NEWS AND NOTES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 22 April 1907, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

Whist tho Hungarian Chief of Police was hunting in ai wood near Szatmas-Nemeti, he 'discovered a cave, and after -proceodin-g somo way in comparative darkness a><most stumbled over a man a/bsolule ly covered with hair. There was something so unnatural, so weird, amd other-world-like about thia man that a feeling akin to fear seized thb police officer. The man looked for all tho world like a boast. Bnmediately tho 'gendarmes were summoned, and they proceeded to drag tho man by forco into the daylight. Ho fought like a tiger, scratching and biting the gendarmes dangerously. At last he was conveyed amidst a scene of tihe utmost confusion, to tho hospital. JKoro it was discovered that his name was John La-banez, a n d ithat ho had lived for 27 years in tho cave, and fed upon plants. Tho discovery awakened considerable fear amongst tho superstitious country folia. The following telegram from Paris appeared in a London Paper in January: — Dr C. P. -Lin-hart 1 states that many cases of chronic pharyngitis (throat inflammation) are due to mouth-breathing. Even later dnlife. when the bones of tho mouth l and nose are completely ossified, tho oponing of the nose back and fro it could bo enlarged b.v proper brcatfiing exercises. The following rules are recommended for keeping tho nose in a normal condition:— Cool living rooms, well-ventilated sleeping rooms, cold bath, especially for the neck and spine, dry clothing, siimple ' foods, regular habits, moderate daily exercise, and breathing through the nose The latest accessory for the automobile is a small mirror set in a strong fraane and suitably protected at the back, and placed where the driver can watch it. Tho mirror enables the occupants of a car to see what is coming from behind without turning tht- head. The interesting statement is made tHat constructing engineers have found the quality of the light used in outdoor night-work has a marked efTect upon tne workers. Acetylene is most like sunlight of. any of, the arfifical lights, and tho claim is made that the men do more and better work with this illumination The theory is that tlid workmen are in better spirits under stronger ■and more natural light. Chamois skin, It is stated in a Consular report issuod 'by the Washington Bureau of Manufactures is really an oil-tanned' sheop or lamb slcin lining. Tho supply o£ skeins from the chamois is very limited. Enough could not bo obtained in a year to supp.y thy United States for moro than a single day, a fair average yearly crop from Switerland being only about 5,000 to 6 000 skins. Thy chamois skin is heavier than the skin of tne sheep or lanub-, and much coarser. For strength and durability the chamois skin is proferab^, but for ordinary use and appearance tho oil-tanned shoepskir lining would, in most instances, I*, preferred, A queer pearl of a lavender color with deiicate stripes, ami about the size of an acorn, was recently found in a mussel shell in the Paciflc. It it said to have been growing constantly since 'it lel-t th* a shell. When it reached the present, owner it weighed 41 graiMs. He took correct measurements and if the reported growth continues he will invite the opinions of •seionOifio men as to tho cause. ' "Even Hewers and 1 fruits are i faked," said ono of the judges at „ flower show. "If we are not careful, we award a gold modal to peaches mad*: up like a lady's face. [or to carnations crimped a iwl curlod like a Marcel coiffeur. Some of theso exhibitors— and they may be gardeners for multi-millionaires— deepen their flowers' color ty dyeing' them. If there are not quite leaves enough on a plant, they clua on extra ones. To violets and otlJ.-r odorous blooms they give a strong* ,er perfumo by means of a spray laden with the costliest scent. Ifis the same thing with fruits. T O . apples, poaches, and grapes a lovely delicate bloom is given with rougv and powder."With tlie advent of eletric lights, kerosene, and other methods of illumination, the whale h a s fallen from its high estate. Of laty years, owing to theso causes, whlalea have large incr-oasod iiv numbers and jt is again profitable! to hunt tlKsu. Some of the habits of these monsters of the deep in the Taciflc a re not generally known. In the winter season there are no whales in the Arctic Ocean, for the good reason that, they cannot live thero when the water is frozen over 60 that there are tulj broaithme* spaces. A considerable number are supposed to die every year by beine* caught! under ice to tfrick that when they come up to breathe they cannot break the ice. Frequently a dozen or.more whales may be eeen in small areas of open water, surrounded by ice. Rhere no ship can go, or not without greater perils than ought to he encountered. Where all the 'Arctic whales went to has long been a moot question. They are found all along the 'Pacific coasts duning some of tih winter months. But their breeding grounds are the lower latitudes. Professor Jolin B. Watson discusses whether it is prolbable that mice have a sixth sense. He took a rat and placed It on a covered box, from the centre of .which a maze led to food and freedom. The rat was allowed to traverse the maze until he had learned tlb way out. Then his eyes and olfactory nerves ■were deadened, also his feet, so that he could not experience the sensation of touch, a*nd finally his whole head was covered with collodion. Yet after all this the rat was aide to traverse the maze apparently almo-yt as well as ever. This, said Professor Watson, seemed to point to the fact, that rats had a sixth sense, whioh might be cailed a sense of direction. As to the possibility of the existence of such a sense in man. psyoholoig'rats (mind experts differ. Somo say that experiments have been made which show that there is in man a sense of direction, while others hold to an opposite view.