Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-23
DIFFERENT KINDS OF EYES. NO branch


r,,u.nbly, according TO the habits of the ami
nal. Birds of lofty fight, as the condor, eagles,
ynl,ures and carrion seeking providers Of the
f.a,hcred race have telescope vision, and thus
they are enabled to look down and discover
their unsuspecting victims. AS they approach
noiselessly from above, the axis OF vision
changes shortening, so that they see just as
distinctly within one foot Of the ground as when
ut an elevation of Que mile in the air.
This fact explains the balancing Of "a fish
hawk on its pi1nions half mile above a still
pond watching for fish. When one is selected
down the savage hunter pluuges, the focal axis
varying with the square Of the distance, giving
the hawk distinct view Of its intended prey
always. AS they ascend, then the axis Is elon-
gated by curious muscular arrangement so as
to see far again. o.. ;,
Spails have their keen eyes at the extremity
of flexible horns, which they cau protrude or
draw in at pleasure. By winding the instrl-
mcnt round the edge of leaf or small stalk,
thew can see how matters stand on the opposite
side. The hammer-headed shark has Its wick
ed looking eyes nearly two feet apart BY will
effort they can bend the thin edgiogs Of the
head on which the organs are located SO as to
examine the two sides Of an object the size OF a
fully grown goldfish.
Flies have immovable eyes. They stand out
from the head like half an apple, exceedingly
prominent Instead Of being smooth hemls-
pheres, they have an immense number OF
facets, resembling old fashioned glass watch
seals, each one directing the. light, directly to
the optic rctina That explains why they can
not be approached in any direction without see
Ing what is coming. .
REFORM IN JAPAN.-Among all the people
in these times the Japanese are the most won-
iertul. In the whole history of the world no
people have ever 80 heartily given themselves
to the work of reform. Since the fall of the
Tycoon and the resurrection of the Mikado, the
work of transformation has been such as to
sartle and surprise the nations. 1t was for
time doubted whether the grand work OF re-
construction was not too good to continue. !he
evil prophets, however, were compelled to shut
up, and Japan goes on in her grand reforming
career. Our latest news Is full OF, encourage
ment The school system Of the country is be
ing organized on broad American basis. Re
hgious liberation has become law. The judicial
system is being reconstructed, and the Police
Department is being reorganized after. the
American model The value Of the railroad
and the telegraph is fully appreciated, and the
money aud energy of the country are being freely
given for the encouragement Of both those agents
of moderD civilization. IfJapan will only perse-
we're 10 her present course she will soon be the
most advanced of all the nations OF Asia. India
under English rule has, as q reconstructWe
force, proved failure japan, under the gentle
guidance of the United States, promises to be
an immense success. May the good work go on.
-Ne,o York Herald
THE GREAT NERVE TUNER. The Or
chestra says :-"An interesting discovery has,
it is stated, been made lately BY an Italian.
lie has hit upon method by which nerves
may be tuned like harp strings, and brought
into harmony with each other. His theory is
that nervous systems, like musical Instruments,
are all liable to change Of tone, and this change
is of little Importance if all the nerves change
together, as by attention to diet and tempera.
tuIe the evil may be corrected en- masse but
when, owing to accident or uneven wear, the
general harmony of the nerves is destroyed, a
disconnected action is the result, and special
mode Of treatment is required, OF which ne
processes to possess the key. He calls himself
a nerve tuner, and contracts to keep nerves
In order by the month or year. There seems
to be no reason; why people should not take les
sons in nerve tuning, and, like violin perform
ers acquire themselves the tuning art. Some
nerves, like fddles, want tuning each time they
are used, and ii every man and woman could
screw up his or her norve fbers as they become
relaxed, the world would be saved o vast
amount of trouble, for it can not be denied that
the principal sufferers from nervous disorders
are not those who immediately labor under
them, but their friends and acquantances
THE SMITHS" From Boston journal
(which clipped it from some other paper) we
clip the following, as matter ofintcrest to the
Smith family:
John Smith-plain John Smiths not very
high sounding; it does not suggest aristocracy;;
es; and yet it is good, strong and honest.
Transferred to other languages, it seems TO
climb the ladder Of responsibility. Thus in
Latin it is Johannes Smithus the Italian
smoohtes it off into Giovanni SMITH; the Span
irds render it Juan Smithus; the Dutchman
adopts it as Hans Schmidt; the French fatten
it out into Jean Smeet, and the Russian sneezes
and barks ivan Smittowski.- When John
Smith gets into the tea trade Canton, he be-
comes Jovan Shimmit; if he chambers about
among the lcelanders they say Jaime Smithsou;
ifhe trades among the Tuscaroras he becomes
Tom Ga Smittia 10 Poland he is known as
Ivan Schmtitiweiskl; should he wander among
the Welsh mountains, they talk Of Jihon Sch
midd; when he goes to Mexico he is booked as
Joutli Smitti; if Of classic turn he fingers
among Greek ruins he, turns Ion Smik kteu;
and in Turkey He is utterly disguised You Sect
FOREIGN TRADE---This important theme is
pretty much one-sided II we may Judge by the
introduction Of foreign goods at this port during
the past week, the total value of which reached
the enormous sun of l2S2, l62 In the
present instance the proportion is enlarged to
some extent by the arrival of steamers this
week that were due the week before; but the
imports are unprecedentedly large while the ex-'
ports run along in about the usual amount 1t
Is difficult to account for the heavy line of inn
portations just at this time, unless as suggested
to one of our interviewing reporters by leading
merchant, it be due to a sudden and unanimous
haste on the part of importers to gettheir goods
oyer unusually early this year so as to present
Spring trade But if thcsc;goods find market
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