Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (March 7, 1889)
FISH AND INSECTS. e They Fomcs Senna Which Human IJo I ngu Have Not. With regard to the hearing and the Bight of insects and the Crustacea noth ing is settled, writes Sir John Lubbock. These creaturos possess in many casc9 curious contrivances which, whllo ob viously sonso organs of some kind, can not be assigned their functions with any certainty. Thus sumo naturalists regard as auditory apparatus that which others boliove to bo organs of touch or taste, or oven sight. Tho ways ofnaturo In theso obscure corners of creation, moreover, aro so fantastic that It is dinicult to know which to expect, or by what standard to form judgments. Thoro aro somo queer Crustacea, for instance, which improvo their hearing by putting grains of sand in their ears. Is that mere In stinct? Then there aro other crcntures which possess two kinds of eyes, tho compound eye and tho ocellus, which Is suspected of being a sort of un finished or aborted organ by somo naturalists, whllo others think tho compound oyo is for tho day and tho ocollus for tho night. Experiment, by producing spurious and contradictory results, lias only confused tho ques tion still moro. Thoro aro tho strango insects which carry their ears in their tails, of all placos In tho world; though these aro really not so marvelous as the bombadior beetle, who mounts two apparent guns at his stern, and, when attacked, llres them, producing a loud report, a little cloud of white vapor, and an emission of some secretion that smells and burns like nitric acid. If wo descend into tho depths of tho ocean wo find other wonders, fishes which aro equipped with olectrlo lamps 2n their heads, and can thus see their way and thoir proy in tho absymal dnrkness of tho groat depths; other Makes which angle with tontcles tipped with miniature lights; yet other crea tures which carry lamps behind instead of in front; fishes that hear through holes in thoir sides; creatures which sco with the ends of their nttonnas; innrvols of many kinds, In short such as tho cunning Htory tollers of tho Orient never could have Imag Inori. To got at tho actual truth about nil these weird, uncanny things Is woll nlgh Impossible because ol tho dilll culty of ascertaining how much or how little thoy can soo and hear, and what use thoy mulct) of all their complicated apparatus, tho several parts of which aro tho despair of the naturalist every where, and tempt htm to audacious and Ill-founded guesses. Sir John Lub Itock, to Ills credit bo It said, steadily resists all such temptations, and when he d oo snot understand a thing valiantly says so. Hut ho does not hold him self under any obligation to restrain the exercise of tho scientific Imagina tion, and tho drift of experiment Is to ward tho suggestions of several sur prising possibilities, all tending to strengthen tho surmtse that there aro more souses In nature than man pos sesses. Thus ho says: "Wo Had In animals complex organs of sense, richly supplied with nerves, but the functions of which wo aro as yet powerless to explain. Thoro may bo llfty other senses as different from ours as sound is from sight, and even within tho boundaries of our own senses thoro may bo endless sounds which we can not hear, and colors as different as red from green of which wo have no con ception. Those and a thousand other questions remain for solution. The familiar world which surrounds us may bo a totally different place to other animals. To them It may be full of music which wo can not hear, of color which wo can not see, of sensa tions which wo can not conceive." Chicago Tribune. A POINT BROKEN. 'How u Wlttlt'lmii Conroiimlfil it I.uwyur't t'lnvef Argument. A wlttlobm based on truth-and "'trujh, when witty. Is tho wittiest of all things" confounds an argument or breaks the for o of a oross-oxumlnu-tiou. Robert Morris, tho colored lawyer of tho Boston bar, whllo defending a col ored dressmaker charged with stealing silk from her customers, and substi tuting for It a poorer material, cross examined the principal witness, a lady who declared emphatically that she could tell tho value of silk within twoaty-Ilvo cents a yard. Knowing that it Is dltlleult for white people to distinguish ono colored per son from another, Mr. Morris asled tho lady If she could recognize tho colored man who had brought a bundle to (tor. "No," she answered. "I think that all colored persons look alike to me." "Oli, they do, do they?" rejoined Morris. "WVU mjo," and ho asked sovoral colored men to rise. "Now, madam," ho continued, "look at mo and thou at these gentlemen, and tell tho court whether you can toll us apart." "I don't soo much difference." re plied tho lady. "Perhaps by studying you all I might; but your heads aro all shaped alike, and except that some aro darker than others, 1 ilml it hard to distinguish one from another." "Now, madam," said Morris with a triumphant air, "do you mean to swear, after tolling the jury that you can judgo of tho value of silk within ( twoiity-llvo cents a yard, that you caa't toll tho difference between Mr. John-: on here and mo?" j "She regards herself as a Judgo of silk; not a judgo cf wool," Interrupted the prosecuting attorney. Tho court laughed, as did tho spec tators. Morris smiled, for ho saw that the witticism hud broken oil tho point of hla nuoatlon. Youth's Conwmim. MUTUAL SACRIFICE. Sir. anil Mm. McSwat Swphth o(T for Forty KlRlit Happy Hour. "Lobelln, my love, another long and delightful evening is before us. Tho young husband was arrayed in a dres9ing-gown of gorgeous, variega ted and dazzling complexion. He sat in a luxurious arm-chair and rested his tired feet on tho soft plush cushions of two other chairs. In his hand ho held a magazine of largo print, which ho was trying laboriously to read with the aid of an eye-glass lie had purchased under the dee) and solemn conviction that his position in society required him to use something of tho kind. "Is thoro any thing that I can do for your comfort, Hilllgor," tenderly inq'rred the young wife. "I think not, Lobelia," lie replied after considering a few moments; "though If you will kindly open that package of 'Lone Jack,1 and put Jio smoking set within roach I shall bo obliged." Mrs. McSwnt did so, and with her own fair hands she filled bis now moor sc'ia.im, whose bowl was already taking c i a brownish lingo that gave promise of richer and grander results In the happy futuro. 'you don't know, Lobelia (puff), how gratefully 1 (puff) appreciate your (puff) kindness In intorposlng no objection to my indulgence in (pull, pull) this habit. Hard as would have been tho sacrifice, Lobelia, I (pulT) would havo quit it cheerfully that Is to say (puff), with comparative cheer fulness, If you had exacted It." "How could I havo asked you toqult smoking, Billlger," replied tho young wlfo, "when you havo never made tho least objection to my chewing gum?" Mr. McSwat laid tho pipe down and looked at her in astonishment. "Do vou chew gum, Lobelia?" ho said. "I never suspoctodlt." "1 I confess I do sometimes, Hilli ger." "Mrs. McSwat," said lie, severely, "havo you any Idea of tho conse quences of Inveterate gum-chewing? Do you know any thing of tho ineon colvably vllo materials of which the stufT is'mado?" . "It can't bo any worse, Mr. McSwat, than the poisonous, filthy, reeking fumes of that dirty old plpo you aro " "Lobelia McSwat. havo a caro! Don't provoke mo too far, or " "Hilliger McSwat, do you dare to threaten me? Don't glare and squint at mo through that eye-glass till you havo learned how to use It, sir. Vou aro " "Lobelia!" exclaimed tho young hus band, palo with conflicting emotions, "you have spolteu sueeringly of this meerschaum. It cost twenty-flvo dol lars. Hut let that pass. 1 can bear It. To think, though, that tho woman I havo vowed to lovo and cherish" and his voice faltered "upon whom I havo poured out the treasure of a heart's richest affection, is a g-gum ehow chewer! O! O' Lo-be-belia!" "H-Hllligor!" sobbed Lobolla. "I'll qu-qult eh-chowlng If you'll quit smok ing!" "I'll do It, my love!" ho exclaimed. Ills brow atlamo with a lofty and no bio resolve, Hilliger wrapped his smok ing set, with plpo, tobacco and all, In a paper, and throw tho package to tho remotest depths of a dark and gloomy attic on tho topmost lloor, while Lo belia gathered up all her wads of gum from thoir various hiding places, rolled them Into a compact bundle, and throw them Into tho attio likewise. "With these slight saciitlcos, Lo belia," said Hilliger, tenderly," we pro pitiate the good angels of domestic bliss and banish forever the demon of discord from our hearthstone!" Forty-eight hours had passed forty- eight short, happy hours. Mght had come again. Hilliger wns In that attic. Ho had sneaked into it and was fumbling around noiselessly for something. In the dark his hand came in contact with a shoe and he grasped It. It had a foot in it. Thoro was a faint soream. "Mrs. McSwat, Is tjhat you?" ".Mr. McSwat, It Is." "What aro you doing here, madamP" "Sir, I am looking for my gum. What aro you doing hero?" "Madam, I am hunting for my pipe." Chicago Tribune. Somo "Don'ts" for Farmers. 1 don't like to see a farm neglected till it is entirely worn out. 1 think thoownordoos notmako improvements. I don't like to see a farmer given to trading horses. 1 think he tloes not pay proper attention to his cattle. 1 don't like to see a farmer ashamed of his occupation. I think it will soon be ashamed of him. I don't like to see a farmer who would rather be a gentleman. 1 think he will soon become company for neither. 1 don't like to see a farmer all for ex periments. I begin to think he Is fit for nothing else. I don't like to see a farmer so obsti nate that no persuasion will Induce him to try an experiment. 1 think want will drive him to it. 1 don't like to hear a farmer always complaining of hard times and high taxes. I think he is discontented. I don't liku to see a farmer measure Ills corn before bo guthors it. 1 think ho will have noun fur toil. I don't llko to aoo a farmer In tho ml' tolling how many cuttle ho can winter I fuar thoy will not winter well. 1 don't llko to turn u farmer driving loan pair of oxen. I think lie dous not llko Ills bariK '. I., llortt'j, in IrWcrN llowinau. THE BOWSE'R FAMILY. TTnw Mr. II. Cleared III Home of llac terla anil Other l'erllotm Things. Mr. Bowser doesn't Intend to lot sickness or death get ahead of us as a family if any effort of his can prevent, und ho is always doing tho right thing in tho nick of time. Ono day ho camo home an hour ahead of time, his coun tenance wearing a very important look, and tho first thing ho did was to bolt upstairs to our bedroom and lower tho window, although I had just closed It after airing the room for two hours. Ho then came clattering down to ask mo for a pan. "What on earth do you want of a pan?" I asked. "To save all our lives!" ho an swered. "How?" "Your bedroom Is full of poisonous gnses, which must bo absorbed by an open vessel of water." " "Nonsense!" "I expected It. That's tho weapon of tho ignorant! Mrs. Howser, if you want to die by poisonous gases poison ing tho blood, I havo nothing to say, but I shall save the life of our child if possible. I havo felt a strango lassi tude for sovoral days, and a sanitary plumber tells mo that wo havo pois oned air in tho room." "Your lassitude couldn't havo como from being out to club and lodgo four successive nights until twolvo o'clock, could It?" Ho seized tho pan and hurried up stairs, and when ho had filled it at tho lavatory ho sat it in tho middle of tho lloor and camo down with a rolioved look on his face, to say: "Seo if you don't feol bettor to-morrow than you havo for a month. It's a wonder wo aro not all dead." "Did tho ancients know about theso poisonous gases?" I asked. "Not a thing. Thoy novcr gave them a thought." "And yot tho avorago of health was seventeen per cent, above that of to day, and tho avorago of mortality that much lower! How do you account for it?" "O, well, if you want to die go nhead. I'll von buy a rope and help you to hang yourself. 1 oxpected this, of course, but ridicule never moves me, Mrs. Howser never!" Two hours later he went up-stalrs In IiIb slippors to look for a paper In an other coat, and of course ho sat his foot plump down In that pan of wator. Thoro was a yell and a jump, and over wont tho pan, and when I got up there ho stood holding up ono leg, as you havo soon a hen do on a wot day. What I said on that occasion kept Mr. Howner quiet for a wholo week. Ihon ho began to grow restless again, and ono night ho brought homo a suspic ious-looking package and sneaked it up-stairs. Alter supper no siuioeniy disappeared, and when I looked for him up-stairs he had something In a basin and was about to hold It over a gas-burner. "Mr. Howser, havo you got a now theory," I asked. "Look hero, Mrs. Howsor," he re plied, as ho put down tho basin, "you havo heard of bacteria, I presume?" "Yes, sir." "Thoy aro gorms of disease floating about. They aro alive. If inhaled cholera, yellow fever and other dread diseases aro tho result. Fumigation kills thorn." "And you aro going to fumigate this room!" "I am. I am going to kill off tho dreaded bacteria." "Well, you'll drive us out of tho house or kill us." 1 wont down-stairs and ho burned a compound of tar and sulphur. In ton minutes we had to open doors and windows, and tho cook came running In to ask: "Is It cremation Mr. Howsor is try ing on Is!" "1 am simply driving out tho bac teria," ho replied, coming down stairs at that moment. "And there's bacteria in tho houso?" "I'm afraid so." "And I've worked horo four weoks under tho noses of tho dreadful crea tures? Mr. Howser, I quits! I quits now!" And quit she did. Wo had to sloop on tho slttlng-roora floor last night, and three weeks later every caller could still detect that odor. It was hardly gone, however, when Mr. How sor began to sniff around again. "Any more bacteria?" 1 asked. ".Mrs. Howsor, if you want to sit horo and die I have no objections, but I don't propose to neglect common sense precautions to preserve myown health." "Is anything wrong now?" "1 think so. I think I can detect an odor of sower gas la tho house," "Impossible! 1 shan't havo no moro stuff burned until 1 know It Is neces sary." "Won't you? If thoro Is sewer gas here It must bo eradicated at once." For tho next week tho entire house smulled of chloride of lime until one could hardly draw a long breath, but Mr. Howser was not satisfied. "I havo been thinking," ho said to me ono evening, "that 1 may bring tho germs of some terrible disease home In my clothes. I lido on tho car, you know, and 1 ought to take precautions." "How?" "Carry a disinfectant about mo to repel tho genus." "It might be a good idea." "Now you aro talking sense. Now you seem to understand tho peril which has menaced us." Ho got something down town tho next day. 1 think some of his friends put up a job on him, knowing his ttnuo. It was a compound which loft him alone on tho street cur before ho hnd ridden threo blocks, and ho bad no sooner got into tho houso than wo hnd to rotlro to tho back doors. The cook got a sniff of it, and down wont tho dinner nnd up wont her hands, and alio shouted at Mr. Howser: "A man as will keep a skunk under his houso would beat mo out of my wages, and I'll bo going this minute!" It took soap and water and per fumery and half a day's timo to re move the odor, and whon I declared that It was tho last straw Mr. Howsor crossed his hands under his coal-tails and replied: Mrs. Howser. 1 beliovo this house to bo clear of bacteria, owing to my prudence and self-sacrlflce, and 1 want It kept so." "I suppose I got'em here?' "Without a doubt, madam!" "And all this rumpus has been on my account?'' "Exactly. Hut don't go too far with me! Enough is enough. You must stop right where you are. I havo humored you all 1 propose to!" De troit Free Press. HUNTING THE DIG HORN. It SUIII mill Speed III Tr.i vernliiK I'lucr liiiH-remllili. to Other , iiIiiihIa. I I skirted down tho mountain tho next i morning, and suppose I had reached ! about a mile from the level country when 1 started a big bowlder that went rushing down tho slope, and looking over tho edge 1 saw a big animal 1 thought was a deer spring up from a rock. It stood a second and looked at me, then dashed away and was out of siarht before I could unsllng my rillo, which in climbing I had put on my back, littlo thinking I should find any gamo among the rocks of tho upper range. In that second I recognized the big horns and massive head of the mountain sheep, and right then and thoro 1 got tho fever. I would have those horns or I would never go home, and. to make a long story short, there they aro. I followed tho animal cer tainly a week before I got a shot, and then ho was so far away across a big canyon that it was tho morest chance that I hit him. What do you think of crawling on your stomach for five hours, not daring to breathe or look cross-eyed, worm ing your way over rocks and around corners trying to kop down tho wind? Hut that old buck had my measure; ho know 1 was after him and always kept just so far away. I finally saw him with sovoral others on a spur of tho range, and by threo hours' climb-' ing I got so that I could see him fairly, and when I had tho chance I shook ao that It was a miracle that I hit him. Tho mountain sheep i a thoroughly gamo animal, and tho sportsman whe brings down a buck may bo said to have earned his spurs and bo rated as a truo hunter. The animal is instinct Ivoly suspicious, cautious to a remark' jtblo doi'reo and endowed with remark' ao powers of speed and skill in tonk in'' iln way over places inaccessible to other animals. 'ho horns aro enormous, resembling those of tho European Ibex, though more gracoful in their shape. Tho size of tho horns havo given rise to many romarkablo stories regarding thoir use. One old hunter, who un doubtedly boliovod what ho said, in formod mo that ho had seen a sheep doscond a mountain by leaping thirty or forty feet at a time, striking upon tho horns at every lauding, and that this was a favorite method. That tho capra does land upon its horns at times n its terrific leaps or falls thoro can be no doubt, and it is equally certain that It Is an accident. Tho horns aro, as la alj animals of tho kind, meroly weapons of defonso, and aro chipped and worn by tho males In thoir furious battles with each other. On tho plains bolow tho rocky fast nessos of tho mountain sheop bands of antelopo aro still found, and a party from Pasadena recently enjoyed this most exciting sport. Whllo tho moun tain sheop requires great strategy on tho part of tho hunter, the antelopo draws upon other resources. Tho ani mal lceops to tho open country tho groat level tracts and rich valleys near tho borders of tho Mojavo and Arizona deserts. It is thoro difficult to ap proach them unseen, and a cool hand at tho rillo and a good seat in the sad. die aro the requisites. In a recent hunt the antelopo wore chased at least wonty miles before they were run down, and afforded magnificent sport, November is tho rutting season, and then exceedingly largo herds aro seen; but In the warm season they separate to a greater or less extent, when the bucks afford flue sport. 'Jo mo readily outrun the swiftest horse and hounds, though it Is possible to wear them out bv continuous running. Pasadena (Cat.) Cor. X. Y. Times. What All Mexican Drinks. Tho region wo passed through Is tho center of the pulque region of Mexico. This road runs a train called tho "pulque train" Into tho City of Mexico every day loaded with barrels and bot tles of pulque. Theso bottles remind one of the bottles known in Scripture time. Thoy aro made of hogsklns. Tho skin is stripped from the hog tilmost Intact, turned inside out, and thou with tho legs, tail and throat tied up It is filled with pulquo. The baggage car of our train Is nearly filled with th.es uncouth objects, nud until we know what they were wo supposed It was a load of hogs. As tho train stops at the small stations on tho way to Vera Cruz boys and men rush up to the baggage-car with bottles, paijs and demi johns, which aro tilled from these hog sklns. In tho cities tho pulque shops art) frequent, and you can always see a crowd of Mexicans standing before tho bar absorbing the pulquo. They drink It from large glasses which hold about a quart. I am told that when it is fresh pulquo Is as sweet as honey, but it fer ment rapidly and is spur in a day ot two. Wra Cats J.cikr. FACTS ABOUT PAPER. Some InterentliiK HUtorlcat Notes Con cernlnc Jt Orleln. Wo havo raked up tho following fncts from a few musty tomes, which wo trust, will please numerous corres pondents, und prove as interesting to them as it has been laborious for us to unearth them. It is not known when paper was first made from linen rags, nor to whom wo owe tho invention. Dr. Prideaux is of tho opinion that linen paper was brought from tho East, because many of tho Oriental manu scripts aro written upon it. Mabiloa is of the opinion that tho Invention be longs to tho twelfth century. Ono of tho earliest specimens of paper from linen rags yet discovered is a docu ment, with tho seal preserved, bearing date A. D. 12:19, signed by Adolphus, Count of Schaumburg. Casiri, how ever, asserts that there aro in the Es curial a number of manuscripts, both upon cotton and linen paper, which wero written prior to the thirteenth century. The invention was early in troduced into England, for somo acts in oxlstenco of John Cranden. Prior of Ely, made on linen paper, bear date in tho fourteenth year of tho reign of King Edward II., A. n. 1239; and Jin tho Cottonian Library aro said to be several writings on this kind of paper as early as the year 13:15. Some twenty years ago Mr. Thomas Wright, In a note to tho London Alhenitum. wrote: "I havo made a littlo discovery, which, 1 think, will bo considered curious in tho his tory of papor. 1 believe that tho first traces of the use of paper In Western Europe aro found toward tho end of tho twelfth century and wo have no reason to suppose that It was In uso In England until tho thirteenth or tho beginning of tho fourteenth. It is un derstood to' have been brought west ward from Italy, where it was in use earlier; and 1 bellovq that our word papor a corruption, of course, of papyrus Is considered to havo been borrowed, with the articlo Itself, from the French. I saw, years ago in Paris 1 boliove thoy belonged to the royal collection (It was in tho timo of Louis Phillippo) a few of tho earliest docu ments on paper known, belonging to Western Europe, in tho period since the Romans, which Interested mo much. Thoy consisted of recoipts, or rather, bonds, for money borrowed from tho Jews in tho timo of Coour do Lion, given by chiefs who wore starting for his crusade, and, if I remember well, tho paper resembled much that of tho fifteenth nud sixteenth centuries, excopt that it was of a rather coarse texture. It would seem as if, in tho West, its use at this early period was known principally among tho Jews. Now I am just pass inn through tho Dress an edition of a glossary of Latin and English or, as wo aro accustomed to call It, Anglo Saxon words of, I think, not later than tho middle of the tenth century. Wo may safely look upon it as tho English of tho days of Athelstan: and in tho part of which I havo just received tho proof 1 find papyrus, papor. J ho word paper does not occur in Dr. Bos worth's, or any other Anglo-Saxon dictionary, but wo have horo ovidonco that it was in uso in our language at a very early period and there cannot bo a doubt that wo dorivo It from tho An glo-Saxon and have not taken It from tho Fronch of tho Middle Ages. But this fact loads us to another, namely, that our Anglo-Saxon forefathers, to havo tho word in an Anglo-Saxon form in thoir own language, must havo been protty woll acquainted with paper it self, and no doubt thoy found the Roman napor In use on tho island whon they came. It is a fact, indeed which opens to us sovoral others, equally new, In tho social history ol our Anglo-Saxon forefathers. I need hardly add that paper probably never wont entirely out of uso in Western Europe after tho Roman times, and a little research might still throw some curious light upon its history during tho early Middlo Ages. It certainly was not supposed before that It might bo in uso among tho Anglo-Saxons." The Paper Mill. Religion of Our Presidents. While tho Constitution expressly ffcr bids tho establishment of any religlotu test for office-holders, It Is pleasant tc record that all high officers of State havo been church members. During tho last campaign it was notable that four of tho candidates were sons ol ministers viz. (Jrovor Cleveland's father was a Presbyterian clergyman, Allen (!. Thurman's father a Baptist minister, Levi P. Morton's father s Congregational preacher, and John A. Brooks Is the son of a Methodist minis tor, and himself a preacher of tho saint donominijtlou. 1 he religious boliof o: tho twenty-two Presidents who havt ruled over tho destinies of tills nation, havo been as follows: Washington. Madison, Monroe, Harrison, Tyler, Taylor, Buchanan and Arthur wort Episcopalians; Jefferson, John Adams, John Q. Adams and Fillmore wore Uni tarians; Jackson, Polk and Llncoli wore Presbyterians, as is also tho pros ont incumbent. President Cleveland Van Huron was of tho Dutch Reformec Church; Pierce a Trinitarian Congro gatlonallst; Johnson, Grant and Hayet wero Methodists, and Garfield attendee the Church of the Christian Brethren QoUlen Days. A young man, of St. Holons, Ore. has had a touch of both kinds of for tune. He won $7,500 lu a lottery, am immediately and properly started foi Salem to see his sweetheart. Ho wiv so anxious to hurry to her that hi could not wait for tho train to pull up ti tho station but jumped from it whih It was running at full speed, and brota his arm and banged hlmsolf up gun orally. MISCELLANEOUS. . Lawyer "I have my opinion of vou." Citizen "Well, you can keep it. Tho last opinion I got from you cost mo $150." Yo'ikrrs Statesman. "That boy of ours is getting to bo a terrible story-teller." said Mr. Cheri try. "Yes," said his wife, "ho tells libs on the slightest prevarication." Puck. A sowing machine agent who wns very ill. being told that ho musk pay the debt of nature, wanted to know If ho couldn't do It on tho Installment plan. Some of tho most expert poultry men occasionally feed their fowls tur nips in winter. They aro not peeled, but cut into quarters and thrown into the yard. At Owenton. Ky., when a ver dict of not guilty was declared in a homicide trial the audience applauded. The judge ordered the doors closed, and imposed a fine of $2.50 on each person who applauded. Special Agent Tingle of San Francisco, discovered two Chinese women on board train going from Vic toria to Tacoma. Thoy were dressed in American fashion, and were heavily veiled. They were arrested, as was also an accompanying Chinaman. It was evidently a shrewd case of smug gling. Telegraph operators, it seems, are developing a disease of their own. Ono or two cases recently occurred abroad, in which tho finger nails dropped off, ono after another. Tho affection is supposed to bo duo to tho constant hammering and pushing with tho finger ends required by tho working of tho telegraph instrument. An eastern mechanic attributes somo of the mysterious fires which aro of frequent occurrence to "blisters" in tho window panes. If these blisters aro convex enough to form a lens and combustibles aro stored within its focal distance a fire would bo very likely to result. The Cincinnati Enquirer is re sponsible for tho following: Pink nails, indolence. Red nails, a war like nature. Narrow nails Incline to mischief. Filbert nails are associated with deceit. Small, round nails de note obstinacy. Crooked nails indicato a lieroo nature. Nails abnormally pale, or with black specks on them, denote sickness. Broad nails are considered to be indicative of bashful and gontlo natures. Long nails appertain to those of a temporizing disposition. Theso aro tho nails of persons who hato scones. The wonderful manner in which nature, in the long sweep of years, evolves her products and adapts them to thoir environments, is manlfesled In tho camel. "A horse can not lio down on tho scorching surface of Sahara, in the eye of tho sun, without scalding or excoriating his tender skin. But all tho parts of a camel's body which touch the sweltering sand in his attl ludo of repose are provided with cal losities of thickened hide, which enable him to rest on tht burning surface without danger or discomfort. The Raleigh (N. C.) News-Observer states tho leap year situation thus: Twolvo years must elapse before tho interesting event takes place again, but it was just tho sumo in 1800 and 1700, but not in 1G00, for that was a leap year and the year 2000 will bo a a leap year also. Why this should bo is a problem. To explain in detail would bo a tiresome task, but It rosts on the principle that the difference of eleven minutes por year exists between actual time and calendar timo. Thus a year is computed at 305 days, threo years being 365 days long and tho fourth year 360 days. In fact tho year is 305 days five hours and forty-five minutes long, or eleven minutes short of 305 J days. COLLEGE SOCIETIES. All i:stlillHheil I'ower In All American Kilurittlonut IuittltutlniiH. I am often asked by anxious papas, "What good is a secrot society for a boy in college?" Tho form of tho question suggests tho idea that the papa is not likely to havo had 'my per sonal experience either of the ono or tho other; but tho answer is plain. Tho secret college fraternity organiza tions of tho better class havo como to be an established power in American colloges, and In proportion to thoir merits they exercise an influence for good or evil upon tho careor of ovory student that is, In tho average, not much less Important than that exerted by Alma Mater herself. As an In fluence it is stronger while it lasts, and, as a rule, lasts much longer. It is no moro a question. "Shall I permit my son to join a fraternity?" Tho question is, "Can I hopo that my son will bo accopted by ono of tho best?" A curious instance of their practical workings has boon re cently told mo on good authority. A Southern gontloman moro thun twenty years ago joined ono of theso institu tions. Soon after this his chaptor be came oxtlnct. Ho hinisolf became lu turn a teacher, married and reared a family of children. Ho was Industrious and worthy in every way, but tho yol yow fovor panic in the South deprived him of his only moans ot support. Tho wolf was at tho door. Tho last re sources of economy had boon oxhnusted. In his despair ho addressed a letter, detailing his circumstances, to the fra ternity at large, asking aid. A tolo gram to tho president of a Southurii college was answered with a satisfac tory Indorsement, and within n few hours a sum of money was on its way to the unfortunate ono which was 9iulto uduquato to his immediate needs, und for which ho has Uio satisfaction of knowing he Is nut Indebted tooivniiuud charity, but to organized lovo. A'. J'. man. V, 1