The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28


has been spending some days in Wash
ington, and gives anything but rosy
picture of the cave of the winds
commonly called Congress. The House
he found very noisy and disorderly;
the lobbyists swarm like gnats around
a dead government mule: Judge David
Davis looks like a hogshead wrapped
up in coffee-sacks; The Western court
SO on.
Speaking Of the telephone, we
suggest that hereafter there will be
no special need of church edifices. The
members of the congregation can have
wires connecting the ministers study
with the family breakfast table, so
that the sermon may be enjoyed III
peace and comfort. True, this will
interrupt the criticism Of ones neigh
bors attire; but after all we don't know
that it is a necessary feature Of reli-
gious worship.
The fact mentioned by the Com
missioner of Patents that the majority
of patents now being issued are to
Southerners Will overturn the old
fashioned sneer5 at the South for lack
of inventive genius. In truth, it was
ever unjust; for many of the most
famous inventions were of Southern
origin. We mention the reaper, cot
ton gin, revolver, Gatling gun, tele-
graph, etc, etc. Some of these claims
will be denied, but that is expected.
President McCosh, of Princeton
College, has expelled 10, and suspended
40, of the rowdy students who partici-
pated III the recent ''Hazing'' Riot. 1t
Is to be hoped this will break up the
shameful practices that have 50 long
prevailed III this and other colleges.
We are pleased to notice no southern
names among the expelled, and we
learn from letter from young Creech
(son of our well known townsman
that the Southerners discountenanced
the " hole proceeding.
The Newbern public meeting to
urge upon Congress the utility Of inn
proving Neuse River navigation, was
addressed by Judge Manly, Col. John
S. Long, Geo. Allen, ESD, and
others of the first men of the city.
The Goldsboro and kinston peo-
pie also, are aroused to the impor-
tance of this measure. We trust the
day is not far distant when men will
say, How could it have been possible
we were ever without this essential
channel for trade"
G.. III. writes from Herrysburg Penn
sylvania, that he designs coming to
North Carolina next year tC take up
his residence: is farmer by occupa-
ton and choice; could bring about 81
600 for investment is very anxious to
see copy of Prof. Kerr's geological
report; will pay fora copy rather than
miss seeing it, &c. &c. Two letters
this week have asked us for copies of
the report of our State Geologist; yet
there are those who think these. pub
LEGATIONS do no good.
There is a church built of paper.
near Berlin, Prussia, which can con-
tain nearly one thousand persons. 1t
is circular within, octagonal without.
The reliefs outside and statues within.
the roof, ceiling, the Corinthian capi-
tails, are all paper Mdcle, rendered
waterproof by saturating in vitriol,
ime-water. whey, and white Of eggs.
When we think of psalm sung by a
thousand voices pealing through a
splendid edifice made of old rags. We
feel as though we had lost the right to
be surprised at any future achieve
ments Of science and art
North Carolina may as well ;. dry
up" on sweet potato stories. Colonel
Aiken says that there was recently r.
ceived at the Department of the IN
terror "a good place TO receive en-, too.l
a mammoth sweet potato from the
sand hills of Colorado, weighing
exactly TWENTY pounds OF course .
it had lost some weight by evaporation, I
and drying during its long trip across \
the continent Still, a potato weigh
ing even 20 pounds. in its stocking
feet, and as big as a bushel basket round
the waist, is a considerable huckleberry
above our persimmon, 50 TO speak.