The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-11-02


counter, and as had, as it seemed to
me, done nothing, felt almost like one
who receives large reward when he has
done nothing to merit it.
That night, with the government Off
Ger, and the rheumatic old man who had
represented in himself for many years
the constabulary of Ethelton, l took
position in the wood commanding view
of the old stump, which at my urgent
request, they had not examined.
| The hours passed on, past the WITCH
ing hour of twelve, and still nothing the
peared, and nothing was heard save ap-
dismal hooting of an owl on a tree near
| by. My companions had lost faith in
me, and thought my story either a fabri-
cation, or else what had seen was the
result of heated Imagination, and were
preparing to return. was disheartened
but had not lost faith, it would walk
again. Urged by me they resumed their
seats, and we had scarcely relapsed into
stiffness when, softly and noiselessly as
before, came the white robed figure
through the woods.
With bated breath we watched. 1t
moved directly to the stump, put in some
parcel, and was about to leave when the
officer seized it. The ghostly visitor
proved to be the aged postmaster, who
was afterwards proved to be a confirmed
somnambulist, and in the hollow stump
was found every missing letter, together
with many other small articles. It is
probable that this somnambulism re-
suited from or caused his illness.
What became of Miss Cornell! She is
no more. On the other side OF the table
as write sits Clara, my wife, and in the
corner, doing in his chair, sits the white
haired somnambulist.
TIE Largest, Highest and Greatest
Things.
The largest inland sea is the Caspian,
lying between Europe and Asia. Its
greatest length is 700 miles, its greatest
breadth 270 miles, and its era 180, 900
square miles; Great Salt lake, in Utah,
which may be properly termed an inland
| sea, is about 80 miles long, and has va
rying breadth from 20 to 35 miles. It's
the sea, whereas the surface of the Cas-
plan is "a feet below the ocean level.
The largest empire of the world is
that of Great Britain, comprising 1857.
658 square miles, more than sixth part
of the land of the globe, and embracing
under its rule nearly sixth part of the
population of the world. In territorial
extent the United States ranks third,
containing 1852 ,242 square miles, in
Guiding Alaska; in population it ranks
fourth with its &c, 900 900 people. Rus
STA ranks second, having {, 1862 $40 square
miles.
The highest monolith is the obelisk at
Karnak, in Egypt. Karnak is on the east
bank of the Nile, near Luxor. and occu-
pies part of the site of ancient Thebes.
The oblisk is ascribed to Hatasu, sister
of Pharoah Thotmes III, who reigned
about 1900 B. G.. It's whole length is 122
feet, its weight 400 tons. It's height with
out pedestal is 108 feet 10 inches. The
height of The oblisk in Central Park, New
York, without pedestal is 66 feet IL inch-
es, its weight about 1853 tons.
The largest bell in the world is the
great bell of Moscow, at the foot of the
Kremlin. It's circumference at the bot
tom is nearly sixty eight seet and its
height more than twenty-one feet. In
its stoutest part it is twenty three inches
thick, and its weight has been computed
to be 443, 772 pounds. It has never been
hung, and was probably cast on the spot
where il now stands. A piece of the bell
is broken of. The fracture is supposed
to have been occasioned by water having
been thrown upon it when heated by the
building erected over it being on fire.
The greatest wall in the world is the
Chinese wall, built by the first Emperor
of the Tsin dynasty, about 22O, B. O., IS
o protection against Tartars. II travers.
es the northern boundary of China, and
is carried over the highest hills, through
the deepest valleys. across rivers and ev-
cry other natural obstacle. Its length IL
$50 miles, including q parapet of five
feet. The total height of the wall is TWEEN.
| ty ieet.; thickness at the base, twenty
five feet, and At the top fifteen feet Tow
ers or bastions occur at intervals ofabout
100 yards.
Among the most remarkable natural
echoes are that Of the Eagles Nest on the
banks Ut Killarney in Ireland, which re-
peats bugle call until it seems to be
sounded from dozen instruments, and
that ON the banks Of the Naha, between
Bingen and Coblentz. which repeats .
sound seventeen times. The most re-
markable artificial echo known il that ia
the castle of Simonetta, about two miles
from Milan. It 10 occasioned by the or
isteuce Of two parallel walls OF consider
able length. Il repeats the report Of .
pistol sixty times.
A most remarkable whirlpool Is the
mselstrom Of the northwest coast Of
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