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SOinn AMERICAN ABORIGINES HAVE EDEN STORY UKE THAT IN BIBU TeU of "Tree of Life" and of Sentence of Mankind to Hard Labor, but EmbeUUh U gend With New Details. came to a great tree, beurinx on it« branches all kinds of (ruiu and vege- tableb upon which the animula fed each day, and there was plenty for allâ€" tho vegetables and fruits lay In great profusion on the ground. Then they said among themselves; 'This Is wber« the god Duwld gets our food. Let us, hereafter, come and get it for ourselves â€" then we will not have to thank tho god for it." •Next day. therefore, they told Du- wid that he need not trouble himself to bring tliem food any more, for they knew where to get it themselves. '• "It shall be as you wish," said Du- wid, 'but henceforth you will have to work to obtain food to eat. To-mor- row the tree will be cut down, but. in order that you may not starve utter- ly, I will tell you this: If you break off a branch bearing each kind of fruit and plant this in the ground and water it every day and cultivate it. and pro- tect It, it will grow and bear its own kind. Then you may plant the seeds which are in the fruit, and they in turn will grow and produce each after its kind. Thus you may continue to eat of the fruit of the tree, but you will have to work for it. Were Lazy; Loct Many Foods. "Following the instructions of Vkl- wid, the first men proceeded to break off branches of the tree, selecting those which bore different kinds of fruit and vegetables. Presently they grew tired of their labor and stopped; hence, when the tree was cut down only a tew of the many varieties of food which it bore Jiad been saved for mankind. Conseqaeatly, there are only a few varieties of edible plants in the world, whereas, if the first peo- ple had been more industrious, theise would have been found in greater plenty. Moreover, to this day it is necessary to work hard to make the cassava grow. The stump of the tree remains to this day." Anthropologists are aware that sim- ilar legend.3 are to be found in many parts of the world, but they are at a loss to account for their spread prob- ably thousands of years ago. â€"AND THE WORST IS YET TO COME A new story of the creatkin of man. told by a tribe of South American In- dians who had never «een a white man, has Juat 'been added to the known stories of primitive man. This Is con- tained In the verbatim rendering of the story, aa narrated by one of the wise men of the tribe. The tribe was discovered in the mounuins which separate Brazil from the British Gulanas, utterly cut off for many centuries from the rest of the world. The tribe is wholly unaffected by civilization, and has never even learned the art of making metal imple- ments. The story of the creation held by this tribe, according to records of the University Museum, U strikingly sim- ilar to the account of the creation In the book of Genesis, in that It des- cribes a "tree of life" from which the first men and women ate the "fruit of knowledge" and thereafter were Toreed to give up the idyllic life in the Brazilian Garden of Eden to earn their bread "ia the sweat of their brows." The Indians claimed a great rock to be the petrified stump of the "tree of life." Its fitory was told by the old "wise man" of the tribe in the follow- ing words: Curiosity Possessed Them. "In the beginning there were two gods, Taminkar and his brother Du- wld: It was Tumlnkar who created men and women, and afterward the other animals. It was Duwid who brought men and women food. Day after day he brought fruits and vege- tables in great quantities and in much variety for them to eat, so that they were grateful to Duwld and rendered blm thanks. "Having nothing to do, the first men and women amused themselves ; by looking at the animals. They soon ; noticed that these were in the habit of pas.5ing in one direction in the ; morning of each day, and returning in the opposite direction in the evening; so they said to themselves, 'Let us go with the animals and see where they i go, and what tbey do.' } "So they followed the animals and NATURE'S BALANCE OF LIFE IS NOW THREATENED BY OVILIZATON Rule of World May Pass to Buiy Insects â€" Elxtinction of Species That Prey Upon Lower Forms of Lite May Wipe Out Reigning Power on Earth- «,:»::^^3K^ ^yi*^ Davy Jones gained a rare prize when the British plane A.D.H. IS took a nose dive into the channel and disappeared beneath the waves never to be seen again. Casualties nil. What Some Plants Can Do. Some kinds of plants have been found which can be made to photo- graph themselves. A l>eam of light is turned on them, the plants absorb it, just as phosphor- us will absorb light, and then give It out again. A photographic plate is placed ever the plants, and when the light Is yielded up by them ihoy photo- graph the outlines of their own form and structure on the sensitive plate. They are very small plants which thtis supply their own photograpbd. so sniall as to bo seen properly only un- der the irloroscope; bnt they may be very Important for good or ovil, for the bacteria, the yeasts and the moulds, are all microscopic plants. It has always been difficult to ob- tain trustworthy poriraltd of the in- sides of these tiny things, hut now it has been found I hat in many of them the substances which color them have this power of giving out light again, and so producing the color phctii- grapbs. Colors. oh, scarlet hurts, like some strange lust; Mauve stills your heart with sleepy things: Blue dreams forever; yellow laughs; But green^green sings. Oh, silver is a shining peace. And purple throbs, like Bacchic kings; Opal has quick, fair mysteries; But green â€" green sings. â€" Weir Vernon. Cross Road Sarcasm. Bug TralBe l'(>p"Hey, Mr Snail, this Js the third lime I've warned you about obstructing trafflo, get n move OB." No Need to Ask. One after an^'iher the neighbors had come iu to adir.ire the new baby that had arriveil it tho Jones' household. Little Mary was rather fed-up with all the attention that was lavished on the newcomerâ€" xittention which had, up till then, been hers. "Does the bahy talk yet. MaryT* asked one of the friends of the family. "No." replied the baby's disgusted Bister, "the baby doesn't ceed to talk." "Dof,?n't need to talk," exclaimed the triend. astonished. "No," sail the little girl bitterly. All the baby has to do is to yell, and gets everything worth having in the house." ^ â€" He Hurried, "How far away were you when the first shot was fired?" af ked counsel. "Four yanis." repliel the witness. "Take your tinio now." cautioned the cross-examiner. "This is an import- ant question. Who-e wore you when the second shot was fired?" The man in iho box hnsitated. ".â- \s a matter of fart, sir," he said at last, "I didn't take my tim?. bnt I was about half a ml'.e away.' Developing Canada's Mineral Resources. Government reports Indicate that the mineral output of Canada In 1923 amounted to $214,102, 000, and that in 1922 minerals to the value of $1S4,- 297,243 were produced. While we appreciate that theL yaluo is rapidly increasing, we do not quite realize what Canada's mineral re- sources mean to her. It is only when comparisons are made that big figures can be fully appreciated. One of the largest figures with which Canadians generally are familiar is that of the national debt. On December 31, it amounted to $2,415,538,100, truly a large figure, mainly the result of the war; but the value of the minerals produced in Canada since 1910 amount- ed to $2,410,225,000. almost an equal amount. The Importance of mining to Canada is very aptly put by Dr. Camsell, de- puty minister of the Department of Mines. In his annua! report for 1923. when he says; "The mineral resources of Canada are among its greatest natural assets, and. owing to oar natural climatic condiUons and the relatively limited area of the country capable of agri- cultural development, the mining in- dustry must necessarily occupy a pro- portionately larger place in our econo- mic development than In those coun- tries of the world more fortunately en- dowed with respect to climate. Min- ing is not affected by climate and can be carried on irrespective of it. The importance of this industry is indi- cated by the growing increase in the annual production of minerals per capita, which has risen during thirty- five years from $2.23 to $26.40 a head of population. This production is in- creasing from year to year until It should Ultimately exceed that of any country in the world." The range of minerals found in Cana- da in commercial quantities is very large, and in many this country has almost a monopoly. In others the Canadian supplies are nearer to large United States markets than their own. such as In the case of the gyp- sum of the Maritime F*rovinces. and in these development is taking place at a rapidly increasing rate. Many of our own minerals, unfortunately, are being exported in a raw state, and sup- ply the materials for large industries outside of Canada. It is of Interest, however, to note that there Is a grow- ing tendency to manufacture more of our mineral products at home. This is especially noticeable with regard to nickel .asbestos, lead and zinc. In discussing the question of greater home manufacture of mineral pro- ducts Dr. Camsell says : "It is urgently necessary that we should develop home markets by the establishment of Industries comple- mentary to the mining industry, so that the products of our mines may be utilized for manufacture into finished articles. A study of our mineral trade ba]au^<. *ITl show several instances where tho raw material for a mann By G. A. Bro'wn. I Natnre delights in balancing organic life. Throughout the history cf anl- ^ mai life en the earth we find that. vhUa there has been an eadlees suc- c«ssion of typai and species develop- j ins and decaying over long intervals : of time aad in mjre or less restricted I ar^as, there always has been a notice- ^ i able balances of forces. To-day we fiad parasites living on parasitei-. tn- ! sects upon insects, fish upon fish, bird ' i apoa bird, animal, upon animal, and. ' economically, man upon man through- oat the animal kingdom. \ This interdependc-nce of organic ' life follows fixed laws which are de- i ' finite parts of the physics of the uni- I verse. They assure a balance of life, â-  . the proper dispersal of birds, insects, fish and animals over the surface of the globe where they can secure an abuiidance of food and do the econo- : mic work nature sets for them. Man is Subject to Great Laws Which Govern Animal Life. Man has been subjected to the oper- ations of these great laws from the remotest period of his hlstoir. He has been restricted by them when they have operated against him, and he has been their agent when caUed upon to atack other animai,s. Being factured article is produced in this ' always a mighty hunter, he has always country, but Is shipped outside for, tended to keep down the spread of big manufacture and is then sold back to game animals like the lion, tiger, eie- us at many times the value of the ma- phant and buifalo. Since he has be- terial In it. The securing of capital come civilized he has exerted strong- , for the development of these comple- er and ever stronger activities against mentary industries appears to ba more th© other species of organic nature, in the general interests of the country and ti>day we find many authorities â-  than capital tor the production of raw warning us that the balance of nature , material, and until those complemen- is being destroyed and that this will. tary industries are established in our in the near future, lead to world-wide own country the production from the economic disturbances. Game. bird. ! mine will not increase to a stage bear^ forest and plant preservation associa-| ing a proper relation to what we be- ' tions are carrying on broad campaigns > lieve to be our potential resources." ' for the balance, while farmers and As an indication of the possibilities others are advocating the continuance ' of mineral production in Canada in of a war of extermination against pre- ! 191S the copper output was 118,769.434 i datory animals, birds, insects, plant | pounds, while last year it was S6.312,-| diseases and germs. I 000 pounds, and the latter was more' it has taken nature many millions! than double that of the previous year, of years to design and d-evelop her ' In 1918 the production of nickel was ' creatures and man, within a couple of 92.507.293 pounds, while last year it 1 generations, has completely wiped off was 61.444,000 pounds, and in 1922 it i the face of the earth some of her' was but 17.597,123 pounds. In 1913, | flnest animals and birds and is to-day when building construction was nor-; hastening the destruction of many; mal, there was over one million bar- ; other species. Within another century ; rels of Portland cement more produced = there will be comparatively few of the | than the 7.652.000 barrels recorded for 'â-  many wild animals remaining. Future : last year. In 191S. notwithstanding i geneVations will have to depend for! the great demand for lead created by : yieir knowledge of lions, cheetas. the war, Canada's total output was ! beavers, tigers, moose, zebras, giraffes but 51.39S.000 pounds: the production | an^ elephants on the descriptions of them written by naturalists to-day. 'â-  The destruction of wild life advances cumulatively with increased settle- of 1923 was more than double that amount, being 112.600.000 pounds. Development of natural resources Is one of the most pressing problems i ^ent and occupation of the land by with which Canada is to-day face to | man and his domastic herds and flocks face, and in none is the situation more jnd commercial slaughter hastens the destruction. Civilized man and his destructive weapons are menacing wild life throughout the world. Civiii- acute than in that of minerals. The Mines Department is giving particu- lar attention to finding markets for our wide variety of both metallic and nation is warring on nature every- non-metallic minerals, in their raw j ^.^ere and nature is severely suffer- state and as manufactured goods, and \ jug jj^jq jg carrying the day. bat in this work the department has the ' " " â€" whole-hearted support of the Cana-| dian public what will happen when nature la com- pletely mastered and her wild life de»- troyed? Plana, insect* and the lower aai maU have ail played their parts ia helping man to develop. Tbey have fed him, helped him, clothed and or nameoied him and protected him. They als'i have warred on him and made him develop his brain power and co-operation and social habits. In a recent scientific monograph dealing with the important roles invertebrate animalf have played In the daveloi^- ment of civiiiiation these assertions are made: "There Is no group of animals, t^ tebrate or Invertebrate, which has so much signitlcance to man as the group of insects. They touch almost every activity and interest of civilized life. They attack cur growing food, our or- chards and forests, cur clothing and oar dwellings. Our bodies and those of our domestic animals are annoyed or Infected with disease germs through the activities of insects. They are our chief competitors in the struggle for existence, and our fight against them Is getting more severe and costly every year." Other scientists express fears that in the next few centuries man wUl ba unable to continue the struggle against :n£«ct life and will not be able to stis- tain himself in the face of their com- petition. Therefore, the future holds out the prospect of the possible ex- tinction of man with the buffalo, lion and elephant and the dominance of the world by the insects. Insect pests are innumerable. E^ve^y economic crop raised in North and South America, and In all tropical countries, is subject to attack by des- tructive insects. The wire-worm is an enemy of wheat, the grasshopper destroys grass, eelwcrms caus? root- knot ia the cotton plant, the boll-wea- vil destroys the boll, the bud-worm eats the heart out of the tobacco plant, the cinch-bug, army-worm. Hessian fly. ctttworm. com-rot and other aphides; bill-bugs, white grubs, saw flies, fruit-flies and weevils and beetles are all given to raiding soine cftop" or farming stock. There is coitstant war- fare being waged against them. N'ot all t"ne so-called predatory in- sects, animals and plants are general- ly harmful. The snakes, lizards, toads scale insects, beetles, fruit and grain flies, wildcats, rodents and multitudes of other organisms perform services valuable to others. They feed upon or are fed upon by others, or they render similar services to the bee in fertiliz- ing plants and palms, like the date palms, they aerate or fertilize the soil, they resiove disease germs, or other harmful matter from plants and animals and in many other ways as- sist in the balance cf nature. These services have become so effectively adjusted that any considerable inter- ruption of them Is liable to destroy na- ture's balance and seriously Jeopardize civilization. Points About Common Salt. Coal sprinkled with a strong solu- tion of ^alt and water will last much longer oa the fire, and its heat-giving properties will not be affected. The colors of a carpet that has been sprin- kled with salt before sweeping will "come up" well. A tablespiKinful of salt dissolved in a tumblerful of luke- warm water is a simple emetic. A handful of it thrown on the fire when the kettle haa boiled over will prevent a disagreeable odor. Added to the bath salt gives an Invigorating effect. 0â€" j Not Succe3Sful of Late. ; Teuton â€" "Ail the former rulers of ; Germany learned trades and were suc- cessful at them." I Yank â€" ".-Vll our Presidents have j been cabinet-makers â€" but not very successful of late." ?3^ â- â€¢*'£^'^'^^ Headless. Too. "How could Wiishington Irving's headless horseman find his way?" "Just as easily as many motorists do to-day." Laws of Leap Year. Leap year once had a definite place ' in the social system. A law in Scot- land of the fourteenth centtiry read: â-  "It Is ordained that for each year known as leap year each maiden lady ' of high and low est;»te shall have lib- erty to bespeak the man she likes: ; and, if he refuses to take her to be his lawful wife, he shall be mulcted in the ; sum of one pound or leas, as his es- ' tale may be: except If he can make ' it appear that he is betrother to an- other woman, he then shall be free." No ship that was ever launched drifted into harbor. You have got to t \ou gcX cheerfulness out of life in proportion as y.iu put cheerfulness in. You cannol invest counterfeit coin and ; work to get it there. pxpcct dividends ivrw^ money. Canada is getti::s plfnty i>f baby imuiigrattis tiuvc liajs. The D.ib:es si:o«- looking Scotch mothers, range iu age frcin 12 tiAf » lo 12 mouths. For eaiprgency message? tho Cana- dian air force depends en carrier pigeons. The trustworthy li'tle birdt alway.- return to their baio when rs- ie.osfJ. A Most Excellent Reason. la a book by Sir J. C Percy entitled Mor«» Uulls and Blunders, we read ot a roan who wsut up to a railway port- er at one of the big Louden stations and said, "There are half u dozen clocks in the place, an! they are each different." "Wei!, sir." replied the porter, "it thpy were all alike, one would do." According to Orders. Dott.-r- "lias your husban 1 had any InciJ ir,t'<rvjils since n\v last visit, Mr?. J:nkv«7' Mr.-. Jlnk,» tw:t?i (iigcity) -i'e'i uad ncihinj e.tcepi what yoa er-iered."