6
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
SOME CURIOUS FACTS
Among freaks of nature in trees, there
stands conspiciuous one known as the
Asiatic star tree. It is enormously tall,
growing to a height of from sixty to
eighty feet, while from the ground up to
a distance of about forty feet the trunk
is perfectly bare. From that point there
spring a number of tangled limbs, which
shoot out clusters of long, pointed leaves,
and it is these, grouped together, that
emit at night a clear phosphorescent
light. This give? the tree a spectral
appearance, and is very deceiving to
travelers, who frequently mistake the
glow for an illuminated window of a
house. Thp liqrht is not brilliant, hut is
of sufficient strength to allow of a news
paper being read by it. It does not
flicker, but glows steadily from sunset to
daybreak.
Eagles have been noticed flying at a
height of 6000 feet, and storks, and buz
zards at 2000 feet. A lark will rise to
the same height, and so will crows. As a
rule, however, birds do not flv at a great
er height than 1000 feet.
Babylon was probably the first qHv to
attain a population of 1,00,000. The
area of the city was 225 square mile.
Trades unions are no new invention.
Accurate records of their existence in
Roman times have been dug. up in
Pompeii.
The greatest mystery of medical sci
ence is the exact use of a thyroid gland,
which is the seat of the disease known
as goitre.
There are five capital offenses under
British law-murder, high treason, piracv,
arson in thetport of London and attempts
to destroy public arsenals.
The king of Spain is the only monarch
who does riot sign bis name to documents
and edicts. His signature is simply "Yo,
el Rey"-"I,the King.',
The most mixed population in the
world is probably that of British Guiana.
There is admixture of French, Dutch,
Spanish, British, coolie and Indian blood.
In the Turkish navy the crew and
officers of a warship form a regiment,
and the officers hold the same rank as
on land. The captain is lieutenant colo
nel, and so on.
The eucalyptus sheds its bark instead
of its leaves. Like cholera, influenza
always travels from east to west. .
At Kingston, Jamaica, all the coaling
of ships is preformed by women. Ex.
FOOTBALL NO FES.
The football season has just began for
the huekhs in the different departments.
Tomorrow the blacksmiths and farmers
will come togeather. Mr. -Mann expects
his brawny men to "hammer'' and "bai
ter'' the ''agriculturists" m a manner to
"forge" out the larst score.' Mr.
Swartz feels confident thnt his men will
do some great "plowing" through the
"smiths' heavy line and "sow" some
gridiron skill that will "reap" victory
for them.
The Smithies out-weigh the farmers
by several pounds and have several
fir t team stars in their iine-up. Queah
palma, Minesinger, Mason, French, "Jug"
are the main "irons in the fire!' for the
blacksmiths., "Jug" in a good man and
will no doubt "spiil" a fewT "seeds" ly
the wayside Smoker, WiNon, Sorfor,
Clark. G. Williams and KJmw are the
strong "implements" 'for. the hayseede.
Ciark will handle the kicking depart
ment He thoroughly understands
"kicking" as he is a Worker among the
horses on the farm. The blacksmith?
will depend on their "heavy striking,"
while their opponents expect to win by
"fast driving.'