The Alamance gleaner
\
VQL' L1IL GRAHAM, N, C., THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 1927. NO. 33.
I HAPPENNINGS OF THE WEEK |
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Five More Aviators and Two
Planes Thought Lost
in Atlantic.
By EDWARD W. PICKARD
FIVE more lives apparently have
been sacrificed to the overwefn
' lug ambition of aviators to make trans
oceanic flights. And there may be
further additions to the list before this
reaches the reader. Tuesday the great
monoplane Old Glory, owned by Wil
liam Randolph Hearst, took off from
Old Orchard, Maine, on a projected
nonstop flight to Rome. Lloyd Ber
taod and , James D. Hill, both experi
enced flyers, were the pilots, and with
them as passenger was Philip A.
Payne, managing editor of the New
York Mirror. Near midnight the plane
was sighted about 350 miles east of
St Johns, N. P.. flying well, though
the night was foggy and the sea rough.
About four o'clock Wednesday morn
ing steamers and shore stations re
ceived the dread SOS call from the
plane. The radio men and the ships
sent out frantic calls for position and
six minutes later came the reply:
"Five hours out from Newfoundland
bound west."
mi rri_? i
JL lie BicmuoiujiD vai inauia, xiauojr
vania, California and American Mer
chant, all somewhere near the esti
mated position of Old Glory, carefully
searched the sea for hours, but no
trace of the plane had been discov
ered up to the time of writing. Seem
ingly it was lost without there being
in inkling of what had happened to
It, even as was lost the St. Raphael
and other land planes In which trans
oceanic flights have been undertaken.
Anthony H. G. Fokker, designer of the
plane, said he thought only engine
trouble would bring the plane down.
Doctor Kimball of the weather bu
reau eliminated the weather as a
cause, saying there were no severe
gtoans in the plane's path, although
there was fog and cloudiness.
There was some hope that the plane
might still be afloat even though res
cue ships were unable to find It The
tinge gasoline tank had a dump valve
by which It could be speedily emptied
and it would then provide buoyancy
for some time. A collapsible rubber
raft was carried, but probably the sea
was too rough for its use.
On board the Old Glory was a
wreath which the pilots had prepared
in tribute to the French flyers who
bad made the flrtft attempt. On it
Was written, "Nungesser and Coil:
Tou showed the way. We followed.
Bertaud and Payne and Hill."
Undeterred by bad weather and Ig
norant of the supposed loss of the Old
Glory, Capt Terry Tully and Lieut.
James Medcalf In the plane Sir John
Carting hopped off from Harbor Grace,
N. F? for the last lap of their trip
from London, Ont, to London, Eng
land, on Wednesday. At this writing
nothing has been heard of them, and
It is assumed they, too, perished in
tbe ocean.
Schlee and Brock in the Pride of De
bolt were making good progress In
tbelr globe circling flight for a new
time record, despite the fact that they
were delayed at Constantinople by red
t?pe. The most perilous part of the
blp was the jump from Calcutta to
Bangoon. At this writing they are In
Hongkong. In Tokyo they planned
to Install a new motor for the
fight to Hawaii via Midway is
ko"! and thence to San Francisco.
Their Detroit friends were trying to
Persuade them not to undertake the
flfbt across the Pacific, and Schlee's
brothers chartered a boat to meet
them at Tokyo and bring them to San
Francisco, believing that in that way
'J could still lower the round-the
world record.
Frank Courtney and four compan
?os. who started from Plymouth, Eng
*H for New York, via the Azores,
wi a b?oi Whale, ran Into head
an,l were forced to land at Co
"?""o. Spain.
Jiomerous persons around the Ma
ro? river In Venexnela saw a plane,
Pposcd to hawe been that of Paul
Prn, on August 27. It was headed
Europe Getting Over ?
Ita Calamity Complex
h- Ul"nKl1 there remain a few "un
^ "">hle spots"1 to be cleared op,
Is well on the road to eco
jqll ** l^co*?ry. In the opinion of Dr.
^ * Klein, director of the bnreao
^ oreign and domestic commerce,
"Dili has returned from a long
' of European conditions.
^ 1 report to hla chief, Secretary
w. the trade offldal declared
Koropeaa naiiaiilca generally
southeast toward the delta of the Ori
noco, which Is uninhabited except for
a few Indians. There Is a chance
that the Georgia flyer may be found In
the Jungle.
CHARI.ES EVAN8 HUGHES re
turned last week from a two
months' trip through France, In robust
health and so chipper that the report
ers who met the boat said he had
never been so genial. At once he was
put high in the list of possibilities for
tbe Republican Presidential nomlna
uation, and though he declared to the
interviewers that he believed Mr. Cool
Idge would be renominated and re
elected, he declined to say that he still
stood on his "too old to run for the
Presidency" statement, made last May.
Politicians In Washington think that
of all the potential nominees Hughes
would be the one favored by Mr. Codl
idge. Many persons have thought
Hoover was the President's first
choice, but the Indications are that
these two men are not In such accord
as formerly.
T-. ra-i-w "
iue jMutitrru mart's, according to
wise observers, the Republican lead
ers think Vice President Dawes has
the best chance to win the nomination,
though they admit Lowden will be
hard to beat and that Hoover Is per
haps the ablest man in the field.
Among the Democrats not much Is
heard except "Smith" and "anti
Smith." The popular governor of New
York was attacked by Assistant Sec
retary of the Treasury Lowman In an
address at Buffalo for the failure of
prohibition enforcement in the Empire
state. Explaining why the federal gov
ernment, does not step In and police
the state of New York, he declared
that In the face of the "open opposi
tion of the state and local officers. It
would require an army of 30,000 pro
hibition agents to handle a proposition
like that."
Congressman Boylan, Democrat, of
New York, sent to Secretary of the
Treasury Mellon a vigorous protest
against Bowman's speech as a "gross
abuse" of his federal office.
NEW ENGLAND coast guardsmen
are involved In another liquor
scandal. In Boston five of them and
six other men were indicted by a fed
eral grand jury for a rum-running con
spiracy. Federal Investigators charged
that protection was obtained in land
ing liquor by payments of a certain
fixed sum per case. It la further
charged that coast guard boats were
used in assisting In landings which
would otherwise have been difficult.
One of the accused men was executive
officer of the coast guard base In East
Boston.
While on the subject of booze, It
may be noted that the province of New
Brunswick, Canada, ended Its eleven
years of prohibition last week. The
intoxicating liquor act went into effect
and retail liquor stores under control
of the government were opened. Pur
chase permits are not required.
PROHIBITION lost Its aniest sup
porter when Wayne B. Wheeler,
general counsel and legislative super
intendent of the Anti-Saloon league,
died at a sanitarium In Battle Creek,
Mich. He had been undergoing, treat
ment for a kidney ailment and was
taken to Battle Creek for an opera
tion, but had Improved so much under
treatment that It was decided not to
operate. Then he took a sudden turn
for the worse and died on Monday af
ternoon. The funeral was held in Co
lumbus, Ohio, and Mr. Wheeler was
buried beside bis wife, who was
burned to death a few weeks ago.
Whatever may be thought of the
merits of national prohibition and of
Mr. Wheeler's methods Ip bringing It
about, there can be no question about
the skill and perseverance with which J
he conducted the affairs of the league.
He repeatedly demonstrated his pow
er In Influencing legislation and the
selection of men for office, and as the
general of the dry forces proved him
self to be one of the shrewdest poli
ticians In the country. The league
could scarcely find one man to flll his
place, and It Is believed two will be
named to take over his work. El B.
Dunford, Wheeler's confldentlal legal
adviser, may become general counsel,
and some one else the legislative su
perintendent The three leading can
didates for the latter position are: A.
J. Davis, superintendent of the New
York State Anti-Saloon league; Rev.
have shaken off the "calamity com
plex" or mental hazard for a stronger
business morale.
Be also noted an almost complete
absence of "any bitterness or hostil
ity" toward the United States la Eu
ropean business circles, finding In
stead "a steadily Increasing appreci
ation of the need for mutual transat
lantic good will for the facilitation of
capital advances and the steady In
crease of merchandise movements,
which have been growing regularly In
both directions.''
I
A. J. Barton of Nashville, Tenn., ?
member of the national league's ex
ecutive committee, and James White,
former superintendent of the Ohio
State league.
PItKSIDENT COOLIDGES last week
In the Black hills was uneventful,
and he started bark to Washington
much benefited physically by his sum
mer vacation and ready to tackle such
big matters as taxes, ambassadorial
appointments, naval building and oth
er questions. The White House, reno
vated, repaired and with a line new
roof, was all ready for his return. All
the Inhabitants of Rapid City gath
ered at the station to bid Mr. and Mrs.
Coolidge farewell, and the President
made a little speech expressing his
appreciation of their hospitality. The
eastward trip was Interrupted briefly
Saturday at Brookings, S. D., where
the President dedicated the Lincoln
Sylvan theater, built for lectures and
entertainments for students of agri
culture.
LAST week was not a goojl one for
Russian Communists. Down In
Bolivia the government made public
conclusive proof that the Third Inter
nationale was plotting communist re
volt there and in other countries of
South America; and at the same time
a number of Red leaders were arrest
ed in La Paz and quantities of explo
sives were seized. French Nationalists
and Conservatives united in demand
ing the resignation or recall of Chris
tian Rakovsky, soviet ambassador to
Paris, because he signed the Trotzky
manifesto urging "ail foreign soldiers
to Join the great Red army" and invit
ing the Reds of ail countries "to work
actively to defeat their own govern
ments." The French foreign office sent
such strongly worded dispatches to
Moscow that Chicherln, soviet foreign
minister, had to disavow the manifesto,
and Rakovsky tried hard to persuade
the French that he was not trying to
stir up trouble in France. At the annual
meeting of the British Trade Union
congress in Edinburgh the Commu
nists were overwhelmingly outvoted
and a resolution was adopted cancelling
all relations with the Russian trade
unions and the Third Internationale.
The Pan-Cerman league adopted reso
lutions demanding the dissolution of
the Communist party In Germany and
the suppression of Its organs. The
league represents the Nationalist ex
tremists and bases its demands on the
receDt world-wide demonstrations in
favor of Sacco and Vanzettt.
OPENING its eighth annual assem
bly in Genera, the League of Na
tions was a decidedly gloomy gather
ing. This was doe to the failure of
the league's disarmament conference
In the spring and the collapse of the
Coolldge naral parley In August, to
which was added the fact that the
economic conference was practically
devoid of results. Among the notable
absentees were Lord Robert Cecil and
M. de Jonrenal, resigned, and Baron
Ishli of Japan. Dr. Alberto N. Guanl.
Uruguayan minister to Trance, was
elected president of the assembly. Sup
ported by the Belgians, Trench, Ger
mans and Hollanders, Beelaerts ran
Bloklands of Holland submitted a res
olution asking for the revival of the
nonaggresslon protocol of 1924, declar
ing tbe failure o< conferences of the
past year had proved that actual dis
armament, was impossible for the time
being. Japanese and Swedish dele
gates criticised tbe league severely for
Its failure to bring about reduction of
armaments and to curb the quarrels
of some of the nations of Europe. Po
land's demand for an eastern Locarno
guaranteeing Its security against Ger
many and Russia was supported by
Prance, but Sir Austen Chamberlain
-slid the British delegates looked on It
coldly.
CHINA'S Nationalist government
has disclosed the contents of as
agreement with Japan whereby the
Nationalists undertake to guarantee
the protection of lives and properties
of Jnpanese in Nationalist territory. It
Is said thia agreement led to the
Japanese decision to withdraw their
troops from Shantung, which move
ment was accomplished last week. The
Christian general, Feng Tu-hstang.
wired the Nationalist government that
he was launching an offensive against
the Northern troops In Shantung prov
ince from Honan.
Widespread expansion of atr, rait
and ship traffic, completion of curren
cy and budgetary stabilization la
nearly all countries, advances hi sav
ings and a redaction of unemploy
ment by normal postwar exploitation
of colonial projects, were some Im
portant strides be found.
As to the attitude toward American
business, Doctor Klein said the value
of American leans had been too
keenly appreciated to permit of aay
serious Interference through Impel
slva, snpovArtsl hostility."
THE
UNLOVED
WIFE
<9 by D. J. Wklah.)
Margaret bikxer walked
slowly home. She had been
to the post office for the mall
and had stepped Into one or
two stores to do some necessary shop
ping. She had met several persons
whom she liked and knew and had
paosed for a word or two. But now
she was going home, and home did
oot mean as much to her as It for
merly had, because Margaret was
drinking the bitterest cup which fatn
raises to the Hps of wifehood; she had
begun to suspect that her husband no
longer loved her as be had once done.
She had tried to blind her eyes to all
the evidence In the case, but at last it
had been made all too plain; she could
no longer conceal the fact from herself
and she suspected ber friends could
see as plainly as she that she was fast
becoming an unloved wife. A great
pity for herself welled up In ber heart
and tears smarted her eyes as the
shame of It came to her. What should
she do; would It be right to go on
living with John when she was cer
tain that he was perfectly Indifferent
to her?
ujwd reacning oomc Margaret en
tered the boose?she hardly thought
of It as home now?and throwing
aside her hat sank down upon the big
davenport. She must try to think It
all out?to plan. If possible, some
course of action that would bring some
sort of peace to ber mind.
She and John had been married al
most two years. He had been an Ideal
lover and husband up to within a few
weeks, when suddenly he had seemed
to change. He no longer proposed go
ing to places and had no little surprise
for her when he came home at night
from the office. He always kissed her.
It la true, when he came In and atlll
seemed to enjoy the food she pre
pared for him, but he did not praise
It as often as he had. He did not
seem quite as gay either when he
came In. And after the evening meal
he would sink Into a big easy chair,
adjust the floor lamp at an angle to
suit him and bury himself either In
a newspaper or book. Now, that was
another thing that gave proof that
John did not care for her. He knew
well enough that she hated to have
him move that floor lamp. At first
he had laughingly given In when she
protested and called her his fussy little
housekeeper, bat now, without a word,
he would calmly move the lamp and
say nothing about It. Now, Margaret
did not mind staying at home occa
sionally, but lately nlgbt after night
John settled himself for the evening,
and if she protested or suggested go
ing out he would say be would much
rather stay at home, and. finally, one
night be told her If she found him
dull to run along alone.
"Run along alone I What wife."
thought Margaret bitterly, "If she had
a proper pride, would air the fact to
her friends that her husband no
longer.found joy In ber society?" And
then a horrible thought struck her.
"Of course that was It John was
either ashamed to be seen with ber or
there was another womanThe
thought fairly brought her to her feet.
She began pacing the long living room
and then ber eyes chanced to fall upon
the mall she had brought from the
post office. When the postmaster had
handed it to ber be had bundled It In
a newspaper. At first Margaret had
been too busy and too agitated even
to think of mall, and when she came
home she bad thrown It upon the
davenport at her side. In springing
up just now she bad scattered the
mall all over the rug and now right
there In plain view lay a big creamy
envelope. "AbP she thought. She
grabbed up the letter with the feeling
that at last "she" had written. She
tore open the envelope with shaking
fingers without glancing at the ad
dress. She was startled when she
I read:
Dearest: I will arrive oo the 2:40
this afternoon. I am taking this op
portunity of spending a few days near
you. I am on my way Fast and can
not go through Spencer wlthont see
ing yon. Now, hooey"?"honey, In
deed!" thought Margaret?"don't let
me spoil any of your plans, but Just
let me hare every moment of your
precious time yon can manage to steal
away from yoor?" Here the page
turned, but the little red specks were
floating so thick and fast before her
eyes that Margarat could not go oo
for a moment and then she read?
"steal away from your home. I know
you are as much In lore as ever, one
with your constant nature coold not
change, but I must see and know It
far myself So good-by until 2:40 this
afternoon. With lore, hugs and klssea
from your cousin FANNT."
Cousin Fanny! And then Margaret
picked up the discarded envelope and
i saw that It was directed to bar and
? It was without deubt frees bar vary
own frivolous cousin Fanny. She had
not seen Cousin Funny since she and
John were married and Mils was the
first time she had heard from her In
months and months. The relief and
disappointment combined turned her
almost faint. Well, she would just
huve to put aside Iter problem and do
what she could tp make Cousin Fanny
enjoy the few days she would be In
the house. Lt would never do for Mar
garet to let this romantic creature
know that John no longer loved her.
Perish the thought. She must put on
a brave front
At 2:.% Margaret was at the-sta
tion with her little roadster to meet
Cousin Fanny. She wore one of her
prettiest dresses and she had so care
fully. powdered her nose and bathed
ber eyes made red by recent tears that
Cousin* Fanny, wheD she Impulsively
kissed her, snld she had never seen
Margaret looking happier or prettier.
Poor Margaret was thankful that she
had thus far been able to conceal ber
breaking heart. Rut how was she go
ing to keep on smiling?"
That night when John came In, big,
brusque, and found Cousin Fanny he
was simply overjoyed.
"I'm so glad you've come. Fan." he
said In his hearty way. "I am afraid
It's been a little dull for Margaret
here lately, bnt I've bad so blamed
much to do at the office that when I
get borne all I could think of was to
sink Into a chair and read. I tell you
home Is a great place to be In. It's
like heaven to me to get home, have
a good meal and be able to sit and
smoke and think. I'll say, If every fel
low had a wife like Margaret here the
movies and theaters would soon have
to go out of business. She makes me
lazy, too, by feeding me. And, say, by
the time I've eaten one of her good
dinners?and believe me they taste
good after that quick lunch I patron
ize at noon?I have no ambition to
move. Some little cook I've got here.
Fan, as you'll soon see. What have
you gut to eat tonight. Puss?" asked
John as he put his arm about his wife
and guve her a good hug. "I'm as
hungry as a bear. Come on. Fan. let's
see." and he led the way to the dining
room.
Never In all her life had Margaret
eaten auch a good meal, never had
she been so happy in all her life. 8he
felt as if John had been restored to
her, and when after dinner lie seized
the floor lamp and placed It behind
his favorite chair and settled himself
with his newspaper anil pipe for a
quiet evening she never even noticed
that he had ruffled up a corner of
the rug In his haste to get settled
comfortably. Margaret suggested go
ing out. but Cousin fanny pleaded
that she was tired und would rather
stay In.
John forgot his paper long enough
to growl over his shoulder:
"Say, girls, tomorrow afternoon I'll
lay off and we'll all do the town. In
the evening we'll take In a good show,
too. If you say so," and then he re
lapsed Into silence.
But for Margaret there was no si
lence, for within her heart was the
singing as of a million birds.
April Fool'$ Day
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and
fable suggests that as March 25 used
to be New Year day. April 1 was its
octave when Its festivities culminated
and ended. "It may be a relic of the
Roman t'enealla' held at the begin
ning of April. The tale Is that Pro
serpina was sporting In tbe Klyslan
meadows and bad Just tilled her lap
with daffodils, when Pluto carried her
off to the lower world. Her mother,
Ceres, heard the echo of Tier screams,
and went in search of 'the voice'; but
her search was a fool's errand; it
was hunting the gowk, or looking for
tbe echo of a scream."
Valuable Meteor
The biggest lump of luck which ex
ffitw on earth llci nearly 1.000 feet be
low the nurture, near Holbrooke, la
Arizona. It Ik a meteor, which fell
from the skie* and buried Itaelf. In
doing ao It scooped out a vallejr three
quarter* of a mile long and 000 feet
deep. A company ha* bored down to
It and found that It la a muaa of mete
oric Iron, mixed with nickel and other
?Detain. It* value la computed at
fl2rVX>.OOQ.
Famous City of the Paet
Nineveh wan the capital of the an
cient empire of Aaayrla, one of the
moat ancient nation* in hlntory. The
city wa* destroyed In the year 006 It.
C. The modern city of lloaul atand*
on the alte of the auburbf of Nineveh,
and Hoaul ha* been assigned to Meao
potumla. better knowD a* Iraq, a sov
ereign state established by the peace
settlement of 1019.
Indians Had Popcorn
The Indiana of Uie pre-Columbian
period did have a variety of corn
similar to our popcorn. In the South
west this was called "little corn." It
Is doubtful, however, that the aborlg
lnees used such corn for popping pur
poses, but It Is probable that our pop
corn was developed from this Indian
variety.?Pathfinder Magazine.
- -? - -? -
Victoria Ms
Perspective View of Victoria Fall*.
(Prepared by tha National Olographic
Society. Washington. D. C.)
THK best known scenic attraction
In Africa la undoubtedly the Vic
toria falls of the Zambesi, on tbe
line between southern and north
ern Rhodesia. This is one of the three
greatest waterfalls in tbe world,
worthy to rank wltb Niagara and with
Iguasu In South America.
From immemorial times an atmos
phere of mystery and superstition has
hung over these African falls, so pro
found that Livingstone, who discov
ered them In 1855. had the greatest
difficulty In persuading his followers
to accompany blm, as they believed
the region to be the home of monsters
and devils of destruction. Vestiges
of these traditions still exist, although
the Cape-to-Cnlro railroad, which
crosses the river fess than half a mile
below the fulls, Is rapidly dispelling
them.
Going by rail from Bulawayo one
sees, some 10 miles before reaching the
falls, Ave enormous columns of vapor
shooting their roseate-tinted shafts
hundreds of feet heavenward. This
is a marvelous scene In the eurly
morning. With the first rays of the ris
ing sun comes a picture of color of
wondrous loveliness. Delicate tints
of violet, crimson, and beryl play
through the mounting spray as H
shoots higher and higher, ultimately
disappearing as virgin clouds In heuv
en, while the ever-Increasing thunder
of the waters lends an added solem
nity to the view.
Notwithstanding the magnitude of
Victoria Kalis, the drat view of them
la disappointing. Although nearly s
mile In width and 400 feet In height,
the grandeur of I heir proportions Is
eclipsed by the sudden disappearance
I of the river as It plunges Into a nar
row, rocky Assure extending across Its
entire width. Only at a single central
point Is there a breach In this Assure
through which the falls can be seen
i and appreciated in their full propor
I Hons, where the converging waters
rush madly to the zigzag canyon be
low. So restricted Is this view that
j there Is an entire absence of that awe
I Inspiring and almost paralyzing effect
} which strikes the visitor dumb with
; wonder and amazement when Niagara
; bursts on his near vision. On Arst
> sight of the Victoria falls one Involun
tarily exclaims, "Oh. how beautiful!"
but they lack tbe majesty of Niagara.
Must Be S??n Many Tlmaa.
No single visit ran adequately re
! veal (he (ullneaa of their charm*, but
repeated excursions mual be made to
their ialands and precipice*, their grot
to* and palm garden*, their rain for
eat* and projecting crag*, their rain
' how* and cataract* and many-aided
view* of their exquisite letting In the
| emeruld framework of tropic fore at*.
I before (heir Indeacrihable beauty can
be appreciated. The faaelnatlon of
1 discovering new and hidden charm*
from different point* of view grow*
on the vi*itor and becomes one of tbc
' greatest attractions.
As the rainy season commences In
lthodc*hi In November and continues
in the form of tropical showers untU
April, the most advantageous time to
see the fulls Is In May, when the seeth
ing torrents are at their flood. Novem
ber al*o has Its attractions, when the
river Is low, for then the chasm Is
comparatively free from mist, disclos
ing vistas and views of the great abyss
of rare beauty which before were
wholly obscured by the whirling
columns of spray.
The bridge of the Cepe-to-Calro rail
road I* the favorite point selected bf
artists, as the picture through the oar
row gap at Danger point exhibits the
full extent of the angry waters us they
leap from the precipices to the abyss
below.
There la a hotel near .the railway.
From It* veranda* a magnificent pano
rama of the canyon and Batoka
gorge can be seea. A walk of half a
mile brings on* t# "the piac* where
the rain la bora," as tbe natives call
the lUIn Fores*. This ii a phenome
na* of rare beauty, especially t# the
bet?let, far here the Maple bast ?d
wraith of vegetation of wonderful
luxuriance and variety.
From the weaten) extremity of the
Ituln Forest the leaping waters of the
cascade can be seen to best advan
tage, while Its entire front, bordering
on the great crevasse Into which the
river hurls Itself, furnishes a superb
view of the crest of the falls from
end to end, except when Interrupted
by the whirling masses of spray that
shoot from the seething cauldroo be
low.
View From Danger Feint.
But the most thrilling scene Is from
the eastern extremity of the Bain For
est at Danger point, where the treach
erous vines and grasses, dinging to
the rocks with hungry, desperate roots,
tempt one to the very verge of the
precipitate cliffs that seem to tremble
with the terrific shock of the cataract.
So dense here at times is the mass of
vspor hurled from the seething caul
dron that the sun's rays can no longer
penetrate It, and complete darkness
envelopes one as he Is deluged by the
downpour, while the terrific thunder
of the falls drowns all other sounds
and makes his own voice Inaudible.
Occasionally a violent blast opens a
rift through the blackness and mist,
disclosing a momentary view of the
lashing waters In the boiling caul
dron, whose heaving, battling surface
and pyramids of emerald foam change
with kaleidoscopic rapidity.
An Interesting spot Is the kloof, or
pnlin garden, hidden In the first of the
serpentine curves of the canyon below
the falls and reached from the bridge
by a xlgzag pathway, which descends
In comparatively easy stages through a
tangled primeval jungle to the rushing
waters of the gorge below. Here
again nature, with lavish hands, baa
shown her prodigality. Palms of enor
mous size an'd varlpty, bathed by
eternal spray, mingle so densely with
other forest growths as completely to
shut out the direct rays of the sun and
form a safe refuge for the richly
plumed parrots and monkeys that
frolic In their branches. From the
edge of the waters of this tropic jungle
sn upward view of the falls enables
one to appreciate them la their full
height and beauty, and to carry away
a lasting Impression of their majestic
grandeur as seen from below.
The Up of the falls Is broken by
four Islands, which Interrupt Its fioW
just as Ooat Island divides Niagara.
The natives appropriately named the
first of these Boruka Isle?"divider of
waters." Between this point and the
shore the river channel Is deep aod
shelving, snd the leaping waters of
the cascade rush with fearful Impetu
osity, shooting dear from the pre
cipitous walls In their mad flight to
the sbyss 250 feet below, while the
echoing woods ring with the thunder
of their boisterous glee.
Formed by Erosion.
IJvlnestone. who discovered the
falls, believed that some geologic cata
clysm had opened a crack in the basalt
plateau over which tbe Zambesi flows
and that the river, pouring into this
deft, worked Its way out on a lower
level, leaving tbe great falls in tbe
narrow gorge.
Geologists of the present day, how
ever. deny Livingstone's theory re
garding the phenomenon of the forma
tion of the falls, claiming that It la
due entirely to the processes of
erosion, and that tbe river, by In
creasing friction through Innumerable
ages, has gradually frittered to granu
lar atoms the dense rock and engraved
the deep channels of the tortuous can
yon. The basaltic rock which forms
the greater portion of Rhodesia is of
volcanic origin, proof of which Is
evidenced In the great lava-flown
which have been poured oat in succes
sive waves, covering the country In
differing strata of varying porosity
hundreds. If not thousands, of feet
deep. Through this the percolatta*
waters have deposited In the cavities
the beautiful agates, chalcedony of va
rious hues, guarts crystals, and sao
lltas that are found la abandonee
along the projecting surfaces of tbeea
amygdaloldal rocks, many sptdndfl^
of which are teuag in that