American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-09-27
USEFUL AND SUGGESTIVE.

ONE would think that the larger the
company is in which we are engaged, the
greater variety of thoughts and subjects
would be started into discourse; but in
stead of this, we find that conversation
never is so much straitened and confined
as in numerous assemblies.-Addison.
WE ask for long life, but it is deep life,
or grand moments that signify Let the
measure of time be spiritual not mechani
cal. Life is unnecessarily long. Moments
of insight, of fine personal relation, a
smile, "A glance,-what ample borrowers of
eternity they are!-Emerson.
To PRESERVE GREEN GRAPEs.-Take
the largest grapes before they commence
to turn ripe; stone and scald them. Take
three quarters of a pound of sugar, clarity
it as for apricots, then boil the grapes in
it until soft, but not to a jam; skim them
out and put into jars with the syrup.
SIMPLE CURE FOR DysENTERY-Take
Indian corn, roasted and ground in the
manner of coffee Tor coarse meal browned),
and boil in "A sufficient quantity of water
to produce a strong liquid like coffee, and
| drink a teacupful warm, two or three
times Il day. One days practice will or
dinarily effect cure, it is said.
How TO CATCH RAT-A person who
has tried and succeeded tells us how to
catch a rat which may have intruded into
a room where it is an undesired guest.
The plan is to take off one boot and lay it
fiat upon the floor close to the skirting
board. The rat runs into the boot for pro-
| lection, and is then easily captured.
THE VALUE OF CHARCoAL-Powdered
charcoal sprinkled over dressed poultry
or meat will preserve it in good condition
for considerable period during hot
weather. A few large fragments placed
in the closet of refrigerator will absorb
| the tainted or disagreeable smell which
may have been produced by the damp all
acting on the viands kept there for pres
| ervation.
| To PRESERVE PEARs-Take pears not
quite ripe, and peel off the skins. Pre-
pare syrup with three-quarters of a
pound of sugar to each pound of fruit.
Melt it and boil for half an hour, remov-
| ing all the scum which rises. Put in the
! pears and let them boil for ten minutes,
or just long enough to soften little; then
take out and cover tightly with paper wet
in whisky or alcohol, and cover with
| another paper placed over the mouth of
| the jar.
To Color Blackstone ounce extract
of logwood, one ounce of copperas, one
half ounce of verdigris; tie the verdigris
| in cloth and boil. Dissolve the cop
peras in an iron kettle and soak the goods
at scalding heat three-quarters of an
| hour, stirring occasionally. Dissolve the
logwood and add the water in which the
| verdigris is boiled. Dip the goods three
quarters of an hour, stirring frequently.
| This makes a beautiful black. Always
| use water sufficient to cover the goods and
stir easily. Rinse thoroughly.
| GRAREs.-In gathering the now ripen-
| ing and luscious fruit of your vines use Il
sharp knife or scissors. The tearing the
stems away from the vine is apt to injure
| the bark both at the point and also where
the tendrils cling to the trellises. After
the leaves have fallen trim the vines, saw
| ing such cuttings as you need by throw
| ing some earth over them in dry place
| Lay the vines the ground and cover
| them. Earth is better than anything else,
as it affords the best protection against
mice which gnaw the bark.
Position IN SLEEPING - Sleeping
rooms should always be so arranged, il
| possible, as to allow the head of the
sleeper TO be toward the north. Frequent
| ly in cases of sickness, Il person will find
| it impossible to obtain rest if the head is
| in any other direction, and often a cure is
| retarded for long time. A Vienna ply
| stefan had a patient who was suffering for
| a long time from acute rheumatism, with
| painful cramps running from the shout
ders to the fingers; and while his head
| was toward the south he could do nothing
| toward his relief. On turning the bed
| however, so that the head was toward the
north, the patient uttered expressions OF
pleasure, and in Il few hours "A great inn
provement had taken place, and in a few
| days he was almost entirely cured. Many
| other cases are given by scientific per
| sons; and people, in building houses
should always have this in view.