Savannah morning news., 1885-01-25
ITEMS OF INTEREST.


zation,'' was Lord Beaconsfeld's definition Of
the turf in one of his novels.
BY going to the summit of Mount Washing
ton an enthusiast in Arctic exploration may
procure and enjoy most OF the sensations Of
life within the Arctic Circle, with the advant-
age OF being able to live on the provender of
civilization, instead of swallowing blubber
and strips of sealskin. But it may he observ
ed that few people talk of Arctic exploring
expeditions In winter.
A CURIOUS incident occurred at the funeral
of the late Mr.. Overend at Retford, In ERg-
land, the other day. He had been for years
in the habit Of feeding the rocks in a large
cluster of trees near his own door, and while
the funeral was going on one OF them neW
from the rOOkery and perched itself on the
bough of a tree close to the grave, and rever-
emily remained there until 1t was over.
A PRECIOUS CARPET has been destroyed in
San Francisco. 1t had covered the floor of
one of the rooms of the Mint and had been used
for five years. The dust of the precious met
al used in the coinage had during that period
daily fallen upon 1t and when 1t was taken up
the authorities had it cut in small pieces and
burned in pans. The ashes were subjected to
the process employed with mining dust, and
years of wear was more precious than when
it was new.
The Washington monument has already
been turned to a scientific use. Prot. Simon
NewcOmb has been using the top of the monu-
ment for measuring the velocity of light, and
believes that he has obtained more accurate
data for estimating the distance and magni-
tude of the sun. The velocity of light is
measured with a degree of accuracy never
before obtained. Prof. NeWcOmb tells a re-
porter of the Philadelphia Times that he
thinks the error in his calculations cannot ex-
ceed one four hundred -milliOnth part of a
second. 1t is quite possible that these and
other uses of the unsi ghlly pile on the POtO-
ma ms Y n rTgnf ff1l
and there ore a fit monument of Washington.
6. w. WARD, of Greenville, 5. c., has mu-
sical prodigy, who, it is believed. VIII sooA
rival Blind Tom and other musicians gifted by
nature. The lad is about years of age,
and, therefore, knows nothing of musical IN
struments. While at home he amused him.
self by making music with boards and sticks
arranged according to his own ideas. When
his father brought him an accOrdion-the
first he had ever taken in his hands
one Of the party present whistled an
witnesses he played the air. Every air
that was whistled he played on the accordion.
A gentleman present, who was deeply inter
ested in the little fellow, took him t0his house
and placed nm IN front OF the nrst piano he
had ever seen. On that instrument he played
with one hand whatever airs were whistled
or sung to him. The boys musical talent is
unScountable, and all who witnessed his
performances are of the opinion that with
proper training be VIII be the wonder Of the
musical world.
EARLY in the last session Speaker Carlisle
appointed a committee of gifted scientists TO
inquire and report upon the acoustics of the
House. The committee has beeh sitting ten
months at least; 1t has had an abe-bodied
clerk at SlIO a month, aud spent $40 Tor
stationery, making modest total OF Sl,140,
and Tuesday the result of all this labor and
expense was submitted IN the form OF a re-
port. The committee did not seem to know
hot fho
thought the acoustics were numerous
ever; they had not missed any lately, but they
suggested that the screens which ran around
the rear of the row of seas, light brass
frame, Eve feet high, might be removed. O. hey
were not sure, but that was all they could
think Of They wanted to be underst. Cd as
having the greatest respect for acoustics and
disClaimed any purpose of referring to them
in a spirit OF evity, and soon. The clerk gets
his salary and the stationery has to be paid
for, and the committee emerges from its
wrestle with science fatigued, but radiant,
GEN. STEWARDS square at Abu klea has
been less fortunate than that which resisted
the Mameluke charge at the battle of the
Pyramids, where Napoleon gave his famous
order to form square with the scientists and
asses in the centre Its experience, however,
contradicts the theory held by so many critics
that an infantry square IS practically ruined
when once penetrated by the enemy. W hen
COMPLETELY broken up by cavalry it might be
go, but squares have been pierced again and
again without losing the + cOhereDcy or power
of resistance. A striking instance Of this Oc-
CURED during the Peninsula battle OF Tala-
vera, where there was some severe to-
hand lighting. ''WelI. Sergeant" asked Sir
Thomas PictOn, after the battle, addre sing
non-cOmm ssiOned officer Of the famous irish
brigade who had become proverblal for h
reck ess courage, chow came you to let those
French rsscals break into that square of
yours today" Faith, your Honor" an
swcred the veteran with stern significance,
a II.
bedad they never got out again"
THE manufacture of heavy guns is in its in
fancy 1t is true that improvements are made
from time to time in their construction, but
they apply to details, rather than the princ-
pie upon which guns are built. There is but
q little modification of the principle of the old
brass piece Of the last century seen in the 100
ton guns OF to-day. There is the same general
loss of power IN each. y pressure OF 4C,UOO
pounds at the breech of the best gun IN the
market viii diminish to 6,000 pounds at the
muzZle, with a corresponding decrease IN the
velocity of the prOjectile. What gun makers
are striving for is to make gun In which the
high pressure at the breec h will be maintained
to the muzzle, and to discharge a shot with
this tremendous pressure behind 1t. When
this result is attained the heaviest foTtiiica
tion and armOr Will shrink into insignlficance,
and a city or a vessel viii be battered to pieces
the same as if it were an egg shell. The time
is not far distant when gun of this power
will be made. The harbOr defenses of the
world will then have to be changed, and the
most powerful men of-war Will, compare
lively speaking, be nothing more than pleas
ure yachts.
THE sorting Of Archduke Rainer's valua-
| BILE collection of papyra has, a Vienna cor
respondent says, led to further discoveries OF
the greatest interest. In the Greek section
| are a number of fragments attributed to Ar
| istotle. In the old list of imperial papyri
written IN Greek are specimens attributed to
! Marcus Aurelius. SeVerus Alexander, and
| Phllippus the Arabian. There are others OF
| Carus and Licinius. Numerous historical
papyri establish the hitherto disputed date
| when the Emperor MaXiminus, !the ThIacian,
| began his reign. 1t is clear from their con-
| tents that he ascended the throne at the end
| of March, A. ID, 23j, while during the early
| part of the same month SeVerus Alexander
was still at the head or the State. Among
| the rare Latin papyri are two receipts Of the
| actuary Sergius, dating from A. d. 398. They
| are the Oldest dated Latin documents in exis-
provincial Governor, dating from the fifth
| century. In the Arabic section there is a
| revolutionary proclamation, dated A. ID. S67.
| This part of the collection further includes
| ten well ll-preserYed letters IN Arabic, dating
| from A. d. Sl2.
II. H. JOHNSTON was sent to Africa last
| spring blythe Royal Geographical Society to
| study the fora and fauna of Mount Kiliman-
| jaro. He has returned to England after
| spending several months on the mountain.
be describes the climate of its southern
| slopes as that OF a Deyonshire summer. At
a height OF l.. 900 feet he built village of huts
/ for his followers. They were so susceptible
I to cold that nothing would induce them to
| accompany him above 1000 feet. He reach
! ed a height OF l6, 200 feet, but could not gain
the summit. He found warm springs at a
height Of $4,000 feet, and bunalOs aud Gle
phants climb the noun am side to that eleva-
lion Very few plants grow near the snow
line. though vegetation thrves with tropical
luxuriance 5000 or 1000 feet below Birds
are very rare above 10000 feet and very abun-
dant below. Many natives live on the noun
tain slopes to a height Of 5000 feet. They are
very fond of trade and sold Johnston plenty
of provisions at cheap rates. He says this
is one Of the most beautiful and interesting
regions in the world, and he would not have
. left 1t 30 soon had not his funds given out.
He hrOnpht home large COLLECTIONS.