The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-03-24

actually throttled it the other day-a
majority reporting against any such
bill. This majority was made up of
members who live long ways off, and
they had no reason to give for oppo-
Sitlon. Of course the real reason was
that they objected to surrender their
passes. The issue will no doubt be
kicked about until the end of the ses
sion, when the party leaders will have
conference in Madison and remind the
solons Of the party pledge and order
legislation to meet the same.
Lawmakers Watch Electric Wonders.
At nearly every session it is the Gus
tom to take the legislature in carriages
to visit the university. This year there
was the usual inspection in all depart
ments of the university. A number of
professors are sandwiched in to inform
and interest the legislators, and for this
delicate work the pure scholastics are
side-tracked and matter-of-fact pro-
fessors like Henry Of the farm school,
Alderman Schlicter Professor Olson of
the Scandinavian department, and
Storm Bull are utilized. The agricul-
tural school and the engineering rooms
interest the visitors most, some of
d
fore.
In a darkened room professor in
physics, who is a natural wizard, per-
formed experiments for the solons and
exhibited the kaleidoscope, that marvel
Gus machine which reflects action and
motion. One of the most popular views
he threw on the screen was a skirt
dance. In the electrical room a crowd
watched balls and cylinders on a fiat
table. They whirled with rapidity of
thousands of revolutions minute with
absolutely no power in sight. 1t seemed
like magic, The table was four inches
thick, but underneath this was COM
blned magnetism and electric current,
and in response the balls whirled like
mad.
A machine that always impresses Wis.,
itOrS is in the mechanical engineering
rooms. 1t is designed to show the need
of accuracy in fitting the parts of ma
chinery. Two great steel surface plates
are pressed together and the line of
junction held to the light. 1t appears
as one unbroken piece, SO perfect is the
joining. Then human hair is laid be-
tween the plates. Notwithstanding the
enormous weight, the hair keeps the
plates apart, and a thin line of light
shows the gap of separation. That
hair was not more than two or three
thousandths of an inch thick; but it
was matter. and science knows that
matter is indestructible.
Blind Musicians Delight the Insane.
took an evening at the Mendoza asy-
lum the other night, the occasion being
a concert by the orchestra from the
blind asylum at GAINESVILLE. 1t was q
company of fifteen, including a blind
girl, Anna Bradt of Oshkosh, who sang
better than many church soloist I'M
der pay. The boys sat on the platform
of the new hall, which was crowded
with $50 people, inmates, attendants
and visitors. The patients were as quiet
as any church congregation. Some
times there is 'fit' or frenzy to break
the good order, but there was none that
night. 1t is the rule to have the exer-
cises cheerful. Tragic acting or pas
sionate, pathetic music too long drawn
out excites the patients. They enjoyed
the music wonderfully, laughed heart
lily at the funny songs and applauded
everything.
The blind boys are not all blind. Very
tell day from night. Some can see OBJ
jects near their feet or in certain line
of vision One IF the boys while play
ing an instrumental solo got too near
the footlights and stepped off, We all
expected a catastrophe. But he knew
what was happening, put his foot out
and was soon Ginning back to the stage
as lively as a boy who could see.
Of bo To nj
ticipated. He was a tall boy with a fine
face, of Whitewater, son of whom
any one might feel proud. A pretty girl
from the western part of the state
captured the young fellow and went
floating about the hall on his shoulder
as proud as a sprig of royalty, while
everybody marvelled.
Sang Love Songs.
The music by the orchestra was un-
questionably very good. The boys have
a good deal of time to practice together.
They sang and the love songs that told
of ''Nelly's blue eyes," and all that sort
Of thing were especially sad, because
they themselves can never know the
beauty that lies in woman's eyes. In
fact, at these blind schools love mat
tiers are kept in the background, the
theory being that it is better if the mat
rimonial fever never strikes these un-
fortunates. This is not so much
through dread of heredity, for there
is very little descent of the affection
but blind women are helpless as moth
ers, and the problem of livelihood for
the blind is difficult one at best.
The musicians made a tour Of the
state institutions, accompanied by Su-
perintendent and Mrs. Bliss, who are
kindness ITSELF and their music teacher,
an Ohio girl who has been at the in
stitution for a dozen years.
Proposed Change in Harvey's Plan.
There is no denying that Superin-
tendent Harvey's school reform plan
does not move forward as he expected
1t was a radical departure, and new
things always move slowly. The pa
pers over the state have opposed it.
many of them not understanding it.
Some Of them still think Harvey is him
self to appoint all county superinten-
dents. There is a dread of surrendering
anv of the "pOWerS of the Deople -