The Hickman courier., 1877-06-08
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.

As if burned into the brain-tissue with
a hot iron, tho memory of certain
night experience is still fresh and vivid.
1t wasn't a rural home; sickness had en-
tered at d" the wilching-time of night =
No man around, and the well must stay
by the i'll; then who should 20 for the
doctor, more than mile away? Impul-
sive and sympathetic, I was 90 the geod
and brave boy to volunteer. Not un-
til after midnight was the doctors house
reached, and he was out. Much disap-
pointed that | must return alone, think
ing to help the matter, l ventured upon
that country-boy expedient known as
" short cut" So the open road was
abandoned for narrow path which led
to the old graveyard, which having
reached, my timidity began to increase.
Cautiously l crossed the stile of the
stone-wall, and just as I had entered, the
clock in the Did church tower struck one!
There was first a startling shock, then a
prolonged herrcr, for the reverberations
kept every fibre of my frame in
thrill. I think the moon was large, and
running low, for my shadow which pre-
ceded me was frishtfully long, while
parallel te it, in most formidable neigh
borship, lay the dark shadow of a tall Lom-
bardy poplar, as if rejecting some huge
monumental shaft. The grave of a
sainted mother was near, and a certain
sense of her nearness somewhat
soothed the fears of that little
night waif. I had now got well be-
yond the saddening shadow of that shaft
like tree, and the exit from the church
yard was but q few steps of, and my
was beginning to rise, when 10
from out of that dark shaft behind me
burst savage, piercing scream, as it
might be of some goblin sentry
H Who who -who-o-o-Oo are you 30
How that boys heart did beat, and how
le ran, almost flew, cannot be told. IL (
vas still a long way from home, but this
was gained at last He rushed into the
house (the folks were upstairs), and
without reporting to them, he immedi-
ltely threw himself face downwad upon
the lounge, and sobbed bis fright away,
IS little people often sensibly do. And
now, if better late than never, let it be
confessed: that boy for years
very owlish creed, |
quilt upon his experienrs He believed
n peculiar graveyard strix. In fine,
t may as well come out-he was spirit /
lalist, in the strlckest, spookiest sense.
-Prcf. Samuel Loci70ood, IN PoDuIar Sci !
nee Monthly.
What Is Moderate Dr.inkinge
The advocates of total abstinence from |
liquors are wont to condemn
wen a moderate use of stimulating
thinks, on the ground that moderate
thinking is the parent of excessive drink
ng." The Lancet questions the correct
less OF the proposition, but in its negative
definition of what is meant by moder-
tie drinking the votaues of Bacchus
will find very little comfort. The man, -
ays the Lancet, "who begins the day
With 'soda-and-brandy, has very little
aspect for his constitution, and if he
loes not altar his habits, they will alter
lis health. Odd glasses of beer and
.lasses of spirit in forenoon do not come
within the range of moderate drinking.
That is not moderate drinking which
dds fifteen or twenty beats to the pulse,
r which fushes the face. Finally, all
asual drinking is bad, presumably, and
ot moderate drinking. The system will
ot receive food merely as matter of
at all sorts of odd hours.
till less will it receive with impunity
rink in this way. Drinking which
isturbs sleep, either bymaking it heavy
r by driving it away, is not moderate.
1oderate drinking is that which consists
7ith clean tongue, good appetite, a
low pulse, a cool skin, clear head,
teady hand, good walking-power, and
ght, refreshing sleep. 1t is associated
nth meals, and is entirely subordinated
o more convenient and less Objectionable
orms of food. That such drinking pro-
uces drunkenness, has yet TO be proved.
S it has yet to be proved to be essential
D health.