Miscellaneous.

Lake County Press, Issue 2185, 5 September 1907, Page 7

Miscellaneous.

TJIK diminution of mst of production affected in modern 111110$ by the improvenicnta in process of manufacture is wonderful. Thus, a gross ni steel pens which lire sold to day for Id. formerly cost I'T to produce.

The first use of Niagara’s power was made in 172G, a primitive sawmill being worked there. Nothing more was done until 18-12, when the plan of hydraulic canals was conceived, and in ISGI one of them was completed.

The small town of Werdr, in the kingdom of Dahomey, is celebrated for its temple of servants —a long building in which the priests keep upwards of I,UOO serpents of all sizes,j which they feed with birds and frogs brought to them as offerings by natives.

February, ISGG, was in one way the most wonderful month in the world’s history. It had no full moon. January had two full moons, and so had March, but February had none. This remarkable state of things had never happened before since the era we assign to the Creation

Tt e islands in Chesapeake Bay, frequented by fishermen and duck-hunters, are so rapidly disappearing beneath the assault of the tides that in a few years there will be none left. A striking instance is Tangier Island, where the British fortifications 1812 are under water.

Betweeu the towns of Los Angeles and Pasadena, in Southern California, there has been constructed an overhead path for the exclusive use of cyclists. The path is of wood, varies from 311. to oOft. in height, and lias an average gradient of 1 in SO. It accommodates four machines abreast, and is lit throughout by electric light.

A (Iravity Steeplechase. Wo seldom pause to think of the great expenditure "I' time, money, and ingenuity which go towards the provision of a new form of entertainment. If it takes the fancy of the public a fortune is the reward of the inventor, hut if not —and the public is very difficult to please —then time and money are entirely lost. It is a very ingenious adaptation of the principle of the switch-back to steeplechasing on wooden horses. It is the invention of Mr J. W. Cc.wdroy, who has shown great skill in its construction. The course has successive hills and valleys to enable a good speed to be kept up, Each horse runs along a rail, raised above the course on stout upright supports; and when the riders mount their steeds, they are started with a gentle push, and then gravity takes the matter in hand, and secs horse and ruler safely to the end of their journey. There are four parallel lines of rails, and great interest is imparted to the fun when three or four horses start together and race. It is real racing, for the pace of the steed may be ac celerated or diminished by the simple expedient of throwing the weight backward or forward. The riders arc cautioned to hold tight here, as the horses come round the corner -'.own an incline and at a swinging ‘gallop,’ Just before reaching the winning post there is a : water-jump,’ which adds a decided touch of realism.

The Phonograph as a Civilising Medium. That the phonograph has been an active agent in the spread of civilisation, in assisting exploration, and in substituting peace for war, is shown by the history of the talking instrument. Colonel Colin Harding, the English explorer of the wilds of Central Africa, had many difficulties smoothed from his way by this instrument, Part of his projected journey through Barotselaud and about the headwaters of the mighty Zambesi River lay through a wild country peopled by blacks, who objected to the passage of a white man’s expedition. King Lewanika of that country approved of the expedition ; but the difficulty was to transmit his wishes to the thousands of his subjects iu the remote corners of his dominions. Armed with some records, the explorer set out upon his hazardous journey, and as lie penetrated into the country the native chiefs displayed unmistakable signs of hostility ; but on such occasions, the colonel simply set the phonograph iil action, and the unsophisticated natives were almost prostrated by terror when they heard the tones of their august monarch proceed from what they termed the ‘ speaking iron.’ When they heard the royal commands they were very obeisant and proffered their advice and assistance with the utmost prodigality. In this way Colonel Harding travelled over .S,OOO miles without the slightest molestation, and never had to use his rille on a single occasion in self-defence against the blacks. When the American were extending their occupation of the Philippine Islands the people of one sultanry manifested a disposition to rebel. The Sultan was induced to visit a warship, and, while in the captains’ cabin, was entertained by the productions of a phonograph.

The Blind Boys of France. In Paris, neat' the famous homo for old soldiers known ns Les Invalidcs, stand the National Institution for blind youths, where two hundred blind French boys are housed, boarded, and trained in various practical arts and crafts. They are gathered from all parts of France and generally stay in the Institution for eight years—from ten to eighteen years of age. During this time they have to work hard, as the time is found barely sufficient to turn out a skilled workman or musician. The former are taught net making, chair-caning, straw-plaiting, wood-turning, etc.; whilst those who have special aptitude arc trained as pianists, organists, music teachers, and tuners. In every case the teacher is blind, as no seeing person could sufficiently gain the confidence of the sightless youth to fill this important post. The system employed for teaching, reading grammar, etc., is the well-known Braille method, in which signs are raised on soft blot ting-like paper and these are read by the pupil by means of his lingers. Arithmetic is taught in a similar manner, whilst instruction in geography is imparted by means of spheres and specially prepared atlases in which the conformation of the countries is constructed in relief. Natural History is taught, Ihc teacher takes the pupil’s hands in his, and makes him feel the build and shape of the animal, giving him a verbal description at the same time. The larger animals, such us the giraffe and elephant, are represented by smaller models made to scale, but wherever possible stuffed animals and birds are used. During recreation time the boys take part in specially prepared physical exercise and games, for the joys of football and cricket arc denied to them. At chess, daugbls and care's (specially prepared of course) they ear, however, hold their own with any seeing boys in the « orld.