davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1903-02-08
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT OWLS.
WHAT A VISITOR TO MUSEUM OF NATURAL
HISTORY TOLD CHILDREN WITH HIM

The people who stood in front Of one Of the
large cases in that part of the American Mu-
scum of Natural History one day last week
where specimens of the owl family are on ex-
bfbitiou were treated to an interesting in
promptu lecture. The who spoke was an
EngIishman and his remarks were addressed
to two little boys who were not at all times as
deeply interested the people who were at
tracted to the spot by the mans earnest man
"Thev call il a bird of i'll omen,' he said, and
prejudice superstition and ignorance have made
it a hard luck bird in all ages. In a lot Of
vour boy stories owls are spoken Of as witches
in disguise and in other,, when the bad witches
get into a tight corner they change into Owls
It is n case Of giving a bird a bad name But
there is some reason for this. The other BIRDS
seem to dislike the owls, too. have watched
them so often and know that lis " fellows VIII
attack an owl and will be Joined by other blrds
in the fight and the poor owl will fly ainiessiy
about from one place to another until he can
find a hollow tree, into which he can escape
from his prosecutors
..Rut really he does not deserve it, for the
owl is a pretty useful bird IN some parts OF
the world; surely in England, where we sec
moro of them than here This one here" re
said. pointing to 4 bird of light yellow with
grav specks and lower plumaGe Of pare white
.is the screech or barn owl. He makes his
home in barns at harvest time and waits there
for rats and mice. The farmers don't think
him z hard luck bird, because he destroys the
grain eating pests. You should sec him sitting
on Il rafter high up in dark corner Is mo-
tionIess as the stuffed bird before US, and as
na+fant 20 hard luck fisherman. Presently
ETr Mouse comes along. You could not see OF
hear the little animal. but the owl does both.
ard before the mouse has had time to think
about il thc owl drops from his perch ana the
mouse ceESus has been reduced by one They
New-York tribune., 1903-02-08

nomical topics, is convinced that the blanket
rests down directly upon the light giving cloud
shell OF the sun, the photosphere; but whatever
be its position, there seems to be little doubt as
to its general effect.
Every restless person who has kicked off or
merely disarranged the bedcIothes over himself
on q cold winters night knows what happens in
consequence. Animal warmth is radiated out
into the room more rapidly than before, and the
body is chilled 1t is not probable that any
wholesale uncovering occurs on the sun, but
temporary thinning Of the blanket over limited
area might release more heat than could other
wise escape. AT certain times the surface of the
sun is disturbed. Dark spots break out on it.
Bright patches, called facula, appear around
them. Masses of metallic yapOr suddenly rise
in jets to astonishing heights and with incon-
ceiva bic velocities, if elected from a volcano
The causes of these various phenomena are not
fully understood but they indicate some sort Of
activity and they are all rather closely associ-
ated in point of abundance. At one time there
are more than at other times. In fact, there is
a fairly regular alienation between TnaXina
and ninima, one complete period being about
eleven years in length. That was discovered
long ago. IF, now it could be shown that the
uniformity Of the thickness of the blanket just
referred to were to vary III q corresponding way,
two differences might be drawn: There would be
excuse for thinking that the sun threw off
more heat at one time than at another. and
that the f1uctuation was related somehow to the
forces which produce spots, facule and erup-
tious.
The task which Professor Very has under
taken is to detect, if possible, variations in the
smoothness Of the blanket. When observer
examines one at a time a series of points on
the sun reaching from the centre TO the edge of
the apparent disk. he IS continually looking
through an increasing depth Of gas, because he
is studying a sphere, not fiat surface. There
is, therefore. a steady dimnution in radiance.
If set of observations, reaching from centre 10
edge, be made at intervals of a few days
through a period of eleven years, would be
in position TO institute instructive com
parison. He could tell whether the dininution
took place at precisely the same rate or whether
Irregularities sometimes occurred. AT most,
Professor Very thinks that the differences will
be small and hard to detect, but he is going to
hunt for them. For this work he Will use an in
strument which Professor s. P. Langley did
much TO perfect and whicn in the latter's hands
has been made to reveal temperature changes of
a miIlionth Of one degree! This is bolometer.
attached to a spectroscope-
New-York tribune., 1903-02-08
VARIATIONSIN SOLARHEAT
\ PROPOSED INVESTIGATION BY AN
ENTIRELY NEW METHOD.

Does the sun upon whose radiance all animal
and vegetable life on the earth is dependent, and
which gives rise to many such terrestrial
phenomena as weather changes emit more heat
at one tine than at another? This IS an old
problem, but is now being attacked in a new
way by Professor Frank Eery. The nature Of
his investigation VIII be better understood if
one first recalls q few prevalent theories con-
cerning the SUI.
White stars 0or suns are Helieved TO be hotter
than yellow ones: yellow stars are regarded as
hotter than red ones. and red ones are con-
sidered hotter than those which are invisible,
but whose existence is revealed by their attrac-
ton for their neighbors. These facts, coupled
with the nebular hypothesis, suggest the proba-
bility that after certain stage in the evolution
Of suns is reached there is slow cooling from
radiation. and that in the course Of many
millions Of years they cease to shine by their
own light and become dead, like the moon
Without partial renewal from some source
the exhaustion of heat would go on more rapidly
than il does; and physicists and astronomers
have wondered why the particular star which
constitutes the centre Of planetary system
has held out as long it has. 1t has been sug-
gested for instance, that some sort of chemical
action or the burning of meteoric fuel might
account for the observed maintenance of
thermal supplies A more satisfactory explana-
ton was offered by Helmholtz who believed
that enough fresh heat was produced merely by
the compression that results from graVltatloh
to keep the sun at practically UNIFORM tenn
Etrat ture. Shrinkage occurs simultaneously, OF
course but the sun is so big already and the
dinlinution in size is so imperceptible that many
thousands if not Millions, Of years must elapse
before this contraction or sensible cooling viii
he discovered.
Again. it seems that there is blanket which
keeps the sun from throwing of all the heat
which il might emit otherwise. This covering is
not Of wool but Of gas. Its precise depth can
not be determined yet, but il is probably several
thousand miles in thickness. Professor Frost
now of the Yerkes Observatory, has computed
that the output Of heat would be seven-tenths
g-eater than n is now bu for this envelope. Miss
Apnes M C1erEe an English writer on astro-
New-York tribune., 1903-02-08
ARE ROCKS PLASTIC?

Just east of the old brick church in the Rock
Creek Cemetery, near the Soldiers Home, in
Washington, is 4 phenomenon which, so far as
know, is unique, says 7. ]. ]. See, in Nature
A marble slab originally plane and resting on
four posts at the corners, in the course Of about
half a century has gradually bent under its
own weight and a section of it assumed the
figure Of a catenary. Careful measurement
shows the slab to be inches thick. 30 inches
wide and 30 inches long, the posts supporting
the slab are 10 by Go inches in horizontal sec
ton. and so placed that the inner edges (Which
now furnish the support arc % inches apart
The stone has bent so much that the ends OF the
slab are tipped up inch above the outer
edges of the posts on which they formerly
,.sted At a distance OF II inches from the
New-York tribune., 1903-02-08
CHANGE OF SE1CO4sT LEVEL.

Upward md downward movements Of large
ares q The earth's surface in the past, and
even ~ The present time, are among the
Ehenonera # which geologists take note. There
is Z fresh Illustration Of such changes. AT the
lower END u South America there Is ample evi-
denoe of al extensive subsidence in the remote
past ne effect Of which is 10 let the sea reach
NJ between Tie TIVE mountain ranges IN which
1he Andes terminate, and into numerous cross
valleys ths; were once high and dry ii has
now been discovered that a slow lifting has oc-
New-York tribune., 1903-02-08

troops Dragon Guards and Royal Horse Artil-
Ierv N new uniforms mounted on fine steeds.
Immediately behind the chief herald. Major
Maxwell were q dozen trumpeters, wearing
Goals Of crimson velvet and gold, and bearing
silver t-urnpers- officers Of the native troops
and he InlperiaI Cadet Corps, in white and
blue and gold. marched proudly past
Then came The first Of the elephants with
smiling prince e India Oh his back There were
CCz-rg Of these princes. the foremost IN the en-
rf-e and they wore their proudest apparel No
sane American would attempt to wear the court
costume Of u1ernber OF this dusky royalty.
and there we're dozens OF them each one more
rrazniaeerr than the one before The ele-
yrsr-s wore bells. which Jingled, and their
--uur.e-.-c as they moved ponderously through
;h- streets ADDED 10 the excitement on the
largest elephants Of al rode Lord and Lady
Cu-z- z and The Duke OF Connaught- looking the
GE--ly Of their positions when not busy re-
r.anding 10 the salutations OF the people. Lord
Kitchener. surrounded by troops in large num-
I-sr ana followed by native regiments and
t.#aesluer. completed the procession and the
5-r5lr was under way
The eliminating celebration was o. New
v.z~-- Dav and noon was The hour set for IL
Iu- K vas postponed half Al hour, as 'l7 AiO9-
lem chiefs were celebrating the end Of the Feast
,- r..--szar and The beginning Of The Festival
cf -l= Great ID.
From an early hour II the morning the ro%as
leading 10 The ar1rhitheatre were crow ded Win
g-..-.-.rs Fifteen thousand Of them got mo
-be ,5rl-5ng tiers oI seats and waited patiently
c5- rhz cz-eroriaIs. The show Of troops ana
cierf-a-f-s was interesting. and the rlasseo
hands o- -v.a.l-y-f0ur regiments played at re
-erzr- intervals Within he arena and on the
main tzrr-z forty thousand troops were drawn
II WIKI Lord Kitchener at their head
! Il-ulrE wavering line Of aged troopers
marched into the arena and tremendous shout
went ". They were the veterans OF 1871 S1I-
ytyOrs of the great Mutiny.
The Duke OF Connaugf1t, escorted by the 4'h
Dragon Guards. was the first TO reach Ihe
TiaeregaI dais. which was placed at the cen
1-l.- point q the horseshoe shaped lncfosare-
Then came the TIceroy, with his American VIE
H took Ms seat on 8 magnificent chair Of SILVER
and gold With a flourish Of biaring trunpets
the PI!rsuTvart Of Arms came forward and read
the rroclaTration. The ceremony was most I'M
T-essive. and carried out TO the letter Of the
programme
The lnfurIrg Of the royal standard was the
sigma for the close The massed reglInenlal
bands played the national anthem, and thou-
sands q voices sang the words \ royal salute
Cf one hundred and one guns sounded out, the
hl-erCy delivered d speech, which suited the
Oriental audience and with three rousing cheers
for -he Emperor the greatest durbar the
word has ever seen came TO an end
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-31

gain. This is unfair to Watkins as any
man who watched the game knows.
His run-in of the ball on the kickoff in
the second half, for 80 yards through al
most the entire Bates team was a fine
piece of work and he carried the ball
from back of the line several times for
gains Of five to 10 yards.
Today's great gridiron battle in Maine
is that on Whittier field Brunswick be-
tween the Bowdoin and U. of M. elev-
ems. 1t will draw a multitude from all
over the State. Two bands will be
there, and special train will take over
the Orono contingent. The new Hub
bard grandstand, which is without a
superior in the country, will be used
for the first time. AS to the game, it
is not safe to predict the result. Both
elevens will probably be crippled some
what by the absence of good players
but both will send teams on the field
that will put up a battle royal and fight
to the last ditch. The correspondents
at both colleges modestly feel that their
team twill make good showing" and
both are right. The y. of NJ, team has
more veterans, has had the best of
coaching and has done fine work in it's
earlier games, while the Bowdoin elev-
en- is more of an unknown quantity. 1t
will be great game and a spectacle
worth seeing.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-31
AMERICAN MANLINESS.
Prof. Stearns of Phillips Andovere or
Conditions Which Threaten. -

Chicago, Oct. 30.-"Condtions InirnicaE
to the Growth of American '~Man1neSSI
Both in the Decadence Of Home Lif aN
in Athletes" We're discussed, todaNn ~
Alfred E. Stearns, principal of RGafp$
Academy, Andover, Mass, in. an fess'
to the educational conference whic1 UHts
of the features in connection with tbs GEL
ebration of DR.. H. l.. Fisk's 80 years. req
idence at Northwestern University Ac
envy Three hundred delegates fronR
rious parts of the country were pressed
After touching on the incapacity o.
nurses, tutors and private schools. props
erly to mould a childs life. and concetTfs
ing in recent pessimistic views OF thH
race suicide proposition, Mr.. StearilS said
of school and college athletics:
.'Sly and underhand practices encourage
just so far as detection does not ensues
To the average school boy the college atif.i
lete is a hero. and this man, I regret t.,
say, often spends his time in teaching
this deceit to lads OF the preparatory
schools. l have seen many an athletic
coach devoting hours to teaching young
followers how they may cleyerly disobey
the rules of the game without risk OF de-
lection, and | think | am safe in saying
that the majority of coaches are given to
this practice. / have bead hovs -
plain that they were advised that little
profanity would tend to dlsconcert their
opponents"
Mr.. Stearns expressed himself as hearth
ly in favor of athletics, honestly pursued
even at the expense of physical injuries,
or an occasional death. 1t was the moral
effect of dishonest practice that he des
plored.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-31
JAPAN SEES NO REASON
For Russia Gaining Aseendaney in
Corea or Manehuria.

London, Oct. 31-The Morning Post, to-
day saws it understands that Japan is
by no means prepared to acquicsce in the
Sugge stion that she give Russia free
hand in Manchuria in exchange for d
Japanese free hand in Corea. Japan con
tends, says the Morning Post. that the
two questions are entirely separate, tina,
Corean independence has already been
secured by convention, and that as Man
churia was restored to emma by Japan at
the instigation of European powers. she
naturally cannot consent to it's occupa-
ton by Russia.
The correspondent of the Daily Mail at
Kobe quotes the Hochi Shinbun of Toxic
to the effect that the diplomatic corps
at the Japanese capital have no hope OF a
peaceful settlement of the pending ditfl-
cultes. , =,
Paris, Oct. 31.-'rhe Gaulois, this morn.
ing, affirms that French diplomacy which
was not unconnected with the recent
sudden Improvement in the relations Of
Russia and Japan. proposed at Count
Lamsdorff's request, to exercise conJoint-
ly with Great Britain a firm though
friendly pressure on the Japanese govern :
ment for the purpose OF obtaining Il
speedy and amicable settlement of the
differences between Japan and Russia
The Gaulois further says that M. Lams
dorff. in exchange for NJ. Delcasse's prom
Use of support in the Balkan question:
has undertaken that Russia shall morally
ing questions pending in Africa. The pa
per finally declares, though under reserve,
that the two ministers have discussed a
plan concerning Abyssinia, in the carrying
out of which Italy, France and England
will each play active part. ~ =
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-31
ALL BLOOD STAINS,
6echtcl Murder Inquest-Brothcrs
Deny Stories Told by Others.

inquest into the BechteI murder whic,
was adjourned, late last night, was re-
sumed at P. NJ. today.
Police Chief Eastman testified 10 the
Indlng OF the body of Miss Bechtel ana
10 the producing of the different blood
stalned articles in the Bechtel house The
chief related how he followed the clues
home.
Mrs. Bechtel. Miss Bechtel. Mrs. Brobst,
q married daughter. John and James
Bechtel and Eckstein were separately
called before the jury Each refused to
answer any questions whatsoever, stat; ing
tna5 they might say something that would
tend to incriminate themselves. :,
IL was while Mrs. Bechtel was in the
court room that she learned that Thomas
was dead Mrs. Bechtel broke down com.
Pc plsteIy, weeping violently, and she was
req a. from the room in state of collapse.
DlrG College. testified that stains on
hatchet, wall paper, bed sheet and over
alls We're blood 4
Char Charles and John Bechtel. who were
taken into custody after the coroner's in
quest into the death of Mabel Bechtel.
tnelr sister were not informed of the sui
cIde OF their brother Thomas until today.
mney denied emphatically that the girl
was killed in her own home, Sunday
night, and declared she was not at home
mat night. When informed that Tom
Fechtei had committed suicide. Charles
iu. guess ne was tfOuDled TOO much
ne worried because he could not go to
the funeral" -
the coroner's jury, tonight, returned 4
verdict that Mabel BechteIs death was
due to fractured skull from a blow In :
nlcted on her by some person unknow,
70 the jury. Warrants were served upo,,
MRS Bechtel and the members of her
FAMILY and Eckstein, this evening. They
were taken before Mayor Lewis who ac
ccepted bail for Mrs. Bechtel in $1,000: Mvr-
tina Bechtel in $500 and Eckstein in s3Cn
John and Charles Bechtel We're commit
TED to Jail. Applications for writ of Ia
peas corpus will be made, tomorrow.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-31
The "New Rules" at Work on the Foot
Ball Field

The new football rules have NOT
been shipwrecked, and they are deserv-
ing Of commendation in certain ways,
after actual test on "a hundred fields in
the first month of the season. It has
been already demonstrated, however,
that they are not revolutionary; that
they are hardly to be called sensation
al, and that football is the same old
game" Panicky enthusiasts who be-
moaned the threatened '.mildness"ka and
dilettante flavor which they ANTICIPATED
were about to overtake the lively sport,
shed their tears wastefully and barrow
ed trouble too soon. tf
AS for the spectator, it Is true that
the play is more easily followed than
formerly. In midfield, from the average
point Of vantage, it is possible. to see
who takes the ball from the quarter
back, where the run is directed, and to
follow the runner until he is tackled
This is a distinct gain over the old style
scrimmage where, except when the ball
is kicked or fumbled, the onlooker can
not tell whether there is a football, no
ball. or an old high hat, as the bone Of
furious contention.
But as matter of fact, there are
sixty yards of the field in which this
slightly more "open play" can be exc
cnted, against fifty yards in which the
old scrimmage is allowed, so the "open-
ness" is in rather short rations, and in
actual observation, the general aspect
is of hammer and tongs" football,
somewhat less confused, but certainly
as desperately fought and as wearing
on the player as ever.
AS for kicking, it is not easy to upset
football tradition. The team with the
strongest punter will always do more
kicking than the other fellow, and like
wise all hands will attempt to ad-
vance the ball by rushing as long and
as desperately as possible. and will kick
only when it cannot be avoided. The
new rules are not going to boom the
kicking game as notably as was ex-
pected.
Reports of rough play are as fire.
quent as they were last year. The full
back is not jolted as rudely after a
punt, since he is powerless to put his
team ION side" after punt, but other
wise Improvement is rather in the
hands of the officials through their in
creased power to penalize.-The Illus
trated Sporting News.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-31

The Rockland High school will have
a strong basketball team this winter
and has already scheduled game in
Freeport for Nov 20. Hodgkins, Bird,
Philbrick and Colson are certain of DO
sitions on the team, while the remain
ing position is sought by Carkin,
Spaulding, Gay and Ed. Rhodes.
Jimmy McGrath, the Biddeford polo
player, left for Fort Wayne. Ind this
week, where he will play this season,
on Manager Canavau's team. In all
over 20 polo players leave Boston, this
week, for the Indiana and Illinois
leagues, which will badly cripple the
New England league. McGrath's con-
tract calls for $45 week for 20 weeks.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-31
An Expert Druggists Opinion.

Mr.. Milton C. Brigham, prominent
druggist of Natiek, Mass, states, after
having used U-RI-CENE, the new Rheu-
matism Cure: without exaggeration I
consider U-ri-cene far superior to any
Rheumatic Remedy, imported or domestic
for neutralizing Uric Acid. I am con-
stantly using it, and am receiving much
benefit"
U-RI-CENE Tablets are guaranteed
effective or your money refunded. For
sale at leading drug stores everywhere or
by mail postpaid upon receipt OF price &c
THE WOODBURY. CHEMICAL, ~
ITO Summer St.. Boston.
For sale by Bowditch. Webster & CO.
Augusta.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-31
Booker Washington's Speech Pleasesl
Whites.

Raleigh, N. c., Oct. 3O.-Booker T.
Washington, the colored educator Of
Tuskegee, spoke here, today, for the
first time in North Carolina at the
Colored state fair, to nearly 5000 people,
of whom about 100 We're whites. The
address was conservative and the white
people who heard it commended it.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-31
The TRANSPORT Sheridan. $

The transport Sheridan, sailing, Sat
urday, from San Francisco for Homo
lulu, Guam and Manila, will carry
100000 in silver and gold in her treas
ure room. She has full list of passen-
gers in addition to the enlisted men of
the 22d Infantry. !.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-31
Jim Hambers and Lou Shaw. negroes

jim HamberS and Lou Shaw, negroes,
were hanged, Friday, at Luverne, Ala,
for the murder of Williamson Cham
pion another negro, in March last. Sale
Arlington, an accomplish. turned state
evidence and was released. The hang
ing was in public and the military was
used to help preserve order.