Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-06-26

with an eruption every moment imminent
and Mrs. B. suggests that this would
give an old-fashioned preacher a-good IL
lustration of the bottomless pit.
AT last the empty car is ready to re-
turn, and we begin our perilous descent
To the question of our leader. whether
We are sorry we came up, we defer the
answer until we shall reach the bottom.
Once safely down, and we are all glad to
have had the adventure.
Out in the yards are great number
of charcoal kilns, which are kept in con-
slant operation to supply the Unsuitable
NAV of the mighty furnace. OF course
so many kilns throw off vast amount OF
smoke, which until quite recently was
considered waste product. A process,
invented, we were told, by DR.. Pierce OF
Bangor, Maine, now renders this smoke
very valuable. 1t passes from the kilns
through large pipes to condenser, where
it is carried in small pipes through cold
running water, and is thus condensed to
liquid, and runs into tank. This IL
| quid contains several ingredients, the
heaviest of which, settling at once to the
bottom in the form Of tar, is drawn out
into barrels; thus twenty barrels of tar
per day is the first thing obtained from
the seemingly worthless smoke. Lime
is now added to the remaining liquid,
and the acetic acid it contains is thus
precipitated, and from eight to nine thou
sand pounds of acetate of lime is shipped
to different parts Of the country and con-
verted into acetic acid. The residue is
now distilled and produces from six to
eight barrels Of wood alcohol per diem.
This alcohol stands test at 90 ., and is
used for every purpose for which alcohol
can be used, except for medicine and
lately has even been re.distilled in New
York and used incidentally. We were
told BY friend that the only other fac
tory in the world where smoke is thus
utilized is located at Bangor, but is on a
much smaller scale.
| Having gone through the Chemical
Works, inhalng all sorts of vapors and
getting into all manner Of precarious
places. we returned once more to the Iron
Furnace to ee the blast run of. Sta
toned near the foot of the long line OF
moldS, we watch the men as they make
ready to open the furnace and let out the
molten iron. Soon We see it coming
river Of fire running heavily toward US,
through the channel prepared for It, and
from which the men turn it deity aside
until row after of mOlds Is filled. As It
nears US we are glad TO beat a retreat
from It's scorching heat, wondering how
the men who work over it live. Great
ladlefuls OF the red-hot liqlid are dipped
| up from the main channel and carried 10
the workshop for castings. As soon Is
the iron in the molds begins to stihen suf-
ticIently, it is covered with the same sand
in which il is run, and there remains until
cold, when 1t is taken out in the form Of
pigs" ready Tor foundry use.
Passing around the bulldog, We see the
great stream OF Stag" which has run OF
from the furnace; il is OF various colors,
and sometimes quite beautiful in appear
ance. Most OF II has the look OF glass, but
We saw one large mass that seemed ike
nothing else than petrided sea-foam.
Having done" the works pretty thor
oughly, we start for home with faces and
hands besrimed, and with generous sup
ply of specimens" in the bottom Of the
carriage. our homeward drive proves very
eujoyable-As indeed the whole day had
been.
Like all things, good or bad, our holiday
draws near its end aud with regret, but
with a rich fund OF pleasant memories, we
bid adieu 20 Traverse and the kind friends
who have done so much for our enjoyment,
and set Sailonce more on the good steamer
City of Traverse this time in the midst Of
cloudy weather which lasts throughout the
trip. The lake is very rough, and we no
.fce ~ zach succaSsfra ,naal -ha ,,uu,har nj
passengers who come to- the table grows
beautifully less. Feeling nothing more
alarming than slight dizziness on our own
part, We fully appreciate the good things
set before US; particularly the corn cake
for which, by the way, the City Of I. is
especially noted-such cake. nearly three
inches in thickness, yellow as gold, light
as 4 feather, and yet 50 short il would |
scarce bear handling. With the curiosity |
native TO our sex, we longed and finally |
determined to ascertain the magic if mag
il it be, by which such delicious stuff was |
compounded. Armed with pencil and pa
per we invaded the lower regions-having |
been assured that the cook would consider |
it compliment 10 be inquired of-and |
there found very polite young man who
furnished US with the following directions,
which We print for the benefit of adven-
turesome housekeepers:
"A cups of Indian meal, cups -four,
eggs, l - cups sugar, l-2 cups lard,
cups water, 4 tablespoonful of Royal Bak-
ing Powder. Silt the meal, -four, and
powder together. Bake in large drip
ping-pan."