davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-11
The Spinning Of the Silk.wOrm.

The silk-worms change their skins four
times. After the fourth moulting comes a
redoubled appetite, which permits them to
attain their full size in a few days. Then
other phenomena appear. The caterpillar
ceases to eat, and cmpties itself entirely
it seems uneasy. wanders here and there,
and seeks to climb. Warned by these
symptoms, the breeder constructs for 1t
with branches cradle or bower, into
which it tmounts. 1t chooses a convenient
place, hangs itself by the hind feet, and
soon, through the spinner of which have
spoken, we see come out thread OF SILK.
This is at first cast out in any direction,
and forms collection of cords destined to
fit the cocoon that is to be spun. Soon the
work becomes regular, and the form of
the cocoon is outlined. For some hours
we can see the worker performing his task
across the transparent gauze with which
he surrounds himself. BY little and little,
this gallze thickens, and grows opaque
and firm; finally it becomes cocoon like
these l place before you. At the end OF
about ~ hours the work is done. Once
it has given out its first bit of silk, a worm
i'm good health never stops, and the thread
continues without interruption from one
end to the other. You see that the co
coon Is in reality a ball wound from the out
side inward. The thread which forms this
ball is IL miles i'm length; its thickness i
only one-twenty-four hundredth of an
inch. 1t is so light that % miles Of il
weigh only l53 grains. SO that 10 lbs
of silk is more than 2,7O0 miles long. Let
me insist moment on the prodigiOus ac'
tivity of the silk-worm while weaving its
cocoon. To dispose Of its silk when spin
ming, it moves its head i'm all directions
and each movement is about one-sixth o
an inch. As we know the length of tn
thread, we can calculate how many move
ments are made in disposifg of the silk Il
| u hours. We find in this way that
silk-worm makes nearly 100000 motion
i'm "A hours, or 4, ,166 IN hour, or go per min
ute. You see that our insect yields not II
activity to any weaver; but we must adj
that it is beaten by the marvellous ma
chimes which the industry OF our day ha
produced.-Poputar Science Monthly.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-11
Is Phosphorus Thought! {!

There appears still to be much differ
ence of opinion among chemists about
the changes which occur in the secretion
of the kidneys after waste Of nerve tissue.
For example, DIR. l.. Hodges Wood:
rs the result of his observations published
i'm 1869, dened the correctness of the gen.
orally received statement that the amount
of phosphatss in the urine is increased by
f;tiguing mental exercise. He found that
while the alkaline phosphates were slight
ly increased, the earthly phOsphates were
notably diminished after mental work
and that. wlen the mind was not much
employed, the excretion of earthly phos-
pilates was Increased instead ofdiminished
He accounts for this on the hypothesis
that, when tle brain was worked, itwith-
drew more phosphorus from the circula-
ting fiuid-Medicut and Surgical Re
DOrter,
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-11
If.

IF sunshine were sold by the pound,
lf paupers could feed on clover,
IL the world were square, not round,
II the Tichborne case were over,
If one grew beefstesks IN the garden,
III mutton were picked from trees,
II pheasants were sold for :" farden,'
III cells had CONT in their knes,
Ii tailors ne er sent in their bills,
And workmen meier asked for their wages
II doctors ne'er ordered us pills,
IL pines were rs cheap as greengages,
IL wise folks Mt times were not fools,
And fools were not always so wise,
If the School Board had sensible schools,
And blind men could see without eyes,
IL pigs could fly nimbly as swallows,
II swallows could grIlnt like swine
Why, of course. you'll discover what follow
From such suppositions rs mine!
II had but a subject 10 rhyme on,
I'd choose it for better or worse;
Instead oil thus wasting your time on
Such very ridiculous verse.
London Fun.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-11
Chemical Sugar.

Dealers and manufacturers Of the inn
portant article of sugar have lately expert
cnccd disturbance of the even tenor of
their ways by the announcement 0f new
chemical discovery, by which saccfiarinc
commodities may be produced as by sna~
gic, without the troublesome and cxpen-
sive methods of cape-growing and grind
ing. The new discovery Is credited 10 NJ
JOuglet. a French engineer, and his pro-
cess Is alleged to involve the mere bringing
together of certain common ana cheap ar
ticles, from which the best qualities OF sta
gar are rapidly and economically p,p
duced. The process is claimed TO be the
subject of patent, which is at present III
the hands of large company.
We imagine that the stock OF the coni-
pany will be for sale on the market long
time in advance Of the sugar, and we ar
wise sugar manufacturers not 10 smut UP
their existing establishments just al pres
ent.
There Is undoubtedly room for improve.
ment In the manufacture OF sugar, ana
MANY diligent students are engaged upon
the subject. Every year adds to our knowl-
edge and facilities for conducting this great
industry, which is so extensive and in
wolves so much capital, that the smallest
economical advance, In any Of its pro
ccsses, Is a matter Of importance to the
world. But we should about as soon ex-
pect to see the steam engine superseded by
the hot air machine, as TO find the present
sugar processes set aside by the novelty
now announced.
The production of sugar by chemical
means from various materials. Is by no
means g new thing, having long been prac-
ticcd. Thus starch, treated with warm di-
luted sulphuric acid, Is converted into SUI
gar. 1t Is chcaply produced, and an ex-
| tensive manufacture Is carried on. This
product Is known rs grape sugar, or gitl-
cose, and the only drawback to its substi-
tuition for cane sugar is the fact that grape
sugar has only half the sweetening power
of the cane. Starch sugar Is employed to
adulterate honey and cane sugar, and b
used in lieu of the latter in various saccba
rine preparations.
The cheap and common materials sug
gested by this French engineer may refe
TO rags or other refuse containing wood,
fiber, such as cotton, wool, paper, etc. Ex
haustive attempts have heretofore beei
made by chemists TO induce people to ca
their linen rags, aftera cooking which con
verts them into sugar. This consists il
treatment with stilphuric acid, by which
means fine crystalline article OF siiga
may be produced from old collars and shlr
tails. But rag sugar, like that from starch
lacks sweetness, and the stuff Is unsuite'
for the popular taste.-Seienflf'c American
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-11
Straw Beds.

DIR. Dio Lewis writes the New York
Times ''Of the eight pounds which man
eats and drinks i'm day it is thought that
not less than five pounds leave his body
through the skin. And of these five pounds
considerable percentage escapes during
the night while he Is i'm bed. The larger
part of this is water, but in addition there
Is much effete and poisonous matter. This
being in great part gaseous in form, pene-
trates every part Of the bed. Thus all
parts of the bed-mattress, blankets, as
well as sheets-sOOn become foul and need
purification. The mattress needs this
quite as much us the sheets. To allow the
sheets to be used, without washing or
changing, three or six months would be
regarded as bad housekeeping but must
insist if a thin sheet can absorb poisonous
excretions of the body to make it unfit for
use in few days, thick mattress, which
can absorb and retain thousand times as
much poisonous secretiOns, needs to be
purified as often, certainly, as once In three
months. A sheet can be washed. A mat
tress cannot be renovated in this way, In
deed, there is no other way of cleaing a
mattress but by steaming or picking it to
pieces, and thus i'm fragments exposing II
| to the direct rays of the sun. As these
processes are scarcely practicable with any
of the ordinary mattresses, ! am decidedly
of the opinion that the good old-fashioned
straw bed, which can every three months
be exchanged for fresh straw, and the tick
washed. is the sweetest and healthiest OF
beds. If, i'm the winter season. the porous
ness of the straw bed makes 1t little ufi-
comfortable, spread over it comforter OF
two of wooden blankets, which should be
washed as often as every two weeks. With
this arrangement, il you wash the bed GOV
ering as often as once in one or two weeks
YOU will have delightful, healthy bed
Now, If you leave the bed to air, with Opcr
windows during the day, and not make !
for the night before evening, you will have
added greatly to the sweetness Of You
rest in consequence, and to the tone o
your health. L heartily wish this goot
change could everywhere be introduced
Only those who have thus attended to thii
important matter can judge of its influences
on the general health and spirits"
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-11
Anrrrrp ,rroN OF FIorR.-The Lond

ADULTERATIoN OF FLoUR.-The London
Hour says the latest novelty in adulter'i-
ton of food comes from Dublin. At a
meeting of the North Board of Guardians
it was ordered that the clerk should write
to the Deputy Quartermaster General to
ascertain the name of the contractor who
supplied flour for the troops, which flour
had recently been analysed and condemned
as unfit for human food. The modus
operandi was explained by Capt. Brinkley,
one of the guardians. Somewhere in
Wales there are quarries of white stone,
easy to pulverize. This is brought to
Dublin, ground into the consistency OF
flour. and mixed with the genuine article.
Ii makes beautiful bread to look at, and
people do not eat so much of it.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-11

AHUMAN SKULL IN QUARTZ LEAD.-It
was reported this morning that human
skull had been found imbedded in body
of rich sivcr-bearing quartz in one of the
Comstock mines. Hearing that the skull
was in the fine cabinet of Tucker q Shep-
ard. at the Palace Saloon, we repaired
thither to ascertain the facts in the prem
ises. There we found a large human skull.
thickly coated on one side with rich sui
phurets of silver, and upon inquiry ascer-
tained that the curiosity was found IN an
old drift of the Ophir mine. some years
ago, by the late Judge Baldwin. The skull
was found at point where the drift had
cut through rich vein of sulphurets, and
hence its coating. How il got there is still
mystery, and will perhaps remain SO for
ever.-V1ginid (Ner.) Bulletin.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-11

The Boston Traveller says that well
known Washington street merchant went
to the post-office one morning with bun
die of eight or ten letters for the mail. all
the letters being unstamped. Atthe post
Office door he stopped to talk a moment
with a friend; then, without going to the
letter-box, he commenced to open the let
ters lie had in his hand, and walked away
from the office, until the spontaneous ex-
claHlation. "Confound 1t, these are my
own letters!' Then he walked back to
the office, and still absent-minded, put the
unstamped letters in the box together
with those of which he had broken the
seal.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-11

A FRENCH journal alludes to the recent
death of singular character at Batignollcs,
France. His name, it says, was Joseph
Very, and he imagined that he had, in a
prior state of existence, been a dog, and
could not meet dog on the street without
talking to him. BY degrees he persuaded
himself that he was the king of the canine
race, and assumed the title OF Meder /.
AS he was very gentle and inofiensive the
police never interfered with him. He left
fortune equal TO 1000 francs per annum
TO one of the principal veterinary surgeons
of Paris.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-11

A BAGGAGE AGENT belonging TO the State
Railroad died recently in Atlanta. The
attaches Of the road made provision for his
burial expenses, furnishing among things
a nice suit OF black broadcloth in which TO
dress the corpse. Ills wife objected 10
having ''those fine clothes buried IN the
ground" and brought out some OF her
husbands old apparel, In which he was
prepared for sepulture. The following
Sabbath the bereaved wife's brother wore
the clothes furnished by the dead mans
companions to church.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-11

FEMALE drug clerks are becoming nu-
merous necessity in England. and the FEM
inine qualities are said to suit the business
admirably.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-11

A NoRwALK (Vt.) hen keeps tally Of
her eggs; the last one laid was distinctly
marked one hundred and twenty-four.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-18
One OF the Old School.
WHY A sEcEssIoNIsr CEASED HIS THREAT


We copy the following item because it will
remind many of our readers of the pleasant
story Hon Ira Cochran of East Dorset used
to relate about the negro who 'eouldn't think
of anything worth darn cent.
''The Waterbury American is responsible
for the following pleasant incident : a man
and his wife were at photographers, and
while the operator was getting ready the
husband gave the wife little advice as to
how she must act. 'Fasten your mind on
something he said, 'or else you will laugh
and spile the job Think about your early
days-how your father got in Jail, and your
mother was an old scolder, and what you'd
have been if hadn't ptied you jest iasten
your mind on that = She didn't have any
photographs taken"
And before we forget it, We will mention
little incident in Deacon Cochran's life
which we think has never vet been printed.
During the war he was ''down country a
little distance, and while waiting for the ears
at country station he heard n citizen loudly
abusing President Lincoln, the soldiers, and
the North generally, and declaring his hope
and expectation that the South would con-
quer, divide the Union, kill off our armies
and cut up all sorts of triumphant deyiltries.
" W hat makes you talk that sort of stuff ?'
asked the Senator. Because believe it,,
replied the ''secesh." "That's no excuse"
replied Mr.. Cochran, you've no right to
publicly preach such treason now, and ought
to stop your noise or be made to shut up ="
" Perhaps you'd ike to try and stop me. -
said the ranter. "Not here" replied Ira
your age protects You from personal assault.
But if you will come up to our place and ut
ter such damnable treason, if we don't hang
YOU swear that Ill pay your expenses up
there and back - Secesh neither said any
more nor came up to Vermont to repeat what
he had already uttered.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-18

TRAVELLING DRESsES-For midsummer
journeyings, dress which separates at the
waist, thereby permitting the use of linen
blOuscs, Is on every account most desirable.
For cooler wea- one Of the new redingote
polOnaises Of gray de baize, with black
skirt, is the most serviceable suit. The
redingote IS a very long garment, fitting the
figure behind, and being double breasted and
loose, or half-ftting in front, as choice or
necessity dictates 1t it crossed in front by
double row Of large buttons-mOulds COW
cred with the material or silk-and has large
square pockets, square cuffs, and coat-collar
either of the same, black silk, or silk the
color Of the polonaise. 4 plain two-ineh
hem edges it, and it Is looped behind, and
left open halfway down the front. 1t Gov
ers the skirt so much that an old one will
answer excellently, thereby saving good
one for more important occasion.
Linen busters are not only convenient but
necessary to comfort in journey of more
than few hours. They are made either
with skirt and half-htting sacque, which
can be slipped over the dress (and we think
this the most convenient forin), or in loose.
gown-like garment, covering the dress to
within few inches Of the bottom, and pro-
vided with sleeves that draw round the hand
with an elastic.
Buff linen collars and cuffs are used es-
peeially for ear-wear, and do not show soil
so soon as white; but for long trips we re-
commend paper cuffs and collars, which are
now made in pretty shapes for ladies, and
can be so readily renewed that the wearer
need never look otherwise than fresh and
neat.-Scrijner's for july.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-18
POIITit Al.

The Boston idrerfiser of Saturday says
Z" Our special correspondent at New York
telegraphs that a member of the cabinet
stated few days ago that General Butler
was not in favor of Judge Sanger as United
States district attorney, and did not sign the
recommendation for his appointment,
though when he found that Sanger was GER
tain to receive the office he not only ceased
his opposition, but assented to the choice ="
The Springfield Republican afirms that
James &. Blaine, Of Maine, wants and
means to be the next President'of the United
States. and that his only New England rival
is Gen. Butler. But Connecticut hasa can
didate worth two Buffers.
Ignatius Donnelly now turns up as an
agricultural candidate for Governor or
Minnesota. This is about the last trans
formation he can undergo.
The New York Erening Post deals thus
gently with the Liberal" party In its
birth it was a monster, and its few weeks of
life were an iniquitous debauch under the
assumption of political virtue to which it
had no claim. Its very existence was an in
suit to honest people, and its preterce of
having survived the Indignation and con-
tempt which overwhelmed it is, if we take
it seriously, an impertinence without paral-
les By usurpation at Cincinnati and
coalition at Baltimore it postponed for
years the publication of politics; and those
measures of reform, on which depend re-
newal of the prosperity of the co untry, it
made impossible for an indefinite period by
wasting the opportunity, that one more
game might be given to parcel ofpolitical
gamblers who cared for nothing but politi-
cal power and spoils of office. 1t began its
existence by an act of audacity. and so long
as it lived, from May to November, it
served only to feed the love of notoriety in
mediocre men, or the hopes of worn-out
political hacks whose careers were other
wise ended. The assumption of such men
that they still form party with "affinities'
and principles" is more fitly described by
the slang term ''cheek" than by any other .
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-18

MISUNDERSTANDING never more than
three hours day, young Anton appeared
publicly at 10 years of age. 81 PLAYED, but
never practised after was 49, confesses
the pianist, whom Robert Browning, fine
musical critic, rightly pronounces ''the great
est of them all" What terrible shock
this is to plodders Patience seeks without
finding, and genius finds without seeking.
But Rubinstein is exceptional. lie is fired
by musical passion. You fancy that he possess
ses enormous power IN his arms 1t is allin his,
wrists and in his passion. When he is inspir-
ed he becomes blind and is sure to iniure
himself. He has played for us once on board
our good steamer. "Come, we will 20 now, -
he said one afternoon, beckoning to few,
and entering the ladies' saloon he sat down
to an upright Erard and played the "Erl
King in way that caused tears to come
From passion he passed to the delicious SEN
timent of Schubert's "Auf dem Wasser,' -
as exquisite poem as melody ever sang
then dashed into brilliant waltz, and finally.
being wrought up to the music, gave such a
rendering of the finale of the third act Of
1.-The Huguenots" as made every operatic
performance Of it puerile. 1t was not a
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-18

pianoforte arrangement. 1t was Meyerbeer
without the voices, and yet Meyerbeer in all
his glory, for every note received its true in
depreciation, and for the first time realized
the intensity of that famous duo for bass and
soprano. 1t was tremendous performance.
Rubinstein ceased to see the keyboard, and,
upon concluding, blood was upon the keys.
He had in some impossible manner hurt his
right thumb. 81 always do something ofthe
kind when | grow blind, he said, rising
quietly from the piano, showing himself then
as at all other times the most unassuming of
men. -hate Field
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-18
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

The temperance of Liszt, after twenty
eight years Of seclusion, upon the public
stage at Perth, caused extrao1di-
nary but very natural excitement. Never
before did so brilliant gathering assemble
within the walls of the City Masquerade
Hall. The Emperor Francis Joseph and
every member Of the Imperial family were
present. Every available foot of space was
occupied. Tho selections were from Beeth-
oven, Schubert, Chopin and Hungarian
composer named Abraine That vehement
plaudits should greet List might he expect
ed, but tine scene which took place on the
departure Of the Imperial family was re-
markable. The spectators rushed upon the
stage and endeavored to secure flower, a
leaf r portion of the decoration round
the "lano by way Of souvenir. Fortunate
ly tie costly instrument was preserved for
the great performer.
When Miss Nelson went to Chicago the
draIatic critics of that city, remembering
tha; she had given diamond ring to each
of their ST. Louis brethren, did their very
prettiest in her behalf And then she went
away without dispensing single ring. They
tear their hair now
\ kentuckian cherishes the remembrance
of Jenny Lind by retaini ig n bouquet of
flowers, now withered, which she held in
her hand during one Of her concerts in Lou =
vile twenty years ago.
Wagner Is writing n new opera in the
same style as Tannhauser and Lohengrin.
1t is founded on Micklewitz's poem Of
" Honrand Wallenrod."
Miss Nelson has played Juliet 50 often
that she Is tired of it. She has represented
that unfortunate damsel over Geo times and
with over POO different Romeos, Of all ages,
and some women Romeos, whom she found
it difficult to appreciate.
The furniture of the ST. james theatre at
b iston was s1d at auction and Is
brought 81 ,000. 1t cost S25, 5,000.
Edwin Booth is studying King Lear.
Adelaide Phillips Is at her home in Marsh
field, Mas, for period Of quiet rest.
NIaretzek has made some important en-
gagements for the next opera season, COM
mencing in October. The principal artists
Of his company are Nine. Pauline Lucca.
Mile lima Di MurSka. great iay0rite in
Europe, and. As hravura singer, the first on
any stage Nine Natalie Testa, contralto
Of rare ability, and few years back, the
rsigning tayorite in New York Tamberlik,
the prince Of tenors, discoverer of the m de
p0frine and human trumpet in tours de
force Nizzlni, tenor Mari. baritone very
highly spoken of, and Janet. 1t seems GER
tain that, between this company and the
Nilsson company, the next season of Italian
opera in the United States will be the great
est on record. 1t j. also understood that
Maretzek is endeavoring to secure Booths
Theatre.
The I.ingards are in New York. but will
shortly 20 to their cottage on the shores Of
Lake George.
Miss Nelson, the English actress, has in
vested in a valuable chunk Of real estate in
New York
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-18

a boy in West Utica, a few nights since,
awoke at once to the knowledge of dismal
optic, and the fact that he is a somnambu-
list. He had been in the water, swimming,
nearly all the hot afternoon, and in his
dreams still divided the sportive wave. Then
he dreamed he wanted to dive, and so he
dived. When the house got through rock
ing he found himself standing on his eye
brow Utica Herald.
There is boy eleven years in Detroit who
feigns death so perfectly that the coroner has
offered him thousand dollars year to let
him have the use of his corpse during that
time
\ little girl who had great kindness of
heart for all the animal creation, saw hen
preparing to gather her chickens under her
sheltering wings, and shouted earnestly
% o don't sit down on those beautiful little
birds, you great ugly, old roosteri''