Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-10-29
THE BOOMER ANG,
From the Chicago Tribune.

boomerang. tie saw them used ty the natives.
They ranged from two feet to thirty eight
inches iu englh and were of various shapes,
all curved little, aud looking, as he describes
them, like wooden new moon. They were
made of a dark, heavy wool, and weighed from
one to three pounds. lu thickness they vary
from half an inch, and taper 10 point at each
end.
One of the natives picked up the piece Of
wood, and, polslug ii an instant, threw it, Civ
ing it rotary motion. For the first one hun
drcd feet or more ii went straight ahead Then
it tackled to the left and rose slightly, still no
tatng rapidly. 1t kept this latter course for a
hundred feet more, perhaps, but soon veered
to the left again, describing a broader curve,
and moment later fell to the earth six or eight
feet n front OF thrower, having described near
y circle 10 the air.
ang aud cast it, holding it with the same grip.
1t took the same course, but made broader
curves, and as it came round the black caught
it handsomely in his right hand.
Another native oext threw it, aud lodged it
90 the ground about twenty feet behind him,
after 1t bad described circle of two huodred
yards or upward. After him they all tried it,
and but one Of them failed to bring the weapon
back to the spot where they stood.
CarlboO, q DatlVe, then selected from the
heap of boomerangs another one, and cast it
with sort ofjerk Ii few very quickly for 40
or 50 yards, whrlipg ike top. Then 1t
darted into the air, mounting fully 100 feet,
aud came over our heads, where it seemed
to hang stationary for a moment, then set
tie slowly, still whirog, tiIl he caught it.
Two others of the blacks then did the samc
thing.
Meanwhile had with my knife shaved
little OF the wood from the convex side Of
the boomeraogs. This is now offered to oue
oithem to throw. He took it without MOTTO
Ing what | had done, poised it, but stopped
short, and with couemptouJ glance at
my improvement threw it down and eX-
claimed:
Bale budgery!' (no good
The others then looked at it cautiously, but il
was a bale budgery also to them. No one could
be Induced to throw it.
Myers asked them why they did not use it,
but they cou not give definite answer 1t
was plain that they did not like the way it pois.
ed, when held 10 the hand, yet | could not dis
tnguished any difference between this and the
other weapons.
Burlelgh, then walked 10 distance of 300 feet
or more from the blacks and bid Cariboo throw
TO him. The native looked at him moment
rather cautiously, then comprehending what
was wanted, he selected onc of the heaviest Of
the missiles and turning half round, threw it
with great force in direction almost opposite
from that where Burlcgh stood
The weapon sped smartly for 60 or 70 feet,
then tackled In au instant and hsw directly at
Burlelgh and, had be not most cxpeditiously
ducked, he would have received hard thump,
II Dothlog worse. 1t struck the ground 20 or
80 PAGES beyond. This feat brought out a
broad grin and something like chuckle from
the whole of them. Carboo even intimated
that he would like to try another cast but
Burleigh expressed himself fully satisfied
Mr.: Smith, however, offered to take a
shot, but not at too short range. We were
standing 10 front Of one of the storchouses.
Carlboo placed Smith n front Of the door and
stood with his back to him, with Smth's hand
90 his shoulder.
None of Us knew what sort of maDeuvre
he had in mind not even Myers Staudlog in
his position, the black threw the boomerang
straight ahead. Immediately it curved 10 the
air. Then it disappeared around he corner of
the building, and, before he had time to guess
what was meant, it came round the other end
lhaviug passed completely around the store
house, and gave him sounding slap on the
back, which made his eyes snap.
A New CATHEDRAL FOR LONDON. "A pet
project with Cardinal Manning is the construc-
ton OF an Immense cathdra In London for the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese Of Westminster.
Eight or teD years ago land was purchased for
the purpose in the rear of Victoria street. 1t
is 10 the form of paraleogram, two or three
acres IN extent and was bought at cost of
$l75,000. Designs for the building have been
gradually matured for pine years, and the
model selected belongs to the period at which
Gothic art culmiDated-the latter half of the
thirteenth century; a period when architects
covered the largest areas with the fewcst sup
ports. The great western facade will be ITO
feet 10 width, and will be haukcd with TWO
towers each 81 feet square. The front will be
l3O feet, and the towers 200 feet In height,
and at some future time they will be surmount-
ed with spires rising to the full height of 400
feet. 1t is not intended, according TO the Lon.
don Times, that the cathedral should be the
work of generation. or half a century-per-
haps not even a century and DR.. Manning ex-
presses the hope that he NAY not live to con-
secrate 1t, for if it should be finished in his
lifetime II would not be metropolitan church
worthy Of the country
LAWYER SHUT Up.-"Sir' asked an at
torney OF witness who was testifyiDg in a case
OF assault aud battery, have you been in this
Court before p =
here otten''
"Ah, been here often, have you?" said the
attorney 10 triumphant tone Now, tell the
Court what for.
We'll, replied the witness, slowly, 81 have
oeen here at least dozen times to see you, TO
Try and collect that tailor bill you owe
Ihe story is told Of a New Bedford clergy
man. now dead. who Was asked by an Irsbman
10 marry him. why, Pat" said the clergy
mao; mao; what have sou come to me for? Why
Ilun you 90 to the Catholic priest p II We
peen 10 him, Yer HONOR said Pat, !.and
NC 'o'a me to 90 to the devil and l. We come "