The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-10-31

4 writer whose name We do not get hold
of, discourses very warningly and wisely on
the evanesccnce of beauty in American wo-
men, and thus speaks of England -
''One meets ladies past fifty. glowing. radi-
ant, and blooming. with a freshness Of COM
plexion and fullness of outline refreshing to
contemplate. What can he the reason? Tell
us. Muses. and Graces. what can it be: Is it
the conservative power of sca-togs and coal
smoke-the same cause that keeps the turf
green, and makes the holly and the ivy
flourish? How comes it that our married
ladies dwindle. fade and grow thin-that
their noses incline to sharpness, and their
elbows to angulari,y. just at the time of life
when their island sisters round out into a
comfortable and becoming amplitude and full
ness? If it is the fog and the sea-coal, why,
then am afraid We shall never come up to
them. But perhaps there may be other causes
why country which starts some of the most
beautiful girls in the world produces so few
beautiful women. Have not our closc-hcated
stove-rooms somewhat to do with ito Have
not the immense amount of hot biscuits, hot
corn-cakes. and othe: compounds got up with
the acrid poison of salcratus, something to do
with it :? Above all. has not our climate.
with its alternate extremes of heat and cold
tendency to induce habits of indoor in
dolcnce? Climate certainly has great deal
to do with it-Ours is evidently more irving
and more exhausting; and because it is so.
We should not pile upon its back errors of
dress and diet which are avoided by our
neighbors. They keep their beauty. because
they keep their health. 1t has been as re-
markable as anything to me, since l have
been here. that do not constantly, as at
home, hear one and another spoken of as in
miserable health. as very delicate. etc. Health
seems to be the rule. and not the exception.
For my part, l must say. the most favorable
omen that know of for female beauty in
America is the multiplication of water-cure
establishments. where our ladies. if they get
nothing else. do gain some ideas as to the
necessity of fresh air. regular exercise, simple
diet. and the laws of hygiene in general"
THE AGE OF SEE1S.-The fact that age
adds value to seeds may be perfectly familiar
to agriculturists. but it is new to us. A gen
tleman in this city is in the habit of saving
melon seeds until they are six or seven wears
old, and maintains with entire confidence.
that. i'll consequence, they germinatc more
readily, and originate more prolific plants
This theory has recently received a striking
confirmation in France. In 1852. as We
learn from the Paris correspondent of the "
\. Times, few grains of wheat were discov-
cred in the tombs of some ancient mummies
found in the south of France. supposed to
have been 1000 years old. They were plant
ed and produced the astonishing amount of
1900 grains to one. The Government as
sumed charge of the matter. and since that,
the product has been magnifed liz such an
immense proportion, that the minister of agri-
culture is now enabled to distribute large
quantities over the empire, with instructions
from the government farm as to the best
mode of cultivation.
1t is suggested that the immense produc-
tiveness of this wheat is owing to the long
rest of the seed. We imagine that it would
be hard to find sufficient cause in any other
direction. 1t opens a very fine field for spec
ulation and enquiry, and # any of our read
ers have facts bearing upon the subject, we
should like to get hold of them.-Spring-
field Republican.