OLLA PODRIDA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 946, 18 April 1890, Page 5

OLLA PODRIDA.

OLD MEMORIES. When mental decay is nearing the final stage, there is a tendency to revert to the thoughts and impressions of former years, which is probably dependent on the processes by which the substanoe of the brain is undergoing decay. The more recent formations are the first to crumble away, and the process not only brings to the surface, if we may so speak, the earlier formations—that is, the material records of earlier mental prooessos —but would appear to bring those*parts of the cerebrum into renewed activity. Thus, as death draws near, men ‘babble of green fields,’ as has been beautifully said, though not by Shakespeare, of old Jack Falstaff. Or less pleasant associations may be aroused, as we see in. Mrs Grandmother Smallweed, when ‘with such infantine graces as a total want of observation, memory, understanding and intellect, and an eternal disposition to fall asleep over the fire and into it,’ she ‘ wiled away the rosy hours ’ with continual allusions to money.—R. A. Proctor. FOREIGN STATESMEN’S SALARIES. In Portugal Peers and Deputies receive 355d015. a year. In Holland members of the Lower House receive 830dols. per annum. In Denmark members of both Houses receive 3dole, 75 cents a day during the session. In France Senators and Deputies are paid 1780dols, per annum, and the same rate obtains in Austria. In Belgium each member of the Chamber of Representatives receives 84dols, a month if he does not live in Brussels, In Switzerland members of the National Council get 3dols. 50 cents a day, and members of the State Council get from Idol, 50 cents to 2dols. 50 cents. In Italy neither Senators nor Deputies are paid, but they travel free and receive other concessions in taxes and patronage.—London Court Journal. ~ CONTAGIOUSNESS OF PNEUMONIA. From a long article by Netter on ‘The Contagiousness of Pneumonia ’ these conclusions are drawn : 1. Pneumonia is a contagious disease of parasitic origin, and is transmissible either directly or by the intervention of a third person, or by inanimate objects, such as wearing apparel, etc. 2. The pneumococci are not destroyed by desiccation, and are diffusible through the air, but not to great distances, at most the interval between three hospital beds. They maintain their virulence for a period which has not been definitely determined, but probably never more than three years. 3. Contagion is possible through the entire course of the disease, and even after re-

covery. 4. The period of inoubation averages from five to seven days, but may vary between one and twenty. 5. Patients who have passed through pneumonia are dangerous both to themselves aud their neighbours, as living micrococci may be found in their saliva many j’ears after. Thence, in part, the epidemic ap. pearances 'of the disease in certain families during long periods, and also its frequans recurrence in certain individuals who have once survived it. 6. Rigid quarantine seems hardly neceF. sary, but other persons should avoid too in. timate relations with them. The sick-room should be ventilated and disinfected as thoroughly as possible, and every precaution taken to prevent the spread of the disease as p qjiher contagions. >' THE CAT'S FLEA. Mr S. J. M‘lntire states that, wishing to obtain some eggs of the cat’s flea, he placed’ late one night, a cloth for his cat to lie upon’, and early in the morning inspected it in order to collect any eggs that mi-ht have been deposited. On the firat night 62 egg 3 were obtained, on the second 78, on the third 67, and on the fourth 77, a total of 284 pggs from ope cat in the course of four nighp ! No doubt many of these, if left to themselves, would never kayo reached maturity; still the number is snfbcjent/y startling, and, unless the animal iu question was literally swarming with vermin, seems to indicate on the part of the cat’s flea a fecundity considerably in excess of what is usually attributed to the human species, which is said to produce only about a dozen at a laying. Of course it by no means follows that the fleas which would have resulted from these eggs would have been troublesome to the human inhabitants of the house } in fact, considering the great zco»

logical difference between man and the cat, the presumption would be in the other direction. It has, however, been asserted, that the cat’s flea will not attack a human host, but, however that may be, it is evident that, to be on the safe side, rooms in which cats and dogs are accustomed to lie, should be frequently swept, and that the sweepingß should be burnt. - Knowledge. EFFECTS OF CLOSE SHAVING. A writer in the Medical Classics looked through a microscope at a closely shaved face and he reports that the skin resembled a piece of raw beef. *To make the skin perfectly smooth requires,’ he says, ‘not only the removal of the hair, but also a portion of the cuticle, and a close shave means the removal of a layer of skin all around. Tha blood vessels thus exposed are not visible to the eye, but under the microscope each little quivering mouth holding a miuute blood drop protests against such treatment. The nerve tips are also uncovered and the pores are left unprotected, which makes the skin tender and unhealthy. This sudden exposure of the inner layer of the skin renders a person liable to have colds, hoarse, ness and sore throat.’

SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS IN TWENTY YEARS. The editors of Nature, London, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the magazine, take occasion to review the progress of science during that period of years. In the ,physical sciences, the development of the anatomic theory and the establishment of a connection between the theories of electricity and light have been the main achievements ; in chemistry the proclamation of the periodic law of the elements and the development of organic chemistry ; in astronomy, the development of the spectroscope, the use of photography and the extension of the nebular hypothesis ; in biology the firm establishment of the Darwinian doctrine, the development of the study of bacteria, and later, the effort to determine the position of the Lamarckian principle, have been the main features ; in botany, the keynote has been the study of protoplasm and cell life; in geology, the greate-t advance has been in the application of the microscope and the study of rook structure. WASPS ATTACKING A HIVE OF BEESOne of the results of the fine summer was to develop a superabundance of wasps. They have been a great plague to not a few beekeepers, and in one casp near Mpffat they have destroyed one hive and vigorously attacked another. The one first attacked was a fiar frame, and held between 3Qlb and 401 b of honey and brood, After killing nearly the whole of the bees, the wasps set about emptying the frame. When discovered it presented a curious sight. All in front of the hive was strewn with dead bees, mixed with a few wasp 3 that they had managed to kill, and the process of slaughter was still proceeding. Whenever a bee appeared on the board it was set upon by three or four wasps and very soon robbed of its honey bag. When the discovery was made the ws-Bps had just commenced on the second hive, and by trapping them it was'saved i

GIRLS’ WAGES AND MARRIAGE. A Woman who Thinks Manliness, and Not Matkimony, a Failure. So the shoe man thinks hiis girls are getting too independent ? Well, that is pretty good for the girls, says Alma in the Detroit News. The way they view the marriage question in its aspect of ‘ profit and loss ’ remihda me of a' bright schoolifiistress in Minnesota'.’ She was very young,'and her first school was a district school near her father’s farm. She wa3 drawing a salary o’f 40dols. per month. An agent of one of the 1 prominent music houses of St. Paul Went travelling through that' portion of ! the State selling organs.' For several' flays he made ineffectual attempts Ed engage the 1 interest of 'the schoolmistress. The business of‘negotiating for the ; organ she left entirely to her parents, and tho young exquisite felt as though he was left out in the cold. So he asked her one day : * Why is it tfiat s'Q many sahdoliha’afns are old maids ?’ With perfect ‘sang froid’ she replied. ‘ Because we do not care to give up a 40dols. salary for a 30dols. man.’ And that is the correct summing up of the whole, matter, whether with schoolmistresses, factory or shop girls. The impetus that has been given to the employment of women in all phases of work and business by the low-wage system has thrown the young men on-their• mettle, if they have any,' and mightily has it found ; them' want* ing, so far as the ‘large majority is concerned. ' 1 ’ !■ Of course there are exceptions to all rules, and this ‘among th 9 res:. •' Bat the average young maricannot keep up with the average young woman, or at least he does not. Where the fault lies, and‘for whatV reason; will all come out by and by, as the Other questions at’'issue are answered. If the hue : and cry of ‘ls marriage a failure V or ‘ Is religion a failure V would resolve r itself ’into the question of more point, ‘ I 3 manliness a failure ?’ the whole subject would be disposed of in the same answer. “ ! ' Why is it, and whose fault, that so very few of thS sons of rich then are able to stand without their fathers? But that (t ia, is patent eaough. And the yoiiug man whoa’e father’s siock'ln hand consists' of his business cr trade ? Why is it‘ that they'go : dawdling about tho stree 0, with their useless hands In tileir pockets and smoking the everlasting fcigarette, aping their 'simple’’brethren of thef (clubs,’. without a! sensible thought in ‘their* heads ?, No wonder that agjrl with an a£orp of the 'womap in her will fiot look at such m3i e apologies of the * genus homo 1 That which a girl in any walk of life admires m the opposits sex is a man, not that half-bred combination known as a dude. The lack of true manliness is felt through all grades of ihs social strata. The lady in the parlour and the maid in the kitchen

alike scorn an effeminate man. It is perfectly natural for women to look up to and regard with almost a feeling of reverence the brave and noble in men ; but the more she engages in pursuits that were exclusively his at one time, and the more he retires from his own realm, or rests on his oars entirely, the greater will be the independence women will feel in their own abilities to provide for themselves.

It is not difficult to read the * writing on the wall ’ of the future. The utter selfishness that , has brought women to the front by the low-wage diplomacy, while with the utmost complacency the assertion is made that ‘their sweet, refining influence is so highly appreciated,’ will recoil on itself. Away with such bosh ; it isn’t worth the difference in the salaries which is quietly put into the pocket of the taskmaster. Al), truly, the question is, ‘ Is manliness a failure ?’ Begin with the capitalist and end with the labourer, and answer the question to yourselves, every one.

MEN WHO MISS THE TRAIN. I loaf aroun’ the deepo jest to see the Pullman scoot, An’ to see the people scamper w’en they hear the ingine toot; But w’at makes the most impresson on my somew’at active brain Is the careless men who get there jest in time to miss the train.

An’ some cuss the railroad comp’ny, an’ some loudly cuss their stars, An’ some jest gallop down the track an’ try to catch the cars; An’ some with a loud laff and joke will poultice up their pain ; Yar’us kin’s er people get there jest in time to miss the train.

An’ there is many deepos an' flag stations ’ithout a name Aloug the Grand Trunk Railroad that leads to wealth and fame ; An' men rush to these deepos as fast as they can fly, As the train of Opportunity goes a thunderin’ by.

The Grand Trunk Railroad of Success, it runs through every clime, But the cars of Opportunity they go on schedule time, And never are their brakes reversed —they won’t back up again To take the men who get there just in time to miss the train. —S. W. Foss, in Yankee Blade,

MILES OF VARIOUS NATIONS, The Irish mile is 2240 yards. The Swiss mile is 9153 yards. The Italian mile is 1766 yards. The Scotch mile is 1984 yards. The Tuscan mile is 1808 yards. The German mile is 8106 yards The Arabian mile is 2143 yards The Turkish mile is 1826 yards. The Flemish mile is 6869 yards. The Vienna post mile is 8296 yards. The Roman mile is 1628 or 2025 yards. The Werst mile is llt>7 or 1337 yards. The Dutch and Prussian inileis 6450 yards. The Swedish and Danish mile is 73,415 yards. The English and American mile is 1760 yard (.

SPEED OF THE GULF STREAMThree miles is about the average velocity of the whole stream, though at places it attains as high a speed as 5‘4 miles per hour. As it passes through the Yucatan Channel, which is ninety tiaile3 wifle, aud over 1000 fathoms deep, the current does not flow at a higherrafce than one-fourth of a mile an hour; but in the narrower Straits of'Remini it lias a ‘velocity of from four to five miles, a breadth ot fifty miles, and an average depth of 350 fathoms. This velocity decreases as We north, nntil atNew York its speed is ndt more than two and a kiilf khots, while three miles to the east the velocity of the stream,' which has constantly been spreading out fan-shaped, is sc'arbely 'perceptible. Its spoefl, as a'Kile, 1 is greater in’ its axis than along' its edges. ’ Yet the current, though slow m the Atlantic, is not lost ; but its heat is rapidly eliminated. At Newfoundland it is 320 miles wide, tfioqgfi still warm enough to cqusp'fqgs when it meets 'with the cold dqrront from the north. From this point it heads across the Atlantic, widening out, cooling, and losing velocity until, in lat. 47 deg. N. long. 25 deg. W., it is 800 miles wide. Here it divides. One of the two branches flows to the north-east along the coast of Ireland, Scotland, and Norway, impinges on Southern Iceland, and extends round the North Cape into the Kara Sea, where its influence is still felt, and its speed, though reduced to barely 100 yards an hour,, sufficient to land the seeds and fruits of tropical plants -on the low shores past which it creeps.' A small branch deflected from it; and, as it were, sucked in by the cold current which sweeps along the East Qoqs(; past Cape Farewell, is felt for some distance along the western sficre pi Greenland, on which also tfie speds d! ’\Vest India plants and other tropical debris have been thrown.—Our Earth and its Story (Cassell’s). 1

BOTANY AND AGRICULTURE. Botany and the principles of 'agriculture are-being gradually taken bp by the science and art classes throughout the country qs well sa the hackneyed ‘Light, Sound, and Heat,’ 1 * 4 Electricity aqfl Magnetism. ( We, says the Mechanic, do not disparage knowledge of any' kind ; but we do think that so far as the majority of the population is concerned an acquaintance with botany and agrisulture is of more use than familiarity with ihS stereotyped questiods’and/ aaswerd in 1 the 'more ‘ erudite for < fiefcariV and as/rjcultuie i.e,, the' acioboe of f&cAiU growing—comes ho'tpe to'evecy ” mjan. "It would be iVqll if in plf village schools the pses and nature of plputs were instilled inte the youthful miad with the rule of three and geography. MRS GLADSTONE. Mrs Gladstone is only one year younger than her husband, and in her early days was hardly known to the publio except through

her devotion to her husband, but she recently made a speech in a publio meeting in London in place of her husband to satisfy the expectancy of the crowd, when Mr Gladstone was too weary to be present ; has since laid the corner-stone to a charitable institution in Wales, with a speech to the people in which she declnred that she was proud to have been born a Welshwoman ; and has held a reception of friends at Hawarden Castle, to which they have hied for a summer vacation. Certainly no woman in England need consider herself old until she is eighty, especially if the Queen continues to wear low necks and short sleeves, but she must not venture if single to marry a young man—London letter.

ELECTRIC VAGARIES. The queer antics caused by electricity, which is coming into common use everywhere is a daily occurrence. One of the latest (says the Scientific American) happened recently at Evansville, Ind. During a heavy storm, a number of electric light and other overhead wires were blown down and crossed, and the electric fluid started out to make things lively about the streets. Sparks were hissing and sputtering in all directions; the fire department was called out, and, unaware of the exact state of things, a number of firemen, civilians, and horses were knocked over by eleotric shooks. Finally a messenger ran to the electric light station, which promptly shut down, when over a dozen persons were found lying about unconscious and were restored with difficulty, two of the firemen at last accounts remaining in a precarious condition. It is such little occurrences as these which make the firemen and the general public alike distrustful of the overhead wires, look they ever so innocent.