Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-25
What a monster of contradictions

The Largest Living Animal.
What a monster of contradictions
An animal which looks like a fish, but
which is not a fish; which lives always in
the water, but which cannot live long
under water, and which nevertheless will
die on land which has a mouth large
enough to engulf at once dozen readers
of 81. Nicholas but whose throat is 30
small that your fathers fist can fill it.
a whale Yes, veritable giant among
giants, the largest of all living creatures.
To those who do not know the reason for
1t, it must seem odd to say that the whale
is not fish. But in fact, it is no more of
a fish than you are. a fish has cold blood,
and takes the little oxygen it needs from
the water by means of gills, while the
whale must take its oxygen from the atmos-
pheric air. Just as you do.
You need to take oxygen into your
lungs to give to your blood at very short
intervals, so that you cannot exist for more
than two or three minutes at the utmost
without breathing. OF course, it would
not do for the whale to have to breathe so
often, for in that case he could never stay
under water long enough to secure his food,
and would consequently starve.
To provide against this catastrophe the
whale is enabled to charge a reservoir Of
blood with oxygen, and thus, with an
hours supply of aerated blood, it can dive
down and remain under water until the
supply is exhausted. Should it be de.
tanned after the supply is gone, it will
drown as surely as your own self.
The tail is set trsnsversely to the body,
and its motion unlike that of the same
member in a fsh, is up and down and
with such vigor does it move that the sur.
rounding water is forced into series OF
whirling eddies.
I his tail is, moreover, the whales CHIEF
weapon, though occasionally it does make
use of its head or its teeth, if it have the
latter. Stung to fury by harpoon, 1t will
sometimes lash about with its tail to such
purpose as to dash the stout whale-boa to
pieces and hurl the inmates into the sea.
As rule, however, the whale prefers to
run.
That Shetland Shawl.
81 do wish you would tell me what to
give grandma for Christmas !"
Louise Norton, sitting on the arm of her
mothers chair, with one hand laid carress-
inely on Mrs. Nertons shoulder, asked
this question in perplexed tone.
Why, my daughter, | should not sup
pose that would be hard question to de-
eide, replied Mrs. Norton. There are so
many nice things that grandma would
like"
"That is just the trouble" said Louise.
"Now there's grandpa, there is actually
but one thing to give him"
"And that is ?"
Why, slippers, of course, replied
Louise, laughing.
Mrs. Norton laughed too, and responded,
''Will you give papa slippers, too?" Then
they both laughed together, the cause of
their merriment being the memory of last
Christmas, when Papa Norton had received
five pairs of slippers.
well, about grandma" again ques-
toned Louise.
Suppose you were to knit shawl for
her. l know she would like one like
Aunt Laura's, and l think you know that
stitch"
"That is just the thing" exclaimed
Louise, radiant. "Do you know what sort
of wool aunt Laura used ~
" think hers is knit of Shetland GER
tainly Shetland is very pretty for that
stitch,
IN go right away and get my needles,
and then I'll 90 down town and buy the
yarn. Shetland, you said l wonder
what makes them call it Shetland? Do
you know.
" Because the women of Shetland
Islands spin great deal of this fine, soft
yarn, and knit it into all sorts of wearing
apparel, | do not think the wool is differ.
ent from other wool, but the twist of the
thread is the peculiarity OF the Shetland
yarn.
The Shetland Islands, unused Louise.
81 ought to know where they are, but I
can't think"
Mrs. Norton smiled. Geography was
not Louise's strong point.
If you look on the map Of Europe, the
northwest part of the map, you Will be
likely to ind them. They belong to Scot
land the peotls are principally engaged
in fisheries, but the women spin and knit.
l remember in my old school geography
there was picture of the women walking
along the streets with their knitting work
not folded up, as l carry mine when |
go to a neighbors; they keep right on
knitting as they walk.
How funny said Louise. 81 should
think they would drop stitches am sure
l should"
81 presume so; returned Mrs, Nor.
ton.
Well, I shall remember so much about
the Shetland Islands now. You see how
it is; when stady shout places in my
geography l am not interested in them IN
less know something connected with the
places. Now l shall remember these
islands by grandms's shawl"
" II she ever gets shawl for you TO re-
member them by, said Mrs. Norton.
Why, mamma do you mean to hint
that will never get it done | uiH!"
81 am sure hope so, replied mamma
Aud she did.
And besides, she can tell you to this day
where the Shetland Islands are situated
To what government they belong, and
what the people do for a livelihood for
after she became interested, she read
up PANsY.
JOY IN Chinatown.
SAN FRANCIsco, Cal.-Chan Hon Chez,
President of the Six Companies, gives the
following to the press His statn4eut Is in
dorsed by leading Chinese merchants, among
whom are : Leon Pok Hing, President Sam