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tor, and as durability must bo considered, lt Is
agreed that this umbrella must be fashioned of
lock. This structure would- probably only add to
the impressiveness of the statuo and indeed it is
feared by some that tho Sphinx itself will sink in
the estimation of sight-seers when it shall be
overshadowed by this massive stone umbrella.
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THE OLD MAXIM THAT SILENCE IS GOLDEN
would seem to be disproved in some cases
as those cited by a writer In a London periodical
of recent date. This writer gives several in
stances where the value of important Inventions
has been lost on account of tho fact that tho secrets
of construction havo been withheld. An instance
is cited of tho invention of an explosivo called
fulminite. The inventor was a scientist named
Sawbridge, and he was offered $20,000 by the Ger
man government for the oecret of his new process.
He refused this offer on the ground that his homo
government should have tho first option of pur
chase This was about to be done when news came
that his laboratory had been blown up and the
inventor killed. No records were ever found, and
no one has yet succeeded in duplicating this in
vention. An Italian priest, about half a century
ago, 'discovered a way to make stained glass
equal to that made by the ancients, but was found
dead in his workshop and no cmo ever discovered
the secret of his skill.
THIS SAME WRITER RECORDS OTHER IN
toresting instances of valuable information
withheld In this way. He says: "The only man
who has yet been successful in taking photo
graphs in color was a martyr to his discover the
secret of which Is lost Some years ago Dr. Her
bert Franklin of Chicago submitted a number of
colored photographs of a somewhat crude nature,
It is true, to tho leading American scientific in
stitutions and the encouragement ho received was
such that he built himself a laboratory, proof
against the wiles of spies, at a cost of $12,000,
f? wherein to perfect his invention. In tho prepara
tion of his plates he used a charcoal fire, and ono
day when at work he omitted to open tho ventila- -tors
and was found asphyxiated. He had refrained
from divulging his secret to any one, and in con-
w sequence, although some unfinished plates that hid
tho secret remaine.d, the way they were prepared
is a problem that has baffled scientists to this day.
Another victim to his secret was Adams, tho
inventor of tallium, tho greatest discovery In the
metals of the age. Adams was confident that a
metal could be produced which, although as hard
as steel, was only half its weight and price, and
after five years' experimenting with an electrical
process tallium was the result The invention
was taken up throughout America, and orders for
thousands of tons of tho metal began to pour in
from the leading railway companies. But It was
too lato. lne enormous mental strain he had un
dergone, coupled with the sensation, of finding mil
lions within his grasp, took away his reason, and
he was confined in an asylum. He loft no records
to explain the process, and no amount of persua
sion drew the secret from him, which perished
locked in his brain when two years later he died a
helpless lunatic"
ACCORDING TO A BULLETIN ISSUED BY
the geological survey Russia has produced
more petroleum than the United States since the
year 1897. Since that year the Russian produc
tion has been increasing over 12 per cent a year.
Tho figures of production for the two countries
are as follows: In 1897, Russia54,000,000 barrels;
United States, 60,000,000 barrels; 1898, Russia, 62,
000,000 barrels; United States, 55,000,000 barrels;
1899, Russia, 66,000,000 barrels; United States, 57,
000,000 barrels; 1900, Russia, 76.000.0UO barrels;
United States, 64,000,000 barrels, 190L Russia, 85,
000,000 barrels; United States, 69,000,000 barrels.
The average annual increase during the five years
for Russia was 12.57 per cent; for the United
States 2.89 per cent there having been a small
decrease in tho production of the United States
in 1897 and a large decrease in 1898. The great
difference between the petroleum of the United
States and that of Russia Is shown in the statistics
of refined petroleum. Of the totaT world's produc
tion of crude petroleum in 1901, 165,385,733 barrels,
the United States produced 69,389,194 barrels, or
41.97 per cent, and Russia produced 85,168,556 bar
rels, or 51.49 per cent; and yet of the total pro
duction of refined petroleum of all grades in 1901,
estimated at 1,500,000,000 gallons for all countries,
the United States produced 911,120,944 gallons, or
67.0 per cent, and Russia 414,122,990 gallons, or
only 27.7 per cent
something to offer that is distinctly now. This is
described by a writer in the New York Times as
follows: "The latest is a Journal for beggars,
which has been started for the purpose of dis
seminating useful information among tho mendi
cant fraternity, and tho prlco of which is 5 conts
a copy. At a glance it would seem as if this
charge was rather high, considering tho supposed
straitened means of its readers, but presumably
tho editors know what they are about. The ad
vertisements furnish interesting reading for beg
gars temporarily out of a job, though it is difilr
cult to understand how tho advertiser could ex
pect to receive an answer to tho following:
'Wanted -A blind man who can play the fluto a
little.' Probably some unfortunate dumb man
will tell his blind confrere of tho vacancy. Hero
is another sample of an advertised vacancy which
requires awkward qualifications: 'Wanted A
lame man for tho seasldo; ono without a right arm
preferred.' In addition to 'ads.' of this kind no
tices of forthcoming christenings, burials and
birthdays of rich people are printed, so that tho
beggar may know where to go to prosecute his
vocation with success."
AN INTERESTING COMPARISON OP THE
number of judges administering tho law in
different countries is given in a London publication
of recent date. Tho British Isles havo 22,609
judges. Of this number 464 aro salaried, 22,145 are
of tho "great unpaid." Franco has 7,803, all sal
aried, besides the court of cassation which con
tains 49. Germany has 8,186 judges, all paid. Tho
European part of Russia contains 3,180 salaried
judges, all paid. The European part of Russia con
tains 3,180 salaried judges. ' Statistics as to tho
number of judges in tho United States aro difficult
to obtain as the number of judges must bo reck
oned in the federal as well as in tho state sys
tem of courts. Of federal judges alono there aro
134. This writer says that the country with tho
largest number of judges in rolation to its pop
ulation is Ireland, which contains 111 judges to
each 100,000 of estimated population. Franco has
but 20 to tho 100,000; Italy, a highly criminal na
tion, but 38. Tho least judge-ridden of all is
Denmark, with nine and a fraction; tho next best
Is Holland, with 13 3-4. A curious thing Is that
Norway, with nearly 64 judges to tho 100,000, is the
nearest of all to Ireland, but Sweden has only
some 37. England has 54, roughly, a judge to
each 1,800 men.
THE COAL STRIKE IS NOW PRACTICALLY
ended and the enormous losses entailed
therewith may be more correctly computed. It is
conceded by all that this has been tho greatest
coal strike in the history of tho American conti
nent A writer in tho Chicago Chronicle for Oc
tober 19 makes the following comment on tho sit
uation: "Thousands of miners out of work, chil
dren suffering for tho necessities of tho hour, wom
en without clothing, pantries without food, homes
without fuel, stores without customers, railroads
that havo lost millions because of Inoperation of
Its lines these and other things contributory
to a strike such as has been in existence since
May last have done much toward drawing public
attention to mining affairs hitherto little under
stood by the average reader."
THE FAMOUS BORGHESE PALACE AND
park has been purchased by tho Italian gov
ernment for the sum of $660,000, which is said to bo
less than half its value. It will be remembered
by newspaper readers that J. Plerpont Morgan re
cently tried to buy this palace, which Is famous
throughout the world for its antiquities and Its art
collection, but he was not permitted to purchase
it The palace and grounds will now be thrown
open to the public which for many years has had
access to tho grounds only under restrictions that
proved irksome. When tho Borghese family were
involved in financial difficulties their creditors
took possession of the estate and debarred tho
public the use of the grounds. This raised such
a popular clamor that a demand was made that
the government buy the entire estate and this
purchase has been consummated. It Is reported
that the king has given $60,000 toward tho pur
chase and the park will be called after the late
King Humbert
AS A GENERAL RULE DEPARTURES FROM
the beaten track are not looked for in Eu
ropean journalism, but it seems that Paris has
THE COAL CONSUMERS OF THE COUNTRY
will not bo greatly cheered by a statement
recently made by a writer in the New York World.
This writer pointed out that an official of tho Dela
ware, Lackawanna & Western railroad says that
by working day and night this road expects to
haul 25,000 tons daily; it will handle 750,000 tons
per month of thirty days. As the Delaware, Lack
awanna & Western railroad handles almost 15 per
cent of the total output, an estimate of the maxi
mum capacity of all the coal roads places tfi
total hauling capacity at 5,000,000 tons per' month
The World writer added: . "Various estimate
placo tho avorago consumption for tho six months
beginning Novorabor 1 at 7,500,000 per month, or
50 per cent moro than tho maximum hauling ca
pacity of tho railroads. No doubt strenuous efforts
will bo put forth to moot this omergoncy, but
thoro aro always difficulties besetting transporta
tion in winter, and It Is doubtful whothcr the av
erage tonnage can bo maintained, and whilo Im
mediate demands may bo In a mcamiro met, the
famlno will bo most felt during tho mtddlo and
later wlntor mon.tbs No doubt manufacturing will
bo curtailed and consumption In other ways cut
down. If so, this will bring suffering to tho wage
earner, not alono on account of reduction In his
earnings, but with tho restricted output all manu
factured products will bo wldoly folt This Is In
deed a gloomy outlook, and J dread tho conse
quences and hope that somebody hotter informed
can compile a moro optimistic 'estimate' of what
is boforo us this coming wlntor, but I fear tho mis
chief has been dono and thero will bo much'
trouble."
HE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA BOASTS OF
JL tho most wondorful church organ ovor con
structed. This Instrument consists of nine dis
tinct organs distributed ovor four manuals and
pedals, two great organs, two choirs, a swell, solo,
echo and wavo and chancel pedal. It Is said that
each of theso divisions is a perfect organ and in
mechanism and mechanical siuil exhibited it is a
marvel as well as in tho varieties of musical tone
producedr This organ Is in process of construc
tion and when finished will cost about $50,000.
THE RECENT VOLCANIC DISTURBANCES IN
the West Indies have caused a general re
vival of interest in tho changes that occur In
tho earth's surface through volcanic agencies. Con
cerning tho recent outbreak In Martinique and St
Vincent Islands, Dr. Herbert E, Gregory, profes
sor of geology In Yale university, is credited with
saying: "The whole chain of Islands In tho Car
ibbean sea Is undergoing a change from island to
continental structure, as is Japan. Earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, etc., will continue till this is
completed. In time tho whole chain will bo a now
continent, connected by land surface throughout"
Another opinion on tho subject is given by a noted,
geologist who claims that the islands of the West
Indian chain aro gradually enlarging and also ris
ing to a higher level, and that if this upheaval
continues tho water between tho islands will
eventually bo replaced by dry land. These
changes, however, would probably require millions
of years for their completion, so tho subject Is on
of purely scientific interest at present
THIS SAME WRITER, AFTER DESCRIBING
tho different volcanic forces that aro con
tributing to tho change In theso Islands, draws this
interesting conclusion: "Should a West Indian con
tinent ever bo formed, In tho ages to come, It
would bo simply a restoration. Geologists main
tain that the islands, about 1,000 in number, ex
tending from near the coasts of Florida and Yu
catan In a wide curve down to and along tho north
ern coast of Venezuela, aro but tho remnants of a
once extensive prehistoric continent, tho greater
part of which was submerged. Should a new con
tinental formation bo effected, it would comprise
the greater and lesser Antilles, the islands near
Venezuela, Including Trinidad, and possibly the
Bahamas, tho combined area of which at present
is 92,641 square miles of actual land, with such
increments as would be yielded up by the sea,
which would doubtless bo very extensive. The
Gulf of Mexico and tho Caribbean sea would then
be merely great salt lakes. So serious a geologi
cal rearrangement would obviously have a re
markable influence on the climatic, geographical
and political conditions of that section of the
world."
THE WONDERFUL PART WHICH ELECTRIC
Ity plays in tho world of industry has recent
ly been increased by the invention of a procesi
whereby half-tones made from photographs can
be sent by telegraph. Tho invention that make
this possible is called tho eleefcrograph and ac
cording to advices from New York Its initial teat
is to bo made in that city. It is said that by the
use of this machine reproductions of half-tone
photograph engravings can be flashed over a thousand-mile
circuit, and every photographic detail
of the picture can bo preserved. Tho same dis
patch reports that Edison and Tesla, who recently
witnessed a private test, were outspoken regard
ing the achievement and revolutionary character
of the electrograph.
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