The Newtown bee., 1879-05-13
TIMELY TOPICS.

TIMELY TOPICS.
 Some of the country doctors in Eng land are employing bicycles or tricycles instead of horses, ;ss Il means of locomo- tion. The bicycles used by them are of iron. the rim of the wheel is covered with rubber, and they can move over tolerably rough roads and up quite steep grades, making from eight to ten miles or more in an hour. There are many places in .this country where doctor could advan- tageously keep this vehicle instead of horse, especially in view of the hard times and the competition among the dis ciples of Esculapius.
 Peter Shell, Milwaukee (Wis.) sea- man, has met fearful death from hydrophobia in carrying out his belief that dogs saliva has curative power. Shell had scratch on his nose and let his pet dog lick it. The wound healed, seeming to confirm the theory. But in a short time the dog died, and soon after Shell was seized with pains, his throat swelling so that he could not swallow. The symptoms grew worse until death brought relief, but such was Shells will power that even in his spasms he controlled himself without being held.
 The Northern Tribune, Michigan paper, tells story of brave little hero. An Indian had been left in charge of house belonging to Captain Bennett, ot Mackinac; but one night the Indian and his wife went a-visiting, leaving locked in the house three children, the oldest a boy of eight. The house took fire in the night, and the boy, not being able to open the doors, and the windows being securely fastened, was only able to es- cape by taking an axe and breaking window. He then took out the younger children. They remained about the house till morning, wrapping their feet up in blankets to keep from freezing. They waited till noon the next day, and then, their parents not having come, the little fellow put the two smaller ones on hand-sled. and hauled them to their grandfather four miles distant.
 Szegedin, Hungary's submerged city, was a strange place. Its clay soil is as flat as board; immense cornfields, al- ternating with fields of maize and pas ture land, stretch forth further than the eye can reach. The villages thereabout are far apart, but tnickly populated, and nine-tenths of the population are farm -f.- holders. possessing large estates. The wealthiest among them, however, con tinues to live and dress like peasants. Joseph Bagi, the Nabob of the Alfold, lion gulden, wears, for all that, an old sheepskin coat and white linen trousers. The national complaints in that pros porous district are the stone, brought on by drinking the fiery Hungarian wines, and sort of tetanus, occasioned by eat ing immoderate quantities ofpork.
 The Nihilists employ governesses to compromise the daughters of the highest official in tue Imperial service. A Rus sian general named Samoyoff, stationed at Kharkoff, recently engaged a gover- ness for the education of his daughter. The governess was the sister of a Nihil- ist, and brought up her pupil in her brothers political opinions. The brother was arrested during the students riots at Kharkoff; and the general shortly after ward received an anonymous letter stat ing that his daughter was Nihilist, that there were compromising papers in her desk, and that the authorities would be informed of this if the general did not endeavor to obtain the immediate libera- tion of the arrested student. The gen. eral looked into his daughters desk, and, finding that the papers referred to were really there, set the student at liberty.
 Marwood, the celebrated English exc cutioner, is described as "a gentleman ot medium height, with a ruddy face, puck cred in humorous wrinkles, and with bright eyes, shining with merry light" while his voice is sweet and low-almost gentle as woman's." He was asked by a Sheffield journalist what induced him to adopt such mode of gaining his liveli- hood, and he replied: "Oh, when I heard the old gentleman, Calcraft, was breaking down, and l saw the accounts of his bungling work, I thought if l could carry out the sentence of the law more mercifully it would be service to the public. always had a love of ana tony, and even when boy was greatly interested in executions, but it is a most sin pu1ar fact that never saw an pyecll- ton until I myself became an execu- tioner. do my duty with kind hand and with firmness, and 1 believe I really render benefit to society. 1 have been successful in every engagement. and l am respected wherever go. I have told you that in Ireland I am known as :" the prince of ofexecutioners; in Scotland I have received the kindest treatment. and if were really prince could not ba hattar ceryed Tn fine mast seven years