Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-11-25
DCINE LODGE, KANSAS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER Is 1891
GENERAL.

The speed made by the carrier pi-
geons shows what an advantage man
would possess if he could attain the
same facility of motion in the air which
he now has on land and water The
more easily men move about, other
things being equal, the more civilized
they become.
One day Mrs. w. S. Wallace, of
Butler, Fla, decided to tear up and
renovate an old pin-cushion that she
first made over thirty years ago.
1t had on it nine coverings, that had
been put there from time to time.
From the inside of the pin-cushion she
got ninety whole needles, besides sew
eral broken ones and number of pins.
The Xeorobates Agassizii, the
grass-eating turtle of the Moiave des-
ert, is sad to be the only one of the
turtle species which lives by grazing
like horse or an OK. Xerobates digs
hole in the sand to escape the intense
heat: is about ten inches in length
when full grown, and weighs from six
to eight pounds. Coast dealers in curl
osities value them at five dollars each.
"A young woman belonging in Swan
vile, Waldo county, Me-, who taught
school at Mason's Mills the past term,
deserves credit for being a hustler. On
Saturday last, after closing a success
full term of school, she led flag rais-
ing, directed concert, presided at a
picnic, for which she did most of the
cooking, and then, taking her twin
babies, which she had left in care of
her boarding mistress during the festiv-
tiles, trudged home.
"A new machine for taking the con-
tour CT country in short time is in
course of construction. 1t is a bicycle
which is simply wheeled on the ground,
and which, as it rises over hill or de-
scends into hollow, traces the curve
OF the surface on sheet of paper by
means of an adjusted pencil The
theory OF the machine is too mathemat-
ical to enter into; but engineers in try-
ing climates will be glad to avail them
selves of an instrument so convenient.
"A strange metamorphosis in the
heavens was visible at Wassamoneta.
O., the other evening. An immense
cylinder cloud, overlooking from west
to east and travelling with great rapidi-
ty, passed over the town in the same
direction. 1t was black and gray in
color and as it revolved it's coIors
changed. What it was no one seems to
know, but it attracted hundreds into
the streets and housetops, who watched
it until it disappeared in the western
heavens.
TO make something that looks like
gold: Take 100 parts (by weight) of
pure copper, IL parts zinc or tin, 6 parts
magnesia, SO parts sal-ammoniac, 1s
parts quicklime, 9 parts cream of tar
tar Melt the copper, and add gradual
ly the magnesia, sal-ammoniac, quick
lime and cream of tartar, each by itself.
in the form of powder. Stir the whole
for half an hour, add the zinc or tin in
small pieces, and stir again till the
whole is melted. Cover the crucible.
and keep the mixture in a molten con-
dition for thirty-fve minutes. Remove
the dross and pour the metal into
molds. 1t has fine grain, is malleable
and does not easily tarnish.
The tanning of elephant hides is
comparatively new industry, accord
ing to the Boston Journal of Commerce.
The method employed is practically the
same as in the tanning of COW hide, ex-
cept that stronger com bination of the
tannic ingredients is required, and
greater length of time = about six
months-is necessary to perform the
work. When the hide is taken out of
the vat it is an inoh and a half thick.
Among the articles made of elephant
leather are pocket-books, small satch-
els, clgar-cases, and similar articles
and they are said to be expensive luxu-
ries. In finishing the hide, no attempt
is made to glaze or polish it, every
thing being done to preserve its natural
color and appearance. The leather is
very enduring, several years wear hav-
Ing but little effect upon It.