OLLA PODRIDA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 680, 13 March 1885, Page 5

OLLA PODRIDA.

THE SKIN OF EQUATORIAL RACES.

There is a curious statement of diverse writers, to the effect that the skin of the West Indian creole feels cooler than that of a European or American from the Northern States. The same is true of the Louisiana creole; the vigorous European or Northerner who touches a creole hand during the burning hours of a July or August day, has reason to be surprisod at its coolness—such a coolness as tropical fruits retain even under the perpendicular fires of an equatorial sun.

NEW PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS ABROADThe Archbishop of Canterbury has forwarded to the archdeacons of Canterbury and Maidstone the following prayer for the safety of our soldiers and sailors in Egypt and South Africa, with an expression of his wish that it may be used in churches in his diocese : —“ O Almighty Lord God, King of all kings, and Governor of all things, that sittest in the throne judging right : we commend to Thy Fatherly goodness the men who through perils of war are serving this nation, beseeching Thee to take into Thine own hand both them and the cause wherein their country sends them. Be Thou their tower of strength, that, armed with Thy defence, they may be protected through all dangers, to glorify Thee, who art the only giver of all victory. Grant also that we may evermore use Thy mercy to Thy glory, to the advancement of Thy kingdom, and the honor of our Sovereign ; seeking alway the deliverance of the oppressed, and, as much as lieth in us, the good of all mankind ; through our only Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

RIGHTING A CHIMNEY. There are various ways of righting a tall chimney which has inclined out of the perpendicular. The method pursued recently in the case of the chimney of Messrs Pattee & Perkins’ machine shop at Holyoke, Massachusetts, displays several novel features. The chimney in question is 80 feet high, 8 feet square at the base, and 6 feet at the top. Three “harnesses” were put on the base, the first one being placed under the cornice, and the other two below the first. The chimney leaned to the north of west, and was 42 inches out of the perpendicular. Two lever jackscrews were placed under the girders of one of the harnesses on the west side and six jackscrews under the harnesses on the north side. The earth was then removed on the south and east sides to below the foundation of the chimney. Then the earth was carefully combed and loosened with iron rods under the south-east corner. Water was next forced into the loosened earth by means of hose. Finally, the jackscrews were turned up slowly and carefully, and the chimney was forced to an upright position after repetitions of the loosening, puddling, and turning of the screw. When the work of righting was finished, the earth on all sides was puddled, and the chimney is now said to stand pointing towards the zenith.— Iron. CREEPING OF RAILSAt a recent meeting of the Engineers’ Club at St. Louis, the paper for the evening was by Mr J. B. Johnson, his subject being the “Creeping of Rails on the St. Louis Bridge.” Mr Johnson said that on the St. Louis Bridge proper the rails had been known to creep 260 feet in one year, and on the bridge approach 400 feet. This creeping varied with the amount of traffic or with the weight carried over the rails. On the St. Louis Bridge the rails crept in the direction of the traffic. These rails were supported from their base. The reason given by Mr Johnson for the creeping was that the rail, being held fast on the extended

ties, is caused to measure its length across the bridge on its extended flange whenever a heavy weight passing over it causes a wave in the rail. This wave has been known to raise the rail between the two trucks of a car three-eighths of an inch, and the creeping has been measured, and at times has amounted to one-half or three-quarters of an inch.—Scientific American.

GERMAN PAUPERISM. A Society was established in 1881, called the Verein fur Armenpfiege, for inquiring into the condition of the poor and endeavoring to bring the various actions of the poor law and charitable associations into a greater degree of harmony than at present exists. The Society has lately been engaged in the difficult task of compiling a census of German paupers, which has had the encouragement of the Goverment of Saxony, the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, and a few other of the smaller States ; and the questions formulated have been replied to by 65 local unions and seven provincial unions, representing a population of 4,722.852 and comprising some of the largest cities in Germany. From the answers obtained it would seem that the condition of things varies very much in different places. Posen, with 65,712 inhabitants, has 7,031 receiving public relief, while Dortmund, with 66,544 persons, has only 3,592. In Dresden there are 558 receiving relief tq every 10,000 inhabitants ; at Frankfort-on-Main, 579 ; in Stuttgardt, 510 ; Magdeburg, 517 ; Dusseldorf, 442. The number assisted in Berlin last year was 68,754, or 612 to every 10,000 inhabitants ; and the average of 63 other towns was 506 to the 10,000. It is probable, however, that during the coming year there will be a complete official census taken of the poor throughout the Empire.

RESOURCES OF THE SOUTHERN STATES OF THE AMERICAN UNION. Professor J. R. Dodge, statistician of the Department of Agriculture in the United States, has recently published a work entitled “ Farm and Factory.” In one of its chapters he deals with the resources of the South, including its mineral treasures and its facilities for manufacturing industry, aa well as the advantages of soil and climate which fit it for a varied agriculture. Mr Dodge points out that the territory lying between the Potomac and Rio Grande, including eleven States, is fully three and a half times the size of France or Germany. The soil is of great variety, the rivers furnish an immense water power, and the climate is mild and healthful. It is especially rich in coal, iron, and timber. The population of this favored region is 17'7 per square mile, or only one-ninth as dense as that of Germany, and one-twenty-ninth as dense as that of Belgium. The farm area of this vast district embraces 42 per cent, of the whole, but only one acre in ten as yet yields actual service in agriculture. There are now growing in these eleven States about 17§ million acres in cotton, and nearly 24 million in corn. Thus almost four-fifths of the tillage is in two crops, which Mr Dodge observes is too large a proportion. There is no part of the United States where such variety is possible in agriculture as in the States of the South. The aggregate value of farm products in 1879 was 547,567,526 dols., exclusive of meat and of the milk and fruits consumed in the families of the producers, which would raise the total to 770,000,000 dols., or 59 dols., per capita. This is nearly 300 dols. per family for those engaged in agriculture, and it would be largely increased by greater variety of production, more effective labor-saving implements, and advancing progress in scientific agriculture. Other branches of industry, however, ought to increase pari passu. That such progress is beginning is proved by the extension of cotton manufacturing in Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, &e. Between January and May, 1884, Southern investments in new manufacturing and mining enterprise amounted to over 55 million dols. The growth of the manufacture is further shown by the fact that 331,000 bales were taken last year by Southern mills, as against 169,000 in 1880, while their present consuming*capacity is estimated at 420,000 bales per annum. Mr Dodge refers to the manufacture of oil from cotton seeds as one means of partially utilising a product that has been practically thrown away, but which is worth more in its manufactured state than all the barley, rye, and buckwheat in the United States. The author refers to the New Orleans Exhibition as a means of attracting capital and enterprise towards industrial investments, quickening home invention and developing mechanical skill ; and, as a result of the various causes in operation, he predicts for the South an era of industrial progress and of great prosperity which will double and quadruple values in agriculture within a brief period.

HANDEL’S TEMPER. The voice in which at the end of an aria Handel cried ‘ chorus ’ was really terrible. Some of his rehearsals were attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the prince being a former enemy, but now a friend of Handel through his wife’s enthusiasm. If the Royal party chanced to be late, the musician was enraged. Should the ladies-in-waiting gossip during the performance, he vented his anger in cursing and swearing, making use of somewhat unpleasant remarks, whereupon the princess, with her natural gentleness, would hush the chatterers with, ‘ Quiet, quiet; Handel is angry.’ When the singer Carestini, the popular favorite, somewhat impertinently returned to Handel an aria specially composed for her with the remark that it did not suit her voice, Handel got into a towering passion. He hastened to Carestini’s apartments, and thundered out to the unwise vocalist, ‘ You donkey ; do I not know what is best suited to you?’ On another occasion a poet, who had Written a cantata for him, had the temerity to assert that the music did not fitly express the meaning of the words. This was too much for the impetuous Handel, and he wrathfully burst out, ‘ What ! my music not good ! It is good, very good ! I tell yon it is your words that are good for nothing ; go and make better words for my music.’ To these authenticated incidents we may add one which cannot be so positively vouched for. After a performance of the Messiah, George IT. complimented Handel with, ‘You have pleased us very much :’ to which the Master

retorted, * Your majesty, I did not wish to please but to make you better.’ If this be not true, it is well invented, for it coincides exactly with the spirit of the master.—. History of Music.

A NEW RELIGION. An interesting legal point in connection, with the granting of charters of incorporation, will shortly come up for decision before the Court of Common Pleas. The ‘J. Elimar Mira Mitta Congregation of the Lord ’ has applied for a charter. The application is resisted by the friends of the woman who founded the church, and for the worship of whom the congregation meets. The sect was invented two years ago by a woman who claimed that she had a revelation from tfce Lord that she was the third person of the Holy Trinity. The woman’s name was Anna Meister, but after the alleged revelation she assumed that of ‘J. Elima Mira Mitta.’ Some credulous Germans who believed her story, formed a church, purchased a house and became so infatuated with her new religion that they dedicated it to Miss Meister. Several members are rich, and no expense was spared in fitting up the house in which, it seems, Miss Meister was regularly worshiped. She died a few months ago, and the congregation had her portrait painted and set up. The enthusiasm increased, and she is worshiped as a saint. The congregation professes to be Lutheran. The charter is opposed by members of that sect and Anna Meister’s family, who are trying to get possession of the property.

JOUFFROY, THE INVENTOR OF THE STEAMBOAT.

Claude Frangois Dorothde, eldest son of the Marquis de Jouffroy d’Abbans, was bom in 1751. The family of Jouffroy had once been of great account in Frache-Comtd, and one branch had become possessed of the lands of Abbans and the old Chateau there, built in the eleventh century to guard the road leading up to Jura. A few miles off, at Quingey, there was a Dominican convent, where the boys from the Chateau went to school, and the eldest early showed a taste for mathematics. At Quingey dwelt an old officer named D’Auxiron, who with the help of his friend Marshal Follenay had invented a steamboat, which had little success ; yet through their efforts young Jouffroy was first attracted to the work of his life. For the rest he was a studious boy, much given to joinery, wood-turning, and other mechanical persuits. At thirteen he became page to Madame la Dauphine, and as soon as he wasold enough entered the Army. What was his course of life when at court we do not know, though we may imagine that the boy had many wistful thoughts of his books and his carpentry in the old Ch&teau. His career in the army was short and unfortunate. In 1775 he went to Paris, then in one of the great crises of its history. The steam-en-gine, with Watt’s earlier improvements, had just been introduced into France by Perier, which lent great force to proposals for moving ships by steam, and Jouffroy’s old friends from Quingey had come to Paris to push their invention. In 1772 D’Auxiron had obtained a fifteen years’ patent for his steamboat, and had formed, by Follenay’s aid, a company to work it. Perier, who, although himself without originality, had obtained a great reputation by introducing Watt’s steam-engine into France, reported against the new steamboat; and this so alarmed the shareholders that he had to be taken into partnership in order to satisfy them. But the opposition of the boatmen and others interested in the existing means of transport proved a more formidable obstacle : the same passions which had destroyed Hargreaves’ spinning-jenny at Blackburn and Papin’s steamboat in Germany were aroused on the Seine ; and on the eve of launching the boat-house was broken open, and the vessel much injured. The members of the company were furious, and attacked D’Auxiron as the most accessible person, a lawsuit being the consequence. Moreover, a serious difference showed itself between Perier and Jouffroy, who had now been admitted to the counsels, of the promoters. The former calculated that the force to be exerted by the steam-engine would be equal to that exerted by a horse in towing the same boat; while Jouffroy insisted that it must be greater, in fact four times as much, because the point of application of the force was now in the water. Perier s views prevailed, and Jouffroy, leaving Paris with a confidence soon strengthened by the complete failure of his rival’s experiments, returned to his father’s house. Jouffroy had an aunt in a religious foundation afc Baume-les-dames. At her request he had his little vessel, when it was finished, towed up the Doubs to Montb4liard, whence he navigated it down the stream to Besangon, so as to pass her convent. This first boat was propelled by paddles set in motion by the oscillating action of the steam-engine as it then existed ; but he soon saw that this was very unsatisfactory. Duquet had some time before suggested the use of paddlewheels in navigation, and Jouffroy now adopted this idea. But, as Benjamin Frank-, lin pointed out to the American inventors, a steam-engine acting continuously was needed, to move paddle-wheels. Watt had already made a double-acting one ; but it is the principal title of Jouffroy to fame as an inventor that he was the first to appreciate this difficulty, and the first to solve it by the invention of a steam-engine with constant action. Watt made the same improvement independently, as it seems ; but not until 1786. On D’Auxiron’s death, Jouffroy became a member of the company he had formed, and thus obtained money to make a large steamboat. The place chosen for the trial was Lyons, a city famous in the annals of industry, the staple of which is linked with the inventions of Vaucanson and Jacquard. Nor was there at Lyons any lack of interest in the matter : children were even named after the inventor ; and when on July 15, 1783, the large steamboat was launched, ten thousand spectators crowded the quays. The dimensions of the vessel, were one hundred and fifty feet long by forty broad, and it continued to navigate the Saone for sixteen month?. At the end of that time it broke down ; but only because Jouffroy’s poverty had compelled him to have recourse to bad materials. This success induced a financial company to come forward and offer support, on condition that a patent was obtained; and the inventor therefore applied to Calonne for a thirty years’ privilege. The Minister referred the

matter to the des Sciences, which proved true to the usual character of such iodies. A committee was appointed, of which Perier, Jouffroy’s unsuccessful rival, was the leading member; and a fatal condition was insisted on—a new trial before the august eyes of the Academy on the Seme ; ao that Jouffroy, who had already exhausted his resources in the experiment at Lyons, had to give up all hope of a patent.—Gentleman's Magazine.

A permanent School of Forestry will probably be established in connection with the University of Edinburgh, as a result of the successful Forestry Congress recently held in that city. Of the four prizes for essays offered by the International Forestry Exhibition at Edinburgh. two were awarded to competitors from France. . £ , ■ An English physician is using frog skin for grafting over granulating wounds with great success. Frog skin retains its vitality for a long time, and can be carried to a distant patient by the surgeon m his pocket. The Emperor of Brazil has sanctioned a method of vaccination against yellow fever, and five hundred persons have been vaccinated at Rio Janeiro by Lominges Freire, to whose investigations the idea is due. The disease almost always prevails at the Brazilian capital, but had not attacked any of the vaccinated persons, at latest accounts. Among them were the officers and men of a number of British vessels in port at ±h Rowland Jordan of London appears to iave been eminently successful in perfecting a, process for separating gold from its ores which is at present attracting considerabl .attention. In the usual process of amalgamation water is employed. In the new one the gold ore is reduced to dry powder, which is forced through a considerable thickness of mercury, by which it is robbed of nearly the whole of the gold. The perfect action of the apparatus has been attested by Prof. Crookes, F.A.S., and other scientific men.— A A e r n eS‘ C ase of death in Plymouth, England, caused by the use of methylene as an anaesthetic, developed the fact thatit: is in reality one of the safest drugs of its class. At the inquest it was shown that the number of deaths caused by it is but one m 8000, and the surgeon had seen many thousand cases during an experience of twentyfive years, but had never met with a death from it before. He said that too much methylene could not easily be applied at once, because it would only evaporate at a certain rate.