Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-08-08
CURIOUS, USEFUL AND SCIENTIFIC.
A HOLY GHOST FLOWER.

gardens there is Holy Ghost, or dove
flower, in bloom. The stalk is about as
thick as lead pencil and something
over three feet high. The flowers,
which spring from short side stems, are
about three inches in diameter, and look
like white wax. In the bottom of the
cup-shaped blossom Is a most lovely
specimen of natures art. 1t Is the dove,
| which occupies sitting posture, with
wings extending upward and exhibiting
the first half of the body. In front Of
the dove is an altar slightly sprinkled
with diminutive dots of maroon ooloring,
and this is the only color about the
bloom. At the base of the stalk are
three shoots or long leaves, like the
shoots to new corn. There are twenty
five of the cups on the stem, and the
fragrance is very delicate and sweet.
The dove specimen is kept in the green
house where the air plants are, which
are nothing less than blocks Of wood,
kept in q temperature so hot and damp
they are forced to grow and bloom.
THE MoxA IN JAPAN.
AS [ rode behind the naked-backed
iinriksha coolies, I noticed along each
side Of the spine, from the head to the
hips, white, irregular scars, about the
size of dime, indicating, as [ supposed,
some skin disease, to which they are
very subject from their diet and ex-
Posure when young. These were the
marks probably invented in Japan-a
painful and powerful agent, well known
in modern surgery. It is made of the
pith of reed (Artemisia), mixed with
81,
This is ignited, applied to the skin, and
allowed to burn slowly until extin-
guished. The flesh is severely burned,
with the resulting scar alluded TO. AS
If this were not sufficient to expel the
"winds and vapors," which they and
the Chinese believe to be the cause of
all disease, this is combined with pune
ture, the needle passing through the
moxa deeply into the tissues, and con-
veying the heat to the supposed seat of
disease. AS they employ this every
spring as a preventive measure, it is
rare to see a coolie without these scars.
The accoucheur calls it to his aid, and is
directed to burn three cones on the little
toe of the right foot to accelerate the
operation of nature. Even infants are
| thus ortured.-Science
DRAGGED HER OUT.
At dam No. 2, on the north branch of
the Au Sable, on Sunday last, little
| 7-year-o daughter of A. G. Louks
and little neighbor girl 3 years old,
strayed from home and went to the dam.
A skiff on the bank attracted their at
tentiop, and they attempted to get into
it. Mr.. Louks' little girl succeeded in
getting in, when the boat started from
shore and commenced floating down
stream. Coming to place where the
water appeared shallow and she could
see bottom quite plain, she jumped in
with the intention of wading to shore.
| The water was eight or ten feet deep
where she jumped in, and she would
certainly have drowned had no assist
ance been rendered. With the child
rem when they strayed away were two
3 .mOnth-old pups, one spaniel and the
other a Newfoundland. Seeing the
child plunge into the water the spaniel
| immediately SWAN to her assistance,
seized her by the foot, and towed her to
shore, where the Newfoundland stood
in eager expectancy to render assist
anc, and the moment the spaniel reach
ed the shore with its burden grabbed
the child by the clothes, and the two
pups dragged her little by little till they
got her upon dry ground. -R08cOnan701l
Pioneer.
A GUN OF WONDERFUL POWER.
The -Haskill multicharge gun,
weapon that is designed to create
wonders in modern warfare, has been
finished and will be shipped to New
| York and taken to Sandy Hook, where
it will be tested In the presence of lead
ing army and naval officers of this and
other countries. Congress has made a
special appropriation for this purpose
and also appointed board of experts
who are to make report of the results
of the test. It is claimed that the gun
will hurl heavier projectile a longer
distance than auy other class of cannon.
Ever since the invention of cannon as 3
means of warfare they have been con-
structed upon one principle, all the
powder being in the breach. J. r. Has
kill, the inventor of the present gun,
has introduced an entirely new plan.
An ordinary cannon of the same size
contains about 35 pounds of powder.
Mr.. Haskill's contains 100 pounds, dis
tributed as follows: 10 pounds in the
breech and % pounds in each of four
capacious ''pockets" underneath the
gun. It is claiGed that as the force of
this powder is concentrated gradually
upon the projectiIe, it is given greater
force and velocity. The gun weighs 25
tons, is 25 feet long, and will shoot
through a solid piece of iron "a inches
thick. It will carry a projectile from
Il to 25 miles, and is intended to revo-
lutionize modern warfare, as even iron
vessels can hardly withstand the blows
of its proiectiles. It has been con-
| structed at cost of $4,000. A com
pany with a capital of 100000 has
been organized for its manufacture.
Elk Gov. Cornell and ex-senator Platt
are among those interested. If the gun
proves . success it is expected that the
government wiIladopt it as part of the
ordnance for sea coast and naval de-
tense.
HISTORICAL COLLECTION OF SHOES.
A singular addition has been made to
the Cluny Museum. 1t was the curious
fashion OF the great engraver, Jacque-