The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-11-14
oLEANINGs AND GOSSIP.


A French observer states that, by
feeding silk-worms on vine-leaves, he
has obtained worms of magnificent
red and where lettuce leaves were the
food, the product was Of deep emerald
green color. BY thus varying the food
of the worm, M. Delidon de saint
GILES, of Vendee, has been enabled 20
obtain silk the natural colors OF which
were a beautiful yellow, green and vlo-
let. In view of results so important,
the question is at once suggested: Will
the worms thrive upon this new dietf
for, If s., then this discovery may justly
be regarded as one Of the greatest I'M
portance in this department OF the ap-
piled arts. Should our native silk
growers be inclined TO attempt the eX-
pertinent, il is well for them TO know
that the silk-worms must be fed on null
berry-leaves when young, and supplied
with the vine-lettuce or nettle-leaves
during the last twenty days Of the larva-
stage of their life. IL now only re-
mains for some patient worker to com
pound an artificial food, which shall
combine the nutritive properties OF the
mulberry-leaf with the coloring-power
! of the others, and thus at once dispense
with the complicated and delicate dying
processes now in use,
The long-received opinion that
guano is the deposits of myriads Of sea
birds, accommodating through long ages.
is rendered untenable by the recent in
vestigations of DIR. Habel. After treat
ing the guano with an acid, microscopi-
cal and chemical examination revealed
that the insoluble residue was composed
of fossil sponges and other marine AMI
mails and plants precisely similar IN
constitution TO such as still exist IN
those seas. The fact that the anchors
of ships in the neighborhood of the
guano islands often bring mp guano
from the bottom of the ocean, is quite
in opposition to the prevalent belief.
DIR. Habel therefore considers that the
deposits of guano must be the result Of
the accumulation Of fossil plants and
animals whose organic matter has been
transformed into heterogeneous sub
stance, the mineral portion remaining
intact.
Great Salt AXE in Utah is not quite
the Dead sea, in which no living thing
can exist, that it has generally been con-
sidered. A naturalist in Prof Hayden'H
expedition has found its safest portions
swarming with little crustacean, which
appears to be identical with the Europe
an brine shrimp. This little creature,
which is one Of the most highly organi-
zed Of the lower crustacea, rs common
ly found in the strong brine of the salt
pans established on the European
coasts. From the presence Of gulls
and pelicans about the lake, 1t is also
suspected that fishes may exist in It's
briDy waters.
The following verse appears in
poem written by a popular clergyman
''No longer fly Thy kite, Lord draw me home.
Thou pull'st the string through all the distance
Lord, / am nearing Thee; o Lord come;
Thy pulls grow stronger aud the wind grows
The reverend poet would sail little
steadier if he would tie on more tail.
In order to prevent the possibility
Of such a case as that of the Tichbones
claimant ever again recurring, IL is said
that early next session n bill will be in
troduced into the British Parliament TO
the effect that il any presumed heir to
property should leave the country, and
through any eccentricity or other cause
purposely abstain from making his eX-
istence known, he shall be looked upon,
after the lapse of a certain number of
years, as dead in the eyes of the law,
the property TO go to the next Of kin.
The editor Of the Allegan (Mich.)
Journal attended church the other day.
After the regular services were ended
the customary exhortation was given,
asking members TO speak. "Who will
be first 10 speakP" said the minister.
Presently an elderly gentleman, who
weighs about three hundred pounds,
arose and humbly observed, 81 believe
it is the duty of the biggest sinner IN
the house 20 speak first, and that's me,
thank the Lord !"
"A young New Yorker, spending "A
month with his uncle in New Jersey,
wrote thus TO his mother "The peach
trees here are too slippery for me 10
climb uncle won't lot me sail boats in
the milk pans there's no birds nests
around here that / can see Sallie Law
split molasses on my best pants
smaller boy than / am, who plays with
me. wears a gold chain and ] want 10 go
home"
The word panic arose ont OF tho
battle of Marathon. In that immortal
fight a mere handful Of Greeks enooun-
tered an infinite host Of Persians, and
put liltIu W ubhtE AbhAs AAbM wv MY
do it? The Persians were smitten by
the god Pan with sudden causeless
and extreme fright. They lost their
wits and that state of things took it's
name from the god who produced IL.
1t is narrated of Connecticut thief
that, having stolen a farmers watermel-
ons, he sent the seeds back in letter
and requested him 10 plant them for
next year. That fellow was intended
for a railroad president. In that capa-
CITY he would take farmers crop, and
send back only enough TO make sure
that there would b. another crop for
him to take next year.
The Second Adventists Of New Ha-
ven are going TO Terry Island, in the
river, 10 witness the end Of
the world, which is positively an
nounced by their presiding elder 70
take place on the 30th inst. No post
on account Of the weather, and
a liberal reduction 10 heads Of families,
etc.
The sinking of Mississippi steam
boat is thus graphically described
She sot and hove,
And hove and sots
And high her rudder hung
And every time she hove and sOt
A wuaser leak she sprung"
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