The new age., 1906-05-26
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The "dew pond" is curious Stone
Age relic yet to be traced in Great
Britain. In the absence of springs.
broad hollows were scooped out, and
these were covered with straw or other
non-conductlng material, with a thick
layer Of clay and stones on top. At
night the cold surface of the clay con-
densed an abundance of water for the
cattle to drink.
Sympathetic inks, by means of which
writings can be concealed when the
paper containing them is not subjected
to certain external influences, have
long been known, but a disappearing
paper, the decay of which at the end
Of a fixed time destroys writing and
all, Is certainly novelty. Such a
paper, says the French journal La
Papeterie, has recently been invented.
It is prepared by sleeping in acid, the
strength of which Is varied according
to the lease Of life intended to be be-
slowed upon the paper. After a longer
or shorter time the paper disintegrates
and falls to pieces. 1t is suggested that
this kind of paper would be a boon to
those who do not wish to have their
letters Indefinitely preserved, but that
holders of promissory notes should be-
ware Of It.
The fascinating interest of the an.
alAv H., L., st
drew the attention of the Psychologists
of the British Association during Its
recent meeting at Cape Town. Among
these ruins the most conspicuous is the
great Zimbabwe temple, which lies
about 200 miles inland from the Indian
Ocean. The oldest of the ruined build
ings are believed to date back at least
to the days Of King Solomon. 1t Is
thought that they were constructed by
Semitic colonists, whose chief object
was gold-mining, and who have left
indications of their worship of Baal and
Ashtaroth, as described in the Bible.
Experts believe that precious metal to
the value Of three or four hundred mil
lion dollars must have been extracted
from the gold reefs Of Rhodesia in an
cient times.
Zapupe is the Indian name Of plant
that grows in Mexico, along the Gulf
coast. 1t has within the past year or
two attracted considerable attention
on account Of the apparent commercial
value of the fiber derived from 1t. The
natives have long used 1t for making
ropes, cordage, bags, lariats, brides and
fish seines. The plant bears resem-
blance to the henequen plant Of Yuca-
tan, but is said to geld greater guam
tity of fiber. The fiber comes from the
leaves, and Is white, strong and fex-
ible. The plant is propagated In a
peculiar way. A stalk grows up from
the center, and the branches which 1t
puts forth become detached and fall to
the ground, where they take root. This
process occurs when plant is about 6
years old, but If the leaves are taken
off, not until about the 10Th year.
What is now known as hypnotism
was heralded nearly half century ago
as of great Importance In medical dag
nosis and as a moral aid In training
children, and much greater powers
have been assigned to 1t In recent years.
A late French writer has shown that
its usefulness has been greatly exag-
gerated 1t affects only wills too weak
to be aided, and 1t can have no value
in systematic education. Grasset has
concluded that 1t is so often harmful
that it should be employed only by
the practised physician. The same
authority has found that suggestion
may not be expected to cure a purely
mental state, nor even a grave and
profound nervous state, nor even
profound nervous disease like hysteria,
and that It's chief value In therapeutics
Is In localizing nervous disorders, espe-
cialIv hysteria.