Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-19

somewhere, undoubtedly at the summit.
Using my trowel, which 1 always car
ried on my botanizing expeditions, I
enlarged the hole. and then pushed my
way up through the passage.
When had nearly reached the top
looked out cautiously to see if should
emerge within reach of that dinbolical
tree. But | found it nowhere near the
aperture, so | sprung out.
| was just in time to see the lattened
carcass of the bird drop to the ground,
which was covered with bones and
feathers. / approached as closely as T
dared and examined the tree.
1t was low in size, not more than
twenty feet high, but covering u great
area. Its trunk was of prodigiOus thicls-
ness, knotted and scaly.
From the top Of this trunk, few feet
from the ground, it's Shiny branches
curved upward and downward, nearly
touching the ground with their taper
ing tips.
Ifs appearance was that OF gigantic
tarantula awaiting its prey.
On my venturing to lightly touch one
of the limbs, it closed upon my hand
with such force that when | tore 1t
loose the skin came with it. ] de-
scended then and closing the passage
returned. | went back next day carry-
ing half a dozen chickens with which TO
feed the tree.
The moment I tossed in the fowls n
violent agitation shook its branches,
which swayed to and fro with sinuous,
snaky motion.
After devouring the fowls, these
branches fully gorged, dropped to their
former position, and, the tree giving no
sign of animation, | dared approach it
and take the limbs in my hand.
They were covered with suckers, re-
sembling the tentacles of an octopus.
The blood OF the fowls had been ab-
sorbed by these suckers, leaving
crimson stains on the dark surface.
There was no foliage, Of course of any
kind. Without speaking OF my dis
covery to any one about, / wrote nm ac-
count of it to the world-famous botanist,
Prof. Wordenhaupt, of the university
of Heidelberg.
His reply states that my tree is the
Arbor Diaboli, only two specimens 0!
which have ever been known-one on
peak of the Himalayas and the other ON
the island OF Sumatra. Mine is The
third.
Prof. Word4nhaupt says that the
Arbor Diaboli and the plant known as
Venus fy-trap are the. only known
specimens, growing on land, of those
forms OF life which partake of tho na-
ture OF both the animal and the vege-
table Kingdoms, although there are In
stances too numerous to mention found
OF this class in the sea.
The Portuguese man-of-war may be
mentioned, however, as one, ana tho
sponge as the best known specimen Of
this class.
The career of Robert Elsmere" ended
ingloriously, at the Union Square theatep.
There is poetic justice in its ignominious
failure, and no one concerned In the repre-
sentation Is entitled To the least commisera-
tiOn, except the luckess actors who were
called upon TO act in it.
A new opera, "Don Manuel by Richard
Henberger, has Just been performed with
much success at the Leipsic Stadt theater.
The composer Is thoroughgong disciple 0f
Richard Wagner, and his present work 10
said 10 be constructed musically somewhat
on the lines Of "Tristan and Isolde"
Persons advanced in years feel
younger and stronger, as we'll as freer,
from the inirmities OF age, by taking
DR.. j. III. McLean's Sarsaparilla.
Paste This Somewh ere on Your Desk
The most unconscionable thief is he
who steals busy mans time, says the
Boston Times for, minutes st0len can
never be reclaimed.