, DON’T SHOOT SOLID SHOT." Artillery Has Abandoned the Use of That Projectile. The use of solid shot in warfare has been practically given up. The pro- jectile of to-day is a conical shell of steel and sometimes loaded with powder so as to explode, or by a time fuse. It is wonderfully different from the shell of twenty-five years ago, says the Wash- ington Star. In those days one could watch the projectile as it sailed through the air in a graceful curve, at length bursting. There was even time to get out of the way, under favorable circum- stances. 'But the new style of. shell moves at the rate of a little more than half a milea'second. In striking a metal target, its energy being trans- formed instantaneously into heat, it becomes red-hot, and a flame is actually seen to burst from the point struck, Such a projectile moves, one might say, in a straight line, and its impact at a distanCe of a mile seems almost simul- taneous with the discharge of a gun. Such a shell, passing near a man, will tear his clothes off, merely from the windage. If it comes very near, though without hitting him, it‘will kill him. He drops dead without a sign of a wound. W'hereas an old-style shell would burst into a few pieces, the modern projectile flies into a myriad of small fragments, each of them moving with tremendous velocity. It may easily be imagined that half a dozen six-pound Hotchhuss shells finding their way into a vessel would scatter death and destruction in every direction. Protective armor, owing to its great weight, can be placed only over the ship’s Vitals—that is to say, along the middle part of the hull, near the water line, so as to cover the machinery. In future battles gun- ners will direct their fire against the unarmored ends of an opposing vessel. LAYING ON THE LAST STRAW. The Horse May Now Be Seen Led on the Street by a Bicycle. The horse has been getting the “worst of it” for some time. [First he was found to‘ be edible and was made into sausage and canned and sold in steaks ‘ and his hide made into cordova. Then electricity took away the work of his old age—pulling street cars. And now the bicycle has further restricted his sphere of usefulness by depriving him“ of pulling the Sunday young man and' his best girl on their afternoon drives. Livery, which was his exclusive field, has been adopted by the impertinent wheel, and now, in the next stall to the horse, is the glistening bicycle, which needs neither oatsrnor bedding. Then, too, they have shared with him and the bicycle the honorable epithet “steed,” and the gaudy wheel, with its noiseless, sneaking rubber shoes, is called the “noble iron steed,” etc., ad - nauseam. The future of the horse is indeed dismal. The crowning insult, however, Went unresented the other day. Down Grand Avenue, says the Kansas City Star, rolled a man on a wheel, leading a fine, sturdy, middle-aged horse, in the prime of life and usefulness. The horse jogged along after the wheel with his head hanging dejectedly and shamefully. Ile evidently realized his degradation, but was too' hopeless and heartsore to resent it. And lovers of the horse, man’s intelligent friend and companion, looked after him pity-ing- ly and wished he would back up, pull the man off the Wheel and dance on the machine—but he didn’t. SOMETHING ABOUT cows. ’11 They Are Plugged or Worn They Have - Little Special Value. As viewed from a numismatic stand- point it is the condition of a coin which fixes its value. It is not the date or age, except in less than thirty instances, that is sought for at the big quoted premiums. Pierced, plugged, badly- worn, scratched coins, or those on which the dates are illegible, have no particular value. A perfectly-uncirculated cent of 1799 w ould easily bring $100, whereas a good cent of the same date can be purchased for $10. For gold there is but a limited numis— matic demand, and the supply is great— ly in excess of the demand. The double eagle of 1849 is worth about $300. All gold dollars are at a premium, and worth from $1.20 to $1.40 each. Those dated 1863, 1864 and 1865 command from ’ $2.50 to $4 each, and 1875, $8. . Most numismatic transactions are in silver coins. A dollar of 1804 is worth $400; a halfdollar of 1797 brings $40, and "a quarter of 1827 commands $40: The dime of 1804 is the most valuable, being worth $10, and the half dime of 1802 easily holds the record at $63. A large copper cent of 1799 would bring $25. and a half cent of 1796 is in demand at $30. A thin silver half dime of 180f3 bought by its present holder fo1 $63, and has been sold at $75.. “'hat Gave llim Away. A story is told in the India Rubber . World of a meek-looking stranger, with i a distinctly ministerial air, who applied for permission to look over a large rub- ber factory. He knew nothing at all about the rubber business, he said, and, after a little hesitation, he was ad- mitted. The superintendent showed him about in‘ person, and the man’s (fuestions and comments seemed -to come from the densest ignorance. , Finally, when the grinding-room was reached, he lingered a’little, and asked, in a hesitating way1f- “Couldn’t I have a specimen of that curious stuff for my . cabinet?” “Certainly,” replied the superintendent, although it was a com- pound the secret of which was worth thousands ofdollars; “certainly, cut off as much as you Wish.” With eager step the visitor approached the roll of gum, . took out'his knife, wet the blade in his mouth, and—s “Stop right where you are!" said the superintendent, lays ing a heavy hand upon the stranger; “you are a fraud and a thief. You didn’t learn in a pulpit that a dry knife won’t cut rubber. ” So saying, he showed the impostor to the door, and the secret was still safe. books. “as T II E osTRICH WANTED A SMOKE. He Swallows the Lighted Cigar, to the Consternation of His Keeper. There was a performance in the os- trich department of the syndicate shows the other day, says the Tucson (A T.) Star, which had mot been advertised. It took the place of the strong- man fea- ture which was advertised but didn t come off. Sammie Hughes was stand- ing near the ostrich conservatory mak- ing a Scientific study of the birds and smoking a fi eshly-lighted ten‘ccnt cigar. An ostrich suddenly lengthen ed his neck about a foot and removed the cigar from Mr. Hughes’ mouth and swallow ed it, fire and all. The length of an ostrich’ s neck furnishes a w onder- ful opportunity for a lighted cigar. and it bu1 ned every inch of the way to the prompting,of his indiscriminate appe- tite. A gentleman connected with the show in the capacity of chan1be11na1d for the ostriches saw the cigar disap- pear within the bird’s bill. He accused Mr. Hughes of having made a voluntary contribution and uttered language which was neither moral nor polite, showing that the spiritual training of this great educational menageric is not what it is cracked up to be. He threat- ened to eject Mr. Hughes from the prem- ises. >Mr. Hughes tried to explain that he was the chief loser by the transac- tion and that the whole thing was an affair between himself and the ostrich. Deputy United States Marshal Ezekiel also began to say that the ostrich had. brought the t1ouble on himself. The showman pushed Mr. Ezekiel aside, and the officer was compelled to exhibit his gun as his badge of authority. In the meantime the cigar had been extin- guished in the bird’s gizzard, and he seemed to have forgotten the episode of the cigar and was looking longingly at an empty soda-water bottle which lay on the ground just out of reach. TRICKS IN HIGH DIVING. Experts Do Not Run as Many Risks as Most People Suppose. “What bothers most people who think anything about the subject,” said Kear- ney P. Speedy, a high diver, who, ac- cording to the New York Herald, began his public career by jumping head first from the St. Louis bridge four or five years ago, “is how a dive of fifty or six- ty feet can be made into a tank of thir— ty-six inches of water. You see they confuse diving with bridge jumping—~— quite a different thing. Bridge jump- ers are neither jumpers nor divers— they’re droppers; that is, they reach the lower rods of the bridge truss and drop feet foremost into the water. The trick is to maintain the perpendicular. They must have plenty of water under them, too. The high diver, as you have seen, makes a clear dive, head first. just a boy does from a springboard in swimming. I do it in very shallow water. I weigh, stripped, one hundred and eighty pounds, and never do any training. I have been diving from the top of a circus tent all summer into a tank but seven feet wide and into water but .three feet deep. The shallow water dive is possible from the same principle that a Cannon or rifle shot meets the most resistance the more powerful the impact. You see, I give my body and head a slight inclination upward at the instant I strike the water, which causes me to pop out as a board would do or an oar on the feather. I learned this trick in the St. Louis natatorium when a boy practicing in shallow water and from a greater height. Then there is a certain elasticity in the water known to the high diver, but the trick is in the strike and turn, for water will break bones and crush chests, as many a man knows.” BOYS , ARE CRITICAL. In Writing Stories for Them Authors Must Be Sure of Facts. In an interesting article on “How to \‘Vrite Stories for Boys,” in the li’ritcr, James Otis, the popular juvenile writer, gives an amusing illustration of the necessity of accuracy in stating facts in boy’s stories. “Carelessness in stating alleged facts,” he says, “is a serious offense in the eyes of the boy. He will fqrgive a glaring improbability when it is boldly labeled fictidn; but you deliberately insult him when you state that which he can ascertain from books of refer— cute is absolutely incorrect. This is best illustrated by in: experience of mine in connection with one of my if “The incorrect statement made was regarding the depth of water at a cer— tain point on Tampa bay, and I gained my information from an old chart of ' the Florida coast, carelessly giving no heed to the fact that there might be a later publication bearing on the sub- ject. In less than thirty days from the issuance of the book four lette1s were received from as many readers, in which the mistake was pointed out, with more or less sarcasm as to the wisdom of the author. 41 , "The latest coast survey had discov- ered that this particular portion of the bay was dry 'at low water, and at least four boys had made themselves ac- quainted with thhat fact. “It was an error such as an older reader would have passed by unnoticed, or with a smile of pity because of the author’s ignorance; but a boy does not allow anything of the kind to go with- out rebuke, and always remembers it to the disparagement of the writer.” Pestiferous Leeches. In India and Ceylon certain land leeches are apt to become perfect pests to man. They are no bigger than a knitting needle, are an inch in length. and when feeding stretch with great power. Horses are driven wild by them, and stamp the ground in fury to shake them from their fetlocks, to which they cling like bloody tassels. The structure is so flexible they can make their way through the meshes of the finest goods. The bare legs of the 'palanquin-bearer's and coolies are a favorite resort. and it is asserted that a battalion of soldiers in India were put to flight by these small bloodsuckers. SETTLED THE DIFFICUNLTY. After Cussing Each Other the Two Mis- sourians Became Good Friends. “Cussin’ out” used to be one of the ways of settling controversies in the Ozark country. It originated, says the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, with old Uz Findley, and John Carter. The Findleys came from Georgia. Old Uz took a great interest in. politics,‘and wherever he went he was followed by a venerable negro named Bosen, whose duty it was to steer his master home- ward when he needed help. At one of the early elections old Uz and John Carter became very angry at each Othei. It looked as if nothing but a fight could settle the issue between them, when suddenly old Uz shouted: “Mr. Carter, stand and be cussed.” Carter removed his hat, walked out about ten paces from the crowd and told old Uz‘ to go ahead. Findley removed his hat and, walking out in front of Carter, said, with deliberation and emphasis: “M1 Carter, if this earth was one piece of parchment and the sea one basin of ink, and every quill upon earth was qpe . quill, and I had the power to use that quill, that parchment and that ink, I would fall short, sir, of being able to describe the corruption of your old heart, sir.” Carter said never a word. but stood with uncovered head until Uz was through. Then he said: “Mr. Findley, stand, sir, until I cuss you.” Old Uz bowed his head and Carter said: “Mr. Findley, had I all the talents ever produced in Europe and America com- bined in solid phalanx, and was to un- dertake to speak of you, I would then fall short of describing the corruption of your old heart, sir.” This settled the difficulty. The two men resumed friendly relations. The custom of “cussin’ out” was thus introduced in the Ozark country. A JOKER JAILED. How He Was Brought to Book for a IiIean Trick. The sad story lately told in the Youth’s Companion of a newsboy who lost his life as the result of a practical joke, so called, reminds a correspondent of an incident that took place a few years ago in a city of Tennessee. A poor little girl was peddling apples in a railway station. A train was about starting, and almost at the last moment a tall, rui‘fianly passenger stepped off the car steps and called for fifteen cents’ worth of the apples. The girl counted them out, the man took them, and then, as he moved toward the car, began feeling in his pocket as if for the ' money. The change was not forth- coming, he was on the steps, the train began to move, the girl ran eagerly after it, and there stood the man on the platform, laughing at her. . \ By good luck, the mayor of the city happened to be among the bystand- ers—a. war veteran, with a tender heart and a contempt for all meanness. He ran at once to the superintendent’s of: fice, and said: “I’ll give you a hundred dollars to stop that train and have it backed into the station. " The offer was p1 omptly accepted, a telegram was dispatched, and very soon the player of the joke found himself in the hands of the police. He paid the girl her fifteen cents, of course, and of- fered to pay her a good deal more; but the ofiicers were inexorable, and to the gratification of the lockers-on he was marched off to jail. —_ TETXTCINGO INDIANS. A’yillage of Interesting Mexicans in the State of Morelos. Tetxtcingo is the euphonious name of a village of one thousand inhab- itants, in the district of Morelos, state of Morelos, which has pre- served the customs and the lan- guage of its founders, who settled there in the remote past. says the Mexican Herald, are all Indians of the purest Mexican or Aztec blood; they scorn the idea of intermixture or intermarriage with any other race. Their boast is that they are pure Mex- icans. They all speak the native lan- guage; a few understand Spanish, but the great majority do not know one word of it. The men wear their hair long ‘and plaited in a tail like a Chinaman. They wear short pants, like those used by bathers, made of deer skin or of cotton woven by their women. The shirt, or body dress, is made of cotton cloth also woven at home. The women dress e11- tirely in homespun material. and never comb their hair. which they wear rolled up in a ball on the top of the head, and over it they put a jicara made from a common gourd. They live upon corn and fruits and the flesh of animals and blr‘ds trapped in the forest. and hills. They consume not-hing whatever that is imported, and they support them- selves'entirely by their native produc— tions. Gov. Alarcon, of the state of Morelos, told a Herald representative that robberies are totally unknown in the village. Sincere Compliments. A lecturer used to tell of two compli- ments he had received, each of which was, as he said, a “gem” in its way. One day a friend met him on the street and said, cheerfully: “I see that you lec- tured last night. Sorry I wasn’t able to be there. Hope to hear your lecture when it passes into literature.” This was different from the tribute paid him by a young man who, with a grave face and businesslike air, stepped up to the lecturer one night as he left the plat- form, shook his hand solemnly, and re- marked, with the air of one making a dry statement of facts: “I merely wished to say that you are my favorite writer and speaker,” after which he bowed and abruptly disappeared. Bel-rings Know of Approaching Storms. Herring, it has now been disCovered. have a wonderful electro-magnetic sense, by which they are able to detect when a storm is approaching. They also know which way it will blow, and so can go out into deep water or kec -p in the shelter of the shore, as may suit them best. The inhabitants, ' Dynrle‘GAzETTE I i 0:: NEW YORK. RICHARD AlWCCURDY President. V .eYear ing 131.1895. cemen $221,213,721 33 Assets. ~ . ‘ .. . . Liabilities . ‘ 194,347,157 58 Surplus . ' . . $26,866,563 75 f $48,597,430 51. $23,126,728 45 Total Income . - . Total Paid Policyholders in 1895. = . Insurance and Annuities in force _ . $899, 074,453 78 Net gain in 1895 $6], 647, 645 36 NOTE—Insurance merely 1nr1teen,ls_ discarded from this Statement as wholly mlsleadlng, and only insurance actually issued and paid for in cash Is Included. I have carefully examined the fore going Statement and find the Came to be correct. -CHA RLES A. PRELLER, Auditor. C From the Surplus a dividend will be apportioned as usual. Report of the Examining Committee. Elfin-ct lhe Mutual Life Insurance Company at New Yuri, February 11, 1896. At a. meeting of the Board of Trustees of this Company, held on the 18th day of December last, the undersigned were appointed a Committee to examine the annual Statement for the year ending December 31st, 1895, and to verify the same by com; parison with the ass sets of the Company. The Committee have ca1efully performed the duty assigned to them, and hereby certify that the Statement is in all particulars correct and. that the assets specified therein are in possession of the Company. ‘ In making this certificate the Committee bear testimony to the high character of the investments cf the Company and express their approval of the system, order and accuracy with which the accounts and vouchers have been kept, and the business in general transacted. Robert Clyphant, Wm. P. Dixon, J. H. Herrick. H. 0. Von. Post, Charles R. Henderson, James C. Holden, Committee ROBERT A. GRANNIS, Vice- President. WALTER R. GILLETTE, General Manager. HENRY E. DUNCAN. .11., 00:. Seat.- “ ALBERT KLAMROTH, Asst. Secy. ISAAC F. LLOYD, Second Vice-President, WILLIAM J. EASTON, Secretary, I FREDERIC CROMWELL, Treasurer. JAMES TIMPSON, 2d Asst. Treas EDWARDP. HOLDEN, Asst. Cashier. o JOHN A. FONDA, Assistant Treasurer. WILLIAM P. SANDS, Cashier EMORY MCCLINTOCK LL.D.,- F. I. A. Actuary. JOHN TATLOCK, JB., Asst. Actuary. WM. W. RICHARDS. Comptroller. CHARLES A. PRELLER, Auditor, HENRY S. BROWN, Asst. Comp. JOHN C. ELLIOTT, Superintendent of Domestic Agencies, EDWARD LYMAN SHORT, Gen. Solicitor. ' 1' MEDICAL DIRECTORS . . GUS-,AVUS §.W[_\‘V'31‘0N, M. D. ELIAS J. MARSH, M. D. GRANVILLE 11. WHITE, 11. 13’. J01 N W. NICEOL New Haven, General Agt. for State of Connecticut. ' Local Agent.
Norwalk Chronicler