‘CAVES 013‘ YUCATAN.
Were the Abodes of People of a.
_ Prehistoric Race.
Scientific Expeditions {Sent Out from
Pennsylvania to Secure Relics
of a Race Anterior to
1, the Mayne-
' If there is one thing more than an—
other which archaeologists would hail
with delight it would be the discovery
which would unlock the mysteries of
the Maya. stone monuments and give to
the world the keys to the history of
the early races of Central America, as
the discovery of the Rosetta stone un-
locked the history of ancient Egypt.
The-re has been for many years a dis-
pute as to the degree of antiquity which
is to be accorded to the remains that
are found in Central America. One sa-
vant carries them back to a time al-
most contemporary with ancient
Egypt, while another will not allow
that they are much earlier than the
days of the Montezumas or the time of
the discovery of the continent by Co-
lumbus. If the Maya tongue was as
open a book as the records‘Of ancient
Egypt this question might be settled.
Who were the builders of Uxmal?
“(hence came the ancient race that
carved the strange figures and chai-
a-cters that are found on the altar slabs
at Palcnque? NO one can tell. After
years of research we are but a little
closer to the heart of the riddle than
we were half a century ago.
.1. Recently the inquiry has taken an-
other turn and the effort has been
made to ascertain something about
the prehistoric races that it was sup-
posed might haVe preceded the Maya
Indians in the occupation of the Yuca-
tan peninsula. There are in the hills
of Yucatan many caves, not large in
e:;tent,l1ut-which it was believed would,
upon investigation, Show in the de-
posits Which might be found on their
floors some traces of prehistoric man
in that region. The earlier races found
shelter in caves, built fires there, and
in the refuse of the ash heap are found
the bones of the animals theyconsumed
and the fragments of the tools, utensils
and weapons that they used. Relics
of importance might be found in the
hill caV es of 1uca1an, and so an expedi-
tion 'V as sent out f1 om the University
of Pennsy lV ania to examine these cav es
and investigate the “kitchen middens,"
or “culture beds,” as science calls the
soil of which the floors of these caves
is composed. The expedition was in
charge of Henry C. Mercer and was
known as the Corwith expedition, and
Mr. Mercer has written an entertaining
and valuable account of their re-
searches. Ten caves were examined,
and the method followed was that usu-
ally employed in such cases. Trenches
are dug across the floor with great
care, the earth removed in’layers and
carefully examined for relics and frag-
ments of pottery, bones of animals,
arrowheads and other weapons. It
was hoped that there would be found
traces of a race anterior to the May as.
In this the explorers were doomed to
disappointment They did not find
any traces of the prehistoric man, but
they found that the people who came
tothe caves were generally identical
VV ith the race that had leared the cities
whose ruin-s have excited so much at-
tention a nd V1 onder. They brought
with them whatever degree of culture
. they were possessed of and had not
developed after their arrival in Yuca-
tan. It was also established that these
people had reached the country in geo-
logically recent times. It will thque
seen that not all the results of the ex-
pedltion were of a negative character
and that some of them were of impor-
tance from a scientific point of View.
It was ascertained that in all probabil—
ity the ancient May'as were cannibals.
They were an agricultural people and
not given to hunting to any great ex-
tent.
Nearly all the caverns contained wa-
ter, and it was that. fact which first led
these earlier races to resort to them.
The party devoted its entire time to
cave explorations and did not study the
- ruined cities. The fact was estab-
lished that no prehistoric race preceded
the Mayas on the Yucatan peninsular,
but no fresh. clews were obtained as to
110w far back into the past that occupa-
tion extended—Brooklyn Eagle.
Not for Carriage Wheels.
It is not generally understood as it
should be, perhaps, that bicycle wheels
seldom or neV er are subjected to lateral.
strains. They need to resist only those
strains which pass through their own
plane and in this plane only have they
any strength worth speaking of. This
is worth remembering when the use
of wheels of this type is being consid-
ered for three or four wheeled vehi-
cles, where the conditions are essen-
tially different and where, in turn-
ing corners rapidly, or in going over
ground that causes the vehicle to be
inclined sideways, a very considerable
lateral strain may be brought upon the
wheels—a strain which the ordinary
bicycle wheel is, very properly, entire
1y unfittcd for. This is to be consid-
ered also in connection with devices"
for attaching two bicycles side by side.
“to make a duplex or.four-wheeled ma-
chine of them. Neither the frame, the
bearings nor the wheels of a properly
constructed bicycle are adapted to such
use without in jury—Chicago News.
Menu for a Children’s Party.
" A very good menu for a child’s party
may consist of bouillon, with bread-
sticks and celery, creamed chicken in
little paper cases, served with tiny
homemade biscuits, sandwiches of
tongue and white bread rolled with
, celery, and ice cream, with such light
" cakes as macaroons and lady lingers.
Lemon or Orange jelly' in orange shells
may be served in place offiice. cream.
Have for favors the bonbons that con-
tain pretty t' ssue paper caps and bon-
nets, and a cake containing a ring,
or in its place a little gift for each
child. -—Phil:.dclp_hia Times.
.
THE FINDINGS OF SCIENCE."
7-.“ 1 .
Messrs. De Morgar and Meir, during
their excavations in the neighborhood
of Gizeh, discovered an almost perfect
yacht or pleasure vessel, which has
been ascribed by cvperts to the 11th or
12th dynasty, or about 3000 B. C.
While boring at well at Mulhausen,
Alsace,.,the temperature was taken at.
various depths. At 1,650 feet the ther-
mometer recorded 160 degrees F.; at
770 feet, 641/2 degrees. From this last
point. down the variation was an in-
crease of one degree to every 22 feet.
Two English bacteriologists conclude
that an average of 1, 500 microbes must
be inhaled into the nose every hour,
while in London the number must often
reach 14,000. The organisms are caught
by the nose and pass to the digestive
organs, which in health destroy them.
At the Pasteur institute' 1n Paris 1, 520
persons were treated last year, of whom
but two died, the smallest proportion
yet attained. In ten years 17. 337 per-
sons have been inoculated, 85 of whom
died. Nearly a third of the patients
last year came from Paris and its neigh-
borhood.
Lemons are considered healthful be-
cause the acid they contain acts as a
diuretic, having power to excite the se-
cretions, and thus regulating the sys-
tem. They must, of course, be used
in moderation. or they will pall on the
appetite and 0811.98 to have any medicinal
effect.
PEOPLE ABROAD.
Etienne Chatelain, who died a. short
time ago at Cornwall, Ont., at the age
of 109, left a widow aged 90, and 275
descendants.
M. Wierokin, chief of police at Walr-
saw, has died of stry chninc poisoning.
One of his servants, who is believed to
have relations with the nihilists, has
been arrested on suspicion.
Lord Ranfurly recently had the Dun-
gannon town council to dinner, and
after they left .they found that a val-
uable heirloom, a gold snuff box pre-
sented to John, Earl of Bute, by George
II., had di sappe‘ared.
Mr. Arthur Balfour came to grief
with his bicycle in VVhitechapel the
other day. . He got jammed in the crowd
of vehicles and had to take the pieces
of his bicycle to Dpwning street in a
hansom cab. _ '
The royal family have never giV en 11 1
the custom of wearing crape; Queen
Victoria has always worn it, and when
her majesty and any of the princesses
have attended the funeral of relatives
they have worn crane veils almost to
the ground. ‘
Of all the sovereigns of the world, the
shah of Persia is said to possess the
largest treasure in jewels and gold or-
naments. it being valued at $60,000,000.
The chief object of value is the old
crown of Persian rulers, in the form of a
pot of flowers, V1 hich 1s surmounted b"
an uncut ruby the size of a hen’ 5 egg.
AnT AND MUSIC.
Thorneycroft’s statue of Queen Vic-
toria will be set up in the Royal ex-
change on the Queen’s birthday.
Mascagni’s new opera, “Vestilla,”
will include a gladiatorial scene in :1
Roman amphitheater.
Franz von Lenbach, who has just
finished another portrait of the pope,
says that his holiness is greatly inter-
ested in Prince Bismarck. He could
not hear enough about the ex-chan-
'4’ curl
cellor from the painter, and ended by.
ordering a portrait of him.
In Germany (a city of 25,000 people
which has not heard “LOhengrin” is a
curiosity, but Worms had that distinc
tion until‘irecently. It is rather curious,
for, as the city of Nibelung legend,
Worms is more closely associated with
the Wagner opera"I than any other ex.
cept Nuremburg.
It is an interesting fact that the new
president -of the Royal academy, in
common with others of his colleagues,
has in the course of his career 115211 a
sign painter. Sir John Millais, in the
early days, long before he met the tide
which carried him on to fortune, pain:-
ed a “St. George and the Dragon” for
the Vidder inn at Hayes, in Kent. g. ,
SPRY OLD PEOPLE.
Calvin Flint, of lVilliamstown, Vt,
who was 88 years old last January, has
split 40 cords of tough firewood the past
winter.
Mr. and Mrs. Moulder, of Honey
Creek, Ind., are hale andhearty nona-
genarians. They have just celebrated
the 69th anniversary of their marriage.
Mrs. Annie Merrifield, of Limington,
Me, is still industrious at the age of 94.
She spends most of her time in knitting
socks, which are sold in Portland.
Michigan’s oldest practicing physi-
cian is Dr. William Sprague, of Cold-
water. He is 99 years old, and has prac-
ticed in that town more than half a
century.
Chief Justice Mercer Beasley, of New
Jersey, now an octogenarian, has set
on the bench for nearly 40 years. “De-
spite thisadvanced age,” says the Phila-
delphia Record, “his intellect is as
bright as ever, and his sense of humor
as keen as it was 50 years ago.”
DECISIONS OF 'THE COURTS.
Certain Oxford tradesmen were re-
cently fined $25 apiece f01 selling Amer-
icans hair. as Irish.
The Louisiana supreme court has de-
' cided that the Sunday liquor law ap-
plies to social clubs.
A Russian naval lieutenant at Sebas-
topol who struck his captain has been
dbgraded from his rank and condemned
to 18 years’ hard labor.
To emphasize his opinion upon a dis-
agreeable theme, a teacher in Honey-
brook, Pa., embellished his comments
11 ith 12 oaths. A magistlatc fined him
$8. 04, which is 67 cents per oath.
Ina Crabtree, aged 14, 01‘ Morgan,
0., was thoughtless enough to whisper
to a. companion in church. A magis-
trate sentenced her to ten days’ im-
prisonment and to pay a fine of five dol-
lars. , . , ,. .
T H E E. v'E'Nji N
' BOORISHINESS ON THE, RAIL.‘
Theories of the Cold Treatment of Fellow-
Passengers by Men otherwlse Decent.
What is it that makes a decentlman
turn bocr as soon as he enters a rail- ’
road car? If there were 30 double seats
in a car and 30 men entered it each
would sit by himself. Let him, if he
chooses. But let the Slst man come in
and ask “Is this seat engaged?“ and
the chances are that every answer he
gets will be “Yes."
The other day a Hartford man bound
for Boston asked six men who were
sitting. alone if the seats beside them
were taken. Each answered“‘Yes,”
and yet five of the six rode clear
through alone. Indeed, this habit has
gone so far that, if a passenger moves
along to make room for you, you look
him over pretty carefully before you’ll
trust yourself with him, for fear he is
a pickpocket. His unnatural demon-
stration of hospitality invites sus~
picion.
And this disposition of man to sit
alone seems to be a matter of sex
Women do not behave that way—at
least not in steamcars. In trolleys
12 women may start on one side of the
car, but, after three, or even four, have
gone, there’s no more room, not even
for another woman, than there was
before. The remaining eight somehow
spread out their skirts so as to look
more crowded than before. But 1n the
steamcar the average woman, especial-
ly if she has with her a big bundle,a
baby, or a restless child, will take a
half-seat beside a man, even if there’s a
whole seat vacant near by.
There are some men to whom this
fate comes whenever they travel. It
may be due to a Christian gentleness
thatbeams in their eyes,but it may also
be due to the cowardice that they can’t
conceal. At all events, they have the
company, and, generally, before long, '
the bundle or the child is in their laps
and they submit. One reason is that
they have to. It is expected of them.
Maybe the cold treatment that one
man gives another in the cars is his
method of getting even for the way
that women impose upon him. That
is a. plausible explanation and it’s the
only one that appears. Nor does this
do away with the charge of boorish-
ness. That can’t be done away with,
for it’s there—Hartford Courant..
STEAL INVENTIONS.
‘ Pirates In the World of Discovery Who
Thrive Upon Stolen Ideas.
As Thomas A. Edison watched the
pumping of air from a glass tube in his
laboratory a day or two ago a man said
to him:
“You patent every little thing you
discover, don’t you, Mr. Edison?” ,
“I do,” said Mr. Edison. “And do
you know why I do it?”
“I suppose you‘ do it so you will reap
the benefit of your discovery,” was
the reply.
“I thought you’d say that,” said Mr. ‘
Edison, “ and I don’t suppose you will
believe me when I tell you it isn’t so.
But it isn’t so, nevertheless. IdisOOver‘;
a great many things that I would be
very glad to give to the public for
nothing, but I .don’t dare. ,I patent
these things to save myself from de-
fending lawsuits. There are a lot of
sharks in this world who are continu-
ally on the lookout for new things, and
when one of them hears of something
new be hustles to the patent- ofiice to
see if it is patented. If it. isn’t he
claims it as an original discovery and
files his claim. Then he will turn right
around and, like as not, begin suit
against the very man who invented the
things for making or using it. The
inventor will say: ‘But I discovered
this thing first; I am the inventor.’ He
is referred to the patent office, where
he finds the official claim of original
invention. The fact that the papers are
filed long after he made his discovery
does not help him, for all the other man
does is to hire a fellow to swear that he
made the discovery a month or two
prior to the date the inventor claims.
It sounds ridiculous, probaly, but it
is a fact, that there are often races be-
tween the inventors and these sharks
to reach the patent office, the sharks
having had early information about
the inventor’s discovery. There are
many such races, and thousands of
dOIlars depend on each one. What I
say is literally true. I patent things,
and no doubt, many other inventors
patent things, just to save defending
lawsuits. ”—N. Y. Sum.
Joke on Her.
The other day in a street car a man
was crowded along in his seat by the
very fashionably-dressed young wom-
an, who pushed herself ‘in next to him.
Her very full dress skirt further incon-'
venienced him, for 'she was so anxious
to preserve it from wrinkling while sit—
ting that she swung its folds carelessly
.‘over the lap of this man next to her ,
This person had his own ideas‘about
proper retaliation. He deliberately ad-
justed his large, clumsily-shod feet so
that they appeared to emerge from be-
neath the skirt. It was not long be-
fore they were noticed by some one op-
posite. The effect of the great, awk-
ward feet, as if belonging to the pretty
young woman, was indescribably ludi-
crous. The look-er-on laughed and
pointed out the joke to his neighbor.
The looks and laughs spread, until all
the rest of‘ the car 11 ere craning their
necks to see the fun. At last the girl
herself became conscious of the jest at
her expense. With a look like thunder
she motioned to the conductor and
hastily left them all. —— Philadelphia
Press.
Spice Cup Cakes.
Three-quarters of a. pound of crumbs.
one and one-fourth quarts‘of molasses.
three-quarters of a. pound of lard, one
quart of water, one and one-quarter'
ounces of soda, twoeggs, one pound of
currants; vanilla, lemon,cinnamon and
allspice, with sufficient fiourto keep in
a soft dough. ‘ Use cup-cake molds, hav-
ing. them well greased and warm, then
fill half full with mixture. Frost with
chocolates—Good .Housekeeping.
—To dream of dancing means you
will shortly receive news from a. long-
absent friend.
'11 .. 11 AZ 111 1‘;T~E .
FOREIGN PERSONAL GOSSIP.
Kier Hardie says there is mere real
poverty in America than in England.
As an acknowledgment of Queen Vic-
toria’s hospitality to his son a. few
months ago the ameer of Afghanistan
has just sent her presents Valued at
.9 120,000.
Li Hung Chang, says John W. Foster,
neglects no opportunity to express his
admiration for America and Ameri~
cans. He has an Aerican tutOr for his
children.
A French newspaper publishes the
following advertisement: _ “M. Emile
Zola, of Plambeuf, inventor of the
spring nippe1s, notifies his customers
that he has nothing' 1n common with his _
namesake, Emile Zola, the writer. ”
Princess Letitia, dowager duchess of
Aosta, has had a $20,000 necklace, a
wedding present from King Humbert,
stolen from her. Several, persons be-
longing to her household in, Turin have
been arrested. The necklace has been
sold in France. .
During the interchange of compli-
ments at Cannes between Mr. Gladstone
and President Faure, of France, the lat-
ter asked the great Englishman if he
found time hanging heavily upon his
hands. “No,” answered the grand old
man; “I follow very closely the affairs
of my country. The man who has noth-
ing to do is the most miserable being in
exiStence—the most to be pitied.”
FASHION’S GIDDY WHIRL._
“'hite satin and silk are made into
collars, collarettcs and cuffs to wear
with thin dresses.
Collarettes and fronts of green taffeta
are muchgadmired, and will be worn
with dresses of almost. all summer ma-
terials.
Heliotrope and orange is a new com-
bination. It. is just» tolerable if the
proper shades are placed together. If
not, it is atrocious.
Skirts of lawn and dimity and or-
gandie are made up with ruffles,
trimmed with narrow Valenciennes
lace, with a scalloped edge.
A girl’s hat has a wide brim, peaked
over the front and faced with v.elvet
The Tam O’Shanter crown is of velvet,
and there are- loops and quill feathers
at the side.
Bright green is to be one of the pop-
ular colors of the season. Itis specially
liked with the new linens and dimitics,
which are among the most desirable
for the coming warm-weather dresses.
A dressy afternoon costume is made
.of white Irish poplin. It has the usual
full-gored skirt and a. waist fitted at
the sides and back, and with entire
front and very full sleeves of crepon.
The collar, shoulder scams, front and
division. between the puffs of the sleeves
are trimmed with gold galloon.~
THE DOINGS OF WOMEN.
Women in Holland are employed as
_ watchers at the railway crossings, and
no accident has ever occurred through
a. woman?s carelessness.
Miss Virginia Pope. is a head window-
dresser for a large dry goods estab-
lishment in Buffalo, and receives next
to the largest salary paid in the estab~
lishment
A11 enterprising woman in a large
city has made a study of entertaining
children, and has turned her acquire-
ments in this line to practical account.
She assists at children’s parties, ar-
ranging, beforehand an entertainment
suitable to the age and tastes of the
company.
This year Calve is the best paid of
the singers in the Metropolitan opera.
company, getting more than Melba or
De Rcszke. She has an offer from’au
American manager for a. tour of’ the
country next year in “Carmen,” 50 per-
formances, $2,400 a night.
The term “abigail,” as applied to
ladies’ maids, originated from the Chris-
tian name of Mrs. Masham, better
known as Abigail Masham, at first
a waiting-maid upon Queen Anne, and
at last the intriguing favorite who sup-
planted the duchess of Marlborough in
the good graces of that sovereign.
SEM I-NEWSY AN D INTERESTING.
The old-fashioned gavotte and redowa
are again. the fashionable dances in.
Paris. _
The conscience fund at Washington
has been increased by a $15,000 contri-
bution from London. f;
A huge egg-bake was witnessed re-
cently in Ovid, Mich. A w arehouse took
fire, and in it were 72, 000 eggs, all of
which were baked hard.
A cougar, six feet long, and two Well
grOwn cubs were killed near The Dallas,
Ore., recently. The family had carried
off many calves and sheep from neigh-
boring ranches.
Oakland, Cal., claims to be the
healthiest city in the world, or, at any
rate, in the United States. The death
rate has fallen since 1882, when it was
13.56 a thousand. Last year it was 11.55
a thousand.
A tramp at Decatur, 1nd,, rescued Miss
Elvira Rex from drowning. She had
been skating and fell through the ice.
'Her rescuer has since been a guest of .
the young lady’s family, and will be
started in business by the grateful
parents.
ABOUT THE WORLD’S NAVIES.
It is the custom of ships lying at the
Brooklyn navy yard to discharge their
powder before entering the docks, as
a precaution against accidents.
A torpedo boat was successfully trans-
ferred by rail from’St. Petersburg to
Sebastopol a little while ago,'and a num-
ber of others will now be sent in the
same way to the Black sea fleet.
By the end of the present year Eng— I
land will have under construction or
newly completed 13 battle ships, 36
cruisers and 68 torpedo boat destroyers. -
tween the years 1885 and 1895 Eng-
land’s 1ncrease. in naval strength was 37
per cent. that of France 42 per cent, -
Russia} s '71 per cent" and Germany
doubled the number of its war ships. ‘
‘O
\
»
The Gommatlon
1 Bay State Hot Water. and Hot Air Heater has
From it you get indirect
radiation, which is greatly to be preferred to ,
direct hot-water heating. The hot-water heater. , ,
' simply warms the air over and over- without any
provision for ventilation.
Bay State receives, fresh air from the outside
. constantly, heats it and drives it all over the:
. house. You should appre-
ciate the value of indirect
radiation. We can tell you
all about it if you write us.
BARSTOW STOVE co.
228 Water St., New York
many advantages.
The Combination
Consult your ' 7'
local dealer. » ‘1; A,
. Foundries—Providence, R. 1.
Boston Office—56 Union St.
‘\ \".\ ‘Vcos o 9).
‘OXOXGNQK‘
i
manship.
BUFFALO, N.Y
1.111.
is handsome, light, durable. Such grace of design as
is embodied in this “ fast, easy-running, much-talked-
about” mount can only be secured by the most
approved methods, finest material and skilled work-
Thc ’96 Stearns‘ IS the best bicycle it is possible to“
produce. Finished at your option in orange or black.
Address now for beautiful new catalogue.
“the Yellow fellow.”
E. C. STEARNS 6: C0., Makers, Syracuse, N. Y.
SAN FRANCISCO. CAL.
Wexoxwx
H. R. BULKLEY & 60.. Agents, SOUTH NORWALK.
TORONTO. ONT.
Towle Vault Light Company,
MANUFACTURERS. ' ’
VAULT LIGHTS. 31111113-
AND-PATENT 1.1111111155111115.
Factory:
48I BRIGGS AVENUE.
BROOKLYN.
Office:
I61 ELII STREET,
IIEW YORK.
If you are able to
pay‘loo for a bi_cy_-
do, why he centent
with anflut a
Nineteen years of re tation for building the. bestb:
by the certainty 0
should mean much
Cattle e of Colu
Beautiful Art, Cough Aunt;
STANDARD OF THE WORLD. . .
clc, backed
by our scient' ic methods,‘
ted
toq any buyer of a. bicycle. There 15 but one.
Columbia quality—eon: Columbia price— --
$160
TOALL ALIKE.
mbin and Hartford Bicycle. Is free ifyou call upon any
by mail from us (or two mt stamps.
POPE NEG 00., Hartford, Conn.
Branch Store's and pAgenci
on in almost: moi
W inyourvl
ma town. If Columbine-Z. are not
ty,letulknow s» g.
Norwalk Chronicler