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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 2, 1897)
JAINTJAHY 2 , 1897. I TRIUMPHS OF NINETY-SIX j The Year's ' Developments in the Realms of J Soionco and Invcution. SOME WONDERFUL TALES ARE TOLD tlml KnilioniM Si'crulM of ( lu ; .Sim I , Machine * ( it .Mcunuru Jlrnln I'liivur , unit Oilier Mnr- > L ! H of Human Skill. During 1SDO , a now civilization has boon In prune-as of Incubation. When fully de veloped , as It probably will bo early In the twentieth ctr.tury , It will be as far ahead of thu preccni as the present la In advance of the coach nee. W'-ro til ! the projects now perfected which the brain of man has conceived during the past twulvii mouths , says the Cincinnati Enquirer , the unpavcd air would bo our nlghwaya ; phusphoiesccnce would II- luniln.Uo on- homos with a mellow glow like daylight ; nil our heavy work would bo done by wind , tide and compressed air ; wo would talk by wire- with friends In the Antipodes and in.'o them fauo to face ; would Eolvo the moat IntricMo problems Instantly by the application of electricity to our brains , and would photograph not only colors , but has reliefs , voices , dreams and emotions. Such allnunta us pneumonia , epilepsy , lockjaw , snake bite ami Insanity would bo as easily cured EH the. most ordinary cold , and the body Itdulf would bo made proof against dlae.lso by the Injection of microbe k I Hern Into the system. To Kail to the North Pole by balloon would be an ordinary Saturday ovpnlng pleasure trip , and to communicate with the Inhabitants of distant planets would bo an everyday occurrence. No doubt , some of these projects arc vis ionary , but mo.it of them arc In the range ; of probability , fur Imperfect appliances already exist to achieve such results. They will not find their way Into ordinary use , of course , until they arc so fur Improved that It will be economy to discard present methods for them. THE NEW LIGHT. The greatest achievement of the year was nt Ita threshold. It was early In January when Prof. Roentgen of Wurzburg univer sity astonished the world by showing that such substances as wood , leather , alumi num and human flesh are nut opaque , but as transparent as glass , and that there is another and more powerful medium of visIon - Ion than ordinary light a mysterious me dium which Is Itself Invisible- . This discov ery was the more surprising because It was never hinted or guessed at before , but was entirely now. It was found that few things were absolutely opaque when Roentgen or "X" rav were turned upon them , nnd that common glass Is harder for these beams to penetrate than thick boards. No sooner was this discovery announced than the whole civilized world became In terested In it , our own country most of all. There was scarcely an Inventor or a college laboratory that did not begin oxperlmunt- * lng , and almost dally frwh capabilities of the now rays revealed thcniHclves. At first only shadowgraphs were taken by camera nnd Crookes tubes. Later both these In struments wcro dispensed with , and , by means of the rays , the naked eye pierced wood and tissue , even penetrating bones to the marrow , and gazed upon the Inner structure of steel plate. Prof. Elmer Gates of Washington has utilized the rayi ! In searching the heavens for wonders In astronomy. Dr. Dawson Tucker of Knglanu lias taken sliailowgrapns by lining n glow-worm's light. Prof. Sal- vlonl has Invented the cryptoscopo , which enables ono to see through opaque objects with the now rays. Both Edison and Tcsln have largely added to our stock of knowl edge In the same direction. INVENTIONS OF THE YEAR. It has long been the dream of Inventors to find some method of navigating the air as easily ns wo now 'navigate ' the sea. The foremost of them all , Prof. Llllcnthal of Germany , yielded up his life for the cause , and after his fatal fait , like the hero he was , ho only lamented that ho had nut other lives to glvo to science. As the majority of airship Inventors have done , ho took the soaring bird for lIs ) model. Ho has sailed through the air for short distances , but his performance could hardly bo called flyln . It was rather an easy method of falling , for his plan was to leap from an eminence and sustain a gradual downward flight until ho reached the ground. The other two best known experimenters nro Maxim , the American-born Englishman , with his motor airship , and Prof. Langlcy , of Washington , with his aerodrome , the se cret of which he carefully guards. Besides throe three , there are Imitators of less note. Chanute and Paul , who made- unsuccessful trials of a winged boat near Chicago ; Cow- den of Virginia , with a paddle-wheel iir.a- chlno modeled after n salmon ; Dr. Wolfcrt of Berlin and Mr. Dastard of England with cone-dhapcd balloons. The only really successful experiments In air navigation during the year wcro made on the old-fashloncd kite principle by Charles II. Lamson of Portland , Me. , and William A. Eddy of Bayonne , N. J. . who have constructed kites strong enough to lift men Into the air. With these the Government - ernment Weather bureau la now exploring the cloud regions in search of data for mak ing more perfect weather forecasts. AMA/.ING DISCOVERIES. Discoveries In photography during 1SOG have been sufllclcnt to stagger ono who has not thought of the collective result. The Roentgen discovery may be considered un der tills head. Prof. Gates has photo graphed In a dark room with Invisible rays of light. The photnchronograph made dur ing the year for tbo use of the army , pic tures the flight of projectile , ) . Photos In bas-relief , like cameos , have been taken. Further advances In color photography have been made , though the dllllculty of printing on * the colors from the negttlvo has nut been removed. Dr. Packer of England has caught the corona of the sun through a metal film. The human voice has been photographed In Columbia col lege. M. Radol of Franco claims to have taken Impressions of dreams , each vision of the sleeper making n different shadow on the sensitive plate , and oven figures of pc'r- suns nppear which the dreamer , when awake , recognizes as the Individuals lie saw In his sleep. Equally startling Is the assertion of M. Narklerrlco-Jodko of Rus sia that ho has photographed true love ; or rather that ho has caught the electric dis charges exchanged when the lovers clasp hands , which discharges arc not found lu the handclasp of mere friends. Of morn practical benefit to mankind will bo the Invention of new motors to take the place of steam , Ono substantial advance has been the harnessing of Niagara Falls after years of toll on tunnels and masonry. This power Is now turning the wheels'of factories to Buffalo , \ Two newly Invented motors have betn In operation on the street car systems of Now York this year compressed nlr nnd h combination of storage and third-rail sys tems. ' A new style of electric locomotive has * been produced jointly by the Baldwin Lo- comotlvu works of Philadelphia nnd the Wcstlnghouso Electrical works of Pltts- burg. MEANS OF LOCOMOTION. Dr. Jacques of Boston has discovered a method of extracting electrical energy di rect from coal , without the aid of a steam engine. Petroleum motors for blcyclen and liomlesi" mall wagons have been products of the year. Anticipating the time .when fuel will bo soarco and expensive , Earnest Oerlaek h.ij been at work on < a wave motor on thii co.--.8t of California to utilize the vast power of the tides. Nowadays nearly all professional Invent ors nro electricians- , for the pocalblllltea of the mysterious force scorn to bo greater than even yet dreamed of by science. EdIson - Kr-1 son has produced a new electric light , which lie calls A lluoreicent lump , that gives un Intento whtto light. The meat startling In novation In this line , though , Is that of D. McFarlano Moore , who dispenses with wires altogether and pipes his electricity like gas. Through Klase tubes arranged around a room ho distributes evenly a soft , phos phorescent glow , the beat counterfeit of day light yet ilvvlicd , Even now electricity for domestic mo Is peddled from house to houio In New York City like milk In oans. Edison has Im proved the telautograph , Invented the pro- Tlous year , lu A still butter device for trans- milting pictures by wire , wiling his Inven tion the autographic telegraph. Prof. Row- liai.l of Johns Hopkins university ban dc- viu-il the multiplex printing telegraph , capa ble of sending ten separate nu-wnpci an ounce over n single wire. M. Klldltchowsky l > 3j been experimenting with long-dtstnnra telephoning under water. He has already talked through H < vcral hundred mllM of wlro under the Don river , and now aspires to make hla voice heard by cable across the .MUntie. Alexander Graham Bell has In vented n radiophone , by which ho trans mits a sunbeam over the telephone for long cll.xtcnoe * . ELECTRIC LINOTYPE. Jumes P. Pcmbcrton , a Tenneswean , has the most wonderful project of all for using the wire. Ills It'c-a Is to operate llnotypo machines fiom central news agencies , llko the Associated prccs. putting the dis patches directly Into type , wires being At tached to the keys of machines nil over the country nnd worked from the central agency by n single operator. Among other liOU inventions made pos sible by electricity are the cophnne. for de tecting the nx.iet direction of pounds at sea during a fog ; Edison's vitancopo , for repro ducing play ; Lumtero's clnomatoprnpho , which , llkp thn klnetojcopo , already out of date , produces figures In action , but In ad dition projects them In magnified form so that whole audiences may ere them. Dr. Frank Close's telectroacope. which tele- plumes sight aa well OR sound , enabling talk ers to see rach other focn to face , although separated by hundreds of mlleu ; and the phoncndoscopp , to detect the presence of disease by sound. Thl.i lant Is of such ex ceeding delicacy that It makes a wink as audible ns n cat mm shot. These piping times of peace are prolific In Inventions for wholesale slaughter In tlmo of war. During the year , In the struggle for supremacy between big guns nnd armor plate , the tide of victory has once more turned toward the guns , through Increased power and Improved projectiles. Moreover , two types of submarine tor pedo boats , which nro now bplng perfected , the Gathmann and the Holland , threaten to m.iko the moat powerful battleship as de fenceless as a tub. It would lengthen this article too much to even mention all of the Inventions of the jvar , but It wouldn't do to cllght a few of the most Important , such as the Hawkins method of making steel , a substitute for thn Bcvsflemcr process , the Invention of a saw manufacturer of Soglnaw , Mich. A bicycle paceengcr car , which .may . bo propelled by Its own occupants , or else attached to a train , nnd a submarine bicycle for the use of dc-cp sea divers , are new variations for the benefit of wheelmen. Then there la the at tempt of Mr. Emmens of Emmonslto explo sive f.ime , to revive alchemy , claiming his ability to transmute silver Into gold. DEEDS OF THE DOCTORS. The progress of the healing art has kept pace with the marclu of invention. The big gest atrldo In advance , if It succeeds. Is the supposed discovery by Dr. Edaon of New York , who thinks he has found a method of killing In the blood all dlieise germs. This he seeks to accomplish by hypodermic In jection of nsepsln , relieving the stomach of the task of assimilating drug-i. The Im mensity of such nn Innovation will he real ized' If It can be proved that , excluding violence lence nnd accident from the calculation , the now remedy would ward off any but a purely natural death at the end of man's allotted time on earth. That Is , no Intrusive illn esses , IHco pneumonia or fever , which cut off Its victim In the prime of life , could with stand the attack of the germ killer. During the year the principle of Inocula tion , which had already proved effective against smallpox , hydrophobia and diphthe ria , has been extended to the cure of lock jaw , snakuhlto and Insanity. Pneumonia Is treated by Dr. Moran of Elyrla , 0. , who draws off the poisonous matter by producing artificial abscesses where they can easily bo removed by the knlfo. me ursr. ' epileptic sanitarium in tnc world has been established at Mount Morris , N. Y. , under the name of the "Craig Epileptic Colony. " The sphygmograph , nn Instrument to measure heart beats. Is an ISDfi Invention. Massige by water power , which has been Introduced Into the Now York Orthopedic hcopltal , Is also an achievement of the year. Attempts have been made during the year to explore the shadowy borderland which lies between body and spirit. The unheard of things which photography has essayed In this line I have already men tioned ; but there are two mechanical In ventions which trench closely upon psy chology. The pendulent Chronoscope now In use In the University of New York Is de signed to inoasuro the brain of a living man to determine his mental capacity. Jullua Emmer , Inventor of the long-dlstanco tele- plione , has contrived what ho calls a "thought machine. " You can think In the presence of a delicately constructed cylin der and the apparatus by means of chemi cal and electrical forces , will bottle your Ideas , as It were , Just as Edison's phonograph graph stores away one's voices and word.i. In the city of Washington there arc two laboratories where scientists are devoting their lives to experimenting upon the shad- owland I have mentioned. Prof. Rimer Gates is the leading spirit of ono. Ho > j studying the physical sldo of mental action , and his aim Is to build up the brain , just as by careful dieting the body of an Invalid may bo built up. One fruit of his researches Is the oloctrostat , which , by directing a stream of electricity upon the brnln will enable the owner of the organ to concen trate hla mental powers upon a problem ns ho could not do without artificial aid. By imliiB the clectrcdtat the stupidest dunce may become quick-witted so claims Prof. Gates. The other Institution Is a part of Uncle Sam's own Bureau of Education and has founded the new sclenco of "psycho-neur ology. " Dr. MncDonald , Its chief , Is mak ing a study of the physical effects of the emotions how love and hate , for Instance altcct the blood , brain and nerves. His ap paratus Is said to test the power of the will and measure the qulcktwss and quality of an Idea. CAUfillT IX .THIS ACT. Tlu > Tcll-Talr TrnoK-M 1111 thu Tanon- < ry llotraycil Him. Four or five Washington pastors wcro hav ing a pleasant little meeting the other after noon nt the study of ono of them and they were having comparatively as much fun out of It as that many rounders would have bad at a saloon knee deep In forty-EOvcn varieties of tlpplp. They wcro telling Sunday school stories , ns a rule , relntca the Washington Star , but they swung around after whllo to temperance. "In my youth In Virginia , " said the host , "wo had , what Is rare nowadays , to-wlt , n lot of more or less seedy and shabby genteel old fellows wtio went about the country de livering lectures on temperance and getting out of It only abcut so much as would clothe and feed them. Some of them wore no doubt good nnd conscientious men , but among them were many , who , notwithstanding their professions , dearly loved to take a glass of scimcthlng warming to the Inner man , "Most of these tipplers were very particular not to have the rumor get abroad that they over tasted the vile stuff and when they took their drinks they observed great secrecy. I remember there was ono whom wo thought to bu a most abstemious old fellow nnd no one thought ho ever tasted a drop. Particu larly a maiden aunt of mine who llvedl with my mother nnd was as rigid a temperance woman as over came out of Now England. My mother waa much inoro liberal and wanted always to entertain these workers In Ihe- good cause , but my aunt had become so suspicious of all of them except this particu lar one that he was the only ono who could find .1 night's lodging at our place. One night thin old chap came to stay all n\K \ ( and he had such a severe cold that my motliRr prescribed a rubbing of geese grease on his feet nnd toasting It In by the flro before - fore ho went to bed. Now , us It happened , In the rfloiuvliero ho slept there waa n new carpet which my aunt had presented to my mother as a birthday gift and there was an old-fashioned sideboard In the eamo room with a two-gallon jtig of good whUiky on It , which somebody had forgotten to put In side and lock up. At 8 o'clock Uip black boy carried In the goojo grease to our gtifat. and left him sitting before the flro. "Just what happened after that nobody knows , but after the guest had departed next mornlnu and the servants went to straighten up the .room they found tracks Innumerable between the fireplace and the sideboard and In some way It was discovered that the old fellow , afraid of taking cold , had greased hla socks and tcasted the grcaao Into his feet through them , and whllo the toasting wns going on he made regular and frcquunt trips to the jug. Of course If the tracks on the carpet had not betrayed him no ono would have over noticed by the jug that ho had been drinking out of It , Ho uuver came back again aiid I don't know whether my aunt wns more pained over the ruined carpet or over the ruined Idol , for she had the greatest confidence In the old man. " _ Iin.M.TII AM ) IIYOtn.VR. Sonic I'olnn llnxoil nn IHUB : Moillenl OliNorvntlon nnil Stint } ' . From a scries of lectures delivered before tic Academy of Natural Science of Phila delphia , the Record of that city furnishes the following health promoting facts : A large tnink , n peed chest , n , generous framework to hold the heart , lunga and dlge.itlvo organs , greatly promote longevity nnd are usually accompanied by a clear , rosy skin , plenty of blood In the body and a good supply of vital force. Insufficient mastication nnd food that dis agrees and only tickles the palate should bo avoided. No ono neglects bodily exercise to any degree without paving the way for future trouble. A proper scheme for healthy living would Involve the training of all the members of the body. .Muscles unused become smaller In size , flabby nnd wr-ak ; use hardens , strengthens and makes them moro responsive to the will. will.A A quick person always has the mus-elos In good trim. Ready obedience of muscles to will Is a very Important thing. Exercise docs more than strengthen nnd harden muscles. A microscopic examination shows muscles constantly used are the moro healthy. The value of n bodily organ depends upon Us use. The oftencr It Is disintegrated by action nnd rebuilt by the proper putting to gether of the food stuffs from the digestive organs , the more times It Is remade , the better It Is. The use of the muscles exerts a notable Influence upon circulation. Athletes who have contracted heart trouble either have not taken their training judici ously , or , .having developed a large heart , neglect their athletic work and are then visited with troubles which could have been avoided by exercise. After passing competent Inspection of heart and lungs n would-be athlete need fear no danger from n gradual system of training. Where the heart la organically diseased and the person enters Immediately upon some tremendous muscular task the heart may glvo way. Each man In an athletic team should al ways pacs a preliminary examination before entering any contest. Under proper muscular excrclso the heart drives the blood In Increased volume , not only through the muscles concerned , but through all parts of the body , and the oxygen absorbed by the lunga la conveyed through the system more thoroughly , with better elimination of waste materials. Every contraction of a muscle drives the blood out of that muscle by squeezing the vessels , which , as a network , pierce It , and the imusclo Is thus emptied. When relaxed again the blood Is driven Into the muscle nnd again squeezed out on the way to thp heart , so that every muscular action helps the heart. In n man at rest the heart docs prac tically all the work , when the man works the muscles aid largely In the blood-pumping procces. An overdeveloped heart will bo of no In- convcnlenco If the -Individual keeps up u normal amount of bodily exercise. A man walking four miles an hour takes In five times as much oxygen as when nt rest. rest.A A laboring man will In a day excrete through the lungs lu the form of carbonic acid gas , an amount of carbon equivalent to a lump of coke as big as his two fists. Exercise should not make ua breathe much more rapidly than wo do normally , but deeper. Mnct nf Ha nrn Inn li7V ultli nllT * lltnfra not knowing how to fill them evenly , smoothly and fully. Most people have hollows above their collar bones , which Is wrong. The apex of the lungs should project up Into that space and fill It pretty nearly full , making nn almost even surface with the neck. One should breahha deeply nnd fully , otherwise the lungs' apex Imprisons a stagnant pool of air , soon filled with dust and organisms of nil kinds , and forms an excellent germ breeder. Most cases of phthisis begin In the apex of the lungs. Women , though closer housed nnd more away from the fresh air , do not have con sumption as much cs men. The lessened liability to consumption en joyed by women Is duo partly to their loose- throated dresses , allowing full expansion of the lungs at the apex , which most men do not use. The blood of a person getting a suffi ciency of pure air tingles on the tips of the fingers and toes , and the elimination of waste matter In the food la much nearer perfection. A man using hU muscles demands more food than an Inactive one , but , owing to the Increased circulation of the blood through the muscles nnd to the Increased supply of oxygen , there will be better man ufacture of gastric and other digestive juices , nnd better digestion , absorption and assimilation. Muscular effort carries blood to the brain and favors Its nutrition. Manual training nnd physical exercise are valuable aids In the development of the weak-minded and those who suffer from mental trollies. Proper bodily exercise causes the skin to throw off large amounts of waste matter , which otherwise would accumulate , Irritate and cause bad complexions. No hard and fast hygienic rules can bo devised. Every man Is a personal equation by himself. What Is good for ono may net bo good for another. To maintain the health a man of 150 pounds needs exercise equivalent to raising 300 tons one foot per day , or walking nine miles per day. Do not walk the nine miles In nddltlon to other work. The bicycle offers a practical , gentle means of oxcrclse to almost every one. Home gymnastics , public gymanasla and the differ ent games are to bo recommended. A cold bath Is very unv.Mso for some people. They should not go mush below the body temperature. Common ECIISO and Individual tempera ment should ccntrol the temperature of the bath. Some prefer GO degrees Fahrenheit , whllo 70 to 75 degrees Is generally favored. With a. hardy person a cold bath Invigor ates and stimulates all the various func tions , and , followed by a good rubbing , It Imparts a tone which nothing else can glvo. Bcwaro of sea bathing Immediately before or after meal ? . Bathing too teen after eating has caused the worst cases of cramps through Indiges tion , even whore the digestive apparatus from all surface Indications appeared In the best order. Do not eat too soon after surf bathing , ns the vlolsnt exercise robs the digestive organs of the biood , and Indigestion results. Do not enter the water In a state of active perzplratlon , nor yet welt until fully cooled off , because you are then In a state of ex treme reaction , and various forms of con gestion -may follow. Take your bath while warm , after perspiration has stopped , but before completely cooled off. Stay no longer than comfortable and dress quickly. Wool affoid.i the best clothing In this climate at thla season , because It docs not allow the heat of the body to pats rapidly Away. Heat always passes from the body to the air when the air la colder than thu body , but woolen clothing Interferes , being u non-conductor of heat. Wool Is hygro scopic , taking up the water readily and parting with It with great reluctance. When perspiration rapidly evaporates from our bodlra we cool off rapidly and chill , which Is prevented by using woolen or merino un derwear. Silk underwear Is preferred- those , who can afford It , being hygro-icoplc like wcol and frco from the latter'n liability to Irritate thn skin through the serrations ( llko the Hhluglc.i on a house ) occurring along the wool fiber , Silk underwear la softer and prettier , taken dyes better and has just as .good properties a.i wool. Wool or'ifllk underwear should bo worn by all subject to sudden temperature changes , especially by the gouty and rheumatic and MtifTerera from catarrh or throat and lung affections. Sufferers from Indigestion should wear a wool bandage about tint abdomen. Many perfioiui would bu much Improved In general liuiltli If they took this precaution. Rheumatics should wear woolen or silk underwear all the year round. Garments of tightly woven fabric should ho worn where there la danger of contagion from disease germs. The of la ' ' king pills Ueecham's Bccchaui's INDIANA'S "CRAW OLD HAN " Recollections of n Veteran of Fifteen Prosi deutial OntnpAigns. COLONEL "DICK" THOMPSON AT HOME The SIIKC of Torn * II nil to ItrlutcH a .Vuiu her of nriiiliilNi'ciHM'H Cun- .Voted .All-u Of lillllK Ono of the most delightful conversation alists In this country Is Colonel Hlclinrd W. Thompson of Terre Haute , Iml , , ox-sccrctary of the navy and solo survivor of the Twenty , seventh Uultcil States congress and of the Inillana legislature of 1S3I. Colonel Thompson - son has passed through fifteen presidential campaigns , relates a correspondent of the Chicago Record , And has been n companion of all our presidents , except the first two. Ho know scores of revolutionary people , and U a gold mine of Information on all matters pertaining to the political history of the United States. Far and wide the silver- crowned colonel Is known as "tho old man eloquent. " The very first men In American public life have paid him high tribute as a popular speaker. Ho Is now In the SSth year of his ago , yet only a few weeks ago ho spoke lu the open air for almost an hour to an Immense audience of his follow towns men , and It was ono of the most eloquent and powerful addresses of his life. Colonel Thompson may bo found til Ills great library any evening , writing or read ing. About 9 o'clock his grandchildren como romping Into the room , throw their arms about his neck and kiss him good night. An hour later his two daughters , middle-aged women , perform the same act of courtesy and affection. Than Colouol Thompson Is left nlnne among Ms books. Ho remains at lts ) desk until midnight , attending to correspond ence , burrowing through newspapers , maga zines and other publications , and enjoying his Inevitable cigar. The colonel Is a rav enous reader , as ho Is an Insatiable smoker. Nbthlng In the newspapers escapes him. Ho oven reads the jokes , and enjoys them as much na anybody. All political , social and economic questions , all scientific nnd relig ious matters whatever appeals to the pro gressive Intelligence of man receives atten tion , and careful attention , from this bril liant and beloved survivor of the fathers. MEETING WITH ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Colonel Thompson and Abraham Lincoln wcro bosom friends. They chummed together for many years and there was no man In Washington , cither before or after the great Illlnolcun bcciino president , for whom he had n profoundcr respect or a deeper personal regard than ho had for Colonel Thompson. The colonel was an Influential member of congress when Lincoln was elected to > tint body. The two men had never met , but they know each other very well by reputation. Lincoln bad been practicing law on one side of the Wnbaeh river and Thompson on the other , and they had many nmtual friends. So 11 happened that when those two men'of the peopla met on the floor of the house of representatives for tho'first ' tlmo Lincoln ex tended his hand with : "How'ro you , Dick ? " And Thompson extended Mils hand with : "How'ro you , Abe ! " From that moment until Lincoln's career terminated he nnd Colonel Thompson were confidential friends , and If the 'truth ' were Known ino manyr prcBiutni wouia uu luuuu often to have profited > by the counsel of his distinguished Indiana colleague. LINCOLN AT A RECEPTION7. Colonel Thompson tblls many stories of Lincoln , most of which como from hla per sonal association with the president. IJack In 1817 one of the most elegant society wonion of Washington gave a. reception , to which she Invited many senators and representa tives , and among the latter was Colonel Thompson. The colonel at that tlmo had become an Intimate Lincoln's nnd ho de cided to ask that the Illinois man bo hon ored with nn Invitation to the reception. Accordingly ho approached the prospective hostess and said to her : "Madam , I want you to ask my friend , Abraham Lincoln of Illinois , to your party. " "Abraham Lincoln ? " was the reply. "I do not know the gentleman. " "Nevertheless , " Insisted the colonel , "I wish the Invitation for him. " The Invitation was forthcoming , and on the night of the splendid reception Colonel Thompson entered the reception room , In company with his long-armed , long-legged , ugly friend. The two went straight to where the hostess was standing , and the colonel presented the Illinois man. Lincoln was aaked to bo seated on a low hassock , and after considerable difficulty he so disposed his arms and legs as to feel fairly comfortable. Then a long and animated conversation took place between him nnd the society woman. The day following the reception Colonel Thompson met the hostess and remarked to her : "Well , how did you llko my friend , Lin coln ? " "I will tell you , " she answered. "Mr. Lin coln , of all you men at my house last night. Is the only ono who will ever bo president. " ONE OK LINCOLN'S STOIIIBS. Colonel Thompson was at Lincoln's house In AVashlngton one night after the latter had become president. The colonel and the chief executive were alone , the former lying at length on a sofa and Lincoln sitting near b > with his feet on the sofa. At 10:30 : o'clock Thompson rose and said ho must go. The president remonstrated. "Not yt-t , nick , " he said , "there Is a man coming to see mo at 11 o'clock and when he gets here you may go. " The colonel Inquired about the expected visitor and was Informed that ho was a fel low who held a claim of several hundred thousand dollars against the Commissary department. Lincoln hod already examined some of the papers In the case , and when the claimant put In hl-s appearance , which he did at 11 o'clock sharp , the president aim- ply Icstructed him to leave such other papers as ho possessed for future examination. The man hesitated about going and Intimated that ho would llko to know what Impression the record 03 already Inspected had left upon Lincoln's mind , The president understood and thus responded : "I will say of your case that It suggests to mo a story I once heard about Sam Brown , lawyer , In Illinois. This fellow could not make a living for himself nnd family by practicing law , so he decided to enter the merchandising business. In pursuance of this purposo'hc ordcrcdta , ) urge bill of goods from an eastern flrm.r , The firm at once wired Its western correspondent In regard to Sam Brown's credit. The correspondent re plied that Sam was worth over $100,000 and gave the following Itemized statement of lib possessions ; " 'Ho has a beautiful wife , with black hair and lustrous eyes ; 1 should say she Is worth $50,000. He has'two children , ono a little girl , who Is the Imago of her mother and the other a brlghtuand amiable boy The girl Is worth at leasti$25.000. and If the boy were mine you could 'not buy him for $50,000. Hi-aides these objects of value , Mr Drown has an old tabla worth 25 cento , an Inkstand worth 10 ccnUi 'and ' a pocketknlfe worth 6 cents. Hut , ov r And above ull , I have named , Sam has , "in1 the corner of his olllce , a great big rat liolo that Is worth ' " " ' looking Into. ANECDOTE OF WILLIAM WIUT. Colonel Thompson tells a good titory about William Wlrt of Virginia , author of "Tho Hrltlsh Spy. " and a lawyer of much note In his day. Wlrt lived at Culpopper Court House , and Colonel Thompson's grandfather , Major William Droadua 61 the revolutionary army , was the first man to employ him In a lawsuit. Wlrt and thp colonel's father wore Intimate friends. The former's prosperity lu his youth wa.i too much for him and ho became - came a gutter drunkard. Whlla In this pltla- lilo condition ho was going ono day from Culpopper Court House to Charlottavllle , U was Sunday , and Wlrt stopped by the way to hear the sermon of 'a celebrated blind preacher. The- lawyer was deeply Impressed by the power of the blind man , and this Im pression WES made of great avail by an ex perience that followed. A rich man was at the service and Invited Wlrt home with him to dinner. The Invita tion was accepted and Wlrt met the rich man's lovely daughter. Ho lost hid heart to licr , and afterward sued for her hand. She was awnro of his profligacy , and an * ewcred hla request tb.ua : "Can you quit drinking ? " "For you I can , " eald Wlrt. "Well , then. " answered the girl , "prove your words by remaining sober for two years. At the expiration of that tlmo , If you have not failed , f shall bo tinppy to be come your wife. " Wlrt accepted the proposition , vindicates ! hla manhood and married the girl. MEETING WITH WHIT'S SON. The author of the "Ilrlllsh Spy" became one of the best citizens o.f Culpopper Court Houao and was widely"esteemed. . Years afterward , when Colonel Thompson was sec retary of the navy , ho needed a clerk In hie office. Among the applicants was n tall young man with a modest manner and a prepossessing face. "What Is your name ? " asked Colonel Thompson. 'My name Is Wlrt. " i 'Wlrt ? Where from ? " Virginia. " 'What was your father's name ? " 'William. " 'Of Culpeppcr Court House ? " 'Yes. sir. " 'Why. my boy , your father nnd my father were old-tfmo friends. If William Wlrt was good enough for my father , I think hla son will be good enough for mo. I appoint you to the place. " During Jackson's administration Major Ilroadus , Colonel Thompson's grandfather , was paymaster at Harper's Terry. The tnoJcr way nn austere man nnd handled those about him without any blarney. As n COIIEC- quonco ho mndo enemies , and when Jackson was elected nn effort was put. ' on foot a bit of gray In the dawn of the spoils system to have the paymaster oui'tod. The lattcr'8 pol itics was not made the basis ) of the complaint ; It was charged that hlH harshness unfitted him for the position ho held. "Who Is this Major Uroadus ? " Jackson In quired. "I will look him up and lot you know. " The president made his Inquiries and eub- Daquently wao called upon by a committee of the major's enemies. "Old Hickory's" response to them was us follows : "I cannot turn Major Hro.nltin out gentle men. Ho was n gallant officer of the Revo lution , with General Washington , and has a right to CUM whoever ho pleases. " BOYHOOD RECOLLECTION OP THOMP SON. Old General Stevens , a survivor of the revolution , had a beautiful home In Culpeppcr Court Houso. His house faced on ono of the main streets of the town. At the sldo , on a street lesa frequented , was n vine-covered porch where General Stevens used to pit on summer afternoons and drink toddy. When any special friend came by the general In vited him In to have some toddy , nnd ns n consequence hlo special friends wcro observed to pass tiiat way very frequently. The boys of Culpsppor Court House , among them Colonel Thompson , were always wel come after school In General Stevens' 'lde titrect. Ho was fond of drilling them In the military 'tartlcs ' of the period , emphasizing his commands with a long pawpaw stick. The general's method of dispersing the boys when ho tired of them was nmuslng. During the revolution ho had led nn army of Virginians against the Hrltlsh at Camden - den , S. C. , and Ills soldiers had completely disgraced him and the state by running away. To be sure , the same Virginians , under the same commander , afterward covered themselves with glory at King's mountain , but General Stevens never for got the South Carolina Incident. And so , when dispersing his hey soldiers , ho woulj dance about among them flourishing his pawpaw stick and exclalmlr.fi : "Run , you d llttlo scoundrels ; run llko your daddies did at Camden ! " ANECDOTE OP GENERAL LAPAYETTE. Colonel Thompson remembers General La fayette perfectly. Ho saw the great French man a number of times and recalls circum stantially liU review of the revolutionary officers nnd soldiers at Culpeppcr Court notice. The colonel , as a boy , stood on the porch of a tavern opposite the spot occu pied by Lafayette as the army passed in front of him. An affecting Incident occurred at this review , witnessed by Colonel Thompson. At the battle of liramlywtno General La fayette had been shot through the thigh and old Billy Poster , a private in the revo lution , had picked the wounded general up and carried him to the surgeon's quarters , saving his life. Old Dllly had often told the story to his friends at Culpepper Court House , but they were skeptical and ho know It. So , on the day of the review , ho de clared that he would show them that ho was a truthful man. Colonel Gibson was Introducing the men as they passed by General Lafayette , but old Hilly Poster had Instructed that the general be left to recognize him. Accordingly , when Old Hilly stood before the Prench com mander Colonel Gibson was silent and the two men looked Into each other's eyes. There was no sign of recognition In the general' ! ! face. Finally Old Dllly he could never talk without stuttering and he was somewhat nervous on this occasion said to the Frenchman : "W-w-w'y , g-g-gcncral , d-d-don't you k-k-know me ? " Lafayette contracted his brows for a mo ment as lie gazed Into Old Billy's face. Then , with the politeness of his country , ho re plied : "No , sir ; I do not recognize you ; I oisce knew you very well , no doubt , but time and circumstances have effaced your countenance from my memory. " Old Dllly hastened to rejoin : "H-h-havo y-y-you f-forgottcn B-B-H-B- Draudywlne ? " The last word Illuminated the general's mind. In a moment he and the private had their arms around each other's necks and Old Billy's veracity was vindicated. Dili You Kvcr Try Electric Bitters as a remedy for your troubles ? If not , get a bottle now and get relief. This medicine has been found to be peculiarly adapted to the relief and cure of nil Fcmnlo Complaints , exerting a won derful direct Influence In giving strength nnd tone to the organs. If you have loss of Appetite , Constipation , Headache , Fainting Spells , or are Nervous , Sleepless , Excitable , Melancholy or troubled with Dizzy Spells , Electric IJItters Is the medicine you need. Health and strength are guaranteed by Its use. Fifty cents nnd ? 1.0'7 at Kuhn & Co.'s drug store. . Cnrxi * of I'olltlclniiN. Chicago Post : The reformer waa excited. "Tho curse of politicians , " he began , "Is " "The curse of politicians ! " "Yea , sir. I realize that It Is a harsh word to use , but It IB Juotlflable. " "Oh , I have no fault to find with the word , but I didn't know that the politicians had any special curse. I thought they used everything In that line which waa known to the people of both ancient and modern limes , " PEN PICTURES It'H wonderful to KOIIIU people what a n\K \ Kale we're having Helling inorp ruga every day no wonder to un Iho won der Is that we don't null more when puonlo begin to thoroughly understand that they can buy almost any kind of a rug for less than rtign usually whole sale then wo can't wait on the trade- but we're doing a mighty big rug busi ness at this great clearing out of rugs- jirlee our rugs now whllo they're cheap , OMAHA CARPET CO. , 1515 DODGE. HOW MVCH IS A ICXOTf Per Irftsiilimpn ICnoir I In Ynlitr IC\- prninnl In Mlln. . In this day ot record breaking by ocean steamers , when every big stoamcr thnt comes Into port Is expected to cnrry a record hung at a yardsrm , so to speak , how many landsmen know the meaning of the term "knot , " In which rnto of speed at non la chiefly expressed ? It Is purely and wholly a nautical term , says the New York Her ald , having specific application to the speed nnd distance made by a vessel moving In the water. The word "knot" Is the mariner's term fern n nautical mile , and Its use Is really de rived from the log line used by navigators of the ocean when they wlh to determine the speed nud the distance- that the ship has probably sailed In n given time. The log line Is an Important and n very neces sary part of a ship's fittings ; especially Is this the case when , for several days nt sen , thn navigator Is enabled , IIDP.-IUSC of the sun being hidden by clouds or thick weather , to get n peep nt It with his sextant , from which the actual position of the ship is worked out. With the dntn tnkcn by n frequent heaving of the log ( n small blocker or ncctlon ot wood with a long line at tached nnd run out from the stern of the vessel for n specific number of seconds ) noting the force and direction of the wind , the possible currents , or other Influences acting favorably or against the progress of the Bhlp , the navigator la enabled to calcu late very nearly , In ovcrcnst or foggy weather , about where his ship Is nt any hour of the day. This Is called "working out the position of the ship by dead reck oning. " Every ono who studied the geographical table In lila early school days will recall that part of the sing-song recitation run ning like this : "Sixty-nine nnd one-sixth statute miles , or sixty geogrnphlcnl miles , equal ono degree of longitude at the equator. " Now , the difference between n statute mile nnd a nautical or goegraphlcal mile Is thnt the latter Is about SOfi feet greater than the former. There are sixty geogrnphlcnl miles to each degree of latitude , or to each degree of longitude nt the equator , which divisions of miles nro called "minutes" In the nautical vocnbnlnry. hence the old saying , "a mile n minute. " Aa there nre .160 degrees , or meridians , of longitude- , them nro 21COO min utes , or miles , In the entire circumference of the world , nt the equntor. nnd It has been mathematically determined that ono minute ono geographical mile at the equatorial clrclo Is oiiii.U to O.OSC.7 feet. Hut It has been the practice of mariners not to bo too exact on small fractions when measuring n dlstnnco ns great as a mile , consequently the practice of defining n knot or nautical mile ns equal to C.OSO foot. Instead of G.OS6.7 feet , has been generally adopted. When the navigator desires to make a log- line by which to ascertain the speed which his vessel Is making through the water , ho follows the constant fi.OSO. As the num ber of seconds In nn hour nro to GOM ) feet , EO nro the number of seconds In the time glass ( to bo used for measuring the ship's speed ) to the number of feet In each unit of measurement marked off on the log-line. If a half-mlnuto ( thirty seconds ) glass Is to bo used , the knots must be made fifty feet eight Inches from each other , and the num ber of these knots , which pass from the reel over the stern whllo the snnd Is running from the top bulb totho lower bulb of the glnss. Is cqunl to the number of knots or nautical 'miles that the vessel would make In nn hour , providing the same conditions for speed continue. For Instance , If the engines of a steamship continue to make the same speed during the hour , or If the forca of wind nnd spread of canvas of a sailing vessel continue the same , the number of knots on the line pasalng from the reel whllo the sand Is running through tno tmrty-seconu glass is as goou an actual measurement of the vessel's speed through the water as could bo obtained , ex cept thnt the course should be measured by nn actual survey with Instruments. If It was shown that the vessel was making ten knots , she would cover ten geographical miles , era a llttlo more than eleven nnd one-half land miles , or eleven nnd a half times 5,250 (5,280 ( feet being equivalent to n land mile ) . Hence , io speak of the City of Paris having made 523 knots or nautical miles In twenty-four hours , she covers n distance of CO 1 % land miles , as comprehended In railroad distances , or a rate of twenty-five land miles an hour , which Is faster than many railroad trains travel. Dr. Bull's Cough- Syrup has always been kept up to the standard. It Is the same It was forty years ago , the best sold. A SIBCIIAXICAIj TUHX-OVKIl. California Sinn IIIV MIM a Contrivance In I'l-i-vcnl Inxoiiinlii. Walter Hyde of Alamcda , Cal. , has In vented n contrivance that turns him over In bed once every hour during the night. When Mr. Hyde retires ho winds up a clock attached to his bed , and regularly every hour when the clock strikes the mattress Is gently twisted In such a manner as to cause the occupant to roll over. Mr. Hyde Is a man of advanced ago nnd does not enJoy - Joy the best of health. Illn greatest physi cal Inconvenience has been an Incomplete circulation of the blood , causing sleepless ness. If he remains In ono position for any length of tlmo a mild form of paralysis follows and sleep becomes hopeless. Ilelng somewhat of a mechanical turn of mind , Mr. Hyde concluded to experiment. The re sult of his tinkering and thinking Is the mechanical contrivance which hourly turns him over without awaking him from his slumbers , and which ho says works so charmingly that his paralysis with accom panying sleeplessness Is n thing of the past. The frame on which the mattress rests hangs from the bedstead by means of pinions , ono at the head nnd the other nt the foot. The frame Is kept In position by being secured at the sides to a clock- like apparatus with cogs and lovers to tilt the mattress frame , the motion of the rocking being governed by the clock and spring apparatus. The tilting of the frame Is so nicely graduated that the sleeper Is unconscious of the change , but continues undisturbed In Ills night's sleep , as the mechanism attached to the frnmo automat ically changes his position during thu hour to the right or the left sldo as the case may bo. The angle at which the frame Is tilted Is never so much at Its greatest that the sleeper on a wide mattress Is In dan ger of being rolled out of bed. IIIIC'lClftl'H A I'll It'll The best Salvo In the world for cuts , bruises , sores , ulcers , salt rheum , fever soroa , totter , chapped hand ? , chilblains , corns and all skin eruptions , and positively cures piles , or iio pay required. It Is guaranteed to glvo perfect satisfaction or money refunded. Price 25 cents per box. PLEASANTLY AND Wo do llio fnunliiK In tliln clly he- ciuisu wo do the frnmluK quicker and huttiT niul for lovti limn anybody our wlioli'salo fuatnro cnnhlc.s im to lirlnj , ' out moro fruinu Htylcs tlinii nil otliurti conihlni'd It also unnliluH yon to buy fi'iiinuH nitido to onlur for IOKH inonoy than the moulding aloiu > would eont yon anywhere clsi1 we uro Nhowlng over HO many now designs rlKht now. A. HOSPE , JR. , 1513 DOUGLAS. ORIGIN OF INDIAN .CORN Proof of the Claim thrtt Mnlza Belongs Ex clusively to This Oonntry. GROWN BY THE INCAS CENTURIES AGO f HIP Klml-Ulieovereil w Vnrl * lli > n Duo ( o Cul- ( Ivnlliiu - . UlitMHVllil Corn I * I'ciniil. Many year * ago researches wcro made to establish the fact that maize belonged ex clusively to this country nnd was o ( Amcil- can origin. It was believed In 137 thnt the plant In ItH wild state w\3 extinct and thus out ! of the Btrongrat arguments to prove It Indigenous was lost , sr.ys Robert P. Hnn-lfl In Garden and Forest. No evidence could be found In Europe , Asia or Africa to show that the plant existed prior to I ho voyagiw of Columbus In MU2 or Plzarro In 152J. Doth of three navigators Raw It grow ing and wo have now reason to bcllevo that the Indians and Ineas made use of the grain many years before those visitors nr- I'lved. Wo have corn that hna been pre served for several hundred years and It may have been grown over 1.000 years ago. In a dry Btatc this grain appears to bo In- ilcatrui'llblo nnd I have In my possession some Peruvian corn that \a \ certainly several hundred years old. It Is dry nnd friable , la of a red color and yields n white meal. It was burled with n so-called mummy prior to the year 1553 nnd how long bcforu history dura not tell. Peiuvlnn corn was In small cars , f'-om three to six Inches long , and bore grains pointed on the tup , not In I-OWH , but somewhat Imbricated. It was evidently far removr-d from the wild stock. Primitive corn , or wild corn , which hen been found In several different regions of this continent naturally reproducing Itself , has a character' of growth that ills It for long preservation In n mild climate , although If planted nnd cultivated for a few years all the chaMctcrlstlra of w'lldnciM gradually ills- nppear. The coKi of wild mul/e are thin and hard , covered with lines of mustiroom-ohaped elevations , each having n wire-like pedicel growing from thu top , attached to n glume Inclosing a small pointed grain , or Hat grain , umalter than any popcorn. These kernel husks overlap each other toward the point of the ear , llko the Hhlnglrs on thereof roof of n house. The imbrications are the largest and longest nt the butt of thu ear and gradually become less pwnounccd as they advance In distinct rowj to the point. VARIETIES SECURED 11Y CULTIVATION. Originally there may have been but ono variety of corn nnd It was attached to a mild climate , but , judging from analogy and the effects of cultivation we are of the opinion that there wcro nnbvarlctlea , and In them the grains were of n dlffeient color and the glumes striped. The Incas nnd In dians had different varieties of COIMI , nnd grew para of several colors , ( some uniform ami others mixed , but their cobs were thin and sometimes the ears qulto short. Six varieties of the wild corn found growing In unfrequented localities have been described , flvo of which I have seen , nnd several of which have been grown. All have pcdlceln attached to the glumta , and the glumes Imbricated. i The word corn , In many languages , simply means grain. Indian corn Is Indian grain distinctively , as the Indians had no other. They had beans , squashed , pumpkins , gourds and melons , but wheat , rye , oats and barley belonged to the old world , and nan to DO imported. THO imnins grow corn over a wide range of country , nnd wherever the cllmato wcti adapted to It. Cultivation has uono wonders with thin grain , both tr. Us form nnd color , no that now wo have , perhaps , 100 varieties. The plant varies from a foot and a half to fifteen feet In height , nnd cars ifrom two Inches to sixteen Inches In length. Wo find in modern Indian growths cars that are of n uniform gamboge-yellow , white , black , blue and red , besides mixed colon ) . We liavo also several varieties of popcorn , sugar corn nnd field corn. Man of the corn grown by Indians Is In small rounded grains , except that of the cliff dwellers , who appear to have been in a measure an agricultural people. Their cobs wcro thin and their grain In rows , but the Individual grains wcro larger and square ended. Indented corn seems also to have been known among them. UTILISED FOR STIMULATING DRINK. Every pee pie must have a drink , nnd If the process of distillation Is unknown they resort to fermentation . Primitive Ameri can races made a drink out of corn , analo gous to beer , by fermentation of the ear In its green state or after It had dried. This waa Intoxitatlng to a certain extent , but , fortunately , much less so than the modern distillate from the same grain. The drinkIng - Ing mugs of the cliff dwellers bear testimony to their having had this habit. Great Im provements have been made by the white race In growing this cereal , and one of the chief of three Is In the diameter of the cob , which has been made to hold as high a1 twenty-four rows. From four to six ears have been grown on one stalk , and ears produced of very remark able length. Sugar corn ivas Introduced In 1779 , and now It and popcorn have entered Into the race , and larger varieties are being produced. The commercial variety known as "turkey corn" Is not maize , and docs not bear Its grain on an car , but on the top In the tassel , as the broom corn does. Turkey corn Is about eight feet high , nnd bears a email , rounded grain , which Is either whtto or pinkish. In the east It Is known by the name of dura. The Turks and Egyptians grow Indian corn , It Is true , but It was originally obtained from America. Tur key com and maize have often been con founded by botanical writers. "Ulo do Turqulo" Is a distinctivegrain. . Indian corn In Its wild s'ate has been found In Arizona , southern Texas , the val ley of Mexico , and Central America. Rocky mountain corn I have known ; i long pcrloJ of time ; It has very small cars. Corn has been found growing wild In the Valley of Mexico , and ono of the profcjscrs In the University of Mexico has been experiment ing with it and bus the engraving of a plant which grow about flvo feet high. Wild corn also has been grown at the Landrcths' near Bristol , to whom It was sent from Arizona. The last I have Keen wus foil ml by Dr. Williams of Houston , Tex. , when on a hunting expedition In the Bouthcrn part of that state. It Is a white flint of fair Blze , and fifteen stalks have only produced four cars , which grow on two of the stalks. The plant Is n very vigorous grower , but It Is not productive , and eight stalks grown In Texas did nut produce a single car. POINTEDLY PUT. Drux L. Slmoinan IIIIH dueldcd to turn over a new leaf will yoiilt'H about tlmu Komu of you fullown found out that thu lilnlmc.sH of thu prlco doetm't iicecssiu-lly mean pied ntulf take our $ ' _ ' .r > 0 Iclp leather Hhoo for jiolleemitn for liiKtanee motor men railroad men and lolK of othei'H uwear by It It IIIIH three double soles it vamp that will outwear two jialrs of triple Helen of the bent oak Hole leather what moro do yon want for ifli.fiO , i SHOE CO DREXEL , , FA U NAM STHIJET