EDITORIAL AND GENERAL 



121 



Occasionally we may find a spot at 

 which one echo will produce another, 

 and if we listen we may possibly hear 

 a third produced by the first. There 



MR. WELLS McMASTER, OF SOUND BEACH, 

 WITH THE YOUNG FOLKS DEMONSTRAT- 

 ING THE REMARKABLE ECHOES NEAR 

 HIS COUNTRY HOME IN CHESHIRE, 

 CONNECTICUT. 



are localities in the great hills and 

 mountains where the echo is repeated 

 until it seems to wander miles away 

 across the country. In such places 

 music or a short song gives the best 

 results. 



It may pay us to listen to the whistle 

 of the locomotive as the train speeds 

 through the country, since it often 

 causes a pleasing echo. Such is often 

 heard by passengers on the rear of the 

 train. There is an instance recorded 

 in which the echo of a locomotive 

 whistle came so distinctly from a direc- 

 tion opposite to that of the actual 

 sound that a man was misled by it and 

 was killed by the train. 



It is interesting to hear cattle or dogs 

 bawling or barking in answer to what 



they suppose to be another animal, 

 when they are answering only an echo. 

 Those that cannot go to the country 

 may study the echo if they will but 

 watch and listen. The shape and size 

 of city buildings, and the width and 

 the angle of streets and alleys will 

 often produce interesting echoes, which 

 are easily studied. 



A good way in the city is to move 

 about quietly, or to remain at the open 

 window, and listen for the echo of a 

 sound made by some one else. The 

 peculiar whir of an electric car as it 

 approaches a corner is often echoed by 

 some building, until the cars seem to 

 be coming - from some other direction. 

 The puffing of a locomotive as it moves 

 through the railroad yards, or along; 

 the track, often makes an interesting" 

 echo, that suggests the presence of 

 several locomotives. 



In certain localities the heavy rain 

 clouds that sometimes pass over, leav- 

 ing a calm, cool atmosphere, will send 

 back an echo. Much of the rumbling 

 of the thunder during a storm is the 

 echo of the first report, the great sound 

 waves striking both the hills and heavy 

 clouds, and being reflected back. 



In many deep canons in the moun- 

 tains, and in some caves, the echo is 

 wonderful. It is estimated that in some 

 places a single word or a revolver shot 

 will be repeated hundreds and occa- 

 sionally thousands of times, producing 

 a bedlam of sounds. 



I believe that it is possible to trace 

 the echo in other ways than through 

 sound. I believe good thoughts, kind 

 deeds and a loving heart produce 

 echoes that are still more interesting - 

 than those produced by sound. Let 

 us study them all. 



Efficient Lectures on Nature. 



John J. Schoonhoven, M. A., 1374 

 Union Street, Brooklyn, New York, 

 offers a series of very attractive and 

 effective lectures on nature. Among" 

 his subjects are the sea beach, animal 

 parasites, fungi, and the microscopical 

 world. Professor Schoonhoven has had 

 many years of experience and can adapt 

 his addresses either to a popular or a 

 scientific audience. We cordially rec- 

 ommend him and his work. He is 

 scholarly, and a man, genial and win- 

 ning. 



