Men of genius have left the plow or the anvil and gone into the pulpit, or to the bar, and by study, practice, and the ministration of mistakes and shortcomings, have struggled up through their difficulties, and attained to a commanding position in the pulpit or at the bar, without that previous course of study and discipline which to most persons is absolutely indispensable for success.

Of course, men can be self-taught in Phrenology by means of illustrated books, casts, busts, and skulls; they may work their way to a thorough knowledge of the subject, but it might require fifteen years to attain it. In a course of instruction the facts and data may be presented in half as many weeks by those who have a thorough knowledge of the subject. One may work twenty years faithfully in studying out the anatomy of the human system, and in six weeks he may, by a course of lectures and demonstrations, open the whole subject to a class of pupils.

The class of 1875, which closed on the 10th of November, numbered twenty-four, and for earnestness and intelligence was exceptionally good; and the news already received of the success of several of its members in the field is very gratifying. An extended report of the closing exercises of this class will appear in the February number, with the names of the graduates.

Now, a word for the future. For years we have had requests from teachers and students in colleges, inquiring about a course of instruction for the summer, within the school and college vacations. Clergymen have asked us the same question, saying that only within the summer vacation time could they possibly leave their parishes long enough to attend a session of the Institute. To accommodate such persons, and all others who may find it more convenient

to attend in the summer than during the autumn or early winter, we have the pleasure to announce that we have made arrangements for a summer session, which will commence on the 6th day of July. The regular autumn session will commence on the 10th of November, just after the Presidential election.

The Centennial celebration at Philadelphia will bring many people from all parts of the country to New York, and the excursion tickets which will be furnished by railways will remain in force probably as long as the Exposition is open, or a course of Phrenological instruction would continue. To those persons who may desire to avail themselves of it, a double opportunity -to visit the Exposition and to attend the Phrenological Institute lectures-is offered. All wishing to obtain a circular embracing the topics on which instruction is given, together with the terms, and the closing exercises of the last class, will receive it on application to the publishers of the JOURNAL.

WILLIAM

THE DEATH OF WILLIAM B. ASTOR. B. ASTOR, son of John Jacob Astor, died on the 24th of November, at the age of eighty-three years. Inheriting from his father an immense fortune, twenty-seven years before, he had quietly spent the time in its careful management, investing the increase in city real estate, and so adding from year to year to its vast bulk. He was little known in the public walks of life beyond the necessary relations which his extensive interests as a property-owner compelled him to have with municipal authorities. Perhaps he was best known to the public through the Astor Library, which his father founded by bequest, and to which William B. contributed liberally. In the December number of the

PHRENOLOGICAL for 1872, a portrait and detailed sketch of him were published.

It is said that he was not devoid of benevolent feeling, and dispensed much charity in ways unknown to the public. It may be that he has done much good; but it is certain that he had the means to do a great amount of good, and to rear an enduring memorial of gratitude in the hearts of thousands of the deserving. He died worth, it is said, a hundred millions of dollars, not one cent of which he could take with him to the other country. He left it all behind. What great opportunities he neglected for using the means given him in ways beneficial to his fellows!

How much spiritual enjoyment he lost by not applying his money and property to uses having in view the moral and intellectual development of the thousands around him who were lacking the necessary facilities! What a mistake for a man to pile thousands upon thousands, millions upon millions, for which he can have no need! Can it be creditable in the light of reason, in the light of the claims of his fellows, ever pressing upon him, for a man to heap up riches? Is there any real virtue in dying worth millions? We think not. Contrast the two lives concluded at nearly the same time, one of this man and the other of Henry Wilson-which was the nobler? which shall have the more enduring fame?

A Bushel Box.-A writer in a recent number of the Chicago Tribune describes a method of constructing a cheap and serviceable bushel box. Our readers may find something of interest in it. He says:

"This picking and market box holds a bushel, heaping measure, and is of the most convenient form for the handling of apples and vegetables, for storing in the cellar, or for taking to market. The ends are made of common stock boards, twelve inches wide, planed on both sides, and sawed to the exact width of twelve inches, and then cut into lengths of fourteen inches. In these holes are cut for the hands. This is done by the use of an inch bit, boring three holes and trimming them out with a jack-knife or common chisel. The next thing is the lath for bottom and sides. These are cut seventeen and a half inches long. Six pieces are used for the bottom, spacing them so that the opening between them will be of a uniform size, and with average width lath about three-fourths of an inch each. Five pieces of lath are put on each side, when the box is complete. It will require eight lath to the box, or 800 lath for 100 boxes; while for the heads we shall need 236 feet of lumber. For the nailing on of the lath we use a common shingle or 4d. nail. The boxes may be made

without planing, but they will do much better for it. The lath is put on rough, without further preparation. The inside of a common wagon box is thirty-six inches wide, and as these boxes are seventeen and a half inches long, two of them will go into the box; and the bottom tier will hold, in ordinary boxes, sixteen to eighteen; and, as we can place one above the other, and as they hold a bushel when level full, we put thirty-two to thirty-six of these bushel boxes in the common wagon box, which is as much as we usually haul at one time in bulk."

The Colorado Potato Beetle.-In common with many western readers, I have been much amused by the learned articles that have appeared of late in many eastern publications in regard to the Colorado potato beetle. Some of them are as incorrect in point of fact as it is possible for them to be, and the learned professors might learn something from the most ignorant Bohemian farmer of Wisconsin, or, it might be, from a Digger Indian. I deem it of the utmost importance that the truth should be known, lest many farmers should take alarm and fail to plant potatoes, thereby causing themselves unnecessary inconvenience, or, having planted them, and not knowing how to deal with the beetle, they should lose their crop. This part

of the country has had the Colorado beetle, or "potato bug," as it is more commonly called, for the last eight years, and yet we do not plant less acreage, or harvest fewer potatoes than before they first made their appear

ance.

On the contrary, did prices warrant it, we could almost supply the world with potatoes of the best quality and size, from the very portions of the west where the beetles are most plentiful. We do not regard them, as one writer says (an Englishman, I believe, and living in London), as "something that baffles Yankee ingenuity," but simply as one of the things that be, and are to be attended to, just the same as weeds.

I feel like criticising an article which appeared in the PHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL of October. The drawings are correct, also the description. The writer says that the beetle is a native of the mountains, where it fed on the wild potato. This may be so, but it is thought by most of those who have investigated the subject most thoroughly that he is a new development of the insect world, and had no existence whatever twenty years ago. This, however, is open to dispute, and worthy of further investigation. From an experience of eight years, I do not think that it "threatens to destroy the crop entirely."

The writer recommends hand-picking. We tried that the first year, but there arose a difficulty, and I think the same will be experienced in most neighborhoods. A is a thrifty farmer, and keeps his vines carefully rid of bugs. On the next farm, just across the road, perhaps, lives B, a man who is always putting off for a more convenient season the work of to-day. A's vines are looking nicely, while B's are eaten up, and the bugs emigrate to A's patch, so that he has to destroy the bugs for his neighbor, or submit to the loss of his crop. This band-picking was slow and tedious, is low down, and so was much given over to children. On going through the country, and noticing the small attendance in schools, you would invariably be told that the scholars were kept at home to bug potatoes." But this state of affairs could not always last. Mr. Beetle could not always stand between Young America and the cause of education, and Paris-green helped us out of our troubles.

We are recommended to kill the bugs with hot water-or, better still, "boiling oil." We might use the hot water, though I see no reason why we should, but as it is always advis

able to use the "best," we will try the oil. Will the writer inform us what kind of oil to use, and how much it is a gallon? and I should like, also, to inquire of him how much oil it would take to destroy the bugs of any one State, not to say of the United States? Did it never occur to you that it would be infinitely more simple and practicable to select an open space, and, building a fire of chips and rubbish, consign the troublesome insects to the flames? I think, however, I will tell you, as near as I can, how we deal with and conquer the potato beetle.

We plant our potatoes as we did before the bug seasons. (The Early Rose and Goodrich are the best, as they are the least affectedin fact the bugs will not feed on them if there are other varieties near.) When up a couple of inches, a few bugs appear. These may be advantageously picked off, as it will not take long. The larvæ will also be seen on some of the leaves; these may also be picked off and burned. This will keep them down for some time, but about the time the potatoes begin to blossom the insects are too numerous to be dealt with in this way. Then comes in the Paris-green. Procure a tin can—such a one as ground coffee is put up in; puncture the lid so as to form a sieve. Fill with a mixture consisting of one part Paris-green and ten parts wheat flour. Go over your vines with this early in the morning, before the dew is off, giving your can a shake over each hill. The flour will cause the mixture to adhere to the damp leaves, and when the bugs come out they greedily devour it, return and burrow in the ground and die, having first buried themselves. Do not be afraid to use it. In seven years' experience I have never heard of its proving injurious to anything else, except in one instance a mouse was supposed to have died from the effects of the poison, but even that was doubtful. Two or three times going over the vines is sufficient, and from twenty-five to fifty cents' worth of Parisgreen will insure a farmer against the ravages of the much-maligned Colorado potato beetle. DANVILLE, WIS.

JENNIE JONES.

Save Heat.-Our economical readers should remember that the surplus heat wasted from a common stove will, if conducted through a drum into another room, warm the room as much as a small stove would, and will compel the fuel to do double the duty and give double results.

The Farming King. THE farmer sat in his old arm-chair,

Rosy and fair,
Contented there.

"Kate, I declare,"

He said to his wife, who was knitting near, "We need not fear

The hard times here,
Though the leaf of life is yellow and seer.

"I'm the king, and you are the queen
Of this fair scene,
These fields of green
And gold between,

These cattle grazing upon the hill,
Taking their fill,

And sheep so still,

Like many held by a single will.

"These barnyard fowls are our subjects all They heed the call, And like a squall

On fast wings fall,

Whenever we scattered for them the grain. 'Tis not in vain

We live and reign

In this our happy and calm domain.

And whether the day be dim or fine, In rain or shine, These lands of mine These fields of thine, In cloudy shade and in sunny glow, Will overflow

With crops that grow, When gold is high and when it is low. "Unvexed with shifting of stocks and shares,

And bulls and bears,
Stripes and cares,

And the affairs

Of speculation in mart and street,
In this retreat

Sweet peace can meet
With plenty on her rural beat."

-Commonwealth.

Waste of Fertilizers.-Industrious England washes most of the manure and sewerage of her people into the ocean, and then hunts over the globe from Egypt to Peru for more to waste. The United States does little or no better. But the shrewd natives of Japan and China maintain the fertility of their soil by saving what those who pretend to be civilized throw away. They have, it is said, no worn out, abandoned fields.

The President's Horses.-An exchange says: Finding that his stock farm near St. Louis had been running him behind some nine thousand dollars in the last two years, the President resolved to make a clean sale of his horses and let his farm out to any responsible person who would take it at $2,500 a year. The auction sale resulted to the surprise of everybody who knew any thing of the character of his horses. Blood stallions of renown brought but a few hundred dollars; gift horses were knocked down in the neighborhood of forty dollars; matched horses that cost from eleven hundred to two thousand dollars brought but a few hundreds, three or four; the mare he rode at Vicksburg was sold for less than fifty; and all the rest of the stock at similar rates. Some of the best of it was bid in for the owner rather than submit to the sacrifice. An old horse named Joe, looking as if he might be seventy-five years old, with an undulating gait but an excellent tail "to grow to," which was the animal ridden by the President before he became known, was sold to a colored man for ten dollars. Presidential horse stock is low enough.

Fern Leaves Good for Beds.Every country neighborhood has woods which are full of ferns and brakes, which usually die and go to seed without doing any good, save as a gratification to the sense of sight. The soft parts, if stripped from the stems and dried in the sun, retain their toughness and elasticity for a long time, and are said to be superior to straw and husks, and even to "excelsior," for stuffing mattresses. The ticks, when filled, should be stitched firmly with a mattress-needle, using strong linen twine, and making the intervals between the stitches about an eighth of a yard.

To the Reader. It is our aim to make this department one of the important features of the PHRENOLOGICAL, as the subject is one of the greatest utility to the country at large. In the furtherance of this aim we ask our friends, especially those practically engaged in agriculture, to contribute such facts as come within the line of their experience. We wish the best thought, or rather the best experience, and we know that among our readers are farmers and horticulturists of the best stripe in the country.-ED. A. P. J.

THE PRESSURE OF OUR BUSINESS IS SUCH that we can not undertake to return unavailable contributions unless the necessary postage is provided by the writers. In all cases, persons who communicate with us through the post-office should, if they expect a reply, inclose the return postage-stamps being preferred. Anonymous letters will not be considered.

QUESTIONS OF " GENERAL INTEREST" ONLY will be answered in this department. But one question at a time, and that clearly stated, must be propounded, if a correspondent shall expect us to give him the benefit of an early consideration.

MATRIMONIAL "ADS."-DEAR PHRENOLOGICAL: There are men and women whose age, character, and disposition would fit them for marriage, who may not, in the sphere of their acquaintance, meet with a congenial soul. Why can not the JOURNAL, in its advertising department, open a matrimonial bureau for the accommodation of sensible parties?

Ans. This question has been propounded several times to the publishers of the PHRENOLOGI

CAL.

There might be money in it, perhaps, as a business venture for us. Furthermore, much good might be accomplished for those unfortunate ones, whose sphere of social activity is not favorable for their success in things matrimonial. We have considered the matter carefully since receiving the above interrogatory, and conclude that we will open such department or bureau in our advertising columns, on the conditions following: We think that at least five applications, fully setting forth the qualifications of the person seeking a partner to his or her bed and board, and also stating as fully the qualifications wished in the much-desired partner, would be necessary to make a respectable show on the JOURNAL page.

We are willing to give place to these for the benefit of whom it may concern, for a moderate recompense, and the circulation of the JOURNAL being of an extended sort, its columns being read by a great variety of people, especially by those of progressive minds-those who are appreciative of everything good in the world of thought, poetry, and beauty-we deem twentyfive (25) dollars a line, our usual agate measure, a fair rate for one insertion. Each advertisement should occupy not less than five lines (at any rate, we shall charge for that). The price and space occupied will thus be commensurately

respectable, and in keeping with the importance of the subject. We wish it to be distinctly understood that the utmost number of advertisements which we will receive for one month's issue will be six.

BLEACHING SKULLS.-How can one bleach skulls with ether?

Ans. You could get a tin can large enough to hold the skull. It may be square or round, and there should be on the inside, an inch below the top, a ledge soldered on to lay a cover on, and that cover should be of thick, clear glass. Ther get clean, washed pebbles, enough to fill the skull, and to fill up the space around the outside of the skull when it is in the vessel. Then buy the ether of commerce, which is worth about fifty cents a pint, and pour it in, until the skull is covered. Then take the glass cover, and cement it in with fire-clay, laying a coat of the clay on the ledge; then imbedding the glass in it, and puttying it in with the clay, as a pane of window-glass is puttied, so that it shall be perfectly tight. Then you can look through the glass and see how the process of bleaching goes on. The ether will not hurt the bone if it stays there a week, but probably twenty-four hours will be sufficient to take out every particle of the grease from the bone. There should be a stopcock near the bottom of the vessel to draw off the ether, when it has done its work, into a bottle, where it can be kept. Then to get the ether out of the grease, to fit it for use again, it must be distilled in a retort, arranged for the purpose, and not be heated above 125 degrees, if you would avoid an explosion. The better plan, probably, for you would be to use kerosene in place of the ether, and let it be a week doing its work, and that will clean skulls almost as well as ether, and with one fifteenth of the expense. Skulls may be cleaned by exposure to running water in warm weather, and then let them be bleached on the top of a house in the sun; but the kerosene process will probably be the most economical, and, on the whole, most satisfactory.

SENSES AND THOUGHT.-"What mental organs correspond to the three senses-taste, smell, and feeling?"

Ans. These stand related to the consciousness of the individual just as the other faculties do. They are agents of the interior nature, and carry to the mind, or soul, or inner consciousness their information at the medulla oblongata, or