Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-18
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

JOHN RUsKIN's new lecture on storm clouds
is pronounced by scientists to be eloquent
nonsense.
WITH improved facilities for reaching Nel-
lowstone Park it is expected that an immense
number will visit it this year. Five thousand
tourists made the rounds of the Park last sea-
son.
\ WRITER in Hygiene Pratique states that
boots and shoes may be rendered water proof
by soaking them for some hours in thick soap
water. The compound forms fatty acid
within the leather and makes 1t lmperVlous 10
water.
UPWARD of 44S,93s pounds Of opium were
imported into this country during the ten
months ending October 81, 1888; the amount
for the corresponding period in 1882 was 1856
S04 pounds In October last we imported 90, o.
Ol5 pounds of crude opium, while the
whole amount of opium imported IN me
same month of the previous year was 23,5U5
pounds.
OsMAN DIGMA, the rebel chief in the Sou
dan littoral, is described as having most at
tractive camp. 1t stands in ravine. under
large shade trees, and by the side of clear
stream. In front of his brush huts he has
stacked vast piles of captured rifles, ana hlgh
wicker baskets filed with ammunition. He
maintains his power by supplying ms 1ollOW-
ers with grain and plllage.
rath. on the bill regulating the use of Ger
man in the various parts of this empire OF
many languages, a Bohemian Czechist leader
spoke of the Empress Maria Theresa as this
excellent lady He was sllenced by shouts
of disapproyal from both floor ana galleries.
The debate has been extremely bitter, and de-
veOped much i'll feeling among the deputies
from nti-German provinces.
THE maximum penalty for usury, according
to the French law, is six months imprison
ment, besides fine which may be fixed at
any amount. No delinquency, however, is
more frequent than this, for cases of usury
are coming constantly before the courts, and
it may safely be presumed that not once IN
twenty times does a usurer have any legal
troubles brought to his door by his clients; thus
it will be seen that the sum total of fraudu
lent money lending in France must be very
large.
FATAL cases of trichinosis have just occur
red in Michigan and Indiana. In both in
stances German families were the sufferers,
and the victims had been eating uncoOked
swine's flesh The perniciOus habit of eating
smoked or sailed pork, without cooking it, re-
tains its hold upon the Germans, nOtWlth-
standing the warnings of physicians and the
frequent reports Of disease and death result
ing from the practice 1t is tins habit TO winch
the great prevalence of trichinOsis in Ger
many is to be attributed.
Mr.. MENDUM, the manager for Mrs. Lang
try, made curious mistake in arranging for
the performances to be given next week. One
contract was signed for Brooklyn and another
for NiblOs, in New York, for that week, as
though Mrs. Langtry could be in two places
at one time. Mr.. Berger, of the Brooklyn
Academy Of Music, kindly rejecting that 1t
is quite as much as the actress in question can
do to fill one stage, agreed to release Mr.. Men
dun from the Brooklyn contract.
GERMANY's large emigration has caused the
formation of a Colonial Association" whose
aim it is to shape the direction of the emigra-
ting stream, and, as far as possible, to super
vise and control it, Prince HObeulohe- Lam
genburg is its President, and more than 400
branch societies have been formed IN various
parts of the empire, including many OF the
leading cities, with q membership numbering
over 10000 At the last meetingOf the Central
Association plans for establishing colonies IN
Syria and Paraguay were considered.
A PARIS letter says: "There has been a
good deal of dissatisfaction manifested lately
respecting the manner in which the ticket
Spectators are allowed to mOnopolze the
seats for the leading novelties of the day. 1t
is now impossible to procure places for Ma
non" at the box Office for an earlier date than
that of the thirtieth representation, which
will take place some time in May. On the
other hand, seats for any night required can
be secured from the spectators at "a each"
ONE day as Thackeray was walking along
Wych street he passed a group of dirty little
street arabs. One little female taterdema-
lion looked up at him as he passed and then
called out to her younger brother: III, Ar
chic, do YOU know who him is2 Him's Becky
sharp" BY JOye," said Thackeray to a
friend, ''strange as 1t may seem, that little
maiden gave me more pleasure IMAM ii l hau
received a complimentary letter from his
Grace the Duke of Wellington When your
name gets into the slums that means fame,
you have touched the bottom
IL the 7reitSchri6 fur AndlytjSche Chemic,
Kuvper records the fact that he has ascer-
tanned by distillatiOn the presence Of alcohol
in the brain and liver of two persons who had
fallen into the water when drunk and had
been drowned. In one brain he found about
One-lifth of a cubic inch OF alcohol, and in
one liver a little over half cnblc men. Inc
results Of Herr kuyper's researches are con-
sidcred of high importance from medlco-
legal point of view, as permitting an absolute
demonstration of complete alcoholic eXclta-
ton in cases where true insanity Is claimed
as a cause for crime.
THE vice of gambling was recently so prev
alent among the students of a leading college
in the eastern part Of this country that the
faculty were compelled to take summary
measures Of cure 1t was found that one Of
the students had lost every dollar in his possess
sion, every article of furniture in his room,
and every stitch of clothing on his person; and
sional gambler, who had entered the institu-
ton for the sole purpose of fleeing the youths.
When he was dismissed from college he still
continued in the neighbOrhood, and IT was nm
possible to get rid OF him.
THE Belgium Royal Academy of Medicine
gives, every five years, prize of 5000 francs
to the author of the best scientific treatise
published in Belgium during that time. The
late iurv. which was composed of seven men,
10, M most
works, but found 1t impossible to say which Of
Of them was the best, and reported to that effect
to the government. The prize being indlVlslble,
the government could do nothing but appoint
a new Jury. They did not do this, however,
but covered the 5000 francs back into the
treasury. and now scientific Belgium Is saying
harsh things about its paternal government.
STATISTICS are being COLLECTED in France for
the purpose of forming an estimate as to
whether the total number of inhabitants in
the country will be greater or less than it is
now at the close of the century. Thus far the
figures tend to show that there is likely to be
a decrease rather than an increase in the
population. There are not upon an average
more than two children now IN each FAMILY IN
France. and. though there has always been
an increase in the population since 1906, the
rate of the increase has been constantly de-
clining from SO per 10000 yearly to 70 per 10
600. Returns also state that out OF every 100
inhabitants of Paris only 80 are born In the
department, 81 coming from the provinces,
and Z from abroad Moreover, while the
number of births remain nearly stationary IN
France, the rate of infant mortality Is enor-
nous. being as much as p per cent. IN Nor
mandy and 10 per cent. for the whole Of
Frapce.
BRIGHT BITS.
To all mankind death is but question of
time. with womankind the length of her life
IL. "A question VeraclLN.-bOSEOIl