davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
Rejuvenating Old Butter.

It frequently happens that butter dealers and butter-manufacturers have a, quantity of butter which becomes ran- cid and unfit for sale, either through i'm proper handling or carelessness in it's manufacture. Such butter can be worked over and be made to appear fresh by the following method, communicated to the Ohio Farmer by Mrs. B. Smith: 1" In perfectly clean water barrel, filled with water, put half pound of alum and allow to stand until the impurities in the water have all settled tO the bot tom of the barrel. Fill large boiler half full with the alum water, heat as warm as the hand can bear-but not boiling-and then add what butter the boiler will hold conveniently. Stir it thoroughly for fifteen or twenty minutes, and put the butter into churn, adding. one gallion of new milk for each ten, pounds of butter. Add butter coloring enough to give rich. yellow color and churn with the whole. When the but. ter is gathered in the churn add salt; wash and work it we'll, and it will have the taste, smell and appearance of fresh butter. It is hardly necessary to add that when the butter has been worked over in this way the sooner it is sold the better"
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22

on ivory points, he discovered that on some of those which had been exposed to the light in glass bottle, the poison had become inert; while on others that had been wrapped in paper, in the same bottle, the poison retained all it's deadly activity. He hence argued that, if sun light exercised such power on the poison of the cobra, it might by analogy destroy the poison of the smallpox, scarlet fever and typhoid. He considered that pure air and water, freedom from damp, pure daylight, and equal temperature were essential. He then entered into a va riety of details of the required moditi. cations of our present house architecture, foundations, closets, and other offices, which may possibly be excellent if prac- ticable. From the amount of expense that would be incurred in erecting such model houses. we imdgine that the wer- thy doctor would justly entitle himself to the thanks of every architect and builder, if not of the owners of such hOilses
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
American Progress.

Strange to say, the trade and com. merce of the United States seems to have become more interesting topic for editoral consideration than before the centennial exhibition. The Stand ard first set the example, but all the metropolitan journals now bloom out periodically in forid or caustic articles upon the commercial future of our nation. The Times has had two note- worthy editorials upon American topics this week. On Thursday, referring to the forthcoming exhibition at Paris in a leading article, 1t expresses grave doubts as to whether British manufacturers are alive to modern industrial progress. It depleres the marked inferiority of the English laborer. "The comparison which is forced between England's ex. hibits at the Philadelphia exposition and those of the United States and Ger. many was not altogether satisfactory to Great Britain. The products of United States industry, even alter making due allowance for tha fact that the exhibi- tion was held within it's own area, too often surpassed England, It was more
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
Mellow Soil Around Trees.

Unless the surface of the ground is mulched around young trees over an area of six to ten feet in diameter, the ground should be kept clean and mel. low. Every farmer knows that hill of corn or potatoes will not amount to much unless cultivated, and yet there are many who will neglect to give the same care to tree that is worth hun dred hills of either of the former. In rich soil trees may grow rapidly without cultivation, and no amount of grass or weeds will retard them; but there are other things besides these to be looked after. If the weeds and grass are allow ed to grow up around the stem of apple, peach, or quince trees, the bark will be- come soft near their base by being shaded, and thereby in suitable condition for the reception of the eggs which will eventually become peach or apple borers. Take any dozen young apple trees in sections where the apple bOrer is abundant, and allow DOT tion to be choked with weeds, and the remainder we'll cultivated, and then watch the result. From our experi- ence, we believe the chances are nine to one in.favor of those cultivated being exempt from this pest.--National Agri- ruIturdiiSf
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
A Paris Ball Dress.

Lucy Hooper in one of her letters tes the Philadelphia Telegraph says: .,
 "Ball dresses are growing tighter and tighter, not only as to their waists, but their skirts. Where does the present fashion intend to stop? l recently saw a young French lady at party, ill gored Princesse dress ot pale salmon- colored silk, fitting as closely and with as little fulness in the skirt as pos sible. There was not a particle of drapery or founces about tue dress, the only trimming being flat band of em- broidery in pale blue and silver on dark ground that went around the waist, sleeves and skirt, and transversely acroA' the front from shoulder to skirt heaa. When the yourg wearer sat down, the effect can better be imagined than de- scribed. as she looks like figure moulded in peach lice, and as the waist was cut. very, uery low, and there were no sleeves at all to speak of, she might have sat as a model to a sculptor with perfect ease, nat to say propriety. am told that there is now question in the higher circles of fashion of suppressing entirely all undergarments of linen or muslin, their place to be supplied by buckskin or chamois- costlier underwear"
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
To Make Heus Lay.

A writer in the Ohio Farmers gives the following method for making hens lay:
 Put two or mere quarts of water in a kettle, and one large seed pepper, or two small ones, then put the kettle over the fire. When the water boils, stir in coarse ground Indian meal, until you make thick mush. Let it cool an hour or so. Feed hot Horse raddish chop ped fine, and stirred into mush as pre- pared in the above directions, and for re. suits we are getting five to ten eggs per day; whereas previous so feeding we had not had eggs for long time. We hear great deal of complaint from other people about not getting eggs. To such we would warmly recommend cooked food fed hot. Boiled apple skins, seasoned pepper; or boiled potatoes, sea soned wish horseraddish, is good for feed--much better than uncooked corn. Corn, when fed to the hen by itself, has tendency to fatten hens instead of pro- ducing the more profitable egg-laying. A spoonful of sulphur stirred with their feed occasionally will rid them of vermin and tone up their systems. It is espe- cially good for young chickens or turkeys. Out of flock of ten matched last November, we have lost but one. They have been fed cooked feed mostly, and are growing finely.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
Japanese Fans.

Mir. Annesley. English consul at Hiogo, reports that the expsrtation of fans from Hiogo and Osaka in 1875 roee to about three million in number, valued at $90. 900. The increase was due to a great extent to the approach of the cen tennial exhibition at Philadelphia. AL most all the fans are shipped to the United States. In the oIden days of seclusion from the outer world the sale of fans in Japan seldom exceeded ten thou sand in year, and the highest priced fan was not more than five yen. Since the arrival of foreigners some few fans have been made to order at as high price as ten dollars or fifteen dollars each; but the demand of the highly ornamented fans is not sufficient to encourage the production of large quantities of first. class work
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
Strawberry throwing.

Whilst admitting the importance of soil, climate, and good variety in the successful growing of strawberries, l am yet inclined to believe that, with careful cultivation, very fine fruit may be grown in all garden soils. The great mistake made by many is planting too thickly at the first, and allowing the plants to re- main from year to year on the same bed. Thus we often find the plants growing together in tangled mass, and the re- suit is when pinch of dry weather comes in June or July, they receive a serious check, the quality of the fruitlis depreciated, and the constitution of the plant weakened, possibly so much so that the plants are unable to mature their fruiting crowns for the following season. Thus the plants go on from bad to worse. Such "lazy bed" system will fully account for some varieties growing and cropping well for few years, and then becoming almost barren and the fruit nearly favorless."
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
FARM AND GARDEN.
RObblnT the Soil.

Few farmers consider that each crop that is grown and removed from the soil has taken away so much strength and vir- tue from it; that in the stalk and kernel is found the concentrated richness that was in the ground until transformed by the mysterious ways of nature in it's trans formation. Nature asks no aid from the husbandman, neither will it quietly brook being plundered, but, instead, fol- lowing each demand made upon it in q way of a crop, it is found reduced and worn, and will not again attain to its former merit until there is restored to it equally and proportionate what has been taken from it.
 Rotation in crops is demonstrated as being not only best, but demanded; the continual growing and gathering from the same field harvest of the same or kindred product will in due time deprive the soil in the field of the ability to pro- duce that especial article, as 1t has taken from the soil all that is necessary for the successful production of that crop, and either fertilizers must be supplied, or the field will become wholly worthless, save for some other and entirely different kind of product. When crops fail of themselves, the failure, as rule, can be traced to the neglect of men, and not the defect of nature, or mistake of the Crea- tor. The soil is provided in general state of richness if continual demands are made upon it to produce, and no re- turn offered in way of remedies for its degenerating tendency, the outcome will be thin crop from an exhausted soil.
 The principal products of the farm are of that class that are employed in feeding the great family of consumers. and con sequently it is removed in bulk from the soil, and but minimum portion of it re- mains to enrich the ground for another season, the stalks and straws are lost to it, and another robbery committed. Tax ing frem the soil these vital principles and making no return from them is re- ducing each year the value of the farm per acre in dollars and cents.
 This need not be, as the product from the soft soil taken and transferred into other conditions such as composite and manure, if returned to the fields, will re- store to the soil it's strength, and keep it ever in condition to respond to the de- mands made by succeeding crops.-Fac tory and Farm.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
Health Improvements,

On this subject Dr. Richardson, F. R. S., has recently delivered lecture at the London institution, in which he gave further illustration of the high views he entertains in regard to house sanitation. He considered that for purposes of health the houses in Great Britain require to be rebuilt, or remodeled, from Land's 6 End to tbe Hebrides. Dr. Richardson entered into the history of ventilation, from the time of Stephen Hales, in l733, to the present day, and explained the different discoveries that had been made in the various branches of science bear ing on the health of towns, showing that, till these were understood and appre- ciated, all modes of construction were of necessity imperfect. He called attention to the influence of water, dampness, light and darkness, etc. The effects of light deserve especial notice. Having got from India some poison of the cobra,
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
The Little Bear.

The little bear is small but most interesting constellation. l do not think that the little bear, like the larger one, was so named because of any imagined resemblance to a bear. The original constellation of the great bear was much older than the little bear, and 30 many different nations agreed in comparing the groupe to a bear that there must have been real resemblance to that animal in the constellation as first figured. Later, when star-maps came to be arranged by astronomers who had never seen bears, they supposed the three bright stars forming the handle of the dipper to rep resent the tail of the bear, though the bear is not long tailed animal. They thus set three stars for the bears tail, and thequadrangle ofstars forming the dip. per for the bear body. It was not formed by fanciful folks in the childhood of the world but by astronomers. Yet it must not be imagined that the constellation is a modern one. It not only belongs to old Ptolemy's list, but is mentioned by Aratus, who borrowed his astronomy from Eudoxus, who "fourished" Gas the school-books called i) about three hun dred ana sixty years before the christian era. Itis said that Thales formed the.con- stellation, in which case it must have reached the respectable age of about 2,500 years.
 But if the little bear is not very fine animal, it is a most useful constellation. From the time when the Phenicians were as celebrated merchant seamen as the Venetians afterward became, and as the English speaking nations now are, this star group has been the exposure of every sailors regard. In fact, the word "cynosure" was originally name given either to the whole of this contellation or to part of it. Cynosure has become quite poetical expression in our time, but it means literally "the dogs tail"
 Admiral Smyth gives some particulars about the two stars in the little bear called the guardians of the pole." "Recorde tells us," he says, Gin the Castle of knowledge nearly three hun dred years ago, that navigators used two pointers in Ursa-'which many do call the shafte, and others do name the Guardas, after the Spanish tongue. Richard Eden, in 1884, published his 'Arte of navigation and therein gave rules for the 'starres,' among which are special directions for the two called the guards, in the mouth of the 'horne,' as the figure was called" (The polestar would mark the small end of the horue) How often," says Hervey, in his "Meditations," "have these stars beamed bright intelligence on the sailor and con- ducted the keel to it's destined havenw
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22

stalks as nearly as possible ten inches apart in the rows; the plats in hills were likewise thinned out, leaving the same number of stalks in every plat throughout the experiment. In cultivating the plats care was taken to give each the same treatment, and beyond thinning, hoeing once and cultivating twice, no special treatment was given the plats.; The corn was husked November II and the weighings showed for the drilled plats yield of seventy.one bushels per acre, for the plats in hills sixty-two and a half bushels per acre, an advantage in favor of the method of planting in drills of eight and half bushels per acre. By the 'sbushel' of corn mentioned in these experiments is to be understood in every case seventy-two pounds of cars.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
\ Perfect T'heater.

The American Architect gives the fol- lowing description of the Vienna opera house:
 con each side of the stage are two three-foot walls, seven feet apart. These are stiffened by vaults running their whole length, and forming passages, nine in number, upon each side. These wall support the iron stage roof, under which is suspended an iron and brick ceiling. A wire curtain, weighing three tons, and counterpoised, is suspended above the proscenium opening It is let down every night and is seldom raised during rehearsals. Its meshes are only three fourths of an inch wide. It takes quarter of an hour to raise, but by loos- ening the windlass and supplying a brake it can be lowered rapidly though gently.
 1.-The building is warmed by steam and well ventilated, while it is possible to shut off the gas from the stage and auditorium without extinguishing that upon the stairs and corridors. "Two mains supply the theater with water; one supplying exclusively the daily use, the other the fire service. Could we not, in view of the scarcity of Croton water, connect pipes with the rivers and fill our reservoirs with salt water for the latter purpose, with the aid of steam pumps?
 Reservoirs in the Vienna theater are placed above the rear stage. In the in- spector's room gauges indicate the height of water in the same, whilst other regis ters show the temperature of thirty dif- ferent rooms in the building. Through speaking tubes, telegraphs, pipes, etc, he has control of the temperature, water and gas supply of all parts of the theater. The reservoirs above mentioned feed pipes running through the passages al- ready described, also across the stage bridges, under the stage, and to the store rooms. These pipes are above ten inches, below five inches, in diameter. At fire. quent intervals are stop cocks, to which are attached flexible tubes with half inch nozzles. In it's passage, by the side of the stage, are small slits opening to the stage and closed by iron doors. Through these one hundred and fifty openings half as many streams can be di- rected upon any portion. of the scenery upon or above the stage.
 "Ten men are employed to watch this theater, and of these eight are on duty during the performance and four by night. They are controlled by six dial rsc;steYs.o
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22

sin and disobedience It may be by my example some have absented themselves from the assembly of the saints, and thus have been led back into the world. Or, by my loose, irreligious life, some may have looked upon christianity as a mockery, and gone into infidelity. What has been my influence in these things
 We turn the picture over and examine the other side just for moment: Have Fled any to Christ by my example, both in business and church-liie? Have led any away from the intoxicating bowl, and pointed them to better life? Have l told any of Savior's dying love, and of the mansions pure and bright in the better world? Have encouraged any in the divine life by being faithful my self in all my church relations? Have kept my promise in sustaining the cause of Christ, or have failed to give of my means as the Lord has prOspered me?
 The Lord knows just how all these things stand, and how much true man. hood I have. He knows all my pur- poses, and comprehends me altogether. He will make allowance for all my foibles, but will hold me accountable for my sins. If have lived right, if have kept myself unspotted rom the world, andY walked uprightlly before Ged, m
 example has been good, and will have fine influence for truth and righteous ness. Let every reader of these lines put himself in these balances, that he may weigh himself and judge of his spir- duality. Let no one say, "I have no need of such an examination. If you arc following the perfect Pattern, Christ, it will do you no harm, but if yon are wanderer from the path of duty it may do you some good. It is written to help some along the journey of life, and as we send it out we pray Gods blessings upon
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
it. "Watch ye. stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. ."-Chr's- iain (S Loasis.
Experiments with the Eucalyptus
 (1lObu1ug.

A late Sacramento paper saysi Ine Central and Pacific railroad company have arranged to have 40,000 eucalyptus trees set out along five hundred miles 4' the right of way of the company. it should not be understood that that is the whole number of trees to be set out. lt is but the first installment, and IS Ior commencing the work. As there aIe {, 5,2S0 feet in mile, if the trees are planted twenty feet aparti in longltudinai lines and three rows deep in the fifty rect right of way on each side of the track, it will take nearly SOC, 900 trees for the five hundred miles of valley where they are to be cultivated.
 "Tbe object of this plant is to note what effect the planting of these trees will have upon the climate. It is the theory that large numbers Of them will increase the humidity of the atmosphere and lessen the liability to droughts. The denudipg of hills of their timber, and the clearing away of forests has n direct effect upon climate, as is well established, and the intention now is to see how Tar artificial means will be effective in restor- ing the balance believed to have been lost Dy tuo CicuIluS Out VI OuA sVASS
 well as the scattered groups os valley trees. In thisconnection it isto be noted that the directors of the Good Templars' home for orphans at Vallejo has now in progress the work of setting out three thousand of the eucalyptus globulous up- on the grounds of the home, which will make quite forest when the trees shall be fairly grown. The very low price at which these trees are to be obtained, nominal figure indeed. and the action Of the Central Pacific railroad company, has stimulated the inquiry anew why 1t should not be an excellent stroke of policy. for this city to secure at least 5,000 ot 5000 of these trees at once, as the time for transplanting is good, to bc placed by the city or citizens who will care for them until we'll rooted, in those districts of the city which are most iable to malarial influences. It is established that such experiments have been highly successful, notably that of the English government at the cape of Good Hope, and of the local government of a region in Belgium"
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22
Points of tine Hest fowls.

The longevity of fowls and the hen, capacity for laying eggs varies with different breeds-oftentimes .with differ. ent specimens of the same breed. It is commonly supposed that hen will pro. duce 600 eggs in the course of her lifetime, on an average. This is true as regards certain breeds, but is above and below the right number with other breeds. The Leghorns are said to lay 200 eggs per year, on the best of keep and care, but the average run of this variety will not do it. MT. Kinney, of Worcester, Mass, had an imported brown Leghorn hen which, at the age of six years, had laid 1,200 eggs. This is remarkable excep. tion, however, as brown Leghorn birdsare known to be short lived Their largest yield is during the first year; the second year their eggs are larger and finer, and make better chickens, but are less in number, and the bird rarely lives over the second moult if she does she is not worth her keep for eggs.
 The black-and-spangled Hamburgs are excellent layers. They are fine breed, produce fine, white, large eggs, and are non-setters. They can be depended on for two or three years, and are good to cross with other breeds.
 The black Spanish are the longest livers. Some are known to be in the full yigor of egg production at eight years. They arc Lot such prolific layers as the Legnorns; crossed with the Hamburgs they make fine breed
 The Houdans are long-lived breed, and give fair percentage of eggs. The Dominiques are seldom good for much after the first year, except as setters. This rule will also hold good with game fowls, except tbat the eggs of the latter are better, and for the table the flesh is finer.
 The Asiatics are better the second year than the first, if not allowed to set, but Choechins and Brahmas are liable to a decrease that affects their laying organs, produced from obeseness, rendering them at such times profitless as layers. The more active, steady.laying breeds work oil this excess of fat by exercise and con stant laying, They are not as long lived as the Houdaps.