She gowki KENOSHA,WIS., DECEMBER 14, 187 J •m* INTRODUCTION OU INDAI RUB BER SHOES. Perhaps never was the fact that, large industries often grow out of smstall begin nings better illustrated than in the in trodution of Ind.a rubb< r shoes Previous to 1821, India rubber had been improved only as curiousities, in the form of crocodiles and turtles, and other reptiles, and also small bottles used f r erasing pcocil marks. In that year an intelligent sea captain brought home from a voyage a pair of what appeared to be models of shoes made of solid pur- India-rubber. They were only five or six inches in length, were closed at the top, and of the natural creamy color ot the inspissated juice of the caoutchouc tree. The shoes were given to the gentleman above referred to, then a lad, possessing the inquisitiveness natural to the intelli gent youthful specimens of the genus homo. As usual this lad had a jack knife among the treasures of tops, kite strings, and other incongruities with which boys pockets are generally stuffed, and pos sessing that universally strong boyish im pulse, to use his knife upon any new ma tcrial presented to his notice. This, coupled with a see the inside ot the queer little shoes, prompted him to cut them open upon the instep. The opening disclosed two clay lasts, which were easily broken up and remov «d by the knife. The thickness of the rubber was found to be at least three quarteis of an inch. How to get these miniature shoes upon his feet was the problem this lad now un dertook to solve. They would not stretch enough to “go on,” notwithstand ing the well known ingenuity with which boys of his age contrive to get through small holes in fences, to clamber up prec ipices impossible to adults, and to ac complish feats astonishing to all who for get hey ever were boys themselves. Whether it was suggested from some thing he had read, or whether in random experiment, the never-to-be-conquored youth conceived the idea of softening the rubber by boiling water and stretching the refractory shoes upon lasts as large as hie feet. This done, the shoes were perfected except in color. The natural resort of school boys in such an emergency, ink, was tried, but to his chagrin it washed off as soon as the shoes were w r et. It is probable the boy had read something of blackening rubber by smoke; but if he had not it is cer tainly singular that he should have hit upon the very method which has been used so long for this purpose. He satu rated the shoes by carbon deposit by hanging them in a chimney. Then tri umphantly donning his new acquisition, he marched out into the streets, through puddle and pool, the envy and admired of all boys who saw him. And it canoe to pass that, this thing being brought to the notice of the sea captain who presented the shoes to the lad, he had the sagacity to import more of the shoes on his next voyage, which, finding ready sale, the regular trade in rubber shoes commenced, and in 1832 it was an established business. This trade gradually brought into pub lic notice the vast supplies of caoutchouc existing in various parts of the world, and led to the experiments of Goodyear and others, which have developed the manufacture of an endless variety of rub ber articles into one of the most impor tant industries of the age.— New "York Economist. An Erect Position.—A writer on health very justly condemns the habit of lounging, in which a large number of persons indulge, as injurious to health. He says: “An erect bodily attitude is of vastly more importance to health, than is generally imagined. Crooked bodily positions, maintained for any length of time, are always injurious, whether in the sitting, standing or lying posture, wheth er sleeping or waking. To sit with body leaning forward on the stomach, or to one side, with the heels elevated to a level with the head, is not only in bad taste, but exceedingly detrimental to health. It cramps the stomach, presses the vital organs, interrupts the fre mo tions of the chest and enfeebles the func tions of the abdominal and thoracic or gans, and, in fact, unbalances the whole muscular system. Many children become slightly hump-backed, or severely round shouldered, by sleeping with the head raised on a high pillow when any per son finds it easier to sit or stand, or walk or sleep in a crooked position than a a straight one, such person may be sure his muscular system is badly deranged, and the more careful be is to preserve a straight or an upright position, and get back to nature again, the better.” The Humane Society of London has is sued the following advice to bathers: •‘Avoid bathing within two hours after a meal, or when exhausted from any cause Avoid bathing when the body is cooling after perspiration, but bathe when the body is warm, provided no time is lost in getting into the water. Avoid chilling the body after having been in the water. Avoid retraining too long in. the water; leave the water immediately if there is the slightest feeling of chilliness. Avoid bathing altogether if, after having been in the water,there is a sense of chilliness, with numbness of the hands and feet. The vigorous and strong may bathe early in the morning on an empty stomach; the young and weak had better bathe three hours after a meal, after breakfast being the best time. Those subject to attacks of giddiness and faintness, and those who suffer from palpitation and other diseases of the heart, should not bathe without first consulting their medi* cal adviser. A EURE CURE FOR BURNS. From the Rural New Yorker. While the scientific men of the day art investigating the mysterious virtues ot Cundurango, 1 there- is a humble plant growing in nearly every part of our land on our bw lands, or marshy grounds whose virtues need only to le, tested to be found ac efficacious in saving Buffering and death, at that wonderful plant vVhile there are but few who are suffering j rom cancer, there is not a family in oui I ind but have felt the need of an effica cious remedy for