Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
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snail and Is found on the oeach OF MO
bile bay" observed a naturalist to the
writer da, OF two ago These shells are
about ora-haIf Of an inch in diameter. and
when they are thoroughly dry they Will
II dr.ppad on any hard substance, such as
a table or Il floor explode with a noise as
sharp rs a pistol Wishing to know what
caused the explosion in these shells. l one
dav last summer examined several speci-
mems and found the mouth Of each firmly
closed nv a membrane of greater or less
thickness. formed by the drying of the ami
mai slime. l also discovered that the eX-
plo<ive condition of these shells occurred
soon after removal from the moisture OF
the beach when the little inhabitants of the
shells had died and the gases Of decompo-
sirion had quite filled their internal space.
ON -xerting a little pressure by squeezing
one Of the shells between two blocks of
wood quite loud explosion was produced.
and fragments Of the shell were thrown
several feet in all directions Subsequently.
on trying the experiment with n dozen
shells only one Of the number failed to eN-
pInTe- The condition most favorable to
success in making the experiment seems 10
be removal from the beach in very hot,
dry weather. which causes the slime to he
eXuded in greater quantity than usual and
dries it up rapidly as it exudes.
=
Did You ever observe the different evil
dences of cordially among the bon wants
OF the southern states. when they come TO
drink ones health in a bar room or at
dinner table," asked well-known
Georgia politician of party of friends
yesterday as he pulled away at a good
cigar and leaned back in a chair rather
IaziIy-
Nobody had observed them.
We'll, the Kentuckian says as he lifts
the straight whisky to his lips: Here's at
you. my boy. and his companion. nodding.
replies: Drink hearty. and the drinks go
down The Texan pours out his liquor
and says. carelessly but politely withal,
MY kiudest.' and the other fellows say,
same here and they drink
The Georgian stands and talks a mo-
nlent before taking up the bottle and talks
all the time. scarcely noticing his action
as he pourS out the rye and calls for apoii-
naris. Then he stands and talks moment
longer. for Cieorgians. you know, are never
In Il hurry. When finally he comes to think
about the drinks he lifts his glass and
says: Well. here goes. chap! The other
fellow replies: Let 'er 60 and she goes on
the spot. The man from Louisiana, partic-
Ularly II he comes from New Orleans.
says in nervous little SpaSm of cOrdiality:
Long life To you, and his companion from
LOUISIANA, too, answers with characteristic
Wit, Send it south. send ii south and
south she goes
The V:rginian calls for mint juleps. and
while You arr making them give US little
whisky straight Taking up the glass he
bows his head after the Olden style and
says. Happy days and the other fellow
answers, And yours happier and thus
they all take their drinks with wondrous
graclDuSneSs and with becoming cordiality.
OF cpGrSe, there are some changes to these
phrases from lip to lip. but as d whole they
arr the sentiments Of the fellows from the
states as l have named them
There will be considerable difficulty in
regard to briefing the figures OF 1900 in
memorandums, &c, but couple of weeks
will probably settle it, explained treas
ury auditor to The Star reporter THE
general rule he continued for briefing
months is TO use the first three letters Of
the name of the month though in June
and July it is as brief To write the word
out as To try TO shorten it. and when done
much more satisfactory. The same rule
made the last TWO figures Of tine year sufti-
cent thus saving the necessity of using,
the figures l and :. But with 1900 there
viii be- but two Ciph-rs to use and they will
hardly express anything, unless it is ar
ranged by common consent that they
SA"i3lG some one Will have to start the
thing II the start has not already been
made 1 notice that in the colleges the
classes Of m. G1 and ~ already figure
Thank YOU, said Senator Beveridge of
Indiana to an attache at the White House.
Who offered To assist him in putting on his
oVerc7at- "A young man never refuses to
accept help in getting his overcoat on. but
thu older a ma gets the more certain he is
t" refuse help and say, No. thank YOU.
can get it on all right 1t is a certain in
dication Of old age when a man will not
permit another to aid in getting on his
overCoat"
Senator EIkins overheard the remark of
the young senator from Indiana and said;
We'll, If what you say Is true Senator
Hawley is one of the youngest men in the
senate. He always accepts assistance in
putting on his overcoat. But one dav he
SAID u me, Eikins. when you hear ms. say
that l can get my overcOat on without any
on hrtpinS me you may be sure that 1 am
Next jerry Smith soliloquized to himself.
Jerry mas been at every dinner and public
ami private reception at the While fJ,us.
Tor years. and his principal business diving
that time was 70 artistically aid In putting
on "yercoats and incidentally to receive
Il! a ,HeS, rrheldlan manner whatever tips
W." gwen MN. 4 Jes tells yer" said
Jerry To himself ''dere's lots of troof in
what de senator said. but jes knows DAT
nobody can put on an obercoat like dis here
niger
:.
II Is doubtful whether any institution in
the world has such record for long tenure
OF Office on tho part Of those directing it as
has the Greenwich Observatory That insti-
tuition was established in 1913. and in the
wears pI us existence it has h3d inst
eight directors, whose average terms ~
oiilce have been twenty-eisht years. The
Harvard observatory has Deen established
sixty years. and has had but four directors
li'e naval observatory in the District how
ever. has in the thirty-three years of lis ex-
iSIeEcr had ten directors owing to m.
custom Of detailing naval officers in that
o'3iy for a term of three years each This
constant change Of directors. it has been
canned. Is responsible to a large extent for
The lack Of continuity in the work of The
L4Nal observatory and its consequent fail
Ir. I" meet the requirements of a great
NATIONAL observatory, although more money
Is spent for is maintenance than for any
o'Aer Ike institution in the world.
\
As many such incidents of the kind have
queer habit of doing. the one about to be
Related happened on street car 1t was
The Connecticut avenue line-a green tram
with trailer in the rear of the BIZ; motor
car
According to ancient parchment recent