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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1913)
V " r - 1 ' '." I V '. , 1? THOUSANDS OF DRAGON FLIES Queer Sight Witnessed by a French Naturalist While Making a Tour Through Morblhan. A professor of zoology nt Lille, M. Charles Bnrrios, was making n tour through Morblhan, In Franco. Au ho was walking along tho road ho noticed that a multitude of dragon flics were flighting on the telegraph wires Tho singular thing about It was thnt they x all rested at an equal distance from each other, and all occupied the samo position, with head turned toward the west. Prom all sides the dragon files ar rived and always placed themselves In tho same position, and at tho same distance from each other. They re mained as If glued to the wire, motion less and paralyzed. Each new arrival Hew over tho fixed bodies of tho others and took its placo In tho line. This chajn stretched Itsolf out to ward tho west, and turned toward the setting Bun. Profossor Barrios fol lowed tho routo for a long distance and found tho samo strange phe ' nomonon. Ho estimated tho number at 60,000, at least. At an abrupt turn of tho road to tho south, tho telegraph lino turned also. There not a dragon fly was In sight! Tho wire was abso lutely freo from them! With tho change of direction It seemed to have lost attraction for them. ' Was this chance? Did tho electric currents running from tho east to tho west exercise any infiueupo upon these Insects? Waa It the solar re- flection? Explain It, who can. In any caso It would be Interesting to know whether this phenomenon bo an Isolated ono or not. KING'S SIGNPOST IS QUAINT Surmounted by Device In Oak, Deplet ing the God Tyr and the Great Mythological Wolf. The llustratlon shows a signpost remarkablo for Its decorative qualities which King Georgo of England has just had erected by tho roadside near Wolferton railway station on tho San drlngham estate. The post Is sur mounted by a device In oak, carved, painted, and gilded, depleting the god A King's Signpost. Tyr trying to wrench his arm from tho jaws of Fcnrlr, the great mytholog- leal wolf of tho old Norsemen, after whom, It Is supposed, Wolferton was named. Tho wolf was symbolical of Fato. In the background is a repre sentation of tho glided rooms of As gard. RIDDLE?. Why aro fishermen and shepherds Uko beggars? Decauso thoy livo by hook or by crook. , Why Is a thief' picking a colnor's pockot romlnded of a line In Othello? Because "who steals his purse steals trash." Why Is a sho9black like an editor? Bocauso ho polishes tho understand ing of his patrons. Why Is a whlspor like a forged noto? Because It Is uttorod but not aloud (allowod). t When Is a sheep like Ink? Whan you tako It up Into the pen. What Is the boat! way to keep a man's love? Not to return It. What is a button? A tmU event that 1b always coming ofT. , What aro the most difficult ihlps to conquer? Hardships. Why Is an asi tho most unfortunate creditor? Because ho gsta nothing In tho pound, Whythavo wo reason to doubt the Giant's causeway? Uocauso Ireland abounds with sham rocks. s iwolfertW Iff; 1 I i tiro 111 I NEAT AFTER-DINNER TRICKS Really Interesting Scientific Experi ment Showing How Compressed Air May Be Used. An apparently empty bottlo may bo made to blow out a caudle. Tho trick is really an Interesting scientific ex periment, Bhowlng how compressed nlr, directly tho proBsuro which con fines It le removed, tends to nssumo tho normal density of tho atmosphoro Wo tako nn ordinary bottlo and, see ing that It Is empty and dry, we placo tho ball of tho thumb over tho mouth with Just a small aporturo uncovered. Then, placing our mouth to this, wo blow steadily and continuously Into tho bottle. Tho result Is Hint the nlr In tho bot tlo Is compressed. When wo tako our mouth away wo Insure that no nlr shall cscapo by Instantly closing tho whole aperture with tho bnll of tho thumb which is already pressed over part of tho opening. Now wo Invert tho bottlo and, pine Ing tho mouth against tho flamo of a lighted candle, wo removo so much of our hand as will mako an opening slm- Blowing Out Candle. liar to that into which wo blew. Tho result Is that tho compressed air, di rectly tho pressure Is removed, rushes out and blowe upon tho flamo. It Is well to uso a small candle, as If wo have n largo candle with a big flamo tho pressure may not bo sufficient to extinguish tho flamo. If wo perform tho trick In front of a numbor of spec tators wo must not let (hem seo us blow Into tho bottlo. This part of the performance can bo dono outside tho room, and wo can bring tho bottlo in with our thumb over tho opening, keeping It thoro till tho moment when we want to release tho air. This can bo dono In such a way as not to at tract notice. METALS DEARER THAN GOLD Iridium, for Instance, Is Three Times as Expensive Osmium Is Dearer and Heavier. Gold is generally looked on as tho last word In costliness, but, as a mat tor of fact, thoro aro more metals dearer than gold than there are cheap or. Tho number of known metals is about seventy. Iridium, for lnstanco, of which a big find was made tho other day In Aus trln, Is throe times as1 oxponslvo lis gold. Gold Is worth nearly $20 nn ounce. Iridium is worth some $02, though tho price will probably como down now. Osmium Is another metal much dearer than gold. It costs about $50 an ounce It Is by far the heaviest of all known substances, being more than 22 times as heavy as water. If .pennies were made of osmium It would tax one's strength to carry tho change of half a'dollnr. This metal has tho pe culiar property of being ablo to Btand without molting tho most Intense heat known. Palladium, about $10 an ounco, !b jusf tho roverse. It is qulto easy to mako palladium vanish In steam. Bo Ing of a white, silvery color, and un tarnlshable, It Is used for tho division marks on scales and delicate scientific instruments. VEHICLE SWING IS INVENTED Mechanical Device Affords Exhilarat ing Exercise and Considerable Amusement for All. Tho Scientific American In describ ing a vehicle swing, Invented by O. Zimmerman of Los Angelefl, Cal says: Tho object of tho Inventor Is to pro vide a mechanical owing arranged to provldo an exhllaiating exercise and considerable amusemont to young and old using tho swing, to Insuro safety In Vehicle Swing. tho uso of tho vehicle swing and to guard against a tendoncy of producing dizzlnoss of tho user. For tho purpose named, use Is inado of a eusponded link plvotally supporting nt Its lower end a supporting frame provided at ono end with wheolu and sents, tho wheels being adapted to travel on the giound, on tho floor, or rails or other suitable support. Careful Parent. "Tommy, when can I lntdrvlew your scout captain?'' "I'll mako an ougagoment for you, dad. What do you want?" "Want to snie If there Is nnythlng In tho rules to prevent your putting in a ton of coal tomorrow afternoon." Holding Out for a Concession. "Bobby, won't you bo a gdod boy and go to Sunday school this morn ing?" "Mamma, will you let me skip my bath if I do?" WMmm Igtelj ONE AGAINST MANY What Happened When the Irish Policeman Thought Green Was Red. By HAROLD CARTER. To bo put back on patrol duty after fourteen years of steady desk work, and when ono Is approaching forty and conscious ol nn increasing girth, la enough to distress any ordinarily constituted policeman. Dennis Fla herty wna no exception to tho rule. Ho told his wlfo tho news nt dlnnor. "Thoy hnvon't got a grudgo against you, DennlB?" oho nsked, fearful as nil women nro nt tho thought that their husband's positions nro insecure "No, It's Commissioner Evorott, bad luck to him," said Dennis. "Nine teen of us, Nora, woman, turned out of our berths and sot to pound tho sidewalks. Tho only comfort 1b thorn reformers uover lasts long. No, them reformers nln't what I'd call stayers," ho continued, Blpplng his tea with mol ancholy satisfaction. "But, Dennis, mnybo you'll bo sot upon by them strikers," Buggostod Nora, romomborlng tho days when she had lain awako at night with men tal Images of her husband being wny laid by criminals, and trombllng at ovcry ring of tho door bell. 'It ain't them guys I'm scared of," retorted hor husband. "It's mo corns. Slddwnlks Is hard on corns and a re former In tho street paving depart ment, bad luck to tho pair of 'em." "But, Dennis," suggested his wlfo, hopefully, "didn't tho doctor Bay your oyes wasn't fit for patrol duty and you'd bnvo to do dosk duty instead?" "That was Doc Flanagan, as good n Cork man as over breathed. Tho now doo's a Scotchman. I snw htm yestld day. I says to him my eyes Isn't what thoy used to be. 'All tho moro reason for you to glvo up desk work, Flaherty,' ho answered. 'Ypur eyes 1b as sound as the uco of Bpndcs,' ho says to mo, after ho'd put mo through my paces. So I guess It's tho side walks for mo, Norn." Ever since Patrolman Flaherty, In his earllost days, had walked Into 'a dynamite explosion, averring thnt ho had not seen tho red danger flag, ho had believed that 1i!b oyes woro bad. True, thoy served him well enough at desk duty. But Docjor Flanagan had known Flaherty In the old country, and a word frbm him had brought "Step That!" about tho, transfer. Now Flaherty was condemned to pound tho side walks, at tho instance of tho unsym pathetic and reforming police commis sioner, and there was no redress. However, he minded less than Nora. In splto of his nmplo girth ho considered himself well able to defend tho, majesty of tho law against tho strikers, who, with flags flying and bands playing, paraded tho business section of tho town dally. Thoro wero not enough pollco to preserve order. Citizens hrd been sworn In on special duty, and conflicts wero frequent. "If I can't do desk work I'll show 'om thoy'vo got tho best cop In town down at tho quay, Nora," ho said to his wife at tho end of tho first dny. "Thoy'vo never put you on post down there!" exclaimed his wlfo In horror. Tho Quay was tho name locally given to the bridge which crossed tho river between two factory districts. Tho strikers had constantly endeav ored to cross It In parade, but each tlmo thoy hud boen ropelled. How ever, on tho morrow, ns thoy had pub licly advertised, they meant to march over tho bridge In a grand procession to tho city hall. And this tho mayor had sworn they should not do. "There'll bo nigh on n hundred of us, Nora," answered Flahortj "I guoss I can tako care of mesolf, wo man." IIo folt prouder than over of his uniform on tho next day whon, stand ing In a platoon with his comrade, ho watched tho mob forming In tho lower section of tho town. Thoro was tho sound or (lstant music. Flaherty started and frowned. Why, thin was sacrilege. The band was playing "Tho Wearing of tho Greon." Flnhorty gripped hlB club tlghtor. Ho looked at tho lieutonant in charge. I;e had ordered thq men to d'-perso to their own posts. Did he not know, then, that nn attack was lmmlnontT This wns Flahorty'B post, hero on tho bridge Tho platoon was dispersing Dlsclpllno forbade Flnhorty to ask questions. He was toft nlono. Ho gripped his olub moro tightly. If ho was to bo mndo tho sacrlflco on ac count of a foolish ordor ho would show thorn what ho could do. His feot woro paining him furiously and tho blood rushed to his hend. Ho was qulto nlono now. "I'll toach 'cm, tho dogs, playing that tuno!" ho auttored. Tho crowd had gathered Into a well-organized de tachment and started toward tho bridge In front of It marched two men, ench carrying n liugo red flag Flnhorty looked round. Wob nobody going to Btop them? All ho could boo wns tho lieutenant's coat disappear ing round tho corner of tho block. On thoy camo, toward tho center of tho bildgo, whoro Flaherty stood Tho music sounded loudly, tho lings waved, cheers and yolln camo from tho throats of thousnnds. Tho sidewalks woro lined with spectators. A faint ncss overcamo Dennis. Had tho may or nctunlly forbidden this procession or was ho dreaming? But n good cop novor pauses to examine his meta physical condition. Ho utrodo for ward with uplifted club. "Stop that!" ho yolled. "Stop right there, boys. Tho first man thnt sots hl3 foot forward, I'll' bato IiIb brains out." Tho old Irish ncccnt had como back In full force with his excitement. Donnls saw tho men with tho lings halt Irresolutely. Tho crowd surged backward and forward, and then, at a word of coiytnnnd from Its loaders, ndvancod again. Tho men with tho flags smiled coolly and contemptu ously. Donnls felt his wrnth overcome his renson. Ho sprang forward and began clubbing right and loft. He seized tho nearest flag, Tho mob bent ngalnBt him llko an Invading sea. A thousand voices clnhiorod for his blood. Tho Hag waB wronched out of his hand. IIo seized tho staff again, struck right and loft, was beaten to his knees, stnggored under tho terrific blows that woro showered upon him; then tho mob surged forward over his prostrate body. "Flaherty, tho Cap's waiting to seo you," said tho man who was bathing his forehead. Donnls opened his eyes.i Tho Bwim ming room was tho district pollco quarters. Then this battered, aching man on tho cot must bot himself, Don nls Flaherty. But ho had dono his duty. Ho roso to his feet and stag gered Into tho cnptaln'B room to con front not tho captain nlono, but the pollco commissioner. "Drunk and ran amuck right into tho midst of them, commissioner," ho heard tho captain Baying, "You are accused of attacking tho parade of Loyal American Hibernians, Flnhorty," said his captain. "Also of nttomptlng to purloin ono flag, tho property of tho organization. What have you to say?" " 'Twas tho strikers wld their red flags I fought, and alono," cried Fla herty. "Red flag!" snorted tho commission er. 'Since whon has tho red flag boon tho symbol of Iroland's glory, my man? That flag was as green as tho emerald grass of Ireland." "'Twas ns red ns ns thnt!" cried Donnls, pointing to n tattered omblom In a corner of tho room. 'Begorra, that's tho very flag!" yolled tho captain. "He's drunk still, Commissioner." "I think this 1b a case for Dr. Mc Dormott," said tho commissioner sniil lng. "It's all right, my man," ho add ed. "You can go homo on sick loavo now. I think, Captain, If McDormott ngrcos with my diagnosis, I may re voko my ordor concerning desk duty In this special instance" "You see, Nora," oxplalned hor Ivubv band aftorward, "with every Irishman In town hungonng for mo blood why thoy thought a whole cop at tho typewriter wns better thnn twlnty pieces of ono making work for tho street paving commissioner." (Copyright, 1913, by W. O. Chapman.) War on Typhoid Fever. Onco moro tho relation of typhoid fovor to tho wator supply has been demonstrated. During tho flood of Bomo weeks ago tho Hudson river at Albany, N. Y., roso a foot abovo tho city filtration beds, and tho peoplo re ceived the untrentcd wator of tho rlv or, containing tho sowngo of places upstream. An outbrenk of typhoid fol lowed, and It was found that 7C per cent, of tho cases wero In families wjiore tho warning to boll tho water for drinking had not boon heeded. Tho mnln reservoir was then nterillzed chcmlcnlly, and tho typhoid ceased. Modern medicine has dono great things in making preventable what in othor dayB wero reckoned to bo tfio vlBlintlons of God. Our grandfathers wondered at tho prevalence of ty phoid nftnr Hoods, but wo know that thojJtroublo comoa from the contami nation of water supplies, and so llvos aro saved whoro onco human beings wero doomed. Year by year tho set onco of sanitation la reducing tho peril from typhoid. Ignorance Is Bliss. Mnnuol Quezon, the Phlllpplno dele gate to tho United States congress, and tho first man ulwayH to appear In whlto clothoB upon tho floor of tho houso, wont to Now York recently. Whllo thoro ho wns Introduced to Chniies Murphy, chairman of tho Now York stato Democratic organization, and grand sachem of Tammany hall. Now, Manuel's Inst nnmo In pro nounced "Kn-zon," and Mr. Murphy thought It something olso. Tho mis take was to Quezon's advantngo, for ovoryono In Tammany hall now know, him as Manuel Casey. fcPOfitl a G. CM. . tfflEmjM&ren ii iiHiiiii AS HIS CONSTITUENT SAW IT o5EKlsBBrtvV33(4rx. well for a moment, Then tho cattlo-denllng constituent noticed tho chamo lcon, nnd wntched It with fascinated oyes. For a full mlnuto ho wb silent' Thou ho pointed a fat forefinger and demanded! "Whoro on earth did you get that thing?" Tho young daughter smiled nnd stroked tho chnmolcon'o back with a loving linger." "Oh," sho ropllod, "I bought It." Tho cattlo dealer was'sllont for another mlnuto. Then ho spoko again. "Bought It," ho repeated, wondorlngly. Then ho loaned far over in his chair. "Say," said ho earnestly, "toll mo. How much Is lizards a head, anyhow?" SECRETARY TUMULTY NOW LLD. Secretary Tumulty now thinks tho president has nothing on him, for recently St. Peter's college, an Insti tution somowhpro In Now Jersey, mndo Mr. Tumulty nn LL.D. Tho presidents Bocrotary returned to Washington nnd wnB nt his desk ns usual, unruffled by his now honors and dpgroo. He wnB at hla office early and wna Bitting at his dosk, while nonrby nnd watching him wns a politician from Tionton, N. J. Tills gontlomnn hnd boon a froquont visi tor on Mr. Tumulty, for ho wanted a good Job undor tho govorhmont. Mr. Tumulty was going over his mall and tho gent from Trenton wnB watching, hoping somoono hnd resigned nnd that ho could got tho plnco, whon tho president, having como to his ofllco from tho Whlto House, walked Into Mr Tumulty's ofllco. "Good morning, doctor," wns tho president's greeting to his faithful man Friday. Tumulty blushed, but returned tho greeting Tho politician, howover, pricked up his ears at tho appellation and after thp prosldont had gone lnlo his privnto ofllco, the gent from Trenton got up nnd walked over to Tumulty iind said: "Didn't I hear tho president call you doctor?" ' "You did." "Aro you a doctor?" asked tho politician. ' "Got my dogreo yestordny," answered Tumulty with pride "Woll, dls Is luck," nald the gent from Trenton. "I've got an awful pain in my side What shall I do for It?" Mr. Tumulty looked nt tho gent from Trenton for a whllo nnd then snld: "My proscription Is thnt you tako a long walk." WOULD MAKE NAVY plan Is to n.ako the nnvy a great educational institution u tlmo of peaco and thus n moro efficient dofonso in tlmo of war, SENATOR N0RRIS' This is a tnlo of how Sonntor Geo, W Norris of Nebraska wnn almost arrested. He had boon a senator but little ovor n month, having graduated from Uio houso of representatives, which podlgroo explains his crime. Tho Bnuator was ntnudlng on n corner in Washington, thinking of (ho day when ho lod tho fight In tho house to ovorthrow Cannnnlstu, whon a car Iiqvu Into view. Ho took It. When tho car reached tho Pence inonumout it turnod to the right and landed tho musing senator on tho hoiiHu side. lie got off, strolled Into th(- ofllco building, still in a trance, walked down tho corridor to room 21 1, oponed tho door of that room nnd mechanically hung up Ills hat. An exclamation followed fiom a stenographer who didn't look exactly familiar Sonator Norris glaucod up In nn nnnoyod way, nnd of a sudden bogan to roallzo that the furnlturo of the room hnd changed ovor night. Thou, and only then, did tho statesman leallzo that, Instoad of riding to tho sonnto ofllco building and walking unchallenged Into his magnificent mahog any suite, he had returned Id tho old room ho occupied uh a loproBoutatlve and taken possession. JJf JBLA JK.sMmJs" T - Cm Koprescntntlvo "Phil" Campbell of Kansas Is tho proud father of a young daughter who likes unusuoU pots. In her young llfo bIio has lav ished affections on all sorts of queer pets, her latest acquisition being a chnmoloon ono of thoso tiny roptlleu which nssumo tho color of nny nrtl clo on which thoy aro placed. Tho chameleon has it tiny gold chain about Its neck, and at tho othor end of tho chain is a pin, that It may bo attached to ono's waist. Not long ngo ono of Campbell's constituents, n cattlo denier, with, scarcely an Interest In tho world out side of livestock, cnm'o to Washing ton and railed nt tho Campboll homo. Mrs Campbell wan out, nnd Campbell' himself was In tho tub nt the tlmo, so tho young daughter, with tho chamolcon pinned to her walat,, marched Into tho parlor to entertain Uio visitor. Conversation wont alone falrlr O A ?- FLOATING SCHOOL I2very battleship a floating col logo." This Is tho aim of Josophus Dan iels, secretary of tho navy, as out lined by him boforo leaving on a tour of Inspection of navy yards, training BtatlotiB and equipment on tho Pacific const. . Tlio Bocrotnry, propoBes to convert every battleship nnd training .station Into n school whoro enlisted men will recolvo threo hours' dnlly Instruc tion undor Krnduates of AnnapollfJ. BcbUIcb making enlisted service moro attractive, Sccrotnry Daniels says thlH new plan will offer to overy young Amorlcan nn opportunity to recolvo n minor jpollcgo education at tho samo tlmo that ho Is serving Undo Sam. It will offer a chanco to young men to fit thomsolven for a trado or n profession, so that whon tholr enlistment Is ended thoy may become useful citizens. In other words, Secrotury Daniels' LITTLE MISTAKE
