The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-11-03
THE STUDY OF licAENs.
A Delightful Branch of Science with Whic
b.. TO Become Acquainted.

A Delightful Branch of Science with Which
Il Becom Acquainted.
They are a difficult branch to study,
for the descriptions are shrouded in a
mysterious language that needs an I'M
abridged dictionary to translate it, and
a good microscope is necessary If n
wishes to examine their internal struc-
ture and spores. But they are a delight
full and easy branch of science to be-
come acquainted with by observation.
They are to be found all the year
round OH stones and fence rails and on
trees. They are easy to mount and arc
SO fascinatingly ugly or beautiful that
they make an interesting collection. In
almost any wild bit of country there
are from so toto kinds to be found, and
even in the most civilized place, at ones
own hearth, there are sure to be seven
or eight species growing ON the sticks OF
wood laid for the fire. They are so like
and yet unlike that they sharpen the
pcvors of comparison and observation
until one feels that the keen bladed
knife and pocket lens, which are con-
slant companions in a lichcn ramble,
are dull compared with ones own
bright mind. ..n. ~ ~.a-.
Lichens-and, by tho way, they are
pronounced li-kens, not litch-ens-grow
in three ways, which can be easily dis
tinguished at q glance. There are crus-
taceous lichens that grow close to a stone
or bark and have no leafy part, but are
| simply a few warts or dots on q. stain.
| There are foliaceous lichens that lie fiat.
They are green or brown O yellow
leathery plants that are something like
leaves, and that have brown Oh red or
pink disks On them, and there are Fruit
cose lichens that grow upright like lit
tie shrubby bushes, with bright COL
ored knobs. go .~.,., .-... ii
Go to any birch tree, and there will
be seen within q stained circle some Gu.
! rious little black marks like elfn hero
glyphs. They r the fruit spots of a
| common lichen called, very appropriate
ly. Graphis scripta. Almost amy tree
one visits will have some irregular cir
cular stains upon it, especially. il the
bark is quite smooth, and in the center
there will be some brown or black or
white specks. IL is easy to collect such
-crustaceous lichens by slicing off a thin
strip of the bark, large enough to show
the outline of the stain, and by writing
the name of the tree from which it was
| taken on the bark, but it is quite a diff
ferent matter when one sits down beside
a bowlder New York Independent.
SENATOR VANCE MET THE ISSUE.
But the Reporter Failed to Get q Big
SCOOP All the Same.
ST once had an experience, !" said an
old newspaper man at the Press club to
q reporter, with the late Senator
Vance which I shall never forget. Tt was
during Crisp's first contest for the speak
ership, and, as You all probably remem-
ben, every newspaper man i'll town was
hustling for inside news. The sources
Of this, as usual in such cases, were very
few, and Senator Vance, who was act
ing in the capacity of an advisor to the
nominating caucus, had to spend most
of his time lodging Journalists.
$50 wary did he become that he dis
continued taking his lunch in the senate
restaurant and had it served in O com
mittee room. One day, however,
caught q glimpse of him passing through
one of the lower corridors ON the house
side. Determined not to let him escape
me, I at once FASTENED forward, and In
the most innocent manner possible be.
gan asking him about his health, which
was rather bad at the time. He answer.
ed all my questions In the kindest
manner possible and was about to leave
when ] said:
oh, by the way, senator, who dc
you think will get the nomination?
don't know exactly, he replied,
but they viii have to fighti il they want
TO win.
Certain now OF my information, ]
began TO see the letter / was going to re-
Ceive from the home office, after they
had published my big scoop, telling me
III the most fiattering terms that the
paper hsd decided ia raise my salary on
~account 0f my good work.
Which eide, ~s6natur?' i asked, al
Lnaogt In whisper Tor fear some one
would be lurking IN the dark recessee
and hear the reply which was TO make
me the most noted hustler for news in
the ranksso III Journalism.
Both sides. he replied as he disap.
peared In the door .o1 acoanmitteerooan
And the letter chat I looked FOR
' came. 1-Washinuton Times.