davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30
Ghq 6armrr.
CURING HANS.

The principal thing in curing hams ;s
to get then. just salt enough to keen. and
not so salt as to injure che favor and cause
them to become hard.
My plan of curing is as follows When
the hams are nicely trimmed rub each one
with tolerably fine salt, and pack in tight
casks holding about 140 gallons. Make
sweet pickle by using one and a half
gallons of New Orleans molasses or its
equivalent in sugar, and six ounces of
powdered saltpetre to forty gallons of water.
with salt enough added to make the pickle
float potato when its made. Let it stand
until the scum rises and is skinned off.
Have the hams in the cask weighted down
SO they viii Hot rise when covered with
the pickle. They should remain in the
pickle from five to six weeks, according to
the temperature of the place. IF exposed
to freezing weather, they viii cure much
slower than In 4 cellar Some persons
take their hams out once or twice and stir
the brine; this is good plan when one
can spare the time, as by long standing it
grows weaker towards the top. When the
hams are finally taken out rinse them in
clear water and hang up to dry ready for
the smokehouse. Smoke them with hick-
ory wood. Hogs weighing about $50 lbs.
when dressed, are the best for family use.
They should be as near uniform weight AZ
possible in each cask, as larger hams re-
quire more time in pickle. Canvazir.g has
little q nothing to do with the ham, ia
yori 1t IS only necessary as a protection
from insects, and should be done in all
cases before the weather is warm enough
for their appearance. Soon after smoking.
wrap each ham in coarse brown paper and
sew it up in cotton cloth cut to suit the
size of the ham, or tie up in cotton bag.
that may be used the next year. The
canvased hams of the west are sewed mn
closely, showing the shape of the ham, and
dipped in wash made of lime and water.
colOred with yellow ochre. When hung
up they soon dry, and the wash closes the
interstices of the muslin, the whole form
ing perfect protection against flies, bugs,
etc. For the farmers use, the bags are
quite safe if made Of firm, thick muslin
and tied securely.-N. y World.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30
The Giant Hummine-Bird.

The giant humming-bird of Chill is the
largest of its family, and besides its size
differs from all the rest in some very note
worthy respects Mr.. Gould describes it
as bold and vigorous flyer, quick in all its
actions, passing from flower to flower with
the greatest rapidity. Unlike other spe-
eIes of its family, it may be frequently
seen perched on some small tree or shrub.
1t has very extensive distribution over
nearly all the more southern portions of
South America. NJ. Warszewic collected
specimens in Bolivia at height of nearly
fourteen thousand feet. The nest is q
somewhat large cup shaped structure, com
posed of MOSES, lichens and similar ma
terials put together with eobwebs and
placed in the fork of a low branch of a
tree, generally one that overhangs a tur-
bulent stream. Charles Darwin, in his
narrative journal of the voyage ofthe HBea-
gle, refers to this species as resident of
central Chill during the breeding season,
and his account of it differs, in some re-
spects, from those Of other writers, especial
ly that relating to the absence of the rapid
vibrations of the wings, generally supposed
to be popularity Of all humming-birds,
without exception. He states that this
species when on the Bing, presents very
singular appearance. Like others of the
family it moves from place to place with
rapidity which may be compared to that
of syrphus among flies, and the sphinx
among moths; but, while lowering over a
flower, it flaps its wings with q very slow
and powerful movement, totally different
from that vibratory motion common to
most of the species and which produces
the humming noise. Mr. Darwin had
never seen any other bird the force of
whose wings appeared Gas in a butterfly
so powerful in proportion to the weight of
its body. When lowering by a flower, its
tail was constantly being expanded and
shut like fan, the body being kept in
nearly vertical position This action ap-
peared to steady and support the bird be-
tween the slow movements of its wings.
Although it few from flower to flower in
search of food, its stomach contained abun-
dant remains of insects which Mr.. Darwin
believed to be much more the objects of
its search than honey. Its note, like that
of nearly the whole family, was extremely
shrill.-ScriJRer for December.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30
0dit and 9umur.
An Original Love Letter.

The following is a literal copy of let
ter which. after going a considerable round
found its way into the hands of a gentle.
man In Westminster. 1t is evidently from
some African swain to his sweetheart, and
one Of the most remarkable productions Of
the kind we have ever seen:
Unionvill, m. d.
Aug. s. 1873
Ever Dearest Having consulted my.
self within seat myself to write YOU few
lines to present you an information of my
health which is very deficient at present
hoping yours to be exceeding. adored
miss, having not seen your most durable
countenanee l am compel to Danish with
a reconciliation of my own prudance but
In abstaining it to nay inefficient heart it
seems quite sensible as a mishap, be it
correct my heart can no more blush at the
idea Dearest having looked with correct
ness at the time of former days and those
happy momentary moments We had to-
getter l am mutch bereaved cf that priYi-
lege now and ali so of seeing that bereaved
countenance as constant. Dearest no tounge
can express or no words in the language
can compose the thoughts of which have
thought of you.
| didin find that as you told me when
arrived home.
tell your aunt morgret that will send that
up by Parry.
Please to excuse the bad chiroghraphy
and unexplanitonal words or sentences, /
hope they viii not be the anxiety any more.
Yours truly,
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30

STORING CELERY ToR THE WINTER
The keeping Of roots, celery, &C., is not to
be commended where other arrangements
can be made, but dry cellar may be used
for keeping celery by digging trench as
if out of doors and packing the celery
cOmpactly in it and covering it with dry
land. In this quarter, however, long ex-
perience has demonstrated that the best
plan of preserving celery is to keep It out
Of doors, earthing it up gradually from
about the first Of October. IF the celery
has been planted in rows, say five feet
apart, commemorate the middle Of the open
space between the lows, and, leaving a
space Of eighteen inches each side of the
row, gradually build up the bank of earth
as nearly perpendicular IS possible. This
is best done by having two men working
together, one on each side of the rows.
Each row viii then stand in a bank of
earth about a yard wide, and the top of
the bank should be kept as level as posi-
bic. At each earthing up there should be
allowed to remain above the surface about
six inches of the tops of the plants until,
in this latitude about the first of Decem-
Der, when they should be entirely covered
with earth, and over that straw or corn
stalks enough to prevent hard freezing.
In the place of either, boards may Se used,
and they are perhaps more easily removed
and replaced when the celery is only to
be dug in small quantities at time.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30

INGRowING NAILs.-0ne of the deserv.
ed punishments which people suffer from
squeezing their feet in narrow shoes and
boots is an ingrowing nail The following
treatment is recommended for its cure =
First get rid of the narrow shoe, so that
the toe may be unconfned, and the nail
allowed to recover its natural breadth
which, however, it does not do very quickly
Then proceed to relieve the sore skin by
the side of the nail of its pressure. It is
of no use, however, merely to cut away
the pressing nail even freely, and then
to press a piece of lint under its edge
which is as painful as it is useless; for the
nail, if it is not otherwise managed, will
drop, in the course Of a few days, upon
the old spot, and again render it 'angry. u
The proper treatment is thinning the whole
length of the middle of the nail, from its
root to its end, as much as possible, and
this is best done by scraping it previously
with the sharp edge of piece of glass
again and again, till the middle of the mai
is as thin as writing paper, and win readily
bend under the pressure of the finger nail
This is, at first, rather painful operation
but the scraping must be done with q
light hand.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30
How Russia,s Finances Stand.


The peculiar financial policy of the Rus
sian government and the way it reacts
upon foreign countries will be apparent
from the following extracts. The ST. Pc
tersburg Erchdnge Gozette says :-''There
is no denying the fact that henceforth we
shall have to devote 18O,000,000 rubles a
year-that is, one-third of the entire rev
enue-to the payment of interest on the
national debt. This sum is not likely to
decrease; on the contrary, it may increase.
We have increased our debt the last two
years by one and three-fourths, and, ac-
cordingly, require 100000 a year more
to cover the interest, and this though we
had deficit in 1876, before the war be-
gan. No little cunning will be required
to combat the difficulties arising from this
state of things"
The Ecchange Gazette might have add
ed that the army and navy having required
over 2O0, 100000 rubles year before the
war, 1t follows that were even peace restored
to-day more than two-thirds of the whole
revenue would be consumed by Military
and Public Debt Departments. But even
this does not show the full extent of the
evil. Five hundred million rubles' worth
of uncovered notes having been added du
ring the war to the 700,000,000 rubles'
worth in circulation before the first shot
was fired, those 1,200, 0,000,0 900 rubles con-
stitute an additional debt of the govern
ment to the people, and the existence of
this debt depreciates the currency by nearly
one-half, causing corresponding increase
IN the rate Of exchange and in the 90,-
100000 rubles annual interest to be paid
to foreign creditors. Add to this that
the war expenditure is continued, and
there is but too much truth in what the
Ereddnge Gazette observes respecting the
difficulties ahead-London Times.
NoTE.-A rubie is a Russian silver coin
in value equal to IS cents of United States
money.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30
Slovenly Farming.

Readers of the Democratic Advocate
will not question the fact, that there is a
right way and wrong way in farming, as
in most other occupations. For instance
there's the worm fence with its eight
rails, instead of the post and five rails.
Then the filthy fence corners which are
permitted to grow up in briers, bushes, and
weeds, to spread themselves into neighbor
ing fields and TO give extra trouble to
everybody in the vicinity, perpetuating the
growth of wild carrot, Oxeye, briers, sassa-
fras bushes, and other nuisances, which
offend the eye Of the experienced and care
ful farmer. The slovenly farmer neglects
drainage. Swamps and bottoms make the
very best land when properly drained, but
the careless, slip-shod farmer, permits
them to grow up in brambles and to remain
malaria a-breeding bogs and morasses in
stead Of being crowned with golden sheaves,
or a crop Of the finest timothy. These
are only few Of the more prominent evil
dences of slovenly farming, which, in these
days of agricultural advancement, are sure
to inspire feeling kindred to contempt
in the mind of every thrifty progressive
farmer whenever he sees them. Are there
any such in Carroll county?
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30
Our Silver Mountains.

One of these mountain ranges, looking
west to the snow-eapped Sierras, with their
zones of black pines, and gazing at the
glistening deserts on the east, split and
torn with deep eanons, pitted with the
traces of volcanic disease, alike valueless
to herder or farmer, has become famous
the world over, and has made the nation
rich. Other ranges, still to the east, have
won a lesser fame and smaller wealth.
Here In this waste and stricken land,
and among these mountains, are cities, ac-
tive populations, and vast works; nature
gone mad in stony despair that woods and
fields and smiling meadows are not; ciyili-
zation living in spite of nature, and wholly
given up day and night to a more insane
toll, knowing no Sabbaths, no rest, no
night. The exhaust steam from hundreds
of engines waves its white banner in sun
light and starlight alike; the respiration Of
a giant by day, the futtering ghost of toll
by night These cities, with every appli-
ance Of modern sciences-with hotels,
theatres, water-works, schools, gas mains,
and every luxury--have not sprung up
here because of the beauty or convenience
of the situation. There is no river, no
sea, to bring commerce aud the arts; no
springs of health, nor even farms. These
towns live and grow on the most Elusive
and unstable foundations They were
built on hope, and live on an expecta-
tion. Their hopes have been realized in
measure past dreaming or expression.
Their expectations may collapse in a night
The very foundation beneath the houses is
shifty and unstable. The gas mains in
the street bend and snap underground, for
the very mountains groan and travail be-
cause of the greed of men. Some day the
townwill sink into the grave that lies so deep
beneath its streets, or the people will fee
away to more reasonable lands, leaving
hotels, halls: and dwellings empty in the
wilderness.
All this-these cities, this science and
enginery, this gigantic capital spent in
constructions more singular, more compli-
Gated, and more effective than any ma
chinery of like nature in the world-has
but one excuse; the metal hid in the heart
of the mountains. These men live out
their works and days for metal at once
the most universal, the most singular in its
manifestation, aud the most useful. These
great engines and vast works are for the
winning Of q metal that swims in every
gallon of the sea water; that may hang in
visible and dissolved in glass of acid;
that becomes black at the merest glance
of the sun; that is now black, now white,
now a mirror, and then a picture-a fit
charm to wind about less stable charms
and then welded to base metals in menial
duties.
Everywhere silver is found associated
with the most common things-iron, cop
per, sulphur, antimony and lead. 1t is
scattered widely over the world, and is min
ed in Saxony, Bohemia, in Hungary and
Pennsylvania, Konsberg in Norway, in
Spain, in Mexico, along the Cordilleras in
South America, and in parts of this coun.
try, notably in Nevada, California, Utah,
Montana, and Colorado.-Harper's Mag
d-ine for December.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30
Lamartine's Opinion of Women.

Woman with weaker passions than man
is superior to him by the soul. The Gaul:
attributed to her an additional sense
They were right. Nature has given WON
en- two painful, but heavenly gifts, which
distinguish them, and often raise them
above human nature-compassio and en-
thusiasm. BY compassion they devote
themselves; by enthusiasm they exalt them.
selves. What more does heroism require
They have more heart and more imagina
tion, than men. Enthusiasm springs from
imagination, and self-sacrifce from the
heart. Women are, therefore, more he.
roic than men. All nations have in theiI
annals some of those miracles Of patriot
ism Of which woman is the instrument in
the hands of God. When all is desperate
IN a national cause, we need not yet des.
pair while there remains spark of resist.
anee in a woman's heart, whether she is
called Judith, Celia, Joan of Arc, Victoria
Collenna, in Italy, or Charlotte Corday in
our own day. God forbid that l compare
those [ cite Judith and Charlotte Cor.
day sacrificed themselves, but their sacri
fee did not recoil at crime Their inspir
alton was heroic, but their heroism mis-
took its aim; it took the poniard of the
assassin instead of the sword of the hero
Joan of Arc used only the sword Of de
fence; she was not merely inspired By he
roism, but was inspired by God.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30

How PETER RESISTED TEMPTATION.
"A colored brother whose eyes were wat
cry and who had evidently been imbibing
experience whiskey, was telling his young
friend George that he ought to CINE too.
Said George, 81 would, but de temptation
to do wrong is too strong for me-" "Whar's
yer backbone, dat ye can't rose up and
stand temptation p exclaimed brother
Peter. ''Iwas dat way myself once. Right
in dis yere town 1 had a chance to steal a
par of bOots-mighty fine ones, too. No
body was dar to see me, and | reached out
my hand and de debbil said take EN-.
Den good spirit whispered for me to let
dem boots alone" Gan you didn't take
emp" "No, sah-not much. I took a
par o cheap shoes off de shelf, an l left
dem boots alone l"-Richmond Paper.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30
Plumbago as a Lubrioator.

The Engineer gives this example of the
value Of blackened lead as lubricator -
"a fy-wheel shaft bearing, eight inches
in diameter and ten inches long, carried a
load of nearly ten tons. The bearing was
supported on a box-girder and was lined
with good brass. The engine could not be
run, as this bearing invariably got nearly
red hot after a few revolutions; various
oils, taliOw, sulphur and gunpowder were
tried with Indifferent success. BY using
a mixture of tallow and sui phur the engine
could be run half an hour at time, and
once or twice was run q whole day, the
shaft making sixty revolutions per minute
1t was determined to have new crank
shaft with a longer bearing, but as at the
last moment the use Of blacklead and tai
low was suggested, package of the ordi-
nary blacklead used for stoves was worked
up with some tallow, the bearing carefully
wiped, and the grease box on the cap filed
with the mixture. The bearing never
heated again unless the oil was allowed to
get access to it. The success of the plum
bago as lubricator was perfect"
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30
Select poetrp.
TO THE OCEAN.
BY IoHS ArGus1us SHEA.

BY 5oHS AUGUSTUS SHEA
Likeness Of Heayeni Agent Of powerI
Man is thy victim. shipwrecks thy dowerl
Spices and jewels from valley md sea
Armies and banners are buried in theei
What are the riches Of Mexicos mines
To the wealth that far down In deep water shines
The navics that cover the eonqnering West
Thou fingSt them % death with one heaye OF thy
breast
From the high hills that vizor thy wreck-makins
shore
When the bride Of themarincr shrnls at thy roar
When, like lambs in the tempest OF news in blast
Der that ridge-bToken bilIows the canvas Is east:
How humbliug 70 one with heart and soul.
To look on thy greatness and list to its roll:
To think how that heart IN cold ashes shall be
While the voice Of eternity rises from theel
Yes where are the cities fThebes and ofTvre,
Swept from the nations like sparks from the arei
The glory Of Athens. the splendor Of Romeg
Dissolved-and forever-like dew in thy foam.
But thou art almighty y-eiernal-suBlime-
Unweaked-unwasted-t brother Of Timel
Fleets. tempests, nor nations thy glory can bow:
As the stars fnf beheld tec siI eaaiElesz ara thou
But when thy deep surges no longer shall rol.
And the Ornaments length is drawn back like q
SCROLL
ThenGiea shall the spirit that sighs by thee now,
Be more mighty, more lasting, more chainless than
thou.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30

4 LAW OF A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
In 17T0 an act was passed by the English
Parliament, which provided That all
women of whatever age, rank or profess
ion, whether virgins, maids or widows,
who shall, after this act impose upon, Sc
duee and betray into matrimony any of
his magisty's subjects, by virtue Of scents
paints, cosmetics, washes, artificial teeth,
spanish wool, iron stays, bolstered hips or
high-heeled shoes, shall incur the penalty
of the law now in force against witchcraft
and like misdemeanors, and the marriage
under such circumstances, upon conviction
Cf the offending party, shall be null and
void.-MdryLaHd LaD Record.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30
Largest Orchard in the World.

The largest orchard in the world is
doubtless that owned and worked very sue
cessfully by Mr. Robert McKinstry, of
Hudson, Columbia county, n. Y. Mr..
McKinstry's orchard is procuring for him
worldwide reputation, and he has many
visitors. Like all fruit growers and others
of kin to that profession, he is kindly and
literally disposed, and has no secrets to re-
serve from others who are interested in his
labors. The orchard is situated on the east
bank of the Hudson river, on high rolling
table land, and occupies 300 acres, and
contains more than "a 900 apple trees, l.
200 pears, 1000 cherries, 500 peaches,
200 plums, 200 crabs, l 900 vines, 600
eurrants and 200 chestnuts The varie-
ties grown are Rhode Island Greening,
1000; Baldwins, 5000; King of Tompkins-
Co., 1000; Astrachans, 800; Northern Spy,
500; Wagner, 500; Gravenstein, 400;
Cranberry Pippins, 200; Ben Davis, 200;
Duchess of 0ldenburg, 200; with Jona-
thans, Hubbardstone Cayugus, Wander
yeers, Bellfowers, Pearmains, Peck's Pleas.
ants, 90 ounce Pippins, Russets and others
in less number.
The pears are Bartlett, b. dAnjou,
Sheldon, Seckel and Lawrence chiefly
OF cherries there are % varieties. The
orchard is remarkably thrifty and the
oldest trees are about 20 years old. The
soil is a dry rolling gravel with some
limestone; the trees are planted 20 feet
apart and do not seem by any means to be
crowded. The ground is plOughed several
times in the year and kept fallow; except
ing, when thought advisable, it is seeded
to clover. The orchard is intersected by
roads over six miles in length for the pas
sage of wagons, and is bounded by con-
tinuous row of apple trees set 10 feet apart
for 4 miles. The soil is certainly we'll
adapted for fruit growing, Cor the trees are
clean, thrifty, compact and loaded with
the highest colored and fairest looking
fruit The apple crop of the present year
is expected to be 10000 barrels, large
portion of which will be exported to Liver
pool and Glasgow. Twenty four men and
IA horses are employed hauling out the
crop or in ploughing.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30

CURIosITIEs.-A plate of butter from
the cream of joke. The original brush
used in painting the sign of the times. A
bucket of water from Calls we'll" Soap
with which man was washed overheard
The strop which is used to sharpen the
waters edge. The pencil with which Bri.
tannia ruled the wave. A portion of the
yeast used in raising the wind. A dime
from the moon when she gave change for
the last quarter. The saucer belonging to
the cup of sorrow. A fence made of the
railing of a scolding wife, A buckle to
fasten laughing stock Hinges and lock
from the trunk of an elephant. A sketch
from a politicians views Rockers from
the cradle of liberty. A feather from the
wings of flying report.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-30

The world is full Of homes where these
pictures viii be recognized and hung up
as family portraits-homes where there are
no sounds of young voices now. They
grow away into the great world so soon,
and We put away the nameless feeling of
desolation as we do the cast-of toys of
their childhood; and when the evening of
life approaches the heart goes back along
the track Of time and is once more with
the children in the dear old long ago.