OLLA PODRIDA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 934, 24 January 1890, Page 6

OLLA PODRIDA.

A FOREGONE CONCLUSION. Canvasser— ‘ I have here a work ’ Master of the House—‘l can’t read.’ Canvasser— ‘ But your children \ Master of the House— * I have no children, (triumphantly.) Nothing but a cat.’ Canvasser— * Well, you want something to throw at the cat.’ He took it. INFLUENCE OF LIGHT ON LIFE. An English scientist hat been making experimsnta to determine the important pari which light plays in the development of ani-mal-life. A dozen tadpoles were confined in a box from- whicn every ray of light was excluded. The result was that only two of them developed into frogs, and those were ehort lived. The others increased consider, ably in size, but never left the tadpole form. ’WHERE TYPHOID GERMS LURK. Dr Edson of the New York Board of Health, sums up his oouclusions in regard to typhoid fever as follows : First, that typhoid fever never infects the atmosphere ; eecond, that it never arises de novo ; and third, that the causes of the disease, in order of their frequency, are as follows :—First, infected water ; second, infected milk, third, infected ice; fourth digital infections ; fifth, infected meat. A STONE-CUTTER’S WONDERFUL DISCOVERY. A Bohemian stone-cutter of St. Paul, Minn., named August Boorfried, is said to have discovered a combination of chemicals by the use of which the hardest stone may be dissolved and cast into any desired shape, the casting being as hard as flint, translucent and capable of taking on a brilliant lustre. It varies in colour according to tie stone used, and can be had from a bright red to a beautiful azure blue. While iu the fluid form it can be used for coating anything having a stone or glassy surface. Mr Boorfried claims that car wheels and rails can be made in this way. TENNYSON’S FIRST POEM. Alfred Tennyson received ten shillings for his first poem, says Current Literature. The remuneration was given him by his grandfather as the reward of industry, but not of genius, since the old gentleman took the slate on which Tennyson had written his blank verse, wiped it clean and handed his youthful relative the coins with the remark : ‘There is the first money you have ever earned, and I suppose it will be the last !’ The Pott Laureate’s next venture was a volume of verse, written with his brother, published under the title of ‘ Poems by Two Brothers.’ TOUCHED HIM RIGHT. A citizen who owns and runs sevsral fancy farms was sitting in his office recently when a trampish looking fellow, wLh his right thumb wound up in a rag, climbed the stairs and asked for a quarter. ‘Why should I give you a quarter2’ demanded the agriculturist. ‘ Because I can’t work.’ ‘When did you woik last V

i* All last week.’ * What were you doing ?’ ‘ Hnsking corn. That’s what made my thumb sore.’ * 'Oh, that’s it ? Husking corn, eh ? Well, here’s your quarter.’ The man haclnotbeengone half an hour before a sudden thought came to the farmer. Then he leaped up with the exclamation : *By gosh ! but I believe he lied ! Of cours ? he did : ! We haven’t evsn cut our corn yet!’ RUSSIA’S PERAMBULATING SCHOOLMASTER. The Russians have recently improved ou the sleeping-coaches of the railway and the perambulating schoolmaster of the rural regions. They have provided a school waggon, which is furnished with a room for the teacher, a class-room or study, and a library, all suitably supplied with the necessary material. This waggon will be on the line of the Transcaspian Railway all the year round, remaining as long as may be deemed necsssary at districts which are not provided with a school.

star Motions. There are no proofs that the motion of the sun or stars is orbital, when independently considered, except iu the case of multiple stars, and possibly, some clusters < f stars. Every star attracts every other according to a well known law, and hence individual stars must obey all these separate f irces drawing one another with varying intensities at the same time in all possible directions. Hence the path of any star in sjiace cannot follow the law of any known curve, neither Gait it be an absolutely straight line. The prob abilities of the case are that their motions areirregular and widely dissimilar. —Sidereal M essenger, THEY FOUGHT TO A FINISH. A STRANGE CONTEST between a hawk AND A ■RATTLESNAKE. A party of Illinois sportemeu witnessed a savage contest on the banks of Barnett Lake, opposite Elizabethtown, 111., recently between a large hawk and an immense rattlesnake that' had evidently crawled from an adjoining hillside to the lake after water.

Their attention was first attracted to the hawk suddenly darting from his position in a pecan tree to the ground, and then rising to repeat the same operation. Seeing the hawk repeat this a dozen or more times aroused the curiosity of the sportsmen to ascertain the cause of its strange actions. Creeping through the bushes they arrived at the edge of a small opening and were surprised to find a large rattlesnake with the blood oozing from several wounds in its back and aides. With its head erect the enraged reptile was watching every movement of its feathered enemy. The hawk seemed to instinctively realise that it had the sympathy of the huuters, and as they took their position within a few yards of the rattler, it made another dart at its dangerous foe. To avoid the reptile’s deadly fangs the hawk would swoop down as if to attack the snake, and suddenly wheel to cne side to avoid the stroke and then return and - make his attackbefore the snake had time to recoil. This was repeated time after time, and the rattler, evidently realising that it was getting the , worst of this strange engagement, suddenly uucoiled and started on a hasty retreat for a log heap near by. Taking in the situation tb« hawk made a sudden dart, and catching the reptile just bohind the head with its sharp talons it raised the snake from the ground and soared away to the northeast, the frantic movements of the sDake’s body being visible as far as the eye could discern. THE LSBEL RIFLE. Wonderful reports continue to be heard regarding the results to be obtained by the use of the uew mysterious firearm of the French army, the Lebel rifle. This weapon is now being manufactured at the rate of 1,000 a day, and up to December of last year 580,000 had been delivered, but not one had been accepted until 5000 cartridges were ready for it. Iu general appearance, says the Utica Observer, the Lebel rifle resembles a Hotchkiss repeating arm, such as is in use in the United States Navy, in all but the barrel arrangement. The magazine of the Lebel is under the barrel ; in the case of the Hotchkiss it is in the stock. The Lebel carries eight cartridges in its magazine, the Hotchkiss seven cartridges. The Lebel’s total weight is a trifle over nine and a half pounds. Its calibre is a little less than oueeigthth of an inch. The bullet is about four times its diameter in length, aud is coated with nickel. The powder used is not the ordinary black kind, but a secret compound of smokeless nature, which has as its principal ingredients gun cotton and oullodion. The powder creates but little noise on explosion, and gives only slight recoil. So far the only objection which, has been raised against tho new compound is the stifling stench it causes. This is said to be little short of suffocating in its effects when a battalion is firing on a comparatively skill day. What the effect would be on troops firing from houses and behind barricados can be in a measure imagined. Some of the resuits achieved by this instrument are very surprising. At a distance of 107 yards the bullet is said to pass through a plate of iron nearly half an inch thick, while at 220 yards’ distance it will pierce over fifteen inches of solid oak. The Lebel rifle and the old Cras rifle were recently tested together—one company of infantry being armed with the Lebel and the other with the Gras. At 430 yards the former make 180 hits out of a possible 200. and the latter only 80. The last and moat marvellous shot made with this arm )3 that of Lieutenant ivlalteie of the marines, v/tio used as a target a 5 franc piece at a distance of 218 yards, Ho struck it iu tho centre aod transformed it into a silver ring. The wound which this rifle makes is said to be very difficult to cure, for the reason that the lead forma in small points on the surface oE the bullet, and these remain iu the wound, greatly complicating its treatment. To go into battle will be before long but another name for suicide.

SHARKS IN THE ADRIATIC. The canalisation of the Isthmus of Suez has been followed by unforseen results—the introduction of sharks into the Mediterranean. Formerly the presence in this sea of a dog-fish that had passed around Africa and cleared the Strait of Gibraltar in the wake of some ship might have been observed every four or five years; but. now the number of these terrible fishes is increasing in a remarkable manner, chiefly in the Adriatic Sea, whither the minacious ships proceed that pass through the Suez Canal.

THE WEIGHT OF THE WHALENilsson remarks that the weight of the great Greenland or right whale is 100 tons, or 220,0D01b5, equal to that of 88 elephants or 440 bears. The whalebone in such a whale may be taken at 33601b5, and the oil at from 140 to 170 tuns. The remains ef the fossil whale which have been found bn the coast of Ystad, iii the Baltic, and even far inland iri Wangaparise, Westergothland, betoken a whale which although not mote than 50 to 60 feet in length, must at least have had a body twenty-seven times larger and heavier than that of the common or right whale.

THE LARVA OF THE COMMON TIGER BEETLE-. For agility, strength* and ferocity, this larva is a veritable tirier among the insect world. Its body is long and narrow when young, but becomes broader as the larva approaches the papa state. After each moult its colour is a soft creamy white, which iu a few hours changes to a dead black, except in the creases and under parts, which remain lighter. When hungry, it is lithe, active, and quiek-motioned, jerking, twisting, and throwing its tail up over its bank when molested-. It 3 strong jaws, too, are ever as ready to be used in its defence as in procuring food. The «psoimens observed by me seemed to prefer cut worms a 3 an article of diet, the common garden worm being usually chosen. The tiger larva seizes the worm near its headoß itliesinits underground retreat. The struggles of the doomed worm —often several times larger than its assailant —throw both combatants to the surface of the ground, where it continues in the vain effort tr> free itself until it can struggle uo longer, the bloodthirsty little tiger burying its jaws deeper and deeper into its victim, until sometimes its whole head and forelegs are hidden. Without loosening its hold it continues to drain tho Worm uotil it is gorged and the worm a mere shelf, when it leaves what remains of ito victim, and retires, under the damp earth, where it remains inactive until ready to moult—Scientific American.

HOW HIS BOYS TURNED OUT. Visitor (locking at the photograph album) ‘ You have a line looking family of boys, Mr Bilkeraon. And they all seem to have turned out remarkably well. This is Hiram, isn’t it ?’ Mrßilkerson (proudly) Yes, tliat’sHiram. He’s in tlie theatrical line. Get’a 150<iois a week for merely doing a little specialty business and singing what they call a topical song. Hiram’s a good deal of a genius. The next one is Christopher. He’s the vice President and manager of a baseball chib. Made 4600d0)s out of it last year and didn’t turn his hand over. The one on the next page is Oliver. He owns the fastest pacer in any fourteen counties around here. Jiuilt a fine brick house out of what he made with the animal last year and the year btforo. Yes, my boys are doing pretty well. Gome out with me to the barn. J ’ Visitor —* Hut yon have another sou, haven’t you ?’ Mr Bilkerton (reluctantly)— * Ye-e-s. H;3 name’s Gabriel, He’s a professor of Greek, or theology, or something of that sort in a college. Gabs is a good fellow in his way, but he doesn’t seem to get ahead. Come out to tho barn, Mr Swaokhammer, I want to show you my new 3paa of greys.’ EDISON STUMBLED ON IT. HOW THE WIZARD OF MENLO PARK HAPPENED TO INVENT THE PHONOGRAPH. ‘I have never seen in print a true account of how Thomas A. Edison first conceived the idea of the phonograph/ remarked an electrician who was at one time in the •Wizard’s’ employ, to a World reporter,. The phonograph is the wonder of the world, and one of the new inventions which envious rivals have not charged Edison with having stolen. In fact, even his bitterest rivals for fame, all of whom appear to harbour the idea that it is their duty to detract from his reputation for genius and honesty, as a rule concede that ‘ Edison did really invent the phonograph.” It is an interesting story how he can e to invent it. Manyyear3 ago, when Edison was still at Menlo Park, and working day and night for fame, he devoted months to perfecting the telephone, and undoubtedly did more than any other inventor to make it practical by introducing the carbon plate into the transmitter. While experimenting on diaphragms for the telephone, Edison had constructed a number of small sheepskin drumheads to test their value as diaphragms as compared to metal and other substances. ‘ To some of these sheepskin diaphragms he had attached a small metal needle, which was intended to project towards the magnet and assist in conveying the vibrations caused by the human voice. The sheepskin diaphragms did not fulfil Edison's expectations, and he discarded them, and as usual with appliances he decides to be useless, they were thrown aside to be removed with other rubbish. * His assistants soon discovered that by holding the sheepskin diaphragms in front of their months and emitting a gutteral sound between the lips a peculiar noise apptoaoiung music could be produced. It was something similar to tho alleged music produced by covering a comb with thin paper surd humming a tune on it. Iu passing one cf the men engaged in playing on a diaphragm one day Edison playfully attempted to stop the noise by touching the projecting metal pin with bis finger and no sooner had he done so than lie gave one of his peculiar Btarfcs. * Eh ! What’s that?’ said he, which so astonished

tbeperformer that he dropped lliediaphragm: ‘Do that again; said tlie ‘ Wizard/ and it was repeated, and again his finger touched the pin to his evident delight. He went about for some time asking cne after another of his assistants to hum or sing against the diaphragm, and fiually he got them to talking against it, he all the time touching the pin lightly with his finger. ‘ “I have it/ said he finally, and he retired to his den and commenced drawing diagrams for new machinery, which his assistants | speedily made, and a few days later the first phonograph was put together. It was a crude affair, the pin making an impression on wax, and. it talked imperfectly, but it did well enough to show Edison that he was on the right track, and he rapidly improved it until now it is very nearly perfection. A hundred men might have felt the vibration that pin attached to the piece of sheepskin, but it took art Edison to instantly realise that the vibrations might be made to iriderit a soft substance and be susceptible of reproducing the exact sounds of the human voice that caused the different vibrations. The phonograph was regarded as a toy at first* bat it sold for $1,090,000 recently/

EUGENIE*S SAD OLD AGE. The ex-Empress once tho gay and dazzling sovereign lady toward whom the eyes of all Europe were turned, is said to be more than usually infirm this season, and speeds a great portion of her time in silence arid meditation, whether she is lodged in her own home or is visiting at the mansion of some friend; When her fils of gloom come on she is capable of remaining sleepless, speechless, without eating, drinking or noticing any one around her for twenty forir hours at a time. Persuasion and persistent attempts to bring her to a sense of her surroundings only make hexcase worsx lb is as if she were communing with the dread phantoms of her past, and as if they held her attention to the exclusion of all other things in the universe. When tho fit is over it may be succeeded by one of devotion, such as only Spanish women can go through—devotion which seems,to leave the very soul prostrate. The remnants of her wardrobe, which she was allowed to remove from Parii iu 1876 and 1577, produced much of the fortune on which she lives today and the money which she expended on the splendid imperial mausoleum. Of furs alone, at the time of the Empire s downfall, she had $120,000 worth deposited with the crown fur-keeper, and others worth as much more with intimate friends, it has been estimated that the Empress Eugbnie possessed at the time of the Empire’s greatest grandeur SBOO,OOO worth of furs. —Paris Letter in Philadelphia News.