Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1950-6-7, Page 3Twins — Triplets — Quadruplets — Why? With the arrival of a fifth set of twins, Dir. and Mrs, Henry White, of Durant, Oklahoma, have run out 01 names for their rltildren. Since their marriage the couple have had nineteen children, sixteen of whom arc living. The first twins arrived in 1932, the second in 1938, the third in 1947 and the fourth in 1949. Two sets were girls and the others were mixed, Mrs, White is forty-one. One of Nature's most mysterious laws scents to govern the birth of twins, triplets and quads. For some strange reason which. has not yet been explained by science one birth in 88 is of twins, one birth in 88 multiplied by 88 is triplets, and one birth in 88 x 88 x 88 is of quadruplets. This "law" was discovered 52 years ago and scientists have been trying to solve its mysteries ever since. Identical twins are of fascinating interest to scientists. It seems cer• tain that an inexplicable bond exists between them. Although they can- not explain it, identical twins affirm the fact of mental telepathy be- tween each other. Identical twins are always of the same sex. In most cases they are almost indistinguishable in appear- ance, so that, when seen separately, it is difficult even for their rela- tives to tell which is which. They are usually reflections of one another. A downward twist of the mouth will be on the right side in one, and on the left side in the other. A wart on the left cheek of one will appear on the right cheek of the other. Two such twins, separated at birth and unaware of one another's existence, who met for the first time at the age of thirty, were prac- tically identical in every way. Both were electricians, both had married in the sane year, both had one child and a dog of the sante name. Incomplete twinning results in very rare instances in Siamese twins, united obliquely side by side in the hip region. The most famous :were Chang and Eng, the original "Siamese" twins (though others had lived before then), who died in 1874 and who were really Chinese. They made a fortune with Bar- num's side-show, married two sis- ters, and died at the age of 63. There are records of only thirteen Siamese twins surviving birth since A.D. 1100. Natural Blondes On Way Out? According to the theory of pro- fessor H. 0. Whitnall, a distinguish- ed American scientist, the natural • blonde is doomed eventually to dis- appear. Already statistics prove that the naturally very fair type has almost vanished except in the Scandinavian countries. 'The true blonde is more suited to the cold, clear and purer airs of these northern lands, and does not flourish in the urban and industrial atmosphere of towns and cities. - Even hi Norway and Sweden, the home of natural blondes, their numbers are less in the more popu- lated areas. The true blonde is the Nordic woman, pale and fair because she spends her life in a soft air with a mellow and screened sun. The brunette, however, itas darker skin, hair and eyes because Nature has provided her with a pigment called melanin to protect her against the fierce action of time sun. This fierceness increases until at the Equator we find that the negro is coal black, The theory that pigmentation in- creases as the Equator is approach- ed is, however, only part of the reason for the difference between blondes and brunettes. The north- ern Eskimo, for instance, is quite dark, although nobody lives farther from the Equator than he, The answer to the riddle of the Eskimo is said to be in the glands of the human body. Glands are min- iature workshops where certain substances are secreted and sent to different parts of the body to aid the various proceses of life. Many of these glands have ducts Leading to special organs, and se- crete tears, milk, saliva, perspiration, bile and other fluids that the body needs, Sixty years ago other types of glands were found in the body. These had no ducts and were at Aral thought to be useless survivals from the long march of evolution. To -day they are known to be of great importance to health, and sonic of therm are believed to have had influence upon the development of the color of man's skins, Doctors have pointed out that oti the average blonde types are more susceptible to certain illnesses—in- fluenza, bronchitis, fevers, rheuma- tism—than brunettes, Their general physical resistamtce semis to be low- er, especially in industrial areas, Itt the case of the Esintko the bard, rigorous life he leads in the Arctic wastes demands that his glands and his bodily resistance to iihtess shotmld be extremely efficient. The fact that he is Clark•skinned, too, seems to prove that there is a distinct link between 'the glands and the color of the skin, TABLE TALCS dam AndDews. As many of you know, packaged dry mixes for biscuits, muffins and cakes—that is to say mixes to which only liquid and perhaps an egg need be added—are becoming more popular every day, especially among city dwellers who haven't the room or facilities for extensive cookery. So perhaps you may be interest- ed to know—as I was --that the United States Department of Agri- culture is advocating "hone -made" dry mixes of various kinds. By using such mixes, it is said that food values are greatly bier -eased. In fact, one noted hone economist, comparing biscuits made with the mix with some done according to standard recipes, found the former 50 per cent. richer in protein and at least 300 per cent. higher in cal- cium and riboflavin—both very im- portant to health. So first I'm giving you the basic biscuit mix, together with a couple of suggestions for its use. It can also be used for meat -pie toppings and in countless other different ways. * * * Basic Biscuit Mix 8 Cups sifted enriched flour 1 cup non-fat (skim) dry milk 1 cup baking powder 3 teaspoons salt 1 cup fat—any kind not needing refrigeration. Method: Sift dry ingredients. to- gether three times. Cut or rub in fat 'til thoroughly mixed. Lift mix lightly into glass jars or tin cans without packing. Close tightly and store on shelf. * * * Biscuits (From Mix) Method: Add to a cup of the above mix enough fluid milk (ap- proximately one-third cup) to make a soft dough. ICnead, tut and bake as usual. Yield: Six biscuits. * * u Meat -Vegetable Twists (from Mix) Method: Prepare enough biscuit batter for about 12 biscuits (use two cups of mix). Turn out on a lightly floured board and knead gently a half minute. Roll out to a quarter -inch in thickness. Cut indi- vidual biscuits of 3x4 inches. Put a half -cup meat -vegetable filling on one-half of the biscuit. On the other half, cut quarter -inch strips from edge of dough toward filling, using knife or pastry wheel. Fold these strips over meatmix- ture, twisting strips across meat. Pinch strip to edge of meat -covered daugh. Put individual twists on baking sheet and balce at 375° F. for 25 to 30 minutes. Yield: Six servings of two biscuits each. For filling, use any well -seasoned contbipation of ground cooked meat and cooked vegetables, held together with me- dium white sauce. E The muffin mix, which conies from the same source, produces muffins that are considerably super- ior in protein and calcium to those baked according to most standard recipes. This mix may be used, as well, for waflles and. griddle cakes. Basic Muffin Mix 6 cups sifted enriched flour 1 cup dry non-fat (skim) milk 5/4 cup baking powder • 2 teaspoons salt 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup fat—any kind not needing refrigeration. Method: Sift dry ingredients to- gether three times. Cut or rub in fat 'til thoroughly mixed. Lift mix lightly into glass jars or tins with- out packing. Close tightly and store on shelf. * * * Muffins (From Mix) Method: Use a third cup of milk and a beaten egg to one cup above 'mix for five small muffins. Mix and hake as usual. For "meat muffins" stir into batter a little chopped salami, hard -cooked egg and dash of horseradish. * .5 * Waffles (From Mix) Method: Use three-quarters cup of mills and one beaten egg to one cup above mix for two big waffles. Mix; hake as usual * * * Griddle Cakes (From Mix) Method: [Ise two-thirds to one cup milk and a beaten egg to one cup above mn;x for six or seven pancakes. Mix and bake as usual. w 5 * Now, to conclude, here's a rec:pc that doesn't use• any prepared "mixes," but which does make use —and in a very delightful way—of what old 13151109 Boteler said was undoubtedly the fittest berry God ever orate. Whether you fully agree with the good bishop's state- ment or not, I'm sure you'll tide this: Strawberry Cake 12A cup; sifted pastry flour, or 11/4 eups sifted hard -wheat. flour 2 tsps., Magic. Baking Powder 1/4 cup cold water 11/4 tsps. vanilla 4 tsp. salt 4 eggs, separated 1 cup fine granulated sugar. Method: Sft flour, baking powder and salt together three times. Beat egg yolks thick and light; gradually beat' in the cold water and 3j cup of the sugar; beat constantly for four minutes. Beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry; gradually beat' in remaining % cup sugar. beating after each addition until mixture stands in peaks. Add flour mixture to yolk mixture about a quarter at _a time, folding lightly after each addition just until flour is incorporated; fold in vanilla. Add meringue to yolk mixture and fold gently until combined. Turn into two ungreased 8 -inch round cake pans. Bake in moderate oven, 350°, 25 to 30 minutes. Immediately the calces are baked, invert pans and allow cakes to hang, suspended, until cold (to "hang" cakes, rest rim of inverted pan on three in- verted egg cups or coffee cups). Put cold cakes together with sweet- ened, crushed strawberries; top with lightly sweetened and flavored whipped cream and garnish with whole strawberries. No Use A new jockey mounted a long - shot in the paddock just before the race Once in the saddle he looked for his whip. He turned to the trainer. "Do you mind getting my whip?" he requested. "It's over there in time corner." The trainer didn't budge. "Whip?" he echoed. The jockey frowned. "Stop acting silly," lie growled. "I SAW whip." The trainer shook his head. "What's the good of a whip?" he said. 'The last jockey threat- ened this horse with a gun and even that didn't do any goodl" A BELLE ISLE, Mich., man came to the conclusion that the rainwas getli y too heavy when his wiper failed to keep water off the windshield. He stepped out to see ,for himself and had to swim ashore` from time ten -foot lagoon into which he had driven. Batting The Bull—President Truman pats a prize-winning bull on the hose as its owner, Ed Riser, smiles proudly. The Pres- ident took time out from his whirlwind "whistle-stop" tour to award blue ribbons to Junior livestock exhibitors. T,...:s Vie For ' Q.uaen" Title —Students at Green Mountain Junior College fetcccl a tough decision in choosing the citieen of their traditional Mor Fete, I3oth Eileen, left, and Doris Sievers, 20 -year-old identical twins were candidates for the honor. If the judging narrows down to this rare pair, the question seems to be, "which winsome twin will win?" DAY SCHOOL I,ESON By Rev. R. B. Warren, B.A., B.D. Habakkuk Teaches Trust In God Ifabakkuk 1:1-4, 12, 13; 2:1-4; 3:17-19. Golden Text:— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the tiod of my salvation.—Habakktyje 3:18. The Chaldean kingdom had be- come the dominating power in the world when Habakkuk uttered his prophecy. He was perplexed. Why was there so much injustice in the world? Why were the wicked per- mitted to catch the righteous in their net and devour them? Why didn't God do something about it? Many of us have asked the same question. God enlarged the vision of Ha- bakkuk. He saw that "The just shall live by faith," and God will ultimately execute judgment in the earth. "The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of .the glory of the Lord, as the waters over the sea." Meanwhile, woes are pronounced upon the wicked. Woe to him that coveteth with an evil covetousness —woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and ntakest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on theirnakedness." God will per- mit no evil which He can wisely prevent, But man is free to choose whether or not he will obey God. Habakktfk say something of the greatness of God. "His glory cov- ered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise." He was then content to live by faith in the ser- vice of such a Great One.. No mat- ter how fearful are the circumstances he will rejoice. Let the faith ex- pressed in his conclusion be ours, too. "Although the fig tree shall not btossom,'neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no neat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd /II the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." 4 Wonder Fruit Of The Tropics Coconuts will play a large part in supplying, the 100,000 tons of vegetable oil which Britain needs so badly this year. At the same time, plantation owners stand to reap considerable financial reward. 'The price of copra (the dried kernel of the nut) has rocketed from the pre-war figure of $60 to $350 a ton. Fortunately, coconuts. are easy to cultivate. They flourish along the coasts of tropical islands, including the smallest coral islets. The reason for their abundance is not difficult to find, As the nuts ripen they drop off, and litany in- evitably roll into the sea. Their fibrous (tusks and leathery skins render them seaworthy,. and the tide and currents carry them across the ocean and cast them up on dis- tant shores, where they soon take root. It takes from seven to eight years for the palms to attain full matu- rity and bear fruit. Then they produce four crops annually for some seventy years. A thousand coconuts give ap- p:'oximately 500. Ib, of copra, from which twenty-five gallons of oil can be obtained, This oil is chiefly used in the manufacture 01 margarine, soap, and cattle food, Tasty con- fectionery can also be trade from it. To the natives of the islands on which they grow the coconut palet is a universal provider. Its tall, slender trunk is used in the building of their 'tones. The broad leaves arc used for roofing. The white flesh of the nutitseif is used as food, while the sweet juice it holds is drunk, 'Che fibres which cover the nut are weaved into, mats. Nothing is wasted. Scots To Raise Reindeer For Meat It is interesting to learn that a plan is under consideration by the Department of Agriculture in Scot- land to introduce reindeer into the Highlands. Reindeer neat is said to be more tender, less dry than venison. The plan has been put forward by Mr. Mike! Utsi, owner of large herds in North Sweden. \Ir. Utsi has found that crofters ,whom he has approached welcome his plan. I -Ie is ready to provide an initial herd. of 25 animals. He would pay for their transport and look after therm himself, and would train croft- ers to do time herding during a trial period. And he would pay the rent for suitable pasturage. The Department of Agriculture for Scotland is considering the pos- sibility of a trial herd on one of the islands off the Scottish coast. There the animals could be studied at close range, and the likelihood of disease investigated. But there has been no disease among the vast Scandinavian herds for over fifty years. When the trial herd has under- gone such a period of quarantine, the department might consider the further, possibility of establishing a herd in some remote part of the mainland where there would be no interference with the maintenance of cattle and' sheep, or even red deer. In any event, reindeer live chiefly on lichens, which are to he found among heather stalks. Mr. Utsi has discovered what the herdsmen call "reindeer moss" among potentially suitable areas which he has visited —especially in large tracts of Suth- erland and Cairngorms. Indeed, it is pointed out that reindeer could thrive in districts at present valued only as of interest for tourists. Undoubtedly there would be a ready market, too, for the hides. Up to the outbreak of war, reindeer skins of quality—for the manufac- ture of gloves and handbags—were brought from Alaska, being prod- ucts of the offspring of herds orig- inally imported from Scandinavia. The animal can maintain a speed of nine or,e10 miles an hour for a long time, and can easily draw a weight of 200 pounds besides -a sled. .Almost every part of a dead animal is used in some way. Actually, the import of reindeer into Great Britain would be a return home. Reindeer roamed the forests of Scotland up to the twelfth century. And it was the destruction of these forests by fire that presumably pre- vented reindeer from being still as much 'at home in the Highlands of Scotland as in Scandinavia. Other Women Found These Hints Useful Instead of planting our window boxes each summer season, we simply set potted flowers into them, These can be easily shifted when they stop blooming and other blos- soming plants set into their places. We enjoy the continual color this gives our hone. * * * I find tate pilot light in my oven is useful fur a number of things. I set my bread in the oven to rise and the pilot keeps it just the right temperature, even in the coldest weather. When crackers or potato chips become limp, I put them into the oven overnight and the next day they are peppy and fresh for serv- ing. I also dry corn, apples, peaches, pears, and aprocots in the oven by using only the pilot light. * * * Put three or four marbles in the bottom half of the double boiler before putting it on the fire. Wlten the water gets low, they will bounce about noisily, warning you that it needs refilling. This idea has lengthened the life of my double boiler, to say nothing of saving my temper, time, and food. 5 * * 1 save extra housework steps with my large -pocket cleaning apron. When I find a small article out of place •or needing repair, 1 tuck it into the right-hand pocket. Odd papers, threads, and scraps to be thrown away are put into the left pocket for emptying when I pass a handy waste -basket. The misplaced items are restored to their proper places when I reach them during cleaning. * * * To cut angel cake without having it crumble, use a silk thread stretched tautly between your hands. * * * Time was when my husband came in from the day's work with his trouser cuffs full of seeds and bits of straw and dirt which clung to the carpet as he walked. I solved this extra cleaning problem by stitching all work -clothes cuffs with the sewing machine. * * * Make a handy barber -pole con- tainer for used razor blades by enamelling a condensed milk can with red and white candy stripes. Cut a slot in one end large enough •for blades to slip through. Keep this on the bathroom shelf with the shaving materials. * * * Slipping seldom -used dishes into paper or plastic bags, when you store them, will protect them from gathering dust. • * A wastebasket is right by the kitchen sink where I need it, thanks to this easy idea. Without any complicated carpentry work, I at- tached an oval metal basket to the door of the cupboard beneath the sink. I punched two holes about 5 inches apart, just below the rolled rim. Then, holding the basket against the door, I marked through the holes and inserted two cup hooks on the dots made. With the hooks opened a little so that the basket can lift on and off easily, it was ready for handy use. * * * To keep the knobs on cupboards and dresser drawers from working loose, use washers of fine sand- paper. Cut the washer to fit knob, make a hole in the middle of the washer, and slip it over the bolt or screw between knob and drawer. Put the abrasive side next to drawer. Then, when the nut is tight- ened, the knob will not work loose. * *' * My children have as much fun picking up their "clutter" as they had scattering it in the first place. Fquipped with a wooden peach lug (any small wooden box will do) to which we've fastened a broom handle, they trot around the house picking up toys, paper, and what - have -you, feeling important and busy, /A, GREEN ' THUMBI Gordon. Sett l A Run For Your Money One can grow an amazing lot of vegetables in even a tiny plot of ground. A vegetable garden 10 feet by 20, with a little Planning and double cropping, will yield many meals. In the very small vegetable garden one is wise to forget those bulky or spreading sort of things like potatoes, corn, squash, or pease. One should con- centrate on beans, carrots, beets, spinach, radish, lettuce, possibly a halfedozen staked tomatoes and per- haps a hill or two of cucumbers trained over the boundary fence. None of these vegetables can take up much room. Beans, beets and carrots, for instance, can be grown in rows only a foot apart, and 10 feet of any of them will produce many meals for the average fantiiy. With sone of the very early things like lettuce, radish and spinach double cropping can he practised. Plant these in rows, say, 18 inches apart, with rows of the later things —beets, beans, carrots, parsnips, etc,—in between. * * Building Up A Garden • There are few soils or locations in Canada where a garden is not possible, Even if the soil is very heavy, wet, sticky clay and as flat as a pancake, with a little patience and planning it cau be turned into a fair garden. It may be necessary and profitable to have it tile -drained so that it will get rid of surface . water quickly. In most cases a few open drains, or merely a furrow or two, will be sufficient. Both heavy and very light soil too will be vastly improved by digging or plow- ing in manure and green materials like a cover crop of oats, peas, rye, clover, etc. Even a good crop of weeds will help if dug under. All waste matter like pea pods, carrot ' tops, corn stalks, etc., should be saved and dug in or piled up just in a compost heap to rot and then spread over the garden. The rotted vegetables refuse dug in adds what is technically known as humus, puts some body into the soil so it will hold moisture better. * ** * Paths and Driveways A winding path adds interest to any garden, even where it may not be absolutely necessary. But it should not be too obvious, and if one wants a curve or two 'then there should be some excuse for that curve, such as a tree or group of shrubbery. What the path will be trade of will depend upon how much traffic and what materials are available. Good firm sod will take some wear and if dry will even carry a car. For more per- manent results and heavier traffic, flag stones, bricks, crushed cinders or well packed gravel are all suit- able. Where these act as drive- ways as well and carry heavy traf- fic some foundation and drainage are advisable. Coarse gravel or cinders or crushed stone will do very well. To keep down weeds in drive- ways there are many good weed killers on the mmmarlcet. To lay the dust common salt and old car oil can be used and they have the additionad advantages of binding the gravel or cinder and discourag- ing frost, WHEN A MOTORIST returned to his car after reporting that it was stalled on a highway near 'Muskegon, Mich., , he discovered that thieves had•renmoved a can of oil, two spark plugs, five tires, skid chains, a tow rope, a lantern, a tool -box, a pair of driving gloves, two auto robes, the heater, a pint of brake fluid, two sideview mirrors, the defroster fans 'and the radio aerial. Scotland Wails Over Mired Whales—Two Scottish boys at East Lothian, John and James Mss- Callum, look over. some of the 147 whales stranded 011 the heath. Washed in during a etrOng when it went out. And East Lothian was 'lefttide, the sea' monsters were left high and. dry with a whale of a problem.