davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19
NOTES ON SCIENCE.
CURRENT NOTES OF DISCOVERY
AND INVENTION.
Spirit Slate Writing How Mysterious
Sentences Are Prepared In Advance
Tricks In All Trades and Especially
Among Fakirs.
FRAUD SLATE WRITINGS.

Spiutualistic Slate writing, if clev-
,rly done. always makes vlarke1 i'm
preston on a magicians audience. be-
,ause ii utterly battles their efforts to
ietect the trick. They see a small cab
ner suspended above the stage by
means of cords or ribbcas. 1t has an
open fiont, and is empty. The magi-
clan turns 1t arudnd so that every
palt OF il may be seen, and taps it in
side and out with his wand, to show
that il is hollow
On a stand near by be has small
easel, a comm on school s ate, a bottle
Of India ink with gain pen in it. and
a few sheets of ordinary white writing
paper. All these he passes around
among the audience for examination
Then he fixes a sheet Of the paper to
the slate by means of waters; places
the slate on the easel. and the easel
in the cabinet, together with the bot
tie of ink. the latter having the pen
still in it,
Having allowed the audience to see
the articles thus arranged in the cabi-
chief over it, Mysterious sounds are
Immediately heard, and the cabinet
shakes as if some living thing had en-
tered it. When the sounds and the
shaking cease. he removes the hand
kerchief, showing an inscription writ
ten in bold black letters on the paper,
and the pen, not in the ink bottle, but
lying on the bottom of the cabinet.
He then removes the paper from the
slate and passes it around for exam
nation, when the writing is imme-
diately recognized as having been done
with India ink.
The explanation of the trick Is sim
pie. The writing was done in advance
by the performer, the fluid used being
solution of sulphuric acid of the pur-
est quality. To make the solution so
drops of the concentrated acid are
added to one ounce of filtered water.
Writing done with this solution is in
visible until exposed to heat; when
so exposed it comes out perfectly
black, looking exactly like dried India
ink
The heat is applied by means of an
electric current running over wire with
which the slate is wound. The cords
by which the cabinet is suspended con-
ceal copper wires, which conduct the
current to the slate. Black silk threads,
suitably attached, enable the perform
er to make the sounds in the cabinet,
to cause the cabinet to shake and to
Jerk the pen out of the ink bottle.
Several sheets of paper are prepared
In advance, each with a different in
scription, the performer telling one in
bcription from the other by secretly
marked pin pricks.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19
BRAINS BEAT MUSCLE.
What a Scientific Farmer Did with
Worn Out Land.

worn OuL lsanu.
A little over a year ago we made
some extended comment upon an IL
lustration of what might be done on
an abandoned farm by man who
knew his business, says the Boston
Transcript. Such a farm has been
purchased and redeemed in the little
town of Paxton, about seven miles
from Worcester, and away from the
railroad by Long Island man, who
brought with him a thorough know
ledge of truck farming. His success
the first year does not seem to have
been exceptional. We have heard a
great deal about the smallness of the
potato crop this year, and undoubt-
eddy the conditions have been less IA
vorable than usual but our Paxton
farmer put thirty-seven acres into the
tubers, from which he expects to pro-
duce a crop of some $500 bushels. or
from 125 to $50 bushels to the acre
In fact. he has now for some time
been sending potatoes to Worcester.
the nearest large town, and receiving
from $3.50 to IS barrel. Even at the
lowest yield mentioned this will stand
him in a return of over 5000 an acre
from land that probably did not cost
him a twentieth part of that sum.
OF course, there is considerable debt
account, but allowing for all that the
profits are fat. Farmers in his neigh
borhood are beginning to think that
their troubles are not entirely due to
worn-out land and generally changed
conditions. The fact that they do not
know how to make the most of what
they have had something to do with
1t.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19

Thomas which has a magnificent har-
Dor, Is the reason why the Danish
group has been desired by the United
States ever since Seward was secre-
tary Of state. A base commanding the
approach to the Isthmus Of Panama
and the proposed Nicaraguan canal is
of the highest naval Importance to
the United States. Porto Rico has al
ready furnished such a base, but. as
Denmark has her group for sale, this
government deemed 1t inadvisablethat
a foreign power should secure It,
In a mercantile way the acquisition
will amount to little. Sugar is the
principle product of the islands, but
the planters have suffered heavily dur
ing late years owing to the discrimin-
ating tariff against them. Denmark
stipulates If the United States takes
the islands they must enjoy free trade
with this country, and that all the in
habitants must be admitted to full
American citizenship.
The climate of the islands is often
dubious. Hurricanes of great severity
sometimes prevail. The heat of the
day Is extreme, but the nights are cool
and refreshing. Frost forms In the
cold season, but snow is unknown.
The annual precipitation is about six
ty-three inches. Invalids suffering
from pulmonary troubles find that at
certain seasons of the year the atmos-
phere of the islands is quite beneficial,
although life there is monotonous to
anyone but drone. The introduction
of naval stations will undoubtedly
bring new business and social life.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19
The Age of the evorId.

At is safe to predict that the next cor
rection of the English version of the
scriptures will alter one word In order
to bring the text into harmony with
established science. The word is day"
in the story of the creation.
1t is true that the English transla-
tors did not mean the solar day, but,
unfortunately, readers unacquainted
with metaphor and other figures of
rhetoric have assumed that day"
meant twenty-four hours and thus
generations have tried to believe that
the Creator toiled by the sun and ere
ated the material world on the install
ment plan of days Of the week, resting
after six days toll.
The nearest equivalent we have for
the indefinite division Of time meant
by the original scripture narrative of
creation is ''eon," meaning long but
unmeasured interval. The next cor
rection of the English version will
doubtless see icon" substituted for
"day," and that substitution will en-
able many to cling to the Bible, which
otherwise will continue to lose believ-
ers while seeming in conflict with
physical truth. The correction is the
more necessary because science has
corroborated the scripture along its
main lines of averment, while drawing
scientific statements more and more
toward precision, although still unable
to fix the most important dates author
itatively.
DR.. Flinders Petrie, who wrote dur
ing the winter summary of his Egypt.
illogical researches has classified mon
umental evidence from Egypt alone
for example, showing that the world
1 sat least 5000 years old and probabl,
| much older
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19
RAINED sNAILs AND roADs.

Saratoga, N. Y, and vicinity had an
experience the other night, the like of
which even the oldest inhabitant can
not remember. 1t was precipitation
of small toads and snails, the vista
ton occurring principally between 8
and IL o'clock. A rainstorm prevailed
during the most of the afternoon and
increased greatly after nightfall.
Shortly after o'clock, what ap-
peared to be hailstones ratified to
earth, but on examination they proved
to be snails in their shells, many Of
which were gathered by the astonished
people The snails were almost i'm
mediately followed from the sky by
small toads, averaging from one-half to
three-quarters of an inch in length.
While the heaviest precipitation of
toads and snails was after 9 o'clock,
there are many who say that num-
Der fell in the afternoon storm. From
what section the storm scooped up
the toads and snails that were dropped
on Saratoga soil no one seems to
know.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Queer Freaks of the Current Which is
Easily Detected.

Omar Freaks OF the Current which Is
Easily Detected.
81 have been much impressed with
the Importance of small things In late
years" said an old steamboat man to
a New Orleans Times-Democrat re-
porter. "and the Mississippi river has
furnished me with rather good exam
pI.s. / can understand now why Cae-
sar looked out upon the Nile IN such
curious amazement and offered all that
he stood for to the Egyptian priest IL
he would show him the source Oh that
wonderful river. But the antics OF
the Nile look like insignificant moth
ings to me when compared with the
strange conduct of the stream that
oozes out of the earth at ltasca ana
hurries on its murky and devious way
toward the Gulf of Mexico. Towns
along the Mississippi that once stood
right on the brink of the river nave
been isolated even in my day and
there are, too, all along the course OF
the stream little empires in view Where
the river has encroached upon small
centers of population, finally eating
the earth away and forcing the in
habitants to seek other quarters
There are hundreds OF these places
that are almost forgotten now, even
by the. men who are constantly on the
river What brings about these vio-
lent changes along the banks OF the
II. ~ L. &c 81
nary doings of the stream. In the first
place the current of the Mississippi is
wonderfully swift, and the sediment
deposited at any point where resist
ance to the flow is offered is very
great. Tie a string to the neck Of a
bottle and sink it with the mouth OF
the bottle up and open. II held In one
place where the flow is normal, In an
extremely short period of time the
bottle will fill with sediment. Stretch
net across the river, net so finely
woven that nothing but the pure wa
ter of the river can pass through, and
on account of the rapidity OF the flow
and the greatness of the deposit OF
sediment, almost in twinkling the
river would be damned at that point
Experts have admitted this. This
brings me to the point of my MARIA
tive. The flow of current is frequently
interfered with by sunken boats, per-
haps by a jackstaff sticking up above
the surface. The current is diverted
by degrees, generally touching the far
side of the stream, mile from the
point where it again meets resistance
and Immediately begins the building
of sandbar l have seen thousand
examples of this sort during my ca
reer on the river, and I have known
of instances where the root of a tree
or the mere twig of willow have
brought about similar conditions.
These things have tended to make a
riddle out of the river, yet the stream,
after awhile, will be handled so as to
undo all that it has accomplished"
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19

McNeery'' was Jim" McGarry, and
that Mr. McKenna, his friend, was John
MeKenna, famed in political circles.
I'll Kill you, Dunno" said McGarry
when the town began to laugh over
his wit, IF you write me up again, and
I'll kill you if you don't" But Dunno
laughed and kept on with the stories
which appeared once every week. Nc
Garry was too rich field to be neg
lected.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19
THE AuToMATIC VIOLIN.

direction may be desired. These de-
vices are connected with a lever,
which is controlled by a progressively
moving actuator, and the position of
which may be varied to suit the move
ment OF the bow. On the neck of the
instrument there are also two indie
pendent finger-bearing strips, in which
are movable rods.
Music of any kind, 1t is claimed, can
be played on this mechanical violin,
which, furthermore. is so constructed
that 1t will last a long time and, II
properly used. will not readily get out
of order.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19
FISH FLEE FROM THUNDER.
Seek Refuge From Storm in Deep water
Away From Coast.

Seek Refuge From Storm In Deem wataz
Away From Coast.
Fishermen along the Atlantic coast
know the peculiar effect of thunder
storms on fish, and save themselves
unnecessary work because they do
know 1t. OF the army of 40 900 fisher
men that occasionally or regularly
wet lines In the waters continuous 10
New York, $4,000 never think Of going
afshing after two or three davs Of
thunder and lightning. They know bet
ter. The other 5000, hopeful and
imaginative, with nothing better 70
do, take a chance at 1t any way and
come home with fisherman's luck
The highest authorities among hav
men say that thunder drives the Ash
into deep water OF shore and that
vivid lightning so disturbs their .l.sn
that they take a day or two OFF FOR
rest and rscuperation. Thus n han
pens that on the third day after hard
storm with Illumination and pyrotaob
mics. the catch is phenomenal. wbar.
as on the first or second day af,sr
there Is no sport except sailing o..
the bounding pillows or groanInx =.
ground swell. y"
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19
AMERICANS AS INVENTORS.

The United States grants $4,000 pat
ents each year, or nearly as many as
all the rest of the world. England
grants 5000 a year, France and Ger
many each about 1000. while Canada.
Australia. Austria. Italy and Russia
about half as many each. An interest
ing fact is that more patents are
granted in proportion to the applica-
lions than ever before in this history
of the Patent ONCE. showing that me-
chsnical genius is not chasing as msnv
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19

Mr.. McGarry, who is just recovering
from serious illnese. eight or nine
years ago, presided over bar on Dear
born street, Chicago, where II was GUS
tomary for judges, lawyers, newspaper
men and other bright lights of the
town to meet. They came in pairs,
groups or alone. They were as apt to
drop in early in the morning as late
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19

Colonel McNeery" will probably re-
cover from his present illness, says
Chicago disptach. The serious illness
which has kept him bedridden for sew
eral weeks promises to pass But it
cannot pass from the history of liter
ature that Colonel McNeery" was the
original OF "Mr. Dooley" and that but
for the genius of Finley Peter Dunno
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19
AUTOMATIC VIOLIN is PERFECTED
IN THE EAST.

In this age of .automatons 1t is not
surprising to find automatically oper-
ated musical instruments. Everyone
has heard the self-playing piano and
musical box, and soon everyone is
likely to hear an automatic stringed
instrument, very similar to- violin,
for Massachusetts inventor has just
devised an instrument of this kind.
The component parts of this novel
invention are strings. belt bow, a
frame and pneumatic devices, by
means of which the bow is enabled
to travel over the strings in whatever
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19
RAvAGEs OF THE GRAVE DEFIED
BY BODY.


On the occasion of the three hun
dredth anniversary of Tycho Brahe's
death, which occurred few days ago,
the Prague town council decided to ex-
hume the remains of the celebrated
astronomer, which were in the Teyn
Church of that city, and to bury them
anew. First the stone block on the
monument, which bears full length
effigy of the astronomer. was lifted,
and, on removing the stones of a semi
collapsed arch beneath 1t, two molder-
ing collins were seen.
Workmen with candles then de-
scended into the vault and removed
the debris from the collins, the wood
of which was quite rotten and fell to
pieces at every rough touch. When
J the lid of the first coffin was removed
a surprising sight met the eye, for the
body in the coffin was wonderful
likeness of the efigy on the monu-
ment.
The body, which had slightly turned
on its side. had on its feet long cav
airy boots. That the body was Tycho
Brahe's was also seen from the absence
of the nose, for Tycho lost that organ
in a duel and wore silver one in Its
place.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19

at night. Mr.. McGarry's quaint phil
osophy passed among them, and while
enjoyed, never suggested publicity
until MIR. Dunno wrote his first story OF
Colonel McNeery's" whirl on the Fer
ris wheel 1t appeared in a Chicago Sun
day paper. No one who knew him had
difficulty in recognizing that Colonel
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19

rainbows as formerly. American Ia
ventive genius is shown in all lines az
invention. but succeeds especially in
machinery for manufacturing. trans
portation and labor saving Europe
and the Orient have begun to find
American industry very useful and
necessary to them
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19

Young people who are learning the
violin will be interested to know that
a device has just been invented which
is likely to prove of much service to
them. 1t Is in the form of a support
for the arm. and it is asserted that by
its means the instrument can be al
ways held in an absolutely correct po-
sition.
The inventor IL a DISTINGUISHED viO-
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19

meeting the quiet humor of Jim" Me-
Garry the world might have lost tales
now famous from ocean to ocean.
Jim" McGarry. dealer In spirituous
goods-he despises beer-first indirect
iy suggested to Mr.. Dunno the creation
Of the series of papers now made fam
Gus under the name of "Mr. Dooley."
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19

The fire losses in the United States
in 1900 were s1e1 600 900, as against
yiB3 900 900 for 1899.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19

disgraceful cartoon" but republished
1t. Continental critics pronounce 1t
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19

the most striking of the Boer war car
toons.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19

For the picture of health-s xo,s
frame soo0
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-04-18
CHOICE OF THE LEAGUE,
For Deputy Game Warden in FIathead
County.

County.
The Kalispell L. A. s. which being
interpreted means League of Ameri-
can Sportsmen," is composed of about
fifty of the conscientious hunters and
anglers of the valley. Chief among
them is Billy Mullaney and they have
collectively and individually done more
toward protecting the game and fish
of this section, in and out of season,
than even the law allows. This or
ganization has virtually endorsed
Jack Graves for the position of game
warden for the Flathead district, know
ing full we'll that his record will be one
of energy and honesty, and that any
infringement of the game laws will
be reported and prosecuted, regardless
of persons. Mr.. Scott was approach
ed upon the subject of two deputies
in this section. but observed that we
would be lucky in getting one, as eight
men into 26 counties did not leave
many to carry. He expects to be
back to Kalispell within two weeks
and announce his choice. The salary
of deputy warden is $1,000 per year.
and no expense account unless ordered
out of his district by the chief.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-04-18
INQUEST AND FUNERAL.

Having been telephohed for, Coro-
ner Willoughby drove in from Column
bia Falls yesterday afternoon to hold
the inquest over the remains of Bert
Stott, the Unfortunate house painter,
who was killed by fall from the
swinging ladders at Peplow's elevator
in the forenoon. There was really
no necessity for holding an inquest
and no further facts were developed
other than those published in the Bee,
concerning the accident which caused
Stott's death. The jury brought in
their verdict in accordance with the
facts, and the remains were given into
the charge of the undertaken.
The funeral took place this after.
noon, at $3.50 from the Methodist
church, and interment took place at
the Demersville cemetery.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-04-18
DUCKS ARE FLYING LOW.
But the Main Flight Is Over, Bell.
maine Says.


maine Says.
Local hunters have been improving
the fast declining days of the open
duck season says the Helena Record.
The first flight of ducks this spring
came with the snow storm last Sat
urday and the frequent SHOWS since
have made hunting good near the
city. When it is showing ducks fly
low and judicious hunters find little
difficulty in bagging supply worth
mentioning.
One popularity about duck hunters
this season is that they do not initiate
the fisherman who unreels a story
longer than human credulity can sur
vive. The biggest duck story yet
produced is that of w. H. Bellmaine,
who with Alfred Cullen, was on the
borders of Stanchfield lake early last
Friday evening They brought back
with them seventeen ducks. They
went out again Saturday and Sunday,
but there were few ducks flying.
"The main fight is over" said Mr..
Bellmaine. ut only lasts a day or
so. A few mallards stay in the val
ley during the summer but the great
err part of them 6 aek other fields"
The season closes the first of May
and the lake has beer lined with
hunters, many of whom have had good
returns for their duck shoot
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-04-18
NINETY DAYS IN JAIL,

Albert Arneau, the youth who was
arraigned in Judge McArthur's court,
yesterday, charged with petit larceny,
was tried yesterday afternoon and
found guilty. Before leaving the Jail
Arneau told the gang that he would
get about ninety days, and he was not
disappointed. This is his second
conviction on a petit larceny charge
and one more offense will entitle him
to a penitentiary sentence. His first
appearance in Kalispell was to serve
a sentence for some misdemeanor in
Libby and since that time the police
have not been allowing him much lee
way. Ninety days in Jail will help
some.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-04-18
KEEP IN THE STREET.

For the information of bicycle rid
ers, who desire to conform to the law
and also avoid being arrested for their
transgression, Chief of Police John
son has displayed on the wall at the
postoffice plat of the city showing
the prescribed district. Scorchers will
do we'll to carefully scrutinize this
plat, as many complaints have been
coming to the police of reckless riding
on the side walks.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-04-18
FILED FOR RECORD.

Gabriel Rousselle ct ux to Joseph
McClarty, 100 acres of land, IL Of
the ne IA, Sc IA, ne IA and ne IA
Sc ia sec 21, tip q, r 20 W; consid
Grafton $2,SOO
Quartz location, Yankee Girl, by
Fitzpatrick & Thomas, situated or
Rainy Creek unorganized district, adj
joining Yankee Boy.
BY the same, Yankee Boy, in same
district.
d. R. Peeler to Edward F. Morgan
warranty deed to lots No. II and IL ii
block II, Fishers addition to Kalispell;
consideration $3.50.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-04-18
E. L. BONNER SERIOUSLY ILL.,

1t is reported in Missoula, that E. L.
Bonner one of the chief stockholders
in the Missoula Mercantile company,
is very i'll in New York city, where he
has ben all winter. His illness is SO
serious that three physicians are con.
stantly at his bedside and grave fears
are entertained that the sickness may
result fatally.
Heart trouble is not trouble of re
cent taking to Mr.. Bonner. A few
years ago while in Missoula he was
so i'll that hope of recovery was given
up, but rugged constitution with
stood the ravage's of the disease. In
creased age and the seriousness OF
the present attack are taken with
considerable forebodings of a fata
ending by Missoula friends.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-04-18
SMOKE RINGS.

Jack Mathews ''the Swede" attend
ed the X. of p. smoker last night.
The bird like voice of Assessor An
drew Dunsire was heard last night al
the K of P. smoker
Frank Gray was at the smoker last
evening. The rankest kind of linn
burger has no terrors for him.
Our Good friend George Phillip fav
ored the smokers last night with few
of his cellar like notes.