Huntsville gazette., 1893-05-27
OF GENERAL INTEREST.

AT the world s 1a1r IN LONDON,
American reapers were first introduced
to the notice of Europeans At the in
ternational exhibition at Paris in 1855,
American reapers were brought into
competition with others, each machine
being allowed to cut an acre of stand
ing oats near Paris. The American
reaper did its work in % minutes, the
English in so and an Algerian in y.
At about the time of the adoption
of the great seal of the United States
the continental congress ordered a
small one for the official use of their
president for the time being. 1t was
elliptical in shape. Within raised
border was a circlet of clouds with a
clear space within which were seen
thirteen stars At point in the clouds
was the national motto, "E Plurlbus
Unum''-"M Many in one"
EARLY in ITS there was an urgent
call for drafts from the militia of each
state. Gen. Varnum, of Rhode Island,
proposed the emancipation of the able
bodied slaves there, on condition OF
their enlisting in the army for the war.
Washington approved the scheme. and
it was adopted. Every able-bodied
slave in Rhode Island received by law
liberty to enlist. On passing muster he
became free, and was entitled to all the
wages and encouragements given by
congress to any soldier. The state
made some compensation to their mas
terS.
Astonishing to the stranger is the
sudden development of the far northern
summer. Snow covers the ground in
the Aleutian islands until well into
June. but by that time the days last
nearly all night, and in few weeks
rank vegetation has taken the place OF
snow The hills become carpeted with
brilliant flowers and the grass is waist
high. This vegetation, dying winter
after winter, covers the ground to a
great depth and makes it difficult to
walk, and adds especially to the task
of mountain climbing. 1t simplifies the
descent, however, for person wearing
stout trousers may slide for quarter
of a mile down the mountain on this
loose deposit.
No president or eX-president. vice
president or ex-vice president died else
where than in the United States. An.
drew jackson died at the Hermitage,
his home, in Tennessee. James X. Polk
travelled. and died near Nashville. He
was United States senator after having
been president. Washington died in
Mount Vernon, and Jefferson in Month
cello. James Monroe came to New
York to practice law, and died there.
Franklin Pierce travelled extensively
and passed his later years in retirement
at Concord, N. H., and John Tyler died
in Richmond. Martin Van Buren, died
at Undertook. Three presidents only
died in Washington. Two died in New
York city. John Adams, of Massachu.
sets, attained the most advanced age
91.. Garfield was two months short of
reaching 50 when he died at Elberon.
Perhaps the most difficult geograph
ical name in the United States il
Youghiogheny, or geny, as it is some
times spelled, the name of creek in
western Maryland and Pennsylvania
Few besides natives of the region pro
nouncc it with the chief accent on the
penultimate, and who so essays it with
the accent elsewhere finds his mouth
filled with a meaningless confusion o.
vowels and consonants. The first syl
liable is "Yough,' pronounced "Yo,
with short 90" The second is 81
short, the ''o'' following is almost, i
not quite, unheard in the mouth of th'
native, while the last two syllables ART
those made familiar in ALLEGHENY,
though there is even here question o
"a long or sc" short. The pronuncia
tion of Youghiogheny is, however, ;
simple matter with the modern spell
ing compared to what it must hav'
seemed to the stranger who met it will
the old spelling. On an ancient maj
of the region the name is spelled
''Yoghyyoyghgania." Doubtless thi
spelling came nearer than that now il
use to indicating aptly the Indian pro
nunciation of the name.