wooden stylus upon moist clay, which was subsequently hardened by baking.

From this source the seal has come down through the more modern civilization of Greece and Rome to the present day as a sign of good faith. It is with that significance that it is placed upon the third finger of the bride's left hand to seal the contract between herself and her newly made husband. Also it is surmised that the ring is intended to remind the wife of the fidelity she owes. Furthermore, the circle is the emblem of eternity. But why, you ask, does the bride choose the third finger of the left hand to wear her ring on? Simply because the ancients supposed that a nerve ran directly from that finger to the heart. I need hardly say that the researches of modern anatomists have shown this to be an error; but the custom survives. The courtesans of Rome used to wear their rings upon their thumbs because the thumb was sacred to Venus.

Hebrews regard the ring in the ceremony of marriage as of extraordinary importance. It must be of a certain value, certified to by the officiating rabbi, and it must be absolutely the groom's own property not obtained by gift or purchased on credit. There are a number of curious superstitions about wedding rings. If one is broken it signifies to the wife that she is going to lose her husband. I really think that a majority of women never take off their wedding rings, believing that to do so would occasion misfortune.-Ex.

THE EARTH'S HEAT.

Many scientific men are devoting their lives to finding out all that can be learned about the interior of this wonderful globe of ours. One of the interesting problems on which they are engaged is the depth and geographical limits of permanently frozen soil. The British Association has collected a large amount of data on this question. They have already told us some curious things, such as the fact that excellent wheat lands north of Manitoba overlie frozen earth that never thaws.

Sometimes geologists find strata of rock that they are able to show must have been buried at a remote age, 20,000 feet under the surface. These upturned edges of rock, which some terrible convulsion lifted to the air, give us a glimpse of the condition of the interior some way below the greatest depth to which we can attain. The workmen in the deepest mines of Europe swelter in almost intolerable heat, and

yet they have never penetrated over one-seven-thousandth part of the distance from the surface to the center of the earth. In the lower levels of some of the Comstock mines the men fought scalding water, and could labor only three or four hours at a time until the Sutro Tunnel pierced the mines and drew off some of the terrible heat, which had stood at 120 degrees.

The deepest boring ever made, that at Sperenberg, near Berlin, penetrates only 2272 feet, about 1,000 feet deeper than the famous artesian well at St. Louis. The result of this imperfect knowledge is that there are more theories and disputes among scientific men with regard to the interior of the earth than about any other problems of physical science. Some eminent physicists, for instance, like Sir William Thomson, have believed that the crust of the earth is at least 800 miles thick. The majority adduce good reasons for believing that the crust is only twenty-five to fifty miles thick. All agree that if the temperature within the earth continues to increase as it does near the surface at the rate of one degree Fahrenheit for about every fifty-five feet of descent-all igneous rocks must be fused at no great depth.

In fact, at this rate of increase, the temperature at 200 miles is 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is Professor Rosetti's estimate of the probable temperature of the sun. It is improbable, however, that this rate of increase is maintained for a great distance, and many physicists believe that at some unknown, but not very great depth, the increase in temperature ceases. One of the most wonderful things in the study of sciences is the fact that the mysteries of one science are sometimes completely or partly explained by knowledge gleaned in some other department of study. It is thus that naturalists who have investigated the fauna and flora of scores of Pacific islands have learned how far south Asiatic types prevail, and have added great weight to the conclusions of geologists that these islands were once a part of the big continent north of them.-Ex.

A HINT ON ECONOMY.

The lesson which the lower, middle and working classes of our country need to learn is not so much how to get money as how to save it or spend it wisely. Most people can manage the first part of home finance, but it takes a clever person, indeed, to make a proper use of

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the money when it is earned. Dr. Johnson once said that without economy none can be rich; and with it few can be poor." And, though his statement cannot be accepted as being absolutely correct, there is still a grain of truth in it.

THE INTENSE BRILLIANCY OF LIGHTNING.

One consequence of the short duration of lightning is an apparent diminution of its brilliancy. It has been proven that light cannot produce its full effect on the eye unless it remains at least as long as one-tenth of a second; but lightning lasts only the ten-thousandth part of a second, and it follows from this that what we see is one hundred thousand times less bright than it really is. When we recollect that even thus diminished its brilliancy is such as to cause temporary blindness if too closely watched, we may feel grateful that we cannot see it in its true vividness, for our human powers of vision would be too weak to bear such a sudden and overwhelming illumination. GAILLARD'S Electricity.

BEAR SKIN.

The first question is what to do with it. A mat or hearth rug is at once suggested as one of the most common uses to which a skin can be put. Yet there are many objections to placing it in any low or horizontal position; the fur gets turned the wrong way, dust and dirt rapidly accumulate, the margins get rolled up, and an incurable look of untidiness comes over the whole thing. A vertical position, with the head upwards so that the trend of the hair is downwards, is much more to my own taste. It may either occupy some blank panel or piece of dry wall, or it may be utilized on the back of one of the old fashioned high backed chairs, the vigor of whose rough carving may be much mitigated thereby. Unless a skin is thoroughly cured, it is not well to use it as clothing; the imperceptible evaporation and warmth of the wearer will certainly bring out objectionable odors with great power. A skin rug thrown loose over the back of a chair has been my ordinary seat for full ten years, and I have no fault to allege against it. Next, as to curing. I have sought in vain for an amateur method of tanning a fur so that it may be pliant, soft, sweet, and noiseless. My own productions always have some crackle and stiffness

in them. Nevertheless, I know what I shall do if ever I have again. to face the querist's problem of making a badly cured skin inoffensive. There is a preparation of tannin mixed with various antiseptics, and pleasantly scented, which chemists sell for application to sore throats and relaxed tonsils. I shall fix the skin on a board and apply this astringent fluid a little at a time to small portions of the skin. I am rather ashamed of recommending a plan which I have not proved; but if one proceeds gently it is hard to see how any harm can be done, and I expect good somewhat confidently.-R. A. CHUDLEIGH, Wimborne.

CLEANING WINDOWS AND PAINT.

To make more easy the cleaning of windows and paint, get a large sponge, such as is used to wash carriages, and chamois skin and go to work. Use lukewarm water. Wash off the windows, glass and frames thoroughly with a sponge, then with the skin wipe them off, and no rubbing will be required. Proceed the same with the painted work about the house, and you who try it will find your paint and windows never looked so well before. Wring the chamois as dry as you can each time you use it. One advantage of this method over the old way of cleaning is that no lint is left on paint or windows. A handy thing. to have for the window corners is a tooth brush to take dust or dirt out. If the paint has been white and turned yellow, take a little soda. on the sponge and rub over it, washing off with clean water, and you will be surprised to see how much better it will look. Or, if the window sill has any grease spots upon it, spread the soda thickly over them, then scrub with soap and water. One or two tablespoonfuls of ammonia added to a pail of water will clean windows better than soap.

IN CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.

In case of contagious diseases, the sick room may be more surely and completely disinfected by the use of chlorine. The gas may be prepared in this manner: Procure at a drug store a few ounces of manganese dioxide-black oxide of manganese-and about twice the quantity. of concentrated hydrochloric (muriatic) acid. Pour on to a large plate or platter the black oxide. Place the platter on blocks of wood or bricks built up high enough to admit of a small kerosene lamp being placed under it, the top considerably below the bottom of the platter.

Arrange another lamp with a basin of water over it to furnish moisture, or fill the room with steam beforehand. When every thing has been arranged, light the lamps, turn the one under the platter low enough so as not to heat too rapidly or too hot, pour on enough of the hydrochloric acid to make a thin mixture, stir well with the black oxide, using a stick, close the room tightly and let remain so for six or eight hours. Of course the room must be closed and calked up completely the same as in the use of brimstone. Care should be taken not to overheat the platter to avoid breaking. The furnishings of rooms may be injured by the chlorine, for it attacks fabrics, coloring matter and the metals, but is a sure, safe and complete disinfectant and germ destroyer.

Chlorine was first employed in this manner by Professor R. Ogden Doremus in the disinfecting of the lying-in hospital of the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, and was the most successful attempt ever made. The building had become valueless, all the patients suffered from puerperal fever. After being disinfected not a case

occurred.

Cess-pools, vaults and utensils used in sick rooms may be both deodorized and disinfected by the use of bleaching powder or similar preparations, in sufficient quantities, but the air cannot be disinfected completely by placing any of them around in dishes. Chlorine or bromine will not destroy germs unless present in quantities which render the air unfit for breathing.-C. B. GIBSON, M. D.

CARE OF CLOTHING.

The proper care of men's as well as women's clothing has a great deal to do not only with its looking well, but with the length of time which it lasts. Clothes of wool, which are rarely brushed and never hung out of doors, soon come to have an appearance of long use, when the same clothes, if carefully brushed every time they are worn and frequently hung out of doors, will always be fresh and will keep their good looks very much longer. Care should be used to select a brush-broom or whisk of fine broom-corn. It will cost more than the coarser ones, but in the end will be a saving, as the coarser ones wear the clothing more rapidly.

Coats and cloaks should always be hung on the little wire frames, costing but five or ten cents, which come for that purpose. The frames should be first covered with soft material to prevent the garments from