The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, July 07, 1900, Page 7, Image 7
th e age of the earth.
, sriKMISTS GO TO WORK TO
COM.-lit IT.
C. K. C>ll Dencrlbrt the
rT ," i .',l l 0 mill Stand*rda to the V.
( s _Uut He Hid Slot Attempt to
i. Conclusion—Tlie Rotation
Iteor" 1
( tin- .">'•
_.p m t |,c commercial Advertiser.
, i the age of the earth? This is
ihnt scientists for years have
* i-virs t 0 onstver. Some have an
j, A cording to their own assump
a'culations. and their results
. , nW i discrepancies ranging from
to ten of thousands of millions.
r ■ I. Gilbert of the United States
I proi u
,, vurvev, who discussed the sub
-o^o. lW> • ■ 1
([ t onference of scientists at Co
|]nir I r.ivnrsity during the past week,
. , , i -wer tiie question.
(jid i* u ' 1 ■ ■
„ Thal ~n expectation may not 'be
d • • j, e said. "I admit at tile outset
"mi I iavc not solved the problem aid
n t you no estimate.”
What he did do,’ however, was to show
.jet -is arc approach Ini; and must
Lie future approach the problem, what
“ the means by which they can noire
IO answer the question of the
ion.‘ <*' 1
... of the earth.
. aiienii’dng to measure the age of the
, . enlists make use of either con
tinuous processes or rythms. just as we
i. ordinarily in measuring i.ime.
c |#ip>dra. a more modern form of
hirh js tii,. hour-glass with sand substi
d f or w.iter. and the taper, which is
T ANARUS,, :3S ru| iu monastic vigils in the torm
[ i graduated candle, are examples of
t . of continuous processes to
‘during time. The pendulum, on the
ciher hand, is an example of the use of
, ... hm -i rime measurements.
y i r the motion of the earth Is con
ruuoUg. as . ompared with any other ce
hoiv it is rhythmic. Compared
wilh a fixed star, it gives us the siderial
to-' with the sun, the solar day, nearly
four minutes longer, with the moon, the
, U nar dav. longer still by forty-nine min-
The siderial day is reckoned only
K astronomers. The lunar day finds cx
n n the tides. Besides the day, there
e r* two other natural time limits, the.
ironth. or rhythmic peroid of the moon
recardei ns a luminary, and the year, or
rhythm of the earth’s orbit. The genera
tion and the dynasty are two time meas
i.rr- of waning importance.
In computing geologic time, scientist!?
mate u ?e of a variety of continuous proe-
FirFi may be mentioned river deposits.
Throughout the ages the rivers have been
(fc-tcNiting layers of sediment at their
moutr*. In course of time these deposits
lieve been converted into rock, and in
calculating the time necessary to produce
the various layers geologists hove to ten*
iccount of *heir volume and thickness.
The amount of the deposits equals the
imounr of material washed away, and by
calculating the amount of material ear
rip,l away by rivers in a given period of
tin*, geologists can estimate the amount
of time represented by the different lay
er? of rock. In some such way as this,
from the accumulation of sand in beaches.
Andrews estimated the age of Lake Mich
igan
Another svstem of measuring geologic
time I? founded on the principle of the
evolution of life. Fossils are the records
In this case, and account is taken of the
imount of change from one full record to
the next
Tire study of the processes pertaining
tn the eanh as a planet opens up other
rays of approaching the problem of geolo
tr time.
As the rotation of the earth causes
the tides.' Prof. Gilbert says, “and as
tide 4 * expend energy, the tides must
let sf a brake and check the speed of
rotation. Therefore the earth has in the
ptsr spun faster than now. and its rate
fanning at any remote point may be
romputed. Assuming that the whole
rlone i> and rigid, and that geologic
record could not begin until that condition
bad been attained, there could not have
great checking of rotation since
ro; solldation. For if there had been !t
lould have resulted in the gathering of
he organs about the poles, and the haring
rhe land near the equator, a eondi
or> verv different from what actually ob
Airis Tics hne of reasoning yields an
we ure outer limit to the age of the
rarrh
“On the assumption that the globe lacks
Kmifihing of perfect rigidity, G. H. Dar
frir: has traced back the history of the
and the moon to an epoch when
the rwr. bodies were united, their separa
tor* having been followed by the gradual
nlargc-ment of the moon’s orbit and the
rrari;al retardation of the earth’s rota
or and this line of inquiry has al-o
to!doi an obscure outer limit to the an
nuity of the eanh as a habitable, globe.
of thn most elaborate of all com-
WUtions starts with the assumption that
11 the initial epoch, when the outer part
’• r '' - earth was consolidated from a
h’ufi condition, the whole body of the
uanet ha j approximately the same tem
>erat’ire; nnd that as the eurfae after
►arl cooled by outward radiation, there
a flow of heat to the surface by con-
Uft!on from below. The rate of this flow'
8 d:mii ished from that ef>och to the
nt time according to a definite law.
nd present rale, bring known by ob
•Jb’ation, affords h measure of the age
rust. The strength of this compu
*, on In its definiteness and slmplic
!,s m the fact that tt pos
id'r.. a knowledge of certain properties
* when subjected to temperatures
r ' r crot* t than have ever been investi
■a,#l /M-erime ntally.
• n " ler • ilculation is based on the as
' option that loss of heat from the sun
. with a loss of volume. Tlu*
' 0n basis, is shrinking at a defl-
P ratc% A computation based on this
p ha- told how many years ago the
5 diameter was equal to the present
'r of (he earth’s orbit. This sets a
i mit to the extent of geologic
i'ic rhythms as a means of com-
Kmlogic time, we find that the
w many traces of them,
o *-d rhythm may be appealed to
an explanation of certain features of
The thin layers found in
w rnrkF may have been filmy deposits
I ~ y bie tides. On the other hand.
' ; 4r 'T>ers may indicate the term of
ov may have been deposited by
f -fis wi.ifh had, the Nile, but one
"l ri „ ach y.ar.
r “ ' "'"lkt of rythms in llir solar i:ni
. w < i iy larso. but only two l>e*iil*
. IK * utionid have broil al>lr to writr
' r *- Iv. in a legible way in geologic
'Kti. ThFe are the rhythms, of prer.es
im ,1,,J t,cccn *rlclty. Since the aun is
, . ln ,llf ‘ center of the earth's orbit, that
•w*?, trie, the northern and southern hem
v&v <lt> nol feceive heat in the same
- Che northern hemisphere Is tipped
, ' 'min the sun where the orhi, is
ihT' ,t 1< ’ sull, B,,c * ttoward it
, v ; " e orbit is farthest from it. The
jL r>n ip 'rue of the southern hernia*
1 onatquently the winters .ire
■irih r " ui ,tlf ' summers voider In the
,m 11 1113,1 ln thp southern hemisphere,
condition is nol |>ermnnent. Kach
i&lin 01 ' n . turn c/) tesi>onds with the peri
... 1 The time in which the cycle of
hyp ls oothPleted, or the period of
'ae '. lf " ot always the same, but it av
. years. Tliie is comnronly
i ~ P l ’* l ' las lona I period. To it may
■,; the increase or decrease of gla
ir..' 1 1 'lie consequent encroachments
. s, '°h ! ‘ of the ocean, which leave
r,IJI k in the various strata of the
l^ 1 Present our greatest distance from
Br , " * x c*eds our less by Us thirtielli
sometime* the great distance ex
'lerntfllv les * hy one-seventh. Croll
ion ,w ° ,m POt*nt epochs of glacia
-lUI ''Pochs of high eccentricity com
1 JOU want ‘ L hght. ■'irons, correctly made corset—one that
' r fSaiwfcSftV U?ra,!y ,lve * up ° w " name—ktd-llke, .*ft. pliable, yet firm, get
THOMSON’S
jpP “Glove=Fitting"Corset
. . Tirn it ever and see how it’s made,
gStT, * AM seams run around the body.
Baa- • jUp'r j yi| HT|f/3 Will This is a picture of
W Our Ventilating Corset,
.1 : (Trade-Mark Registered>. made of im
-1 lup / ported nottin.c:. stripped with coutil, and
I 'l trimmed with lace and baby ribbon. SI.OO
BjßSjjflfll r'frtf:'t/U'j. A•/ Light os a feather, yet strong as the
]• I stroTigt-st. Handsome Illustrated cata-
/’ I ;J Ysr logue mailed free.
Geo.C.Batchellcr &C0.,345 Broad* ay,N.Y.
For sale bv all leading dry goods stores.
puted to have occurred about 100.W0 and
210.000 years ago.
“The study of these several rhythms,”
says Prof. Gilbert, "while they have led
to the computation of various epochs and
stages of geologic lime, have not yet lur
nlshed an estimate either of the entire age
of tile earth or of any large part of it.
Nevertheless, 1 believe that they may be
profitably followed with that end in view.”
THE CHINAMAN UNDER PIKE.
Itrave W hen l nder Good Lenders,
lint Not to lie Trusted.
H. C. Thompson in the New York Tri
bune.
As the result of the present Boxer
troubles in China, while the Powers are
rushing troops drtMed in European tactics
to defend their interests, there has been
much curiosity aroused here as to what
kind of fighters the Chinese make. Ad
miral Dewey's tribute to those with him
during the battle of Manila Bay has been
much quoted, yet it does not seem to be
generally known that our troops in the
Philippines are accompanied by Chinese
even to the firing line.
During the early part of our occupation
of Manila an enterprising American got
tiie contract for transporting supplies un
der the Quartermaster's department. He
started without capital, yet, owing to tiie
immense profit that he made, managed
to obtain the monopoly of the business
until wagons and mules were forwarded
by the government. However, the old
two-wheeled carts drawn by carabaos
(water buffalo') with Chinese or Filipino
drivers, still do the bulk of the work.
When the outbreak occurred on Feb. 4,
1899. almost all the Filipino drivers had
deserted to the insurgent ranks, leaving
their places to be taken by Chinese
coolies. Bull carts followed each com
mand with supplies, remaining in camp
to carry water, wood and forage. The
first mules, which excited great awe
among the natives, wiio had never seen
any animals so large, arrived about the
middle of March, and were used where
the rush was the greatest, for the cara
bao is a painfully slow though powerful
brute. They, of course, were accom
panied by white teamsters. But the
carabaos had “Chino" drivers, as a rule,
and it was because of tills that I had
the opportunity of seeing Chinamen un
der tire.
I had learned (o know the Chinaman
fairly well previously during my life on
the Pacific coast, but I had the opportu
nity of seeing him under conditions more
like those of his native country in Manila
(which is-fully a 'htrd Chinese) befoie the
outbreak. The Chinaman is justly called
the Hebrew of the East, for he ha a
wonderful talent for business and money
making. His trade equals that of the
whites in Manila, and reaches till through
the island, where the latter's does not at
tempt to go. Yet the Chinaman seems to
be the only person In the tropics capable
of doing hard physical labor, or willing
to do it. He lives very simply, and is not
bothered with dysentery or heat sores, as
are the whites. His industry never flags
under a burning sun. nor in the warm,
humid atmosphere, which is worse. His
first instincts, however, are for business.
He is a great ”graf(er.” Regular bands
of Chinese looters used to follow our
troops on the field, but never showed fight
when attested. They could be roundel
up like stray sheep. They are shrewd
traders, but. while no more honest, do not
haggle over prices as hard as the Filipino
or Japanese. One characteristic of the
Chinese is that they will stand any
amount of persecution os long as they
are making money. The Spanish used to
ill-treat them and subject them to all
kinds of ridicule in Manila. The familiar
“Chino" traders with baskets and shoul
der pole is a positive nuisance there.
They- used to get many blanket tossings
in our quarters, yet were never discour
aged. although they would cry like chiV
dren from fright. Or the whole, I have
found'the Chinaman rather a good fellow,
thoroughly peaceable and seldom showing
fight. lie is good-natured nnd fond of
joking, and when in the majority rarely
acts surly, as the Japanese and Filipinos
are apt to do.
When my command first took the field
there were three "Chinos" with my com
pany who, so long as it was quiet, seem
ed well satisfied. But when the insurreo
tos began a little desultory rifle practice
on our camp two developed symptoms of
some mysterious malady, begging to he
let go. and finally deserted. The other,
however, remained with us over a month,
until transferred, and aroused the admi
ration of the hoys. He was mo lest and at
tentive to duty, and when insurgent at
tacks were nightly reported never failed
to take an axe to bed wi'h him. One thing
thut made it hard to keep Chinamen it)
ific field was that they missed th ir "hop”
topiutnt. This "Chino” was let loose oc
casionally, hut alwaj'k returned.
I remember seeing a Chinaman there
go through some yative tactics with a
long maboo stick, representing a spear.
He executed some of the queerest whirls
and crowhope, swipes and passes that I
have ever sect) These undoubtedly be
longed to the old Chinese lacti.s that the
mass of Boxers are said to use
The Nebratkans had one Chinaman who
was known not only to the. whole regi
ment but nearly the whole corps. He was
n camp cook, who picked up an extra gun
the night of the outbreak and fougtit in
line with his company until the water
works had been taken. He was exrremely
modest over the honors heap'd upon him
by the soldiers, which would have turned
the fie ad of a white man. The las) that I
sin of him he was humbly attending to
his duties as bull, driver. Although this
Chinaman may have been reassured and
inst lied by the conduct of the impetuous
Nebraskans he deserves no has credit,
i At llslabait, one of the hardest fights
of the war. the “Chino" drivers were
pressed Into service as stretcher bearers
and worked In the fire bell. But the
fact that they were encouraged by the
Pistols of the hospital corps men tends
to remove the credit. During this same
fight while supplies were being hurried
to the oregons on the firing line over a
road lying by the river, still subjected
to fire from the opposite hank. I saw the
drivers break' and run. crouching behind
even bushes and tufts of grass, to be not
hack only by the strongest threats One
of the carts was overturned, owing to
the buffalo being pinked by a bullel. but
the driver was forced to remain and pile
hack the boxes at the point of a gun
held hv a plucky private.
I believe thut all who have had similar
exp. Hence tu the Philippines will agre-
In summing up th* Chinaman's character
istics us n fighter as folloys:
When under firm leadership he may he
one of the bravest, but is likely to be
come. panic-stricken on going Into action.
He must be closely watched, that no ten
dency of this kind Is developed, for If one
should break the rest would follow tike
sheep The Chinaman may make a eplen
THE MORNING NEWS: SATURDAY, JULY 7. 1900.
did tighter at times, hut on the whole is
unreliable. 1 believe that he would weak
en abjectly if cornered, unless urged on
by fanaticism or superstition. If this be
true, the Boxer trouble will end when the
leaders are taken or killed, for 1 do not
believe that the Chinese possess anything
like the persistency of the Filipinos.
San Francisco, June 23.
OCTOTI S STOHIKS.
A < uttletisli With Tentacles Tuenty
tiff Feet l.nng.
From the Contemporary Review
On ihe coasts of i ormvall, the larse-d
forms are readily caught on the ti-her
man’s hook, and an objectionable compan
ionship is sometimes tlu* result. This was
the case recently near Mevagissey. On all
dark autumn night, in a small boat, Sam
uel Kelly was’fishing on the high rocks
off the Griffin Headland, when one of
these devilfish took his bait, and with the
usual effort was hauled on board. But h’s
difficulty was to get the hook to contin
ue his work, lor he had been successful
in catching- several pollock and conger,
and the moment he touched tiie brute
some of its clammy tentacles would em
brace his arm, holding him to the spot,
for its other arms were fastened around
the ihwart. Soon tiie beast became so
violent that it it ally made him fear ii.
He made a supreme effort (o get his book
but the creature fastened its largest suck
ers on the back of his right hand, and in
the battle he had io drop his line and
with the i ails of his left hand to dig the
suckers out of his flesh, for they seemed
to bury themselves there. After this ex
perience there was no more doubt or in
decision in the tight, for seizing a sharp
knife he quickly tut the hock from its
hold, upon which the cuttle crept away to
another part of ihe boat. But this did not
finish Mr. Kelly’s night work, for on
again throwing out bis line he had a
fr 1 till heavier haul, and when it came to
the waterline he could not get it an inch
further, although he used all his strength
for the line was now and stronger than
he could break.
In this dilemma, he had to hold on tight,
and on looking over the side by the aid
of a flickering light he found himself glar
ing into the eyes of another devilfish, and
a much larger one than the first. He fur
ther found that the creature had token
the boat for its enemy, and was attacking
it with all Us force, Its tentacles embracing
the stern on the one hand, and running
forward to near the middle section of the
other.
On thinking over his recent troubles
with its neighbor, and the waste of time
likely to ensue in a still longer encounter
with a stronger brute, he decided not io
risk another fight, but to use the advan
tage of its violent onslaught on the boat.
Takiug his knife and watching his op
portunity, he finally cut the hook out of
the intruder, which, on being liberated,
soon dropped out of sight.
The next day I verified most of Mr.
Kelly’s statements. The arms of the dead
octopus in the boat stretched over seven
feet, and on the back of Mr. Kelly’s hand
was a very black round bruise about half
an inch in diameter corresponding with
the inner circle of one of the largest suck
ers of the dead oc'topus. Since then he
has caught several of these cuttles, and
one whose arms stretched over six feet
and a half. In our waters none of these
head-footed mollusks have beeen known to
take human life, but it is scarcely ques
tionable. if favorable opportunities pre
sented themselves, that they would do so.
In 1879 one of the attendants of the Scar
borough Aquarium was attacked! by only
a small octopus when cleaning out a tank.
The experience might have ended fatally
had he been In the sea with a flood tide.
As it was, he had to make his exit, leav
ing his boot (by which the creature held
him fast) behind him. But there hove
been occasions in other seas when the
worst has happened and men have been
caught in the slimy folds of gigantic cut
lies. which have held them on or dragged
them to destruction. Sir Grenville Temple
tells us how a Sardinian captain, while
bathing at Jerbeh, was seized and drown
ed by an octopus, his limbs being found
by the arms of the animal, although only
In four feet of water; while Captain J.
M. Pens, a French navigator of Africa,
three of his men were ecroping the sides
of his ship on a fine day when they were
attacked by one of these violent creatures,
which drew two of them away under wa
ter in spite of every effort made to save
them, while the third, who was rescued,
died during .the night. In the fight one
of the creature’s arms was cut off, twenty
five feet in length, and with suckers on ii
as large as pot lids.
Should there still lemain a particle of
doubt in any mind respecting the exist
ence of gigantic, cuttles, this will be dis
pelled by the following fact, recorded by
the Rev. M. Harvey of St. Johns, N. F.:
On Or*. 26, 1873, tw r o fishermen were out
in n boat near the eastern end of Con
ception bay. Observing a floating ob
ject on the w'ater, they rowed toward it
and struck it, on which it immediately
shot out two vast tentacles around the
boat, as if wrestling with an antagon
ist. Fortunately, they had a hatchet on
board w-ith which they cut them from the
creature, which, after blackening the sea
with its ink. soon made ofT. 'One of these
magnificent fragments was measured by
Alexander Murray, geologist, and Prof.
Verrill of Yale College, Connecticut, who
found it to be seventeen feet long and
three and a half feet In circumference.
This fragment is now- preserved in St.
John’s College, Newfoundland. Since
then scientists have further considered
the subject, and conclude that this beast
with its tentacles could not have been
less than forty-four feet long.
Reverting to the British octopus, I may
further state that its mimicry Is very
great. Tiie colon* it uses run through
deep chocolate, dull red. brown and gray,
and it has the power of so arranging
these hues that In the shade and cover
of the dark rocks it Is almost unseen by
nnv eye, which facilitates its easily wor
rying a stranger, pouncing upon Its food
or hiding from its enemies. Its change
from one color o another Is almost in
stantaneous. and the body can be mot
tled with 4he whole of these tints just as
quickly.
I once saw a tank cut in the rocks on
the open coast near low water and cov
ered with many folds of iron netting, ln
which were kept twenty of these cuttles.
Around the sides and bottom grew the
dark olive biminarian seaweeds, and on
ih rocks under them clung h stunted
reddish brown flexible coral; this they
‘a I wavs rested on and imitated, and were
always of a reddish brown hue. They
lived In seeming harmony, and they did
not care to leave it. but remained there
tor some weeks afte/. Their walking
power Is Also considerable, and on the
sea bottom no doubt they often approach
the object of their attack In t’Js man
ner accommodating themselves to the
Various colors surrounding them as they
near the quarrjr.
t BOER KA3TKBSS.
den burg nml It* W Joked Old
Fig tiling King.
From the Times of Natal
Have the colonists of Natal ever heard
of the Ohrigstadt Valley* Do our great
fighting men from Aldershot, with then
hands so full in the Free State, know any
thing of Abel Erasmus of Lydenburg.
Transvaal? To those who do not know
♦lre Lydenburg district of the Transvaal
fronr within I tender an experience glean
ed many years ago. coupled with some
information which has come to hand In
Deingoa bay during the past week. It
concerns Abel Erasmus. Transvaal Native
Commissioner, etc., also the Ohrigstadt
Valley, likewise Her Majesty’s govern
ment. sooner or later.
A wealthy and Immensely influential
man is “a Boer of the Boers,’’ a patriarch
of the Transvaal and ('ape Colony, though
of late years seldom heard of outside of
his own district. He, among the best
Boer families, as well as the back-veldt
doppera, is equally great as, if not greater,
than Paul Kruger himself.
Abel Erasmus is a power among all
white men. as one of the principal free
booters in and out of the Transvaal, and
the terror of all blacks. Asa Boer i>oll
tician he is of the first rank, although
his voice is never heard outside of the
executive. Owing to his ability and
strength of mind, he never consults the
government in Pretoria, but always ncl*
"on his own judgment." On the other
In nd. Paul Kruger Invariably seeks tiie
advice of his trusted friend, Abel Eras
mus.
Abel Erasmus is a handsome old man
of 7b years, with white hair and beard, a
soft, kindly expression lighting up a re
markably open face. His appearance,
standing fully six feci, is that of the
finest type of a Boer farmer of the old
school in South Africa. The inner man
o! Abel Erasmus in many respects is ex
actly the opposite. In his public capacity
• < Native Commissioner of a vast district
he lias ruled the whole native population
for the last forty years with a rod of
it on. For real villainy and bloodshed
among all classes of natives under his
’’protection" he has not his equal in the
Transvaal. To mention the name of Abel
to any resident native within his district
is like *a galvanic shock. Fourteen years
ago I lived on a high road about sixty
miles from Lydenburg. Troops of native
rootle passed the door every week. On
inquiry I always learned they were going
to Abel, with the everlasting tines of cows
and calves imposed upon every kraal,
if an Induna or a headman of a kraal
was "sent for" by Abel the netvs cast a
gltom over all the. kraals In that district.
Abel Erasmus was in no way responsible
for the present rebellion. He always was
clever and far-sighted enough to know it
was not wist* to seek a quarrel with the
British. The Transvaal had fought for
its independence and gained it. The
Boer government was established from
end to end of the country. Industry and
wealth ban made the Transvaal the great
est gold-mining country in the world. The
Lydenburg diggers and the Lynderburg
Boers were on the best of terms. If
Abel Erasmus had been given Kruger’s
opportunity he would have become a re
publican dictator, who would have pilot
ed his country according to special cir
cumstances, and avoided any chance of
self-destruction. Abel Erasmus is no
tiiend of the Hollander moths who have
eaten through the Transvaal fabric. He
has generally kept away from them as
much as possible. When his advice was
sought previous to the war, and the bulk
of the Boer farmers ln the Lydenburg
district were asked, they were mostly
willing to grant the five years’ franchise
to Uitlanders, for many business reasons—
foremost, the Lydenburg landowners were
well-to-do farmers, contented, and tiie
Uitlanders working in the gold mines
were their best customers.
When the time has arrived for our
troops to advance into the Transvaal,
Abel Erasmus will no longer sit passive.
Ilis iron will, prudence and vast experi
ence in handling Boers In the past will
cause him once again to take a promi
nent part in defense of his country, even
at his age. This will be hightened all the
more because he Is well known to the
British government for his many delin
quencies and cold-blooded murders of na
tives in the past. His brother freelioters.
Groot Adrian De la Key, Van Pittin and
Van Neikirk, of Bechuanaland and Stel
laland fame, have all departed to the
"happy hunting ground.” If the reader
is desirous to learn of their many depre
dations in the past the book. “Austral
Africa; Losing It or Ruling It." by John
Mackenzie, published in 1887 by Sampson
Low. is the best expose of the Transvaal’s
struggle for supremacy in South Africa,
and Sir Charles Warren’s expedition in
1878-1881.
The Ohrigstadt laager Is so called be
cause it is the oldest and strongest posi
tion ever taken up by the early trek Boers
when going north from Cape Colony and
Natal. It is as well to remember from
sixty to one hundred years back the pres
ent Transvaal was Inhabited in certain
districts by Basutos. other native tribes
like the Zulus continually raiding them.
The emigrant Boers’ hands were against
all, capturing their cattle and making
slaves of the men and youngsters. When
nerd pressed by large impls of natives,
the Boers retreated to Ohrigstadt Valley.
That position is simply impregnable, if
defended, it being a series of volcanic for
tifications, interminable kopjes extending
for miles. Inside these natural protections
is a most beautiful and fertile valley,
in extent about seventy-five miles square
or thereabouts, protected on the east by
ihe Drakensburg mountains, on the north
and west by the deep and broad Ollphat’s
river, with Forts Oliphant and *Weber.
From the south the valley narrows down
to the town of Lydenburg, which is the
only gate. Two thousand Boers, with ar
tillery, could defy 200.000 British troops
for an Indefinite period.
No men, if they came in their thousands,
could ever climb through these series of
pigmy and giant ridges, or pass through
the multitudinous death traps of bouled
built kopjes intersected with dongas. The
force Inside the valley, so long as ammu
nition and food lasted, is safe. There are
throe beautiful rivers—Blyde. Ohrigstadt
and Steel port—rLn ning into the Oliphant'*
river, besides hundreds of springs. The
nature and aspect of the valley is that of
one eontinuouos garden, capable of Irriga
tion from fountains in all directions. The
soil is alluvial, producing with primitive
methods of cultivation grain, forage, to
bacco. etc., in fact, everything required,
nnd the hills afford excellent pasturage
for Boer horses, cattle and sheep, summer
and winter. The valley Is even now fairly
well populated by straggling Boers
“sweated" by Abel Erasmus, and many
well-to-do natives, all of whom have ex
cellent fruit gardens. The many natural
A CALIFORNIAN’S
Rnec*n(ul Kspcrlnirata With Food.
A gfnt!*man in Ooak Park. Cal.. H*nry
Poekman, took up the qu*stion of food,
to are if he could recover front an old
care of dyepepela, from which nux votn
lca, pepMn, and other rented)** gave him
no relief.
He started In with Grape-Nut* bresk
fa*t food and his dyspepsia quickly dis
appeared. He also left off the use of
coffee and took 1 Postum hNjod Coffee In
its place. He writes that he has bean put
right, perfectly well, and golnir to remain
so by contlmtlnf the use of the Grape-
Nut* food and Postum Coffee.
It 1* worth any one's trial, who desires
to he well, to change the diet, land partic
ularly to leave off coffee Grape-Nuts
food conialn* elements that rebuild the
Krey matter In Ihe nerve centers and
brain and (five one a feeling of reserve
strength and visor. This food tn perfectly
cooked at Ihe factory, can be served In
stantly. and ia on sale at all flrat-claa*
grocer*
The Largest and Strongest Company in the World writing
ACCIDENT, HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE.
’ __ j
Assets, $52,850,299.90. Surplus, $5,442,215.86.
Twentieth Century Combination Accident Policy.
LIFE INSURANCE CO.
OF HARTFORD, COSMiM.,
PAYS DOUBLE BENEFITS under a
WIDER RANGE OF EVERY-DAY EVENTS than any Accident Cos.
Railroad Accidents ) LL I Burning Building Accidents
Street Car Accidents - DOUBLE Elevator Accidents
Bicycle Accidents ' BENEFITS i Steamboat Accidents
WEEKLY INDEMNITY payable every Two Months during disability, until pay
ments equal the Full Principal Sum Insured, equivalent to Two Hundred Weeks.
PAYS INDEMNITY FOR TOTAL OR PARTIAL DISABILITY.
Especial provision made for many things not usually covered by Accident Policies,
such as Sunstroke, Freezing, Assaults, Asphyxiation, Injuries without External
Marks, etc., etc.
GEO. S. HAINES,
General Agent. Telephone 709. J 9 Bay Street, East, Savannah, Ga.
advantages for a strong defending force
cannot bo ovorastlmat*d. Our troops havr
had experience of Colonso to l^adv
smtth. as a starting place with base ad
jacent. Thai was comparatively easy to
the miles of Impassable approaches to
Ohrigstadt Valley.
To ibis wonderful stronghold the Boers
are going to retreat. .u they have done
years ago. when unsuccessful in raiding
They will fight inside the Transvaal yard
by yard, so long as provisions ltit. That
Is their programme. And Erasmus is mak
ing every preparation by commandeering
all natives able to work throughout hl
enormous district. With the assistance of
engineers h** will now complete the read>-
made fortifications, ihe upheavals which
nature has commanded with her wand.
The key of the position is Komari Poort,
the Transvaal frontier station on the Del
agoa Bay Railway. 8o soon as that place
is in our hands we can put a stop to the
ahiploads of provisions and ammunition
about to arrive. To victual and provision
the portion there the Boera are likely to
make a stand. The last and not the least
Is Ohrigstadt Valley, defended by the vet
eran Boer. Abrl Erasmus.
THE BRAI\ AS SIGNAL BO\.
N\ hy It I* Easier to Rf nirnihrr on
Object I'li ii n n I'onn.
From Pearson’s.
The science of medicine is year after
year becoming more and more icrfect; its
diagnosis are more reliable, and Its meth
od of matment is more rational.
Although the brain is the chief part
of the animal man, yet there are many
things about /lie brain which scientists
have not yet fathomed.
But great strides have been made in
that knowledge, which has only within re
cent years been discovered, and which re
veals to us what the cranium really eon
tairs. Shelving what has gone before, and
what has been taught as medical law, the
following Interesting data on how' the
brain works Is now what is accepted at
the present time as the correct theory.
The cerebrum—front and top—ls the
chief part of tlie brain and the Immediate
source of all our mental action. The gray
mat er nerve calls. These are the think
ing centers. Experiments have clearly
demonstrated that each convolution has
a special function, and if destroyed it can
not be replac'd
ft has also been recently found that the
left side of the brain Is more active than
the right.
How has that hem found out? Well. If
an epileptic commence* a fit by twitching
the right thumb or hand, one would find
Its cause in Its nerve center on the left
side of Ihe brain. It Is only within the
past few years that medical men.are now
able to make a neap of the surface of the
brain according to the various functions
p rformed.
All impressions received from the outer
world, whether through the medium of
sight, smell, hearing, taste or touch, are
carried direct to the surface of the bra n,
and recorded in the brain cells of their
respective areas, while a l movements are
the result of impulses from the ceils In
the different motor areas.
Now, there are five large sensory areas
in the make-up of the brain: Firs), sight,
which is the largest, i Ihe back of the
brain. Smell, taste and hearing have their
positions et the side of the bead in the
temporal (temples) region and inner sur
face. Touch has Us domicile at the top
of the brain, while the large motor (giv
ing motion) area takes up the bulk of
the middle brain.
These are so splendidly arranged hy na
ture that the motor cells of the lips are
ln front: then those of the hand, arm and
so on, to the foot. To give you an ex.
ample how the sensory and motor nerves
work: If you touched anything hot or
sharp, the impression would be conveyed
to the sensory area along the nerves con
nected with it. The sensory cell which
received the message would immediately
communicale with the motor cell* to pull
your hand away.
Why Is it easier to remember an object
than. say. a mathematical formula or a
poem? The reason of this is that whereas
the former has Impressions stamped on
several brain centers, such as sight, touch,
smell, taste and the rpst, the latter are
stamped on centers which are not nearly
so retentive as the former.
In repeating poetry, for instance, It ts
The sound of the last line which suggests
the next line, but an object presents it
self to the brain centers concerned imme
diately. You know an apple or an orange
when you see it, because you are aided
in distinguishing it by a set of centers
which are not only more numerous, but
quicker In perception. Though poe'rv
ia revived in the sight and sound centers,
it is not BO well fixed there as in the
other case, because it calls up fewer
centers.
An apple, for instance, is stamped twice
In the ootli’ center, once as a green fruit
and once as the printed word. There •*
an optic word renter and a pictorial or
photographic center. The poem Is only
stamped In the former, as. of course, 11
ls not an object which can be plctorlally
represented.
The brain is nothing less than a big al
bum of photographs and other sensory
Impressions. The prefrontal region may
he compared to a registry’ office where cer
tain records are kept. In the brain that
particular jrl Is the starting place for
the memory. If we wish to recall a sub
ject. the stimulus must pass to the pre
frontal or registry office of the brain,
whence th* stimulus Is sent to Ihe brain
ceHs containing the sensations to be re
called. It la like a signal box on a rail
way.
Now. unless your blood be In good order,
the aettve life of the brelt) will he ef
fected Blood Is the nourishing agent,
end If It be of a poor kind Ihe work it
does in the wey of nourishment will be t>f
a worthless eiieraeter practically, root
Jklood Is au enemy of the brain, but, hap-
HOSIERY and UNDERWEAR
are a great attraction to-day at
THE BEE HIVE
N. SCHSU7Z,
St. Julian and Whitaker Streets.
GOOD GOODS AT CHEAP PRICES.
Ladies’ Unbleached Vest*, lapedauil
crochet be
Ladies’ Blenched Gauze Lisle Yeats.
silk ta|>o<j 10c
Ladies’ extra large size Vests 10c
Ladies’ extra large, size Gauze Lisle .
Vests, silk taped, si’.k crochet he *k
niul arms 19c
Indies’ Silkallsle Vests, featherweight.
durable 23c
Ladies’ Fast Black Stockings, Riche
lieu ribbed aml plain 8c
Ladles’ Fast Hlark Stockings, double
heels and toes 12*
Ladies’ Richelieu Ribbed Open Luce
Work and Plain Black Stockings,
H**rtiv-dorf dye, seamless, perfect
fitting 19c
STRAW MATTINGS.
\V> have put on pale all remnant*, ana will pell same at less than cost for
cash only. Our regular line has „u.st hati XX) rolls added to It.
Awnings and Mosquito Nets
Should be what you want just now.
Iron Beds and Perfection Mattresses
Are a groat specialty with U3.
Read’s Odorless Refrigerators
Are what the name implies. The only one that you can get a written
guarantee with.
Baby Carriages and Go-Carts
lii a very large variety, SI.OO and up.
The Puritan Blue Flame Stove,
As advertised hy the Standard Oil Company, is on sale at our store, and U
Is a dandy. Come and see it and you will buy It.
: _LIHDSAY&tIOR6AN]
pily. It is not so disastrous a foe ns
worry. In that you have the real enemy
of brain. Worry disorganizes the ma
chinery of the brain and mind, and Is lit
tle inferior 4o shock, which usually para
lyze* both.
Worry causes irregular nerve action,
and. If it be continuous, It produces a con
fusion of Ideas. This depresses the cells
of the brain, and the usual result is,
if there i no abatement in the worry,
complete failure of the brain’s anion and
consequent mental disturbance.
Self-control Is the key to preserving the
equilibrium of the brain and to maintain
ing Us natural healthy state.
I’llE JIIMJ \l \ HAT.
Odd Ail me, but It In Itrnlly Our Old
Friend the Panama.
From the St. Louis Star.
Ecuador ls the real home of the hats
wrongly deslgna’ed under the name of
"Panama. This Industry afterward ex
tended to Peru and o;her countries, even
Lai In America the hat is known under
the name of “jfpijapa,” In honor of the
city where Its manufacture was first
started. It Is only ou side of the produc
ing countries that this hai receives the
nam* of a city which does not make ft.
The finest hats arc made in Jtpajapa
and Monte< rlsti, In the Province of Man
aid, this industry be tig one of the great
est resources of the country. The toquiha.
or leaf of a small plant, is used for this
purpose It grows abundantly in the
country, the leaves coming up in the
shape of a fan. The fdant is the carlndo
\ lea pnlmat ia.
* There are Jlpljapas of ail qualities f om
those ecMtlng a pw centlvoa, or Ameri
can cents, to these worth several hundred
uuore*. or American dollars. The merit of
these last, real marvels of fineness, con
sists as much in the scarcity of the straw
as in the difficulty of the weaving, and
thereftre it Is exceptional to find these
hats on the general market. The hat* of
current sale cost a few sucre*, the finest
not exceeding from .70 to tiO sucres In price.
ln buying a panama It ls nfeesHary to
learn two things-if the straw l- whole
and If it 1* not stiffened. It Is not easy to
recognize the first condition. The weavers
split the stiaw llh such perfection that
unless a person 1* accustomed to such ex
aminations It Is almost Impossible for him
to distinguish the difference. of equal
finenta*. the hat made from whol* straw
Is worth three or four timer the one
manufactured from the airaw that has
Gentlemen's Gauze rndershlrts 190
Gentlemen'h French Balbrlggun Un
derwc.ti, Shirts and Drawers to
match * Ulo
Gentlemen's Seamless Half Hose,
fast black and tans B<j
Pilling & Mndeloy's celebrated Half
Hose, in fait tans and black 12 j iO
(lent lemon's I'nbleached Balbrlggan
Half Hose lSVfce
Gentlemen’s Fancy Colored Half Hose.
■tripes and |jolk.t dots 100
Gentlemen's Silk Front Neg.igee Shirts
440
Gentlemen’s Fancy Percale Shirts,
laundered, collar* and cuff Attached,47o
hrrn split. The second condition is rec
ognized easily, for the hats arc stiffened
' tmiko the straw ilrnirr and whiter.
< .odd toqullla Is white and stiff enough
not to netd arty gum. anti only ordinary
panamas are stiffened.
The JlplJapa is string and is the hat for
da: ablllt v, fineness. rghttiss and ele
gance. 'i In* ahafe of ttie hat. Invariably
tin* same for so many years, perhaps has
hindered it from coining into general ttse,
hut if the dealers wott'd ro-operate with
the makers they could obtain all the
sit ape they wou'd need to satisfy the
w hints of fashion.
t'itrlosl11 es of Suicide.
From the London Telegraph.
At tin- conclusion of n recent inquest
on John Brooks, an engineer of Fpton
Park Manor, who flung himself off the
Koyal Sovereign while the vessel was
nearing Southend on her return Journey
from Margate, Mr. Wood, the deputy
coroner, made some remarks calculated
to surprise the uninitiated—but only the
uninitiated. He said that apparently the
rase whs one of those which made up the
terrible epidemic of suicides in and near
London recently. This is what students
of psychology . ill ••suicide through Imi
tation. ■' or, as Mr. Wood cerrectly term
ed It. "epidemical suicide." Asa rule,
though, civil communities are less prone
io it than military ones. It has happen
ed several times before now that a sol
dier having hanged himself In a barrack
room, or having put a bullet through hts
brain in a sentry box. the drama was
repeated for many days under similar
conditions without the authorities being
able to put a stop to the recurrence other
wise than by changing the regiment's
quarters. The moat notable case on re
cord occurred In 1805, In the camp at
Boulogne, when Napoleon was preparing,
or pretending to prepare, a dpscent upon
Ungland. The regiment was sent Inland,
and it was on that occasion the Emperor
enunciated the famous axiom in a general
order, "the soldier who kills himself la
practically a deserter.” More than •
quarter of a century later a dozen vet
erans hanged themselves In as many day*
from a nail In one of the corridors of the
Hold des invalldes. In Paris. The nalt
was removed and the epidemic ceased.
Ulna Worm—No t are, No Pay.
Your druggist will refund your money If
Pazo Ointment fails to ours you. Mo.
—ad.
7