The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-09-11


Of all the aerial phenomena with which
the Northwest has been visited this summer,
perhaps the one that struck New Elm,
Mimi, last Sunday evening, caused the
most %laughable scare. The citizens of New
Elm. as we'll as those of the neighboring
towns of Renville county, had just supped,
when the air suddenly grew hot, not with
the heat of summer-evening sultriness, but
with that Of fire. So intense was the heat
that people at first thought their houses
ablaze. and afterwards that some tunnel
communicating with the realms below had
blown out its terrestrial end. The blast of
air passed from South to North and lasted
about two minutes. Those who expected
that the Biblical prophecy about the des-
t~ruction of the world by fire was being full
filled, were soon enjoying a cool breeze that
Followed the remarkably hot one.
The prophet Elijah has risen in the anci-
ent English town of Chichester. He is tall
and handsome, and wears Il picturesque
garb of sheepskin, and high cowhide boots.
He carries a staff and small horn and an.
nounces his meetings, which are held in the
Peoples Park, and are very largely attend
ed. He says he was once a landscape
painter, and eight months ago he had sew
eral visions, in which he was told to call
himself Elijah at all meetings, as be was
the real prophet foretold and promised IN
Malachi w., 5. This verse is the whole
foundation Of his doctrine, which IS to
preach Anglo-Israelism to the English pao-
pie, who, he states, are the lost ten tribes
of Israel; and if they do not listen to HIM,
and in time return to Jerusalem, Il great
famine is prophesied.
Professor Cohn. Of Bresiau, has been
making experiments with the electric hight
on the eyes of Il number Of persons Tor the
purpose OF testing its influence on VISUAL
perceptions and sensations OF color. tie
has found that letters, spots and colors are
perceived at a much greater distance
through the medium Of the electric ll9ht
than by day or gas-light. The sensation OF
yellow was increased siXty-foid colnpaTeu
to daylight, red six-fold, and blue two-fold.
Eyes which could with difficulty distinguish
colors by day or Sas-light were much alded
by the electric light. Professor COIN con
ciudes with his opinion that the electric
light would prove exceedingly use1ul ~
places where it is desirable that signals
should be seen at a great distance.
The new fertilizer law of Pennsylvania
provides that every package of any COM
mercial fertilizer sold in the State shall
contain on its outside a statement OF the
amount of nitrogen, p%hosphoric acld (solu-
bile and reverted) and potash which 1t con,
tains; fixes the amount of license TO De paIu
for privilege of sale $50 for lou tons, SSo
for more than 100 and less than oOo tons,
and $50 for more than 500 tons. the money
obtained from these licenses to be placed as
a fund from which to defray the expenses
of Analysing commercial fertilizers, under
the direction of the Board of Agriculture.
The penalty for selling commercial 1ertll-
zers which have not been analysed as pro
vided by law is from $50 to $500, accord
ing to the nature of the offence.
A will of nine words only, which was re
Gently the subject of proceedings IN ne
London courts, has been admitted 10 pro
bate in the Lewes District Registrar ourt