The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-05-03
NOTES AND COMMENTS.


oped by DIR. Francis Bowling in Il paper
on "Thc Causes and Treatment of Deaf
ness" He states that between the ages
of 10 and 40 at least one person in three
is subject to deafness. The great major
ity of cases of impaired hearing date from
childhood and its diseases. Another
prolific cause was colds and carclcsSncSs
in bathing. At least Onc-liflh of the
cases coming under treatment are hcredi-
tary, and are largely owing to too close
conSanguinity of the parents. Deafness
Is more prevalent among males than
among females. owing 10 the fact that the
male is more exposed to the viciSSiludeS
of climate. There is much more deafness
in America than in Europe, and this DR..
Downing attributes to more general use
of scientific instruments, such rs tele
phones, where one ear Is used to the OK
clu,ion of the other. lie cited number
ofcascs where he had examined telephone
operators, and he generally found the
right ear the weaker organ. as it WAS used
almost entirely in telephone communica-
ton. The remedy lie advocates is to
either have two audiphoncs or to use the
ears alternately at the same phone.
EVEN the Congo hippopotamus, says
the New York sun, declines to be for
ever made game Of without protest.
Herbert Ward tells how he used to pad
die out into the stream in an old dugout
and shoot hippopotami without the
slightest thought of danger. But the
fact that very bad-tempcred animal re-
Gently attacked a boat full of Europeans
and actually killed three of them before
they could get ashore, reveals new posi-
bilities in the way of hippOpotamus hunt
inc. Hippopotamus steaks have in times
past given rather tough variety to the
European bill Of fare at Stanley Pool In
fact, the Pool has been sort of tluvial
stock yards for the supply of meat to the
white invaders of the country. The hip
popotamus Will probably be treated with
more respect for while TO come
VITAL statistics Of Norway. recently
published, show an expectation of life
in that country that can hardly be paral-
lcled in any other country The mean
duration of life is 1888 years for males.
and 5l.30 years for females. In England
the mean duration of life is 41.35 years
for males and 44.62 years for females. In
other words Il Norwegian. at his birth,
may reasonably expect to live seven years
longer than an Englshman But of
course an Englishman would reply to
this that Il short life in the tight little
isle is more desirable than long life in
Norway, in the spirit of the line Better
fifty years of Europe than a cycle of
Cathay."
THE New York Critic is authority for
the statement that Mr.. Talmage, if he
needs quotation in the midst of writing
a sermon, seizes the volume that contains
it and tears out the desired page with
ruthless hand. Then, taking his shears,
he cuts out the particular passage he
needs, and FASTING it on his manuscript
page, losses the book aside. There is
scarcely book in his library that is not
so mutilated. but what do YOU do
when you want to refer to such a passage
again." reporter asked him. II
never want to refer to it again." he
answered sententiously. "When | have
used it once, | have done with it for
good"
THE largest supply of human hair
comes from Switzerland and Germany,
and especially from the French provinces
The country fairs are attended by agents
of merchants in London, Paris and
Vienna. Only at intervals, however, is a
prize like apcrfect suit of golden hair OBJ
tanned; and it is said that there are orders
ahead in the shops of Paris and London
for all the golden hair that can be OBJ
tanned in the next five years. When
stock of hair is collected by agents, it is
assorted, washed and cleaned. Then
each hair is drawn through the eye of a
needle and polished.
An exhibition of unusual interest will
be opened in London in few weeks. Its
field will cover the whole of Africa be.
tween the tropics, and its purpose is to
illustrate rs far rs possible the character
istic phases of Central African life and
scenery, the history of its exploration,
and the growth of civilization and CO N
merce.
PROPERTY of Dom Pedro, the ex-Em-
peror Of Brazil, consisting of Jewels,
plate, etc, has been appraised at So, $780,
900, and deposited with the Treasurer of
the Republic, who will hold it subject to
the wishes Of the owner Other effects
Of the ex-Emperor are valued at $780,
900.