Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-07-25
Notes from tis Mails.
A CONSECTICU7 MISER.

Marvin Banning of Hadly Conn,
miser and hermit, died recently, aged
a, and he is said to have starved himself
To death. Having early developed habits
of industry, shrewdness and rigid econo-
my, lie accumulated an ample fortune be-
fore reaching the age Of 50. He said he
never had time to look for II wife, and he
lived alone, his diet for the past ten years
being raw pork and hard bread Some
times he denied himself food and fire for
long periods i'll the coolest of weather,
and many supposed he was really very
poor. When he was dying. however, he
told his attendant that treasures were con-
ceuled in and about his house, and since
then several bags Of silver and gold, ag-
6ar @sfi IL Sa 81 III tie sar ffp" kHa
a box containing gold and silver, and sew
eral Thousand dollars worth of United
States and other bonds, WAS unearthed i'll
the cellar Banning WIS shareholder i'll
the Saybrook National Bank, and large
depositor i'll several savings banks, but
the amount Of his property is not known.
As he left 10 will. it all goes to his sister,
Il Mrs. Wright OF Deep River, who is III
very needy circumstances.
SOUTH AMERICAN ARROW POISON.
At the last meeting of the Boston Mi
croscopical Society, an interesting paper
was read on Il new use for curarc, the
South American arrow poison. 1t has
been found that culare produces insensi-
bility without interfering with the func
lions essential Ia life, and supplies need
that the medical profession have long felt,
III that it does not require watching when
Inn In. Il lar A..
The exact derivation of curare does not
seem 10 he definitely known, but it is said
10 he prepared by scraping the Young
bark of two plants belonging To the same
species as that from which stryrhnine is
derived. The bark is exhausted in water,
mixed with other vegetable substances.
and evaporated until it forms thick
paste. 1t is much more energetic i'll It's
action on some classes of animals than ON
others Birds are more profoundly affect
ed than quadrupeds, and reptiles are poi
soned for II much longer time than birds
1t is generally administered hypodermi-
cally, i'll exceedingly minute doses, and, |
like woorari and droom, is resurtrd to 10y !
yivisectionists for paraly2ing the power Of |
motion in living animals under the dis
secting knife.
l..
Cunnoi.,s,.urs know that of late wears |
coral has risen considerably III thecstima
tion of the fair sex. 4 somewhat arbltra-
ry standard of beauty has, however, been
established IN regard To the color. Coral,
to b.. rare and valuable, must now he of II
delicate pinkish flesh like hue, uniform
i'll tint throughout, and in large pieces.
The principal commercial varieties dis
tinguishcd ARE red, subdivlled into deep
crimson red, pale red AMI vcrmillion
)the latter rare, black, clear white and
dull white 1.-THE latter commonJ. The
delicate rose or iiesh-cnlored, which is
most priced, is sold ut very high prices,
as IT is entirely fancy article In some
countries red coral is classified by dealers
into five grades &: |, froth i'll the blood
>, flower OF blood ,, 4, :, blood of first,
second and third qualities. Dealers and
workers in the material recognize rough
tips and polished tips frugln. nts, roots nf
suitable for making earrings
and coral tulips for shaping into nrn,-
ments Coral branches assume the esp,l-
lier shape and other forms Scientific
.Imtrirun.
SPONGE FARMING.
According to German authority,
sponge growing may he made profitable
branch of industry The method of cul-
tIvatiun consists III cutting the live
sponges into small pieces, attaching the
same to wooden frame work and sink
ing IT IN the sea IN locations favorable to
their natural growth. In three years such
pieces will have attained marketable
size The total cost Of raising 900
4ponges (including interest on capital cN
prndedl is estimated to he 50. and the
income for their sulr $50 leaving II net
profit of 30 As the growing spongcs,
after their first immersion. require no at
IGNITION, it win lie readily perceived that
the quantity thus pr"pngated could he IN
definitely increased Az the Gull coast
md Florida Keys annually produce over
slOO, 900 worth of sponges naturally, II Is
very probable that their income might he
urgcly increased by judiclous cultiva-
Inn.
CARRIER PIGEONS IN WAR. ,
The carrier pigeon service Is now IN full I
,peruiinn IN France, and has been inclId- /
ii IN one Of the military departments I
under the head Of ;erial communication
The number Of birds fed 10y the govern
nrnt IL 4. 0DO. rhcs,. pigeons arr, placed
n fn1lS hiiu lN'lNt bhihT lhfpt lblIilltu 4
OWNS. 4 number of soldiers and officers
nave been taught the treatment and reur /,
ny of these birds, and carriers mr., now !,
ent from place to place. TIL" Minister /,
# Public Instruction and the Minister of .
agriculture hive established prizrs for
pigeon races.
~ AUSTRIAN ROMANCE
s., Al Al. !
Baron Won n, an Austrian officer. quilted
lis residence in that city in 1859 Ia juin
lis regiment Before going he deposited
With II notary there will, leaving all his "
property Ia II person not named IN the II
document. and saying TINT the notary or II
iis sIccrss"r would hc made acquainted -
With the name Of the legatee by II person :,
Who would call AMI identify himself by =
;iving the particulars Of the viii, WHICH