Famous Nebraskan and Wife.
Recent Portrait of Man Who May Again Lead Democratic Host*.
TO INCREASE OUTPUT.
COSTLY MINE IMPROVEMENTS
PLANNED FOR KLONDIKE.
Indications Are That Dawson Will Be
Center of World's Largest Gold
Dredging Fields—Value of
This Year’s Product.
Dawson, Yukon.—The gold output of
of the Klondike tor the season of
1906 reaches the total of $5,697,942.
This figure is based on the average
valuation of $16 to the ounce. By
(he Klondike is meant that area of
placer producing streams within a ra
dius of 50 miles of the city of Daw
son.
The total output of the Klondike
since the discovery of the camp in
1896 is $112,786,572.
These figures are based on the roy
ally collections by the Canadian gov
ernment, which controls all the big
camp. The figures are from the office
of J. T. Lithgow, comptroller of
finances in the Yukon.
If anything the amounts here given
are very conservative. They are well
under the mark, particularly Tor the
earlier years, because it is believed
that many then evaded the payment
of the royalty exacted by the govern
ment. Now evasion is impossible be
cause all dust attempted to be taken
across the boundary before it has re
ceived the stamp and certificate show
ing that the royalty is paid is con
fiscated.
The indication is that the output for
the future will be greatly increased as
soon as the many big streams now be
ing acquired by the Guggenheims of
New York, Sigmund Rothschilds and
associates of Detroit, Colonel Wil
liams of Paris, Tex., and associates.
Dr. A. S. Grant of Toronto and N. A
tOOOOOOOBOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOtOei
Fuller of Michigan are fully equipped
with dredges, hydraulic and other
means for working of low grade as
well as high grade grounds at a profit.
The Guggenheims alone have se
cured hundreds of claims and are
spending millions in improvements in
the Klondike. It Is believed that with
all the improvements that these big
companies will make a heavy pay roll
will be maintained here every sum
mer and that Dawson will always be
an active mining town and the center
of one of the largest hydraulic and
| dredging fields in the world.
MURDERER HAS PRIVATE JAIL.
: His Precautions Will Cost Him Double
Term of Imprisonment.
Rome.—A wealthy land owner. Ra:
mondo Pace, was ia 1S9S condemned
' by the criminal courts of Roggia. in
Italy, to ten years' imprisonment for
having murdered a servant of his.
Judgment was passed in default, and
it was surmised at the time that the
man had escaped to some distant
land under an assumed name. Quite
recently the police heard that he was
in Foggia, and raided his house. They
were very much amused in finding him
safely locked up in u cell which he had
built for himself in the basement of
his house. One of his servants was
paid by him to act as jailer, and by
order of bis master supplied him once
a day with bread and a jug of water.
During eight years Pace never stirred
from his cell, and he told the police
that after completing the full term of
ten years to which he was condemned
he intended petitioning the king for a
royal pardon. As it is. the unfor
tunate man has to start his punish
ment afresh, and in the end will have
served almost twice his time.
aoooooaoooooaoooooooooooooo
GOLD LEFT BY EMIGRANTS.
Attacked by Indians In Early Days,
( They Buried the Treasure.
Topekft, Kan.—We have heard of
buried treasures, but did you ever
know of a case in which one was
found? Well, Joe Prentice, of Heb
ron, Neb., formerly of Sabetha, some
time ago found a buried treasure.
Prentice formerly operated a hard
ware store in Sabetha. Prentice
traded the store to John M. Evans,
now a resident of Ohio, and got,
among other things, a farm near Heb
ron, Neb. People laughed at Pren
tice a good deal because of the farm.
That country was not considered
much of a farming country then.
When Prentice got hold of the farm
Evans told him the following story:
A party of immigrants were traveling
over the country in the early days to
seek their fortunes in the far west.
One night near the present site of
Hebron the party was attacked by
Indians. A man named Wilcox or
Wilson ;was wounded. The Indians
were routed. The wounded man was
taken to Fort Kearny and his brother
was sent for. When the brother ar
rived the wounded man told him as
nearly as possible where he had
buried more than $2,000 daring the
night of the Indian attack. The
wounded man died, but the brother
could not unearth the gold. Later
the land where the money was sup
posed to be buried passed into the
hands of Evans.
Evans tried but could not locate the
gold. Prentice paid no attention to
the story. Some time ago while he
was grading down the road near his
house he uncovered on a steep incline
a rusty can such as tomatoes and
apples are put up in. Opening the
can. Prentice counted out |2,136.50 in
gold and silver, la addition to this
the farm which people joked Prentice
so much about is now a very valuable
property.
PLAN WORLD'S HORSE SHOW.
1 International Exhibition at London
Projected for 1907.
New York.—A meeting of prominent
hoisemen called together by James T.
Hyde, assistant secretary of the Na
tional Horse Show Association of
America, to discuss the question of the
proposed international horse show to
be held in London June 7 to 13, inclu
sive, next year, took place here, the
other day.
A committee consisting of Alfred G.
Vanderbilt, John Gc-rken and James T.
Hyde was appointed to select a suita
ble! committee which will have charge
of the arrangements so far as Ameri
can exhibitors are concerned.
Mr. Hyde said that the American di
rectors of the international horse show
syndicate were Clurence H. Mackay,
Alfred G. Vanderbilt and Reginald Van
derbilt, with Adam Beck, M. P„ as the
Canadian director.
The show will be held at the Olym
pia, which is in the West Kensington
part of London and which Mr. Hyde
described as being “twice as big as
Madison Square garden.”
Men who took part in the meeting
predicted that the United States will
send 100 or more horses to take part
in the show and that Canada will send
at least 30.
iBoooGooooeooooooooooooooooooaoooooeaoiaoooooooooooooeo
Soldier Loves His Rifle.
- I
Negro Sheds Tears as He Gives Up
Gun Carried Twenty-Two Years.
El Reno, Okla.—"All right, sir; all
right, sir. Lieut. Higgins, here it is."
Charles Dade, an, old negro soldier of
company D of the Twenty-fifth infan
try, madp this remark as he turned in
his rifle at Fort Reno after the gen
eral order to disarm the three dis
graced companies of negro soldiers
had been read by Maj. Charles W.
Penrose. Dade handled the rifle care
lessly, and as he i>assed it over to
the officer he turned his face to hide
his tears which fell upon the shining
barrel of the gun.
“I can’t Just help It.” he muttered
apologetically to a comrade as he
turned away. "I’ve been in the serv
ice 22 years, and it’s hard to give up a
gun teat's, almost like my own kin
folk.”
"That was the most unpleasant duty
I’ve ever been called upon to perform,”
said one of the'officers who had charge
of the disarming of troops. “To see
the pathetic appeal in those old men’s
eyes was enough to melt anyone. I
feel sorry for them from the bottom
of my heart. I know they are inno
cent of any wrongdoing, and it looks
hard to them.”
Execution of Chinese Pirates.
When Chinese pirates are caught
and convicted they speedily pay the
penalty of their crimes. A newspa
per of the fur east publishes this
bit of news: “Seven of the pirates
who took part; in the attack on the
river steamer Sainam were beheaded
in Canton at noon, September 10. The
prisoners were brought on to the
ground in baskets, from which they
were immediately released. They
were then made to knel in a row.
Promptly on the stroke of 12 the ex
ecutioners took up their positions in
front of the doomed men and cut
off their heads in very quick succes
sion, to the accompaniment 9# loud
shouts from the Chinese spectators..’’
— ...—*——- ■ »
Men who stop to Consider whether
it is worth while seldom do anything.
5. ■' It.*!# v'w
WILL BREED ZEBROID
NEW YORKER TO EXPERIMENT
ON A LARGE SCALE.
Financier Claims Cross Between Horsq
and Zebra Greatly Superior to Ani
mal Now in Domestic Use
—His Purpose Explained.
Xew York.—From zebras which he
has imported at great expense Wamei
M. Van Norden, president ot the Van
Norden Trust company of this city,
entertains great hopes that the ze
broid (as the hybrid offspring of the
horse and zebra is called), will come to
be generally and favorably known in
this country.
“The zebroid,” explained Mr. Van
Norden the other day, “makes an ex
cellent all around animal for domes
tic use and I hope to introduce it in
this country. It is already used in
South Africa, where it has given sat
isfaction. I cannot say just how
speedy the zebroid will be but those
I shall raise will be from the finest
stock, especially suited for driving
purposes. These animals are much
more strong and vigorous than the
horse and live about twice as long.
They will rank with any of the horses
in genera! use to-day and in valu% will
range from $800 to $1,000. They will
be very tough and able to endure
twice the hardship the average horse
can stand."
The parents, perhaps, of genera
tions of American zebroids yet un
born arc now contentedly munching
hay in the barn at Mr. Van Norden's
country place at Rye, N. Y.,
In temporary quarters in one barn
are three zebras, said to be among
the finest of their species ever brought
to this country. One of them is de-.
dared to be a genuine lirevy s zebra
from Abyssinia and this animal alone
is valued by Mr. Van Norden at $5,000.
The other two zebras belong to what,
is Known as the Bohimii class. Two
more, equally as valuable as those
now in Rye, have been captured for
Mr. Van Norden and will be shipped
to this country early next spring.
These animals are about six years old
and. inasmuch as the life of the aver
i age zebra is about 50 years, they are
as yet mere babies and are full of
more life and tricks than young colts.
So much tor the zebra parents of,
the zebroids. Their parents on the,
other side will range from a full
blooded Arabian mare down to little,
burro jennies, through a list of horse
flesh including piebald, hackney and
mustang.
The zebroids will owe their appear
ance in this country, however, not so
much to Mr. Van Norden's desire to
raise them for themselves alone as to
his determination to solve the problem
of telegony.
He is determined to demonstrate
whether it is real, as breeders of
blood stock assert, or whether it is a
vagary of the breeder's mind, as
scientists declare. Kxplalning the ob
ject of his undertaking. Mr. Van
Norden said:
“All breeders believe In telegony.
It has always been their claim that
if a female animal is bred to one of
a different species but of the same
family and is afterward bred to one of
her own species the second offspring
will show resemblance to the first
sire. Opposed to the claim of the
breeders is that of the scientists, who
say there is no such thing as telegony
and that the breeders are mistaken
in their diagnosis.
rv wuu muiiu? ucai me utrau
of the scientists in their contention
that there is nothing in the breeders'
fear of ttlegony is Prof. W. Ewart, of
Edinburgh university, and for years
he lias conducted experiments to sup
port the correctness of his theories.
Prof. Ewart is now experimenting
with pigeons and rabbits. He asserts
that no one has ever gone into the
subject of telegony in such a manner
as clearly to demonstrate the truth
or falsity of the many claims made
concerning it. The experiments of
Prof. Ewart and others have thrown
some light <m the subject, but there
is still much to be learned.”
STORK 'DRIVES FATHER MAD.
Leaves Home and Acts Strangely
Whenever Child Is Born to Wife.
Portland. Me.—A case that puzzles
not only his family and townsmen, but,
the physician, is that of William D.
Trescarten, of Limestone. Aroostock
county, who acts strangely and then
disappears from his home either just
before or every time his wife gives
birth to a child.
The Portland police were asked to
look for Trescarten. who left his home
a few days ago just previous to the
birth of his fourth child.
Grand Chancellor Willis P>. Hall, of
the Knights of Pythias, ,pf which or- ’
ganization Trescarten is a prominent
member, has notified the members all
over New England to be on the look
out for their brother. Although undei
ordinary circumstances a clear-headed,
well-balanced business man, Trescar
ten seems to change his personality
entirely a? soon as or just before the
stork comes.
Prince's Fight with Wild Boar.
The prince of Schwarzburg-Sonder
hausen has had a severp hunting Ad
venture. While out in the forest of
Sonderhausen he and his party shot
at ai^d brought down a fine wild boar.
Thinking it dead, the prince incau
tiously approached too near, when the
beast suddenly sprang to its feet and
made a lunge with its tusks, seriously
wounding him in the leg and again
in the bod.v after he had fallen from
tue effect of the first lunge. Thera
was a ten-minutes struggle before the
beast was finally disposed of with
shotguns and hunting knives.
Ages of Five Aggregate 435.
Chester, Pa.—The ages of'five m,H*>
bers of the Rush family aggregate
435 years. Their names and ages are
as follows: Margaret Rush, 100 years
old; Jacob Rush, 88 years old; George
Rush, 82 years, and Samuel Rush, 80
years. Margaret and Henry reside in
Philadelphia. The others reside in
Delaware county. All are in the best
of health. The eldest daughter, who
Is dead, lived to he more than 101
years. For longevity the family holds
the record in this county.
.
Our Washington Letter
President’s Son to Go on a Maine Hnnt'ng Trip—Government Scientist
Risks Life for Farmers—Boom in Shipbuilding—Other Interesting
Gossip from the Nation’s Capital.
WASHINGTON.—Kermit Roosevelt, son of
the president, will go shortly on a hunting trip
into Maine, where William Sewall, President
Roosevelt’s old Maine woods guide and western
ranch superintendent, has lately erected three
new camps, making six in all that he owns at that
attractive resort.
Some time ago Mr. Sewall invited the presi
dent to come to Maine on a hunting trip, but thus
far the head of the nation has been too busy with
bigger game—canals, revolutions, etc., to accept.
Kermit, however, accompanied by a cousin, is to
visit the Sewall camps, which are situated on a
“horseback" on the shore of Mattawamkeag lake,
nine miles in from Island Falls, and are reached
— auci a uuve ui iwu miles, it iive-uiuc uauuc uip
down the beautiful Mattawamkeag river, and a two-mile trip in a gasoline
launch over the lake. The camps are situated on a bluff on Hook Point, which
overlooks the lake. In one direction it is possible to tramp 25 miles without
striking a settlement.
Sewall is now C3 years old, straight as an arrow, strong and alert as a
man of 40. One afternoon recently he paddled a canoe 24 miles without
fatigue, and when it comes to shooting his eye is as sharp and his hand as
steady as of old. As collector of the district of Aroostook he has a staff of
15 men, and they say up in Aroostook that he makes a first-rate official.
For a few seconds the other day Quentin, youngest son of the president,
created an uproar in one of the classrooms of Force school on Massachusetts
avenue, where he is enrolled as a pupil. It is said he assumed the preroga
tives of his teacher for a brief period while she was out of the room.
The teacher had been making an effort to impress upon the pupils the
evil of overindulgence in certain beverages.
“All those who drink coffee for their breakfast may stand," she said.
A large portion of the school rose and then the teacher said:
“Now, all those who take tea, either in the morning or evening, may rise."
Again a part of the school rose.
Just at this moment the teacher was called from the room. As she dis
appeared through the door Quentin jumped to his feet, held up his hand to
command attention and said:
“All those who take champagne for their lunch may now stand—on theii
heads."
PROF. HANSEN FINDS ALFALFA IN SIBERIA.
After twice risking his life and once nearly
losing it in the interest of agricultural science,
Prof. N. E. Hansen, of the South Dakota experi
ment station of the department of agricultural,
has found in northern Siberia an alfalfa suited to
the arid lands of the northwest, where the win
ters are extremely cold. Prof. Hansen got on
the track of the alfalfa a year ago, but was so
late in searching for it that he was badly frozen
in Siberia. Despite this experience he made an
other trial this year, and he has informed Secre
tary Wilson that he has been successful and is
on his way back with seed.
Through the bureau of plant industry Ute de
partment of agriculture has been engaged for a
number of vears in encoii racing the erowth of
alfalfa in various parts of the United States. Owing to the wide differences iu
soil and climate in this country, great difficulty has been experienced in pro
[ curing a variety suited to all conditions. Introductions of new alfalfas have
been made from time to time from foreign countries. Several years ago the
department brought some from Turkestan which has been tried thoroughly
and proved valuable in some sections.
Before going to Siberia Prof. Hansen visited northern Norway and Sweden
with a view to finding new crops which might bo of value in the cold, arid
lands of the United States. The alfalfa he has discovered has a yellow flower
instead of a blue. It is a native of the dry steppes of Siberia, and grows well
where the mercury falls to 30 or 40 below zero. The country is exceedingly
dry, and yet the new alfalfa is an excellent forage plant. Prof. Hansen has
obtained seed, and it will receive a thorough test.
GREAT BOOM IN SHIPBUILDING.
Should the present rate of shipbuilding in the
United States continue the current fiscal year
will record the greatest output of shipyards in
half a cc-ntury, according to the report of Com
missioner of Navigation Chamberlain.
A summary of the report says: “The year's
construction was 1.221 vessels of 418,745 gross
tons. Only three ocean steamers were built. On
the great lakes 40 steamers of 232,366 gross tons
were built. The tonuage built during the cur
rent fiscal year up to November 19 aggregate
203,000 gross and if the present rate of construe
tion is not checked by strikes or delays in fur
nishing structural steel the output of our ship
yards will be the largest in half a century and
will be close to the outnut of 583.000 tons in 1855
the year of our greatest construction. During the year only 12 per cent, of
the exjiorts and imports of the United States were carried in American
vessels.”
The report states that on July 30 the documented merchant vessels of the
United States numbered 25,006 of 6,674,909 gross tons. The report urges the
enactment of the merchant marine commission bill which has passed the.
senate, Including the provision for American mail lines to South America, and
favors the bill to abolish the discrimination against coasting vessels in
pilotage charges in the states from Virginia to Texas. * Quoting the resolution
In favor of approved steamship communications adopted by the pan-American
conference at Rio de Janeiro last August, Commissioner Chamberlain pub
lishes a full list of all the vessels in trade between the United States and
South America during the first six months of this year.
The report says that of 126,754 men shipped 37,676 were natives, 23,456
naturalized Americans and the remainder aliens.
POSTAL TREATY WITH CANADA TO END.
The post office department will be guided by
congressional legislation in dealing with the issue
raised by the Canadian government in abrogating
the provisions of the postal convention between
the two countries relating to-second-class matter
which, according to Canada’s notice, will expire
May 7, 1907.
This provision permits the transmission through
the mails of periodical publications, including
newspapers, at the rate of one cent a pound. A
joint commission of the senate and house, of
which Senator Penrose is chairman, has been
engaged since October 1 in taking testimony cov
ering the whole subject of second-class mail mat
ter, and as an outcome of the inquiry the general
expectation is that some legislation wm uc
Should no legislation be enacted then the two governments will fall back'
on the international union postal rates when the provision in the existing
treaty expires, unless in the meantime Canada comes forward with a new
proposition for the consideration of this government. The international postal
union rate on second-class matter is one cent for two ounces.
TAFT PLEASED WITH WESTERN ARMY POSTS.
Secretary Taft recently returned from a trip
of inspection to some of the western army posts.
The business of Secretary Taft’s trip was to as
certain their fitness for brigade posts.
He found Fort D. A. Russell. Wyo., amply
provided with all the land necessary for the ac
commodation of a full brigade and with ample
room for exercise and maneuvers. Fort Robin
son, Neb., also will be suitable when more land
has been purchased. Fort Sheridan, near Chi
cago. 111., cannot properly be made a brigade
post. '
At Fort Leavenworth the secretary believes
it will be possible to purchase additional ground
' at a reasonable price, making the post large
enough for a brigade.
The secretary was particularly pleased with Fort Riley, with its 20,000
acres at the post and a fine plant, already accommodating a regiment of field
artillery, a regiment of cavalry, and a battalion of engineers, so that the
place is already on a brigade basis.
At Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the secretary found the largest array reservation,
save one, namely, Fort Assinniboine. Fort Sill has 5,000 acres at the post,
and the troops have the use of the 40,000 acres comprising the adjoining
Wichita Mountain forest reserve.
Fort Sam Houston* Tex., was the last post inspected, and with this Sec
retary Taft was also greatly pleased. Money has beeu allotted for the pur
of additional land, and there is already a full infantry post there and a
cavalry regiment, so that tt is well along toward a brigade post.
California s mm
Gbft/eu Harvest
as _✓ /. dii'
J MULE TEAM
]_HAT>VE<5TE£.
» -
RA/6/N DRY/MG
--
STEAM COMB/MED HARVESTER
win we ever weary or tne story or
California’s golden harvests? In the
state’s 150 miles of breadth and her
thousand miles of extent are to be
found very nearly every conceivable
product of the soil. It is some 50
years since the whole world was ring
ing with the startling tales of the
great gold discoveries in California,
and at that time the country had little
other industry than pastoral pursuits.
After the first gold fever had some
what abated immigrants began to rec
ognize the immense fertility of the
soil, and the era of the great wheat
farms commenced, many of them be- j
ing from 10,000 acres to 50,000 acres j
in extent. Some of these still remain, 1
though the tendency now is to divide
these big holdings and invite settle
ment by small farmers, fruit raisers
and cattlemen. On such big areas as
these wheat farms wholesale methods
are imperative, and harvesting can
only be accomplished by the aid of ma
chines. drawn by as many as 30
horses or mules, which cut and thresh
the grain, delivering it in sacks ready
for shipment. Large gang-plows, haul
ed by traction engines, are also em
ployed. But great as was the produc
tion of gold and wheat, it was soon
to be surpassed. by that of the or
chards, for which the state has earned
such world wide fame. Although 20
vears ago California production made
but little impression upon the fruit
markets of the United States, last :
year’s shipments from her orchards, i
vineyards and gardens to points be
yond the state aggregated some 1,000,
000 tons! California is, above all
things, a land of horticulture—of or- j
uucvo, *v uivuo, ftiapr mm, apriUlla, j
peaches, pears, olives, prunes, quinces, ;
guavas, bananas, loquats, nectarines. I
pomegranates, cherries and plums, j
It. is a land of many products—gold
and silver, fruits, vegetables, flowers,
wool, hay, cattle, cranberries, walnuts, 1
almonds, sugar beet, melons and wine. :
This is not to be wondered at when the
fact is grasped that the climate gives ;
300 days of sunshine every year, and
that no rain falls from June to Novem
ber. Tn the northern part of the
state you may stand beside a field of 1
corn of as fine growth as can be found
anywhere in the world, which has
never had a drop of rain since it was
sown, has not been irrigated, and will,
in all likelihood, be harvested without i
having been touched by any moisture 1
whatever. Although the climate of '
the northern, central and southern por <
dons of the state are substantially the ; 1
same—i. e„ agricultural and horticul-1«
tural products being found in latitudes j t
700 miles apart—the rainfall dimin
ishes as you go to the south, ranging <
from a total rainfall of some 40 t
inches in the north to some six inches <
in the south, the temperature difTer- *
ing but little. In the locali- f
ties of least annual rainfall <
irrigation has been resorted to, and at s
the present time something like 2,000.- <
000 acres, comprising 35,000 irrigated 1
farms, are thus being watered.
The canning and sun-drying of fruit 1
are big industries, and the products *
are known the world over. The proc- f
ess of sun-drying peaches, apricots s
and prunes proves the dryness of the t
climate, as were there much moisture 1
in the atmosphere it would be impos- S
sible for the sun to abstract, as it does, i
the whole of the moisture from the 1
fruit. t
The lack of labor is the most serious r
trouble in California, especially to the i
orcnaraist; at narvest time mere h
work for every man, woman and child
in the country, but the demand is
greater than the supply. Every va
riety of soil and location is at the dis
posal of the farmer, so that if he has
any hobby in agriculture there will be
no difficulty in selecting the right spot
for its exercise. Tf he prefers to pur
sue any special lint;—grain or fruit,
grapes or vegetables, stock or ixmltry
—the proper conditions are to b«
found, or if he prefers to pursue them
all combined he may do so. Livestock
raising is very largely and successful
ly engaged in, and stock growers are
now supplied with the finest breeds of
cattle for all uses, extensive herds be
ing met with in all parts of the state.
The foothill and mountain districts
furnish rich pasturage—the highe
mountain elevations in summer and
the foothills in winter—and a large
area planted to alfalfa during the last
few years has added greatly to the
livestock interests in the valley dis
tricts. Perhaps the most remunera
ive, and certainly the most attractive.
)f California's harvests is that of the
Jrange; in some districts the country
'or miles round is almost one con tin -
ious orange grove. The justly-cele
jrated navel orange, seedless and per
'ect in flavor, may lie accounted as the
irst in importance of any citrus prod
lct, and with its good keeping quali
ies is easy of transportation. No
ruit tree is more delicate in its com
nencement or requires greater care,
jut no other becomes more robust at
Maturity.
('. EAGLE-BOTT.
FINE SPECIMEN OF WHALE.
skeleton of Finback Sixty-Three Feet
Long Mounted in a Museum.
Its enormous jaws agape as if in
i menace to the hardy intruder, the
skeleton of a finback whale, said to
>e the largest and finest in the United
States, lies in one of the galleries
'behind the scenes" at the American
duse'um of Natural History, says the
'Jew York Tribune. It has just been
required through an agency by Dr.
-lerman C. Bumpus, the director of
he museum, and will be exhibited to
he public as soon as it can be pre
>ared and put in position, it is an
mportant addition to the institution’s
:oUection of the remains of mon
itrous creatures, which includes skel
■tons of a "chambered dinosaur" 7t*
eet in length, of a long-necked plesi
isaur more than 40 feet long, and of
. had roeaur almost as large.
The bones of the catacean just ac
uired are those of a full-grown spcci
nen of the finback and are practically
omplete. The total length of the
keleton as it stands is 63 feel. It has
1 vertebrae. The length of the long
st rib is nine feet two inches. The
kull weighs over half a ton. its eir
umference being 20 feet and its
ength 3 6 feet 2 inches.
This species of whale, the common
orwhal, is met in almost all seas
nd attains in the flesh to a length of
rom 65 to 70 feet. It is next in
ize to the “blue whale." the largest
f all known animals, which reach a
ength of 80 feet, and sometimes even
5 feet. It is also the fastest of
/hales, being of slender build and
ossessing thin blubber. For the lat
er reason it is not of so irjch com *
iiercial value as some of ?!ie other
pecies.
All Cats Given Salute
For 25 Years Soldiers in India Paid
•• Honors to Pussy.
In Poona, at the government house
for more than a quarter of a century,
every cat which iwssed out of the
front door at dark was saluted by the
sentry, who presented arms to the ter
rified pussy.
It seems that in 1838 Sir Robert
Grant, governor of Bombay, died in
the government house, Poona, and on
the evening of the day of his death a
cat was seen to leave the house by
the front door and to walk up and
down a particular path precisely as
the late governor had been used to do
after sunset.
A Hindu sentry observed and re
ported this*to the sepoys of hiB faith,
and they laid the matter before a
priest, who explained to them the mys
tery of the dogma of the transmigra
tion of souls.
“In this cat," he said, “was reincar
| nated the soul of the deceased Gov.
Grant, and it should, therefore, be
treated with the military honors dne
to his excellency.”
As, however, the original sentry
could not' identify the particular cat
ho had seen on the evening of the day
of Sir Robert’s death, it was decided
that every cat which uas9ed out of the
main entrance after dark should be
saluted as the avatar of his excellen-i
°y
Thus, for over a quarter of a cen
tury, every cat that passed out after
sunset had military honors paid to It.
not by Hindu sentinels only, but—
such is the infection of a superstition
—by Mahommetan. native Christian
and even Jewish soldiers.—South
China Post.
Coffee Sold on the Street.
Men go about the streets of Alex-,
andria selling drinks. In one hand
they carry their cup basket and in the
other a can filled with coffee.
