SCIENTIFIC TOPICS.
CURRENT NOTES OF DISCOVERY
AND INVENTION.
First Outline Gun It Origin Wrapped
In Bonis Obscurity Three Hctlptcs
Vlslblo This Year A Llfc-Hayliij Col
lar lilt For n Nervous Hone.
lilt ror a Nenoui Horse
This new safety brldlo Is a French
Invention and Is competed of two
Jointed snaffles and a curb, forming a
spring which Is placed over the horse's
noso without disturbing him unless
occasion should necessitate Its use. The
bit Is operated by tho reins, or there
can be extra or safety reins added. As
soon as tho horso becomes restlvo or
unmanageable, It Is only necessary to
pull up a llttlo harder on the rchi3,
when tho links slide out and' causo a
pressuro on tho horso's palate nnd
tonguo and forces the mouth open.pro
ventlng him taking the bit In his teeth,
and at the snmo time tho curb presses
J
on his nostrils. Tho animal loses his
freo respiration and soon comes under
control. The cut shows tho bit In Its
threo positions, and explains its opor
ntlon.
First Outline 3un.
Tho early Inception of tho Gntllng
gun is wrapped in much obscurity.
Some French critics claim thnO their
mitrailleuse antedates it, but thcro is
absolutely incontrovertible proof that
not only is this not bo, but that the
French government mado strenuous
efforts to secure excluslvo control of
Gatllng's invention; failing which
their competing mitrallleuso quickly
fallowed tho adoption of tho doctor'B
gun by tho American authorities, says
Self Culture Somo good Christians
have claimed that Dr. Oatling Invented
his famous weapon from humanitarian
motives nn nrgumtnt which hns some
weight, as we well know that a mob
or a regiment even, will very quickly
get out of range and danger when
onco it is known that such a gun is
facing them. Tho doctor himself calls
his invention a "peacemaker," but
with tho greatest respect to him, I do
not bellevo ho had any idea of saving
life or anything of that Bort in mind
while at work upon tho gun, whatover
ho may havo thought of since. There
was a Held for weapons, offensive nnd
defensive, tho moro murderous tho
former tho better, and from what then
existed in nrenrniB and from tho fer
tlllty of his own brain tho Qatllng gun
was evolved tho first of its kind. His
experimental gun was mado and tested
beforo military men and experts at
Indianapolis in 18G2. When tho first
lot paid for by Dr. Catling was
ready for shipment to Gen. Butler, tho
factory burned and with it his guns
wero destroyed and his hopes blighted
Another year and many thousands o
dollars were spent to remnko tho pat
terns and drawings nnd a new batch
of guns a year of heart-burning
pinching and sacrifice that many of us,
at somo time or another, havo ex
perlenced and thercforo ono with
which wo can sympathize. Oen. Butler
used somo of theso guns on the James
river, near Richmond, and tho way in
which their inventor cherishes tho rec
oVds of tho execution wrought by thera
Is amusing when ono thinks of tho hu
mnnltarlan theories attributed to their
origin. In 18C0 the government oftl
daily approved tho gun and, after tosts
that make an inventor shiver to think
of, placed nn order for 100. Then not
only did tho powers of Europe order
guns, but bo did China, Japan, Slam
Egypt and the South American coun
tries. A machine gun that spread
devastation in a swath wider than
company of infantry nnd llred Inch
bullets at tho rate of 1,200 a minute
(to-day. rired electrically, its speed is
slightly in excess of 3,000 per mlnuto)
was a revelation to most foreign ox
perts and no Christian or other power
could long withstand tho temptation of
mowing down its Christian or other
foeo at any such rate and by machln
ery.
Threo llcllpes.
In this, tho last year of tho nine
tecnth century, which, by tho way, is
not n leap year, though it Is divisible
by four, there will bo threo eclipses,
two of tho aim and ono of tho moon.
The solar ccllpso, taking placo on tho
28t if Mi; will bo vlslblo throughout
tho United Stutes, nnd bo total from
the southern part of Virginia down
through Mexico, wliilo north of Nor
folk, Vn., it will lo partial. In tho
city of Baltimore It will begin at VMS
n. m. Of all phenomena of naturo there
is nono so profoundly impressive and
awe-inspiring as a total eclipse of tho
sun, and a trip to those regions of tho
country through which tho shadow of
the moon will aweep on the 28th of
May is well worth undertaking. It
scarcely admits of any doubt that
many thousand people of the northorn
and mtddlo states of the -Union will go
to see a phenomenon which compara
tively few peoplo havo over had tho
privilege of beholding. Tho nvcrago
breadth of tho eclipse track will bo
nearly 60 miles. A second ccllpso of
tho sun will occur on tho 21st of No
vember. It will be nnnular, but not
vlslblo In this country. A partial
ccllpso of tho moon will take placo on
tho 12th of Juno, though it will not bo
vlslblo in this country.
Deadliest Tol on Known.
Tho discoverer of prusslc acid was
Instantly killed by Inhaling ono whiff
of his own handiwork. Puro prusslc
acid Is nevor sold or handled. The
smell of It 13 always fatal. It kills not
In thrco minutes or halt nn hour, but
the Instant It enters tho lungs ns a
gas. Tho mixture ordinary boiu as
prusslc acid Is 98 parts water to two
parts of tho drug. Even In this form
It Is very deadly. A 20 per cent mix
turo of tho acid would kill nearly as
quickly as If pure. Atropine, though
It ha3 no harmful odor, Is so deadly
that as much of It as would udhoro
to tho end of a moistened forefinger
would Instantly causo death. Cyanldo
of potassium has a pleasant smell.
which la not Injurious, but n small
quantity swallowed kills at once. Pure
ammonia, If Inluled.would causo death
almost as quickly us prusslc neld.
When a carboy of nitric acid Is broken
someone has to suffer. It will burn
wood, eat through Iron plates and de
stroy whatever It touches. Such an ac
cident once happened In nn neld fac
tory. Everyone ran away, leaving the
acid to amuso Itself by sotting Are tC
tho things. Soon it vs seen that tho
building would bo destroyed and hun
dreds of peoplo thrown out of work,
and four men volunteered to put out
tho flro In tho ncld room. They buc
cecded and came out feeling all right.
Five hours .'iter all wero dead.
Tho I'l Mont Aim of l'hyslcs.
In his cveiUng address on "The Cen
tenary of tho Electric Current," deliv
ered beforo tho British association,
Prof. Fleming referred to Hertz' proof
that electrical energy could leave a rod
In which a rapid oscillatory current
was set up, and could travel with tho
speed of light outwards in all dlree
tlons. It existed as freo radiant or
wave energy In tho ether after It left
tho rndlator and beforo it reached tho
receiver. Both optical and electrical
phenomena had compelled tho n3sump
tlon of nn Imponderable material which
could bo tho vehicle for energy In cer
tain forms. Tho aim of physical in
quiry at tho present time was to de
vlso a theory of tho ether, such that
from tho simplest posstblo assumptions
could be deduced tho facts of electric
ity, magretlsm and optics.
Dlnuinnils In Sonth Africa.
SInco tho discovery of tho first dla
mond at Holtfonteln, In August, 1897,
there has been a considerable develop
ment of the diamond Industry in tho
Transvaal, and In 1898 tho output
amounted to 11,025 carats, valued at
$43,151. The largest stone found thoro
this year weighed 38 carats. Tho
average valuo of the diamonds in tho
Pretoria district Is stated to bo $3.89
por catat, thoso found at KImberley
at $C33 por carat and thoso occurlng
at Jngersfonteln, in tho Ornngo Free
Stato, $8.27 per carat. Tho area of dla
mondlfcrous ground in the Transvaal
Is very extensive, but Its thickness Is
not considerable. Tho weight of tho
diamonds found throughout tho Trnn
svnal in 1898 was 22,843 carats, valued
at $212,812.
A LHe-Svl: Colin r.
An Ingenious Belgian Inventor has
constructed a life-saving collar that
will (it the necks of children nnd
adults. It will keep bodies weighing
over 200 pounds aiioat. New York
Journal.
Scientific Jottlncs.
Great Britain's Automobile club has
adopted a badgo mado as a pin, button
or pendant. It Is mado up of a ring
of blue enamol bearing tho club's
namo, In the center of which Is a
small representation of Hancock's "In
fant," a steam wagon built In England
about 183ft,
P'Nr-T new vessels aro being fitted up
by a couple of promlnont ocean liner
companies with Icemaklng and refrig
erating machinery. In addition to tho
usual cooling rooms and icemaklng
plant, two of tho staterooms aro cooled
artificially. This Is said to bo tho first
caso In which staterooms havo beau
cooled with tho aid of refrlgeratii.b
machinery.
Two parts of sweet oil nnd ono of
water will relievt sunburn.
FOIl HOME AND AVOMEN
ITEMS OF INTEREST FOR MAIDS
AND MATRONS.
Oilcl nnd Kfferttve D.ttuty Frock for
Olrl of 12 How to Dress Tastefully
Hero Are Certain Utiles Thnt Must
lie Followed Out to the Letter.
How lo Dress Tnitofiilly.
A woll-drcsscd woman stands spon
sor for a rulo which every woman
could adopt with distinct pro lit to her
personal appearance. I cannot quoto
It, but 1 can glvo its idea in words
which will bo plain enough to follow.
A woman can never err In tasto If alio
matches her hair in street attlro, her
eyes in houso wenr and her complexion
In evening clothes. That is not to bo
taken quito literally tho hair may bo
light brown, which will hnrmonlzo
with various shades of that color. Tho
eyes may bo palo blue, but they do not
necessitate pale bluo dresses, although
that shado would undoubtedly provo
the most becoming. A pink complex
ion would not always call for that tint,
but for harmonizing shades, although
tho strict letter of tho rulo would bo
safer for thoso who are confessedly
lacking in color Judgment. At all
events It would savo us from many of
the sights which dally meet our eyes.
When I read a fashion nolo telling of
tho popularity of green nnd bluo com
bined I feci a premonitory shudder at
what I am doomed to witness Inter on.
None but nn artist can successfully
comblno violent colors, for certnln
shades only are capablo of a pleasing
combination, yet women who persist
In following every fashion, however
wild nnd absurd, will evolve startling
and hideous costumes which would
never havo been dreamed of had tho
fashion not been suppressed. An "an
nouncement of the rage of black and
whlto is a different mntter, for 1 havo
yet to aeo whero thoso two refuse to
blend. Black Is a serviceable color,
for it serves aa n background to nil
others and will often settle n vexed
question of economy. Soft shades nro
becoming to nil, vivid colors nro for
tho fow. I heard a young woman ob
ject to a scarlet throat ribbon wprn by
her friend because it took away what
llttlo warmth thero was In her rather
palo faco nnd suggest something more
dolicato. Sho was right, too, for senr
let is exceedingly trying when laid
against tho majority of faces. If it
was rellovcd a bit at tho throat with
whlto you would seo a vast chango for
tho better. Thoro is much art in dress
ing tho neck. Tho long thront needs
high collars, broad ribbons nnd many
folds, while tho short ono can stand
but n mcro line of any of theso things.
A short collar on n long neck takes-
away every particle of stylo from tho
owner'B appearance, and a high ono
will glvo a touch which transforms
her. Tills adapting of the fashions to
one's own points Is a fascinating study
if you choso to make it so, and one
that makes a woman distinctive. Be
cause a high colffuro is considered tho
nemo of fashion should not bo n reason
for tho woman who is hnndsomo in n
low ono to change. Such a chango
might transform her Into a vory ordinary-looking
woman. Thero never
was and nevor will bo n atylo that can
not bo modified to cvorybody'a needs
tho manner of doing It Is tho sticking
point. Havo you never beon puzzled
to llnd Just what mado ono woman
stylish nnd attractive, whllo her neigh
bor, prettier, perhaps, was notlceablo
for nothing but neatness? It might
ODD AND
Palo, putty colored amozon cloth laid
In double box plaits encircling straps
of tho clotb, tbo ends meeting alter
havo been nothing moro than the man-
t,nr In whirl, .hx m.ltml dnwn her holt
in front or pinned her voll or arranged
her necktie. It was undoubtedly soino
llttlo touch which Just suited hor per
sonality sho had discovered it nnd
her neighbor had not. Why not7
Probably becauso she never tried; sho
was content to accept fashions as they
camo without considering Individu
ality. Dnlnty Frock For Olrl of 13.
Mado of slnto gray cashmere,
trimmed with bands of whlto cloth,
edged with purplo velvet. Tho gulmpo
is of whlto silk, decorated with pur
plo appltquo bowknots.
Furnish the Kitchen.
It is a mistake to lavish money on
drawing rooms and sacrlllco tho kltch-
en. Kitchen utensils nro of tho first
Importance. Tho cook cannot do hor
work well without propor tools and
proper environment. A kitchen outfit
costs little. New oilcloth for tho floor,
tablo and sink Is cheap and adds Im
measurably to tho contentment of tho
maid. An attractlvo kitchen bespeaks
tho good housokcepor. It is easier to
convince the servants of- tho desira
bility of keoplng it clean. Neat tin
nnd wooden boxes with labels aro a do-
lightful acquisition to tho kitchen
closets and much moro pleasant to
handle than leaky paper bags. Col
ored paper with pinked edges for tho
shelves will work wonders for tho gen
eral effect and a growing plant or two
gives nn air of luxury which surprises
thoso who havo never tried it. Cleve
land Plain Dealer.
Those Unkind Friends.
"I wonder whnt mado Mabel scream
so whon sho found alio was under tho
mlstletoo?"
"Possibly her whereabouts was In
danger of going unnoticed." Stray
Stories.
EFFECTIVE.
nately on tho front box pleat. White
panne velvet, dotted with yellow,
wrinkled stock and plain yoke.
f"YITT "RTTl"iiTi7fP fVT? "fiMTN
VUJX JJU-UlXJ-lA VX' A' U11
SOME GOOD JOKES ORIGINAL
AND SELECTED.
A. Vnrloly of Unlps, Olbfn nnd Ironies
to Cnuse n flmllo Flotsniu and
.Tct.nm from the Tide of Humor
Witty 8aylnE
A Youthful W'htrlwlnrt.
A slam nt the rate, nnd n bitnc at tho
door,
And n pell-mell rush ihrouch tho hall:
A hcndlnnir rnco o'er tho kitchen lloor.
Llko tho sound of n. whirlwind small.
I catch a (Irish from roguish eyes
As blue n tho morntnu rkvi
And my npplcharkct j overturned
And Iho whli hvliul misses by.
There's ii renin per of feet down tho irar
uen path
Aa ii boy nnd doc dlnntitienr!
tint a shout, n bark nnd a merry lausli
Como back to mv wnltlmr cir.
I cither up my cattcrcd work.
Willi II nn o nt their no ' Jov:
For what Is a boy without a dos,
ur n uoK without a hoy?
Out nil has Krown mo hushed nnd sllll,
To the door I womlorliu: creep.
rhcio, under thu applo-tree, down by tho
utirn,
Tho whirlwind hns gone lo ideep.
-M. II. Sanfonl.
lUceptlnii lo the Fun.
"Has thoro been anything of Import
ance In n social way gains on Ulrica 1
was here Inst?" Inquired tho drummer
who visited tho Arkansas hamlet oi'
Porkvlllo onco every thirty day3.
"Wa-al, no," replied tho landlord ot
tho tavern; "nothln In purtlcklcr, cx
:opt that a feller by tho name of I luck
Bucklcby was tar-au'-fcathered night
bofo' last. A big crowd of our best
people was present, nn ovcrybody
ponrcd to enjoy tho nffalr."
"You don't toll mo!"
"Wa-al, everybody but Huck Buck
loby, anyhow." Judge.
Opportunity to F.rnnnmlc.
"No!" declared Mr. AVlmpllng. "I
shall not pay $3 for tho privilege of
tnklug you to tho theater. I don't say
that I can't nfford It, but I claim that
no ordinary play Is worth $1.50
scat."
nut, John, his wife roplled, "you
used to tako ino so often 1 You didn't
seem to think $1.50 n scat was too
much then."
"Alicia, don't talk nonsense! Wo can
sit Just as near together at homo now
as It la posslblo to In tho mo3t cramp
ed theater In town."
CmUlous.
"Ono word, Emlllc. Would you mind
If I toll you thnt I lovo you to distrac
tion, that I can't llvo without you, and
that I'll kill myself if you refuse to Its
ten to mo?"
"Yes, I should mind, for I can nover
caro for you!"
"Then I won't say it!" Lustlgo Blat
ter. AVnlt n Fow Months.
"Thnt couplo haven't been married
long."
"How do you know?"
"Sho goes to tho goto with him ovory
morning whon ho starts for his work,
nnd comes out nnd watches for his re
turn In tho evening nnd he's nover
late." Stray Stories.
Tho Htory All Wrong.
"I called In," said tho man, "to say
that your story about tho flro next door
to mo was all wrong."
"All wrong?" nskod tho editor.
"Yes, sir! Why, hang it, air, I spoil
my namo with two 's'.and I mako soap,
not shoo blacking." Philadelphia
North American.
Ulnd to Hear It.
The Landlord "Auntlo, I will havo
to ralso your rent."
Auntlo "Well, now, dnt's pow'ful
good In yo', Mlstah McQtitro, cos fo' do
Lawd, I dono guv up all hope uv ovah
raisin' It'm'self."
Intituling the Men.
"Yes, they havo two mantels In
every room in the new womcu'a club
house."
"What's that for?"
"For tho mombera to put their feet
on."
"Tho women put their feet on tho
mantel?"
,"Ycb, they nro mado expressly for
them Just 18 inches above tho floor."
Cleveland Pluln Denier.
Why He Felt Iludly.
"You seem much upset, my good
man."
"Hupaot! I should think I am hup
sot. Our blessed kld'n Just set 'Issolf
on flro, and blowed If tho missus nin'
been and put It out with my pot of boor
nn' mo stoney broke, too. Sketchy
Bits.
Tho Mnta l'olnt.
"Yes, my dear," said a Now YorK
man to his 18-year-old daughter, "I
wish you would do your host to cap
tlvato tho heart of our coachman." i
"And elopo with him, papa?"
"Yob, my dear."
"Ah, I sec; you dear, cuto papa! You
want all tho papers to say I nm n
fascinating beauty and a reigning
bollc."
"Well, that would help a little; but
that Is not tho main point."
"Whnt Is It, then, papa?"
"Why, tho papers will all say you nro
tho daughter ot a millionaire, nnd that
will enlarge my credit. See? Now,
you run out to tho stable; that's a
good girl." Ohio Stato Journal.
A l'l tin Ciinu.
Mrs. Jnggion "Intoxicate 1 nrrnln'
Jnggrfin "So'm I, in' dear hlc
co'm 1."
Wldonoil Keopn nf Kduei lo:l.
"But." wo urged, "life Is not alljoyf
Do you do nnything to fortify thesa
young pessona ngalnnt the sorrows of
life?"
Tho preceptress ot tho Bomlrinry
cmllctl n cad, haunting Smile.
"Yes," alio answered In a low voice,
but distinctly, "wo teach them how to
weep without making their noucs red!"
Here, again wo woro reminded how
vnstly tho scope of oducntlon had wid
ened olnce tho days cf our youth.
Detroit Journal.
A Who Precaution.
"What on earth aro you bringing all
thoso umbrellas In hero for?" asked
Mrs. Van Fashion, nc Mr. Van Fashion
puffod Into their bedroom with nn arm
ful of rain Interceptors.
"Why, I thought thnt reception w.v
duo tonight."
"Yea, and you aro afraid tho guoata
will steal them, aro you7"
'Not nt all. I am afraid they will
recognize them." Llfo.
In u Clrclo.
"It Is really wonderful," mused tho
deop thinker, "how n thing or an en
tity will havo Its boglnnlngi run IU
course, and end oxnetly as It began.
You follow mo, I hopo?"
"I think I do," said tho worldly one.
'For Instance, n man will got n Jug.
Immodintoly a Jag is dovolopcd. Then
ho may proditco n Jig. nnd vory llkoly
ho'll wind up In tho Jug." Philadel
phia Pross.
The Cnnnlhnl nnd HI Captive.
Tho cannibal's captlvo now had re
course to argumont.
'In a hot country," ho urged, "strict
ly vegotablo diet Is conduolvo to lon
gevity.''
"Whoso longovlty? "demanded tho
cannibal, with a loud, Insulting laugh.
In tho nntlvo stato, man's aonso of
humor is often stronger .than his senso
of propriety. Detroit Journal.
Dntroted Hymploins nf Softness.
'I think I'm making somo headway,"
said tho poralstcnt lovor, who is not
In fnvor with hor father.
"But I thought tho old gontloman
kicked you out whonovor ho found you
at tho house."
"Ho does, but I havo noticed that ho
Is not kicking nearly no hard of lato. I
feel suro that ho Is gradually roltot
lng." Stray Stories.
Wens of the Tlmei.
"Slgna of troublo down In
Cuba,"
rend the hat drummor.
"I noticed It whon 1 wnB thoro," re
marked tho correspondent. "Beer
signs wero becoming moro conspicu
ous every day." From tho Chicago
Dally News.
-1 .
M, notions of Diet.
"Aro you a vegotarlan7"
"Yes; by proxy. 1 havo always in
sisted thnt cows and othor food unl
mnls ahould bo strictly limited to a
vegetnblo diet." Washington Star.
Trulnliiff tho lUliy.
"Oil, ma, como up hero quick."
"What's tho matter, Tommy7"
"Bobby's playing clrcua, and lio'u
goln to mako tho baby divo off tho
mantel." Indianapolis Journal.
Friendly KuirKcstloii.
"Thoro will soon bo 300 electric cabs
running in New York."
"Peoplo with Now York streotu to
cross will do woll to crosa 'cm now."
Cleveland Plain Doaler.
t'otiipurtttWi'lr Well Preserved.
"Walter, this ateak Is badly burned."
"Yes, sir; but you hadn't ousHter
mako a fuss, sir; that man ovor thorp's
got ono broiled to n crisp, sir." De
troit Freo Press.
I