The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-27
Foreign Miscellaney.

The NouvelliStes of Roueu narrates the
following curious anecdote
M. Bolts, son of one of the Professors
at the Academy of Caen, undertook jour-
ney to China and lived for some time at
Canton. This was prior to 1880. He used
to wear there beaver hat in the European
fashion, which suited him so we'll that he
was unwilling to change it. However, when
it was worn out, he applied to Chinese
halter, and, giving him all sorts OF directions,
told him to make another like it. The man
went to work, and in few days brought
hat of the required shape, not Of beaver, but
ofsome stuff very soft and glossy. M. Botta
on his return to France, preserved this cur
ious specimen of Chinese workmanship, and
wishing to have it repaired, intrusted it to
halter, who examined it carefully, and was
much struck with its mode of fabrication,
which was altogether new to him. He ex-
amined the article, with the greatest atten.
ton, and short time after the present fash.
ion of silk hats came in. The inventor pat
ented his discovery, and made large fortune,
but held his tongue about his debt. to the
Chinese tradesman, who, seeking substi-
tute for the beaver which he could not pro-
cure, devised the plan of replacing it by the
light tissue of silk which at present almost
universally constitutes the outward covering
OF the modern hat
BARON LIEBEG has in series of letters
called public attention to the system of sew
erage in large cities. He directs attention
to what Babylonia and Assyria once were,
and to what they are now, and urges upon
US to learn in time, from their melancholy
fate, which be is of opinion we certainly
shall share one day, if we do not provide
against it, and which, in the case of those
ancient seats of civilization, he seems alto
gether to ascribe to the gradual exhaustion
of the soil by system of agriculture in
which care was not taken to replace every
atom of fructifying material taken from the
fields in harvest.
In the recent cold weather in London,
three of the cast iron columns which sup
port roadway, fronting warehouses, at the
st. Katherine's Docks, burst with loud
report, similar to piece of ordnance, and
fragments of metal were found a consider
able distance. On examination it was
found that the columns had become partial
ly filled with water, which entered at the
top, and there being no outlet, the frost
caused the explosion as described.
AT a scientific meeting in Edinburg, a
crinoline dress has been exhibited, one half
of which had been immersed in a solution of
sulphate of ammonia, in order to test its
non combustibility. On a light having
been applied to the crinoline, the part of it
which had not been stepped in the solution,
was at once enveloped in flames, but the
only effect which the light had on the other
part was to char it. This was considered
satisfactory experiment, and it was stated
that as ammonia was only I'd. per pound, it
was accessible to the humblest class. 1t
was stated that the crinoline used in the
royal establishment was STEPPED in a totally
different solution, but that its cost prevented
its general use, and that the cheaper solu-
ton was equally efficacious.
AN extraordinary case of girl conceal.
ing her sex for many years has lust been
brought to light at Poitiers. Augustine
alias Augustus Baudouin, young person
of II, was known,in the town as particular.
ly smart, active lad, and had frequently been
in place in respectable houses as !" odd boy"
This individual was lately tried and con.
victed for robbery. The prisoner lodged
an appeal, but before it came on the prison
authorities conceived some suspicious, and
ascertained her to be female. On being