BELLAIRE 



679 



BELLEFONTAINE 



its brilliance cannot be too strongly condemned. 

 In fact, no belladonna preparation should ever 

 be used for any purpose except under the direc- 

 tion of a physician. 



The plant grows to a height of from two to 

 six feet, and bears drooping, bell-shaped purple 

 flowers, broad, oval leaves and large black 

 berries. Could it speak it would probably say, 

 "Touch me not," for persons are known to 

 have died from eating its berries, and even 

 breaking off a spray may cause eye trouble. 

 Children, especially, should be warned against 

 touching the plant. Vinegar is a simple remedy 

 in cases of poisoning, but a physician should, 

 if possible, be summoned immediately. 



Once upon a time Italian ladies used the 

 juice of belladonna as a face ointment, and 

 from this custom, as well as from its use 'in 

 beautifying the eye, came its name, which is 

 the Italian for fair lady. 



BELLAIRE, belair', OHIO, a manufacturing 

 and trading city located in the valley of the 

 Ohio River. It is in Belmont County, on the 

 eastern state boundary, which is the Ohio 

 River. The city covers an area of nearly three 

 square miles. In 1910 the population was 

 12,946; in 1914 it was 13,896. Americans pre- 

 dominate ; foreign-born include principally Ger- 

 mans, Bohemians, Hungarians and Slavs. 



Bellaire is four miles south of Wheeling, 

 W. Va.; Pittsburgh, Pa., is ninety-seven miles 

 northeast, and Columbus, the state capital, is 

 137 miles west. The Baltimore & Ohio Rail- 

 road, built to the city in 1854, crosses the river 

 over a fine iron bridge. Other lines running 

 into the city are the Pennsylvania, built in 

 1849, the Ohio River & Western, built in 1880, 

 and the Wabash, built in 1907. River com- 

 merce, handling coal, stock and freight of all 

 kinds, is extensive. The important manufac- 

 tures include machinery, glass, steel, iron, 

 enamel ware, farm implements and stoves. 

 The monthly pay roll of the Carnegie Steel 

 Company at Bellaire averages $85,000. Near 

 the city are large deposits of coal, iron, lime- 

 stone, fire clay and cement. Natural gas and 

 coal, easily obtained from the surrounding 

 country, make the cost of manufacturing excep- 

 tionally low. 



Among the many handsome buildings of the 

 city are the post office, built in 1914 at a cost 

 of $125,000, four large banks and a city hospital. 

 The city library is conducted in connection 

 with the public schools, which have in addition 

 to the regular courses a commercial depart- 

 ment. Bellaire was settled about 1795, incor- 



THB AMAZON 

 BELLBIRD 



porated as a village in 1858 and received a city 

 charter in 1874. W.L.M. 



BELLBIRD, the name of several species of 

 birds whose notes sound like the tolling of a 

 bell. The most famous of these is a South 

 American songster of glossy white plumage,) 

 which dwells among the dense forests of the 

 Amazon region. Its 

 clear, melodious notes, 

 which carry for a long 

 distance, may be heard 

 at mid-day. To some 

 travelers these seem 

 like the blow of the 

 blacksmith's hammer on 

 the anvil. A remarkable 

 feature of this bellbird 

 is a fleshy projection about an inch in length, 

 growing from the base of the beak, black in 

 color and dotted here and there with starlike 

 tufts of small feathers. It hangs down loosely 

 at the side of the beak, except when the bird 

 becomes excited and when it utters its bell- 

 like tones. Then the projection slowly extends 

 sometimes to a length of five inches, but does 

 not, as was formerly supposed, assume an erect 

 position. 



The name is applied in Australia and New 

 Zealand to two members of the honey-sucker 

 group, birds which feed on the nectar of flowers. 

 The New Zealand bellbird utters notes that 

 sound like the tinkling of a silver bell. 



BELLEFONTAINE, belfon'tain, OHIO, the 

 county seat of Logan County, is situated in the 

 western part of the state about midway be- 

 tween the northern and southern state lines. 

 Columbus, the capital, is fifty-six miles south- 

 east, Lima is thirty-three miles northwest and 

 Cincinnati is 113 miles southwest. The Toledo 

 & Ohio Central, two divisions of the Cleveland, 

 Cincinnati, Chicago & Saint Louis (Big Four) 

 railways and an electric line serve the city. 

 Bellefontaine was settled in 1806, was organized 

 as a town and became the county seat in 1820 

 and was incorporated, as a city in 1835. The 

 name is taken from the French, and means 

 beautiful fountain; it was suggested by several 

 springs of clear water, spurting at the base of 

 the elevation on which the city is built. In 

 1910 the population was 8,238; it increased to 

 8,915 in 1914. The area is less than three 

 square miles. 



The site of Bellefontaine is on the highest 

 point of land of the state, 1,550 feet above sea 

 level. In the vicinity is Lewiston reservoir, 

 with an area exceeding 13,000 acres and a 



