Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-01-08

''crabS"; but ere long we ind the VIrglnl-
an inventing the great Christmas bever-
age, eggnog. This, served as at present,
in "a huge silver vessef' on Christmas
day, was one of the distinctive features of
the season, as it still remains, and deserves
all the praise that has been accorded to it as
a beverage. With the old Virginians, how
ever, drinking toasts was the great cere-
mony, after the removal Of the plum pud-
ding, and with the ladies and children still
at the table. For let it be said to the credit
ofthese honest people that they were no ad-
vocates of 'sgentlemen's dinner" or the alb
sence of their wives and daughters, after
the bad English fashion. In that they
agreed to differ on these cheerful and kind
ly occasions. All remained at the table,
and the health and happiness of each vas
pledged by each in wholesome Madeira
that noble and delicate vintage which is
now almost a lost memoFy to the race of
Virginians.
THESE DAHB.
Coming down from the old days to the
Virginia of the present century, we find
few changes in the habits of the people in
their celebration of Christmas. Some adj
ditions hssEe been made to the old cztern0-
nies of the occasion, among them none more
attractive than the "Christmas- tree" This
has become one of the joys of the time to
the children of Virginia, as it has long been
to those in the kindly households of Ger
many. Of comparatively recent origin, it
is now firmly established, along with jovial
Santa Claus, a parsonage unknown until
the present century in Virginia. The tree
and the saint are now fortunately part of
the traditions of the Virginia Christmas,
and appeal as no other features do to the
sympathies of the young. The fat saint,
with his bag of toys and his reindeer sled,
has become real parsonage, and the Won
drous lights and gifts of the beautiful Christ
mas tree are the supreme enjoyments to
which the children look forward at this
merry season. Without the clatter of rein
deer hoofs on the snowy roof, and the glori-
GUS tree, it is safe to say that Christmas
wonld be robbed Of half its charm. And long
may the magical tree flourish.
The Country Gentleman says: 1t is Of
ten asked why pastures fed by by sheep do
not run cut as quickly as those fed by other
animals. The sheep bites closer than the
OK. He was designed in many places to
live where the other would starve, and will
find good bite where the OK has cropped
as close as possible. By his close bite the
sheep helps the grass roots. He not only
loosens the roots of the grass, and stimu-
lates their spreading, but by cutting off the
short suckers causes the plant to throw cut
fresh, more numerous, and stronger ones,
and this improves and increases the value
of the crop. Nothing will more expedi-
tiously or efiectually make rich perma
nent pasture than it's being occasionally
and closely eaten down by sheep.
Hot WATER FOR COLDs.-Dr. George
R. Shepherd, Hartford, Conn, says, in re-
spect to the use of hot water as remedial
agent in the treatment of inflammation of
the mucous membranes, 81 have used hot
water as a gargle for the past six or eight
years. In acute pharyngitis, and in coryza.
Or cold in the head, if properly used in the
commencement of the attack, it constitutes
one of our most effective remedies, being
frequently promptly curative. To be of
service it should be used in considerable
quantity "a half pint or pint at time),
and just as hot as the throat will tolerate
have seen many cases Of acute disease
thus Gborted and can commend the method
with great confidence"
The tallest bird known to ethnologists was
found by Professor Herbert in the lower
eocene deposits near Paris, France. 1t was
over twelve feet in height and could have
bitten mans head off as easily as wood
pecker can nip cherry. The shell of the
egg of the Madagascar bird will hold $40
hens eggs. Earlier in the history of the
world birds had veritable teeth like fishes,
as the hesperornis, carnivorous swimming
ostrich. The archacapterix also had teeth,
and had its feathers attached on each side
of long tail like that of the monkey; in
fact, every year is adding to the facts that
tend to show that the maximum of animal
growth, as regards size, eliminated long
AGO.