Bloomington Courier, Bloomington, Monroe County, 9 April 1895 — Page 2

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ance over

ases it is not always to judge of her own tried to be as impartial ad possible on this special occasion. "Yes," said Clare, nodding her head so that certain spirals of golden brown hair which always hung over her forehead danced coquettishly up and down, "I am pretty. And then that $1,200 a year that Uncle Brace's will secured to me isn't altogether a disagreeable pill for some of my lovers to swallow. I don't think I was made for an heiress. I've always had an idea that I should make a splendid poor man's wife." She took from her belt a withered rose and bunch of faded violets as she spoke, and arched her pretty eyebrows over them in a puzzled fashion. " --"Harvey- Gehette gave me the rose," j Kiloquied. "He's very handsome, and I lways did have a weakness for handsome people and he's a rising young man in his profession, people say. I like talented people, too. I'll keep the rose just a little while." And she laid it away in a certain satin lined box where she was wont to treasure souvenirs of these, her girlish days. "And Frank Hood s violets poor Frank Hood! He's so silent and so- awkward, and yet there's something about him that won't let you despise him. Well, I won't throw away the violets either, not just yet." And Clare went composedly to bed. For why should she lie awake and lose the roses of her complexion and dim the sparkle of those glorious velvet eyes, thinking about the respective claims of the various lovers who hovered, mother-like, about the torchlight of her charms? There was time enough to make up her mind quite time enough. So, in the very middle of the season, when balls, operas and dejeunes dancantes were at their height, and when old Aunt Dalmayne wrote a piteous letter up to her brother in town, setting forth that "she had the rheumatiz dreadful bad, and that there wasn't no reliable help to be had, and she was that lonesome that she couldn't stand it any longer and wouldn't one of her three nieces come down and stay with her a spell?" Clare astonished the family circle by volunteering to go. "My dear," said Mrs, Wintringham, "you don't know what you are under taking. It is a common farmhouse, not even painted, among the hills." "And Alantha Ann is as full of whims as an egg can be of meat," said Papa "Wintringham, rubbing -his nose. "But I suppose she is lonesome. UJ mA ssli Mawi "Miriam's IVHSV wiflkJier conservatory lessons and her German class and Laura belongs to those sociables, and I seem to be the only one disengaged. Besides, I am getting tired of balls and dances and suppers. I should like to try the other extreme just for fun." The scene looked indescribably beautiful to Clare Wintringham thst frosty December night, as the jolting old wagon, with a buffalo robe spread over the seat, and a sleepy old horse trotting in front, turned into the valley road, and she could see the ancient farmhouse-, steep-roofed and brown with half a century of suns and rains, with the maple boughs wrestling overhead in the gale, and the wooded hills rising up on every side, while one ruddy beam of light glowed from the tiny window under the. eaves, casting, as it might be, a javelin of brightness athwart the road in front of the door. "I guess she's expectin' of you," said the rough character who had been sent to the depot to meet Mrs. Dalmayne' s city niece, "but I'm afraid you'll find it desput lonesome." And she entered the low-ceiled kitchen, all aglow with the roaring fire of pine logs cn the hearth. Aunt Dalmayne had evidently bestirred herself, for the table was spread, and the oio laay nor self hobbled forward on a crutch to wel come her niece. "Well, my dear," cried Aunt Dal mayne, stepping back to take a second survey, "you're as pretty as a picture. "Am I?" said Clare, laughing. "But, aunty, what a glorious fire you've got, and what a darling old urn, and how good that tea does smell!" And before Clare slept that night she had taken Mrs. Dalmayne' s heart fairly by storm. She had been an inmate of the farmhouse for about a week, when one of those grand ante-Christmas snow storms came on which veil the whole country in spotless white and hang the woods in royal robes of ermine. Aunt Dalmayne's rheumatism grew worse and she-kwt her room, but Clare went liRht-hearted f.s ever, doing i vtrnnif w ui jn' . . rr ttiA nous, wiin surn assistance as Moses Peckham, the hired man was able to reuun. had fallen steadily all day, Zll drifts by the wind that howled lugubriously through the gorS To the VillB, and at last the twilight deenenSed over the Stormy . was sitting thoughtfully oeiore me fiUghtSling apple8 tOT puddinf which wa&ear to Aunt Dalmayne s soul, when JSes caiiic said he, "there's two "Miss Cla rm bound outside, and gentlemen got s' n tired out, and tney their horse ft cl we'd give em a wanted to kno em Mrs. Dalnight's shelter. ; boss, but t does U.e mayne was sick, andTt I'd ask the voune woman thf work." d then Clare winched a little anoolished laughed outright at Moses' unj language. , he course they may come In fl said. "I wouldn't turn even a uof., the door ob such a night as this. e gre And she threw a fresh log on tti. .ng What was her amazement, on tui ,ld Jn to welcome the strangers, to behev. vey them no straneers at all, but Har ,i Gellette and his friend, Frank Hooo ,ir Powder liberally with snow, the noses reddened by the wind, their fetures rendered unnBiu.o j- r cold, thev stood blankly regarding-he: - ,k. a but Clare came forward with the grac of a young duchess. "GanA evening, gentlemen. Praj "or.,e a little nearer the fire. I hardlylCl

I wiir ?eeding- ' stamy "but in such a sked ouse-

.ette ,dy; he only rubbed h... .. i feebly and advanced toward ze, while Mr. Hood was exchanging in turn bis greeting with the former heiress. "It is a surprise. Miss Wintringham, to see you here,' he said, frankly, "but a very agreeable one." And Clare wondered in her heart what new mood of gallantry had taken away all Frank Hood's awkwardness. "It is as good as a tableaux," she thought, gleefully, when Hood had explained to her that unexpected business had taken them across the country in the dead of winter, thus bringing about so entirely unanticipated a meeting, and she had gone into the outer kitchen to get some cream for the table. And as she stood there skimming off the golden accumulation which followed her spoon in thick, leathery folds, she heard Gellette's voice speaking. "Of course the father has failed, and they've lost everything. A great pity, for with that face she might have married well." "And what is to prevent her marrying well now?" Frank Hood's slow, deliberate tones answered. "My dear fellow, we must all look out fcr the main chance. In fact, I was once a little smitten myself but of course it's quite out of the question now." Mr. Hood did not reply; and Clare, as she stood there with burning cheeks, was glad that he did not. But" when she came back to preside at the tea table, with Moses Peckham democratically seated at the lower end, she was as composed as ever. The storm continued in unabated violence for two days, during which time Mr. Gellette yawned over the week's old newspapers, smoked his cigar beside the fire and systematically ignored Miss Wintringham's presence. "A fellow musn't let himself get entangled," was his mental reflection. Frank Hood, however, reasoned otherwise. He haunted Clare's footsteps with persistency; he helped her clean the windows, wiped the dishes, even essayed to sweep the floors. And Clare, though she declared he was more of a hindrance than a help, seemed to like it. On the third day the weather cleared gloriously, and Moses Peckham brought round the strangers' horses. "Come, Hood,'! said Frank Gellette, impatiently, "are you going to stand there all day, making adieus?" "Be off as quick as you like," said Hood, calmly; I am not going." "Not going? But business " "Hang business!" was the unaccount able reply. "What do I care for business? Miss Wintringham has promised to be my wife, and my business is here just at present." And when Harry Gellette was gone Clare told her lover the truth. At this Frank was half inclined to be vexed. GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN.' "But you want me, Frank, don't you?" said Clare, with the prettiest coaxing way in the world. "Of course I do," said Frank. "But darling, I had such a bright little dream of love in a cottage. And it shall all come true ' said Clare, "in spite of the twelve hundred a year." A WONDERFUL GUN. Pall the Trigger and It Fired Eight Shot In Succession. What is claimed to be a most remarkable weapon, and one which is as great an improvement over the ordinary revolver for military purposes as was the revolver over the old time horse pistol, has been brought out by a Berlin firm, The construction of this latest develop ment in fire arm manufacture is upon entirely new lines, so far as regards small arms. The cartridges, which are eight in number, are contained within a magazine in the grip. The action of the piece is so rapid that the eye cannot follow the movements and the whole eight shots can be fired before the first shell ejected has struck the ground. Tfce cartridges are brought to the front of breech block, when the latter is moved to the rear in opening the breech, and closing the breech places the cartridge in its proper position in the firing cham-" ber. The recoil at firing drives the barrel and breech mechanism to the rear, the three friction rolls of the rear link strikes against the curved butt, and are forced downward, the middle joint of toggle is raised, and the breech block recedes, taking with it the empty shell by means of the extractor, until the ejector strikes the shell from below and throws it out, and the surplus momentum of the recoiling ports is taken up by the recoil of the spring, against which the friction rolls Jmpinge. As soon as the recoil, which is zo eased as to be scarcely noticeable to t'nz- hand, is I'p'-nt, the spring draws thi toggle link forward and downward, the breech block pushes the upper cartri e InU. ch.? bar rel and the firing boit is arrested and ( el cocked by the sear The safety piece prevents accidents wren the arm is not in action, otherwise the pistol is always cocked and ready for service. e The pistol weighs 2 pounds, with a 6 I. , -i . r- t.L n . t , inch barrel, and 2 4-5 with a 7i-incl barrel. The projectile weighs 85 grain:nnd is nraiected by the carinuge abnit i ,200. feet per second

INDU

WORLD. jGRESS up to E. SCIENCE AND The Eiffel Tower Bicycle The Double Fender for Electric Street Car Service Hearing Plants Grow Camera as a Danger Indicator. BICYCLE FIRM on lower Broadway has on exhibition in its window a machine which made a sensation at the bicycle trade in Paris on June 14 last, and was an object of -much interest in the recent bicycle show at the Madiison Square garden. Paris was bicycle crazy last year, anj in the spring, when the craze was ac its height, the great parade was held there. Prizes had been offered for the handsomest machines, the most gaudily decorated ones and the oddest ones. The latter prize was the one most sought after by the Parisians and the French manufacturers were kept busy long before the parade building bicycle monstrosities on plans submitted by wheelmen ambitions to carry off the prize. Three weeks before the parade a young Frenchman named Leon Lyon, a member of the committee which got up the parade, made a wager of 500 francs that he could design and have l-i?ady in time a machine which would iirry off first prize for the oddest bicycle. The bet was taken by another bicyclist who had designs on the prize himself, and the next day M. Lyon went to England, and calling at the bicycle office of a bicycle-maker at Beeston, informed him that he wanted a bicycle made, shaped as much like the Eiffel Tower as possible. The dealer thought he was talking with a crazy man at first, but Lyon convinced him that he was in earnest, and the two went to work and designed the ridiculous-looking, but, nevertheless, rideable machine which is now on exhibition in this city. The manufacturer called it the "giraffe bicycle," but M. Lyon insisted on calling it the "Eiffel Tower Bicycle," and under the latter name it was entered in the Paris parade. From the moment machine and rider appeared on the street there was no doubt about the winner of the prize. The rider was as proud as a peacock, perched away up on his seat, but he didn't dare to respond in any way to the enthusiastic applause which his presence caused. It took all the ingenuity he had to keep from falling off of the lofty affair. He managed to get through the parade without a tumble, however, and when he received the prize he didn't forget to mention the fact that an English firm had made the wheel. The machine cost M. Lyon the equivalent of $250 American money, but the prize he won with it was worth almost as much as that. From the ground to the saddle of the bicycle is a distance of ten feet, the framework being made of steel tubing, light, but very Btrong. The manufacturers followed instructions in making the machine look as much like the Eiffel Tower as possible, and this probably had much to do with the success of the rider. The lower part of the machine Is an ordinary safety bicycle, with pneumatic tires and ball bearings. The small cog beside the rear wheel is connected with another cog wheel about five feet up the frame by the ordinary bicycle chain. Another chain connects this latter cog with the pedals. Above this are the saddle and handles, all made in the usual style. The frame work in the rear is so arranged tnat it forms a sort of ladder, up which i.ie rider climbs to the seat while some o.. e holds the machine. It would be almost impossible to climb on the bicycle while it was in motion, which is practically the only thing that can't be done on the "Eiffel Tower" wheel that one can do on any other wheel. Despite its great height, the whole thing weighs only sixty pounds, which is less than the weight of some of the old-fashioned high bicycles. The wheel was brought to this country several months ago and exhibited at the Springfield meeting. It has been ridden in this city several times. It requires nerve to mount the machine, but once on top and started there is little difficulty in keeping it going. Dismounting causes the greatest trouble in using it. The easiest way is to fall off and to trust to luck to sustain nothing more serious than a few bruises. Do Snakes Hear? The popular idea that snakes are charmed by music and can be made to dance is entirely exploded by the in vestigations of some of the most emi nent naturalists. It is claimed that sounds affect snakes only as the vibrations reach their sense of feeling. To prove this, a number of cobras were placed in a room and musicians were ranged on a pile of rugs and required to play. A light screen was broug.it and set up lo that the snakes cou'ld not see the clayers, who piped an4 scraped with

might and main, without eaus'.nc t! o. slightest movement on the pi.; t f t reptiles. The screen was thc.i ta".:- :i away, when the cobras began to r----.se up and, standing erect, movi-.- t : r i r heads from side to side, following '-he swing of the violinist's elbow. A piper, who sat perfectly still, did not seem to attract their attention in the least. A s.ii.gle cobra was then selected for experiment. Music unaccompanied by any marked action had no effect on it; but when a man stepped out some distance before it, and began raising and dropping first one hand, then the other, the creature showed the utmost activity, swaying its body from side to side and sometimes striking forward with such force that its head came in contact with the floor. From these experiments it appears that the so-called dancing snake is only a poor, frightened captive waving its head and body about as if to find some way of escape. Other snakes, confined in cases, in

variably become excited and nervous when sound vibrations reached them through the medium of their prison houses. A violin resting on one of these cases was played, when the occupants became greatly disturbed, but quieted down at once when the instrument was removed, even though It was played as close to the case as possible without touching it. The sight of snakes seems to be very clear and keen, but they may possibly be like the earth worm: Sensitive to sound only as the vibrations of it reach their sense of feeling. The Double Fender. The illustration shows the newest life-saving device for street cars in operation. It has been tried in Baltimore and an extensive report of the trial in a scientific journal says that street car fatalities are impossible wherever the new fender is in use. The Use of Anasthet Ci. It is asserted that a number of deaths in the dentist's chair, which have been caused by the administration of nitrous oxide, were due directly to a condition of the lungs brought about by the wearing of too tight clothing. According to this theory, the lungs are compressed and not able to return to their normal condition. Whether this may be true or not, it furnishes another reason for abstaining from the use of gas. Dread of pain is a habit that may be cultivated, and is unquestionably as much a mental theory as a physical condition. It is possible to educate a child to bear pain unflinchingly, and it would be a very great benefit to the race if such a course were taken with the majority of little ones. As it is now, the baby hurts itself, and the whole family is in a paroxysm of grief on account of it. Poor baby must be coddled and petted and indulged, and gets thereby to dwell unduly on the hurt and its effects. This child will grow up to be afraid of even little pains, and will faint at the prick of a needle and go into convulsions of terror at the thought of having a tooth taken out without the alleviating influence of some powerful drug. Endurance of pain is largely a matter of will. According to the latest theories the mind is capable of putting the body in a certain limited anaesthetic state, and it is believed that this power can be cultivated until pain is much less acute than at present. The Camera as a Danger Indicator. The photographer has some very Interesting possibilities in the way of danger indicators. In one instance a tenant ipsisted that the walls of the building he occupied were settling. There was a dispute and the prospect of trouble, when some one suggested a photograph taken every day. This was decided upon, and at the end or a ween the change in the walls was quite startling. As the structure settled on one side, and very steadily, there was no method of testing it s; accurately as by the camera. A bridge photographed while empty and then when a train of cars was moving over it, was found to sag far beyond the danger line. A man owning a farm on a hillside fancied that his fences moved after heavy rains. He photographed the field and discovered that his possessions were slowly but surely sliding down a long slope. To determine whether death has actually taken place, the camera may be used to advantage. Negatives taken some hours apart have shown changes of features not possible when life has left the body. These are only a few of the ways In which the photographer may find himself useful. Purity of Olycerlne. Glycerine enters so largely into the composition of many articles in ordinary use that its purity is a matter of no little moment to the consumer. Unscrupulous dealers and manufacturers adulterate this article to a great ex aamwraw """r " "" , tent, sometimes with compa, .atrv ,o..Tr,i.ss suhstances. but more otten with those that make it unsuited to many of the uses to which It Is put. The simplest fraud is said to be the addition of molasses to the darker glycerine, and glucose and simple sirup to the transparent kinds. These adulterations are easily detected by pouring a small quantity of chloroform into the glycerine and thoroughly shaking it. The chloroform separates the sugar, which falls to the bottom of the bottle, as pure glycerine floats, being insoluble in chloroform. Among the injurious adulterations are lime, sulphates, salts of lead and hydrosulphuric add. A simple test of impurities in glycerine is to mix it with a small quantity of distilled water. Upon shaking it there is a decided foam on the top of the compound. The lower the grade of glycerine the more abundant and lasting will this foam be.

NK. WORSE THAN A 1BAUCH ON RED WHISKY. Throws Men Into a Condition RorderIng un Madness No Control Over tho Mind or Voice Once. L'nder the In Once, L'nder fluence. "Did you ever see a man on a cin namon drunk?" said L. J. Cartwright, a Tennessee lumberman, to a writer, j in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. "If you should witness a case you would never want to see another. A few months ago I had three young men getting out pipe staves down in the Tennessee mountains and they concluded to have a little toot on pay day. They went to a uearby town, but failed to got the needed article. In fact they could get nothing whatever of a stimulating nature but essence of cinnamon. This essence comes in little fifteen-cent vials and is, of course, put up for flavoring. The boys bought a couple of dozens of these vials and began drinking the essence straight. When they got back to camp they were in a very bad fix. They were noisy and violent and reeled and staggered about helplessly. One of the boys, a quiet, modest fellow, who was never known to make any sort of a demonstration, danced and sang like a wild man. They all yelled like demons and acted like so many lunatics on a tear. It was a shocking sight. They were pale as death, and their eyes were set like a cat's eyes. To move their sight they moved their heads. They had no control over their minds or voices. They were deathly sick, but their stomachs could not throw off the horrible dose they had taken, and thus for three j hours the young men raved and danced j and suffered. How they suffered no j words can tell. It took them three days ! to get over it. When they got straight- ! ened up again they said the one experi ment was enough no more cinnamon drunks for them. I think they meant it. My experience is, and I have been investigating the subject a good many years, that the best and safest indulgence, if a man feels like stirring up his latent powers a little, is good straight whisky. There is no substitute for it that can create as many grateful emotions, and as much to a fellow's feelings of importance, with as little discomfort in after effects. I have tried every indulgence known to caterers the world over, and I take Rood Tennessee mountain dew every time, when I take anything." THE THREE GRACES. A Trio of Beautiful Women Delight the Holders of Rack Scats. Three ladies walked down the center aisle of the National theater Monday night, says a Washington paper. They wore hats hats of a florid style of architecture and covered with luxuriant vegetation. Strong men shuddered and grew pale with anxiety as to where these hats would locate themselves, and as the ladies slowly moved to the front the feelings of the audience verged upon the stormy and tumuluous. At last they were seated well down toward the orchestra, and at least one hundred persons, those directly in the line of sight, turned wan and ghastly with despair. In a moment, however, nimble fingers were at work, and before the watchers could gulp clown their first wild anguish the itfits disappeared and three sleek, shapely and inoffensive heads appeared in front of them. So the fashion has reached Washington. We have among us, then, the pioneers of the propaganda of mercy, consideration and gentleness. A new standard of morality has been erected. Women are showing their thoughtless sisters how to be kind as well as beautiful, gentle as well as fair, how to bless as well as adorn the world. Here is a fashion which recognizes humanity, a manifestation of female loveliness that makes allowance for the comfort of others. It is a new philosophy, a gospel of sweetness and light cannot the superior set make common canot the superior set make convr,m cause in this? Why, if they must hnve their hats whereby to paralyze the -- tibule and fill the aisles with pageantry as they come and go why cannot they at least follow the divine example we have chronicled and uncover when they take their seats? IS STAGE KISS GENUINE? It May He Where the Divine .Sarah Is One Party to It. Vienna and Berlin are in a small ferment over the stage kissing- developed by the jealous husband of an actress who made his wife give up her role because it required too mueh kissing of the handsome hero. The profession in both cities has been elaborately interviewed on the subject, the papers reporting their opinions pro and con. The agitation has spread to England, and authentic pronunciamentos from Miss Terry, Mrs. Campbell and the rest are expected. Meanwhile a little anecdote about Sarah Bernhardt may throw some light on the matter, or at least demonstrate that there are kisses and kisses on the stage as well as off. This emotional actress was recently performing in a new play, and at the close of the last act she had to rush upon the stage, kneel down by the side of her dead lover, who had been shot by the villain, and passionately kiss his forehead. It is said that French noblemen, poets, authors and artists wrote to her, offering to serve as the corpse, and she, not wishing to offend anyone, had a fresh 'person every night. The news of the t abroad, t0 the vast advan. tage of the box office. .John the Baptist and His Griddle. Kate and Reed are two Utile New Orleans folks who are just big ,enough to begin to stuciy tne bunuay school lesson y urenrara. vjjc iuuruing Kate was struggling through the third , .V. AmnnUfna V w chapter of Matthew, while Reed, with his knees drawn up, his chin resting on them and his hat on the back of his, head, listened intently: "And the John same had his raiment of camel's hair and aleathern griddle around his loins, and his meat was locusts and wild honey," spelled Kate, slowly and with difficulty. "Kate." Bald Reed, suddenly, "what did he want with that griddle?" "Don't know," said Kate. After thinking like a steam engine fo a minute tteeu s tace unguieneu jjpwii over, ar.d he burst out: "I know;' tie wanted it to fry his locusts on!"

A CINNAMON

SHE WAS S Tea Years lla-ri. Change ' Ills Love was War

He had been away fror. town for years and years, means, in this instance, ten year, he had gone away because prettynle Smith hadn't asked him to ', Men ;do that sometimes. Now he had come again, -says the troit Free Press, and as he wand about the old place there was aim pain in his heart to note the chang, time had wrought. Everything Wi new, and It made him homesick to wSo der about seeking the things of Jft childhood and boyhood days and fluf ing them not. , . But he found Nannie Smith and w. to her as a tired child goes to its mother. She was kinder than of yore and she was really glad to see him. And he? Well, she was ten years older, but she was still as"t&4t had been but yesterday since he had teld her goodby. "I fancy." she said to him as tr evening and looked over toward the hills beyond the town, "that you feel quite a strangrer within our gates?" "Yes," he-said sadly, "I could scarcely have believed it if I had not experienced it. Ten years is not eternity, either." "No, but times change more than eternity." "It surely does in this instance. Everything is changed." "Not everything, almost everythign." she corrected him. "Not everything, almost everything," slsted, quite hopelessly. "There's one thing that hasn't changed, John," she said, in such a tone and he looked up at her curiously. "Tell me what it is," he asked eagerly. "I want to see it." "You can't see it very well, John," she smiled, "because it is my name." Ten years had been a long time for Joh nto wait, but she made him wait a month longer, and when he came back to his native town again Nannie Smith's name underwent a change also, but it didn't seem to sadden John aa the other changes had done. THE PRICKLY YUCCA. An Interesting Tree Which. Grows ta tht. Mojare Desert. The grotesque trees which thickly dot the Moiave desert never fail to ellcUl exclamations of wonder and curiosity; from the travelers who view them for . the first time, says the Overland Month- jj

ly. They seem like strange freaks of .-f

nature, instead of distinct species 'Qfj plants. The trunks of the old trees wilf. be found woody, but porous and light i in texture and weight ; to all outward appearances tney are as aeaa as win proverbial door nail, but at the extij" ty of each branch will be seen a of rigid green leaves, drawing nance from the apparently decs parent stalk. In the springtime a stem is projected from the cents each tuft, bearing lateral bra from which delicate, whltish-gpeS5tft--shaped flowers are pendant; they dif-lfr fuse an odor that is hot altogether pleasant, ar.d a- spring wanes thes; blossoms merge into a wrinkled, elon-i gated fruit, green in color, that is noivf. palatable, for it becomes dry and'-. spongy as it matures. When ripe lif

falls to the ground, and the thin, flU seeds are borne hither and thither.Sometimes a gale overturns one of theses giants, and the ubiquitous tramy, hl conscience smiting him for the railroax? ties he has consumed, endeavors to brol his chicken, and make his coffee over fire made from the rough gray wood;" His efforts fall, for nature did not de'4; sign this tree for firewood. This gro-;7 tesque tree Is the Yucca brevitolia, and l though it is :found only in southern Cal r J ifomia and Arizona, there are several v1

varieties of tree yucca which resemble it in structural formation. CALIFORNIA'S CLIMAT. One of Its Peculiarities Is that; Xatural Ice Is Practically Unknown. The New York Times calls attention to the fact that, while Florida lies between the parallels of 25 and 31 degrees north latitude, every part of California is in a higher latitude, the southern boundary being the thirty-second' paralr lei and the state extending as far north as the forty-second degre. and yet all along the coast the weather this winter has been milder than in Florida, which lies nearer the equator than the most southerly portion scuttiern California. It must be that, "Areat PacifJo ocean, with the tei Eatt). of its waters modified by " grelWSti -a Sirro, or Japanese guli stream. sponsible for the mildness of the mate of the coast. In the interior, par ' ticularly In the mountain regions of the' state, there is a great deal of sno"w and cold weather, but not along the.coast, and It Is remarkable to see how far the mild coast climate extends eastward and inward, says the San Francisco Examiner. Not until the warm wave from the ocean is met and counteracted by the chill of the snow-clad Sierra is there a degree of cold experienced which is in any respect worth considering. WAS BLINDNESS A BLIND? A Blind Boy Who Saw In the Dark How to Steal. Animals of the cat tribe are sunfeM&L

to be able to see as well in the dark aa

in daylight There are a few human! beings who have their eyesight so culiarly aff acted or diseased that, while! thev can see perfectly well in the dark! they cannot distinsfuish anything either in day or artificial ngnt. i was made, aware of tais extraordinary disease, as the- doctors cal) , by a series of petty thefts in the bacung-tiouse in which I' liied for seval years. Money. Jewelry, on anytr" ppeuea io kp iPft j-..? tor a lor a iew minutes alter I . W n-..AH K vl .

j nightfav'u "cyc uc luuuu. pinany. i tt little blind boy, who was the general'-!

the house, was caught fiflinsr , boarr's pockets in the dark. The gentleir"n na returned home from a long; tripVnd afPr undressing had put on a. ba' e nd gone out of his rom to Wf . hen he returned It we. quite 3 ,.d as he lit the gas he to see the blind boy j :-ts. Tfie boy became 1? iately In the light and e yt, with much Simula' 6 one suspected that thi an, who Kuld hardly oom in the dayljM, couT in the dark.

'If

i

I i

supposed that '-n the stonc-Dowr