SPEARS. THESE weapons were used in the offensive as extensively as the shields were in the defensive, and no warrior was completely accoutred for battle without his spear or javelin. Among the most savage nations, they were formed simply of a stick of wood sharpened and hardened in the fire; but among nations more advanced, improvements were made, and a stone or metal point was added, which rendered it more durable and destructive. Among the savages of our own country, the arrows are tipped with a kind of flint-stone. Sometimes the spear was pointed with horn, fishbones, &c., where the use of metal was unknown. Among the ancient Greeks, brass and copper were used prior to the adoption of iron; and Homer frequently makes mention of the "brazen spears" of his heroes. In one instance he says of the spear, Of the spears used by the Hebrews, but litte is known, but they probably varied very little i their construction from those of surrounding na tions. Like other warriors, they had two kinds, one intended to be hurled at the enemy when at a distance, and the other for giving thrusts during a close personal attack. In each case the shield was successfully used in the defensive, unless the spear or javelin was thrown with such force as to cleave the shield, and thus wound its bearer. The same kind of spear was often used for both purposes, and when two horsemen approached each other for combat, they commenced the attack by throwing their spears at each other. Their next aim was to recover their weapons thus thrown, and then commenced a close combat. Whoever first recovered his spear had a decided advantage over his antagonist, and hence agility was one part of an ancient warrior's military ed"Rough-grained, acuminated sharp with brass." ucation. Homer often mentions the fact that his Herodotus says that the Massageta had their same favorite spear, and as it would generally be heroes retained, during continuous battles, the arrows and spears pointed, and their battle-axes easier for one to recover the spear of the other, edged with brass. He also remarks that some were made entirely of brass, and we may infer can be accounted for in no other way, than that sooner than his own, if ineffectually thrown, it that such was the case with some of the nations it was a general understanding among combatwith which the Hebrew writers were acquainted, ants that each should use only his own. or perhaps with the Hebrews themselves, as fre- Some warriors, remarkable for their prowess quent mention is made in scripture of the "glit- and strength, sometimes went into battle with tering spear." The "target" (lance) of Goliath is described as Such was the case with Goliath. "brazen," and yet it is evident | He carried one spear behind his buckler, and the from other passages, that iron and steel were af- other in his right hand. One was undoubtedly a terward used. lance, intended to be thrown at the enemy; the two spears. yards. Joshua's spear must have been of great length, for it served as a signal at the time of the ambuscade in the affair of Ăi. As many of the costumes as well as customs of the ancient Asiatics are still preserved among the people of the east, we subjoin a group of modern oriental shields and spears, which undoubtedly give a very fair representation of those used among the ancients. We shall conclude our notice of spears and shields at the commencement of our next number on ancient armor, and proceed to a description of other weapons, and various standards in use: g a h a, large Arabic shield; b, small do. ; c, side view of the same; d, large Turkish shield; e, Mameluke shield; ƒ, Arabian CHIVALRY. spear; g Turkish; h, Mameluke. [Extract from a Manuscript Poem.] BY B. J. LOSSING. I JOY to give my fancy rein, nor curb its airy flight, When to the buried Past it turns, and wanders 'mid the night That hung o'er Earth's darkest shade ere Chivalry arose With its illuminating power, the deepening gloom t'oppose. "T is sweeter still to meditate upon that glorious age, Whose every scene, with gorgeous lines, is writ on History's page; Whon Virtue, Honor, Power, Love, and Christian meekness gave Their preference to the helmed head, and deemed that none were brave Unless they bore the glittering spear, and wore the iron vest, A transcript of some magic scene displayed in færy land, divine; Where Love made every hero's breast its unpolluted shrine; star King Richard with the lion's heart-Ducacet of Navarre- Their Savior's Holy sepulchre in the land of Palestine. King, lord, and vassal-rich and poor—the mitred priest and slave, Sped onward to those burning plains where millions found a USEFUL ARTS. CULTIVATION OF SILK. THIS branch of industry, now bidding fair to become an important pursuit among the domestic manufactures of this country, is receiving much notice and encouragement in many of the states of the Union. And for the further encouragement of silk-growers and manufacturers, the American Silk Society has offered the following premiums: 1st. For the greatest quantity of merchantable raw silk, produced by any individual from cocoons of his or her own raising, during the year 1839, one hundred dollars, or plate of that value, ot their option. 2d. To the person or association who shall make the greatest quantity of merchantable raw silk from three fourths of an acre of ground, the trees of which shall have been planted in the year 1839, two hundred dollars, or plate of that value, at their option. 3d. To the person or association who shall make the second greatest quantity of merchantable raw silk from three fourths of an acre of southeastern exposures are the best suited for the following reasons: the mulberry requires both sun and air to ripen the wood, both of which essentials are best secured in the situations pointed out. They will grow in any situation, but I have always found that the wood matured with the greatest certainty when placed under the influence of these exposures. Distances. If the trees are raised for sale.—The distance should be either four feet by three, four feet by two, or four feet by one and a half; the first will give three thousand six hundred and thirty trees to the acre; the second five thousand four hundred and forty-five, and the last seven thousand two hundred and sixty. At either of these distances good marketable trees may be raised, but we question much whether closer planting will not subtract more from the size of the trees than will be repaid by the increase of numbers arising from closer planting. At all events the rows should not be nearer than four feet apart; for as the trees increase in size, less distance than that will not admit of the passage of the horse to plough or harrow them, without endangering the limbs of the trees. If the trees are planted for a permanent orchard. ground, the trees of which shall have been plant-eight by two. Less than eight feet space between ed in the year 1839, one hundred and fifty dollars, or plate of that value at their option. 4th. For the best pound of sewing silk, made from cocoons of the competitor's own raising, in the year 1839, fifty dollars, or plate of that value, at their option. 5th. For the second best pound of sewing silk, made from cocoons of the competitor's own raising, in 1839, thirty dollars, or plate of that value, at their option. Five pounds of the silk offered for the first premium, and the whole quantity produced for the other four premiums, must be deposited with James O. Law, treasurer of the American Silk Society, in Baltimore, previous to the next annual meeting of the society which takes place on the eleventh of December, 1839. the rows will not conveniently admit carts between them to gather the leaves, which in the setting out of a permanent orchard should always be attended to, as it is a matter of the first importance. And while upon the subject, I will rebe placed on a southern, or southeastern expomark that, if possible, all such orchards should priety of which will strike every observer: the sure, and for this simple reason, the obvious proat least two weeks earlier than if situated on a trees thus placed will yield foliage in the spring northern or northwestern exposure. The morus multicaulis tree, from an experience of years, we assert, whenever the wood is thoroughly ripened, to be as hardy as the oak, if planted on high, dry ground-therefore as foliage and not fruit is the object sought in their production, they should be placed in that position of all others, the best calculated to encourage an early putting forth of their leaves. Time of planting.-The best time is as soon as you can put your ground in a state of thorough pulverization. The legislature of nine states of the Union have deemed the subject of sufficient importance, to offer a bounty to their citizens for the production of silk. Georgia gives a bounty of fifty cents per pound for good silk reeled from cocoons. Individuals in many places are operating on a large scale, some having cocooneries three hundred Preparation of the ground.-It would have been feet in length. EDWARD P. ROBERTS, Esq., editor better that it had been ploughed in the fall, as fall of the Baltimore Farmer, gives the following di-ploughing always conduces to the destruction of rections for planting the mulberry trees:- grass and weeds. But if you neglected so doing, Directions for planting the Morus Multicaulis. take a piece of ground that was in root or corn -As the period has arrived when the Morus Mul-culture last fall, which had been well tended and ticaulis may be safely planted, I consider the oc- kept clean; plough it deeply; harrow it choroughcasion a proper one to lay down certain rules for ly; three harrowings will not hurt it; then roll it the guidance of those who may not be acquainted well, when, if your cuttings, layers, or roots be with the several methods of their culture. ready, you may lay off your furrows, north and south, and proceed to plant. Soils and Situations.-A light sandy, sandy loam, gravelly loam, or light loam, are the soil best adapted to its culture; stiff ground or tenacious clays must be avoided, as also all low or wet grounds. The best situations are those that are elevated and dry, and the deeper the soil the better. Those grounds which have southern or VOL. IV.-51 Modes of planting. By onebud cuttings.—Cut up your branches so as to leave one eye or bud upon each piece, and your cuttings are prepared. The best method of placing them in the earth, is to give them a vertical position, inclining the top of the cutting to the north at about an angle of forty-five degrees, placing the bud so as to face, the south; as you place the cutting in the earth, press the soil around it firmly with the fingers and thumb, and draw a sufficiency of earth over it to cover it from one to one and a half inch deep. Another method is to drop them in the furrows as you would corn, and cover with the hoe, pressing down the earth with the flat part of that instrument as you do so. This is the most expeditious plan, and if care was taken to place the bud or eye uppermost, would answer well, and particularly where large transplantations are being made, as it would save much labor and time. By Double-eyed Cuttings.-Cuttings with two eyes should be dropped in the furrows at the required distance, the eyes or buds uppermost, then covered from one and a half to two inches deep with finely pulverized earth or mould, which should be pressed down with the flat part of the hoe. mould, in the proportion of fifty bushels of the first and ten cartloads of each of the latter, and suffered to remain in a heap for a day or two before being used, in order that the heat may be induced to pass off by fermentation. When thus prepared, the safest way to use them is to strew a small quantity along the furrows with the hand, and in covering the cuttings, layers, or roots, it will be well to avoid letting either come immediately in contact with the mixture. Street dirt, the scrapings of roads, or indeed any fat earth, will be found eminently useful, as the morus multicaulis, like the hog, is not particular as to its diet so you give it enough. Lime. No matter what kind of manure may be applied, a few bushels of this mineral will be found a valuable auxiliary. Quantities of Manure.-Stable, barnyard manure, and compost of mould from the woods— twenty double horse-cart loads per acre. Ashes. One hundred and fifty bushels per acre. Bone Dust and Ashes. Two hundred and fifty bushels of the mixture to the acre. Street dirt, Scrapings of Roads, &c. Twenty double horse cart-loads to the acre. Plaster of Paris. A bushel to the acre, strew By Layers. By layers is meant, either whole or part of either the main stalk or its lateral branches. I think myself that no layer should be longer than eighteen inches, and that, when the stalk is thick, not more than three joints should be allowed to each layer; and if these were judiciously split, so much the better, as each large joint, if proper-ed over the plants after they are up and in leaf, ly dissected, would yield from two to four trees; will prove serviceable. but without the person attempting it knows his business he had better let it alone. By Roots.-The roots should be separated so as to leave one or two eyes or buds on the hard wood attached thereto. As the hand is about putting them in the ground he must with his hoe make the furrow sufficiently deep to admit the roots so as to cover the buds about an inch or two, then press the earth around the roots with his feet, and his work will have been completed. If it be designed to plant the root with a larger portion of hard wood attached, the person layering, must be careful to make the hole which receives the root, deep enough to admit the root being covered two or three inches. Roots may either be planted flat or upright; but in either case the earth must be pressed firmly around them. Manures.-Almost any kind of manure will answer; but that which is well rotted, is best. A compost made of rich mould from the woods, and ashes, in proportion of eight parts of the former and two of the latter, is well suited to the culture of the mulberry. If ashes be not convenient, nine parts of mould from the woods and one of lime, will be found to answer equally. Lime. Twenty-five bushels to the acre. Culture. The whole art of the culture of the morus multicaulis consists in keeping the ground entirely free from weeds and grass, and well stirred. As soon as the mulberries make their appearance above the earth and are distinguishable, a careful person should go through the patch and relieve them by hand of all weeds and grass. As soon as this is done let the cultivator be run through the furrows so as to root up and destroy all noxious vegetation: when the work of the cultivator has been performed, let your hands, provided with good sharp hoes, go from hill to hill, and perform the double operation of extirpating every vestige of grass and weeds, and lightening up the soil so as to receive the benefits of dew, sun, rain, and atmosphere. As often as the grass appears, destroy it with your cultivator or hoe. If you do this work early, you will never have occasion to use the plough, for the cultivator used at the right time will be sufficient. I will conclude by admonishing you not to work your morus multicaulis trees after the first of August. Stable or barnyard manure, in the absence of other kinds, spread broadcast and ploughed in deeply, may advantageously be used. If the manure used be long, a few bushels of lime, say ten or fifteen to the acre, should be spread on the ground after it is ploughed, previously to its be- Yes-true. Our preachers are not all named so ing harrowed. THE following stanzas from the Western Messenger embraces some of the most distinguished names among the Unitarian divines. Ashes from wood, bituminous and anthracite coal, we have used with the best effects. If ashes be used, it must be spread on the surface after the ground is ploughed and harrowed in. A LANDSCAPE. As if they were but blazing, burning lights. There is a list of pastors that I know, Long may our churches hold such pastors good, To bring whose names together me delights. And sure, if, like their names, they 'll always teach; While Hedge, Field, Dewey, Hill and Wood, Bone dust or ground bones, have been found an Bridge, Ripley, Brooks, Wells, Waterston, still preach, excellent manure for them; but before being used And Greenwood, Robbins, Nightingale awake: they should be mixed with ashes or good rich | See-what a pastoral scene our pastors make. ADVICE TO A DAUGHTER. WE are accustomed to receive with reverence every admonition and counsel from the lips and pens of our revolutionary fathers, nor can we do a wiser thing, than to listen to their advice. The following advice of a father to his daughter, is from the pen of that distinguished patriot, Patrick Henry; and we commend its careful perusal to those of our female readers who have "just entered into that state which is replete with happiness or misery." It was written by Henry immediately after the marriage of his daughter. MY DEAR DAUGHTER-You have just entered into that state which is replete with happiness or misery. The issue depends upon that prudent, amiable, uniform conduct, which wisdom and virtue so strongly recommend, on the one hand, or on that imprudence which a want of reflection or passion may prompt on the other. But she loses everything; she loses her husband's respect for her virtue, she loses his love, and with that, all prospect of future happiness. She creates her own misery, and then utters idle and silly complaints, but utters them in vain. The love of a husband can be retained only by the high opinion which he entertains of his wife's goodness of heart, of her amiable disposition, of the sweetness of her temper, of her prudence, of her devotion to him. Let nothing upon any occasion ever lessen that opinion. On the contrary, it should augment every day: he should have much more reason to admire her for those excellent qualities which will cast a lustre over a virtuous woman when her personal attractions are no more. Has your husband stayed out longer than you expected? When he returns receive him as the partner of your heart. Has he disappointed you in something you expected, whether of ornament or of furniture, or of any conveniency? Never evince discontent; receive his apology with You are allied to a man of honor, of talents, cheerfulness. Does he, when you are housekeeper, and of an open, generous disposition. You have invite company without informing you of it, or therefore in your power, all the essential ingredi- bring home with him a friend? Whatever may ents of domestic happiness: it cannot be marred, be your repast, however scanty it may be, howif you now reflect upon that system of conduct ever impossible it may be to add to it, receive which you ought invariably to pursue-if you now them with a pleasing countenance, adorn your see clearly, the path from which you will resolve table with cheerfulness, give to your husband and never to deviate. Our conduct is often the result to your company a hearty welcome; it will more of whim or caprice, often such as will give us than compensate for every other deficiency; it many a pang, unless we see, beforehand, what is will evince love for your husband, good sense in always most praiseworthy, and the most essential yourself, and that politeness of manners, which to happiness. acts as the most powerful charm! It will give to the plainest fare a zest superior to all that luxury can boast. Never be discontented on any occa sion of this nature. In the next place, as your husband's success in his profession will depend upon his popularity, and as the manners of a wife have no little influence in extending or lessening the respect and esteem of others for her husband, you should take care to be affable and polite to the poorest as well as the richest. A reserved haughtiness is a sure indication of a weak mind and an unfeeling heart. With respect to your servants, teach them to respect and love you, while you expect from them a reasonable discharge of their respective duties. Never tease yourself, or them, by scolding; it has no other effect than to render them discontented and impertinent. Admonish them with a calm firmness. The first maxim which you should impress deeply upon your mind, is, never to attempt to control your husband by opposition, by displeasure, or any other mark of anger. A man of sense, of prudence, of warm feelings, cannot, and will not, bear an opposition of any kind, which is attended with an angry look or expression. The current of his affections is suddenly stopped; his attachment is weakened; he begins to feel a mortification the most pungent; he is belittled even in his own eyes, and be assured, the wife who once excites those sentiments in the breast of a husband, will never regain the high ground which she might and ought to have retained. When he marries her, if he be a good man, he expects from her smiles, not frowns; he expects to find in her one who is not to control him-not to take from him the freedom of acting as his own judgement shall direct, but one who will place such confidence in him, as to believe that his pru- Cultivate your mind by the perusal of those dence is his best guide. Little things, what in books which instruct while they amuse. Do not reality are mere trifles in themselves, often pro- devote much of your time to novels; there are a duce bickerings and even quarrels. Never permit few which may be useful and improving in giving them to be a subject of dispute; yield them with a higher tone to our moral sensibility; but they pleasure, with a smile of affection. Be assured tend to vitiate the taste, and to produce a disrelish that one difference outweighs them all a thousand for substantial intellectual food. Most plays are or ten thousand times. A difference with your of the same cast; they are not friendly to the husband ought to be considered as the greatest delicacy which is one of the ornaments of the calamity-as one that is to be most studiously female character. History, geography, poetry, guarded against; it is a demon which must never moral essays, biography, travels, sermons, and be permitted to enter a habitation where all other well-written religious productions, will not should be peace, unimpaired confidence, and fail to enlarge your understanding, to render you heartfelt affection. Besides, what can a woman a more agreeable companion, and to exalt your gain by her opposition or indifference? Nothing. virtue. A woman devoid of rational ideas of re |