Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-11-11


Some of the Western villages have
improvement associations, their mission
being TO plant trees and otherwise beau
tify the streets, Every member does a
specified amount of work, or has it done
by his agent
A committee Of Boston ladies are pre-
pairing to have grand fair in that city
for the benefit OF the poor, who are likely
to experience great suffering this winter
in consequence of the depression of the
industrial interests of the State.
Philology is beginning to upset some
Of the myths OF the past, One of these
represents the heroes Of Scandinavian
mythology drinking from the skulls of
their slain enemies. Later investigs-
ton proves the word taken for skulls to
mean horns of beasts slain in the hunt.
A new horticultural garden has been
opened at ST. Petersburg under imperial
patronage. 1t is fifteen acres in extent,
aud is to be devoted principally to illus
trate how native plants may be combined
for tasteful and pretty decorations. One
large portion is to De devoted to eonifers,
in order that there may be, even in win
ter, green promenades.
A Nevada man who was walking with
his brother 10 attend his wedding, was
astonished by proposition to take the
bride elect off his hands and marry her
in his stead. With true good nature he
consented, and the prospective bride
groom and groomsman changed places,
to the satisfaction of all parties con-
eerned.
Westminster Abbey is admirably pro-
teeted against the ravages Of FIRE by the
recent construction of tank capable Of
holding 5000 gallons of water. This is
situated in the southwest tower at hight
OF $50 feet from the ground; from it
radiate pipes that supply hydrants and
hose at various points throughout the
edifce.
The yield of fruit in Rhode Island this
year surpasses that Of almost any other
in the history of the State, and the peo-
pie have hopes that they are regaining
the reputation for fruit-raising they once
had. Besides the larger varieties, there
will be a considerable crop Of cultivated
cranberries, the towns Of Exeter and
Richmond alone contributing probably
eight or ten thousand bushels.
Galignari states that the tomb of the
late Mehemet Ali. the founder Of the
Egyptian dynasty, has just teen found
in the Nussulmsn Cemetery Of Cavalla.
That discovery is due to Ibrahim Bey,
Governor Of the Island of Thassos,
placed, as he is known, under the juris-
diction Of the Khedive. The Viceroy
purposes erecting on the spot mauso-
leum worthy Of the memory of the man
who was the father of the reformer Of
Egypt
A case of petrifaction is reported from
Vermont. Six men, who we're disin-
terring at Ratland the body of Alanson
Dyer, who died at the age of seventy on
March 81, 1872, found the coffin so heavy
that they could not lift it. On opening
the coffin the body was found entirely
petri6ed. Mr.. Dyer weighed only about
one hundred and forty-6ve pounds when
living, and the weight of his body when
is estimated by the men who
were obliged to lift it, at from eight hun
dred to twelve hundred pounds.
Afternoon teas, served a la Russo, are
the fashion abroad, according to the
Court Journal, but they have no affinity
TO dinners a la Russo. The special fea'
ture is the substitution of slices of lemon
for cream in the tea. On the tea tray
is served small glass dish containing
sliced lemon, cut with the rind on it.
Into the cup is dropped FIRST diminu-
tive bit Of EXPERIMENTATION in this IS
essential, or the favor of the lemon is
destroyed; on the sugar is then depos-
tied a slice Of lemon, on which the tea
is poured.
At Giessen, in the Grand Duohy Of
Hesse Darmstadt, a quarrel took place
in the railway refreshment saloon be-
tween an officer and civilian. The lat
ter, having seized his beer glass, dashed
it in the face Of his opponent, where
upon a comrade Of the officer, who hap.
pened to be standing close by, drew his
sword and cut down the civilian, who
died shortly after. The hero Of this ad-
venture was acquitted on the ground
that be only did his duty. One must
not quarrel with soldiers where Prus-
sian rule is paramount.
The number Of land owners in Eng
land is growing clearly less year after
year. Little less than two centuries ago
it was about 2OO,O In 1871 the Cen
sus Commissioner Of England reported
the astounding fact that in that time the
number Of land owners was 3O,3l5 per
sons. Thus the whole Of England aud
Wales is the private property Of SO,Sl5
persons. This was in the spring Of 1851.
OF these land owners, l7,047 we're males
and IL, 26s females. Twenty years later