Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, August 21, 1897, Page 4

| Published Every Saturday. By E. C. KILEY. Lae TWO DOLLARS A YEAR IN ADVANC Six Months ..... $1.00 | Three Months.. 50¢ Entered in the postoMec at Grand Rapid Minnesota. as secoud-class matter. STRANLUE HOLE IN GROUND, a Water Have Gone Iniw Yorrents of Se: tc in Years Pust- One 1s reminded of the pretty fabie «bout Arethusa and Alpheus by a curi- ous story ip the current namber of Cassier’s Magazine. But in the ancient uarrative it was a fresh water river fn- to which the pursuing lover was «hanged, and the fountain which rep- yesents the metamorphosed nymph has Leen identined; ‘while in the less ro- mantic tale now told a salt water stream disappears into a hole in the ground, ani al] the rest is a profund mystery, s: the New York Tribune. On the coasi of the Greek island of Cephalonia, near the town of Argos- toli, there are two little flumes, or ca- nals, leading inland from the sea to the distance of about 106 feet, and then discharging their contents into rudely excavated pits, through whose hadly fissured, rocky bottoms the wat- er immediately loses itself. At least as long ago as 1835 a mill was run by power from one of these flumes, and # second mill was built beside and op- erated by the other a little while after- ward. The mills themselves are now Ju ruins, but the fiow continues. This remarkable state of things has existed for over sixty years, aud very likely for a centur One caunot help asking is amazement where all that water gces to. The Messrs. Crosby, who fur- nish the accouut which Cassier’s prints, estimates that the flow in each channel wmounts to 1,000 cttbic feet per minute, or 8,000,000 cubic feet per day in both, ‘two smaller passages of a similar ebaracter have been observed in the Satie neighboihood; and it is added that along the shore, “at all peints be- tween the two mills, and for an un- koown distance beyond each, the wat- er is everywhere percolating through cracks and fissures of the lime- stone and sinking into the earth. The openings in the sea bottom are no doubt mainiy «iosed by weeds and gravel, yet no in- considerable amount of water must find its way to these mysterious depths through si an extent of beach, lying vu a rock that is practically as porous us a sieve. *+ * * Jt is difficult to decide which. is the greater marvel, the sea mills themselves or the fact that they have remained practically unknown to the scientific world up to ihe present day, although described by ral authors, mentioned in the guide Looks, and visited by admirals, z erals, bishops and distinguished civii- sans.’ ”” Almost the only explanation hither- to offered assumes that evaporation sves On rapidly in some subterranean cavern and thus disposes of the water. But as it is admitted that the remain- ing salt from the two mill streams alone would amount to 48,600 cubic ieet a year it is hard to understand why the subterranean cavern, if there be one, does not fill up. The Messrs. Crosby offer a different hypothesis. ‘They ask the reader to imagine two great fissures descending into the earth and meeting below like the sides of a letter V or U. Then they suggest that perhaps one arm is shorter than the other and that there is a long,very gently rising passage leading from the bottom of one to the bottom of the oth- «r, so that the subterranean heat can get a good chance to act on any stream passing through it. It then becomes easy to suppose that a cold current of pea Water comes down through one branch of the system and is forced up- ward through the other by thermal in- tiuences. The rocky islend of Cepha- jonia, like some of its neighbors, be- trays the effect of earthquakes innum- erable in times past, abounding in frac- tures and faults, caverns and subter- ranean rivers. None of the spring on Cephalonia contains any large quanti- ty of salt, however, and it is difficult to regard any of them as the overflow of the flood which disappears at Argos- toli. But it is possible that, as Al- pheus is said to have done, it takes a dive beneath the sea and comes up on some far-off island. The Plucking of Fowls, The Australian method of plucking fowls possesses the advantages of be- ing rapid and easy. As soon as the birds are dead, pjunge each in turn into # pail of boiling water, into which one and a half pint of cold water has been thrown (the object is just to scald them), taking care that the water reaches every part of the feathers. One minute’s sousing is generally sufficient; if kept im too long, the skjn is apt to discolor, and, if not long enough, the feathers will not easily draw. Every feather can now be stripped off in the easiest possible manner—in fact, they can almost be brushed off. The skin never tears, and the insects that infest all chickens will have disappeared. When clear, pump on the birds to rinse off the wet feathers that still adhere, wipe tenderly with + soft cloth, and hang up to dry with a cloth fastened loosely round. This is to keep them from the air and preserve them white. By this means all the feather stumps are perfectly removed. Ducks cannot be treated in the same manner, as the oil in the feathers prevents the water from penetrat‘ng, THE CANAL OF JOSEPH, As Useful as Ever at the End of 4900 Years. How many of the engineering works of the nineteenth century will there be 4n existence in the year 6000? Very few, we fear, and still less those that will continue in the far-off ages to serve a useful purpose. Yet there is at least one great undertaking conceived and executed.by an engineer which dur- ing the space of 4,000 years has never ceased its office, on which the life of a fertile province absolutely depends to- day. We refer to the Bahr Joussuf— the canal of Joseph—built, according to tradition, by the son of Jacob, and which constitutes not the least of the many blessings he conferred on Egypt during the years of his prosperous rule. This canal took its rise from the Nile at Asiut, and ran almost parallel with it for nearly 250 miles, creeping along under the western cliffs of the Nile Valley, with many a bend and wind- ing, until at length it gained an emi- nence, as compared with the river bed, which enabled it to turn westward through a narrow pass and enter a dis- trict which was otherwise shut off from the fertilizing floods on which all vege- tation in Egypt depends. The northern end stood 17 feet above low Nile, while at the southern end it was at an equal elevation with the river. Through this cut ran a perennial stream, which wat- ered a province named the Fayoum, en- dowing it with fertility and supporting a large population. In the time of the annual flood a great part of the canal Was under water, and then the river’s current would rush in a more direct course in the pass, carrying with it the rich silt which takes the place of manure and keeps the soil in a state of constant productiveness, All this, with the exception of the traditions that Joseph built it, can be verified to- day, and it is not mere supposition or rumor, Until eight years ago it was firmly believed that the design has al- ways been limited to an_ irrigation scheme, larger, no doubt, than that now in operation, as shown by the traces of abandcneé canals and by the slow ag- gregation of wazte water which had ac- cumulated in the Birket el Querun, but still essentially the same in character. Many accounts have been written by Greek and Roman historians, such as Herodotus, Strabo, Mutianus and Pliny and repeated in monkish legends or portrayed in the maps of the Middle Ages, which agreed with the folklore of the district. These tales explained that the canal dug by the ancient Is- raelite served to carry the surplus wa- ters of the Nile into an extensive lake lying south of the Fayoum, and so large that it not only modified the climate, tempering the arid winds of the desert and converting them into the balmy airs which nourished the vines and the olives into a fullness and fragrance un- known in any part of the country, but also added to the food supply of the land such immense quantities of fish that the royal prerogative of the right of piscary at the great weir was valued at $250,000 annually. This lake was said to be 450 miles round, and to be navigated by a fleet of vessels, and ths whole circumference was the scene of industry and prosperity.—Engineering. You Can Have Your Eye Tattooed. The latest discovery of scientific medical men is that the human eye may be tattooed any color. It is now quite within the bounds of possibility for even doctors to tattoo a man’s eye bright scarlet or green. Of covrse, eyes are tattooed only in cases worre one of them ‘s blind and has assumed in consequence a peculiar dead and ghastly appearance. An eye in this condition will entirely disfigure a face, but a modern oculist may color one of these “dead” eyes and restore it to iis natural appearance, so that nothing but the closest scrutiny can detect the difference between it and its fellow. The oferation of tattooing is perform- ed by first treating the eye with co- caine until it becomes absolutely sense- less to pain. When all is ready the part to be operated upon is covered thickly with India ink of the required color. The tattosing is then per- formed by means of a little electrical machine which operates a specially made needle.—Answers. The Diver’s Heavy Dress. The dress of a fully equipped diver weighs 169% pounds and costs about $500. It is made up, among “ other things, of 8% pounds of thick under- clothing. The dress itself weighs 14 pounds and the heavily weighted boots weigh 32 pounds. The breast and back pieces weigh 80 pounds and the hel- met 35 pounds. ‘he greatest depth at which a diver can ordinarily work is 150 feet. though there are rare in- stances of work heing done at a depth ‘of 210 feet, where the pressure sus- tained is 88% pounds to the square inch. It is not generally known that the present system of diving was first suggested by the action of the ele- phant, which swims beneath the sur- face, breathing meanwhile through its trunk, which it bolds above the water. —New York Wor'd Oat of the Worid, Members of the Nansen expedition say that so tired did they became o? seeing the same faces and hearing the same voices dav after day in the course of the slow drift northward that in the end a feeling of irritation be- came well nigh insupportable. and the men would set off on long walks across the ice, each man by himself, and care- fully avoiding his fellows. - Flattering Them. Guest—Why do you print your bill wf fare in Frenca? Fashionable Bex- taurateur—Because { want my patrova te think that I think they can réag' it.—Tit-Bits, ] cattle Raising for the English War. iket, Avcording to a ‘British government report, the impcrtation of American cattle inte England is steadily on the increase. For the first five months of the current year it was 175,000 head, as compared with 112,000 for the same period last year. If this rate per month be sustained, the year’s import will be over 400,000, or much larger than the exceptional importation in 1892. The London and Liverpool mar- kets have been so heavily supplied that the prices of American beeves have there fallen as low as 9c to 9 1-2c per pound (estimated dressed weight); while export stéers were being quoted live weight. At these rates shipments must have been made at a loss. The development of the chilled beef import trade presents many interesting feat- ures, and is, in many respects, very similar to that of live cattle. Taking 600 pounds as the average weight of cattle slaughtered for the dressed beef trade, last year’s export from this country of fresh beef to England rep- resented a number of cattle nearly equal to that exported alive, the latter being, however, heavier cattle. The past five months’ export of chilled beef was 108,759,600 pounds, as compared with 81,841,065 pounds for the same period last year. At this rate, the year’s export will be some 60,000,000 pounds greater than in 1892. lt seems still a matter of doubt which of the two branches vf the trade offers the largest profits. The secretary of agri- culture, in his report for 1895, says: “It appears to work out more profita- bly to transport the live cattle. They are carried on parts of the ship that would otherwise be unoccupied. They do not require such special fittings and appliances as to debar the vessel from earrying other cargo when ¢attle are not available.” The ocean freight on the four quarters of a steer varies from $5 to $6, How a Letter May Be Recalled. The public is not as familiar with {ts privileges about postal matters as might be supposed. Many times pec- ple would like to recall a letter after it has been mailed. This can be done, even if the letter has reached the postofiice at its destination. At every postofice there are what are called “withdrawal blanks.” On application they will be furnished, and, when a deposit is made to cover the expense, the postmaster will telegraph to the postmaster at the letter’s destination asking that it be promptly returned. The applicant first signs this agree-; ment: “It is hereby agreed that, if! the letter is returned to me, I will pro-' tect you from any and all claims made against you for such return and will, fully indemnify you for any loss you may sustain by reason of such action. And I herewith deposit $— to cover all expenses incurred and will deliver to you the envelope of the letter re- turned.” In many cases persons have made remittances to fraudulent par- ties or irresponsible firms, not learn- img their true character until after the letter had gone, and have suc- ceeded in recalling them. There is an instance where a Kansas City mer- chant. had reniitted a dishonest tray- eling man a draft for $175, and by means of a withdrawal rescued the draft just in time. The Longest Continuous Speech. Will you kindly inform several of your readers of the longest speech on record, and the name of the speaker? Answer—Many stories are related of unusually long speeches having been made for pucposes of consuming time, and of gaining advantage thereby. A few years ago the Toronto Globe said that the longest speech on record was believed to have been that made by Mr. De Cosmos, in the legislature of British Columbia, when a n easure was pending, the passage of which would take from a great many settlers their lands. De Cos 10s was in a hopeless minority. The job had been held back until the eve of the close of the session, Unless action was taken before noon on a given day the act of confiscation would fail. The Gay before the expira- tion of the limituticn De Cosmos got the floor about 10 a. m.. and began to speak agaiust the Dill. Its friends seemed careless, supposing they would have ample time to act when he got through. He kept on speaking through the afternoon, evening, night, next morning, and at last noon came tc a baffled majority, livid with rage and impotence. So, a single man who was triumphant, though his voice had sunk to a husky whisper, his eyes were al- most shut, and bleared and bloodshot, his legs tottered under him, his baked lips cracked and smeared with blood. De Cosmos had spoken twenty-six hours and saved the lands.—Brooklyn Eagle. The Modern Drama, ‘Yes. sir; our Uncle Tom’s Cabin company is by all odds the most pro- gressive one or the road. Our motto is upward and onward. Why, you know, in all the little one-horse shows, the yallow gal, Hiiza, crosses the river on the ice to keep away from the dogs and slave-chasers? Well, sir, in our magnificent production we substitute for one insignificant. river six deep bays, over which six yallow Elizas nimbly skip to freedom. That’s right.” “Six deep bays?” “Yes, sir; six deep bays, furnished by three Asiatic blood- hounds—just two apiece. Drop around this evening, and I’ll let ’em bay aa extra bay or two.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer. What He Was Fishing For. “Was that your mother with you yes- terday?” “My mother? Dear, dear, that was my younger sister! We shculd so much like te have you come tv dinner Sunday, Mr. Beusley.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer. A Dramatie Degueduce: “Any new features in the ‘Hamlet’ that Plodgett is getting up?’ “Yes, he is going to have a fat ghost.”—Chicago Record. “I object to being retired from the field.” remarked the Base Ball. “T have a kick coming. too,” replied p the Foot Ball.—Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph, at Chicago at $3.75 to $4 per 100 Ibs, | TORONTO AND RETURN Low Fare Excursions via D. S. S. & A. Railway. Allrail via S. Ste Marie and Wart Bay: os ae ek ae $20.00 ViaS. Ste Marie, C. P. steamers and Owen Sound.............. 23.50 Via St. Ignace and M.C. R. BR. 23.90 Via St. Ignace, Detroit & Cleve- land steamers and Detroit.... 22.10 On sale July 1210 14 inclusive. Re- turn limit July 26, with extension un- til August 15 by depositing ticket | with agent of terminal line at Toron- | to before July 25. 'T. H. Larke. Com‘) Agent, 426 Spalding House Block, Duluth Minn. Rainy Lake Gold Fields via Port Ar- thur and Rat Portage. The route to Rainy Lake and Seine River is now open. via Port Arthur and Rat Portage. Steamers leave Duluth four times a week. Rate from Duluth to Rainy Lake City, Seine City and Mine Centre,$11.00. For fur- ther information and tickets, apply to T. H. Larke, Commercial Agent, 426 Spalding House Block, Duluth. BEST LINE ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS TO ST.LOUIS. Che Only Free Silver ee Zartoon Paper - $1.00 -50 24 pages Five cents ONE YEAR - TEN NUMBERS SUBSCRIBE AT ONCE Address UP-TO-DATE, Chicage Mention this paper. BUY ®t : BEST | The “DOMESTIC” Is absolutely the best Sewing Machine made. Leads in latest and best improvements, SIMPLEw~ PRACTICAL «DURABLE For over 30 years has been endorsed by the public as the most satisfactory of all sewing machines. We want your trade and can save you money. Write for free catalogue and prices. THE DOMESTIC S. M. 60, 298 Wabash Ave., Chicago. Beckfelt & : ; Clothing and Furnishing Goods. | ak | POZE Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes. PRE panna r Groceries and Crockery. - - - 5 i \ a é GENERAL MERCHANDISE AND . BR ! kas is ish LUMBERMEN’S SUPPLIES. eh Pchlide 2 FI Largely increased store room in- on ig creases our capacity for doing pg business. We always carry a fal complete line of the best quality fa of goods in all departments. . . . Fl PRICES THE LOWEST. Bros | | cater BETTER CIGARS ARE MADE FS THAN THE... . Pokegama Boquet = “Cup Defender Manufactured in Grand Rapids By ++1t GEORGE BOOTH. _ CAL brands and you will get | N for either of the: an execelient smoke, stock used. i S15.0° For the above sum Broeker & Whiteaker are making as fine a suit as can be had in any city in the country for the money. Or, if you want something better, they can show you the finest line of samples ever brought into the county. Atany rate, give thema call before placing your order. They guarantee every garment they turn out in every way. None but the. finest - a pee SESLSLSLSE SLSE SLSESVOE | BROEKER & WHITEAKER, Grand Rapids, Minn. Sade obesde bead ode cbeobeobeoke odes obo obeokobcokesboshohisbcobesbcobespeokesbookesbesbosbesbcobesl beaded SISPSSSSSEHESSSELESESELERESSSSSESEN SS: # Security Mutual # ; # ae Se ‘ au © s s ae = Life Association 3 wee 2 ae an Po ot Binghamton, New York. = ae Incorporated under the Laws of the State of 3: oo New York, Noy. 6, 1886 ag 3 3 a January 1 1896. ss 28 Insurance in Force, - - - $20,137,350.00 $8 ae Paid Policy Holders and Benefici- 4 ss aries, - - - - . - - 308,352.41 ae - Net Surplus, - - - - - - 410,839.65 = HH RECORD For 1895. = Ze GAIN in new business written over 1894, 87 per cent. = ’ = GAIN in amount of insurance in force, 46 per cent. BR os GAIN in Income 60 per cent. sn st GAIN in Assets, 36 per cent. 33 ad GAIN in net surplus, 87 per cent’ + ae ae. #% Life, Annuity, Equation and Return Accumulation Policies as Hy Premium rates about 40 per cent less than old line companies. = ae ae ee a3 For full information address. bo 2S oe : ee +4 ae 3 Northwestern Department 3 as p ge L. K. THOMPSON, MINNEAPOLIS MINN. as ee M ger. HH d. W, EARL, Superintendent Agencies ze riit444444044-44 Seaneeeees: sasngntstaaeneangasnesesesseneecenserseets: ~The Herald-Review Job Rooms turn out Fine Work on * Short Notice. .