Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-02

no bA0 Sci5Nb AOQS0, aA0 eAo AAAOdC OA okOA- alton is as follows: The farmer is asked to sign his name to what is represented as g statement of his farm products, the number of persons in his family, their ages, etc., the swindler claiming to be census-taker. What the unsuspecting farmer really signs is note which is pretty sure to get into the hands of an " innocent holder" sooner or later, when the farmer will be called upon to pay. The swindle has been attempted in various coun- ties of New York, and one fellow engaged in the business has been caught and committed to jail at Elmira. The "census dodge" is 8 new one, but of similar kind to the now ing machine and sewing machine swindles, of which many of our farmers have learned to their sorrow. The regular census-taker of any district requires no signatures to any facts which he wishes to obtain.
 Plenty of good advice has lately been given ambitious young American singers who think they have only to go to Milan for awhile to insure them a brilliant operatic career. Blanche Davenport recently declared that of 225 Americans who went to Milan to be taught how to sing only six amounted to any thing. This she attributed to inherent inca pacity in the pupils, which the teachers stu diously ignored in order that they might profit thereby. Lucy Hooper, however, in writing to America of the failure of Lillian Norton Cor Giglio Nordica, as she is known professionally in Italy, says that her lack of success is due to impatience and defective training. She went on the stage with her voice still crude and unculivated. relying on her personal charms and dramatic talent to hide her vocal imperfections. Miss Hooper believes that this is failing characteristic of American girls, and that greater industry and time is necessary to develop their voices, which are conceded to be the best in the world. To prove that the mistake has be- come common, it is remarked that whereas the achievements of Kellogg, Van Zandt, Litta Abbott and Albani, not to mention the debutante La Blanche, brought American singers into request and favor with impress arii, the wretched failures of later years have made it almost impossible now for American girls to get hearing.
 There has been much dispute whether the business of tea tasting is unhealthy or not. Dr. o. l.. Dana, who has been among the tea tasters of New York city and gathered their opinions and experience, declares that it is not. There are probably more than 100 of them in New York city. In each of their offices is large table, with @ round revolving top, on which stands circle of teacups. At the top of the table around, tries cup after cup of the various lots of tea. A pair of scales, with a silver half dime in one balance, stands on the centre of the table, while near at hand are one or two ket
 ties of boiling water. As much tea as will balance the half dime is put into cup and boiling water poured on it. The taster stirs up the leaves, lifts them on his spoon, and inhales the aroma. He then generally takes sip of the infusion, which he some times swallows, and sometimes, after holding it in his mouth for short time, spits out into an enormous brass cuspador. On some oc- cssions company of buyers and sellers sit around the table and, while quafing the aromatic beverage, discuss it's ''body," fine ness," sstoastiness," etc. The skill of 8 trained taster is remarkable. He readily de- termines not only the quality of the tea  it's age, strength, flavor, fneness, etc, but he can tell in what district of China it was grown. A tea-taster is usually trying samples for hours at time every day. Sometimes as many as 400 or 800 cups day are tasted by one person. An average of 200 cups day throughout the year is said to be low esti- mate of the quantity tried by each taster. It is estimated that about half pound of tea is used in making 200 cups. But this does not all get into the system. Much is taken into the system by inhalation and some by absorption through the mucous membrane of the mouth. But not more than two or three cups day are actually swallowed. Dr. Dana reaches the con- clusion that the business is healthy one, and this he says he found to be the uniform opin- ion of those engaged in it. He cites ten cases of persons varying in age from 30 to 73 years, who have been tea tasters for periods ranging from z to 40 years. They We're all strong healthy men. Dyspepsia was rarely found among this class, and no cases of weak vision were 3iscoyered