The Great Round World And What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1. No. 21, April 1, 1897 | Page 8

and turn expected to be dashed to pieces in the ca?on below.
So they sped onward, past rocks and cliffs, down, down, down, until they flew out of the regions of snow and ice over hillsides clothed with vineyards. Still down, past orchards, the trees in full bloom, down and still down, until their fear had passed, and they were able to enjoy the novelty of their position.
Suddenly a curve in the flume brought them into a wide stretch of water, and they had reached their journey's end. The little boat, still propelled by the force it had gathered in its journey down the mountainside, cut its way through the water, and reached the wharf,--only two hours having been taken for the trip.
It must have been a wonderful ride. What a clever and yet simple device for bringing the lumber down from the mountains with so little trouble and expense!
* * * * *
Some people have been complaining that Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, the President of the Board of Police, has been giving the men, who want to join the force, such a severe examination that it is almost impossible for half of them to answer the hard questions that are asked.
Mr. Roosevelt declares that it is necessary that policemen should be intelligent men, and have some slight amount of education. He thinks they ought to know a little about the history of this country, and of the laws which they are called to uphold.
He says the questions were only such as a fairly bright child could answer with ease, and that the men who cannot answer them have no business on the force.
To prove the truth of this, he prints a few of the answers made by the rejected policemen, and asks the people who complain to read them, and then let him know whether they would like to have such ignorant men as guardians of the law.
One question was: "Name five of the New England States."
One man wrote: "England, Ireland, Scotland, _Whales_, and Cork"; and another, "London, Africa, and New England."
To the question: "On what instrument is the Government of the United States founded?" one answer was:
"On paper."
"Into what three branches is the Government of the United States divided?" puzzled them sorely.
"Republicans, Dimulcrats, and Popperlists," seemed the favorite answer.
"What is the highest department of the United States Courts?" also worried them badly.
"The Fire Department," was written by several.
Others suggested, "Sir Pream's Court."
"Why July 4th and February 22d were made legal holidays?" was quite beyond their understanding.
"The day on which George Washington landed and crossed the Delaware";
"The day on which the President takes his seat"; and
"July Forth was the end of the _warre_," were three of the brilliant suggestions.
I think we ought all of us to be very much obliged to Mr. Roosevelt for preventing such ignorant men as these from being set in authority, and having the difficult duties of the police to perform.
GENIE H. ROSENFELD.

LETTERS FROM OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.
DEAR EDITOR:
I have been taking THE GREAT ROUND WORLD for two weeks, and think it fine.
I thought I would ask you a few questions, as I knew you would be glad to answer them. Is England in favor of Turkey or Greece? and will United States ever help Cuba?
Yours respectfully, LEONARD O. SOMERVILLE, MASS.

DEAR LEONARD:
You have asked us the two questions that are puzzling the wisest heads of Europe and America.
Europe wants to know what England will do, and with whom she is siding; and all America wants to know whether we are going to help Cuba.
THE GREAT ROUND WORLD only claims to tell its readers what has happened. The Editor does not profess to be a prophet, and able to foretell events.
We are glad to answer any questions that we can, but you have given us two difficult conundrums that we cannot solve. Better luck next time.
THE EDITOR.

INVENTION AND DISCOVERY.
NEW ROAD TO ELECTRICITY.--A paper was read recently before the New York Electrical Society on the subject of a new method of producing electricity.
[Illustration]
The discoverer of this process is Mr. Willard E. Case. He has been working for ten years on this subject, and recently showed the results of his labors to the scientific men assembled to hear him.
Mr. Case claims that his discovery, when it is worked out to its conclusion, will mean a new motor or driving force to do the world's work, in place of steam, and he insists that the new force will be much cheaper than any now in use.
Mr. Case has found a means of generating electricity without the use of heat. It has long been known that there was a terrible waste of electrical energy through the use of heat. The method of producing it by galvanic batteries was impossible for large electric plants, because the zinc that had to be used was too