Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1907 — FOR THE CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN

Reading a Watch. In looking over the. pages of an old magazine, one published just a generation ago, I came upon a quotation from a book entitled “Jottings From the West.” The quotation was a description of a watch, the writer calling it a set of “plain facts and statements bound up In a cover of gold.” Of course his idea was that a likeness existed between a book and a watch. It may be that not all of you will see wherein the two are alike. Both, you know, have a front and back cover; both can be read, in a sense, since each tells us something, the book tellhig the author’s thoughts and the watch telling the time. But in each case there Is something lying deeper than the mere facts told on the face of the watch or In the pages of the book.—From “Books and Headings,” in St. Nicholas.

Do Ostriches Ever Die? Nothing is positively known as to how iong an ostrich will live. Some writers claim that it will live 100 years. Ostriches which are known to have been in captivity for forty years are still breeding and producing feathers. It is the experience of Arizona farmers that among the birds having good nutritious green feed deaths seldom occur, except as the result of accident A dog or other small animal will sometimes frighten ostriches and cause them to run into the fence, which may result in a broken leg. When this happens the bird may as well be killed, as few ever recover from sqch an injury.—National Geographic Magazine.

India’s Magnet Plant. There has been discovered in th? forests of India a plant which possesses astonishing magnetic power. The hand which breaks a leaf from it immediately receives a shock equal to that which is produced by the conductor of an induction coil. At a distance of twenty feet a magnetic needle is affected by it, and it will be quite deranged if brought near. The energy of this singular Influence varies with the hours of the day. All powerful about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, it is absolutely annulled during the night. At times of storms its intensity amounts to striking proportions. Birds and insects never alight on this plant.—Boys’ World. Honey Cells. Honeybees are generally credited with instinctive skill In making the cells of the comb hexagonal in shape, but it is probable that this construction is merely the ordinary result of mechahical laws. Solitary bees always make circular cells, and the l>ees in a hive no doubt make them circular also, but mechanical pressure forces them into a hexagonal form. A well known naturalist in speaking of the matter says that all cylinders made of soft, pliable substances become hexagonal under such circumstances.

Setting Snow Afire. When snow comes a very pretty and puzzling trick is that of setting fire to a snow heap. Make a hillock of snow and into the apex of a little cone at its top press some pieces of gum camphor that may be taken from the pocket on the sly. When all is arranged light a match and touch the bit of gum. It will at once take fire and burn with a brilliant and beautiful flame. Those who are not in the secret are likely to express Incredulity before the lighting and astonishment after. Origin of the Word “Dun.” Why, when a person is being pressed for money, do we say he is being dunned? Because In the reign of Henry VIII. there lived a bailiff named Dun, who gained a great reputation for making persons pay their debts. When every other method of getting payment had been tried without success Dun was put.to work, and “dun him” became the popular advice as a last resource.— Portland (Ore.) Journal.

A Royal Ring. One of the most prized treasures of King Alfonso’s nurse is a gold ring in which is set the first tooth shed by her royal charge. It bears the inscription: “My tooth to my nurse. Alfonso XIII.” In making this presentation his majesty followed a custom which has prevailed in the Spanish royal family for centuries.—Milwaukee Star. Hence, Thence, Whence. We often find good writers using these words preceded by “from," as from hence, from thence, from whence This Is an error that boys and girls should avoid. Hence means from here; thence, from there, and whence, from where. It is therefore manifestly incorrect in say “from whence,” etc. The Railroad Train. I will sing you a song of the railroad train. With a ch’, ch’, ch’ and a ch’, ch’, ch’! It’s puffing along through the sun and the rain, With a ch’, ch’, ch’ and a ch’, ch’, ch’l When It strikes a switch at a slower gait There’s a clack, clack, clack and a clack, clack, clack! And it’s In for a five or a ten minute wait, With a clack, clack, clack and a clack, clack, clack! Then It’s off again at a wonderful pace, With a toot, toot, toot and a toot, toot, toot! Look out for the cinders right In your face. With a toot, toot, toot and a toot, toot, toot! Now the train’s coming In with a ringing bell. With a ding, dong, ding and a ding, dong, ding! And the people are ready to rush pellmell At It’s ding, dong, ding and ding, dong, ding! -Little Folks.