Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-13
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

No ONE is ever killed by lightning when
asleep in bed. according to the assertion of an
English electrician. Whenever you hear a
clap Of thunder always go to bed and fall
asleep Immediately. This a sure precaution.
SOME excitement was caused at the funeral
Of Mrs. II. Swart in Rondout, n Y, by the
flushed appearance of the face of the corpse.
The services were interrupted while the un-
dertaber made an investigation. He reported
that the body was frozen and the flush was
due to the heat of the room. This seemed to
satisfy everybody as well as II the undertaken
knew all about it.
NJ. LAUTH, the superintendent of the porce-
lain factory at Sevres, is said to have discov-
cred a new porcelain which is far superior to
the famous old Sevres. After ten years eX
pertinent and investigation he thinks he has
produced a porcelain Identical with that of
China. Not only does il lend itself to artistic
decoration, but it takes all glaZes, and sur
passes in beauty the colors obtained in China.
THE new lateen rig has lately been tested
bv the owners of icebOats on the Hudson and
found to surpass expectations. During a high
wind a mile in thirty-fOur seconds was made
under unfavorable steering conditions. Therig
gives a boat q rakish and saucy appearance.
and enables it to lie closer to the wind than
the lib and mainsal outfit. There is SAID TO
lie no doubt of the general adoption Of the
lateen sail for ice yachts.
THERE have been 500 persons killed by
lightning n France since 1885, or an average
of about 30 per year, and about $4,000 injured
more or less seriously. The statistics show
that the electric fluid was most fatal in those
warm, and that casualties were fewest when
the summers were cool. Ne explanation is
offered as to the connection between temper
AZURE and the electric disturbance.
In the University library at Rouen there has
been recently found letter which furnishes
additional proof of the fact that Johannes
Gutterberc was the inventor of printing The
letter bears date l470. and tells about the in-
PRODUCTION of printing into Paris that year by
three men who distinctly professed to be ap
prentices of Gutenberg. The house IN Stras-
bourg in which Gutenberg did his first work
sill Stands on the corner of the Cathedral
platZ.
LONDON paws not only in discomfort but in
shillings for her fogs. ON Jan. Z, being foggy,
one city gas company sent out S5,OoO,OOO cubic
feet of gas above the ordinary quantity,
which, at 75 cents per 1000 feet, the LONDON
price, means an outlay on one Gay Ior TINS
s'luxury' Of $26, $50. The total NUMBER OF rect
supplied on that day was Ct. 000, 900, to produce
which required the earbOnization of 800 tons
of coal, the largest quantity ever used by that
company before in one day.
WHEN the firm of Grant & Ward failed last
NAV, Charles Wood. a brush manufacturer,
of Lapsingburg, n. Y, sent Gen. Grant $500
as a token of appreciation Ior ms services
rendered during the war, together with
loan of 81. OOl for one year without interest or
security. Recently Gen. Grant forwarded to
Mr.. Wood a check for $1,000 and letter
thanking him for his generosity 20 stranger
i'm n time of need. Gen. Grant explained that
in the wear he had found an opportunity TO
earn the money so kindly loaned.
A NEW ENGLAND widoweT was asked how
he managed to become engaged to 80 pleasing
and accomplished a young lady. He replied
that it was the result of twolng and pebbllng
at Mount Desert. Upon being requested
to explain he said: "a couple start OF for
long walk When they come to very large
houlder they separate, and IN passing imprint