Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1910 — For the Children [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

For the Children

Big Bowlder Monument Marks Fort Washington.

School children of New York city celebrated the one hundred and thir-ty-fourth anniversary of the capture of Fort Washington by the British and Hessian soldiers on Nov. 14, 1770, by unveiling a monument on the site of the old redoubt. The memorial is a big rock, suitably Inscribed. Fort Washington Is situated in the northern part of Manhattan Island, between the Iludsou and Harlem rivers, and the victory gave the British control of New York city. Young patriots may wonder# why. a British victory Is commemorated! It is to honor valor and mark an event in history. In the redoubt was an American force of only 2.818 men, while the British and Ilf’Ssians numbered 8,000. Against this overwhelming force the patriots fought bravely until Commandant Robert Magaw saw further resistance was useless and surrendered to prevent the slaughter of his men.

An Acoustic Chair.

Long before Hie telephone was invented it had occurred to people that sounds, especially the human voice, might be carried along a tube. Narrowing sounds, if only for a little distance, keep them from scattering through the air. Even savages many centuries ago discovered* that by put: ting the bauds together to the mouth it was passible to throw the voice farther. After a time somebody invented the speaking trumpet, especially useful at sea or among mountains, and the ear trumpet, by which the deaf are enabled to listen lo the conversation of relatives and friends. Kindness to the deaf, who are glad to hear even the cliatter/of children, led a Mr. Curtis to contrive what he called an acoustic chair, which lie exhibited early in the reign of Queen Victoria.

The «“hair was a high backed library one and hid two barrels to fit each ear, but those who wising! to talk by Its aid bad no.need to speak Into a tube or mouthpiece. Perforated plates collected the sounds of the room into a vase, and from this they were earrletf tp the ears of any one seated In the chair. Flexible tubes could lie attached to the barrels, communicating with other rooms in the house. Thus a deaf man sitting In the chair could bear everything that was going on almost as well as if his hearing was perfectly good.

Why a Cat Arches Her Back. Nature has taught the cat how to make up for small size and weakness by /pluck and nimbleness. In the presence of a dangerous animal the cat arches her back and erects her tail. This increases her Apparent size and is calculated to strike terror into the heart of the enemy. It Is curious that the cat assumes nearly the same attitude when she comes into the room or sees the family outer. Now. her object Is to attract attention, and with this end in view she rubs herself against your legs or your chair aufl purs. The similarity of the attitude assumed under such extremely different circumstances Is explained by supposing that apparent increase of size is useful, either to inspire terror or to attract friendly notice.

Memory Game. Take six coins—a silver dollar, a fifty cent piece, a twenty-five cent piece, a dime, a nickel and a cent. Have the room darkened or blindfold the players. Let the coins be passed quickly from one to another, not in regular order, but, say, the nickel, the dollar, the ten cent piece, the quarter, the cent, the half dollar. Each, player holds each coin .two seconds before passing. When alt have had all the coins the light Is turned up, paper find pencil are supplied, and the players write down the order in which the coins were passed. The one getting the correct order or nearest to |t re-' ceives the prize. Of course the order is decided upon beforehand by the hosts. —■ “ . To Prevent Starvation. • t When you haven't a scrap of bread in the house ' . And the children begin to cry Don’t scold and compel them to etarre oet right. „ | Just give them a little pie.

Photo by American Press Association.