The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-20
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

MISS Helen 11GdulOIu HOlIpSOh Aiet0 ~
ported a research at the neurological labo-
ratory of the University of Chicago to de-
termine approximately the total number
of nerve cells in the human cerebral corteX
(the outer layer of the BRAIN. The pres
ent calculation, says the British Medical
Journal, is based upon data given in Ham
marberg's work. This observer made
large number of very careful observations
to determine the number of nerve cells
per cubic millimeter of corteX. DlVldlhS
the entire corteX according TO variations
of microscopical structure, sixteen regions
are mentioned. A portion of each such
region was separately examined, and the
number of nerve cells per cubic MILNE
ter estimated with great accuracy. Calcu-
lations were next made, mainly also from
data supplied by Hammarberg, but par
TALLY verified or worked out by Miss
THOMPSON of the relative numbers in the
sides and bottoms of sulsi. The total cor
teal area was next calculated by various
we'll known methods. The present estimate
gives the astounding result that there are
over 8, 200 600 900 of nerve cells in the cere-
bral corteX, an estimate about eight times
as large as that published by Meynert in
1872.
How rock becomes soil is thus describ-
ed by a practical observer in the Rural
New Yorker: Those of US who have been
reared on the glacial drift know that stony
farms are fertile, though not always pop
ular Where one can observe plants
growing on rock bottom it is learned that
soil is being forIned-trees are the Vigor-
Gus sappers and miners of The plant king
dom. Their roots push along rock ifs
sures and by their insstent growing,
make the opening yet wider. Thus trees
are growing close to the edge of a little
precipice made by a joint plane in the
shae rock at Ithaca, n. Y. Roots were
observed along the seams, having appar-
emily come through six feet of solid rock
from the trees of which they are a part
It is plain that these trees get roothold
below the surface soil, and it is likely that
they draw food and moisture from the
rock, which is for them substantial
hardpan subsoil In moist climates very
thin layer of detritus is sufficient to serve
as soil. l have noticed little patch of
moss ami grasses growing upon the lat
outcropping of the shale. Upon stripping
it Up-it made resistance-it was seen %
be a feted turf an inch in thickness. The
under surface was white with fine roots,
blind fingers cropping for crannies in the
rock and finding every one. The place
on the rock was seen to be a little de
pressed and quite damp. Perhaps the de 4.
preston gave the frst-comers their
chance but the colony in possession had
widened and deepened the place, for sew
eral fragments of the shale were found
TO have been fetched away. when the turf
was lifted. The roots had pried these off
with the help of frost, heat and moisture
then grown around them. Even this thin
soil is growing; the old adage is reversed.
The moss gathers the rock.
The squeeze says a correspondent
of the Boston Transcript, writing from
China, "is a national institution from
oh,
tage, from the Dowager Empress to the
humblest gatekeeper This is already
well known everywhere. There is not a
privilege of any kind, and privileges or
concessions are as numerous here as at
home, from which the Dowager Empress
does MOI benefit financially. Every serv-
ant in the palace, from the highest to the
lowest, wrings fees out of those who must
enter the Forbidden City, whatever their
errand may be- A high official said re-
Gently that it cost him as much as 1000
ounces of silver to get access TO the pal
ace, even when he had been summoned on
official business by the Dowager Empress
herself. Chinese officials receive only
nominal salaries; the great Ii Hung
Chang, when viceroy of China-the high
est office in the empire next 20 that of the
imperial ruler himself-received out of the
public treasury a sum equal to $50 in
American currency per annum. He has
dCnltNed a fortune OF SoIlelHluB line 4O,OVO,
O00-not $500 COO, 600, as has been stated
and how he scraped this together can bet
ter be imagined than described. Practical
ly everybody engages in this tipping.
The cook expects a commission or tips
from the butcher or grocer and these in
their turn have those who tip them. The
custom achieves its climax in officialdom,
however and is especially trying to Amer
leans and foreigners, who are all supposed
to be immensely wealthy and to be CORE
spondingly liberal in tips While untruth-
full and with but little respect for his
word. the Chnaman has something like a
religious reverence for written obligation
and viii fulfill 1t 90 the letter if within his
power They have also extraordinarily
long memories as individuals and as peo-
pies and treasure up every instance of de-
ception or aggression to which they have
been subjected. AS a people they have
craft, skill, cunning and intellect, but are
deficient in moral and spiritual qualities.
1t is in these directions they need most
an educational impulse from the west, but.
unfortunately, with nearly every nation
now seeking opportunities for aggression
in the matter of territory they are not
likely 20 form a high opinion OF those who
would otherwise naturally be their teach
ers.