Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-05-15
Our Serap 8ag.

An EXTINCT RACE.-Onc of the most
remarkable races that ever inhabited the
earth is now extinct They were known
as the Gaunches, and were the aborigines
of the Canary Islands. In the sixteenth
century, pestilence, slavery and the cruel
ty of the Spaniards succeeded in totally
DISCRIMINATING them. They are described
as having been gigantic in stature, but of
a singularly mild and gentle nature.
Their food consisted of barley, wheat and
goats milk, and their agriculture was of
the rudest kind They had religion
which taught them of future state of re-
wards and punishments after death, and of
good and evil spirits They regarded the
volcano of Tenerife as punishment for the
bad The bodies of their dead were care
fully enbalmed and deposited in cata-
combs, which still continue to be an object
of curiosity to those who visit the islands.
Their marriages were very solemn, and
before engaging in them, the brides were
fattened on milk.-Ercha1age
VENTILATION. A Boston architect
writes to the Transcript and repudiates the
idea that the eXhaled breath falls to the
floor He says it is heated and rises, and
then he comes to the point of his letter,
and says
A room can never be properly ventilated
from the base.
There must always be supply of fresh
air equal to the amount consumed.
1t is of no use to open an outlet without
corresponding inlet.
Construct the flue tight from the room
up to the roof and there give it vent
No one would for moment suppose a
chimney to draw" that was perforated
with holes above the inlet; it must be tight
throughout its course, to draw well, and so
must yentilating duct.
1t should be smooth inside. 1t should be
ample, and the outlet and inlet so arranged
as not to create a draught.
A GENTLEMAN in Charlestown, Mass,
who was formerly one of the engineers of
the Fire Department. found his physical
energies partially paralyzed recently, and
was at loss to account for the cause. He
had often boosted of the purity of well
of spring water at his residence, and he
was somewhat surprised on consulting
physician, to find that he was suffering
from the effects of drinking water impreg-
mated with lead. An investigation showed
that the servant had neglected to pump off
the water in the morning, and had made
the coffee with water which had remained
in the lead pipe during the night. The
water was so full of sulphates that the
pipe was nearly eaten through, and was so
thin that it would have lasted but short
time longer.
A YOUNG man recently leased an unfur-
nished room in Louisville, and bought
some furniture at auction. Among the lot
was q secondhand sofa, of antique pattern,
which had evidently, IN its day, done ser
vice in some abode Of sffiuence. The sofa
having been conveyed to its new quarters,
was set upon one side while passing through
q doorway, when piece OF jewelry fell out
from between the back and cushion. On
examination the jewel proved to be an old
fashioned diamond breastpm, set with eight
brilliants, and which has been valued by
ieweler of the city at 5000 The finder is
willing to return the. brooch should its
owner ever turn up"
LAUGHTER is not {; foolish thing;
sometimes there is even wisdom in it.
Solomon himself admits there is time to
laugh as well as a time to mourn. Man
only laughs-man, the highest organized
being and hence the definition that has
beer proposed Of him, a laughing ami
NAL" Certainly, it defines him as well as
a cooking ANIMAL a political animal"
or such like. Laughter very often shows
the bright side of man. 1t brings out
his happier nature, and shows of what
sort of stuff he is really made. Some
hoN VIC feel as il we never thoroughly
know man until we hear him laugh
A PRoFEssoR's JoKE.-A good story is
told of Prot. Adams, of Amherst. He was
very dry and witty, and the following is too
good to pass by:
A student was called upon to describe the
was fluent speaker, and answered at
length.
Incorrect" said the professor.
Unwilling to acknowledge his ignorance,
the student tried again.
incorrect"
"Well to tell the truth, Professor, IL
don't know anything about it,"
Correct"
A BEAUTIFUL ILLUsTRATIoN.-It is said
of the Icelanders that they scrupulously OBJ
serve the usage of reading the sacred
scriptures every morning, the whole family
joining in the singing and prayers. When
the Icelander awakes, he salutes no person
until he has saluted his God. He usually
hastens to the door, adores there the author ]
of nature and providence and then steps |
back, saying to'his family, "God grant you
a good day. What beautiful illustration
is this of the Christian obligation on the |
part of households to recognize and worship |
God
IT Is stated as curious fact that the fine |
particles OF partially carbonized matter,
which give the peculiar haze or smoky |
to the atmosphere Of the At |