mputations of a renowned histologist, who has
been calculating the aggregate cell forces of the human brain, the
cerebral mass is composed of at least 300,000,000 of nerve cells, each
an independent body, organism, and microscopic brain so far as concerns
its vital functions, but subordinate to a higher purpose in relation to
the functions of the organ; each living a separate life individually,
though socially subject to a higher law of function.

The lifetime of a nerve cell he estimates to be about sixty days, so
that 5,000,000 die every day, about 200,000 every hour, and nearly 3,500
every minute, to be succeeded by an equal number of their progeny; while
once in every sixty days a man has a new brain.

MOURNING COLORS THE WORLD OVER.

Black is by no means the only color used by man to express grief or
mourning for the dead. In the South Sea Islands the natives express
sorrow and hope by stripes of black and white. Grayish brown, the color
of the earth to which the dead return, is used in Ethiopia. Pale brown,
the color of withered leaves, is the mourning of Persia. Sky-blue, to
express the assured hope that the deceased has gone to heaven, is the
mourning of Syria, Cappadocia, and Armenia. Deep blue in Bokhara. Purple
and violet, to express "kings and queens to God," was the color of
mourning for cardinals and kings of France. The color of mourning in
Turkey is violet. White (emblem of hope) is the color of mourning in
China. Henry VIII. wore white for Anne Boleyn. The ladies of ancient
Rome and Sparta wore white. It was the color of mourning in Spain till
1498. Yellow is the color of mourning in Egypt and in Burmah. Anne
Boleyn wore yellow mourning for Catharine of Aragon.

CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT HAIR.

The hair of men is finer than that of women.

The average weight of a head of hair is from 5 to 12 ounces.

On an average head there are about 1,000 hairs to the square inch.

Hair will stretch about one-fourth of its length and retract nearly to
its original length.

Four hairs of good strength will hold suspended a one-pound weight. A
single head of hair, of average growth, would therefore hold suspended
an entire audience of 200 people.

THINGS THAT ARE MISNAMED

Catgut is gut of sheep.

Baffin's Bay is no bay at all.

Arabic figures were invented by the Indians.

Turkish baths are not of Turkish origin.

Blacklead is a compound of carbon and iron.

Slave by derivation should mean nob