Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-02
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

A YOUTHFUL appearing couple have been
detected in a strange conspiracy to obtain
money. They visited different cities as single
persons, obtained positions in society, courted
each other and were married. In every case
the wedding presents amounted to handsome
amounts.
BIRDS frequently build their nests under
meath the cars of freight trains that stand for
many days on sidings in country places. At
Jersey City and Hoboken the young ladies go
down and beg bird nests from the freight car
conductors as the trains come in. search
under long freight train in spring time
scarcely ever fails to bring out a nest or two,
A GOOD story is told Of Mr.. Mcdonald.
There is a weekly humorous paper in Indian
apolis called the Scissors. Friday night 1t
went to press with cartoon of Mcdonald
representing .'Old Saddle Bags In the act OF
fixing up the Democratic harness, ana getting
It in shape for the first time IN quarter OF a
century. The Senator on hearing OF the de-
sign was by no means displeased with 1t, but
Thought il would be such splendid thing to
use in two weeks. Just after the Chicago Con-
ventiOn .When / am nominated, you Know
il am" The cartoon was at late hour sup
pressed, and is now in soak waiting Tor NC
Donald's nomination. Meantime the artist
was at work at daybreak trying to supply the
deficiency, but the photographer could not
make room for him in time for an impression
for the edition at the usual hour.
IT is estimated that the population Of the
United States to-day is about 100000. This
figure has been decided on by statistician
through a rather ingenious calculation. For
many wears the increase in time of peace has
been almost precisely per cent. yearly, from
excess of births over deaths, besides the eX-
cess of immigration over emigration. The
populatiOn June 80 1880. was 80, 100, lS3; adding
per cent increase, lOOS ll5, ana tne ne6 I'm IN,
migration Of the fiscal year 1881, $3.50, ABB,
we have 81, S3S,329 as the population June ~,
1881. Again, adding per cent, l.O5o,5oo, ana
the net immigration, 1882, we nave 55.65s,-
SS7 as the population June 80, 1882. Again
adding per cent, l,o73,0S7, and the net inn
migration, 599.015, we have 55,325,sfy as the
population June 80, 1888. And again adding
per cent. for the current year, ], l0o,5l9, ana
about $4,000 for Immigration-the num-
Der during the fiscal year up to June having
been 454. 2O6-we have as the probable popula-
ton June 80, 1854, about 56,9S2, 4gS: In Two
years more it will probably exceed 6O,OOO,Ooo.
A CURIOUS point in diamond lore has just
been established to the delight of savants IN
Paris, where the exhibition of the crown jew
els OF the Louvre has made the subject very
popular for the moment. 1t has long been laid
down that the diamond has the power OF re-
taining light and of afterward emitting it in
the dark. The theory has been Wen buttressed
bv reasons: but the proof has not been easy OF
test. Happily. a private individual, the
owner of a gem of min ty-two earats, and
Estimated at a value of 800, 900 francs, has lent
his diamond for scientific Investigations.
These have been most satisfactory, and the
acknowledgements Of the stone may be re-
parded as proved. The diamond was exposed
for an hour to the direct action of the suns
RAYS and afterward removed into dark ROOM
For more than twenty minutes aIterWaru II
emitted a light. feeble, indeed, but still SUI
1ieiently strong to make sheet OF white pa
per held near it quite visible in the dark. A
similar result was arrived at by very diff
ferent experiment, and light was generated
by rubbing the stone with piece OF hard
flannel.
The editor OF the Ponca lNeb.l Journal tells
how they used to travel on the narrow gauge
railroad between Sioux City and Ponca few
years ago. He says; t'The narrow gauge went
up and down hill, so much so thatwhen climb
ing the grade near the summit the shrieking,
struggling little engine found it difficult to
make headWay. In those days the genial con-
ductOr ALWAYS regarded the few passengers
as guests and treated them accordingly, and
when the train went up hill and the engine
gave a howl OF despair would get on and push
behind. Those were the halcyon days Of rall-
reading. We recollect going down from Pom
ca to Jackson one day. We were the only
nsssenger-freQuently the train had no pas
sen9ers at all. Below the summit we saw
man in a field blowing. He owed US sub
scription. Being short of bankable funds we
desired TO hold short seance with him. We
stated our desires to the conductor. Did ne
furn deaf to us and whip up the trainr No.
He ierked the cord and stopped-the train. and
we went and dunned the man. During our
absence the conductor went to the creek ana
nshed. These were the PASTORAL the Joyful
the inimitable days Of railroadlng."