the manner of obtaining the crystals. It was done in sections of four feet square, and we have often seen 900 pounds taken from that extent of the mud; and from the imperfection of the manipulation a large amount, certainly not less than a hundred pounds, escaped back into the lake. We pass all other points at the present time, barely to consider the enormous quantity of boracic acid which we have here represented. Taking the data just given, the borax held in the water, the tangible crystals down to their lower limit in the upper part of the "blue clay," and the amount contained in the clay below that, down only to the distance of which we have knowledge, it is perfectly safe to say that Borax Lake held, and holds now, not less than 9,400,000 pounds of borax to the acre of surface. The ground so rich in crystals does not extend over all the area, but at least twenty-five acres (and this is far within the reality) will come up to our estimate, and we have thus clearly over 200,000,000 pounds there existing. The mode of its formation we will see later, but whence could this boracic acid have come? Here is a cavity like a crater, though its volcano is not apparent. Admit that the cup was filled with mud rich in soda and that jets of boracic acid were injected below. The space occupied by the jets was manifestly quite restricted, for the acid did not in its full force reach laterally even to the crater's border, and yet they came strong enough and long enough to combine with the soda to the amount we have given. But the amount of work done is the least surprising part, as we will see.-Sci. Am. ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR THE SIXTH Isaac Sharpless, of Haverford College Observatory, furnishes an interesting paper to the Ledger of this city, concerning the celestial phenomena of the present and the near future: One of the most promising fields for amateur observers during the summer months will be the phenomena of meteors. Any clear and moonless evening during the year, but more especially during the early part of the Eighth month, a large number of "shooting stars" may be seen. The regular August meteors" are conspicuous about the 10th, but on either side of that date they may be noticed. They constitute an elliptical ring of little solid bodies encircling the sun. The earth moves through this ring in its onward course around the sun, and by its attraction on the little stones, draws them into itself and plows a way through the mass. The meteors fall towards the earth, but as soon as they strike the atmosphere they begin to burn by the friction produced by the stoppage of their motion, and give out the light that we see. The large ones reach the earth unconsumed, but the vast majority of them are burnt up, and their ashes fall imperceptibly. Since these bodies are moving in parallel lines around the sun, they will fall in parallel lines to the earth. But parallel lines projected on the sphere of the heavens will ́appear to radiate from a common point. This point for the August meteors is in the constellation Perseus; and a meteor of this system may be distinguished from any other by the fact that it will appear to come from the direction of this constellation. A good way to notice this radiation will be to make a map of the brighter stars by spread. ing a piece of semi-transparent paper over a planisphere or other star chart and marking them as they show through. Then every meteor observed during the existence of the line with an arrow-head to show the direction shower can be indicated on this map by a of the motion. There will be lines in many found to radiate from Perseus. The August directions, but a great many of them will be meteors are usually large and rapid in their flight and of a yellow color. A collection of such maps showing the me teors of different parts of the year, with each the time when seen, its brightness, length of meteor marked in some way to distinguish flight, etc., would be interesting, and adapted to observers during the summer months. They would also, if carefully made, be of scientific value, and our observatory would be glad to correspond with any one desiring to go into the work with a view to greater effi ciency and concerted action. Venus and Jupiter are still bright in the west in the evening. Venus is nearer to us than the sun is, and is approaching that portion of its orbit lying between us and the sun. It is crescent-shaped, because only a portion of its lighted surface is turned toward us, and is becoming more and more so. Hence, also, it is apparently approaching the sun in the sky and has a westward motion with respect to it. Jupiter is far beyond the sun and approaching that portion of its orbit which is on the opposite side of the sun from us. It is also, therefore, nearing the sun in the sky. They will both grow fainter, the one because its crescent is becoming thinner, the other because it is receding from us, and the present month will be the end of the favorable time for observing them for awhile. Mars lies next to Regulus in Leo. The two are about equally bright, but Mars is higher up from the horizon and the more ruddy of the two. The sun to-day is shooting out its "red flames" and is in a state of great activity. Sometimes it is almost quiescent, at other times eruptions are of constant occurrence. These may be seen through the spectroscope. They are masses, principally of red-hot hydrogen, forced out of the body of the sun high into his atmosphere. This morning striking changes were exhibited in the form of these prominences in fifteen minutes. A cloud would separate, drift away and dissipate. The shapes of the masses would continually change. It requires a delicate adjustment of the spectroscope to see them, but with suitable arrangements, hardly a day would now pass but that some would be visible. As the period of solar activity passes away both spots and flames will become less frequent. Unlike terrestrial volcanoes they are not located in one place, but break out anywhere. Near a spot they are pretty certainly found, and usually in solar latitudes, about 30 or 40 degrees. For Friends' Intelligencer. The Fourteenth Session of the Penn Sewing School opened Eleventh mo. 3d, 1883 with 75 children; 34 of whom were white and 41 colored. The number increased weekly, until 231 names were enrolled; this being an excess of 61 over the previous year. The average attendance for the 21 sessions has been 144. Our school this winter has been very large, and the children generally well-behaved and industrious. Considering the small amount of time given each week, the improvement in some cases is surprising. This year five colored girls, having cut and basted the garments they have finished, as well as a number of pieces for the use of the school, were considered sufficiently advanced to be awarded certificates of merit. Shoes have been distributed throughout the school, a larger number than usual was required; this greatly increased our expenses, and we were obliged to call upon our friends for additional aid. To this appeal we received a liberal response, and we gratefully acknowledge the generosity of our contributors. Handkerchiefs also have been given to all the children; besides 403 garments, 38 of which have been made by the pupils them selves. As most of the garments have been purchased at the Western Home of Industry, the services of the Cutting Out Committee The usual recognition of the holiday season The donation of fuel during the past winter has been kindly continued, and we return our sincere thanks to the friends of the Monthly Meeting for their generosity. The increasing size of our school, and the progress of the children reassure us that our work is a noble one; and in the future we will gladly welcome any who may feel interested, so that our field of labor may be broadened with each succeeding year. EMMA MCILVAIN, Secretary. IT has long been my opinion that we are all educated, whether children, men, or women, far more from personal influence than by books and the apparatus of the schools. If I could be taken back into boyhood to-day, and had all the libraries and apparatus of a university, with ordinary routine professors, offered me on the one hand, and on the other a great, luminous, rich-souled man, such as in the woods alone, I should say, "Give me Dr. Hopkins was twenty years ago, in a tent Dr. Hopkins for my college course, rather than any university with only routine professors." The privilege of sitting down before a great, clear-headed, large-hearted man, and breathing the atmosphere of his life, and being drawn up to him, and lifted up by him, and learning his methods of thinking and living, is in itself an enormous educating power.-Garfield. Ir is remarkable that amongst the many new subjects advocated as having claims to being taught in schools, we seldom hear of the systematic teaching of morals. Yet the moral is the largest part of our nature, and the most important, and influences the greater part of life. We may or may not be intellectual, but we must be moral whether we will or no. More of our moral errors arise from ignorance than from any other cause. In schools we address ourselves too exclusively to the intellect of the children, and we leave the moral part greatly unattended to and uncultivated, certainly not systematically trained as it ought to be. Yet, if we are to aim at truly educating a child, we ought not to leave out this, the greatest and widest portion of his nature.-W. Jolly, Inspector of Schools. ALL rivers, small or large, agree in one character: they like to lean a little on one side. They cannot bear to have their channels deepest in the middle, but will always, if they can, have one bank to sun themselves upon, and another to get cool under; one shingly shore to play over, where they may be shallow and foolish and childlike, and another steep shore under which they can pause and purify themselves, and get their strength of waves fully together for due occasions. Rivers in this way are just like wise men, who keep one side of their lives for play and another for work, and can be brilliant and chattering and transparent when they are at ease, and yet take deep counsel on the other side when they set themselves to the main purpose.-Ruskin. ITEMS. AUSTRIA has no less than eighty-four trade schools, in which stone cutting, carpentry and numerous other trades and industries are taught. THE Faraday has successfully completed paying out 840 miles of the Bennett-Mackay cable from Dover Bay, buoyed the end, and started to England for the remainder. IT is seriously proposed to construct a railroad to Alaska, to connect by ferry-boat across Behring's Strait with the Siberian railroad system now being constructed by Russia. FROM cork chippings, once thrown away, thousands of yards of linoleum are now made at Delmenhorst, Germany, where the industry is becoming quite important. A SERIES of severe earthquakes has been reported in the Sea of Marmora. The villages along the coast have been severely shaken, but no lives have been lost. On the 6th inst., at Chicago, the Republican National Convention concluded its labors by nominating James G. Blaine, of Maine, for President, and John A. Logan, of Illinois, for Vice-President. THE Spanish Abolitionist Society has presented a memoral to the Government calling attention to the fact that out of 40,000 negroes under Spanish dominion who ought to have been freed from the modified form of slavery known as "patronage,' only 1,500 have hitherto been released. OUT of a population of 25,000,000 England sends 5,000 students to her two universities; Scotland, with a population of 4,000,000 has 6,500 university students; and Germany, with a population of 48,000,000 has 22,500 in her various universities. The New England States, with a population of 4,110,000 send 4,000 stu dents to their eighteen colleges and universities.-Harvard Crimson. FOUR large cold-storage warehouses are now in operation in New York city, and it is said that the time is not far distant when cold air will be served in pipes throughout the city just as gas and water are now. One of the novel features of the New Washington Market, now being constructed, is a network of pipes running through the building through which cold air will be furnished to the different meat stands. THE very remarkable climatic eccentricities, if so they may be termed, that have latterly attracted attention the world over, are typi cally exemplified in the last winter season about Stavangov, Norway, where, in latitude ity of Greenland, the thermometer but once 58° 58', or only one degree south of the extremduring the month of January fell to the freezing point. The grass plots of the various gardens are described as having been practically as green as in summer; "daisies, snowdrops, soms well set; peonies had appeared above the pansies, violets and primroses had their blos ground, and many roses had thrown out vigorous shoots." THE project of a canal across Florida, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with the Atlantic Ocean, is being warmly taken up in America. According to the report of the chief engineer, the total length of the canal will be one hundred and thirty-nine and a half English miles. It is proposed to make it wide enough to admit of two steamers passing through abreast. The cost of the work is estimated at £9,000,000 sterling. When the canal is finished, it will diminish the distance between New Orleans Liverpool and New York by four hundred and twelve miles, affecting an economy of three to seven days in time. This means in large vessels a saving of from £60 to £100 a day in food and wages, in addition to a saving of £100 a day in coal. The Straits of Florida are exceedingly dangerous, and shipwrecks there are very frequent. A further saving will ac cordingly be made in insurance on vessels, which is estimated at from one to one and a half per cent. The most elevated spot through which the Florida canal could be cut is considerably lower than the highest point on the carried. There are, in fact, no great engineerroute through which the Suez Canal was ing difficulties to surmount, and the realization of this scheme is practically only a question of time.-Engineer. NOTICES. FRIENDS' SOCIAL LYCEUM EXCURSION. The Annual Excursion this year is: Up the Hudson to West Point and Newburg. This selection is a good one, as the Hudson river scenery, and especially West Point and the Highlands, seldom fail to please, uniting, as it does, the works of Nature with Art. The time appointed is Fifth-day, 26th inst. For full particulars see advertisement in Friends' Intelligencer. Tickets should be secured early. Roaring Creek Monthly Meeting is held at Catawissa, Third-day, 18th instant. Fishing Creek, at Millville, 19th. Half Years Meeting, 20th, and Youths' Meeting, 21st. Excursion tickets to Rupert can be had of the Reading Railroad at reduced rates. FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER. "TAKE FAST HOLD OF INSTRUCTION; LET HER NOT GO; KEEP HER; FOR SHE IS THY LIFE." The FORTY-FIRST Volume commenced on the 16th of Second month, 1884, at Two Dollars and Fifty Cents to subscribers receiving it through mail, postage prepaid. SINGLE NUMBERS SIX CENTS. It is desirable that all subscriptions should commence at the beginning of the volume. REMITTANCES by mail should be in CHECKS, DRAFTS, or P. O. MONEY-ORDERS; the latter preferred. MONEY sent by mail will be at the risk of the person so sending. AGENTS:-Edwin Blackburn, Baltimore, Md. Benj. Strattan, Richmond, Ind. Entered at the Post-Office at Philadelphia, Penna. as second-class matter A TESTIMONY OF GREEN STREET MONTHLY MEETING, PHILADELPHIA, CONCERN ING ANN A. TOWNSEND. When those have passed from our midst who, by obedience to the revelations of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, have witnessed preservation from the temptations of life, and have been enabled to show forth the "fruits of the Spirit" in their daily lives, and to receive an assurance of a crown everlasting, we believe there is an advantage in holding up such as examples to those who remain, that they may be encouraged to trust in the same Power, and mind the same light which illuminated the pathway of these and gave to them the victory. Under this feeling we are concerned to bear our testimony to the beautiful and exemplary life of our dear friend Ann A. Townsend. She was the daughter of Isaac and Hannah Townsend, and was born at Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, the 16th of Third month, 1809. The careful nurture of affectionate concerned parents, in her early years, was blessed to her sensitive mind and aided in the development of a lovely, energetic, yet docile spirit. In the maturity of womanhood she was made willing to yield all her powers to the guidance of Him to whom alone was due the dedication of her heart and of the talents entrusted to her. Gifted with superior mental abilities, she CONTENTS. A Testimony of Green Street Monthly Meeting, Philadelphia, to Ann A. Townsend.. Some of the Reasons Why. Joseph Foulke.... London Yearly Meeting.. Local Information. Scraps from Unpublished Letters.. Editorial: Social Religion....... Marriages.......... Deaths......... The Lick Observatory. 289 290 293 295 295 295 296 297 297 297 298 300 300 302 303 304 was favored to exercise these with humility, and to hold them subservient to the higher spiritual gifts. Thus, with capabilities for usefulness in the militant church, she became a bright example of steadfastness and consistency, giving evidence that the shepherd of Israel was her guide and support. She was married to Edward Townsend in the year 1833, when they came to this city to live, and where, with the exception of two brief residences in the country, they remained during her life, and were members of this meeting most of the time. Feeling that a dispensation of the gospel ministry was committed to her, as she yielded obedience to the requirements of her heavenly Father, the exercise of this precious gift was enlarged, and in the year 1850 was duly acknowledged by this Monthly Meeting. Her ministry bore evidence that it was not with "enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit," and there was a care to keep closely to the requisition presented, and to close in the life. Very frequently was the attention of her hearers called to the importance of having faith in God, she having felt the efficacy thereof in her daily life. Many who have heard her tender counsel and exhortations, will long remember the solemnity attending the occasions, wherein she fully realized and inculcated the simplicity of true worship. In the view that it may be helpful to some, and also to show her simple obedience to what she believed to be the revealings of her Divine Master, the following incident is narrated. At one time, when very much of an invalid, she stated in a Monthly Meeting held shortly before Baltimore Yearly Meeting, that she felt an obligation resting with her to attend that meeting, and left it for the consideration of Friends. Unity and encouragement were expressed therewith in the Women's Meeting, but men Friends being otherwise engaged, it was left until a messenger announced they were prepared for a visit from her, when she informed the meeting that she now felt entirely released from the service, and that the offering had been accepted without the sacrifice; adding, while to some this might seem vacillating and not properly considered, she was willing to appear as a fool for Christ's sake." She afterwards remarked she left the meeting with great peace of mind. For the encouragement of some who may have the care of the young, we refer to an exercise in one of our Monthly Meetings, in which she desired to impress that class with the importance of striving to train their children in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord," remarking in reference to her efforts for her own, then young in life: "I know not whether the result of this care will be such as I crave, but for myself, I desire to be in the condition to receive the language, 'let her alone, she hath done what she could."' With the unity of her Monthly Meeting she visited many others outside of the limits of her own at different times, in which her labors were acceptable. 66 She was much interested in the guarded education of Friends' children, and desiring they should have suitable literature she prepared a book entitled Biblical History, written in a style to interest them in the Scriptures, which is used in many of our First-day schools. Gentleness, sympathy and love, characterized our dear friend in all the relations of life, and she met her trials and vicissitudes with an unwavering trust in the goodness of an overruling Providence, who upholds his dependent children through all conflicts, and from the depth of her confiding spirit she was enabled to give strength and comfort to others. Her health was never very robust, and the latter part of her life she was much of an invalid, which very often prevented her from attending meetings; this she felt to be much of a privation, but when able loved to meet with her friends when assembled on such occasions. A short and painful illness terminated her earthly pilgrimage, on the 22d of Second month 1882, in the seventy-third year of her age. But death could have for her no terrors, and to her purified spirit the language of the Psalmist was applicable, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."-Yearly Meeting Extracts, 1884. SOME OF THE REASONS WHY. Read before the Adult Class of the First-day School at 15th and Race street, on Sixth month 1st, 1884. The English Reformation, which was ef fected in the reign of Henry the Eighth, was very different from the Calvinistic Reformation in France or the Lutheran Reformation of Germany. It was the work of a king who desired license for his sins, rather than the revolt of a free people from priestly superstition. Yet the great change which was brought about by the brute force of the monarchy, was the sweeping away of many superstitions. It was the desire and aim of Erasmus and More, that a reform in religion should be effected by the progress of learning and piety, while it was actually effected by a tyrant king by the aid of subservient statesmen, who in their hearts were believed to care more for their own personal aggrandizement than for the real good of their fellow men. Doubtless they builded better than they knew, but the hand of a king stained with many crimes drew up the Articles of Faith of 1536, and though the change from Romanism was im mense, bishops, abbots, and common clergy not only subscribed to them, but carried out with implicit obedience, the injunctions which put their doctrines into practice; and the laity very soon subdued any thought of resistance to the changes. The King's Supremacy instead of the Papal Supremacy, was a mighty change indeed; and the stern will and arbitrary power of the new head of the visible church carried all before them in England, if not in more devout and more mediaval Ireland. But the sincerity of the clergy, so willing to reverse their faith and their tra ditions at the dictation of a tyrant stained with every crime, may well be doubted. Says Green in his History of the English People: "The bishop, gorgeous as he might be in mitre and cope, was a mere tool of the king. The priest was trembling before heretics he used to burn. Farmer or shop-keeper might enter the church any Sunday morning to find mass or service utterly transformed. The spell of tradition, of unbroken continuance was over; and with it the power which the church had wielded over the souls of men was in great part done away." |