Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-09-23
TERMS ,s2.oO PERYEAR
WHOLE NO. 1854.
Reported for the Grant County HRs.Lp.
Popular Science Notes.

Popular Science Notes.
A new race Of ahorigians, supposed
to be from Malay stock has been dis
covered on an island called Botel
Tobago, some eighty miles east of
the cape CT Formoss A writer from
that region speaks of them as 3
peaceful and timid race of people,
who know nothing of money, rum, or
tobacco, but who gave goats and pigs
for tin pots and brass buttons, and
would hang around the ships all day
in their canoes, waiting for chance
to dive for something thrown over
board. They live mainly on tsro
and vans, and wear only clouts =
Their dwelling pisces are low
matched houses, the walls of which
are built of heavy stones for protec
ton from monsoons. They wear
their hair naturally, the men partly
clipping theirs, and acora their necks
with goats boards and small shells.
Their canoes are without nails and
rather handsome in appearance. They
keep goats, pigs aud chickens but
make little use of them and, alto
gether are an ignorant, indolent and
apparently worthless people.
A number of scientists are puz
cling their brains over the question
whether or not the South American
Continent is sinking, and naturally
enough considerable difference OF
opinion exists among them From
the barometic observations OF the
principal mountains IN that region Of
territory, which have been continued
through more than a hundred years,
evidence is afforded of a gradual
sinking, and this opinion is said to
prevail extensively There are some
however, who, founding their theory
on a comparison of observations
made at the mouths of rivers that are
equally enthusiastic in the belief that
the ground is rising Be as it may,
the world will doubtless move on.
ward as usual, and its inhabitants
lose but little sleep in anxiety, in
waiting for these sages of wisdom TO
arrive at definite and satisfactory
opion in the matter-one in which
all of them can concur.
One OF the more recent uses of the
microscope is in the examination OF
handwriting with view to deter
mine its authorship, its genuineness,
its age and whether or not it has
been altered from its original form
and intent The applicability of the
instrument for this purpose can only
be realized by trial, when it will be
found that writing can scarcely be
changed, after its original execution,
SO adroitly that the microscope can
not detect the Justification. Thus il
particular has the instrument been
found most valuable article.
What is supposed to have been the
first successful attempt to sscend to
the summit of Mount Chimboraxo,
was accomplished recently by Mr..
Whymper, who reports its height to
be near 81 900 feet. Three attempts
were made by Mr.. Whymper, the
last proving successful
Some very extensive glaciers have
recently been found by Mr. Whym
per, on the mountains Csyambe, Sar
ansen, CstachscLi, Chimborazo and
Sinohplsqua, many of them being as
large as the largest Alpine ones He
states that the upper four Thousand
feet of Cay amba ,Antisana and Chin
borszo are almost completely euvel.
oped by them. The result of Mr..
Whymper's travels shows the inacu-
racy of the last edition of the "Eucy
clopaiia Britannica" which men
tions the glacier of the mountain AL
tar as the only real glacier known TO
exist IN the Ecuadorian Andes.
The largest trees in the world are
in California the tallest in Austria.
liza. An official of the forest depart
ment in Victoria, Australia, measured
not long since a fallen eucalyptus in
Gippsland and found that it was four
hundred and thirty. FIVE feet long
from the root to the highest point oil
the branches. But even this is ex-
ceeded by another eucalyptus still
standing in the Dandenong district
in Victoria, which is estimated to be
four hundred and fifty feet from the
ground to the top.
A report recently made to the
French Academy of Scientists, by
gentleman who has been experiment
ing during the past three years, shows
that the application of sulphide OF
carbon as a cure for the puiloxefa
has proved thoroughly successful,
besides being highly beneficial to the
vines and not damaging to the pro-
ductiyeness of the soil The discov
cry is considered a most valuable
one.
An exchange says that house
built 10 1889 still stands in Dedham,
Mass and is the oldest IN New Eng
land. 1t is beautifully situated under
heavily branching elms, with moss
covered roof. Much of the original
furniture, two hundred and forty
years of age, still remains, and has
been in the possession of one family
named Fairbanks, during all of that
| time.
During the past few years in the
production of nickle, Norway has as
sumed great Importance, there being
already some twenty-five extensive
mines in successful operation. The
largest part Of the yield is exported
in the crude ore TO all parts of the
civilized world, while the rest Is re
duced en- the spot.
The efficiency of the electric light
in naval operations was put to prac-
teal test recently on board two yes
sels Of the British navy at Gibraltar,
/ NTH orafifvinf, auooasa