St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-07-19
A Marvellous Machine.

'lOIne WITH me anu l Will snow YOU
the greatest curiosity about this show
something that beats the sacred elephant
and the chronological congress all hol-
low," said one of the managers of the
circus yesterday afternoon as he met a
Record reporter who was wandering
about the tents in search of a novel
item. He then led the way under the
canvas of the museum tent and across
an open space to small tent which was
situated in q corner of the circus
groulSls, and which was guarded by
ropes stretched around at distance of
about ten yards. Signaling that it was
flap of the tent for the reporter to enter
and quickly followed him inside.
This" he said. lis where all the
circus lemonade is made, and,
glancing at his watch. '.if you will wait
few moments you will see it done. >
In the center of the tent stood large
box. and on one side two huge barrel
shaped tanks. Each with a spigot was
placed On strong rests somewhat similar
to a saw-horse. In short time three
men entered and one of them proceeded
to unlock the box. the sides of which at
once fell apart, disclosing very COM
pact and solid looking engine, the steam
for which was conducted through pipe
cooking tent, while the other two
brought large tub. which they laid on
the ground and nearly filed with fill
tered water drawn from one of the tanks.
A steel lemon -squeezer was then at
tached to two iron arms of the engine.
and very worn out and dilapidated
looking half of lemon placed in it, the
squeezer being then lowered into the
tub. Steam was turned on and the
sgueeZer began its work. the lemon
emitting the most narrowing means OF
agony from under the water as the pres
sure became more and more severe.
Gradually these doleful sounds ceased
and the liquid assumed an amber-like
hue. while faint odor of lemons filled
the air of the tent.
.'That'll do: take it out" said the
engineer, shutting off steam. and the
dripping squeezer was Withdrawn from
the tub. the unhappy half lemon being
carefully dried in clean cloth and
placed in small iron safe which was
then locked. The liquid in the tub was
then stirred vigorously with an hermet-
ically-sealed glass bulb being filled with
the best white sugar. The man who
stirred the mixture stopped at intervals
to taste it, and, after about five minutes
work, ceased his labor. and remarking
there, l guess it's sweet enough: let's
get it out. Bill" with the help of his
companion carried the tub way.
This machine is the only one in the
world" said the engineer proudly, as
he patted the engine in loving way,
land it's secret couldn't be bought for
$4,000. Why, with this here machine
l can make more lemonade with one
lemon than any other circus man can
with 500 bushels of 'em. The pressure
on that squeezer can be graduated from
one pound to 100000 pounds to the
square inch, and one lemon will make
lemonade for six months ut the rate of
100 gallons day. OF course, at first l
don't need nearly that much pressure,
but as the season gets on and the lemon
gets kind of played out slap on all the
pressure I've got, and the juice comes
flowing out just as if you had picked
the fruit from its parent tree ten min
utes before. Now, bought that lemon
for one and two-fifths cents-wholesale
price, you know-on the 10th ofMarch,
when the show opened in New York,
and calculate to use it steadily until
the middle of June. when I'll throw 1t
away and use the other half until the
end of the season. Hard on the lemon?
Well, yes, perhaps so; but then, you
know it gets rest every Sunday, for
we don't show on that day." and the
engineer locked up his machine, and
went off to Third Street to purchase a
few Government bonds.-Philatlelphia
Gail.