Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1892 — Page 5

THAT IS SO. It is said that Truth is gold— That is so! That it yields a hundred fold; That its champions win the prize Which endures and never dies— That is so! It is said that Bin brings pain— That is so! That its work is loss, not gain; That it kill* the soul and brings Never balm, but many stings— That is so! It is said that Goodness thrives— That is so! That it blesses human lives; That at last, when earth has flown. It shall gain a starry crown— That is so! Life is transient at the best— That is so! But with Goodness for our guest, Truth shall guide us to the prize That endures and never dies— That is so! —[Caleb Dunn, in the Ledger.

In the Interests of Science.

THE STORY OF A BURGLARY. Though I had known George Martin a long time he had only lately initiated me into the mysteries of his life. I knew well that he had been guilty of many kinds of excesses and indiscretions in his youth; nevertheless, I was not a little astonished to hear that he had once sunk so low as burglary. Without further remark here I relate the chief episode out, of the remarkable career of this strange man: “Yes,” said he, “I had a hard time of it in those days, and finally I became a —burglar. When Robert Schmiedlein proposed to me that we should break into the somewhat retired house of two doctors, Dr. Engler and Dr. Langner, I thoughtlessly agreed. Both doctors were well known on account of their scientific researches, and one of them especially for his eccentric manner. “Well, the night fixed for the carrying out of our design arrived and we went to work with the greatest confidence, for ail the circumstances were favorable for a burglary. It was pitch dark, neither moon nor stars visible, and in addition a strong west wind was blowing, which Was very welcome to us, as it promised to drown every sound, however •light. •'lt was toward 2 o’clock in the morning as we. assuming all was safe, began by filing through a chain which fastened a ladder to the wall. The ladder we placed under a window in the first story on the left side of the house. In less than five minutes we had opened the window, and hearing nothing. Schmiedlein climbed through it and I followed him. After carefully reclosing the Venetians we ventured to light a lantern and then discovered that we were in a kind of lumber room, the door of which was locked. “After picking the lock we determined first to explore the rooms on the ground floor, thinking we should run less risk of waking the inhabitants of the house.

“To our no little astonishment we perceived, as we crept down stairs, a light shining under the door of one of the rooms at the back of the building. “At first we were both for beating a hasty Schmiedlein soon recovered himself and proposed that we should force our way into the room, bind and gag every occupant and then obtain by threats all desirable information. “I agreeing, we approached the door. While carefully throwing the light around I noticed, seven feet from the floor, a wire which appeared to pass through the door we }vere approaching, and on pointing it out to my companion, he thought it would be connected with i some bell. “I replied in a whisper that we should try and avoid any alarm by cutting the wire, and as I could just reach it with my hands I would hold it firm while Schmiedlein cut it between my hands, and thus prevent it jerking back and ringing the bell. “ Setting the lantern on the floor I seized the wire, while Schmiedlein drew a pair of pincers out of his pocket. But the moment 1 touched it I felt a frightful shock,- which Quivered through and; through me, so that I fell of a heap, tearing the wire down with me. I remember hearing the loud ringing of a bell, while Schmiedlein—whom, moreover I have never seen since—disappeared like lightning into the darkness and escaped, very likely by the way we had come. “On falling down I struck my head violently against the opposite wall land became unconscious, whilst the electric hell at that time a novelty—rang unceasingly. “ Regaining my senses I found myself bound and helpless, which, after all, did not surprise me, as I concluded I had been caught where 1-fell. It soon struck me, however, that there were some peculiar circumstances connected with mv cantivity. 1 “I was nearly undressed and lay on a cold slali of slate, which was about the height of a table from the ground, and only a piece of linen protected my body from immediate contact with the* stone. Straight above me hung a large lamp, whose polished reflector spread a bright light far around, and when I as far as possible looked round I perceived several shelves with bottles, flasks and chemical apparatus of all kinds upon them. In one corner of the room stood a complete human skeleton, and various odds and ends of human bodies hung here and there upon the- walls. I then knew I was lying on the operating—or dissecting—table of a doctor, a discovery which naturally troubled me greatly, at the same time I perceived that my mouth also was firmly gagged. “What did it all mean ? Had some accident befallen me so that a surgical operation was necessary for my recovery? But I remembered nothing of the kind, and also felt no pain ; nevertheless here I lay, stripped ami helpless, on this terrible table gagged and bound, which indicated something extraordinary'. “It astqni.shed me not a little that there should be such an operation-room in such a house until I remembered that Dr, Langner, as the district physician, had to carry out the post mortem examinations for the circuit, and that in the small provincial town no other room was available for such a purpose. I felt too miserable, however, to think more about it. But I soon noticed, after another vain effort to free myself, that I was not alone in the room, for I heard the rustling of paper, and then some one said in quiet, measured tones: “ ‘Yes, Langner, I am quite convinced that this man is particularly suited for the carrying out of my highly important experiment. How long have I been wishing to make the attempt—at last, tonight, I shall be able to produce the proof of my theory. ’ “ ‘That would, indeed, be a high triumph of human skill,’ I heard a second voice reply; ‘but consider, doctor,

if that man there were to expire under our hands—what then?’ “ ‘lmpossible!’ was the quick reply. ‘lt is bound to succeed, and even if it did not, he will die a glorious death in the interests of science; while, if we were to let him go, he would sooner or later fall into the hands of the hangman.’ “I could not even see the two men, yet their conversation was doubtless about me, and, hearing it, I shuddered from head to foot. They were proposing some dangerous operation on me, not for my benefit, but in the interest of medical science. “At any rate. I thought, ‘they won’t undertake such a thing without my sanction.’ And what, after all, was their intention? It must be something terrible, for they had already, mentioned the possibility of my succumbing. I should soon know the fearful truth, for after a short pause they continued: “ ‘lt has long been acknowledged that the true source of life lies in the blood. What I wish to prove, dear Langner, is this: Nobody need die from pure loss of blood, and yet such cases occur only too often, while we must all the time be in possession of means to renew this highly important sap of life and thus avoid a fatal result. We read of a few, but only a few, oases of a man who, for some reason or other, has lost so much blood that his death seemed inevitable if some other noble-hearted man had not offered his own blood, in order to let it flow into the veins of the dying man. As you are awai%, this proceeding has always had the desired effect. I consider it, however, a great mistake to deprive a fellow being of necessary blood, for the one thereby only gains life and strength at the cost of another, who offers himself for an always dangerous sacrifice.” “ ‘Yes, I do not think that right cither,’ replied Dr. Langner. 'And. moreover, how seldom is a man found at the critical moment ready to submit himself at once to such a dangerous loss of blood.”

‘ ■ ‘That is very natural; no one rightly undertakes such a thing,’ continued the other. ‘So much greater will be our triumph if the operation succeeds. I hope to show you. dear colleague, that although we arc thinking of taking that man’s blood, even to the last drop, in a a few hours we shall set him on his feet again.’ “ ‘Just so'. Ido not see why we should not succeed. At any rate, in the interests of science we should prove in a practical manner the correctness of our theory. ’ “ ‘And this proof, dear friend, we will undertake without delay. Let me just repeat my instructions, for we cannot go to work too carefully to preserve the life of this man. I will open a vein in his thigh and measure exactly the quantity of blood which flows out, at the same time watching the beating of the heart. Under ordinary circumstances nothing could possibly save him; but just before the extinction of the last spark of life we will insert the warm blood t>f a living rabbit into his veins, as we have already arranged. If my theory is right, the pulsation of the heart will then gradually increase in strength and rapidity. At same time it is important to protect his limbs from cold and stiffness, which will naturally take place with the loss of all arterial blood.’ “ The conversation of the two doctors overwhelmed me with deadly terror. I could scarcely believe I was really awake and not the victim of some cruel nightmare.

“Thefact remained, however, that I lay helpless on the dissecting table, that a threatening skeleton stood in the corner of the room and, above all, that terrible conversation which I had to listen to in silence filled me with a fear such as I had, never before experienced. Involuntarily the thought forced itself upon me that I was at the mercy of two infatuated doctors, to whose mad theory I should here fall the victim. i “I said to myself that no doctor with ; a sound mind would propose such a frightful and murderous experiment upon, a living man. * ‘ The two doctors now approached the dissecting table and looked calmly into my face: then smiling, took off their coats and tucked up their sleeves. I struggled to get free, as only a desperate man under such extraordinary circumstances could have struggled. In vain. Their long acquired experience knew hew to render me completely helpless, and, to their satisfaction, I could not even make a sc"jd. “ Dr. Engler‘now turned to a side table, and I saw him o icn a chest of surgical instruments and take out a lancet, with which he returned to me. He at once removed the covering from my right thigh, and although I lay bound to the table in such a way that I could not see my. limbs, I was able to watch the doctor busied with his preparations. “Directly after removing the I felt a prick in the side of my leg and at once felt the warm blood rush forth and trickle down my leg. The conviction that he had ojiened the principal vein would have sufficed to shake the strongest nerves. “ ‘There is no danger,’ said Dr. Engler, looking into my staring, protruding eyes with terrible calmness. ‘You will not die, my good man. I have only opened an artery and you will experience all the sensations of bleeding to death. You will get weaker and weaker, and finally, perhaps, lose all consciousness, but we shall not let you die. No, no! You must live and astonish the scientific world through my great discovery!’ “I naturally could say nothing in reply, and no words can adequately express what I felt at that moment. I could in one breath have wept, implored, cursed and raved. “Meanwhile I felt my life’s blood flowing, and could hear it drop into a vessel standing under the end of the table. Every moment the doctor laid his hand on my heart, at the same time making remarks which only increased my horror. “After he had put hia hand on me for at least the twentieth time, and felt the beating of the heart, he said to his assistant: “ ‘Are you ready with your preparations, Langner? He has now lost an enormous quantity of blood, and the j ulsation is getting weaker and weaker. See, he is already losing consciousne.B f ’ and with these words he took the gag out of my mouth. “A feeling of deadly weakness as w ill as of infinite misery laid hold of me when the physician uttered these words, andon my attempting to speak, I found that scarcely a whispering murmur passed My lips. Shadowy phantoms and strange colors flitted before my eyes, and I believed myself to be already in a state ptst all human aid. - “What happened in the next few mijiutes I do not know, for I had fainte 1. W hen I reopened my eyes I noticed I no longer lay on the dissecting table, bit was sitting in an armchair in a comfortable room, near which stood the two doctors looking at me. “Near me was a flask of wino, several smelling salts, a few basins of cold water, some sponges and a galvanic battery. It was now bright daylight and the two doctors smiled as they looked at me.

“When I remembered the terrible experiment, I shuddered with horror, and tried to rise, I felt too weak, however, and sank back helpless into the chair. Then the circuit physician, in a friendly but firm voice, addressed me: “ ‘Compose yourself, young man. You imagined you were slowly bleeding to death; nevertheless, be assured that you have not lost a single drop of blood. You have undergone no operation whatever, but have simply been the victim of your own imagination. We knew very well you heard every word of our conversation, a conversation which was only intended to deceive you as much as possible. What I maintained was that a man’s body wilt always completely lie under the influence of what he himself firmly believes, while my colleague, on the other hand, held the opinion that the body can never be hurt by anything which only exists in the imagination. This has long been an open question between us, which, after your capture, we at once determined to decide. So we suxounded you with objects of a nature to influence your imagination, aided further by our conversation, and finally your conviction that we would really carry out the operation of which you heard us speak. completed the deception. “.‘You have now the satisfaction of knowing that you are as safe and sound as over you were. At the same time we assure you that you really showed all the symptoms of a man bleeding to death, a proof that the body can sometimes suffer from the most absurd unreality that the mind can imagine.’ “Astonishment, joy and doubt at finding myself neither dead nor dying struggled within me, and then rage at having been subjected to such an awful and

heartless experiment by the two doctom overcame me. I was quickly interrupted by Dr. Engler, however, on trying to give free scope to my indignation. “ ‘We had not exactly any right to undertake such an experiment with you,’he said; ‘but we thought you would pardon us if we delivered you from certain punishment instead of having to undergo a painful trial and a long imprisonnjentfor burglary. You arc certainly at liberty to complain about us; but consider, my good fellow, if such a step is in your interests? Ido not think so. On the other hand, we are quite willing to make you a fitting compensation for all the agony you have suffered.’ “ Under the circumstances,” continued George Martin, “I considered it wise to accept their proposal, although I have not to this day forgiven the two men for so treating me. ‘ ‘The doctors kept their promise. They made me a very handsome present, and troubled themselves about me in other ways, so that since that time I have been a more fortunate, and I hope, a better man. Still I have never forgotten the hour when I lay on the dissecting table—the unexpected victim of a terrible experiment—in the interests of science, as Dr. Engler explained.” Such was the strange story of my fnend. His death, which recently took place, relieved me from the promise of secrecy given to him about an event which he could never recall, even after a lapse of thirty years, without a feeling of una' bated horror.—[Strand Magazine.

A Vegetable Pepsin.

The useful properties of the papaw plant have long been known to the various natives, and have been taken advantage of by them, as can be seen by reference to the works of travelers, who can themselves vouch for the accuracy of the accounts they narrate. Thus Drury, in “Tiie United Plants of India,” states that old hogs and poultry which are fed upon the leaves and fruit, however tough the meat they afford might otherwise be, are thus rendered perfectly tender and good, if eaten as soon as killed. Browne, too, in his “Natural History of Jamaica,” says that meat becomes tender after being washed with water to which the juice of the papaw tree has been added; and if left in such water ten minutes, it will fall ifrom the spit while roasting, or separate into shreds while boiling. In his “History of Barbados,” Griffith Hughes mentions thnt the juice of the 1 papiw tree is of so penetrating a nature that, if the unripe peeled fruit be boiled with the toughest old salt meat, it quickly makes it soft and tender. Kersten also tells us that boiling meat with the juice of the papaw is quite a common thing in Quito. Captain S. P. Oliver, writing in Hature, July 10,1879, says: “In Mauritius, where wc lived principally on ration beef cut from the tough flesh of the Malagasy oxen, we were m the habit of hanging the ration under the leaves themselves; and if we were in a hurry for a very tender piece of fillet, our cook wov-ld wrap up the undercut of the sirloin in the leaves, when’ the newly-killed meat would be as tender as if it had been hung for a considerable time.—[Chambers' Journal.

The Zither is All the Rage.

“The demand for the zither,” said Alfrgd Hartmann to a reporter, “has recently increased to an enormous extent, and is constantly growing. There are aboqt a hundred zither clubs in New York, Brooklyn and New Jersey, and about 10,003 persons who play the instruraent. Some of these clubs have fifty members, and others only four for quintettes. Some clubs are composed of ladies and gentlemen, and others of ladi-u only. When the mandolin came in with a rush of popularity, five years ago, there were only two or three man-dolin-makers in the country, and now there are hundreds. The growth of the zither in popularity has been steadier, and as its merits become known is likely to become more permanent. For some time jiast we have been away behind in filling our orders. “The cheap instruments,” Mr. Hartmann continued, “are imported fivm Germany, but as a rule they soon crack. They can’t stand the climate. The ?;est instruments are made in America. The sounding-boards are made of Amen tan spruce from the Adirondacks, which is Letter than Italian, German,or in fact any European spruce. Any one who can play the piano can learn to play the zither in three months, and a person can tn ch hirnself if he chooses by using one of <he many books for self-instruction which sere published both in English and Gcrme.i.’' —'New York News.

Most Valuable of Insects.

There is no insect that approaches the silkworm in the total commercial value of its products, the manufacture of which gives employment, according to the latesl census returns, to nearly sixty-four thousand persons in the United Kingdon alone, to say nothing of France,- Italy and the far East. But in actual market value, per pound weight, the cochiaea: insect is far ahead of any other, though its price is fluctuating and has grea.'lj decreased since the comparatively recent discovery of so many much cheaper cub stitutes for the dyes obtained from it. Next to the cochineal comes the cantha rides insect, whose strongly irritant pro perties make it so valuable in the preparation of blisters. —[Yankee Blade.

THE JOKER’S BUDGET.'

JESTS AND YARNS BY FUNNY MEN OF THE PRESS. All His Fault—For Revenge’s Sake— An Appreciative Critic—Sad Enough —Etc., Etc. ALL HIS FAULT. Mr. Binks (whose invalid wife insists on boarding)—Look here, now. The Medical Record says nothing will improve a woman’s health like sweeping, baking, bed-making, dish-washing, and polishing the silver. Mrs. Binks —Huh! You know very well you never got me any silver to polish. No wonder I’m sick. FOR REVENGE’S SAKE. “You consent, finally, to my marrying Algy, mother, dear?” “Yes, daughter, with all my heart.” “But you said you hated him.” “That’s why I want to be his mother-in-law.”—[Truth. AN APPRECIATIVE CRITIC. Mrs. Gazzam (displaying some china) —Now I have painted it, I must have it fired. Gazzam—Well, it deserves it. Shall I pitch it into the ash barrel?—[Truth. BAD ENOUGH. Harry—lt is sad to be cut off in one’s prime, isn’t it? Jimmy—lt is, indeed; but what particular case do you allude to? Harry—My own. The old gent has made a new will, and I’m not in it.— [Puck. CURIOSITIES OF LIFE. “Life is full of paradoxes.” “Yes.” “Yes. It is the fast liver who has the sluggish liver.” A QUICK LUNCH FIEND. * ‘ My dear fellow, how in the world can you read when you’re eating? It’s enough to ruin your eyesight.” “ Oh, I read with one eye and cat with the other.”—[London Globe. NOTHING THE MATTER WITH GEORGE. Mamma—George Winkelford called to see you again last night, Irene, did he not? He is a worthy young man, and I hope you didn't tr at him distantly? Miss Irene (with a vivid blush)—Distantly? Not at all. I—l was very much drawn to him, mamma.—[Chicago Daily Tribune. REBUKED. Rogers—What makes vour nose so red, Mr. Reilly? Reilly—lt glows with pride, sir, at not putting itself in other people’s business. —[Puck. HAPPILY DESCRIBED.

“You were trying to get up a flirtation with the pretty girl on the end of the chorus?” “ How do you know ?” “ You made a signal to her.” “ Yes,' but it was a signal failure.” it didn’t work. Brace—One of our eminent scientists has discovered enough disease germs on a bank bill to kill a whole regiment. Bagley—Pshaw 1 Hand over the five you owe me; I’m no coward. SAFELY HELD. School Friend—Seems to me you and George have been engaged a good while. Why don’t you marry? Sweet Girl—Oh, there’s no hurry, dear. He doesn’t care a bit for any one else.— [Good News. DESERVED THE NAME. Jones —Smith is about your closest friend, isn’t he? Borrowitt—Yes, confound him! It’s almost impossible to borrow a cent from him.—[Kate Field’s Washington. AMBIGUOUS. Miss Sweetly—l think your writings resemble some works of the greatest writers. Young Scribbler (delighted)—ln what manner? Miss Sweetly—You will not live to see them appreciated.—[Buffalo Quips. A NATURAL INFERENCE. “What is a propaganda?” inquired th e teacher. The boy looked at the ceiling, wrinkled his forehead, wrestled with the question a minute or two, and answered bravely that he guessed it was the brother of a proper goose.—(The Million. easilV explained. Cholly Go friend who is paying a bill) —I thought you just told Hardup that you had paid out your last dollar. Friend—Yes, I know, but this is the next to the last dollar.—[Chicago News Record.

INVENTION NOT NEEDED. Lady—Why don’t the railroads have mechanical appliances for loading and unloading trunks? Depot Master—Well, you see, madam, lifting the tr.mks into the cars doesn’t hurt anything but the men, and throwing them out doesn’t hurt anything but the trunks. —[New York Weekly. A FRIGHTFUL DEARTH. Blobkins—Speaking of the dearth of men at the seaside during the past Summer, a man-eating shark was found dead on the beach near a fashionable New Englund resort the other day. Mrs. Blobkins—What did he die of? Blobkins—Starvation.--[Judge. NOMADS. Teacher —A nomad is a person who moves about a great deal—never remains long in one place. Johnny, name, some tribes of nomads. Johnny—ls you please, ma’am, cooks and chambermaids. —[New York Herald. THE NEW GOLD CURE. “Johnson is a different man since he tried the gold cure.” “1 didn’t think he drank to excess.” “He didn’t. He was poor and he married an heiress.” AUTUMN. A partridge sits upon a log; A huntsman comes with fancy dog; The partridge through the leaves doth soar; The huntsman shoots —his dog’s no more. —[New York Herald. VERY FEW CAN. Algy—There goes the—aw—most intellectual fellah in ouah set. Cholly—Ah! Algy—He can distinguish the difference between this yeah’i Derby hat and last ycah’s Derby hat.—[Good News. NOTHING TO TELL. Priscilla—What is the news? Prunella—There is none. Nobody has cold m» a secret since last week.

ARTLESS. The Indignant Mother—Yon say tl;s young scamp took you in his arras! What aid you say to him? The Artless Daughter —I said, “Hold on!” —[Brooklyn Lite. A WISE TEACHER. Father—Do you think my daughter will ever be able to sing? Teacher—Nevare, monsieur. Father—Then what’s the use giving her any more vocal lessons? Teacher—A great deal of use, monsieur. I give her lessons two, three mouths more, and by and by I tench her that she can't sing. That is a good musical education for a young lady. Very important. Father—By gimmi, you’re right! If she can’t'slag and you can convince her that shecan’t, the lessons won’t be thrown away.—[New York Press. THE ONLY TEST. Sister—What! Do you mean to say that you have engaged yourself to that Belle Blondie, and intend to bring the horrid thing into the family? - Brother—Horrid thing! 1 heard you tell her you loved her dearly. Sister—Huh! You never heard mo tell any one else so.—[New York Weekly. MUTUAL ADMIRATION. Mr. Huckleberry—No one admires me. Miss Wallflower—No one admires me, either. Mr. Huckleberry—We had better organize a mutual admiration society. 1 admire your eyes. What do you admire about me ? Miss Wallflower —Your very good taste. —[Rare Bits. EVERYTHING FORGIVEN. “ Your wile’s people,’’ said the man in the mackintosh, “live somewhere in the East, do they not?’’ ® “ Yes,” replied the man with the creased trousers. “In New Hampshire.” “Wasn’t there some romance coii* nected with your marriage'?” “We ran away to get married. That was all. The old folks bitterly opposed the match.” “Ever been back there t” “No. They sent us word they never wanted to see us again.” “And they have never forgiven you?’’ “Why—aw—yes,” said the man with the creased trousers. “They forgave us about three months ago. They’re coming to the World’s Fair next year.”— [Chicago Tribune.

A Forest of Petrified Trees.

F. B. Schemerhorn, geologist of the Idaho World’s Fair Bureau, who recently discovered the great glaciers in Idaho county, has found a fossil forest in the center of Custer county. In the same locality he has discovered the petrified bones of a now extinct race of men and animals, which will be sent to Chicago. The forest covers an area of four square miles and the condition of the ground shows that at one time an enormous flow of clay which worked in from the northwest has buried the tree trunks to a great depth. The clay has turned to stone and no one can ascertain its tiue depth without going to great expense. All the trees in this forest have their tops broken off and stand from ten to forty feet above the ground, averaging about twenty-eight to the acre. Schemerhorn took the exact measurement of some of the trees and found them to average twelve feet in diameter on top and sixteen feet in diameter at the surface of the ground. How far the trunk reached through the clay stone to the soil he had no means of ascertaining. A branch which hud become detached from a tree and was lying about sixteen feet from it was three feet in diameter. From the size of the trees and branches Mr. Schemerhorn thinks they are a species of redwood such ns is found in California, and attributes their fossilizntion to the clay, which, bearing a large part of minend and presumably coming from some volcano, soon turned the living trees into monuments of stone. —[San Francisco Examiner.

What is Known About Mars.

These three views are representative: all of them are based on serious study, and at least two of them may be taken as authoritative. M. Flammarion, the French astronomer, regards it as very probable that the dark areas of Mars are water and the bright ones land. Professor Schaeberle’s observations with the greatest telescope in the world (the Lick), under the best possible conditions, lead him to precisely opposite conclusions. Mr. Brett (the English artist-as-tronomer) doubts if land and water exist on Mars at all, and gives good reasons sot deciding that the planet is in a heated state—as we suppose Jupiter to be, for example. Telescopic observations show that the planet Venus appears to a distant observer far more nearly like the earth than does Mars. When we come to an examination of the particularities of Mars’ surface we find dissimilarity and not likeness to details of the earth's. Under these circumstances, and so long as such widely divergent views cun be ad/ocated by competent observers, it appears to me that the wise course is to reserve judgment and to strive for more light. I feel certain that when a satisfactory explanation is finally reached, the Lick Observatory will be found to have contributed its share to the solution.—[Prof. Holden, in the ’’orum.

Curiosities of Navigation.

It would be worse than useless to endeavor to trace marine architecture to its original inception. The Egyptians and the Phoenicians are joint claimants for the honor of the invention of water craft, but it is highly probable that they originated at widely separated points at about the same time. Grecian fable makes Pyrrhon the discoverer of the art of bending planks by fire so that they could be advantageously used in shipbuilding. The beakhead, rudder and anchor are claimed by the Egyptians; Crete claims the invention of masts, crossyards and other minor nautical devices. Isis, Queen of Ecrypt, in the year of the world 2230, is said to have first taught the use of sails. The Emperor Julian caused medals to be struck in her honor, showing her seated upon the prow of a ship. Jason built the first “long ship;” prior to his time all ships were as round as tubs. Copper and brass nails and fastenings in shipbuilding were substituted for iron at about the time of Nero. The first sails used were made of the skins of animals. Usons, a Phoenician, is represented as being the first person to venture the use of a. canoe hollowed from a tree trunk.— [St. Louis Republic. A San Francisco firm is about to attempt the revival of whaling in the Antarctic Ocean, which has ;mt been carried on for as many as twenty-five years. A quarter of a century ago the catches of sperm and right whales used to be excellent there, and many whalers are now of the opinion that the southern seas will again afford a profitable t&eld for operation?

THE BODY AND ITS HEALTH.

Effect of Tobacco.—The action of tobacco on the nervous system is weak and wholly special. It does not put to sleep, but it calmsand mollifies the sensibility of the organs. It causes an agreeable torpor, during which thought continues lucid and the capacity for work is not diminished. Such is the attraction it exercises and which causes it to be sought for by so many thinkers and students. Tobacco is to them a help in mental labor. When fatigue begins and the need of a moment’s rest is felt; when the thought fails to present itself with the usual exactness, and the mind hesitates over the shape to give to it, the student, writer or investigator stops, lights his pipe, and soon, by favor of this pleasant narcotic, the thought appears clear and limpid through the bluish cloud in which the smoker has enveloped himself I should make a wrong impression if I left it to be believed that I thought tobacco necessary to mental labor. It becomes so only f-.r those who have contracted the habit of using it, and they can divorce themselves from it without losing their capacity. As a whole tobacco is harmless to the mind, but it may have a mischievous influence on the health and may cause serious disease*. We should not advise any one to use it, and should try to keep women and children from doing so. In taking up this part of the programme, and affiliating itself with teachers of all grades, the society against the use of tobacco has performed real service; but it has tried togain its end by exaggerations that can only compromise it.—| Popular Science Monthly.

Acute and Chronic Indigestion.—A medical authority has the following to say of this evil; “Of all the ailments of misery in ordinary and daily existence, there is one which carries the honors. This is indigestion. There is, perhaps, a muss of people suffering from an improper nourishment and a faulty distribution of food which outranks the victims of cholera in all the epidemics which history has recorded. Indigestion may bo duo to the character of the food, to imperfect mastication, to impoverished or irritable condition of the stomach, to a “bad liver,” or to faulty intestinal action. It may be acute or chronic, the latter outweighing the former in the number of cases occurring. The first may be simply due to an overloaded stomach or to some slight indiscretion in the way of eating or drinking; the second is an acquired condition, a result of repeated disregard of foods or a weakened digestive tract. Acute indigestion corrects itself in a short time. It is characterized by a sense of weight in the stomach and occasionally by a “burning” in the region of the stomach. It usually manifests Itself after a hearty meal or in the morning upon arising. A cup of hot coffee, without cream or sugar, will often dispel it, or u dose of salts or effervescing magnesia before breakfast may be equally good. A mustard plaster over the stomach may not be ignored if the pain be acute. Chronic indigestion is a different affair altogether, combining the features of the acute form with mental depression, physical debility, const!pation. and many other things not in consonance with a healthy system. It is gradual in its development and protracted in its retirement. It is above all things a misery. Those who are numbered among its victims are the ones who are ever seeking advice and who walk about with furrowed foreheads and ‘long faces.’ A little prudence in eating, care in personal attire and a few simple and homely remedies may do much to make life comparatively comfortable and to pave the way for an ultimate cure. Of these the first is of greatest importance, nnd a short rule encompasses the entire field. Do not cat rich or highly seasoned foods uor anything which is known to give you discomfort, and do not drink the spirituous liquors or strong tea or coffee. Keep your digestive tract clear and go to bed when you arc tired. Many a person who has suffered the torments of indigestion for years has been cured by rest. In the matter of clothing, the stomach and the bowels should ever be warmly covered, and the head, feet and hands kept at an even temperature. Of the remedies ever at hand, the best is a draught of hot water taken about half an hour before eating. This tends to clear the stomach and to put the glands in healthy action. In addition to this, a pinch of baking soda may be of benefit if the ailment is particularly distressing. Above all things, however, the food must be thoroughly masticated. How to Make Boys and Girls Healtiiirr.—Dr. Henry Ling Taylor writes instructively about the way to make American children healthier. It has been claimed that the strongest blood cannot endure continuous city life for more than three generations; but must be kept alive by the infusion of country blood or by the return in some degree to country life. Thus, says Dr. Taylor, our large cities arc a kind of biological furnace, which in the end consumes the lives supplied to it, in order to obtain the product in trade, science and art which we so much admire. If. in the course of this fiery ordeal the individual reveals a keener temper or a finer polish, he may not become strong physically, or better balanced mentally, and thousands, unable to endure the strain, are cast off or incapacitated, while hundreds of thousands are not able to transmit to their children the physical endowment which they themselves originally jm>s~ sessed. City children get, as a rule, too littic light and air, do not tuko enough of the right kind of exercise, are often overfed and underfed, are either pushed or pampered too much in their studies, ana especially in their emotions, and frequently shorten their childhood to become little men and women before emerging from pinafores and knickerbockers. There is too much of the “hot house” clement in their lives. Their clothing is piled on until the children look like a bale of millinery; their movements are impeded, and they are kept artificially overheated at a time when they ought to be deriving a natural and wholesome warmth from exercise. Houses are kept too hot during the cold season, and the little ones grow up iu an atmosphere of steady, relaxing warmth, and the continual endeavor is to protect them from anything approaching cold There is also a lack of well-balanced occupation for the body and the mind. There is no such good fun or good training as making one’s self useful, and it is cruelty to deprive the child of this pleasure and stimulus. The brain and body should be trained through hand, foot and eye. Dump a load of sand in the back yard and let the children roll in it. Give the boys a carjienter’s bench, and encourage the girls to do housework. Where possible, let both boy and girl have a little garden patch, if only a few feet square, and the care of a few plants. Chee’fulness, sincerity, industry, perseverance and unselfishness, too, can be acquired by practice and constant repetition, as much as the art of correct speaking, or of playing the piano, and are 'ar more recessary

tohealth. If these be cultivated, child be given more air, light, exercise and occupation, the coming generation will suffer less than did the last from the injurious effects of modern city life.

A Noted Western Character.

The name of Daviess, pronounced Davis, or, by some, Davees, recalls the memory of one of the most original characters in the history of the West. Joseph Hamilton Daviess, known as Jo Daviess, was a native of Virginia, but his history is identified with that of Kentucky, whither his parents removed in 1779, when he was five years old. By profession he was a lawyer, but his eccentrictries are so numerous that his legal character is almost lost to sight in the biographical sketches given of him, though no doubt exists as to his learning or talent as a pleader. Instead of riding hi- 1 circuit, as was then common, he, dressed in a half-Indian garb, would range the woods from town to town where courts were held, and in this half-savage costume would appear in court and argUe his cases. Daviess was the fiist Western lawyer to plead a case in the United States Supreme Court. The day on which his case was set he entered the courtroom in Washington ai rayed in a buckskin hunting shirt, wampum belt, leather breeches, fringed at the seams, and took a seat just outside the bar, where, becoming hungry, he comfortably disposed of a lunch taken from his |»ocket, mid consisting of bread and cheese. One of the attendants was about to put him out, when the case in which he was counsel was called, and he arose and, after announcing himself, proceeded to deliver a speech that electrified the audience, convinced the liench, and won the suit. For many years his popularity was very great, but, according to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, he lost his hold on the public by attempting a prosecution of Aaron Burr; nor did subsequent disclosures of Burr’s operations reinstate him in the public favor. He was killed in the battle of Tippecanoe, while heading a gallant and successful charge against the Indians.

It Lives 1,000 Years.

The extreme limit of the age of the oak is not exactly known, but some sound and living specimens are at least 1,000 years old. Oak timber is not the heaviest, toughest, nor most beautiful, but it combines more good qualities than uny o'her kind. Its fruit is valuable food and its bark useful in certain industries. An oak pile submerged for 050 years in London bridge came up in sound condition, and there are specimens from the tower of London which date from the time of William Rufus. To produce a good oak grove requires from 140 to 200 year*. If an oak could be suspended in the air with all its roots and rootlets perfect and unobscurcd, the Ohio State Journal says, the sight would be wonderful. The activity of the root* represent a great deal of power. . They bore into the soil and flatten themselves to penetrate a crack in a rock. Invariably the tips turn away from the light. The growing point of a tiny outer root is back of the tip a short distance. The tip is driven on by the force behind it and searches the soil for the easiest points of entrance. When the tips are destroyed by obstructions, cold, heat or other causes, a new growth starts in varying direction*. The first roots thicken and become girders to support the tree, no longer feeding it directly, but serving us conduits for the moisture and nourishment gathered by the outer rootlets, which are constantly boring their way into the fresh territory. These absorb water charged with soluble earth*, salts, sulphates, nitrates, phosphates of lime, magnesia nnd potash, etc., which pass through the larger roots, stem and branches to the leaves, the laboratory of new growth. An oak tree may have 700,000 leaves, and from June to October evaporates 226 times It* own weight of water. Taking account of the new wood grown, we obtain some idea of the enormous gain of matter and energy from the outside universe which goes on eoch summer.

Aleut Canoes.

Two firemen who wore on the steamer Alice Blanchard on a trip to the Yukon river, says the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, brought back two novel Aleut canoes. The boats were made of rawhide, supported by horizontal ribs. The only opening is a circular hole in the center, large enough for a man's body so that he can sit down. A flap of rawhide surrounds the hole, und when the occupant plants himself in the bottom of the craft ne draws this flap up, fastening it tightly around his body under the arms. This makes the boat practically water-tight, und he enn paddle along in the roughest kind of weather witnou danger of drowning. If his cruft rolls over all he has to do is to paw the water until he gets his head to the surface again, and the boat, having stationary ballast, immediately rights itself. Some of them are made with two holes to accommodate two passengers. The two brought down are the single pattern. They are about fourteen feet long, thirty inches across and of a like depth. They are very light and can easily be carried about. The owners are going to keep them at Lake Washington. It is said two men came doWn from Alaska in one some years ago and had been upset on numerous occasions on the way, but they never suffered more serious injury than getting their shoulders wet.

Electricity of Waterfalls.

From many observations and experiments, Mons. Philip Lenard finds that drops of water falling upon water or wet bodies generate electricity, the water becoming electrified positively and the air negatively electrified from the foot of the fall. Slight impurities in the water diminish the effect considerably. The essential condition* of electrification are the concussions among the drops themselves and against the wet rock, no effect being due to the water’s fall through the air and its dispersion by it. A jet of water falling from an insulated tank to an insulated nail electrified the latter positively, while the negative electrification of the surrounding air grew to several hundred volts. Sparks were obtained from waterfalls.—[Trenton (N. J.) American.

Dietery for Children.

It is the opinion of a celebrated doctor that children under five years should not cat meat more than once a day. and that :‘n the morning or at noon. “An almost ideal dietetic schedule for most children,” it is said, would include eggs at breakfast, meat at noon, and bread and milk at night, “appropriate cereals” being given with the milk and eggs. Fot younger children, or those between the ages of two and five, it is not advisable to give eggs and meat at the sanr.j time, for fear that the e igestive powers -eay bt overtaxed. —[New fork Post.