Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-05

At a recent meeting of the professors Of
the Washington naval observatory Mr..
Thomas Murphy, who was acting tempo
CARLY as computer at the observatory, pro-
bounded the following question: How is
Il that in the north polar regions that are
now covered with snow and Ice. there was
once tropical weather."
No answer was given to the question.
II would like to offer that question 10
all astronomers and scientists. SAID Mr..
Murphy to a Star reporter the other day.
at Is established beyond doubt That there
was once tropical temperature in the north
polar regions. There are abundant re,
mains of tropical vegetation and tropical
shells found as far north as SpltZeerseh
and Grinnell Land.
81 maintain that no rational answer can
be given to my question. except that the
north pole wasn't there at the time, Out III
an altogether different part OF the eartL'
and this conflicts with the doctrine uni
yersally taught by astronomers and taken
into account BY them In their calculauohs-
that the earth Is fiat at the pores ana
bulged at the equator. for we cannot con-
ceive that new fairness and new bulge
would be created whenever the poies
changed their position.
*
ever attend a smell party?" asked
government employee of a Star man the
other day. II never did myself till last
II u
form of entertainment was interesting anu
furnished a good deal Of fun.
.'There was a small crowd of US meet
ing at the home of one of the Agricultural
Bepartmcut officials last week. and in ad-
dition to a little supper and some other
entertainment, he had arranged sheh-
ing match for the benefit or the guests;
He is an ingenious sort of a character, anu
/ do not know OF any one else IN my dc-
duaiutance to whom the idea would nave
occurred. He had gotten lot OF medium
hyide-mouthed bottles, all the same size ana
shape aur covered them with black paper
Into them he had put the most heteroseh-
eous collection Of smellable tmhSs 9ou
could imagine The bottles were all mum
bered. and the trick was to go down the
line take a Whit at each and tell what
was in it, :,
Now that sounds easy enough. but 1t
IS remarkable the number of people VINO
fell down on even the most common Aqhus
IN the collection. Pretty nearly every DodF
recognized the whskey, though 1t was not
I. hard-driRking crowd. But bottle OF INK
fooled everyone. The guests would take
O. smell at it, shake their heads and say
Il was a mighty familiar odor But they
could not tell where they had smeHed II
before. Milk was another thing with a
decided smell, though you may not realize
that milk has smell at all. which few
people recognized if they did not see the
liquid. Then there was varnish ana shoe
backing and some finely powered brown
Of common use. The little exhibition fur
nished "a good deal of amusement as a
side line and. if you think it Is always
easy to connect a familiar smell with the
article It belongs 10 usJ try 1t.
X
young man called at the first precinct
police station one Saturday night last
month aud introduced himself as a resi-
dent OF Charles county, Nd. who would
like to wear shield and carry baton as
4 member Of the metropolitan police force.
Incidentally, he was short OF funds and
was anxious TO remain indoors until the
next morning. He did not ask to be given
q nights lodging. however. but he was
more than willing to spend the night in
the station. he stated to get experience
which would be helpful to him in the event
OF his succeeding IN getting an appointment
upon the force.
IT am q little short of change" he ad-
United 10 one of the officers on duty IN
the station, but / guess I can make out
tomorrow. The fare on the boat Is 40
cents and / have - cents In my pocket, but
! guess the man on tho boat will let me
20 II I give him all I have.
But" he said Il would rather stay here
md get a position on the police force"
what makes you think you would like
70 be policeman" ne was asked.
''Weu,' he said. you know that a man
who works on farm can't save much
money or wear good clothes. Policemen
can always have good clothes and they
also seem to have plenty of money to
spend"
His explanation was interrupted by the
sudden opening Of the door and the appear
ence OF man whose clothes were sneared
with blood. Behind him was another man
whose appearance was that of an Individual
who had seen better days. Trouble was
experienced by the policemen while they
were handling the couple of prisoners. and
when the knock down and drag out" was
over the Charles county man was asked:
-'And do you still want to be a police
mani"
Certainly" was the response of the
AiarylaHdsr Il stiH think I would Ike to
try H."
Before morning there were several hurry
calls received for policemen. and the work
was calculated 10 make an ordinary appli-
cant for a position change his mind but
the young man from Charles county was
ETH In tho field when he left the station