The Oregon scout., May 11, 1888, Image 2

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. j
' Providence, II. L, has just turned
out a solid 55,000-pound casting.
East Chicago is to bo built up with
extensive car manufactories, steel
plants and slaughtering establishments.
The output of the Indiana coal
liolds for 1887 will bo greater than for
amy year in tlio past history of tho
-State.
'Hie sum of $1,000,000 has boon bo
vpicathed by Mr. Hiehard Ilorrigo for
use in advancing economic and sani
.tary science in Great Hritain.
Hut fow pooplo havo any idea of
tho mpld extension and development
of tlm electric lighting business in this
country. All tho leading electric light
manufacturing establishments aro
crowded with orders.
Tho South Brooklyn Ferry Com
2any havo substituted women for men
as collectors on both sides of the river.
TJicy work ten hours a day, and receive
m salary of $!0 per month. They havo
not only proved themselves as efficient
as men. but more honest.
Ton saw-mills at and about
Truckcc, Nov.. this season, cut 4-1,000,-000
font of lumber. Last year tho total
was 33.000,000 feet. Less than 13,000,
O00 feet of lumber is on hand at the
mills, and this will bo cleaned out
"before work can bo resumed in tho
-up ring.
Professor Edward Hull, director of
the Geological Survey of Ireland, in n
paper read before tho British Associa
tion at its last meeting, says that many
.geographers havo overlooked the effect
of continents in attracting tho oceanic,
waters adjoining them. Ho thinks that
the attractive force of the land piles up
tho water of tho ocean all along the
grontcontinontnl coasts. Ar. Y. Ledtjcr.
A Yankee scientist in writing ol
tho precious stones peculiar to tho
United States, has been saying somo
nice things about ehlorastrolito, a gem
peculiar to Michigan. "Tho only place
in tho world whore it is found," ho
Bays, "Is Islo Hoyale, Lake Superior.
This island, belonging to tho State of
Michigan, forty miles long, live miles
wide, and about twenty miles from tho
mainland, Is composed of amygdaloid
trap, In tho almoin! -shaped cavities of
which tho gom principally occurs.
JVbout $1,500 worth aro sold annu
ally." A man in Mexico, who was struck
by lightning and was supposed to be
dead, was restored to consciousness by
means of a largo quantity of cold water
which was thrown over him nfc the sug
gestion of a passer-by. It served to re
establish respiration before tho paraly
sis of tho heart had become absolute,
Aiid tho patient recovered. In an ac
count of tho case, communicated to tin
.Mexican Academy of Medicine, it i;
stated Unit tho effect of tho electric
hnck on tho systeni was very much
like that of an overdose of chloroform.
N. Y. Ledger.
From many observations on healthy
men, Dr. Tlioodoroll', of St, Petersburg,
learns that tho vital capacity of tin
lungs Increases from morning till even
ing, decreasing again during tho night.
After each moal, too, thoro is a special
increase, followed by a slight decrease;
-tho vital capacity being at its highest
-shortly after dinner, and at its lowest
after getting up in the morning. The
forco of Inspiration and expiration fol
lows nearly tho same law. Arkmisair
Traveler.
A report based upon an Inspection
of 1,214 factories in 125 dill'eront
branches of work In Russia states that
tho hours of labor thnvo vary from six
to twenty, and thatin one or two special
instances workmen were compelled to
labor twenty-four hours uninterrupt
edly. These differences aro purely ar
bitrary and not controlled by tho kind
of work. In tho same district in
(lie same sort of work thero is somo
times adiH'oroneo of eleven hours in the
amount of work required in a day in
the different fautorios.
Manitoba's Census.
Tho census of Manitoba, which was
takon July 31, 1880, has rocontly been
published. It shows that tho popula
tion of tho province, which in April,
1881, was (55,1)0 1, had increased to 108,
610. The gain of 42,686 in live years
was at the rate of 8,500 a year. De
ducting the nntural incrdnao of the
population, tho result would show an
influx of immigrants at tho rata of
about 6,000 a year. A table of the
birth-placos shows that 31,121, were
born in tho province; 10,322 in England
nuri' Wales, 3,621 in Ireland, 6,1)82 in
Scotland, 31,180 in Ontario, 5,078 in
Quebec, 1,317 in Nova Scotia, 701 In
Now Hruuswiok. 180 in I'rlnco Kdward
Island, and 620 In tho Territories. Of
tho total population of 10S.610. 42,813
had migrated thither from other parts
of Canada. How some of the principal
crops had Increased is shown in the fol
lowing table;
isst.
Wheat, bushels 1,031,073
llarloy " 'JVl,u)l
Oats " l.SHVMl
I'otutoci M0, 10.1
Turnips " H9,tt
Hoy, ton JSS.tfTV
0. 711.180
1, (ttl,.'.'U
11,740,114?
J,(W,573
1SH.SI7
4J0.743
Dangers of Politeness.
' Lady (standing in doorway of prom
inont Chicago lawyer's olllco and hold
ing out shabby umbrella) I beg par
don, sir, but Is not this yours? You
gavo mo your seat in a street-car an
hour ago, and after you had left the
enr I found this on tho cushion behind
inc. 'It has your nauio and address on
tho handle. Politeness, you see, sir,
smiling, Is its own reward.
Prominent Chicago lawyer (with
Bomo emphasis) Madam, it Is. 1 hai
made a bet of tun dollars against tei
cents that I could lose this uuibroll
on that car. 1 thought it a porfoctl
safe bat, 1 shall never bo polite on .
Ireet-car ngulu. Chicaqo Tribune.
NIGHT-TIME.
A on wrecked battlo grounds
Some black-robod, piteous nun
Binds up tho bleeding wounds
When tho day's light Is done,
Bo. stealing o'er tho way
Where, gnlrlihly, haspassod
The heated, burdened day
To wither, brulso and blast,
Night com' s In sable dross.
With soothing; oft oaross,
To heal and sweotly bless.
Sad oyes, which long did weep;
Hearts heavy, sick and worn
Traylng for peaceful aloop;
Hands weary, briar-torn,
Feot that for courted rest
Halt by tho sunsot gate,
Welcomo this dark-robod guost,
And for her coming wait.
Jllrd of tho broken wing,
Coaso now thy sorrowing
Night-time doth healing bring.
AMaUt Oeorge Uennett, in Good Jloutetetp
In 3.
ABOUT TIUEVE&
A. Now York Roportor'8 Talk with
Inspootor Byrnos,
now I'rofpuKliiml Criminal Aro Mutlo
No Such Thing lis "Honor Ainonc
Thlovos" nich Onus Who
Stick to the Ilustnous."
"How aro professional criminals
made?"
"Thoy aro tho product of a wido
varioty of circumstances," nnsworod
tho inspector. "A groat many might
bo said to bo born thieves. Thoir
parents wore thioves, or of a class that
Is in somo way not entirely reputable.
Tho children, malo and female, grow
up under Influences of association and
early training that givo the in no
ehauco to loaru to rospoct tho teach
ings of morality or tho restrictions of
law. Put in looking ovor the list, and
taking tho number of criminals who
havo bocomo colobra'tod in my day,
tho porconlago Is vory small of such
who bocamo so by reason of oarly
training by criminal paronts, or oven
from natural prodilcction growing
nut of r61ationship of this kind. Evon
i tlioso who grow up amid surround
ings and associations to such parent
ago there aro fow who may bo said to
havo made a mark in tho profession."
"Isn't it truo that in many casos
thioves who havo famlllos try to koop
thoir businoss a secret from thoir chil
dren?" "Yos, thoy do it as long as thoy can.
Many of them intend and moan to,
but gonerally speaking it is impos
sible. Tho father or niothor. whioh
ovor is tho thief, and soinoliincs it is
both, is away a great deal. To tho
inquiring minds of children this may
load to a discovery. Then tho visits
of associates, tho chanco of an arrest,
or any of perhaps a hundred hnppon
ings may expose the facts. At first
thoro is a child isli horror, natural re
pugnance, but blood is thicker than
wator, and sympathy Is soon oxcltod.
Tho father or mothor does not call in
vnln for tho child's rogard and oron
assistance and support against tho law
and Its operations, which spocdlly
lako on the appearance of oppressions
to tho young mind. Then, unless
speedily removed from thoso luflu
oncos, tho forco of circumstances,
somo pressing want or somo soomlngly
oxcolont opportunity, makes tho child
a thief, and anothor meruit is oulistcd
in tho ranks of professional crim
inals." "Doos it ovor happon that child ron
aro successfully kopt In ignorance of
tho businoss of thoir criminal par
onts?" "Yos, it docs. On that score I know
of more than ono caso In point. Thoro
i ro criminals who havo put thoir chil
dren in convonts or somo such institu
tions whon very young, and thus havo
protected thorn from ovor making tho
droadod discovery. Thoy aro visited
thoro by thoir paronts at long Inter
vals, perhaps, but always under cir
cumstances whon tho visit Is safe and
no oxposnro risked. Ono of tho most
notorious women crooks that Now York
has ovor known has a daughtor grown
who Is a pious and religious woman,
a Sister in a convont, and. I assume,
still ignorant of her mother's manner
of life."
"You havo only montlonod thlovos
who havo mado thoir mark; doos this
nil apply to tho common run of offend
ers?" "No, I roally did not think of thorn.
Thoy aro not objects of study, nnd
would not repay It. Of course, In a
largo city llko this, thoro are many
young boys growing up whoso paronts
are poor ami can do llttlo for them,
and for this and a varioty of other
reasons havo llttlo control over thoir
children. At from fourtoon to sixteen
years of ago thoso boys got a tasto
for going to shows and places of
amusomont, and an appetite for
excitement of all kinds. In most cases
tho first robbery committed by thoso
offondors Is for tho purpose of gotting
monoy to go to tho show. They aro
led on stop by stop, and thoir associa
tions constantly got worse. Thoy bo
como professional thioves, but not of
a dangerous grade that Is, not dan
corous In tho direction of largo hauls.
Thoy aro tho most dangerous to life,
and tho most apt to do vlolonco lu
committing crime, Thoy are ready to
knock a man down to rub him In tho
street, or shoot ono to onablo them to
oscapo whon discovered plundering a
house. Hut thoy aro oaslly caugh',
and soldom aro long out of prison. In
tho recent caso of tho Weeks murder,
tho enpturo of tho murderer, whon
there seemed to bo little or no ehauco
at first of such a result, shows the
weakness of this class of olloudors."
What Is thoro to be said about tho
higher class thioves who can not bo
called natural'born thlovos?"
"A groat ninny are pursons of rop
utnblo parentage, who havo had ad
vantages of oxcolont oarly training.
of gon ral education, and of business ,
experience. They fall through family !
troubles, disappointments, or discour
agements of SDino kind. O.ich
having committed tho overt
act that makes them thiev-s,
their Inlclligonco is such that their
progress in crimo is very rapid. It is
much greater than that of tho ignorant
persons who porpotrato a low, moan
class of robberies.' In forgery this is
particularly noticoablo. Somo of the
mon who aro know internationally as
tho porpctrator.s of astounding for
geries, are mon of good origin and
splendidly oducated.
"How do thioves look jipon theii
business? Docs it soom legitimate to
thorn?"
"Well, you can not toll much about
that. Yu would havo to bo a thiol
or live among thorn fo got at their
idoas in a matter llko that. They
speak of 'going to work1 whon tnlk
ing among themselves in a matter-of-fact
way. It is tho sanio with confi
donco nion. Whon thoy sot out to en
snare pooplo and got thoir monoy,
thoy alwavs speak of It as 'going to
work.' Every timo a thiol starts out
to do a job of thieving, he knows that
ho lak.'s somo chanco of 'falling'
that is, of being arrested and im
prisoned. In many casos tho job
sooms to bo practically without risk,
and however dangerous it may bo ho
never undertakes ono that ho does
not expect to got away with.
No man is moro jealous of his
liberty than a professional
thief. Moro ordinary ofTondors are
much moro reckless in taking chances
of being lecked up. O.io of the first
things that a gang of professionals
does nowadays when dunning for n
pieco of work is to snhsrribo in equal
amounts what is called 'Jail mo or.'
This is 10 protect an' ono of tho gang
who ma' happen to bo nrrestoil, an 1
provide him with counsel and oHi-r
noeossiirios. It protects them against
each other also. A common owner
ship in a fund llko this liolps to keop
.bom togothor. And tho ono arrested
is protected against tho desortlon of
his friends. And If disposed to remain
steadfast, thoy aro woll protected
against t ho risk of having to try to
connect with him to help him. Tho
'fall monoy' is left in tho hands of a
confidential common friend, usually
not a professional. Sporting people
and saloon-koopers aro gonerally the
ones who aro well enough acquainted.
with thieves to bo with them, though
not of them."
"What are tho rowards of successful
thieving? Do these mon look forward
to a time when thoy can stop s oaling
and enjoy what they havo nmsisbed of
othor pooplo' s woalth?"
"I do not know a porson who has
boen a professional tliiof and has ac
cumulated monoy who is not ready to
do any tiling that ho considers safo
to increaso his wealth, no matter how
crooked It may be. Ho may havo
enough, with prudence, to livo on all
his life. Put ho will always bo ready
to put up for tho oxpensos of a lob
out of which ho can got some profit,
or by stolon property whon It can bo
done with any assurance that there
Is llttlo risk. Thoir greed for monoy
is insatiable Thoro aro men in this
country and in Enr opo I moan Amer
icans in Europe, for I do not know
much of foroign criminal matters
who havo got a pilo of monoy as pro
fessionals. Thoy havo novr aban
doned tho ways by which thoy got
it. But thoy pursuo thoir ways so as
to greatly rodu co thoir chances of
either going to prison or of contribut
ing to tho enriohmont of lawyors.
Their money gives them a position
among thoir own olass. Thoy are
sought out by first-rato crooks, the
only kind thoy would huvo any thing
to do with, and by paying exponses
and romainlng in tho background
they can sharo In tho profits ol
thioving at a vory llttlo risk."
"That romlnds mo, Inspoctor. Who
is Adam Worth, who is roportod as
living in such groat stylo In London,
somowhat nfior tho fashion you havo
iudioatod?"
"Adam Worth Is ono of tho class 1
have referred to. II is an American,
and some of his pooplo llvo In this city
to-day. Ho tied tho country on ac
count of a Massachusetts bank rob
bery. Ho took ovor a largo amount
of money and sot up an ologant pri
vate establishment In London. His
homo In Piccadilly. It Is froquonted
by the highest class of English crimi
nals a id of American crooks who go
across. Ho is reputed to havo added
largely to his wealth through his
hhrowdness in disposing of stolon
property from tho continent. Ho is a
mvoII, I toll you. Ho livos and acts
llko a gentleman, owns a yacht, and
all that sort of thing. Any body who
goes over thoro from hero nud is
known as a 'good man' is suro of be
ing royally ontertalncd by Adam.
Yet th's placo is, I assume, under tho
survolllanco of the police, and ho is
llab'o at nuy timo to make a slip that
will give them a char.oo to grab him.
Ills Is no doublo life in the story and
the stngo acceptation of such
things. Ho doos not havo any
society, except that of his kind. With
all Ids money, nnd despite his criminal
record, his o'xilo is said to bo a bitter
di8rt fur him. He is reported to havo
made many attempts and offered largo
amounts to make a compr inis.i in the
bank o.is c against him, so that ho could
return to tills country. Ctimiual as
he Is, ho still has a longing to revisit
the land of his birth. II i is k town to
have planned and had carried om
somo of tho most daring robberies in
ivigland of late years, among them
that of tho Dover mail train.
There aro a number of mon and
women, too, ocoupvlng a similar po
sition In this country. Somo of then)
possess largo wealth and considerable
political influonco."
"I supposo thoy rely upon that firm
old rock of tradition, 'honor among
thieves?'" said tho reporter, inquir
ingly. "They rely upon their own shrowd
ness and nbility to keep under cover,"
was tho Inspector's retort, and ho con
tinued: "Honor among thieve! My
cxperionco has taught mo that ihn'o is
no such thing. Thero is not as much
real sticking togothor and considera
tion for oacli other's inferos' s
as thero is in tho ordinary rolalions
of life, business and social. I
havo never yet mot a thief in mv life
who would not save bin self if possi
ble from going to Stnto prison by be
traying Ills I Bsoc.into Into confinement.
In tho ordinary courso of business
thero nro many persons arrested hero
from all walks of life. There are
men among thorn whose character and
standing in tho community havo boon
good. And I must admit that if it is
possiblo for thorn to shield thonisolvos
by implicating any ono clue, thoy will
do it very much quicker than a pro
fessional thief. It is not a moral
ilifforonca by any means, and does not
weaken my first proposition about
honor among thioves. They aro all
thieves alike for tho purposes of this
argument. It is simply. I rssumo,
that thoy can moro readily bo brought
to baliovo that they will benefit thom
elves by betraying others. Tho pro
fessional's different habits of thought,
ilifl'crcnt education and training hnvo
to bo considered. Ho is cautlousMvitli
tho police. Ho is schoolod lo it, and
eve i whon disposed to try to help
hlniiolf by helping them ho considors
lilt! stop very carefully first."
"You havo had somo oxperionco
with both classes, I presume?"
"Yes, and I say again that tho por
sons who havo had a good position in
the commuity and tho respect nnd con
tiilonco of a largo circlo havo proved
to mo timo and again that thoy will
hasten quicker than an ordinary thoif
to protect thonisolvos or try to at the
exponso of others. I havo seen mon
of this kind in this vory room cry liko
chiidron, with big tears rolling down
thoir chocks, begging to bo allowed to
tell about others to save thoir own
inisernblo carcasses from tho dungeon.
"Instances? yes. but without
names," answered tho Inspoctor to
a tentative q lostion. ".There was a
financial man brought in horo ones on
a mailer of hypothecation in which
two woro concerned. Ilo was a big
follow and had stood well. My ques
tion woro answered impudontly, and
he was of courso non-committal. I sud
denly turned upon him an I told him
what I thought of him in terms that
weronono the choicest, and then called
an olllcor, to whom I said: 'Lock
that big loafer up.' In a few hours
ho was bogging to havo me sent for
so that ho could toll all ho know.
"Tho comparison is in tho caso of a
a man arrested for laying down a
forged chock for $10,000 in Dallas.
Tex., and whom wo took on tho
description of somo India ink marks
on his hand. Ho was identified, and
certain of conviction, but it was throo
days before ho could inako up his
mind to try and help himself by tolling
"omothiug about the othors in tho job.
Whon ho found out that ho had to go
down South anyhow, and tako a
chance of long imprisonment in ono
of thoso stockado jiils, ho cut his
tin oat in tho ferry-houso and dio.l."
As tho Inspector finished this ho
suddenly scorned to recall an engage
ment, and apologetically bowed tho
roporter out. X. Y. Sun.
GOOD FOR SOMETHING.
How a Smnrt Dos Saved Illmtolt from
lining Klroiltml.
A Georgia man started out ono
morning to kill his dog. Ho had givon
Iho animal every opportunity to show
bis worth, but as ho ha I failed to tako
advantngo of any of thorn, tho disap
pointed man docidotl, after holding a
consultation with his wife, that Rip.
as ho was called, should bo deprived
of his life. Tho man took down his
gun nnd lod tho dog away, intending
to tako him to tho top of a distant
hill.
"Up," said tho man, "I halo tor
shoot you, but you ain't no mannor
account. You won't tree a 'possum,
won't tight a coon, an' won't-evon run
a rabbit, so you've got ter die."
Just then, having reached tho road,
tho dog broko away, dashed at n man
who was walking along tho road, and
springing upon him, bit h'm sovoroly.
"You'vo got to kill that Infernal
dog!" cxclaimod tho victim whon ho
had boon roseuod.
"Wall. I did start out tor kill him."
Go on then and do it,"
"Hut wait a miuit. Ain't you tho
con ly judge?"
"Yes,"
"Air you bit bad?"
"Yos. I am."
"Wall, (7. I said, I had startod tor
kill him 'ouzo lie ain't no 'count, but
say, air you sartin you nir tho coun
ty j.dge?"
Of o mrso I am."
"Wall. 11 p, (affectlonatoly stroking
the dog) 1 won't tako you over yonder
on tho bill, fur I havo dlsklverod that
you air good f.ir suthln' af or nil.
Come on an' we'll go homo. Pit or
county judge. W'y, Klppy, that'll
tlcklo my w ife putty nigh to death."
.-lntdiijuui Traveler.
Tho ino't un quo will on record is
that of Ml'. Louisa Hamsdull, of
Rochester, N. Y., who loaves property
valuod at $120 000 and deoroos thnt
with tho exception of a oarpot and
stove given to her daughter and $500
left to her grandson, thoentlru amount
shall btf devoted to defray hor fuuortl
expenses and erecting a monument to
her memory. ,
ELECTRICAL MUSIC.
4n Apparatus for IMbjIiiit tho I'lnno by
Currents of Klectrlclly.
Many attempts havo been made in
tho last quarter of a century to invent
a satisfactory system of piano-playing
by electricity. In fact, as far back as
1850 Froment made a piano in Franco
in which electricity was used. In 1801
another Frenchman, M. Hipp, took out
a patent for a piano in which each note
of tho key-board was provided with an
ciectro-magnet, connected by wiro
with a metallic comb, which touched a
small metal cylindor covered with pa
per perforated with holes correspond
ing to the notes used. This piano was
exhibited, lint was not perfected.
Speiss, a Swiss inventor, devised an
other piano in 18G1 quite like that of
Hipp, but better. In none of these in
struments was there any lack of power
to execute any nir that might bo at
tempted, but thoy failed to render
tho notes with tho varied gradations
from massive strength to cxtreiiK' deli
cacy thnt tiie discriminating touch of
the human finger ovokes from the in
strument. Joseph Webbor, a young New York
electrician, has now. it is claimed, sur
mounted tho difficulties that caused
other inventors to fail, and devised a
method of electrical piano-plnying so
full of promise that one of tho chief
piano-manufacturing firms of that city
lias taken it up. Tho fact that exports
connected with a great factory have
reported in favor of his system ren
ders it quito probable that It contains
important and practical features favor
able to its success.
The device itself is simple enough.
For every note in tho piano is provided
a pieeo of soft iron, wound with wire
in ho usual fashion, and capable of
becoming a magnet when influenced
by nn electric current. Each magnet
attracts a lever attached to a piano
key, so that when a current
passes to a particular magnet tho key
it.rresponding to this magnet is acted
upon, and tho hammer strikes the
string moro or less forcibly, according
to tbo strength of tho magnetic attrac
tion. The wires running from the
magnets attached to each key center
around a small cylinder provided with
metallic pins, somowhat liko tho
cylinder of a music box, except that
the pins, instead of projecting from the
surface of tho cylinder, aro perfectly
flat. It is oasy to understand how the
current can bo made to pass a particu
lar note only whon a certain metallic
point on tho surface of tiic cylinder
conies in connection with a comb, each
metal tooth of which corresponds to a
note in tho piano. The chief dilliculty
to be met with is tho problem of giving
notes different dynamic values, one
note being soft and tho next note loud.
This lias been accomplished by intro
ducing resistance coils into the circuits
according to tho power of the note
wanted, and the tone can bo graduated
in a sufliciontly accurate manner to
allow some surprising efl'ects.
The finished apparatus will not bo
costly, and is so simple in construction
that it docs Jiot require an expert to
attach it to tiio piano. It may bo used
in connection with any piano, and at
the same timo does not in any way in
terfere with playing tho instrument in
.e ordinary fashion, tho koy being left
perfectly free. It is easy to seo that
even should tho olectric device not suc
ceed in playing with tho musical ex
pression of a good pianist, thoro is
much work which it might do to gen
eral satisfaction. For instance, it
might play for dancing, and rcol of tho
latest waltzes nnd qnadrilles, or it
might play ordinary music far hotter
than the unskilled amateur could bo
oxpectod to do. Chicago Times.
OXYGEN STARVATION.
Points to Ilo Conalilpreit In the Choice of n
Dwelling House.
If wo aro asked which of tho many
necessaries of lifo is best ontitled to tiio
chief placo wo must surely reply, oxy
gen. This gas forms about ono-fifth
of the bulk of tho atniosphero, and our
wants are supplied by the act of breath
ing, so regularly "and ceaselessly per
formed by ovory one. It is possible to
livo for a long timo without tho pro
tection of a houso or of clothing; it is
even possiblo to live for many days
without food; but if wo aro doprived
for only one or two minutes of oxygen,
the consequoncos are serious, ami may
bo fatal. This is perhaps one reason
why, of all things that our bodies re
quire, oxygon is the only ono the regu
lar supply of which does not depend
upon our own attention. The pangs of
hunger and thirst warn us when food
and drink aro necessary, but thoy can
only be satisfied by our putting forth
conscious ellbrt. A man may bo huu
gry, but if ho is too lazy to seek out
food and raiso it to his mouth he will
starve. Put it not so with oxygen. Wo
havo power, it is true, temporarily to
stop our breathing or to increaso its
rapidity by an act of will; but oven whon
we forgot all about it tho breathing con
tinues. This is ono of tho many mys
teries of our being always boforo us,
but foldom thought of, ami yet it is vory
striking. Tills frequent and impor
tant act of our daily lifo has not been
entrusted to our euro, but has been so
arranged for that it is performed every
three or four seconds from tho moment
of birth until death, without requiring
ono thought from us. Tho breathing
apparatus novar sloops. Again, oxy
gen is so closoly connected with
the great vital processes upon
which our growth and daily
energy depend, that food itself is uso
los unless accompanied by a largo sup
ply of it. Indeed, when tho quantity
of oxygon which a man consumes in
bis lungs daily Is calculated, it Is found
to bo greater in weight than all the dry
food ho requires during tho same pe
riod. Yet again, if wo wish a houso
and clothing and food, wo must work
for them, but for oxygen thero is noth
ing to pay. It is free to all, and lies
around us in such abundance that it
never runs short. Here, then, wo sou
every means taken to insure that all
our demands for oxygen shall be freely
and fully mot, and yet wo arc assured
by medical authorities thnt a very largo
proportion somo say one-fourth of
all tho deaths that take place Is caused,
directly or indirectly, by oxygon starv
ation. Now, what unfortun."to circum
stances prevent so many persons hav
ing n sufficiency of tills al! mportnnt
gas? The chiof pne undoubtedly Is
congregating in towns. Instead of liv
ing in tho country, where evt ry house
hold might havo a largo free space of
air around it, wo draw togjther, for
tho convenience of businoss, to groat
centers. There tho housos aro crowded
closoly together, often piled ono on tho
top of tho othor, so that, instead of an
overabundance, tliorc is onlya limited
quantity of air for each. This is mado
unfit for tho support of lifo by tho
very act of breathing; tho impurities
are increased by the waste prod
nets of manufactories; and oxy
gen is destroyed by every firo
and lamp nnd gas light. Tho winds
and certain properties of tho atmos
phere constantly remove much of tho
impure air and bring in a pure sup
ply; but tho crowding together in many
parts of a town is so great, and tho
production of poisonous matter goes on
so continuously, that instead of each
breath containing its full proportion of
oxygen. the place of that gas is taken
up to sonic extent by what is actually
hurtful to life. When this is tliecondition
of tiio atniosphero outside tho dwelling,
it is necessarily much worse within it, for
thero tho displacement of impure air
by pure can not take place so rapidly.
The consoqiionces are as already stated.
Large parts uf our town populations
never havo sutlicicnt oxygon; their
lives are feclrlo and full of suffering,
and numbers die before their time.
Such facts are painful to contemplate,
but a knowledge of them puts tho wise
man on his guard, and ho may do
much for himself. In the choice of a
houso ho will remember tho advan
tages of a grent air spaco around it,
and of plenty of spaco within it, so
that bedrooms may not bo over
crowded. Or, if a largo house is be
yond his means, lie will tako euro that
tho rooms are not crowded with furni
ture, for every pieco of furniture ex
cludes an equal bulk of air. Whon ho
enters the house ho will see that at all
times as much fresh air from the out
side is admitted, by means of open
doors and windows, as can bo allowed
without inconvenience from cold; and
as often as possible lie will havo a blow
through, to clear out all odd cornorM
whore foul air may linger. Pure air
and good food make pure blood, and
only pure blood will givo good health.
Chambers' Journal.
HOME, SWEET HOME.
Why tho lute W. W. Comrun Sent Over
tlio Sea for Its Autlior'n Itemitlns.
George W. Melville, wdio was rocont
ly nominated by tho President to a
place in the Navy Department that will
givo him tlio rank of Commodore, is
known to famo principally ns ono of
tiio survivors of tho ill-fatod Joanuotto
Polar expedition. His return to Amer
ica from that terrible voyage was ono
of tbo inspiring causes that led tho
rich Washington bankor, W. W. Cor
coran, to havo brought back to Amer
ica tho remains of the sweet song
writer, John Howard Payno. It hap
pened this wny:
Whon Lioutonant Melville and his
companions readied Washington after
their rcsouo thoy were givon a recep
tion by tho principal citizons of tho
capital. An escort mot them at tho
depot on their arrival, and, headed by
tho famous Marine band that furnishes
tlio music at tlio White Houso, tiio pro
cession startod up Pennsylvania avenue.
It was a bright, sunny day, and tho
wido street was crowded. When tlio
band moved along the avenue it played
tlio hoart-touohing turio of "Home,
Sweet Home," and it tilled tho air with
tho old-time music that has found an
echo in every heart for so many years.
In tho first carriago rodo Lieutenant
Melville, and with him tho rich bankor.
Mr. Corcoran had known nnd bofriend
ed John Howard Payno In tho strug
gling lays of tho song-makor, imd tho
tune awnko old memories in the rich
man's heart and sull'usoil his eyes with
tears. Ho thought of tlio man whoso
tender linos and sweet music had
brought joy to so many breasts, and
remembered that his bones lay molder
ing in a foreign land, homeless evou in
death.
Then nnd thoro ho resolved that all
that was mortal of John Howard Payno
should find an abiding placo here at
home. That night ho wroto to Secre
tary Frolinghuyson about tho matter,
and the Government lent its aid
through tho United States Consul nt
Tunis, near which placo tho almost
forgotten grave was located Tho do
tails were soon perfected, and ono
bright Juno tiny in 1883 tho remains of
tlio dead poot arrived in this country
and wero givon a resting placo In tho
land ho loved so woll.
Mr. Corcoran boro all tho cxponse
attached to tho trausfor, nnd it was tho
old familiar tuuo ringing nut along tho
aveinio on that pleasant day when Mel
ville came home that first awakened in
his heart tho rosolvo to givo a lasting ,
burial placo to tho poet's remains. (f
X. Y. Graphic.
m
Uoardor "1 don't know what's the
matter with mo, but I haven't been
able to eat worth a cent since I camo
to this house." Landlady "Wro you
a musoum freak boforo you lost your
appetite?" Lincoln Journal.