Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-12-29
Walking ON the Water.

The New Orleans Comm Bulletin
tells the story of an interesting experiment
successfully tried some years ago in that
city, establishing principle which seems
as if it might be made to serve some useful
purpose. In mid Summer, in the year
1855, when the river was very low, the cur
rent not moving more than a mile an hour,
a few loungers on the levee saw man
walking across the Mississippi River, from
Algiers to. New Orleans. Nothing was per
ceptible in the distance but the aquatic pc
destrian and double-bladed paddle, which
he held in his hands apparently for the
same use that tight rope walker
carries balance pole. In about
twenty minutes he made the New Orleans
bank of the stream, and was greeted with
the cE eers of thousands who by that time
had assembled, and were amazed at the ex-
plot. Turning back he again crossed the
river and safely reached Algiers. The con.
trivance by which this was done, was
something upon the principal of snow
shoes For each foot he had what might
be called a canoe, made of red cedar boards
IA feet deep, and pointed at the 'front.' with
board across the top, and straps to tasten
the foot. These water shoes were lashed
so that they could not spread too widely
apart, and the double -bladed paddle was
taken as life preserver, to be used in the
event of any mishap.
HANGING GARDENS. A correspondent oi
the New York Tribune, writing from the
city If Leon, Mexico, says:
The city of Leon is compactly built, and
in all the central part of the town the in
habitants cultivate flowers il the pdtios Oh
court-yards, and more especially upon ter
races and on the roofs of their houses.
From the observatory upon our house
/ I looked down upon the city and
saw one vast garden of brilliant flow
ers thus cultivated in tall urns OF
fancitully fashioned earthenware. Such
on a larger scale were the famous Chang
| ing Gardens" of Ninevah. The custom il
pleasant one, and greatly contributes tc
the enjoyment of life in a crowded city.
Leon has about the climate of San Francis
co at this season--the first of November
and the average temperature here ls said te
be from 60o to 800 all the year round.
The finest tropical fruits do not flourish
here, but oranges and other tropical fruits,
such as are cultivated with success in the
vicinity of Los Angeles California, grow il
great luxuriance.
NEW POSTAGE STAMps.-The Post-offict
Department has completed its selections O.
designs for the new series of postage
stamps to take the place of those now IL
issue which were adopted by the late Post
master General Randall, about one yea
ago. The new design will be abou
one-third larger than the present stamp, o.
the size of the old stamps and consist Ell
tirely of profile busts taken from standing
original marbles executed by artists of &C
Ia Il.
stamps have already been engraved, proofs
of which have been approved by the Post
Office Department, as well as by the Presi
dent and Cabinet, as the most appropriate
and elegant ia all respects of any hitherto
issued by any nation. They will comprise
the hef dis of the following distinguished
Americans One cent-Franklin, by Bur
ton, of Franklin Institute, Philadelphia
two cents-Jackson, by Powers; three
cents Washington, by Howdon; six cent
Lincoln, by Walk; ten cents-Jefft rson
by Powers; twelve cents-Clay, by Hart
fifteen cents-Webster, by Clereneed
twenty-four cents-Scott by Cofie; thirt,
cents-O H. Perry, by Wolcott
CURING A SNAKE BITE WITH FIRE
correspondent of the Galveston Medica
Journal narrates the following inciden
/ wherein the bite of rattlesnake was curet
by fire. A young man eighteen years o
age was bitten by rattlesnake on the arm
above the elbow. A coal of fire was ap
piled a short time after he was bitten.
saw him two hours after the accident, whel
he appeared very much prostrated, and wa
vomiting every few minutes, pulse yer,
small and frequent, complaining CONSTANT,
of the burn, which was pretty severe.
gave him frequently of diluted alcohol. Hi
recovery was rapid, and swelling in the arm
slight. The question now is, did the fir.
do any good? l think it did, not only b,
destroying the virus to considerable ex
tent, but also by producing local incapacit,
in the veins and absorbent vessels to per
form their functions | think, in all prob
ability, howould have died before the alco
hol was given if the fire had not been ap
piled. - @
We CALL the especial attention of al
those of our readers interested in the knit
ting of socks, stockings drawers, hoods
shawls, under clothing, &C., to the adver
tisement of the American Knitting Machin,
Co., of Boston; who have reduced the pric,
of their machines to $25, which places then
in these close times, within the means o
every one.