Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 27.djvu/592

574 apart for each hill-tribe its allotted station on the coast is not always sovereign for the avoidance of collisions. The people of the southeast peninsula make long voyages to the west of the Gulf of Papua for sago, in strange craft composed of several canoes lashed together, with a house at each end. Each village or district often has its trade-specialty, as, for example, for pottery, or for canoes, or shell or other ornaments. Salt is in great demand, especially in the interior, whither sea-water is sometimes carried in hollowed bamboos; or salt is obtained by burning the roots of trees which have grown in the salt water. The people in most parts are skilled agriculturists, and grow, generally with the help of artificial irrigation, all the usual plants of tropical Pacific culture, most of which—with probably the traditions of scientific agriculture—seem to be of Asiatic origin. Any one may clear and cultivate a piece of land within the territory of his tribe, but they have a strong sense of proprietorship, even of the fruit-trees in the forest, and of the fish in their own streams, or their own tract of coast. The social and political organization of the people is quite rudimentary. The chiefs have but little power. Important matters are settled by the assembly, and, otherwise, every man, beyond conforming to certain established customs, is a law to himself.

How to live One Hundred Tears.—How to live a century and grow old gracefully are discussed in a pamphlet under that title recently published by Dr. J. M. Peebles, who appears to have faith in the practicability of both his propositions. Success depends upon many elements, among the most tangible of which are air, sleep, food and drinks, and clothing. We must breathe pure air, and breathe deeply; not be afraid of night-air, and get as much of our air out of-doors as we can. As to sleep, "I say," says Dr. Peebles, "to my friends and patients, 'get up; get up at five o'clock in the morning'; and I set them the example. If they want more sleep I say, ' take it; take all you want; take eight hours; take nine hours; take ten hours, if you choose; but take them in the early hours of night rather than by daylight. Don't insult Nature.' If you get angry, take a bath and go to bed and sleep; if the world abuses you, take extra sleep; if you are dyspeptic and discontented, take a long, sound sleep, and, waking, you will find that all the world is smiling." For diet, the vegetarian and farinaceous system is recommended. For drink, water, which should also be applied freely and frequently outside, while intoxicating liquors, tea, coffee, etc., are best left alone. The clothing should always be arranged with a view to protection against variations of heat and cold, and with no other, and should not be allowed to impede any of the functions or movements of the body. Dr. Peebles thinks that there may be good in medicines, notwithstanding all that is urged against their use by many writers on hygiene, and says: "If there were no pre-natal weaknesses, no transmitted blood-poisons or hereditary tendencies; if there were no sudden climatic changes; if there were no violations of the physical, mental, and moral laws of God, medicines would be quite unnecessary. But, as rational, practical men, we must take human beings precisely as we find them; and we find many of them wretchedly begotten, badly cared for in infancy, unwisely trained in childhood, wickedly tempted in youth, and in manhood frequently exposed to winds, pelting storms, and the low malarial lands of the Western prairies. Thus conditioned, human ills, aches and pains and diseases are absolutely unavoidable, and accordingly remedies medicinal remedies carefully selected and wisely administered, are positive necessities." Finally: "Exercise charity toward all, control your passions, govern your appetites. Develop and manifest a sweet and peaceful spirit. Carefully observe the rules of health; . . . and, with a fair constitution to start with on the journey of life, you may easily live a full century."

Do Insulated Conductors attract Lightning?—A house in Neufchâtel, Switzerland, was struck by lightning and burned last summer; and it was suggested that the electric stroke had been invited by a lot of old iron that was stored in the attic. M. Calladon, speaking in the French Academy of Sciences of this suggestion, remarked that the mere presence of metal, without communication