To enlist rats in the construction of telephone systems may
sound empirical to the electrical engineer, but the familiar
pest has been found a valuable assistant in this work. To
stimulate, however, it is necessary to introduce his traditional
enemy, the ferret. Then the process is simple. The subterranean
tubes for the reception of the cables having been laid, a rat
is let loose at the starting-point. Having run a little way, a
trained ferret, with a string to his leg, is turned in after
him. The tubes run into manholes at intervals, and the rat,
furtively glancing back, sees the glaring eyes of his arch foe
rapidly approaching. By the end of the section of tube the rat
is either overtaken or falls into the manhole, and then another
rat is requisitioned to run the next block. At the end of each
section the string is removed from the ferret’s leg, and a small
rope, which is then attached to the other end of the string, is
hauled through.--_Sound Waves._
(1614)
* * * * *
During some recent investigations of spider life a Washington
scientist gained some interesting knowledge concerning the
ingenuity of a spider.
It had become necessary in the course of the experiment to
employ a basin wherein a stick was fastened upright like a mast.
Enough water was placed in the basin to convert the little stick
into the only point of safety for the spider.
The spider was placed on the mast. As soon as he was fairly
isolated he anxiously commenced to run to find the mainland. He
would scamper down the mast to the water, stick out a foot, get
it wet, shake it, run around the stick to try the other side,
and then run back to the top.
As it very soon became plain to the spider that his position
was an extremely delicate one, he sat down to think it over.
Suddenly he seemed to have an idea. Up he went, like a rocket,
to the top of the mast, where he began a series of gymnastics.
He held one foot in the air, then another, and turned round
many times. By this time he was thoroughly excited, much to the
perplexity of the scientist, who began to wonder what the spider
had discovered. Finally, it was apparent that the clever little
fellow had found that the draft of air caused by an open window
would carry a line ashore whereby he could escape from his
perilous position.
Accordingly he pushed out a thread that went floating in the
air, and lengthened and lengthened until at last it caught
on a near-by table. Then the ingenious spider hauled on his
rope till it was tight, struck it several times to ascertain
whether it was strong enough to hold his weight, and then
walked ashore. The scientist decided that he was entitled to his
liberty.--_Harper’s Weekly._
(1615)
* * * * *
Haydn and Mozart were great friends. When either had composed a
masterpiece, the other was invited to the house of the composer to
enjoy the first sweetness. The following story is from _The Boy’s
World_:
It chanced to be Haydn’s turn, and Mozart came full of
expectation. Contrary to custom, Haydn invited his guest to
give his interpretation of the theme instead of playing it
over himself. Much pleased at the compliment, Mozart played
brilliantly, for the work was beautiful and his musician’s soul
was stirred. Suddenly he halted and looked across the piano at
his friend.
“There’s a mistake here,” he said, “a passage written for three
hands would be impossible for a soloist. Of course, those notes
must come out.
“Oh!” said Haydn, quietly, “I can play it.”
Mozart laughed. “My friend, you have not three hands.”
“Perhaps not,” answered Haydn, with a quiet smile.
“Nevertheless, I contend that I can play the passage, otherwise
I would not have written it.”
“A challenge!” cried Mozart. “Prove your word.”
He yielded his place at the piano.
His excitement rose as Haydn reached the disputed passage, when,
to his amazement, the composer brought his nose to the keyboard,
and the notes rang out clear and true.
(1616)