Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-09-30
miscellaneous Firms.

t-9p -Four things come not back The
broken word. the sped arrow, the past life,
and neglected opportunity.
NEw PATENTS. - The following patents
were issued from the United States Patent
Office during the week ending Sept. 18th,
1859. each bearing that date
Orris Pier Of Ludlow, VT, for Improvement
in horse rakes.
Hamlin Whitmore and David NJ Smith Of
Springfield, VT, for improved carpenters
rule.
NORTHERN LIGHTs IN THE TBoPIcs.-
All our exchanges, from the northern coast
of the Island of Cuba, (from the southern side
we have none so late, come to us with glow
ing descriptions of the recent Aurora Borea-
lis, which appears to have been as bright in
the tropics as in the northern zones, and far
more interesting. At Havana it made its APP
pcarance a few minutes after o'clock, and in
the most approved style, not as here, gradu-
ally crimsoning over the sky, but, quick as
thought It shot up, and in a moment spread
over the whole northern zone, from the hori-
zon to the zenith.-Neo Orleans Picdyane.
The AURORA BoREA11s IN ENG1AND-
Early this morning, between twelve and one,
most brilliant display of the above phonom-
enon was observed. extending from the west
ern hemisphere to the northwest, north and
northeast, and reaching to the zenith. The
appearance in the west was that Of large
fire. but in the north and northeast it was Of
violet color, and flashes of light Of the same
color darted along the heavens with great
brilliancy. This beautiful display lasted for
about an hour and then gradually faded
away leaving a serene and uncloudod autumn
nal sky.--London Daily Ne,os, Aug. 20.
MARR1AoE PoRTIoNs roRrHE MuLioN.-
Many years ago Oliver Smith, an old bachelor
who resided in ono of the towns in Hampshire
county, Mass. left the bulk of his property
TO be managed by trustees, until it should
amount to $500, 900, when one half the income
was to be annually given to twenty-ono boys,
who should faithfully perform certain condi-
tions ofthc will one fourth to eighteen girls;
onc-cghth to filty-four young women for
marriage portions, and the remaining eighth
to the same number INDECENT and deserving
widows. The required sum will be reached
in October next, and acc rdingly about Sl0,-
800 will hereafter annually be distributed
among the boys-about S5l5 apiece, making
quite a prize for those who are lucky enough
TO secure it and as this distribution is to
be an annual thing an army of boys will in
time be furnished with handsome sum to
start life with. The sum of $1,000 will be
distributed among the girls-S300 apiece ;
$4,000 for marriage portions, making $50
apiece, which will pay for many Of the neoes-
sary "fxings;" and the same sum so apiece
to the widows. The trustees of the fund are
annually elected like all other town officers,
and the principal of the fund is mainly loaned
upon real estate in the various towns Of the
country.
TIIg PHrIOsoPHY OF RAIN.-To under
stand the philosophy of this beautiful and Of
ten sublime phenomenon, SO often witnessed
since the creation of the world, and essential
to the very existence Of plants and animals, a
few facts derived from observation and long
train of experiments must be remembered
/. Were the atmosphere everywhere, at al
times at n uniform temperature, we should
never have rain, or hail, or snow. The water
absorbed by it in evaporation from the sea
and the earths surface would descend in al
mpcrceptile vapor, or cease to be absorbed
by the air when it was once saturated. 2
The absorbing power of the atmosphere, and
consequently its capability to retain humidity
is proportionably greater in warm than in colo
air. 3. The air near the surface of the eartl
is warmer than it is in the region of tho
clouds. The higher we ascend from the oartl
the colder do we find the atmosphere. Hence
the perpetual snow on very high mountains il
the hottest climate. Now, when from con
tinucd evaporation the air is highly saturated
with vapor-though it be invisible and tht
sky cloudloss-if its temperature is suddenly
reduced by cold currents descending from
above, or rushing from higher TO lowe
latitude. its capacity to retain moisture
diminished, clouds are formed and the result
is rain. Air condonses as it cools, and, lik
n sponge filed with water and compressed
pours out the water which its diminished ca
pacity cannot hold. How singular, yet how
simple, the philosophy of rain
a DEMocRATIo PIoTURE.-The Richmon,
Enquirer draws the following portrait of tn
Democracy Of the North. If the writer ha,
had the Vermont portion Of it directly in hi
eye, he could not have hit off better like
ness in all its important characteristics
Free Press
'Look at some Of the instances at tn
North, where the Democracy have so long re
manned a minority. They are powerless t
secure popular election to public office,
Their leaders have ceased to be responsible t
the public opinion of the communities /
which they reside. Wholly unaccustomo
TO defend or advance political measures befor
popular assemblages, shut out from the gran
theatre of political contest and sclfreliar
exerton, their political career has been r,
duced TO mere fnessins to secure offices b
the federal executive appointment.
The business of Presidcnt-making consi
tutes their main political stock in trade u
able to achieve anything towards the clectic
of Presidential candidate, their entire exc
tons are confined to securing claims upon Il
favor of some Presidential aspirant, by ASST
ting him to procure nomination. Tho
thus become mere trading politicans--ba
tering caucus tricks for federal offices--an
like all mere mercenaries, when disappoint,
in the quid pro quo, they soon join the RAM
of the enemy. Thus it is that, in so maj
instances, small democratic minorites at Il
North so rapidly become beautifully less, u
I'll the democratic party of whole oomm
nifty dwindles down to a mere coterie, whic
on the election of democratic Presiden
find federal spoils in its immediate neighbo
hood sufficient to answer all its political wan
in the way of public jobs and public office
1t then becomes the interest and the policy
tho little hand of nrincinal rnanaoors 60 IL