The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-07-31

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fired into the water, it will nobOnly rebound, but be
1attened as if fired against a sOlidssubstance. A
musket-bali may be fired through pane of glass
making the hole the size of the ball. without cracking
the glass; If the glass be suspended by thread it
will make no difference and the thread will not
vibrate In the Artic regions, when the thermometer
is below zero persons can converse more than mile
distant Dr. JAMESON asserts that he heard every
word of a sermon distance of two miles. A
mother has been distinctly heard talking to her child
on still day water mile wide.
MORE DIFFICULT THAN I11AGINED.--A man recently
accepted challenge to make million strokes with
pen and ink within month of four weeks, abstain
ing from the task on Sundays. On the first day he
executed about 900 strokes and the second day
nearly as many; but after many days his hand became
stiff and weary his wrist swollen, and required the
attendance of friend to besprnkle it with
an invigoratng lotion without interrupting its pro-
gress the paper. The task was accomplished on
the twenty-third day.
A BLOODY YEAR-There were seventy y-three bat
ties fought during the year 1856, with average
loss Of 1000 men in each than 100000 soldiers
estimated have pershed by disease and battles;
the battles average more than one week 1t is one
of the blOodiest years III modern history.
How SHIPS ARE NAs1ED-Since the last war; ships
of the line in the United States navy named after
sates frigates after American rivers; soOps of
after state capitals and other ces brigs after some
noted deceased naval commanders; and revenue cut
ters after members of the cabinet The Collins steam
named after oceans and seas, and the Cunar-
ders after countries.
A COSTLY SwoRD.-The sword worn by Napoleon
Bonaparte at the battle of Marengo, in 1900, was
purchased by the Emperor Nicholas in 1850 just half
century after that eyentful and bloody battle, for
the sum of $532 900 French swords, since then
have cost the Emperor of Russia much more than
that sum, large as it is.
ONE SUFFIcIENT.-Rogers relates that he once dined
with Curran in the public room of the chief inn at
Greenwich, when he talked great deal, and
oil Of
which he would not do on any inducement, he ex
claimed yehemently:
''I had rather be hanged upon twenty gibbets.'
Don't you think, sir, that one would be enough
fer you?'' said girl stranger who was sitting at
table next to them.
CT wish (says Rogers) you could have seen Cur
rams face. He was absolutely confounded-struck
dumb
NOVEL SIGHT-There was seen in Broadway,
New York, last week, carriage drawn by six large
dogs, well harnessed, and driven by seated
&c on the box with the usual number of ren. for
&c six in hand'' The dogs had been well trained |
for they passed along at full trot, and looked if
proceeding on important business in which speed
necessary. This novel team attracted much atten-
ton.
The following is said to be the report of a CONVEX
satOn which recently took place in store in Boston,
An innocent and pure-minded Jonathan in a warm
argument with John Bull, on our National instittl-
tions endeavoring to floor his antagonist, who
had sneeringly remarked that Sc fortunately the
Americans couldn't go further westward than the
Pacific Shore. Yankee scratched his pregnant brain
for instant, and triumphantly replied Why, |
good gracious they're already levelng the Rocky
Mountains and carting the dirt out West; had a
letter last week from my cousin, who is living two
hundred miles west of the Pacific shore-on made
land.
THE JUICE OF THE PR1cKLY PEAR FOR DYEING-
Judge Megs read paper from The Journal of the |
Society Of .fts London, showing that the juice Of
the pricky pear, cactus, is almost equal to coch-
Of and iS oIS botta
adapted for making wine the sc honest principle
than logwt~ any other article used in the srine-
CARDS. of Harrington Street, Leadenhall Street. or
even the finest productions of Bngsgate and Fish
street Hill! The cochineal insect from which the
article which bears its name is obtained lives upon
the juice of the cactus leaf the only difference in the
proposed operation IS to make the extract by direct
and artificial means from the plant. instead of by the
more circutous process of obtaining it from the in
sect. The juice has been successfully applied to
blancmange ellies, and other prepara-
tions for the table, to which it imparts beautiful
color, making them not only good for food, but
pleasant to the sight. Science, in revealing the Sc
crets of nature, is pointing in various ways the
advantage Of taking extracts direct from vegetable
economical than by the circuit of
animal elimination-just gutta-percha and India
rubber are superseding, in many instances the use
Of leather and other animal substances.-Life III.
THE MARITIME LAW OF NATIoNs.-The Plenipoten-
tareS at the recent Paris conferences agreed to the
following principles the part of the nations they
represented with the agreement to bring them also
the knowledge of the states not taking part in that
congress, and to invite them to aecete.
L. Privateering is, and remains abolished
z The neutral flag covers enemy's goods, with the
exception of contraband of war.
3. Neutral goods, with the exception of contra
band of war, are liable to capture under an enemys
flag
T. Blockades, in order to be binding, must be effec
nve-that Is to say, maintained by force sufficient
really to prevent access to the coast Of the enemy.
The doctrine that the flag shall protect the merchan-
se and that the nationality of the merchandise shall
protect it under any flag, is in accordance with the
numanizing spirit ofmodern civilization The abo1-
on OF privaeering is in the spirit; but it is
OF those reforms which be thorough and complete
70 70 be equal Privateerng is legalized piracy, un-
dclbtedl but so is any maritime war directed against
p vate property. 1t is just much lcalized piracy
Ior seFenty-four gun ship capturea merchantmen
as 1t is Tor long low, black schooner under the au
thing.
Do fish sleep-and if not what wa. tho ,,ee n