Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1914 — FOR THE CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN

The Skill of a Mouee. One day a naturalist lay motionless on a fallen log in the forest and silently watched an animal at play in the grass near by, says Our Animal Friends. This was a large brown backed mouse, a meadow mouse, that bad come out from his home under the log and, when tired of play, had sat up to make his toilet. Satisfied at length with his appearance, he began to search for food. He did not have far to go, for a few stalks of wheat grew among the thick weeds near at hand. The mouse was so large that he could probably have bent the stalk down and brought the grain within reach. If not, he could certainly have climbed.the stalk. He did not try either of these plans, however, for these were not his ways, Sitting up very strainght. he bit through the stalk as high as he could reach. The weeds w r ere so thick that the straw could not fall its full length, and the freshly cut end settled down upon the ground, with the straw still erect and the grain out of reach. The mouse again bit the straw in two, and again upper portion settled down. In this w r ay he bit off five lengths of straw before be could bring the grain within reach of his paws. These forepaws were very skillful little bauds, and he deftly husked a grain and ate It. sitting erect and bolding it to bis mouth as naturally as a boy would hold an apple. Boy Scout Merit Badges. Considerable changes in a number of merit badge requirements have been made by a committee at national headquarters. Those for life saving are: First—Go down from the surface of the water at least seven feet deep and bring up an object twelve inches or more in diameter, weighing not less than ten i>ouuds. Second.—Swim twenty yards, carrying a person of your own weight: (a) By a two hand carry, using feet only for propulsion. (b) By a one arm carry, using side stroke. Third.—Dressed In trousers, coat and shoes swim fifty yards, and undress before reaching shore. Fourth.—ln deep water, demonstrate three approved methods of releasing death grip. Fifth.—Demonstrate Schaefer (prone pressure) method of resuscitation. The Dishonest Baker. A baker who bought his butter in pound rolls from a farmer, noticing that the rolls looked rather small, weighed them and found that tbey were all under a pound in Weight. Therefore be had the farmer up before a magistrate. “These butter rolls,” said the Judge, “are certainly short weight. Have you any scales?” "I have,” answered the farmer. ~ “And have you any weights^” “No, sir.” “Then how can you weigh your but ter?” demunded the magistrate sternly. “That’s very simple,” said the farmer. "While I’ve been selling butter to the baker I’ve been buying pound loaves from him, and I’ve used them as weights on my Beales.” The baker said he would drop the case right there.

Oil In Midocean. Six square miles of raw petroleum In the middle of the Atlantic ocean! The British tank steamer Batoum once encountered this singular field in midocean, and at first the captain could .not account for it. Then he came to the conclusion that the oil was the cargo of an oil vessel which had foundered. He kept his ship in that vicinity for an entire day in the hope of finding some pieces of wreckage by which to identify the unfortunate craft, but not a trace of human life or wreckage could be found. It seems impossible that the vessel could have been burned and left the oil floating, and there were no rocks upon which it could strike. In fact, there is no solution to the mystery. Like so many others of the sea, it may remain unsolved forever. Hidden Furniture. Come, Tab. let me tie this ribbon around your neck. Dad's tool box was well stocked. I had no idea the school was so far from home. Your unceasing chat racks my brain The dead Eskimo was burned to ashes. The classic hair dress is a Greciah knot. The child they called Babe did not behave very well Answers—Table, stool, sofa, hatrack. desk, chair, bed. Ages of European Rater*. Among European monarchs Klnfc, George of England is younger than the emperor of Austria, the kings of Roumanln, Montenegro, Servla, Wurttemberg, Bavaria, Sweden, the German emperor and the king of Saxony, who is nine days older than he. Those who are yoijnger than the English king are seven in number—the kings of Italy, Denmark and Norway, the king of the Belgians. Queen Wilhelmina of Holland and the king of Spain. About Paul Revere. Paul Revere was one of the earliest engravers in America. Ills engraving “The Boston Massacre” sold for SBOO Another engraving to attract general attention was the well known portrait of the Indian King Philip