The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-10-21
POPULAR SCIENCE.

III ls expected JnhI Uermany Will soon
(if she has not already done so) seek
the cooperation of other powers in es-
tablishing an exploration of the Polar
regions in the interests of meteorology,
geology, and other sciences, as was pro-
posed by the late Kari Weyprecht,
1t is claimed by Professor Raoul Pic.
tet, of Geneva, that discovery of his
applied to the construction of lake,
river, or ocean going vessels is likely to
cause revolution in naval architecture.
The details are given only in the most
general terms. A model embodying
the new principles is in course of con-
struction at Geneva, and when it is tried
on the lake it will be seen whether the
professor has not been too sanguine.
He expects that it will attain high
rate of speed and glide over the water
without cutting it, and so diminishing
resistance.
Major Lauer, of the Austrian engi-
neers, has made some experiments at
Krem, on the Danube, on blasting rocks
under water, which have attracted con-
siderable attention. In cylinder he
puts a quantity Of dynamite, which is
connected with an electrical apparatus.
The cylinder is placed on the surface CT
the rock only, and fixed in that position.
No matter how deep the water may be
over the rock, it is shattered when the
dynamite explodes, into fragments SO
small that they are washed away by the
stream. This process is said to save
forty per cent. on the cost of removing
submerged rocks.
Many, il not most, people have sup
posed, or, rather, believed, that the
method of teaching deaf -mutes to speak
had been quite modern invention /;
but every one is not of that opinion. A
congress on the education of the deaf
and dumb was lately opened at Bor-
deaux, and during the sittings M. Clay
eau published a series of articles in
which he endeavored to prove that the
art of teaching the dumb to speak is as
old as the latter part of the ninth CEN
tury that it was invented and practiced
by st. John, of Beverley, Archbishop of
York, England, and that it was ex-
planned in the writings of the Venerable
Bede.
TheAnthropological Society of France
had recently under discussion the ques-
ton whether the dog desconds from the
wolf. NJ. Rabourdin said that he had
brought up wolf that was six years old
and as gentle as lamb. 1t was, be-
sides, remarkably intelligent, and could
open the doors by turning the handles
When it heard a clock strike it would
stand on its hind legs to look behind,
and would move the hands around with
its paws. 1t is fond of perfumes, and
lives on good terms with poultry and
other animals, but has great aversion
for cats. It's bark resembles that of a
dog. M. de Mortillet, on the other
had, said that he had been endeavoring
in vain to tame wolves. They were gen
tie enough so long as they were young,
but became savage at the adult age.
NJ. Roman, French engineer, states
that the cultivation of the interesting
plant, the Sofa or SoyG, has been largely
developed in Hungary and in various
parts OF France. He thinks that it may
in the future become as important an
article of food as the potato, 1t grows
in any soil, even the dryest, and the
plant is an excellent fodder for cattle.
The seeds are very nutritious, and have
the form of small kidney beans. An
agreeable soup may be made of them.
The Chinese use them for various kinds
of cheese, to make q condiment with
oil, etc. In France, the seeds have been
roasted like coffee, and M. Roman says
the decoction of the Sofa bean is very
similar to that of average coffee.