Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-09-01
MR.. FIELDS ACCOUNT OF TIE LAYING OF
I THE CABLE.

NIX. FIELDS ACCOON1 We kuEtaIh 11Nd OE
{ THE CABLE. s.
HIS ARRIVAL AT TRINITY BAY--OPERAToRs ASLEEP
E-HE TESTS THE INSULATION By his TONGUES
KNOCKED OVERS Another CABLE TO LAIp?-
Mr. Field describes the feeling which pervaded ali on
board the Niagara, while the cable was being laid,
as one of the most intense excitement. Every map
.exerted himself to the utmost to achieve success in
the work Throughout the six and half days'th
most perfect silence and attention pervaded among
the men lest single moment of negligence should
destroy the cable On the first day after the paying
out began it was found that the cable was being
laid out at rate which, in proportion to the dis
lance rum would, if continued, have defeated the
enterprise.
This was owing to the fact that the cable the Ma
CARA had caused so much local attraction to ser-
ousy 6crange the compasses rendering it impossible
to steer the ship. Next day the commander of the
Gorgon being apprsed of the fact, ahead of the
Niagara steering in the most direct course for Trim
ity Bay. This he continued to do day and night
until they arrived leaving the deck except for
few moments, and varying his position by repeat
ed observations by the sun, moon and stars 10
his agency therefore, the success OF the achieve
ment is greatly indebted.
Mr. Field landed the telegraph station, Trini-
ty Bay, at o'clock in the morning, and walked to
the house. half mile distant, through the wilder
ness, not a person being visible on the beach. AT
the telegraph house he found the operators from
London fast asleep, not of them expecting That
unpacked their trunks, anticipating that in week
or two they would be ordered back to London.
The reason why signals and not words were sent
through the cable it being laid is that on the
previous attempt the clerks INDUCED in irrelevant
conversation which distracted their attention from
duty at a time when the faintcst obstruction might
be fatal to the work. The Directors therefore, Or
dered that signals only should be sent through the
cable from ship to ship. Both vessels had Green
witch tme and the electric current played to and fro
between them for ten minutes eac!. way.
The signals showed that on the first day the speed
of the Agamemnon slightly exceeded that OF the Nj
agara, but on the succeeding days they went at the
same pace, there never being more than twenty
miles difference between them. When the cable
landed both ends Mr. Field applied his tongue
to the end and received the cheering information
that the insulation perfect in shock that near
ly threw him over. The reason why messages were
not transmitted earlier from the fact that all the
appatatus at both ends was new and untried, and
required great deal of and skill to adjust.
Mr.. Field states that there is not the slightest
doubt that the cable is entire success, great or
greater than its most sanguine friends looked for.
ward to- By the Persia to- day he writes to &he di-
rcctors to prepare another cable at as it is evil
dent that the present one, which will in short time
transmit messages as rapidly an aerial line will
be entirely inefficient for the business which will
flow to it.
Until the first of September the line vii the clos
ed to all messages those from the Government
of Great Britain and the United States. During that
time MIR. Field will keep the public advised of all
matters affecting the success of the cable.-N I.
Tribune.
Curious MISUNDERSTANDING Whatey, in his
recent edition of Bacon's Essays, with Annotaons,
brings forwarded very suggestive piece Of natural
history, (which" says he, has often occurred to
my mind while ueditatng on the subject of prepar-
edness for future state curious analogy" 1t
is in the Annotaons on the Essay of Death ~ and
-. 81
that naturally raise the question, whether the dis
closures of the telescope or of the microscope be the
more wonderful.
1T is well known that the Greek name for a but
terfiy is psyche, which also signifies the soul and
that every butterfly comes from grub catepil-
lar. The technical name for the caterpillar is hl'rd,
literally a mask used because the caterpillar is
sort of covering disguise Of the future butterfly:
only undeveloped, is contained within the body OF
caterpillar; and that the latter has set Of organs
suitable its life, quite independent of the
bryo butterfly which it cncloscs. When the insect
is to close this stage of its life it becomes what is
called pupa, enclosed in chrysalis cocoon, from
which in due time it issues perfect butterfly. But
this result is sometimes defeated and in the follow
ing manner, related by the learned archbishop;
There is numerous tribe of insects well known
to natura!iss, called chneumOn flies which in their
larvs-state are parasitical; that is, they inhabt
and feed on other larve. The ichneumon fly, being
provided with long sharp sting, which is in fact,
an orpositor, (egg-layerO perces with this the body
of the caterpillar in several Places and deposits her
eggs, which there hatched, and fed As grubs,
(arve) on the inward parts of their victim. cater
pillar which has been thus attached goes on feeding
and apparently thriving quite well, during the
whole Of its larva-fe those that have escaped
For, by wonderful provision of instinct, the ichneu
mon grubs within do hot injure any Of the organs
OF the larva but feed only on the future butterfly
enclosed within it But when the period arrives for
the close of the arva-life, the difference appears
You may often observe the common cabbage-cater-
pillars retiring to undergo their change, into some
sheltered spot, such the walls of a summer house,
and some of them-those that have escaped the
parastes-assuming the pupa state, from which they
emerge butterflies. Of the unfortunate caterpillar
that has been preyed upon, nothing remains but an
empty skin. The hidden butterfly has been con-
sumcd.
Now, is there not something analogous to this
wonderful phenomenon, in the condition of some Of
our race? May not man have kind of secret
enemy within his own bosom, destroying his soul
-psyche-though without interfering with his we'll
being during the present stage of his existence; and
whose presence may never be detected till the time
arrives when the last great change shall take place
NATIONAL WEALrH.-From the last number of
DeBows RecieU we take paragraph which pre-
sents a summary of the aggregate wealth OF the
United States, which is worthy of preservation 1t
will be seen that the agricultural wealth is by far
the larger item in the list and considering the vast
expanse of country which is yet unbroken by the
plough, and from which golden harvests are
cleaned. we may we'll wonder what national
wealth may be at the end of twenty years, if fanati
csm will allow to continue a nation so long.
We have neither space leisure to indulge in spec
ulatons which would otherwise be agreeable and
merely append the table:
Value of farms and cultivated soil, s5,ooo,ooo,ooo
Value of horses CATTLE sheep, &C, 1,5OO,OOO,O 900
Value of agricultural implements, 100000 ( 0
Value of mines, 4,50O,OOU, 600
Value of dwelling houses, $500, 1000
Value of railways and canals, l,lUOO 900 900
shops, 100000 900