davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
THE CURIOSITY SHOP.
Is Celluloid Going to Take the Pinco o
SILK?

Is Celluloid Going to Take the PInce Of
silk?
An article in The American Analyst rives
some information MS to n new use Of celu.
loid.
Man is gradually developing an ability to
dispense with the familiar old time processes
OF manufacture in supplying his wants, which
is fraught with startling suggestiveness in re-
lation to the future advancement of the race
The latest illustration of this fact TINT has
como TO our attention is afforded by French
savant named de Carbonuot, who, it is
claimed, has discovered how to make silk
without worms He began his experiments
some time ago with the guiding idea that the
peculiar appearance of silk was the result of
the spinning OF the liquid After many
months of repeated and unsuccessful trials he
produced several yards of silk in this wise
lie poured a collodion solution into n copper
receiver, which emptied into n system of small
glass tubes. Mhese tubes terminated in capil-
larieS which carried Off the solution in fine,
threadllke streams. In the second system of
glass tubes, filled with water, tho fine streams
became fine threads, which, before leaving
the water, were caught mechanically and
wound round tiny rollers.
After being heated and cooled in an acid of
special gravity and temperature, the threads
were made less combustibe than cotton by
being saturated in simple chemical prepare.
ton. The quality of the silk goods manu-
featured from these threads is fine. The
threads are cylindrical, and are from one to
forty micro-mlllimeters in diameter They
sustain weight of % TO So kilograms per
square mlllmeter. Ordinary silk bears a
weight OF 10 to 40 Kilograms per square MILL
meter De Carbonnets silk is much more
brilliant than ordinary silk and absorbs and
holds colorng matter more satisfactorily
As yet only few pieces have been produced
by the new process Several of them are
shown in the Paris exposition. De Carbonnet
Is confident, however, that further expert
ments will enable him to manufacture silk
cheaply and in large quantities.. In fact, he
thinks that, few years hence, the silkworms
NAV as well go and die, as machinery will
then be doing their work much better than
they can do it themselves.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15

Game fowls are probably the oldest of
the pure English breeds aud have been
bred for generations with great care and
skin. In addition TO their pugnacious
dispositions and great courage and en-
dsrance they ere extremely handsome
birds. Their beautiful plumage and de-
hcious flesh make them popular with
many who consider their lighting pro-
perai,.es Objectionable, For crossing
W ID n,.rr breeds they are often used
Wa. go,l results. They are rather good
layer, good settlers and attentive TO their
young chicks. The kinds quite widely
known are brown breasted reds, black
breasted reds, duck wings and pyles, al
though there aro great many other
varieties. A game Ken viii defend her
young to the last extremity against cats
or other enemies, but the varieties of
game birds can hardly b. recommended
for domestic purposes as profitable farm
fowls
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
Here and There.

A -four barrel made Of cotton duck
has been patented by Georgia genius
who claims that it is not only lighter and
cheaper than wooden barrel, but can
be pressed into small space when empty.
1t is waterproof and impervious to the
weather.
A recent estimate places the Florida
orange crop for the coming season at
1900, 900 boxes.
Tho long leafed pine is said to be dis
appearing from the gulf states.
From Pennsylvania come reports of a
big tobacco Drop.
Iowa claims corn crop Of 1856, 900, 900
bushels.
The caulifiower crop in some sections
has been badly damaged by wet sea-
con, and the same is true of the cabbage
crop,
The Farmers Review estimates this
years corn crop at 2, 269. 202, 0S8 bushels
The successful working of Arbor day
law in Now York has called out a con-
gratulatory report from b. f.. Fr."ow,
chief of the forestry division -
psrtment of agriculture.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
SOME USEFUL HINTS.

For poison oak battle in cream and gun
powder twice day till cured.
Wash gliding with water in which onion
has been boiled and dry with a soft cloth.
Be ashamed to iron limp shirt bosom.
Men do not so much care for polished shirt
as they do for a stiff one
Air the house thoroughly every day, even
though the rain comes down in torrents or
the snow beats in in drifts
Use a silver spoon when cooking mush-
rooms. The silver will be blackened if any
injurious quality is present.
Do not be deceived by agents who have n
Superior furniture polish" for sale Use lin
seed oil; there Is nothing better.
If the eggs you have to use for frosting are
not quite as fresh as you could desire pinch
of salt will make them beat sitter.
Strong muriatic acid applied with a CLOTH
and the spot washed thoroughly with water,
is recommended to remove ink stains from
boards.
To remove white spots from furniture rub
them with n cloth wet in weak spirits of cam
phor, and afterwards with a very little lin
seed oil.
II is a good idea for n tall woman to have
her kitchen table and ironing board little
higher than ordinary. 1t will save many
backache.
Use great care in serving food for the ta-
bic, as the smallest spatter of grease or gravy
changes the appearance and spoils an other
wise pretty dish.
The repeated application Of oil Of cinnamon
will cause those ugly excrescences-wa
to disappear. Rubbing them with salt is
also recommended.
Glasses and dishes wipe to perfection when
washed in very hot water. Use a dish mop,
soap shaker and iron dish washer. These also
expedite the labor, as very hot water can be
used.
a very convenient way to poison rats and
mice is to mix arsenic with melted tallow
and cool it into a cake Have the tallow
merely melted, not hot, when the arsenic is
put in.
bottle or jar, unpleasantly odorous, can,
it is said be cleansed by filling with butter
milk, leaving a day or two, or longer, and
then washing well with warm soapsuds. In
very bad cases it may be necessary to repeat
the process several times,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
USEFUL INFORMATION.

The average number of teeth is So
The weight of the circulating blood is
rs pounds
The average weight of an adult is $50
pounds and ounces.
The brain of man exceeds twice that of
any other animal
a man breathes about 20 times minute
and 200 In an hour
A man breathes about 1S pints Of air in
minute, or upward Of : hogsheads day.
The average weight of the brain Of man
is So pounds; Of woman, 2 pounds and IL
ounces.
Five hundred and forty pounds, or hogs
head and e pints Of blood, pass through the
heart in one hour.
The average height Of an Engishman is s
feet inches; of Frenchman, feet inches;
of Belgian, feet 6s4 inches.
The heart sends nearly ton pounds of blood
through the veins aud arteries each beat, and
makes four beats while We breathe once.
One hundred and seveuty-fve million cells
are III the lungs, which would cover a surface
thirty times greater than the human body
The average of the pulse in infancy is l20
per minute, in manhood So AT sixty years 60.
The pulse of females is more frequent than
that Of males.-Boeton journal of Commerce
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15

A cold frame i6 simply a construction
of boards in an oblong form, similar to
a garden hotbed, and differing from it
only that in the Iatter bottom heat is
furnished TO force the growth of the
plants. The frame may be made of
common boards four feet wide and as
long is required. Whether for a cold
frame or a hutbad d southern exposure
is the best, and each ust be covered
with sash, or canvas, which is some
times substituted for glass. The back
should De fifteen and the front,six inches
high with a cross tie every three feet.
The frame should be settled into the
ground a little and be banked up around
on the outside. Then excavate the in
eide a foot or more and form the bottom
into a plant bed of fine, rich earth. On
warm pleasant days leave it uncovered
and exposed to the sun and air. Much
the same care about watering and ven
tilation is required as for a hOtbed. Such
constructions will be found peculiarly
useful in southern gardens for the ger
mination of seeds and the growth of
plants in advance of the season and
where hotbeds are not required, In the
north they are useful supplements to the
hotbed, from which the early forced
plants may be transferred and their
growth continued until the season is far
enough advanced for them to be trans
planted into the open garden without
further protection.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
Eaininr CnDnriaA.

read the letter from N. A. s., in which
she asks for information in regard to raising
canaries have raised about forty young
birds this year, and do not consider it SO very
difficult, though, like great many other
things, it requires constant care The two
great points are cleanliness and plenty Of
good nourishing food and a variety Birds
are like people in that they require change in
their food and yet some people will give their
birds seed and water only, until the poor
little prisoner actually dies of starvation. |
give mine good light bread soaked in milk,
ripe apples, hard boiled eggs, cold potatoes,
and almost everything that ! eat myself,
with the exception of salty and greasy food,
and l hardly ever give them anything sweet,
unless it be sweet apples. feed hemp |
think it is indispensable for birds. | never
feed the mixed feed kept in stores to my
birds. My birds are healthy, hearty and
happy, and hardly ever have one die.-M.
r. q. in Springfield Homestead.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15

Pyrethrum powder, when it can be OBJ
tanned fresh and pure (Which is rather diff
cult, by the way, serves an excellent purpose
In getting rid of flies from the house. 1t
should be blown about u closed room with a
powder bellows or thrown about with the
hand, and the flies will soon take sicln and
die The yellow dust which the powder makes
on the furniture can easily be brushed off and
that on the carpet can be swept up. If used
i'll moderation land very large quantity at
once is unnecessary no danger need be appre-
hended from it, and it is one of the surest
means known of getting rid of the pests when
once they have swarmed into tho house. Fly
papers are nuisance Camphor gum burned
on stove or volatilized over lamp is rec
commended as an excellent means of driving
away both flies and mosquitoes. Good House
keeping
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
SCIENTIFIC SQUlBS.

As a remedy against electrical sunstroke'
as the affection is called that attacks men
exposed 10 the intense rays Of the electric arc
by means OF which metals are fused and
welded, l. veil OF mask Of glazed tatfata,
supported by wicker head piece and pro-
vided with goggles of gray siass.
As a general rule, it is said to be very
difficult matter to gauge the speed of fishes.
The fast fishes are trim and pointed in shape,
with their fins close to their bodies Tie dol
phin and bonito are thought to be the fastest,
and. although their speed is not known, they
are fully capable Of twenty miles an hour
a curious mishap to a submarine cable is
reported from south America. The cable
failed to work, and on going out 10 repair 1t
the body Of an immense whale was found en-
tangled in the cable to such an extent that 10
was unable to eXtricate itself, and, being UNI
able to get fresh air, tu" huge leviathan had
been sutfocated.
1t has been shown that the duration of a
lightning flash Is not iniinitesimal, but that
the flash lasts a measurable time. For exam
pie. if one sets u camera in rapid vibration
and exposes in it 2 plate 50 as TO receive the
impression Of the flash, It is found that the
impressions appear wiloucd out on the nera-
tive, showing the negative to have moved
during he time the flash was in existence.
The essence Of the invention of the sliding
railway which has been the sensation Of the
Paris exposition, is the substitution of a thin
film of water, over which the vehicle slides,
for rolling wheels, the film being maintained
by hydrostatic pressure, and propulsion by
successive Jets Of water under pressure. act
ing against a rib Of buckets extending under
the whole train, thus dispensing with all loco
motive power. 90
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
Ola BlandfOrd Church.

The author of this little poem was Tyron
Powers, the famous Irish comedian who per
shed with the steamship President Tn
'erses were inscribed on the wall of the "Ol,
Blandford church" near Petersburg, Va, il
S41. The church was built in 100.
Thou art crumbling TO the dust, old pilel
Thou art Fastening to thy fall
And round thee in thy loneliness,
Chngs the ivy to thy wall
The worshipers are scattered now,
Who knct before thy shrine;
And silence reigns where anthems rose
In days Of "Auld Lang Syne"
And sadly signs the wandering wind,
Where Oft in years gone by
Prayer rose from many hearts to Him,
The highest of the high.
The tramp of many u heavy foot,
That sought thy aisles is DER,
And many weary heart around
Is still forever moro.
How doth ambitions hope take wings
How droops the spirit now?
We hear the distant city's din,
The dead are mute below.
The sun that shone upon their paths
Now gilds their lonely graves,
The zcphyrs which once famed their brows
The grass above them waves.
Oh. could we call the many back,
Who've gathered here in vain,
Nho've careless roved where we do now,
Who'll never meet again!
How would our very hearts be stirred,
To meet the earnest gaze
OF the lovely and the beautiful
The lights Of other days.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
PinnplY Spots.

Spirits Of campbor Spirits applied to any
red or pimply spots is excellent ii not used
too often, and will generally remove any red
ness of the nose if applied at night. Half a
teaspoonful of salt of tartar to three-quarters
of pint of distilled water makes a good To-
ton to apply after bathing the face in tepid
water or after using soap. Where the PIN
ply spots are very large and obstinate it Is
advisable to press them out between the
fingers and Immediately battle the spot with
hot soap and water, using for few days a
lotion made of week bichloride of mercury
Exchange
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
United States Naval Pennants.

The size of pennants in tho United States
navy is as follows; Tho narrow pennant is de-
scribed as follows: Head-G.24 inches to a
length of 20 feet; sc inches to a length Of
50 feet; 3 "a inches to forty feet; As inches to
so feet, and 40 inches to 25 feet As to the
commodore's OF bread pennant, whatever the
size adopted proper proportion must be OBJ
served, as noted in the following description:
Swallow tailed, the angle Of the tail to be
bisected by "a line drawn at right angle
from the center of the depth, or hoist, and at
a distance from the head of three-fifths of the
length Of the pennant the lower side is to be
rectangular with the head or hoist the upper
side is to be tapered, running the width Of
the pennant at the tails 4 the hoist. The
stars to be ranged in the field alone in equi-
distant vertical lines, and horizontally TO ia
per with the pennant. Head, e their length
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
THE NEW BUTTER EXTRACTOR.
Description of Machine in which Dairy
men Are Interested

Description Of a Machine in which Dairy
men Are Interested
The new Swedish butter extractor
which excited great interest at some of
the late autumn fairs is described by the
associate editor of Hoard's Dairymen in
this wise:
'The machine is Of the size of the com
mon separator, but looking more like the
De Laval than the Danish Weston. The
bowl differs from the separator in that
there is an opening at the bottom as well
as at the top. In the orifioe at the bot
tom of the bowl there is truudle wheel,
much like the wheel of squirrel cage.
This wheel, placed so the wires run up
and down, depends from a rod that is at
taChed to the cover of the machine. 1t
is about five inches in diameter and of
the same length. The bowl is run at a
speed of $500 revolutions per minute,
and no milk is fed in till the speed is up.
The milk, as soon as sufficient of it is fed
in, seeks the sides of the bowl, and a
sheet of fatless milk stands up against
the inside wall of the bowl, till it rises to
the rim, where 1t engages the skinner
and is run off in vat outside.
"On the inner wall of the milk stands
the thin sheet of cream, and spanning a
diameter that brings it just within the
grasp OF the revolving cage above de-
scribed. This cage is propelled by the
motion the swiftly rotating milk makes,
and its office, so to speak, is to pick OF
the cream from the wall of milk. The
action of the wires whips the cream thus
detached, and while it is thus-as we
suppose, for nobody can see tin the
form of spray, the heavier watery part
of the cream instantly flies to and is in
corpor1ted in the wall of skim milk and
helps TO enlarge its volume. To do so it
must pass directly through the constant
ly forming film of cream. The butter,
almost devoid of milk, seeks the center
and keeps dropping where it comes in
contact with knife, or scoop, that re-
ceives it, and the continued accumula-
ton pushes it to where it drops into a
tub. The butter has the appearance of
granulated butter when it first forms in
the churn. The machines now made are
capable Of extracting the butter from
1900 pounds of milk per hour, provided
it is about common milk in quality"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15

The following is the association Of precious
stones with the different months of the year:
january, garnet, coustancy and fidelity in
every engagement; February, amethyst pre-
ventive against violent paSsions March,
bloodstone, courage, wisdom and tirmness in
affection; April, sapphire, free from enchaut-
ment, denotes repentance; May, emerald, dis
covers false friends and insures true love;
June, agate, insures long life, health and
prosperity; July, ruby, discovers poison, COR
reefs evils resulting from mistaken friend
ship; August, sardonyx, insures conjugal
felicity; September chrysolite, free from
evil passions and sadness Of the mind; Octo-
Der, opal, denotes hope and sharpens the sight
and faith of the possessor; November, topaz,
fidelity and friendship, prevents bad dreams;
December, turquoise, prosperity in love-
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
EARN AND GARDEN.
s0RyECT OF PRACTICAL IMPORT
ANCE 70 hGROULTURi6TS.
Tow snd when sood Corn Ought TO he
Ssiected--populsr Modes of Preserv-
anE Corn seed--AlI about the New
Butter Extractor.

When the planting season arrives
large majority OF farmers 20 TO their
cribs or corn houses and exercise some
little care in selecting fair ears for their
seed corn, Conparotivelyfew, however,
give the subject any attention previous
to that time. a sassction Of ears for
seed while ON the stal Is where the thrifty
condition of the plants can be observed
and compared with the general average
of the field, is far better plan and needs
no argument for its accommodates.
The early maturity of the seed ears,
other things being equal, should entitle
them to preference, along with plump
ness and a. full development into large
and handsomely shaped ears. If from
stalles producing double ears, take the
largest, if well formed, and, as a rule,
those that grow low, rather than high,
on the stalk. Ears with large cobs should
not be chosen, but rather those of small
err diameter and with long kernels. Like
begets like and 10y little attention to
this matter improvement can constantly
be made.
The preservation of the>ears selected
may be insured by braiding the husks of
several ears together and suspending
them from the rafters Of the corn house
or any other dry building. By so doing
the seed corn will hr safe from rats and
mice as well as eyer,.. '-n dampness
and mold that might % It's germi-
nation. In maltiuga choice i, is thought,
as before stated, that both tAe car and
the stalk should be taken into considera-
ton together, rather than the mere Sc
lection of large ear.
Again, consideration should be given
to the number of the rows, the length and
compactness of the kernels, and the gene
raj solidity and weight of the ear. There
is some diversity of opinion as to the
time when the seed corn ought to be
gathered, some claiming that seed gath
cred and dried i'll TIVE sun soon after the
kernel is out of the milk has more vital
ity to withstand cold and damp after it
is planted than if allowed to remain on
the stalk until dead ripe. 4 much larger
class, however, says The New York
World authority for the foregoing, favor
perfect maturity of the seed on the stalk,
which is at least the safest plan, as there
would be less moisture to be evaporated
from the cob Sach care as has been in
dictated would certainly enable che farm
er who practices it to have his seed corn
in readiness when it is wanted, and fur
thermore would result in more general
termination of seed and more thrifty
plants than from a less careful selection.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
Salt on Wheat Lands,

A western cultivator with twenty
years experience in wheat growing,
makes plea for salt. lie claims that
he has been successful while neighbor-
ing wheat fields have been swept clean
by chinch bugs. He says: my soil is
clay loan, while theirs Is sandy loan or
black muck. All of those who sowed
salt with their wheat this year had good
plump wheat. One of my neighbors
who sowed part of his wheat with salt
had plump wheat where the salt was
sown, while the balance of his wheat
was destroyed by chinch bugs"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15
SUPERSTITlONS.

In Brittany toilors are greatly despised
and feared.
Rope dancers and tumblers are held in
great aversion in Germany.
Ropemakers, coopers and SINNERS are said
throughout France to be unlucky persons,
and they are greatly feared.
In Sardinia there is proverb, "God guard
us from the learned mans eye" Men of let
ters are there accounted unlucky.
In Russia 1t is great misfortune to meet
any one in mourning, and such persons are
carefully excluded from social enjoyments.
There is, even among Americans, a pref
udice against hunchbacked persons, and
they are particularly feared in European
countries.
In Spain it is most unlucl;y to meet a one
eyed man in the street. and proverb in
Cairo is, "If you see one-eyed man pass on
your side, return him a stone.n
Masons and sawyers in parts of France,
and mllers in Saxony, are prescribed men,
whom it is dangerous to have dealings with
except in .le way of necessary business.
Lepers are thought to bring misfortune
with them, and are Stunned everywhere
Epileptics and those afflicted with st. Vitus'
dance are carefully avoided in various parts
of Europe.
In certain Scotch village the fishermen
will have nothing to do with the members of
certain families named Ross, Gully or White.
They bring disaster on their boats, and it is a
bad omen TO meet them in the morning.
Lame or deformed persons are also re-
garded as bringing i'll luck to the passcr by in
manv countries In Sicily il i dnnperouS IN