The Washington critic., 1889-03-07
NATTER WORTH READING.
MaxweiI's Inrynx,

When the body of Hugh NJ. Brooks, who |
will always he known in criminal annals as
Maxwell, was cut down from the scalTod, In
the Jail yard, after the law had been avenged,
Il was carried into the Morgue, where a
post-mortem examination was held by DIS.
Leuty, Mulhall and Leslie When the pro-
fessoual gentlemen got through with their
work. what was left OF the body was en-
colmed and buried in Calvary Cemetery
where, no doubt, II still rests. An eXami
nation Of It would, however, reveal the ab
sence Of some very material features OF the
structure that was once animated by the
monstrous mind that could design and exc
cute such crime rs the Prcller murder.
The cervical vcrtebrU are In the possession
of one physician, and portions OF the VT Il
organs occupy prominent positions In pri-
yate anatomical collections.
II will he recalled that Maxwell was at
all times most inveterate cigarette
smoker. lie would roll and consume all
the way from 100 TO 200 cigarettes In day.
and when In funds would smoke very
strong and expensive Egyptian cigarette.
As fast az he smoked one lie replaced II
with another. He always inhaled the
smoke. Dr. Mulhall, curious to note the
effect of this constant, almost phenomenal,
consumption of tobacco upon the larynx
of this prince of cigarette flends, retained
that organ for q more careful examination
than the hasty post-mortem permitted. The
result was o great surprise to him. The
organ was not enlarged, irritated or dis
oased in any way, and with the exception
OF an unusual pinkness, was to all appear
ances as normal and healthy as that of q
person who had never used tobacco In any
form. The Doctor has the larynx pre-
served in alcohol.-[St. Louis Globe-Demo-
crat.
A Prize Conundrun.
Mr.. F. II. Davis Of the Fret National
Bank of this city is collector of antique
bric-a-brac in the shape of puzzles aud
conundrums. He received one yesterday
which lie considers especially rare aud
curious. WHAT said Mr.. Davis, with the
| CLEAN Of the enthusiast in his large blue
eyes-''what is II that Is better than God,
worse than the Devil, that kills live men
who eat II, and that Is forever eaten by the
dead ~ There was a subdued pause in the
bank The paying teller stopped rattling
his money and Mr.. Herman Kountze
scratched his head rehectively. "Nothing.''
said Mr.. Davis, trlumphantly- is the
answer Nothing '"-[omaha World.
He Called and They Came.
A aughable incident occurred in the bar
room of the Laclede Hotel yesterday. A
group of gentlemen, among whom was
Major John s. Mellon, were discussing the
strange disappearance Of CELSIUS Price and
| Sylvester Nidelet, and the conversation
drifted on to spiritualism. Major Mellon,
who has Investigated to the point of belief,
1 declared that he believed that he could
summon to communion the spirits Of de-
parted friends. Pending the discussion,
the party adjourned to the bafroom and
ranged themselves at the counter. There
were five Of them, and Major Mellon occu-.
| pied the left Of the line. Straight whisky
was ordered and the glasses set out. Major
Mellon had just said "Yes, gentlemen, l
nm satisfied that II / concentrate my
viii power and call upon spirits to ap-
proach ----"
At this juncture the barkeeper sat up the
bottle, which had been resting in boxof
pounded ice. Some particles of the ice
clung to the bottom of the bottle, and as IL
was set down on the highly polished bar It
took upon itself movement, and IN the
uncanniest manner slid clear along the bar
until it stopped directly in front of the
Major who, much astonished at tho unex-
pected success of his incantation jumped
back several feet in evident perturbation.
--[St. Louis Globe-D Democrat.
Everybody superstitious.
Everybody is superstitious to a greater
or less extent. Every man has superstl-
tion OF some sort, though they will not
own it. One of the most common of the
petty superstitions is involved in the
answering Of invitations Some men do
not hesitate to write positively that they
will be there, but the great majority modify
this by saying, "God wiling or "if
nothing happens,'' or something of the
sort. These men firmly believe in the old
saying that "Man proposes and God dis
poses," and they are taking no chances.
Those who have occasion to receive re-
sponses to invitations will notice that these
''cautionary signals prevail
The Weather and the DEATH Rate
The Medical Record is showing how the
number Of deaths depends ON the severity
T of the weather. For instance, in 1888,
which was noted for the weathers great Sc.
verify, during the first three months the
death-rate was exceptionally high. Other
figures are given to prove the proposition,
Commenting ON them, the Herald says
at is evident that In the climate Of these
latitudes we have much to learn from pre-
ventive medicine and its precautions against
diseases due TO atmospherical changes.
Just now the most important OF these to
provide against are the pulmonary troubles,
which are likely to increase in fatality,
especially among people of advanced age,
during the turn Of the season."
How to Handle Dogs.
The way to get acquainted with dog
says O,T Dumb Animais, is this: "Put out
your hand easily and confidently to the dog
so that he may smell 1t, Put IL to his
nose. II he shifts Mt II and wags his tail, OF
otherwise shows fricndliness, then you may
speak to him and pat him ON the head Il
you like, and, perhaps, use other familiari
ties; but If, when you offer your hand, tn,
dog remains sullen and passive, the soone
you take away your hand the better
Never approach strange dog with either
timidity or menace; but, as we have said
the best way Is to let all strange dogs alone
and get any desired information abou
them from those who have the honor o.
their personal friendship
Checking Babies.
Checking babies at balls Is the lates
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