Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-11-05
A QUEER STORY.


On train between Rochester and Syra-
cuse happened the other day to occupy a
seat with middle aged man, who carried
small flower pot containing u little plant,
for whose safety he seemed extremely So
licitous During the first half of the journey
there was but scant conversation between
us, each being preoccupied with his own
thoughts; but, as | am interested in botany,
I began to look more closely at my fellow
travellers plant, and finally became quite
absorbed in it. 1t was species of fern with
which I was wholly unacquaiuted.
May ask what kind of fern that is, and
where it grows?" inquired at last.
THAT is more than can tell you," he re-
piled, "but venture to say there is no
other like it in the world"
Naturally, became curious, ard asked
questions. The following is Il synopsis Of
his replies:
II was for years in the employ of the
Hudson Bay company, and spent the best
part Of my life among ice and savages in
the cold regions of British America. had
often noticed that the snow and ice in some
localities were covered with grayish- black
powder, but paid no attention 10 it till l
read an account of an Arctic expedition, in
which the writer stated that such powder
was cosmic dust, sifted down through the
atmosphere from space, which is said TO be
more or less filled with it,
"As soon as I read this statementit struck
me that it would be good plan to collect
some of the dust and see whether anything
would grow in it, So | began to carry a
bottle into which l put the powder when
ever found any. In few years Isucceed
ed in collecting quite quantity, about as
much as you see here"-he held the flower
pot toward me it was about one-third full
--"and became very much interested in
my cosmic treasure, wondering whether, if
any of our plants should grow in it, they
would take the same shape as when nour-
isbed by their native soil.
"At this time was called to England in
connection with the business of the com.
pany, and, planting pea in the celestial
mold, I locked it up in a large wooden box.
There it remained undisturhed until my re-
turn, little more than year. confess l
opened the box again with Il good deal OF
curiosity, and was both astonished and de.
lighted to see that tho pea had developed
into fern, as | supposed, for this plant was
then about one inch in height attended
it very carefully for about two months, but
it did not seem to grow. One day stirred
up the dust lit had hitherto been undisturb-
ed and to my extreme eastonishment brought
to light the pea had planted, as dry and
unsprouted as though it had been buried in
dry sand l examined the pea carefully.
1t was wholly unaffected, and the fern must
have had some other origin. There ia no
doubt about that"
"Have you any idea how it originated
there" l asked.
"Well yes; am confident the seed came
with the dust from some other world"
In answer to my look of amazement, and
it may be incredulty, he continued: ''It
was certainly not planted in this pot in any
shape. And how could fern root or fern
seed have become mixed with the dust at
the TOP of thick snow and ice? That was
impossible Neither could it get into the
bottle in which kept it until emptied into
this pot which was brand new. And now if
| cosmic dust can settle upon the earth, which
l believe scientists regard as fact, is there
anything unreasonable in supposing that a
light plant seed can do the same?"
"Your logic seems good, but l must con.
fess that on first thought your theory ap.
pears fanciful."
"On first thought it will undoubtedly seem
so, DuC nOL on Tue nunuTeuGu, peTudpS. i
have studied this matter in all directions,
and have come to the conclusion that some
of the varieties of our plants have had just
such IN origin as claim for this fern, and
it may he that the same is true of some ol
our animal species. Perhaps the beginning
of all life on earth had such all origin, per
haps life from this earth has been waited to
our neighbor planets as we'll.
"Now another confirmation of my theory
as regards this particular plant is that nc
one has ever seen one like it. No botanis1
that I ever consulted has been able to clas
sify it. Since [ became interested in the
subject I have examined many kinds O.
fern, but never came across one that resem
bled this"
"How long has it been growing?"
"Ten years. 1t grows very slowly anG
does not thrive on water. At the suggestion
of friend I have tried sprinkling it with
diluted ammonia, which seems to agree
with it,"
At this point we came, as thought, very
suddenly to my destination, and as I lef
the car asked the stranger to give me hi
name. He replied that it was Tarleton o.
Carleton, could not distinguish which, ant
said he was on his way to England