ength and diameter was found to be the
shape of least resistance.

By shortening the forward section of the cylinder about
one-half, and consequently making the end blunter, the air
resistance was largely reduced; and, by turning the cylinder
around and running its sharp end forward, the air resistance
was almost doubled instead of being diminished. This
discovery came as a surprise, and completely upset all
preconceived ideas about the resistance of the air.

LAW SUCCUMBS TO WOMAN'S TONGUE.

ANOTHER TRIUMPH FOR THE SEX.

Curious Virginia Act Prescribed Ducking
for Loquacious Females, But Modern
Jurist Gives Up the Fight.

Are men less chivalrous to-day than they were two hundred years ago?

This is a question that is often asked nowadays, but the mass of evidence
submitted is so conflicting that it is not likely to be answered until
long after the present generation has passed away.

One thing is certain, however. In the present day man-made laws vouchsafe
unto women far better opportunities for the speaking of their minds than
they enjoyed two centuries ago. Here are two cases in point:

A law passed by the Grand Assembly held at James City,
Virginia, in March, 1662, was designed for the purpose of
trying to prevent women from talking to excess. The law
read:

"Whereas many babbling women slander and scandalize their
neighbors, for which their poor husbands are often involved
in chargeable and vexatious suits, and cast in great
damages: Be it therefore enacted that in actions of slander,
occasioned by the wife, after judgment passed for the
damages, the woman shall be punished by ducking; and if the
slander be so enormous as to be adjudged at greater damages
than five hundred pounds of tobacco, then the woman to
suffer a ducking for each five hundred pounds of tobacco
adjudged against the husband, if he refuses to pay the
tobacco."

In contrast with this is a solemn admission made by
Vice-Chancellor Stevenson, in Jersey City, last December.
The case was that of a man who besought the court to have
his wife restrained from going to his place of business
during business hours and demanding that he give her money.
The New Jersey jurist said:

"This man seeks to enjoin his wife's tongue. From time
immemorial men have tried to restrain woman's tongue, and
have failed."