Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-01-07
in such p0s.s as New York and bsln.

| 10 the uStOulsnment OF the natives, WHO
were at first inclined to regard II as a
new species In the animal kingdom.
They have now decided that 1t can be
nothing less than wltchcraft which
keeps the thing upright with a white
man astride 1t; and the wonder Is what
the European brother. will do now. 1t
was only nineteen years ago, declares
the New York Sun. that the Bangala
OF the Upper Congo saw n sight that
surprised them even more than the
bicycle OF to-day. 1t was Stanleys
fotilla of canoes floating down the
river, n goodly fleet, led by two pale
faces, with plenty of black oarsmen.
showing no Sans of hostile intent and
| doubtless wei adapted for culinary
purposes. SO the Bangala sailed forth
and gave Stanley the hardest fight he
had to make in all his journey across
Africa. Along the shore overlooking
the scene of that running battle the
BICYCLE wends its peaceful way now;
for thus far Ii has attained in its
journey into Africa. II It's tire Is OF
the solid rubber variety, there seems to
| be no good reason why 1t should not
follow almost anywhere in the foot
steps ofethe explorers, and help to con-
qucr the Dark Continent.
The seml-centcnnial Of anaesthesia
In surgery is just completed. That
blessing to humanity was the discov-
cry Of an American dentist. DR.. VIII
liam +. q. Morton Of Boston. He had
experimental in several things =
opium, alcohol. nitrous oxide and mag
netlsm-for the purpose OF deadening
pain In the dental chair, ana at last
took up sulphurc ether. He tried 1t
on animals and on himself,and became
assured OF its safety. Next lie needed
patient who would run the risk. and
one at length came-a man suffering
with a raging tooth. and who begged
to be mesmerized during the operation.
The ether proved equal to the occas-
ion, and the most bepeficent discovery
science has yet made was given to the
world. DR.. Merton ut once reasoned
that If this new agent deadened pain
in the dental chair it would have the
same effect on the surgeons table, ana
he accordingly communicated his dis
covery to Dr. Warren of the Massaclu-
sets General Hospital. There in the
latter part of 1916. he administered the
ether with the Same success TO n patient
undergoing a severe surgical operation
After that event the great discovery
spread throughout the civilized world,
and the new era in surgery under
which we have the happiness to live
was inaugurated.
In Cow Island, La, where the ALI
gator abouhds, the tame villatic hen
Of a lady residing there has just hatch
ed out several of the reptiles along with
her own brood. The most curious
thing about the incident is that the
young saurians discern nothing irreg-
ular in their parentage and follow the
mother hen around in company with
her chicks apparently in entire content
ment with their lot. The Indifference
Of the placid domestic fowl as to what
the eggs beneath il bring forth has
long engaged the attention of natural
lists, who finally ascribe IL to the nat
ural composure of the creature, which
is more concerned for its own tran
quillity and peace of mind than for the
official regularity of its posterity. 1t
brings up brood of turkeylets or mus
covy dncklings with the same care
that it bestows on the fluffy chicks or
its own breed, which ii Is natural TO
suppose that it contracted for. How
it may be for the nursing saurians or
Cow Island is another matter, but
there is no reason TO suppose that the
hen will fail in any reasonable point OF
duty toward them. Cow Island now
ought to produce the tale of an ALI
gator Matching out and nursing to
maturity q brood of buff cOchins or
Plymouth Rocks. 1t would be equally
interesting and ;tmost as plausible.
People often write to Queen Vic
toria asking her to lend them small
sums, and promising to repay her in
insoalments. Sometimes they write
saying they are unable TO pay her
taxes, and trusting she will allow the
account to stand over bit. The pres
ents the Queen receives by post form
CuIlOuS NOiiNNNiOhs NY CIV 'h'eaA
ably returned. Poets send her poems;
tradesmen specimens of their wares;
ladies. mlttens, stockings and other
articles OF attire worked by them
selves. When any member of the
household is Ill medicines pour in from
all parts Of the world, and ut Christ
mas the Queen is the recipient Of some
hupdradc NJ Christmas cards many of
them of the most expensive nature.
Here is a marvel in the history OF
the construction of public buildings:
The report of Barnard II. Green, in
charge Of the construction of the Con:
gressional Library, in Washington,
shows that the total cost will be less
by $4,000 than the limit fixed by
Congress. The average political con-
structor will possibly look upon this
as lost opportunity. For years the
Capitol building at Hartford, Conn.,,
had been pointed out TO travellers over
the New York. New Haven and Hart
ford Railroad as one Of the wonders of
modern times because Ii had been
erected well within the limits of the
original appropriation. For this rea-
son. without referring to any of an
architectural character, the building
was wholly unique. Now Connect
cuts Capitol seems to have lost its
principal reason for distinction. The
Congressional Library Is unique in an
other direction. A published des-
cription of the building reminds one
nf haf xvhn otnnnin0 fnfn