The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1885-02-27
CURIOUS FACTS .

An English physician has been try
ing 10 count the hairs on the human
head. He quotes tho average number
Of hairs per square inch at lo66 and
estimates about $4,000 hairs for tho
entire head as q general rule.
The juice of the curious ink rlsnt Of
New Granada requires no preparation
before being used for writing. The
color Ia reddish when Grst applied to
paper, but soon becomes deep black,
which IL very durable. This ink Is
now used for public records and docu.
ments.
A tunnel nearly a mile long has been
found on the Island of Samos, built
centuries before the Christian era and
used TO supply the old seaport with
drinking water. Small pipes for the
water are laid in the tunnel, each open
on the upper side, so that II could be
4
cleaned.
The chrysanthemum--the national
flower Of Japanr-is honored every year
by a special imperial chrysanthemum
garden party in the palace grounds at
Akaaaka, which has recently been given
by the Mikado. The chrysanthemums
there are unequalled throughout the
world, and some of the plants display
from $40 to 430 fdlly developed
blossoms at time.
| A discovery has recently been made
at Hitchin, Herts, England, Of extern
slye remains Of Roman dwelling. It's
existence has loug been suspected from
the fact that coins, bricks and pottery
had been turned up by tho plow. Ex-
cavation revealed room with tesselat'
ed pavement, several coirs of the date
$40 A. D., with large quantity Of
broken pottery.
Far out at sea, along both the Gulf
and Atlantic coasts Of Florida, says the
Savannah (GA.) NeWs, are several
springs OF fresh water. They arc well
known to tho spongers and fishermen,
who frequently visit them to replenish
their water casks. Oa this same coast
Ii an oil spring, which difTases calm
over troubled waters, and affords safe
refuge 10 small vessels during . gale.
r 4 peculiar article produced by the
| negroes Of Georgia 10 called by them
. persimmon bread. Five pounds Of IL
! II 10 said, will make nearly barrel oI
: agreeable aud roL- L-intoxicating beer
I The persimmons are gathered wher
| thoroughly. ripe, the mAp is kneaded
' ill II 10 of the consistency Cf brsst
D dough, made into cake, and then pu
into an oven and baked. IL will keel
all winter, and can be usea until lat
In tbs spring.
The latest thing in clocks comes frou
fussiA. Il is little timepiece abou
eight inches high, on base Eve inche
> In diameter and covered with glas
globe. All the works are plainly ex
posed. The pendulum Is solid bras
D wheel, supported at tho centre, or hui
by slender wire. Ii does not swim
but revolves from lefs to right AN
right TO left. Being n 4000-dAy clocl
the winding Of il is small item.
d will not vary FIVE minutes in 400 day
: No temperature affects Il.
o There are In existence rather moI
: than forty Egyptian obelisks. OF tho
. England possesses z; America, /
: Germany, !; France, 2 Italy, In
oluding Rome, which has i2), II, an
. Cons.antinople, G .. The remainde
many Of which arc fallen or broken, ~
J still in Egypt The smalleAt Is Il
Lepsius obelisk 10 the Royal Museu
J ut Berlin, which is two feet inch'
. high. and weighs 200 pounds d
largest, unfinished, OF Assouap, still
oquarries at Syene,the estimated weigl
of which is more than i,5OO,O(
pounds,