Mysteries of Nature
By G. Frederick Wright, A. M. LL. D.
«J1 Wmim- ~ =*"'•*«- r^anims
ICE DRIVEN PLANTS AND ANIMALS.
Heft re the glacial period the plants
which now flourish in the latitude o£
^ irginia and North Carolina were
growing in a happy family in Spits
bergen, northern Greenland, and on
the Arctic shores of North America.
Arctic expeditions have repeatedly
brought back from the middle tertiary
deposits north of Disco island the
embedded leaves and fruit of mag
nolias, sassafras, hickories, maples,
poplars, Lirches, lindens, southern
cypress and several species of se
quoia.;, including the gigantic forms
now found only in California, and
three kinds of ginko trees now pe
culiar to Japan. The evidence of
these fossil plants is conclusive that
just before the glacial period there
was a warm climate all around the
north pole.
Until the theory of the origin of
species by natural selection was ac
cepted, and the facts about the glacial
period brought to light this distribu
tion of trees and plants was a pro
found mystery. For the solution of
the problem we are largely indebted
to the late Prof. Asa Gray, who in
1858 read a paper before the Ameri
can Academy of Arts and Sciences on
the fl.cra of Japan, which attracted the
attention of the scientific world and
opened the way to thp full exposition
of his theory, which was set forth in
an address before the American Asso
ciation for the Advancement of Sci
ence at Dubuque, la., iu 1872. The
way had been prepared for tliris work
by the fact that the large collection of
Jaiiane.se plants gathered by Commo
dore Perry's expedition in 1857, which
opened Japan to the world, was placed
iu his hands lor examination. The re
sult war that it appeared that there
was a striking similarity between the
plants of Japan and those of the Altai
mountains, ol the Himalayas and the
eastern portion of North America,
and a striking dissimilarity between
the plants of these regions and those
of the Pacific slope of North America,
while the most remarkable resem
blance was between the jdants of
Japan and those of eastern United
States.
The Pacific coast of the United
States is rich in coniferous trees like
cedars, sequoias and redwoods, but is
conspicuously lacking in most of the
trees familiar on the Atlantic slope.
For example, there are not half as
many maples, or ashes, or poplars,
or walnuts, or birches, or oaks on the
Pacific slope, and they are of such in
ferior quality that it is said "a pas
sable wagon wheel can not be made
of California wood, nor a really good
one in Oregon." The Atlantic slope
lias four times as many species of non
eonit'erous trees as the Pacific slope,
but only a little more than half as
many coniferous species.
The first step in the solution of this
problem is found in the I'elation of
the land continents in the northern
hemisphere to eac h other. Whereas, the
southern ends of the continents pro
ject far out into deep seas so that they
are widely separated from each other
at the north they approached each
other and are separated by shallow
seas. The water in Behring strait is
only 150 feet deep, and that in the sea
only a few hundred feet deep, so that
a slight elevation of the bottom of the
ocean there would join Asia to Amer
ica. and permit the migration of plants
and animals from one continent to an
other. That these continents have
been recently joined by such a change
in land level is proved by the fact
that bones of the mammoth have been
found on both sides of Behring strait,
and even on the Pribyloff islands, far
out in Behring sea. A similar belt of
shoal water extends from Greenland
by w'ay of Iceland to Norway. It Is
therefore easy to suppose a continu
ous land connection clear around the
north pole enabling plants and ani
mals to migrate freely. On the oth
er hand, the general resemblance of
species both of plants and animals in
the lands surrounding the north pole
is proof that there has been such op
portunity for migration. Whereas,
there is this great similarity in spe
cies in the northern hemisphere, there
is a total dissimilarity between the
species occupying the southern ex
tremities of the cofltinents in the
southern hemisphere.
But with the coming on of the gla
cial period this happy family of spe
cies around the north pole was rude
ly disturbed by the new conditions.
The lowering of temperature and the
slow accumulation of glacial ice made
it impossible for trees of a temperate
climate to maintain their existence on
those inhospitable shores. If they
were to exist any longer they must
emigrate to milder climes. But how
shall a tree which is fixed in the soil
•emove to better its fortune? Of
course, a single tree is helpless in
such a situation. But, as Prof. Gray
wittily says, when a tree is driven
to an extremity it can “take to the
woods.“ and the forest can begin a
majestic movement toward better
climes.
As the conditions favoring the for
est became severe along its northern
belt they would become favorable
over a corresponding belt stretching
to the south. Over this belt the seeds
would be gradually scattered by vari
ous agencies. Some seeds would be
blown by the wind, some carried by
streams of water, some by birds and
squirrels and other animals. Where
\s formerly such stray seeds had
.'ailed to find favorable conditions in
these new fields, now they would be
the favored ones, and thus the spe
;ies which they represented would
slowly spread southward until the
glacial period had exhausted itself
and the extreme limit of favorable
conditions had been reached.
Thus it would result that the same
species would be driven down to cor
responding latitudes on both sides of
the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and
we should have’what now appears—
namely, the same species of plants In
Japan, the middle United States and
Europe and northern Asia.
But it still would seem to be a puz
zle why the plants were not the
same in corresponding latitudes on
both sides of the American contin
ent. Why should the species of plants
in California be so different from
those in Pennsylvania and Virginia?
This is answered by considering the
different conditions which prevail on
the east and west sides of a contin
ent. Because the world turns from
west to east the prevailing winds in
the northern hemisphere are from the
southwest. The breezes of the Pacific
coast are therefore sea breezes, la
den with moisture, while those in the
eastern Atlantic states are land
breezes, which have been largely be
reft of their moisture and are subject
to greater alternations of tempera
ture. The constant action of these di
verse conditions would have a direct
effect to favor some species on the
Atlantic coast that would not be fa
vored on the Pacific, and vice versa.
Thus we have everything accounted
for in a most natural way.
The reason why these plants have
p,ot returned to Greenland and Spitz
j bergen is that the glacial period is
| not yet over. It still prevails in those
| northern regions. But they have
I started on their northern journey and
i have partially recovered the ground
lost. Some have already attained their
| original homes, leaving, however.
; many stragglers on the way. The
j main body of arctic vegetation is the
I same with that which covered the
! country of the middle Atlantic states
1 during the climax of the glacial pe
riod. Of the straggling remnants
still left in favoring situations one of
the most interesting is Scotch heath
er, which is found not only in Labra
dor, but in a few places in Massachu
setts. like Andover and Cape Cod. In
ail the rock gorges opening into Lake
[ Erie remnants of the glacial vegeta
j tion are preserved in the sequestered
j and cool shady nooks. Some such are
I also preserved in similar narrow, cool
j gotges opening into the Ohio river
t below Cincinnati.
mil. me luuuuuitus luruieu uie ucs>i
retreats for the arctic plants, which
were following up the receding ice
sheet. Alpine plants are found on the
high elevations of the White moun
tains, and on the high peaks of the
Rocky and Sierra Nevada mountains
as far south as New Mexico, but are
absent over all the intervening areas.
In some respects the effect of the
I glacial period upon animal life and
distribution was even more peculiar
than that on plants. During that pe
riod a large number of arctic species
were crowded down into central Eu
rope and into the middle and north
ern states of the Atlantic coast and
Mississippi valley. In company with
man's remains there are found those
of the grizzly hear, the Irish elk, the
reindeer, the musk ox and the arctic
lox, while the ibex and the chami03,
which now occupy the high mountain
crags, descended to the valleys. Sev
| eral of these northern species now ex
tinct were also present in these tem
perate regions.
The indirect effect of this incur
sion of arctic animals into the tem
perate zone was to cause the de
struction of many animal forms
which already occupied the region.
Just before the glacial period there
were living in America two extinct
species of the cat family as large a3
lions, four species of the dog family
as large as wolves, while the walrus
was iound in Virginia, the sea cow
in South Carolina. There were also
living six species of horses, the South
American tapir and llama, a camel,
two species of elephant and two 01
mastodons, a species of megatherium,
three of megalonyx and one of mylo
don—huge terrestrial sloths as large
as the rhinoceros or even as the ele
phant. All these and several more
species were either destroyed by the
competition of the northern animals
or were driven back into South Amer
ica. The destrutcion of so many wide
ly spread species of animals occupy
ing North America just before the
glacial period is one of the most
startling revelations of geology.
Insects also, as well as plants and
the larger animals, were compelled to
reckon with the glacial period. Among
the most interesting illustrations ot
this occurs in the White mountains,
where various Alpine species of but
terflies are found near the summit. In
ascending Mount Washington one
suddenly encounters near the top
whole swarms of butterflies (Oeneis
Semidea); so that, as Prof. Samuel
Scudder has said, so far as insect
species are concerned, "in ascending
Mount Washington we pass, as it
were, from New Hampshire to north
ern Labrador and the southern ex
tremity of Greenland.” Similar spe
cies occur also on the summit of the
Rocky mountains. The story fs the
same. Dispersed far and wide during
the glacial period, these insects have
at last been compelled to take refuge
on the summits of the high moun
tains, where alone glacial conditions
perpetually prevail.
Newest Ocean Liners.
The White Star linqrs novy under
way will not be quite so large as was
commonly supposed, although they
will yet be considerably larger thau
the Mauretania and Lusitania. 'They
will measure 860 feet between perpen
diculars and 890 feet over attULTtbe
beam will be 92 feet and they will
have a molded depth of 64 feet,’-which
is four feet more than the depth of the
Mauretania. A notable feature of the
construction of these boats will be the
power equipment, which will consist
of two engines o£ 15,000 horse power
driving the wing propellers and a 10,
000-horse power turbine driving the
central propeller. This combination
will be sufficient to drive the ships nt
a sea speed of 19.5 knots.
Designs of Merit
—— -•
LAWN-DRESS.—Of course, this dress is,,»:ade up without lining in either
bodice or skirt. Our model is in white lawn, but colored lawn or white
spotted or printed muslin would be equally suitable.
The skirt, which is slightly full at the waist, has a deep-gathered flounce
that is trimmed with insertion; it is gathered at the top, then set to inser
tion, which is joined to the edge of skirt below the three tucks; the top is
gathered to n waist-band fastened at the back..
The bodice is cut to the waist, and is joined to top of skirt-band; it lias
a yoke of open-work embroidery outlined with insertion; the lawn is tucked
three times between band and yoke. The lawn sleeves are also tucked, the
tight-fitting lower parts being of embroidery to match the yoke. The waist
band fastens at the side under a rosette, from which hangs e knotted end
finished with tassels.
Materials required: 10 yards lawn 36 inches wide, 1*4 yards embroidery
IS inches wide, about SV2 yards insertion.
Design for Linen.—Here is a semi-princess dress of linen in a soft shade
of pink The front panel, that extends the whole length of skirt and bodice.
;s edged outs-'de with embroidery edging about two inches wide; this is set
under a beading of embroidery, through which narrow ribbon is threaded;
the skirt is tucked twice above the, hem at sides and back; and the fulness
at waist, is s-t in tiny tucks extending over the hips; tucks are also made
over the shoulders, and in sets of three round the sleeve. The fastening is
in center back.
Hat of fancy crinoline, trimmed with ribbon and ostrich feather tips
Materials required: ior the dress, 7 yards 43 inches wide. 4 yards em
broidery, 4 yards insertion.
WAYS OF CLEANING CHIFFON.
Material Requires Care in Cleansing,
and Some Time Must Be De
voted to .he Work.
Chiffon should be washed in soap
lather by carefully rolling and press
ing between the hands, then rinsed in
clean water and stiffened in gum wa
ter, one tablespoonful to a quarter of
a pint of water.
Roll in a cloth to absorb some of
the moisture, but it must not be too
dry when it is ironed.
To iron chiffon, it must be placed on
the table wrong side up and ironed
along the selvedge, as ironing across
would displace the fibers and destroy
the appearance of the delicate fabric.
When the chiffon is being ironed it
aught to be hold tightly up in lront
of the iron to remove crinkles that
ire produced by washing and to make
it quite even and smooth.
Chiffon ties with a natural crepon
crinkle should not be ironed, but in
stead the ends should be pinned out
an a table, tile tie just stretched
enough to permit of the crinkles fall
ing into their natural shape.
When dry fold it without pressing
the folds in, air and put carefully
away.
LINGERIE WAIST.
Dainty waist of linen batiste made
with groups of tucks and elaborately
trimmed with embroidery and cluuy
lace.
CHIFFON FOR THE SLEEVES.
Gives Right Touch to the Transpar
ent Materials So Popular in
_ Hot Weather.
The fashion of wearing transparent
sleeves is certainly a comfortable one
during warm weather; hence its great
popularity, for these sleeves cover
every type of arm imaginable—arms
so lat they resemble small bolsters
thin arms, white arms and sallow
ones. Indeed, until one has spent half
an hour in the shopping district it is
hard to believe there could be such
a variety of arms. The fashion may
lie a pretty one as well as a comfort
able one if the wearers would only
back (he sleeves with a thin white
chiffon or mousseline de soie. This
tone may be used whether the sleeves
are white, black or a color.
A novelty in parasols is being
shown by a Broadway house that will
appeal to patriotic young women. The
covering is of the regulation tan kha
ki, embroidered with emblems of the
different regiments in scarlet mercer
ized thread.
Another novelty displayed at the
same shop is a line of very pretty raf
lia belts at $1 each. For wear with
a tan linen or a pongee frock these
ruffiia accessories are considered very
smart.-—Washington Star.
To Stretch Curtains.
Use a quilting frame or a curtain
stretcher converted into a quilting
frame by tacking strips of ticking or
any heavy material doubled to inch
width on the inner edges of the frame
where pins have been. Temporarily
pin the curtains on lour corners and
at intervals on side, then sew them
on. instead of pinning them, with a
basting stitch. Scalloped edged cur
tains can be sewed on two at a time
and three or more plain edged ones
It is surprising to see no peaks in
scallops or straight edges and with
less labor and time spent and with
no sore fingers.
Hat Brims Turned Up.
Hats are turned up at all angles
around the brim, and the small hats
are made by turning up the brim 01
an ordinary size hat very sharply ai
each side, while the brim in front
and at the back is quite narrow;
sometimes tlie brim is turned up a.
the right side (while the trimming it
exclusively on the left), and some
times at the back.
All-Green Hats.
A recent whini is the all-green hat.
the shape, perhaps, of drak green,
surrounded only with quantities of
foliage, and the brim lined witli green
aerophane. or the hat might he ar
ranged with very wide green ribbon
velvet, manipulated into a flat bow,
and nothing else, save for the brim
lining of aerophane. this fabric of
charming texture being the latest no
tion in brim linings.
An all-green hat will look rather
nice with the white linen or pique
coat and skirt of the definite summer
time, and might be accompanied by
a green sunshade, and with a green
collar facing to the coat. With a
bunch of pink roses or carnations
fastened into the white blouse worn
with the suit this might be a very
happy, cool, summery suit.
Buttons.
Buttons covered with the material
of the gown on which they are em
ployed are the latest development. A
foulard frock just home from the
dressmaker is trimmed solely with
cords covered with the silk and with
i buttons of the same order.
The Scarf.
There is no end to the variety o
tlie scarf. A remarkably pretty one
was in a soft tone of pale blue, the
ends embroidered in graduated golc
spots. Another was in a curious!)
patterned green gauze, with blue ir
it. This was bordered with dull sil
ver gauze laid on in a flat band al.
round, and hemstitched. Even more
curious is a gray gauze with the ends
embroidered in overlapping scales Iikt
those of a fish, but in mother-o'-pearl
not in the least like the ordinary se
quin, but resembling some of the won
derful Japanese embroideries of the
same kind.
Quaint Little Clock.
An odd litt» clock is in the form ot
a crystal ball suspended by a leathei
strap to the top of a stirrup iron.
The iron, which is really of silver
or gunmetal. stands on the desk oi
dresser on the metal base on which !
the foot rests when one rides, and the
clock swings from its tiny leather
strap.
This would make an ideal gift for
the girl who rides and drives and
loves horses.
TWO GOOD LITTERS
OF PIGS A YEAR
Where This Is Accomplished the First Cost Is Compara
tively Small—Some Good Points About
Hogs—By E. T. Robbins.
A mature sow can raise two litters
as successfully as one, and with no
extra feed save that required for nour
ishing the second litter. Where only
one litter of pigs is raised yearly from
mature eow s, it is difficult to keep
them contented during the summer
ind lull unless they are fed so heavi
ly as to become too fat.
An old sow which has raised a litter
of March pigs and is bred again for
September, will keep in good, thrifty
condition during the summer on
clover pasture alone, says Orange
Judd Farmer, if she is sucked down
thin in the spring, because she was
insufficiently fed at that time, she
needs but little grain during the sum
mer on good pasture to put her in fine
condition again. One litter is enough
for a sow' in her first year. In her
second year and thereafter she is not
the American Poland-Ohina Record,
shows the average number of pigs pet
litter front yearling sows to tie G OG;
two-year-olds, 7.GG; three-year-olds
7.88; four-year-olds, 8.118, and fivo
year-olds, S.40.
The fall litter of pigs should be far
rowed as early as September, so that
the pigs get as much growth as pos
sible before winter. This makes it
necessary to have the spring pigs
come in March. Of course pigs need
good shelter and careful attention at
that time, but one can better afford
time to care for them in March before
field work is well under way, than to
take half as much time to devote to
the young things in April, when plow
ing and other spring work are press
ing.
The fall pigs will need less care at
farrowing time, for the weather is
A Profitable Kind of Pigs.
doing full work if she farrows only
once.
There is a wide-spread feeling that
young sows that raise just one litter,
and are then put in the fattening pen,
are growing into money faster than if
retained longer for breeders. This is
because the possibilities of the second
litter each year from mature sows are
not fully realized. Again, mature sows
experience less difficulty at farrowing,
and raise more and stronger pigs than
young sows.
As tt> numbers of pigs, the follow
ing is rather an extreme example. My
father in a recent year, from 15 ma
ture sows, raised 104 pigs in the
spring, all farrowed inside of two
weeks, so they were uniform in size,
with not one runt. A neighbor, from
100 gilts, raised less than 100 pigs,
varying as much as two months in
ages. A tabulation of the litters from
o. 145 sows, recorded in one volume of
MOUSE AND RAT
PROOF CRIB
Novel Way of Gcttlna Rid of
Pests—Must Move When
Corn Does.
The accompanying illustration gives
an idea for a small corn crib that will
be proof against rats and mice. Re
Rat and Mice Proof Crib.
move all corn from the bottom. When
any corn is taken out all of the corn
in the crib moves, which will cause all
rats and mice to leave.
SPRAYING POTATOES
AGAINST BLIGHT
Directions Given t>y the Wiscon
sin Experiment Station for
Making Mixture.
We take the following directions
from the bulletin issued by the Wis
consin experiment station on spraying
potatoes against blight:
“One hundred and fifty pounds of
quite favorable for them. Hut fall
pigs must be pushed as rapidly as pos
sible. so as to he large enough tc.
withstand winter weather successful
ly. It will not do to let them drag
along on pasture with little grain
Well fed September pigs will weigh
50 pounds when winter sets in. and
be fat and well covered with hair, so
they do not suffer from the cold. Such
pigs will thrive all winter if pro
vided with plenty of feed and a dry,
sheltered sleeping place. They must
be fed some meat meal, tankage, ot j
oil meal to the extent of ten per cent '
of their ration, or some shorts to the
extent of 25 per rent, of ration, along
with coni. These feeds, while expen
sive, do not need to be fed in large
amounts in order to increase the '
growth of the pigs as much as 50 pet !
cent. At the same time, pigs so fed
will keep far more healthy than those
fed on a straight corn diet.
blue vitrol. 200 pounds of fresh lime,
five cents' worth of potassium ferro
cyanide crystals. The 200 pounds ot
fresh lime will be sufficient for the
season, and should be bought in small
lots at the time of spraying. The first
application will require 40 pounds of
blue vitrol aud 50 pounds of fresh
lime. Suspend the blue vitrol in one
half barrel water (25 gallons) the
evening before spraying. *
“Hang the blue vitrol well up from
the bottom of the barrel, and use.
when possible, only wooden or copper
vessels in handling the solution. Iron
and tin will be eaten through by the
free acid in the blue vitrol solution.
It is well to rinse all metal vessels
containing blue vitrol solution with
lime water after using.
Slake 50 pounds of fresh lime in a
barrel, using all the precautions
against burning and drowning neces
sary to slake lime for mortar making.
The lime should be slaked also the |
evening before spraying. Then in the i
morning the stock solution of both j
lime and blue vitrol will be ready for
mixing. Either stock solution, which 1
is left over after spraying, may be
kept until the next application.
Making the Mixture.—Place one
fifth of the blue vitrol stock solution,
prepared as above, in one empty bar
rel and fill with water. Place one
fifth of the lime in another empty bar
rei and fiil with water. Stir thor
oughly. Then, with two men dipping
strain the contents of the two barrels
through a gunny sack into a third and
fourth barrel, making altogether twc
barrels of Bordeaux mixture, oi
enough to fill a 100-gallon tank.
“Caution—The lime is added to the
blue vitrol water principally to pre
vent the blue vitrol from injuring th<
foliage, if the mixture is made ac
cording to the above directions, nr
damage to the foilage will result, but
in ease of doubt use the following
test: To the barrel of Bordeaux mix
tvire add a few drops of potassium fer
ro-cyanide solution. If a deep browr
discoloration or precipitate is pro
duced, the mixture needs more lime
Farm Blacksmithing.
Get a vise and set of taps and dies
for one-quarter, five-sixteenths, three
eighths, seven-eighths and one-half
inch bolts. These sizes will cover al
most everything common on a farm,
says Agricultural Epitmnist. You can
buy blank nuts and you can cut the
rods any length you want with an or
dinary cold chisel. You can put a
nut on each end of the bolt. This an
swers just as'Vell as to have a head
on the end and a nut on the other.
A great many farmers try to keep
bolts of different sizes, but it is much
better to buy the round rods and
make your bolts as you want them.
The Live Stock Man.
The more I see of the men who
raise live stock of this country, says
J. Ogden Armour in the Breeders Ga
zette, the stronger is the impression
which the stockman makes upon me.
He seems to me the big, strong repre
sentative figure developed by our ag
riculture. As a rule he is the leader
in his community. He is progressive.
When he saw that the packers needed
choice beef and were willing tc pay
i for it. he fell into line and began an
up-to-date campaign to improve the
quality of his stock. And when h ■
saw that the packers and the stock
yards people were willing to spend
thousands of dollars in exhibitions and
exhibition buildings at all the greal
lire stock centers in order to encour
age the breeding of the best meat
animals obtainable, he responded with
enthusiasm and spent his own money
for imported breeding stock to bring
his own herds and his flocks up tc
high standard.
. . ____
Various Horseshoes.
In Iceland horses are shod with
sheep's horn, while In the Sudan
they are shod with camel’s skin. A
German not long ago invented a
horseshoe of paper, prepared by satu
rating with oil, turpentine and other
ingredients. Thin layers of such pa
per are glued to the hoof till requistte
thickness is attained. The shoes thus
made are said to be durable and im
penetrable by moisture.
It requires a business man to know
how to handle business hens.
\
“MAKES BETTER RAILROADS.”
| Western Writer Pays Tribute to
Railroad Magnate as Builder-Up
of the Country.
Mr. Edward H. Harrinian is on a
trip to Europe. Ordinarily there
would need be nothing added to this
announcement beyond an exhortation
to Emperor William to chain down his
railroads and to other inonarchs to
put their crowns and other valuables
in the safe at night. But Mr. Harri
man is going off on a pleasure trip,
and so many mean things have been
said about him that it will not hurt
any to change the tune e. moment
while lie is out of the country and
not able to take any advantage of
the lapse from the cold attitude of se
verity that is usually used in men
tioning the name of Harrinian.
Of all the great railroad men de
veloped in this generation, E. H. Har
riman is easily the biggest and the
best, says a writer in the Hutchinson
(Kan.) Daily News. The head of a
railroad company, under the rules of
the game, must work for his stock
holders, whether it is for the advan
tage of politicians, shippers or con
sumers. It is his job to do the best
he can for the interests entrusted to
liis care. Harrinian is not only a
financier, Dut he is a builder and an
operator. Ducky is the town, city
or community that has a Harrinian
road. He insists on a good roadbed,
level track, safe track and the con
venience and comfort of the traveler
and the shipper. The Harrinian roads
are noted as the best in the coun
try. When Harrinian gets hoid of a
one-horse or played-out track and
right of way he proceeds to put it iu
first class condition. He does not
raise the rates of fares, although lie
doubtless charges “a plenty," but. he
insists that enough of the funds g>
into real improvements to make a
railroad. And that is where he stands
ahead of a good many others and why
Harrimanism is not such a had thing
as some people have been led to think.
He makes better railroads, and there
is more need for improvement that
way than there is in some others
which are being discussed. So far
as we can see, he believes in giving
every interest along his road a fair
deal.
He is a public benefactor from that
standpoint. He uses his power fairly.
He is a great man, and as good or
better than the ordinary citizen who
looks upon him as the personification
of the money power, seeking whom
it may devour. He is a strong man
in the financial world, but that should
not be against him, when the finan
cial world is the object which most
of us want to reach. He is a good
American and he spends his money
on American railroads, not on foreign
titles, race horses, old editions or
other bad habits. If he is not per
fect—and we don't think he is—he is
no exception to the rule and is worthy
of the praise of his fellow citizens for
t'ne good he does anu has done.
Laughter a Series of Barks.
Laughing is barking, say the sci
entists. The neck and head are
thrown back while a series of short
barks are emitted from the throat.
However musical the barks may be,
they are barks. The laugh begins
with a sudden and violent contraction
of the muscles of the chest and ab
domen. Rut instead of opening to let
the air pass out of the Rings, the vocal
cords approach each other and hold it
back. Rut they .are not strong enough
to exercise such opposition for more
than an instant, and the air, which is
undef pressure, promptly escapes. As
it does so it makes the vocal cords vi
brate producing the bark.
This obstruction and liberation of
the air expelled from the lungs repeats
itself again and again at intervals of a
quarter of a second. There are thus
in a hearty laugh four barks a second,
and if continued, they go on at that
rate as long as the air reserve in the
lungs holds out. , The empty lungs
must then till themselves, and this in
terval is marked by a quick gasp for
breath, after which the barks are re
newed. The barks occur in series
with gasps for breath at intervals.
When laughter is violent, the entire
body participates. The upper part of
the trunk bends and straightens itself
alternately or sways to right and left.
The feet stamp on the floor, while the
hands are pressed upon the loins to
moderate the painful spasm.
Interviewing the Professor.
“So you don't think Mars would re
ply. even if we did send signals?"
"I am almost convinced that there
would be no response,'' answered Prof.
Tliinktum. adjusting his glasses.
“Then you don't believe that Mars
is inhabited?”
"On the contrary. I thiuk it ex
tremely probable that life similar to
our own exists on the sister planet."
"But you don't give those people
credit for intelligence equal to ours?"
"Yes. I am inclined to credit them
with even greater intelligence than
we display. There are many indica
tions that they have a civilization old
er than ours, in which case they
should have too much sense to fool
away their time on any such imprac
tical proposition."
The Way He Did It.
Jenkins—Well, sir, I gave it to that
man straight. I can tell you. He is
twice as big as 1 am, too, but 1 told
him exactly what 1 thought of his ras
cally conduct right to his face, and I
called him all the names in the dic
tionary, and a lot of others as well.
Studds—And didn't he try to hit
you. Jenkins?
Jenkins -No, sir, he didn't. And
when he tried to answer back, 1 just
hung up the telephone receiver and
walked away.
Up on Hoyle and Blackstone.
Sir Frederick Thesiger, while en
gaged in the conduct of a case ob
jected to the irregularity of the coun
sel on the opposite side, who, in ex
amining his witnesses, put leading
questions.
“I have a right.” answered the coun
sel, to deal with my witnesses as I
please."
To that I offer no objection,” ret
torted Sir Frederick; “you may deal
as you like, but you shan't lead."—
London Tribune.
i