Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-27
FACTS FOR THE CURIOUS.

LIE water or the sea and rivers con-
tains moro animal life than exists on the
land, if we can believe scientists.
Two FROGS put in an earthen jar with
little water by Psychologist who in
tended to use them for experimentation
were. overlooked for nine months, dur
ing which time they were without food.
Yet, when found at last, they were "alive
and kicking
ACCORDING to Dr. Edward Smith, an
egg contains Isl per cent. of nitrogen.
Another writer estimates that the value
of one pound of eggs, as food for sustain
ing the active forces of the body, is to
the value of one pound of lean beef as
1854 to 900. As a flesh producer one
pound of eggs is about equal to one
pound of beef.
STORM warnings are distinct branch
of the forecasts of meteorology. Their
object is to give to seamen notice Of an
approaching gale. They have been now
in operation for more than ten years,
and during that period at least Is per
cent. Of the warnings issued have been
justified by the gales or strong winds
which followed.
The medical department of Queen
Victoria's household comprises three
physicians ordinary, three physicians
extraordinary, one sergeant-surgeon ex-
traordinary, two sergeant-surgeons, three
surgeons extraordinary, one physician
of the household, one surgeon of the
household, one surgeon apothecary, two
obo,,o;e+e &c tbo aoto[1;ohroop4 ~ ord;
nary, one surgeon oculist, one surgeon
dentist in ordinary, and one other physi-
clan. >
The simplest postofice in the world
is in Magellan straits, and has been es-
tablished there for some years past.
It consists of a small cask, which is
chained to the rock of the extreme cape
in the straits, opposite Terra del Fuego.
Each passing ship sends boat to open
the cask and to take letters out and
place others into it. The postofice is
sef-acting therefore; it is under the
protection Of the navies of all nations,
and up to the present there is not one
case to report in which any abuse of the
privileges it affords has taken place.
The progress Of languages spoken by
different people is said to be as follows
English, which at the commencement Of
the century was only spoken by 22,000,-
600, is now spoken by 90,00O,00O ;
Russian by So, 900, 900 instead Of 30, OOO,-
600; German by 66,00O,0 900 instead of
100000; Spanish by 44,0OO,OOO in
stead of $4,000, 900; italian by 30,000,-
900 instead of 100000; Portuguese
by 100000 instead Of 5000, 900.
This is, for England, an increase Of 80
per cent. for Russia, ITO per cent. ;
for Germany, 20 per cent. ; for Spain,
SO per cent, etc. In the case of France
the increase has been from 81, 100000
to 100000, or 36 per cent.
MANY of these productions, says an
English paper, have very curious his
tory, if it could only be traced. Some
Of them probably owe their origin to
names distinguished in our literature, as
Oliver Goldsmith, for instance, is be-
ieved in his earlier days to have written
such compositions. DR.. E. F. Rimbault
gives us the following particulars as to
some well-known fa7orites: 'sSing q
Song of Sixpence is as old as the six
teenth century. "Three Blind Mice is
found in music book dated 1909. ''The
Frog and the Mouse" was licensed in
1880. "Three Children Sliding on the
Ice" dates from 1889. ''London Bridge
is Broken Down" is of unfathomable
antiquity. "Boys and Girls Come Out
to Play" is certainly as old as the reign
Of Charles H., as is also "Lucy Locket
Lost Her Pocket" to the tune Of which
the American song of "Yankee Doodle"
was written. "Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat,
Where Have You Been ?" is Of the age
of Queen Bess. "Little Jack Horner "
is older than the seventeenth century.
"The Old Woman Tossed in a Blanket"
is Of the reign of James H., to which
Monarch it is supposed to allude.