Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-04-16
THE SOUTH AMERICAN PAMPAS.

~ W. AOs
THE SOUTH AMERICAN PAMPAS.
The peculiar characteristics of these vast
level plains which descend from the Andes
to the great river basin in unbroken monot-
ony are the absence of rivers or water
storage, and the periodical occurrence of
droughts, or "siccos," in the summer
months. These conditions determine the
singular character both Of it's flora and fauna.
The soil is naturally fertile and favorable for
the growths of the trees, and they grow
luxuriantly wherever they are protected.
The Eucalyptus is covering large tracts
wherever it is inclosed, and willows, pop
lars and the fig surround every 'estancia
when fenced in. The open plains are COW
overrun by numberless wild rodents, the
original tenants of the pampas. During the
long periods of drought which are so great
a scourge to the country, these animals are
starved by thousands, destroying in their
efforts to live every vestige of vegetation.
In one of these siccos, at the time of my
visit, no less than fifty thousand head of
oxen and sheep and horses perished from
starvation and thirst, after tearing deep out
Of the soil every trace of vegetation, in
Guiding the Wiry root of the pampas grass.
Under such circumstances the existence
of an unprotected tree is impossible. The
dition to the indestructible thistles, grasses
and clover, are little herbaceous oxalis
producing viviparous buds of extraordina-
ry vitality, few poisonous species, such as
the hemlock, and few tough, thorny, dwarf
acacias, and Wiry rushes, which even
starving rat refuses. Although the cattle
are modern introduction, the numberless
indigenous rodents must have effectually
prevented the introduction of any other
species Of plants, large tracts are still honey
combed by the ubiquitous biscacho, gigan-
tic rabbit and numerous other rodents still
exist, including rats and mice, pampas
hares, and the great nutria and carpincho on
the river banks. That the dearth Of plants
is not due to the unsuitability of the SUBJ
tropical species of the neighboring zones
can not hold good with respect to the fer
tile valleys of the Andes beyond Mendoza,
where magnificent hardy fora is found.
Moreover, the extensive introduction OF
European plants which has taken place
throughout the country has added nothing
to the botany of the pampas beyond few
species unassailable by cattle, such as the
two species of thistle which are invading
struction by the fires which always accom-
pany the sccos.-LOndon Nature.
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CLERGYMEN's CLOTHEs.-It has been de-
cided by those who have been discussing the
sublime subject of clergymen's clothes, that
there is no authority whatever for the cler-
gy wearing the style of clothes they do.
Clergymen's clothes are sombre and solemn
looking, so much so that an assemblage OF
clergymen is dark and gloomy affair.
Their dress may be said to be the antithesis
of mourning paper, for while mourning pa
per is white edged with black, the clerical
suit is black edged with white. There can
be no denying that clergyman in the or
thOdOX dress is 4 melancholy looking lndl-
vidual, and his spasmodic efforts to be
cheerful are always held in check by the So
lemnity of his encasings. Why clergymen
should not dress like other people. we have
no means of knowing. The only reasonable
hypothesis is that they wear distinctive
dress in order that people who are given to
the use Of rash words may know when a
clergyman is present and may repress their
obiurations. Doctors are distinctive class,
and so are lawyers, but neither doctors nor
lawyers wear distinctive style Of dress.
| They dress pretty much like other people,
only in most cases not so well. You can tell
lawyers by the bags they carry on their
shoulders, and it is, therefore, hardly correct
to say that they are not labelled. But they
do not all dress precisely the same way, as
the clergymen do namely, with black trous-
ers, black frock coat, white collar and neck
tie and black top hat.-I0rOnto Telegram.
THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE BRAIN
Abundant proof has been adduced Of the
fact that the brain may be handled, -irrita-
ted or partially destroyed without necessa-
ry damage to life. One of the latest devel-
opments of this method ofinvestigation has
been the discovery of those centres in the
corteX which presides over voluntary mo-
ton, which have been, more especially by
Professor Ferrier, differentiated and localiz-
ed with great precision. This important
knowledge has been arrived at by an ex-
tended series of experiments conducted on
living animals, in which by observing the
several effects or destroying limited areas
of their brains, the different functions of
these localities have been determined. A
topography of the cerebrum has thus been
constructed, in which the various faculties
have been mapped Out.-Ndf,u'e.
SHAKESPEARE AND THE BIBLE.-ln no
respect is the varied universal play of Shak-
speare's genius, and his royal dominion
over all things human and divine, more full
ly shown than in the use he makes OF the
Bible. He treats the Scriptures as If they
DelOUSeu HILL. DlSllOp ih
his shakespeare and the Bible," finds in
the poet more than $50 Biblical quota
tions, illusions, references, and sentiments.
"Hamlet," alone, contains about 80, "Rich-
ard Ill.," nearly 80, "Henry V" and Rich
ard II about 40 each. Shakespeare quotes
from 81 of the Biblical books, and not one
of his 81 plays is without a scriptural refer
ence. Genesis furnishes the poet with 81
quotations or illusions, the Psalms with 81,
Proverbs with 35, Isaiah with q, Matthew
with CO. Luke with 33 and Romans %.
THE LARDER OF AN OCEAN STEAMSHIP.
Transatlantic passenger steamers ship
about 14,OOO pounds of fresh meat for each
trip, twenty tons of ice, l 400 pounds OF but
ter, and 5000 cigars. On vessel of 5000 tons
1000 napkins are used every trip, 1000
sheets, and 5000 towels. Different colors
are used on upholstery and furniture every
day, because of the reliefa change of scene
affords to persons who become seasick, and
also owing the additional freshness of the
atmosphere of the cabins thus obtained.
The steamer is newly painted on the out,
side from stem to stern every voyage, ana
to do this work, together with the repair
ing and cleaning Of upholstery, from 200 to
400 men are employed. The washing is all
done at the end of each voyage. In the
first cabin of a first-cass steamer there is
$40, 900 worth of silver ware.-N Y. Truth.
L. ~ fnxI in