The Great Spy System, or, Nick Carter's Promise to the President
TALKS WITH OUR READERS.
Candy boxes for the holiday trade will be more elaborate than ever. This is saying a great deal, in view of the fact that there has been a steady elaboration of the candy packages.
The practical and ornamental is being combined, however, in the selection of the receptacles for chocolates and bonbons. A popular package is one that can be used by the ladies for a glove-box, or pin- cushion, or other purposes on the dresser, after the candy has been taken out of it.
The highest priced boxes are used more for raffles and prizes than anything else, but $15 is often paid for a box of candy.
Snapshot photographs are constantly adding valuable facts to the stores of science. They are able to detect and analyze motions too quick for the eye to follow. A recent instance of the application of photography to a disputed question in natural history is an experiment made on a vessel from British Columbia to San Francisco, one of the passengers thereon being a scientist in the employ of Uncle Sam.
A large albatross had been following the steamer, and keeping pace with it for several hours, and the wonder grew among the watchers on shipboard as to how the bird was able to fly so swiftly, while apparently keeping its wings extended without flapping them. As this is a common manner of flight with the albatross, the explanation has been offered that the bird takes advantage of slight winds and aircurrents, and so is able to glide upon what might be called atmospheric slopes.
As the albatross sailed alongside of the ship, about fifteen feet away, the scientist snapped his camera at it, and obtained a photograph which astonished him and his fellow passengers.
The photograph revealed what no eye had caught, the wings of the albatross, each some five fect long, raised high above its back in the act of making a downward stroke. The explanation naturally suggested is that more or less frequently the bird must have made a stroke of this kind with its wings, although the eye could not detect the motion, and that the camera chanced to be snapped just at the right moment.
A remarkable discovery of a hoard of gold and silver coins, amounting in value to about L300, has been made in the townland of Annaloughey, near Auglicloy, County Tyrone, Ireland. The money was discovered hidden in an old well beside the house which has been the property of one family for generations.
The back of the wall at one time formed a portion of the original house. How or when the board was placed in position where it was discovered is a mystery, but from the dates on the coins it must have been at least half a century ago.
When the steamship Arabia arrived at Tilbury, Eng., recently, four cases of undistinguished appearance were handed over to four men employed by tourist-agents. Each man guarded his case with particular care, never releasing his hold upon it during the train journey to town.
On arrival at Liverpool Street station, the four men, each hugging his charge, entered a van, sat on their cases, and were driven to Ludgate Circus, where the cases were immediately consigned to the safes.
The mysterious boxes contained the hereditary jewels of the Maharajah of Bikaneer, who arrived in London a short time ago. The jewels, which are valued at about 125,000, were guarded in India by an armed escort.
