Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-08-08
Curious, Useful and Scientific.

1AAOht' hO noShliyilS power Vi Tie
lens is an increase over that of glass in
the proportion of eightto three.
A NEW style of railroad has been con-
structed in Assyria. 1t has a single
rail, with springs on either side pressing
against it to preserve the balance. The
cost is only from $3.50 to $500 mile.
A LARGE snake of strange species
was killed in Virginia the other day,
which had a head in the shape of
diamond, tapering from the eyes
to the nose, and from the eyes
back, with beautiful diamond scales
covering the top of the head, long,
pointed tail, and which, when attacked,
made kissing or blowing noise that
could be heard at a distance Of 100
yards.
FROM immemorial time the economy
of money bees and the exact system in
variably pursued by them in building
their comb cells have been subjects of
interest. There is no departure from
six-sided cell, and the exact manner of
construction and character of the mate
rial used is always the same in any
country, whether in Asia, Europe,
Africa or America.
The experiment some time ago tried
by Philadelphia, of bringing fresh meat
from Texas, is being tested by other
Northern cities. The entire hold of the
vessel in which the meat is brought is
lined with non-conducting felt; and by
chemical means cold below the freez-
ing point will be kept up, yet not SO low
as to freeze the meat.
1t is mistake to suppose that the
greatest present desideratum in locomo-
tives is saving of fuel. In England,
locomotive repairs cost more than all
the fuel consumed by railway engines.
They burn about five millions of dol
lars worth of coal per annum; but if
this consumption were lessened by one
half, the annual dividends would not
be increased more than one-third of one
per cent.
The milk and flesh of cattle afflicted
with typhus are not pleasant to con-
template as articles OF food yet NJ.
Husson, a French chemist, who has
anyalized these substances, asserts his
belief that they may be eaten by man
and all but ruminant animals, without
communicated to the consumer.
WE believe that the article sold in
Europe as Abyssinian gold, and some
times as Zalmi gold, has not yet been
offered for sale, at least under those
names, in this country; but it is well to
know that it is in reality brass, COM
posed of ninety-one parts of copper and
eight parts of zinc, veneered with very
thin sheet of gold. This is stated in the
German PoLytechaisches Journal ron De,ag-
Ter, on the authority of DR.. c. Winkler.
Mr.. GARRoD reports, in the Journal Of
Anatomy and Physiology, some observa-
tions made on himself, showing that the
exposure of the nude body to tempera-
lures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit causes
rise in the internal temperature of the
body, which is greater the lower the
temperature OF the surrounding air.
When the temperature was 20 degrees
or upward, no rise was observed.
VAN NosTRAND's Eclectic Engineering
Magazine for March reports the inven
ton of DIR. Robert Hunter, of an India
rubber plate, to be attached to the stern
of canal boat, and moved by steam in
the manner of fsh's tail. The expert
ments with this method of propulsion
are said to promise great success.
IN addition to its eyeless fish, the
Mammoth Cave furnishes beetle which
is totally blind two varieties of eye
less spiders, one brown and the other
white; blind centipede with very long
hairs, by which the creature guides it
self, and a blind crawfsh. Regarding
the last of these, DR.. Telkampf remarks
that .'the eyes are rudimentary in the
adults, but are larger in the young
Prof. Hazen caught specimen "witl
the eyes well developed
some improvements have lately beer
made in the manufacture of parchment
paper, by which its quality is improved
and its usefulness increased. The pro
cess consists in mixing together of tw,
parts of sulphuric acid and one of water
and after it has become cool immersin
in it, for about second, blotting or un
sized paper, Immediately washing it il
several changes of water, and then a.
lowing it to dry spontaneously. 1t
thus made strong, tough, semi-trani
parent, and adapted to the same use
as parchment.
Origin of the Mormon War.
The incident related below is said t
have given rise to the Mormon wal
The people of Hancock and adjoinin
counties in Western Illinois were divide
into three classes-Mormons, Jack Mo,
mons those who were friendly to tn
Mormons), and the Gentiles (those VIII
were bitterly opposed to them). 1t wa
the custom among the leaders at Nauvo
to send out squads to take from tn
Gentiles whatever might be wanted b
the Saints, and to give no other reaso
for SO doing except to say, "The Lor
hath need of it." Two men were ser
very early one morning to an old Gel
tile farmer who owned large herd
cattle, and just as they were about /
drive off fine fat COW, the farmer mao
his appearance, gun in hand, and d
manded to know what they intended |
do with his cow. "The Lord hath nee
of her." was the reply. "When did tt
Lord tell you so?" demanded the o.
Gentle. "Last night" said one of tt
Saints. "Well, he told me, this NOR
ing" said the Gentle, "that if sa
TWO vagabonds meddling with my stoe
to-day to shoot them instantly, and nc
look out" leveling his gun at ther