The news boy., 1894-09-29


mindtM Vhmf"-The Scriptures.
(Continued.
Only drop of water. Not, how
ever, of pure water. That is pop
ular mistake. Water fresh from the
clouds or from the virgin spring con-
tains no living organisms. Exposure
to the air for greater or less length
of time will develop such, but they
are not an inherent part of pure
water. The water under observa-
tion has been exposed sufficiently
long to have acquired and developed
large variety of life, which life has
been fostered by accidental deposits
of vegetable and othermatter. True,
it looks perfectly clear to the eye,
and may be quite healthful to drink
is, indeed, drank every day by ami
mails and even men without evil re-
sulting.
1t is certainly fortunate forus that
cur eyes are comparatively clumsy.
We're it otherwise, and could we see
with them what the glass makes so
plain, we would certainly avoid a
great many things of which We now
make constant and healthful use
eel infested vinegar, for example.
Even the vegetable matter in our
drinking water has formidable look
under the microscope. 1t has infin-
ite beauty. also. and is in itself q
deli ghtful study. The green ooze on
stagnant water resolves itself under
the glass into an exquisite plant, and
the many links between the animal
and vegetable Kingdoms known as
diatoms are all of them things of
beauty. Beginning life as animals,
some of these diatoms gradually be.
come vegetables. and their transfor-
nations can be noted from stage to
stage.
Your drop of water, then, is a min
iature pond. Its margins are just
like the shallow parts of any body of
water. Your actual range of vision
could be covered by a small pea, but
seems to extend over space some
three inches in diameter. The water
under observation may come from
the sloughs, the mill pond or the rain
water barrel. 1t is, to all appear
ance, perfectly fresh and sweet, but
it is crowded with life. 1t is safe to
say that in many cases the drop of
water which fell from a pins point
contains hundreds of thousands of
living, sentient beings, each of them
endowed with the instincts of self
protection, self sustenance and self
propagation, and each fulfilling its
appointed mission in the economy oi
nature. Hither and thither they
rush with ceaseless motion. They
are of all sizes, from the merest
specks to creatures of seeming
length of two inches. Take this fel.
low, shaped somewhat like a bean
He is rapid and apparently aimless
in his movements. He swims BY
means of innumerable tiny hairs ar
ranged around his body. That body
is almost transparent. Follow him
out to the margin of the little pond
and as likely as not when he gets il
the shallow water he will fall Il
pieces and these pieces will dart of
independently and set up in life OF
their own account. Here is q littl,
fellow like pins head with a poin
above and another below it. He look.
exactly like sea-buoy and has very
much the rocking motion of that ma
rine implement. And here comes ;
veritable screw propeller perfec
propeller, accomplishing its motion
by the same means as does an oceal
steamer. Right in his center he ha'
a square opening, evidently intendet
to lessen the resistance of the water
Many others of these infusoria swim
on the propelIer principle, but this
one in particular is the propeller
blade complete on small scale
Considering that we have hsd tn
microscope in science SO long, it i
strange that the screw principle wa
not adapted from these creatures in
stead OF from the less obvious mode
. in a fish's tail.
! Here is wriggiing green eel. III
seems to be about three inches long
and he seems TO live only to wriggle
He is evidently unhappy in the clea'