herself as French as possible by these disagreeable Edition: current; Page: means. She was under twenty, and would have been rather pretty if she had given herself a fair chance: but her coarsely-painted eyebrows, daubed cheeks, and powdered throat inspired a disgust which she must be singularly unwise not to have anticipated. If this were a singles case, it would not be worth mentioning; but I was told by a resident that it is a common practice for young ladies to paint both white and red, under the idea of accommodating themselves to the French manners of the place. They bad better do it by practicing the French language. Than by copying the French toilette. New Orleans is the only place in the United States where I am aware of having seen a particle of rouge. Large parties are much alike everywhere; and they leave no very distinct impression. Except for the mixture of languages, and the ample provision of ices, fans, and ventilators, the drawing-room, assemblages of New Orleans bear a strong resemblance to the routs and dinner parties of a country town in England. Our pleasantest days in the great Southern city were those which we spent quietly in the homes of intimate acquaintances. I vividly remember one which I was told was a true Louisiana day. We ladies carried our work-bags, and issued forth by eleven o'clock, calling by the way for a friend,— Ailsic's mistress. The house Edition: current; Page: we were to visit was a small shaded dwelling, with glass doors opening into a pretty garden. In a cool parlour we sat at work, talking of things solemn and trivial of affairs native and foreign, till dinner, which was at two. We were then joined by the gentlemen. We left the dinner-table eartly, and the gentlemen trundled rocking-chairs and low stools into the garden, where we sat in the shade all the afternoon, The ladies working, the gentlemen singing Irish Melodies, telling good native stories and throwing us all into such a merry mood. That we positively refused the siesta, which we were urged to take, and forgot what a retribution we might expect from the mosquitoes for sitting so long under the trees. After tea we got to the piano, and were reminded. at last, by the darkness, of the number of hours which this delightful Louisiana visit had consumed. We all walked home together through the quiet streets, the summer lightning quivering through the thick trees, in singular contrast with the steady moonlight. We should have liked to spend every day thus with friends who always made us forget that we were far from home; but a traveller's duty is to see every variety of society which comes within his reach. I was sought by some, and met accidentally with other persons who were on the eve of departure for Texas. Attempts were made to induce me to Edition: current; Page: go myself; and also to convince me of the eligibility of the country as a place of settlement for British emigrants, in the hope that the arrival of a cargo of settlers form England might afford to the Texans a plea of countenance form the British Government. The subject of Texas is now so well understood that there is no occasion to enlarge upon the state of the question as it was two years and a half ago; and besides, if I were to give a precise account of the conversations between myself and the friends of the Texan aggression, my story would not be believed. The folly and romance of some of the agents employed, and the villany which people out of every admission extorted from the advocates of the scheme, would make my readers as astonished as I was myself, that any attempts should be made in the neighbourhood of the scene to gain the sympathy of strangers who were at all above the rank of knaves and fools. Suflice it that one class of advocates told me that I should be perfectly safe there, as the inhabitants were chiefly persons who could fight bravely against the Mexicans, from having nothing to lose, and from their having been compelled to leave the United States, by their too free use of arms; while the opposite species of agent enlarged, not only on the beauty of the sunsets, and the greenness of the savannahs, but on the delightful security of living under the same laws as the people Edition: current; Page: of the United States, and amidst a condition of morals kept perfectly pure by Colonel Austin's practice of baying every person whom he conceived to have offended whipped at the cart's tail;—the fact being carefully concealed that Colonel Austin was at that time, and had been for two years, in gaol in the Mexican capital. Our friends indulged us in what they knew to be our favourite pleasure,—in country drives. There can be no great choice of drives in the neighbourhood of a city which stands in a swamp; but such place as were attainable we reached. One was a rope-walk, 1200 feet long, under a roof. It looked picturesque, like every other rope-walk that I ever saw: but what struck me most about it was the sudden and profound repose we plunged into from the bustle of the city. The cottages of the Negroes were embowered in green, and the whole place had a tropical air, with its thickets of fig and catalpa, and its rows of Pride-of-India trees. This last tree looks to my eye like a shrub which has received mistaken orders to grow into a tree. Its fragrance is its great charm. The mixture of its lilac flowers with its green leaves impairs the effect of the foliage, as far as colour is concerned; and the foliage is besides not massy enough. A single sprig of it is beautiful and probably its fragrance propitiates the eyes of those who plant it, for I found it considered Edition: current; Page: a beautiful tree. The dark shades of these thickets are enlivened by a profusion of roses; and the air fanned by myriads of insects wings. How the Negroes make friendship with the tribes of insects which drive the white man to forego the blessing of natural shade. I could never understand; but the black never looks more contented than when he shrouds himself in rauk vegetation, and lives in a concert of insect chirping, droning, and trumpeting. We were taken to the Battle-ground, the native soil of General Jackson's political growth. Seeing the Battle-ground was all very well; but my delight was in the drive to it. With the Mississippi on the right hand, and on the left gardens of roses which bewildered the imagination. I really believed at the time that I saw more roses that morning than during the whole course of my life before. Gardens are so rare in America, from want of leisure, and deficiency of labour, that when they do occur, they are a precious luxury to the traveler, especially when they are in their spring beauty. In the neighbourhood of Mobile, my relative, who has a true English love of gardening, had introduced the practice; and I there saw villas and cottages surrounded with a luxuriant growth of Cherokee roses, honeysuckles, and myrtles, while groves of orange trees appeared in the background: but not even these equaled what I saw, this warm 4th of May, on our Edition: current; Page: way to the Battle-ground. One villa, built by an Englishman, was obstinately inappropriate to the scene and climate;—red brick, without gallery, or even caves or porch,—the mere sight of it was scorching;. All the rest were an entertainment to the eye as they stood, white and cool, amidst their flowering magnolias, and their blossoming alleys, hedges, and thickets of roses. In returning, we alighted at one of these delicious retreats, and wandered about, losing each other among the thorns, the ceringas, and the wilderness of shrubs. We met in a grotto, under the summer-house, cool with a greenish light and veiled at its entrance with a tracery of creepers. There we lingered, amidst singing or silent dreaming. There seemed to be too little that was real about the place for ordinary voices to be heard speaking about ordinary things. The river was rising, as we were told in a tone of congratulation. The eddies would be filled, and our voyage expedited. The canes in the sugar grounds were showing themselves above the soil; young sprouts that one might almost see grow. A negro was feed to gather flowers for us, and he filled the carriage with magnolia, honeysuckle, and roses, grinning the while at our pleasure, and at his own good luck in falling in with us. The Battle-ground is rather more than four miles from the city. We were shown the ditch and the Edition: current; Page: swamp by which the field of action was bounded on two sides, and some remains of the breast-work of earth which was thrown up. There has been great exaggeration about the cotton-bags, of which there were only a few in a line with the earthen defence, instead of an entire breast-work, as has been supposed in all the jokes and all the admiration which have been expended on the expedient. It was a deadly battle-field. It makes the spectator shudder to see the wide open space, the unsheltered level, over which the British soldiers were compelled to inarch to certain destruction. Never was greater bravery shown by soldiers; and never, perhaps, was bravery more abused by the unskilfulness of leaders. The result proves this. The British killed were nearly 3000: the Americans had six killed, and seven wounded. By all accounts, General Jackson showed consummate ability throughout the whole brief campaign; and the British leaders an imbecility no less remarkable. I was shown a house on a plantation where, twelve days before the battle, the son of the proprietor was quietly dining at one o'clock, when a slave ran in, and told him that some men in red coats were in the yard. The young man instantly comprehended that the British had captured the American scouts. He bolted through the window, and into a canoe, and crossed the river amidst a shower Edition: current; Page: of balls, seized a horse, and galloped to the city. The troops, dispersed on different points, were collected by drum and bell; and, between two o'clock and eleven at night, the city was made ready to abide the enemy's approach. It is still incomprehensible to the Americans why the British, who actually did throw a party over the river, did not all step ashore on the opposite side of the Mississippi, and quietly march the lour miles up to the city, and into it. It could have offered no defence; nor was there any impediment by the way. The head-quarters of both generals are very conspicuous on the plain. Sir Edward Pakenham and a party of his officers were spied by the Americans, standing in the balcony of the house they inhabited. A gunner was ordered to take aim at them. Seeing the importance of the shot, he was flurried, and struck the river, a mile off. He was ordered to retire. He knew that this was the crisis of his professional fate, and implored that he might be granted one more chance. He then hit the pillar which supported the balcony, immediately under the feet of the group of officers, who hurried pell-mell into the house. After eleven days of housekeeping in New Orleans, we were obliged to depart, having been fortunate enough to secure berths in a capital boat which started northwards on the 6th of May. The Edition: current; Page: slaves in our temporary abode had served us intelligently and well. Wishing to see what they could do, we did not give any orders about our table. We were rarely at home at dinner; but our breakfasts and occasional dinners were more luxurious than if we had provided for ourselves. Excellent coffee, French bread, radishes, and strawberries at breakfast; and at dinner, broth, fowls, beef-steak, with peas, young asparagus, salad, new potatoes, and spinach, all well cooked; claret at dinner, and coffee worthy of Paris after it,—this was the kind of provision with which we were favoured. Every thing was done to make us cool. The beds were literally as hard as the floor. We had a bath of the coldest water prepared morning and night: all the doors and windows were kept open, and the curtains drawn, to establish draughts and keep out the sun. There was ice in the water jug; ice on the lump of butter; ice in the wine glass; and ice cream for dessert. Abroad, all was, as in every other American city, hospitality and gaiety. I had rather dreaded the visit to New Orleans, and went more from a sense of duty than from inclination. A friendship that I formed there, though already eclipsed by death, left me no feeling but rejoicing that I had gone: and I also learned much that was useful in helping me to interpret some things which met my observation Edition: current; Page: both previously and subsequently. But my strongest impression of New Orleans is, that while it affords an instructive study, and yields some enjoyment to a stranger, it is the last place in which men are gathered together where one who prizes his Humanity would wish to live. “That it was full of monsters who devoured canoes as well as men; that the devil stopped its passage, and sunk all those who ventured to approach the place where he stood; and that the river itself at last was swallowed up in the bottomless gulf of a tremendous whirlpool.”—Quarterly Review. About four o'clock in the afternoon of the 6th of May we were conveyed, by a large party of friends, to the “Henry Clay,” on board of which accommodations had been secured for us by great exertion on the part of a fellow-voyager. The “Henry Clay” had the highest reputation of any boat on the river, having made ninety-six trips without accident; a rare feat on this dangerous river. As I was stepping on board, Judge P. said he hoped we were each provided with a life-preserver. I concluded he was in joke; but he declared himself perfectly serious, adding that we should probably find ourselves the only cabin passengers unprovided with this means of safety. We should have been informed of this before : it was too late now. Mr. Edition: current; Page: E., of our party on board, told me all that this inquiry made me anxious to know. He had been accustomed to ascend and descend the river annually, with his family; and he made his arrangements according to his knowledge of the danger of the navigation. It was his custom to sit up till near the time of other people's rising, and to sleep in the day. There are always companies of gamblers in these boats, who, being awake and dressed during the hours of darkness, are able to seize the boats, on the first alarm of an accident in the night, and are apt to leave the rest of the passengers behind. Mr. E. was a friend of the captain; he was a man of gigantic bodily strength, and cool temper; every way fitted to be of use in an emergency: and the captain gave him the charge of the boats, in case of a night accident. Mr. E. told me that, as we were particularly under his charge, his first thought, in a time of danger, would be of us. He had a life-preserver, and was an excellent swimmer, so that he had little doubt of being able to save us, in any case. He only asked us to come the instant we were called; to do as we were bid; and to be quiet. As we looked at the stately vessel, with her active captain, her two pilots, the crowds of gay passengers, and all the provision for safety and comfort, it was scarcely possible to realize the idea of danger: but we knew that the perils of this extraordinary Edition: current; Page: river, sudden and overwhelming, are not like those of the ocean, which can be, in a great measure, guarded against by skill and care. The utmost watchfulness cannot here provide against danger from squalls, from changes in the channel of the river, and from the snags, planters, and sawyers (trunks of trees brought down from above by the current, and fixed in the mud under water,) which may, at any moment, pierce the hull of the vessel. Our Now Orleans friends remained with us upwards of an hour, introducing us to the captain, and to such of the passengers as they knew. Among these were Mr. and Mrs. L., of Boston, Massachusetts. We little imagined, that afternoon, how close an intimacy would grow out of this casual meeting; how many weeks we should afterwards spend in each other's society, with still-increasing esteem and regard The last thing one of my friends said was that he was glad we were going, as there had been forty cases of cholera in the city, the day before. After five o'clock, the company on deck and in the cabins, who had bidden farewell to their friends some time before, began to inquire of one another why we were not setting off. We had found the sun too warm on deck, and had had enough of mutual staring with the groups on the wharf: we turned over the books, and made acquaintance with Edition: current; Page: the prints in the ladies' cabin; and then leisurely arranged our state-rooms to our liking: and still there was no symptom of departure. The captain was obviously annoyed. It was the non-arrival of a party of passengers which occasioned the delay. A multitude of Kentuckians and other western men had almost forced their way on board, as deck-passengers; men who had come down the river in flat-boats with produce, who were to work their way up again by carrying wood at the wooding-places, morning and evening, to supply the engine-fire. These men, like others, prefer a well-managed to a perilous boat; and their eagerness to secure a passage was excessive. More thronged in, after the captain had declared that he was full; more were bustling on the wharf, and still the expected party did not come. The captain ordered the plank to be taken up which formed a communication with the shore. Not till six o'clock was it put down for the dilatory passengers, who did not seem to be aware of the inconvenience they had occasioned. They were English. A man on the wharf took advantage of the plank being put down, to come on board, in spite of prohibition. He went with his bundle to the spot on the second deck which he chose for a sleeping place, and immediately lay down, without attracting particular notice from any one. We braved the heat on the hurricane dock, for Edition: current; Page: the sake of obtaining last views of New Orleans. The city soon became an indistinguishable mass of buildings, lying in the swamp; yet with something of a cheerful air, from the brightness of the sun. The lofty Cotton-press, so familiar to the eye of every one acquainted with that region, was long visible, amidst the windings of the river, which seemed to bring us quite near the city again, when we thought we should see it no more. At seven we were summoned to supper, and obtained a view of the company in whose society we were to pass the next ten days. There was a great mixture. There was a physician from New York, with his wife and a friend or two; an ultra exclusive party. There were Mr. and Mrs. B., also from New York, amiable elderly people, with some innocent peculiarities: and showing themselves not the less mindful of other people from taking great care of each other. There was the party that had kept the captain waiting,—some of them very agreeable: and the L.'s, whom it would have been a privilege to meet any where. There were long trains of young men,—so many as to extinguish all curiosity as to who they were, and where they came from: and a family party belonging to the West, father, mother, grandmother, and six children, who had a singular gift of squalling; and their nurses,—slaves. These are all that I Edition: current; Page: distinctly remember among the multitude that surrounded the almost interminable table in the cabin. This table, long as it was, would not hold all the company. Many had to wait till seats were vacated; and yet we were to go on receiving passengers, all the way to Natchez. We took in more this evening. After supper we hastened again to the hurricane deck, where the air was breathing cool, and, to our great joy, strong enough to relieve us from mosquitoes. The river was lined with plantations of cotton and sugar; as it continued to be for two hundred miles farther. Almost every turn of the mighty stream disclosed a sugar-house of red brick, with a centre and wings;—all much alike. Groups of slaves, most of them nearly naked, were chopping wood, or at other kinds of toil along the shore. As the twilight melted into the golden moonlight of this region, I saw sparkles among the reeds on the margin of the stream. It did not occur to me what they were, till I saw a horse galloping in a meadow, and apparently emitting gleams of fire. I then knew that I at length saw fire flies. One presently alighted on the linen coat of a gentleman standing beside me; where it spread its gleam over a space as large as the palm of my hand, making the finest of the threads distinctly visible. In a dark recess of the shore a large fire suddenly Edition: current; Page: blazed up, and disclosed a group of persons standing on the brink of the stream. Our boat neared the shore; for this was a signal from a party who had secured their passage with us. Night after night I was struck with the same singular combination of lights which I now beheld;— the moonlight, broad and steady; the blazing brands, sometimes on the shore, and sometimes on board the flat-boats we met; and the glancing fire-flies. When we went down for the night, we had our first experience of the crying of the little H.'s. They were indefatigable children: when one? Became quiet, another began; and among them, they kept up the squall nearly the twenty-four hours round. Their mother scolded them; their nurses humoured them; and, between these two methods of management, there was no peace for anybody within hearing. There was a good deal of trampling overhead too. Many of the deck passengers had to sleep in the open air, on the hurricane deck, from there being no room for them below; and, till they had settled themselves, sleep was out of the question for those whose state-rooms were immediately beneath. At length, however, all was quiet but the rumbling of the engine, and we slept. When I went on deck in the morning, before six, I was privately told, by a companion, that the man Edition: current; Page: who had last forced his way on board had died of cholera in tho night, and had boon laid under a tree, at the wooding-place, a few minutes before. Never was there a lovelier morning for a worn wretch to lie down to his long sleep. The captain particularly desired that the event should be passed over in entire silence, as he was anxious that there should be no alarm about the disease; on board the boat. The poor man had, as I have mentioned, lain down in his place as soon as he came among us. He lay unobserved till two in the morning, when he roused the neighbour on each side of him. They saw his state at a glance, and lost not a moment in calling down the New York physician: but before this gentleman could get to him, the sick man died. His body was handed over to the people at the wooding-place, and buried in the cheerful morning sunshine. We sped away from that lonely grave as if we were in a hurry to forget it; and when we met at breakfast, there was mirth and conversation, and conventional observance, just as if death had not been among us in the night. This was no more than a quickening of the process by which man drops out of life, and all seems to go on as if he had never been:—only seems, however. Even in this case, where the departed had been a stranger to us all, and had sunk from amidst us in eight hours. I believe there were few or no hearts Edition: current; Page: untouched,—either by sorrow for him or fear for themselves, We were none of us as we should have been if this, his brief connexion with us, had never existed. All the morning we were passing plantations; and there were houses along both banks, at short intervals: sometimes the mansions of planters; sometimes sugar-houses; sometimes groups of slave-dwellings, painted or unpainted, standing under the shade of sycamores, magnolias, live oaks, or Pride-of-India trees. Many dusky gazing figures of men with the axe, and women with the pitcher, would have tempted the pencil of an artist. The field were level and rich-looking, and they were invariably bounded by the glorious forest. Towards noon, we perceived by the number of sailing boats that we were near some settlement, and soon came upon Donaldsonville, a considerable village, with a large unfinished State-House, where the legislature of Louisiana once sat, which was afterwards removed to New Orleans, whence it has never come back. Its bayou boasts a steamer, by which planters in the south back-country are conveyed to their estates, on quitting the Mississippi. We now felt ourselves sufficiently at home to decide upon the arrangement of our day. The weather was too hot to let the fatigues of general conversation be endurable for many hours together; Edition: current; Page: and there was little in the general society of the vessel to make us regret this. We rose at five, or a little later; the early morning being delicious. Breakfast was ready at seven: and after it. I apparently went to my state-room for the morning: but this was not exactly the case. I observed that the laundresses hung their counterpanes and sheets to dry in the gallery before my window, and that therefore nobody came to that gallery. It struck me that this must be the coolest part of the boat, such an evaporation as was perpetually going on. I therefore stepped out of my window, with my book, work, or writing; and, sitting under the shade of a counterpane, and in full view of the river and western shore, spent in quiet some of the pleasantest morning I have ever known. I was now and then reminded of the poor parson, pitied by Mrs. Barbauld:— and sometimes an unsympathizing laundress would hang up an impenetrable veil between me and some object on shore that I was eagerly watching; but these little inconveniences were nothing in the way of counterbalance to the privilege of retirement. I took no notice of the summons to luncheon at eleven, and found that dinner, at half-past one. Edition: current; Page: came far too soon. We all thought it our duty to be sociable in the afternoon, and therfore took our seats in the gallery on the other side of the boat, where we were daily introduced to members of our society who beofre were strangers, and spent two or three hours in conversation or at chess. It was generally very hot, and the conversation far from lively, consisting chiefly of complaints of the heat or the glare—of the children, or of the dulness of the river: varied by mutual interrogation about where every body was going. A remark here and there was amusing; as when a lady described Canada as the place where people row boats and sing “Row, brothers, row.” and all that. When the heat began to decline, we went to the hurricane deck to watch the beauty of evening stealing on: and as no one but ourselves and our most esteemed acquaintance seemed to care for the wider view we here obtained, we had the place to ourselves; except that some giddy boys pursued their romps here, and kept us in aperprtual panic, lost, in their racing, they should run overboard. There is no guard whatever, and the leads overhang the water. Mr. E. said he never allowed his boys to play here; but gave them the choice of playing below, or sitting still on the top. After tea we came up again on fine evenings; walked for an hour or two, and watched the glories Edition: current; Page: of the night, till the deck passengers appeared with their blankets, and compelled us to go down. Nothing surprised me more than to see that very few of the ladies looked out of the boat, unless their attention was particularly called. All the morining the greater number sat in their own cabin, working collars, netting purses or doing nothing: all the evening they amused themselves in the other cabin, dancing or talking. And such scenery as we were passing! I was in perpetual amazement that, with all that has been said of the grandeur of this mighty river, so little testimony has been borne to its beauty. On the evening of our first day on the Missisippi. Mr. E. told me of the imminent danger he and his lady had twice been in, on board steamboats. His stories give an idea of the perils people should make up thier minds to, on such excursions as ours. On their wedding journey, the E.'s. accompanied by their relative. Judge H., went down the Alabama river. One night, when Mr. E. was just concluding the watch I have described him as keeping the boat ran foul of another and parted in two, beginning instantly to sink. Mr. E. roused his lady from her sleep, made her thrust her feet into his boots, threw his cloak over her, and carried her up to the deck, not doubting that, from her being the only lady on board, she Edition: current; Page: would be the first to be accommodated in the boat. But the boat had been seized by some gamblers who were wide awake, and ready dressed, when the accident happened, and they had got clear of the steamer. Mr. E. shouted to them to take in the lady,—only the lady: he promised that neither Judge H, nor himself should enter the boat. They might have come back for every one on board with perfect safety: but he could not move them. Judge H. meanwhile had secured a plank on which he hoped to seat Mrs. E., while Mr. E. and himself, both good swimmers, might push it bofore them to the shore, if they could escape the eddy from the sinking vessel. Mr. E. heard next the voice of an old gentleman whom he knew, who was in the boat, and trying to persuade the fellows to trun back. Mr. E. shouted to him to shoot the wretches if they would not come. The old gentleman took the hint, and held a pistol (which however was not loaded) at the head of the man who was steering: upon which they turned back and took in, not only Mrs. E., her party and their luggage, but every body else; so that no lives were lost. Mrs. E. lost nothing but the clothes she had left by her bedside. She was perfectly quiet and obedient to directions, the whole time. The vessel sank within a quarter of an hour. A few years after, the E.'s went up the Mississippi Edition: current; Page: with their little girl. Some fine ladies on board wondered at Mrs. E. for shaking hands with a rude farmer, with whom she had some acquaintance: and it appears probable that the farmer was aware of what passed. when Mr. E. was going down to bed, near day, he heard a deck passenger say to another, in a tone of alarm, “I say, John, look here?” “What's the matter?” asked Mr. E. “Nothing, Sir: only the boat's sinking.” Mr. E. ran to the spot, and found the news too true. The vessel had been pierced by a snag, and the water was rushing in by hogsheads. The boat seemed likely to be at the bottom in ten minutes. Mr. E. banded the men a pole and bade them thrust their bedding into the breach which they did with much cleverness, till the carpenter was ready with a better plug. The horrid words, “the boat's sinking,” had, however, been overhead: and the screams of the ladies were dreadful. The uproar above and below was excessive: but through it all was heard the voice of the rough farmer saying, “Where's E.'s girl? I shall save her first.” The boat was run safely ashore, and the fright was the greatest damage sustained. We passed Baton Rouge, on the cast Louisiana bank, on the afternoon of this day. It stands on the first eminence we had seen on these shores, and the barracks have a handsome appearance from the Edition: current; Page: water. A summer-house, perched on a rising ground, was full of people, amusing themselves with smoking and looking abroad upon the river; and truly they had an enviable station. A few miles farther on, we went ashore at the wooding-place, and I had my first walk in the untrodden forest. The height of the trees seemed incredible, as we stood at their foot, and looked up. I made us feel suddenly dwarfed. We stood in a crowd of locust and cotton-wood trees, elm, maple, and live oak: and they were all bound together by an inextricable tangle of creepers, which seemed to frobid our pencirating many paces into the forest beyond where the wood-cutters had intruded. I had a great horror of going too far; and was not sorry to find it impossible: it would he so easy for the boat to leave two or three passengers behind, without finding it out: and no fate could be conceived more desolate. I looked into the wood-cutters' dwelling, and hardly knew what to think of the hardihood of any one who could embrace such a mode of life for asingle week, on any consideration. Amidst the desolation and abominable dirt, I observed a mosquito bar,—a muslin curtain,—suspended over the crib. Without this, the dweller in the wood would be stung almost to madness or death before morning. This curtain was nearly of a saffron colour; the floor of the hut was of damp earth, and the Edition: current; Page: place so small that the wonder was how two men could live in it. There was a rude enclosure round it to keep off intruders; but the space was grown over with the rankest grass and yellow weeds. The ground was swampy all about, up to the wall of untouched forest which rendered this spot inaccessible except, from the river. The beautiful squills-flower grew plentifully; the only relief to the eye from the vastness and rankness. Piles of wood were built up on the brink of the river, and were now rapidly disappearing under the activity of our deck-passengers, who were passing in two lines to and from the vessel. The bell from the boat tinkled through the wilderness, like a foreign sound. We hastened on board; and I watched the wood-cutters, with deep pity, as they gazed after us for a minute or two, and then turned into their forlorn abode. We were in hopes of passing the junction of the Red River with the Mississippi before dark; but found that we were not to sec the Red River at all; a channel having been partly found and partly made between an island and the eastern shore, which saves a circuit of many miles. In this narrow channel the current ran strong against us; and as we laboured through it in the evening light, we had opportunity to observe every green meadow, every solitary dwelling, which presented itself in the intervals of the forest. We grew more and more silent Edition: current; Page: as the shades fell, till we emerged from the dark channel into the great expanse of the main river, glittering in the moonlight. It was like putting out to sea. Just before bed-time we stopped at Sarah Bayou to take in still more passengers. The steward complained that he was coming to an end of his mattresses, and that there was very little more room for gentlemen to lie down, as they were already ranged along the tables, as well as all over the floor. So much for the reputation of the “Henry Clay.” The next morning, the 8th, I was up in time to witness the scramble for milk that was going on at the wooding-place. The moment we drew to the land, and the plank was put out, the steward leaped on shore, and ran to the wood-cutters' dwelling, pitcher in hand. The servants of the gentry on board followed, hoping to get milk for breakfast; but none succeeded, except the servant of an exclusive. This family had better have been without milk to their coffee than have been tempted by it to such bad manners as they displayed at the breakfast table. Two young ladies who had come on board the night before, who suspected nothing of private luxuries at a public table, and were not aware of the scarcity of milk, asked a waiter to hand them a pitcher which happened to belong to the exclusives. The exclusives' servant was Edition: current; Page: instantly sent round to take it from them; and not a word of explanation was offered. The wood-cutters' dwelling before us was very different from the one we had seen the night before. It was a good-sized dwelling, with a cotton-wood tree before it. casting a flickering shadow upon the porch; and behind it was a well-cleared field. The children were decently dressed, and several slaves peeped out from the places where they were pursuing their avocations. A passenger brought me a beautiful bunch of dwarf-roses which he had gathered over the garden paling. The piles of wood prepared for the steam-boats were enormous; betokening that there were many stout arms in the household. This morning, we seemed to be lost among islands, in a waste of waters. The vastness of the river now began to bear upon our imaginations. The flat boats we met looked as if they were at the mercy of the floods, their long oars bending like straws in the current. They are so picturesque, however, and there is something so fanciful in the canopy of green boughs under which the floating voyagers repose during the heat of the day, that some of us proposed building a flat boat on the Ohio, and floating down to New Orleans at our leisure. Adams Fort, in the State of Mississippi, afforded Edition: current; Page: the most beautiful view we had yet seen on the river. The swelling hills, dropped with wood, closed in a reach of the waters, and gave them the appearance of a lake. White houses nestled in the clumps; goats, black and white, browsed on the points of the many hills; and a perfect harmony of colouring dissolved the whole into something like a dream. This last charm is as striking to us as any in the vast wilderness, through which the “Father of Waters” takes his way. Even the turbid floods, varying their hues with the changes of light and shallow, are a fit element of the picture; and no one wishes them other than they are. In the afternoon we ran over a log: the vessel trembled to her centre; the ladies raised their heads from their work; the gentlemen looked overboard; and I saw our yawl snagged, as she was careering at the stern. The sharp end of the log pricked through her bottom as if she had been made of brown paper. She was dragged after us, full of water, till we stopped at the evening wooding-place; when I ran to the hurricane deck, to see her pulled up on shore and mended. There I found the wind so high that it appeared to me equally impossible to keep my seat, and to get down: my feather-fan blew away, and I expected to follow it myself,—so strangling was the gust,— one of the puffs which take the voyager by surprise Edition: current; Page: amidst the windings of this forest-banked river. The yawl was patched up in a surprisingly short timé. The deck passengers clustered round to lend a hand; and the blows of the mallet resounded along the shore, fitfully, as the gust came and passed over. Every one wished to reach and leave Natchez before dark; and this was accomplished. As soon as we came in sight of the bluff on which the city is built, we received a hint from the steward to lock our state-rooms, and leave nothing about; as there was no preventing the townspeople from coming on board. We went on shore. No place can be more beautifully situated;—on a bend of the Mississippi, with a low platform on which all the ugly traffic of the place can be transacted; bluffs on each side; a steep road up to the town; and a noble prospect from thence. The streets are sloping, and the drains are remarkably well built: but the place is far from healthy, being subject to the yellow fever. It is one of the oldest of the southern cities, though with a new,—that is, a perpetually shifting population. It has handsome buildings; especially the Agricultural Bank, the Court House, and two or three private dwellings. Main-street commands a fine view from the ascent, and is lined with Pride-of-India trees. I believe the landing-place at Natchez has not improved its reputation since the Edition: current; Page: descriptions which have been given of it by former travellers. When we returned to the boat, after an hour's walk, we found the captain very anxious to clear his vessel of the townspeople, and get away. The cabin was half full of the intruders, and the heated, wearied appearance of our company at tea bore testimony to the fatigues of the afternoon. In the evening, only one fire-fly was visible; the moon was misty, and faint lightning flashed incessantly. Before morning, the weather was so cold that we shut our windows; and the next day, there was a fire in the ladies' cabin. Such are the changes of temperature in this region. The quantity of drift-wood that we encountered above Natchez was amazing. Some of it was whirling slowly down with the current; but much more was entangled in the bays of the islands, and detained, in incessant accumulation. It can scarcely be any longer necessary to explain that it is a mistake to suppose this drift-wood to be the foundation of the islands of the Mississippi. Having itself no foundation, it could not serve any such purpose. The islands are formed by deposits of soil brought down from above by the strong force of the waters. The accumulation proceeds till it reaches the surface, when the seeds contained in the soil, or borne to it by the winds, sprout, and bind the soft earth by a network of roots, thus providing a basis for a Edition: current; Page: stronger vegetation every year. It is no wonder that superficial observers have fallen into this error respecting the origin of the new lands of the Mississippi; the rafts of drift-wood look so like incipient islands; and when one is fixed in a picturesque situation, the gazer longs to heap earth upon it, and clothe it with shrubbery. When we came in sight of Vicksburg, the little H.'s made a clamour for some new toys. Their mother told them how very silly they were; what a waste of money it would be to buy such toys as they would get at Vicksburg; that they would suck the paint, &c. Strange to say, none of these considerations availed anything. Somebody had told the children that toys were to be bought at Vicksburg; and all argument was to them worth less than the fact. The contention went on till the boat stopped, when the mother yielded, with the worst possible grace, and sent a slave nurse on shore to buy toys. An hour after we were again on our way, the lady showed me, in the presence of the children, the wrecks of the toys; horses' legs, dogs' heads, the broken body of a wagon, &c., all, whether green, scarlet, or yellow, sucked into an abominable daub. She complained bitterly of the children for their folly, and particularly for their waste of her money; as if the money were not her concern, and the fun theirs!Edition: current; Page: We walked through three or four streets of Vicksburg; but the captain could not allow us time to mount the hill. It is a raw-looking, straggling place, on the side of a steep ascent, the steeple of the Court House magnificently overlooking a huge expanse of wood, and a deep bend of the river. It was three months after this time that the tremendous Vicksburg massacre took place; a deed at which the whole country shuddered; and much of the world beyond. In these disorders, upwards of twenty persons were executed, without trial by jury, or pretence of justice. Some of the sufferers were gamblers, and men of bad character otherwise. Some were wholly innocent of any offence whatever; and I believe it is now generally admitted that the plot for rousing the slaves to insurrection, which was the pretext for the whole proceeding, never had any real existence. It was the product of that peculiar faculty of imagination which is now monopolized by the slave-holder, as of old by imperial tyrants. Among the sufferers in this disturbance was a young farmer, of Ohio, I think, who was proceeding to New Orleans on business, and was merely resting on the eastern bank of the river, on his way. I have seldom seen anything more touching than his brief letter to his parents, informing them that he was to be executed the next morning. Nothing could be quieter in its tone Edition: current; Page: than this letter; and in it he desired that his family would not grieve too much for his sudden death, for he did not know that he could ever feel more ready for the event than then. His old father wrote an affecting appeal to the Governor of Mississippi, desiring, not vengeance, for that could be of no avail to a bereaved parent; but investigation, for the sake of his son's memory, and the future security of innocent citizens. The Governor did not recognize the appeal. The excuse made for him was that he could not: that, if the citizens of the State preferred Lynch law to regular justice, the Governor could do nothing against the will of the majority. The effect of barbarism like this is not to justify the imputation of its excesses to the country at large; but to doom the region in which it prevails to be peopled by barbarians. The lovers of justice and order will avoid the places where they are set at naught. Every day reminded us of the superiority of our vessel: for we passed every boat going the same way; and saw some so delayed by accidents that we wondered what was to become of the passengers; at least, of their patience. A disabled boat was seen on the morning of this day, the 9th, crowded with Kentuckians, some of whom tried to win their way on board the “Henry Clay” by witticisms; but our captain was inexorable, declaring Edition: current; Page: that we could hold no more. Then we passed the Ohio steam-boat, which left New Orleans three days before us, but was making her way very slowly, with cholera on board. The 10th was Sunday. The children roared as usual: but the black damsels were dressed; there was no laundry-work going on, nor fancy-work in the cabin; and there was something of a Sunday look about the place. As I was sitting by my state-room window, sometimes reading, and sometimes looking out upon the sunny river, green woods, and flat boats that keep no sabbath, a black servant entered to say that Mr. E. desired me “to come to the preachin'.” I thought it unlikely that Mr. E. should be concerned in the affair, and knew too well what the service was likely to be, in such a company, and conducted by such a clergyman as was to officiate, to wish to attend. I found afterwards that the service had been held against the wishes of the captain, Mr. E., and many others; and that it had better, on all accounts, have been omitted. Some conversation which the young clergyman had thrust upon me had exhibited, not only his extreme ignorance of the religious feelings and convictions of Christians who differed from him, but no little bitterness of contempt towards them: and he was therefore the last person to conduct the worship of a large company whose opinions and Edition: current; Page: sentiments were almost as various as their faces, This reminds me that an old lady on board asked an acquaintance of mine what my religion was. On being told that I was an Unitarian, she exclaimed, “She had better have done with that: she won't find it go down with us.” It never occurred to me before to determine my religion by what would please people on the Mississippi. Before breakfast, one morning, when I was walking on the hurricane deck, I was joined by a young man who had been educated at West Point, and who struck me as being a fair and creditable specimen of American youth. He told me that he was very poor, and described his difficulties from being disappointed of the promotion he had expected on leaving West Point. He was now turning to the law; and he related by what expedients he meant to obtain the advantage of two years study of law, before settling in Maine. His land-travelling was done on foot; and there was no pretension to more than his resources could command. His manners were not so good as those of American youths generally; and he was not at first, very fluent; but expressed himself rather in schoolboy phrase. His conversation was, however, of a host of metaphysicians, as well as lawyers; and I thought he would never have tired of analyzing Bentham; from whom he passed on, like every one who talks in America Edition: current; Page: about books or authors, to Bulwer, dissecting his philosophy and politics very acutely. He gave me clear and sensible accounts of the various operation of more than one of the United States institutions, and furnished me with some very acceptable information. Alter our walk and conversation had lasted an hour and a half, we were summoned to breakfast; and I thought we had earned it. During the morning, I heard a friend of mine, in an earnest but amused tone, deprecating a compliment from two slave women, who were trying to look most persuasive. They were imploring her to cut out a gown for each of them like the one she wore. They were so enormously fat and slovenly, and the lady's dress fitted so neatly, to make the idea of the pattern being transferred to them most ludicrous. As long as we were on board, however, I believe they never doubted my friend's power of making them look like herself, if she only would; and they continued to cast longing glances on the gown. On the 11th, we overtook another disabled steamboat, which had been lying forty-eight hours with both her cylinders burst; unable, of course, to move a yard. We towed her about two miles, to a settlement: and the captain agreed to take on board two young ladies who were anxious to proceed, and a few deck-passengers. The scenery was by this time very wild. These Edition: current; Page: hundreds of miles of level woods and turbid, rushing waters, and desert islands, are oppressive to the imagination. Very few dwellings were visible. We went ashore in the afternoon, just for the sake of having been in Arkansas. We could penetrate only a little way through the young cotton-wood and the tangled forest, and we saw nothing. In the evening, we touched at Helena, and more passengers got on board, in defiance of the captain's shouts of refusal. He declared that the deck was giving wav under the crowd; and that he would not go near the shore again, but anchor in the middle of the river, and send his boats for provisions. While I was reading on the morning of the 12th, the report of a rifle from the lower deck summoned me to look out. There were frequent rifle-shots, and they always betokened our being near shore,— generally under the bank, where the eye of the sportsman was in the way of temptation from some object in the forest. We were close under the eastern bank, whence we could peep through the massy beech-trunks into the dark recesses of the woods. For two days, our eves had rested on scenery of this kind: now it was about to change. We were approaching the fine Chickasaw bluffs, below Memphis, in the State of Tennessee. The captain expressed a wish that none of the passengers would go on shore at Memphis, where the cholera Edition: current; Page: was raging. He intended to stay only a few minutes, for bread and vegetables, and would not admit a single passenger, on any consideration. We did not dream of disregarding his wishes, if indeed the heat had left us any desire to exert ourselves: but Mr. B. was so anxious that his lady should mount the bluff, that she yielded to his request; though stout and elderly as she was, the ascent would have been a serious undertaking, on a cool afternoon, and with plenty of time, The entire company of passengers was assembled to watch the objects on shore;—the cotton bales piled on the top of the bluff; the gentleman on horseback on the ridge, who was eyeing us in return; the old steamer, fitted up as a store, and moored by the bank, for the chance of traffic with voyagers: and above all the slaves, ascending and descending the steep path with trays of provisions on their heads,—the new bread and fresh vegetables with which we were to be cheered. Of course, all eyes were fixed upon Mr. and Mrs. B. as they attempted the ascent. The husband lent his best assistance, and dragged his poor lady about one-third of the way up: when she suddenly found that she could not go a step forward or back: she stuck, in a most finished attitude of panic, with her face to the cliff, and her back to us, her husband holding her up by one arm, and utterly at a loss what to do next, I hope they did not hour the Edition: current; Page: shout of laughter which wont up from our vessel, A stout boatman ran to their assistance, and enabled the lady to urn round, after which she came down without accident, She won every body's esteem by her perfect good-humour on the occasion. Heated and flurried as she was, she was perfectly contented with having tried to oblige her husband. This was her object, and she trained it; and more,—more than she was aware of unless indeed she found that her follow-passengers were more eager to give her pleasure after this adventure than before. The town of Memphis looked bare and hot; and the bluffs though a relief from the level vastness on which we had been gazing for two days are not so beautiful as the eminences four or five hundred miles below. The air was damp and close this night; the moon dim the lightning blue, and glaring: incessantly and the wood-ashes from the chimneys very annoying. It was not weather for the deck; and seeing that Mr. E. and two other gentlemen wanted to make up a rubber. I joined them. In our well-lighted cabin, the lightning seemed to pour in in streams; and the thunder soon began to crack over-head. Mrs. H. came to us, and rebuked us for playing cards while it thundered, which she thought very blasphemous. When our rubber was over, and I retired to the ladies cabin, I found that the Edition: current; Page: lady had been doing something which had a least as much levity in it. After undressing, she had put on her life-preserver, and floundered on the floor, to show how she should swim if the boat sank. Her slaves had got under the table to laugh, They little thought how near we might come to swimming for our lives before morning. I believe it was about three hours after midnight when I was awakened by a tremendous and unaccountable noise overhead. It was most like ploughing through a forest, and crashing all the trees down. The lady who shared my state-room was up, pale and frightened; and lights were moving in the ladies cabin, I did not choose to cause alarm by inquiry; but the motion of the boat was so strange that I thought it must waken every one on board. The commotion lasted. I should think, about twenty minutes, when I suppose it subsided, for I fell asleep. In the morning. I was shown the remains of hail-stones, which must have been of an enormous size, to judge by what was left of them at the end of three hours. Mr. K. told me that we had been in the utmost danger, for above a quarter of an hour, from one of the irresistible squalls to which this navigation is liable. Both the pilots had been blown away from the helm, and were obliged to leave the vessel to its fate. It was impossible to preserve a footing for an instant on the top; and the poor passengers Edition: current; Page: who lay there had attempted to come down, bruised with the tremendous hail, (which caused the noise we could not account for.) and seeing, with the pilot, no other probability than that the hurricane deck would be blown completely away: but there was actually no standing room for these men, and they bail to remain above, and take their chance. The vessel drove madly from side to side of the dangerous channel; and the pilots expected every moment that she would, founder. I find that we usually made much more, wav by-night than by day, the balance of the boat being kept even while the passengers are equally dispersed and quiet, instead of running from side to side, or crowding the one gallery and deserting the other. I was on the look out for alligators, all the way up the river, but could never see one. A deck passenger declared that a small specimen slipped off a log into the water one day when nobody else was looking: but his companions supposed he might be mistaken, as alligators are now rarely seen in this region. Terrapins were very numerous, sometimes sunning themselves on floating logs, and sometimes swimming, with only their pert little heads visible above water. Wood-pigeons might be seen flitting in the forest when we were so close under the banks as to pry into the shades; and the beautiful blue jay often gleamed before our eyes. Edition: current; Page: No object was more striking than the canoes which we frequently saw, looking fearfully light, and frail amidst the strong current. The rower used a spoon-shaped paddle, and advanced with amazing swiftness; sometimes crossing before our bows; sometimes darting along under the bank; sometimes shooting across a track of moonlight. Very often there was only one person in the canoe; as in the instance I have elsewhere mentioned* of a woman who was supposed to be going on a visit, twenty or thirty miles up the stream. I could hardly have conceived of a solitude so intense as this appeared to me;—the being alone on that rushing sea of waters, shut in by untrodden forests; the slow fish-hawk wheeling overhead; and perilous masses of drift-wood whirling down the current,— trunks obviously uprooted by the forces of nature, and not laid low by the hand of man. What a spectacle must our boat, with its gay crowds, have appeared to such a solitary! what a revelation that there was a busy world still stirring somewhere:— a fact which, I think, I should soon discredit, if I lived in the depths of this wilderness; for life would become tolerable there only by the spirit growing into harmony with the scene,— wild and solemn as the objects around it.Edition: current; Page: The morning after the storm the landscape looked its wildest. The clouds were drifting away, and a sun-gleam came out as I was peeping into the forest at the wooding-place. The vines look beautiful on the black trunks of the trees after rain. Scarcely a habitation was to be seen; and it was like being set back to the days of creation, we passed so many islands in every stage of growth. I spent part of the morning: with the L's: and we were more than once alarmed by a fearful scream, followed by a trampling and scuffling in the neighbouring gallery. It was only some young ladies, with their work and guitar, who were in a state of terror because some green boughs would sweep over when we were close under the bank. They could not be re-assured by the gentlemen who waited upon them: nor would they change their seats: so that we were treated with a long series of screams, till the winding of the channel carried us across to the opposite bank. In the afternoon we came in sight of New Madrid, in the State of Missouri; a scattered small place, on a green table land. We sighed to think how soon our wonderful voyage would be over: and at every settlement we reached repined at being there so soon. While others went on shore, I remained on board to see how they looked, dispersed in the woods, grouped round the wood-piles Edition: current; Page: and seated on logs. The clergyman urged my going, saying, “It's quite a retreat to go on shore.” This gentleman is Vice-president of an educational establishment for young ladies, where there are public exhibitions of their proficiency, and the poor ignorant little girls take degrees. Their heads must be so stuffed with vain-glory, that there can be little room for any thing else. There were threatenings of another night of storm. The vessel seemed to labour much; and the weather was gusty, with incessant lightnings. The pilots said that they were never in such danger on the river as for twenty minutes of the preceding night. The captain was, however, very thankful for a few hours of cold weather: for his boat was so overcrowded as to make him dread, above all things, the appearance of disease on board. Some of us went to bed early this night, expecting to be called up to see the junction of the Ohio with the Mississippi, by such light as there might be two hours after midnight. Mr. E. promised to have me called; and on the faith of this I went to sleep at the usual time. I had impressed him with my earnest desire not to miss this sight as I had seen no junction of large rivers, except that of the Tombigbee with the Alabama. Mrs. B, would not trust to being called, but sat up, telling her husband Edition: current; Page: that it was now his turn to gratify her, and he must come for her in good time to see the spectacle. Both she and I were disappointed, however. When I awoke, it was five o'clock, and we were some miles into the Ohio. Mr. E. had fallen asleep, and awaked just a minute too late to make it of any use to rouse me. Mr. B. had put his head into his wife's room, to tell her that the cabin floor was so completely covered with sleepers, that she could not possibly make her way to the deck; and he shut the door before she could open her lips to reply. Her lamentations were sad. “The three great rivers meeting and all: and the little place on the point called Trinity and all: and I having sat up for it and all! It is a bad thing on some accounts to be married. If I had been a single woman, I could have managed it all for myself, I know.” However, junctions became frequent now, and we saw two small ones in the morning, to make up for having missed the large one in the night. When I went up on deck. I found the sun shining on the full Ohio, which was now as turbid as the Mississippi, from the recent storms. The stream stood in among the trees, on either bank, to a great depth and extent, it was so swollen. The most enormous willows I ever saw overhung our deck, and the beechen shades beyond, where the turf and Edition: current; Page: unincumbered stems were dressed in translucent green, seemed like a palace of the Dryads. How some of us fixed our eyes on the shores of free Illinois! After nearly five months of sojourn in slave-land, we were now in sight of a free State once more. I saw a settler in a wild spot, looking very lonely among the tall trees; but I felt that I would rather be that man than the wealthiest citizen of the opposite State, who was satisfied to dwell there among his slaves. At eleven o'clock, on this, the ninth and last day of our voyage, we passed Paducah, in Kentucky, a small neat settlement on the point of junction of the Tennessee and Ohio. Preparations were going on before our eyes for our leaving the boat; our luggage, and that of the L.'s, who joined company with us, was brought out: cold beef and negus were provided for us in the ladies' cabin, the final sayings were being said, and we paid our fare;—fifty dollars each, for our voyage of 1200 miles. Smithland, at the mouth of the Cumberland river, soon appeared; and, as we wished to ascend to Nashville without delay, we were glad to see a small steam-boat in waiting. We stepped on shore, and stood there, in spite of a shower, for some time, watching the “Henry Clay” ploughing up the river, and waving our handkerchiefs in answer to Edition: current; Page: signals of farewell from several of the multitude who were clustered in every part of the noble vessel. If there be excess of mental luxury in this life, it is surely in a voyage up the Mississippi, in the bright and leafy month of May. “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.”—Hosea, viii. 7. THE greatest advantage of long life, at least to those who know how and wherefore to live, is the opportunity which it gives of seeing moral experiments worked out, of being present at the fructification of social causes; and of thus gaining a kind of wisdom which in ordinary cases seems reserved for a future life. An equivalent for this advantage is possessed by such as live in those critical periods of society when retribution is hastened, or displayed in clear connexion with the origin of its events. The present seems to be such an age. It is an age in which the societies of the whole world are daily learning the consequences of what their fathers did, the connexion of cause and effect being too palpable to be disputed; it is an age when the active men of the new world are witnessing the results of their own early counsels and deeds. It seems indeed as if the march of events were everywhere accelerated for a time, so as to furnish some who are not aged with a few complete pieces of experience. Some dispensation,—like the political Edition: current; Page: condition of France, for instance,—will still be centuries in the working out: but in other cases,—the influence of eminent men, for example.—results seem to follow more closely than in the slower and quieter past ages of the world. It is known to all how in England, and also in America, the men of the greatest intellectual force have sunk from a higher to a far lower degree of influence from the want of high morals. It seems as if no degree of talent and vigour can long avail to keep a man eminent in either politics or literature, unless his morals are also above the average. Selfish vanity, double-dealing, supreme regard to expediency, are as fatal to the most gifted men in these days, and almost as speedily fatal, as intellectual incapacity to a pretender. Men of far inferior knowledge and power rise over their heads in the strength of honesty; and by dint of honesty, (positive or comparative) retain the supremacy, even through a display of intellectual weakness and error of which the fallen make their sport. This is a cheering sign of the times, indicating that the days are past when men were possessed by their leaders, and that the time is coming when power will be less unfairly distributed, and held on a better tenure than it has been. It indicates that traitors and oppressors will not in future be permitted to work their will and compass their purposes at the expense of others, till guilty Edition: current; Page: will and purpose are prostrated on the threshold of eternity. It indicates that that glorious and beautiful spectacle of judgment may be witnessed in this world which religious men have referred to another, when the lowly shall be exalted; when, unconscious of their dignity, they shall with amazement hear themselves greeted as the blessed of the Father, and see themselves appointed to a moral sovereignty in comparison with whose splendour However long it may be before the last shred of tinsel may be cast into the fire, and the last chaff of false pretence winnowed away, the revolution is good and secure as far as it goes. Moral power has begun its long series of conquests over physical force and selfish cunning, and the diviner part of man is a guarantee that not one inch of the ground gained shall ever be lost. For our encouragement, we are presented with a more condensed evidence of retribution than has hitherto been afforded to the world. Moral causes seem to be quickened as well as strengthened in their operation by the new and more earnest heed which is given to them. In the new world, however long some moral Edition: current; Page: causes may be in exhibiting their results, there have been certain deeds done which have produced their consequences with extraordinary rapidity, and in indisputable clearness. May all men open their eyes to see them, and their hearts to understand them! The people of the United States were never under a greater temptation to follow temporary expediency in preference to everlasting principle than in the case of the admission of Missouri, with slave-institutions, into the Union. To this temptation they yielded, by a small majority of their representatives. The final decision rested, as it happened, in the hands of one man, Mr. Clay; but it is to the shame of the North, (which had abolished slavery) that it did so happen. The decision was made to prefer custom and expediency to principle; it was hoped that if the wind were once got under confinement, something would prevent its bursting forth as the whirlwind. The plea of slave-holders, and a plausible one up to the year 1820, was that slavery was not an institution of their choice, or for which they were answerable: it was an inherited institution. Since the year 1820, this plea has become hypocrisy; for in that year, a deliberate vote was passed by Congress to perpetuate slavery in the Union, by admitting a new State whose institutions had this basis. This new States north-west of the Ohio were prohibited Edition: current; Page: from introducing slavery, by the very act of cession of the land: and nothing could have been easier than to have procured the exclusion of slavery from Missouri by simply refusing to admit any new State whose distinguishing institution was one incompatible in principle with the principles on which the American Constitution was founded. Missouri would undoubtedly have surrendered slavery, been admitted, and virtuously flourished, like her neighbour, Illinois. But there was division of opinion, and because the political device of the Union seemed in danger, the eternal principles of justice were set aside, and protection was deliberately pledged to slavery, not only in Missouri, but, as a consequence, in Arkansas and Florida. The Constitution and Declaration of Fights of Missouri therefore exhibit the following singular mixture of declarations and provisions. It will be seen afterwards how they are observed. “The general assembly shall not have power to pass laws, “It shall be their duty, as soon as may be, to pass such laws as may be necessary, “Schools and the means of education shall for ever be encouraged in this State. “That the right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate. “That the accused cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property, but by the judgment of his peers, or the law of the land. “That cruel and unusual punishments shall not be inflicted. “That the free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man, and that every person may freely speak, write, and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.” The consequences of the compromise began to show themselves first in the difference between the character of the population in Missouri and Illinois; the latter of which is two years older than the former. They lie opposite each other on the Mississippi, Edition: current; Page: and both are rich in advantages of soil, climate, and natural productions. They showed, however, social differences from the very beginning of their independent career which are becoming more striking every day. Rapacious adventurers, who know that the utmost profit of slaves is made by working them hard on a virgin soil, began flocking to Missouri; while settlers who preferred smaller gains to holding slaves sat down in Illinois. When it was found, as it soon was, that slavery does not answer so well in the farming parts of Missouri as on the new plantations of the South, a further difference took place. New settlers perceived that, in point of immediate interest merely, the fine lands of Missouri were less worth having, with the curse of slavery upon them, than those of Illinois without it. In vain has the price of land been lowered in Missouri as that in Illinois rose. Settlers go first and look at the cheaper land: some remain upon it; but many recross the river, and settle in the rival State. This enrages the people of Missouri. Their soreness and jealousy, combined with other influences of slavery, so exasperate their prejudices against the people of colour as to give a perfectly diabolical character to their hatred of negroes and the friends of negroes. That such is the temper of those who conduct poplar action in the State, is shown by some events which happened in the year Edition: current; Page: 1836. In the very bottom of the souls of the American statesmen who admitted Missouri on unrighteous terms, these events must kindle a burning comparison between what the social condition of the frontier States of their honourable Union is and what it might have been. A man of colour in St. Louis was arrested for some offence, and rescued by a free man of his own colour, a citizen of Pennsylvania, named Mackintosh, who was steward on board a steam-boat then at St. Louis. Mackintosh was conveyed to gaol for rescuing his comrade, whose side of the question we have no means of knowing. Mackintosh appears to have been a violent man; or, at least, to have been in a state of desperation at the time that he was on his way to gaol, guarded by two peace-officers. He drew a knife from his side (almost every man on the western frontier being accustomed to carry arms,) killed one of the officers, and wounded the other. He was immediately lodged in the prison. The wife and children of the murdered officer bewailed him in the street, and excited the rage of the people against Mackintosh. Some of the citizens acknowledged to me that his colour was the provocation which aggravated their rage so far beyond what it had ever been in somewhat similar cases of personal violence; and that no one would have dreamed of treating any white man as this mulatto was treated. The citizens Edition: current; Page: assembled round the gaol in the afternoon, demanding the prisoner; and the gaoler delivered him up. He was led into the city; and when there, they did not know what to do with him. While deliberating, they tied him to a tree. This seemed to suggest the act which tongues echoed the cry. Brushwood was rooted up, and a heap of green wood piled about the man. Who furnished the fire does not seem to be known. Between two and three thousand of the citizens of St. Louis were present. Two gentlemen of the place assured me that the deed was done by the hands of nto more than six; but they could give no account of the reasons why the two or three thousand stood by in silence to witness the act of the six, further than that they were afraid to interfere! The victim appears to have made no resistance nor entreaty. He was, some say twenty minutes, some say half an hour, in dying; during the whole of which time he was praying or singing hymns, in a firm voice. This fact was the ground of an accusation, made by magistrates, of his being “connected with the abolitionists.” When his legs were consumed, so that his body dropped into the fire, and he was no longer seen, a bystander observed to another, “There! it is over with him: he does not Edition: current; Page: feel any more now.” “Yes, I do,” observed the man's quiet voice from out of the flames. I saw the first notice which was given of this in the St. Louis newspapers. The paragraph briefly related that a ruffian of colour had murdered a citizen, had been demanded by the indignant fellow-citizens of the murdered man, and burned in the neighbourhood of the city: that this unjustifiable act was to be regretted; but that it was hoped that the veil of oblivion would be drawn over the deed. Some of the most respectable of the citizens were in despair when they found that the newspapers of the Union generally were disposed to grant the last request; and it is plain that on the spot, no one dared to speak out about the act. The charge of Judge Lawless (his real name) to the Grand Jury is a sufficient commentary upon the state of St. Louis society. He told the jury that a bad and lamentable deed had been committed, in burning a man alive without trial; but that it was quite another question whether they were to take any notice of it. It it should be proved to be the act of the few, every one of those few ought undoubtedly to be indicted and punished: but if it should be proved to be the act of the many, incited by that electric and metaphysical influence which occasionally carries on multitude to do deeds above and beyond the law, it was no affair for a jury to interfere in. Edition: current; Page: He spoke of Mackintosh as connected with the body of abolitionists. Of course, the affair was found to be electric and metaphysical, and all proceedings were dropped. All proceedings in favour of law and order: other of an opposite character were vigorously instituted by magistrates, in defiance of some of those clauses of the Constitution which I have quoted above. The magistrates of St. Louis prosecuted a domiciliary inquisition into the periodical publications of the city, visiting the newspaper offices, prying and threatening, and offering rewards for the discovery of any probability that the institution of slavery would be spoken against in print. In the face of the law, the press was rigidly controlled. Information was given, while the city was in this excited state, of every indication of favour to the coloured people, and of disapprobation of slavery; and the savages of St. Louis were on the alert to inflict vengeance. In Marion College, Edition: current; Page: Palmyra, (Missouri) two coloured boys to read. These boys were carried by them to the college for service, the one being employed on the farm, and the other in the college, to clean shoes and wait on the young men. One afternoon, a large number of citizens from St. Louis, well mounted, appeared on the Palmyra road; and they made no secret of their intention to lynch the two students who taught their servants to read. The venerable Dr. Nelson, who was, I believe, at the head of the institution, came out of his house to implore the mob with tears not to proceed; and the ladies of his family threw themselves down in the road in the way of the horses. The way was forcibly cleared, and the persecutors proceeded. The young men came forth as soon as summoned. They were conducted to the edge of the forest, where it opens upon a prairie. There a circle was formed, and they were told that they stood in a Lynch court. The younger one was first set in the midst. He acknowledged the act with which he was charged. He was offered the alternative of receiving twenty lashes with the horrid cowhide, (which was shown him) or of immediately leaving the State for ever. He engaged to leave the State for ever, and was set across the river into Illinois. The elder student made his trial a longer one. He acknowledged the act of teaching his servant to read, and made himself heard while he defended it. He pleaded that he was a citizen of Missouri, being of age, and having exercised the suffrage at the last election. He demanded a fair trial in a court of law, and pledged himself to meet any accusation there. At last it came to their binding Edition: current; Page: him to a tree, and offering him the choice of two hundred lashes with the cowhide, or of promising to leave the State, and never to return to it. He know that a sentence of two hundred lashes meant death by torture: (it is so understood in Lynch courts:) and he knew that a promise thus extorted was not binding: so he promised. He was also set across the river, where he immediately published a narrative of the whole transaction, and declared his intention of returning to his State, to resume the duties and privileges of citizenship, as soon as he could be personally safe. The St. Louis Lynchers next ordered the heads of Marion College to hold a public meeting, and declare their convictions and feelings on the subject of slavery. They were obeyed, and they put pretty close questions to the Professors, especially Dr. Ely who was a suspected man. Dr. Ely came from one of the eastern States, and was considered by the abolitionists of his own religious persuasion to be one of their body. Some time after he went into Missouri, it appeared incidentally in some newspaper communications that he had bought a slave. His friends at the east resented the imputation, and were earnest in his vindication; but were presently stopped and thrown into amazement by his coming out with an acknowledgment and defence of the act. He thought that Edition: current; Page: the way in which lie could do most good was by purchasing negroes for purposes of enlightenment. So he bought his man Abraham, designing to enlighten him for nine years, and then set him free, employing the proceeds of his nine years' labour in purchasing two other slaves, to be enlightened and robbed in the same manner, for the purpose of purchasing four more, at the expiration of another series of years; and so on. It seems astonishing that a clergyman should thus deliberately propose to confer his charities through the medium of the grossest injustice: but so it was. When, at the enforced meeting, he was questioned by the Lynchers as to his principles, he declared himself opposed to the unchristian fanaticism of abolitionism; spurned the imputation of being one of the body, and in proof of his sincerity, declared himself to be the master of one slave, and to be already contracting for more. The Lynchers returned to St. Louis without having committed murder. They had triumphantly broken the laws, and trodden under foot their Constitution of sixteen years old. If it could be made known at what expense they were saved from bloodshed,—if it could be revealed what violence they offered to conscience, what feelings they lacerated, what convictions they stifled, what passions they kindled, what an undying worm—they fixed at the Edition: current; Page: core of many a heart, at the root of many a life, it might have been clear to all eyes that the halter and the cowhide would have been merry in comparison with the tortures with which they strewed their way. I have told enough to show what comes of compromise. There is no need to lengthen out my story of persecutions. I will just mention that the last news from Missouri that I saw was in the form of an account of the proceedings of its legislature, but which yet seems to me incredible. It is stated to have been enacted that any person, of any complexion, coming into or found in the State of Missouri, who shall be proved to have spoken, written, or printed, a word in disapprobation of slavery, or in favour of abolition, shall be sold into slavery, for the benefit of the State. If, in the fury of the moment, such a law should really have been passed, it must speedily be repealed. The general expectation is that slavery itself will soon be abolished in Missouri, as it is found to be unprofitable and perilous, and a serious drawback to the prosperity of the region. What a lesson is meantime afforded as to the results of compromise! Missouri might now have been a peaceful and orderly region, inhabited by settlers as creditable to their country as those of the neighboring free States, instead of being a nest of vagabond slave-dealers, rapacious slave-drivers, Edition: current; Page: and ferocious rioters. If the inhabitants think it hard that all should be included in a censure which only some have deserved, they must bestir themselves to show in their legislature, and by their improved social order, that the majority are more respectable than they have yet shown themselves to be. At present, it seems as if one who might have been a prophet preaching in, the wilderness, had preferred the profession of a bandit of the desert. But it should never be forgotten whence came the power to inflict injury,—by a permission being given where there should have been a prohibition. Whatever danger there ever was to the Union from difference of opinion on the subject of the compromise is now increased. The battle has still to be fought at a greater disadvantage than when a bad deed was done to avert it. “‘Sir,’ said the custom-house officer at Leghorn, ‘your papers are forced! there is no such place in the world! your vessel must be confiscated!’ The trembling captain laid before the officer a map of the United States,—directed him to the Gulf of Mexico,—pointing out the mouth of the Mississippi,—led him 1000 miles up it, to the mouth of the Ohio,—and thence, another 1000 to Pittsburg. ‘There, sir, is the port whence my vessel cleared out.’ The astonished officer, before he saw the map, would as soon have believed that this ship had been navigated from the moon.”—Clay's Speeches. We reached Cincinnati by descending the Ohio from Maysville. Kentucky, whence we took passage in tile first boat going down to the great City of the West. It happened to be an inferior boat; but, as we were not to spend a night on board, this was of little consequence. We were summoned by the bell of the steamer at 9 a.m., but did not set off till past noon. The cause of the delay forbade all complaint, though we found our station in the sun, and out of any breeze that might be stirring, oppressively hot, in the hottest part of a midsummer day. The captain had sent nine miles into convey to a place down the river where her other son was lying sick of the cholera. At noon the Edition: current; Page: wagon with the old lady and her packages appeared. We were prepared to view her situation with the kindest feelings; but our pity scarcely survived the attempts she made to ensure it. I suppose the emotions of different minds must always have different modes of expression; but I could comprehend nothing of such a case as this. While there were apartments on board where the afflicted mother might have indulged her feelings in privacy, it was disagreeable to see the parade of hartshorn and water, and exclamations and sensibilities, in the presence of a company of entire strangers. Her son and a kind-hearted stewardess were very attentive to her, and it was much to be wished that she had been satisfied with their assiduities. The scenery was fully equal to my expectations; and when we had put out into the middle of the river, we found ourselves in the way of a breeze which enabled us to sit outside, and enjoy the luxury of vision to the utmost. The sunny and shadowy hills, advancing and retiring, ribbed and crested with belts and clumps of gigantic beech: the rich bottoms always answering on the one shore to the group of hills on the other,—a perfect level, smooth, rich and green, with little settlements sprinkled over it: the shady crocks, very frequent between the hills, with sometimes a boat and figures under the trees which meet over it,—these were Edition: current; Page: the spectacles which succeeded each other before our untiring eyes. We touched at a number of small places on the banks, to put out and take in passengers. I believe we were almost as impatient as the good captain to get to Richmond, where his sick brother was lying, that the family might be out of suspense about his fate. A letter was put into the captain's hand from the shore, which did not tend to raise his spirits. It told him of the death, by cholera, of a lady whom he had just brought up the river. The captain's brother, however, was better. We were all committed to the charge of the clerk of the boat; and as we put out into the stream again, we saw the captain helping his mother up the hill, and looking a changed man, within a few minutes! The moral plagues consequent on pestilence are an old subject; but one ever new to the spectator. The selfishness of survivors, the brutality of the well to the sick in a time of plague, have been held up to the detestation of the untried from the days of Defoe downwards, at least: but it seems as if the full horror of such a paroxysm of society had been left to be exhibited in America. Not that the ravages of the cholera were or could he fiercer there than in the plague-seasons of the Old World: but that in a country so much more Christianised in its spirit of helpfulness than any other, examples of Edition: current; Page: selfish desertion show a more ghastly aspect than elsewhere. The disease was met there, and its inflictions sustained in the noblest spirit of charity, courage, and wisdom. A thousand-and-one tales might be told of the devotion of the clergy to their flocks, of masters to their slaves, of physicians to the poor, of neighbours to each other: but, in fearful contrast to these, stood out some of the gloomy facts which belong to such a time. In the west, the disease was particularly fatal, and the panic was not stilled when I was there, two years after the most destructive season. In the vicinity of Lexington, Kentucky, I saw a large white house, prettily placed, and was told of the dismal end of its late occupier, a lady who was beloved above every body in the neighbourhood, and who, on account of her benevolent deeds, would have been previously supposed the last person likely to want for solace on her dying bed. In this house lived Mrs. J., with her sister, Miss A. Miss A. died of cholera at nine in the evening, and was buried in the garden during the night by the servants. Mrs. J. was taken ill before the next evening, and there was no female hand near to tend her. The physician, who knew how much he was wanted in the town, felt it right to leave her when the case became entirely hopeless. He told the men who were assisting that she could not survive the night, and directed them to bury her Edition: current; Page: immediately after her death. As soon as the breath was out of her body, these men wrapped her in the sheet on which she was lying, put her into a large box, and dug a hole in the garden, where they laid her beside her sister. Forty-eight hours before, the sisters had been apparently in perfect health, and busy providing aid for their sick neighbours. Thus, and thus soon were they huddled into their graves. From the time of our leaving Richmond, the boat went on at good speed. We ceased to wear round, to take in casks and deals, at the beck of everybody on shore. The dinner was remarkably disagreeable:—tough beef, skinny chickens, grey-looking potatoes, gigantic radishes, sour bread, and muddy water in dirty tumblers. The only eatable thing on the table was a saucer-full of cranberries; and we had a bottle of claret with us. It was already certain that we should not reach Cincinnati so as to have a daylight view of it: our hopes were bounded to not being obliged to sit down to another meal on board. The western sky faded while we were watching the Hunter pursuing the Coquette,—two pretty little steam-boats that were moving along under the shadow of the banks. Some time after dark, we came in sight of long rows of yellow lights, with a flaring and smoking furnace here and there, which Edition: current; Page: seemed to occupy a space of nearly two miles from the wharf where we at length stopped I had little idea how beautiful this flaring; region would appear in sunshine. After waiting some time in the boat for the arrival of a back, we proceeded up the steep pavement above the wharf to the Broadway Hotel and Boarding-house. There we were requested to register our names, and were then presented with the cards of some of the inhabitants who had called to inquire for us. We were well and willingly served; and I went to rest, intensely thankful to be once more out of sight of slavery. The next morning was bright, and I scarcely remember a pleasanter day during all my travels than this 16th of June. We found ourselves in a large boarding-house, managed by a singularly zealous and kindly master. His care of us was highly amusing, during the whole time of our stay. His zeal may be judged of by a circumstance which happened one morning. At breakfast, he appeared healed and confused, and looked as if he had a bad head-ache. He requested us to excuse any forget-fulness that we might observe, and mentioned that he had, by mistake, taken a dangerous dose of laudanum. We begged he would leave the table, and not trouble himself about us, and hoped he had immediately taken measures to relieve himself of Edition: current; Page: the dose. He replied that he had had no time to atted to himself till a few minutes ago. We found that he had actually put off taking an emetic till he had gone to market, and sent home all the provision for the day. He had not got over the consequences of the mistake the next morning. The ladies at the breakfast-table looked somewhat vulgar; and it is undeniable that the mustard was spilled, and that the relies of the meal were left in some disorder by the gentlemen who were most in a hurry to be off to business. But every one was obliging; and I saw at that table a better thing than I saw at any other table in the United States;—a lady of colour breakfasting in the midst of us! I looked out from our parlour window, and perceived that we were in a wide, well-built street, with broad foot-pavements, and handsome houses. A house was at the moment going up the street,—a rather arduous task, as the ascent was pretty steep. There was an admirable apparatus of levers and pulleys; and it moved on, almost imperceptibly, for several yards, before our visitors began to arrive, and I had to give up watching its march. When the long series of callers came to an end, the strolling house was out of sight. The first of our visitors was an English gentleman, who was settled in business in Cincinnati. Edition: current; Page: He immediately undertook a commission of inquiry with which I had been charged from England, about a family of settlers, and sent me a pile of new books, and tickets for a concert which was to be held in Mrs. Trollope's bazaar the next evening but one. He was followed by a gentleman of whom much will be told in my next chapter; and by Dr. Drake, the first physician in the place; and Miss Beecher, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Beecher, Head of Lane Seminary, near Cincinnati, then on his trial for heresy, and justly confident of acquittal. Miss Beecher is a lady eminent for learning and talents, and for her zeal in the cause of education. These were followed by several merchants, with their ladies, sisters, and daughters. The impression their visits left on our minds was of high respect for the society of Cincinnati, if these were, in manners, dress, and conversation, fair specimens. Dr. Drake and his daughter proposed to call us for an afternoon drive, and take us home to tea with them; a plan to which we gladly agreed. After dinner, we first arranged ourselves in a parlour which was larger and better furnished than the one we first occupied; and then walked down to the river while waiting for Dr. Drake's carriage. The opposite Kentucky shore looked rich and beautiful; and the bustle on the river, covered with every kind of craft; the steam-boats being moored Edition: current; Page: six or more abreast, gave us a highly respectful notion of the commerce of the place. Dr. Drake took us a delightful drive, the pleasure of which was much enhanced by his very interesting conversation. He is a complete and favourable specimen of a Westerner. He entered Ohio just forty-seven years before this time, when there were not above a hundred white persons in the State, and they all French, and when the shores were one expanse of cane-brake, infested by buffalo. He had seen the foundations of the great city laid; he had watched its growth till he was now able to point out to the stranger, not only the apparatus for the exportation of 6,000,000 dollars' worth a-year of produce and manufactures, but things which he values far more,—the ten or twelve edifices erected for the use of the common schools,—the new church of St. Paul,—the two fine banking-houses,—and the hundred and fifty handsome private dwellings,—all the creations of the year 1835. He points to the periodicals,—the respectable monthlies, and the four daily, and six weekly papers of the city. He looks with a sort of paternal complacency on the 35,000 inhabitants, scarcely one of whom is without the comforts of life, the means of education, and a bright prospect for the future. Though a true Westerner, and devoutly believing the buckeyes (natives of Ohio) to be superior to all Edition: current; Page: others of God's creatures, he hails every accession of intelligent members to his darling society. He observed to me, with his calm enthusiasm (the concomitant of a conviction which has grown out of experience rather than books,) on the good effects of emigration on the posterity of emigrants; and told how, with the same apparent means of education, they surpass the descendants of natives. They combine the influences of two countries. Thus believing, he carries a cheerful face into the homes of his Welsh, Irish, English, German, and Yankee patients: he bids them welcome, and says, from the bottom of his heart, that he is glad to see them. His knowledge of the case of the emigrant enables him to alleviate, more or less, with the power which an honest and friendly physician carries about with him, an evil which he considers the worst that attends emigration. He told me that, unless the head of the emigrant family be timely and judiciously warned, the peace of the household is broken up by the pining of the wife. The husband soon finds interests in his new abode,—he becomes a citizen, a man of business, a man of consequence, with brightening prospects; while the poor wife, surrounded by difficulties or vexed with hardships at home, provided with no compensation for what she has left behind, pines away, and wonders that her husband can be so happy when she is so miserable, Edition: current; Page: When there is an end of congeniality, all is over; and a couple who would in their own land have gone through life cheerily, hand in hand, become uneasy yoke-fellows, in the midst of a much-improved outward condition or prospect. Dr. Drake must be now much older than he looks. He appears vigorous as ever, running beside his stout black gig-horse in difficult bits of forest road, head uncovered, and coat splashed, like any farmer making his way to market. His figure is spare and active; his face is expressive of shrewdness, humour, and kindliness. His conversation is of a high order; though I dare say it never entered his head that conversation is ever of any order at all. His sentences take whatever form fate may determine; but they bear a rich burden of truth hard won by experience, and are illumined by gleams of philosophy which shine up from the depths of his own mind. A slight degree of western inflation amuses the stranger; but there is something so much more loving than vain in the magniloquence, that it is rather winning than displeasing,—to strangers,—not to Yankees, who resent it as sectional prejudice, and in whose presence it might be as well forborne. The following passage, extracted from an Address delivered by Dr. Drake, before the Literary Convention of Kentucky, gives some idea of the spirit of the man in one of its aspects, Edition: current; Page: though it has none of the pithy character of his conversation:— “The relations between the upper and lower Mississippi States, established by the collective waters of the whole valley, must for ever continue unchanged. What the towering oak is to our climbing winter grape, the ‘Father of Waters’ must ever be to the communities along its trunk and countless tributary streams—an imperishable support, an exhaustless power of union. What is the composition of its lower coasts and alluvial plains, but the soil of all the upper States and territories, transported, commingled, and deposited by its waters? Within her own limits, Louisiana has, indeed, the rich mould of ten sister States, which have thus contributed to the fertility of her plantations. It might almost be said, that for ages this region has sent thither a portion of its soil, where, in a milder climate, it might produce the cotton, oranges, and sugar, which, through the same channel, we receive in exchange for the products of our cornfields, workshops, and mines;—facts which prepare the way, and invite to perpetual union between the West and South. “The State of Tennessee, separated from Alabama and Mississippi on the south, and Kentucky on the north, by no natural barrier, has its southern fields overspread with floating cotton, wafted from Edition: current; Page: the two first by every autumnal breeze; while the shade of its northern woods lies for half the summer day on the borders of the last. The songs and uproar of a Kentucky husking are answered from Tennessee; and the midnight racoon-hunt that follows, beginning in one State, is concluded in the other. The Cumberland, on whose rocky banks the capital of Tennessee rises in beauty, begins and terminates in Kentucky—thus bearing on its bosom at the same moment the products of the two States descending to a common market. Still further, the fine river Tennessee drains the eastern half of that State, dips into Alabama, recrosses the State in which it arose, and traverses Kentucky to reach the Ohio river; thus uniting the three into one natural and enduring commercial compact. “Further north, the cotton trees, which fringe the borders of Missouri and Illinois, throw their images towards each other in the waters of the Mississippi:—the toiling emigrant's axe, in the depths of the leafless woods, and the crash of the falling rail-tree on the frozen earth, resound equally among the hills of both States—the clouds of smoke from their burning prairies mingle in the air above, and crimson the setting sun of Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. “The Pecan tree sheds its fruit at the same moment among the people of Indiana and Illinois, and Edition: current; Page: the boys of the two States paddle their canoes and fish together in the Wabash, or hail each other from opposite banks. Even villages belong equally to Indiana and Ohio, and the children of the two commonwealths trundle their hoops together in the same street. “But the Ohio river forms the most interesting boundary among the republics of the West. For a thousand miles its fertile bottoms are cultivated by farmers, who belong to the different States, while they visit each other as friends or neighbours. As the schoolboy trips or loiters along its shores, he greets his playmates across the stream, or they sport away an idle hour in its summer waters. These are to be among the future, perhaps the opposing statesmen of the different commonwealths. When, at low water, we examine the rocks of the channel, we find them the same on both sides. The plants which grow above, drop their seeds into the common current, which lodges them indiscriminately on either shore. Thus the very trees and flowers emigrate from one republic to another. When the bee sends out its swarms, they as often seek a habitation beyond the stream, as in their native woods. Throughout its whole extent, the hills of Western Virginia and Kentucky cast their morning shadows on the plains of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. The thunder cloud pours down its showers Edition: current; Page: on different commonwealths; and the rainbow resting its extremities on two sister States, presents a beautiful arch, on which the spirits of peace may pass and re-pass in harmony and love. “Thus connected by nature in the great valley, we must live in the bonds of companionship, or imbrue our hands in each other's blood. We have no middle destiny. To secure the former to our posterity, we should begin while society is still tender and pliable. The saplings of the woods, if intertwined, will adapt themselves to each other and grow together; the little bird may hang its nest on the twigs of different trees, and the dew-drop fall successively on leaves which are nourished by distinct trunks. The tornado strikes harmless on such a bower, for the various parts sustain each other; but the grown tree, sturdy and set in its way, will not bend to its fellow, and when uprooted by the tempest, is dashed in violence against all within its reach. “Communities, like forests, grow rigid by time. To be properly trained, they must be moulded while young. Our duty, then, is quite obvious. All who have moral power should exert it in concert. The germs of harmony must be nourished, and the roots of present contrariety or future discord torn up and cast into the fire. Measures should be taken to mould a uniform system of manners and customs, Edition: current; Page: out of the diversified elements which are scattered over the West. Literary meetings should be held in the different States; and occasional conventions in the central cities of the great valley, be made to bring into friendly consultation our enlightened and zealous teachers, professors, lawyers, physicians, divines, and men of letters, from its remotest sections. In their deliberations the literary and moral wants of the various regions might be made known, and the means of supplying them devised. The whole should successively lend a helping hand to all the parts, on the great subject of education, from the primary school to the university. Statistical facts, bearing on this absorbing interest, should be brought forward and collected; the systems of common school instruction should be compared, and the merits of different school books, foreign and domestic, freely canvassed. Plans of education, adapted to the natural, commercial, and social condition of the interior, should be invented; a correspondence instituted among all our higher seminaries of learning, and an interchange established of all local publications on the subject of education. In short, we should foster Western genius, encourage Western writers, patronize Western publishers, augment the number of Western readers, and create a Western heart. “When these great objects shall come seriously Edition: current; Page: to occupy our minds, the union will be secure, for its centre will be sound, and its attraction on the surrounding parts irresistible. Then will our State governments emulate each other in works for the common good; the people of remote places begin to feel as the members of one family; and our whole intelligent and virtuous population unite, heart and hand, in one long, concentrated, untiring effort, to raise still higher the social character, and perpetuate for ever the political harmony of the green and growing West.” How strange is the feeling to the traveller in wild regions of having his home associations unexpectedly connected with the scene before him! Here, in this valley of the Mississippi, to my eye wild and luxuriant in beauty as I fancy Ceylon or Juan Fernandez, Dr. Drake pointed out to me two handsome dwellings with gardens, built by artisans from Birmingham; and he presently alighted to visit a Welsh patient. What a vision of brass-founding, tea urns, and dingy streets, and then of beaver hats and mob caps did these incidents call up! And again, when we were buried in a beechen wood, where “a sunbeam that had lost its way” streaked the stems, and lighted up the wild vines, Dr. Drake, in telling me of the cholera season in Cincinnati, praised a medical book on cholera which happened to be by a brother-in-law of mine. It was an Edition: current; Page: amusing incident. The woods of Ohio are about the last place where the author would have anticipated that I should hear accidental praises of his book. The Doctor had at present a patient in Dr. Beecher's house; so we returned by the Theological Seminary. Dr. Beecher and his daughters were not at home. We met them on the road in their cart,—the ladies returning from their school in the city; and we spent an evening there the next week. The seminary (Presbyterian) was then in a depressed condition, in consequence of the expulsion of most of the pupils for their refusal to avoid discussion of the Slavery question. These expelled youths have since been founders and supporters of abolition societies; and the good cause has gained even more than the seminary has lost by the absurd tyranny practised against the students. From this, the Montgomery road, there is a view of the city and surrounding country which defies description. It was of that melting beauty which dims the eyes and fills the heart,—that magical combination of all elements,—of hill, wood, lawn, river, with a picturesque city steeped in evening sunshine, the impression of which can never be lost, nor ever communicated. We ran up a knoll, and stood under a clump of beeches to gaze; and went down and returned again and again, with the feeling Edition: current; Page: that if we lived upon the spot, we could nevermore see it look so beautiful. We soon entered a somewhat different scene, passing the slaughter-houses on Deer Creek, the place where more thousands of hogs in a year than I dare to specify are destined to breathe their last. Deer Creek, pretty as its name is, is little more than the channel through which their blood runs away. The division of labour is brought to as much perfection in these slaughter-houses as in the pin manufactories of Birmingham. So I was told. Of course I did not verify the statement by attending the process. In my childhood I was permitted by the carelessness of a nursemaid to see the cutting up of the reeking carcase of an ox; and I can bear witness that one such sight is enough for a life-time. But,—to tell the story as it was told to me,—these slaughter-houses are divided into apartments, communicating with each other: one man drives into one pen or chamber the reluctant hogs, to be knocked on the head by another whose mallet is for ever going. A third sticks the throats, after which they are conveyed by some clever device to the cutting-up room, and thence to the pickling, and thence to the packing and branding; a set of agents being employed for every operation. The exportation of pickled pork from Cincinnati is enormous. Besides supplying the American navy, ship-loads are Edition: current; Page: sent to the West India Islands, and many other parts of the world. Dr. Drake showed me the dwelling and slaughter-house of an Englishman who was his servant in 1818; who then turned pork-butcher, and was, in a few years, worth ten thousand dollars. The tea-table was set out in the garden at Dr. Drake's. We were waited upon, for the first time for many months, by a free servant. The long grass grew thick under our feet; fire-flies were flitting about us, and I doubted whether I had ever heard more sense and eloquence at any old world tea-table than we were entertained with as the twilight drew on. As we walked home, through the busy streets, where there was neither the apathy of the South, nor the disorder consequent on the presence of a pauper class, I felt strongly tempted to jump to some hasty conclusions about the happiness of citizenship in Cincinnati. I made a virtuous determination to suspend every kind of judgment: but I found each day as exhilarating as the first; and when I left the city, my impressions were much like what they were after an observation of twenty-four hours. The greater part of the next morning was occupied with visitors: but we found an interval to go out, under the guidance of friends, to see a few Edition: current; Page: things which lay near at hand. We visited the Museum, where we found, as in all new museums whose rooms want filling up, some trumpery among much which is worthy to remain. There was a Mermaid, not very cleverly constructed, and some bad wax figures, posted like sentinels among the cases of geological and entomological specimens: but, on the whole, the Museum is highly creditable to the zeal of its contributors. There is, among other good things, a pretty complete collection of the currency of the country, from the earliest colonial days; and some of other countries with it. I hope this will be persevered in; and that the Cincinnati merchants will make use of the opportunities afforded by their commerce of collecting specimens of every kind of currency used in the world, from the gilt and stamped leather of the Chinese and Siberians to the last of Mr. Biddle's twenty-dollar notes. There is a reasonable notion abroad that the Americans are the people who will bring the philosophy and practice of exchanges to perfection; and theirs are the museums in which should be found a full history of currency, in the shape of a complete set of specimens. We visited Mr. Flash's book-store, where we saw many good books, some very pretty ones, and all cheap. We heard there good accounts of the improved and improving literary taste of the place, Edition: current; Page: shown in the increasing number of book societies, and the superior character of the works supplied to their orders. Mr. Flash and his partner are in favour of the protection of foreign literary property, as a matter of interest as well as principle. We next went to the painting room of a young artist. Mr. Beard, whose works pleased me more than those of any other American artist. When I heard his story, and witnessed what he had already achieved, I could not doubt that, if he lived, he would run a noble career. The chief doubt was about his health,—the doubt which hangs over the destiny of almost every individual of eminent promise in America. Two years before I saw him, Beard had been painting portraits, at a dollar a head, in the interior of Ohio: and it was only a year since he suddenly and accidentally struck into the line in which he will probably show himself the Flamingo of the New World. It was just a year since he had begun to paint children. He had then never been out of his native state. He was born in the interior, where he began to paint without having ever seen a picture, except the daubs of itinerant artists. He married at nineteen, and came to Cincinnati, with wife, child, an empty purse, a head full of admiration of himself, and a heart full of confidence in this admiration being shared by all the inhabitants of the city. He had nothing to show, Edition: current; Page: however, which could sanction his high claims; for his portraits were very bad. When he was in extreme poverty, he and his family were living, or rather starving, in one room, at whose open window he put up some of his pictures, to attract the notice of passengers. A wealthy merchant, Mr. G., and a gentleman with him, stopped and made their remarks to each other, Mr. G. observing “the fellow has talent, after all.” Beard was sitting behind his pictures, heard the remark, and knew the voice. He was enraged. Mr. G. visited him, with a desire to encourage and assist him; but the angry artist long resisted all attempts to pacify him. At his first attempt to paint a child, soon after, all his genius shone forth, to the astonishment of every one but himself. He has proved to be one of the privileged order who grow gentle, if not modest, under appreciation; he forgave Mr. G., and painted several pictures for him. A few wealthy citizens were desirous of sending him to Italy to study. His reply to every mention of the subject is, that he means to go to Italy, but that he shall work his own way there. In order to see how he liked the world, he paid a visit to Boston, while I was there, intending to stay some time. From a carriage window, I saw him in the street, stalking along like a chief among inferiors, his broad white collar laid over his coat, his throat bare, and his hair parted in Edition: current; Page: the middle of his forehead, and waving down the sides of his face. People turned to look after him. He staid only a fortnight, and went back to Ohio, expressing great contempt for cities. This was the last I heard of him. I have a vivid remembrance of three of his pictures of children. One, of a boy trudging through a mill-stream to school, absolutely American, not only in the scenery, but in the air and countenance of the boy. which were exquisitely natural and fresh. Another was a boy about to go unwillingly to school: his satchel was so slung over his shoulder as to show that he had not put it on himself: the great bite in the slice of bread and butter intimated that breakfast was going on in the midst of the grief; and the face was distorted with the most ludicrous passion. Thus far all might have been done by the pencil of the mere caricaturist. The triumph of the painter was in the beauty and grace of the child shining through the ridiculous circumstances amidst which he was placed. It was obvious that the character of the face when undisturbed by passion was that of careless gaiety. The third was a picture of children and a dog; one beautiful creature astride of the animal. and putting his cap upon the head of the dog, who was made to look the sage of the party. I saw and liked some of his pictures of another character. Any one of Edition: current; Page: his humorous groups might be thought almost worthy of Wilkie: but there was repetition in them; two favourite heads especially, were popped in. in situations too nearly resembling. The most wonderful perhaps of his achievements was a fine full-length portrait of a deceased lady, whom he had never seen. It was painted from a miniature, and under the direction of the widower, whom it fully satisfied in regard to the likeness. It was a breathing picture. He is strongly disposed to try his hand on sculpture. I saw a bust of himself which he had modelled. It was a perfect likeness, and had much spirit. All this, and much more, having been done in a single year, by one who had never seen a good picture, it seems reasonable to expect great things from powers so rapidly and profusely developed. Beard's name was little, if at all. known beyond his native State, while I was in the country. If he lives, it will soon be heard of in Europe. In the afternoon, a large party called us for an expedition into Kentucky. We crossed the river in the ferry-boat, without leaving the carriages, drove through Covington. and mounted slowly through a wood. till we reached the foot of a steep hill, where we alighted. We climbed the hill, wild with tall grass and shrubs, and obtained the view of Cincinnati which is considered the completest. Edition: current; Page: I now perceived that, instead of being shut in between two hills, the city stands on a noble platform, round which the river turns, while the hills rise behind. The platform is perfectly ventilated: and the best proof of this is the healthiness of the city, above all other American cities. A physician who had been seven years a resident told me that he had been very delicate in health, before he came, like many others of the inhabitants: and like many others, he had not had a day's illness since his arrival. The average of deaths in the city during; the best season was seven per week: and. at the worst time of the year, the mortality was less than in any city of its size in the republic. There is ample room on the platform for a city as large as Philadelphia, without encroaching at all on the hill-sides. The inhabitants are already consulting as to where the Capitol shall stand, whenever the nation shall decree the removal of the General Government beyond the mountains. If it were not for the noble building at Washington, this removal would probably take place soon.—perhaps after the opening of the great Southern rail-road. It seems rather absurd to call senators and representatives to Washington, from Missouri and Louisiana, while there is a place on the great rivers which would save them half the journey, and suit almost every body else just as well, and many much better. The Edition: current; Page: peril to health at Washington in the winter season is great; and the mild and equable temperature of Cincinnati is an important circumstance in the case. We hurried home to prepare for an evening party, and tea was brought up to us while we dressed. All the parties I was at in Cincinnati were very amusing, from the diversity in the company, and in the manners of the natives of the east and west. The endeavour seems to be to keep up, rather than to disuse distinctive observances; and this almost makes the stranger fancy that he has travelled a thousand miles between one evening and the next. The effect is entertaining enough to the foreign guest, but not very salutary to the temper of the residents: to judge by the complaints I heard about sectional exclusiveness. It appeared to me that the thing chiefly to be wished, in this connexion, was that the Easterners should make large concessions and allowance. It would be well for them to remember that it was they who chose the western city, and not the city them: and that if the elderly inhabitants are rather proud of their western deeds, and ostentatiously attached to their western symbols, this is a circumstance belonging to the place, and deliberately encountered, with other circumstances. by new residents: and that, moreover, all that they complain of is an indulgence of the feelings of a Edition: current; Page: single generation. When the elderly members of the society drop off. the children of all residents will wear the buckeye, or forget it alike, And it certainly appeared to me that the cool assumption by Easterners of the superiority of New England over all other countries was. whether just or not, likely to be quite as offensive to the buckeyes, as any buckeye exultation could be to the Yankees. At one evening party, the company sat round the drawing-room, occasionally changing places, or forming croups without much formality. They were chietly Yankees, of various accomplishments, from the learned learned who talked with enthusiasm about Chauning. and with strong sense about every thing but politics, in which his aristocratic bias drew him aside into something like nonsense.—to the sentimental young widow, who instantly began talking to me of her dear Mr.— and who would return to the subject as often as I led away from it. Every place was remarkable for her dear Mr.— — having been better or worse there: and every event was measured by its having happened so lone before or after her dear Mr. ——was buried. The conversation of the society was most about books, and society and its leaders at home and abroad. The manners of the lady of the house were, though slightly impaired by timidity. such as would grace any society of any country. The house, Edition: current; Page: handsomely furnished, and adorned with some of the best of Beard's pictures, stood on a terrace beautifully surrounded with shrubbery, and commanding a fine view of the city. At another party there was a greater variety. An enormous buckeye howl of lemonade, with a ladle of buckeye, stood on the hall table; and symbolical sprigs of the same adorned the walls. On entering the drawing-room. I was presented with a splendid bouquet, sent by a lady by the hands of her brother, from a garden and conservatory which are the pride of the city. My first introduction was to the catholic bishop; my next to a lady whom I thought then and afterwards one of the cleverest women I met in the country. There was a slight touch of pedantry to be excused, and a degree of tory prejudice against the bulk of the human race which could scarcely be exceeded even in England: but there was a charming good-humour in the midst of it all. and a power both of observation and reasoning which commanded high respect. One western gentleman sidled about in a sort of minuet step, unquestionably a gentleman as he as in all essential respects: and one young lady who was, I fancy, taking her first peep at the world, kept her eves earnestly fixed on the guests as they entered. bowing unconsciously in sympathy with every gentleman who bowed, and curtseying with every lady Edition: current; Page: who curtseyed. She must have been well practiced in salutation before the evening was over, for the party was a large one. All the rest, with the exception of a forward Scotchman, were well-bred, and the evening passed off very pleasantly amidst brisk conversation, mirth, and excellent refreshments. Another party was at the splendid house to which the above-mentioned garden and conservatory belong. The proprietor has a passion for gardening and his ruling taste seems likely to be a blessing to the city, He employs four gardeners, and toils in his grounds with his own hands. His garden is on a terrace which overlooks the canal, and the most park-like eminences form the background of the view. Between the garden and the hills extend his vineyards, from the produce of which he has succeeded in making twelve kinds of wine, some of which are highly praised by good judges. Mr. Longworth himself is sanguine as to the prospect of making Ohio a wine-growing region: and he has done all that an individual can to enhance the probability. In this house is West's preposterous picture of Ophelia, the sight of which amazed me after all I had heard of it. It is not easy to imagine how it should have obtained the reputation of being his best, while his Cromwell is in existence. The party at this house was the largest and most elegant Edition: current; Page: of any that I attended in Cincinnati, Among many other Bursts, we met one of the Judges of the Supreme Court, a Member of Congress and his lady, two Catholic priests. Judge Hall, the popular writer, with divines, physicians, lawyers, merchants and their families. The spirit and superiority of the conversation were worthy of the people assembled. The morning of the 19th shone brightly down on the festival of the day. It was the anniversary of the opening of the Common Schools. Some of the schools passed our windows in procession, their banners dressed with garlands, and the children gay with flowers and ribands. A lady who was sitting with me remarked, “this is our populace.” I thought of the expression months afterwards, when the gentlemen of Cincinnati met to pass resolutions on the subject of abolitionism, and when one of the resolutions recommended mobbing as a retribution for the discussion of the subject of slavery; the law at lording no punishment for free discussion. Among those who moved and seconded these resolutions, and formed a deputation to threaten an advocate of free discussion, were some of the merchants who form the aristocracy of the place; and the secretary of the meeting was the accomplished lawyer whom I mentioned above, and who told me that the object of his life is law reform in Ohio! Edition: current; Page: The “populace” of whom the lady was justly proud have in no case that I know of been the law-breakers; and in as far as “the populace” moans, not “the multitude” but the “vulgar,” I do not agree with the lady that these children were the populace, Some of the patrons and prize givers afterwards proved themselves the “vulgar” of the city. The children were nearly and tastefully dressed. A great improvement has taken place in the costume of little boys in England, within my recollection; but I never saw such graceful children as the little boys in America: at least in their summer dress. They are slight, active, and free. I remarked that several were barefoot, though in other respects well clad: and I found that many put off shoes and stockings from choice during the three hot months. Others were barefoot from poverty,—children of t recent settlers, and of the poorest class of the community. We set out for the church as soon as the procession had passed, and arrived before the doors were opened. A platform had been erected below the pulpit, and on it were seated the mayor and principal gentlemen of the city. The two thousand children then filed in. The Report was read, and proved very satisfactory. These schools were established by a cordial union of various political and religious parties: and nothing could be more promising Edition: current; Page: than the prospects of the institution, as to funds, as to the satisfaction of the class benefited, and as to the continued union of their benefactors. Several boys then gave specimens of elocution, which were highly amusing. They seemed to suffer under no false shame, and to have no misgiving about the effect of the vehement action they had been taught to employ. I wondered how many of them would speak in Congress hereafter. It seems doubtful to me whether the present generation of Americans are not out in their calculations about the value and influence of popular oratory. They ought certainly to know best: but I never saw an oration produce nearly so much effect as books, newspapers, and conversation. I suspect that there is a stronger association in American minds than the times will justify between republicanism and oratory: and that they overlook the facts of the vast change introduced by the press.—a revolution which has altered men's tastes and habits of bought, as well as varied the methods of reaching minds. As to the style of oratory itself, reasoning; is now found to be much more impressive than declamation, certainly in England, and I think also in the United States: and though, as every American boy is more likely than not to act some part in public life, it is desirable that all should be enabled to speak their minds clearly and gracefully, Edition: current; Page: I am inclined to think it a pernicious mistake to render declamatory accomplishment so prominent a part of education as it now is. I trust that the next generation will exclude whatever there is of insincere and traditional in the practice of popular oratory; discern the real value of the accomplishment, and redeem. the reproach of bad taste which the oratory of the present generation has brought upon the people. While the Americans have the glory of every citizen being a reader, and having books to read, they cannot have, and need not desire, the glory of shining in popular oratory,—the glory of an age gone by. Many prizes of books were given by the gentlemen on the platform; and the ceremony closed with an address from the pulpit which was true, and in some respects beautiful; but which did not appear altogether judicious to those who are familiar with children's minds. The children were exhorted to trust their teachers entirely; to be assured that their friends would do by them what was kindest. Now, neither children nor grown people trust, any more than they believe, because they arc bid. Telling them to have confidence is so much breath wasted. If they arc properly trained, they will unavoidably have this trust and confidence, and the less that is said about it the better. If not, the less said the better, too; for Edition: current; Page: confidence is then out of the question, and there is danger in making it an empty phrase. It would he well if those whose office it is to address children wore fully aware that exhortation, persuasion, and dissuasion are of no use in their case; and that there is immeasurable value in the opposite method of appeal. Make truth credible, and they will believe it: make goodness lovely, and they will love it: make holiness cheerful, and they will be glad in it: but remind them of themselves by threat, inducement, or exhortation, and you impair (if you do any thing) the force of their unconscious affections: try to put them upon a task of arbitrary self-management, and your words pass over their ears only to be forgotten. Before eight o'clock in the evening, the Cincinnati public was pouring into Mrs. Trollope's, bazaar, to the first concert ever offered to them. This bazaar is the great deformity of the city Happily, it is not very conspicuous, being squatted down among houses nearly as lofty as the summit of its dome. From my window at the boarding house, however, it was only too distinctly visible. It is built of brick, and has Gothic windows, Grecian pillars, and a Turkish dome, and it was originally ornamented with Egyptian devices, which have, however, all disappeared under the brush of the whitewasher. The concert was held in a large Edition: current; Page: plain room, where a quiet, well-mannered audience was collected. There was something extremely interesting in the spectacle of the first public introduction of music into this rising city. One of the best performers was an elderly man, clothed from head to foot in grey homespun. He was absorbed in his enjoyment; so intent on his violin, that one might watch the changes of his pleased countenance, the whole performance through, without fear of disconcerting him. There was a young girl, in a plain white frock, with a splendid voice, a good car, and a love of warbling which carried her through very well indeed, though her own taste had obviously been her only teacher. If I remember right, there were about five-and-twenty instrumental performers, and six or seven vocalists, besides a long row for the closing chorus. It was a most promising beginning. The thought came across me how far we were from the musical regions of the Old World, and how lately this place had been a cane-brake, echoing with the bellow and growl of wild beasts; and here was the spirit of Mozart swaying and inspiring a silent crowd as if they were assembled in the chapel at Salzburg! This account of our three first clays at Cincinnati will convey a sufficient idea of a stranger's impressions of the place. There is no need to give a report of its charitable institutions and its commerce: Edition: current; Page: the details of the latter are well known to those whom they may concern; and in America, wherever men are gathered together, the helpless are aided, and the suffering relieved. The most threatening evil to Cincinnati is from that faithlessness which manifests itself in illiberality. The sectional prejudice of the two leading—classes of inhabitants has been mentioned; and also the ill-principled character of the opposition made to abolitionism. The offence against freedom, not only of opinion, but of action was in this case so rank, that citizen of Louisville, on the slaveholding side of the Ohio, taunted the citizens of Cincinnati with persecuting men for opinion from mercenary interest; with putting down free discussion from fear of injury to their commerce. A third direction in this illiberality shows itself is towards the Catholics. The Catholic religion spreads rapidly in many most of the recently-settled parts of the United States, and its increase produces an almost insane dread among some Protestants, who fail to see that no evils that the Catholic religion can produce in the present state of society can be so afflictive and dangerous as the bigotry by which it is proposed to put it down. The removal to Cincinnati of Dr. Beecher, the ostentation and virulent foe of the Catholics, has much quickened the spirit of alarm in that region. It is to be hoped Edition: current; Page: that Dr. Beecher and the people of Cincinnati will remember what has been the invariable consequence in America of public denunciations of assumed offences which the law does not reach; namely, mobbing. It is to be hoped that all parties will remember that Dr. Beecher preached in Boston three sermons vituperative of the Catholics, the Sunday before the Circumstances may also have shown them by this time how any kind faith grown under persecution; and, above all, it may be hoped that the richer classes of citizens will become more aware than they have yet proved themselves to be of their republican (to say nothing of their human) obligation to refrain from encroaching, in the smallest particulars, on their brethren's rights of opinion and liberty of conscience. The roads in the interior of Ohio were in so bad a state from recent rains that I did not, at this time, attempt to visit the middle or northern parts of the State, where may be seen those monuments of an extinct race, about which much antiquarian inquiry is going forward. One of the large mounds, whose uses are yet unexplained, and in which are found specimens of the arts of life which are considered to show that their artificers were not of Indian race, still remains within the city. It was crumbling away when I saw it, being a tempting sport for Edition: current; Page: children's play. It is a pity it should not be carefully preserved; for the whole history of evidence, particularly the more recent portion of it, shows the impossibility of anticipating what revelations may emanate from a single object of historical interest. A volume might presently be filled with descriptions of our drives about the environs of Cincinnati. There are innumerable points of view whence the city with its masses of building and its spires, may be seen shining through the limpid atmosphere, like a cloud-city in the evening sky. There are many spots where it is a relief to lose the river from the view, and to be shut in among the brilliant green hills, which are more than can be numbered. But there is one drive which I almost wonder the inhabitants do not take every summer day,—to the Little Miami bottoms. We continued castward along the bank of the river for seven miles, the whole scenery of which was beautiful: but the unforgotten spot was the level about the mouth of the Little Miami river,—the richest of plains, level valleys, studded with farm-houses, enlivened with clearings, and kept primitive in appearance by the masses of dark forest which filled up all the unoccupied spaces. Upon this scene we looked down from a great height,—a Niphates of the new world. On entering a little pass, between two grassy hills, crested with wood, we were desired to alight. I ran Edition: current; Page: up the ascent to the right, and was startled at finding myself on the top of a precipice. Far beneath me ran the Little Miami, with a narrow white pebbly strand, arrow-like trees springing over from the brink of the precipice, and the long evening shadows making the current as black as night, while the green, up to the very lips of the ravine, was of the sunniest, in the last flood of western light. For more reasons than one I should prefer Cincinnati as a residence to any other large city of the United States. Of these reasons, not the last would be that the “Queen of the West” is enthroned in a region of wonderful and inexhaustible beauty. “Small is it that thou canst trample the earth with its injuries under thy feet, us old Greek Zeno trained thee; thou canst love the earth while it injures thee, and even because it injures thee; for this a greater than Zeno was needed, and he, too, was sent. Knowest thou that ‘Worship of Sorrow?’ The temple thereof, opened some eighteen centuries ago, how lies in ruins, overgrown with jungle, the habitation of doleful creatures, Nevertheless, venture forward; in a low crypt, arched out of falling fragments, thou findest the altar still there, and its sacred lamp perennially burning.”—Sartor Resurtus. “I will tell you, scholar, I have heard a grave divine say that God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart,”—Isaac Walton. Among the strongest of the fresh feelings excited by foreign travel,—those fresh feelings which are an actual reinforcement of life,—is that of welcome surprise at the sympathy the traveller is able to yield, as well as privileged to receive. We are all apt to lose faith in the general resemblance between human beings when we have remained too long amidst one set of circumstances,—all of us, nearly as weakly as the school-girl who thinks that the girl of another school cannot comprehend her feelings; or the statesman who is surprised that the lower classes appear sometimes to understand their own interests; or the moralist who starts back from the Edition: current; Page: antique page where he meets the reflection of his own convictions; or the clergyman who has one kind of truth for his study, and another for his pulpit. Intellectual sympathy comes to the traveler in a distant land like a benignant rebuke of his narrowness; and when he meets with moral beauty which is a realization of his deep and secret dreams, he finds how true it is that there is no nationality in the moral creation, and that wherever grass grows and the sun shines, truth springs up out of the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. Those who bring home a deep, grateful, influential conviction of this have become possessed of the best results of travel: those who are not more assured than before of the essential sympathy of every human being they meet will be little the worse for staying at home all the rest of their lives. I was delighted with an observation of a Boston merchant who had made several voyages to Chine. He dropped a remark by his own fireside on the narrowness which causes us to conclude, avowedly or silently, that, however will men may use the light they have, they must be very pitiable, very far behind us, unless they have our philosophy, our Christianity, our ways of knowing the God who is the Father of us all, and the Nature which is the home of us all. He said that his thoughts often wandered back, with vivid pleasure, to the long conversation Edition: current; Page: he had enjoyed with some of his Chinese friends on the deepest themes of philosophy, and the highest truths of religion, when he found them familiar with the convictions, the emotions, the hopes which, in religious New England, are supposed to be derivable only from the Christianity of the region. His observation gave me intense pleasure at the time I heard it; and now, thought I have no such outlandish friends as the Chinese appear to a narrow imagination, I can tell him, from a distance of three thousand miles, that his animating experience is shared by other minds. The most extensive agreement that I have ever known to exist between three minds, is between two friends of mine in America and myself, Dr. F. being German, Mrs. F. American, and I English, —by birth, education, and (at least in one of the three,) prejudice. Before any of the three met, all had become as fixed as they were ever likely to be in habits of thought and feeling; and yet our differences were so slight, our agreements so extensive, that our intercourse was like a perpetual recognition, rather than a gradual revelation. Perhaps a lively imagination may conceive something of the charm of imparting to one another glimpses of our early life. While our years wer passing amidst scenes and occupations as unlike as possible, our minds were converging through foreign regions of Edition: current; Page: circumstance to a common centre of conviction. We have sat mutually listening for hours, day after day, week after week, to his account of early years spent in the range of a royal forester's domain, and of the political struggles of later years: to her history of a youthful life nourished by all kinds of American influences; and to mine, as unlike both theirs as each was to the other. The same sort of experience is yielded by every chapter of human history which comes under the mind's eye in a foreign country. The indolence of the speculatist, however, generally prevents his making this use of any but the most extraordinary and eventful sections of this interminable history. Such contemplations rouse sympathy, extinguish nationality, and enlarge the spirit to admit new kindred by an irresistible assurance of the rightfulness of all claims of brotherhood. Every love-tale has this effect; for true love is the same all over the wide earth. Most tales of woe have the same influence; for the deepest woes spring from causes universally prevalent. But above all, spectacles of moral beauty work miracles of reconciliation between foreign minds. The heart warms to every act of generosity, and the spirit sends out a fervent greeting to every true expression of magnanimity, whether it be meek intrepidity in doing, or unconscious bravery in suffereing.Edition: current; Page: Many such a heart-warning must the stranger experience in America, where the diversities of society are as great as over the European Continent, and where all virtues can find the right soil to thrive in. If there are in some regions broader exhibitions of vice.—of licentiousness and violence.—than can be seen where slavery is not, in other regions, or amidst different circumstances, there are brighter revelations of virtue than are often seen out of a primitive state of society. One of these, one of many, may, I think, be spoken of without risk of hurting any feelings, or betraying any confidence; though I must refrain from throwing such light and beauty over the story as the letters of the parties would afford. I was never so tempted to impart a correspondence; and it is not conceivable that any harm could arise from it, beyond the mischief of violating the sacredness of private correspondence; but this is not to be thought of. At Cincinnati, I became acquainted with the Re. E. P., whom I found to be beloved, fervently but rationally, by his flock, some of whom think him not a whit inferior, as a preacher, to Dr. Channing. He was from New England; and, till he spoke, he might have been taken for one of the old puritans risen from an early grave to walk the earth for awhile. He was tall, gaunt, and severe-looking, with rather long black hair, and very large black Edition: current; Page: eyes. When he spoke, all the severity vanished; his countenance and voice expressed gentleness, and his quiet fun showed that the inward man was no puritan. His conversation was peculiar. His voice was somewhat hollow, and not quite manageable, and he was wont to express himself with schoolboy abruptness and awkwardness of phrase, letting drop gems of truth and flowers of beauty, without being in the least aware of the inequality of his conversation, or perhaps that he was conversing at all. Occasionally, when he had lighted on a subject on which he had bestowed much thought, all this inequality vanished, and his eloquence was of a very high order. He was a man who fixed the attention at once, and could not, after a single interview, be ever forgotten. The first time I saw him, he told me that his wife and he had hoped to had made their house my home in Cincinnati, but that she and the child had been obliged to set out on their summer visit to her parents in New England before my arrival. Whenever he spoke of his home, it was in a tone of the most perfect cheerfulness; so that I should not have imagined that any anxieties harboured there, but for the fervent though calm manner in which he observed in conversation one day, that outward evils are evils only as far as we think them so; and that our thinking them so may be wonderfully moderated by a full conviction of Edition: current; Page: this. This was said in a tone which convinced me that it was not a fragment of preaching, but of meditation. I found that he had been about two Years married to a pretty, lively, accomplished girl from New England. Some of his friends were rather surprised at the match, for she had appeared hitherto only as a sprightly belle, amiable but a little frivolous. It was not, however, that he was only proud of her beauty and accomplishments, or transiently in love: for his young wife had soon occasion to reveal a strength of mind only inferior to his own. Her sight began to fail: it failed more and more rapidly, till, after the birth of her child, she was obliged to surrender to others all the nicer cares of maternal management. Her accomplishments became suddenly useless. Her favourite drawing was first given up; then her needle was laid aside; then she could neither write nor read, nor bear a strong light. In her state of enforced idleness (the greatest trial of all to the spirits), her cheerfulness never failed. Her step was as light, her voice as gay as ever. She said it was because her husband was as happy as ever. He aided her in every conceivable way; by doing all that was possible of what she was prevented from doing, and by upholding her conviction that the mind is its own place; and he thus proved that he did not desire for her or for himself indolent submission, but cheerful acquiescence.Edition: current; Page: As summer came on the child sickened in teething, and was sent with its mother to New England, in order to escape the greatest heats. They had set out, under good guardianship, the week before I arrived at Cincinnati. Mr. P. could not leave his church for many weeks, but was to follow in August, so as to be in time to deliver a poem before the Phi Beta Kappa Society, at Cambridge. Massachusetts, in Harvard Commencement week. I fancied that I saw him meditating this poem, more than once, during our drives through the splendid scenery round Cincinnati. I was uneasy about his health, and expressed some apprehensions to one of his friends, who however made light of what I said. I thought that, made for strength as he looked, he had little of it. He seemed incessantly struggling against exhaustion, and I was confident that he often joined in conversation with his eyes alone, because he was unequal to the exertion of talking. I was quite sure of all this, and wondered how others could help seeing it too, on the day of the procession of the free schools of Cincinnati, when he was appointed to address the children. His evident effort in the pulpit, and exhaustion afterwards, made me fear that there were more trials in store for his young wife. During their separation, she could neither write to him nor read his letters. When, towards the end of August, I arrived at Edition: current; Page: Cambridge for Commencement, one of my first inquiries was for the P.s. He had joined his wife, his poem was ready, and they were in cheerful spirits, though both her sight and the child's health were rather worse than better. I did not see them among the assemblage on the great Commencement day. On the morrow, when the Phi Beta Kappa Society had marched in to music, and the oration had been delivered, and we all looked eagerly for Mr. P. and his poem, a young clergyman appeared, with a roll of M.S. in his hand, and, with a faltering voice, and a countenance of repressed grief, told us that Mr. P. had been seized with sudden and severe illness, and hail requested from him, as an office of friendship, that he would read the poem which its author was prevented from delivering. The tidings ran in a mournful whisper through the assemblage that Mr. P. had broken a blood-vessel. The poem was descriptive, with touches of human interest, many and strong. It related the passage of an emigrant family over the Alleghanies, and their settlement in the West. It was read with much modesty, truth and grace. Atone part the reader's voice failed him,— at a brief description of the burial of an infant in the woods: it was too like a recent scene at which the reader had been present as chief mourner. The P.s were next at a country-house within two Edition: current; Page: miles of another where I was spending ten days, Mr. P. was shut up, and condemned to the trial which his wife was bearing so well.—enforced idleness. His bodily weakness made him feel it more, and he found it difficult to bear. He had been unused to sickness: and the only failure I ever saw in him was in obedience to the necessities of his situation, and the orders of his physician. He could not write a page of a letter: and reading fatigued his head: but he could not help trying to do what he had been accustomed to perform with case: and no dexterity of his visitors could prevent his clapping on his hat, and being at the carriage door before them. I thought once that I had fairly shut him into his parlour; but he was holding my stirrup before I had done my farewell to his wife. I was commissioned to carry him grapes and peaches from a friend's hot-house: and I would fain have gone every day to read to him: but I found that he saw too many people, and I therefore went seldom. Nothing can be conceived more touching than the cheerfulness of his wife. Many would have inwardly called it cruel that she could now do almost nothing for her husband: or what she thought almost nothing. She could neither read to him, nor write for him the many passing thoughts, the many remembrances to absent friends, that it would have been a relief to his now restless mind Edition: current; Page: to have had set down. But their common conviction completely sustained them both; and I never saw them otherwise than unaffectedly cheerful. The child was sometimes better, and sometimes worse. I saw him but once, but I should have known him again among a thousand. The full, innocent gaze of his bright black eyes, the upright carriage, so striking in a well-tended infant, and the attitude of repose in which he contemplated from his mother's arms whatever went on about him, fixed the image of the child in my memory for over. In another month I heard, at a distance, of the child's death. For a fortnight before, he had been quite blind, and had suffered grievously. In the common phrase, I was told that the parents supported themselves wonderfully. As the cold weather approached, it became necessary for Mr. P. to remove southwards. It was a weary journey over the Alleghanies into Ohio: but it had to be performed. Every arrangement of companionship, and about conveyance, resting-places. &c., was made to lessen the fatigue to the utmost; but we all dreaded it for him. The party was to touch at Providence, Rhode Island, where the steam-boat would wait a quarter of an hour. I was in Providence, and of course went down to the boat to greet them. Mr. P. saw me from a distance, and ran ashore, and let down the Edition: current; Page: steps of the carriage with an alacrity which filled me with joy and hope. He was not nearly so thin as when I last saw him, and his countenance was more radiant that ever. “I knew we should see you.” Said he, as he led me on board to his wife. She too was smiling. They were not in mourning. Like some other persons in America who disapprove of wearing mourning, they had the courage to break through the custom. It would indeed have been inconsistent with the conviction which was animating them all this time.—the conviction that the whole disposal of us is wise and right and kind.—to have made an external profession that any thing that befell them was to be lamented. I could not but observe the contrast between their maid-servant. Whose heart was doubless aching at having to go back without the child. The mother's feelings were any thing but deadened. The cheerfulness and the hearts mourning existed together. Tears trembled in her eyes, and her voice faltered. More than once; but then came the bright smile again, and an intimation given almost in a spirit of gaiety, that it was easy to bear any thing while he was always so strong in spirit and so happy. This was the last I saw of them, Their travel companions wrote cheerlessly of his want of strength, and of the suffering the long journey Edition: current; Page: caused him. They were taken into the house of a kind friend at Cincinnati, where there was a room fitted up with green for the sake of Mrs. P. s eyes, and every arrangement made in a similar spirit of consideration. But it would not do: there was yet to be no rest for the invalid. The excitement of being among his flock, while unable to do any thing in their service, was injurious to him. He was sent down the river to New Orleans; and his wife was not allowed to accompany him. The reasons were sufficient; but the separation at a time when he was nearly as anxious about her health as she about his, was a dreadful trial. I heard of it, and wrote him a long letter to amuse him, desiring him not to exert himself to answer it. After a while, however, he did so; and I shall never part with that letter, e spoke briefly of himself and his affairs, but I saw the whole state of his mind in the little he did say. He found himself in no respect better; in many much worse. He often felt that he was going down the dark valley, and longed intensely for the voices of his home to cheer him on his way. But still his happiest conviction was the uppermost. He knew that all things were ordered well, and he had no cares. He wrote more copiously of other things.—of his voyage down the great river, of the state of mind and manners amidst the influences of slavery, which had converted his judgment and Edition: current; Page: his sympathies to the abolition cause; and of the generous kindness of his people, the full extent of which he might never have known but for his present sickness. This letter left me little hope of his recovery: yet even here the spirit of cheerfulness, predominant through the whole, was irresistible; and it left me less anxious for them than before. After this, I wandered about for some months, out of reach of any of the P. 's connexions, and could only procure general accounts of his being better. Just before I sailed, I received from Mr. P. a letter full of good news, as calmly cheerful in its tone as any written in the depths of his adversity. He had ascended the river with the first warmth of spring; was so much better as to be allowed to preach once on the Sunday, and to be about to undertake it twice; and was now writing beside the cradle of his new-born daughter, whose mother sent me word that they were all well and happy. The power of a faith like theirs goes forth in various directions, to work many wonders. It not only fortifies the minds of sufferers, but modifies the circumstances themselves from which they suffer, bracing the nerves in sickness, and equalising the emotions in sorrow: it practically asserts the supremacy of the real over the apparent, and Edition: current; Page: the high over the low; and among other kindly operations, refreshes the spirit of the stranger with a revelation of true kindred in a foreign land;—for this faith is the fundamental quality in the brotherhood of the race. “Come on, sir; here's the place:—Stand still. How fearful And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low!” The shrewd Yankee driver of the “extra exclusive return stage” which contained four out of six of our travelling party in Virginia was jocose about the approach to the Natural Bridge. Mr. L. and I were on horseback, and the driver of the stage called after us when we were “going ahead” to warn us that we should get over the bridge without knowing it, if we went first. We, of course, determined to avoid looking so foolish as we should do, if we passed the Natural Bridge,—the little spot deemed important enough to be put in capital letters in maps of the American Union,—without knowing it. Heads were popped out of the stage window to shout the warning after us; and the jokes really seemed so extremely insulting that we were disposed to push on, and get our sight of Jefferson's great wonder before our fellow-travellers Edition: current; Page: came up. For five miles we kept out of sight of the stage: but at this point there was a parting of the roads, and we could see no possible means of learning which we were to follow. We were obliged to wait in the shade till the distant driver's whip pointed out the right-hand road to us. We were now not far from the object of our expectations, We agreed that we felt very quiet about it—that we were conscious of little of the veneration which the very idea of Niagara inspires. The intensity of force, combined with repose, is the charm of Niagara. No form of rock, however grand in itself, or however beautifully surrounded, can produce any thing like the same impression. Experience proved that we were right. At a mile from the Bridge, the road turns off through a wood. While the stage rolled and jolted along the extremely bad road, Mr. L. and I went prying about the whole area of the wood, poking our horses' noses into every thicket, and between any two pieces of rock, that we might be sure not to miss our object; the driver smiling alter us whenever he could spare attention from his own not very easy task of getting his charge along. With all my attention, I could see no precipice, and was concluding to follow the road without more vagaries, when Mr. L., who was a little in advance, waved his whip, as he stood beside his horse, and said, Edition: current; Page: “Here is the Bridge!” I then perceived that we were nearly over it, the piled rocks on either hand forming a barrier which prevents a careless eye from perceiving the ravine which it spans. I turned to the side of the road, and rose in my stirrup to look over: but I found it would not do. I went on to the inn., deposited my horse, and returned on foot to the Bridge. With all my efforts I could not look down steadily into what seemed the bottomless abyss of foliage and shadow. Front every point of the Bridge I tried, and all in vain. I was heated and extremely hungry, and much vexed at my own weakness. The only way was to go down and look up; though where the bottom could be was past my imagining, the view from the top seeming to be of foliage below foliage for ever. The way to the glen is through a field opposite the inn, and down a steep, rough, rocky path which leads under the Bridge, and a few yards beyond it. I think the finest view of all is from this path, just before reaching the Bridge. The irregular arch of rock, spanning a chasm of 160 feet in height, and from 60 to 90 in width, is exquisitely tinted with every shade of grey and brown; while trees encroach from the sides, and overhang from the top, between which and the arch there is an additional depth of 56 feet. It was now early in July; the Edition: current; Page: trees were in their brightest and thickest foliage; and the tall beeches under the arch contrasted their verdure with the grey rock, and received the gilding of the sunshine as it slanted into the ravine, glittering in the drip from the arch, and in the splashing and tumbling waters of Cedar Creek, which ran by our feet. Swallows were flying about under the arch. What others of their tribe can boast of such a home? We crossed and re-crossed the creek on stepping-stones, searching out every spot to which any tradition belonged. Under the arch, thirty feet from the water, the lower part of the letters G. W. may be soon carved in the rock. When Washington was a young man, he climbed up hither, to leave this record of his visit. There are other inscriptions of the same kind, and above them a board, on which arc painted the names of two persons, who have thought it worth while thus to immortalize their feat of climbing highest. But their glory was but transient, after all. They have been outstripped by a traveller whose achievement will probably never be rivalled, for he would not have accomplished it if he could by any means have declined the task. Never was a wonderful deed more involuntarily performed. There is no disparagement to the gentleman in saying this: it is only absolving him from the charge of fool-hardiness.Edition: current; Page: This young man, named Blacklock, accompanied by two friends, visited the Natural Bridge, and, being seized with the ambition appropriate to the place, of writing his name highest, climbed the rock opposite to the part selected by Washington, and carved his initials. Others had perhaps seen what Mi. Blacklock overlooked,—that it was a place easy to ascend, but from which it is impossible to come down. He was forty feet or more from the path; his footing was precarious; he was weary with holding on while carving his name, and his head began to swim when he saw the impossibility of getting down again. He called to his companions that his only chance was to climb up upon the Bridge, without hesitation or delay. They saw this, and with anguish agreed between themselves that the chance was a very bare one. They cheered him, and advised him to look neither up nor down. On he went, slanting upwards from under the arch, creeping round a projection on which no foot-hold is visible from below, and then disappearing in a recess filled up with foliage. Long and long they waited, watching for motion, and listening for crashing among the trees. He must have been now 150 feet above them. At length their eyes were so strained that they could sec no more, and they had almost lost all hope. There was little doubt that he had fallen while behind the trees, Edition: current; Page: where his body would never be found. They went up to try the chance of looking for him from-above. They found him lying insensible on the Bridge. He could just remember reaching the top, when he immediately fainted. One would like to know whether the accident left him a coward in respect of climbing, or whether it strengthened his confidence in his nerves. The guide showed us a small cedar, which projected from a shelf of the rock about two hundred feet above our heads, and along whose stem a young lady climbed several feet, so as to court destruction in a very vain and foolish manner. If the support had failed, as might reasonably have been expected, her immortality of reputation would not have been of an enviable kind. We remained in the ravine till we were all exhausted with hunger; but we had to wait for dinner still another hour, after arriving at the inn. By way of passing the time, one gentleman of our party fainted, and had to be laid along on the floor; which circumstance, I fancy, rather accelerated the announcement of our meal. The moment it was over, I hastened to the Bridge, and was pleased to find that, being no longer fatigued and hungry, I could look into the abyss, with perfect case. I lay down on the rocks, and studied the aspect of the ravine, in its afternoon lights and shadows, from Edition: current; Page: five different points of view. While thus engaged, I was called to see a handsome copper-headed snake; but it had gained its hole before I could reach the spot. We ladies so much preferred the view of the Bridge from the glen to the view of the glen from the Bridge, that we went down for another hour before departing. It looked most beautiful. The sunshine was slowly withdrawing from under the arch, and leaving us in the shadows of evening while all was glowing like noon in the region—to which we looked up from our lowly scats,—the stepping-stones in the midst of the gushing creek. The Natural Bridge is nearly in the centre of Virginia, and about half way between Fincastle and Lexington, which are about thirty-seven miles apart. The main central road of Virginia runs over the Bridge; so that no excuse is left for travellers who neglect to visit this work, framed by the strong hand of Nature, —vexed, not by the iumults of Chaos, but by the screams of caverned birds, the battles of snakes with their prey, and the chafing of waters against opposing rocks. “His extraordinary plans and expectations for himself might he of such a nature as to depend on other persons for their accomplishment, and might therefore be as extravagant as if other persons alone had been their object.”—Foster's Essays. The romance of political adventure is generally found to flourish in the regions of despotism; and it seems a matter of course that there can be no room for conspiracy in a democratic republic, where each man is a member of the government, and means are provided for the expression of every kind of political opinion and desire. Yet the United States can exhibit a case of conspiracy, and a political advendurer such as might rejoice the souls of the lovers of romance. Scattered notices of Colonel Aaron Burr and of his supposed schemes are before the English public; but no connected history which might be depended upon appeared during his life. He died last year, and has left no relations; so that no reason now exists why every thing that can be learned about him should not be made known. In 1795, Aaron Burr had attained to eminence at the New York Bar. He was about the same age as Alexander Hamilton, who was born in 1757, Edition: current; Page: and their professional reputation and practice were about equal. Hamilton was the leader of the federal party. He was in countenance eminently handsome, in manner engaging, in temper amiable and affectionate, in eloquence both persuasive and commanding; and his mind was so comprehensive, and his powers of application and execution so great as to cause him to be considered by the federal party the greatest man their country has produced. Burr was of democratic politics; he had a fiercely ambitious temper, which he hid under a gentle and seductive manner. He was usually so quiet and sedate that he might have been thought indifferent, but for the expression of his piercing black eyes. His face was otherwise plain, and his figure and gait were stooping and ungraceful. He assumed great authority of manner upon occasion. His speaking at the bar was brief and to the purpose. His most remarkable characteristic seems to have been his power of concealment. He not only carried on a conspiracy befor the nation's eyes which they to this day cannot more or less understand; but lived long years with the tremendous secret in his breast, and has gone down to the grave without affording any solution of the mystery. It may be doubted whether, in all the long private conversations he had with individuals, he ever committed himself, otherwise than apparently, to anybody. Edition: current; Page: He seems to have been understood by Hamilton, however, from the begining; and Hamilton never concealed his opinion that Burr was an ambitious and dangerous man. Jefferson put a generous trust in Burr; and for many years they were intimate correspondents. It is very touching to read, after all that has since happened, such letters as the following,—written shortly after the two men had been rival candidates for the Presidentship, at a time of unexampled party excitement:— “Dear Sir,—It was to be expected that the enemy would endeavour sow tares between us, that they might divide us and our friends. Every consideration satisfies me that you will be on your guard against this, as I assure you I am strongly. I hear of one stratagem so imposing and so base, that it is proper I should notice it to you. Mr. Munford, who is here, says he saw at New York before he left it, an original letter of mine to Judge Breckinridge, in which are sentiments highly injurious to you. He knows my handwriting, and did not doubt that to be genuine. I enclose you a copy taken from a press copy of the only letter I ever wrote to Judge Breckinridge in my life: the press copy itself has been shown to several of our mutual Edition: current; Page: friends here. Of consequence, tho letter seen by Mr. Munford must be a forgery, imd if it contains a sentiment unfriendly or disrespectful to you, I aftirm it solemuly to be a forgery; as also if it varies from the copy enclosed. With the common trash of slander I should not think of troubling you: but the forgery of one's handwriting is too imposing to be neglected. A mutual knowledge of each other furnished us with the best test of the contrivances which will be practised by the enemies of both. “Accept assurances of my high respect and esteem. In the Presidential election of 1800, there were four candidates,—Jefferson. Burr, John Adams, and Pinckney. The votes were for Jefferson 73, for Burr 73, for Adams 65, for Pinckney 64. The numbers for Jefferson and Burr being equal, the choice devolved upon the House of Representatives, which voted to attend to no other business till the election was settled, and not to adjourn till the decision was effected. For seven days and nights the balloting went on, every member being present. Some who were ill or infirm were accommodated with beds and couches; and one sick member was allowed to be attended by his wife. Admas was, as President, on the spot, watching his impending political annihilation. Jefferson was at hand, daily Edition: current; Page: presiding in the Senate. Burr was in the State of New York, anxiously expecting tidings, The federal party were in despair at having to choose between two republicans (as the democratic party was at that day called). It is said that Hamilton was consulted by his party; and that his advice was to choose Jefferson rather than Burr:—a piece of counsel which affected the everlasting destinies of the country, and cost the counsellor his life. At the end of the seven days, Jefferson was elected President, and Burr Vice-President; which office Burr hold for a single term,—four years. In the winter of 1804, Burr was proposed at Albany as a candidate for the office of Governor of the State of New York. Hamilton, at a public meeting of his party, strongly opposed the nomination, declaring that he would never join in supporting such a candidate. About this time, Dr. Chas. D. Cooper wrote a letter in which he said “General Hamilton and —— have declared in substance, that they looked upon Mr. Burr as a dangerous man, and one who ought not to be trusted with the reins of government.” “I could detail to you a still more despicable opinion which General Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr.” This letter was published; and on the 18th of June, 1804, Buri sent a copy of it to Hamilton, with a demand that the expressions it contained should be acknowledged Edition: current; Page: or denied. The correspondence which ensued is discreditable to both parties. To use the expression of a great man,” Hamilton went into it like a capuchin. “He knew that it was Burr's determination to fix a deadly quarrel upon him; he knew that Burr was an unworthy adversary; he disapproved of the practice of dueling, but he feared the imputation of want of courage if he refused to meet his foe. He therefore explained and corresponded with an amplitude and indecision which expose his reputation to more danger from harsh judges than a refusal to fight would have done. As for Burr, he was savage in his pursuit of his enemy. He enlarged his accusations demands, as he saw the irresolution of his victim: and I believe there is no doubt that, though he was a good shot before, he employed the interval of twenty days which elapsed before the duel took place in firing at a mark, making no secret of the purpose of his practising. This interval was occasioned by Hamilton's refusal to go out till the Circuit Court, in the business of which he was engaged, should have closed its sittings. The Court rose on Friday, the 6th of July, and Burr received notice that General Hamilton would be ready at any time after the following Sunday. On Wednesday morning, the 11th, the parties Edition: current; Page: crossed the Hudson to the Jersey shore, arriving on the ground at seven o'clock, Burr was attended by Mr. Van Ness and a surgeon; Hamilton by Mr. Pendleton and Dr. Hosack. It was Hamilton's intention not to fire; but when his adversary's ball struck him on the right side, he raised himself involuntarilv on his toes, and turned a little to the left, his pistol going off with the movement. He observed to his physician. “This is a mortal wound, Doctor,” and then became insensible. He revived; however, in the boat, in the course of removal home: and cautioned his attendants about the pistol, which he was not aware of having discharged. He lived, in great agony, till two o'clock of the following day. He left a paper which contained his statement of reasons for meeting; Burr, notwithstanding his conscientious disapproval of the practice of dueling, and his particular desire to avoid an encounter with such an adversary, and in such a cause as the present. In this paper, he declares his resolution to reserve and throw away his first fire, and perhaps his second. His reasons for fighting are now, I believe, generally agreed to be unsatisfactory. As to the effect of his determination to spare his adversary,—I never could learn that Colonel Burr expressed the slightest regret for the pertinacity with which he hunted such an enemy.—merely a political foe.—to death. Neither did he appear to feel the execration with Edition: current; Page: which he was regarded in the region of which Hamilton had been the pride and ornament. To avoid the legal consequences of his deed, he wandered into the West, and remained so long in retreat, that some passing wonder was excited as to what he could be doing there. He was ensuaring more victims. In the Ohio river, a few miles below Marietta, there is a beautiful island, tinely wooded, but now presenting a dismal picture of ruin. This island was purchased, about thirty-five years ago, by an Irish gentleman, named Herman Blannerhassett, whose name the island has since borne. This gentleman took his beautiful and attached wife to his new property, and their united tastes made it such an abode as was never before, and has never since been seen in the United States. Shrubberies, conservatories and gardens ornamented the island; and within doors, there was a fine library, philosophical apparatus, and music-room. Burr seems to have been introduced to this family by some mutual friends at the East, and to have been received as a common acquaintance at first. The intimacy grew: and the oftener he went to Blannerhassett's Island, and the longer he staid. The deeper was the gloom which overspread the unfortunate family. Blannerhassett himself seems to have withdrawn his interest from his children, his books, his pursuits, as Burr Edition: current; Page: obtained influence over his mind, and poisoned it with some dishonest ambition. The wife's countenance grew sad, and her manners constrained. It is not known how far she was made acquainted with what was passing between her husband and Burr. The object of Burr's conspiracy remains as much a mystery as over, while there is no doubt whatever of its existence. Some suppose that he intended to possess himself of Mexico; an enterprise less absurd than at first sight it appears. There was great hatred towards the Mexicans at that period,—the period of agitation the acquisition of Louisiana: thousands of citizens were ready to march down upon Mexico on any pretence; and it is certain that Burr was so amply provided with funds from some unknown quarter, that he had active adherents carrying on his business, from the borders of Maine all down the course of the great Western rivers. Another supposition is that he designed the plunder of New Orleans, in the event of a war with Spain. A more probable one is that he proposed to found a great Western Empire, with the aid of Spain, making himself its Emperor, and drawing off the allegiance of all the countries west of the Alleghanies: and finally that, as a cover to, and final substitute for other designs, he meant to effect the colonization of the banks of the river Washita. Such are the various objects assigned as Edition: current; Page: the end of Burr's movements: but all that is known is that he engaged a number of men in his service,—supposed to be not loss than a thousand,—under an assurance that the service required of them was one approved by the government: that he endeavoured to persuade Latrobe, the architect, to engage five hundred more labourers on pretext of their working on the Ohio canal, in which it turned out that he had no interest: that a guard was mounted round Blannerhassett's Island: that boats, manned and furnished with arms, set forth from the island on the night of the 10th of December, 1806: that they were joined by Burr, with a reinforcement, at the mouth of the Cumberland; and that they all proceeded down the Mississippi together. The government had become aware of secret meetings between Burr, the Spanish Yruyo, and Dr. Bollman, one of the liberators of Lafayette; and the proper time was seized for putting forth proclamations which undeceived the people with regard to Burr's movements, and caused them to rise against him wherever he had been acting. Orders to capture him and his party, and if necessary, to destroy his boats, were eagerly received. Burr did not venture to New Orleans. He caused himself to be put ashore in the territory of Mississippi, and thence found his way, attended by only one person, to the banks of the Tombigbee, which Edition: current; Page: he reached on the 19th of February, 1807. At eleven at night, the wanderers passed a settlement called Washington Court Mouse: Burr preceded his companion by some yards, and passed on quietly: but his companion enquired of a man standing at the door of a public-house, about the dwelling of a Major Hinson; and, on receiving his answer, joined Burr. The person enquired of went to Hinson's with the sheriff, and had his suspicions so confirmed that he proceeded to Fort Stoddart, and brought back an officer and four soldiers, who took Burr into custody. He was lodged, a prisoner, at Richmond, Virginia, by the end of March. Burr had previously been brought to trial in Kentucky, on an accusation of illegal secret practices in that State. He was defended and brought off by Mr. Clay and Colonel Allen, who were persuaded of his innocence, and refused a fee. Mr. Clay was for long after his advocate, in public and in private, and asked him, for friendly purposes, for a full declaration that he was innocent, which Burr gave unhesitatingly and explicitly: and the note is now among Jefferson's papers. When, some time subsequently, a letter of Burr's in cipher came to light, Mr. Clay found how he had been deceived; but his advocacy was, for the time, of great benefit to Burr. On the 17th of August, Burr was brought to Edition: current; Page: trial at Richmond, before Chief Justice Marshall. He was charged with having excited insurrection, rebellion, and war on the 10th of December, 1806, at Blannerhassett's Island, in Virginia, Secondly, the same charge was repeated, with the addition of a traitorous intention of taking possession of the city of New Orleans with force and arms. The evidence established every thing but the precise charge. The presence of Burr in the island was proved: and his levies of men and provisions on the banks of the Ohio. The presence of armed men in the island, and the expedition of the 10th of December were also proved: but not any meeting of these men with Burr. The proof of the overt act completely failed. He was then tried at the same court on the indictment for misdemeanour, and acquitted. He was then ordered to be committed to answer an indictment in the State of Ohio. He was admitted to bail, and it does not appear that the State of Ohio meddled with him at all. Bollman was one of the witnesses on the side of the prosecution. His certificate of pardon was offered to him in court by the counsel for the prosecution. He refused to accept it, but was sworn, and his evidence received. It is impossible to suppose any bias on the part of the Court in favour of the prisoner. His acquittal seems to have arisen from unskilfulness Edition: current; Page: in deducing the charges from the evidence; and to the trial having taken place before all the requisite evidence could be gathered from distant regions. Blannerhassett and others were tried on the same charges as Burr; but what became of them I do not remember, further than that Blannerhassett was utterly ruined and disgraced. Burr repaired to England. His connexion with Bentham appears wholly unaccountable. The story is, that he was in a bookseller's shop one day, when Bentham entered and fixed his observation: that he wrote a letter to Bentham, as soon as he was gone, expressive of his high admiration of his works: that Bentham admitted him to an interview, invited him to stay with him, and urged the prolongation of his visit from time to time, till it ended in being a sojourn of two years. It is difficult to conceive how an agreeable intercourse could be kept up for so long a time between the single-minded philosopher and the crafty yet boastful, the vindictive yet smooth political adventurer. In October, 1808, Jefferson wrote to a friend. “Burr is in London, and is giving out to his friends that that government offers him two millions of dollars, the moment he can raise an ensign of rebellion as big as a handkerchief. Some of his partisans will believe this because they wish it. But those who know him best will not believe it Edition: current; Page: the more because he says it.”* He returned to America in 1812, being sent away from England on account of his too frequent, and very suspicious political correspondence with France. He settled quietly at New York, and resumed practice at the bar, which he continued as long as his health permitted. He owed such practice as he had to his high legal ability, and not to any improved opinion of his character. When Mr. Clay arrived in New York, from his English mission, he went the round of the public institutions, attended by the principal inhabitants. In one of the courts he met Burr, and, of course, after the affair of the cipher letter, cut him. Burr made his way to him, declared himself anxious to clear up every misapprehension which had alienated the regard of his benefactor, and requested to be allowed half an hour's private conservation. Mr. Clay readily agreed to this and the hour was named. Burr failed to keep his appointment, and never afterwards appeared in Mr. Clay's presence. One pure light, one healthy affection, illumined and partially redeemed the life of the adventurer. He had an only child, a daughter, whom he loved with all the love of which he was capable, and which she fully deserved. She was carly married to a Mr. Alston, and lived at Charleston. I believe she was about five-and-twenty when she fell into ill Edition: current; Page: health, and the strong soul of her father was shaken with the terror of losing her. He spared no pains or expense to obtain the best opinions on her case from Europe; and the earnestness of his appeals to the physicians, to whom he wrote full statements of her case, are very moving. While awaiting a decision as to what measures should be taken for her restoration, it was decided that she must leave Charleston before the summer heats; and he summoned her to his home at New York. To avoid fatigue, she went by sea with her child and the nurse. Her father had notice of her departure, and watched hour after hour for her arrival. The hours wore away, and days, and weeks, and years. The vessel never arrived, nor any tidings of her. She must have foundered, or, far worse, fallen into the hands of pirates. A pang went through the heart of every one for many years, as often as the thought recurred that Mrs. Alston and her child might be living in slavery to pirates in some place inaccessible to the inquities of even her wretched father. When all had been done that could be devised, and every one had ceased to hope, Burr closed his lips upon the subject. No one of the few who were about him ever heard him mention his daughter. While I was in America, a foreign sailor died in an hospital; my memory fails me as to where it Edition: current; Page: was. When near death, he made a confession which was believed to be true by all whom I heard speak on the subject. He confessed himself to have been a pirate, and to have served on board the vessel which captured that which was conveying Mrs. Alston. He declared that she was shut up below while the captain and crew were being murdered on deck. She was then brought up, and was present at the decision that it would not be safe to spare her life. She was ordered to walk the plank, with her child in her arms; and, finding all quiet remonstrance vain, she did it, without hesitation or visible tremor. The recollection of it was too much for the pirate in his dying moments. About a year before his death, Colonel Burr sanctioned the publication of a so-called life of himself; a panegyric which leaves in the reader's mind the strongest conviction of the reality of his western adventures, and of the justice of every important charge against him. He died last year; and it will probably be soon known with exactness whether he took care that his secrets should be buried with him, or whether he made arrangements for some light being at length thrown on his eventful and mysterious history. Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street. “Society in America,” Vol. ii., p. 160. Jefferson's Memeir and Correspondence, vol. iv., p. 428.— Date, February 17th, 1826. Society in America, vol. ii., p. 183. For an explanation of Nullification, and a short history of the struggle of the Nullifiers, see “Society in America,” vol. i., p 92–109. “Society in America,” vol. ii., p. 179. “Society in America.” Vol. ii., p 326. Creole means native. French and American Creoles are natives of French and American extraction. Society in America, vol. ii., p 101. Jefferson's Correspondence, vol. iv. p. 115.

If you like lemon bars, I think you’ll love this variation of my Meyer Lemon-Mascarpone Bars, which substitutes passion fruit juice for lemon juice. Like lemon bars, these Passion Fruit Bars have a thick, buttery shortbread crust and luscious ooey, gooey filling, but with the distinct, floral flavor and aroma of passion fruit. The sharp tartness of the passion fruit is nicely balanced by the sweetness of the sugar and the richness of the creamy mascarpone. The glaze adds a touch more sweet-tart flavor and a little crunch from the passion fruit seeds. Citrus season reaches its peak in winter. Isn’t that great timing? Just as Mother Nature is dumping massive amounts of snow on many parts of the country, here in California, she is providing an abundance of tangerines, oranges, grapefruits, and lemons so that we can bask in the bright, citrusy sunshine even on the coldest days of winter. To me, nothing says summer-in-the-middle-of-winter more than meyer lemons. “I could eat a million of these!,” exclaimed my husband, Chris, as he took a bite out of the first of many mini sticky buns he had for breakfast. I definitely agree with him as not only are they cute, but they are delicious and very easy to make. These miniature version of sticky buns are filled with orange-flavored cream cheese and pumpkin butter and topped with a pecan and brown sugar glaze. Continue reading Growing up, my mom loved fruit and always kept a variety in the house which she encouraged my brothers and I to eat. However, one fruit that was conspicuously absent was the apple. It was not the taste she didn’t like. Rather it was the sound of someone biting into one that bothered her. It was like fingernails on chalkboard and the sound literally gave her goosebumps and sent chills up her spine. Continue reading These days, I am completely obsessed with stone fruits. Every time I go to the store, I pick some up, either to eat fresh or to cook with. I am featuring apricots in this recipe, but peaches, nectarines, or even plums would work just as well. I came across this recipe from A Spicy Perspective, a beautiful blog from professional writer, recipe developer, and food stylist, Summer Collier. What intrigued me was her addition of Chinese Five-Spice Powder, which I have only (narrow-mindedly) used in savory dishes. Continue reading It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was waxing poetic about the many things I loved about the summer. Yet, it feels like summer is quickly slipping away. June is a distant blur; July came and went in a blink of an eye. Now, the days are getting shorter and there’s a hint of autumn in the night air. August is almost halfway over. Where did the time go? Continue reading While grilled corn is delicious with just some butter and sea salt, try this Mexican version, called elote, grilled corn that is smothered in crema Mexicana or mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chili powder seasoning, and freshly-squeezed lime. This is a popular snack sold by street vendors in Mexico. Some ingredients are Mexican staples but are widely available in grocery stores and Hispanic markets here in the US. Every cook should have a homemade custard recipe in his or her repertoire. It is the base for so many desserts and yet, is fairly simple to master. The key is to temper the eggs with the milk so you don’t end up with bits of scrambled eggs. If you’re looking for buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies with a nutty crunch, look no further than these cream cheese shortbread cookies flavored with toasted walnuts and orange. The addition of cream cheese transforms these from the traditional sandy and crumbly shortbread to lighter, softer cookies. For an even more cake-like texture, roll the dough into balls instead of using a cookie cutter. Continue reading It seems that I inherited my sweet tooth from my Dad. Like me, he favors quick breads, cookies, and candies, and, like me, he also loves chocolate. When I saw this recipe for Chocolate Almond Toffee Bars, I knew it was the perfect treat to make for him. I got my opportunity last weekend when we had a family gathering. I made sure there would be some extra pieces for my Dad to take home. What I didn’t expect was that he would have some competition for the leftovers…from my nephew, who proclaimed that all the leftover bars were his. I had to be the peacemaker and divide up the remaining pieces equally. It appears that a sweet tooth runs in my family. Note to self: Make a double batch for Christmas morning so Dad and little nephew could have as much as they want. I have always loved reading catalogs from my favorite stores like West Elm, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and CB2. To this day one of my guilty pleasures is leafing through pages looking for food styling inspirations and new props to use for plating. I’ve been busy lately, but yesterday I finally had a time to relax with a cup of coffee, a cookie or two (or three) and my pile of catalogs. Naturally, I found a few things I want so I folded down the page corners and left the catalogs conspicuously on the coffee table in the hopes my husband would get some hints for my upcoming birthday. I wonder if it will work? Continue reading Today I’m doing my best Paula Deen imitation with this recipe for Pumpkin Swirl Coffee Cake which requires almost 12 ounces of butter. I certainly don’t recommend baking with and eating this much butter all the time, but it is a nice indulgence once in a while. The result is quite possibly the most buttery and moist cake I’ve ever made. It is also light and tender with just the right amount of sweetness and spice. The crumbly pecan and brown sugar streusel made for a great topping, as well as a base, for the cake. My kitchen was filled with the heavenly aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, reminiscent of Thanksgiving, which, by the way, is a mere 56 days away! A month ago, I would have passed on making this cake. It wasn’t because this recipe, from Aran Goyoaga of the breathtakingly beautiful blog Canelle et Vanille, didn’t sound delicious. On the contrary, her recipe have always been so tempting, but I’ve never attempted any of them. Why, you ask? Well, I’m a little embarrassed to say! Continue reading I just love baking (and eating) biscuits, and this recipe elevates them with the addition of parmesan cheese and basil. The cheese gives the biscuits its savoriness and slightly crumbly texture, while the purple and sweet basil, which came from my garden, adds a subtle peppery, yet sweet flavor. These rich biscuits make a wonderful accompaniment to pastas, soups, and salads. They’re also great for making Italian breakfast sandwiches filled with slices of prosciutto and eggs. Above all, they are absolutely delicious to eat plain, with only a generous dab of butter. Continue reading Pâte à choux, or cream puff pastry, is versatile dough that is used as a base for many sweet and savory treats. Strictly speaking, it is more like a thick paste that is made by adding flour to boiling water and butter to form a sort of roux to which eggs are then added. The resulting dough, called panade, should be light, with a smooth and shiny appearance and sticky consistency. Continue reading

My friend, Charlotte, and I went back to Wayfare Restaurant on Freret today. The last time I went was in December and this trip was just as enjoyable. I can report the drinks are still very very tasty. I had the margarita and she had the Ponchatula punch. Strong and very fresh flavored. My Mexican Coke with the real sugar was equally delicious. I went for the avocado and tomato sliders – slice of avocado, tomato and some slaw on a little pretzel roll. Pretty darn cute and very good, even if I took off the slaw as it was hiding the avocado flavor. Wait staff attentive and responsive and they kept the drinks coming, which was exceptionally good after her morning of being a legal observer. I had a lunch meeting to plot world domination and it was decided that a po-boy place was the perfect venue for our conspiring. Avery’s on Tulane was convenient to nearly everyone, so that’s where we went. They were very busy when we arrived at noon with workers from the area construction projects, lawyers and other workers from the courthouse, etc filling the place. They have a concrete floor, so it was a little noisy. The menu is divided into starters, salads, po-boys and platters which makes it easy to decide how much food one wants. For starters we had sweet potato fries which had an interesting seasoning on them. Not bad but a little odd. Their honey butter biscuit was really delicious and I could have eaten a second one. I had the shrimp creole daily special. Came with five large shrimp and two pieces of toasted garlic bread. The sauce was really good – with enough spice and flavor to open my sinuses but not enough to make me cry. The other folks at the meal had the shrimp po-boy, catfish po-boy, buffalo shrimp platter and blacked chicken Caesar salad. All of which were good sized portions and I heard no complaints. The kitchen seemed backed up as it took a while for a meal to arrive. However, we were busy intriguing and hardly noticed. The waitstaff might have been rushed but they were quick with drink refills and checking to make sure we had all we needed. Very much worth a trip back to taste a po-boy or three. I’m a fan of fried chicken and love a good waffle. The combination of the two is mouth watering and finger licking good. I’ve been trying for months to get my Mom to try chicken and waffles together for a while now. Since we’re in Los Angeles on a layover from our round the country train trip, we decided to go to the source. We went for lunch to Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles. Mom went with the wings and waffles and I went for the breast with waffles. Yum! The fried chicken is juicy and the coating crisp and sticks with the meat. There was a huge scoop of butter on the waffle and the syrup was nice and rich. Their secret waffle batter recipe is quite good – certainly a world better than the Bisquick I was raised on! The service was quick, although we did have to ask for a moist towelette. I would definitely recommend this restaurant – and, from the looks of the plates of other diners, possibly even order more than chicken and waffles. Mom and I had time to visit Powell’s City of Books and have lunch before getting on the Coast Starlight train. With recommendations from the hotel and from the very friendly book clerk who shipped our many books, we went directly to Deschutes Brewery from Powell’s. They gave mom a sample to taste and she chose the Chainbreaker White IPA. I went with their house made root beer and ginger ale. The ginger ale could use some ginger but the root beer had a lovely bite. We started with the pretzel. The cheese sauce was Monterey Jack with cream cheese with a rim of stone ground mustard. The pretzel was hot and yeasty and salty and we ordered another one to go! And, of course, I forgot to take the picture before we started eating it. For the main meal, I went with the daily special BBQ brisket. The meat was juicy and tender and it was served on a brewery baked bun. The pub fries were cooked to perfection. The service was excellent – helpful in describing the brews and the menu and getting things to us quickly. I would definitely recommend this brew pub. I went out to dinner with a friend from graduate school (was that really 13 years ago?). She took us to her old stomping grounds of Vita Cafe. Lots of offerings for vegans, vegetarians, gluten free and even the meat eaters! I loved the funky car in front of the restaurant: I was craving a simple sandwich and got one in the grilled cheese (pepperjack to be exact) with grilled onions and tomato on sourdough bread. It really hit the spot. I even enjoyed the house made pickles. Mom ordered the BLT and it was very good with tons of well cooked bacon, lots of organic lettuce and tasty tomatoes on sourdough bread. This was a cool place that even had a Food for Thought section on the menu. While the staff was rushed, the six of us were served in good order. Well worth a visit for anyone with friends of mixed appetites. I’m in Portland for the Golden Crown Literary Society Annual Conference and my publisher, Bella Books, had a dinner for their authors. The hotel we’re staying at (Red Lion on the River at Jantzen Beach) provided a very nice spread that included pulled pork sliders and Thai chicken lollipops. There was also salad but my constant readers know my feelings on that (salad isn’t food, it is what food eats). Following dinner, the inimitable Karin Kallmaker (writer of riveting lesbian romances and Editorial Director for Bella), provided us with a selection of truffles from the Moonstruck Chocolate Company, a Portland chocolatier. They were beautiful to look at and even better to eat. There was even a selection from Oregon distillers that were almost too gorgeous to eat. Key word being ‘almost.’ Rich decadent chocolate plus the flavors of spirits made my mouth very, very happy! Thanks so much to Linda Hill, Karin Kallmaker and all the others who make up the Bella Books family. I’m honored my books have such a good home. Traveling to Chicago means the chance to eat deep dish pizza at the source. My mom and I are just passing through but there was enough time to walk from Union Station to Giordano’s Famous Stuffed Pizza. It was entirely worth waiting over thirty minutes for our pie – the tomatoes were very fresh, there was so much lovely cheese and the toppings were very plentiful, too. It was one of the best pizza’s I’ve ever had. I can definitely recommend this place for those downtown Chicago or just passing through on a train.

There is something rather satisfying about having the first Rhododendron in flower in your neighbourhood.It is not completely down to chance though. Here are my selections for the first Pink, White and Red large flowered varieties for your garden. Make a real show in the garden by extending the season! A superb, bright pink hybrid that emerges from the green stage into a striking candle of pink buds ready to burst into spectacular bloom. This is a rhododendron that revels in being planted in the garden rather than in a pot. Sometimes Winter and Spring can be very wet. When this happens it is vital to keep an eye on your plants. Plants in free draining and nutritious soil will have loved this weather and be really happy but if they are in heavier soil then give them a check up as they hate getting wet feet in soggy ground. Check that they are not planted too deep, the top of the rootball should be 3cm proud of the ground. If they are recently planted you can easily raise it yourself by putting a spade under and packing soil underneath. Cover with the soil around the plant with plenty of pine bark chips, this will keep soil moist and add humus to your soil over time, which will loosen it up improving the drainage. Small is Beautiful Bring colour into your garden as early as possible with small growing rhododendrons. There is no need to worry about these plants growing too big they are lovely mannered plants, perfect for even the smallest gardens. The ancestry of the mountain growing, Northern American and Himalayan, alpine dwarf rhododendrons of many of them means they are tough and resilient. They flower early, from April onwards, a trait from their alpine past to take advantage of the short mountain growing season. The smaller the leaves, the closer the variety is to this alpine heritage but some of the hardiest varieties can be larger leaved. They are a fascinating group. They can grow happily at the front of borders or in rockeries in the ground or pot them into a nice pot and they will be very happy for many years Work Never Stops Even in the depths of winter the work doesn't stop on the nursery. Here is Keith wielding a blower to remove snow form the foliage of young rhododendrons. All the team were out in the snow either with blowers or soft brushes making sure no damage to our precious crop was done. Hardy Hybrid rhododendrons are actually tough and winter hardy despite their rathe exotic large leaves. In the garden you will only ever need to remove snow in really heavy snowfall. We all know that Rhododendrons are fabulous for their dramatic flower colour but did you know that some have great foliage colour too. Moser's Maroon is a perfect example. The flowers are a memorable shade of rich, slightly translucent ruby in themselves but the new foliage is an attraction in its own right. This foliage stays the same amazing red all summer and through autumn and into winter. The effect is more pronounced when it is grown in a sheltered spot in the garden and given a little shade. Light shade is great for all rhododendrons as the flowers last longer out of the harsh glare of the sun. Try using it to cover ugly features like drainpipes and utility boxes round the house. Traditional large flowered rhododendron hybrids have all the glamour of a lost world, just like the one immortalised in Downton Abbey. They are dramatic, colourful and exciting – definitely “drama queens”. Surely with such qualities they are going to be challenging to grow. Not so, they are really very easy and satisfying in the garden. Two of my favourites come from a group of hybrids produced since the second world war called the Walloper Hybrids. These stem from rhododendrons that were taken to a safe haven in the USA during the war to ensure they survived. The city of Southampton was being heavily bombed and one of the best collections of new hybrids was riskily housed in the garden of Townhill Park, the home of Lord Swathling. Lord Swathling’s talented gardener, Fred Rose, had an uncanny knack of creating exciting new varieties. Lionel de Rothschild had tried to lure him away to his rhododendron collection at Exbury on many occasions but with no luck! The 1939 seedlings were taken to a cluster of rhododendron breeders in the USA. The unnamed hybrids were split out between them and they awaited the results. Scottish rhododendron grower, hunter and breeder Peter Cox visited the garden of a neighbour and world reknowned plant hunter George Sheriff. He was so inspired by a yellow rhododendron he spotted that he was allowed to take pollen home to create hybrids. This started a long challenge to grow dwarf rhododendron suitable for today's smaller gardens and the tough Scottish climate. The results were a series of new hybrids named after birds and among those, in my opinion, are 2 of the best dwarf rhododendrons ever. The first, Razorbill, is a beautiful, unusual hybrid with lovely, tubular, bubblegum pink flowers on an open attractive plant showing its stems leaves buds and flowers. For small gardens it is just perfect with really attractive foliage. I constantly keep my eye on the latest research and test it out myself in the garden back at the nursery to make sure you get the very best advice on how to plant successfully. 1. Decide where you want to plant and remove any weeds growing in the area. 2. Water your plant well in its pot before planting. Letting it sit in a bucket of water until it is well soaked is very effective. 3. Dig a hole twice as deep and three times as wide as the root ball (this is the compost around the roots of the plant) in the pot and then loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole to improve the drainage. Don't skimp on this stage as it is crucial to your plant's quick establishment in the garden and its ongoing success over the years. The Perfect Present Ask any experienced gardener and they will confirm that Camellias are some of the best plants to give as presents. They look luxurious and exotic and long established gardeners love them but they are easy to grow so new gardeners will find them very rewarding. They grow in pots or in the ground so they suit all sizes of gardens. They love some shade so they work in difficult spots. They keep their handsome foliage all year round, they live for years and years and years and they flower in the early spring - what more could you want? Our Camellias are all lined up in the glasshouse ready to find their way to your garden. This picture shows you 15,000 Camellia "Dr King" all looking lovely and evenly grown and packed with flower buds. Five Star Treatment Sometimes you can be made to feel that gardening is really complicated and hard work. Knowing what conditions your plant likes will save you time, money and heartache. Most people know that rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias belong to the group of plants called ericaceous plants along with heathers, pieris and magnolias but what does that really mean? A lot of people see it as “lime hating” but it's not really quite like that. It means that they are unable to use certain essential foods in the soil if the pH (a measure of how acid or alkaline a soil is) goes higher than 7. They will grow steadily more sickly and weak. So how do you know what pH your soil is? You can buy a simple soil testing kit from your local garden centre. Follow the instructions carefully and always test the soil where you are intending to plant as it the soil can vary around the garden. If you can't find a soil test kit a simple test is to look for hydrangea plants in gardens near you and see what colour they are. Blue hydrangeas indicate an acid soil and pink or purple ones an alkaline soil. White hydrangeas don't change colour except in the very centre of each flower, if you look really carefully you will see the centre is either pink or blue. The best time to look for his is when the flowers first open as flowers later in the season can take on other tints due to the flower ageing.

This is the most intensely chocolate cake I have ever made. Cake of Death. Chocolate buttercream. 12 KitKat bars. Over 200g of Maltesers. This cake is chocolate suicide on a plate. I stumbled across a photo of this cake whilst browsing cake recipes on the interweb and I knew instantly that I had to make it. Not only did it have freaking KitKats all around it, but I loved how it looked almost geometric. The clean straight lines made by the fingers of each KitKat bar and the mosaic pattern made by the Maltesers on top just really appealed to my inner cake decorator. I set out to think of an appropriate occasion to make this cake. Unfortunately, I don’t know if there will ever be an “appropriate” time to eat a cake that uses 12 chocolate bars and a huge bag of Maltesers. So I decided to make it for no special occasion, but just because I could. I informed a group of friends that I would be coming along one evening with this cake and that we were going to eat it or die trying. The cake itself is my tried and trusted Cake of Death. I don’t think I’ll ever find a chocolate cake recipe that is more moist, delicious, and easy to throw together than this one. It was the obvious choice for this cake and it never fails to please. The chocolate buttercream is adapted from Juniper Cakery. I fell in love with their stunning and creative cakes as soon as I found their website. However, they have a number of helpful tutorials and recipes on their blog as well. This is a half recipe of the one posted and it made more than enough to generously ice this cake. Overall, this cake was so much fun to make! However, it is extremely rich and chocolate and surprisingly tricky to cut up! Also, 12 KitKat bars and a huge bag of Maltesers aren’t the cheapest of baking ingredients, especially on a student budget. This is a cake to make for a special occasion when you truly want to go over the top. Cake of Death makes one 8″ two layer cake - 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour - 2 cups white sugar - 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder - 2 teaspoons baking soda - 1 teaspoon baking powder - 1 teaspoon salt - 2 eggs - 1 cup strong brewed coffee, room temperature - 1 cup buttermilk (add a few tsp of white vinegar or lemon juice to the milk) - 1/2 cup vegetable oil - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease, coat with cocoa powder, and line with baking parhcment two 8 inch round cake pans. - In large bowl combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center. - Add eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Beat for 2 minutes on medium speed. Batter will be thin. Pour into prepared pans. - Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 40-45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and finish cooling on a wire rack. See below for decorating instructions. Makes enough to generously icing a two layer 8″ cake - 375g unsalted butter, softened - 200g icing sugar - 1 tsp vanilla - 200g plain chocolate, chopped - 4 tbsp cocoa - Cream together the softened butter aand the vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add in the icing sugar, mixing on low speed. - Melt the chocolate in the microwave at 20 second intervals, stirring frequently. You can also melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl suspended over simmering water. Set aside to cool slightly. - Pour the colled chocolate into the butter mixture and beat on medium until well in corporated. - Sift in the cocoa powder and beat until thoroughly mixed. Finally, beat the icing on high for 30 seconds. You should have some dreamily smooth chocolate buttercream that is soft but should still hold its shape. You will need: - 12-13 KitKat Bars - 230g Maltesers bag (enough to cover the top with some extras to snack on) - 1 Cake of Death - 1 recipe of chocolate buttercream Helpful but not essential: - cake board - cake turn table - offset spatula - 1m of ribbon - Smear a small bit of icing on the bottom of your cake board/plate. This will help stick the cake to its board. Place the bottom layer domeside up on the centre of the plate. - Spoon a large dollop of icing onto the cake (~3/4 c). Using the offset spatula, spread the icing evenly outwards up to the very edge of the cake. Place the second layer domeside down over the bottom layer. - Optional: crumb coat the cake. I didn’t do that in this cake because I was covering up the surface with the chocolate bars and Maltesers anyways. - Place a huge dollop of icing on the centre of the top layer. Spread it out towards the edge using an offset spatula. Add another spoonful of icing and push this over the edge of the cake. Smooth out the icing around the side of the cake, never letting the offset spatula touch the surface of the cake (this is how you get crumbs mixed in the icing – especially important not to do as I didn’t crumb coat the cake). Repeat so that the whole cake is covered in icing. - Run the offset spatula along the side of the cake to smooth out the icing. Smooth out the icing on the top of the cake as well. - Break the KitKats into two-fingers each and gently press into the side of the cake. Continue doing this until the whole cake is covered. I needed one extra finger to fill the final gap so I ended up using 12 full bars plus 1 finger. - If necessary, add a bit more icing to the top of the cake so that the top of the Maltesers will be level with the top of the KitKat bars. - Arrange the Maltesers in concentric circles around the top of the cake. I had a few extras with the 230g bag I used – perfect for snacking! - If desired, tie a ribbon around the cake and give it a pretty bow. Done! Icing this cake was pretty easy and took less than 20 minutes.

Once again I had a zucchini from the csa to use up and a dessert to bake. This was pretty yummy although it was a bit dry for my liking. Doesn’t streusel usually have butter in it?? Streuseled Zucchini Bundt Cake adapted from lifessimplemeasures 2 c. (about 1-1/2 medium zucchinis) shredded zucchini 8 oz sour cream 3/4 c. sugar 2 egg whites 1/3 c. oil 3 tsp. vanilla extract 3 c. all purpose flour 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1/3 c. packed light brown sugar 1/3 c. chopped walnuts 1/3 c. raisins 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon 3/4 c. powdered sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 to 3 tsp. milk Heat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, beat zucchini, sour cream, sugar, egg whites, egg, oil, and vanilla extract until well blended. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl; gradually beat into zucchini mixture until blended. For streusel, combine brown sugar, walnuts, raisins, and cinnamon; set aside. grease a 10-inch bundt pan. Add a third of the zucchini batter to the pan. Sprinkle half of the streusel mixture over the batter. Top with another third of the batter and sprinkle with remaining streusel mixture. Top with remaining batter. Bake 55 to 65 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pan to wire rack to cool completely. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Drizzle over cake. Holy Moly! Just short of a month with no post….tsk tsk! Needless to say, life has been HECTIC. I have been travelling like an insane person for work, to visit my sweet new nephew, for work…did I already say that?! I have also been sick. I have NO idea what is going on with my throat, ears and, most strangely, my tongue but I can tell you I am REALLY tired of coughing…the bladder doesn’t quite hold up like it used to before I pushed 3 hellions out of my loins! Story for another day, and probably NOT on a food blog 🙂 Luckily, I am home for 3 weeks before I have to travel again but the same can’t be said for Townie. Lucky lady is off to Puerto Rico! Jealous!!! So, you get a post today. MAYBE one later this week and then not again until she gets back because what’s the point in having a partner to compare dinner and desserts with if the partner isn’t around to compare dinner and desserts with?!?! Like many of my cakes, because obviously I have been lacking in the TIME department of late, this is not a from scratch cake. It is Duncan Hines WHITE cake mix. I made it with olive oil, added 1 T of pure vanilla extract and zested an orange into the batter to give it a fresh taste. The filling is purchased from Cake Crafts in Englewood, Colorado. They are just around the corner from the first house my hubby and I purchased. This batch my friend brought to me after she went on a trip over the mountain (a 4 hour drive for us now) but you can order online and they will ship with a minimum purchase. They have a wonderful selection of filling flavors, this being raspberry, and their coconut is AWESOME! Bake cake according to directions, fill with filling, ice with basic buttercream and decorate with fondant. My friend’s daughter wanted bright colors so I, once again, opted for Duff’s because his colors are very bold. This week has been an utter disaster! I sat down to post my cake and was thereafter informed my middle child had lost her math book. Commence tearing apart the house and both vehicles, only to NOT find said math book! Wednesday night was Girl Scout prep night. All the incentives arrived from Girl Scout cookie sales AND the 600 patches I ordered 2 months ago also arrived. I spent HOURS sorting stuff into bags so we can distribute today. It is year end planning time at work, quarter end AND I have both sets of grandparents visiting. So, cake didn’t get posted! This is the cake I made for my math-book-losing child’s First Communion. There is nothing special about this cake. The top is a golden white cake mix, into which I surprisingly did not at add anything special! It is filled and covered with basic buttercream. The bottom is choc cake, chocolate filling, vanilla cake, vanilla filling and choc cake, layered. As mentioned in a past post, I make my chocolate cake with cold coffee instead of water. The fillings in this case are pudding made with 1/2c less milk than required for the PIE filling recipe. The pattern on the buttercream on the top layer is made by lightly pressing a papertowel against the icing after it has crusted over. The bottom tier is circles of fondant, rolled out thin, into assymetrical “petals”. Rosary is yellow died fondant. The gold pieces were made by mixing gold powder with vanilla and painted on. I have done this with silver also…it turns out pretty. I bought a huge bag of Fuji apples at Sams Club this weekend. It was way more apples (HUGE apples) then my family could eat before they go bad. So, I went on the hunt for an apple recipe. I found this recipe. It looked easy enough and I had all the ingredients. It came together easily. Unfortunately, it only took 2 of the apples, I had peeled 4! I don’t think I liked this too much. But, I can’t quite put my finger on why. The kids and hubby all liked it. *The dough for this is VERY sticky. Fresh Apple Cake w/ Brown Sugar Glaze adapted from Lick the Bowl Good - 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour - 1 cup sugar - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice - 2 eggs - 1/2 cup canola oil - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla - 1/2 teaspoon almond exract - 1 1/2 cups finely chopped apples - 1/2 cup pecans, chopped (optional) Brown Sugar Glaze: - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar - 3 Tablespoons butter - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla - 1 Tablespoon heavy cream For the cake: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch pan (round or square) and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice.Stir with a whisk to mix everything together. In a large bowl, mix the eggs with a hand mixer til light in color and foamy. Add the oil, vanilla and almond extract and beat well. Stir in the flour mixture with a spoon and continue stirring the batter til the flour disappears. Add the apples and nuts (if using) and stir to mix them into the batter. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Place the hot cake on a wire cake. While it’s still hot, prepare the glaze. For the glaze: Combine all the ingredients into a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Cook for 3-5 minutes. Spoon the hot glaze over the still hot-from-the-oven cake. Let the glazed cake cool completely before serving straight from the pan. ive made gooey cakes before – but i dont think they ever came out truly right.. this time this gooey butter cake came out right! more than right.. it’s DELICIOUS! its gone already! so good — go make it now 🙂 Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Bars adapted from some kitchen stories 1 box of yellow cake mix (1 pound) 4 ounces of butter, melted 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened 2 cups of powdered sugar 1 tsp. of vanilla extract 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. spray an 8 x 8 inch pan with baking spray. 2. Make the base first: mix together cake mix, butter and 1 egg. 3. Pat into pan, create an even layer. 4. Make the ooey gooey layer: Cream together the cream cheese, 2 eggs, sugar and vanilla. 5. Pour gooey layer over cake layer, spread to edges. 6. Bake for 45 minutes or until edges are golden brown, center should be a creamy yet solid consistency like cheesecake or heaven. 7. Cool completely in pan before cutting with a clean, dry knife. I am getting to the point where maybe Tuesdays don’t work…LOL But, this week I have an emotionally legitimate reason for being late, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with finishing a book or having too much real work to do. I spent most of yesterday afternoon crying and last night drinking wine to get over the crying! My eyes are pretty much puffed shut today, so if there are typos in this post you are just going to have to be more forgiving than my priest was yesterday! 🙂 Way too much personal stuff to go into right now, but know I had every intention of being on time with “Baking Tuesday” and the stars were, once again, just not aligned! Anyway, moving on to more chipper discussion! Our middle child turned 8 this weekend. Holy cow does time fly! She is our animal lover. I think this week was the FIRST time, and I mean EVER, she checked a book out from the library that was NOT about animals. Needless to say, come birthday time, we typically have a living creature of some kind to design. This year was no different. The cat on a huge ball of yarn…hard to not smile! This was Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe French Vanilla cake. Which, to be honest, I love but do NOT suggest if you are attempting to make a ball cake of any kind. It is TOO moist, if there is such a thing. For a ball design, I will use a pound cake next time. The shape is not very forgiving so a more dense cake is needed. The bottom portion of this particular cake is reinforced in ways I just don’t even want to mention! Anyway, I made the cake mix by following the recipe on the box. I used olive oil, as usual and decreased the water by 1/3 cup. In its place I used Cointreau (but Grand Marnier would be just as effective), because the slight orange-y flavor is nice with the strawberries. I chopped some fresh strawberries really fine, almost to mush, and added 1/2c to the cake batter. Bake as directed on the box (or, in my case, longer because of the high altitude). I used cream cheese frosting with some strawberry “mush” added, which I didn’t actually measure because I was just using up what was left from what I prepped to put in the cake. Cover in fondant. This is Duff’s. So, I had the photo and everything ready to go on Tuesday. However, I got sucked into the last half of the 3rd Hunger Games book and couldn’t put it down. (By the way, I read all 3 books between Saturday and Tuesday…needless to say, I was a bit more obsessed with finishing the book than posting a cake!) When I finally finished reading it, at 11pm, I was too tired to post. Then yesterday I was working on a Girl Scout project that needed done before today so by the time that was done, at 11pm, I was too tired to post. So, here it is today! This cake is literally just a boxed fudge cake mix, I think I used Duncan Hines. I don’t have a preference for cake mixes, I just buy what is on sale, because I am going to modify them all anyway. I followed the box recipe but rather than use water I used a pot of coffee. I added some vanilla extract, too. And, as always, I use olive oil with my cake mixes. For the filling I just used Jell-O Chocolate Pudding mix, on the “pie filling” recipe, but decreased the milk by an additional 1/2c (it was the family sized box, the bigger one), so only used 2c of milk. I added a few splashes of almond extract and started building the cake. The butter cream is, once again, Wilton’s. The embellishments are Twizzler’s Cherry Pull N Peel and Mike N Ikes (just the red ones, on the rocket itself….Hot Tamales would work too). A few cake cones and away we go! I made this cake for a friend’s son’s 7th birthday.

program Scent family The International Perfume Museum outside Grasse is an open-air conservatory for fragrant plants and flowers connected to the area’s century-long history of perfumery. Its gardens are planted according to traditional scent families, with florals, herbs, woods and others Oakmoss is a pale-green lichen that grows by symbiosis on the bark of both deciduous trees and conifers, primarily on oaks. It is harvested in cool and damp forested regions in Central Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea. The rootless plant hangs from the trunks and branches in bushy clusters, with a length of about three centimetres. Oakmoss has a deep and earthy scent, with fresh spicy tones and a hint of bark. It has been used in perfumery since the 16th century and is one of the essential ingredients in classic chypre and fougère fragrances, both forest-like with woody accords. Oakmoss is often a counterpoint to floral and citrus notes and, on its own, it is reminiscent of foliage and damp soil. Rosemary is an evergreen shrub, native to Mediterranean coastal areas, with glossy green leaves resembling flat pine needles. Its scent is mild and complex with rich buttery notes contrasted by citrus, mint, pine, and lavender. The plant has been used for thousands of years as a symbol of friendship, fidelity and remembrance. There is a wide spectrum of vetiver scents – from dry, earthy and smoky to moist and clean citrus notes. Its relation to lemongrass is often evident, as is its place in the woods family. Vetiver is a tall tropical grass native to the Indian subcontinent but cultivated today in countries like Haiti, Brazil and Indonesia. The grass is exceptionally resistant and withstands flooding, drought and extreme temperatures. It thrives on marshy riverbeds and because of its dense and fibrous root system, it is often planted to prevent erosion. Vetiver grass has traditionally been used to make cooling curtains and for scenting rooms in hot and humid climates. The fragrance used in perfumery is, however, obtained from its dried roots. The cade juniper grows on rocky scrublands around the Mediterranean. The fragrant wood was burned in ancient religious ceremonies, and is a common ingredient in incense. Cade has a deep and smoky, slightly sweet scent with a dry finish, and belongs to the woods family. The rose geranium is a flowering shrub with velvety leaves, native to South Africa, and belongs to the species of geraniums and pelargoniums. It is a popular houseplant in gardens and on balconies in the eastern Mediterranean region, and in flowerpots in northern climates. It is the leaves and stems that are used for their aromatic properties, not the white and pink flowers. The scent is bright, green and moist; soft and rose-like but with hints of citrus and mint. Rose geranium is an important ingredient in herbal and floral fragrances and has been used in perfumery since the early 19th century, primarily as a substitute for real rose. Scent Baie rose The Peruvian peppertree (Schinus Molle) is an evergreen tree with oily leaves, bright yellow flowers and clusters of pink fruit. The leaves have a peppery scent when crushed, but it’s the fruit that is used as an ingredient in perfumery. Baie rose means ‘pink berry’ in French and although the berries are commonly known as pink peppercorns, they’re not related to pepper. The scent belongs to the floral family and is often used as a top-note ingredient in contemporary fragrances. The mild piquancy of its opening and the slow reveal of its rosy and herbal facets add freshness to classic perfume accords with floral, woody and citrus notes. Native to tropical and subtropical South America, the Peruvian peppertree grows as a shrub in dry elevations near the Equator, but it prefers well-drained soils in full sun where it can reach tree size. It is the leaves and stems that are used for their aromatic properties, not the white and pink flowers. The scent is bright, green and moist; soft and rose-like but with hints of citrus and mint. Rose geranium is an important ingredient in herbal and floral fragrances and has been used in perfumery since the early 19th century, primarily as a substitute for real rose.

When we're in the depths of winter, it's easy to forget how hot it can get in the summer. But learning about how heat affects chickens is a potential life-saver - and it's never too early to start thinking about it. Because the fact is that heat exhaustion and heat stroke are killers which can creep up very quickly if you're not clued into what the signs are. So in this article, we'll look at how you can tell if your flock is becoming badly affected by the heat. From there are some easy steps you can take to make sure that you care for your girls (and boys) equally as well in the heat of summer as the cold of winter. Cold isn't really a problem for chickens - they have feathers to protect them - and tend to do well in the winter - even in very cold climates. But heat can be a very serious issue. It's in those circumstances you should be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and know how to deal with it. Some breeds can deal with extremes of temperature better than others(2). Breeds originating in cooler, more temperate climates have more difficulty in dealing with extremes of temperature. This is an important factor when considering ways of managing heat stress. Older chickens can sometimes adapt if the temperature rise is gradual, but if it's quick they won't be able to. They're likely to suffer most. Heavy breeds will be next in line. Broilers - birds bred for their meat - will show signs of heat exhaustion much more quickly than layers. And broiler chicks (between 6 and 8 weeks old) have been shown to be even more badly affected by heat exhaustion than adults(4). The first and most obvious sign of heat stress. When the environment is hot the chicken needs to lose heat or its body just keeps heating up. The feathers, which are so efficient at keeping warmth in the body in the winter, also prevent heat escaping in the summer. The chicken needs to cool off by evaporation. Because a chicken has no sweat glands, it loses the water from its respiratory system - in other words it pants to keep cool. A panting bird will be very obvious - there is no noise coming from its beak, only moist air. This is related to panting and happens particularly when humidity levels are high. Because the air the hen is breathing out is full of moisture, it becomes harder to expel it if humidity levels are high. To compensate, the hen's breathing increases from about 20 to as much as 240 breaths per minute. This then becomes a kind of vicious circle. As breathing becomes quicker, the bird is using up more energy and that itself produces more heat. So the problem can escalate very, very quickly. This one is the silent killer - it's not something which can be seen, but loss of moisture from the body results in a loss of electrolytes which the chicken needs to remain healthy. Think of them as the energy in the battery which keeps your chicken going - a kind of chicken Gatorade. Depletion of electrolytes can cause the kidneys to malfunction, the immune system to weaken and diseases to take hold - in particular respiratory disease. It also depletes calcium stores, and can create related problems - including soft-shelled eggs (see no. 8 below). For all those reasons - and also because electrolytes can help weak baby chicks - I keep a ready store in my chicken first aid kit and add it to drinking water when temperatures soar. This happens as the bird tries to expose more skin to cooler air, rather than have feathers trap the heat. You'll often see this in hens who are dust-bathing. In lower temperatures birds will just hold the wings out from the body. As temperatures rise it can look as though they're dragging one or both wings on the ground. A panting bird can't eat as much as it should - it's as simple as that. Chickens (like most animals) tend to eat less in hot weather anyway. But watch out for your feed not being used in anything like the same quantities as usual. And keep an eye on individual birds to make sure they're getting some food. In terms of drinking, if you use a product like The Chicken Fountain this won't be an issue since it provides a constant supply of water direct from your mains. But if your waterers are the more usual type then you will see them empty very rapidly. Chickens who are over-heated will drink somewhere between four and five times their usual amount. This is directly related to drinking more - the birds' output is likely to be much more liquidy than usual. Why does this matter? More liquid loss equals yet more electrolyte loss, weakening of the immune system and consequently more susceptibility to disease. It's hardly surprising really, is it? Think about how you feel when the weather is very hot. Your hens are losing electrolytes, not eating much - if anything - and expelling a lot of waste products which are dehydrating them even more. At this point chickens are certainly showing fairly severe symptoms of heat exhaustion. By now, the body's balance is disturbed. Food consumption is down, the chicken is working harder to breathe and expelling more waste products than usual. The body needs to use its own stores of protein, fats and carbohydrates to get by. The hen no longer has enough calcium supplies to lay - or if she does, you'll see the number of thin- or soft-shelled eggs increase. And that, of course, carries its own dangers. Never seen a soft-shelled egg? Here's a short video from a friend of mine, Tim Daniels of PoultryKeeper.com, showing what they look like. By this stage, a chicken will be very severely dehydrated. Immediate action is required if there is to be any hope of saving her. The bird's system is collapsing and death will not be far away. By this stage there is no helping a chicken suffering from heat exhaustion. The loss of water and electrolytes disturbs the chemical balance so badly that the heart and lungs cannot cope and stop functioning. Clearly, your aim is to look for and treat symptoms long before this point is reached. Of course. Here's a quick guide of easy steps to help prevent the problem. 1. Always provide lots of water in different places around your run. 2. Starting the day with a block of ice in the waterer means it will keep the liquid cool longer. 3. Provide lots of shade. Plant trees and, while they're growing, add a tarpaulin to your run where the flock can cool off. 4. Help them keep cool by providing a dust-bathing area. 5. Keep a store of poultry electrolytes. 6. Avoid high protein foods, and do not use Apple Cider Vinegar in the heat. Both increase metabolism and will add to the problem rather than helping it. 7. Provide low fat food with a high water content such as watermelon, and make up some frozen treats to make sure your chickens stay well hydrated. Summer time can bring other problems with our flocks. These articles may help you sort some of them out. Just click on the pics. I make every effort to provide readers of my site with information which has been confirmed by scientific, peer-reviewed research, particularly where health issues are concerned. For this article, some of the most helpful sources are: 1. Borges, S.A., et al: 'Physiological responses of broiler chickens to heat stress and dietary electrolyte balance'. Pub. Oxford Journal of Poultry Science, 2004. 2. Gail Damerow: The Chicken Encycolpaedia: an Illustrated Reference. 3. Rural Chemical Industries Ltd: 'Thermoregulation in poultry'. Pub. Heatstress in Livestock. 4. Tirawattanawanich, C., et al: 'The effects of tropical environmental conditions on the stress and immune responses of commercial broilers, Thai indigenous chickens, and crossbred chickens'. Pub. The Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 2011.

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Location: Billericay Road, Herongate, Essex The Boars Head is a Chef & Brewer pub in Herongate Essex and with its outside garden backing onto a river/lake/pond really is a summer hot spot. I have been here a few times before and always enjoyed the atmosphere and food so was looking forward to going out with MBA and another couple of friends so I had the chance to sample their trio of burgers. MEAT - Was not cooked as requested but still had a nice moist texture throughout. The wild boar was new to me and was the star of the trio and the barbecue relish really complimented this well. Sadly the other two were quite tasteless and lacked seasoning. TOPPINGS - None of the toppings adding anything here, the salad element was poor. SIDES –Tasteless chips served with the burgers and not a great depth of other options. This is a lovely run pub in a great spot and on a summers day or evening there are probably not many better places to be then at this riverside pub. Next time I visit I will go for the wild boar burger and hopefully that can develop on the promise tasted here. Overall Rating 4/10

Pumpkin and carrots get all the attention in the vegetables-for-dessert world. But there are so many other vegetables you can dessertify. To be fair, sometimes zucchini loaf pops in and beets seem to be vying for a spot through certain natural type red velvet cakes. But the options don’t end there. There are many more ways to dessert your vegetables. Butternut squash is practically pumpkin anyway-it's so pumpkiny that it’s most likely been masquerading as the pumpkin purée in the can you used for your last pumpkin pie. Probably. It’s a curcurbita conspiracy. Also, there is really no such thing as a vegetable anyway. A vegetable is just a plant that we eat, that we don't call a fruit or a herb. In fact, loads of them are actually fruit, botanically speaking, just masquerading as vegetables. To confuse things even further, some fruits are not fruits (that interloper rhubarb!) and every plant that we don't call a fruit is either called a vegetable, herb, grain or just not food. So squashes are fruits, so this must be a fruitcake then! In fact they are berries, in the botanical sense, since they have a bunch of seeds in one fruit-body. Anyway, this ramble is just to say that we shouldn’t be too closed-minded about what does and does not belong in a cake. The butternut squash makes for a very moist, but still very fluffy, comforting, Autumnal sort of cake. The cake is probably moist enough that it doesn’t really need a syrup drizzle to keep things tender, but if you are feeling it, a bit of half strength simple syrup (1 part sugar to 2 parts water) with some vanilla and cinnamon wouldn’t hurt anything. Your call. butternut squash cake: adapted from Pastry Affair 4 large eggs 1 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 2 cups butternut squash puree (1 large butternut squash, roasted until very tender, peeled and mashed) 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda ¼ tsp each ground nutmeg, ginger & cloves 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp salt Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 6” cake pans with parchment paper. Beat together the eggs, sugar, oil, butternut squash puree and vanilla until everything is evenly incorporated. Add in all remaining ingredients and mix until smooth. Portion about ⅔ of the batter into the two prepared pans. Reserve the rest for later or make a few cupcake. Uncooked batter freezes really well. Bake about 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pans at room temperature or in the fridge. whipped cream cheese frosting: adapted from Just a Taste 2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, at room temperature 1 cup powdered sugar 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 1/3 cups cold heavy whipping cream In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese until soft. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until well incorporated. Whisking at a medium-high speed, pour whipping cream into mixer bowl in a slow stream. Frosting should become very fluffy. Trim cakes as required to flatten and level the tops. If using, drizzle syrup generously over the cake layers and let soak in for a couple minutes. Place one cake layer on a 6" cake board if you have it, or a flat plate or cake stand. Cover cake with a very generous layer of frosting. Sandwich next cake layer on top and frost cake quickly all over with an offset spatula, making sure to cover all exposed cake. Chill in the fridge for 15-20 minutes and then frost with another layer of frosting. Use a bench scraper at a 90 degree angle to tidy up the sides, evenly turning the cake as you hold the bench scraper and add more frosting to fill up any holes or crannies. Decorate with sprinkles if your heart is full of childlike wonder, or leave plain if you prefer a stark, cold, brutalist cake to help you to steel yourself to the cold grey winter to come.

Sigh! my photos are traveling, lost somewhere in the blogosphere, so here's a placeholder; a post with a not-so-wonderful scone from Tim Hortons. Updates to come whenever I track down those pesky traveling photos. It's HOT outside, the air conditioner has been going full blast... and I'm baking scones?! What's up with that? Typically we don't love scones, often finding them too dry and crumbly, not as tasty as sweet or savory drop biscuits. But the second week of August is unofficially International Scone Week, a tradition begun by Celia in 2011 (link), now hosted by Tandy at Lavender and Lime, and I couldn't resist an early morning bake. Good decision, since this small batch of Apple Buttermilk Scones was a winner. The scones sported a toothsome crispy crust and a meltingly tender interior, more reminiscent of an apple cake or quickbread rather than my (obviously incorrect) memories of dry, disappointing scones. While the glaze was a tasty addition, it wasn't necessary... especially since RL added butter and jam to each split half. Half-batch baking provided breakfast and a shared snack later in the morning, with no pesky leftover scones to dry out on counters or fridge. Thanks, Tandy, for nudging me into baking this delicious taste treat. The base recipe came from Jen at bakedbyanintrovert, click here for her original full-batch recipe. Below is my slightly adjusted, half-batch version for #ISW2018. Apple Buttermilk Sconesyields 4 fat scones - 1 and 3/8 cups all-purpose flour - 1/4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed - 1/2 tablespoon baking powder - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1 and 1/2 teaspoon Penzey's Apple Pie Spice - 2 tablespoons buttermilk powder - 1/4 cup chilled or frozen butter, grated - 3/4 cup chopped fresh apple, unpeeled 1/2" pieces - 1/2 cup milk - 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract - 1 tablespoon heavy cream - 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar For the glaze (optional) - 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar - 1-2 tablespoons apple juice - Whisk or sift the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, Apple Pie Spice and buttermilk powder together. Add the chilled, grated butter into the flour mix and combine using your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. - Gently fold in the apples. Whisk the vanilla and the milk together and gradually add half of it to the flour mixture. Stir just until the dough comes together. Add more milk as needed. a little at a time until the mixture is moist but not too wet. Do not over mix the dough. Place the bowl of dough in the freezer while you place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 F. - When the oven reaches 400 F, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and gently knead the dough four or five times. Pat the dough into a square and cut from corner to corner into four triangles. Arrange the scones 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper. - Lightly brush the top of each scone with heavy cream. Sprinkle lightly with vanilla sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool and drizzle with glaze.Optional Glaze: Sift powdered sugar into a small bowl; whisk or stir in apple juice in small amounts until desired consistency.Note: One scone is very filling so next time I will use the half-batch recipe to create 8 smaller scones.(and then eat 2 of them, no doubt).

Also known as raspberries or strawberries, road rash wounds are a type of skin abrasion. Most road rash wounds are minor injuries that you can easily treat at home if you know the right steps to take. Here’s your quick guide to road rash: What is road rash? Caused by an unfortunate run-in with a rough surface, road rash occurs when a layer of skin is scraped away from the body. Road rash injuries commonly result from falls when biking, skateboarding or running outside. Severe injuries that rip away multiple layers of tissue may require skin grafting surgery to repair the damage. However, minor road rash should heal within two weeks with proper treatment, according to UW Health. What are the symptoms? The affected skin will look red and raw, with bleeding possible depending on the injury. Verywell Health noted that road rash is generally very painful. However, the deepest parts of the road rash may lose feeling if the wound damaged the nerve cells. How can you treat road rash at home? Follow these road rash treatment steps to promote fast healing: - Wash your hands. Dirt, bacteria or other substances on your hands can cause infection so be sure to cleanse them before touching the road rash. - Clean the affected area. Use mild soap and water to wash away dirt and other debris. Healthline noted that you should avoid scrubbing or applying excess pressure because it could cause additional damage or bleeding. Use sanitized tweezers to remove any remaining grass, rock, dirt or other debris. - Apply an antibiotic ointment. Carefully rub an antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin, over the affected area to prevent bacteria from infecting the wound. - Cover the road rash. Dress the injury with sterile gauze, securing it with medical tape. - Change the dressing once a day. Repeat these steps each day to keep the wound clean and moist. Healthline advised seeking medical attention in the following circumstances: - Muscle or bone is visible. - A large object is embedded in the wound. - The road rash covers a large surface area, such as an entire limb. - The wound will not stop bleeding. - There are signs of infection, such as pus, drainage, redness, swelling and increased pain. In the event that your road rash requires more serious medical attention, talk to your doctor about smartPAC by Advanced Tissue. We’ll send your prescribed treatment supplies straight to your front door, complete with single-dose packaging and custom video tutorials for easy at-home wound care.

Having your carpets cleaned is really a task that normally falls into exactly the identical class as spring cleaning: not enjoyable to do but necessary, and ought to occur at the exact identical degree of frequency. Most carpet owners, however, will only have their carpets cleaned after every few years (and some perhaps not even that). Carpet cleaning is not just vital for eliminating stains. Getting your carpeting cleaned prolong and will enhance the performance of your carpet.Residential Flooring Care How Often Should You Wash Your Carpet? To keep your carpet looking and performing well for as long as you can, producers recommend having your carpet cleaned based on the amount of traffic in your property. In actuality, such regular cleaning is a requirement of several warranties–be certain to carefully examine your warranty details.Hard Surface Cleaning Fayetteville NC It is particularly true in the event of nylon carpets, while cleaning is essential for all kinds of carpet. Nylon contains a hydrogen molecule. This is the supply of the resiliency of nylon. Cleaning reactivates the hydrogen molecule, causing the fibers to bounce back when the fibers have been flattened down due to foot traffic. The carpeting will be actually revived by the cleansing and enhance performance. SPONSORED BY Goal Celebrate the Season Your home is started in by the wonder of the vacations. Fill it with meaningful time spent with family & friends & customs. These moments are what inspired the holiday set from Hearth & Hand. Hot Water Heater and So-Called”Steam Cleaning” The procedure of carpet cleaning recommended by most carpet makers is hot water extraction, and it is more commonly (though marginally incorrectly) known as steam cleaning. In the hot water extraction process, warm water is essentially sprayed the carpet and then sucked back into the system. A cleaning option is added to aid in the removal of soiling and stains.Revitalize your Carpet by cleaning it This differs from the process of steam cleaning that is authentic. But today it is widely accepted that the term steam cleaning actually refers the most typical carpet cleaning procedure, to warm water extraction. Carpet cleaner Charlotte Professional Carpet Steam Cleaning Professional cleaners can work with either a truck-mounted device or a machine that is mobile. The portable machine has obvious benefits, such as having the capability to be utilised in units that could otherwise be beyond the reach of the hose of a truck-mounted unit in condominium and apartment buildings. But, truck-mounted units are more effective than mobile units and must be used whenever possible for maximum efficiency. Carpet cleaning Durham DIY Carpet Steam Cleaning There’s an abundance of home improvement (DIY) steam cleaning machines out there for either rent or buy. With so many different machines available on the marketplace, it may lead one to wonder if you need to skip calling from the professionals and just tackle the job yourself. If your family is more prone a cleaner could be a worthwhile purchase. But for more general cleansing of your carpet surface, it is highly advised to have an expert come to do it. Risks of DIY Carpet Cleaning Raleigh NC Generally, the water don’t heating as machines, which leads to less powerful cleaning to the high temperature. In addition, these machines are not as successful as the ones professionals utilize, which means that they are unable to extract up to their water (and so dirt) in the carpeting. When done, the carpet should be only slightly moist after it has been thoroughly cleaned. Wet carpet signals that the machine wasn’t powerful enough to do the work effectively. If a carpet is moist after cleansing, use the drying to hasten, and make sure you remain off it before it’s dry. Don’t replace the furniture before the carpet is dry. Other variables–like the sum of cleaner included into the machine and the technique for utilizing the machine i.e. the way fast/slow to move upon the carpeting –present several chances for things to go wrong with DIY machines at least not and with specialist cleaners. Carpet repair fayetteville NC If you’re worried about the cost of having an expert come to clean your carpeting, think about having only the”traffic places” cleaned. It follows that your big parts of furniture, like the sofa, bed, etc., are left in position and the cleaner simply goes round them. Not only does one not see the carpet under these big pieces of furniture, however it is not exposed to the atmosphere, light, and foot traffic the way that the remainder of your carpet is therefore it is reasonable it does not require cleaning as often. Carpet cleaning wilmington nc If your furniture move around, it would probably be best to possess the surface. Having the traffic areas done should help save you a bit of money versus cleaning the whole area. To be able to profit that a rug has more than flooring covering, it needs to be properly cleaned and maintained. It’s no wonder that carpet manufacturers suggest a professional carpet or you can have your warranty void. You can just get results with DIY cleaning that utilizes a compact vacuum cleaner. It is suggested to get your carpets cleaned at 12-18 months interval as minimum. (If you have high traffic, then it should be more frequent.) Carpets contribute greatly to your residence or office health since it’s perfect for trapping airborne contaminants. Each day, our house is under attack from pitch, body oils, skin scales, insect parts and a host of that finally settles down to a carpet’s fibers. All these can NOT be removed with a DIY carpet cleaning machine if you have one of these plush carpets. Your carpet can be under duress from spills such as capsules, oatmeal, coffee and other drinks. It may be sprinkled from the humans and pets which lead to scents and stains to emit with excreta. Because of the nature of carpet cleaners that were portable, it’s frequently required by carpet producers to get your carpets cleaned with expert carpet. Here are a couple of reasons why it’s vital to use a expert cleaner that is certified. Small portable cleaning machines can not eliminate stubborn stains; they can’t beat the power of truck bracket machines that generate a lot more heat and vacuum cleaner. Professionals know the difference between every kind of carpet and the way to handle every kind. They also take on what’s necessary to be able to clean your carpets 15, steps. They are knowledgeable regarding different stains and how to manage them. They know which compounds to use without harming your precious carpets. For the roughest deep rooted stains, only a specialist cleaner with the ideal equipment can completely remove them. They’re trained with the procedures and the way to process for each kind of carpet fibers. With the appropriate use of specialized gear they could hasten the drying times of the carpet. Professional cleansers will only use approved substances that will not harm or cause negative outcomes after cleanup. They’re insured, bonded and fully certified so you don’t have a thing to worry about when accident happens inside your home. Carpet cleaners will also be certified, which requires them to experience training of their very rigorous form by an authoritative carpeting cleaning company. They understand how to protect and create your carpets stay cleaner longer. They will always offer a guarantee on their work. Ablejan Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning was cleaning carpet and upholstery from Lehi, Utah. That’s thirteen decades of trustworthy and dedication customer services. You can trust us to receive the most effective carpet cleaning at an inexpensive price.

The good news is, we actually don't need to clean the vagina per se, because vaginas have wonderful self regulation and cleaning abilities! The pH environment of the vagina is acidic, and that makes it hard for bad bacteria to thrive. What we do need to do, to ensure a clean vagina environment, is to clean the area around the vagina (the vulva) and the anal region. Let’s dive straight in and get started! 1. Now the skin around the vagina is sensitive, so most experts recommend the best way to clean it is just washing with plain water. For those who feel squeamish or prefer to use soaps, unscented soaps are recommended to prevent irritation to the sensitive skin. As soaps are generally alkaline, too much of it and vigorous washing can actually disturb the delicate pH balance, resulting in possible infections. 2. For those who are used to washing with sponges or washcloth, consider using your hands instead because 1) you may be washing more vigorously than what your delicate skin can take, 2) bacteria and mold can grow in sponges and washcloths if they are not properly aired and dried. If you prefer to use unscented soap, experts suggest not to use soap to wash the vaginal area more than once a day for the same reasons why they think soap is unnecessary. 3. So, about the actual washing process – Wash your hands clean first. Then make sure to gently clean between the folds of the labia. The labia are folds of skins that surround and protect the clitoris, urethra and vagina opening. Just like every part of your body that sheds dead skin, the vulva also sheds dead skin and sometimes vaginal discharge can also be found lurking between the folds. Just give it a good gentle rub to rub away the debris and do not use your fingernails to dig! Nasty stuff can hide under the nails and we certainly do not to break the surface of the sensitive vulva skin and introduce possible infections. 4. During shower, most people tend to wash their nether regions at one go. It is recommended to wash the vulva area first, before proceeding to the anal region. This is so that we do not accidentally introduce bacteria from the anus to the vagina. 5. Likewise, when wiping dry, wipe from front to back. Anatomically speaking, while it is more easy to wipe from back to front, the inherent risk of introducing the bacteria environment in the anal region which is totally different from the vagina, is totally worth the effort in changing your habit. 6. Another thing that most experts recommend to avoid, other than those scented, beaded shower gels/soap, is douching. I cannot stress the importance of avoiding douching. Douching will tamper with the internal pH environment of your vagina, destabilizing the peaceful balance of microbiota that exists within. Our vagina is made to self regulate and self clean. Please trust the wisdom of our body to know what to do. It took me years to recover from the foolish mistakes of douching in my younger days to regain some semblance of balance within my vagina. I truly believe my odors from infections worsened after I started douching. The temporary relief of psychologically perceived cleanliness from douching is so NOT worth it. In the spirit of prevention is better than cure, here are a couple more things to remember that can help maintain the vaginal health. - Do remember to remove and change your pads/tampons/menstrual cup regularly when on your period. - Wear breathable underwear and loose clothing to allow good airflow. Bacteria thrive in moist and humid conditions. - For sexy fun times, it is strongly recommended for your partner to switch condoms for each region if both of you are enjoying both anal and vaginal penetration. It follows the same rationale as points 5 and 6. - Also, remembering to sterilize your sex toys/gadgets after usage is very important too. You can have fun and still stay safe. Remember, prevention is always better than cure!

GEO Bambi Chocolate colored contacts lenses is diamond dark brown color which is best for our daily life like party and some special occasion, With this lenses makes you more sex and elegant in party or outdoor activities. Applicable for all people! The actual color is the picture without eye,The actual color effect depends on the customer's eye color. - Embedded coloring process - preventing pigment from adhering to cornea The pigment doesn't contact cornea directly/ rest assured use. - UV protection function - protecting the health of pupil Isolating effectively the ultraviolet light that causes cataract and other eye diseases/ giving your eyes more protection. - Smooth edge design - comfortable feeling Smooth edge is designed for real pupil. Natural and comfortable/ and no foreign body sensation. - Non-ionic raw material - against stains Protein and other stains are not easy to attach/ keeping your eyes moist all day. -Yearly use - effectively preserve moisture for one year Water content: 38%~45% Base curve: 8.5mm~8.6mm Period of use: 12 months Packaging: 1 Pair(2 lenses) |5-14 DAYS||Delivery Time (Natural Days) Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Netherlands,United States, Spain, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Austria, Japan, Belgium, India, Ireland, Turkey, Portugal, Czech Republic, Serbia, Nigeria, Luxembourg, Thailand, Malta, Estonia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Oman, Azerbaijan, Iceland, Albania， New Zealand, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Switzerland, Denmark, Croatia, Canada|

Fans Show Us Their Guilty Food Pleasures: All About Sandwiches A far cry from ordinary PB&Js, the next-level sandwiches popping up at restaurants across the country are no longer relegated to combinations of squishy bread and moist cold cuts; instead they're piled high with everything from runny egg yolks to pickled vegetables. On yesterday's brand-new episode of Guilty Pleasures, Rachael Ray and Curtis Stone faced off in a battle of the between-bread beauties: She showed off one craveworthy selection featuring a heaping helping of french fries in the middle, and he opted for another creation, which came compete with seemingly all of the Italian meats at the deli. Recently Food Network asked you to tell us about your best-ever sandwich eats, and in true superfan fashion, you delivered in droves, with comments and photos of piled-high plates that range from wake-up-worthy breakfast bites to a super-meaty selection. When it comes to all things on bread, there's no denying you all know how to indulge. Keep scrolling below to see FN Dish's favorite selections. @thecommunityplate has dubbed the turkey-arugula sandwich pictured above "'drool-worthy,'" and we're quick to agree. Bonus: There's a layer of smoked Gouda in there for indulgent gooiness. Not just for lunch, sandwiches can be devoured in the morning hours, too, like @thomastank34 proves with this breakfast beauty stuffed with corned beef and hash. The sweet and savory worlds collide into one over-the-top sandwich from @silvergrillcafe. This "Monti Cristo" features a cinnamon roll in the style of French toast, and it's layered with deli selects like ham, bacon and Swiss for a meaty bite. Sandwiches come in all shapes and sizes, including open-faced varieties, like these topped slices from @amishah00. It looks like Thanksgiving has come early for @realtoneedmonds, who stuffed leftovers of the all-American meal between two pieces of bread for an overflowing sandwich. Tune in to an all-new episode of Guilty Pleasures next Monday at 10|9c.

Banila Co Clean It Zero Choose a variant Heralded as one of Allure Magazine's (Korea) Editor's Picks, this award-winning hypoallergenic cleansing cream has finally hit our stores. This unique product applies as a solid balm and then transforms into a silky oil on the skin as you massage the product on your skin. Dissolving the most stubborn makeup and removing any impurities from your skin while keeping your skin's essential oils in tact. Formulated with various Extracts and Vitamins like Papaya Extract and Vitamin C, your skin will feel clean, smooth, and radiant. How To Use: Using the provided spatula, scoop a small amount and place on the back of your hand. Then using your ring finger take the product from the back of your hand and dab onto a dry face and massage in up and outward motions. Rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry for moisture retention. Mineral Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-10 Isostearate, Polyethylene, Butylene Glycol,Purified Water, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Viscum album (Mistletoe) leaf extract), Papaya Fruit Extract, amaranth, sunset yellow FCF, Spice Reviews for Banila Co Clean It Zero The only makeup remover you need!! Honestly I was a bit skeptical of this product cause I wasn't entirely sure if it could take off LONG LASTING makeup like Kat Von D's tattoo liner but it did!! Basically take a bit of the remover and apply it onto DRY face and start massaging and you'll see everything come off and then just rinse your face. Don't use too much tho cause a little goes a long way and the more you use the less effective it is. And don't worry about the packaging in a tub because they give you a little scoop in the tub to scoop out the product! :) AND IT SMELLS GOOD TOO!! It also leaves your face feeling soft and supple and doesn't strip your face of its moisture as well! I personally am still using this and will definitely repurchase!View Review Works better than it looks! This product is really easy to use, just scoop a small amount, massage gently on your face and the makeup comes off really easily! The best part is, it works really well for waterproof makeup, and does not dry out your skin! As I usually wear waterproof mascara, removing it can be a real chore, especially when you really want to sleep immediately after returning home. Banila Co Clean It Zero is a lifesaver. Definitely a must have item for women who want to remove their makeup quickly but effectively.View Review Fuss-free & Easy! I love this product! I had the green one and this, but I gravitate to this more often. This smells nice, and the balm is a very moist thick texture. When placed all over the skin to remove makeup or impurities, it'll melt nicely and it's gentle on the skin! I have oily skin, and thus far there is no problem whatsoever with this remover. Highly recommend to the oily peeps out there, all the dirty grimes are off in just a few rubs, this product even works awesomely with waterproof mascara! *Best to use the mini scoop that comes with the product to scoop out the product so it'll not be infested with bacteria!View Review Good make-up removal It's like a lip balm for me with the texture is soft, changing to oil when you apply on face. Most of the time, I will rub it over the face in circular motion, the make-up and impurities are removed effectively. The scent is bearable and its design of packaging is very thoughtful of hygiene in which a spatula is given with a cover separating the formula too. After that, I still use facial cleanser to wash the face. This large packaging could last for quite a long time (almost up to 4 months for user like me (Light makeup application).View Review This pot of cleanser is so gentle yet effective! The cleansing power of this is impeccable, it is able to remove most of the makeup from my face, even waterproof ones! I love how it deep cleanses without stripping the moisture layer off my face, my face feels really supple and soft after use. I only need a pea size amount of product each time, so a little goes a long way! Highly recommended for all skin types!View Review

Easy and quick to make with only 6 ingredients! Fluffy, light and moist grain free English scones – best enjoyed with strawberries and cream. Perfect for low carb and keto diets. Decluttering, guys. It’s wonderful! I’m moving house next week, which means that my place looks like a bomb site (orderly chaos, but you get the picture). Everything has been pulled out of the attic. No pictures on the walls. There are boxes everywhere. There has been one major silver lining amidst this mother-load of extra work: getting rid of unnecessary stuff. Over the last few weeks I have been collecting bags and bags of children’s clothes, books we never really liked, toys and bric-a-brac and shipped it off to local charity shops. Living lighter feels goooood! I kind of feel like telling the movers to take the rest away and keep it. And I can begin a totally clutter-free, minimalist and totally zen existence. My kitchen is the only safe zone left in the house. It looks untouched, normal, box-free – for now. So, to distract myself from packing, I decided to treat us to some proper English scones – healthified, naturally. Easier said than done! My first specimen were so hard you could have used them as cannonballs. Edible, but definitely not shareable. I changed the quantities here and there, and my second attempt was the bulls-eye (lucky that, because I would not have had time nor the energy for a third attempt). Say hello to the fluffiest and deliciously moist grain free English scones! The key to success here is to work cold butter into the almonds – I did this with my fingers, which was kind of fun. Then I added the egg and mixed with a fork until everything was just combined. The first time round I had just chucked all ingredients into a food processor and ended up with a heavy clump of dough that had not an iota of air left in it. I recommend you cool the dough in the fridge before forming the scones and baking them. This is something I was actually too impatient to do myself. I believe if you cool the dough the scones will retain their disk shape better when you bake them. Mine lost their perfectly sharp sides and spread out a little bit. If you’re busy packing like me and don’t mind, by all means, skip this step. We ate these grain free English scones with whipped double (heavy) cream and sliced strawberries. They would also be great with sugar free jam – I don’t have a sugar free strawberry jam recipe in my repertoire yet, buy you could have them with my raspberry vanilla chia jam or this sugar free blueberry jam. Fun fact: According to the Webster’s Dictionary, scones were invented in Scotland in the 16th century. They became popular as a tea time treat through Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, who loved them so much she rang for them every afternoon a 4 pm. No time for high tea? Grain free English scones can, naturally, also be enjoyed for breakfast. Grain Free English Scones - 250 g / 2 1/2 cups almond flour NOT super-fine (to my UK readers - ground almonds work fine here) - 60 g / 1/4 cup cold butter, unsalted - 45 g / 1/4 cup granulated sweetener - 2 tbsp thick double/heavy cream - 1 medium egg - 2 tsp baking powder - 1 tsp xanthan gum optional - optional: 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean powder - Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Cut your butter into little cubes and work it into the almond flour, rubbing with your hands, until the butter cubes are gone and the mixture resembles crumbles. - Add the double cream and the egg. Mix with a fork until combined. - Form a big ball, cover with cling film and let the dough chill in the fridge for 20 minutes. - Preheat the oven to 180 Celsius/350 Fahrenheit. - Form 8 balls with your hands (mine weighed around 50g each) and flatten until they resemble fat discs. - Bake on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for ca 18 minutes or until lightly browned. - Let the scones cool down before cutting. They are a little more crumbly and delicate than regular wheat scones. That's why I used a smooth (not a serrated) knife for cutting. - Fill with whipped double cream and sliced strawberries or sugar free strawberry jam. I calculated the nutrition info for 1 scone without filling (cream/jam/strawberries). My scones weighed around 50g each. The scones in the images are made with ground almonds, which is equivalent to regular / coarser almond flour in the US. If you want to use super-fine almond flour, I suggest you reduce the amount of almond flour by 1/4 cup as super-fine almond flour absorbs more liquid. The xanthan gum is optional - it gives baked goods a stronger crumb structure. The scones in the images are baked without. If you don't use xanthan gum, definitely wait until the scones are fully cooled before you cut them. This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and purchase a product within a certain time frame, I will receive a small commission – at no extra cost to you. This money helps me with the running of the site.

Why eat sprouted organic unpasteurized nuts? (NaturalHealth365) It’s convenient to head to your local grocery store when you want a nutty snack. Many companies offer roasted, salted, and sweetened varieties of our favorite nuts, like almonds and cashews. They have a great flavor and texture, but like most foods that come prepackaged, they aren’t the best for us. The problem with conventional nuts found in most stores are processed as quickly and cheaply as possible, to get the greatest volume out to the consumer. Growing practices currently used for industrial nut production focus heavily on pesticide use, and do not care for the soil and trees that generate what should be highly nutritious foods. Don’t settle for cancer-causing foods that destroy immune function Because the danger of pesticide use is often downplayed in the mainstream media outlets, let me reiterate that pesticide consumption has been linked to various cancers, digestive disorders, fetal development disorders, neurological problems, and hormone dysregulation. This doesn’t even include the harm pesticides do to the ecosystem, especially the devastation to the bee colonies. Just take a look at what some of our favorite nut snacks are treated with: (conventionally) • Almonds – Piperonyl butoxide, chlorpyrifos, methoxyfenozide, phosmet, MGK-264, dichlorvos • Cashews – Endosulfan • Pistachios – Phosmat, glyphosate • Walnuts – 1,3-Dichloropropene, glyphosate, chloropicrin, phosmet • Macadamias – Endosulfan • Pecans – Endosulfan, phosmat • Sunflower Seeds (Not actually a nut, I know) – Various neonicotinoids • Peanuts (Also not actually a nut) – Piperonyl butoxide, DDE p,p’, quintozene (PCNB) Why non-organic nuts are dangerous for human health Nuts are essentially protein and fat, with a tiny bit of carbohydrate. Since they are so high in fats, they absorb pesticides and other chemicals very easily. These treatments become part of the nut itself, and there is no way to wash them off. Did you know? The liver is the most important detoxifying organ in the body. When the liver can’t effectively neutralize and dispose of toxins, they accumulate in the body. Two essential nutrients for healthy liver function are milk thistle and glutathione. These two ingredients - plus much more – are now available in an advanced liver support formula. Click here to learn more. Once these fats begin to be broken down in the body, they can overload the liver, and be shuffled into our own fat cells, where they are stored away from our vital organs. In this way, they are less immediately damaging, but instead are slowly released to hopefully be removed, though they cause significant inflammation and toxicity through the process. A serious warning about the phytic acid in mass-produced nuts This compound naturally occurs in all nuts and seeds, and it’s an enzyme inhibitor. It also prevents the absorption of minerals, such as iron, zinc, and calcium. It’s a form of poison that the plants use to deter getting eaten in the wild. Mass produced nuts and seeds do not account for this, and they do not take any action to reduce the amount of phytic acid in their products, so it all gets passed along to you. When phytic acid is broken down, not only do we have improved nutrition from the nuts we are eating, we eliminate the digestive distress that phytic acid can cause. Its breakdown also releases the phosphorous that is locked up in the phytic acid, adding another mineral that our bodies need. How do we avoid the problem of phytic acid? The best way to break down phytic acid is by water-soaking, followed by sprouting. Living, raw, organic nuts should be soaked in water for between 8-24 hours. After this, they are drained and rinsed, and left moist for about 2 more days, including a few more rounds of rinsing to make sure they stay a bit wet. This initiates the growth phase in the nuts, and seeds, nearly eliminating the phytic acid, and making all the other vitamins and minerals far easier to absorb when eaten. It’s impossible to soak and sprout conventional, mass-produced nuts In reality, large companies must roast or pasteurize all the nuts they sell to meet FDA requirements. So the nuts you see on your grocery store shelves have essentially become a dead food. You can soak them, but they will never sprout, and the resulting texture may become unpleasant. Nuts and seeds can be a healthy and nutritious part of your diet. The devastating use of pesticides and other chemicals, as well as the hasty production techniques used for mass production turn these crunchy little gems into bite-sized toxic bombs. As with all of our food choices, quality is the most important factor in how each food impacts our health, and it’s easier to choose items that have been grown, harvested, and prepared in ways that are compatible with our own biology. About the author: Seth Leaf Pruzansky is co-owner of Living Nutz, a certified organic and sprouted nut raw food snack company. Food & Nutrition Natural Health 365 Natural Health 365 is a premium source of trending and popular health-related news, science, testimony & research articles on the most up to date and relevant natural health information. The Food & Nutrition articles found herein are meant to inform and advise our site visitors on eating healthy, nutritious foods and safely using supplements and vitamins to achieve optimal health. Join thousands of daily visitors staying informed and involved on Natural Health 365! We seek out scientific solutions with proven results and it is our mission to keep you informed! Articles range in topic from the cancer fighting qualities of Olive Oil, to the remarkably high concentration of anti-oxidants found in blueberries, to how to make your own almond milk, to a nutritional comparison of organic vs conventional produce, to an analysis of the health benefits of tree nuts. You can find all of the Food News Articles here Read Some of Our Most Popular Articles Artichokes, Olive Oil, Almond Milk, Blueberries More Food & Nutrition Articles Fresh Organic Produce Fights Cancer, Susan G. Komen on Organic Foods, Hemp Seeds for Inflammation, Pau D’Arco For Improved Immunity In addition to exploring health benefits of certain foods, vitamins and supplements, we also aim to connect healthy eating and balanced consumption of dietary supplements to long-lasting health and adding healthy, happy years to your life. For example, did you know that eating Granny Smith Apples on a regular basis can reduce your chance of building up unhealthy gut yeast? Or that ingesting ground hemp seeds can significantly reduce inflammation throughout the body? Perhaps you didn’t know that Fresh Organic Produce has been found to have higher concentrations of key, cancer-fighting anti-oxidants and vitamins than conventional produce? You can find all of that information and more right here on Natural Health 365. We’d love to know what you’re thinking! Please join the conversation on Facebook, post comments here on the website and feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. Please use and share the articles you find here with your friends, family and peers.

The trick to biological farming is knowing how to manage weeds. “Manage” does NOT mean “kill”. Internet trolls are bombarding my e-mail box with comments like: “You can’t plant crops in weeds! That’s why they invented tractors”. Horse power is irrelevant and yes, you can plant crops in weeds: I manage 90,000 acres without herbicides or mechanical cultivation. Here is how I do it: (1) Manage Weeds as Cover Crops. Think of weeds as a multi-species cover crop that costs nothing to seed. This will save you about $40 per acre, right off the bat. $40 x 90,000 acres = $3,600,000. We are not talking tree-hugging here. This is serious agronomy. Grow weeds to protect your top soil. A typical corn-soybean farmer in Iowa loses 2 1/2% of his land yearly = 20 tons of earth per acre = $450 per acre at $22.50 per ton (U.S. average top soil price, delivered). Weeds have value. If you don’t have enough weeds for a winter cover crop, seed 3 to 4 bushels of oats per acre. Oat roots prevent soil erosion over winter. Oats winterkill so no herbicides are needed. Surface trash is minimal and will not interfere with conventional planting equipment. (2) RULE: Keep Fields Green. Photosynthesis is the process where plants use water, air and sunlight to make sugar. More photosynthesis = more sugar = more plant growth = higher yields. Bare fields are not profitable. Smart farmers keep their soil covered with growing plants year-round. Plant cash crops whenever possible. Sow cover crops for mulch or fertilizer. Seed weeds when there is no time or money to grow anything else. The goal of biological farming is to produce the most possible organic matter per square foot. Grow anything rather than leave soil bare. The underlying principle of biological weed control is plant competition. Keep the ground covered with growing crops year-round and weeds do not have a chance to get established. Never leave the soil bare, not even for a single day. For example: Plant winter wheat into standing Dutch White Clover (Trifolium repens) using no-till equipment. Next summer, harvest wheat then immediately (the same day) plant turnips into wheat stubble and clover living mulch. Field stays green year-round. Weeds cannot grow because they are constantly shaded by competing plants. (3) Sow Weed Seeds. If you have tired, sick or dead ground, or no top soil, go to your nearest grain elevator and fill your truck with weed seeds. These are usually free. Some elevators charge a nominal fee for “elevator screenings” which contain many weed seeds. Sow liberally, at least 40 pounds per acre. Prepare for amazement. Weeds are Nature’s Band-Aid, a fast growing cover crop evolved specifically to heal bare earth. On steep slopes or mine reclamation sites, spread straw or spoiled hay mulch to protect germinating weeds. (4) Fertilize and Water Your Weeds. Every time I say this, half my audience leaves the room. No, I am not crazy. Yes, I do know what I am talking about. I farm without any government subsidies and each acre earns substantial profit. It pays to feed and irrigate weeds (if possible). Remember: Weeds are a cover crop. You want every field blanketed with a luxuriant jungle of weeds at least 6 feet high. So water and fertilize as needed, and do not worry about what your neighbors say. Farming is not about yields; farming is about the bottom line. Weeds put money in your pocket. (5) Feed the Weeds and the Weeds will Feed Your Crops. Weeds have enormous root systems in proportion to their stems and leaves. Many weeds also have tap roots that plunge deep into the subsoil. Translation: Weeds are great at scavenging nutrients that would otherwise leach away. Weeds have quick growth response to plant food so a little fertilizer goes a long way. A few pounds of nitrogen create a vast jungle of vegetation that makes good mulch and fertilizer. The average weed contains twice the nutrients of an equal weight of cow manure. Broad leaf weeds rot quickly so fertilizer elements are rapidly recycled for crop use. Plant crops and weeds together and yields often increase. The reason is ecologic synergy = plant symbiosis. Weeds both compete AND cooperate with neighboring plants. Water and nutrients are shared so crops and weeds grow better. I learned this lesson farming melons. The best fruits came from the weediest fields. So I started planting melons into weeds. The weeds provided light shade and the melons followed weed roots down into moist subsoil. Come drought and clean cultivated fields produced little or no crop. Melons and weeds yielded fair crops. Irrigated melons and weeds overfilled my trucks with fruit. Think about this the next time you buy a drum of herbicide. (6) Use Weed Seed Meal Fertilizer. How would you like to slash fertilizer costs? Get weed seeds or screenings from your local elevator. Grind them with a hammer mill or roller mill. Broadcast 4 tons per acre or drop 10 pounds per 25 feet of row. Unlike chemical fertilizers weed seed meal will not burn crop roots so you can hurl nutrients with wild abandon. If you do not have any weed seeds, use any other waste seed like spoiled corn, brewer’s grain, or broken soy beans. To use LIVE weed seeds as fertilizer broadcast seeds into a standing cover crop like Red Clover (Trifolium pratense). Earthworms, ants, beetles and other critters eat the weed seeds. Clover kills any weeds that germinate. Caution: Don’t try this unless you have a tall, aggressive cover crop that blankets the soil with dense shade. (7) RULE: Apply Chemical Fertilizer Only to Growing Plants. This rule covers all crops (including weeds) without exception. It makes no sense to spread fertilizer on bare ground. Chemical nutrients are wasted unless there are live roots waiting to absorb them. For best results, synthetic fertilizers should be applied in small doses throughout the growing season, ideally diluted in irrigation water. Feed growing crops only and well water stays pure = free of nitrates. (8) Good Farmers Grow Fungi. The Fungi Grow the Crops. Think of all the pipes, wires and roads needed to run a modern city. Without these conduits life would be nearly impossible. A corn field is no different. Under the soil surface is a jungle of lifeforms, a whole zoo full of critters exceeding the combined population of the world’s largest cities. And every one of these underground citizens depends on fungi for survival. Millions of miles of microscopic fungi tie the underground world together. Fungi are the interstate highway system of the soil ecology. Water and nutrients are conveyed to hungry roots. Plants share resources through fungal networks. Many crops are so dependent on fungi that they cannot exist without these symbiotic micro-organisms. Kill the fungi and the soil ecology collapses. Yields plummet and fields become sick and barren. Try to farm dead soil and you will spend vast sums for synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. Today, this is called “conventional agriculture” and most growers lose money on every acre they plant. There is a better way to farm. Fungi like cool temperatures, a moist environment, plenty of air, and lots of organic matter. Rip up the ground with plows and the fungal network is destroyed. Soil temperatures spike, the earth is parched, a cyclone of oxygen rushes into the ground, and organic matter burns away in a firestorm of excess decomposition. The result is like dropping a nuclear bomb: Billions of critters die and the soil ecology is devastated. Recovery takes years. Sell your plows, disks and harrows — you don’t need them. Grow weeds or other cover crops and leave the fungi alone. Open the soil just enough to get seeds or transplants into the ground. Further disturbance cuts profits and yields. (9) Till Your Fields with Earthworms. My Grandfather taught me: “Feed the worms and the worms will tend your crops”. Common earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) eat organic matter and excrete enough manure to grow 200 bushel corn = 11,200 pounds per acre. They also burrow 6 feet into the subsoil. My fields average 1 million worms per acre. That’s about 23 worms per cubic foot = 1,200 miles of burrows per acre. When thunderstorms drop 2 inches of rain per hour my neighbors’ fields wash away. My soil stays in place. When drought bakes the county, my corn yields over 100 bushels per acre (without fertilizer, herbicides, cultivation or irrigation). How is this possible? Plant clover and earthworm populations double. I seed clover into weeds and the worms feast on the multi-species “salad bar”. Mind you, this process does not occur overnight. It took 12 to 15 years to wean my fields off synthetic nutrients. That’s 4 to 5 generations of earthworms. I used to borrow mountains of cash to buy farm chemicals. Now I plant clover and have no debts. (10) Grow Your Own Fertilizer: Conventional green manures are plowed into the soil. A less invasive technology is called Chop-And-Drop. Use a rotary mower, flail mower, bush hog, forage chopper, or common lawn mower to cut plants into small pieces that decompose quickly for rapid nutrient cycling. Immediately sow or transplant another crop before weeds start germinating. Alternatively, knock down cover crop with a roller-crimper or sickle-bar mower then plant through the mulch using no-till equipment. For example, I sow Hairy Vetch = Winter Vetch = Vicia villosa in October then roller-crimp vines in May. Vetch controls weeds and fixes sufficient nitrogen for 200 bushel corn or any other crop I want to grow. Remember: Chop plants into small pieces for fast-acting fertilizer. Crimp or cut whole plants for mulch. Finely chopped plants will NOT control weeds. (11) Use Mulch-In-Place. Think of how much money you will save if you don’t have to buy herbicides or cultivate fields multiple times. The savings in diesel fuel alone will pay for a 2-week vacation anywhere you care to go. Let your neighbors plant seed in cold ground. Be patient and give your weeds more time to grow. Wait until the soil warms and weeds are at least 5 feet high. Kill weed cover crop with a roller-crimper or sickle-bar mower then immediately seed or transplant through weed mulch with no-till equipment. Mulch retards weed growth 4 to 6 weeks — just enough time for your crop to germinate and start covering the rows. Once the crop canopy closes weeds are shaded and there is no more work until harvest. There are many variations of Mulch-In-Place. For example, use a forage chopper to deposit weed mulch into convenient windrows then transplant pumpkins or other fast-growing vine crops through the mulch. Alternatively, mow strips through weed covered fields. Transplant vine crops down mowed rows then roll out drip irrigation tape. Use mowed weeds to mulch crops until plants are established. Once vines begin to run they overwhelm weeds between rows. Standing weeds protect vine crops from insect pests. If you do not have weedy fields, sow winter rye = cereal rye = Secale cereale at 3 bushels per acre. Roller crimp or sickle-bar mow when rye reaches 5 to 6 feet high or when grain reaches soft dough stage. Immediately seed or transplant through rye mulch using no-till equipment. Note: Mulch-In-Place works with just about any cover crop that grows at least 5 feet high and produces 4 to 5 tons of mulch per acre. Who needs Monsanto? Grow mulch crops and never buy herbicide again. Sell your spray rig and pay off farm debts. (12) Use Weeds to Control Insect Pests. Plant weeds with your crops and you will never have to buy insecticides again. Set 4 rows of tomatoes then leave a strip of weeds. Seed 4 rows of sweet corn and leave another strip of weeds. Plant 4 rows of sweet potatoes with a third strip of weeds. Drill 4 rows of sunflowers and a fourth strip of weeds. Alternate crops and weeds across fields and farms, following land contours. Adjust strip widths to match planting and harvesting equipment. Weeds provide food, shelter and alternate hosts for beneficial insects. The good bugs eat the bad bugs. Native weeds should cover at least 5% to 10% of every farm, even if you also grow insectary plants. I learned this lesson the hard way. I grew dozens of crops with small flowers especially to feed predatory and parasitic insects. Biological control was only partly successful until I planted native weeds next to crops needing protection. Close proximity is essential as many beneficial insects penetrate only 200 feet into a field over the course of a growing season. Remember: You need a mix of native weeds AND insectary plants to protect cash crops. Maintain biological diversity and pests rarely cause economic damage. I have not purchased insecticides (organic or synthetic) in 18 years. (13) Plant into Standing Weeds (Sow-And-Go). This works best with fall planted winter grains like wheat, barley, and rye. Seed directly into standing vegetation using no-till equipment. (Standing weeds trap winter snow). If desired, you can seed Dutch White Clover (Trifolium repens) at 8 to 12 pounds per acre with winter cereals. The clover provides 90% to 95% weed control, about as good as glyphosate (Roundup). Expect 60% to 70% of conventional yields without fertilizer or irrigation. In a dry year you might lose your crop. If you do not have no-till equipment, try surface seeding = Sow-And-Mow. This works best with pelleted seed. Broadcast seed into standing weeds then immediately roller-crimp or cut vegetation with a sickle-bar mower to cover and protect germinating grain. Come back next summer and harvest your crop. Alternatively, broadcast winter grain into standing weeds then mow with a rotary mower or flail mower to chop vegetation into small pieces. Immediately till field with a rear-tine rototiller set to skim soil surface at 2 inches depth. Make only 1 pass across field. Your field will look ugly but will make a good crop = 40 bushels (2,400 pounds) of wheat per acre in cool, temperate climates with 40 or more inches of rainfall yearly. If you have no farm machinery, try the ancient Roman practice of Stomp Seeding. Fence field securely. Broadcast seed into standing vegetation. Turn in livestock (cattle, sheep or goats) until they eat about 1/2 of the vegetation and stomp the other half into mulch. Livestock must be well crowded in order to make this work. Allow each animal only enough space to turn around = use very high stocking densities = mob grazing. For example, 600 to 1,200 cows per acre. Directly forage is exhausted, move livestock to a new enclosure or fresh pasture. If field is “tired”, “sick” or barren, feed livestock in their enclosure until they deposit 1/2 to 1 pound of manure per square foot = about 11 to 22 tons per acre, then move animals to another enclosure. (14) Plant into Living Mulches. This is ideal for transplants or crops with large seeds. For best results use no-till equipment and low-growing legumes like Dutch White Clover (Trifolium repens) or Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum). Seed Dutch White Clover at 8 to 12 pounds per acre, or Crimson Clover at 14 pounds per acre. Seed or transplant directly cover crop reaches mature height of 6 inches for Dutch clover or 12 inches for Crimson clover. It is good practice to mow clover before planting to give crops a head start. Watch field carefully. When the FIRST seedling emerges, immediately mow field as close to soil surface as possible. If clover is especially vigorous, it may be necessary to mow again 2 weeks later. Note: If desired, you can grow corn (Zea mays) with tall-growing Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) using the same method. No fertilizer, herbicides or cultivation are necessary if clover grows a full year before planting maize. Planting into clover is a good way for farmers to learn how to work with weeds. Clover is convenient to grow because its height is easily controlled. Alternatively, you can make your own cover crop mix and use this as a substitute for naturally weedy fields. Combine 2 cool season grasses + 2 cool season legumes + 2 cool season broad leaf plants + 2 warm season grasses + 2 warm season legumes + 2 warm season broad leaf plants + 2 root crops (tillage radish, stock beets, or turnips) = 14 species cover crop mix. Plant at least 20 pounds per acre. If desired, more species can be added. For best economy, select cheap seed to keep costs below $40 per acre. Remember: All living mulches compete with their companion crops for water, light and nutrients. For example, Dutch White Clover grows only 6 inches high but this is enough to shade the lower stems of wheat. Plant Dutch clover with tall wheat varieties and yields are normal. Seed Dutch clover with semi-dwarf or dwarf wheat and yields may drop 30% to 50%. Use common sense when pairing cash crops with clover, weeds, or any other living mulch. Combine tall varieties with low-growing cover crops. Water and fertilize for both cash crop AND cover crop. If necessary, retard or kill companion crop by mowing, mulching or roller-crimping. (15) Grow Crops and Animals Together. 2,000 years ago the Romans discovered that manure is more profitable than meat. It pays to keep animals just for their manure. Pastures grow better when grazed. Crops grow better when dunged. There is a significant difference in growth between plants fed manure or artificial nutrients. No one has yet figured out why. Drive a herd of cattle into high weeds (or a mixed species cover crop). Let the cows graze until they have eaten 1/2 of the forage and stomped the rest. Move herd to fresh pasture then immediately sow small grains or other crops with no-till equipment. No herbicides, cultivation or chemical fertilizers required. The cheapest way to keep livestock is to graze them on fresh, green grass. Move herds to new pasture at least once daily and do not re-graze paddocks until forage has recovered. This is called rotational grazing and eliminates the costs of building barns, making hay, and spreading manure. If you don’t have tidy pastures seed mixed-species cover crops or graze native weeds. What the cows don’t eat the goats will, and what the goats don’t like the sheep will relish. Range chickens 3 or 4 days behind cows and the birds eat the fly maggots. Nothing goes to waste and meadows stay clean and sanitary. Not all weeds are good to have around. When weeds get out of control there are 2 easy ways to recover ecologic balance: (1) Grow cover crops in series, or (2) Graze with mixed livestock. Cover crops overwhelm weeds by shade and competition. Mixed livestock eats everything in sight. Either way, problem weeds are eliminated and crop rotation can proceed normally. (15) Think Unconventionally. If everyone around you grows corn, plant something else. If everyone says you have to spray, don’t. Conventional wisdom is often just plain wrong. Do not be afraid to experiment. Every year I reserve about 2% of my land for agricultural research. I learned to farm by doing the opposite of what the “Experts” advised. Along the way I have enjoyed amazing success and spectacular failure. Both are equally instructive. Monsanto says weeds are bad and should be eradicated. I think differently. For example, in my garden (a jungle of weeds), I thin Bull Thistles (Cirsium vulgare) until they stand about 1 foot apart, then I plant 1 pole bean seed per thistle plant. The beans climb the thistles and I do not have to cut poles. My spray-by-the-calendar neighbors told me to cut the weeds or mulch them into oblivion. Instead, I conducted a paired comparison of 100 beans on thistles with 100 beans on poles. Thistles beat poles by a slight margin, 3.55% over a 5-year trial. This is only one of many examples of symbiosis between weeds and crops. Widely spaced weeds often increase crop yields. I don’t recommend planting beans and thistles on a commercial scale, but neither do I insist on weed-free fields. Weeds spaced 3 feet apart (about 5,000 weeds per acre) no longer bother me. The tomatoes don’t seem to mind and I don’t have to spray for hornworms. Learn from nature or buy from Monsanto. Related Publications: Weed Seed Meal Fertilizer; Trash Farming; No-Till Hungarian Stock Squash; Planting Maize with Living Mulches; Living Mulches for Weed Control; Pelleted Seed Primer; Crops Among the Weeds; Forage Maize for Soil Improvement; and Rototiller Primer. Would You Like To Know More? Please visit: http://www.worldagriculturesolutions.com — or — send your questions to: Eric Koperek, World Agriculture Solutions, 413 Cedar Drive, Moon Township, Pennsylvania, 15108 United States of America — or — send an e-mail to: email@example.com About the Author: Mr. Koperek is a plant breeder who farms in Pennsylvania during summer and Florida over winter. (Growing 2 generations yearly speeds development of new crop varieties).

Please note that we are still adding in product information and pictures to our products database. It's an extremely busy time of year for us so we thank you for your patience. Single, fragrant flowers are royal purple with white edge. These lilacs give an impressive display in late spring. Requires moist, well drained soil in a sunny location. |Common Name||Sensation French Hybrid Lilac| |Botanical Name||Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation'| |Hardiness Zone||Zone 3| |Flower Colour||Purple with White Edge|

Please note that we are still adding in product information and pictures to our products database. It's an extremely busy time of year for us so we thank you for your patience. » Perennial Vines : Fruits – Edible Available at our Garden Center and Tree Nursery. Phone 780-929-8102 for details. Glossy foliage and fragrant white blooms in early summer produce small, delicious smooth-skinned fruit. This vigorous vine is self-pollinating and requires full sun with moist well drained soil. |Common Name||Issai Kiwi Vine||Botanical Name||Actinidia arguta 'Issai'| |Hardiness Zone||Zone 3||Foliage Colour| |Flower Colour||Fall Colour| |Special Features|| || | Click Here For More Information About This Garden Product.

248 Home Remedies for EaracheSubmit your Home Remedy for Earache Ice packI woke up at 2am with a bad ear ache. I went on a couple different websites and on one I found something that seemed like it would work. It said put an ice pack or sock full of rice on your hurting ear. I choose the ice pack. It helped do much and I was able to go back to bed. October 16 2015 Bob from Ohio ShowerI took a shower at 2:34am and then I dried my ear and put some ear drops in my aching ear. I would really like to sleep at night but with an ear ache I know that's hard for some people I have had this ear ache for three days now and nothing has seemed to work so far but the shower helped a lot so does some ibreprophren and ear drops! TRY IT,IT REALLY WORKS! June 29 2015 Harlir from The United states Owwww!!!Omg, so this may sound weird, but all I have to say is finger in the ear!!! Okay, bear with me. I'm 14 and I have a date tomorrow, so you can believe I want to get rid of my terrible earache. It hurt so bad, so I took my index finger and placed it inside of my ear and then my thumb and made kinda like a V with it outside my ear and began to rub both fingers up and down and in little circles GENTLY until I heard popping in the ear. When I heard the popping I kept going. After about 5 minutes of that I washed my hands and took some ibuprofen and FINALLY went to sleep. It was such an easy way to get rid of it without waking up my parents. Yay! Date time! June 11 2015 Reina from Somewhere Thank godI was trying to find something to get the pain away and I found this page and I saw that almost everyone did the vicks thing so I tried it and it worked! Now I can go back to sleep try it. June 10 2015 Paulina from San Antonio Do not put hydrogen peroxide in your earIt eats the flesh that is in your ear it feels like it is helping but its not trust me I am 14 and it does not help. June 01 2015 Madkid from No were you need to know Vicks and hot damp wash clothI found this remedy on here and it worked right away. My 6 year old was in tears over the pain. I put Vicks around his ear and then I put some on a cotton, placed it in his ear like an earbud and then put a warm wash cloth over it. He fell right to sleep. Thanks guys. May 20 2015 Alicia from Brooklyn Works as I seenI have been covering from a chest infection and turned out to get a bad ear ache from 7 to half past 1 in the morning tried loads of things did not work then I tried rubbing Vicks around your ear not in your ear and getting a hot water bottle cloth etc and placing it in your ear for as long as u need. Might not stop the pain completely but lowers the pain right down to where u can get back to rest. May 06 2015 Laddie from UK Ear acheI read through all these remedies and found the common thread seemed to be heat. I could not stand another second of this pain. So I remembered years ago of getting relief by taking a SHOWER. The steam and warmth of the shower helped immensely and I was finally able to sleep. This a.M. The ear ache is gone. April 25 2015 M Grant from Kansas City Garlic clove and netti potI was in excruciating pain and with all my might got on google and found this website. I seen use a garlic clove. So that what I did I grabbed a garlic clove crushed it open like normally then broke off a piece big enough that in wouldn't enter my ear canal but no big enough that it would set in my ear (kinda like ear buds). Any ways, after an hour it started to feel better but I was still hurting so I started to boil some water and hover over it. I really think the combination help relief the pain because after just a min it began popping back to normal. I highly recommend this method. It really works. April 07 2015 Jillian S from Vegas Best remedy ever!!I honestly didn't think Vicks and a warm washcloth would work. But I woke up about three hours ago in serious pain. My hearing pad did nothing. I took some ibuprofen... Nothing. So lastly, I put Vicks around my ear and lied down on a warm washcloth. I can FEEL my earache going down. I am so glad I did this!!!! February 23 2015 Marissa from United States Earache 10 year oldTried the Vics Vapor Rub on a cotton ball with warm wash cloth. OMG! Saved me. 30 minutes of constant pain and finally something that provides relief. January 13 2015 Brandy from Oregon Vicks vaporubYou get a cotton ball and you put some of the Vicks on it., then you put the cotton ball with the ointment into your ear. Don't stuff it to far but put it in a little like an ear plug. Then you get a heating pad or hot towel, or even a moist hot cloth and you place it over your ear. Wait until 5 to 10 minutes after the ointment starts to cool in your ear.. I did this and it worked great. January 13 2015 Samantha from California Submit your remedy for Earache

Hay fever allergies, also identified as respiratory allergies surprising affects of the young children in America. To ones surprise, hay fever allergies are seldom associated to hay or lead to a fever, nor does a virus induce hay fever allergies. With the staggering percentage of kids being impacted by allergies, health-related understanding of how to treat hay fever and respiratory allergies remains restricted. Toenail fungus turns to be a chronic situation, and if it is not aching, several people do not get remedy. Even so, to treat toenail fungus, people today with unrelieved illness like diabetes should see a medical professional if they turn out to be conscious of alterations in their nails as it might be an indication of much more significant complications. If the nail turn out to be quite thick and it is complicated to wear shoes and one particular really feel pain though walking then a single ought to go to a medical professional. Read More – Healthy Meal Recipes For Weight Loss The nail can be filed down and trimmed cautiously, either at household or by a podiatrist. If the infection is gentle and much localized then to treat toenail fungus a medical doctor may recommend a medicated nail polish containing either Loceryl or Loprox. If the infection persists or carry on spreading then a physician may perhaps prescribe an oral, systemic anti-fungal medication such as Sporanox or Lamisil. The treatment may possibly requires about 12 weeks. Each of these drugs have some very harmful effects that could not be appropriate for some people. Toenail fungus, also known by the term onychomycosis, is an ordinary condition that disfigures and even demolishes the toenail. The large toe and the small toe are the nails that are most most likely to be affected by toenail fungus. This situation is triggered by any 1 of the several varieties of fungi that develop in moist and warm surroundings, specially in the footwear. As they rise, they invade and feed on the protein that creates really hard surface of the toenail. One particular might notice stinking debris below the nail. If your child has been diagnosed with respiratory allergies, there are really a few points you can do in your residence to help cut down the symptoms. Eliminating as significantly dust and pollen from inside the residence can make a massive difference in the severity of allergy attacks. It is not just the dust you see in the air or on desktops that causes problems. There is also dust hiding in carpets, furniture and bedding. Toenail fungus is uncommon in young children, having said that, the chances becomes far more as one’s age increases. Approximately 48% of men and women in the United States have at least one particular toe affected by the time they are 70 years of age The uncomfortable tight fitting footwear and layers of nail polish enhances the danger of increasing toenail fungus. It can also spread particular person-to-individual in public regions, such as locker rooms and showers. Getting a chronic condition that have an effect on a circulation, such as diabetes or HIV also enhances your risk. The impacted nail will turn into stained and will turn pretty thick and overgrown. One particular could notice stinking debris beneath the nail. The nail may well disintegrate and ultimately fall off entirely, or it might become so thick that it is pretty painful to put on footwear. Read More – Healthy Home Cooked Meals If a fungal infection turns into scratchy, it is adequate to look for healthcare remedy so that a medical doctor will examine the toenail and may possibly take tiny samples. The nail can be scrutinized for fungi or some other infection below a microscope in the lab. Each time these antibodies recognize the exact same invading allergens histamine is released into the bloodstream causing irritating hay fever, respiratory allergies symptoms. There are two primary sorts of allergies: seasonal allergies (spring via fall) and perennial allergies (all-year extended). Hay fever allergies, also identified as respiratory allergies surprising impacts of the young children in America. To ones surprise, hay fever allergies are seldom connected to hay or bring about a fever, nor does a virus induce hay fever allergies. With the staggering percentage of kids becoming impacted by allergies, health-related understanding of how to treat hay fever and respiratory allergies remains limited. Healthy Meal Delivery Miami – If the infection persists or carry on spreading then a medical doctor may possibly prescribe an oral, systemic anti-fungal medication such as Sporanox or Lamisil.

Whether it is vegetable gardening or designing a beautiful new water wise garden to fill in the gaps of the lost plants during the water restrictions; let Catscapes landscapes create the gardens of your dreams. Across the various social media sites that I use, gardeners have been talking about the drought, what it means for their gardens and plants they will grow in the future. Many are wondering whether there is room for a vegetable garden in a drier future. Some are looking at ways to conserve water, and others are looking at vegetable varieties that have adapted to growing in hot and dry conditions. Below are some suggestions for vegetable gardening in times of drought that I’ve gleaned from research and these conversations. 1. It Starts with the Soil Well-amended soil is the foundation of a vegetable garden that will tolerate drought. Prepare your garden’s soil by adding lots of rich, organic compost that will help trap moisture and encourage deep root formation in plants. All of this soil amending is for naught if you aren’t mulching to reduce evaporation and water runoff. A thick carpet of mulch will also keep down the weeds that compete with your vegetables for water and nutrients. 2. Plant Smarter to Beat the Heat Plant your vegetable garden in a block style layout rather than in rows to create microclimates, shade and reduce water evaporation. Layout your vegetable garden so that plants with similar water requirements are grouped together. For example, cucumbers, zucchini, and squash all have similar water needs. Focus on vegetables that produce abundant crops like tomatoes, squash, peppers and eggplants. Edit the number of plants you grow to conserve water and space. One or two different tomato plant varieties can serve your needs. Unless you can’t live without them, avoid growing space and water hogs like broccoli and cauliflower. 3. The Three Sisters Garden Explained Planting Techniques like the Three sisters garden is a companion planting method that the Native Americans have used for ages that you can employ in your own garden. In the Three Sisters Garden mound, beans fix nitrogen into the soil, corn provides support for the beans to grow up, and the bristles on the squash stem protect the corn from the corn earworm while shading the soil all three plants grow in. 4. When Plants Need Water If your vegetables are planted before the hot and dry days of summer arrive, they’ll have time to establish a root system that will allow them to survive the hotter days. Deep watering will train roots to grow deep into the ground. A drip irrigation system will deploy water where it is needed and potentially reduce your water consumption by as much as 50%. Soil amended as described above should be able to go between two and seven days between irrigation. Knowing at what stage of development your vegetables will need water can also help you reduce the amount of water you use. Vining crops like cucumbers, assorted melons, summer and winter squash are frequently over watered They require less water than many other vegetables, and watering is only critical during flowering and fruiting. The same goes for eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes. In fact, this year has been great for tomato lovers because the heat and drought has led to some of the most flavourful tomatoes in recent years. 5. Choosing Vegetables for Drought Tolerance Beans have the highest water requirement of all of the common garden vegetables. Root crops need a consistently moist soil during their life span. But you can still grow your favourite vegetables even if they aren’t exactly adapted to growing in a dry garden. Varieties with short days to maturity are a viable option if you are conserving water in the garden. As are miniature varieties like the mini bell peppers and eggplants I grow because they need less water for fruit development than their larger counterparts. Drought Tolerant Vegetable Suggestions This is by no means a complete list of vegetables and herbs that will tolerate drought, but the list can serve as a place to start. 1. Low prickly pear cactus-edible fruits and leaf pads of O. humifusa 2. Rhubarb-once mature is drought resistant. 3. Swiss Chard 4. ‘Hopi Pink’ corn 5. Asparagus-once established 6. Jerusalem artichoke 7. Legumes: Chickpea, Tepary beans, Moth bean, Cowpea, ‘Jackson Wonder’ lima bean. 8. Green Striped Cushaw squash 9. ‘Iroquois’ cantaloupe 12. Armenian cucumber 17. Amaranth-green leafed varieties 19. ‘Pineapple’ tomato 20. Chiltepines-wild chiles Some information supplied by Mr Brown Thumb Whether a new irrigation system or a new garden; lawn care or garden redesign let Catscapes landscapes create the garden of your dreams.

Hello. My name is Andrea. I write this food blog, Bella Eats. You may remember me, or due to my long absence you may not. I’m sorry about that, truly I am. I miss this space! Life has been busy. So so so busy. I started teaching architectural design at the University of Virginia. Teaching. At a University. !!! And before that teaching officially began there was training for teaching. And in the middle of all of that I photographed the wedding of a dear friend I’ve known since the fifth grade. Fifth grade! She was such a beautiful bride, and if you’re interested in seeing some of those images please check out the AHPhoto blog. Oh, and I started a photography business. Because I love taking pictures of people. And buildings. And food. So if you know anybody who needs somebody to take pictures of people, or buildings, or food...feel free to send them my way. I’d appreciate it so so much. And thank you, all of you, who have commented and tweeted and emailed your support. You’re the best, truly. And yes, I am still working for an architecture firm here in Charlottesville. So...yeah. Busy. It feels as though summer has completely passed by Bella Eats. Since June I’ve posted about cherries, blackberries, and blueberries. There have been no luscious heirloom tomatoes, no juice-laden peaches, no golden ears of corn. I even have a new trick for releasing kernels from their cob without making a complete mess of the kitchen counter and floor, and I haven’t had the opportunity to share it with you. That is sad my friends, because this trick is a good one. It will change the way you view corn entirely. Soon, I hope. Way back in the middle of July our dear friend Kristin celebrated her birthday. She celebrated with us, and with this lime tart topped with blackberries from our garden. Blackberry season is just about over, a sign that summer is drawing to a quick close. Our bush has shed it’s bounty completely, leaving only the tiny shriveled berries that didn’t ever come to full ripeness. Our freezer is packed full of quart-size bags of the frozen fruit, our pantry shelf stocked with various forms of blackberry jam. This tart was one of the last recipes made this summer using berries fresh from the garden, and looking at these pictures already has me feeling nostalgic. What is it about food that stirs memories stronger than those evoked by any other sense? While blackberries don't take me back to any point of my childhood, they do plop me down solidly in our backyard here in Charlottesville. For the past 4 years we've spent countless July and August evenings standing in our garden, bowls in hand, fingers stained purple, arms eaten by mosquitos, quietly and contently plucking berries one-by-one from a bush WE planted. I know that forever, no matter where we are, when I pop a freshly picked blackberry into my mouth I will be transported back to this place. I love that. If you’re lucky you can still find pints of deep purple blackberries at your local farmers’ market, and if you do, I recommend you make this dessert before summer's end. The crust is quite perfect, nearly the consistency and flavor of a shortbread cookie. It doesn't flake and melt in your mouth like many pastry shells, but instead offers a firm vessel on which to carry a scoop of zippy lime curd. And scoop you will, because this tart never really sets up to a solid, sliceable state. Which is fine by me. The delightful combination of sweet shortbread, tart curd, and fresh blackberries had us all going back for seconds, despite our use of a spoon rather than a fork. For the record, I am so unhappy with the spacing that this new Wordpress theme defaults too, but I just haven't had the time/energy to dig into the CSS code to fix it. And, we're working on a redesign of Bella Eats to be launched right around the two year (two years!) anniversary of this site at the end of October. So, please bear with me and the awkward/awful spacing of the text in my recipes... Thank you. Lime Tart with Blackberries from bon appetit, June 2010Ingredients for the lime curd: 3 large eggs 3 large egg yolks 1 cup sugar 3/4 cup fresh lime juice 6 tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces for the topping: (3) 6-ounce containers fresh blackberries 1 tbsp blackberry jam for the crust: 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature 1/4 cup sugar 1 large egg yolk 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour 1 large pinch of salt for the lime curd: Set a fine metal strainer over a medium bowl and set aside. Whisk the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar in another medium metal bowl to blend. Whisk in lime juice. Set bowl over large saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Whisk constantly until curd thickens and an instant-read thermometer inserted into curd registers 178ºF to 180ºF, about 6 minutes. Immediately pour curd through prepared strainer set over bowl. Add butter to warm strained curd; let stand 1 minute, then whisk until blended and smooth. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface of curd, covering completely. Refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours.* *Lime curd can be made up to 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. for the crust: Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar in a medium bowl until well blended, 1 to 2 minutes. Add egg yolk; beat to blend. Add flour and salt and mix on low speed until mixture resembles large peas. Using hands, knead in bowl just until dough comes together. Transfer dough to a 9-inch diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Break dough into pieces, then press dough evenly up sides and onto bottom of pan. Cover and chill 1 hour.** Preheat oven to 350ºF. Uncover crust and bake until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack. **Dough can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled. Remove sides from tart pan and place crust on plate. Spread lime curd evenly in baked crust. Arrange blackberries in concentric circles on top of tart. Place am in small microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave until jam is melted, about 15 seconds. Whisk to loosen and blend, adding water by teaspoonfuls if thick. Brush jam over berries.*** (I only brushed jam over the outer ring, because I liked how they looked without the glaze.) ***Tart can be made up to 8 hours ahead. Chill uncovered. Here we are at the end of March. Spring has claimed her space and unpacked her bags, kicked off her shoes and accepted a glass of lemony iced tea. She's fully settled in and ready to chat for awhile, her pony-tail bobbing enthusiastically as she shows you what's in store for the next few months. There are predictions of 83* sunny days in Charlottesville this weekend...83*! That is shorts weather, my friends, and tank tops and strappy sandals and [eek!] swim suits weather. It was all very exciting until I pulled out a pair of those shorts last night and realized that this month coming to an end, the month full of birthdays and cake and cocktails, has done a number on certain, *ahem*, areas. Those well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions set in January were shaken with the arrival of Brian’s birthday 29 days ago, and continued to slowly slip away as we celebrated our way through March. This last weekend was the culmination of all of that good cheer. With my Daddy in town for four days spoiling us rotten, there were indulgent meals shared at favoriterestaurants and bottles of wine Brian and I could never justify buying ourselves. As a “thank you!” for all of that generosity we had a little barbeque Saturday afternoon, complete with Double H Farm baby back ribs smoked on the Big Green Egg, the best baked beans I’ve ever had, salad with a hearty base of [local!] emerald green spinach and a delightfully moist lemon mousse cake. Although the air was a crisp 50*, we had a cloudless Caribbean-blue sky and a brilliantly radiant sun to warm our skin and confirm the departure of [old man] Winter. And now today, with all of those birthdays behind us and the very last of that lemon mousse cake tossed away in the trash (but not before a bite or two passed my lips to verify its staleness) it is time to think of April, the second to last month before the water flowing steadily through our surrounding rivers warms to a point that justifies the loading up of kayaks and the donning of swim suits. It’s time to welcome the farmers back to downtown Charlottesville, to our Saturday morning City Market that starts this weekend(!), and to embrace the first gifts of Spring. It’s time to lighten up and brighten up, to take a break from all the sugary-sweet goodness of March and indulge in the green that comes with April. But first, I want to give you more cake. With a buoyant crumb that bounces back at the poke of a finger and an airy, lemon-tinted mousse so cool and refreshing you'll have to fight yourself not to finish the entire bowl in one sitting, this cake seems to be the perfect welcome for Spring. It's a persuasive cake, the kind that you want to always have under a dome on your counter, ready to share with important guests while sitting on the front porch drinking a tall glass of iced tea. It seems that, when being offered a cake like this one, it would be impossible for those guests to leave. That's my hope anyway, as I embrace Spring and ask her to stick around for awhile. This is a very long recipe, but is actually very simple. Especially if you divide the tasks between two days - the cake and lemon curd on the first, the mousse, frosting and assembly on the second. 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled 1/2 cup milk 1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1-1/4 cups sugar 2-1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 fresh lemon, seeds discarded for the lemon curd 2 large eggs 1 egg yolk 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 medium lemons) 1/8 tsp salt 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest for the lemon mousse 1 cup heavy cream 3/4 cup lemon curd for the lemon buttercream frosting 6 tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature 2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted 3 tbsp heavy cream 1-1/4 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp lemon extract make the cake (up to one day ahead) Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350*. Grease and flour two 8" round cake pans and line the pan bottoms with parchment rounds. In a small bowl, combine the egg yolks, butter, milk and vanilla. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 1 cup of sugar, baking powder and salt to blend. Add the egg yolk mixture and stir until well combined. Set aside. In a clean dry bowl, using clean dry beaters, beat the egg whites on medium-high speed until they hold soft peaks. Lower the mixer speed to medium and gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beating the whites until they hold stiff peaks. Stir about one-third of the egg whites into the batter to lighten. Gently fold the remaining whites into the batter, in two batches, to blend thoroughly. Transfer the batter to the prepared pans, filling them equally. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sides of the cakes begin to pull away slightly from the pans and a wooden skewer inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean. Set the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes to cool. Turn the cakes out onto the rack and carefully remove the parchment. Reinvert the cakes and allow them to cool completely on wire racks. If making the cakes the night before (as I did), wrap them tightly with plastic wrap once entirely cool and keep at room temperature. make the lemon curd (up to one week ahead) In a small saucepan set over medium-low heat, whisk the eggs and egg yolk with the sugar, lemon juice and salt. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, for 10 minutes or until thickened. Remove the curd from the heat and add the butter, stirring until melted. Strain the mixture through a mesh sieve into a small bowl. Stir in the lemon zest. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic directly on the entire surface of the lemon curd to prevent a skin from forming. Chill the curd in the refrigerator until firm. make the lemon mousse In the bowl of an electric mixer set on medium-high speed, beat the cream until it holds soft peaks. Working in three batches, gently fold the cream into the lemon curd. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using. make the lemon buttercream frosting In a clean bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter, sugar, cream, vanilla and lemon extract. Mix on medium-low speed until well combined. assemble the cake With a long serrated knife, trim the rounded top off each cake layer to create a flat surface. Squeeze half of the juice from the lemon over the cut side of one layer of cake. Place that layer, cut side up, on a serving plate. Spread the lemon mousse evenly on top. Carefully place the next layer, cut side down, on top of the first layer. Squeeze the rest of the juice from the lemon on top. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the lemon buttercream frosting. Place the cake in the refrigerator for at least an hour to set. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Whether you’ve had these staple Hawaiian foods already or not, you’re going to need them at your Hawaiian themed party to make it feel authentic. Food is a massive part of Hawaiian culture, with lots of different tastes and flavors. That means there’ll be plenty of mouthwatering options for all of your guests’ tastes. Keep reading for the top six most important Hawaiian foods you need to have at your next party! You’ve probably seen this trendy food item in the states, but did you know it originates in Hawaii? Poke bowls (pronounced poh-keh) feature super fresh fish cut up into one-inch squares, marinated in sauce and placed atop a bowl of sushi rice. Also included are fresh veggies like seaweed, avocado, and scallions. You’re probably used to dousing yours with spicy mayo and soy sauce (who can blame you?), but the traditional Hawaiian setup is a little different. The poke is seasoned with Hawaiian sea salt (pa’akai) and combined with seaweed and candlenuts (inamona) in the bowl with rice. While most poke shops will offer Americanized toppings like teriyaki and spicy mayo, they’ll also feature this traditional setup. If you want the real taste of the islands at your party, stick to tradition it’ll bring out the fresh flavor of the fish superbly! What’s the deal with Spam and Hawaii? Here’s the history: after WWII, Hawaii still had a big military presence. We’re talking big. Like, big enough that it was difficult to feed them all. Enter: SPAM. It was easy to transport to the island, and provided enough meat for all the military men who were seriously lacking in protein. Eventually, so much SPAM was shipped in that it ended up being sold at local supermarkets. Fast forward to today, and SPAM is considered an essential part of Hawaii’s culinary history. It’s not looked down on as a lesser-than meat like it is on the mainland. In Hawaii, it’s a staple. Since there were so many Japanese migrant workers after WWII, it’s only natural that they’d influence the cuisine. Spam Musabi is the tasty fusion of Japanese sushi and Hawaii’s love for SPAM. It’s essentially fried spam atop a square of sushi rice, wrapped together by nori, sashimi-style. Your guests will love it. Pro tip: make sure you cook the SPAM first SPAM straight from the can is the ultimate no-no in Hawaiian culture. Yes, it sounds like the name of one of Peter Pan’s lost boys. Yes, it’s just as magical. Poi is a thick, sticky paste made from the root of the taro plant, an ancient and seriously revered vegetable in Hawaiian culture. The leaves can be eaten, too (see laulau below). Poi uses just the root. Traditionally, the taro root is cooked and then pounded with a big, stone pestle on a wooden surface. Water is slowly added to create a thick paste. It’s simple to make, but is a hot commodity in Hawaii since there are frequent taro shortages. Laulau is the main use for the leaves of the taro plant. First, a fatty piece of meat or fish is heavily salted, and then wrapped with the leaves. Traditionally, the wraps were then placed into underground ovens called “imus” to slowly cook for hours. Today, though, they’re simply tied with some string and steamed. Laulau is usually served with a side of lomi salmon, another traditional Hawaiian dish, and a big scoop of rice. Taro leaves can be hard to find stateside, but you might have luck at your local Asian or farmer’s market. If not, you can always order frozen lau lau online and reheat for the party! Lomi salmon: part poke, part salsa. Lomi salmon doesn’t actually originate in Hawaii, but was brought to the island from other Pacific Islander migrants. Despite this, it’s become a Hawaiian staple. It’s made by mixing diced tomatoes, chili peppers, and onions with raw salmon that’s been cured with salt for a few hours. It’s essentially a simple, fresh salsa with salmon mixed in to create a salty topping for any dish. Locals love it atop poi, or on any fatty meats that need some brightening up! If you’re a BBQ pulled pork lover, kalua pork is for you. It’s essentially the best pulled pork you’ll ever have so good you won’t even need the BBQ sauce. You can find it on almost every lunch and dinner menu on the island, as well as on all the luau menus. It’s a labor of love, for sure a full pig is cooked in an imu (an underground oven, remember?) for hours, giving it a super unique, earthy, and smoky flavor that other pulled pork just can’t replicate. The long cooking time and lack of oxygen during cooking keeps the pork incredibly moist, too. You probably don’t have an imu, but you can roast a whole pig on a spit at home, luau style. If you’re hosting a daytime party, pair it with pasta salad, cabbage, and sticky rice for a traditional Hawaiian plate lunch offering. For dinner, top it with lomi salmon and serve with rice and a side of poi. Pro tip: this is an especially popular dish at weddings because it feeds so many! Now that you’ve read up on all the most important Hawaiian foods to include at the party, you need to plan your florals! There’s nothing more Hawaiian than a lei. If you’re having a graduation party, it’s tradition to place a lei around your grad’s neck. Even if no one’s graduating, your guests will love wearing the fresh flower necklace! Questions? Get in touch to talk all things Hawaii!

Toe nail fungus is the result of infection caused by tiny micro-organisms. Also known as Onychomycosis, the fungi grows in the warm and moist fingernails. As the fungi growth increases, it makes the nails hard and brittle and also leads to discoloration. Though toe nail fungus is not painful in the initial stages, it starts hurting later on. Some of the causes of toe nail fungus are a break in the nail, tight-fitting shoes, multiple small cuts in the skin and damp shoes and socks. The fungus causes the toenails to get flaked, brittle and chipped. They also start emitting a bad smell. However, the fungus can be treated at home, using certain home remedies, some of which have been mentioned below.

Your bathroom should be a place where you are able to relax and unwind after a long or stressful day at work. Unfortunately, for a lot of people, the bathroom is just a place where they go through the motions of washing and brushing their teeth before another hectic day. However, it doesn't have to be that way; with a few changes, you can make your bathroom a place where you want to spend time in. Osprey Bathrooms offer high quality designs for bathrooms in Glasgow, guiding you from your initial ideas to installation. We are big believers that you can achieve the perfect tranquil bathroom, with just some careful planning and paying close attention to detail. So we have decided to share our best tips and advice for creating a calm and tranquil bathroom in your home. Consider a Wet Room A wet room will turn any bathroom into a luxurious and practical space. It’s perfect for smaller bathrooms, as the lack of shower cubicle will free up room. A wet room style shower area can give your bathroom the ultimate tranquil spa-like feel – perfect for the relaxing look you are going for. We suggest you fit a glass screen for a stylish and minimal look. Change the Lighting You can alter the mood in your bathroom by changing up the lighting. Ditch the overly bright lights for something that is a little softer – therefore a little more relaxing. You can do as little or as much as you want to. For a low cost design, change your existing bulb or install a dimmer in your bathroom. You could even just ditch the light altogether and light some candles for the ultimate tranquil feel. For those who want a little more, you could have lights recessed into the ceiling, or a grouping of clear glass shades. We recommend adding some lights to your bathroom mirror for the perfect Hollywood look. Add a Rug Instead of an average monochromatic bath mat, think about investing in a rug instead. Using a rug can make a big difference to the look in your bathroom – and can alter the ambiance. It’s your choice on the style of the rug and there are many options available, from contemporary to oriental. The only advice we have is to make sure that you choose a rug which is made from a fabric that can stand the type of humidity in a bathroom. Create a Plant Oasis Create a peaceful setting in your bathroom by bringing a little bit of nature inside. Some house-plants do extremely well in the bathroom environment – and they can also help clean the air. Choose a potted plant such as an orchid, or one that does well in a moist damp environment. For those who have pets who may eat a real plant, a realistic looking fake plant can also create the same beautiful look. Light Some Scented Candles Who doesn't appreciate a good smelling bathroom? A few well placed candles can add a sense of tranquillity to your bathroom. You should choose ones that give off a relaxing scent such as roses, jasmine, lavender or amber. Be careful with them though – we suggest using flameless candles for added safety. Incense and sprays can also leave your bathroom smelling lovely. If you would like to create a bathroom that is calm and tranquil, then Osprey Bathrooms can help you out. We specialise in modern and stylish bathroom designs, including a wide range of furniture that can help you achieve the bathroom of your dreams. If you have any questions about the service we offer, then please feel free to contact us. You can give us a ring on 0800 007 5344 and a member of our staff will be happy to help you out.

An overnight hike through the swampy Osa Peninsula is surprisingly peaceful. Just watch out for the razor grass. A reader story. OSA PENINSULA, Costa Rica – We flutter down hidden steps, crawl under fallen trees, and side-step razor grass. We reach a swamp with thick, gray water that settles at our thighs and fills our boots; it's a maze of hanging vines and reeds, spotted with red eye tree frogs, boa constrictors, and wanderers. Other creatures whisper in the darkness, escaping the beam of my red headlamp. We clamber out into a great expanse. My eyes adjust. For a moment I'm convinced I'm in a black room. Then the lights come on. Color against so much darkness. Stars. My friend guides my eyes to one brush stroke of smudged stars: The Milky Way. Damn, it's beautiful. The only thing that obscures my view are the points of a palm tree, marking its outline against the light. The ocean crashes hard against the floor and throws a sharp white line across the horizon. The silence rips in two. I can hear it but I can't see it, so I have to imagine that the white line is the break of a wave and not of a heart. I place one foot in front of the other as the sky settles and fades to a soft pink. The hours have gone on unnoticed, my calves burn, my mouth is dry, and the water is running low. We have 42 sectors to patrol and each sector is 100 meters long, a twelve kilometer walk. We stop three times to measure turtle tracks. Two have nested and one has created an aimless pattern in the sand. "Go home turtle. You're drunk." My friend laughs. Finally, the forest on my right begins to retreat and we see a wooden post blurred by heat waves in the distance. Plaque 42, the final sector. We've reached the finish line. In front of the forest is a large area of wetland — a huge lagoon with cattle kicking up the moist mud, and a rose sky shredding itself into pinks, purples, and oranges. Scarlet macaws dip into the landscape and then fly higher than the tree tops. Howler monkeys rumble in the distance. Hawks swim among the clouds — they see it all. So few people get to see the sun rise here. It's remote, untouched, and perfect. I pray that it stays that way. We're four young people, alone in an indescribable place, exhausted and singing songs from The Lion King. This is living. We collapse on our rucksacks.

Beer Bread has got to be the easiest bread to make. If you are looking to improve your confidence in the bread making department, start here. There are only a handful of ingredients, no yeast, no rise time and the only liquid to be concerned about is what type of beer you want to add to the bowl. This bread is moist, chewy and packed with flavor. Simple and delicious, The Best Beer Bread is a winner every time! This recipe can be considered a quick bread, but the difference is, once you start eating this bread, you….just…..cant….stop! Is it the entire bottle of beer you add to the flour mixture or the whole cube of melted butter you pour over the top that makes this so addicting? WHAT!? Yes, you heard me right! Then, you pull the bread right out of the oven and the bottom is buttery and crunchy, and you place it on the counter to cool and walk around the house like the cock of the walk, because you made The Best Beer Bread ever and it’s smelling up the whole house something awesome! You know everyone at dinner is going to look at you like the bread baking goddess that you are, take a bow! Nobody needs to know you just threw 4 ingredients into a bowl, mixed it for a minute and then threw it in the oven! Buttery and crunchy on the bottom, The Best Beer Bread is perfect to serve with a meal or eat as a snack! The Best Beer Bread is pretty forgiving, and easy to alter. You can change the flavor of the bread by changing the beer you add. I like Guinness because it creates a strong flavor, but you can use apple or honey beer for a lighter, unique, flavor to match the changing seasons. Consider adding less sugar and making a more savory bread by adding garlic, grated cheese and your favorite herbs. The Best Beer Bread - 3 cups self rising flour - 1/4 cup granulated sugar - 1-1/2 cubes melted, butter - 1 12 ounce beer of your choice - Mix dry ingredients together. - Add the beer to the flour mixture and stir until all flour is incorporated. - Place batter into a greased loaf pan or pie pan. - Melt 1 cube of butter and pour over the raw dough mixture. - Place bread into a preheated 375 degree oven for 35-45 minutes. - At the 20 minute mark, melt the other 1/2 cube of butter and pour it over then partially cooked bread and put back into the oven to finish baking. - When done, the butter will be bubbly on the bottom. Let it sit on the counter for a few minutes and the butter will be reabsorbed. As I said earlier, I like to add Guinness, dark Guinness in fact, which is funny because I don’t like the taste of beer for drinking. Mix it with some flour, a little sugar and melted butter and we are a match made in heaven. I baked this batch in my pretty, blue, pie plate, so I could cut wedges to serve, but I didn’t take into account this pan is a little smaller than my others and it preceded to overflow butter into the bottom of my oven while it baked. So, use a loaf pain or pie pan that is of normal size and you shouldn’t have any problems. Give The Best Beer Bread recipe a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy Friends! Do you have a quick bread your family craves like we do this Best Beer Bread?

We would love your support! Please take two minutes and be the first to write a testimonial here! "Make your day a little more flavorful." "Time to treat Dad to his favorite dish." "Your lunch meeting is about to get a whole lot better." "We promise it's not too good to be true." "It's so nice having your support." The sushi is very good and the service is quick and friendly. The deep fried calamari is tender and toothy without being chewy. The fried oysters are moist and flavorful without being slimy, they are cooked perfectly. The rainbow and tempura rolls we... Good service and great food every time. Try the potato croquettes! The service is spectacular. The servers are very attentive to your needs & requests. The food is fresh and tasty. I keep going back all the time.

Contact lens cases rarely look dirty, but they can harbor bacteria and other substances. Replacing the cases often and making cleaning a priority can help you avoid infections.View Article You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience. If you frequently have red, itchy, dry eyes, you could have chronic dry eye syndrome. This condition is relatively common, and it can be very uncomfortable. In some cases, it can be painful. If you think that you are suffering from this condition, there are a few things that you should know about it. When you cry, your eyes produce tears. Your eyes also produce tears to keep the lubricated so that you can see clearly. Dry eye is a condition where your eyes don't create enough tears to properly nourish your eyes and keep them lubricated. There are several causes of dry eye. These include: There are a few ways that your eye doctor can diagnose dry eye. These include: If you suffer from dry eye, wearing contacts can worsen the condition; however, there are certain types of contacts that are designed for people with dry eye and will help keep your eyes moist. Soft lenses work great for people with dry eye because they hold more water and allow the eyes to breathe by allowing more oxygen to come in. Contacts with high water content are also great because they draw water from the eye to keep the lenses moist. Finally, contact lenses that you change daily provide the most comfort for a person who is suffering from dry eye. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of dry eye, you should make an appointment with Primary Eyecare & Optical of Meridian. Our doctors of optometry can run a few tests to determine whether or not you have dry eye. If you do have the condition, our optometrists can create a treatment plan to help you produce more tears.

So you don’t shock the plants, you should gradually get them use to a change in the temperature and conditions. On the first day, put them out in sunlight for about an hour or so. Over a week, increase the time outside slowly. Hopefully, after about a week or so, your plants should have adjusted to the change. Now you can transplant them without any worries. A lot of people believe that gardening is difficult. However, if you have the proper knowledge, it can actually be quite simple. With the correct knowledge, anyone can be an expert gardener. These tips will enable you to be more proficient at horticulture. As the weather turns colder, it is important to prepare your sensitive shrubs for the change. Tender, potted shrubs must be protected when the weather is cold. Try to tie the tops all together and cover them with a sheet, large piece of cloth, or blanket. This tactic is better than utilizing plastic, because it will allow air to circulate. When selecting among several varieties of a plant, choose the ones that will produce the largest yield. Many times, a cold-tolerant or disease-resistant hybrid can have a higher yield versus traditional ones. Fertilize your garden. Manure is great in enabling plants to grow, although it’s vital to use commercially composted products in order to lessen the risk of a variety of pathogens. Of all the fertilizing options available, it doesn’t really matter which one you choose as long as you use something. Bulbs are a great option for people who want to enjoy spring and summer flowers. Bulbs are generally very simple to grow and hearty, as well; they will continue to grow for years. Remember that different bulbs will bloom at all different times of the year, so if you are careful to choose the right bulbs, you will see blooms in the early spring, and have flowers all the way to late summer. Apply organic mulch generously around your vegetable plants. Mulch will keep soil moist for longer. It will also prevent weeds from popping up around your plants. That helps you save a great deal of effort and time in weed eradication. Create your own garden from scratch with seeds, rather than plants. Planting seeds is the most eco-friendly way to start a new garden. Many of the plastics used for gardening simply end up going in the trash and clogging land fills. An environmentally-friendly garden is started with seeds or plants grown in organic pots. Vegetables are softer when they are warmer, increasing the risk that you will damage them. Cut them with a tool rather than pulling or twisting, otherwise you could damage the plant itself. If you are planning on growing peas, begin the plantings inside instead of outside. Seeds that are planted indoors will enjoy superior germination. The baby plants will also be stronger and will resist pests and disease better. When your plants are sturdy, move them outdoors. Just as when outside, plants kept inside need varying degrees of sunlight, which can be harder to obtain from indoors. If the garden will receive little sunlight, find plants that can grow in medium or low-light environments. You can also get special lamps if you want a different kind of plants. Use plants to get some autumn color. That doesn’t have to be it though. The brightest season of the year when it comes to foliage is fall. Many trees display a range of the vivid colors of fall, from bright yellow to rich crimson, including maple, beech, and dogwood. When selecting shrubs, consider barberry, hydrangea, or cotoneaster. Space is important to remember when planting an organic garden. Leave a little more space than you think your full grown plant will need to make up for overgrowth. Proper spacing is important not just to accommodate the plants’ sizes but also for air circulation. It is, therefore, important for you to plan accordingly and allow for enough room between your seed rows. In order to bring in good insects to your garden, you need to plant heather. Heather is desirable to bees; when heather emerges in early spring, it can be a source of nectar. In addition, beds of heather are usually left alone. Because of this, insects that are good for your garden often make them a home, such as beetles or spiders. Always remember this, and wear your horticulture gloves if you prune your heather! Have you ever given any thought to using organic gardening methods to grow garlic? Garlic cloves should be planted in the spring or fall. They require soil that is well-drained and moist. Lay each bulb into the ground ends up at a distance of about 4 inches away from the next bulb and 1-2 inches down into the soil. Green garlic can be cur directly from the plant and used in a pinch instead of scallions or chives. You will know when to harvest the garlic, because the tops will gradually turn brown. Leave the bulbs out the sunshine for a few days until the skin gets hard. You can go ahead and store them in a cooler area, and you can either keep them loose or tie them up. Creating a trap with beer can help reduce the number of slugs in your garden. Take a glass jar and bury it in your garden so that the top of it is level with the soil. Next, fill the jar with beer until there is only one inch left below the mouth of the jar. The slugs will be drawn to the beer and then drown in the jar. For perennials, you can quickly get a plot developed in a short amount of time. Cut underneath the turf, then flip it. Next, use wood chips to cover the area. Wait a few weeks before planting perennials in the new bed. If you sell your crops and label them organic, you should get an organic garden certified seal. This will not only increase sales, but it will demonstrate to your customers that your products are legitimate and that you are doing what it takes to grow the best crops. Plant garlic in different places to keep the bugs away. The smell of garlic repels lots of annoying insects. You definitely want it to be located near the garden’s perimeter and around any plants that generally attract bugs. You can also eat the garlic, as an added bonus. Over-watering can essentially drown the roots of plants, making them unable to grow well. Only water as necessary when there is no rain in the forecast, or for plants which need extra watering. If the weather forecast calls for rain, it’s probably wise to not water your plants that day. Use a ton of mulch to save on water in your garden. The more mulch that you spread in your garden, the less watering you will need to do. Get mulch at the store or create your own with dead plants or pieces of bark. It’s necessary to apply quite a bit of mulch. Grow your plants in different areas of the garden every year. When the same corner of the garden accommodates the members of the same plant family repeatedly, it can become a breeding ground for disease, illness or fungi. These things can get into the ground, and attack plants the next year. If you mix things up, by planting in different spots, you will have enlisted a natural method of keeping fungus and diseases at bay. Bees, like bumble bees, are very good assets to your garden. There are harmful bees though, like the carpenter bee, which creates its nest by eating through wood. Bees are, in large part, very important insects for your garden, and it’s good to let them do their job. As mentioned earlier, gardening isn’t difficult if you have the required knowledge. With the tips that were provided, you have the necessary information that will help you turn your garden into a masterpiece. Keep track of your garden by creating and maintaining a planting calendar. It will show you which plants you can plant and when. Your calendar will keep you prepared so you know what you need to buy and when you should buy it. You can create your planting calendar in many popular computer programs, or simply jot one down on paper.

Get Your Dental Treatment Abroad in Croatia We strive towards perfection which is why all our cases are based on the concept of Digital Smile Design. In our work we are led by modern protocols of digital dentistry, modern technology and we continuously educate ourselves. Welcome to Digital Smile Academy!Create Your Perfect Smile What We Do In the design of a smile, we use world-class materials. That is why we overcome a functional and aesthetic challenge of a lost tooth using MIS implant system. This system complements a healthy and beautiful smile with its quality and characteristics. Materials used to make implants are biocompatible, and they will last a lifetime.Read more We achieve the high aesthetics of your new smile by using veneers with minimal finishing of a tooth. Using veneers we can change shape, width, and colour of existing teeth and they are usually placed on the front, vital teeth. Ceramics is used as a material to make the veneers to achieve the optimum ratio of firmness and superior aesthetics.Read more Digital Smile Design Modern dental rehabilitation planning process that enables detailed planning of the treatment, and the real insight into what is to be achieved by creating a prosthetic work for the patient. DSD is a digital smile design which helps us create a provisionary look of your new smile.Read more Your New Smile In only a few days you will have a chance to see yourself with your new smile, you will get to meet our employees and see how we live dentistry every day and why we consider ourselves happy people. In the end, you will have a chance to see Zagreb which is considered to be one of the most beautiful capitals in European Union and its Advent is declared the most beautiful one two years in a row. Apart from Zagreb, you will visit Plitvice Lakes, the oldest and the biggest National park in Croatia. We will show you a detailed plan of treatment, how long it will last, financial plan, and all the details about your treatment that you might be interested in. Working hours are from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 8-12 o'clock. We give a 2-year guarantee on fillings; on prosthesis work we give a 5-year guarantee on partial or complete fracture of the material. As far as implants are concerned, we give lifelong manufacturing guarantee on partial or complete rupture of the material. It is possible to get more procedures done in one visit, depending on the type and length of necessary procedures. Yes, you can if the scan is in digital format and if it is not older than six months. The doctor will give you instructions after the procedure, but generally, after the dental procedure you can eat and drink. If you have received local anaesthesia, you have to be careful not to bite your cheek or lip while eating. Cash, debit and credit cards. The first examination can be arranged via telephone, e-mail or Facebook inbox. No matter where you come from we will gladly organize your trip to our clinic. We will also arrange appointments and organize accommodation if needed. A child should be brought for the first check-up to the dentist when it is about one year old. So the dentist can give parents directions regarding oral health and to get a child accustomed to space and a doctor. Primary teeth should be fixed equally as permanent teeth because their role is crucial for a child's health. The knocked-out tooth should be put back in tooth alveolus as fast as possible to make returning of the tooth as successful as possible. You should put a knocked-out tooth in a moist medium (saline, milk or patient's saliva) and immediately go to your dentist. Amalgam fillings have to be replaced if there is a visible edge crack between the tooth and the filling or any visible damage. Amalgam fillings are mechanically connected to the tooth which is much worse connection than the one used to attach white fillings to the tooth. That connection is chemical and adhesional, so it reduces the possibility of edge crack and secondary cavity being created. Simply put, the implant is a titanium screw which compensates for the root of the lost tooth. A bone replacement that allows us to create a bone where there is not enough and is needed for implant installation. A term that signifies advanced implant-prosthesis rehabilitation in a completely toothless jaw. Implant installation is not painful. There are some restrictions, but they are very uncommon and depend on general health and certain conditions in your mouth. Recovery lasts up to 7 day max. If there is not enough bone, we can create it where necessary. Veneers can be made on all teeth. The whole time during the prosthesis work procedure, a patient has temporary, handmade or laboratory-made, teeth which protect polished teeth and enable patient to normally conduct everyday routines while waiting for the permanent work. Symptoms of periodontitis are sore gums which often bleed and are painful. On the base symptom is a bone loss which can ultimately lead to looseness and tooth loss. If complete periodontological therapy is performed, with adequate oral hygiene and regular check-ups, periodontitis can be stopped so that it doesn't continue to progress. Bacteria which are the main cause of the disease can get to distant organs through the bloodstream and cause some systematic illnesses. If teeth are whitened at home with dentures in which whitening gel is applied, then that procedure takes about 10-14 days. If teeth are whitened in the clinic, the procedure lasts about an hour and needs to be repeated with 2-3 visits. Gels that we use in our clinic to whiten teeth are not harmful, and they contain potassium nitrate and fluorine that reduce tooth sensitivity during and after the whitening procedure. The colour that is obtained after the whitening will never go back to the original shade. It all depends on the patient's habits and consummation of coloured food and drinks, but if it's necessary, the colour can be refreshed once in two years, in just a couple of days. I almost didn’t have any teeth left. These ones are all white, original and I can again eat, drink anything. I don’t know what to say but they are just so perfect, so beautiful.Everybody was so nice and helped me out a lot. I would never have believed that I could get teeth like these. It’s been the best thing in my life… my ticket to Croatia!

As most of us are all too aware, pregnancy brings with it some pretty big lifestyle changes, especially in the realm of food and drink. Women are told to cut out alcohol and sushi, soft cheeses and coffee, but less often are they told the reasons behind those recommendations. You wind up following rules (or not) blindly, because no one ever bothers to answer the simple question, “why shouldn’t I eat _____ while I’m pregnant?”. As with all things birth, I feel that people are in the best position to make decisions for themselves when they have all of the relevant information available, rather than simply acquiescing or refusing based on what their friends did, what their doctor says or simply what feels right. Don’t get me wrong, friendly advice, medical recommendations and intuition are all super important, but they’re all also greatly improved by awareness of evidence gained from credible sources. In this series of posts I will go over the main categories of food and drink restrictions and include common examples from each. First up: contamination. Contamination: Food poisoning in pregnancy is a way bigger deal Food poisoning sucks for anyone, no question. Serious cases in individuals who are not pregnant can lead to dangerous levels of dehydration, but usually even a really bad case can be treated with no long-term effects as long as medical attention is sought when symptoms are severe (though some forms of food poisoning, such as botulism poisoning can cause paralysis and death). During pregnancy though, there is not only the risk to the woman, but also to her unborn child. A case of food poisoning that might have been awfully unpleasant but ultimately survived with no permanent damage can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, a very ill baby or stillbirth. In most cases, if antibiotics are given early enough these tragic outcomes can be prevented, but it is very important that pregnant women who experience symptoms of food poisoning – fever, chills, aches, abdominal cramping, vomiting and/or diarrhoea – seek emergency medical care immediately. Even if symptoms are mild, it is important that you go to the hospital. Tell them that you suspect food poisoning and are pregnant. Obviously, even better than immediate treatment is prevention, so sticking to safe foods is a good plan. Foods that are on the ‘do not eat list’ because they pose contamination risks include: - Raw eggs. If you’re eating out, check with the restaurant about anything containing mayonnaise, Caesar salad dressing, etc. If the eggs were pasteurized, as in commercially prepared versions of these condiments, then you’re ok, but skip any home made varieties. The risk here is Salmonella, a harmful bacteria that is killed by high temperatures. - Unpasteurized dairy products. Many soft cheeses fall into this category, such as brie and camembert. Check labels and skip them altogether when eating out. Pasteurization involves heating, so potential bacteria are eliminated before the milk is used to make the cheese. - Raw sprouts. It is more common for sprouts to be contaminated with E. Coli, Salmonella and Listeriosis than other vegetables. This is because they need warm, moist environments in which to grow. Unfortunately, harmful bacteria also love those same conditions. - Unwashed fruit and veggies. I use soap for most fruits and veggies, especially if I’m going to be eating them raw. You can use a special veggie wash for those that are harder to rinse of soapy residue. Even organic veggies need to be washed! Fruits that have peel that you don’t eat, but that you cut through (like melons) should also be washed before cutting as the knife may carry harmful bacteria through the flesh from the surface. Bacteria can come from the growing environment or from handling in transport or in the store. - Uncooked or undercooked meats, so no rare or medium rare meat. Juices should run clear and the meat should not have any pink in the middle. Same goes for fish – nothing raw or seared. Unless high temperatures have penetrated the meat or fish all the way through, there is a risk that harmful bacteria and/or parasites could be hiding within. If you love sushi, like I do, opt for vegetarian varieties or those that contain cooked crab, shrimp or eel. - Deli meats, patés and meat spreads, unless canned. These post a greater risk of Listeriosis contamination than other foods. - Refrigerated smoked fish (i.e. shelf-stable smoked fish is fine). If the fish is in something that has been subsequently (well-)cooked (e.g. a casserole), it’s ok because the high temperatures will kill any harmful bacteria. - Store-bought, pre-prepared salads that contain ham, chicken, egg, tuna or seafood. - Untreated drinking water. Mostly a concern if you are travelling or camping. In addition to avoiding these foods, you should also make sure to wash hands, utensils and cooking surfaces thoroughly, store and thaw foods safely and be attentive to expiry dates on packages. Be especially mindful of food storage concerns when the weather is hot. Don’t taste suspicious food – dangerous bacteria are not always detectable by taste or smell. When in doubt, throw it out. It can be hard to change old habits. I myself have always been proud of my “stomach of steel” and have never been too worried about an expiry date that’s one or two days in the past, for example. A good way to orient yourself to these changes might be to think of them as part of trying to develop new, healthy habits for living with a newborn. For many people, it’s easier to make changes when we frame them in terms of the baby’s well-being as opposed to our own. Check back soon for Part Two: Foods that may pose a development risk for babies.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this recipe is Mary Randolph’s direction to boil the potatoes with skin on to keep the starch in for frying. In many historic recipes, the technique is not spelled out as one would require in modern recipes. However, 18th century cookbook authors assumed that the reader was already a cook and familiar with a variety of processes. A recipe from “Famous Florida Chefs’ Favorite Citrus Recipes” published by Florida Citrus commission in 1970 A soufflé (French: [su.fle]) is a baked egg-based dish which originated in early eighteenth century France. It is made with egg yolks and beaten egg whites combined with various other ingredients and served as a savory main dish or sweetened as a dessert. The word soufflé is the past participle of the French verb souffler which means “to breathe” or “to puff” The earliest mention of the soufflé is attributed to French master cook Vincent de la Chapelle, circa the early eighteenth century. The development and popularization of the soufflé is usually traced to French chef Marie-Antoine Carême in the early nineteenth century Bread pudding lovers will smack their lips at this recipe. Simple but hearty, it combines basic ingredients to make a dish that is rich and satisfying. The sauce is the crowning touch. 18th Century recipe Cut a loaf of bread as thin as possible, put a layer of it on the bottom of a deep dish, strew on some slices of marrow or butter, with a handful of currant or stoned raisins; do this until the dish is full; let the currants or raisins be on top; beat four eggs, mix them with a quart of milk that has been boiled a little and become cold, a quarter of a pound of sugar, and a grated nutmeg — pour it in, and bake in a moderate oven — eat it with wine sauce. A delicious dessert recipe found in “Fransk Bondekost” (French Farmhouse Cooking) published by Hjemmets Kokebokklubb in in 1980 A soufflé (French: [su.fle])is a baked egg-based dish originating from the early eighteenth century France. It is made with egg yolks and whipped egg white combined with various other ingredients and served as a tasty main course or sweetened as a dessert. The word soufflé comes from the French verb souffler which means ‘to breath’ or ‘to puff’. Karen Hammonds who runs Revolutionary Pie writes: Modern custard recipes usually call for vanilla, but that wasn’t used in America in colonial times. Thomas Jefferson first brought vanilla beans back from France in the 1890s, and as Richard Sax noted in Classic Home Desserts, vanilla extract wasn’t widely available until the mid-19th century. Eighteenth-century custards were flavored with wine or brandy, tea, or spices. I added nutmeg to Simmons’s recipe since it seemed so bland — but I guess that was sort of the point. Karen Hammonds who runs https://revolutionarypie.com writes: John Campbell Loudoun’s apple pudding recipe first caught my eye because it was written in verse. A rarity today, rhyming recipes were common in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when they were supposedly used by housewives to help them remember recipes. Loudoun’s poem, attributed to him by Kristie Lynn and Robert Pelton, authors of The Early American Cookbook, is much older, dating back to the 18th century. “Put a bit of butter into a stew-pan, throw in large oysters and some mushrooms, with pepper, salt, pounded cloves, parsley, and sweet herbs chopped, a dust of flour; stir these about half a minute, then put the oysters on silver skewers, a mushroom between each; roll them in crumbs of bread; broil them; put into the stew-pan a little good gravy, let it be thick and palatable; a little lemon-juice. Serve the oysters on the skewers; the sauce on the dish.” —From “The lady’s assistant for regulating and supplying the table: being a complete system of cookery… including the fullest and choicest receipts of various kinds.” Carolyn Smith-Kizer who runs ‘18thC Cuisine‘ writes: It seems the way to a man’s heart has always been through his stomach. If the lady who supplies the bread and honeyed wine is also good in other wifely arts, so much the better. Here is a plate of barley bread & goat cheese with honey, served with that infamous Pramnian wine in honor of Novel Food, an event celebrating food immortalized in prose or poetry, and a dish that Circe served Odysseus, hoping to tempt him to stay. Karen Hammonds who runs revolutionarypie.com writes: “Pudding” was once a general term for dessert (and still is in Great Britain), but there were plenty of recipes in old cookbooks for “cake,” so why wasn’t this one of them? The answer seems to be that although it was a cake, this dish was served with a sauce that was poured over the top, resulting in a slightly mushy, pudding-like dessert. The cake itself was also very moist. As for the term “cottage,” it probably identified this dish as simple and affordable — suitable for farmers or laborers who lived in modest cottages. (It is similar in that sense to cottage pie, an early name for shepherd’s pie.) Jas Townsend who runs savouringthepast.net writes: This Ship’s Bisket is known by many names. Most of the time it was called just bisket, sometimes it was called hard bisket or brown bisket, sea bisket and ship’s bread. Now many today might want to call it hard tack, but hard tack is really a 19th century term that was popularized during the American civil war. These 18th century biskets are not like today’s buttery flaky version that we serve along with sausage gravy for breakfast. These biskets were not made to be enjoyed; they were made out of necessity. Ship’s captains faced a continual challenge of having enough food on board to feed a large crew for a long journey. Food spoilage was really his greatest concern. Fresh bread rapidly became moldy on long trips and stored flour would go rancid and bug ridden, so hard bisket was really born out of necessity. It was a means of food preservation. If it was prepared and stored properly it would last for a year or more. In addition to preservation, the bisket form also helped in portability and in dividing the rations when it came time. Soldiers and sailors typically got one pound of bread a day and biskets were usually about four ounces so when it came time to distribute them, each sailor or soldier would get four biskets. Biskets from London were considered to be the highest quality. They were the most resistant to mold and insects. They were really the standard by which all the other bisket maker’s aspired to, but not all biskets were the same quality. A retro drink enjoying renewed interest found onfood52.com The Rickey is a highball drink made from gin or bourbon, half of a lime squeezed and dropped in the glass, and carbonated water. Little or no sugar is added to the rickey. Originally created with bourbon in Washington, D.C. at Shoomaker’s bar by bartender George A. Williamson in the 1880s, purportedly in collaboration with Democratic lobbyist Colonel Joe Rickey, it became a worldwide sensation when mixed with gin a decade later. A recipe for the rickey appears as early as Daly’s Bartenders’ Encyclopedia (1903, p. 57) by Tim Daly: GIN RICKEY. Use a sour glass. Squeeze the juice of one lime into it. 1 small lump of ice. 1 wine glass of Plymouth gin. Fill the glass with syphon seltzer, and serve with small bar spoon. A cake recipe inspired by a book by Philip Pullman found on theguardian.com Lunch, in their Bohemian household, consisted of a jug of ale, the remains of a large joint of roast beef, a fruit cake and a bag of apples, which Rosa said she had been given the night before by one of her admirers, a porter in Covent Garden market. They ate it, with the help of one large pocket knife and their fingers. – From “The Ruby in the Smoke” by Philip Pullman

We were recently invited out for a daylong boat ride during this year’s Air and Water Show in Chicago. Everyone contributed drinks, appetizers, desserts, and other munchies. As I prepared for the outing, I realized that our hosts would be bringing along their dog, Piper. I quickly searched on-line sites for an appropriate recipe to make dog biscuits for our four-legged friend. I remembered the owners mentioning that their dog liked peanut butter so I looked for recipes that focused on this crunchy treat. Here are a few of the recipes that I found… I decided to make the easiest of the bunch, Gus’ Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits. (I called them Piper’s Peanut Butter Biscuits.) The recipe includes whole wheat, peanut butter, milk, and an egg. I laughed as I shared the recipe with the owners and said that these ingredients could make a healthy snack for both dogs and humans! For added effect, I baked the treats and placed them in a cute container with a bit of ribbon and a cookie cutter. This way, the owners could make another batch if Piper enjoyed them. While we didn’t feed her any of the treats on the boat ride, I’m told she found them to be absolutely delicious once she returned home. What any easy way to provide your dog with a great snack from your own kitchen… Over the years I’ve baked lots of tasty loaves for friends and co-workers to celebrate the holiday season. This week is no exception for I’ll be pulling out all of my favorite baking pans and an array of Christmas wrapping paper to start my traditional holiday bake. I usually make an assortment of flavorful loaves… a cinnamon swirl loaf, a poppyseed bread loaf, an applesauce nut loaf, and a sweet zucchini breakfast loaf. Some of which are made from the carefully shredded and frozen excess garden produce that I tucked away during the late fall months. This year I have added a simple, delicious recipe to the mix. This Sweet Almond Pound Cake is moist, dense and full of flavor. While the directions would have you bake the cake in a bundt pan, you can use the same recipe to make this delicious treat in a basic 9×5″ loaf pan. Sprinkle this baby with a bit of confectioners’ sugar or frost with a drizzle of cream cheese frosting before serving or wrapping. A sprinkle of red and green candies makes for a festive addition. Give this loaf to those that you would like to recognize during this gift-giving season or place it on the holiday table for family and friends to enjoy. …Sending along a wish for the best of health and happiness in the coming year! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Simply Made Kitchen and Crafts! Sweet Almond Pound Cake 1 package white cake mix 1 (3.4 oz.) package vanilla instant pudding and pie filling (the coconut flavor works well too!) 4 large eggs 1 cup water ⅓ cup vegetable oil 1 tbsp. almond extract Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 10″ Bundt pan. Combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water, oil and extract in large bowl. Beat for approximately 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake for 10-15 minutes. Carefully remove from pan and cool completely. Dust with sifted confectioners’ sugar or frost with your favorite cream cheese frosting. By popular demand, I am posting one of my all-time favorite snack mix recipes. It never fails, whenever I make this mix, I am always asked for the details of the recipe. During the holidays, I usually pack this lip-smackin’ snack into decorative jars to pass along as a homemade gift from the kitchen. Light, buttery, and full of that scrumptious honey flavor, this sweet treat is a winner. Make a big batch and keep a watchful eye as it cools on the kitchen counter. The mix has a tendency to disappear as the minutes tick by … Irresistible! Honey Nut Snack Mix 6 cups Chex or Crispix cereal 1 1/4 cups mini pretzels 1 cup nuts (peanuts, lightly chopped pecans, or lightly chopped walnuts) 1/3 cup butter or margarine 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/4 cup honey 1 teaspoon vanilla Coat a 13×9″ pan with cooking spray. Add cereal, pretzels, and nuts; set aside. In a large saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, and honey. Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil and continue to boil for 5 minutes, DO NOT STIR. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Carefully pour the hot syrup over the cereal mixture, stirring until well coated. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour; gently stirring every 15 minutes to distribute the syrup evenly over the mix. Let cool on cookie sheets lined with parchment or wax paper. Store in an airtight container. Recipe adapted from “The Family Table” by Brenda Hyde Our family loves the taste of homemade jam. In fact, store bought jam or jelly products just don’t cut it in our household anymore. While it might seem a chore to cook and carefully process the product, new tools and techniques have truly made canning your own food quite easy. Making freezer jam is also a great option for those wanting to assemble their own recipe in far less time. While I’d love to tell you that this is a secret family recipe, home food preservation involves a careful balance of ingredients and it’s something that I never fool around with. I always choose and carefully follow a reputable recipe when I’m canning foods for my family. The reason…these recipes have been well tested for food safety. Processing times, ingredient quantity, and acidity levels have all been checked and rechecked to eliminate the possibility of food borne illness in the products we hope to safely store on our shelves. Our favorite way to enjoy this scrumptious treat would be to have the jam slathered all over a great big slice of Irish Soda Bread. While I’m fond of butter and jam, others in the family love the peanut butter and jam combination. You can find the recipes for my Irish Soda Bread/Scones here and here. Getting back to the homemade jam, this delicious recipe is one that was carefully tested by Sure Jell, which is a fruit pectin company that makes a product to be used to thicken jams or jellies. You can find the recipe here. I’ve always had great success with this low sugar recipe and the large fruit pieces in the jam make for a lovely texture and add to the delicious fresh flavor of the product. Years ago, as I was rummaging through the craft section of a local area garage sale, I stumbled upon a box of beads, sequins, golden threads, and patterns. I scooped it up and asked the owner how much was needed for the treasure. To my delight, she said $1.00 would fit the bill. I gathered up a few more crafting trinkets (some sewing and embroidery supplies) along with the box of sequined treasures, paid the kind lady, and I was on my way. Shortly after arriving home, I took out a heart shaped cookie cutter and traced several small hearts on a light gray felt square. I carefully cut the heart shapes out and stitched on enough sequins and beads to cover the entire surface of one heart shape. On another heart shaped felt piece, I secured a pin back so that eventually, my project would become a pin. I then used a tiny blanket stitch (gray thread or monofilament) to sew the two felt heart shapes, wrong sides together, leaving a small opening to stuff in a bit of batting. After closing up the opening, I would plump up the heart shape by using my fingers to evenly distribute the batting tucked inside. Voila, the pin is complete! I then used printable business cards to create a message, printed a sheet and punched two holes in each card to secure the pin back. I used small cellophane bags to envelope the pin/card and tied a bow for a sweet finish. I have given these pins out at weddings, for Valentine’s Day, and for Mother’s Day. They are quick and simple and require very few supplies. Happy Valentine’s Day! In our house, Saturday is baking day. The warmth of the kitchen and the sweet smell of cinnamon and nutmeg baking seem to make the cold winter months a bit more bearable. This loaf is quite easy to assemble and most of the ingredients are usually kept on hand (if your needing a quick treat that can be whipped up in no time). The addition of orange juice makes for an interesting twist. If you have an orange on hand, zest a teaspoon or two into the batter for a lovely burst of extra citrus flavor. On occasion , I’ve added a half cup of finely chopped dates to the batter for added moisture and flavor. Using smaller loaf pans, I often make several loaves to give away as gifts. Friends and family always enjoy a special homemade treat for the kitchen. Moist Pumpkin Tea Loaf 1/2 cup margarine 1 1/2 cups white sugar 1 cup canned pumpkin 1/4 cup orange juice 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray, with cooking spray, a 9×5″ loaf pan. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and eggs. Mix in pumpkin and orange juice. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and nuts. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients stirring just until completely moistened. Pour into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55-60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until an toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove loaf and cool completely on wire rack. Black and gold are the collegiate colors of Purdue University. In my family, the Boilermaker logo is near and dear to our hearts. Currently, we have three children attending the University. Whenever possible, we proudly wear the Boiler colors. Our closets and drawers are filled with black and gold sweatshirts, pants, jackets, and tops. Our cabinets are filled with Boilermaker plates, glasses, mugs, and platters. Over the years, we’ve purchased Purdue fleece blankets, sheets, and soft plush pillows to decorate dorm rooms. While shopping last week, I spotted some great beads in the craft section of our local discount store and I thought it might be fun to glitz up my jewelry selection with a few black and gold bracelets for our next team event. I am certainly not a skilled jewelry maker so this project is incredibly quick and easy and you can use any combination of colors to tailor the bracelet to satisfy your needs. Elastic cord is used to assemble the bracelet so very few supplies are needed. This is quite a simple and inexpensive project so next time you’re in the craft aisle, take a look at the bead selection. You might be quite pleased and surprised at the unique variety of colored beads you can assemble on a clear cord to recognize and celebrate your favorite team. I’m lovin’ that black and gold… BOILER UP! BOILER UP Bracelet 7″ clear stretch cord ( measure your wrist for a more exact measurement + 1″) Assortment of colored beads (lots of shapes and sizes) Clear gel Tacky Glue Measure and cut a 7″ piece of clear stretch cord. Fold a piece of tape across one end of the cord (to keep beads from falling while assembling). Arrange beads, as desired and string them onto the clear cord. Test the length around your wrist so that beads are evenly dispersed and the cord is completely filled when stretched around wrist. Carefully, tie the bracelet with a double knot, securing beads. Place a small dot of tacky glue on the knot, covering knot completely, let dry. Tuck the knot under a bead to keep it hidden. Over the years, it’s been a holiday tradition in my family to prepare lots of holiday loaves to be given away throughout the season. This year we chose the Cinnamon Swirl Loaf to pass on to others. It’s the perfect loaf for the busy holiday season. Most years, I spend hours in the kitchen rolling out a cinnamon yeast loaf that is delicious but a bit time consuming. This year, to save time in the kitchen, I made a semi-homemade loaf that uses a cake mix for the base. If you love fresh baked cinnamon rolls, then this loaf is for you! As a bonus, the recipe makes two loaves at once. This really speeds up the baking process helping to make more loaves to give away for the holidays! Wishing you the very best this holiday season. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Cinnamon Swirl Loaf 1-15 oz box yellow cake mix 3/4 cup water 3/4 cup oil 4 eggs, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons cinnamon Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two loaf pans with cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine first five ingredients. Pour half of the batter into both loaf pans. Thoroughly combine the cinnamon and sugar, sprinkle half of the dry mixture over the batter in the loaf pan. Pour the remaining batter into each pan, carefully spreading evenly into the corners. Finish by sprinkling the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture over the batter. With a butter knife, swirl the cinnamon mixture throughout the batter making large swirls with the knife. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool completely before cutting. Last week I posted a picture and link for a beginner infinity scarf that I found on the web. As I had mentioned in the post, I am at the very bottom of the ability scale when it comes to my yarn, needlework and craftsmanship abilities. I stick with basic techniques and have to rely heavily on video tutorials (played over and over again) to grasp basic construction concepts. I have been so pleased with my new found skill for crafting the beginner infinity scarf that I have taken to making several different scarves with yarns of various weight and color for my family and friends. Honestly, these scarves are so quick and easy to make, it literally takes about 1 1/2 hours to construct this trendy accessory. This week, I wanted to post another of my creations crafted with a different type of yarn but crocheted with the very same stitch as the blue patterned scarf that I posted last week. I wanted you to see what a difference yarn choice can make in the look and feel of the garment or accessory. Again, you can find the video here. This is a great little scarf as we move into the cold weather months in the Midwest. Don’t forget that this would be a fantastic Christmas present for teens, moms, teachers, and co-workers. Look for yarn colors to match college, high school or professional sports teams. Or, look for chunky yarns to match the trendy look of current retail scarves found in all the stores. Here is the yarn that I used for this project. I also used an 11 mm crochet hook. … Hand made, totally inexpensive and a thoughtful gift… Happy crocheting! When looking for a salty snack, I usually reach for a jar of nuts on the pantry shelf. Recently, I scoured my cookbooks for a recipe that might change up the taste of my everyday snack staple. Most recipes I found included a good dose of sugar which was definitely not the direction I was headed. I stumbled on a recipe in my Best of Country Cooking Cookbook from 1999. I had all of the ingredients on hand so I whipped up the quick recipe. What a yummy, crunchy, surprise! The four ingredient recipe calls for a mixture of Italian spices, a bit of butter and soy sauce mixed in with a few cups of quality nuts. After tasting this flavorful crunchy mix, I’m sure this will become a staple recipe in my snack folder. Italian Nut Medley 2 tablespoons butter 4 cups quality mixed nuts ( cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds) 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add nuts; cook and stir constantly for 2 minutes. Stir in soy sauce. Sprinkle with salad dressing mix, stir to coat. Immediately transfer to a baking sheet and spread thinly to cool. Store in an airtight container. Adapted from The Best of Country Cooking – 1999.

Okay..Okay…I have been slightly obsessed with pumpkin flavoured food/drinks lately so whats better then some delicious pumpkin bread?! I remember a couple weeks ago I went to the store and stocked up on 10+ pumpkin flavoured things…a little crazy? I know! Surprisingly I have never had pumpkin bread before so when I chose to make my own recipe for it…I was a little hesitant. Needless to say, it was a bit hard. After multiple failed attempts I finally perfected the taste and consistency. Both are key components into making a perfect baked good! I found a quote that represents the process I took spot on, Tom Douglas stated, “If you don’t have the confidence in baking, commit to making the recipe three times. The first two, do it exactly the way I’ve told you to make it. Twice. The first time you’ll screw it up. The second time it will come out pretty good, and then the third time, make your adjustments.” (brainyquote.com). That definitely was the case, because in no way did it come out perfect the first time. The first time: didn’t cook all the way through, okay taste. 2nd time: too moist/soggy, but tasted very good. 3rd time: perfect moistness while still being fluffy & delicious. What did I learn from that? Cook at a lower temp but longer. That way the bread won’t just cook on the outside but be able to cook on the inside as well. Seems like I should of known that, but baking is a process. Also, putting too many liquids into the bread makes it too moist. So I omitted the coconut oil on my 2nd attempt and substituted vegan butter on my 3rd, it made it perfect! Baking sure is a process and you will fail, many times, but the end result is always worth it! Okay, enough with the rambling. Here is the recipe for this delicious, moist & fluffy pumpkin bread that will warm your soul up in the fall time! Perfect paired with a warm cup of hot chocolate or coffee 🙂 Vegan Pumpkin Bread By: healthienut Serves: 8 or 1 small loaf - 1 1/2 cups flour - 1/4 cup oat flour* - 1 tsp baking soda - 1 tsp baking powder - 1/4 tsp salt - 2 tsp pumpkin spice - 1/4 cup vegan butter (I used Earth Balance) - 1/2 cup sugar (Any sugar works fine but I prefer coconut sugar) - 3/4 cup pumpkin puree - 1 flax egg (1.5 tbsp ground flax seed + 3 tbsp of water) - 1/4 cup maple syrup - 1/2 cup almond milk - 1 tsp vanilla - Preheat oven to 340 degrees. (weird temp. but trust me it matters) - Make flax egg by combining ground flax seed and water. Let it sit for 5 min. in fridge. - While flax egg is setting, combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk to combine. - Using a stand mixer or handheld electric mixer, mix the butter and sugar together in a smaller separate bowl. Then add the rest of the wet ingredients. - Slowly add in the wet ingredients into the dry. Using a spatula, combine. - The batter should be slightly stick, but not at all like a dough. - Pour batter into a lightly greased loaf pan. - Bake for 40-50 min, checking half way through. Insert a toothpick and it should come out clean if done. - Let it sit in the loaf pan for 15 min. Take it out and let it sit out for another 15 min. Slice, and enjoy! *Oat flour is always so expensive to buy so just simply grind up rolled oats in a food processor or coffee grinder until its a flour-like consistency. “Baking Quotes.” BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. Accessed on 16 Oct. 2016. at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/baking.html

This week’s challenge as #Healthykidscommunity is “refined sugar alternatives” and my dish is German Raspberry Blechkuchen (a.k.a. Raspberry Pie). It does taste much better than it looks!😁 Its one one of my favourite cake to eat and to make because it’s super easy, and I am all about easy. 😁😋 I have substituted sugar with coconut sugar and I must say this taste really yum! After this I will not go back to use refined sugar ever again! 😋 I have used quark for the cake base which made it so fluffy and moist! Knowing how healthy this cake is I really have no problem giving this to my toddler sons to eat. 🙂 Ingredients for the cake base - 150 gr flour - 40 gr coconut sugar - 80 gr low fat quark - 3 tbsp semi-skimmef milk - 3 tbsp flaxseed oil / plant based oil - 1 tbsp baking powder - 1/2 tsp vanilla powder / essence Ingredients for the topping - 100 gr flour - 60 gr coconut sugar - 70 gr butter (room temperature - 1/8 tsp vanilla powder / essence - a pinch of salt 300 gr raspberries - Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius with fan. Put all the ingredients of the cake base in a large bowl and use an electric whip and mix well. - In a medium bowl, mix all the ingredients of the topping together except for raspberries. - Flattened the cake base dough evenly into a baking form. - Line all the raspberries on top. - Use your hand to pick up a bit of the topping dough. Flatten each bit and lay on top of the raspberries and bake for 25-30 minutes.