VOL. XXV,
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., JULY 5, 1890.
NO. 27
A TEIP TO THE SEA SHOEE.
The Natural Bridge—■Washington-
Point Comfort.
--Old
A representative of this paper joined tho
editorial excursion party composed of 90
persons, which left Cincinnati on a special
train on the 17th ult., for Old Point Comfort and Washington. Owing to a washout
at Maysville, Ky., a diversion was made
In the route, through the kindness of the
Kentucky Central ollicials, by way of Lexington, where the party remained for two
hours, a pleasant reception being given
t y the mayor and common council. The
tiip through Kentucky was a very en joy -
al le one. The corn and -wheat looked well
throughout tbe portion of Kentucky we
passed through. The most of our party
visited the court-house while in Lexington, to see the great work of art "Woman
Triumphant" which her citizens are so
proud of, and well they may be.
We arrived at Huntington, West Va., in
time for supper, staying there but a short
time, when we started for White Sulphur
Springs, and our stay there was but a few
hours, but long enough to suit all.
We arrived at Natural Bridge, Wednesday at 4 p. m., and had a ride of two miles
over a rough mountain road In old-time
stage coaches, drawn by four horses, on a
run most of the time. The ride to and
from the bridge being most delightful and
exciting was enjoyed by all. The visit at
this point was one that will never be forgotten. Persons visiting Old Point Comfort should by all means Btop and see Natural Bridge. It is beyond description, and
must be seen to be appreciated; its height
is 215 feet, width 100 feet, span 90 feet. At
this point ex-Governor Fitzhngh Lee
made a very neat and appropriate speech
to our party. He dwelt upon the great
progress that had been made by tho States
of Indiana and Illinois, and wished that
the people of the West would more frequently come in contact with the people
of Virginia and the South. He believed
that if there had been this intercourse and
elbow touch before the war there would
have been no war. He thanked God that
there was now but one country, and all
are American-. He spoke of the nuggets
of gold and ribbons of silver that were
now dropping from the mountains of Virginia, and the wonderful resources of the
South, and predicted that within rive year-
Virginia would be as far advanced in mineral production as Pennsylvania to-day.
He paid a tribute to the bravery of the In-
dianaians, whom he. had met on the fields
of battle, and defended the Constitution
as construed by the Southern school of
statesmen, of whom Calhoun was the head.
"I know," said the ex-Governor, "you
gentlemen ofthe West qnd North will
give us credit for believing that we thought
we were in the right, and you gentlemen
will find in Virginia as much reverence
for the flag, the Constitution and the perpetuation of the Union as in any one of
the United States."
We arrived at Richmond at 4 p. m., where
the time was Bpent in visiting places of
interest, many old soldiers in the party
visiting the old battle fields. The most
pleasant visit to us was our call on Mrs.
Van Lew, the lady who secreted our boys
in blue when they escaped from Libby
prison and Belle Isle, until they could
safely make their escape to the North. She
is a pleasant and beautiful ( old lady, and
gave our party a most hearty welcome,
loading us down with magnolia blossoms.
Her home and grounds occupy one
square. Our time being very limited we
-wereunable to visit the Natianal Cemetery
located here, which we much regretted.
We visited Hollywood cemetery, in which
lie the remains of ex-Presidents Tyler and
Monroe, also visited the old church where
Patrick Henry exclaimed "Give me liberty
or givo me death." In Hollywood lie
many ex-Confederate dead soldiers, and
like our own cemeteries, that stone marked
"Unknown" stares the visitor in tho eye.
How many a parent has mourned over that
sad word—"Unknown" aud thought which
one of them covered their missing one.
Our next stopping place was Old I'oint
Comfort—well named—and it was the
most pleasant place on our route, being
cool and comfortable, the heat at other
points being almost intolerable. Many
pleasant hours were spent iu Fortress
Monroe. We also visited Ilampton.which
is just opposite Hampton Roads where the
Monitor knocked the Merrimac out, and
about two miles from Old Point. At this
point is located a National Soldiers' Home
and there are at the present time 2,800 old
soldier inmates. The home and its surroundings are beautiful. Thero is a National Cemetery at this place containing
some 7,000 of our poor soldier boys, and
there are 437 of them marked with that
dreadful word "Unknown." There is also
located here a National Normal school for
Indian and colored boys and girls. A
number of our party visited tho Norfolk
Navy Yards, but the greater portion of
them preferred Old Point; and all regretted
when the time came for us to continue our
journey to Washington.
We loft Old Point at 7 p. m. Saturday
and arrived at Washington at 10 a. m. Sunday morning, spending the night on the
boat. Some "gents of the road" taking
our party to be bloated bondholders, made
a raid on our state room, but before accomplishing their object they were caught
and continued tho balance of the journey
in irons—two of them being caught with
stolen goods in their possession. The
Ebbitt House was headquarters and their
guests were royally entertained. The balance of the day was devoted to rest and
attending church. Monday was devoted
to sight seeing about the city. In the
evening a reception was given at the Wil-
liard Hall to the excursionists, which was
a vory enjoyable occasion, after whicli the
party went to the White House, where
President Harrison received the party in-
formally.gAs he knew many personally,
few introductions were necessary. The
White House was at the disposal of the
visitors, and they made the most of tho
privilege. As a recognition of his many
courtesies and his management of the
party, the editors and their wives made
the wife of Mr. W. II. Smith the recipient
of a solitaire diamond ring—this being
their bridal trip. The editors and their
wives also unanimously adopted the following testimonial:
"Everything has conspired to make the
the trip of the Indiana Editorial Association, from Cincinnati to Old Point Comfort, in all respects an event that will long
be cherished as a pleasant memory. It
would require a volume*|to thank all who
have contributed to the pleasures, profit
and general comfort ofthe excursionists;
but the committee for the ladies and gentlemen of the party are directed to present
special thanks to the "chief conspirators,"
who will ever be remembered by these
Indiana "birds of passage." We, therefore, tender our thanks to the Hon. M. E.
Ingalls, president of the Big Four Railroad
Company; to-H. W. Fuller, general passenger agent; W. H. Gregor, traveling passenger agent; Jay F. Durham, assistant
traveling passenger agent of tho Chesapeake <fe Ohio; S. B. F. Morse, general
passenger agent of the Kentucky Central;
to the mayor and city officials of Lexington, Ky.; to Colonel Peyton, of the Natural
Bridge; to F. N. Pike, manager of Hygeia
Hotel, and to W. H. Smith, of the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, for his management of the excursion."
On Tuesday afternoon the party went to
Mt. Vernon, returning in the evening,
after which tbey dispersed, some going to
New York and Boston and others returning home.
Written tor the Indiana Farmer.
Summer Drinks.
BV Dlt. BLANK.
Of course lemonade is the best known
and most frequently used by those who
are convenient to a good market, but there
are many country people who are not situated bo that lemonade can be made a
daily drink". Aside from pure water, lemonade, too, is a most healthful drink, in
fact the most healthful to the biliously in-
clined.if we except frnitsirups,andthey are
something every farmer's wife can havo,
from which she can make a most delicious
and invigorating drink.
These sirups are made by taking the
juice of any kind of ripe berries and fruits
the same as if to make jelly, sweeten a
little and heat it and then can it in glass
the same as if canning fruit. When
wanted for uso a sufficient quantity to
make it agreeable can be added to cold
water.
And right here a word in regard to the
ooldness of water. Iced water is never
needed where water from a cold spring or
the bottom of a good well can be had.
The temperature of well water 15 or 20 feet
below the surface is about 50 degrees, and
as the human body has a temperaturo of
08 degrees it is certainly plain to anyone
that a difference of 48 degrees is great
enough to cause serious results if indulged
in too freely.
In tlie fields where water must be taken
to the laborers it nny be well to have
some iced water to mix with the water at
the temperature it would be by the time
it was gotten to the field. But here the
fruit sirups servo their best purpose when
cold water cannot be had.
Or if none of these aro available
ronTable lemonade
comes as a convenientsubstituteforevery-
thing. To make it, mix a quarter of a
pound of sugar with all the'lemon juice
it will hold, and grate some peel in. Put
in a glass jar, and when needed add as
much as desired to a glass of water. To
get the juice out of the lemons nicely and
thoroughly roll them back and forth upon
a plate, pressing sufficiently with the hand.
This will break up the cells and let the
juico out readily when they are cut.
concentrated lemonade
is made by making a rich sirup of two
pounds and a half of sugar poured hot
over an ounce and a half of citric acid. It
must be bottled tightly as lemons will not
keep long in hot weather.
A  PORTABLE LEMONADE THAT WILL  KEEP
can be made by rolling the lemons as before mentioned; then press the juice out
in a bowl and strain out the seeds. Remove the pulps from the skins and boil
them in water, allowing a pint of water to
a dozen pulps. Ten minutes boiling will
suffice. They must be boiled in a porcelain kettle. Then strain the water into
the juice, and allow a pound of granulated
sugar to each pint of juice, and boil ten
minutes longer and bottle for use.
Of course we all know what an excellent brink butter-milk is for those with
whom it agrees. Oatmeal water is also a
very refreshing drink, and is made by
pouring water upon oatmeal, letting it
stand awhile, stirring and drinking the
water which can be poured off. I do not
advise the use of any drink that contains
anything but pure fruit juices, but I will
give a number of recipes for those who are
not so particular about that which goes into the stomach.
SODA CBEAM
is made by dissolving two and one-half
pounds of white sugar and an eighth of a
pound of tartaric acid in a quart of hot
water; when cold, add the beaten whites
of three eggs; stir well, and bottle for use.
Two tablespoonfuls of this sirup in a glass
of water, with a teaspoonful of bi-carbon-
ate of soda is the proportion. Any flavor
desired may be added to the sirup.
CKF.AM SODA
is made by boiling two ounces of tartaric
acid, two pounds of white sugar, the juice
of a lemon and three pints of water for
five minutes. When this sirup is nearly
cold add the whites of three eggs, half a
cupful of flour and any essence preferred,
beating the flour and eggs together first.
GINGER  POP.
Two gallons of warm water, two ounces
of white ginger root, two lemons, two
pounds of whito sugar, a tablespoonful of
cream tartar and a cup of yeast. Bruise
the ginger root and boil it in a little .vater
to extract the strength. Then cut and
squeeze the lemons, place them, skins and
all, in this water and when it is lukewarm add the yeast, pour the mixture into a stone jar and let it stand in a warm
place for 24 hours, then bottle. In 24 hours
it will "pop."
A great many kinds of berries make an
admirable sirup for putting in a drink,
but my choice is grape and currants. The
sweeter fruits are often made into a vinegar by adding white wine vinegar or
wine; but surely enough have been given.
The Wheat Crop in Posey County.  •
Editor. Indiana Farmer:
The wheat harvest is completed in good
order in this county, the weather being
dry and hot during the whole harvest. The
only change noticed in the condition of
wheat during the month being a shrinkage
of grain, the probable work of the "grain
aphis" together with a shortage of rain
from the time wheat bloomed till perfected.
This condition following, at a critical time,
tho excessive rainfall immediately proceeding left the ground exceedingly dry
and hard, affording poor support to the
maturing plant. The result is somewhat
disappointing as the appearance of the
straw indicated a perfect grain. If, however, threshing is successfully accomplished, wo need not complain.   J. B. E.
New Harmony, June 28th.
Cut Hay When in Blossom.
As a rule, better cut a little too early
than wait until the stems get coarse and
woody. The nutrient properties of grass
decrease rapidly as the seed ripens. When
fully ripe, hay is of little more value than
good straw. The nutritive value of poor
meadow hay has been estimated as one is
to ten; of good meadow hay as one is to
six; poor clover as one is to seven; good
clover hay as one is to five. Hay cut when
beginning to blossom is easily digestible,
and has a large percentage of albuminoids,
but as it decreases, and that of wood fibre
increases, it becomes less digestible; the
digested material iu poor because it lacks
albuminoids, and the old hay is not so
palatable. Grass grown on rich soil is
richer in albuminoids than that grown on
poor soil. There is probably no department of farm labor that has changed more
in the last 25 years than the process of
making hay.
With modern appliances a much better
crop is secured in less time and with much
less labor than could be done by old-time
methods. As soon as the dew is off in the
morning put the mower to work. Follow
soon with a hay-tedder, which tosses the
hay in every direction and greatly hastens
the curing process. In very heavy grass a
tedder is almost indispensable. Hay can
frequently be safely put in the mow the
same day it is cut, by using a tedder. As
soon as the hay is sufficiently cured, it is
raked into windrows, and then bunched.
The sooner the hay can be pul into mow,
or stack, or into the bunch the better.—
Orange Judd Farmer,
I   '.