The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-02
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

Few people carry the head erect;
that is TO say, perfectly balanced on
the end of the spine. like the end OF a
walking-stiek. 1t is always leaned to
one side or the other.
Missouri copper mines that have
been idle for two or three years are be-
ing operated. and valuable bodies OF
ore are being opened up. Foreign
capital has recently taken hold OF
several neglected mines.
The higher of the two peaks OF
Kilimanjaro, the Hottest mountain in
Africa, has just been assembled by DR..
A. Meyer. of Leipsic, who places its
height at nearly 10000 feet
The hypothesis has lately been adj
vanced that if sounds do not actually
possess colors, that sound is at least in
timately connected with color: and this
idea is supported by the fact that
there are persons who are endowed
with such sensibil;ty that they can not
hear sound without at the same time
perceiving colOrs."
"A noted archeologist who has been
exploring the ruins of Uxmal, Yucatan,
claims to have discovered the remains
of three dead cities, the vestige of the
first being many feet down, on the
same site. The relics indicate civiliza-
ton much superior to that of the pres
ent day, and that the city must have
fourished twenty thousand years ago.
Prof. Sachs, the great German bot
anist. has discovered that the ultra vio-
let and invisible rays of the solar spec
trum especially promote the develop
ment of flowers, the growth OF which
is exceedingly feeble when the rays are
suppressed, although that OF the other
PARTS of the plant is very luxuriant- -
Public Opinion.
Are Shooting-stars ever the cause
of mysterious fires? This question is
suggested by Mons. Charles V. Zenger,
of the Paris Academy of Sciences. who
thinks that forests. and even buildings.
may have been set on fire by burning
metcors. Investigation shows that
many fires, the origin of which could
not be explained, have occurred at the
seasons of periodical showers of shoot
ing-S.ars.
-Starish have done great damage
this year to the oySter-beds of Fair Ha-
ven, Conn. Some entire beds, valued
at $40, 900 each, have been destroyed,
and it is estimated that 100000 worth
of damage has been done. To meet the
undoubted demand for something to
destroy the stariish. Yankee has in
vented dredge which takes the star
fish and leaves the oysters, and several
owners of beds are using it.
Magnesium, the metal which pro-
duces such an intensely bright light
while burning, anil which has been
most generally used in ri5bon-shaped
STRIP is now being made use of for the
purposes instantaneous photography.
For this magnesium powder is now
manufactured. which, when ignited by
the electric spark, makes a brilliant
and instantaneous flash. The subject
having been posed and the camera ar
ranged. the powder is ignited, and an
instantaneous photograph is the result,
The scant crop of potatoes this las'
year suggests the inquiry whether we
do not depend more upon this article
of diet than its nutritive value warrants.
We are apt to think it indispensable il
some form. at least at breakfast and
dinner. and yet the ratio of caIbonace-
Gus or heat-producing matter it con.
tains is nearly twice rs greatin proper
ton to the heterogeneous matter rs il
should be to constitute a perfectly
! healthful food.