The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-11-09
T0PIcs OFTaEE TIVE.

T0PICS OF TIE TIME.
PRINCE MILAN, of Servia, has received
from Russia sword said to be fourteen
hundred years old, which still bears marks
of service in the crusades, when it was
even then in its old age. = e
The New York Commercial Aduatiser
states that Alex. Steel's canary died re-
Gently at the ripe old age of twenty-four
years and nine months. Mr.. Steel has
had the bird since it was two months
old, and has had it with him in Denver
and the Rocky Mountains. We have no
record of any canary attaining this re-
markable age before. -
Two physicians of Cincinnati, Ohio,
propose to discuss publicly the merits
and demerits of vapor baths. One of
them, who has used the baths and recon-
mended them to others for fifty years,
may be supposed to have something more
than scientific interest in the subject,
while in his own person and this eighty
years he presents strong argument in
their favor. ,.s... ~-t-ss 49,.
A PHoToeRAPHER at LIE Roy, New
York, few days ago photographed in
one group, Mrs. Stanley, aged ninety
two; her daughter, Mrs. Brown, aged
seventy-four; her granddaughter, Mrs.
Bostwick, aged forty-four; her great
granddaughter, Mrs. Duncan B. Nc
Naughton, aged, twenty-three, and her
great great grandson, Roy McNaughton,
aged wo years.
The Cumberland (Maine) Medical So
ciety has been procuring and analyizing
samples of the numerous preparations so
plentifulIy advertised throughout the
country.for the cure ofthe opium habit,
with startling results. They are all
found to contain opium in large quanti-
ties, and the doses are 50 large that the
victim is really taking more of the drug
than he would ordinarily do were it not
disguised. - ----'---
WHEN Seth Green, the fish eulturist,
a few years ago put some shad fry into a
river flowing into Lake Ontario, he ad-
yertised that he would pay twenty-five
dollars for the first one taken from the
lake weighing not less than two and q
half pounds. A lucky fisherman living
at Sodus Point, New York, caught shad
in the lake few daysago weighing four
pounds, and has forwarded it to Mr.
Green, along with the proper afidayits.
The great Maritime Canal, connecting
Amsterdam with the German Ocean, was
opened lately with imposing ceremonies,
at which members of the Cabinet and
foreign representatives were present. A
grand banquet took place in the evening.
The city was covered with, flags, and there
was general illumination at night. and
splendid displays of fireworks. The canal
is sixteen miles long, and has at the sea
end harbor covering two hundred and
fifty acres, which, however, is not quite
completed.
AN official inspector in England re-
ports as to the danger of working in
white lead manufactures. The harm
comes partly from inhaling the lead, but
principally from absorbing it thr, ugh
contact, causing paralysis. A few manu-
facturers compel their workmen to wear
gloves and respirators, and to wash them
selves thoroughly at the end of each
days work but the employees generally
dislike the trouble of these precautions,
and show great recklessness of health.
A law compelling the exercise of greater
care is suggested.
THE well-known French earthenware
manufacturer, M. Collinot, has discov-
cred a new mode of decoration for resi-
dences and public buildings. Instead OF
applying the decorated iaience to the
wall, he proposes enameling the stone
itself, by putting up light scafolding
and using the blowpipe instead of the
oven. The advantages claimed for this
process are, chiefly, cheapness and dura-
billy, the. experiments thus far made
showing that not only is the method less
expensive than separate plates, but that
the decoration is calculated to last as
long as the stone itself. This method
appears-to have received the approval
of some of the most eminent French
architects, and it is to be introduced in
the public buildings now in progress.
THE difference in the effect of light.
ming in various countries is remarkable
It is believed to be more dangerous il
England than here. From statistics col
lected it appears that on an average sew.
enty-seyen people are killed by it each
year in France, and the annual list O
killed and wounded there by this caus,
amounts to two hundred and fifty
The low-lying departments are less sub
ject to it. Eighty were wounded anc
nine killed in one thunderstorm a
Chateauneuf-les Moutiers in 1861, an,
within one week, when the air wa
highly charged with electricity, thirty
three fearful flashes were observed, eac
bringing death to some victims. On a
average twenty-five. people are killed b
lightning every year in England, min
, in Switzerland, and three in Belgium.
A CURIOUS variety of remarkab
mechanisms was lately exhibited j
South Kensington, London, anon
these being the original telescopes an
other instruments used by Galileo, no
for the first time allowed to be remove
from Florence; Watts first steam e.
gine was also another object of extren
interest, as also the original air pun
made by Otto Guericke of Magdebur,
aquadrsnt belonging to Tyeho Brahe !;
telescope by Huyghens; the pendulu
apparatus of. Foucault and Gauss; Ba
hape,s calculating machine. and tn,