Middletown transcript., 1880-03-13
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

An electric log for sailing vessels is
among the late practical applications
of electricity.
The international conference on
Arctic exploration, which has been in
session at Hamburg, advocates the
gradual establishment of a chain of
stations toward the polar regions.
A large workshop in France has
been lighted, during the present win
ter, by means of Clamond's thermo-
electric light, the electricity being gen.
Grated by the heat used to warm the
shop.
Mr.. Henry E. Vennor claims to be
fast reducing to rule the principle Of
recurring periods in the weather, and
expects to soon be able to prognosti-
cate the general behavior Of entire
seasons.
In one of a series of photographs of
the moon, taken by Mr.. George Ber-
wick ON very sensitive plates, three
well-defned rings around the moon
are shown. The cause of the singular
appearance has not been determined.
Measurements of. trees, taken in
Scotland in the summer seasons of
1878 and 1879, show a growth from
ten to forty-one per cent. less during
the latter year than in the former.
The mean temperature of the summer
of 1878 was fully five per cent. higher
than the corresponding period of 1879.
Wasps' nests are frequently ignited
by some chemical action, supposed to
be that Of the wax upon the paper
like substances of which the nests are
formed. Spontaneous combustion OF this
nature is believed 10 have been the
cause Of many mysterious fires in hay
stacks and farmers buildings.
The inhabitants Of the Andaman
Islands carry necklaces composed OF
fragments Of the bones Of deceased rel
atives, while the widows among them
are stated to actually wear the skulls
of their late husbands on their shoul-
ders. In recent lecture on ethnolo-
gy, Prof. Flower exhibited the skull
of an Andamese man, to which was
attached a very elegant webbed sling
by which it had been suspended from
the neck of the widow.
A LITTLE WINTER DINNER IN
MARYLAND.-A word more as to a
plain winter dinner in Maryland with
out any of the illusions in which a
French Gordon bieu would be like to
enshroud it, and l have done. After
four Cherrystone oysters, each diner
gets one canvas back. Never slice the
bird ; insert fork astride the breast
bone diagonally and lay half Of him
on each side, leaving the carcass on
the fork between. OF course the can
vas-back should be preceded by sherry
and terrapin, that Lenten delight.
Serve these with large hominy, fried
in cakes, potatoes a Saratoga, cele-
ry salad or in the stick. With this, a
bottle of dry champagne g. II.
Mumm's extra" is the proper brand
to each guest and stop off, with as
much Burgundy as reason and moder-
alton would suggest-ClOs de Vougeot
or Richebourg is the best, if you are
dead sure you get it. Then, with
fresh, and not too strong, Cabanas ci-
gar, or even 4 Partagas good ones
may be had at three for a dollar
Cochran has them-you may be sure
you have dined well and as you can
in no other country under the sun.
Having got down to Burgundy and
cigars, l will abandon the subject, al
though, l confess, with reluctance.
There is a glow and a color about
Maryland hospitality which lends an
indefnable charm to such a dinner,
but there be good fellows in Washing
ton and in New York, and possibly
some in Boston and Philadelphia.
There are plenty of good fellows in
New Orleans, but they are badly hand
icapped by an exaggerated estimate
Of pompano and bad claret.-G. H.
B. in Washington Republic.