The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-03
FpON OTHER PENS
SCIENTIFIC MYSTERIES.

perhaps the TIME may COItlS Witch
scientific explanations VIII not be
clothed in ambiguous terms and poly
syllable words that are meaningless to
the general reader. For instance, the
residents of Athol, in Massachusetts,
have been worried about the quality
of the water in the town mains. There
has been an odor connected with this
useful LIQUID and an unpleasant taste,
and the two have combined to make
the users uneasy These users applied
to the state board of health, and that
sage body, after due consideration, in
formed the anxious townsmen that the
trouble was succinctly set fourth in the
following opinion: "Aphanizomenon,
one of the cyanophyceal, imparts odor
and taste, but is harmless. To restore
normal conditions get rid of them"
But what is it, how does it look, has
it wings or claws or tail? Why is it
odorous. and whence comes the I'M
plea SAINT taste? It would appear that
people who have to absorb this mys-
FERROUS creature, and breathe it In and
take it on their palates, should have
their simple curiosity gratified when
they pathetically ask what 1t is-in
plain English without Greek frills or
latin ruffles.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
ONE AID TO FORESTRY.
Something more than passing inter-
est is attached to the announcement
| that the forestry bureau has, In con-
junction with mining corporations,
succeeded in producing chemical
| combination which when applied to
wood underground adds years to its
| life.
Next to the preservation of forests
and the upbuilding of forest reserves
this is perhaps the most valuable dis
cove1-y in connection with that impor-
tant matter Many hundreds of thou
sands of feet Of lumber find their way
| into the coal mines Of the county ev-
| ery wear, and many millions OF feet
are thrown out as worthless because
of the conditions attendant upon un-
derground operations. 1t can readily
be seen that any movements having
| for its object the preservation or wood
| after it has been cut from the forest
| will decrease the demand and conse-
ouently remove in part the danger OF
| forest MISUNDERSTANDING Dfspatch.
| EXCELLENCE.
| There used to be a title to piece
| in an old readers There is no excel
lence without great labor" People
don't go upon that idea very much.
They start out on a purpose and then
depend upon chance to do the rest.
| A Young man will study law or med
tcine and when he gets his diploma,
he says to himself, NOW is the time
to Quit" So he goes into society. johns
a club. buys an automobile. makes
some money, but is excellent in moth
| ing He has hardly an excellence ex-
| cept he is a good fellow, and has a
preference for a 10-cent cigar. But he
has stopped laboring long ago. His
life is perfectly logical; he is not after
| excellence.
' Go into the more practical world. A
man will raise the same knotty green
/ old tomato or tough and taste1ess can
| taloupe he did from the very begin
| ming There is no improvement; no
attempt at excellence. The beautiful
possibilities of what he is raising new
| er occur to him. The fine service that
| he can render humanity by raising the
best is no part of his mission.-Ohio
State Journal.