davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05
The Presidents.

General Washington was in his 58th
year when he became President. John
Adams was in his ed, Mr.. Jefferson in
his 5Sth, Mr.. Madison the same, Mr..
Monroe is his 59th, John Quincy Adams
in his 5Sth, General jackson in his cd,
Mr.. Van Buren, in his 55th, General Har-
rison in his Goth, John Tyler in his SD,
General Taylor in his Goth, Mr. Fillmore
in his 51st, Mr.. Buchanan in his Goth,
Mr.. Lincoln in his SD, and Mr.. johnson
in his 57th. Three Presidents crossed
their fifty year line during their incumben-
cy of the ofhce--General Grant, Mr.. Polk,
who entered Office seven months before he
was so, and General Pierce, who was in
his 49th year when taking his seat. Gen.
Harrison was the oldest man ever elected
to the Presidency; General Grant the
youngest -Four Presidents-W Washington,
Jefferson, Madison, and John Quincy
Adams-were all in their 5sth year when
they entered Office, and four-W Washington,
John Adams, jefferson, and Madison
went out Of office in their 6Sth year.
General Jackson went out of See only
eleven days before the completion Of his
10th year, and Mr.. Buchanan fifty days
before he was 70 John Adams was the
longest lived of the Presidents, being in
his 9lst year at the time of bis death.
The next Oldest was Mr.. Madison, who died
in his Seth year. Mr.. Jefferson died in
his S4th year, John Quincy Adams in his
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05
Vegetable Perfumes and Health.

An italian professor has made some
very agreeable medical researches, resulting
in the discovery that vegetable perfumes
exercise a positively healthful influence on
the atmosphere, converting its oxygen into
ozone, and thus increasing its oxodizing
influence. The essences found to develop
the largest quantity of ozone are those Of
cherry, laurel, cloves, lavender, mint,
juniper, lemons, fennel, bergamot; those
that give it in smaller quantity are anise,
nutmeg, and thyme. The flowers of the
narcissus, hyacinth, mignonette, heliotrope,
and lily ofthe valley develop ozone in closed
vessels. Flowers destitute of perfume dc
not develop it, and those which have but
slight perfume develop it only in small
quantities. Reasoning from these facts
the professor recommends the cultivation
of flowers in marshy districts, and in places
infested with animal emanations, on ac-
count of the powerful oxygen influence Of
ozone. The inhabitants Of such regions
should surround their dwellings with beds
Of the most odoriferous flowers.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05
Trapping Moles Alive.

The following method of trapping and
destroying moles is practiced in Glouces-
ter A well-used run is discovered in a
bank; cutting is made about foot in
width, and the run is bridged over by a
narrow box, consisting of three pieces of
wood, forming the bottom and two sides
only; the ends are fixed in the run on
either side. In the bottom of the bridge
is nicely balanced, self.acting trap-fall
The moles run along slip through, and
fall into an earthenware pot. The bridge
is carefully turfed over, grass downward to
keep out the earth; every ray oflight must
be carefully excluded. The trap being
always set the moles fall in and perish
The pots are left unheeded, and as new
coraers drop in they are eaten by those in
the pot, which is gradually filed with
skins and bones. Water should be put in
to drown them, but this is cruelty neglec-
ted If looked at every day the moles can
be caught alive and we'll A bank is
chosen because the pot can be looked at
and replaced without disturbing the bridge;
but run on the fat ground would do by
digging proper trench for the bridge and
pot, A very simple plan is to sink in the
mole's run pitcher which will hold three
Or four pints. Do it very neatly, and not
otherwise disturb the existing state Of
things, and within eight hours the stable
gentlemen will be safely jagged. 1t will
be pure waste of time to try to catch the
same animal second time by the same
means. Moles usually 'run," as it is
termed, at stated times of the day, about
eight, twelve and four o'clock, when their
workings must be watched; and by quietly
and stealthily approaching them they may
be dashed out of the heap or little run they
are working by one stroke of spade, and
then picked up and bagged before they
can again enter the ground; or, when they
are working small run, they are easily
taken out of it by jumping on to the run
with the heels apart, so that each heel shall
enter and stop the run on each side Of the
mole, which must be Immediately drawn
out by the hand. | write from expert
ence, and repeat that the greatest care is
always necessary to prevent the mole;
(Which are very sensitive) from hearing OIL
feeling your approach.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05
dait and 9unlor.

THE NEaRo AND THE MULE.-The
following anecdote, finely illustrative Of the
characteristics Of two denizens of the
South, we find in the Editors Drawer Of
Hdrper's Magazine:
"The negro and mule writes friend in
Clinton, Louisiana, are inseperable COM
panions in the southern cotton fields, and
like the Hiawothan string and bow, use
less each without the other. The lazy in
difference and careless cruelty of one, and
wonderful powers Of endurance of severe
labor, bad treatment and neglect of the
other, complete the compatibility of. the
two races necessary for the production of
four millions Of bales. A characteristic
anecdote may be relished by those who
have had experience of the two. The
spectator had taken refuge from the sun
perpendicular rays under the shade of a
spreading beech, sub tegmiile fagi, and lay
recumbent, enjoying the ftful breezes and
the sombre frothiness of the country news
paper. Along the dusty road which pass
ed by this retreat came jogging a negro,
mounted on a mule, both apparently fast
asleep. As the somnolent pair approached
the spot, some wicked sprite Of the place
gave the paper firt, which no sooner
seen and heard than the mule, as mules
only know how, instantly snapped ends,
and leaving the negro sprawling in the
dirt, took his departure under full sail
The negro, half raising himself, and wip.
ing the dust from his eyes and mouth
watched the retreating mule for some time
in silence, but at length, unconscious Of
an auditor, gave expression to this philo
sophical soliloquy: Oats what makes m,
'spise mule. "
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05
The Pineapple.

II. NJ. Myers writes the Scientific Amer
ican as follows There is, perhaps, no
production of the tropics which is so gen
orally and deservedly esteemed by the peo-
pie of the North as the pineapple, yet of
none have they such vague ideas as to its
manner of growth. Not unfrequently
have we heard it expressed as being the
fruit of tree; associating it with the
cone-bearing trees of our own country
The pineapple plant Ananassa sativa) is
a native of tropical America, growing wild
in the forests, but is also largely cultivated
in those regions, as well as to some consid-
cradle extent in the West Indies, and on
the Eastern Continent
1t has fifteen or more long, serrated
ridged, sharp-pointed leaves, springing
from the root, resembling in its genera
aspect the century plant, but much smaller
in size. In the centre of this cluster Of
thick, succulent leaves, springs up short
stalk bearing spike of beautiful flowers,
which in time produces single pine-ap
pie. On the summit Of the fruit is tuft
of small leaves, capable of becoming q
new plant, which together with suckers,
are the means by which it is propagated
as a pineapple which has been properly
grown, or of the wild fruit of the forest
which we always found equal, if not SUI
perior to the cultivated ones
A word as to the manner Of preparing
a pineapple for eating may not be out Of
place here. Let the rough exterior frs
be removed to a sufficient depth, and then
slice the fruit longitudinally with the core,
and not across the hard centre, as is gen
orally done with us. As soon should al
ear of green corn be divided in sections
when the kernels must be pulled from the
cob, as a pineapple across the core, in
stead of nicely slicing the fruit from it
adherents. The deliciousness Of pine
apple when freshly picked from the plan
and prepared in the above manner canno
be surpassed.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05
Trout Breeding.

An Elgin, Illinois, correspondent Of
the Western Rural says ANY good, cool
spring water which does not get warmer
than sixty-fve degrees in summer is suit
able, and it makes no difference if il be
hard or soft. The water used by Seth
Green, the celebrated piscicultnrist, is
hard and have visited many fisher
les in the East and find the trout doing as
well in hard as in soft water. 1t should
not, however, be too strongly impregnated
with iron or sulphur. l have trout in
many places in Illinois and they are all
doing well, and comparing these with
trout of equal age in the East, find them
fully as large as any / examined, the wa
ter We use being hard lime water,
In building ponds, care should be taken
not to build them too large for the amount
of water. For example, with one inch
pipe of water, pond ten feet wide, thirty
feet long, from three to four feet deep, is
large enough. If made out of earth and
the ground is so porous that it has to be
curbed, then five feet wide, thirty long,
and three to four feet deep will be ample.
If there be sufficient fall, say one or two
feet, another pond of equal size could be
built, and the water would be purified and
rrated by the fall, so that the last pond
would be equally us good as the FIRST A
pond of this size would support from three
to five hundred trout, until they reach the
age of two years, when they would weigh
from one-half to one pound each, and
would require but little feeding the cond
year.
Trout grow to weigh from three to four
pounds at four years old, and commence
laying eggs the second year after being
Matched. The spawning season is from
the first of November to the first of March
The best time for moving trout is when
the weather is cool, or say up to the last
of May 1t requires seventy days for
trout eggs to hatch Take the young trout
from the Matching house and turn them
out into the pond before the first of June
The natural food Of trout is insects and
other living animal matter. No vegeta-
Bile food is taken, but in artificial ponds
they are usually fed on, hashed liver and
lights, and other cheap'animal food.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05

TANNING AND DYETNa SHEEP SKINS.
In answer to a question, a correspondent
Of the Scientific 4n,ericon says Wash
the pelts in warm water, and remove all
heshy matter from the inner surface, then
clean the wool with soft soap, and rinse
the soap thoroughly out. Second, apply
to the flesh side the following mixture for
each pelt; common salt and ground alum,
one quarter pound Of each, and half an
ounce of borax. Dissolve the whole in
one quart of hot water. When cool enough
to bear the hand, add rye meal to make
thick paste, and spread the mixture on the
flesh side Of the pelt. Fold the pelt length
wise, and let it remain two weeks In an
airy, shady place, then remove the paste
from the surface, wash and dry. When
nearly dry, scrape the flesh side with
knife, working the pelt until it becomes
thoroughly soft A beautiful blue may
be impaired to the wool by using the fol-
lowing recipe Add a wine-glassful Of
sulphuric acid to gallon Of water. Put
into the solution tablespoonful or more
Of imperial blue, regulating the quantity
of the dyestuff to the shade Of blue re-
quired. Put in the pelts and boil for ten
minutes. After boiling, the pelt viii need
working again to make it soft.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05

Down IN THE SEA.--At 500 fathoms
down in the sea there is a perfectly uni
form temperature, the same in all lati-
tudes. No cold pierces this wonderful
coverlet, no storm ever disturbs the wa
tiers beneath. Here in their hidden home
safe from the disturbances of this upper
life, are myriads of creatures, living, mar
rying, dying, warning one upon another;
organizing into kingdoms, republics, fami-
lies; workingin every form ofmanufacture,
as spinners, weavers, achiteets, builders
endowed with mysterious instincts which
are quite as wonderful in their way as our
higher reason, and bound together by mys.
terious ties which we are equally unable
to comprehend or to call in question, Sc
true is it that the mysteries Of science far
outweigh those of morals and theology.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05
dlsefal 8etipss.


Says that walking cyclc pedia Of health
knowledge, DI. Hall Wien persons are
feyerish apd thirsty beyond what is natu-
raj, indicated in the mouth especially after
drinking water, or by whitish appearance
Of the greatest part Of the surface Of the
tongue, one Of the best coolers, internal
or external, is to take lemon, cut Of the
top, sprinkle over it some loaf sugar, work
ing it downward into the lemon with
spoon, and then suck il slowly, squeezing
the lemon and adding more sugar as the
acidity increases from being brought up
from lower point. Inyalids with fever
ishness may take two or three lemons a
day in this manner with the most marked
benefit manifested by q sense of GOODNESS,
comfort, and inauguration. A lemon or
two thus taken at atea time, as an entire
substitute FOX the ordinary supper Of
summer, would give many comfortable
nights sleep, and awakening after rest and
inyigoration, with an appetite for break
fast, to which they are strangers who win
have their cup Of tea or supper or relish
and "cake' and their berries or peaches
and cream.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05

BLACKBERRY WINE.-The following
is the plan used by Swiss settlers in the
United States, and is said to make the
most excellent wine To one bushel Of
berries put two gallons of water, and ex-
press the juice; to each gallon of the
liquid add one pound Of refined white su-
gar. Put into a cask, about peck Of
freshly-burned charcoal, broken into small
pieces; then pour the liquid uponi it. Let
it ferment As soon as the fermentation
subsidies close the cask tight, and let 1t
remain until January, or later; then rack
off and bottle it, and set it in cool cellar.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05
Selett poetrp.
BIRD LANGUAGE.


What do the wrens and the robins say,
Talking so tuneftilly all the long day?
Now on the cedar bush, now on the ground,
CHIPPING their thoughts 10 the blossoms around
Now on the willowtree, waving No high,
Warbling their eanticles close To the sky.
What do the wrcns and the robins sayg
DO they feel the charm Of this beautiful days
Does the wine Of happiness warm their veins,
And give the keynote TO those wonderful strains2
Are they mad with love or drunk with delight
That thoy reyel 50 wildly from morn To nightg
What do the wrens and the robins say?
Let each one answer as best he may
For every listener holdeth key
To unlock the musical mystery;
And differently all translate the WORKS
Ofthat varying language brcathcd by the birds
The little child hears In the gladsome strain
A call 10 the fields and the hOwer-cad plain;
The sick and the weary, by pain oppressed
IL charms with promise ofinhnite rest
And the lover doth still IN each carol rejoice
For he hears In them ever his sweotheart's voice
But most do the wrcns aud the robins repeat
TO the dreaming poet language sweet
10 his finer soul and his keener sense
They speak with thrilling cOqucncc
And with happy tcaN his eyes grow dim
As he lists to the oft-repcAted hymn.
The goodness Of God, and the glory of earth.
Are thoughts which ccaSclcssly spring 10 birth
For the splendor OF STAN, and flowers and streams
tilides with that melody into his dreams:
And the beautiful lore he learns fnlm the strain
lie gives To the listening world again
As he wcayes into many tnncful lay
What he hears the wrens aud the robins say.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05

To BAKE A HAMA young and fresh
ham eats much better baked than boiled,
and keeps longer good Place it into
plenty of cold water to soak over night
The next morning place it in warm water
for an hour or two, wash it very clean,
trim smoothly off all rusty parts, and lay it
with the rind downward into coarse paste
rolled to about an inch in thickness; noisten
the edges, draw, pinch them together, and
fold them over on the upper side of the
ham, taking care to close them SO that no
gravy can escape. Send it to a well heated
but not too hot oven. Bake from three to
five hours, according to the size Of the
ham. Remove the crust and skin while
hot When part only Of ham is cooked,
baking is far preferable, as it retains the
juices better.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05

A Coon RECIPE FOR YEAsT.--For a
small family, take ounce Of dried hops
and 2 quarts of water. Boil them fifteen
minutes; add l quart Of cold water, and
let it boil for few minutes; strain and
add ! pound of -four putting the latter
into a basin, and pouring on the water
slowly to prevent its getting lumpy, 1 Of a
pound of brown sugar and handful of
fine salt. Let it stand three days, stir
ring it occasionally. Little bubbles will
soon rise in it. When ii ferments well,
add potatoes which have been boiled,
mashed, and run through a colander, max
ing them as smooth as possible. This
yeast will keep a long while, and has the
advantage Of not taking any yeast to start
it with 1t rises so quickly that less
quantity of it must be put in than of Or
binary yeast.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05
Our Teutonic friend, Johannes X

Our Teutonic friend, Johannes K,
entered one of our drug stores, and thus
addressed one of the clerks: ''Toctor.
feels sig oil ofer, I'm de beebles dells me
better take one fissick.' GAN right, sir, {"
says the clerk, twill you have dose Of
salts or some purgatiye pills ?" "Vell, vot
it cost for dem saulds?' ''Ten cents, sir. .
sUnd how mooch, is it for dem fssicking
pills?" "I'll give you dose at the same
price After vain search in his pockets
for the required sum, he asked: "Toctor,
you tond got no second hand fissicking
pills, amt il ?"
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05

Another clever gentleman has been
deceived by hydrants. While homeward
bound, working long longitudes, rejoicing
under the influence of about 1000 drops
of the oil ofjoy, he ran against a hydrant.
He happened to mistake the hydrant for
a small colored boy. "Skuse me, sonnie, y
said he, patting the hydrant paternally
"didn't run yer down because yer was
black. Grow up (hic) and be useful
man. Initiate (hic) my example" And
here he laid quarter on its nozzle, and
went on with a lighter heart and the sat
isfaction that he had made one poor soul
happy.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05

CocoANUr CAKEs.--To one pound Of
grated cocoanut, one pound Of light brown
sugar, add half pint Of water; bring the
sugar and water 10 the boiling point, then
add the cocoanut; boil the whole three
fourths Of an hour, or until the water has
entirely disappeared. Make II up into
cakes, sprinkle -four on board or tin, put
the cakes thereon and dry them in an
oven, not browning them.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05

DYsENrERY.--The following simple
remedy has been known to cure the most
obstinate cases of Dysentery, when other
remedies had failed 1t has the merit Of
being harmless and always eifectual Take
one-fourth Of a pint Of hot water; vinegar
half pint; mix. Now add common salt as
long as it will dissolve in the mixture, stir
ring it freely. Give for an adult one ta-
blespoonful every hour, until the bloody
discharges cease, or until it operates freely
upon the bowels.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05
Our 0li.
The Moon and the Weather.

After testing the question again and
again, modern meteorologists have come
to the conclusion that the moon has no
sort of influence over the weather, agree
ing with the Iron Duke that it is non
sense to place any faith in her as a
weather predictor. Time was when she
was thought absolute mistress Of the sea
sons Pliny has the following lunar
weather wisdom Fine weather, wind or
rain may be looked for according as the
moon rises with a pure white, red or
swarthy light. If, at full moon, half the
disc is clear fine weather is betokcned
if red, wind if black, rain. II at the
rising of the new moon the upper horn is
obscured there will be prevalence of wet
when she is on the wane; IL the lower
horn is obscured there will be rain before
she attains her full if both horns appear
obtuse frightful tempest is near; If they
are sharp and erect high winds may be
expected. Darwin declares it as a sure
sign of coming rain when the moons head
is hidden in haloes. A correspondent Of
Notes and Queries says a large circle
around the moon, with north or north
east wind, predicts stormy weather; if the
winds come from any other quarter there
will still be rain, but less Of it. If, how
ever, the moon rises after sunset, the ap-
pearance of ring round her is not so
significant as the Dutch rhyme puts it
A ring round the moon
May pass away soon;
But ring round the sun
Gives water in the tun.
An old Spanish proverb says the circle
of the moon never filled pond but the
circle of the sun vets shepherd; while an
English rhyme pronounces -
If round the moon circles seen
0fwhite, and all the sky's serene,
The following day, you may deyine,
viii surely prove exceeding fine.
And
Whene'er, in autumn or in spring,
A mist the moon doth with it bring,
At noon the sun will bright appear,
The evening be serene and clear.
moon i anoshar Sion 81 ea;r woo,ber
nTbara's no I;tal;boaa of don now an
d. 80, H. H. 80 e. ! o ~
hodu n nAJ,m Radon Snn,bov no,;oo,
this notion in one of his letters ''Poo
Littledale has this day explained the cause
of the rains which prevailed for the las
bo "a new 10 Won no !; 10 10 mo IT hov,
obsarrodn H. savs ,.that whan tho nno,
Is tnrnod inward wa have fine weatbe
af,er Il but whom II il tmrned Down the,
wa b.vs a ws, season. and The reason
,b;nI il ,bo, whom !, il trrnoa down +;
hold No wa,ar ILL., a hos;n yov rnov
and aown !, onmos -" 7. i . yor,, oom
mon bol;af ,ho, Tho Weather denen3s mo,
Tho Noon ohana;no heforo or after p;J
n;9hta boI;ef shs1rd on tho face of !,
s;aco az has beon we'll observed the moo,
800 ,hanaa 80 49, =. XVos,n;ns,o,
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05

CARAr---The word carat, used to express
the fneuess Of gold, is so called from an
Abyssinian bean, which from the time d
its gathering, varies very little in It's weight
and for this reason is used in Africa as q
weight for gold, as it is in India for gems
aud pearls. 1t is, with us, an imaginary
weight, used to express the proportion d
gold in given mass Of metal Thus, i
an ounce Of gold is divided into "a part
or Sarats, then gold 20 carats fine is tina
in which 20 parts are clear metal, and
parts silver, copper or some other alloy.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05
CnANoINa rHE conons on F1owrR.

CHAsaING THE CoLoRs Oh FIowERs.
The Gazzette DIES Cdmpaynes say that
NJ. Hucghe has succeeded in changing
the common cowslip from its natural yell
low to an intense purple BY merely trans
planting it into richer earth. The color
Of plants can be readily varied by mixing
certain substances with the soil. Wood
charcoal will darken the hue Of dahlias,
petunias and hyacintbs. Carbonate Of So
da turns the last mentioned flowers red,
and phosphate Of soda alters greatly the
shades of many plants
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-05

The poultry-houses, If well managed
will furnish valuable lot Of manure
Guano is the excrement Of sea-birds, de
posted in localities where ii is not destroy
ed or washed away by rains. Proper at
tention to and management Of these house
viii pay we'll