Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-09-01
FACTS AND COMMENTS.

FACTS AND COMMENTS.
That human bite is as dangerous
that Of any animal is shown by an
occurrence in the German city OF Mum
ster, where a man who was bitten in one
of his fingers during fight has had the
alternative of losing his arm or his life
Blood poisoning set in, and speedy
amputation at the shoulder became
necessary.
OF Miss Maria Mitchell, professor Of
astronomy, it is related that at the time
of the appearance of the last comet she
had left Poughkeepsie, N. Y, and got
as far on her road 10 Boston as Provi-
dence when she became aware Of the
comets discovery. Immediately she
discontinued her journey and returned
to Vassar to make series of observa-
tions. For five nights these were un-
qualifedly successful, but at midnight
on the sixth an apple tree obstructed
her view. Without moments hesitG-
tion, she summoned man and had the
tree felled, and continued and closed
her work with great satisfaction.
The Chinese and Japanese build
most of their vessels of teak. This wood
is very durable, and will stand the water
better than any other wood that is used
for shipbuildihg. According to the
Austrdlasian Shipping Neaos, there lies
at the bottom of Dusky bay large yes
sci that can be plainly seen in clear
water. She has been there for CEN
turies, and the Maois have a legend
about her. They say that their grand
fathers told them that in their child
hood large vessel sank in Dusky bay;
that the crew managed to reach one of
the small islands and after living there
for years died off one by one. Who they
were or where they came from the
Maoris could not say. A diver is said
to have recently examined this mys-
terious old hulk. He reported that she
is built of teak and appears to be still
perfectly sound and firm.
Black birch is pressing its claims to
succeed black walnut asran ornamental
wood. It is much the same color as
cherry, and can be stained SO as to look
like walnut. Where the land is high
and dry the fiber is firm and clear, but
in low, wet soil it is soft and Of blush
hue. 1t is already used largely for the
perforated chair bottoms. The Toronto
Globe says that it is very abundant in
Ontario. It is so solid, however, that
it does not float after soaking few days
in water, aud unless it is so situated as
to be RATED with pine logs it has to be
dragged great distances by horse power.
In consequence of its prospects in SUI
perseding walnut, it is already rising in
price. Probably, however, says West
ern paper, its reign will be of short du.
ration, as the cultivation OF black wal
nut is rapidly becoming a regular in
dustry 1t is regarded as one Of the
most profitable Of crops-if one can af-
ford to wait. I'D
A Marengo (Iowa) girl arose in her
sleep the other night, walked out Of an
open window and fell twelve feet to the
ground without heing awakened. What
a model wife she will make. Her hus-
band will not be obliged, when coming
in late from the lodge, to tiptoe up the
stairs, carefully pull off his boots in the
hall and sneak upstairs like phantom.
He can bolt right into the house, knock
over the furniture to his hearts con-
tent and get out of his clothes with as
much racket as is made at the breaking
up Of political convention, and all the
time she will slumber sweetly on,
dreaming dreams that carry big per-
centage Of bliss. Then in the morning
he can tell her that he came in at 10
o'clock, and that he doesn't suppose she
had been asleep ten minutes, and she
will kiss him and tell him how kind he
is to come in real easy and not awake
her Her name is prudently withheld,
but some young man can secure treas
ure by packing up his grip-sack and
going out to Marengo to spend few
days.
Notwithstanding what has been writ
ten in English and French books of
American travel, New York city is at o
considerable distance from the forests
in which wild beasts are hunted by men,
and sometimes succeed in reversing the
situation. But in the wilderness Of
water on nearly every side are man-eat-
ing monsters which of late have been
coming up to the piers and gnashlng
their teeth at the populace. To venture
among them might be as perilous as to
go unarmed into an Eastern Jungle; vet
small boys sit on beer kegs along the
docks and anxiously angle for them.
Several sharks have thus been hooked.
and hauled to dry land through the aid
of robust butchers from the stalls near
by, and their captors have made large
profits by putting small tents over them
and charging admittance fees. 1t has
been q feature Of the seasons catch
that each shark captured has turned out
to be man-eater Of more conspicuous
characteristics and Of greater 7oracity
than any of the others-if the aver
ments OF its captors have been trust
worthy.
The family tree of the Yassars will be
list Of philanthropists. Matthew Vas
sar, nephew Of the founder Of Vassar
college for females, at Poughkeepsia, N.
Y, after devoting many years fhis life
to its service, bequeathed large share
of his property to that and kindred in
stitutions in Poughkeepsie. The college
receives $3.50, 600, the Vassar Brothers
Home for Aged Men SIS, 900, the Vassar
Brothers Hospital $85, 600, and the
1aSf-namnd inetitntion ia also roodn ~