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Show 4 t OV'R LATEST V V A J- EA'TAJSIOff. NOTES ON current notes of discovert AND INVENTION. - Volcanic action, coral deposit and ball formations produced the foundations npon whlih rest the coming new possessions of the United States the Danish West Indies They are composed of the Islands of St John, St Thomas and St Crols and tost, this j government H.020.GOO It Is assumed by geologists that at no very late date i 11 the Islands of the West Indies, group formed a land connecting link between North and South America. The largest Island of the group In question Is St Croli, having sn area of 13$ square miles; 8t. Thomas comes e with square mile, and St John last with thirty-fiv- e square miles The population of the 'three Island Is about 53,000, chiefly composed of negroes As early as 1300 all the West Indies (called so by Columbu. because he thought he had discovered the westward paaaaga to India where he touched at San Salvador) were claimed by 8patn. British and Dutch iplorers following In tha Spaniard's wake heard strange stories of fabulous wealth In the islands and attacked ' the claims of Spain. Franc sought a " foothold (n 1825, England captured Jamaica In 1855 and has kept It ever since. After various wars, years of domination by pirate and internecine troubles, a final division of the Islands was arranged between foreign powers. This division was as follows: Spain Cuba and Porto Rico. England Bahamas, Turks sod Cal- j fifty-thre- Jamaica, 8t Utula, St Vnceiit Barbados, Grenada, Tobago I trgin group. SL Christopher Net Is, Antigua, Montserrat Domirixa and Trinidad France Guadeloupe St Bartholomew and Martinique Aruba, Holland -- Curat oa Bonaire St. Euatatius, St Martin and Saba. Denmark Santa Cnu. St Thomas and St. John. Haytl Republics of Hayti and San Domingo. war In 1898 The SpanUh-Amerliaremoved Spain from her possessions la the West Indies end Introduced the United 8tate. Thl country, with the further acquisition of the Danish group, n a military or naval aense, becomes the mistress of sll the southern Waters sweeping Central America, the isthmus of Panama and the northThe naern const of South America val and military stations being established la Cuba and Porto Rico will be duplicated In the Danish West Indies on a smaller scale. The government secures three bases for future operations not equalled by any In the island possessions of France or England. Almost as Important as this la the fact that Hayti and San Domingo will hereafter be flanked east and west by American possessions, and when the' time come that the two weak republics fall, as the must, they will easily pans under the control of this government and not that of any foreign power. The atrategle advantage of 8t--- -- io. n Thomaf wbkh has a magnlflcnnt harbor. is the reason why the Danish group has been desired by the United States ever since Seward waa secretary of state A base commanding the approach to the Isthmus of Panama and the proposed Nicaraguan canal is of the highest naval Importance to the United States. Porto Rico has already furnished such a base, but, ns Denmark has her group for sale, this government deemed It Inadvisable that a foreign power should secure It In a mercantile way the acquisition will amount to little. Sugar Is tha the Islands, but principle product-o- f the planters have suffered heavily during late years owing to tha discriminating tariff against them. Denmark stipulates if the United 8tates takes the Islands they must enjoy free trade with this country, and that all tha Inhabitants must be admitted to full American cltlsenBhtp. The climate of the islands is often dubious. Hurricanes of great severity sometimes prevail. The heat of tha day la extreme, but the nights ars cool and refreshing. Frost forms tn the cold season, but snow la unknown. The annual precipitation Is about Inches. hree Invalids suffering from pulmonary troubles find that at certain seasons of the year the atmosphere of the Islands 1 quits beneficial, sltbougb life there Is monotonous to snyons but a drone. Tbs Introduction of naval stations will undoubtedly bring new business and social Ilfs, science. Splrtt Mat Writing M;tria How in Fr-- rd la Advsure -SaatratM and K.pwiall)' Trirk ia All Trade, Aaxof taklrs. rainbows a,tornerly. American invent! e genius la shown In all lines of In In rent ton. but succeeds especially machinery for manufacturing, trans-- 1 ioitation and labor saving, Europe) and the Orient have begun to find American industry very useful and netes'u. to them I jl p3 1 i las he a smtli r " Mo-Gar- ry aeg-lecte- Ai Tfor of thr World. at la sals to predict that th next correction of the English ..version of th scriptures will alter one word In order to bring the text Into harmony with established science. The word Is "day" In the etor of the creation. It la true that the Engllsa translators did not mean the solar day, but, unfortunately, reader unacquainted with xnetophor and other figures of rhetoric have assumed that "day" hours and thus meant twenty-fou- r generations hare tried to bellev that th Creator tolled by the aun and created th material world on tha Installment id ah of days Of the week, resting After six days toll. Th nearest equivalent we hav tor th indefinite division of time meant by th original scripture narrative of creation 1 "eon," meaning n long but t unmeasured Interval. The next correction of the English ; version will doubtless see "eon" substituted for lf day, and that substitution will many to cling to the Bible, which otherwise will continue to lose believer while seeming la conflict with physical truth. Th correction is the more necessary because science has corroborated the scripture along its drawing main lines of avermenti-whi- l scientific statement more and more toward precision, although still unable to fix th most important dates authoren-nb- y itatively. Dr. Flinders Petrie, who wrote during th winter n summary of his Egyp- tological researches baa classified monumental evidence from Egypt alone, for example, showing that the world ) sat least 9,000 years old and probably much older. Most SirtKing Bocr 'War Cartoon. J It is not often that a cartoon excites disgraceful cartoon," but republished I th most striking of the Boer war Continental critics pronounc It toon. so touch attention as that published by the Amsterdammer a short time since, showing negro soldiers under th British flag shooting down whit hie was women tn South 'Africa, based, npon Mr, Chamberlain speech in tbe House of Commons, in w hich he intimated that the employment of th blacks as soldiers was contemplated la the future. Friend of th Boers professed to he horrified at thl suggestion and said It jwwuld alienate sympathy for tbe British among th Cap Colonists even thoe of English birth, tbe race feeling " there being even stronger than It is 1 our Southern Staten One London paper has pointed out that ia spit of American race prejudice there nr black troop la our regular army, Tbe Ameterdammer'e cartoon bn been widely copied, and more than once referred to In public speeches. Th Lomlo Daily Mat) called It "a A PICTURE THAT 13 DENOUNCED IN GREAT BRITAIN. " le THE PANSY FAMILY. There Is n funny old story About the pansy which many children know, but many, again do not The pansy has fir petals and five sepals. In nil pansies two of the petals are of plain color and three are gay with stripes and spots of bright color. The two plain sepal between petal have but on them, while the two smallest, or the gay, petals, have n sengl each, and th one large petal has twb sepals. As the story goes, the pansy represents n family a mother, two daughThe ters and two mother la very cross and cruel to her stepdaughters, obliges them both to sit on on chair and wear homely dresses, while her daughters have s chair and very gay dresses indeed. But why doesn't the father object to such treatment of his daughters? Tbs question is, can you find th father? He is at home. Oh, yea. But you urlll have automatic violiis is rcnncTED to tear th house down, taking (Hit the IK THI CAST. i wife and children, to find him. He is In this age of automatons it 1 not llttls bit (rf n man, with n whit lurprlalng to find automatically oper- wrapper on and n night cap. But, poor ated musical Instruments. Everyone man, he is sick, and. If you look closeha heard th piano and ly, you will find that ht sits with his musical box, and soon everyone I hands on his knees, and n look of deslikely to hear an automatic stringed pair on his face and bis feet in a tub Instrument, very similar to n violin, of hot water. (or n Massachusetts Inventor has Just BAIR ED SNAILS A NO TOADS. devised an Instrument of this kind. Saratoga, N. Y., and vicinity had an Th component part of thl novel belt bow, n experience the other night, the like of Invention are strings, and pneumatic devices, by which even the oldest Inhabitant can(ram means of which the bow i enabled not remember. It waa a precipitation to travel over th string In whatever of small toads and snails, the visitation Occurring . principally between 9 and 11 oclock. A rainstorm prevailed during the most of the afternoon and increased greatly after nightfall. Shortly after 9 o'clock, what appeared to be hailstones rattled to earth, but on examination they proved to b snails In their shells, many of which were gathered by the astonished people. The snails were almost immediately followed from the sky by small toads, sverging from one-ha- lf to three-quarte- rs of an Inch In length. While the heaviest precipitation of toads and snails was after 9 o'clock, there are many who say that num-bfell In the afternoon storm. From what section the storm scooped up th toads and snails that were dropped on Saratoga mill no - one seemt to know. car--It step-daughte- rs. er BAVAGES OF THE GRAVE BY A" BODY. DEFIED On the occasion of the three hundredth anniversary of Tycho Brahe's THE AUTOMATIC VIOLIN, direction may be desired. These nr connected with n lever, vice which 1 controlled by n progressively moving actuator, and the position of which may be varied to suit the movement of the bow. On the neck of the Instrument there nr also two Indestrips, tn which pendent finger-bearin-g are movable rode Muslo of any kind, it I claimed, can be played oa this mechanical violin; which, furthermore, la so constructed that It will last a long time and. If properly used, will not readily get out of order. AMERICANS AS INVENTOR. The United Bute grant 35,000 patent each year, or nearly as many ns world. England all th rest of th grunt 1.000 n year. Franc and Germany each about 7.000, who Canada. Australia. Austria. Italy and Ruaeln about bait an many each. At interesting tact I that mors patents nr granted in proportion to th applies- -' tlona than ever before in this history of th Patent office, showing that mechanical genius U not chaslnx as mane Vi" death, which occurred n lew days ago, tbe Prague town council decided to exhume the remains of the celebrated astronomer, which were in the Teyn Church of that city, and to bury them anew.. First the stone block on the monument, which bear n full length effigy of the astronomer, was lifted, and, on removing the stones of s arch beneath it, two molder-tn- g coffins were seen. Workmen with candles then descended Into ,the vault and removed tbs debris from th coffins, the wood of which was quit rotten and fell to pieces at every rough touch. When tbs lid of the first coffia was removed A surprising sight met th eye, for th body ia th coffin was a wonderful likeness of the effigy on the monuaemi-collape- ed ment Th body, which had slightly turned oa ita aide, had on its feet tong cav- alry hoots. That th body was Tycho Brahs'a was also seen from th absence of th nose, for Tycho lost that organ in a duel and wort a sliver on In its place. , fir losses la the United States la 1909 were 1181,000,000, ns against ft 13.000.000 for 1899. Th IS porter, "end (he Mississippi river has furnished me with rather good examples. I can understand now why Caesar looked out upon the Nile in such curious amazement and offered all that he stood for to the Egyptian priest If he would show him the source of thst But the antics of wonderful river the Nile look like Insignificant nothings to me when compared with the strange conduct of the stream that ooses out of the earth at Itasca and hurries on Its murky and devious way Town toward the Gulf of Mexico along the Mississippi that once stood right on the brink of the river hav been Isolated even In my day, and there are, too, all along the course of the stream little empires In v.ew whera the river has encroached upon email centers of population, finally eating the earth away and forcing the Inhabitants to seek other quarters There are hundreds of these places that are almost forgotten now, even by the men who are constantly on tha river What brings about these vio- lent changes along the banka of the river? Not floods. It Is Just the ordinary doings of the stream. In the first place the current of the Mississippi Is wonderfully swift, and the sediment deposited at any point where resistance to the flow Is offered is very great Tie n string to the neck of n bottle and sink It with the mouth of the bottle up and open. If held in one ptoc where the flow to normal, In an extremely short period of time the bottle will fill with sediment Stretch n net across the river, a net ao finely woven that nothing but the pure water of the river can pass through, and on account of the rapidity of the flow and th greatness of the deposit pt sediment, almost in a twinkling the river would be dammed at that point This Experts have admitted this. brings me to the point of my narrative. The flow of current to frequently Interfered with by sunken boats, perhaps by n Jackstaff sticking up above th surface. The current 1s diverted by degrees, generally touching the far side of the stream, a mile from the point where It again meets resistance and Immediately begin the building of a aandbar. I have seen n thousand examples of this sort during my career on the river, and I have known of Instances where the root of n tree or th mere twig of n willow have similar condition. brought about These things have tended to make a riddle out of the river, yet th stream, After awhile, will be handled ao as to undo all that it has accomplished." self-playi- de- T TilE ARM REST, llnlbt and the device is Indorsed by Dr Laborde, a Paris physician, whe thinks so highly of It that he spoke In Its favor a few days ago before the French Academy of Medicine. The supwhich port consists of a semi-circenfolds the lower part of arm n little above the elbow, and which Is connected with a belt that can be lengthened or shortened according to the stse of the arm. Ita main usetulnesa Ilea In the fact that It prevents muscular fatigue, keeps the shoulder in n proper position and finally gives the arm that power over the instrument which it must have In oraer to produce the best effects. Dr. Laborde has thoroughly tested It, and he maintains that young violin players who use It will learn more quickly and more easily than those who do not use it - Original of "Mr. "Dooley U 111. PORTRAIT OF THE ORIGINAL OF "MR. DOOLEY." th meeting quiet humor of "Jim" Me- -' at night Mr. McGarrys quaint phll Garry th world might have lost tales oeophy passed among them, and while now famous from ocean to ocean. enjoyed, never suggested publicity , "Jim" McGarry. dealer in spirituous until Mr. Dunne wrote hta first story of goods he despises beer first Indirect-l- "Colonel McNeerys whirl on tha Far suggested to Mr. Dunne the creation ris w heel. It appeared in a Chicago Sun of the series of papers now made fara- - day paper. No one who knew him bad oua under the name of "Mr. Dooley." difficulty In recognising that "Colonel idi.-e- a ,J. 1 ei itaud near I) of tha Carraat Which Tlmes-Democr- t On Freak Eaaily Daflactad. I have been much Impressed with the importance of small things in tote years." sold sn old steamboat man to rea New Orleans be-au- sixty-t- r i a rf 0 ii v i rs i ioi imhi. oing people who are learning the to know that violin will Ik mien-blea deM'e has just been invented whtrh IKIIII iUTV WKIilNOH. Spuiiudlistic slaic anting if c.e-rl- y U llk',i) to piow of much service to them it is tn the form of a suppoit done, Slauys make a rarkcd for the arm and it is asserted that by on a magicians i.ud!eue can be alIt utterly battles th r efforts to its difans the Jettt the tr.ck 1 hey o a n a tnb-n- ways held In an absolutely correit pocried aUnt l - stage by sition tm-pHie inventor I a distinguished vlo- It has an atoms of to. ds or illbu. open f out, euJ is t.i p.v The ui-- -,i .is It around so that emy1 ciau Sid lap-- ll In fair if it may be e..d, to sno side rd out with hi that it u hollow. easrl aiomnon si loot sate a b itt i of India ink uith a q.iill p In it. and t shite writing of o din-ira fe til these h pisses arouud papei among the audienie for examination Then he Axes a sheet of the paper to the slide by means of wafers, places the slide on the fasti, and the easel In ue c iblnct, tosether with the bottle of ink, thelauer hating the pen still in it. Ilav ng allowed the audience to Bee the articles thus ai ranged tn the cabinet, he throws n large silk handkerchief over it. Mysterious sounds are ImmedUlely beard, and the cabinet shakes as If some living thing had entered it. When the sounds and the shaking cease, he removes the handkerchief. showing an Inscription written !b bold black letters on the paper, - 0 C O C A am) the pefl, hot In the Ink bottle, but '' lying on the bottom of tbe cabinet 'k a,--- ! an Ha then removes the paper from the slate and passes it around for examination, when tbe writing Is Imme"w ka.es, TJ diately recognised as having been done with India Ink. The explanation of the trick Is simple. The writing was done In advance by the performer, the fluid used being g solution of sulphuric acid of the purest quality. To make the solution 50 drops of the concentrated add are added to one ounce of filtered water. Wriyng done with this solution Is invisible until exposed to beat; when o THE DANISH WEST INDIES, SOON' TO BECOME A PART OF THE UNITED s exposed it comes out perfectly 8TATE3, black, looking exactly like dried India ink. The heat Is applied by means of an Aw electric current running over wire with Colonel McNeery" will probably re- Mr, McGnrry, who Is Just recovering McNeery" was "Jim" McG&rry, and which the slate la wound. The, cords cover from his present Illness, says a from n serious Illness, eight or nine that Mr. McKenna, his friend, wan John by which the cabinet Is suspended conChicago dlsptarh, The aertoua Illness yearn ago, presided over a bar on Dear- McKenna, famed In ceal copper wires, which conduct tbs political circlet. Which has kept him bedridden for sev- born street, Chicago, wbere it was cuscurrent to the slafe. Black silk threads, kill "Ill said you, Dunne," McGarry, eral weeks promises to pass. But it tomary for Judges, lawyers, newspaper when attached, enable the performtown the began to laugh over suitably cannot pan from the history of liter- men and other bright lights of the er to make the sounds tn the cabinet, hta If you write me up again, and wit, ature that "Colonel McNeery" was the town to meet. They cam In pairs, th cabinet to shake and to Ill kill you If you flon't But Dunne HO cause Original ef "Mr. Dooley" and that hot group or okmm. They were as apt to out of the Ink bottle. the pen and laughed kept on with tha ttorlen for the genius of Finley Peter Dunne drop In early In tha morning as 1st which Several sheets of paper are prepared appeared one every week. In advance, each with n different Inwas too rich a field to b d. scription, the performer telling one inscription from the other by secretly marked pin pricks. r THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRAINS BEAT MUSCLE. What a SclsntiBa Farmer Did with Wora Oil Load. A little over a year ago we made some extended comment upon an illustration of what might be done on an abandoned farm by n man who knew his business, say the Boston Transcript. Such a farm has been purchased and redeemed in the little town of Paxton, about seven miles from Worcester, and away from the railroad by a Long Island man, who brought with him n thorough knowsuccess ledge of truck farming. HI the first year does not seem to hare been exceptional We have heard a great deal about tbe smallness of tha potato crop this year, and undoubtedly the conditions have been leas favorable than usual, but our Paxton farmer put thirty-seve- n acres Into the tubers, from which he expects to pro- -' duce a crop of some 4,500 bushel, or fropi 126 to 150 bushels to the aero In fact, he has now for some time been sending potatoes to Worcester, the nearest large town, and receiving from 4.50 to 95 a barrel, Even at the lowest yield mentioned this will stand him in a return of over 200 an acre from land that probably did not coat him a twentieth part of that sum. Of course, there Is a considerable debt account, but allowing for all thst the profits are fat Fanners lu .hl neigh- - their troubles are not entirely du to worn-oland and generally changed conditions. The fact that they do not know how to make the most of what they have had something to do with ut It FISH FLEE FROM THUNDER. Betas 8k L" From Storm la Doep Water Aar7 From Coast. Fishermen along the Atlantic coast know th peculiar effect of thunderstorms on fish, and save themselves unnecessary work because they do know it Of th army of 40,000 fishermen that occasionally or regularly wet line in the water contingon to New York, 35,000 never think of going afishing after two or three day of thunder end lightning. They know better. Th ether 1,000,- - hopeful - and Imaginative, with nothing better to do, take a chance at it any way, and come home with fisherman luck. The highest authorities among bay mea say that thunder drive th fish Into deep water off shore and that Vivid lightning o disturb their sleep that they take a day or two off for rest and recuperation. Thus it hap-- 4 pen that ea th third day after a hard form with fulminatioa and pyrotechnics, th catch i phenomenal, whereas oa th flrat or second day after there to ao sport except salting oer th hounding billow or groaning on a ground swelL For th pletur tram of health good. |
