NOTES ON SCIENCE.
CURRENT NOTES OF DISCOVERY
AND INVENTION.
Itt-xlco's .Stono Idols Found Only In
He main of Cities Destroyed Centuries
Ago Another Invention I'nr
Case of Fire jY ninclo Hull.
us In
STONH IDOLS Of MKXICO. '
These Idola arc of very distinct
types, each locality hnvlng Its own
characteristic forms. Tho material
naturally varies with the claim of
cono found In the vicinity; sotno are
of granltu, somo of mnrhlc, and tho
largest number aro of volcanic rock,
iotnc of hard larva, and others, Includ
ing tho largest, of tho soft tufa which
Is found so extensively In tho volcanic
regions, and Is roost easily worked.
One small Idol, In human form, 1b of
material so light that it will float on
tho surfneo of wator, They vary grcut
ly In size, tho largest being over flvo
feet In height, whllo tho smaller ones
do not exceed n flngor'B length. Tho
great majority aro crudo representa
tions of human figures, but thero aro
also Images of quadrupeds of various
kinds, and also of birds. Tho largest
specimen of this anclont sculpture is
that known as tho "Stono Lions of Co
chltl," in which tho animals nro each
six feet long and surrounded by an
absolutely circular wall, like aomo ot
tho Druldlcal remains in England; but
thoy nro carved from tho solid rock,
and whllo a most Important and Inter
esting relic of ancient fotlHh worship
in connection with tho chnso, yet thoy
aro Immovable and cannot bo classed
among household goods.
As previously suggested, nono of
thoso ldola aro ovor found In tho ruln3
of tho largo number or Pueblo towns
destroyed or deserted nbout tho time
vC tfio revolution of 1C80, nnd which
nro thoso most ncccsalhlo and usually
visited, Thoy only exist in tho rulnB
of cltlca destroyed conturles ngo, whllo
tho aboroglnal religion was unlvoraal
and beforo any destruction or biding
ot Idols had occurred ns u consoquonco
of tho introduction of Christianity. It
is possible thcroforo, Bays a writer In
LcdIIo'b Weekly, with cortnlnty to lis
tho ngo of every such stono Idol at
not lesu thnn 300 years, and mnny of
thorn nre, no doubt, vory much older.
Their varied typea not only represent
different localities) but different phases
of advanco In art in tho Bamo locality.
No more Interesting rollcta of tho an
clont civilization of America havo ovor
been discovered within tho limits of
the United Slates.
I I. ANTS MUST HAVK HI.r.F.I'.
All forma of vegotnblo llfo must, nt
regular Intorvnla, bo allowed to rolapso
into a condition ot roposo or somo radl
:al chnngo will result In tho form of
:ho plnnt. A goranlum cannot bo out
All night with (ho larkspur and look
nrlght and fresh tho noxt morning.
Neither can tho fir trco neglect Its
proper sloop to sit up nil night with
;ho nsh without ruining Ub health and
growing to look a demoralized and
.Hsroputahlo old troo long before Its
rime. In tho country tho tioea nnd tho
HoworB go to bed with tho ' chickens,
but in tho city tho most moral and
well lntentlonod shrub, tho most clr
sumspect and stnld trecB, will bo kopt
awnko by a variety of causes, whllo an
immoral hollyhock or u dissipated elm
troo has n short llfo nnd a merry ono
In tho great city.
Ot tho cnusca which kcop tho trees
and flowers nwnko nights tho botanlat
says that, In tho first plnco, thero 1b
tho matter ot nolso In all Its forms nnd
tho vibration which goos with tho con
stnnt activity of city llfo. PlantB nnd
Dowers of all kinds sloop best away
from tho glare, bo tho lights ot a city,
which Hhluo all through tho night,
must contribute to this lutorforonco
with vegotnblo Bleep, Electricity, in
dopondout ot lt uso for lighting pur
posos, hits a bud effect upon plant llfo,
dooming to make trees and flowers lr
' rltnblo and , nervous- nnd to break up
their constitution, lint, nbovo all, a
plitut must havo sloop; so don't wnko
tho gorahliiniB or dlaturb tho alumbora
of (ho Bunllowor. San Francisco Bui
letln.
I'OCKKT lIItll!8l)Ari!.
It you ovor havo attempted to slide
down a ropo with your baro hands
you can rcallzo that it la a dlfllcult
feat unless ono la well versed In tho
mannur in which It should bn por-
formod. Tho novlco who ban trlod
this form ot descent will havo a mens-
FRICTION ORIP TO ENGAGE THE
ROPE.
tiro of appreciation for tho "pocket
flro-oscapo" which tho picture Ulus
tratoB, It having boon recently patented
by Arthur Oakloy ot Massachusetts,
Whllo nearly ovory hotel Is how pro
tected with ropes, they nro practically
of little value na flrc-cocapos without
somo nort ot braking dcvlcu which will
aid tho person descending in rcgulat
lug his speed so ns to land goully nt
tho bottom,, and this grip Is Intended
for this purpose. It comprises a split
tubo of rubber or othor flexible mala
rial and Is adapted to partially sur
round tho rope, the re-enforced ends
aiding in securing a firmer grip on tho
rope. Uy tightening the flngors around
tho slcovo it Increases tho intornal
friction until tho desired rato ot speed
is attained. It is an easy matter to
insert the rope through tho split in tho
slcovo, and when not In uso tho grip
la not too largo to be carried about tho
person or in tho satchel of tho traveler.
MAUKI 1IAI.T. KOK Till! CHII.DItKN.
If tho toy ball shown by tho Illustra
tion docs not succeed In mystifying
tho children nnd oven older people It
will bo strango, for tho device ia in
tended to roll uphill nnd down with-
MOTOR INSIDE THE SPHERE.
out any vlslblo means of propulsion.
Tho gist of tho Invention Is to mount
a motor within tho hollow body, aa
shown, in such a mannor that Its
weight will overcomo tho forco of tho
spring which, ns will readily bo un
derstood, will cauBO tho ball to re
volve lnstend ot the motor. Tho lat
ter is pivoted on n splndlo extending
from wall to wall insldo tho ball, tho
cplndlo being rigidly attached to tho
sphere A winding shaft projects in
lino with tho small slot beside tho
cplndlo, nnd when tho key Is lnsorted
In tho slot nnd tho ball hold tightly
In tho hnnd tho epindlo and shank of
tho koy prevent tho motor from turn
ing nnd pdrmlt tho spring to bo wound.
Whon tho ball Is undor way tho slot
Is Invisible, nnd as tho mechanism is
flniost nolsolosa thoro is nothing to
ndlcato that tho ball is not bewitched,
causing much amusement to thoso un
acquainted with tho Interior mechan
ism. ROIr.NTiriU JOTTINC18.
An oxposltlon donllng with tho pre
vention ot seasickness Is being hold at
Ostcnd, Belgium, and a largo variety
of awnllatices and remedies aro ex
hibited.
In St. Loula tho nut-cracking Indus
try gives employment to a consldornblo
number ot persons, thero bolng throo
plantB In tho city. Tho nut-crnckors
aro driven by oloctrlclty, each nut bo
lng fod individually Into tho crusher.
Aftor tho shells nro crackod tho nuts
aro winnowed by an air blnst nnd tho
meat 1b picked from tho crushed shells
by hand, womon nnd girls bolng em
ployed for this part of tho work.
A now process of preparing wood for
building la In uso in Austria. Groou
wood ia placed In a largo wooden
trough whoso bottom 1b covered with
a lend pinto. This 1b connected with
tho posltlvo polo of n battory. Cover
ing tho wood Is a socond lend plato
which forms tho nogatlvo pole. Tho
wood 1b then subjected to n bath In a
solution composed of 10 por cent resin
nnd 76 per cent soda. Undor tho In-
iluonco ot tho electric current tho sap
Is drawn out ot tho wood and rises to
tho surface,, tho solution being ab
sorbed by tho wood. Tho operation re
quires from flvo to eight hours. Tho
trontod wood in .allowed to dry for
about two weeks, whon It Is ready for
uso. Thq drying enn bo haBtoucd ar
tificially If desired.
HOW TIIK NIC A HKTAINH 1,1 l'K.
Ono of tho reasons formerly urged
against tho exlstenco of living crea
tures in tho abysses ot tho ocean was
tho supposed nhsonco ot oxygon thero.
It was deemed Impossible thnt any
consldorablo quantity ot oxygon could
exist at great depths. But recent i1Ir
covorlcs- havo shown thnt thoro is no
lack of oxygen ovon nt tho greatest
dopths. Tho explanation Is that tho
cold wator ot tho polar regions,
charged with oxygen from tho atmos
phoro, croops along tho bottom toward
tho equator, from both poles, and thus
carries n supply ot oxygen over tho
wholo vast lloor of tho oceans, Tho
surface water movos toward tho poles,
and bo n groat system of circulation
exists. "Woro It not for tho world
circulation," says Prof. 0. C. Nutting,
"it Is altogether probablo that tho
ocean would In tlmo becomo too foul
to sustain animal llfo, at least In its
higher mnnltcHtutloiiB, and tho bco, tho
mother ot llfo, Viould Itself bo dead."
CIUAUOIKO A TUNNHL.
Should Itnly nnd Switzerland fall out
whqt would happen to Slmplon tunnel?
Tho opening on either side will look
like tho great doors ot somo modlovnl
fortress. And thoy will bo fortrosscs
In all reality. Supposo thoso two bol-
Ugcronta should fall out. Thoy would
rush like a whooplug plaguo through
that tunnol and Invbto caoh othor? In
deed thoy would not, In tho little for
tress at each end thero will bo n man
nnd n button, Tho man will pross the
button nnd bring down tho mountnln.
Whon tho Biunko lifts thoro will not bs
any tunnol any more. Somo fi.OOO oi
0,000 men will havo worked night and
day for live years and a halt at a cost
of 70,000,000 francs nnd destruction
Everybody's Mngazlre.
FOR WOMEN AND HOME
ITEMS
OF INTEREST FOn
AND MATRONS.
MAIDS
Bavin Steps Valuable SnKjrestlnns to n
Housewife A Definite I'lnn la n Mood
Thins Home Fashion Notes Cooking
fjchoI.
HOW TO HAVK HTKI'B.
One of tho leaflets In tho reading
courso for farmers' wives, Issued by
tho collcgo of agriculture of Cornell
university, Is entitled "Snvlng Stops."
Many of tho suggestions como from
tho farm hoiisowlves themselves, and
moro than ono of them can bo pafcscd
on to any housekeeper, Bays tho New
York Evening Post. One, certainly,
that applies at any tlmo and to nil
most any ono Is embodied in tho text
that more work is accomplished by
forethought whllo mind nnd body nro
at rest. "Whon I waken In tho morn
ing," writes this housokcopor, "I do
not rlso Immediately, but I plan tho
work of tho day, and study to see how
I may savo steps nnd accomplish as
much work. I find that If I go about
my work thoughtlci3ly 1 travel ovor
tho same ground several tlmea when
It Is not necessary. Beforo I learned
to do this, I would get up tmddonly
after awakening and nt onco feel a
senso of hurry, which soon became
worry, nnd beforo tho forenoon was
over r was oxhausted In my cflorts to
seo how fast I could work. Now,
when I feol myself getting anxious. I
try to relax mind nnd body nnd the
work goes moro smoothly and I ac
complish moro." Another good sug
gestion is that bad habits formed In
good health aro not easily corrected.
Needless trips from room to room,
and roundabout methods udoptcd when
tho necessity to savo steps docs not
seem Imperative, nro hahlta thtt aro
paid for lator a condition thnt 1b true
of moro occupations than housework.
Somo purely practical suggestions that
any housekeeper may utillzo In hei
own establishment nro, among others,
that n high stool, to be used when
vegetables are to bo proparod or dishes
washed, saves long standing, and that
tho uso of a tray to carry dishes ro-
jiusy woman on tiik uowKKY.
In tho midst of tho noisy revelry of
tho Bowery, a woman sat In front o!
a saloon In the light of an electric
lamp, knitting, tho other night. Jeer
ing, laughing, howling, Bwenrlng men
nnd women passod and ropnsspd, but
tho placid expression of her fnco did
not change, RnyB tho Now York Press.
Ilnlf-drunkcn sailors with tawdlly
dressed girls lurched against her, but
sbo did not drop n stitch. Ulear-oycd
men loafed In tho doorway and hun
gry and sudden creatures pursued
their ways of wickedness or miBfor
tuno, but tho woman remained coreno
ot countenance, nnd her work grow
undor her busy Angers. Sho might
havo been In a country village for all
tho effect that tho notorious Bowery
produced on hor.
TAILOUKI) COAT AND MK1UT.
Gray diagonal cloth, with veot
collar and but'er, tiw latter tasUalut
3
M V ON A LINE WITH THE. 1 'J
duccs tho number of trips. Many prl-
vale city homes copy tho economy of
restaurants In this respect, nnd kavo i
..- .- 1 l t. IV. IV. I
large, un-nncu uiihruib, iu wmvu imv
Boiled dlshco may bo packet In tho
dining room or butler's pantry. An
othor hint Is thnt tho work of a kitch
en should bo confined to n small space.
Tho French kitchens aro models In
this respect, and tho apartment kitch
ens of tho city copy them.- Tho aver
ago basement kltchon Is too large; at
least Its working center should bo
confined to a much moro rcotrlctod
place. Cover tho tables with zinc, as
they aro thou much more easily
cleaned nnd afford a smooth surface
for work; seo thnt tho kitchen tablo
Is sufficiently high, that tho cook need
not Btoop In standing beforo it; sinks,
too, should bo fully waist high to savo
stooping, and also to prevent tho slop
pings of wntor.
A HKCKl'TIOX GOWN.
In gray popollno do chine, with
dccorntlon of brussclK laco, and puf
fings of tho material on alcoves and
bodice. Tho belt Is composod of throo
folds of dark gray velvet with little
set bows: tho samo Idea Is repeated on
tho stock. Tho bodlco npparontly
laces with gray velvet ribbon around
steel buttons, but In reality opens
under tho plcnt.
I through n gray silk cord which follows
tho Jacket edge. Now shapo in rovers,
tho leaf pattern; tho samo idea repeat
ed nt wrists. Two circular Bhaped
rullles on tho skirt. Hnt of Inter
woven birds' plumes and velvet folds.
OUll COOKINO SCHOOL.
Chill Kiiucc.
Peel twolvo ripe tomntocs and four
onions, seed .two greon poppers and
chop nil theso vegetables lino, then
mix. Stir into them four tablcspoon-
fuls of sugar, two of salt, two tea
spoonfuls each of ground cinnamon,
cloves and allspice, ono teaspooutul of
grouud ginger and n quart of vinegar.
Boll steadily for at least two hours.
When cool bottlo nnd seal.
Kstufado.
Two pounds of beef (ribs) or mut
ton, ono tablespoonful of dripping,
onions nnd green peppers to tasto, four
slices ot toast, a littlo black pepper,
garlic, vinegar, thyme, raisins, olives,
tomatoes.
Heat dripping In saucepan, put into
it tho Ingrodlonts (leavo poppers wholo
and mince garlic), cover closely and
stew thoroughly. Servo on toast.
Itoait Mutton.
Wlpo the leg of mutton with a damp
ciom, men wipo ury. Put into a cov
ered roaster, dash n cup of boiling
wator over It and roaBt at tho rato of
twelve minutes to each pound of tie
meat. Fifteen minutes boforo serving
rcmovo mo cover of tho roaster and
brown. If you do not uso n covored
roaster bnsto tho meat every fifteen
minutes whllo cooking with tho gravy
in the pan.
As you grow ready for It, somewhere
or other you will Hurt what is noodful
for you, In n book, or a friend, or.
best of all, In your own thoughts-
the eternal 1 bought speaking In youi
J tnought. George Macdonald.
- Y S
mTTn mrnrn mn t a nriTT
Txilli TJJJlJlj TU LAUlTXl.
.
SOME GOOD JOKES, ORIGINAL
AND
SELEOTED.
The Weight Cauia Hack,
ir the
Ilotti
imnied
Inko
Knds
tho
That Wn L6ndod nt
Ills I.nlior I.ot He
Haiders.
TII15 UhVVV KNDHD HIM.
"In our far country, you nro doubt
less aware," said tho far Western man,
'tho man who stents a horse can
count on being lynched If caught. Ono
morning last year I wnB told by tho
foreman of our ranch thnt ono of our
best broncos had been run off In tho
night, and taking three of tho boys
with mo, I soon picked up tho trail.
Tho thiol rodo straight away for twen
ty mllcB and then sat down to rest,
and ns wo camo up wo found him Boat
ed under a tree nnd contentedly smok
ing his pjpo. Ho made no effort to
cscnpo, but on tho contrary put on
something of a smllo and welcomed
us with:
'Sorry to bnvo troubled you, gon-
tlcmen. I did not Intend to rldo ovor
flvo miles, but tho blamed broncho
run away with me. Of courso you'vo
brought n rope along? It's a clear
caso, and you needn't loso nny time.'
'Vnti nlnln V, 1.. .,! r . 1
'Of course.'
" 'And you know what follows?'
" 'Cortalnly. Let mo get my collar
off and kick off theso old shoes. That
limb up thoro looks strong enough.
Lot mo throw tho ropo over, please.
Thoro It is, and I'll slip tho nooso over
my head. Now, gentlemen, I think
wo nro qulto ready. I shall probably
do somo kicking around, but no moro
man I can help.'
Tho fellow's coolness knocked us
out and we didn't know which wav to
shape. Whllo wo woro nuzzllnc over
him ho smiled and bowed and said:
Havo you any reason for keenlnE
mo waiting?'
"'You seem to want to hurry.' I
replied.
" 'I do, gentlemen. I do. Yes. vou
will obllgo mo very much by pulling
on tho ropo.'
'Why do you wish to chanco cli
mates?'
'Simply becauso I've lo3t my nervo
and am n.' g. in a poker game ovor
at Tularo yesterday I held a royal
flush asd let a man with a pair bluff
mo down and rako In nn $80 pot. Gen
tlemen, proceed.'
"But wo didn't. Wo caught un tho
bronco nnd rodo away, loavlnc tho
ropo behind; but nfter wo hnd gone
half a mllo wo looked back and tho
follow was dangling nt tho end of
tho ropo. Ho had hung himsolf."
Mr. Sheldon's Preference.
"I sco that tho Rov. Mr. Sheldon says
ho'd rather drink n bottle of red Ink
than a bottlo of boor."
"Queer tasto, Isn't It?"
"Never tasted it."
"What, beer?"
"No, Ink. But say, Just imagine Mr.
Sholdon inviting n friend to Join him
I In a glass of writing fluid! Wonder
how ho'd drink It?"
'I supposo ho'd drink It with n
chaser of blotting paper." Clovoland
Plain Dealer.
TIIK WKIGHT cash: hack.
From tho Chicago Tnouno: Ho was
a gay youth with a pleasant turn of
wit nnd ho had a friend In Now York
on whom ho decided to play n Joko
Ho thought for a long tlmo, but tho
wlttlofit Idea ho could conjuro up was
to Bond him a telegram "collect," nnd
got hlB luugh out of whnt ho know
would bo his ctlngy frlend'B ngony
whon ho camo to pay tho 50 conts
charges for a foolish message Ho
wrote several messages on telegraph
Dlanks. Tho ono ho finally sent road
llko this:
"George J. Kolly, Broadway, New
Fork: I nm In perfect health. J. Lln-
;oln Reynolds."
He sent tho telegram and enjoyed
HE FOUND A CHUNK OF LEAD
lis laugh. Then he forget all about
Ono day about a month ntfor ho hnd
tent ino witty tologram tho express
wagon stopped In front of his houso
md tho messongor brought In a small
wooden box.
"Thoro nro two ' dollars charges,'
aid tho mcBBonger as ho put tho box
town on tho table. Roynolds looked
it It nnd suw thnt It was marked
Vnluo ?I00. This side up with care'
'lo wasn't expecting nny packago, but
to could not resist tho tomptatlon of
tcclng what was Inside, so ho finally
J
paid tho money and pried tho lid ort
tho box. Insldo wns a mass of oxcol
Blor nnd wnsto paper. Far down at
tho bottom ho found n largo chunk ot
scrap lead. Tho plcco must havo
weighed flvo or six pounds and to It
was fastened, by a dainty pink rib
bon, n small card. On tho card was
written tho following message:
"Dear Reynolds: This is tho weight
which your thoughtful telegram lift
ed from my heart Youra truly. G. J-Kelly."
MKMOKAIILK LOCALITIES.
ft
Mother Fly "Yes, Willie, this is
Mount Tcrriblo nnd hcro'B tho spot
whero your poor dear papa met his
death." Chicago News.
hi: iiAfi-Min thi: nAiniiits.
Tho success of a rnld on an alleged
gambling houso in a Massachusetts
town was foiled by tho prcaonco or
mind of nn attendant of tho place, who
swallowed tho dice. Of courso this
clover trick wouldn't work In Bomo
gnmbllug places. Even n Massachu
setts throat would scarcely bo ablo to
worry down tho paraphernalia of a
fully cqulrpcd establishment But It
wns a winner on tho occasion named.
Tho bones' clicked ngainst tho tcoth
of tho nttendant, thero was a gulp and
n wriggle, and tho law's myrmidons
wore bullied! Tho attendant might
havo added as ho tossed tho cubes of
chanco across his tonguo thnt tho dlo
Is cast, but being entirely unfamiliar
with classic lore, ho merely remarked
with n skillfully disgusted w'nk thnt
ho didn't know nothln' about no dlco
nohow.
And ns tho stato constable had no
warrant which nuthorized him to rnid
tho attendant's midst, ho turned away.
leaving tho Bwallower in tho throes ot
fit ot laughter that in ado tho dico
rattlo at every throe. Cloveland Plain
Dealer. ,
HI8 LADOIt LOST.
Mr. and Mrs. Blxtablo resided ih nn
apartment houso, but n3 theirs was
tho lower flat thoy exercised a kind ot
supervision over tho littlo lawn in
iront. uno morning Mrs. Blxtablo
discovered her husband in tho rear ot
tho building engaged in strapping tho
lawn mower on tho handlebar of his
bicycle.
"Why, Gerald," sho .said, "how
ridiculous! Don't you know "
"It Isn't ridiculous at all!" ho re
torted. "1'vo carried heavier weights
than this."
"But "
"I know whnt I am doing, Miranda.
Don't bother me."
She eald nothing more. With n vast
amount of work ho succeeded nt last
in tying and strapping tho implement
across tho front of his bicycle and
started to trundlo the machine out to
tho road.
Then ho mado a discovery.
"Why, Miranda," ho oxclalmcd, "it's
too wldo 'to go out through nny opon-
Ing we've got!"
"I know It, Gerald," quietly re
sponded his wife. "That's what I was
trying to toll you." Youth's Com
panion. Other Honks llecolvetl,
"Hlrsh'fl Tnbulated Digest of tho Di
vorce Laws of tho United States," by
Hugo Illrsh. Funk & WagnallB com
pany, New York. $1.60.
"Tho Wheels of tho Machine," by
Charles M. Sholdon. Advnnco Publish
ing company, Chicago.
"Prnlrlo Breezes," by S. A. Harrison
principal of tho .Burroughs school, Chi
cago. Ills T.nst ChuiU'tt.
"Marso Tom, you ,mus' sho' run for
governor."
"Why so?" T
"Kazo you done run for evor'thlng
clso on do top sldo cr de alrth, on dey'n
so many in do raco for governor mobbe
you won't got beat die tlmo!" Atlan
ta Constitution.
Hmmil to Ilellevn.
"In splto of tho lucky stono you car
ry In your pocket you lost all your
monoy and a sign fell on you and
broko your nrm."
"Yes, but wasn't It fortunate I had
that lucky stono? Think what might
havo happoned to mo otherwise! "
Boston Traveler.
Wetl within thn Ijut.
"What aro you doing thero?" shout
ed tho night watchmnn to tho follow
who had broken into a tobacco store.
"Well," replied tho burglar, "I didn't
really think thoro wns any law against
n follow taking n littlo snuff." Yonk
ora Statesman.
Mutter of Diet.
Slrnklns "A scientist says tho goat
Is tho most unreliable of all domestic
nnlmnlB."
TlmkliiB "No wonder. A diet of
tln-cnn labels and circus posters Is
enough to destroy the spirit df truth
in any. cTcaturo."
V
I
