The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-01-16
MISCELLANEOUS.

n butcher bird dropped II at Yreka,
Cal, the other day, and snapped OF tho
heads Of ten canaries, hanging In their
cagos In the sunshine. before the alarm
was raised.
"A Buffalo husband, whose wife In.
variably winters nfty cents worth Of
scraggy Reraniums ct the cost OF s16
worth OF coal, has asked for commis-
sion Of doctors to pronounce on her
sanity.
Late experiments would seem to re-
fute the theory that France is warmed
by the Gulf Stream. as in summer no
surface currents reach that country from
tho southwest. but there arc currents
from west and northwest.
Some experiments were made re-
:ently by the Northern Pacific car
builders at Tacoma to test the strength
Of the fr and oak timber. The drst-
named proved one-third stronger than
halt stronger than eastern whito pine.
Tho turnkey OF the Peoria jail has
,ure for delirium tremens, says the
Medical World. He rubs the patient
with capsicum, and in the enthusiasm
and singleness Of purpose with which
the latter scratches himself he has no
time to think Of snakes. One day Of this
treatment is sufficient for any ordinary
Ease.
A Dubuque, Ia, man invented IN
arrangement by which runaway horse
could be detached from buggy, and be-
fore Offering 1t to the public he decided
to give 1t personal trial. He procured
, vicious horse, encouraged him to get
up and dust, and then pulled the lever.
It didn't work, and he was flung into
the ditch and had his neck broken.
A Honolulu paper thus describes
,urious substance thrown OF by the mol
ten lava and found close to the lakes Of
Ore at the volcano: 1T clings to the ad-
joining rocks in fber-like threads Of .
haxen color and has the appearance Of
human hair; but mixed with it are sharp
particles Of black lava. Considering
that this substance is . mineral produc-
tion It is wonderfully flexible and tough
bending easily but not ductile in its
present state Or capable Of being
heightened. It is peculiar to this vol
cano, and is certainly singular produce
ton"
"A physician has discovered that
color blindness is very rare among girls,
though 1t is common among boys. From
this fact he draws the conclusion that in
most cases color blindness Is due to
want Of early education in discriminate
ing colors. Girls are taught to become
familiar with every shade Of color, while
boys receive no instruction whatever on
the subject. Hence, boys frequently ex-
hibit an ignorance in colors which Is
:onfonnded with true color blindness,
but which girls rarely show.
| "A now use Of the phonograph has
been discovered. A teacher of lam
guages. whDse admirable accent has
brought him many pupils, resorts to the
| phonograph wherever he finds 1t as an
assistant tutor. For instance, he will
talk slowly in Partisan French . page
Of some good author In that tongue into
the phonograph, and instructs his pupil
to read tho passage aloud, while the
phonograph prompts him with the
proper pronunciation. After the tutor
has retired the lesson remains intact
upon the cylinder Of the phonograph
ready for further use. It can be seen
how considerable the phonograph aid ID
in this regard.
1t has always puzzled us to know
why Mohammed hesitated about going
to the Mountain, expecting the Noun
tain to come to him. It wouldn't have
cost him cent to stay at the Mountain
as long as he wanted. The Mountain
House would have been glad to dead
head him, giving him the best suite Of
rooms they had. His sarrival would have
been chronicled in the daily papers, pco-
pie would have focked to the Mountain
to see him, and he would have been a
big card. He was sometimes called the
''falsc prophet" but he would have been
q real profit to the house where he put
up. We are satisfied that in refusing to
60 to the Mountain Mohammed. whose
system needed bracing up, anyhow. lost
one Of the greatest opportunities Of his
life.-Texas SiftinSs.