Daily Republican., 1886-06-12
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Wobci 10 HCaNy WIN bhitb Vi bOuluui
and borax, use II as natural shampoo
ing water, to the satisfaction of their
customers.
A Glasgow physician records case
of patient whose breath upon the
of lighted match exploded
with loud crack, like the report of a
pistol, and burned his lips.
1t is stated that no two engine bells
ring the same note. This seems rather
too. for they are all made of
precisely the same metal, and cast in
the same mould, and manufactured in
the same factory.
Sixteen years ago, while hunting,
Ca, lost valuable gold watch. 1t
could not be found. In time the woods
were cleared and the ground cultivated
where the watch was lost, and one day
recently farmer ploughed up the lost
watch, which seemed to be in the most
perfect condition.
Jet is variety of Ignite, resembling
of a deeper black and Of a
more brilliant lustre. 1t is found in
detached pieces in tertiary clay along
the coast of Yorkshire, England, and
in various places on the continent of
Europe. From its susceptibility of
taking a high polish and its intense
blackness, it has been and is used as
mourning ornaments.
Not 80 very long ago, no Chinese
lady who valued her reputation al
lowed herself 10 be seen in public at
all, but now ladies are to be met with
in theatres and all other places of pub
lie resort. This exercise of woman's
rights, however, excites the hospitality
of lovers of the old customs, and the
Governor OF Pekin is endeavoring to
put stop to the alarming innovation.
I The Duke and Duchess of Athole
are anxioGs that the Gaelic language
Should not die out, and for some years
past they have been in the habit of
giving prizes to the young people on
their estates for proficiency in the old
tongue. This year S examination took
place at Blair castle, when fifteen girls
and boys appeared to compete for very
handsome prizes. The duke and duch-
ess are both excellent Gaelic scholars.
Aeronout Wells, of Indianapolis,
says that he once made an ascent from
Buenos Ayres, and while far above the
La Plata river saw the sun set. Soon
after the wind ceased and the balloon
went down to the water. He threw
out all the ballast, and then, sitting in
the hoop, cut away the car. At this
the balloon shot up to such height
that the sun which had set hours before
10 the persons below him, again ap-
peared. The effect was as if the sun
was rising in the west.
The tobacco blindness is becoming 0
common affliction. At present there
are several persons under treatment fol
il at one London hospital. II frs
. takes the form of color blindness, the
sufferers who have smoked themselves
! into this condition being quite unable
. to distinguish the color of piece o
red cloth held up before them. Some
times the victim loses his eyesigh
altogether. Although smoking is to {
large extent the cause of the malady
and so gives it its name, heavy drink
ing is also responsible.
Deafness appears TO be exceptionally
prevalent in Kcnnebec county, Maine
and in Martha's Vineyard. A recen
scientific investigation of the matte
shows that in both districts there i
abundant evidence of heIedity ant
especially of atavism. In the families
affected there were also found blind
ness, insanity, idiocy, and deformity
ard in some cases u long history o
consanguineal marriages. In Martha'
!, Vineyard the distribution of deafness
: comedies with the fact that of certain
soils and its eastern boundary is alst
! the typhoid fever line.
The use of snuff as chewing tobacco
=, is almost unknown in South Carolina
at least above Columbia. 1t is exten
sively consumed in Georgia and il
North Carolina, but even the larges
merchants in the upper part of Soutl
Carolina do not sell a package OF smut
in year. Very little snuff is sold il
any part of the Palmetto state. II
North Carolina Scotch snuff is TIL
favorite variety, but Georgia and Ala
bama prefer the purest Maccaboy. Il
: all parts of the South the sale OF snui
for chipping" purposes is annually in
! creasing.
1t is related that when the frs
Maine railroad was started, about fort.
!, years ago, w. G. Pitman of Bango
was conductor. One rainy mornin
he started from Waterville, and on ar
irving at North Belgrade, flag sta
0 ton, not seeing any flag, ran by tn
station. Just as the train passed tn
: red flag was run out for some passen
gers to get on. Mr.. Pitman stoppe
his train and asked Stephen Richard
: son, the station agent, why he did nc
>. display the flag before. Mr.. Richard
4 son replied, ''Be you goin' to ru
d your train in rainy weather? l didn
. think you would"