The Newtown bee., 1879-09-17
Some Interesting Facts.

Experiments made $50 years ago de-
monstrated that bell, rIlng by clock
work. when placed under an exhausted
receiver, emits no sound. The report of
no more noise than than the explosion of
percussion cap at the level of the sea,
and aeronauts tell us that at the height
OF two miles all sound ceases.
A German naturalist answers the ques-
ton how many eggs a hen can possibly
lay, as follows: The ovary of a hen con-
tains about 900 embryo eggs, of which,
in the first year. not more than twenty
are matured. The second year produces
100; the third, 1876; the fourth, LID, and
in the following four years the number
decreases by twenty yearly. In the ninth
year only ten eggs can be expected, and
thus it appears that after the first four
years hens cease to be profitable as lay
ers. 10, H
The following record shows the
marked Improvement in the speed of
trotting horses within the last sixty
years: In 1920 the best mile time was
3.0s; in 1880, $40; in 1910, the best
record by Dutchman, 2.28; in 1850 Lady
Suffolk made mile in 226; in 1860
Flora Temple made n record of 2. 1913 in
1870 Dexter trotted mile in 2.l74 in
1876 Goldsmith Maid completed mile
in 2.14; in 1873 Rarus against time)
made amile in 49,; on the ninth instant
Edwin Forrest made a mile in the I'M
parallel time of ala.
Some railway memoranda lately pub
lished in Germany give the highest
points yet reached by existing railways
passing over mountain ranges or through
mountain passes. The Appenine line
reaches height of 1924 feet; the Black
Forest line. $3.50 feet; the Semmering,
1920 feet; the Caucasian line, 1913 feet :;
the St. Gothard (tunneD, 1886 feet; the
Bremen, a, AIS feet; Mont Gents (tunneD,
4 800 feet; the North Pacific, 5,420 feet; ;
the Central Pacific, 1921 feet; the Union
Pacific, 8,57S feet; while a railway over
the Andes climbs to IS 646 feet.
The chirping and singing Of the cricket
and grasshopper are frequently spoken
of; but they do not sing-they fiddle.
By rubbing wings and legs together-in
such a manner peculiar to the species
these insects produce the sounds which
characterize them. Perhaps our best in
sect instrumental performer is the
katydid." Each wing contains a little
tamborine, and by the opening and shut
ting of the wings these are rubbed against
each other and produce the sound of
katy-did-she- did, d" which can be heard
at such n long distance, and gives the in
SOU lIS Httluc. L lCSG SOunuS are sup
posed to be useful in enabling insects to
find their mates, or they may indulge in
them for their own qualification and to
add to the general harmony of nature.
Washington left an estate worth $780,
900. John Adams died moderately
well off. Jefferson died so poor that if
Congress!had not given 500, 900 for his Ii
brary he would have been bankrupt.
Madison was economical and died rich
Monroe died so poor that he was buried
at the expense OF his relatives. John
Quincy Adams left about $4,000 the re-
suit of prudence. His son, Charles
Francis Adams, gained a large fortune
by marriage, jackson died tolerably
well off. Van Buren, died worth some
100000 tits said that during his entire
administration he never drew any por-
ton of his salary, but on leaving took the
whole 800. 900 in lump. Polk left about
Sl50,000. Tyler married lady of wealth
and accomplishments and died rich.
Taylor left about $I5O,OOO. Fillmore
was always an economical man, and
added to his wealth by his last marriage
Pierce saved about $4,000 Buchanan
left about 100000 Lincoln, about 49,
600; johnson, about $4,000.