The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-04


Like captured moons the pale arcs flare.
Above each quiet, somber square
through evening wind, on morning air,
Ihe et6 distant C1t, drone OF traffic strays;
fheir magic fades by London town.
NO %! other voice our souls can fret
With such desire when memory calls;
The empire circle widens, yet
Here. where the flying message falls,
end all that empires fair renown
-wilfrid l. Randall. in the Spectator
Whale supersedes Beef.
| Professor Roy C. Andrews. of the
American Museum of Natural History
staff, just has returned from a $4,000
mile trip through unfrequented parts
of the Pacific ocean. He brought
many stories of thrilling experiences
on land and sea; also large number
of rare specimens for the museum col
lection. Professor Andrews says that
whale meat has almost superseded
beef on the bill of fare or the average
japanese, and that in the last ten
years the whaling industry on the
coast of Japan has grown to such an
extent that the whales in that part of
the Pacific are in danger of becoming
very scarce.
| The professor says that the best cuts
of whale steak retail in Japan at II
cents pound. and that the average
Japanese prefers whale to beef. In
taste, he says. the whale steak is not
unlike venison. 1t is coarser than
beef. The favorite methods of cook
ing whale steak are broiling. frying
and baking. There will be no meat
famine in Japan SO long as whales
hold out. Then, perhaps, the Japs will
go back to beef
of his journey in the United States
government ship Albatross. made an
| especial study of the whaling industry
of Japan. He brought back the skele-
tons Of an 80 foot sulphur bottom
whale, a 70 foot finback, a As foot sci,
and two killer whales. one 80 feet,
the other 26 feet long. besides many
specimens and a large amount of data
concerning porpoises and dolphins
| found in the waters surrounding the
South Sea Islands and the Dutch East
Indies.
At least one of the porpoises cap
tured by the professor was new to
science, and several others are entirely
new to the museum collection. The
professor Joined the Albatross through
the courtesy of the national bureau of
fisheries, and his duty was to attend to
the shore collection among the islands
visited by the vessel. The islands Wis
tied included the Philippines, Borneo,
| Celebes, the Molucca islands, Formosa,
Loo Choo and japan.
1t was in February last that he
completed his work, collecting hum
| dreds of specimens of birds and ami
mails, and turned his attention to the
whaling industry on the coast of
! Japan. He found many whaling sta
lions, all operated in an up to date
manner by the Japanese. Y h Nor
wegian gunners employed, however,
| for the capture of the whales. One
| of the largest whaling concerns there
| is the Oriental Whaling company of
Osaka. The professor says that the
La l. 20 = 10
Gus in the extreme. and not only did all
| they could to further his investiga-
lions, but presented the museum with
a large number of keletons.-New
| York Times.
Famous Texas Rangers.
The historic rangers of Texas have
been busily and worthily employed the
last week or 50: Texas had lately
rangers. OF old. the rangers guarded
the frontier, and the Texas of today
feels that it has no frontier. Indians
| have passed into history or gone into
| business. and cattle thieves are scarce
and no longer picturesque. But Mex
| leo has a northern frontier, and
| granting the modern Texan idea of the
| Obliteration of that states frontier, the
rangers have nevertheless been up and
1 active, day and night, on work of the
old frontier type.
The existence of rangers suggests
primitive conditions. The nation had
companies of rangers in the war of
! 1912, but these were of the infantry,
while in the Black Hawk war of 1892
a battalion of six companies of mount
ed rangers did good service. Each
man provided his own horse and arms,
and his wages were 81 a day. In time
these rangers were converted into
| dragons, and from them was evolve d
the present First regiment of cavalry.
he Texas rangers, who serve as
mounted police and militiamen as well,
and have the civil power OF marShalS
and sheriffs, exist under a law passed
as recently as 1866. but they are
nevertheless a survival of the days of
Sam Houston and the little republic
of the lone star. There are four COM
rangers to make much fus5 about in
so big a state. But they have accom-
plished much, and in Mexico they are
regarded as prodigies of valor. Fear
less riders, dead shots, every man of
them, they have seemed ubiquitous
and unconquerable in their day. Per
haps Texas, because of its recent scare.
will conquer its disposition to abolish
the rangers. Texans should remem-
Der the rest of the country.
do you think we could lick the
Yankees?" one peon was heard to in
quire of another in town of Chihua-
hua lately.
Eyes, If the Texans would let u.s.
| was the reply. BY Texans the peon
} meant rangers. Let the Texas rangers
be preserved for the good OF all of US.
While they exist Texas will not permit
the Mexicans to whip u.s. The Texas
. legislature is to vote for or against the
: abolition of the rangers il January. It
is likely that the force will be reor-
ganized and it's historic name pre-
served.-New York Times.
Platinum in lamps.
Before Edison produced a practical
, carbon filament and thus made the in
candescent lamp commercial article,
} many experimental lamps had been
| built with the f1lament made of a
J single loop Of platinum sealed into
! the bulb so that its two ends projected
and made the terminals of the lamp.
| ,1n4 l. full