man and a woman, the man with the left | supplied one hundred and thirteen pounds hand working the handle which turns the of milk to the factory, and received back table, and with the right pouring water upon the butter; the woman manipulating it dexterously with two flat pieces of wood with handles, and arranging the kneading of it under the rollers, through which it passes three times. Thus what remains of the butter-milk is removed; a very slight sprinkling of salt is then applied, and again the butter is finally washed. Nothing can be cleaner than the factory itself, or than the way that the butter is made and packed. It is never once touched with the hand from beginning to end. The tubs in which it is packed are never used twice over, and in packing the butter is compressed as tightly as possible by means of wooden mallets. one hundred and two pounds of skim-milk; on that day he received ten pounds of butter for his household, and on the following day fifty pounds of butter-milk. At the end of the month, after receiving back a total of two thousand five hundred and twenty-seven pounds of skim-milk, one hundred pounds of butter-milk, and forty pounds of butter, he had a balance to his credit of twenty-eight Kroner forty öre (a Krone being equal to about Is. izd.). The average price for butter at Copenhagen during this month was eighty-three öre per pound (about tenpence). Every facility therefore is given to the farmers, through the establishment of these Mejerier, to reap the greatest pos In this particular factory about one hun-sible advantage from their cows, and that dred and seventy pounds (Danish) were made and packed daily. Each tub contains one hundred pounds (Danish) so that they were enabled to despatch ten to eleven tubs to England weekly. Temptations to adulterate the milk supplied to the factory exist here as else where; consequently precautions have to be taken, and from time to time the apparatus is applied for testing the quality of the milk, and when it is below a certain average it is not allowed to pass through the factory. The accounts of the factory are kept with scrupulous accuracy, and the payments for milk supplied regularly made. The price paid for the new milk is regulated by the Copenhagen butter-market, the monthly average in that market being taken at the basis for payment. At the end of the year the net profits are distributed. In this instance, the first year under the present arrangement was only just completed when I visited the factory, but it was generally understood that there would be a substantial net profit as the result of the year's working. As already mentioned, every member of the Andeels Mejeri has his own accountbook, in which every daily item is recorded. If a member wishes to be supplied with butter or butter-milk from the factory, he can at any time be gratified, and this is constantly done. All he has to do is to send word by the carter how much he requires, and the order is punctually effected. No farmer therefore need churn for his own requirements unless he likes. I have before me as I write a copy of the daily items during the month of August last from the account-book of a small farmer in west Jutland. On the fourth of the month he at great economy and convenience to themselves. The quality of butter produced is the best possible, and it never varies. In England, and even in the same dairies in England, it does so to a marked degree. This cannot but be the case when we consider that the English farmer only churns as a rule once a week, and that our climate is subject to such sudden changes of temperature. These changes are not of so much consequence in Denmark where they churn every day. When we think of the enormous quantities of inferior and unpalatable concoctions passing under the name of butter consumed annually by inhabitants of our large towns, we may be thankful that Denmark and other countries send us the supplies they do of this article of food and of such excellent quality. It is, however, surprising that we in England allow these countries to do what we might to a great extent do equally well for ourselves. Hitherto the factory-system of dairying has in this country only been tried here and there by way of experiment; but when fairly tried, and judiciously worked, it has been invariably found to succeed. Is it too much to hope that before this nineteenth century has quite run its course, English agriculturists will have aroused themselves sufficiently to see that they too can work with profit to themselves, and with benefit to the country at large, upon an improved system of dairy-work somewhat after the fashion of the thrifty and enterprising farmers of Jutland? The standard of agriculture has no doubt been raised of late years, but we Englishmen take time to get out of old grooves. In the matter of butter-making I think it will be admitted that we have still something to learn, and in this department we may well take a leaf From St. James's Gazette. Of the many torturings of the English language none is funnier than that which happens when the imperfectly educated Baboo puts pen to paper. Delightful examples find their way into the newspapers sometimes; and now Mr. Arnold Wright has issued "Baboo English as 'Tis Writ," (Fisher Unwin), a very pret tily bound little volume, full of such gems as would naturally come under the notice of an English journalist in India. Mr. Wright prefaces his book with a brief sketch of Indian journalism which is full of interesting and amusing things. | block of the native writer. He has learned a number of expressions by rote, and is not content unless he is always dragging them into his writings whether the occa sion warrants it or not. For example, one paper, in referring to the death of a distinguished Englishman who had taken great interest in Indian affairs, expressed a hope that the Almighty would “pour his mantle" on some other member of Parlia ment. Another journal, in dealing with some temporary disturbance of the polit ical horizon in Europe, thus commented on it: "We cannot from a distance realize the intensity of the crisis; but it is certain that many crowned heads must be trembling in their shoes." Ignorance of the dual meaning attached to some words also, at times, produces ludicrous results. During the Franco-Chinese war news came that the Shanghai Chamber of Com. merce had appealed to the British government to prevent the blocking of the Woosung bar by the Chinese - the bar, of course, being the natural barrier at the mouth of the Woosung River. A native oppressive character of British policy in the East, immediately jumped to the conclusion that a nefarious attempt was on foot against the liberties of the almondeyed Čelestial, and thus animadverted on the intelligence: "Woosung, we suppose, is a Chinese town, and to prevent the overcrowding of the local bar by Chinese lawyers is a monstrous proposal." Thus Mr. Wright tells how an Anglo Indian editor at once relieved his feelings and increased his circulation: One well-editor entertaining strong views of the remembered instance of eccentricity was furnished somewhere in the forties by a paper called the Mofussilite, which was to the India of that day, what the Pioneer is to ours. The great ecclesiastical dispute, Gorham v. the Bishop of Exeter, was at that time occupying men's minds and filling the columns of the newspapers at home; and though it might have been a very absorbing topic to people in quiet country towns in England, it had but faint interest for Anglo-Indians. There was then no telegraph to India furnishing editors with abundant matter for comment, and only a monthly mail to keep India in touch with Europe. Any curtailment of the supply of suitable news by such a controversy was, therefore, rather a serious matter; and it was no easy thing to make a presentable appearance. The infliction was borne in silence for some time; but when at length after months had gone by, and the stream of dreary disputation continued, the editor could bear it no longer. He indited, perhaps, the shortest leader that ever was written; but that leader told the whole story of his woes. It consisted only of four words, and those words were, "Damn the Gorham Case." The effect on the public was wonderful. The paper sold like wildfire, and its circulation was permanently increased by at least twenty per cent. Here is a fine effort by a native descriptive reporter: "Mr. Campbell, the Loco superintendent stood forward with his stalwart frame in front of the horrid fire, and his commanding tone of angelic voice mingled with his own example, to save the properties and the lives of the poor creatures, inspired awe, respect, and veneration to the silent bystanders, and drew them up like Roman phalanx to assist him in the deeds. But this was not all. He ordered his shop-coolies to hasten to the wells and in want of water, then to the only tank, about a quarter mile distant, and in an instant water was on hand's end. Messrs. Hartley, Nixon, Dixon, and the Rev. Dowding, with their lives at frequent stake, stood on the burning huts amid constant boomings and loosened away the blazing roofs with mighty strength and Herculean labor that astound the natives to behold from afar. They were also simultaneously busy to pump water to the tops of houses with extraordinary agility The injudicious use of metaphors and and bravity that make our hair stand on idioms is perhaps the greatest stumbling-end, and our senses on their standstill." No baboo ever turned out a more deli- | numerous family consisting of the aforecious mixture of queer English and Orien- said five female women, and three males, tal imagery than this: "Respectfully the last of whom are still milking the Sheweth. That your honor's servant is parental mother. That your generous poor man in agricultural behavior, and honor's lordship's servant was entreating much depends on season for the staff of to the Magistrate for employment in Mulife, therefore he prays that you will favor nicipality to remove filth, etc., but was not upon him, and take him into your saintly granted the petitioner. Therefore your service, that he may have some perma- generous lordship will give to me some nently labor for the support of his soul easy work, in the Department, or and his family; wherefore he falls upon something of this sort. For which act of his family's bended knees, and implores kindness your noble lordship's poor serto you of this merciful consideration to a vant will, as in duty bound, pray for your damnable miserable, like your honor's longevity. I have the honor to be, sir, unfortunate petitioner. That your lord- your most obedient servant, Candiship's honor's servant was too much poorly date." during the last rains and was resuscitated by much medicines which made magnificent excavations in the coffers of your honorable servant, whose means are circumcized by his large family, consisting of five female women, and three masculine, the last of which are still taking milk from mother's chest, and are damnably noiseful through pulmonary catastrophe in their interior abdomen. Besides the above named, an additional birth is, through grace of God, very shortly occurring to my beloved wife of bosom. . . . That your honor's damnable servant was officiating in several capacities during past generations, but has become too much old for espousing hard labor in this time of his bodily life; but was not drunkard, nor thief, nor swindler, nor any of these kind, but was always pious, affectionate to his There is such an amusing assumption of self-satisfaction in the following that it also deserves to be quoted: "Most Respectfully Showeth,- That your petitioner being given to understand that your honor is in want of hands to do the duties of signaller and porters begs to offer himself as a candidate for one of these that your petitioner can read and write him his own Vernacular and that he has a special gift of Almighty, viz., he is a very tall young man beyond the ordinary hight of human population in this country where the inhabitants are mostly short, and that on this ground he will make himself more useful for the office of flag holder should your honor be pleased to confer me a situation I shall pray God for your long life and prosperity."" meval forests which have never been cut, and through countries abounding in mineral and vegetable wealth. When the line is ready it will be possible to work the rich gold, silver, iron, copper, and plumbago mines of eastern Siberia, which have hardly yet been touched in consequence of the scarcity of labor and the absence of machinery. The rich and fertile regions of the Amoor and Usuri, which boast of a climate as fine as that of France, will then be open to colonists, and also millions of acres of land which are at the present moment almost unpopulated. By means of this railway Russia will be able to convert Vladivostock into a great naval and military A FEW FACTS ABOUT THE GREAT SIBERIAN RAILWAY.-The great Siberian Railway, which will more closely connect Europe with the teeming millions of China, Japan, and eastern Asia, will be commenced this spring. The total length of the line will be four thousand eight hundred and ten miles, and the cost about thirty-two millions sterling. In case permanent bridges are built over the immense rivers Obi, Yenesei, Lena, etc., the outlay will be still greater. The commercial and political importance of this undertaking is greater than most people suppose. It will not only help to open out the immense resources of southern Siberia, but will enable Russia to compete more success-station like Sevastopol, and, if necessary, fully for the Japanese and Chinese carrying and import trade. Goods that are now sent by sea to Europe will ten years hence be carried overland into Europe, and a good deal of the Chinese carrying trade will go into the hands of Russia. A large portion of the railway will run through millions of acres of the finest virgin soil, over immense rivers, pri pour several hundred thousand troops on the Chinese frontier in less than three weeks' time. And last, and not least, among the benefits which will accrue to mankind through this undertaking, will be the possibility of visiting China or Japan in about a fortnight from central Europe, with all that comfort that is attached to railway travelling in Russia. For EIGHT DOLLARS, remitted directly to the Publishers, the LIVING AGE will be punctually forwarded for a year, free of postage. Remittances should be made by bank draft or check, or by post-office money-order, if possible. If neither of these can be procured, the money should be sent in a registered letter. All postmasters are obliged to register letters when requested to do so. Drafts, checks, and money-orders should be made payable to the order of LITTELL & Co. Single Numbers of THE LIVING AGE, 18 cents. THE FORGE BY THE FOREST. IT stands half hidden in the greenwood's edge, Its music greets the dawn that glimmers white, Before the sunbeams chase away the night, Or the first warbler twitters in the sedge; All day the anvil rings beneath the sledge, The forge-fires roar, and gleam with ruddy light Till crimson sunset crowns the distant height, And all its fringes fade along the ledge. Then, though the whispering leaves above it bend, And night-birds call, and moonbeams round it play, The voices of the smithy die away; When in the dusk the evening dews descend In silent slumber all its labors end Its music mute, its ashes cold and grey. Chambers' Journal. J. G. F. NICHOLSON. I KNOW what beauty is, for Thou I know the Sabbath afternoons; I know the spring with bud and bell; I know the rapture music gives, As child forsakes his favorite toy, I lose to find. On white-robed bride GEORGE MACDONALD. A PORTRAIT. THE clock strikes one, and he is here; See, as he comes he wears a smile; He takes his own accustomed chair, And nods gay greetings all the while. I know his friends: they are not fast, But neither are they old nor portly, Although the youth of each is past, And some must take to glasses shortly. They shout his name, and bid him sit — Unnoticed leave the knife and fork: They like their luncheon served with wit; They know that humor haunts his talk. He chaffs a friend who is no dunceGood-natured always is his banter; He caps each argument at once, And, with a laugh, wins in a canter. While many fly to work anew, A few will stay and have their smoke. A tale is told; he tells one too, Which, like his others, has its joke. The day glides on, he comes again; Two hours his hat and coat he'll doff: He plays for fun, but likes to gain. He has his whist, and then goes off. A lumb'ring cab, a sorry steed, His umbrella found, "Good-night," He cries, though 'tis to one, indeed, Whose name he never fixes quite. He has his foibles - quite a scoreFirst, fashion cannot change his dress; He can't forgive a chronic bore, Nor the American Free Press. His scorn is great for foreign lands; Held poets light for all their heavenly birth, He thought: Myself can make one better worth The living in than this- full of old lore, Music and light and love, where saints adore And angels, all within mine own soul's girth. But when at last he came to die, his soul And all the unused passion in him cried: A. MARY F. ROBINSON. |