New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-01-07
WHOLE NUMBR 36B

The knitting craze has succeeded
that of the crazy-quilt, and the result
is every day pleasing window visions
OF pretty misses engaged in knitting,
some of whom attire themselves to suit
their work in genuine grandmother
fashion Of chints, dresses and white
handkerchiefs folded neatly across
their bosoms. The poor of tho city are
the grateful recipients of the greater
portion of the mittens, stockings, neck
scarfs, and other useful articles made
by these fair manipulators of the knit
ting-necdlcs
In Defoe's History of the Plague
it is stated that the breath of the
plague-stricken patients was said to
contain minute animal formations,
which, caught on piece of glass that
was held with that object to the pa
tients mouth, and placed beneath a
strong microscope, could be distinctly
seen. They presented a much more
varied and infinitely more terrible APP
pearance than the bacilli of these de-
generate days; for Defoe says that they
had the shape of ''serpents. monsters,
dragons and devils.
Bismark evidently thinks that it is
as easy to make horse drink as to
lead him to the water. He caused a
law to be passed forbidding the inhab-
itants of the duchy of Schleswig-Hol-
stein, recently wrcsted from Denmark,
from speaking the Danish language.
Even school children are punished
when they speak among themselves in
their native tongue, and so far has this
law been carried, that a young girls
birthday festival was broken up and
the guests arrested and fined because
they sang some old Danish folk songs.
During the Franco German war Metz
and Paris communicated with the out
| side world by carrier-pigeons, and the
German Generals declared them con-
traband of war. They continued how
ever, to be introduced into France from
Belgium, where they are specially,
pigeon-racing and breeding having long
been national sport, there. The Bel.
gum societies were never more flour
lshing than at present, and are very
particular in, regard to breeds, the
Antwerp being the favorite; in some of
their nurseries the boxes are mahogany,
with solid silver embellishments. Thir-
ty miles an hour is the average speed
of the Antwerp pigeon, which always
descends at nj ght for shelter and re-
pose, the carriers flight being
guided by sight alone.
In France, by refinement of judicial
cruelty, the date of execution is not
known until the previous evening.
Notices arc then sent to the gov
ernor of the Jail, cxccutioncr and chap
lain. From the hour of his sentence
the criminal is dead to the world. En-
viroRed by guards, he is taken to cell
with two beds, one of which is occupied
by monster prison spy. He is pu,
) into suit of rough canvas shirt, wool
en- trousers and felt Shoes A short
waistcoat of canvas, opening behind
,, and secured with leather straps is fixed
over this suit, and the long sleeves arr
attached to a cord which passes arount
the thighs, SO that he cannot lift hi
!, hands above certain height, and is al
{ most helpless to perform the most or
binary movement. His food is takel
with a wooden spoon. A warder an,
gendarme keep perpetual watch. H
may sleep or smoke or eat, but no visi
tors are admitted nor any tidings from
: the outer world.
.. The German newspapers report tina
a very destructive insect has been re
Gently introduced into that countr,
l from the United States. lis describe,
? as a moth, imported with wheat Q
7 Indian corn, and capable of reproduc
ing itself rapidly. The appearance Q
l this insect has caused no little alarm
= especially among tho millets, becaus
l in some instances it has become neces
'sary already to suspend work in orde
: to free the bins and machinery which
were choked by the Judgement in then
i of myriads of the pest. Herr ZelleI
) the well-known entomologist, has elias
sified this small butterfly, the worm @
which only lives upon -four or meal, a
a Phicyde. This injurious moth is sal
, to have been first seen in Holland il
1879, since which time it has sprea
enormously to Germany. The remark
able part of this story is that this in
7 sect, if it exists in America at all, ha
) not been talked of on this side of tn
Atlantic. If, indeed, it has its origi
, here, it certainly must require the sea
. voyage to develop its hurtful char
4 acter.