Evening Star Newspaper, December 29, 1894, Page 16

16 THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1894-TWENTY PAGES. — SS A PARLOR MAGICIAN Some Tricks That Will Form an Evening’s Entertainment. VERY EASY WHEN ONE KNOWS HOW The Trick Stated and Then the Explanation is Given. THEY ARE PUZZLERS Written for The Evening Star. ECHANICAL > Meee.2 2 coming a thing of the past and the most celebrated per- formers now give “a carpet bag show,” 60 called because an or- dinary grip will con- tain all the apparat- us necessary. It should be remember- ed that the trick it- self is a very small part of the finished Performance, no more than are the written words of an opera compared with a pro- Guction of the whole work on the stage. While, in case of the opera, the music, scenery, costumes, lights, &c., all help to preduce the grand effects, in magic the hands, eyes and tongue of the performer must all serve as assistants and accesso- ries, Of the three members mentioned by far the most important {ts the tongue. Some one has said that speech was given to man in order to conceal his thoughts, but to the magician it is more valuable as a help toward concealing his movements. This is because the story told during the perform- ance of each trick not only heightens the effect marvelously, but also serves to di- rect attention eway from the performer just at the moment when his hands are engaged in some “sleight.” The story or speech which serves to sur- »round tricks is called the “patter,” and it is most traportant that this part of the trick be carefully rehearsed. The magician 1s simply acting a part from the time he begins until he makes his final bow, and all the words and actions*of that’ part should be practiced over and over again in order to acquire the ease and grace neces- sary to a finished performance. The use of the wand is also important. Aside from the fact that custom has de- creed that no sleight-of-hand performer is properly equipped witout the use of this little stick, it will be found valuable in dis- guising many necessary movements of the hends. Last, but not least, it gives ease to the movements and savee the beginner the discomfort arising from not knowing what to do with the hands. Use of a Table. Performers of the better class get along jout the use of a special table, but many of the best tricks require that some provision should be 1aade for getting rid of or producing some of the articles used. In the re r magician’s table the hidden shelf at the back called the servante is so used, but for drawing room entertainments a black oblong box, twenty inches long, twelve wide and six deep, be placed on the ta! d the space back of it used for a se The presence of the box arouses no suspicion if the performer opens ft occasiorally to take out some article guzed in the trick, such as a pistol or pack if cards. It is also Well to have a portion of the back made to fall down (ee fig. 1), as it may be necessary to get at the inter- jor privately. Such a box can also be used as a carrying cese for apparatus. The first trick to be considered is a brand- new one, which has never been done by eny magician, great or small. This fact should not discourage the beginner, for it is a simple one, and even if it were more 4iff- cult, the fact that the young student could by acquiring it offer a feat which no «b- server could by any possibility have seen before should be sufficient recompense for considerable diligence. In this case, the performer takes a pack of cerds from the steps forward and says: “Ladies and men, I will first call your attention to in’ mental telegraphy, or thought transference. I do this in order to place myself safely in touch with my audience, as such a condition is absolutely necessary to insure the success of the experiments which follow. As I require an assistant, I will ask some gentleman in the audience to volunteer.” A Case of Mental Telegraphy. Having secured some one, you continue: ‘ow, in the first place, I wish you to take this handkerchief and blindfold me se- curely and seat me in such a position that I could not povsibly see the table, even if the blindfolding were imperfectly done.” After you are blindfolded and seated sat- isfactorily, you go on: “Now, take this pack of cards end make three separate piles on the table. Each pile must contain at least three cards and as mary more as you see fit, but all must contain an equal number. Have you made the piles? Thank you. Now, please say how many shall finally be left in the center ptle.” (Suppose the answer is five.) “Now, take three cards from each of the side piles and Dlace on the middle one. Then please * (EF SD Q “BAS? count the cards In the right-hand pile, and take a corresponding number from the mid- die and place on the left-hand lot. Now, . please take the middle pile in your hand and count it mentally. Have you done so? Now think of that number !n- tently for 2 moment, and, as far as possi- ble, drive other thoughts from your mind. That will do. Now, think of the number you chose at the beginning. Five, was it not? Now remove a card from the pile. Don’t let your thoughts wander, but think of five continually. Remove another card; another. Now one more. Stop. If I ha received the mental impression aright, you should now hold the chosen number, five, in your hand.” performer should then remove the bandage, step forward and take the cards from his assistant, and, while shakin, hands with him, say: “You have proved to be an extremely good control, and tf my audience are all equally well balanced men- tally, I feel sure that our entertainment will succeed.” The Trick Explatned. The secret of this trick Mes in the fact that no matter how many cards are in the piles at first, after adding three from each of the side piles to the one in the middle nd removing from that the same number {ett in ons of the side piles there will al- ways remain just nine in the middle pile, and you have only to count off enough to educe {t to the chosen number. The trick [o'given at length to show how a very sim- ple thing may be made to appear quite Bein tins by the use of appropriate “pat- ee. If it ts desired to follow the trick just described with one which can also be of- fered as pretended mind reading, twelve dominoes can be placed as shown In figure 2. Get any one to mentally select one of them and remember it. Then, commence slowly to touch different dominoes with the finger or wand and tell your subject to commence at the number of spots on the domino he thought of and count one mentally each time you touch one till he reaches twenty-one. When his mental counting has reached that number he should signify- it aloud, and it will be found that the wand is pointing at the number thought of. ‘The method of accomplishing this ts for the magician to commence at one, count- ing mentally, touching any of the domi- - %e of Fy 3 20 ® ihe Ogg 6 © e e @ _~ but at the ninth one be sure to touch the double six, and from there pass to six- five, and so on, touching each one in turn till twenty-one ts announced. The last one touched will be the one originally selected. Exactly the same result can be obtained by @using the figures on the face of a watch, and to the performer with but a small number of tricks at command, a bright change of patter will make it pass for an entirely separate thing. The Q Trick. A trick which can be used In connection with good effect Js called the trick. It can be introduced by saying: “I will show you the trick in a little different form, so that you may see just how it is done.” (This, like most of the remarks of the con- jurer, 1s misleading, as the trick Is entirely different, and instead of enlightening the audience, only confuses them so that they are further from a solution than before.) “I take this handful of coins,” (buttons, counters, beans, or pieces of paper will do as well) and place them thus (see figure 3), forming a sort of capital ‘Q.’ Now I will turn my back to you, or leave this room and allow you to count as many as you please, beginning at the tip of the tail and counting up the left side, touching each coin and stopping at any number you please. Then start from this same coin and come back again, but instead of re- turning down the tall, continue around the circle. Now, be sure and remember at what coir. you left off counting, and on my return I will indicate the last coin touched.” The secret Iles in the number of coins in the tail, the counting always terminat- ing just as far up the right-hand side of the circle as there are coins in the tail. For example, suppose the number ten Is chosen. The chooser begins to count at the point of the tail, and if there are five coins in the tail, he will stop at the coin ind! ed by the cut by one. Counting backward around the circle, ten counts will bring him to two, and no matter what number ha chooses, he must always stop at the same point when there are five coins in the tail. In repeating the trick, rear- range the “Q,” putting more coins in the circle, thus shortening the tail. Then the stop will not be made at the same coin and the secret of the trick will not be en- dangered. —— THE LATEST MOTHER-IN-LAW. ed a French Schoolmaster to Flee to the Forest. From the New York World. A schoolmaster at Amiens, France, mar- ried, but after a week of wedded Ife his mother-in-law, who made her home with them, became so insupportable that, un- able longer to endure her tyranny, he re- solved not only to desert the conjugal roof, but to break with civilization and return to savagery. So he fled to a dense forest net far from Amiens, and there lived for three weeks on roots and apples. He said afterward that whenever the pic- ture of his homa and wife rose in his troubled brain there stepped between the specter of his implacable mother-in-law, gvarding like the angel with the flaming sword the gate of paradise, and the thought would send him flying into the depths of the forest again to escape fancied pursuit and recapture. At last hunger drove the vegetarian to desire another roof than the trees afforded, and more tempting food than herbs and pples, so he decided to seek refuge with his own mother, and at her home found awaiting him papers in a suit for divorce brought by his wife on the ground of de- sertion. Now the courts have freed the unhappy schoolmaster, who deemed con- jugal happiness too dearly purchased at the price of such a mother-in-law. soe In Place of a Fi From the Forest and Stream Some time ago I read an account, some- where, of an angler who undertook to land an expert swimmer in the pool of one of the athletic clubs—in New York, I think— but who failed to land his man, though he used a heavy striped-bass rod, or a salmon fly-rod, I forget which; at all events, the swimmer seemed to have It all his own way, and eveitually smashed the tackle after a long struggle. Having often per- formed this feat successfully heretofore, I again essayed it last week at an entertain- ment of aquatic sports at the Natatorium in_this city, an account of which, from “The Tampa Daily Times,” I inclose. On this occasion I used a 10-ounce rod (similar to my Little Giant rod), a Julius Vom Hofe light striped-bass reel and a Natchaug braided silk line. The line was tied to a muslin ud around the neck of Capt. La Penotiere, who, by-the-way, is an excellent and expert swimmer, and has charge of the Natatorium. After giving him line to the full extent of the pool, I had no difficulty in bringing the captain within reach of the landing net in ten minutes, though he ex- erted himself in every manner to break away by swimming, diving and imitatiag the motions of a hooked fish, to the great delight of the large audience assembled. In a private trial the day before, 1 landed him in seven minutes. I invited auy expert swimmer in the aydierce to follow the cup- tain, but no one offered. The pool 1s 40x30 feet, and from 3 to 12 feet deep. In open water I should use a Hensha!l S-ounce rod, Kentucky reel and No. 4 silk Hne—in other words, ordinary black-hass tackle. = see Org: Grinders’ Paradise. Frown the New York Recorder. A whole village of well-to-do Italians, speaking English with an accent, 1s one of the most astonishing things that Italy of- fers to the tourist, They are retired organ grinders, who have acquired comfortable fortunes in this country and have gone back to their beloved native land to live in affluence with their familles in this strange little colony, which they have founded among the sweet Italian mountains. The stranger, in walking through the quiet streets, !s often astonished at the sound of a hand organ sending forth the familiar strains of a once popular air from within some one of the houses, giving evi- dence of the affection in which the organs are held by their swarthy, dark-eyed own- ers, and which most of them cherish fondly in their ideal life of idleness, <r Up to Date. From the Yonkers Blade. Real Estate Agent—‘What shall we call this new suburb of ours?” His Partner—‘“Let me see. What was the that great Japanese victory? Ping Yang? Th it. Call the place New Ping Yang, N. J. cr “Through Thick and Thin.” From Life. UNCLE SAM’S PROFIT Carelessness in Handling the Se- curities of the Government. NOTES AND BONDS LOST AND DESTROYED In the Course of Years a Consider- able Source of Revenue. Bets DENCE eh STAMPS AND POSTAL ORDERS Written for The Evening Star, HE GOVERNMENT of the United States makes many thou- sands of doellars every year through / the carelessness or misfortune of people ) with whom it has business to transact. Merchants sometimes make money in the same way, but the amount is tnconsid- ] erable. If a mor- f chant gives a check in satisfaction of an obligation and the check Is lost, the loss can be proved and the amount recovered by the man to whom the check was given. Sometimes it hap- pens that a man gives a check which is destroyed and which never comes to light, and possibly the man to whom the check was issued never makes a claim for the money. But, as was said, this happens so seldom that the profit from this source is one to which no business man would give any consideration in figuring out the possi- bilities of a season. Uncle Sam, on the contrary, can figure out pretty well before the beginning of a fiscal year that so many thousand dollars will be put to his credit on “profit and loss” account before the year is over. This profit will come from bonds and bank notes destroyed and never presented for redemption, from money or- ders which are lost and never duplicated and fram stamps which are not put to the use for which they were intended. These profits are never cast up, because debts of the government are seldom out- lawed. But they are as real as though they were credited to Uncle Sam on the books of the treasury. Of course, it is no fault of the govern- ment that this profit accumulates. Every effort is made to find the man to whom the gcvernment is indebted, and every reason- able opportunity is given to him to claim the amount of the indebtedness. In the case of a lost or stolen bond, he has sim- ply to prove ownership and give an in- demnity bond to protect the government against loss. In the case of a treasury note injured by fire, he has to send in the charred remains, and the treasury experts will decipher, as far as possible, the value of the pile (its original value) and the money will be restored to him. In the case of a money order, both the remitter and the remittee are advised again and again that the money remains unpaid. Still, claims against the government aggregat- ing many thousands are left unpaid every year, and the total of even the last thirty years will run up far Into the millions. Even in the matter of unpaid money o1 ders the government has just made an ac- counting of $1,300,000 earned in the last thirty years and now turned into the Post Office Department fund, probably never to be repaid to its owners. The Destruction of Paper Money. The greatest source of unearned income, of course, {s the destruction of treasury notes. Nearly $15,000,000 have been made by the government up to the present day, as nearly as can be estimated, by the de- struction of treasury notes. Two years ago last August a lively controversy arose be- tween Mr. Foster, then the Secretary of the Treasury, and some of the members of the Hous? and Senate concerning the amount of money in circulation at various times, as stated officially by the ‘Treasury Department. A letter was addressed by Representative John Davis to the Secre- tary of the Treasury charging that in the treasury statements, among other things, no allowance was made for the wasting and loss of coin and the destruction of greenbacks and coin certificates. There- fore, he contended, the statement of money in circulation was incorrect each year by the amount of the notes and coin destroyed. Mr. Foster, replying, said that the de} art- ment had no authority to deduct an esti- mated amount of lost coin and notes trom the tota: of its liabilities. He denied that there had been any considerable loss, and said that the total estimated at that tine for the period ending January 1, 1894, was less than twelve and a half millions. ‘iere is the statement in detail of the notes and certificates issued by the xgvernment es- timated to have been destroyed veyond all possibility of redemption up to January 1, 1891: United States notes, $5,110,541; silver certificates, $447,004; gold certificates, $200,000; national bank ‘notes, $6,804,555. Total, $12,452,100. Mr. Huntington, the chief of the loans and currency division of the governient, estimates that not more than one or two millicns have been destroyed since Janu- ary 1, 1801. The carelessuess which pre- valled during the war period, he says, was responsible for a large a1iount of the miss- ing money, and the destruction now, while it increases in proportion to the increase in the amount of money issued, is not so great propertionately as it was at that time. It amounts probably. to less than half a million dollars every year. Coin and Bonds. As to the amount represented by unre- deemed coin and abrasiuns of gold and sil- ver coin, that would be hard to estimate accurately. It 1s estimated that $100,000 worth of silver coin is used every year in the arts; and as the coin value of this is only about $60,000, the government makes $40,000 by the transaction. There 1s about $60,000 worth of abraded silver coin pur- chased during a year at its bullion value and recoined, and on this the government makes the difference between its face value and the bullion value, less the cost of coin- ing. ‘The amount of silver and gold coin which has disappeared from circulation and which will never be presented for re- demption cannot be estimated. In_ the cxse of the gold coin, there is no profit to the government represented. In the case of the silver, the profit is 20 te 40 cents on euch dollar, accerding to the value of the silver when the dollar was coined. Of the issue of fifty million dollars’ worth of bonds which has just been made a certain proportion will never be presented for redemption. The Treasury Department could figure in advance, if the Secretary wished to do so, just about what the profit on these bonds from this source would be. The value of the missing securities of the United States now outstanding which will probably never be presented for redemp- tion is about $1,250,000, according to Mr. Huntirgton, These ‘vbligations date back to 1847. A series of $25 bonds was Issucd under the bounty land scrip act of 1847, and even now, at long intervals, these bonds come in for redemption. But the number is very few. There are still out- standing about $5 worth of these honds. The loan of 1862, amounting to nearly $40,000,000, was called between 1871 and 1875, but there is still $2 ) ot it our- standing. Feur thousand dollars’ worth of these bonds, called Mare 20, 1872, came in for redemption during the past year. They had drawn no interest for twenty- two years. Bonds Never Paid. Of the loan of June, 1864, there ts still outstanding $16,400, and none of it has drawn interest since 1876. There is $24,150 of the loan of 1865 (the 5-20s) still out. The last of this was called in 1877. Of the con- sols of 1865, called between 1877 and 1879, there was 42,300 wotth presented for re- demption List year, and there ts $113,700 worth outstanding, drawing no interest. Of the ccnsols of 1867, $16,400 worth were redeemed during the year and $17,500 worth remain unredeemed. Altogether the government {s ahead aboct a million and @ quarter on the bonds which will never be presented for redemption; and it Is many thousands ahead on the unpaid in- terest on large amounts which have not been paid when due. It is singular that with all the safeguards which surround the ownership of bonds there should be such a heavy loss in them. The smallest denomination of ds is $50. A security of this denomination 1s not likely to be thrown about, very carelessly. Then, @ large proportion ofiithe issue of each class of bonds is registered, aud the ownership is easy to prcve. In the case of the loss or destruction of a registered bond, {ne treasury will Issue a new bond to the'owner on satisfactory security. The owner of the lost or de- siroyed registered bond has to file with the Secretary of the Treasury & bond in the amount of the original bond and the interest which would accrue on it up to the date of redemption, with two good and sufficient securities, residents of the United States. In makirg proof of loss the claimant must give the time and place of purchase, the name of the person from whom the bond was purchased and the amount paid for it, the place of deposit from which it was lost ani the names of any persons having access to this place; the affidavits of others knowing of the existence of the bond and its disappear- ance; the affidavits of credible persons to the reliability of the claimant; the num- ber, denomination, etc., of the bond. Lost Bonds Made Good. A man who has lost a coupon bond can- not recover its value. But if @ coupon bond has been destroyed or mutilated, the owner can present proofs similar to those required for a registered bond, and the Secretary of the Treasury will issue a du- plicate if he files a bond in double the amount of the lost bond and accruing in- terest. Many duplicates of lost or destroy- ed bonds are issued every year. Sometimes it has been necessary for a man who has lost bonds to go to Congress for relief. This was necessary in the case df the Manhattan Bank of New York, which lost $1,600,000 worth of bonds in what is known as “the great bank robbery” of 1878, and which was unable to give a bond in sum sufficient to comply with the general sta‘ ute. Congress passed a special law for the benefit of this bank, authorizing the Sec- retary of the Treasury to issue duplicates on proof that the originals were the prop- erty of the institution and had not been transferred, and on condition that a certain rumber of the bonds be held by the Sec- retary of the Treasury for a time to se- cure him against possible claims by the holders of the bonds in case any of them had been transferred. The amount which the government may make in destroyed stamps each year is not determinable; but undoubtedly it amounts to a great many hundred dollars. The stamp collectors furnish a large revenue to the ¢ vernment, for they put away stamps at their face value and the Post Office Department is never required to per- form the service which is represented by the purchase price. The government of Liberia and some of the smaller South American governments are said to make a large income by issuing new stamps at comparatively short intervals. As to lost postal orders, their value will amount to $50,000 or $75,000 every year; and this amount is clean profit; for the transmission of the money has been paid for in advance. A certain number of checks and warrants of the government are destroyed and never paid, but their value ts not considerable. —_—.—_. FUN FOR TH CHILDREN, How to Make a Pig From a Lemon Toothpick. From the New York Herald. : Yes, you can make your own plxs very easily, children, and they will be so nice and sweet and funny that nobody can ob- ject to your taking them right into the parlor with you. ‘The first requisite {s a lemon, This will cost about 3 cents and you can get it at any grocery store. You must ask the man who sells it to you to permit you to select one from his basket. Tako one with a lorg stem or peak at one end like this: In Embryo. When you get home cut a small notch down in the stem, as shown by the dotted lines in the sketch above. This will be the pig's mouth and should be colored red. (Red ink will do.) After his mouth has bgen properly evt Mr. Pig should be laid Square on his back and four matches or small sticks of wool should be sharply thrust through the skin and well into the lemon at or near the places indicated by the rings and poirts in the sketch. The matches or sticks should stand out at an angle so Mr. Pig won't fall over, and if he is to be allowed to sit down put the hind legs deep in, something like this: Pigny When Finished. Pigs like to sit down, and they usually do after eating; so it is just as weil to make your pig repose in this comforta- ble manner at the start. Now ask mamma for a couple of black pins to be put*in above his nose for piggy’s sharp little eyes and whittle out two ear-shaped pieces of thin wood, dye them pink on the inside with paint or red ink and press them in over the eyes so they will “lop” or hang a little. Now tie a small piece of grayish brown string tightly about the head of a pin and drive it, head and all, in through poor piggy’s skin where his tail belongs. You can then cut the string off to leave his pigship with a tail of an inch or so in length, oo—______ The Line of Promotion, From the Cincinnati! Enquirer. “How's that boy o’ yourn gettin’ along in the city, Josiah?” asked one farmer of an- other. “Fust rate,” answered Josiah. “He's workin’ his way up right along.” “What's he doin’?” “He's workin’ fer the city.” ‘You don’t tell me! What's he doin’ fer ‘He's drivin’ one o’ them things they call a street sweeper—kind o’ wipes up the road nights, you know. But my! he’s bein’ pro- moted, Fust off, he wus workin’ in the twenty-fust ward. By ‘n’ by he writ me that he wuz workin’ in the eighteenth ward. Last week he writ that he wuz in the twelfth ward now; an’ I swan! you see, if that fellow don’t fetch up in the first ward with his sweep cart yit! a The Reward of Boldness. From Harlem Life. “I tell you what ft 1s,” said the silly little fish to his long-headed mother, “I have been followirig your advice, and let- ting those nice, plump, juicy worms alone long enough. I ami now going off on my own hook.” | And he did. soe One Mamma to Love. From Le Figaro. “Do you love;me, mamma?” “Yes, my child.” “But not so°*much as I love you, I am sure.” “Why not?” “Because you divide your love between me and my two sisters, while I have only one mamma to love. ‘ 00 What He Thought About It. From Life. She--"I'm sorry I married you.” He—"You ought to be. You cut some nice girl out of a mighty good husband. THE ONLY COC _ wm RICH CHOCOLATE FLAVOR. MUSHROOM POISON Its Nature Determined and an Anti- dote Discovered. AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT TESTS There Are Certain Species Not Dangerous to Life. MYSTERY OF THE FUNGI ‘Written for The Evening Star. RYSTALS OF mushroom _ poison! They look harmless enough under the microscope. One would hardly suspect that their substance had caused the death of tens of thosands of human beings. They are a new discovery, these crys- tals. Dr. Thomas Taylor, microscop- ist of the Depart- ment of Agriculture, is making early his- tory in this line of research. Hav- ing devoted much attention to the study of dangerous agarics, he proposes to sep- arate from all of the noxious species their specific poisons, With them he will make experiments on rabbits and other animals, with a view to observing their effects and the usefulness of antidotes. Naturally, he has selected for a first trial the most deadly of all mushroom, the amanita muscaria. This species 1s some- times called the “fly” mushroom; a single specimen has been known to kill a pint of flies in a short time, those insects finding it very attractive. It grows always in woods or on the borders of woods, having @ red or orange-colored top covered with warts, When it first appears above ground it looks like an egg standing on end. Not long ago a man wrote from Oregon to Dr. Taylor, saying: “With this mail I send you what I shall call the poultry mushroom till you give me @ better name for it. In its habits it seems a link between vegetable and ani- mal life, It lives in fir and hazel woods on hill or flat ground. At first it pushes itself up through the ground and sits up on end just like an egg, from the size of @ grouse’s exg to that of a giant goose egg. The period of the hatch depends upon the degree of humidity and heat in the atmosphere. Generally it requires about three days. One other quality it has in commo. with its biped relative; it sometimes dies and rots in the egg.” Obtaining the Crystais. It 1s undoubtedly the deadly amanita to which the writer refers. After awhile the egg is hatched—in other words, It bursts, and the umbrella-shaped mush- room grows out of It. The lower part of the egg shell remains to envelop the foot of the stalk ‘ike a cup. Other small frag- ments of the shell adhere to the sticky top of the red or orange-hued umbrella, giving to the latter a warty look. A piece of this agaric as big as a pea will commonly cause death. But the worst of it is that it prot duces no symptoms until ten or twelve hours have passed, when it is too late to administer an antidote. Dr. Taylor takes these mushrooms and soaks them in alcohol. After giving tt time to absorb a sufilcient quantity of the poison the alcohol is poured off. The al- cohoi is then evaporated, leaving behind it a gummy substance. To this substance benzine is added, which coagulates the gummy stu, leaving the pure poison in already. Its specific action In human be- ings and other animals is to paralyze the nerve centers and siop the heart. The tim dies literaliy of heart failure. It b: been ascertained that an almost micro- scopic quantity administered to a frog will soon cause its heart to stop beating. There are few vegetable toxic agents so deadly as this poison, to which the name “amani- tin” has been given. The Antidote Foun. Fortunately, there is a thoroughly effec- tive antidote for amanitin. It is sglphate of atropin, obtained from the so-called deadly nightshade. A frog that has received a hypodermtc injection of atropin experiences no ill effects from a dose of amanitin. On the other hand, a frog's heart that has been brought to a stop by the mushroom poison quickly resumes its action under the influence of the antidote. Physiologic- ally speaking, what is true of a frog is usually true of a human being. This case is no exception, so that anybody who is provided with ‘sulphate of atropin need have no fear of the amanita plant. It is well known that some very danger- ous species of mushrooms are commonly eaten with impunity in Europe. They are first soaked in vinegar for a while, aud then they are steeped in scalding water, after which they are taken out of the wa- ter and wrung out in a dry cloth before ccoking. '3y this means practically all of the poison is removed from them and they are rendered harmless.’ No better precau- solution. Finally the solution ts evapo- rated and the poison crystals are left be- hind. * In this manner the fatal element of the | worst of ail fungi has been isolated. The Imext question is what to do with it. Some ) Useful experiments have been made with it \ tion could be recommended in all cases where there is the slightest cout to the esculent quality of species gathered. It may be, however, that it would not suffice with every kind of poisonous agaric. Smali quantities of the amanita, by the way, sometimes cause people to stagger about, laughing and committing all sorts of ab- surdities as if drunk. Oddly enough, some persons seem to be proof against the toxio action of mushrooms. A kind of amanita, only less deadly than the muscaria, 1s entirely white and has no warts. Its appearance being not such as to MINCE MEAT Two large pies are made from each ackage of None-Such Mince Meat. & ‘or sale by all grocers. Be sure and get the None-Such. fi MERRELL-SOULE Co., Syracuse, N. Y. dl-s&w20t DRUNKENNESS OR THE LIQUOR RARIT POST- tively cured by administering Dr. Haines’ Golden Gpecific. It can be given in a cup of coffve or tea, or in food, without the knowledze of the patient, It is absolutely harmless, and will effect @ permanent and speedy cure, whether the paticat fe f, moderate drinker. or ‘an alcoholic. wievk it has been given in thousands of cases, and io every instance a perfect cure has followed. It wer fails. The system once Improguated ‘with ifle, It becomes an utter Impossibility the Mquor appetite to exist. GOLDEN Srrcrric Cb., Props, Cinctnaatl, Obto. Part! lars free. Ti ad of F. WILLIAMS | & F, WARE. under 20-tu,thé&s,Sm* be CO., 9th and F sts. o.w.; S Epbitt House, Washington. excite suspicion, it is frequently eaten with fatal effects. It is found in spring on the edges of woods, but occurs less frequently in the summer and autumn. Only a few weeks ago a very intelligent Chinaman in the employ of Count Mitkiewicz gathered a juantity of mushrooms of this species in the suburbs of this city, giving most of them to neighbors. Luckily, they were afraid to try them, but he partook of some and died in consequence. An injection of sulphate of atropin would probably have saved his life. A Further Investigation. It is the purpose of Dr. Taylor to go through the entire series of bad mush- rcoms, obtaining from each its specific pol- son in a manner similar to that already de- scribed. There are certain species which, not actually dangerous to life, are very acrid, affecting the mucous lining of the intestinal canal. Among these are the s0- called russulas. They produce diarrhoea, often of an aggravated type. The active principles of these agarics will be studied so. There {s a species known as the “emetic” mushroom which would doubtless be extremely dangerous were it not that it promptly causes vomiting. It is believed that medicinal uses will be found for some of the mushroom poisons. Already it has beer discovered that amanitin has the effect of checking sweats. Research will be conducted in this line by experiments with animals. In gathering mushrooms it ts a good rule to avoid those that have an unpleas- ant odox or taste, or which grow in filthy places. Some of the bad agarics are so re- pulsive in smell and appearance that it is hard to imagine how anybody could feel disposed to pluck or eat them. Yet even the so-called fetid wood witch, the stench of which is enough to turn the stomach, has been eaten frequently. The same ts true of the “trellised clathrus,” which has a horrible smell and is extremely dan- gerous. Nothing ceuld be more unpleasant to the eyé than the well known “verdi- gris” mushroom, which is covered with a disgusting greenish slime. It is highly poisonous. The Mystery of the Fungt. Regard with suspicion all mushrooms whose flesk on being broken turns green- ish or bluish. A very poisonous species is the “fiery milk” mushroom, from which exudes a julce that burns the tongue like fire. Brilliant hues are always to be con- sidered as a doubtful sign. The deadly “satanic” mushroom has a white top with under surface of bright crimson. When broken the flesh turns to a deep blue. The tests commonly applied with a silver spoon or a white onion are worthless. Distrust mushrooms that have thick and fleshy roots —a characteristic of the deadly amanitas, Certain of the amanita family are the finest and most delicious of all agarics, but it will do for a person not expert in such matters to attempt to distinguish be- tween the good and the bad. Mistakes in mushrooms have caused £0 mony deaths that most people in this coun- try do not venture to eat the best-known esculent varieties. Literature on the sub- ject is becoming extensive, however, and efforts are being made to educate the pub- lic at large in a more exact knowledge of these plants. Regarded until recently as mysterious and even uncanny, their very prccesses of growth have been held as one of nature's secrets. In the evening they are not, and on the following morning, lo! the ground is sprinkled with them. They come from nowhere, developed suddenly out of nothing, as if by magic. Within the last few years the mystery has been solved. It is known now that the vegetation of the mushroom develops below the surface of the ground in a fine network of thread-like filaments termed “mycelium.” This is the so-called “spawn” of the plant. The mushroom is to this mycelium what its flower is to a tree or a shrub. It is formed slowly, beginning with a knot in the network of spawn, and is lete In all Its parts before it makes pearance above ground. At the same time it is compressed into very small com- pass. Presently along comes a muist night and the little agaric expands, ufting itself out through the soft ear The mushroom bears on under surface ve < OND ENjOYvSs Both the method and results when Syrup of Figs is taken; it is pleasant and refreshing to the taste, and acts gently yet promptly on the Kidneys, Liver and Bowels, cleanses the sys- tem effectually, dispels colds, head- aches and fevers and cures habitual constipation, Syrup of Figs is the only remedy of its kind ever pro- duced, pleasing to the taste and ac- ceptable to the stomach, prompt in its action and truly beneficial in its effects, prepared only from the most healthy and agreeable substances, its many excellent qualities commend it to all and have made it the most popular remedy known. Syrup of Figs is for sale in 50 cent bottles by all leading drug- gists. Any reliable druggist who may not have it on hand will pro- cure it promptly for any one who wishes to try it. Do not accept any substitute. CALIFORNIA FIS SYRUP 60, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. LOUISVILLE, KY. WEW YORK, WY. GRATEFUL—COMFORTING— Epps’s Cocoa. R of the fae prop. Eppa has" pro- Pia. delleately as maay ‘heavy €octors’ bil 1 of such articles of that a constitution may be grad ually built up until strong enough to resist every ndercy to disease. Huadreds of subtle maladies we Seating around us ready to attack wherever there i a) weak pont. may escape many a fatal rhaft by Veoping ourselves well fortified with pure blood and properly nourished frame." “ivil Service Gazette. with boiling water or milk. Sol only in half-pound tins by grocers, labeled” th JAMES EPPS & CO., Ltd., Homeopathic Chem- ists, Loudon, “England. a3-m,tn, GSSSELGIDIIS IO HT OS HGS HHO ed NEW YEAR? Receptions i Will make St necessary for some to refurnis) the China Closets. ‘To all who are likely to need anything In this line we extend a hearty invitation to visit our establish- ment before miking purchases. Everything in FINE DECORATED CHINA, STERLING SILVER, PLATED WAKE, SPARKLING CUT GLASS, CHINA TEA, DINNE! fn great variety. | A large number of OPEN STOCK PAT- TERNS, from which you can make up din- ner and tea sets; any number of pieces. Pi. W. Beveridge,: IMPORTER OF POTTERY and PORCELAIN, & a20-t8d 1215 F AND 1214 G STS. > 4 &e. and TOILET SETS POSS OSPSESE IPO TSS CVEE : | Wess oe GOOG SOCSEIIS GOST tens of thousands of minute spores, which correspond to the seeds of flowering plants, They fall upon the ground eventually, germinating, reproduce the mycelium. Vi humble plants are these fungi, but in some parts of the world they contribute largely to the food supply of human beings. Some Disagreeable Things. 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LIBERAL TERMS WILL BE MADE TO SATISFAO TORY PARTY. ADDRESS M. Il, W., A26&29-2¢ STAR OFT! Dr. Shade’s Discovery for |\Consumption indorsed by | prominent physicians. Dr. Brent Morgan of Califor discases in the San Francisco Medical Colle “Dr. Shade's Mineral ‘tr tion fy the greatest discovery of the ceutury.” professor of lung that clans, Congr large number of persons, inter have becn aed Wong and, merchants and other cit viewed and reported cured of compl! throat diseases, its last or worst “The consumption Tim Call for names avd ad- Jnters stages by dresses of persons who are willing to be viewed by those seeking the truth. Lang, throat and catarrbal diseases. How to 10 a.m., 1 to 2 and 4 to 6 p.m. Consultation free, 2 Lith et, Telepione 177. 24-424