Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-21
THE GAZETTE.
CURIOUS FACTS.
MONDAY MORNING.. MARCH Il. 1859.


CURIOUS FACTS
The difference between tic skull Of the do
mestic hos and wild boar if as great a- that
between the European aud negro skull. Do
mc,ticated animals that have subsequently
run wild IN the forests. after few genera
tons, lose all traces of their dou,sstication.
and are physically di1ereut from their tame
originals.
II is not natural for & cow, any more than
for any other female animals, to give milk
when she has no young to nourish. The
permanent production Of milk is a modified
animal function. produced by an artificial
habit for several generations. In Columbia,
the practice of milking COWS having been
laid aside, the natural state of the functions
has been restored. The secretion ofmilk con-
tinues only during the sucking Of the calf,
and is only an occasional phenomenon.-
If the calf dies the milk ceases to flow.
The barking ofdogs is an acquired heredi-
tary instinct, supposed to have originated in
AN attempt to initiate the human voice Wild
dogs. and domestic breeds becoming wild new
er bark, but howl. Cats which 50 disturb
civilized communities by their midnight cat
crwaul." in the wild state in South America,
are quite silent.
The hair of the negro is not wool but a
curled and twisted hair. The distinction be-
tween hair and wool is clearly revealed by the
microscope.
The dark races have less nervous sensibili-
ty than the white. They are not subject to
nervous diseases. They sleep sound in
every disease. nor does any mental distur-
bance keep them awake. They bear chirur-
gical operations much better than the white
people.
A certain species of fungus has been known
to attain the size of al ourd in one night; and
it is calculated that the cellules, of which it
is composed. must amount to forty-seven
thousand millions. fit grew in twelve hours
this would give four thousand millions each
minute.
Animalcules have been discovered so small
that one million would not exceed a grain Of
sand, and five millions would sport in drop
of water. Yet each of these must have
blood-vcssels, nerves, muscles, ciculating
fluids, &C., like large animals.
"THE EAGLE NEST OF THE REPUBLIC"
Such is the lofty title that a writer in the
February number of the democratic Age,
gives TO the sober State of Connecticut. and
in the progress of an enthusiastic story re-
lates this illustrative incident: Anumber OF
years ago. happening to be in Paris on the
4th of July, with many other Americans, we
agreed to celebrate s'the day" by dinner at
the Hotel Maurice. There were seventy
two Of US in all. We had but one guest
This was NJ. de Tocqueville, who had then
rendered himself famous by his great work
upon Democracy in America. During the
festivities of the evening, after the cloth had
been removed and speechifyng had common
ced, some gentleman alluded en- PEASANT 70
the fact that he was born in Connecticut
"C0anect-tle-coot" exclaimed Monsieur d."
Tocqueyille, as he suddenly rose with the
enthusiasm offs Frenchman. "Fy, messieurs.
will tell You, vid the PERMISSION OF de pres
idante of this festival, Won very leetal story.
and then | will give YOU Won grand sentl-
ment, to dat little State you call Connect-de-
coot. Won day ven vaz in dc gallery Of the
House of Representa-. held Won map OF de
Confederation in my hand. Derr vas Won
lectle yellow spot dat dcy call Connect
de-coot. found by de Constitution, he was
entitled to six of his boys TO represent him on
that floor But ven make dc acquaintance
personelle of the Senator. | find DAT nine of
de Senator was born in Connect-de-coot.-
So den, gentlemen, have made my leetle
speech; now l will give you my grand sentl-
ment:-
"Connect-de-coot, the leetle yellow spot
dat make de clock pedder, de schoolmaster
and dc Senator. De first, give You time: de
second, tell you vat you do with him; and de
sird, make your law and your civilization
and then, as he was resuming his seat
amidst roars Of laughter. he rose again, and
with that peculiar gesticulation which
characterizes all Frcnchmen in moments OF
excitement, he shook his finger tremulously
over the assembled cOnfreres, and exclaimed
at the top of his voice, "Ah! gentlemen dat
leetle yellow State YOU call Connect-de-coot
is Won very great miracle to me-
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