UNIVERSITY COURIER.
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its suffering and of the irreparable insults which she had undergone. The Romans remained motionless. The barbarians excited by the glowing words of their queen, rushed upon the legions. The Romans bestirred themselves at last and their broad swords soon opened for them a passage through the mass of Brittons, who were finally obliged to yield to the disciplined Romans. The victors spared nothing, women, children and dogs were cut to pieces.
Boadicea took poison and died upon the battle field. While she did not succeed in attaining her ultimate object we can not but admire her character and the spirit which animated her actions. While it is true a crown awaits the victor, not all who are brave wear victor's crowns.
"Lay one rosebud white and pure
On brows that paled in the turmoil.
TOPICS.
Public sentiment is the lever that moves the world. In monarchies its work is indirect, but in our republic, the voice of the people has a direct effect upon the laws. A proof of this is the passage of the new Civil Service bill. The bill was prepared by men who have made a special study of the subject in England and our own country, and who were friends of the reform. The chief objection urged against the measure is that too much power is placed in the administration. It should be remembered, however, that this is to prevent a too sudden change and the consequent disaster. It also tends to make the President responsible for its effects. The power to amend the bill still lies with the people.
Apropos of the above is the changes in the tariff which are proposed by Congress. There is scarce any united public opinion as to just what is needed. All seem ignorant, and most favor the present plan because it is the easiest way to raise a revenue. It works an injustice to some industries, hence the demanded change.
We are in much the same condition in our Kansas Legislature. The people call for a regulation of the railroads, but no two persons have the same plan. It is cheering, however, that the party in power has publicly adopted it as an issue. Study of the matter will in the end lead to the correct method, but this may be long delayed by the monopoly power. In fact it is often better to enact a law which may be unjust in some points, than to submit the reform to the delay of the commission which too often is but the tool of its anti-reform party. To delay the wishes of the people is a dangerous expedient, and has resulted in riot and revolution.
The recent great floods in Europe are accountd for by the fact that the slopes of the Alps, having been denuded of their protecting forests are being washed bare of their soil by the storms and avalanches, like the once fertile hills of Palestine which are now white ribs of bare rock. The debris carried down by the streams, fills up the river-beds of the plains, causing overflows which make deposits along the banks thus raising the river above the level of the plain, like our own leveed Mississippi. In great storms the false banks are washed
through and the result is a wide-spread flood. Europe at last has learned to protect the forests of the Alps.
It is now believed that the present Legislature will not materially change the Prohibitory Liquor Act, as the majority of Kansans do not desire the change. If they did, however, the bill should be modified, or even the amendment re-submitted. The only way to secure lasting reforms is to so educate the public sentiment that the ruling majority will demand or accept legal process. Otherwise the law cannot be enforced.
Among the mountains of California the hydraulicrunning jets are performing the office of the Alpine storms. Many fertile valleys of the Sierras, have been rendered barren by the immense deposits of sterile clays and sandstorn loose by the miners and carried down by the spring floods. The people have banded against the Hydraulic Mining Companies, and restrictive laws are under consideration. As an offset the capitalists propose to catch the debris in enormous dams.
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.
Additions to the Cabinets since our last report :
One shark's tooth of mammoth size, received by exchange from Mr. Joseph Savage.
A very handsome specimen of the well-known but little petted, little striped cat, (Mephitis bicolor), captured by Prof. Snow.
One very large red-headed wood-pecker, (Hylotomus pilcatus) a representation of the largest species found in the United States. Contributed by Mr. Allen Williams.
A perfect specimen of a stone axe, found in a mound in Missouri, showing great age owing to its disintegrated surface. Presented Mr. Theo. Gardner.
Two lots of Coleoptera from Louisiana. Among other good things there were several rare tiger beetles.
A box of valuable Coleoptera from New York and another from California. From these four exchanges Prof. Snow added thirty-three new species to the collection.
Several specimens including ore, asbestus, breccia, etc., from Colorado,—shells, fossil leaves, etc., from Kansas, contributed by Mr. E. D. Eames of Delphos, Ottawa county. Some of the specimens contain imprints of what appear to be willow leaves. Willow leaves are common in the lower cretaceons, but as far as known heretofore none have ever been found in the upper cretaceons.
HEMORRHAGE.—A plant has been found in Mexico called by the natives "Fowlwort," (Tradescantia erecta) which has the peculiar property, when chewed or crushed, of stopping any hemorrhage.
EARACHE.—Dr. A. D. Williams, in the American Chemists' and Druggists' Bulletin, says that the most effective treatment for earache is the local application of a solution of the sulphate ot atropia. From three to five drops should be dropped into the painful ear and allowed to remain ten or fifteen minutes, then by turning the head to one side the ear may be dried with a clean cloth. For young children one grain to an ounce of water makes the solution sufficiently strong: for persons over ten, four grains and upwards.