The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-15
CURIOUS, USEFUL AND SCIENTIFIC.

a machine is in use at Melbourne, Aus.
trelia, for shcaripg sheep by steam. 1t ope-
rates in the same manner as the ordinary
shears. but cuts much quicker and cleaner,
without the least danger Of ipjuring the
fleece or the sheep.
The graves of the dead in Cuba are like
the houses of the living glaring white, and
their oBly decorations are wreathes and
crosses made of shells and beans. In none Of
the cemeteries is there the slightest glimpse
OF either flowers or foliage.
Professor Ewing, OF Dundee, has received
a Government Grant OF $500 to conduct re-
searches regarding min ate tremors of the
earth and slow movements of the horiz IN,
VIII stationed at the top OF Ben Nevis,
Scotland, The situation of the Ben Nevis
Observatory is admirably adapted tor such
work.
The first arrangement in Paris for supply
irg private houses with electricity for ilIu-
mirating purposes is now in working order,
and from all that is said concerning it there
is every likelihood that il will be extended.
Those who initiated this project wisely OBJ
waited any necessity for kicking against the
pricks of civic regulations by using as
motor for the dynamo-electric machines q
gas engine which can legally DE employed in
cities.
Soil covered with living herbsgs or with
wcoc, dung, ETC., says Professor <. WoIlny
il warn er IL winter and cooler In summer
than hare toil under similar conditions. Toe
difference Of temperature is greatest IN sum-
er and least in spring a1d autumn. Bare
soil heats more quiet ~ II spring and COO s
more quickly in autumn than That cover q
with living or dead vegetable matter. The
fluctuations OF temperature are much
smaller in covered than in bare jill.
An object OF pity in our place is boy
about fourteen years old, whose lei;s from
the knees down are helpless. He has TO walk
on his hal ds and knees. Yet he enjoys rid
ing on hand sled as well as any ore. He
uses pole with spike in the end, and by
sitting on the sled will by the ase OF his
pole, reach the top OF the hill almost as soon
as the rest, and with the pole will guide him.
self down again. We have seen him push
himself up to big sled and catch on behind
even while the hors(s are on t.ot-Middle-
ton Age.
Taking all the facts into consideration, it
appears clear TO Mr.. II. c. Sorahy that all
tie bright and beautiful tints of leaves in
autur are early the earlier stages OK de.
competition, and are due to the more or less
considerable triumph Of chemical forces over
the weakened or DESTROYED vitality OF the
living plant. He adds that one can not but
feel that this is very unpoetical way In
which to regard the magnificent tints OF 9
fine autumnal landscape, bat it Is not less
true than that the colored clouds of evening
mark the departing day.
Those desiring to check a tendency to
obesity NAV now choose between four sys-
tens: l. The original Banting, which con-
slsts of eating nothing containing starch,
sugar, or fat. 2. The German Banting,
which allows fat, but forbids sugar or starch.
3. A Munich system, which consists OF
dressing in woollen clothes and OF sleeping
between flannel blankets instead of cotton
Or linen sheets, and !. The Schweninger
system, which insists on an interval OF two
hours between eating and drinking. The
Lancets advice to hunting men who may be
thinking to reduce their weight is 'Do not
try it."
If. says La Nature, one should write upon
ST eet Of white paper with chloride OF pla-
tinum no mark would be visible, as the
liquid is quite colorless. But hold the same
sheet Of paper over the vapor of mercury,
and The metal il received in the former op-
Grafton will be brought out in dark tints.
Several surprising effects may be produced
by utilizing that fact. III the experiment be
reversed not less marvellous results may be
obtained. First expose o drawing or writing
to the gases of mercury to charge the lines
with mercury. Then bring the drawing or