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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1958-08-20, Page 2THAT'S MY 80Y! — King, a proud lion at Fleishhacker Zoo, shares centre stage with one of his three recent -offspring. .The big, protective paw 'seems to indicate, "That's my boyl" TABLE TAMS 6aue Ancivews. Pile Of Sand Led To Great Discovery The. French missionary gaeed helplessly at the high wall in trent of him, It stretched for miles, completely onelosieg the imperial Heating Park of the Chinese Emperors, south; of Peking. No stranger had ever bee allowed inside it. The missionary, Pere David, bad often walked by the wall In the hope that one day he might somehow be able to see what lay beyond it He had had en absorbing interest in natural history and was intensely eager to see the large herds of deer the park contained, It was ru- moured that some of them be longed to a species unknown to science. Pere David had been intrigued by the park even since his ap- pointment as head of the Laza- rist Mission School which was opened in Peking in 1861. Be- fore he had left France he had undertaken to collect specimens in his spare time for the Nation- al Museum in Paris. So con- siderable was his reputation as a naturalist that the govern- snent had agreed to pay all ex- penses. , During his first year in China, David's work was confined to the districts immediately around Peking, but in 1862 he, under- took a month's journey into Mongolia. From then on he be- came more and more absorbed in natural history exploration, and before long was giving up most of his spare time to it. After each trip, large con- signments of valuable specimens were shipped back to France. Some idea of the skill of his collecting can be gained from the fact that even today the Nation- al Museum in Paris has a more comprehensive collection of Chinese animal and plant life than any other museum outside China. Despite the consistent success of his •expeditions, Pere David's principal aim was still unful- filled — he had yet to see the inside of the Imperial Hunting Park. He determined to discover just what the park did contain before he returned to France. Thus, for the umpteenth time, he found himself gazing up at that forbidding wall one day in September, 1865. He walked alongside it for a while — then suddenly he drew in his breath in jubilant expectation. Work- men had been busy outside the wall and had left a large heap of sand piled up against it, Warily Pere David looked around him. No one was about This was, the chance for which he had waited so long. He scrambled up the pile. of sand and from the top of it was able to hoist himself on to the wall. It must have been a thrilling moment for him as he found himself looking at a herd of deer grazing about a hundred yards away, and realized that he was seeing not only a new species but a particularly unusual one. He had to get hold bf a skin and skeleton to 'send home to France, or, better still, a live specimen or two. But there were snags. The French Embassy could not ask the Chinese government .b cause no one officially knew that the deer were there. Pere David, however, had ether ideas. "Luckily 1 know some Tartar soldiers who a:e going to do guard duty in the park," he wrote to Professor Milne-Edwards, of the Paris/Mu- seum of Natural. History. "I am sure, by means Of a bribe, that I shall get hold of a few skins, which I shall hasten to send to you." One dark night a few weeks later he slipped furtively out of the city for a secret rendeevous outside the park wall. Inside, his soldier friends were waiting with the eking and bones of one male and one female. At a pre-ar- ranged signal these were passed over the wall to him. He lost no time in pecking them pp and, sending them to his friends in Peeise As a, tribute to, their discoverer these deer were called Pere David's deer, and the missionary is also commemorated in their scientific name,elaphurne davidianus, Curiously enough, when the Chinese learned that the secret of the Imperial Park deer had been discovered they were not in the least upset. In "fact they expreesed their willingness for Pere David and others to send living specimens back to Europe, and in August, 1869, the London Zoo xeceived its first pair of the deer, obtained and presented by Sir Rutherford 4lcock, British envoy to China. Subsequent, inv es ti gallons showed that the. Imperial Park herd waa the only one in exist- ence, but how and when they came there, arid when the wild herds from which they must have been derived became extinct, are questions which have never been answered. Each year Pere David's excit- ing annual journeys became more ambitious, as he systemati- cally explored more remote. and uncharted regions, and in May, 1868, he set out on, his greatest journey — an expedition which was to last for more than two years. It was on this trip that lie mde his second momentous dis- covery. By March, 1869, he had reached Tibet, •enticed there by rumors of a white bear that lived in the high mountain forests. At first he could obtain little information about it, and he be- gan to doubt its existence: Then, on March 11th, he stayed at a remote farmhouse, and to his great delight saw in a corner of the room a complete skin of this animal. It was white,. but with considerable areas of black including two black circles around the eyes, The farmer was able to con- firm that the beast was found in the district. Furthermore, he thought it might be possible to Obtain one for his guest. Arrangements were according- ly made with some local hunters, and in a few days they came back with a liye young speci- men. Examination showed that the very unusual looking animal was not a bear, yet it bore no close resemblance to any other animal. In fact, the Giant Panda, as it came to be called, is pne of those isolated animal's that have no close relatives among living beasts. It is a rare animal, and very few have ever reached the zoos of the world. Such an unusual looking'creature is bound to cap- ture the public imagination wherever it is exhibited, and many readers will recall the sen- sation caused by the only two specimens that London Zoo has ever received — Ming, just be- fore the last war, and Lien-Ho in 1946. Peking Zoo at present hai three specimens, but whether the, Giant Panda will ever be seen in Britain again seems doubtful, because; apart ficm its rarity, it is difficult to feed, fresh barn= boo shoots being its favorite diet — and it eats a lot! Pere David's deer has been in the news again recently. Through a series of calamities the Peking herd was destroyed in 1900, leaving about eighteen specimens in various European Zoos as the sole survivors of the species. These were collected together by 'the Duke. of Bedford at Woburn to form a single small herd which today is more than 300-strong. Since 1944 calves have been distributed from Woburn to found other herds, first at Whip- snade, and then at other zoos overseas. Last summer a keeper from the London. Zoo travelled to Peking with four well-grown calves, and thus Pere David's deer returned to its native land after an absence of more than fifty years. Strange Cases Of Lost And Found The big city sweltered under a heatwave. But despite the ins tense heat, the slim typist was feeling wonderfully happy as the exPress shot her to the top floor of the huge building where. she worked, "Lookl" she cried to her of- fice colleagues, displaying the ring theteparkled on her finger, "Jack gave it to me last night. We're to be married next month," At lunch-time the temperature had soared above 90. degrees, So Some, of the girls took their sand- wiches out on the garden roof Of the 30-storey building, Shortly before she was due to return to work, Janet strolled over to the parapet to gaze for a moment at the 'sun-baked streets far below and to dream alone for' a short time of the bronzed six-footer who would soon be her husband. But then . • tragedy. The new engagement ring was rather loose on her „finger, and as she twisted it it slipped from her hand and disappeared over the edge of the parapet. Realizing that she must move fast, she tore to the nearest lift which took her non-stop to the ground floor. Dashing out into the back street to the place where she reckoned the ring had fallen, she began searching for it, The ring was not there. She was on the verge of tears. And then something like a miracle occurred. "Looking for something, miss?" said a voice. It was an elderly street sweeper who had seen the RIDIN' THE WAVES , -James Garner, star of TV's Maverick series, has moved his saddle from a bronc to a tin fish. Gar- ner is on location aboard the submarine Tilefish making the movie "Up Periscope." girl dash out and begin her frantic search. "My engagement ring," she sobbed. Then paused, astounded, as' the man produced the ring and handed it to her. "It dropped at my feet as I sat on the path mopping my „face because of this heat," he explained: "If it hadn't been for s the heatwave I'd never have seen 'it, because I'm usually working opposite the next block at this time." • ' Every girl naturally treasures her engagement ring, especially if it is an unusual one. An at- tractive London bride surprised her fiance by going to their Mayfair wedding wearing an ens,. gagement ring taken from' the finger of an Egyptian mummy.. "It'll bring us luck," she said. It's astonishing how many en- gagement rings are lost — and found again. ,When an American girl took lier mother's favourite chair to an upholsterer for repair, she said' jokingly to him: "If you find any diamonds in it, be sure to let me know." • Two hours later the Upholster- et rang her ;trip. He had indeed found a diamond ring in the chair. It proved to be an en- gagement ring belonging to the girl's mother. She had lost it 12 years earlier, but had not told her husband or her daughter. While crossing a country road, bachelor on a holiday was knocked down by a fairsheited girl on a bicycle. lee fell se heavily that a tooth was knocked out. But the girl's prettiness end distress at causing the acci- dent so 'Moved him that he fell head over heels hi love with her. They becaine engaged a month fetes.. The ring he gave her toter the form of a Souvenir of. their first meeting his displaced tooth surrounded by a circle of g.rn From the Home Economics Department of the Washington State Fruit Commission come some tempting cherry recipes. There are three varieties of fresh sweet cherries for your summertime eating: dark, plump Binge, bright red. Lamberts, and the golden-blushing Royal Annes, all equally delicious served any way you choose. * * * Top quality sweet cherries are plump, fairly firm, shiny, bright and juicy. They should be kept in a cool place and should not be washed until just before us- ing. Homemakers are advised to store the ripe cherries in plastic bags in the refrigerator, eto retain their freshness and crispness, and prolong their keeping qualities. * * * And here are some recipes you may want to try: Cherrytime Salad 1 lb. 'ripe, pitted, sweet cherries 3 ripe banenas 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1 bile grapefruit, sectioned Salad ''.greens , Wash .and pit cherries. Cut peeled bananas in halt length- wise.. Marinate in lemon juice, Peel and section grapefruit. Ar- range fruits on' individual plates on crisp salad greens. Serve with D D ressing. Honey-Mayonnaise Dressing 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup honey Few grains paprika 1 tablespoon lemon juice Combine all ingredients • care- fully. Makes 3/4 cup dressing, * Heavenly .Cherries 2 cups sweet cherries,, pitted 1 cup 'pineapple cubes 2 cups cooked rice 16 marshmallows, quartered 3 tablespoons sugar, divided cup heavy cream, whipped Few drops vanilla extract Wash and , pit fresh sweet cherries.' Mix." pineapple, ,rice, marshinallows, and 'two table- spoons, sugar, and let stand 1 . heur. Whip ,cream, adding van-;. illa .and one tablespoon "sugar. Fold cherries" and, rice mixture into whipped '.cream: Pile into sherbet ditties, and chill. Gar- 'nish with ' unstemmed sweet cherry to serve. Serves 6. • * Cherry Coconut Cream Pie 1 cup pitted. and halved sweet cherries 2 tablespoons sugar 1 package coconut pudding and pie filling mix 1% cups milk • 1 10-inch baked pie shell. 1 package cherry-flavored gel' ati cup1 hot water 1 tablespoon lemon juice Cherry juice plus cold water to melte % cup • Whipped cream for garnish Wash, halve, and pit sweet cherries; sprinkle with 2 table- sj5oons sugar; allow to stand un- til ready to use, Prepare pud- ding mix as directed on pack- age, using 1% cups milk, Cool slightly, stirring occasionally, and turn into cold pie shell. Cover surface with waxed paper and chill Well: Drain juice off cherries, add enough cold water to snake sic cup. Dissolve gelatin in hot water; add lemon juice and cheto juice-cold water mixture and chill until syrupy. Fold in Cherries. Remove waxed paper from pie filling, spread With cherry-gelatin mixture and chili until firm: Garnish with whipped cream. Makes one 10- inch pie, Since I experimented and developed- this cabbage custard we often. enjoy itit is a de- lightful and interesting recipe which props up gagging budg- ets," writes Bose Alberta Bair- Baugh,.,. . 1 *net:Item head of 'cabbage 2 eggs beaten 1/4 teaspoon onion salt IA teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon butter, melted 1 cup evaporated milk Boil cabbage in salted water for 15 minutes uncovered Drain and chop fine; add remaining .ingredients in order given• in recipe. Stir well, Pour into buttered casserole and set cas- serole in pan. of hot water. Bake in 325° P. oven until brown and set — 41-60 minutes. * * "I love to compile new deci- pes of my own, and am sending one of a favorite salad," writes Mrs. E.- H. Bulgrin. FAVORITE SALAD 1 pkg. lime flavored gelatin 1% cups hot. water 1 teaspoon vinegar Vs teaspoon salt Dash pepper cucumber, peeled and diced' tablespoon chopped green onion cup. cottage cheese, creamed type • 1 leaspeon chopped green onion Salt Wand pepper Dissolve gelatin in hot' water; add 'vinegar and seasoning. Cool,' When mixture is 'consistency of jelly, pour 1 tablespoon into each •of 6 individual molds ,into let ,congeal refrigerator,` Keep remaining gelatin at room ,tem- perature.. Combine =the, 'teaspoon of chopped onion, salt and erp- per with cottage :cheese. Add a mound Of this seasoned' cottage cheese on the congealed gela- tin in individual molds. Mix cu- cumber and the „tablespoon of onion in remaining gelatin and pour on the cottage 'cheese mounds. 'Chill. Unrnold, on let- tuce and serve with mayore- naige. Cost of a Wife —One Paving Stone! When the, chief of an African tribe announced recently that his daughter was open So offers of marriage, he couldn't have expected much competition for the groom 'was to be chosen by the value of his present for the chief. But the' local' bachelors' took to his offer' like ducks to water. Valuable presents, ranging -from ivory tusks to large sums of, money, poured in on the chief. He wasn't impressed. Then a young man from the next village brought a marble paving stone — and collected the bride! The old chief had never seen anything like it be- fore and thought it was valuable stone. Marriage by barter is one of the world's oldest institutions and is still practised in many places. But apparently inflation is beginning it hit even that mar- ket, too. Among one African tribe a wife was estimated as being worth at least four goats, three spears and a quiver of arrows. Today the price has, soared. • A suitor must be prepared to pay at least four cows, a bull, five bows and a hundred ar- rows. And, even if the suitor has these, the current complaint is that they are also having to provideeextra under-the-counter cows, Things are not so bad among the Australian aborigines. Only a gift of game is exepected there. If the girl is particularly fetch- ing, a boomerang is sometimes thrown in as well. Eskimos, on the other hand, are satisfied with a few harpoons and fur. Wives are considered a big asset by tribesmen of New New Guinea, but a" man con- sidering marriage there has to be wealthy. If he marries a girl from a neighbouring village, ha is expected not only to send gifts to her family, 'but to the entire village as well! Soviet scientists' have ,reportect that primitive, Neanderthal= type men are still living in the deserts !of e n t r a I Mongolia. (See map.) Quoting a Mongo- lian scientist, who called the creatures "alm'as," the Russians said they "very much resemble human beings, bUt their bodies are covered with a thin, red- dish-black hair. . . They have powerful jaws and low fore- heads." Neanderthal man lived in the time' of the Old Stone Age. Picture at right Is of. fig- ure in ihe'Chicago Museum of -Natural History.' Last year the Criminal Hobbies. ;11.. crime novels it is often th* gifted. amateur who takes ep• crime as e hobby, .11$tit in real life a crook has to be a pre,' fes.sie01 if he is to make a, living, There .are some people,. however, who make a genuine hobby of crime subjects, IAA year a priest safe,oraeiter died., Once he amazed the police by taking only a quarter of an, hour to open • a safe whiCh had defied locksmiths for yeare, He also used to lecture the police on the use of nitro- .glycerine and other methods of opening safes, The study of safes.. was his hobby and if he, had not been an honest man he could have been very dangerous, It is in prison that many men develop their hobbies. In Ameri- ca, a convict sent off a request. for a pamphlet entitled "Mathee matics as an aid to making de- cisions". His pals suggested that perhaps he wanted to figure out. the height of theb prison wall! In many of our prisons, in- mates sentenced to more than six months can learn a wide. variety of trades; others continue, to study their own profession.. One prisoner, a chemist, spent. his time in thinking out a chemi- cal formula. The result was 'a very successful brand of washing powder, Your Nose Knows "To get a good night's sleep, follow your nose," Dr. Maurice H. Cottle of Chicago advised at e a meeting of the Illinois State Medical Society. The nose, Which Dr, Cottle calls a "human alarm clock," actually directs t h e body's actions during sleep. When the body tires from sleep- ing in the same position, on the left side, for instance, the right, or top side of the nose, which does the work of breathing while the left side is buried in the pillow, sends out reflex signals to the facial muscles, ears, lungs, and even the heart. The body turns, assumes a new, more com- fortable position, and the rested nostril takes over the job of keeping the air flowing into the lungs. Contrary to the popular be- lief, "sleeping like a log" is not restful, Dr, Cottle reported. "With increased pressure In the nose, you breathe through your mouth, you snore, you wake up, your sleep is disturbed," he ex- plained. HOLD THAT WHEtil rrohi the looks of things, the driver of this Citroen 2CV had better hang on to his chassis The wheels dre on the ground but the body looks as though if'4 about io fly off hi a different direction: The little car provided lotighs fteS:spectators Of o race in Hockenheim, Gel many. 1 1 1 FOSSIL MAN STILL ALIVE? Russians reported the existence of '"abominable snowmen" in the Himalayas, somewhat re- sembling the Mongolian "alma." A ' recent-American.expodition reported evidence •of the, snow- men, but no actual sighting. tkitteltilt the wreckage of d 11.8', Air Force...jet -bomber.lies atrnng the' Seven 'hurries if destroyed 'Offer the 'pleid teethed 'hid a Japanese ri6er Johnson Air .Pored Base, Tokyo.. The' j slot chid two Japanese boy's r were 'killed, The 011686 •Wehitiit ilind her two sons were seriously injured.