The National tribune., 1908-09-24

| being made to the other two. The le-
| gend connected with this famous stone
| is that its power was discovered way
back in the dark ages, and was owned
by different peoples. but finally fell into
the hands of the Syrians, who were
credited with speaking with double
| tongue after kissing it. The Carthagen
| ians got hold of it, somehow, and soon
after gained the reputation for 1nsin-
| cerity, and having set sail for Minorca,
carrying with them their precious stone,
| they were overtaken by storm and
driven into the harbor of Cork. The
stone was left in that vicinity until
made use of in the construction of the
tower of Blarney Castle The presum-
ably authentic origin of the belief in
the stones qualities is said to date from
1902, when the owner of the castle, one
Cormack McDermod Mccarthy, con-
cluded an armiStice with the English
Lord President by consenting to sur
render it to an English garrison. He
kept putting off this official parsonage
from day to day with specious state
ments, fair promises and false pretexts,
till the latter became the laughing stock
of the Ministers of good Queen Bess,
and the delusive speeches of the lord OF
the castle became known as mere "blar-
ney" The word took its place in the
Englis!, language as a word in good and
regular standing during the last CEN
tury.
1t looks as if a remedy for the terri
BILE sleeping sickness of Africa has been
found. This fatal disease, whose fear
full ravages in the Congo Free State
and Uganda are well known, is spread
ing in all directions in that vast conh-
nent, and it is perfectly understood that
unless it can be conquered millions OF
natives in tropical Africa are doomed.
Nor is the white man immune, con-
siderable number of cases among them
being reported, some of the victims in
the early stages returning to Europe,
where they soon died. The disease is
known the result from the bite of a par
ticular fly, who carries in his probosis
microscopic microbe derived from
the blood of the crocodile, and which
bacteria, injected into the blood, causes
swelling of the body, emaciation of
the limbs, and an extreme drowsiness,
the victims passing into deep sleep,
from which they cannot be awakened
and in which they expire. few years
ago the world became awakened to the
terrible nature of this disease, and
systematic effort was started to stamp
it out. Those Nations having posses
sions in Africa have naturally been vi
tally interested in this movement, Eng
land, France. Germany, Belgium and
Portugal being especially active in en-
couraging their scientists and doctors
in research and study along this line.
The situation is terrible, but it is not
hopeless, since the latest developments
give ground for belief that science is to
triumph in the end. Atoxyl, prepara-
ton of arsenic, has been used by the
doctors lately in treating this hitherto
fatal disease, with the most encouraging
results. Eighty-three patients treated
in the early stages of the trouble with
atoxyl entirely recovered. In another
instance 76 patients in the last stages
of the disease were treated and only 20
died. Hospitals are spientifully scat
tered over the infested regions, and the
| police of every Colonial Government
| hunt out and bring to these hospitals
the sufferers. 1t has been considerable
| trouble TO do this. for the blacks have
| a horror of hospital or doctor, and in
| the first stages of the disease will not
admit that they have it. All the Congo
hospitals are guarded by soldiers to
prevent convalescents from escaping.
From the different stations come re-
ports that the atoxyI is doing great
things, and may now be hailed as a
curative as well as palliative. This is
| indeed a great triumph for science.
Apropos of this terrible scourge, few
years ago, when the world had just
awakened to a comprehension of its
| in a leading newspaper taking decid-
edly whimsical, amusing view of the
tragic question. They were supposed to
have been written by sufferer from
trouble quite the reverse of the dread
sleeping sickness, by one, indeed, who
could not sleep at all, an insomnia. and
the verses were addressed to an expedi-
ton which had just left for Africa to
search for the germ supposed to be re-
sponsible for the fatal disease. Two of
the verses are as follows:
'I am one who vainly woes
Morpheus of the battling snooze.
have counted scores of sheep,
Quaffed narcotics long and deep,
Sleeping sickness ought to be
Just the very thing for me.
| "I would sleep till were sick
/ Gladly, if / knew the trick,
| But until you send some germs
| Sleep and ! are not on terms.
Men of science, hear my plea,
/ Send a microbe home to me-"
How many good ideas come from the
/ West, One of the most excellent comes
i from West Des Moines, where the school
| children are encouraged to save their
money. The principal of each school
building is supplied with a lot of one
l cent stamps and folders, in which 81
4 stamps can be pasted. On every Friday
/ at certain hour the principal is ready
Il for the children, who file into her office
to buy the stamps and folders. When
Il the folder has been filled, and Saturday
mornings, they take them to the bank
: and either receive so cents in cash ol
open an account with the bank. The
bank pays them four per cent interest
on the deposit after it has remained si1
months, and the money cannot be with
drawn by a child without the writer
order of his parents or guardian. Tht
plan has worked splendidly, the depos
, its up to the present time amounting
to nearly 100000, more than 1900 chill
; dren having deposit of $40 each. Thu
. idea started with the Mothers Congress:
. OF Iowa. which in 1901 organized thu
Penny Provident Association, and from
, which has resulted the saving of abou
. $4,000. The West Des Moines plan is
however, simpler than that employed
,l by the other cities. The children hav
entered into 1t with great enthusiasm
= yieing with each other in the number o
. stamps bought, depriying themselves o
cherished chewing gum, candy and sucl
things dear to the heart of a child il
order to I'LL the folder more quickly. TIL
Z, idea Of having a pass-book with thei
/ name written on the outside also please
e them tremendously. They are encour
i aged to have some object in saving tn
E. money to prevent them from becomin
a little hoarders, such as providing mean
II for further education after they ge
It thru the public schools. etc. Not onl
= does this wise and excellent system es
.t.l;. .l,A IaIN. Of xrir a 4 \,