Adelaide L. W. Ermentrout asks: "Can any one interested in natural history tell me the name of the queer object which I am going to describe? It is a worm about one inch long and one-fourth of an inch in diameter. The body is brown, but over the back is a patch of green bordered with white. In the centre of this patch is a brown spot. At each end of the body are two horns covered with bristles, and around the body are tufts of bristles like fringe on a cushion. At one end, under the body, is a little head with which it feels its way. There are two tiny eyes at the sides. Its under side has little holes in three parallel rows, by which, I suppose, it clings. It is a hideous creature. What is it, where does it come from, and what does it develop into?"
A Startling Experiment.
Not long ago I went to the American Institute Fair, in New York, and went through a most mysterious performance. At one end of the hall was the "illustrated" X rays. To see this wonder, you pay ten cents and put your hand in front of a tube and peep through an instrument which looks like a stereoscope. At first you see nothing but a dark object; then, as if by magic, a faint outline of the hand appears, and then—horrors—you see the bones—the actual bones—of your own hand with all their ugliness!
This is a most wonderful experiment, and, if possible, I would advise all those who can, to "see the bones of your own hand." Some timid persons may shrink from this ghastly sight, but I firmly believe that they would learn something by seeing this marvellous scientific experiment.
Fred. W. Pangborn, Jun.
Hackensack, N. J.
The Lesson of a Life.
The late George du Maurier was an example of a man who worked his way to fame and fortune. True, when just turned sixty he had a wonderful "run of luck," but it is to be remembered that his genius had been present all the long up-hill years before sixty. The trouble was, the world would not see it.
Daniel Webster, upon the conclusion of the greatest effort of his life, that wonderful speech in the United States Senate, was congratulated on being able to make such a speech off-hand. Asked if it really was extempore, as it appeared, he replied, "Yes, but I have been all my life preparing it."