The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-11-18
BITS OF INFORMATION.

BITS OF lNEOKMATlONs
POINT lace is the oldest variety of lace
known. 1t was the work of nuns during
the latter pant of the fourteenth century.
AMERICAN deer, both male and female,
shed their horns every year from
the latter part Of January to about the
10Th of February only.
The freedom of a city" is an
honorary distinction conferred ON some
illustrious man. 1t is usually bestowed
through a certificate or diploma signed
by the municipal authorities and
suitably mounted. 1t is presented on
the occasion of visit or may be for
warded. 1t makes the recipient an
honorary citizen. It may be awarded a
eouhtryman or stranger.
The engagement ring is supposed to
be of Roman origin, and to have sprung
from the ancient custom of using rings
IN making agreements, grants, etc. Its
primitive form was that of a seal or
signet ring. Betrothal rings were fire.
quently exchanged by lovers in ancient
times. 1t is also believed that the
Romans originated the custom of giving
rings with notices or posies engraved
on them to their lady loves.
Forks were invented in Italy in the
fifteenth century, but were not employed
IN England until the middle of the
SEVENTEEN century; then only by the
higher classes. AS late as the eighteenth
century, forks, as well as knives, were
kept on so meager scale by country
inns in Scotland that it was customary
for persons travelling to carry with them
knife and fork In a shagreeu case.
and q small knife and fork still forms
part of the ornamental equipment in the
Highland costume.
THE bridge or covered gallery viii h
connects the ducal palace and the prison
of Venice is high above the water and
divided by stone wall into passage
and a cell. The state dungeons were
sunk into the thick walls of the palace,
and the prisoners when taken out to die
were conducted across the gallery to the
other side, upon the bridge, and were
there strangled. The low portal through
which the criminal was taken into the
cell is now walled up, but the passage
is open, and is still known by the name
of the Bridge of Sighs."
THE origin Of the can't name, "Uncle
SAM" was as follows : Immediately after
the declaration of war with England,
Ebert Anderson, of New York, then
contractor, visited Troy, where was con.
centrated, and where he purchased,
large quantity of provisions-bee', pork,
etc. The inspectors of these articles at
that place were Messrs. Ebenezer and
Samuel Wilson. The latter gentleman
Invariably known as "Uncle SAM gen.
orally superintended, in person, large
number of workmen, who, on this occa-
sion, were employed in oyerhauling the
provisions purchased by the contractor
for the army. The casks were marked
''E. A.-U. S." The work fell to the
lot of facetious fellow in the employ of
the Messrs. Wilson, who, on being asked
by some of his fellow-workmen the
meaning of the mark (for the letters U.
S., for United States, were then almost
entirely new to them), said :" He did not
know, unless it meant Gilbert Anderson
and Uncle Sam '-alluding exclusively,
then, to the said &" Uncle Sam Wilson.
The joke took among the workmen, and
passed currently and "Uncle Sam"
himself being present was occasionally
rallied by them OH the increasing extent
of his possessions. Many of these work
men being OF character denominated
"food for powder, were found shortly
after following the recruiting drum, aud
pushing toward the frontier lines
for the double purpose of meeting the
enemy and of eating the provisions they
had lately labored to put in good order.
Their old jokes accompanied them, and
before the first campaign ended this
Identical one first appeared in print it
gained favor rapidly, TIL it penetrated
and was recognized in every part of the
country, and will, no doubt, continue SO
while the United States remains nation.
Marrying for Money in Italy.
Young Lovatti, up to few years ago,
was one of the large class of idle youths
to be found in all Italian towns, decently
connected and nominally an artist 1t
was his ill-luck to meet with Belgian
lady, who is described as neither young
nor beautiful, but who had, according
to her own account, fortune of 30,000,-
900 francs left her by NJ. Jacob, Minis
ter of Police under the Empire, the copy
of whose will she had deposited with
notary at Naples. This the notary actrl-
ally had, but it seems he had expressed
doubts of its genuineness. How much
of the story Lovatti believed can not be
told but he married Mile Vanduelle,
taking care, however, only to go through
the religious ceremony, which is not
legally binding; and the happy pair
proceeded to spend their thirty millions.
Every one seems to have taken the story
of the will for true, and to have given
unlimited credit, though at the same
time charging such prices for goods as
were consistent with such fortune
thus fan worth 500 francs at the out
side was put down at 1900 francs.
From Rome the pair went to Naples,
where they chose the richest Jewels, the
costilest dresses, and then they proceed
ed to London to draw the millions. In
London Lovatti discovered the fraud at
the time he was in the treaty for the pur-
chase of the Villa Mirafori, at Rome
(the property of the late Kings wife),
and also for title formerly held by his
family and then they started for Brns-
sells, where they proceeded to sell the
jewelry, etc. By this time suspicion
awakened in Rome and Naples, and
some of the creditors started at once for
Brussels, where they succeeded in recov-
ering part of their money. Lovatti
gave himself up to the police, and he
and his wife were brought back to Ma
Piles, where, after some months impris-
onment, they were released on bail.
Thereupon Mad. Lovatti disappeared,
leaving letter saying that she was
sorry to have got her husband "intc
trouble" and Lovatii had been sentenced
to six years imprisonment.-St. James
Gazette.