His investigations into the nature of color were equally ingenious and profound. "It probably does not occur to the ladies," says Cuvier, "when making choice of a border or of a ribbon, that the proper assortment of the colors of a dress depends upon the immutable laws of nature, and yet it is so. If one looks fixedly for some time upon a ribbon, for instance, of a certain color, placed upon a white ground, it appears to be bordered by a different color, but always having a certain relation to the other, and in philosophical phrase, it is called its complimentary color. Thus it is that in dress, if the different colors are complimentary to each other, the effect is agreeable, and, of course, in the reverse case, it is not." It was in the course of his researches in regard to the manner in which heat is communicated to water that he discovered that beautiful law, which, more than any other single instance, perhaps, demonstrates the existence of a superintending and all wise power. He discovered by a beautiful experiment that the particles of water as they become warm rise to the top, and becoming cool, sink to the bottom again. By this process continually repeated, it would happen if there were no further provision, that the surface on being congealed to ice would sink at the bottom, and the warm particles rising in successive strokes, and being congealed as they reached the top would also sink, and thus all bodies of water in the course of one severe winter would become dense masses of ice, to the complete destruction of all animated life. He it was who first showed clearly the important fact that at the precise moment when the water became sufficiently cold to form ice, it became not heavier but lighter, and floating forms a protection from the cold for that beneath it. It would be easy to speak at still greater length upon his various experiments and high scientific attainments, but this brief space will not permit. It is sufficient to say that in the opinion of all those qualified to judge they were such as to entitle to him the highest rank as a man of science. In was in about ten years, from thirty to forty years of age, that Count Rumford achieved these great results. At the end of this time the troubles of the French Revolution had involved Bavaria, as well as the rest of Europe, and it was his good. fortune by his skilful management to cause the neutrality of Munich, its capital, to be respected by the contending armies of the Austrians and French. The people and ruler of Bavaria were greatly pleased with this service, and as a testimony of it about one thousand dollars of the pension which had been granted to him was settled on his daughter for her life. She was also received at court as a countess of the empire. She was with her father in Bavaria from 1796 to 1799. He was also appointed ambassador from Bavaria to the English court, but on his arrival there the ministry refused to receive him in that capacity on the ground that he was a British subject. As this post was one very agreeable to his wishes, and advantageous to his pursuits, he was considerably chagrined by the refusal. At the death of his long-tried and firm friend, the elector of Bavaria, Charles Theodore, also taking place thought, as the lawyers say, she proabout this time, 1799, he was disin- ceeded to pour boiling hot water, to clined to return thither, as it was un- the complete destruction, of course, of derstood that the new elector, Maxi- the plants. Such treatment as this milian Joseph of Deux Ponts, who was too much for even philosophy to had been the means of introducing bear. As it was the custom of Mahim to the former prince, was not dam de Rumford to give twice a well affected towards him. He even week an entertainment, at which entertained the design of returning to were to be found all the most considsettle in his native land, but from erable people of Paris, the count bethis he was diverted by a proposal thought of a sure and sufficient retalifrom the King of England to remain ation. At the hour the assembly and assist in organizing the Royal in- drew nigh he ordered the servants to stitution—an institution which has close the doors, and for fear it should since rendered signal service to sci- not be sufficiently done, he proceeded ence, especially in the department of to blockade them with his own hands; chemistry. Having revisited Bava- consequently, to the unspeakable ria, he resolved to spend the remain- vexation of madame, she was obliged der of his days in Paris. There he to receive her guests outside the became acquainted with Madame doors. Lavoisier, a lady of large property, the widow of the celebrated chemist of that name, who was guillotined during the reign of terror. He it was, who, on being informed of his sentence, requested permission to finish an experiment in which he was then engaged, but it was refused. Such a union between one philosopher and the widow of another, would seem to be most natural and congenial, but it did not prove to be a happy one. The particular causes of the separation which took place are not given by his, biographers, but I am informed by a competent authority that a union happy in appearance at first was soon interrupted by trifling difficulties which rapidly grew into serious ones. At last the lady, by way of summary revenge for some fancied injury, proceeded in company with her maid to his apartments where were kept some choice flowers, which were highly prized by her husband; upon these, with malice afore After this event a separation, of course, took place. A well-known rhyming couplet of ancient date has classed among the other grievous ills of life those of a smoky chimney and a scolding wife. The first of these ills Count Rumford was able to remedy, but the wife was too much even for his philosophy. In regard to his personal habits, we are informed by Cuvier that he was at all points the model of order. His necessities, his pleasures, his labors were all matters of exact calculation, as much as his experiments. He drank nothing but water. He never ate only roasted or broiled meat, because when boiled the nourishment it affords in proportion to its bulk is less. He never allowed the slightest superfluity, not even in words. It was for this reason, continues Cuvier, that he was not entirely agreeable in the presence of his equals. The world, adds Cuvier very acutely, wishes a little more of freedom, and it is so constituted that a certain height of perfection appears to be a fault unless we put forth as much pains to conceal that perfection as we had done to acquire it. Although in receipt of a liberal income for a long time, he made but small accumulations from it. It was expended freely, and especially in the prosecution of his numberless experiments. At his death he left a considerable sum to Harvard university, but I have learned that this was not proceeds of his own property, but was the sum settled upon him at his separation from Madame Lavoisier, and which, at his death, he resolved to devote not to the aggrandizement of his own family, but to that to which his life had been devoted, the advancement of science. It would be easy, did time permit, to mention many other interesting in cidents of the career of Count Rumford, but enough has been given to show that by arduous labors and substantial benefits he has earned a title to remembrance. It is to be remarked of him, that, unlike the most of those who have endeavored on a large scale to rectify existing evils, he does not seem to have encountered that fierce and envenomed opposition, which, however unexceptionably conducted, such efforts. have usually excited. This was, no doubt, in part, his peculiar good fortune, but much more probably because it was not an inevitable inci dent of his undertakings that he should endeavor to rebuke and repress the idolatrous tendencies of the human mind, which, in all those efforts go to the root of evil, particularly such as are of a political or social character, is inevitable, but his work, such as it was, was done, and well done, and in common with the whole family of civilized men, we are his debtors. Therefore, we desire to dedicate to his honor this place of social resort. It is true this is not a splendid or an imposing memorial, but nevertheless it may be considered as one not uncongenial to his character and his labors, for these did not tend to such results as men had been accustomed to consider as splendid or imposing. We cannot point to architectural piles or triumphal columns as his record. Neither the art of the orator, nor the sculptor, nor the painter were his to diffuse without effort and forever his fame. But by his skill and science he has rendered the gift of charity to the destitute more effectual. By new comforts he has endowed and strengthened the name of home and has added facilities of immense consequence to all the arts of peace. Therefore, we desire to constitute, as a memorial of him, this place of social resort hoping that like his labors, it may be a place of genial and cheerful courtesy tending to give a new value to existence. THE DEAR OLD HOMESTEAD FARM. By E. E. Parker. On an unfrequented cross-road in New Hampshire, drear and lone, And whose very desolation constitutes its only charm Since humanity deserted it and Nature claimed her own, In solitary glory lies the dear old homestead farm. O'er its fields the summer wind-harps still sound their dulcet strains, And the roistering winds of winter their boisterous bugles blow, But alas! only a vestige, as a mockery remains. Of all that made it sacred in the halcyon long ago. Then its abundant acreage of sterile rocky soil, Awakened from the barrenness of ages of repose, By the patient, plodding effort of the hardy sons of toil, Till night fall woke the echoes with their happy, careless strains, While the clatter of their footsteps o'er the smoothly-shaven lawn Resounded like the patter of the drops of summer rains. But change has come with passing years; to-day its fields are bare Of cultivated verdure, but wild, luxuriant vines, And huge Canadian thistles and bristling, prickly pear Run riot o'er its uplands; while silver birch and pines Most thriftily are growing in the lowlands and the vales Where the apple orchards flourished in childhood's happy morn, And mint and water-cresses now choke the meadow swales Where once the winds of morning wooed the rustling blades of corn. The farm house, which we children deemed a castle strong and stout, To their callow broodlings swinging in their cradles to and fro; The tree toad sounds his warning notes, and locusts' whirring wings The black-bird's noisy whistle and the meadow odors sweet. For youth's bright hours will haunt their lives in tempest or in calm, By the death of Mrs. Adeline M. Fiske of North Littleton, which occurred on March 31, the last pensioner of the War of 1812, in New Hampshire, passes away. She was nearly 91 years of age. JOHN H. PENDERGAST. An old-time circus manager, John H. Pendergast, died at Exeter, March 24, aged 70. He had traveled all over the country in his rôle as manager, but had exhibited chiefly in the South. He is survived by three sons. DANIEL J. CROSS. Daniel J. Cross, whose funeral took place at his home in Revere, Mass., on the 28th, was the youngest son of Jeremiah and Sarah Lyford Cross of Northfield, where he was born in 1849. He was educated at the New Hampshire Conference seminary. He engaged in the grocery business in Boston before his majority, later buying out his employer and continuing until failing health compelled his retirement a few years since. He leaves a wife, a son, a daughter, one brother, O. L. Cross of Concord, and a sister, Mrs. James Jenkins of Walpole, Mass. |