Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-05-30


THE WAYS OF A BoMBsnELL.-A column of white
smoke rushing up into the air expands into concen-
trio rings-then follows the heavy dull report, IKE
the beat of some giant drum, and then comes Tue
shrill scream of the shell as it describes Its 1ata
curve and descends with prodigious velocity, IN
creasng rapidly every Instant TIL 1t e2Plooes Win
the peculiar noise of "a blast" just as 1T reaches
the ground At least it ought to do so-but to day
watched the shells, after another, and only
two out of three burst properly, though the range
and fight was beautifully accurate. The RUSSIAN
fusees are bad but their artilerymen are not to DE
exceed when their practice is undlsturoed. IL was
interesting-iust as the man in Lucretius liked to
see the rage when he not on board shlp-to
look at the shell dropping, and to see our active NJ
tic allies scampering away to their cover, ana ao-
iustng themselves to the closest possible connec-
ton with mother earth, till the hurting masses had
gone by them.
Any man with moderate confidence and expert
ence may despise round shot at long ranges, II ne
only sees the guns from which they come dlscharg
ed. Well, won't say despise exactly, but at all
events &" evade' But shell is a dlabolcal lnVen-
ton, which regard as it approaches
without certain degree of misgivlng that TRAN
gular piece Of jagged iron may be Whlzzea thrcugh
his internal economy the shortest possible notice
afterward. If it is sent from gun 1t hzzes anu
roars through the air, and sends its fragments De-
fore it, the of dispersion, which IS the neat
phrase used by the learned militant 10 Imply Tue
direction of the bits of shell Cor its contents, wnen
it is filed with bullets ect.,) being in the dlrection
the shell has taken from the gun, and the fragments
being propelled with q pOrCOn Oh INC NeioCNy Va o"
shell at the moment of explosion iii be discharged
from mortar it whistles gently and dehcatey, CIV
ing squeak and now and then as IL rises "
its greatest elevation, and then rushing downward
with shriller whistle, toward the point Its rag
ments are projected all around radally, ana are
propelled merely by the force of the bursting charge
A man behind bomb or at the side OF 1t, is just
as likely to be hit man before it when IL oursts
in that way; whereas the pieces from a shell from
gun III nearly every instance fly forward so that
person behind it or outside the limits OF the cone
of dispersion, is safe. Unless the shell or bomb
bursts in front of body of men in the air very
considerable degree of safety may be attained by
the men throwing themselves fat on the ground,
inasmuch as the pieces of shell which bursts on
the earth fly upward from the point where they en-
counter the maximum of resistance. Of course II
bomb burst over IMAM on the ground, or II a
shell explodes in the air in front of man, there is
no great safety gained by his throwing himself down
beyond the consequent reduction of the amount OF
vertical exposure This little DEPRESSION is all dPr0'
pose the conduct of our Allies which have just
mentioned and is made in order to explain the T@-
ti0nale of their proceedings.
1t is rather an unpleasant reflection whenever
one is discussing the range of missile and is per-
haps excaiming, ''There's splendid shot" that it
may have carried misery and sorrow into some hap
Ply household. The smoke clears away-the men
get up-they gather round one that moves not, OF
who is racked with mortal agony-they bear him
away-a mere black speck-and few shovelsful of
mud mark for little time the restingplace OF the
poor soldier whose wife, or mother, or children, or
sisters left destitute of all soace save memory
and the sympathy of their country. One such little
speck watched to-day, and saw quietly deposited
on the ground inside trench. Who will let the
inmates of that desoate cottage in Picardy or Gas
cony, Anou know of their bereavement! How
ever, there goes another shell, and it does nothing
but knock up cloud of snow and dust.
"ON D1r.-That although the anti Americans make
many base charges against the American party, yet
they guilty of the very charges they so indusri-
ousy circulate. Read the official proceedings of the
late Clinton Convention, at which all the delegates
were forced to subscribe to solemn declaration be-
fore they were permitted to take their seats.
FARTHER-It is a noticeable fact that the publish
ed proceedings contain account of the discussions
which arose upon the organization of the Conven-
ton and upon the resolutions when they
ported"
The above is from recent number of the Raleigh
Star, and shows conclusively the Know-Nothing
character of that paper if it does not indicate some
thing even worse. If the Star had known anything
about the Clinton Convention it could not have pub
lished this article without the suggestion of pal pa
bic and known falsehood. fit knew nothing about
it, is equally cul pable for nventing charges. The
declaration plain, voluntary, unanimously car
ried motion, and unhesitatingly signed by every
delegate. We were one of the Secretaries, and
mainly drew up the official proceedings, and hnoo
that there was no discussion upon the organization,
upon the resolutions when reported, save in the
nature of subsequent personal explanation by Mr..
which did not form part OF the official
proceedings.
NO nlaicrlai HOlOn Vi any KIM lnVOlVlnS any us
cussion omitted in the official report, and
will stake reputation upon the fairness and accu-
racy of that report will also Mr. Yates the other
Secretary, and have hesitation in saying that
will be borne out by the members of the Conven-
ton. Our twinkling contemporary ought to know
what it talks about before it charges either sehood
suppression of facts upon the officers of an open
Convention, held in the face of day, without any
chances for concealment and desire for secresy.
We want to make false representations to the
word-to publish no false reports, or make false
charges will permit these charges upon our
selves pass unnotced, without branding them as
they deserve. W. Journal
the Baltimore Sun who dates at Warrenton, Va
gives the following directions for raising waterme
ons:
1t may be interesting to some of the numerous
readers of the Sun know how this delicious fruit
may be raised in soils which not peculiarly adap
ted to their growth. Prepare the ground well by |
having it thoroughly ploughed and narrowed; lay off
the hills ten feet apart for each hill dig hole twelve
inches in diameter and at least eighteen twenty
four inches in depth fill this hole with manure |
within an inch of the top-hog-pen manure is best |
cobs and diligently packing it down with the foot;
cover the manure with woods earth, any other |
kind which will not bake, to the depth of an inch
the baking of the earth around the root acts as a
ligature, cutting off the circulation, and thereby Kill
ling the vine materially impeding its growth this |
should be sedulously avoided plant your seeds be-
tween the twentieth of April and first of Nav near
ly quite in contact with the manure, which will !
force the vine in its infant state out of the reach of
its enemy, the bug raise the hill above the
level of the ncghboring ground regulate the ground
fho kLo&4I or A.