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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1924-06-05, Page 3SOUTH AMERICAN ABORIGINES HAVE EDEN STORY LIKE TIIAT IN BIBLE Tell of "Tree of Life" and of Sentence of Mankind to Hard Labor, but Embellish' Le t;entd With New Details, A new story of the creation of Ivan, ' came to a great tree, bearing on its branches all kinds oR fruits and vege- tables up4an which the anneals fed each day, .and .there was plenty for all ---the vegetables and fruits lay in great profusion ozi the aground, . Then they said, among themselves: `This ie where the god Duwid gets .our food, Let us, hereafter, core and get it for ourselves—then we will not have to thank the god for it." ' "Next day, therefore,they told Du• wicl that he need . not trouble himself to bring them food any more, for they knew where to get it themselves. " 'It shall be as you wish,' said Du- wid, 'but henceforth you will have to work to obtain food to eat. To -mor- row the tree will be cut down, but, in order that you may not starve utter- ly, l will tell you this: If you break off a branch bearing each kind of fruit and plant this in the ground and water it every day and cultivate it, and pro- tect it, it will grow and bear its own kind. Then you may plant the seeds which are in the fruit, and they in turn will grow and produce each after its kind,. Thus you may continue to eat of the fruit of the tree, but you will have to work for it. Were Lazy; Lost Many Foods. "Following the instructions of Du- wid, the first men proceededtobreak off branches of the tree, selecting those which bore different kinds of. fruit and vegetables. Presently they grew tired of their labor and stopped; hence, when the tree was cut down only a few of the many varieties of food which it bore had been .saved for mankind. Conseonently, there are only a few varieties of edible plants in the world, whereas, if the first peo- ple had been more industrious, these would have been found in greater plenty. Moreover, to this day it is necessary to work hard to make the cassava grow. The stump of the tree remains to this day." Anthropologists are aware that sim- ilar legends are to be found in many parts of the world, but they are at a loss to account for their spread prob- ably thousands of years ago. told by a tribe of South American Ine, dulls who had never seen .a white man, has just been added to the known stories of primitive man. This is con tamed' in the verbatim rendering of the story, as narrated by one of the wise men of the tribe.:' , The tribe was discovered . in the mouxit5ine which separate Brazil from the British Guianas, utterly cut off for many-euturies froxu the rest of the world. The tribe is wholly unaffected by -civilization, and has never even learned the art ot.making dental imple- ments, The story of the' creation held by this tribe, according to ree0rds •of the University Museuxii, :is strikingly sim- ilar tow ti:xe 'account of the creation in the book of Genesis, in that it des- cribes a "tree of 1ife" from which the first inen and women ate the "fruit of knowledge" and thereafter were :orced to give up the idyllic life in the Brazilian Garden of Eden to earn theii,; bread "in the sweat of their brows." The 'Indians claimed a great rock to be the petrified stump_ of the "tree of life. Its storywas told by the old "wise rnan of the tribe in the follow.' ing words: Curiosity Possessed Them. "In the beginning there were two gods, Taminkar and his brother Du- wid: .It was Tuminkar who created men and women, and afterward the other animals. It•' was Duwid who brought men and women food. Day after day he 'brought fruits and vege- tables in great quantities and in much variety for them to eat, so that they were grateful to Duwid and rendered him thanks: "Having nothing to do, the first men and women amused themselves by looking at the animals. They, soon noticed that these were in the habit of passing in one direction in the morning of each day, and returning in the opposite direction in the evening; so -they said to themselves, 'Let us go with the animals•and see where they go, and what they do.' "So they followed the animals and Davy Jones gained a rare prize when the British plane A.D.H. 18 took nose dive into the channel and disappeared beneath the waves never to be seen again. Casualties nil. What Some Plants Can Do. Some kinds of plants Have been found which can be made to photo- graph themselves. A- beam of light is turned on then, the plants absorb it, just as phoepher . us' will absorb light, ancl�,then give it oat again. A photographic plate is placed :over the plants, and .when the light is yielded up by them they photo- graph the outlines of their own form and structure on the sensitive plate. They are very small plants which thus supply their own photographs, so small as to be seen properly only un- der the microscope; but they may be very •important for good or evil, foe the bacteria, the yeasts aiid the moulds, are all microscopic plants. „it tias always been difficult to ob- tain trustworthy portraits of the- in sides of these tiny things,,but now it llae been found that in many of them the substances which cruor them have this power of giving out light again, and: so producing the color • photo- graphs Colors. Oh, scarlet hurts, like some strange lust; Mauve stills your heart with sleepy things; Blue dreams forever; yellow laughs; But green—green sings. Oh, silver is a shining peace, And purple • throbs, like Bacchfc kings; Opal has quick, fair mysteries; But green—green sings. .-Weir` Vernon. No Need to Ask. Otte: after another the neighbors had. come into admire the new baby that had arrived at the Jones'' household. Little Mary was rather fed -up withall the attention that was la.vishecl on the newcoaner—.attention which had, up till then, been hers, "Does the baby talk yet, Mary?" .asked one of the friends of the family. "No," _}•eplied the baby's disgusted sister, "the baby doesn't .necil'to taller" "Doesn't need • to talk;" exclaimed the friend, astonished. Cross -Road Sarcasm, Bug Traffic Cop—"Hey, 1\4r. Snail, thie is the third time I've warned you about obstructieg traffic, get• a move on."' You get cheez4out el life in proportion as yott put cheerfulness in. You caniiotinvest countel5:feit coin 'and ert,eSeet dividends is: real mone.V. , "No," said the little girl: bitterly. "All the baby has to do. is to 'e11,and it gets everything worth leaving in the house." He Hurried. "How 'far away were you when the first snot was fired?" asked counsel, "Four yards,"'replied the witness, "'.lalte your time now" cautioned the pro s-exa1niner. "This is an. import ant question, Where were .you when the secondsie& was fired?" The man in file box hesitated. "As e matter of fact, sir," he said at last, ""J'didn't take ,my time, but I. Wes about half e xi111e away. .'No ship that was ever launeled drifted into ixarbor. Yon have :got to work to get at there, 1 Ii�L h111I I11II111{111111���{®w11 111111111 11111 111 1111111111111111111 1..-1111:-Vresilitt6+0 ee Developing Canada's Mineral Resources. Government reports indicate that the mineral output of Canada in 1923 amounted to $214,102,000, and that in 1922 minerals to the value of $184,- 297,242 were produced. While . we appreciate that the value is rapidly increasing, we do not quite realize what Canada's mineral re- sources mean to her. It is only when comparisons are made that big figures can be fully appreciated. One of the. largest figures with which Canadians• generally are familiar is that of the. national debt. On December 31, it amounted to $2,415,538,100,, truly •a large figure, mainly the result of the war; but the value of the minerals produced in Canada since 1910 amount- ed to $2,410,225,000, almost an equal amount. The importance of mining to Canada is very aptly put by Dr. Camsell, de- puty minister of the Department of Mines, in his annualreport for 1923, when he says: "The mineral resouroe,s of Canada are among its greatest natural assets, and, owing to our natural climatic conditions and the relatively limited• area of the country capable of agri- cultural development, the mining' in diistry must necessarily occupy a pro- portionately largerplace in our econo- mic "development than in those coun- tries of the world more fortunately en- dowed with respect to climate. Min- ing is not affected by, climate and can be carried on irrespective of it. The importance of this industry is indi- cated by the growing increase in the annual production of minerals per capita, which has risen during thirty- five years from $2.23 to $26.40 a head of population. This production is in- creasing from year to year until It should ultimately exceed that of any country in the world." The range of minerals found in Cana- da in commercial quantities is very large, and in many this country has almost a monopoly. In others the Canadian supplies are nearer to large United States .markets than .their. own, such as in the case of the gyp- sum of the Maritime. Provinces, and in these development is taking place at a rapidly increasing rate. Many of our own minerals, unfortunately, are being exported in a raw state; end sup- ply the materials for Iarge industries outside of Canada. It is of interest, however, to note that there is a grow- ing tendency to manufacture more of our mineral products at home. Thls is especially noticeable with regard to nickel ,asbestos, lead and zinc. .. In discussing the question of greater home manufacture of mineral pro- ducts Dr. Camsell says: "It is urgently necessary that we should develop home markets by the establishment of industries comple- mentary to the mining industry, so that the products of our mines may be utilized for ruanufacture .into finished articles, A. study of our mineral trade balance will show several instances factured article is produced in this country, but is shipped outside for manufacture and is then sold back to us at many times the value of the ma- terial in it. Thesecuring of capital for the development of these comple- mentary industries appears to be more in the general interests of the country .than capital for the production of raw material, and until those complemen- tary industries are established in one own country the production from the mine will not increase to a stage bear- ing a proper relation to what we be- lieve to be our potential resources." As an indication of the possibilities of mineral production in Canada in 1918 the copper output was 118,769,434 pounds, while Iast year it was 86,312,- 000 pounds, and the latter was more than double that of the previous year. In 1918 the production of nickel was 92,507,293 pounds, while last year it was 61,444,000 pounds, and in 1922 it was but 17,597,123 pounds. In 1913, when building construction was nor - Mal, there was over one million bar- rels of portland cement more produced than the 7,652,000 barrels recorded for last year. In' 1918, notwithstanding the great demand for lead created by the war, Canada's total output was but 51,398,000 pounds; the production 1923 was -more than double that -oust, being 112,600,00n pounds. Development of natural resources is one of the most pressing problems with which Canada is to -day face to face, and in none is the situation more acute than in that of minerals. The Mines Department is giving particu- lar attention to finding markets for our wide variety of both metallic and non-metallic minerals, in their raw state and as maniffactured goods, and in this work the department has the whole -hearted support of the Cana- dian public. • Points About Common Salt. Coal sprinkled with a strong solu- tion of salt and water will last much longer on the fire,' and its heat -giving properties will not be affected, The colors of a carpet that has been sprin- kled with salt before sweeping will "come up" well. A tablespoonful of salt dissolved in a tumblerful of luke- warmwater is a simple emetic. A. handful of it thrown on the fire when the kettle has boiled over will prevent a disagreeable odor. Added to the bath salt gives an invigorating effect. Headless, Too. 'How could Washington Irving's hetidless horseman find his way?" Just as easily as many motorists where the raw materia.) for ti mane• do to -day," '8.BA,ANGE OF �� THREATENED BY crnLazAToN Rule of World May Pass to Busy Insects Extinction of Species That Prey Upon Lower Forms of ]Life May Wipe Out Reigning Power on Earth, 33y 0, A. Drown, what will happen whennature is .coxae- Nature delights in balancing organic pletely mastered and her wild life des life. Throughout the history of ant, . Greyed? rad life on the •earth we find that, ?Aunts, insects and the )ewer ant while there LI been an endless '0140- mals have all played their parts in cession of types and species tevelolx- helping man to develop. They have lug and .decaying over long intervals Eed him, helped hire, clothed and or of time and in mare or less restrieteo nan ented him and protected him. areas", tizere always has been a notiee- They also have warred on him and able 'balances of forces. To.. -day we made him develop his brain power and find parasites living on parasites, in oo-operation .and s.ociel habits. In a• sects upon insects, ilsh upon fish, bird recent ifigplr dealin upon bird, animal, upon animal, and, with the scientimportantc rolmanoesr a rainvertebratge economically, man upon man through- animals have played in the develop- out the animal kingdom. went of civilization these assertions This interdependence of organic are made; life follows fixed laws which are de- "There is no group of animals, ver - finite parts of the physics of the uui- tebrate or invertebrate, which has so verse They assure a balance of lire, much significance to man as the group 'the proper dispersal of birds, insects, of insects. They touch almost •every fish and animals over the surface of activity and interest of civilized 1ffe, the globe where they can secure an They attack our growing food, our or - abundance of food and do the econo- mic chards and forests, our clothing and work nature sets for them: our dwellings: Our bodies and those Man is Subject to Great Laws of our domestic animals are annoyed Which Govern Animal Life. e or infected with disease germs through Man has been subjected.to the oper- the activities of insects. They are our atious of these great laws from the chief competitors in the struggle for remotest period of his history. He existence, and our fight. against them has been restricted by them when is getting more severe and costly they have operated against him, and every year." he has been their agent when called Other scientists express fears that upon to atack other animals. Being in the next few centuries man will be always a mighty hunter, he has always unable to continue the struggle against tended to keep down the spread of big insect life and will not be able to sus game animals like the lion, tiger, ele- tain himself in the face of their com• phant and buffalo. Since he has be- petition. Therefore, the future holds come •civilized he has exerted strong- out the prospect of the possible ex- er and ever stronger activities against tinction of man with the buffalo, lion the other species of organic nature, and elephant and the dominance of and to -day we find many authorities the world by the insects. warning us that the balance of nature 1 is being destroyed and that this will, in the near future, lead to world-wide economic disturbances. Game, bird, forest and plant preservation associa- tions are carrying on broad campaigns for the balance, while farmers and others are advocating the continuance of .a war of extermination against pre- datory animals, birds, insects, plant diseases and germs. Insect pests are innumerable. Every economic crop raised in North and South America, and in all tropical countries, is subject to attack by des- tructive insects. The wire -worm is an enemy of wheat, the grasshopper destroys grass, eelworms cause root - knot in the cotton plant, the boll -wee- vil destroys the boll, the bud -worm eats the heart out of the tobacco plant, the cinch -bug, army -worm, Hessian It has taken nature many millions fly, cutworm, corn -rot and other of" years .to design and develop her aphides; bill -bugs, white grubs, saw creatures and man, within a couple of flies, fruit -fifes and weevils and beetles generations, has completely wiped off are all given to raiding some crop or the face of the earth some of her farming stock. There is constant war - finest animals and birds and is to -day fare being waged against them. hastening the destruction of many Not all the so-called predatory in - other species. Within another century sects; animals, and plants are general - there will be comparatively few of the ly harmful. The snakes, lizards, toads many wild animals remaining. Future scale insects, beetles, fruit and grain generations• will have to depend for flies, wildcats, rodtnts and multitudes their knowledge of lions, cheetas, of other organisms perform services beavers, tigers; •moose, zebras, giraffes valuable to others. They feed upon or and elephants on the descriptions of are fed. upon by,others, or they render them written by naturalists to -day. similar services to the bee in fertii.iz- • The.destruction of wild life advances ing plants and palms, like thedate cumulatively with. increased settle- palms, they aerate or fertilize the went, and occupation of the land by soil, they remove disease germs, or man and his domestic herds and flocks ether harmful matter from plants and and 'commercial slaughter hastens the animals and in many •other ways as - destruction. Civilized man and his sist in the balance of nature. These destructive weapons are menacing services have become so effectively wild life throughout the world. Civili- adjusted that any considerable inter- zation is warring on nature every- ruption of them is liable to destroy na- where and nature is severely suffer- ture's balance and seriously jeopardize ing. Man is carrying the clay, but civilization. Not Successful of Late, Teuton—"All the former rulers of Germany learned trades and were suc- cessful at them." Yank --"Ali our Presidents have been cabinet-makers—but not very successful of late." Laws of Leap Year. Leap year once had a definite place in the social system. A law in Scot- landof the fourteenth century read:i "It is ordained that for each year known as leap year each maiden lady of high and low estate shall have lib- erty to bespeak the men she likes; and, if he refuses to take her to be his lawful wife, he shall be mulcted in the sum of one pound or less, as his es tato may be; except if he ran snake it appear that he is betrother to an- other womee, he then shall be free." Canada is,getting )plenty of baby immigrants these days. The babies looking Scotch anothers, targe in ago from If?, days to 12 mouths, Shown, with 1.heir fine, heleeeln Cor emergency messages the Cana- dian air force depends on carrier pigeons. 9'hc trustworthy little birds alway,i return+, to their base when re- ' leased. A Most Excellent Reason. in a book by Sir J. C. Perry entitled Moro Bulls ancl Blunders,: wo read of a man who went up to a. railway port• er rat one of the big :London stations mid said, '"]'here are half a dozen ,clocks 10 the place. and they are each • different." "Well, sir," relied the porter, "if they were all alike, one would do." According to Orders. i)octor---"Ilesyour husband) had any lucid intervals since ny last visit, 2vI10..link,5 ?" M ' , .links (wi.lt dignity) —"Hee—"Hee had nothing except whet mi ordered."