Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1913 — Page 3

THE AUROCHS AND THE BISON

HE differentiation between these animals is a subject oKunusual ■ t interest to the sportsmanmaturalJ ist. To trace the origin of the popular misconception that the two names are synonymous, a mistake H n to which even some of our bestknown sportsman of today must v if* H plead guilty, we, have to dive into b- the not always limpid depths of - early mediaeval history. For the event which has probably more to

do than any other with the promulgation of this error was the famous hunt given by Charlemagne to the ambassadors of Haroun-al-Rashld In the dank Hercyian woods that surrounded his hunting lodge, Heristallum. According to the original account by the monk Eginhard of St. Gall, the aurochs were of such terror-instilling appearance to the men from the east that they could not even bear the sight of them, and fled from the emperor’s side. The latter, attacked by the fiercest of these monsters, missed the vital spot, ■with the result that before brave Isambart could, slay it the emperor was slightly wounded tn the Wglr"aTfa“bad““to shreds. Rushing to his side, the assembled courtiers offered to divert themselves of thpir own hose, but the emperor laughingly rejected their offers, declaring that he Intended to show himself In his sorry plight to the fair Hlldegarde, who was a great huntress herself. Needless to say, this adventure proved a mediaeval “scoop” of the gaudiest kind, but in the course of unnumbered retellings the aurochs became a wisent, as was called the European bison, and since that time a perplexing confusion has reigned between these two animals. That the true aurochs, which became eitinct three hundred years ago, was an entirely different animal from the bison, whose name, alas! Is also on the list of animals about to share the auroch’s fate, is now a fact known to all scientific men. To the writer the poor old bison’s pathetic fate appeals more particularly, for when shooting in the Rockies In the seventies of last century he still saw them In herds of ten thousand. But as the men who can claim to have seen the same marvellous sight will before long follow these lordly inhabitants of the wilds to the happy hunting grounds, the study of the past history of these two species has for some people unusual attractions. And not the least Interesting phase of It is the collecting of pictures made at a time when both beasts were still roaming over the “wastes of the earth,*’ or had but recently disappeared. Of .the earliest of all pictures of what was probably meant to be the bison, an interesting article which recently appeared in an Illustrated weekly, in which the roof pictures in the Altamira Cave were reproduced, gave one a capital idea. After a gap of untold centuries we reach the various pictorial records left to us by the chisels, gravers or brushes of the classic ages. Among those who have made important discoveries respecting the distribution of the aurochs. Professor Conrad Keller, the well-known Zurich zoologist, occupies a prominent place. His discoveries In the ruins of the ancient palace of King Minos in Crete of no fewer than sixteen horn-cores and one skull of what unquestionably was the original wild ox of Europe, or aurochs, show that it lived there at one period, and that the famous legend of the mlnotaur has a substratum of truth. From his pages we borrow an illustration of an important fresco in Knossos depicting an aurochs in the act of impaling a help-less-looking victim, while a bold bull-fighter is actually turning a somersault over the back of the beast, a third, possibly female, looker-on attempting to seize the bull's tail, the scene being probably enacted in an arena. It is possible that the Theseus story came from the slaughter of captives tn such exhibitions. Several other pictures have been recently discovered which belong to the Minos period, i. e., between 2000 and 1600 B. C. Professor Keller’s highly instructive writings contain many other illustrations of Bos prlmifenius. , Skipping tens of centuries, we reach the Bestiaries, the r»ost ancient of which originated in the period we touched at the outset when speaking of Charlemagne’s aurochs-hunt. These exceedingly primitive pictorial records do not add much to our Information; “the choice hurts one," as Germans describe that state of uncertainty tn regard to what the monastic artists meant to represent by their crude attempts. Skipping a few more centuries, we at last reach, In the beginning of the fifteenth century, fairly intelligent accounts of the animal's habitat, and are. furnished with drawings presenting featureo sufficiently distinct to indicate, even to eyes accustomed to photographic accuracy, the Identity of the animal the picture means to represent. Very curlpus Is the circumstance, to which, by the way, nobody has so tar draws attention, thatr none °f th® French sporting books of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, such as ‘‘Roy Modus.” “Gaston Phoebus," “Qace de la Bulgne” pxd “Foutalnes-Guerln," mentions either the

aurochs or the bison by sb much as a word. As the authors of these classics were great sportsmen and close observers, this would support the theory that both these animals had already- then become quite extinct in western Europe. In the sixteenth century, when Europe, so far as art was concerned, had at last been aroused from its mediaeval stupor by the invention of printing, and an extraordinary demand had sprung up for pictorial matter illustrating recent exploration of new worlds and the various forma of the chase, there were produced quite a number of pictures of the aurochs by artists, very few of whom had ever set eyes upon a live wild specimen, though they may have seen captive ones. The one artist of whom we positively know that he had before him at least a stuffed specimen was the Viennese engraver Augustin Hlrschvogel (born in Nurnberg about 1503), who illustrated the famous travel book of Baron Herberstein, the authority most frequently quoted tn connection with the aurochs, for he was absolutely the last intelligent observer who saw the beast In its wild state, and left pictorial records of his impressions. Herberstein was gifted with prescient eyes, for he foresaw that the aurochs was doomed to speedy extinction. Hence on his several expeditions to the unknown Interior of Russia as the ambassador, first of Emperor Maximilian In 1615-18, then on many different occasions as Charles V.’s and Ferdinand’s emissary, he made notes about It, and, what was much more Important, actually brought back with him, some •kins and skulls, which he had mounted In his house in Vienna, and from which Hlrschvogel probably drew his celebrated picture of the aurochs. To differentiate he drew next to .it a picture of a bison. As these two "portraits,” x which have been published scores of times, will be familiar to all Interested In this matter, we will merely quote the inscriptions placed by Her berstein over the two pictures, for it is a perfectly correct differentiation. The picture of ths bison has the following: “I am a Bison, am called by the Poles a Suber, by the Germans a Blsont or Damthfer, and by the Ignorant an aurochs.” Over the woodcut of the aurochs: "I am an Urus which Is called by the Poles a Tur. by thq Germans an Aurochs and until now by the ignorant 41 Bison." The inscriptions in the various editions —Herberstein's volume appteared in several languages—vary triflingly, but the above, which are taken from the edition of 1558. give the sense In the best form. Shortly after Herberstein the Flemish painter Stradanus. who lived and worked for over fifty years tn Florence (from 1553 to 1605), produced a drawing of an aurochs engaged In a terrifle struggle in an arena where he was matched against a non, two wolves and a bear. This original drawing Is not the least Interesting of the twenty odd ancient pictures of the aurochs in the writer's collection. In 1578 the Antwerp publisher Philip Galle published this and on* hundred and three other sporting drawings by the Florentine master, and underneath each of the engravings there is a Latin inscription. The one under the plats reproducing ths drawing

runs: “Some great lords are looking on at a spectacle in the arena. A furious lion with revening fang and claws tears some wild beasts. He lays the wolves low and defeats the ‘Taurus’ in a struggle, while the bear cowers 'a way in terror.” Whether the artist ever wltnessd such a struggle in an arena cannot be ascertained; but it is quite possible, considering their great popularity during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The blasts

er similar print was produced fourteen years after bmy the Nurnberg engraver, Johann Sibmacher, who etched nine other sporting plates. Then follow, In rapid succession, half a dozen “portraits" by Tempesta, the pupil of Stradanus, one of which prints we reproduce. It shows in what awe the gigantic wild bull was held, for it depicts a formidable-looking machine wherewith the bull could be attacked and brought down. Tempesta’s pictures need not be taken seriously, for his Roman “studio" was nothing but a workshop where apprentice hands turned out a vast mass of prints of little or no value in an enquiry of this sort. His English contemporary of the pen, Edward Topsell, tn his illustrated natural history hodge-podge called the “Hlstorle of FoureFooted Beastes” (1607) only added to the existing confusion. “A Bison,” he says, "is a beast very strange as may appear by his figure prefixed which by many authors Is taken for Urus, some for a Bugle or wild oxe, others, for a Rangifer, and many for the beast Tarantus or Buffe." And, to show that he really meant what he said, he affixes a picture of what is unmistakably a reindeer! Fortunately, however, he adds, as pictures of the bison and of the aurochs, replicas of the two prints by Hlrschvogel out of Herberstein’s "Rerum Moscoviticarum Commentaril.” which, as we have already mentioned, are among the most correct representations published at a period when the aurochs still existed. In England, the belif that th aurochs was a bison-like creature continued throughout the eighteenth century. The picture taken from Samuel Clarke’s "Julius Caesar,” published in 1712, shows what extraordinary Ignorance still prevailed. the animal with antlers like an inverted umbrella being a bison, or Bos gennanus, and the beast in the center an aurochs. The graver of Holzab of Zurich, continues the misconception; indeed, goes one better, for the bison is here turned into an "American aurochs." Of numerous other Illustrations of our two beasts, we have not the space to spegk at length. One of the most characteristic of the latter type is the so-called Hamilton Smith picture of the aurochs. This is a painting, dating, it is believed, from the first quarter of the sixteenth century, discovered in Augsburg not quite a hundred years ago. This painting has mysteriously disappeared, but an accurate copy was made. For the first "modern” picture of the bison that appeared In England we have also to go to German sources, and, strangely enough, to the same city, for it was Augsburg’s most famous animal painter, Rldinger (1687-1767), who drew the first life-like picture. A countryman of his, one J. 8. Muller, who lived many years in London, engraved, in 1768, a fine set of plates representing wild animals after Rldinger's drawings from nature. Among them is one of the bison, called by him the buffalo, and underneath is a lengthy and fairly correct description in English, which be also copied from But this and other Isolated efforts have not entirely prevented the dissemination of the old mistake, for living authorities still tell us, quite seriously, that they have grassed aurochs.

were caught in pitfalls and transported great distances. The likeness is not a bad one, and in the above collection of prints thpre are three other pictures of aurochs, and a fifth depicting the lassoing of the bubalus on the island of Sardinia. A contemporary and one Hans 801, produced also an interesting engraving of an aurochs hunt which forms the second print of his attractive little set entitled, "Venatlonis, Plscatlonis, et Aucupli typi,” published in 1582 by the same enterprising Antwerp publishers that gave the world the last-named collection. Beneath the aurochs picture we read, in Latin elegiac couplets: “Thus with darts, swords, and light arrows men everywhere drive the horned aurochs into pits.” A rath-

SURE WAY TO KILL ROACHES

Preparation of Borax and White Sugar la Fatal to the Filthy Insect*. ■ - Mix dry, powdered borax with its own bulk of white sugar, and set in •hallow vessels ail about where the crawling things disport themselves. Renew the mixture every few days, taking care to sweep up and burn all the dead "insects. Paint visible pipes, and the spaces where they enter the wall periodically with turpentine. Let the turpentine run down and around the pipes, especially hot water pipes. But be careful to do it when the. water is cool. Now and again pour a spoonful of pure turpentine down sinks and traps. Cut Irish potatoes in half, dip the cut sides in the borax and sugar and lay them about under sinks, tubs and closets. Do this toward evening. In the morning gather the potatoes, which should lie, cut side down, very quickly, and drop them Into bucket of bollng water. If insects are plenty, there probably will be from one to a dozen clinging to each piece.

REAL ENGLISH PLUM PUDDING

How This Toothsome Dessert Is Prepared In the Country Where It Originated. - - ,u’•«. ■*—■ .iirr—Tj; i.i i* —-r —...» ■--* 1 "ir- --■--- - - —— - Skin one-half pound of beef suet and chop finely, add to it eight tablespoons of flour, one-half pound of raisins, one-quarter pound of mixed peel, one-half grated nutmeg, two teaspoonfuls of cinnamon, one-quarter pound raisins, one-quarter pound of cue Tants, a pint of fine bread crumbs, two tablespoonfuls mixed spice, four tablespoons of desiccated cocoanut or shredded almonds, pinch salt Mix all together with a small cup of milk, four eggs well beaten and added one at a time, the Juice of a lemon, wineglassful of rum or brandy. Mix well, put into a well-buttered basin, boil for about four hours or steam at least five. When ready to serve, turn out put sprig of holly In the top, pour brandy around it and light with a match. Send to table blazing.

Braised Beef.

Three pounds of beef from lower round, two thin slices fat salt pork, one-half teadpoonful peppercorns, one cup each of diced carrots, turnips,onions and celery (or use a little celery salt instead); also salt and pep* per. Try out pork and\ remove sprlhkre with Balt and pepper, dredge with flour and brown entire surface in pork fat. Place meat in earthen dish, surround with vegetables, peppercorns and three cups boiling water. Cover closely and bake four hours in slow oven. The reason for browning the meat is that it keeps the juice in and it does not get so dry. Also be sure to add boiling water. This is fine.

Delicate Three Egg Cake.

Two cups of pulverized sugar, threefourths cup of butter, one cup of sweet milk, one and one-half cups each of corn starch and flour, and four level teaspoons of baking powder. Mix butter and sugar to a cream, then add milk, next corn starch and part of the flourjwith the baking powder sifted with it; next the whites and yolks of three eggs beaten to a froth and lastly the remaining of the flour. Use any flavoring desired. In baking any kind of cake in loaves the pans should be lined with a piece of oiled paper cut to fit the bottom of the pan and pressed down closely before putting in the batter.

Raisin and Apple Conserve.

Peel and quarter twelve large or eighteen small apples, and put them over the fire with a pound and a half of sugar and a half pint of swet cider. Cook very slowly until they are tender. While they cook, stone four pounds of large, plump raisins, put a little water with these, and let them simmer for an hour, watching them that they do not burn. Mix with the apples, stew very gently for an hour more, press through a vegetable press or a colander and pack In small jars. This can be eaten with crackers, or with cream as a dessert. —Woman’s Home Companion.

Lemon Sauce.

A very nice lemon sauce is made by boiling together one cup of sugar, half a cup of water, the rind and juice of two lemons for ten minutes. Beat the yolks of three eggs, strain the sirup and stir the beaten eggs into it Set the pan into a double boiler and beat quickly until the mixture is thick and smooth. Remove the pan from the boiler and beat for five minutes longer.

Lettuce and Pimento Salad.

Get the canned pimentos, rinse them in cold water. Arrange the lettuce on each plate, lay tn the middle of it a pimento, opening this and putting In the center a cube of cream cheese and folding the pimento over it so that the cheese is half concealed. Pour French dressing over the salad.

Queen Fritters.

Cook one-fourth cup butter In onehalf cup water. When boiling add one-half cup flour. Stir quickly until mixed and remove from Are. Add two unbeaten eggs, one at a time. Beat till smdoth. Drop by spoonfuls into deep fat Fill with apple sauce and sprinkle vrith sugar.

Cocoanut Jumbles.

One pound of grated cocoanut, three fourths of a pound of sugar, three eggs and a large spoonful of flour. Four on buttered pans and bake.

The Best Message

By REV. PARLEY E. ZARTMANN. D.D.

Secretary Enetmon Depaitneot at Moody Bibls Institute,

TEXT—And the ansel said unto them. Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tiding* of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you 1* born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which to Christ the Lord.—Luke 2.10-11.

anything new about this wonderful blessing which follows the coming of Christ? The message has come through the medium of angels from Heaven; prophets had foretold the Saviour, the apostles and martyrs, the saints of all ages have spoken of the glory which followed. Nineteen centuries of eloquence -from poets, painters and sculptors;' oratory and literature and song have united in telling the story of the glory of the ■ first Christmas and the transforming power of the Christ-child. And yet the story never grows old; it is still the sweetest story ever told; nor is It strange that this should be so, for the coming of Christ was the supreme event in human history, the turning point in the calendar of the world* and the greatest gift to man. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The message was one of good tidings; of salvation, of forgiveness from sin. of deliverance from bondage, of refuge from the storms of life, of -peace amid the reHtiessness or the world, of power over the evil in human nature, of cleansing from the stain of sin, of comfort in the midst of the world’s sadness, and of a crown at the end of the race. The message was of good tidings of great joy, and this Is the keynote of the Gospel, for he who really has Christ in the heart can hear the Saviour say and realize the truth of It “That your joy might be fulL” The message is all inclusive —to all people. In the Psalms we read that Christ shall hare dominion from sea to sea. There is no narrowness in God’s plan. “There’s a wideness tn God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea.’’ This babe born in Bethlehem is he who shall rule In Jerusalem, and In Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. “AH kings shall bow down before him.” There is no better day than Christmas, and no higher theme and no greater motive for an appeal for our interest in foreign missions, for this same Saviour said: “Go ye into all the world.’’ ! This is the best message because it announced the Saviour. Redemption is the greatest factor in human history; although it reminds us of the awful bust of sin; for these two explain all mystery and unravel all history. Sin is the ground, redemption the process of all salvation. Sin makes redemption necessary; fedemptlon shows us God, and we shout: “What a wonderful Saviour.” In a. very true sense God was a Redeemer before he was a Creator. This Saviour is announced as Christ and Lord, and every word Is emphatic. Christ in the Messiah who was to come, and as Lord he takes his place as ruler in the hearts and lives of those who accept him. The emphasis of the message is upon the fact that Jesus is the Saviour. There is one line that runs through all the Bible; It Is the scarlet thread of the blood of Christ. There Is one fact that shines out on every page of the book, the face of One who became man for us men and for pur Salvation. This is the message of prophets and angels, of types and symbols, of persons and sacrifices; the multitudes have found it true. It reminds one of the first words of a song used in the south: "How do I know my Lord I* divine? i He saves me from my sin.” The mease •• is personal—“ Unto you." Blessed be the night that song was born; blessed be the Saviour who came and who now lives in his saints; blessed be the God who sent such a wonderful redemption and said: "Whosoever believeth tn him shall not perish." So the blessing reaches me and that means Christmas for my soul and redemption for me, and peace, and joy. and Christ, aad Heaven—if I will. How is It with you? Has Christ been born Ante you as a Savior? Have you accepted the greatest gift God could make? Have you made the Babe of Bethlehem your Savior and Christ and Lord? ”0 holy child of Bethlehem, Descend to u*. we pray; Cast out our *ln, and enter In. Be born In u* today. We hear the Chriatmaa angels The great glad tiding* tell; O rorne to us. abide with u*. Our Lord Emanualf*

The best message for this Christmas time, the best message the world ever heard, is the message which c|a me to the Judean shepherds on the first Christmas night nearly two thousand years ago; the message of One who had come to redeem mankind. But who can say