South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-02-07
Gleanings in Science and Art.
In Pursuit Of .Scicniifc Information.

come yeafs past, among variety Of pre-
ssnts to the Imaum of Yeman, from an
English gentleman, was a medicine chest.
His Royal Iiighness svsiled himself Of an
oppor'une visit Of European to his do
mains, to ascertain the exact virtue of each
article, writing out in full with bis own
hand the dose, to prevent mistakes. How be
succeeded in the administration Of drugs 20
cure diseases of which he knew less than
he did OF the remedies has not bsen chroui-
cled.
Before the dethrouemeut of His Majesty
the last king Of Dude, 10 q collection of
presents from the British Government was
box of soda powders. He demanded of
the cham berlsin of the palace what they
were for 1t was explained to him to he
right royal beverage, such as was hsbi,u-
ally taken by the sovereign of Great Brit.
ain. DWELL them" said the great poten-
tate of ludis, DIET me try them" One
dozen papers of the soda were dissolved in
tumblor of water and gulppd down at one
long swallow. Smacking his lips, the mon
arch denounced it ss a barbarous drink ns
ever was invented, expressing unqualified
surprise that Christian royalty could rcvel
on such horrid stu1.
Fortunately it was discovered that there
were twelve papers of tartaric acid to 90
vii the frat. "Ah Ia - exclaimed the
king, still scowling with the shocking taste
OF soda, "let US have them instantly" a
moment after, the whole court was thrown
into frighful alarm by the extraordinary
contorIions, writings aud groanings of His
M,jrsty, rolling over the floor, oppressed
with gas. He felt himself blown up like
an air balloon, expecting momentarily to
explode. When relieved, be expressed sur
prise that the civilization Of Europe con.
sidcred soda water a luxury for nunc but
crowned heads
POWER OF INTELLECT.
Thomas Telford, who died in London on
September ,, 1884, was one Of the most re-
markable engineers Of our times, when the
circumstances of his origin are taken into
consideration, as family influence is 50 Do
tent in Great Britain. He was the son of
a poor shepherd in Scotland. His IA her
died when he was a small boy, leaving him
slono to contend with poverty for position.
UnaIded he became splendid French,
Italian, and Latin scholar, and an engineer
ot snch trauscendant ability as to be an
eminent authority. Btidge building was
his forte. He built the suspension bridge
at the Straits of Menai, quite as marvel ,us
as the tubular bridge a mile above it, St
katherlne's docks in London are splendid
evidences of Mr.. Tolfod's extraordinary
engineering attainments. His death was
d'plored as national lois.
ANDROIDEs.
Wandering one day through the streets
ofVieona, notice Of an exhibition Of yari1u d.
mechanical figures was sufficiently attrac-
tive to induce us to enter. Ii was a rare
collection OF apparently self-moving men
and women, who had everything but soul,
to make them independent citiz ms. Van
carln vas Que of the extraordinarv mechnn.
zeal geniuse' in the early part Of the last
century. His artificial duck. that uadIlcd
about the margin of a pond, picked up corn
and significantly quackei at suitable inter-
walls, VAS wonderful triumph Of skill but
the spinet player put into the shade every
androldal invention before or aimee. There
sat really handsome young lady before
the instrument CHE forcrunner of the pres
ent pisno) With music book before her
When wound up, the performer first looked
other way upon the audience, bowed grace.
fully and then began TO finger the keys
She swept her hUgers TO aud fro the whole
length of the instrument in tue usual mao.
ner-' he fingers acting separaiely-vibra.
ting over the ivory so naturally % 10 de-.
ceigo any one not informed that she was
mere machine made W f at aggregation
OF wheels, cams, levers and caigut cordage
AZ many different airs we're executed q,
were satisfactory TO an inquisitive stranger
OF course old French music, in vogue when
the artist iDishod the interior. After tho
springs were exhausted, the operator uu.
buttoned tue musicians dress between her
shoulders, unlaced her stays, aud next with
key unlocked tho chest Swinging omen
a brasa door, there was an exposition of
contrvacoe', especially Of cams az thin a,
paper sliding side by side, amazing 20 view.
There was multiiudinous congregation Of
powers. Caigut cords extended from bar
rels down the arms TO the extremity Of each
finger, which they controlled precisely like
diRiiaI muscles. IL would be a proli1 story
TO dwell OF all the ninufi0s Of that master
piece. Suffice i, 10 say that the man bav-
ing the show, himself a mechanic of rare
ingenuity, said that from hoyhooj be bad
read about the spinst player when no
bad completed bis apprenticeship, be went
to Paris to End it. After q ted perss.
yoring search, II was found packed away 10
lumber room Of Que Of the state depart.
menls, where It had beon forgotten, having
been there since the outbreak Of the French
revolution. lie bad permission to take il
away on a promise 10 return il, be holding
ou! an expectation Of being able to put the
lady once more 10 motion, which no modern