as industrious as they look; for no loafers are allowed, and he who
does not know how to work with a will soon receives his dismissal.
The touch of English energy and English precision is plainly visible
throughout—with one result, that, unlike Southern workmen, as generally
found, these do not care to keep all the holidays which are so frequent
in Roman Catholic countries. They work about ten and a half hours in
the day; and each man is searched and numbered on coming in and going
out.
The word Marsala recalls the time when the Saracens ruled the land,
just as Mongibello for Etna, Gibbel Rossa at Palermo, and all
Sicilian agricultural and irrigatory terms recall them. It is really
_Marsh-Allah_, ‘the port of God.’ Round about our _balio_ are many
interesting things, principally the caves where, not so long ago, a
murderer hid in perfect safety, and where in lawless times brigands and
outcasts took refuge and found security. They are interminable, and it
is impossible to visit them all; but our guide takes us through some of
the most practicable, where we have occasion for a little gymnastic
exercise here and there among the broken rocks and steep sharp pitches.
An army of brigands might hide away here undetected and unseen.
Fortunately, at this time there are none to hide. No organised band of
brigands exists anywhere in Sicily, and the stranger is absolutely safe.
Besides these caves, there is a strange folly in the shape of a
ballroom and banqueting-room cut out of the living rock. There are
tables and the place for the musicians, benches and divisions, all
made in the rock underground. These odd rooms have been used, and it
is to be supposed enjoyed. When we see them, the only guests are black
beetles, a couple of dirty little lads as unkempt as wild Highland
cattle, and a half-maniacal shock-headed Dugald kind of creature, with
an atmosphere of garlic, which makes us rejoice when we turn out once
more into the fresh air blowing over the breezy flower-clad upland,
with the blue sea in front and the bright sun overhead.
CONCERNING FLORIDA.
A contributor, who is conversant with his subject, sends us the
following important items, which we commend to young men who
contemplate emigration.
‘Heads of families,’ says our correspondent, ‘with “little to earn
and many to keep,” with several sons growing up and having a desire
to go abroad and see the world, will be glad to know that there are
ways for providing for the olive branches other than sending them to
Australia or Manitoba to earn merely nominal wages as farm-labourers.
Until recently, the United States depended almost wholly upon the
enterprise of foreigners for their supply of oranges; but, as if by an
inspiration, the discovery has been made that they can, amongst the
numerous other industries for which they are remarkable, grow their own
oranges, and that, too, of better quality, both in size and flavour,
than those which are imported. The great and unequalled facilities for
cheap and rapid transportation have opened up nearly the whole of the
peninsula of Florida to settlement; and what was only recently very
correctly described as a vast expanse of swamps, lakes, and sluggish
rivers, is now a vast system of drainage-canals and railways.
In Florida, four hundred pounds will buy forty acres of land, ten of
which may be cleared, fenced, and planted with orange-trees. A house
may be inexpensively erected at an average cost of ten pounds per room.
The orange-tree will bear five years from the bud, or ten years from
seed; but a man left in charge—say the son of the owner—would have no
difficulty in supporting himself by the sale of small fruit, which,
coming to perfection in the middle of winter, commands the best prices
in the New York and other Northern markets. In ten years, oranges are
handsomely remunerative, and the crop steadily increases in value with
every succeeding year. For those who cannot wait so long, the lemon
and lime may prove more attractive, as they bear much sooner. They are
almost as profitable, though not quite so hardy.
The list of things which can be grown profitably in Florida is
so long and various as to include such dissimilar articles as
potatoes, cocoa-nuts, plantains, guavas, mangoes, tomatoes,
pine-apples, pumpkins, water-melons—which frequently weigh a
hundredweight—grape-fruit, citron, cotton, sugar, strawberries, coffee,
tea, tobacco, mulberries, pears, quinces, apples, Scuppernong grapes,
&c. The woods and forests which have been slumbering all these years
are now alive with settlers, who are actively employed felling timber,
clearing land, erecting fences, planting groves, building houses, and
in numerous ways expending their energy on the improvement of the
land. The old cry, “Go west,” has been changed to, “Go south;” and
now thousands of families from the Northern States are there, having
orange and lemon groves, with pretty cottages simply but comfortably
furnished, situated on the banks of rivers and lakes.
For the man who is fond of outdoor exercise and has a taste for
gardening, the life in Florida has a charm all its own, for
fruit-growing is nothing but gardening on an extensive scale. The soil
in Florida has the most unpromising appearance, looking like nothing
so much as silver sand. Yet what a charm it possesses! Seeds put in
this apparently hopeless material spring up almost immediately; and
cabbages, lettuces, radishes, and turnips may be eaten three weeks from
sowing in the middle of January. Fish of large size, from ten pounds
upwards, abound in the rivers and lakes, and being easily caught, make
a very welcome addition to the larder. Deer, wild turkeys, quail, and
numerous other kinds of game have not yet learned to shun the haunts of
men.
Extensive drainage-works have made available for settlement vast tracts
of land which have probably been submerged for centuries, but which
now, thanks to the remarkable system of drainage-canals, is as dry
and firm and as healthy to live upon as the best land in the State. A
pretty site judiciously chosen on the banks of a lake will eventually
enormously enhance the value of the property when the surrounding
country is settled up. The plan suggested for persons of small means is
to take up forty acres. Having ten acres cleared and planted at once,
the whole might be fenced in, and a comfortable house built in the
middle of the allotment. The remaining thirty acres can be brought into
cultivation by degrees, and in the meantime will serve to graze cattle
and sheep, which, being turned into the grove at night, fertilise it in
the most effectual and inexpensive manner.’
* * * * *
Another correspondent has favoured us with the following notes:
‘Upon landing at New York City in the beginning of April of the present
year, the weather was particularly disagreeable—cold, rainy, and
sleety, and I was only too glad to leave the inclement North for the
bright sunny South.
On the morning after landing at New York, I took my ticket for
Jacksonville, Florida, and on the journey, stopped a few hours at
Washington, and also spent a night at Savannah, Georgia; reaching
Florida, the land of flowers, romance, and orange groves, in three days
from the time of leaving New York.
Florida was first discovered by Sebastian Cabot in 1497, and after
various vicissitudes in its history, became one of the United States
in 1845. It is gratifying to know that the undoubted advantages and
attractions of this country are becoming better known, and more and
more appreciated, by all classes both in the United States and England.
A great amount of English capital and English energy is now being
attracted to Florida, which is a country offering inducements to the
capitalist, sport to the sportsman, novel and romantic scenery to
the tourist, health to the invalid, and very considerable advantages
to the intelligent emigrant. The area of Florida comprises sixty
thousand square miles; and the soil is adapted to an infinite variety
of products, such, for instance, as corn, oats, rice, beans, peas,
potatoes, turnips, cabbages, strawberries, tomatoes, melons, cucumbers,
oranges, lemons, limes, peaches, figs, &c.; and in South Florida,
cocoa-nuts, pine-apples, bananas, and other fruits and vegetables
too numerous to mention. The climate is charming. In winter, the
thermometer seldom goes below thirty degrees, or in summer above
ninety; and although the State is the most southern of the United
States, hot nights or oppressive days are comparatively rare. This is
accounted for by its peculiar position, shape, and surroundings. The
constant breezes, either from the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico,
purify the atmosphere, and render the Floridian climate enjoyable the
whole year; and I may add, that after a four years’ residence in the
State, I know of no disease that is indigenous or prevalent.
Jacksonville is situated on the grand St John’s River, and is the
largest and most important city in Florida. It has a population of
over twenty thousand, and will ere long take rank with Savannah or
Charleston in commercial importance. This is the point at which all
Northern visitors enter the State, and from which they radiate in
search of health, work, or sport. Here there are fine buildings, shops,
churches, schools, and about one hundred and fifty boarding-houses and
hotels, the latter being filled during the winter months with invalids,
principally consumptives.
The most absorbing question of interest to the greatest number now,
however, is the great money-making business of orange-growing, which
is peculiarly adapted to the Florida soil and climate. Since I first
visited the State (in 1873), this industry has gone far beyond the
commercially experimental stage, and I have been an eye-witness to its
undoubted success. It is particularly interesting and instructive to
travel over districts now, and observe _bearing_ orange groves, the
owners of which are securing handsome incomes, where ten years ago not
a tree was planted. In Orange County, many emigrants who first went
to Florida for their health, have improved sufficiently to earn their
living and raise an orange grove in addition. Many of them took up one
hundred and sixty acres of land under the Homestead Law, and selling
off portions of it to later comers, have realised enough money to
cultivate the balance retained. Others, who knew a trade, worked part
of their time for their neighbours, and spent their unemployed hours
in planting an orange-tree here or there for themselves, until they
finally had a five or ten acre grove, of sixty trees to the acre, which
when bearing would give them an annual income of from three hundred to
one thousand pounds. Owing to recent railway and shipping facilities,
a man nowadays may—if his land is well selected—grow early vegetables,
&c., without interfering with his orange-trees, and ship them north to
Baltimore, Philadelphia, or New York, and realise profit sufficient to
enable him to pay his expenses whilst his grove is coming into bearing;
for it must be borne in mind that the Floridians can grow any vegetable
in winter which the Northerners grow in summer; and the Northern people
are quite willing to pay a high price for such luxuries as peas,
tomatoes, or strawberries at Christmas.
These are some of the attractions Florida holds out to the man who has
industry, perseverance, and ordinary intelligence.’
ARSENIC IN DOMESTIC FABRICS.
Chronic poisoning by arsenic in domestic fabrics is without doubt
an important subject, affecting the public to such an extent as to
render attention to the question essential. Serious illness frequently
arises from this cause, in some cases even attended by fatal results.
A very general effect is a lowered condition of the system, such as
to render the individual more susceptible to the attacks of other
diseases. Action has been taken by the Medical Society of London, the
Society of Arts, and the National Health Society, on the question of
the prohibition of arsenic in articles manufactured for domestic use,
such as wall-papers, dyed furniture materials, paint, distemper, &c.
The fact is remarkable, that although this question has been thus
brought prominently before the public, those supposed to be interested
in the sale and use of arsenic have hitherto maintained a judicious
silence, manufacturers abandoning the use of arsenical colours to a
very large extent, instead of defending it. This silence has, however,
now been broken by Mr Galloway, M.R.I.A., who deals with the question
from a chemical point of view, describing his own special mode of
manufacturing emerald green in an article in the _Journal of Science_.
Mr Galloway asks: ‘Has it ever been conclusively proved that persons
who inhabit rooms stained with emerald green suffer from arsenical
poisoning?’ Notwithstanding the fact that Mr Galloway leaves the
question unanswered, as though it were unanswerable, the reply shall
now be given—though in certain quarters it is still doubted—that it
_has_ been proved, and that by the careful observation of medical men
of eminence in all parts of the country.
Proof of the injurious effect of arsenic in domestic fabrics is found
in the development of certain symptoms in the patient exposed to an
arsenical fabric, followed by recovery on removal of the fabric in
question. The occurrence of these circumstances in a sufficient number
of cases leads to the conviction that the arsenical fabric was the
cause of the malady. We act on similar proof with regard to sewer-gas;
no one has ever absolutely seen the injurious action, but the fact
of various diseases of a particular character frequently following
a discharge of sewer-gas into a residence, has convinced medical
men that the gas, or some germ contained in the gas, is the cause of
illness, and that it is therefore desirable to exclude it from our
homes.
As above stated, the same conclusion is arrived at, from the same
line of argument, with regard to arsenic; and this proof alone would
be sufficient. But with regard to arsenic, there are opportunities
of observing what may be classed as experimental proofs, such as
could not possibly occur in illness arising from sewer-gas. This
further proof consists in the frequent alternate recurrence of illness
and recovery—illness on exposure to, and recovery on removal from,
arsenical surroundings, followed by final recovery on substitution of a
non-arsenical fabric in place of that containing the poison.
Change of air is in all probability often credited with the benefits
arising from removal from some unsanitary condition of residence,
office, or workshop.
The effect on men employed in hanging or removing arsenical wall-papers
is another proof of their injurious quality: men have frequently to
leave their work unfinished, being too ill to continue under the
poisonous influence.
Arsenic in domestic fabrics is so easily dispensed with, that there
is no valid reason for the continued use of these poisonous colours.
Several paper-stainers have for years conscientiously excluded all
arsenical colours from their works, yet have still maintained their
position in the open market, thus deciding the question both as to cost
and quality of non-arsenical wall-papers. It is an interesting question
to medical men and chemists, how it is that these minute quantities of
arsenic, or of some combination of arsenic with other ingredients, when
breathed, should be so injurious, when larger quantities can be taken
into the stomach as a medicine with advantage. This question, however,
is of no consequence to the patient. His course is simple enough:
having found out the cause of illness, get rid of it, and be thankful
it can be got rid of at so small a cost.
Arsenic also is found in the dust of rooms papered with arsenical
papers, thus proving the presence of arsenic in the atmosphere.
Mr Galloway alludes to a curious and interesting fact, namely, that men
can be employed on arsenical works, some without being affected at all,
others suffering much less than might be expected. The same singular
fact of the immunity of those constantly exposed to evil influences
is illustrated in the case of men employed in cleansing sewers; they
work continually in the very atmosphere of the sewers, but do not
suffer from those diseases which arise from the escape of sewer-gas
into houses. No one, however, in consequence of this fact, doubts
the importance of good sanitary arrangements, notwithstanding that
these involve a considerable outlay. The exclusion of arsenic, on the
contrary, costs nothing, and, moreover, there is nothing to be gained
by the admission of these poisonous colours into our houses. The simple
antidote for arsenic in domestic fabrics is therefore—exclusion.
Those desiring to see further details, illustrative cases, and modes
of testing for arsenic, will find them in the pamphlet _Our Domestic
Poisons_ (Ridgway), or in the lecture under the same title, delivered
at the International Health Exhibition, and published by the Executive
Council. For more numerous cases of illness, especially in the families
of medical men, see the Report of the Committee of the Medical Society
of London.
WASHING BY STEAM.
It may interest many housewives to know that dirty clothes can be
thoroughly and effectively washed by means of steam, with a much
less expenditure of time and trouble than by the old way of boiling
and rubbing. Anything that lessens the labour and discomfort of
washing-day will be welcomed as a boon by every housewife. Numerous
washing-machines have been before the public for many years, and
have been used with more or less success, and we venture to describe
one constructed on this principle which has given satisfaction to
ourselves. The chief merits of the Steam-washers made by Fletcher of
Warrington, and Fingland, Leeds, &c. are—rubbing and boiling of clothes
are done away with, and with their method, no servant or housewife
need spend more than three hours over a fair fortnight’s washing.
Fingland’s Washer (Morton’s patent) consists of a fluted copper
cylinder, made to revolve in a strong polished copper case or box.
Into the cistern-shaped box, water is put to a depth of three inches,
then caused to boil by means of a gas-fire below. The construction of
the Washer is based upon the fact of the expansion of the water into
steam. The water is continually throwing off a large quantity of steam,
which forces its way through all parts of the clothes in the cylinder,
and in so doing slackens and carries away the dirt. The articles, duly
soaked in water overnight, are put into the cylinder; a few finely cut
pieces of soap are laid between each layer; then the lids of cylinder
and box are closed, and the handle is turned once or twice. It now
stands until the water is boiling, when the handle may be slowly turned
for ten or fifteen minutes, reversing the motion occasionally. The
steam having permeated the clothes in the cylinder, they may be taken
out and rinsed first in cold, and afterwards in blued cold water. The
water in the cistern needs to be changed every fourth or fifth boiling.
Prints, flannels, and woollens require slightly different treatment.
The clothes come out pure and clean after rinsing, and an ordinary
washing can be accomplished in one-third of the usual time, and at less
expense. Attachment with an india-rubber tube to an ordinary gas-pipe
will usually give sufficient gas; but sometimes it is better to have a
thicker pipe than usual with a special connection.
PARTING WORDS.
Although my early dream is o’er,
I ask no parting token;
Nor would I clasp thy hand before
My last farewell is spoken.
How coldly fair, thy thrice-false face
Dawns on my sad awaking;
No anguish there mine eyes can trace,
Though this fond heart is breaking.
Be as thou wert before we met;
Heave not one sigh, but leave me;
Those studied looks, that feigned regret,
Can nevermore deceive me.
The faltering tones that mock me so,
Betray the fears that move thee;
Cease to degrade thy manhood.—Go!
I scorn thee while I love thee.
Shall I forget the rapturous hours
Of my too radiant morning—
The hand that culled the dewy flowers
My girlish brow adorning?
Ah, no! for she who scorns thee now,
Will miss its dear caresses;
And sorrow to remember how
It decks another’s tresses.
Alas! this tortured soul of mine,
Though by thy treason riven,
Can never cast thee from its shrine
Unwept, or unforgiven.
Nay, I, when youth and hope depart,
The mournful willow wearing,
Must still deplore that shallow heart
That was not worth the sharing.
And have I sold my peace for this?
Or am I only dreaming?
To wake beneath thy thrilling kiss
From this most cruel seeming.
Oh, bid my fainting heart rejoice;
One word would make it stronger;
Then wherefore mute, thou magic voice?
Say, am I loved no longer?
The world thou hast deceived so long
May smile on thee to-morrow;
While I alone must bear the wrong,
The bitterness and sorrow!
O cruel world! O world unjust!
That passes by unheeding,
Where love betrayed and blasted trust
Low in the dust lies bleeding!
Go thou thy way; deceive it still!
(Its praise is false and hollow);
Ascend to fortune’s loftiest hill,
No ban of mine shall follow.
The memory of these days will be
To me a life’s regretting.
Most faithless lover! what to thee?—
Only an hour’s coquetting.
Shame, shame! to look, to breathe, to live,
To mock my loving madness!
The thought alone that I forgive,
Should fill thy soul with sadness.
No wonder heaven should strike thee blind,
To see me bowed before thee;
Most shameless wretch of all mankind
How, how could I adore thee?
In haste to go! Oh, cruel one!
Stay, stay, a moment only!
How shall I face, when thou art gone,
The world, so vast, so lonely?
Thy words are like my passing knell:
Ah me, and must we sever?
Forget that I have loved thee well—
Adieu! adieu for ever!
* * * * *
Printed and Published by W. & R. CHAMBERS, 47 Paternoster Row, LONDON,
and 339 High Street, EDINBURGH.
* * * * *
_All Rights Reserved._
* * * * *
[Transcriber’s note—the following changes have been made to this text.
Page 799: arsensic to arsenic—“testing for arsenic”.]