St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-11-14
POWDER HORNS.
The best Device for Carrying Loose Gun


powder in Time of War.
Poyder-horns have become quite
rare, and are curious objects for the
study of the collector and the his
torian. I,sfES ss5 500
Like coins and medals, from which
the collector may find out many inter-
esting facts about the past, powder,
horns which have been decorated with
pictures and. inscrip tons give much in in
formation concerning, the geography
and history Of famous places and
events.
The use of horns of animals for car
rying gun-poWder was introduced into tt
America from England and France
but the exact date when they were
first used in Europe is not known.
Certainly it was not less than 800.
years ago, as can be seen from the
dates on specimens in European muse
uns.
Before improved guns and cartridges
were used, the curved horn was the best
device for carrying gunpowder in war
time for the use ofYthe muzzle-loaders
and fiint-locks, and the horns were used
even with some of the later guns
those that were fred by percussion
| caps.
A desirable horn could be. had easily,
and cheaply. It was quickly prepared
for holding the gunpoWder and. more
over, it was light, and yetstrong enough
to Withstand the rough usage to- which
mish fighting or making long marches
| through the wilderness. The horns
neither rust nor decay, even if buried
| in the earth for a century; and. if the
plugs are properly fitted, the powder
will keep dry although carried for days
| in the rain. They can be hoated, or
dipped in the water, without harm to
the powder within, this being a mat
ter of the greatest Importance during
| the colonial and revolutionary wars,
1 when bridges were hardly thought Of
and armies had to wade through
swamps and streams of water, often
up to the necks of the soldiers. sas
In order to prepare the horn for the
soldiers use, the ends were stopped by
wooden plugs and were securely fast
ened to a strap which was worn under
the left arm and over the right shoul-
der, the curved horn fitting the leftside
of the waist of the wearer; and 4 more
graceful equipment could not'ibe de
| sired. f
4 During the colonial times and during
the revolution, when a soldier volun-
teered or was ordered out for active
service, he was generally required te
leone provided with fourarticles, name
": gun, powder-horn, blankets ane
/ knapsack. The government furnished
the rest of the accoutrements and the
outfit of clothing.
| A military order required every pow:
der-horn to be marked with the owners
name, SO that it could be quickly re
turned to him after being filed at tht
i powder wagon.--J. L. Sticht, u. S. N.
in ST. Nicholas.
Wonderful Properties of Blood Corpuscic
The elasticity and placidity Of th
blood corpuscles is unrivalled by IN,
other physical body. twill assume al
sorts of protean shapes, if occasion re
auires, even. under the slightest in
Efuences. Elongating itself to the meres
thread, it will pass through an incon
ceivably narrow ehinas; it will wral
itself around an acute, projecting angl
(such as mineral crystal In the blood
or will protrude feelers and tails nnde
the influence of currents. In its nat
ural state it. possesses sufficient elias
ITCHY % resume its original shape tha
of a disc1 on the cessation Of the mod
flying influences. but when gum. or gel
atine has been added, or when th
pIasma to thicken spontaneously, th
eorpuscle retains any form it may hay
assumed till again altered By outsid
Influences. ST. Louis Republic.
Departed Glory.
"a Howso-That man holds the larges
number OF prizes and medals ever bel
| by one man.
i Curnao thlefeaa
HowsoNoi pawnbroker. = PIT
] Gate.
4