Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-02-01
FRESH FOREIGN WAITS,

BEaGARs are more numerous in Paris,
this winter, than ever before.
Turin sold two million dollars worth
of vermouth to Asia, Europe and Amer
lea during last year.
A DREssMAKER of Leeds, Eng, was
seriously injured by keeping threads of
silk in her mouth, because it had sweet
taste. The taste was due to sugar-of-
lead used in coloring.
In twenty-six cities and towns in Eng
land and Scotland, with a population of
| two--and quarter millions, only fifty
four persons voted against the imposition
| of tax for the establishment and main
tenance of free libraries.
The last of the great newspapers issued
at Florence, when it was the capital of
the italian kingdom, has transferred it's
Office to Rome. Florence is now viz
tually left without paper, only two or
three pocket gazettes see
ing daylight within its walls.
HAVING strengthened the service by
the addition of powerful dogs trained to
assist the sentinels on picket duty, the
Russian war Office is now engaged in
teaching swift hounds to act as dis
patch bearers. It would be hard to
catch such messengers, and harder still
to corrupt them.
The Russians intend to build in the
Shipka Pass, midway between the vii
lage of Shipka and st. Nicholas, the
summit of the pass, a chapel, monas-
terry and seminary The walls are to
| be five feet thick and to enclose the well
built by the Turks-which furnished
the sole water supply.
The largest topaz in the world was cut
by Chirello and his sons for Ferdinand
Ii. of Naples. They worked upon it
fifty years. 1t weighs seven Roman
pounds, and it has carved upon it Jesus
breaking bread at the last supper. It
will probably be purchased for the Vat
lean, and stored away among its treas
ures.
1T is proposed to light up the greater
part Of the Suez canal by electricity,
with the two-fold object, first Of ena-
bling dredging operations to be carried
on at night Instead of during the day,
and next, in order that vessels may pass
through at all hours instead of blocking
up the passage and anchoring, as here
tofore.
A HUNGRY tramp was passing through
the streets of SWindon, England, short
time since, and seeing box of eggs out
side shopdoor took one and ate it.
The shopkeeper said he did not want to
press the charge, seeing that the theft
was so small, but the magistrate SEN
fenced the culprit to one months I'M
prisonment with hard labor.
WHEN Fenelon was almoner to Louis
XIV. his majesty was astonished to find
one Sunday, instead of numerous con-
gregation, only him and the priest.
"What is the reason for this?" asked
the king. 81 caused it to be given out,
SIRE" replied Fenelon, 'that your ma
jesty did not attend chapel to-day, that
you might know who came to worship
God and who to fatter the king"
BERLIN has a bookseller who can
neither read nor write. He is well re-
spected and sells good books, many of
them scientific and the best literature of
the day. He has an excellent memory
and large trade. Some of the charac-
tiers which he has devised for memoranda
are said to be curious enough. It is the
shape and size of books that are his chief
guides, and has seldom been known to
make serious mistake.
The export season for the dried fruits
of the Levant is now in its full activity.
In one fortnight lately no fewer than
5000 barrels, cases, bags, boxes, drums
and baskets of figs and raisins were
shipped to Smyrna. The best figs of
commerce are chiefly grown in Asia
Minor where the fruit begins to ripen at
the end of June, and the summer yield,
which gives employment to large pop
ulation, comes to market In immense
quantities in September and October.
The trees often yield three crops.
AN estimate has been published of the
municipal estate of the city of Paris.
From it all national monuments and
buildings situated in Paris have been
left out. This estimate shows property
or one kind and another valued at $212,-
600, 900, in which sum are included sixty
four churches, worth nearly $50, 900, 00G,
twenty barracks, worth S., 900, 900, AS
primary schools set down $l2, 10000
nineteen cemeteries at Sc, 500, 900, forty
four parks and squares at nearly $685.
fountains at 100000.
A LONDON paper says that the great
fortune left by Mr.. Macdonald, M. P,
for Stafford, who died lately, dates from
the late war in America. At that time,
Mr.. Macdonald, having saved few
pounds, invested them in quinine, and
dispatched it to run the blockade OF
Charleston. 1t succeeded, and large
sum was placed to his credit. With this
he bought up all the quinine he could
lay his hands on, and again successfully
ran the blockade, clearing a very large
sum. In addition to his personality, he
owned great deal of land in America,
49, 600 acres, well bought, and Ill an I'M
proving neighborhood.
In the old cathedral at Ribe, Denmark,
there is, fastened to one of the massive
granite pillars near the main entrance,
an ugly brass candlestiek upon which is
inscribed a curse on the man who re-
moves it. No one knows when or by
whom it was put there, probably more
than two centuries ago. When some