Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-07
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

AMERICAN POETS are invited to compete for
prize offered for the best poem to be read at
the celebration OF the restoration OF the Ca
thedrhl at Londonderry, ireland.
"FEATHERBoNE," an article prepared from
the Gulils OF geese and turkeys, is largely
taking the place of whalebone in the manu-
iactur" OF whips, ETC., for which WhaleD bone
was formerly used exclusively.
AN Australian has invented an electrical
machine gun which ne claims is capable OF
hrlne l20 rounds every few seconds rom
any position and in any dii ection. Expert
enced officers have recommended the appa-
ratus
IHE present cost of operating the railways
OF this country by steam is S5Ol ,OO0, 0G0, but to
transport the same tonnage, using men and
horses, would cost 81, 306, 100000 That is to
say, return to Old methods would render
commerce practically impossible.
COLD AIR MACHINERY has been success
fully used in the construction of tunnel at
stockholm by freezing the gravel before the
excavation and keeping it in that condition
uhtll tne inning was n position, In TINS way
several large buildings have been under
mined.
ACCORDING to the Moniteur Industriele, a
mixture OF oil and graphite will effectually
prevent screws becoming fixed, and, more
over, protect them for years against rust.
The m xture facilitates tightening up, is an
excellent lubricant. and reduces the friction
OF the screw in its socket.
In speaking Of Edgar Fawcett's "Romance
and Revery," the london Athen9um says he
Is one of the most promising of the young
school of American poets and that his latest
volume IS comparatively free from tho G
anectatlons and ecCenLrcties which married
murh that was merltorious in his earlier
works.
THE girls at Houahton Seminary, at Gin
ton, N. Y, have organized class in sewing.
and as the seminary keeper puts it, "are con-
quering the mysteries of basting, Telling. shir-
ring. running, right way of cloth. buttonho,e
stitch, gathering, tucking and allowing
Tor seams" Certain little darkies at Baxter
Springs, Kan, are Immediately benefited by
the work done by these students. The ulti-
mate results will undoubtedly be that there
will befew old maids among the alumne of
Houghton Seminary.
THE following letter is said to be the gen
ulne production of 9-year-old cOlored citi-
zen of South Carolina: "Dear Affectionately
Teacher: Use sorry couldn't come to school
on Friday. but l couldn't cause it rain and
OATS de way 1T go in dis world. If de Lord
smut dc door no man can open de door. III de
LORD say open de door no man can shut de
door. If de Lord say 1T rain.' no man can
stop II rain. But de Lord, he do all things
NOAls a Nv you OuSulnb 10 STOWl dUOuI
Your aHectlonately scholar"
A NEW THEORY in regard to the crumblin G
OF the Egyptian Obelisk in Central Park,
New York city. is that the damage was done
before the stone was brought from Egypt, and
dates back to the time when the soldiers of
CambySes looted and burned Hetiopols, w here
the monument stood. The monument be-
longed to the Temple of On, the Egyptian
name for the sun. The Greeks called.the city
On HelIopolis. 1t is believed that the fires
kindled by Cambyses caused the disintegra-
ton and ecalinR which have been witnessed.
This theory is borne out by the fact that
granite is not greatly affected by our climate,
while it Is ready destroyed in the heat Of
great fires.
AN italian savant has discovered new and
simple method of catching fish. The bait Is a
musical one. AS we all know the sense of
hearing is extraordinarily developed in fish.
1t appears that while the slightest noise
scatters them in all directions, musical note,
especially that produced by the human voice.
attracts them. On hearing 1t they stop sud =
denly in their course. Slgnor Saretti dscOv.
ering this fact embarked one morning on the
Lake of Geneva with party of friends. He
possesses very fine, deep bass voice. and
striking up national song he proved to his
tons. They were able by means of aquascOpe
to perceive the eagerness with which the
piscine population gathered around the little
boat. Casting over the nets they had
brought they instantly made a catch such as
has rarely, if ever, been known on the lake,
and they may be said. indeed, to have made
another miraculous draught of fishes"