New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-16
GENERAL NOTES.

In his experiments with the strength of in
sects Plateau the French naturalist has a7ccrtained
that proportion to its size Junebug Is a. powerful az
locomotive.
Not long ago Western land agent had in
tow party of Eastern farmers to each OF whom he
hoped sell strip Of land in the rich Arkansas Valley
lie had devoted himself to them for whole day, had
dned and wined and druv ZEN" bat his most glowing
of the fertility Of the country could not bring
his stOd hearers to the point Of enthusiasm Finally he
had bis revenge With sardonic smile one Of the farm
ers asked "We, Mr.. Agent, is there anything that
wont't grow here :" " Yes pumpkins won't" :" What"
exclaimed the cynical land-buyers together, pumpkins
won't ~ No" said the agent; there in thig
country who would give $3.50 an acre for land that
would mature crop o. pumpkin5 They never have
ten ysars" VII how strange Why is it |" said land.
buyer No l. Wen sir the soil j. go rich that tAe vines
over the ground
What is the glossograph2 1t is an instrI-
rncnt invented by A. Gentl, Of Vienna. What the
pccularites of the glOssogrdphi 1t has combination
Of delicate levers and blades, which, being placed
the tongue and lips and under the nOstrls OF speaker
are vbrated by the movements OF the former and the
breath flowing from the latter This vibration is trans
mtted to pencils These transcrbc the several signs
produced by the action of the tongue and lips and the
breath from the Dostrs upon strip OF paper moved by
mechanical arrangement, and thus special system OF
writing, which may be termed glossography, is pro-
Cuced. This ia based upon the principle OF syllable con-
structiOn and combination of cOnsonants. The orator
has only breathe his eoquence personally through tho
glossoTaph, hire somebody to do It for him. ms
invention might fill the world with Joy If the average
speech of modern only better worth report
ing With all the ingenuity Of the nobody mas yet
d aeOytred arrangement by which the gentleman
WHO have nothing to say may ne KEPT silent SucH
machine would be well worth, not only patent DIt u
money Appropriation.
The completest demonstration ever made
that the soothing effect oil troubled waters can DO
put to practical use was made by MI John shield oil
Perth England Oh March l. Having chosen Peterhead
as the most suitable place for his experiment Mr. Shields
caused iron aud lead pipes to be laid from the beach into
the sea In front Of the entrance to the harbOE force
pump was attached the land end Of the piping and
near 1t was placed large barrel containing 100 gallons
of OIL On March l, Mr.. Shields, having been informed
By the Meteorological Office that the was rough at
Peerhead, went thither from Perth, accompanied by
several seafarlng men from Dundee and Aberdeen
When the whltecrested were rising to height Oh
ten to twenty feet at harbOr entrance the oil pnmp
was pat in notion causing the oil to spread In the bot
tom Of the sea- and on gradually rising to the surface
the white foam entirely disappeared, and although the
swell continued, the surface Of the sea was perfectly
smooth so that q ship small boat could nave entered
tbe dock without the slightest danger-an imposslDlhy
before the oil was distributed I'm the water TIE expert
satisfied the shipmasters who Witnessed tuem
Mr. Shields is wiling to give haTbOr board the Drn
ft of his invention, and render assistance Ia carrying