Sponges of the common sorts are so well known that people long since ceased to admire their curious and interesting structure. There are some rare species of sponges, however, such as the “glass,” “lace” and “tapestry” sponges, that are so exceedingly beautiful that the presence of such a specimen never fails to excite expressions of admiration. The delicate “Venus flower basket” belongs to the family of glass sponges, and is rightly regarded as a wonder by all who have had the privilege of owning or viewing it. This curious “flower basket” is found in the deep sea near the Philippine islands and in no other place in the world in numbers sufficient to make fishing for them a profitable industry. This species of sponge looks like delicate threads of glass woven into a curious, beautiful and intricate pattern, some specimens being of such exquisite loveliness that one can scarcely believe that it is simply the skeleton of a variety of sponge. This sponge is composed of an immense aggregation of minute “spicules,” running lengthwise from end to end, with numerous cross bands at right angles. These bands an cross bands are set with numerous five, six, nine and twelve pointed spicules, some of them filled with dozens of holes, which can only be seen with a microscope, because they are so exceedingly fine.

The fact cannot be disputed that no single factor in modern life is doing so much to degenerate our young womanhood as this mad race on the part of girls, impelled by necessity or not, to go into the business world, says the Ladies’ Home Journal. These may sound like strong words to the ears of some, but to those who are really cognizant of the immensity of the evil results that are being wrought they will simply fit the case and not go beyond it. In altogether too many of our commercial and industrial establishments, stores and factories, the men into whose hands is given the power to employ and control girls are not fit, from a moral standpoint, to herd swine. And yet thousands of our young women are allowed to go from their homes to work under the influence of these men and in the atmosphere vitiated by them. And why? Simply because it is considered more “respectable” to be employed in an office, store or factory than to be engaged in domestic service. The very word “servant” has a taint about it that the majority of young women dislike and from which they flee. But what else are they in business establishments than servants, pure and simple? There can be no difference by an imaginary one. That is all. Far less leniency is shown in our business houses to women employes than is shown, as a rule, in our homes to domestic help–infinitely less.

Brooklyn detectives say that Daniel Evans, 19 years old, with no home, is the greatest “fit fakir” they have met professionally in the course of a long and varied experience, says the New York Tribune. He has been pretending to “take fits,” they say, with a regularity and perfection that has gained him lots of money from sympathetic persons, but which at least led him to jail, where to-day he languishes under the supervision of a “minion of the law,” who nervously watches Daniel Evans in case he should “take a fit” there.

Evans is the young man who has been visiting hotels and churches, where he had fits and fits and fits. After one fit he would have a collection taken up for his benefit and then he would seek another field and have another fit. He worked this novel scheme in various places in New York city and Brooklyn; in the former city at the Fifth Avenue hotel, in the latter at the St. George hotel and at other places. After each simulated fit Evans would collect money to pay his fare to Fresno, Cal., “where his poor old father lived.” He did this at the St. George a few weeks ago. He went to the Grace Methodist Episcopal church, Seventh avenue and St. John’s place, and had a fit and a collection in the middle of the Sunday evening services.

Last Sunday night he went to the First Reformed church, Seventh avenue and Carroll street, and had a fit there. The Rev. Dr. James M. Farrar, however, thought that Evans was having fits for value received and that his schemes was a fradulent one to gain money and sympathy. So after Evans had called at the “Dutch Arms,” a club connected with the church, Dr. Farrar informed Detectives Reynolds and Weiser, who arrested Evans.

I have been spending a lot of time proofing an Old English grammar¹ (published in the early 20th century), and while I still can’t read King Alfred’s writings or Beowulf, I have learned something by working through the glossary.

The Old English speakers were obviously secret minimalists.

fāg (fāh), hostile.
fāh (fāg), variegated, ornamented.

And perhaps a bit confused (m. means what you think it does: masculine).

mægðhād, m., maidenhood, virginity.

1. C. Alphonso Smith, Anglo-Saxon Grammar and Exercise Book; with Inflections, Syntax, Selections for Reading, and Glossary, Fourth Edition.[back]

An expert in gems has lately called attention to a property in the diamond which has not hitherto been fully appreciated. Robert Boyle mentions a diamond that became phosphorescent simply by the heat of the hand, absorbed light on being held near a candle, and emitted light on being briskly rubbed. Observations by Mr. Kunz, the gem expert, confirm Boyle’s statement that diamonds become phosphorescent in the dark after exposure to sunlight or electric light by being rubbed on wood, cloth, or metal. This property is an important one, as it will help the non-expert to distinguish between the true diamond and other hard stones, as well as imitations, none of which is said to exhibit this phenomenon.

Mrs. Chas. Root, Cedar Springs, Mich., was told by physicians that they could do nothing for her. After taking two bottles of “Adironda” she was able to do her own work and ride to town to do her shopping. Sold by all druggists.

Baldwin county has the largest grapevine on record. It stands a mile and a half north of the town of Daphne and overlooks Mobile bay. It measures six feet one inch in circumference at the base and its branches are entwined among the tree-tops, reaching from one to another for rods around in all directions. The main trunk is about fifteen feet high and is supported in the crotch of a cedar now dead, the vine having sapped the life from the roots. There it stands today and there it has stood for a century at least. But its race is almost run, for some hunter, in the excitement of a ‘coon chase, when his appreciation for baked ‘coon was greater than his love for nature’s beauties, has used his ax on this king of vines with fatal effect and it now stands with a large hole in its side, revealing the great hollow in its trunk, into which the ‘coon ran for safety.–New Orleans Times-Democrat.

One night in 1801 a little girl about one year old was deposited on the steps of the foundling hospital at Brest. She was dressed with much finery and a note attached to her skirts told that her name was Solange and that she would be reclaimed by her father, says an exchange. The claim was never made, however, and in due time the child was transferred to the orphan asylum to be educated. As she grew up she developed a most extraordinary beauty; but her intellect appeared to be very weak and she suffered from frequent nervous fits. When she was twelve years old she was sent out into the streets to sell flowers, and her beauty and her modesty attracted many people’s good will; but she grew weaker and weaker, and at last she died, or at least it was thought so. According to French custom, she was buried in an open basket, and, as it was winter and the soil was frozen, she was laid into the grave covered only with a thin layer of sand. During the night she awoke, and, pushing the sand away, crept out from the grave. Not exactly understanding what had taken place, she was not so very much frightened; but in crossing the glacis between the cemetery and the fortifications she was suddenly stopped by the cry: “Qui vive?” and, as she did not answer, the sentinel fired and she fell to the ground. Brought into the guardhouse, her wound was found to be very slight and she soon recovered. But her singular history an also her great beauty had made so deep an impression on a young lieutenant of the garrison–Kramer–that he determined to be her protector and sent her to one of the most fashionable educational establishments in Paris. During the next few years Kramer was much tossed about by the war; but when in 1818 he returned to Paris he found Solange a full-grown woman, not only beautiful but accomplished and spirited, with no more trace of intellectual weakness or nervous fits. He married her and for several years the couple lived happily in Paris.