The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-03-10
llzlMsSCienCe
A 2s MO
! - sflventiOf1
N~eN~~~~~~-~

In the course Of some digging opera
tons In garden at Haslemere, En-
gland, gardener unearthed a num-
Der Of ancient vessels Of peculiar
shape, together with quantity OF cal
cined human bones, at a depth Of
about two feet below the surface. The
British museum authorities, who have
examined the discovery, pronounce the
vessels to belong to the late Celtic
age, about B. G. 15O. Only three or
four vessels were found to be in
perfect condition. He computed that
twenty-five urns and pots were origi-
nally inferred at the spot.
Bright colors assumed by naples,
sumacs and ampelopsis during the au-
tumn months are the result Of the oxi-
diZing Of the color compounds, or col
or generators, of the leaf cells. Long
protracted cool weather is most favor
able to the production Of autumn tints
and slight frosts that are not severe
enough to kill the cells hasten the dis
play Of beauty by producing an enzy-
me that brings forth the bright pur-
pies, oranges and reds. Leaves con-
tanning much tannic acid never give
bright autumn tnts, while those con-
tanning sugar give the very prettest.
An Italian scientist claims to have
established that electric tramways are
great mediums in the dlsinfection of
towns. He points out that the elec-
trio spark, which is so frequent an oc-
currenee to the overhead trolley, and
the emission Of light from the car
wheel when the rail Is used for the
return current transform the oxygen
of the air into ozone which has puri-
flying and dlslnfectlng influence. The
high discharges, he says, are frequent
enough to influence greatly the atmos-
pheric constituents, especially where
the line passes through narrow thor
oughfares. They become antiseptic
agents.
Sailors visiting the island of Lay
san, in the Hawaiian group, are great
ly amused by the curious antics Of the
Laysan albatr0ss, or gony. These birds
sometimes perform, in pairs, kind of
dance or, as the sailors call 1t, "cake-
walk" Two albatrosses approach one
another, nodding and making profound
bows, cross their bills, produce snap
ping and groaning sounds, rise on
their toes, puff out their breasts, and
finally part with more nodding and
bowling, only to come together again
and repeat the performance. Occasion
ally three engage at once In this singu-
lar amusement. The spectators are al
ways impressed with the extreme "po-
liteness" Of the birds.
Sill oliver Lodge, eminent by his dis
coveries about electricity, believes that
he has found a method Of electrifying
the atmosphere on a large scale, and
that in this manner dangerous fogs
over rivers and harbors may be dissl-
pated. In some experiments at Liver
pool he was able to clear space mere
than 100 yards wide In a dense fog.
He also thinks it possible that rain
may be produced by the electriheation
of clouds. At a recent meeting of the
Physical Society in London he demon
strated his method. Electricity de-
rived from a high frequency alternator
is most effective, but 1t must first be
turned into a straightaway current,
and Professor Lodge employs for this
purpose the Cooper Hewitt mercury
vapor-lamp, which possesses the pow
er to rectfy ap alternating current.