BUILDING UP VIGOROUS WOMEN.
Value of Basketball In the Culture of
Borly and Brain.
"What sport this is! My, but basket
ball must be fun!" That is the invaria
ble comment of the stranger Who
watches a game of basketball between
girls, for the first time. She can see
•one at almost any college she happens
to visit, from Massachusetts to Cali
fornia, where there are enough girls to
make up a team, for basketball Is en
joying an unpreeedeHt popularity.
The general effect is alwnys the same;
f an audience with enthusiasm for the
teams divided on class lines, carrying
flowers, and flagc, and Danners, singing
1 energetic songs, and cheering lusty
cheers; in the midst of it the hurrying,
shifting kaleidoscope of players, fight
ing for victory and the honor of the
class.
It is fun. That is one reason why the
game leaped into favor so quickly all
over the country. But any one of the
whirling, twisting, running, panting
players who loses her sense of self,
time and space in the concentrated de
termination to pissess that great, swift,
■elusive ball and send it home, can tell
the visitor that fun is not all. It
means steady, hard work for long pre
liminary months, bours of practice in
the gymnasium or on the field, before
one's strength and breath will last
through the rapid halves of a match
game. It menus that the players give
up candy and sweets while they are
training, and go to bed early, when
they long to sit up late for a Jolly par
ty, and do a great many other things
that they den't wish to do, because
tli'ey are on the team, and win they
must, and win they enn't unless every
unit is in condition to do her level
best But even the losers in a well
fought game do not grudge the pre
paratory work, and to a member of the
winning team, listening to the toasts
at the supper afterward, thrilling with
the thought that she has helped to
win tlie victory for her class, past sac
rifices dwindle to a mere nothing.
When the athletic director of a col
lege thinks of tlie benefits of basket
ball, however, the dramatic recognition
of merit which the match game gives,
so overwhelmingly important in the
college girl's mind, seems to her the
least of its blessings. She thinks of
the physical improvement in the play
ers, the brighter eyes and quicker circu
lation, tlie endurance they show, the
co-ordination of muscles that playing
lias taught them, the agility and deft
"i mess with which they manage their
physical machinery. If she is a good
■director she sees the mental gain as
well, behind all these things. Control
of the physical means a well-behaved,
obedient nervous system, as respon
sive to the will of Its owner as she her
self to the signal of her captain. Quick
playing, too, means quick thinking, an
instinctive dash to meet the ball, a
lightning calculation and balancing of
results ns one leaps to catch it and
sends it flying to a waiting ally. It
must not go wrong. A slip might cost
the game. Brain and hand must act
ns one. Not a second may the mind
halt between two opinions. Self con
trol and a judgment so automatically
correct are worth the price of many
strenuous half hours, and once attained
they are not confined to tlie crjses of a
basketball game.
But there is still nnotlier benefit of
the game, a kind of sugar-coated psy
chological discipline, which critics of
9" woman, rightly or wrongly, say that
she needs most of all for her own hap
piness nud best development. The
effect of the discipline is npparcnt,
when each player finds a comrade al
ways at the exact spot where she can
Jielp her, and the bull goes from one
lly to another with clocklike regular
ly. "Magnificent team work" is tlie
name the spectators give it. But more
lhan tills, it indicates that the players
Aave learned how to be a pnrt of the
s-liole. They nro working for tlie team,
mot for themselves. Tliey are willing
to take the position of cog. to sacrifice
the brilliant play and individual de
duction to win the game.—Alice IC. Fal
lows, in Good Housekeeping.
Ttew Trimming. For Spring Gowns.
Never In the history of trimmings
have there been so many varieties and
such beautiful designs ns are seen
/ this season for spring and summer
wear The fabrics, too, are finer in
quality, and the designs highly artis
tic, while the effects produced are wavy
qr hnve scalloped or shell edges. A
pretty wave braid consists of Brussels
•net having scnllops finished with a fine
silk cord feather-edged. On the net
are three rows of nnrrow silk braid a
sixteenth of an inch apart, while be
tween every two, long shallow scallops
is a spray of leaves made of narrow
silk braid like liand-embroidcry and
with lace centres.
The fashionable braid trimmings of
the season in both white and black,
nre made of vegetable silk, which lias
more body to it than pure silk, and a
more lustrous effect in trimmings.
Narrow ribbon effects and little bow
knots are introduced in the trimmings,
running through the popular herring
bone gimps, and forming loop and bow
edges along the sides. Crochet imlta
' A tion lace is also seen to a considerable
p- extent mingled with the charming de
■ signs in silk-braid trimmings. It is
used very often in forming the ground
/ work of fiowers nnd lenves. A lovely
Ttpriug novelty is a white grenadine
braid, witn a centre of Roman lace
edged with a silk cord in a wave design
having little silk circles, and an outel
edge formed of a ruffle of narrow,
pointed silk braid lace.—Harper's Ba
zar.
What Women Are to Wear.
The first early blouses made in wash
materials for this spring are in pique,
crash, drilling and the heavier cotton
and linen fabrics, in white and colors.
A new material for blouses—new of
course only for this purpose—is poplin.
It comes in a lovely line of colorings,
and with its rntber heavy cords docs
not require much trimming beyond
pleats.
The use of ribbon as a trimming
and a garniture for all kinds of gowni
seems to have taken a new lease of
life, and it is introduced In one way
or another upon countless gowns and
bodices.
Homespun, which was so popular
during the past season, will be much
more worn this spring. It is a partic
ularly nice material, being light in
weight and shedding the dust easily,
besides having most excellent staying
qualities. The new leaves show a
glossiness of surface new in home
spun.
For softness of tone the new colors
have never been surpassed. Ecru,
ranging from the palest biscuit shade,
bids fair to be more fashionable than
ever, which is high praise indeed. In
cloth materials this coloring will make
up into the smartest possible kind of
tailor suits. Really, after black, there
is nothing one can wear in so many
different kinds of blouses, hnts, etc., as
the varying shades of tan, ecru and
biscuit.—Mrs. Ralston, in the Ladies'
Home Journal.
Worn at a Wedding.
The most noticeable dress worn at a
recent smart wedding was not worn
by bride or bridesmaid, but simply by
a guest. It was of Ivory white satin.
Tlie prevailing note was the princess
robe, but the bodice opened over a vest
of pink brocade, which, gave just the
relief of delicate color sufficient to
counteract the effect of the dead-white
garment. Gauntlet cuffs were of the
brocade, and lace ruffles and a cravat
finished the confection. The choice of
a hat suitable for wearing with such a
gown was no doubt a matter of some
difficulty, but it was successfully set
tled by selecting a largo black silk
beaver toque trimmed with white lace
and black ostrich plumes, fastened
with paste buckles.
The bride afterward said that she
felt flattered to have such a costume
designed for and worn to her wedding.
But the costume'e greatest triumph
was in winning the observation from
an artistic man present, "She looks
like a portrait of herself by an old
master."—New York Commercial Ad
vertiser.
Ilelen Keller's Pet Dog.
Miss Helen Keller, the well known
blind and deaf girl, now a student at
Radeliffe College, was surprised the
other day by the present of a fine ter
rier which, on a chance visit, took a
strong fancy to her. Miss Keller rec
ognized the dog at once, when brought
to her later, by her mysterious sense of
touch. She made a speech in which
she said: "I thank you very much,
dear friends, for tlie happiness you
have given me. It is as great a3 it
is unexpected. I shall love the dog,
but even more your kindness." Mi3s
Keller, who lias learned to speak by
touch, pronounces her words rapidly,
but companions understand her with
ease. She is In good health, and, with
the aid of a typewriter, keeps up with
examination room work.
Brgtty &
THINGS JfL
TO .WEAR 4j jlr
Hand-sewed kid gloves are among
the latest importations from England,
and are worn with walking suits.
Tlie latest styles in cloth garments
show postilion backs nnd balloon
sleeves or long flowing sleeve effects.
Boleros of Jetted lace, cut in broad
tabs at the end, make handsome ad
ditions to lace or light tinted costumes.
The soft straw hats with an inch
wide band of bluck straw finishing the
edge of the rim are becoming to many
persons for whom light shades are un
suitable.
Coarse linens in naural color promise
to be much worn for summer street
gowns. Made in tailor fashion, with
stitching or bands of silk for trimming,
tiiey are natty and serviceable.
Trimming with bands of dotted ma
terial promises to be a strong feature
from this time forward in all branches
of tailoring and dressmaking, and in
the world of linen things it is to be
the ruling passion.
On some of tlie handsome afternoon
gowns a nqw idea is to have the bow
finishing the crush belt way off at one
side Instead of in the back. Many of
the belts nro of silk in soft folds, and
the bow is tied straight up and down
and comes almost under the left arm.
The bolero shows no sign of leaving
us, but if it does it will yield to full
bodices in soft fabrics, the fulness
wrinkled into gathers in a slanting di
rection and held in place by handsome
buttons. If belts are made of the same
material as the bodice, they are very
narrow.
A smart street gown of black canvas
has these spots as its principal garni
ture, nnd effective they nre indeed. The
bodice is trimmed in front with straps
of graduating width, and the end of
eacli is caught down with a large
dot machine stitched round and round
In white silk. The same deeorntkr. Is
repeated op the skirt and sleeve
HOUSEHOLD * * f m
j: * * * * MATTERS ■:
VAW.V.V.V.VW.SW.VA"!'
Handy For Flavoring.
It is a good idea to save a little of th
juice from a jar of preserved fruit ol
any kind. This gives a decidedly
improved taste to orange or lemon jelly
and may be added to bread puddings
with sauce effect. In fresh fruit time
some crushed fresh fruit is a very
great addition to the hurd sauce.
The Fad For Brnsn.
Brass is such a fad in house furnish
ing Just now its care has become quite
an important item. Artistic decorators
frown upon lacquered brass, but the
overly-ladened housewife will perhaps
prefer to economize labor. If so, polish
the brass to the last degree of bright
uess, then cover lightly with the brass
lnquer, that can be bought at any paint
shop, and it will retain Its polish in
definitely.
lteinovlng Ink Stain* From Clotli.
The removal of ink stains is always
a problem, because inks are made by
so many processes. Soap nud watei
will remove some inks, while strong
chemicals make little impression on
others. The sooner the stain is treated
the more easily it is removed. Wash
ing nnd soaking In cold water, or in
sweet or sour milk, will remove tlie
greater part of the ink and frequently
(lie stain. Spots on washable articles
should be soaked in milk or water.
Rub the spot and change the liquid
frequently. After two or three days, II
a stain remains, wet it with a strong
solution of oxalic acid, and place il
in the sun. After this rinse very thor
oughly.—Ladies' Home Journal.
A Few Don'tß.
Don't buy food that has been in cold
storage if you can secure fresh food;
sometimes turkeys and fish are kept
frozen for years. All fresh meat that
lias been frozen loses its firmness nnd
flavor when allowed to thaw, which
I 3 necessary before cooking. Firm fish
nnd fresh meat nre essential to good
and wholesome living. You will see
offered for sale smelts and green
smelts, nnd many housekeepers do not
know the difference, which is just
this: Green smelts are freshly caught;
smelts not bearing this label are frozen.
Tlie frozen ones become tasteless and
Hnliby when cooked. Don't buy for
eign fresh fruits or vegetables when
the natives are pleut'ful. Don't put
celery in the refrigerator just as it
comes from the market; wrap It In
a wet cloth, then in a paper, und lay
it on the ice until needed. Don't de
pend upon extra heat when you want
water to boil quickly, but add a little
salt to the water and watch the grati
fying results. Don't throw anything
away because it ir too salty; add brown
sugar until it is just right.—Woman's
Home Companion.
A Vine-Shaded Porch.
A neighbor of mine shaded a porch
with an assortment of vines that was
ns novel in arrangement as it was
beautiful and interesting in color har
mony. Tlie vines were not rare or
costly ones; they were merely morn
ing glories and nasturtiums. The morn
ing glories were a rich, clear blue, the
nasturtiums n glowing yellow. Every
other plant in the row was a morning
glory, and every other one a nasturti
tium. Each stood about three inches
from the other, nnd all were given ear
ly support, each vine having a string
of its own upon which to climb. They
grew rapidly and readied the roof in
due time. When blossoms appeared,
the vines were greatly a- mired. To
ward noon the iiiopuing glories would
plose up, but the nasturtiums remained
In perfection, many bouquets being
cut from them. The vines grew in
loose, mellow soil that was devoid of
manure or other fertilizing elements.
During the hottest weather they were
tvatered ever}- night, the ground around
them being thoroughly saturated. The
seeds were star-ted In the house in
April, nnd the young p.ants encouraged
into a good, stocky growth until It
came time to set tliem out In the opeu
ground, about the last of May.—Good
Housekeeping.
U U RECIPES u tr
Apple Meringue—Pare and core six
medium sized apples; fill the cavities
with granulated sugar, adding a little
cinnamon or nutmeg; put them in a
baking pan and cook until tender; make
meringue with tlie whites of four eggs
beaten stiff; add four tablespoonfuls
of powdered sugar; spread this over
the apples; put in the oven to brown
slightly; remove, serve with thin cream.
Beef Loaf—Take two pounds of
round steak and half a pound of suet,
both chopped fini; add two eggs, one
cup of bread crumbs that have been
soft-ned in cold water, one sninil onion,
chopped fiue, one-half cup of sweet
milk, a teaspoon and a half of salt,
and a fourth of a teaspoon of pepper;
mix all together and shape into a loaf,
put In a roasting pan and bnke in a
moderate oven two and a half bours;
baste frequently; serve with tomato
sauce.
Tomatoes and Rice—Slice half a doz
en ripe tomatoes, or use the same
amount of canned ones; season with a
teaspoonful of salt, a dusting of pep
per. Fut into a saucepan, add two
finely minced onions, dot with a des
siirtspoont'ul of butter and cover; steam
slowly fifteen minutep. Then pour a
gill of rich brown or cream sauce into
the mixture. Stir often nnd simmer
ten minutes. Tbn add four ounces of
hot. fiuc-lioiled rice. Mix thoroughly
and serve.
Many a man is a chronic kicker be
cause he has corns on his conscience.
THE STREET CAR BLOCKADE*
THE CALAMITY.
ATI at once the street car sort o' hoppefl,
And then, with a jolt and bump, it stopped,
For another car was just ahead.
As motionless is if 'twere dead,
Another car was ahead of that,
Two men inside, one lean, one fat,
And ahead of that was another car.
With one lone man of the G. A. R.
'Another car was ahead of that,
In which a sleeping copper sat,
And another car ahead of that,
Was as empty as a looted flat.
Ahead of that was another car,
And ahead of that another car,
And ahead of that another car,
And ahead of that another car,
And another car ahead of that,
And another car ahead of that,
And another car ahead of that,
And other cars ahead of those,
And still more cars ahead of those,
And ahead of those were others still.
And stretching ahead were others still,
While each was as silent as the tomb
Ajid a veritable cave of gloom.
THE CAUSE.
For a wagon filled with soft coal slack
Had broken down on the street car track.
—Chicago Tribune.
Ruggles—"What are you doing for a
living these days?" Grimshaw—
"Dodging trolley cars."—Chicago Tri
bune.
Crabshatv—"l tell you we can't afford
It." Mrs. Crabshaw—"lf we could, my
dear, I wouldn't care two cents for it."
—Judge.
Hoax—"Bjones complains because he
can never keep a dog long." Jonx—
"Why don't he try a dachshund?"—
Philadelphia Record.
She (at the piano)—" Listen; how do
yoa enjoy this refrain?" He—"Very
much. The more you refrain the bet
ter I like it."—Tit-Bits.
If brevity's the soul of wit,
I do not want that sort.
Too well X know there's not a bit
Of fun in being short.
—Philadelphia Record.
Friend—"Was it a serious accident?"
Chauffeur—"Not at all. Only two ped
estrians killed, and the automobile
wasn't even scratched."—Life.
Wife—"l've done nothing but prac
tice economy ever since we were mar
ried!" Husband—"And I've had to pay
for it!"— Detroit Free Press.
"If time is money," says the Mana
yunk Philosopher, "what's the use of
spending our time in saving our
money ?"—Philadelphia Record.
Miss Goose—"That animal conversing
with the owl says quite spicy thlugs."
Miss Fox—"Oh, yes! He's a elnuamon
hear, you know!" —Brooklyn Life.
A girl who was fond of her E'a
Attended so many pink T's
That she ruined her I's,
Which was not very Y's,
And it's only at times that she C's.
—Philadelphia Record.
He—"Full mauy a llotver Is born to
blush unseen, you know." She—"Yes;
I never suw any one who could pass a
florist's as often as you can without
stopping to even look in the window."—
Chicago Record-Herald.
"She doesn't have auy trouule in
keeping u servant girl." "No. Her
husband Is political boss of the ward."
"What has that to do with It." "Why,
he has the hundsomest policeman as
signed to that heat."—Philadelphia
Press.
First Burglar—"What did yor take
that brlckybrac for? "i'aiu't no good!"
Secoud'Burglar—" "Taint?" First Bur
glar—"Natv, I tell yer, Jimmy, if yer
wanter make a fust-elass success In
dis business yer got to know somethin'
about art!" —Puck.
"George," said the young wife, "I
think you said you wanted your two
suits to go as far as possible?" "I
thlg's I did," agreed George. "Well, 1
have helped you. I ',ave thdui to the
missionary society to send to the South
Sea Islands." —Chicago News.
Loudon'M Immensity Shown*
The immensity of Loudon can only
be understood when we come to deal
with the many sides of the people's
lives. Every year about 130,000 babies
are born in London. There are always
more boys horn than girls. More than
400 out of every 1000 never live to be
two years old, over 30,000 little cottlus
being used every year to bury their
remains. More than 30,000 people die
every year in Loudon workhouses and
infirmaries; hut, in spite of the fact
that about 82,000 Londoners go to their
last account, there are 50,000 more per
sons alive in Loudon each New Year's
Day than there were on the previous
occasion.
There are more than 40,000 weddings
each twelvemonth, 30,000 of which are
celebrated in the churches of the es
tablishment. Strange as It may seem,
seeing that we have had compulsory
education now for over thirty years,
there are every year more than 2000
persons married in Loudon who can
neither read nor write.
It is a common mistake to suppose
that everybody who cau comes to Lou
don, and that the population is in
creased almost entirely by this process.
As a matter of fact, close upon 40,000
Londoners leave the metropolis every
year for the country or for places
abroad.—Loudon Express.
Attar of ltose* From Bulgaria.
One of the most profitable products
of Bulgaria is the oil or attar of roses,
which amounts to more than $1,000,1)00
annually. The town of Suipke, where
was fought the decisive battle of the
! Turko-Russian war, on July 7, 1877, is
I the centre of the rose gardens.
People who are always talking about
their ancestors never have time to talk
about their neighbors.
TRAPPING A WITNESS.
"lit Clock Had Not Mored For Orel
Six Month*.
A case was being tried in a country
court. A horse had been stolon from
a field, and the evidence all pointed to
a certain doubtful character of the
neighborhood as the culprit. Though
his guilt seemed clear, ho had found a
lawyer to undertake his defense. At
the trial the defendant's counsel ex
pended his energy In trying to confuse
and frighten the opposing witnesses,
especially a farmer whose testimony
was particularly damaging. The law
yer kept up a fire of questions, asking
many foolish ones, in the hope of de
coying the witness into a contradiction.
"Y'on say," the Lawyer went on, "that
you can swear to having seen this man
drive a horse past your farm on the
day in question?"
"I can," replied the witness, wearily,
for he had already answered the ques
tion n dozen times.
"What time was this?"
"I told you it was about the middle
of the forenoon."
"Rut I don't want any 'abouts' or
•middies.' I want you to tell the Jury
exactly the time."
"Why," said the farmer, "I don't
always carry a gold watch with me
when I'm digging potatoes."
"But you have a clock in the house,
haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Well, what time was it by that?"
"Why, by that clock It was Just 10
minutes past 10."
"You were in the field all the morn
ing?" went on the lawyer, smiling sug
gestively.
"I was."
"How far from the house is this
field?"
"About half a mile."
"You swear, do you, thnt by the clock
In your house it was Just 19 minutes
past 10?"
"I do."
The lawyer paused and looked tri
umphantly nt the jury. At last he had
entrapped the witness into a contra
dictory statement that would greatly
weaken his evidence.
The farmer leisurely picked up his
hat and started to leave the witness
stand. Then, turning slowly about,
he added:
'"'l onglit, perhaps, to say that too
mnch reliance should not be piatfed
on thnt clock, as it got out of gear
about six months ago, and It's been
10 minutes past 10 ever since."—Cin
cinnati Commercial Tribune.
Balls of Jolin Ball.
In the making of bolls Ireland has
without doubt attained pre-eminence,
but she has by no means established a
monopoly. Indeed, John Bull is not
often able to poke fun at her upon
that score withont being promptly re
minded of bis own achievements In the
same line. A recent newspaper contro
versy has called forth some fine exam
ples of the purely British bull, of
which two were contributed by mem
bers of Parliament, although not with
in the walls of the House. They oc
curred, however, In the course of the
campaign eloquence which admitted
the speakers to its precincts.
"Expenditure on so vast a scale,"
proclaimed one of them who was urg
ing national economy, "will in time
empty even the inexhaustible coffers
of Britain, and convince her reckless
legislators too late, when the marc is
stolen, thnt they must close that barn
door through which for years the flood
of extravagance has poured un
checked."
The second speaker did even better,
although it is fair to allow something
for a man who, hooted down by a deri
sive opposition, is naturally too excited
and indignant to carefully consider
bis words.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen," he protest
ed. "The cry of the cat, the crow of
the cock and the hiss of the gnnder are
not argument. True, they may for the
time OTerwlieim the feeble voice of
one man in the roaring tide, but not all
their lcaguered forces, howsoever
artned and arrayed for combat, shall
avail finally to extinguish that beacon
toreli of experience, still gripped fast
and held high in his unfaltering hand
to guide safely through the breakers
the straining eyes of posterity!"
Forfcat ItoHervei.
The part of the twenty-first annual
report of the United States geological
survey, dealing with forest reserves,
edited by Mr. Henry Gannett, geo
grapher, is now passiftg through the
press, though not yet published. The
areas of all the reserves amount to 70,-
647 square miles, and these (thirty
seven In number) lie in Washington,
Oregon, California, Montana, Wyom
ing, Utah, Colorado, Now Mexico and
Arizona, three of them lying also part
ly in Idaho and South Dakota.
The reserves treated of in this report
are the Lewis and Clark forest re
serves, 4572 square miles, of Montana;
the Mount Ranier forest reserve, 1035
square miles, and the Olympic forest
reserve, 3006 square miles, of Washing
ton; the Ashland forest reserve, 290
square miles, anil the southern part of
the Cascade range forest reserve of
Oregon; the Lake Tnhoe, 213 square
miles, and the Stanislaus, 10S0 square
miles, forest reserve of California,
There are included also a classification
according to timber of lands In the Yo
semite, the Souora and other quadran
gles; a detailed description by town
ship and range of tlie woodlands of In
ilian Territory, and a discussion of
timber conditions of the pine region of
Minnesota. These reports are ol' inter
est to the botanist as well as to the
general public.
- A woman feels that she has not
lived unless she has experienced the
' joys of a broken heart.
Professional divers, who remain un
der water from two to five minutes at
a time, are accustomed, before sub
tnerging-themselves, to take deep res
pirations for ten minutes. The object
is said to be to store up oxygen, not in
the lung cells, but in the blood-corpus
cles. This renders a temporary sus
pension of the breathing possible by
supplying the corpuscles with an extra
quantity of oxygen, to be exchanged
chemically with the carbonic acid, pro
duced by vital processes, in the blood.
A correspondent of Nature has found
that the spiral born of a wild sheep,
when so placed tiiat the ear is the axis
of the coil, makes the ticking of a
watch more audible in one particular
direction. Since the ear of the sheep
is surrounded by the horn he infers
that the latter acts as an ear-trumpet,
not Improving the hearing for distant
sounds, but disclosing the direction of
a sound. This would be useful in en
abling the sheep to ascertain the exact
points from which sounds come when
there is a mist or fog covering its feed
ing grounds.
At present, when so many efforts are
being made to reach the northern ter
mination of the earth's axis, the geo
graphical north pole, comparatively
little popular Interest is expressed con
cerning another north pole, quite as
important in many ways, the pole of
magnetism. But scientific men do not
lose their Interest in the latter, and
Professor Amundsen intends to spend
three years in the peninsula of Boothia
Felix, the northernmost point of the
mainland of North American, wherein
the north inagnetic pole is situated. He
will make his headquarters exactly at
the pole if he can.
51. Slazzano has noted several facts
going to show that the aurora borealis
is pt terrestrial origin; that it is inti
mately connected with phenomena
classed as meteorological: and now
shows from statistics that low pres
sures of the barometer are the sign of
the most direct connection, auroras in
creasing in frequency with low press
ures. They act not only to extend the
auroral zone which, in both hemis
pheres, follows the line of low polar
pressure, but also the period of the
low pressure influences both the diur
nal and the monthly period of the au
rora.
sr. Dueretet, repeating the experi
ments of Bourbouze made in IS7G has
lately endeavored, with success, to
transmit human speech through ordi
nary telephones, using the earth as the
only conductor. The results are very
interesting, though difficult to explain.
One thing is certain, says the experi
menter, namely, that earth filters out,
so to say, the continuous current neces
sary to the operation of the apparatus.
Tills current is diffused into many oth
ers capable of actuating a certain num
ber of telephones distributed around
the transmitter, and in the experi
ments cited these diffused currents
were strong enough to operate a relay
with a call-bell.
A substitute for wooden flooring is
being introduced which appears to be
built up with asbestos as a basis. Its
special features are noisolessness, du
rability and heat-resisting qualities,
being absolutely fireproof. It is laid
down on a cement foundation. The
material is said to lend Itself readily
to designs in color nud is susceptible
of a high polish upon surfaces not sub
ject to abrasion. It appears to be de
signed especially for use in public
buildings, libraries, halls, hospitals and
on war vessels. In the case of hospi
tals It forms a very desirable floor,
owing to its noiselessness and its sani
tary qualities. It is readily cleansed,
and when used in combination with a
so-called sanitary base, a gradual
curve from floor to baseboard eliminat
ing tlie corner angle, 1s forms an ideal
flooring for the purpose.
Tho Differing; Intelligence of Animals.
Elephants are among the most se
verely drilled of animals; their intelli
gence does not have free play in conse
quence. But all English trainers agree
that there is a great difference in ca
pacity between thorn, and that some
will learn aud remember a lesson far
more quickly than others. Cats have
very "level" brains, and are too self
centred and self-contained, as a rule,
to show the distinctions which exist
between them. Their strongest in
stinct is toward a kind of domestic
comfort not exactly shared with hu
man beings, but enjoyed in their com
pany, to which the cat perfectly adapts
itself. Yet there are misanthropic cats
which make no secret of their dislike
and contempt for mankind in general,
only come into the house under protest
and would prefer to sleep in a coal cel
lar to taking their nap in good society.
These are the exceptions in the cat
world, but every one lias met with
them. Birds are usually regarded as
possessing brains in "classes,' not as
individuals, the origin of the belief
being probably the fact that birds of
one species usually build exactly the
same kind of nest. The generalization
lo not correct. The same species may
have brains of all capacities.—Loudon
Spectator.
A Recipe.
A correspondent writes: Tried recipe
j for a tempting ad.: Take one crisp,
fresh idea, one sound, strong catch
line, a hundred short words and halt'
!as much more white space. Mix intel-
I llgently aud serve in a tasty border.
—Printers' Ink.