USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 19
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The fruit of the Buekeye offers mueh to inte- rest us. The capsule or covering of the nut, is beset with sharp priekles, which, incautiously grasped, will soon compel the aggressor to let go his hold. The nut is undeniably the most beau- tiful of all which our teeming woods bring forth; and in many parts of the country is made sub- servient to the military education of our sons : who, assembling in the muster field (where their fathers and elder brothers are learning to be mi- litia-men), divide themselves into armies, and pelt each other with Buckeye balls ; a military exereise at least as instruetive as that which their seniors perform with Buekeye stieks. The inner covering of the nut is highly astringent. Its substance, when grated down, is soapy, and has been used to elean fine fabries in the absence of good soap. When the powder is washed, a large quantity of stareh is obtained, which might, if times of seareity could arise in a land so fertile as the native soil of this tree, be used for food. The water employed for this purpose holds in solution an active medieinal agent, which unwa- rily swallowed, .proves a poison; thus again ad- monishing those who would attempt to use up a Buckeye, that they may repent of their rashness.
Who has not looked with admiration on the fine foliage of the Buekeye in early spring, while the more sluggish tenants of the forest, remain torpid in their winter quarters; and what tree in all our wild woods bears a flower which can be compared with that of our favourite? We may fearlessly challenge for it the elosest comparison. Its early putting forth, and the beauty of its leaves and blossoms, are appropriate types of our native population, whose rapid and beautiful developement, will not be denied by those whom I now address, nor disproved by reference to their character.
Finally, the Buckeye derives its name from the resemblance of its nut to the eye of the buck, the finest organ of our noblest wild animal; while the name itself, is compounded of a Welsh and a Saxon word, belonging, therefore, to the oldest portions of our vernacular tongue, and connect- ing us with the primitive stocks, of which our fathers were but scions planted in the New World.
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But, Mr. President and Gentlemen, I must dismiss this fascinating topic. My object has been to show the peculiar fitness of the Buckeye to be made the symbol-tree of our native popu- lation. This arises from its many excellent qualities. Other trees liave greater magnitude, and stronger trunks. They are the Hercules of the forest; and like him of old, who was distin- guished only for physical power, they are re- markable chiefly for mechanical strength. Far different is it with the Buckeye, whichi does not depend on brute force to effect its objects ; but exercises, as it were, a moral power and admo- nishes all who adopt its name, to rely upon in- tellectual cultivation, instead of bodily prowess.
Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
In the " Advertiser" of the 23d ultimo, after quoting a statement in the Pittsburgh "Spirit of the Age," that as many as twelve sugar mills and engines had been manufactured in that city this season, I remarked that we had made of those articles in Cincinnati, this year already, forty-eight, and that twelve more would be com- pleted during the current season, making sixty in all; and that, in comparing these widely dif- ferent results, full justice would not be done to our business operations without adverting to the fact, that the Pittsburghi made mills and engines were of a smaller description, which at $3,500 each, were worth $42,000; while those of Cincin- nati manufacture averaged $5,000 each, and made an aggregate of $240,000. My compara- tive statement was made for the purpose of disa- busing our citizens of the impression which pre- vails to some extent here, that the manufacturing interest of Cincinnati is inferior in magnitude to that of Pittsburgh. I added, "abstract the rol- ling mills, glass and cotton yarn factories of Pittsburgh from the comparison, and in every other description of mechanical industry and products, Cincinnati is far in advance of that place."
The editor of the Spirit of the Age makes this statement the subject of a long article, which, as I have not room to give the whole, and dislike, on a subject of this sort, to make extracts, lest I invite suspicion of garbling the article, I shall merely say that he does both the subject and my- self injustice-unintentionally, as I believe. For instance, although he quotes my closing remark correctly-the same that I have placed in this article in quotations-yet he slides, in less than six lines, from " rolling mills" to manufactures of iron, and appears throughout the article to suppose that I was desirous to exclude the entire iron manufacture of Pittsburgh from the compa- risons I made. I am well aware of the magni- tude of the rolling mill operations there, and
freely acknowledge that in bar iron as well as in cotton yarns our Cincinnati manufacturers are left in the background. As to glass, we do not manufacture it. And in saying that if these ar- ticles were excluded from the comparison, we were far in advance of Pittsburgh, I did not mean to concede that our general mechanical and ma- nufacturing operations did not surpass those of Pittsburgh. The statistics of the census of 1840, I thought. had settled that question; for, if our manufacturing and mechanical products exceeded those of Pittsburghi in 1840, the disparity must be heightened by the lapse of later years.
After all, the true way in debates of this sort, is to furnish the statistics. If Mr. Riddle, of the Spirit of the Age, will make out a statement of the manufactures of iron and other metals, wood, leather, cotton, wool and linen, drugs, paints, chemicals, paper, food, &c., classifying it under different heads, giving the details whichi make up the aggregate, in short, affording the means of furnishing a corresponding statement for Cincin- nati, I will pledge myself to furnish a statement in similar form of our operations, and let the figures determine the dispute. Each party hold- ing himself liable to prove any part of the state- ment which may be required.
By Pittsburgh, I include all the adjacent parts, across both rivers, within one mile, and the like distance in other directions. By Cincinnati, I include the like circular distance.
The Beaten Path.
BY L. J. CIST.
" We are born-we live-we die-we are buried !"
I.
THAT BEATEN PATH! THAT BEATEN PATH!
It goeth by the door;
And many a tale to tell it hath Of the days that are no more! For o'er that path, in weal and wo, Earth's weary ones have trod;
And many a hurried step, or slow, Hath press'd its time-worn sod; Here Childhood's mirth and Youth's glad shout Have each its merry peal rung out; Oft, gentle Woman's graceful tread, In fairy motion o'er it sped; And Manhood's care surcharged breast A weightier step upon it press'd;
While Age's palsied footsteps, slow,
Here last, perchance, abroad Have feebly tottered forth, to show
Three-score-and-ten prepared to go,- Life's journey trodden now below ---
To stay its steps with God!
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11.
See'st thou yonder smiling boy, Just escaped his mother's arms ? With what eager, gushing joy- Heedless of her fond alarms- Out upon THAT PATH he springs, Light as bird with feathered wings; Running now a frolic race, Walking then with sober pace, And, anon, with childish grace, Casting down his wearied form, With unused exertion warm, On the grassy margin, green, Of the pathway he is in ;--- Of that path which thus, a child, Treads he first, with spirits wild ;--- Of that path which he shall tread, Oft in manhood's darker day, When his weary, aching head Gladly would he seek to lay With the care-forgetting dead, 'Neath its grassy turf for aye!
III.
Ring out! Ring out! A joyous shout For the fair and gentle Bride! Make room! make room! for the gallant Groom, In his dashing and manly pride! For his Bridal's done !- he hath woo'd and won The flower of the country rare; And worthy he of his Ladye-she, The fairest of England's fair!
Ring out! Ring out! A pealing shout! Let Vassal to Vassal call, Each servant gay, in his best array, Attend in the ancient Hall:
For the Bridal train ridetli on amain, And the Lord of that Hall doth come;
By THAT PATH where, a boy, first he wandered in joy, He bringeth his fair Bride home!
IV.
A toll !- A sad and a muffled toll Of the deep Church-bell, for a parted soul! The Child that in glee o'er that pathway sped- The Youth that in beauty and manhood wed- The Aged Lord of the Castle is dead! Hath rested his body in solemn state, And now 'tis bornc from the Castle gate; Sad its retainers, as mourufully slow, Over THAT BEATEN PATH they go- That path through which, when a child, he sped, That path by which his fair Bride he led, That path o'er which they now bear him -- dead! Pause they now at yon Churchyard's door, And now-'tis entered-the pathway o'er; THAT BEATEN PATH HE WILL PASS NO MORE!
One Day and a Half in the Life of a To- bacco Chewer.
[BY A SUFFERER. ]
Saturday, July 22, 1843 .- Took my hat for a walk; wife-as wives are apt to-began to load me with messages, upon seeing mc ready to go out. Asked me to call at Cousin M's, and bor- row for her the "Sorrows of Werter." Hate to have a wife read such namby-pamby stuff, but must humor her whims, and concluded that I had rather she would take pleasure over Werter's Sorrows, than employ her tongue in making 'sorrow' for your humble servant.
Got to Cousin M's door. Now, Cousin is an old maid, and a dreadful tidy woman. Like tidy women well enough, but can't bear your dread- ful tidy ones, because I am always in dread while on their premises, lest I should offend their super- superlative neatness by a bit of gravel on the sole of my boot or such matter.
Walked in, delivered my message, and seated myself in one of her cane bottom chairs, while she rummaged the bookcase. Forgot to take out my cavendish before I entered, and while she hunted, felt the tide rising. No spitbox in the room, windows closed, floor carpeted, stove var- nished. Looked to the fireplace-full of flowers, and hearth newly daubed with Spanish brown: here was a fix. Felt the flood of essence of ca- vendish accumulating. Began to reason with myself whether, as a last alternative, it were better to drown the flowers, redaub the hearth, or flood the carpet. Mouth in the mean time pretty well filled. To add to my misery she began to ask questions. "Did you ever read this book, -? " "Yes, ma'm" said I, in a voice like a frog from the bottom of a well, when I wished book, aunt, and all, were with Pharaoh's host, in the Red Sea. "How do you like it?" continued the indefatigable querist. I threw my head on the back of the chair, and my mouth upward to prevent an overflow. "Pretty well," said I. She at last found the Sorrows of Werter, and came toward me. "O! dear, Cousin Oliver, don't put your head on the back of the chair, now don't-you'll grease it, and take off the gilding." I could not answer her, having now lost the power of speech entirely, and my cheeks were distended like those of a toad under a mushroom. "Why, Oliver," said my persevering tormentor, unconscious of the reason of my appearance, "you are sick; I know you are; your face is dreadfully swelled;" and before I could prevent her, her hartshorn was clapped to my distended nostrils. As my mouth was closed imperturba- bly, the orifices in my nasal organ were at that time my only breathing place. Judge, then, what a commotion a full snuff of harts- horn created among my olfactories.
I bolted for the door, and a hearty acheehe- lee! relieved my proboscis, and tobacco, chyle, &c., "all at once disgorged" from my moutlı, restored me the faculty of , speechi. Her eyes followed me in astonishment, and I returned and relieved my embarrassment by putting a load on my conscience. I told her I had been trying to relieve the toothache by the temporary use of tobacco, while, truth to tell, I never had an aching fang in my head. I went home mor- tified.
Sunday Forenoon .- Friend A. invited myself and wife to take a seat with him to hear the cel- ebrated Mr. - preach. - Conducted by
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neighbor A. to his pew. Month as usual, full | of tobacco, and, horror of horrors ! found the pew elegantly carpeted with white and green, two or three mahogany crickets, and a hat stand, but no spitbox. The services commenced; every peal on the organ was answered by an internal appeal from my mouth for a liberation from its contents, but the thing was impossible. I thoughit of using my hat for a spitbox, then of turning one of the crickets over, but I could do nothing unperceived. I took out my handkerchief, but found, in the plenitude of her officiousness, that my wife had placed one of her white cambrics in my pocket instead of my bandanna. Here was a dilemma. By the time the preacher had named his text, my cheeks had reached their utmost ten- sion, and I must spit or die.
I arose, seized my liat, and made for the door. My wife-confound these women how they dog one about ! imagining me unwell, she might have known better-got up and followed me out. " Are you unwell, Oliver ?" said she, as the door closed after us. I answered her by putting out the eyes of an unlucky dog with a flood of ex- pressed essence of cavendish. "I wish," said she, " Mr. A. had a spit-box in his pew." " So do 1." Wc footed it home in moody silence. I was sorry my wife had lost the sermon, but how could I help it ? These women are so affection- ate, confound them ; no, I don't mean so. But she might have known what ailed me, and kept her seat.
Tobacco ! O tobacco ! But the deeds of that day are not told yet. After the conclusion of the services along came farmer Ploughshare. Hc had seen me go out of church and stopped at the open window where I sat. "Sick to-day Mr. !" "Rather unwell," answered I, and there was another lie to place to the account of tobacco. "We had powerful preaching, Mr. -; sorry you had to go out." My wife ask- ed him in, and in he came ; she might know eh would, but women must be polite. But she was the sufferer by it. Compliments over, I gave him my chair at the open window. Down he sat, and fumbling in his pockets, he drew forth a formidable plug of tobacco, and commenced un- twisting it. "Then you use tobacco," said I. "A leetle occasionally," said he, as he deposited from three to four inches in his check. I men- tally pity those using more. "A neat fence that of yourn," as flood after flood bespattered a newly painted white fence near the window. "Yes," said I, " but I like a darker color." " So do I," answered Plougshare, " and yaller suits my no- tion. It don't show dirt." And he moistened my carpet with his favorite color. Good, thought I, my wife will ask him in again I guess. We were now summoned to dinner. Farmer Plough- share seated himself. I saw his long fingers in that particular position in which a tobacco chew- er knows how to put his digits when about to un- lade. He drew them across his mouth ; I trem- bled for the consequences, should he throw such a load upon the hearth or the floor. But he had no intention thus to waste his quid, and, shock- ing to relate, deposited it beside his plate on my wife's damask cloth.
undergo a second mastication, and the church bell opportunely ringing, called him away be- fore lic could use his plate for a spit-box, for such, I am persuaded-would have been his next motion. I went up strairs, and throwing myself on the bed, fell asleep. Dreams of inundation, floods and fire harassed mc. I thought I was burning and smoking like a segar. I then thought the Merrimack had burst its banks and was about to overflow me with its waters. I could not escape, the water had reached my chin-I tasted it, it was like tobacco jnice. I conglied and screamed, and awakening, found I liad been to sleep with a quid in my month. My wife entered at the moment I threw away the filthy weed-" Iluz, if I were you I would not use that stuff any more."
" I won't," said I. Neither fig nor twist, pig- tail or cavendish has passed my lips since, nor ever shall they again.
Culture of the Grape.
ROBINSON & JONES, of our city, have lately put to press a brief practical treatise on the culture of the grape, worth fifty times the price to the purchaser, which it costs him, in the profitable hints it suggests. The author is one of a num- ber of individuals who cultivates the grape in Hamilton county. My perusal of this manual, which gives the proper statistics on this subject, has afforded me the following conclusions:
1. Individuals in Hamilton county who have one-twentieth of their farm in grapes, make more of that portion than the entire residue.
2. The produce on an average exceeds a yield of 400 gallons to the acre, as high in some in- stances as 700 gallons being made from a small vineyard of eighteen hundred vines, embracing not quite an acre. At the current rate for the article --- $1.50 per gallon --- this would be $600 per acre as the crop value, and worth under any possible depreciation 400 dollars per acre, which would be a net profit of 250 dollars to each acre, a revenue no other crop affords.
3. The Catawba grape, which is now generally cultivated in this region, affords a wine that stands without a competitor in the world, and no degree of extension in its culture could ever reduce the price to fifty cents per gallon. At that rate, raising grapes would be more profita- ble than any existing crop in the West. But it is in reference to raising grapes for the table that I feel much interest on this subject. At fifty cents per bushel, Catawba grapes will furnish a very profitable crop, although the price they are now worth for making wine forbids their sale at that price; but they will be furnished at that price here in less than five years. At that price they will be as cheap as any other wholesome fruit, and ought to furnish food at the breakfast table, to the banishment of the beef-steaks and other animal food, which they would supercede.
This was too much. I plead sickness and rosc. There was no lie in the assertion now, I was sick. I retired from the table, but my departure did not discompose farmer Ploughshare, who was uncon- scious of having done wrong. I returned in sea- son to see him re-place his quid in his mouth to All fruit ought to be eaten, as is my practice,
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early in the day, and I judge tliat thie robust health my family enjoys should recommend the praetiee.
I ean freely recommend this little treatise. The author insists on it, that the culture of the grape is not severe work, but rather an amuse- ment. "You are living in the country, the newspapers contain nothing of importance [N.B. He does not take the ADVERTISER], the Oregon territory is not yet ours, and it will be a hard matter to get it, the rumor of broken banks and Swartwouters will not give you much trouble." By way of conclusion, therefore, cultivate the grape.
The Pardoning Power.
I observe, in a late city paper, notice, that an application will be made to obtain the pardon and release of a certain individual convicted of hav- ing counterfeit money in his possession, and sen- teneed for five years to the penitentiary. The alleged ground for the application is the inno- cence of the convict. I know enough of the case to be satisfied of his guilt. But without refering to what I know personally in this case, look at the absurdity of suffering the signatures to a petition to outweigh the verdiet of a jury upon the subjeet. In such eases, men sign, frequent- ly without looking at the petition, on simply a representation of its contents, a statement of ae- quittal, in an instance where twelve men on their oaths, and after proof and investigation of the circumstances, decide that he is guilty. Ido not undertake to judge for others, but I would not suffer my columns thus to aid in getting a convict loose on the community for any sum offered to procure the insertion of such notices. And I lift up my voice, feeble and alone through it may be, pleading with the community to pause before they sign such applications. They are an insult to those of our fellow citizens who made the verdict; they are injurious to the com- munity who have just got rid of disturbers of their peace or safety. I warn every man who signs such applications that he is doing all in his power to nullify all law with its safeguards and restraints, and to restore the community to its original elemente of society, where the weak and peaceable are made the prey of the turbulent and strong, and where every man assumes the right to judge and decide his own eause. In one word, to proclaim the supremacy of mobs and Lynch law.
Rail-Road to Xenia.
On Monday, the 17th, by invitation of the Di- rectors of the Little Miami Rail-Road Company, the editor of the Advertiser made one of a pro- miscuous assemblage of travelers to Xenia, on the
occasion of the Rail-Road being opened for the first time to that flourishing and beautiful vil- lage, sixty-eight miles out. The road winds through a delightful country, and follows with slight variations, the course of the Little Miami, through one of the most fertile vallies in the wide world. It may indeed be doubted whether there be a margin of bottom land of equal breadth and richness on earth, taking into view the size of the stream. Breadthis of a mile in extent filled with Indian corn, in its growth the most graee- ful of the cereal grains, and forming a most pic- turesque landscape, are of repeated oeeurenee. Nor are the bottoms of the Little Miami, per- ceptibly of less magnitude, fifty or sixty miles up the stream. The road appears well finished and must ereate, as well as provide for, an immense travel and transportation northward, and even- tually to the Lake and the Atlantic Cities. Everywhere along the road I found abundant testimony that the most ample harvest has been or is about to be gathered in, that has been known for six years, and the quality is as re- markable as the quantity. The next link in the ehain will take us to Springfield, which will then enable the traveling community to eonneet with the line of the National Road both east and west.
The Little Miami and Sandusky Rail-Road, of which this route is the commencement, will form when completed, a most important avenue for the transportation of western produce east, and of the Atlantic Cities' merehandize west. Of what magnitude its business is destined to be- come, may be inferred from the amount of mer- ehandize which is now sent to and received from Toledo, 1143 packages for the west and south- west being received in one day by one of our for- warding houses. The Canal transportation is preparing the Rail-Road transportation business, so that by the time the Rail-Road is completed, the entire Canal business will thus be turned over to the cars.
College of Dental Surgery.
Among this years' city improvements may be numbered an unassuming building of no partieu- lar order of architecture, which oceupies the well known scite of Talbott's school room, on College street, and nearly covering the lot on which it is built; the edifice being 60 feet by 27, and three stories in height. This is the new College of Dental Surgery of Dr. Cook and liis associates. The building is expected to be finished by the 1st of next month, and to be fitted up for theoretical and demonstrative teaching on Dental Seience, by the first Monday of November, when the pub- lie lectures commence. The main hall of the college is the lecture room, capable of holding 250
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persons. Other rooms will be appropriated to the library and anatomical museum and labora- tory, and mechanical operations of the college.
In the testimonials which will be afforded to the public by competent and skilful professors to those who shall graduate there, must result pro- tection from the impositions and in many cases irreparable injuries which have been inflicted on the community by mere pretenders to dental knowledge.
As a subject of city pride, it may be stated that Baltimore and Cincinnati are the only cities in the world, in which colleges of dental surgery exist.
Bustles.
" A Yankee" finds employment in the north- west region of our city in carding cotton for bustles. I hope the extensive scale on which lie carries on his operations will reduce the price of bran, and thereby restore that article to its legi- timate use. The following is his advertisement, which I insert without charge:
BUSTLES! BUSTLES !!- The undersigned having recently put in operation some cards in the building on the southwest corner of Smith and Seventh streets, would respectfully inform the fashionable part of the community that he is pre- pared to make any quantity of Bustles of the. latest and most approved patterns, containing from four to sixteen pounds of superior carded cotton, at short notice. Bustles warranted to fit or no sale.
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