Mysteries of Nature Bv G. Frederick Wright. A. M. LL. D. STORY OF A LIME-STONE QUARRY. One of Prof. Huxley's most Interest ing lectures was entitled “On a Piece of Chalk ' f'halk is a species of lime stone made up mostly of the shells of minute organisms, which appear to good advantage only under the micro scope. The northern portion of France and the southern shores of England nr** wholly made up of chalk cliffs, which present a very striking appear auce t|ie old name for England, Al bion, being derived from a word sign! fying this white appearance It is found that in the deep sea dredgings these minute organisms which consti tute the chalk formation are still ac cumulating. though at a very slow rate. Chalk is therefore supposed to he a deep sea formation. Rocks of corresponding age in other portions of the world are known as cretaceous, the word being derived from the Latin word rreta, signifying chalk. These formations occupy a wide belt In the states west <>f the Missouri river, extending from Texas into Brit ish America, but there is not very much true chalk such as we are fa miliar with in the schoolroom in this area. The rocks, however, are made up of a species of shells, which are very beautiful and preserve still their iridescent color. Another interesting locality where chalk is found is over the hills of Pal estine—Mount Olivet and many of the summits of mountains further south in Palestine, and the hill on which Nazareth is built, being of that age and consisting, in considerable part, of pure chalk. The chalk formations He in about the middle of the geological horizon and are several million years old. Coming down to our own line, we find the process of limestone forma tion still going on with great rapidity in certain localities. The peninsula of Florida illustrates this in the most striking measure. Sea shells are so abundant all along the *?ast coast of Florida that they are washed up upon the shore in windrows, forming Indeed the entire shore line, while as one pro ceeds to the interior of the' state he finds successive windrows of shells that have formerly formed the shore line, showing how the land has grown by these slow Increments. These shells as they arc* rolled by the water are broken up and much of them ground Into fine powder, when they, all together, become cemented into a loose roc k The buildings of that re gion especially the old fort at St. Augustine are constructed of this rock, known as coquina. Among the most interesting lime stone strata of the earlier ages are the corniferoti8 ami the Trenton lime stone, whic h appear in special develop ment in the islands in the western part Qt Lake Erie, and in an area about Cincinnati, though the name was derive d from Trenton, N. Y , where the rocks were first carefully studied. The cornlferoua and Tren ton limestones are favorites every where for burning lime, while the solid blocks make the most substantial building material. The great locks at the* Soo were built of corniferous lime stone* from Kelley island in Lake Erie, like Solomon s temple, every stone being fashioned at the ejuarry and carried directly to its place in the great structure, many hundred miles away. This limestone Is also sought for very widely for the flux in smelting iron, its freedom from impurities giv ing it special value. The extent of these deposits over the United States is very surprising. While they appear at the'surface at. comparatively few places, they are penetrated by deep drill holes almost everywhere in the Mississippi basin, and in the Hudson river and Mohawk valleys. From what we have already said of the origin of c halk and of the penin sula of Florida, it is easy to see that this extensive limestone stratum over the Mississippi valley implies in early geological ages an equally extensive expanse of ocean, which was slowly filling up with the sediment in some places, but with sea shells in others. The amount of limestone in the world is enormous, being sufficient to make a stratum hundreds of feet thick over almost the whole habitable world In this there is brought to light a method of nature to clear the atmos phere of impurities which is very In teresting Lime itself, as a mineral, is a very different substance from the limestone with which we arc* familiar. Limestone, as we ordlnariy know it, is a carbonate of lime; that is, an ele ment of lime is united to one unit of carbon and two of oxygen, which forms the* deadly puson known as car bonlc* ac id gas All the limestone in the world, therefore, represents such an amount of carbonic acid gas with drawn from the atmosphere, that should it be all set free, man aud most land animals would find it impossible to live In It. Those familiar with burning lime must have had their attention < %led to this fact by the deadly nature of the gas that settles around the lime kiln The burning of lime consists in applying such a degree of heat that the carbonic acid gas is expelled from the limestone, leaving a simple form of lime, which reunites with oxygen when water is admitted to it. It is this carbonic acid expelled by boat which forms the deadly gas of lime ; kilns, making it dangerous for chil- j dren or animals to lie down and sleep ! in close proximity to them. The forms of sea life which have contributed to build up the starta of limestone are exceedingly various. Among the most interesting are the corals which have contributed to this result from the earliest times to the present. Corals are forms of animal life which are attached to the sea bot tom—the animal leaving his shell be low him as he dies, and continuing to live in the upper story, thereby grad ually adding to the solid foundation from which he started. In the Pacific ocean and Indian ocean, and indeed in most tropical re gions, corals are still vigorously at work building up reefs around the shallow shores of islands ami conti nents. in the Pacific ocean these reefs take upon themselves a circular shape, oftentimes with deep water upon the outside, and inclosing a large area of shallow water within the circle. A most interesting theory of Dar win and Dana to account for these circular reefs or “atols,” as they are called, is that the coral insect began to build up his structure in the shal low water surrounding a mountain peak when the whole bed of the ocean was slowly sinking As the coral could not endure the deeper water be yond. he continued to build up, with a perpendicular face outward, while as the ocean bed sank, the inclosure between the newly started reef and the mountain peak would remain free, because of the sediment washing down from the mountain, which would in terfere with tlie growth of the coral. Thus it Is brought about that in many cases these circular reefs surround a body of shallow water, from whose center a mountain peak arises, while in other cases the settling of the ocean bed lias gone so far that the mountain peak has disappeared and there is within simply a body of pro tected water, which makes an excel lent harbor, if there Is any entrance to it. Among the limestones of great in terest are the various forms of mar ble which have been sought for the world over for (heir beauty of color and their fineness of texture. These marbles mostly belong to the very oldest geological formations, ami ap pear In close proximity to granite rocks, where they have evidently been subjected to heat and great pressure, as they were buried deeply In the earth and transformed or metamor phosed into their present shape. The usual color of marble Is white, but they are often variegated with almost every beautiful color derived from mineral ingredients, especially Iron and copper, giving them a red or green or yellow cast. There are also extensive deposits of lime which are not dependent upon the action of animal life, but are chemically deposited, especially In the vicinity of springs whose water Is overcharged with carbonate of lime In solution As this water trickles down from the roofs of caverns and falls upon the bottom, the evaporation leaves a certain amount, which ar ranges Itself In the form of stalactites at the top and stalagmites at the bot tom of the cavern, the material being arranged In layers, which are often somewhat variegated In rolor and from objects of great beauty. But, as already said, the main source of limestone is shells of ani tuals living In the sea. The material is brought to them by the rivers which come down from the continents charged with carbonate of lime In so lutlon, the animals being so consti tuted that they can collect this from the water which surrounds them, much as the leaves of the trees collect the carbon from the atmosphere and convert it Into solid chunks of wood Thus these forms of animal life serve a double purpose, of cleansing the waters from theh Impurities, and of depositing beneath the ocean bed the solid rocks which, upon elevation, become the framework of the contl nents, and furnish man with many of the things most necessary to supply his wants. Great Mountain of Borax Immense Deposits in Death Valley, the Value of Which Can Only Be Conjectured. With the exception of the (5rand Canon there is probably no more fa mous locality In the west than Death Valley Although there are n number of Mt Blancos In the great American desert, the Alt lilanco of Death Valley Is the greatest of Its name It rises like an enormous white breast against the terra cotta ridge of Funeral Range, close to Furnace Creek canon, a great rent I hat -eaves the cast rampart of Death Valley Around It Is a rolling wnste of bald yslhvw hills, and It towers a good 1,000 feet above them The lowlands of Death %’alley. sink Ing for several miles weaward. Is prub ably 2.500 feet low el So one ledge or series of ledges anywhere In the world contains the Immense amount of borate quarts shown In the surface of this mountain of t’olamantt# It Is a body of or# measuring 1.000 feet In width and •'.000 feet In length, pitching into the mountain range at a Uli-degree angle It is a borax quarry whose limit* tlons cannot be even roughly con jectured. but it must exceed by thou sands of ions any known borate de posit. Skeleton in Stone Quarry. Workineu at the silver Dale stun* crushing plaut. near Pottatown. Pa. were horrified when they unearthed the skeleton of a human being It huh found at a depth of ten feet, wPh a jumbled mass of stone around It. and there was not a rernuant of wood to indicate that the body ever lay In a cotfin When ex (toned to the air It i crumbled, and the workmeu could no* tell of what sex it was The skeleton huh found in a perfectly upright pom lion. Heidelberg I* to have u special «n stitute tor experiments with ladiurn is treating diseases, Dainty Lingerie □IRLS who are making their trousseaux will be interested in this very dainty underlinen, which, although being very pretty, is quite simple and practical. The drawers at top corner are a • French pattern, trimmed with Valenciennes lac • and embroidery heading. The chemise below: has yoke of insertion, headed by beading; then comes a nightgown, trimmed with insertion and tucks. The camisole at top is for evening wear, and is made in piece embroidery, with -insertion shoulder straps. The iower camisole has a yoke of insertion; the combinations are to match, and have French legs. The Empire bodice of the nightdress is of piece em broidery. Material required: Drawers: 2 yards 30 inches wide, 2 yards valen yard beading. 4 yards ribbon. Camisole: •"* yard 36 inches wide, 4 yards insertion. lVi yard beading. 2VS yards ribbon, 2 Vi yards lace. Nightdress: 5 yards 36 inches wide, 2 yards embroidery IS inches wide, Camisole; % yard 36 inches wide, 2 yards embroidery 18 inches wide, embroidery edging. 2 yards ribbon. Camisole: 1 yard embroidery 18 inches wide, 2 yards beading, 1 yard 2% yards ribbon, 2 Vi yards lace Combination: 2Vi yards 36 inches wide, 4 yards insertion, 3V£ yards beading. 2V4 yards'wide and 3 yards narrow lace. 5V2 yards ribbon. Nightdress: 5 yards 36 Inches wide, 2 yards embroidery 18 inches wide 3 yards beading, 3 yards ribbon, 2 yards wide and 1 yard narrow lace, 2 yards embroidery insertion. VALUE OF THE COLORED SLIP With a Number of These a Good i White Frock Can Be Worn on Many Occasions. The girl with little money and n great need for pretty clothes would j do well well to remember that old but none the less clever device of using colored slips over a white gown. Girls who could not afford both a class day dress and a commencement j dress bought a nice white frock ami wore it or class day over a colored slip, with colored accessories, and usu illy flowers to match. Hy having various slips, of lawn or silk, a good white frock may be worn upon an endless number of occasions. Resides providing a change of cos tume, the slip actually protects the gown and helps to keep it fresh. There are various accessories which may he had to match; sash, necklace or pendant, stockings and even shoes, and, where possible, flowers. Charming and inexpensive - frocks i may be made of white eyelet, embroid ered in a color and worn over a slip of the same color. PRETTY SILK BLOUSE. Blouse of silk trimmed with wide hands of embroidery simulating a bo lero and laced in front with ribbon The guimpe and undersleevca are of tulle. MAKE SPLENDID NECK CHAINS The Bent Une to Which One Can Put the Over-Supply of Old Silver or Gold. What to do with old silver or gold | Is no longer a problem- which Is good new* to those (of whom there are I manyi whose over-supply of both, but | especially of silver, has heretofore ; been a nuisance. Wluit with bridge I prises, Kaster and Christmas gifts alone — the Individual's or reclp j lent'* accumulations become serlou* j —many of the articles being of litth use—and very s mrres|M»nd a single ball for each ear i with an inset diamond of fine duality In each ball Worn with black gown the effect is exceedingly smart Child luaMed down »-r\- * t »r n k * bains » beads CUIRASS STYLE IS POPULAR For Young Girls It Is Acknowledged One of the Most Effective of the Season. The cuirass stylo of gown lias brought about an effective combina tion of net covered with embroidery and other materials. One of the popu lar evening frocks for a girl who has a good figure is a gracefully fitted cuirass which extends to the hips, and a knife-plaited long skirt. The for mer is made of coarse net covered 1 with a flat embroidery of silk sou tache. and th latter < I messaline with a scroll of th. redlining the top of hem. This lias tight elbow sleeves fasti .ed with frills of lace and is cut into a Dutch neck outlined with a flat band of Valenciennes 'lace or a tucker of fine white net run with a colored silk ribbon This frock Is fastened down the back with lace buttons. The original model came out in linen with the cuirass of coarse net covered with an Egyptian design of fine soutache. It ran straight to the neckband and was finished with a Dutch collar of baby Irish lace. Tin* sleeves are long, almost tight-fitting, and finished with a turnover cuff of baby Irish. Tic princess costume is n feature of tl.** sea ii. Stripes are not ns wide as they were last year in men's shirtings; nor are they as fancy. Among tin- materials used for bath ing suits an mohair, line serge, taf feta and silk serge Some of the newest and smartest of skirt and coat < itimes are being made without sleeves Necklaces of small eut jet beads will be worn much this summer by those who favor the collurless gown. Woven of Linen. For the stout wmuati there are beautiful combination garments even thinner than the usual batistg and linen affairs made bv the perfect seamstress They are low necked and of knee length Those corset-cut er-pan talon combi nations are of ex«pdsUe make and beautiful finish tl. really best gar Uient for the would be hipless. Shantung for Summer. For c omfort able summer suits, line serge w ith shantung for tin* coat, both it! tin* same shade is being employed Hitch suit! are (ltdshed simply, the only braiding often being on the turn down collar, which • >m**s only t>» the side of the front an I around the sleeves ut the hand- and possibly above and h.-iow tie elbows The fan. \ for trimming sleeves around am: irouiul at different parts of tb** urtu i gi i.vu i? one A waist which i t-i ims j i-e embroidered for In rst-lf lu- t,and *»f etubrolden neat the mtt<•111 *|• -1 another on the arm be low tl . ii„,w 4i ,| another kt the wrist Insxp«n*iv* Cotton*. As lltmn ducks hi bus the cost of , suit or kin ip to • . uniderabie sutu the mattuiiu turers b •* iuii*PloreU the need* of 'dimmer purs* • and there art now se\,.,,j v,,r% pre^nt at ltd*- tubiti “l»es at v...) ,„o*|. i.tl* prb 1>H»! for e«ain|,|, dwta'd* and reliable Of good b*H|y n(. | bin** well !*• wi*l»r. |« ; , l|u h, p „,.i - id* the . od Ai||| h* I* wfil * * d ton du k i)j. rfu w: lit) o* drll , i "* lent- * FRENCH-CANADIAN CATTLE, ! CLOSELY RELATED TO JERSEY ' Give More Profit In the Form ot' Churned Hut ter ior Each Dollars* Worth ot* Feed Than Any Other Breed. The early French settlers in Canada awe principally from the provinces )f Normandy and Brittany in France. ! which lie near the Channel islands. the home of the Jerseys and Ouern I seys. The cattle of the mainland and j of the islands were of the same blood. and those which the colonists brought , to Quebec, and from which the pres ent French-Canadian cattle are de scended, were those very closely re lated to the Chnnnel island breeds, says a writer in the Rural New York er. Even now the resemblance is so close that many a light colored, pure* ttkarkably docile The udder Is car ried close to the body, touts are ol good size, and well placed. Ribs arc well sprung, barrel roomy anil chest remarkably deep. Tuberculosis claimed to be unknown In this breed, except when contracted by direct con tact with animals of other origin. The Canadians surpass all other breeds in their ability to thrive on rough pasture in summer and coarse, plain fodder in winter Nevertheless they respond splendidly to better treat ment. in 1886, the Quebec legislature gave Typical French-Canadian Bull. bred Canadian cow can almost pass as a dark Jersey. They have, In fact, been called the first cousins of these other breeds, but their residence for 250 years in the province of Quebec, where in the past, especially in pioneer days, they were scantily fed and poorly sheltered, has developed u constitution of iron. For size they rank with the Jersey; cows averaging from 700 to 900 pounds, and bulls correspondingly heavier. The color is black or dark A French-Canadian Cow. brown,' with sometimes a fawn-col ored stripe down the back, and the muzzle may or may not be fawn, or orange-colored, like that of a Jersey. The general appearance is one of alertness and vigor. The head is in telligent, showing an active disposi tion, which is at the same time re an official standing to the breed by establishing a herd book. Animals of acknowlodged pure blood and ot superior dairy qualities were admitted to registration for ten years, but since 1890 none have been, or can be, en tered, except the descendants of the foundation stock already recorded. The whole number of animals now on record is about 8.000. At the Pan American exhibition, Buffalo, out of ten competing breeds of cattle, the Prench-C'anadlans gave more profit in the form of churned butter for each dollar’s worth of food consumed than any otiier breed. Isn’t this the kind of butter machine we need? Given I a certain amount of raw material In I the form of fodder and grains, the-cow | that can manufacture this Into but ter with the least waste comes pretty near to being the right sort to keep In other words, a cow of great capaci ty is not necessarily a profitable ani rnal. It all depends upon her ability to transform food into milk with the least waste of material The follow Ingllgures, which are the average foi the best three French-Canadlau cows in the Pan-American six-months’ test will show what this breed is capable of doing: Amount of milk, 5,252.8; pounds; per cent, of fat. 4.19; value of butter at 25 cents per pound. $63.86; cost of food. $23.64; profit on butter. $40.22; weight of cow at entry. 858 pounds; gain In weight, 51 pounds; percentage of profit to value of food, 177. ATTENTION TO BREEDING EWES Proper Care Must Be Given Sheep at All Times. It Is a good plan to allow the breed ing ewes the run of the farm after the crops are off in the fall, as long as the ground is bare, so they can pick it over. Also let them have the run of the stalk Held until the snow gets too deep and whenever the ground is bare Some Good Ones. In the winter turn them out so they can get exercise The exercise is of more benefit than the food they get. For rough food there is nothing bet ter than clover hay the sheep never get tired of it. and corn fodder is next Timothy or slough hay is very poor feed for sheep and fhey do not seem to thrive on it ns well as on clover hay or corn fodder. He sure to save some clover tiny until lambing time, as the ewes will give more milk for the lambs on clover than anything else For a grain ration a mixture of I shelled corn, oats and bran makes an excellent feed ration. Do not neglect the bran part, as that keeps the sys tem in good condition and aids diges tion. Commence feeding grain to the ewes in time, so they will not run down and get poor before lambing time. A poor ewe cannot take proper care of lN*r lamb, for she has nothing to draw on. If you have comfortable quarters, so you can take care of the early lambs. you will find that March lambs are the best for market or breeding purposes, as they get more size by fall and are ready to eat grass when it. comes, the cheapest feed on the farm. I'se a good, pure bred ram on the flock, as the improvement in quality, size and feeding capacity of the lambs will more than repay the extra ex pense and you are getting a better flock instead of running them down, as with a scrub. Dwarf Apples. Astrachan apples on dwarf trees four years old have set so full as to require half of them to be taken off and with some trees two-thirds, says the American Cultivator. Dwarf trees will require more prun ing. the fruit to lie thinned and higher cultivation. They may be protected against any and all kinds of insect* and as the fruit is finer In quality, if the quantity Is less the value the fruit will command will bring up the aver age well with standard trees. There are so many difficulties at tending the culture of the apple, the worst being imported insect pests, tba the business will have to be carried, on largely by specialist* in the future The competition of western orchard* will also be a factor ftt forcing better methods upon our eastern growers SNAP-SHOTS AT FARM WORK Interesting Nt tea Concerning Orass, Potatoes und the Hairy I-4 tin re liny wild grass that you rut) I*ut down and bruin in fur ll< ».title to isV*sinp flowu In the yard for tna Wire ' There may In* it low HWttle where you tun get some of thin It wilt all help to keep up the (arm There la tm better way to atop u wash III the Held (butt the following method Hat Home old ratla and sharpen them, then drive them Into the dltr'h. lev e. with the wound ho that w t»en tin tain* eotw the rails will gather the rtalks and glass and lit a year a tlute the ground will to nearly level Hu. h dam* should be luuf to seven rod» apart. After four potatoes are nut of tdouiU mow the lop* off but no? too (lose, and see If V I doll * lo.ve »h* ttnest aud Hi oat he tutthil « top vou »o er had This Is an Irish kuik from a |ota»u grower of Washington county Th* Idea Ih that the tops have don** theli duty after blooming Try a lew 1 he dairyman who I up t«» date will not be satisfied by knowing the eow that gives tin* most milk nr butter in a day nr in .1 year, hut he will ue«\ th* eow will' l» produces the mo** fruin • id | dollar « worth of feed Picking Cucumbtri. !»on*t forget to keep picking th# i n • umhers us they rl|.. n Look through the trines carefully tthey hate a great way of hiding III the lea text. so that non# will he uwrlociked, for two or three large Oliva going to seed will »np the strength of their vine. Where .<* In picking them right along new ties will form and a continued sup ply t*e secured Msthod la Handling Psvdt. Handle !*•. 14 so that vou n,i*v know definitely how much It cost* to fe • l • sch COW itot. rmtac what the , producer A'id fU»l whethvf st|« |« u,,^, | at a piortt or Nh>a I 1 Libby's Cooked Corned Beef There’s s marked distinc t i o n between Ubby’* O o o k o tf Oornod Boot and even -the best t that's sold in bulk. Evenly and mildly cured ’ and scientifically cooked in Libby’s Croat White Kltchor all the natural , flavor of the fresh, prime beef b retained. It is pure • wholesome, delicious and ready to serve at meal time, Saves work and worry in summer. | Other Libby “Healthful” Meal-Time-Hints, all ready to serve, arc: Peerless Dried Beef * Vienna Sausage Ifoal Loaf Evaporated Milk Baked Boans Ohow Dhow Mixed Piokies "Purity goes hand in hand with Products of the Libby brand”. Write for free Booklet,— "How to make Good * Things to Eat”. Insist o n Libby’s a t your grocers. Ubby, McNeill & Libby O hIo a go -r NOT THE BUTCHER’S FAULT. Mrs. Customer—That lamb you sent me, Mr. Stintwaite, was the largest and toughest I ever saw. Mr. Stintwaite—Tut, tut. It's that boy been loitering again. 1 assure you, when that joint left the shop it was the sweetst little leg of lamb you could set eyes on. and I gave him strict orders to deliver it at once be cause you wanted it young. A Gentle Aspersion. Among the prisoners brought before a Chicago police magistrate one Mon day morning was one. a beggar, w hose face was by no means un unfamiliar one to the Judge. I utn informed that you have again been found begging in t lie public streets." suid bis honor, sternly, "and yet you carried in your pocket over $10 In currency " "Yes. your honor." proudly returned the mendicant. 1 may not be as in dustrious as some, but sir, I am no spendthrift.”—Harper’s Weekly. Shortcake. The strawberry shortcake. I love It. 1 love it! 1 prize it more dearly than tongue dare to tell! No sherbet or pud ding or pie Is above it; there's nothing in pastry 1 like half so well. Just give ine a section as large as a platter, with freshly crushed berries spread over the lot, and 1 am contented and happy, no matter what ailment or trouble or sorrows I’ve got. Ho. bring on the shortcake, the strawberry shortcake, and always and ever I’m Jark-on-tbe-spot!—Los Angeles Ex press. Where Trouble Is Found. Wigwag—I never knew such a fel low as Hjones! He is always looking for trouble." Henpeckke—Then, why doesn’t he gpt married? — Philadelphia Kecord Keenest of Appetite and Anticipation nre realized in the first taste of de licious Post Toasties and Cream Ih' Koldfii-lirown bits ar«> sub. Unti.d ynougb to t ikr i j« the •am; *fi*p tn.uigh t i make irushintf th*ui in the mouth an fv.'ii-utf | 1. ,isiir<; and th.> fi». yor that Mim*» lvJ t OSatitl “The Taste Ungers” This danttv, !rro|tt.nt( f ' ui it m tdf ul |>-.irlv v.h , ,rn, , N.hrU, rolh d and t .».i«d mtu •• |u,„w.t» I'opuUr pkgi i sl« |jt M#l# by posruM ci'.hual co.. ito. luttu Cr**h, ML*.