The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-10-02

Carrier pigeons have long been
an object of attention to the gov
ernment of Germany and France
In the latter country the minister
of war lately directed a census OF
the carrier pigeons to be made,
when it appeared that at Lille there
are 500, at Roubaix $1,000, at the
little town of Wattrelos, in the de-
partment of the Nord, there are
5000, partly belonging to private
individuals, partly to societies who
endeavor to improve the quality of
the birds. Attention is paid to the
birds chiefly in the manufacturing
districts of the East and North.
In Germany the war department
has 5000 pigeons. There are about
100 associations that have about
$4,000 birds. Independently of
business messages there are fire.
quently flying matches, and it has
been ascertained that every year
some thousands of pigeons are lost
in those matches, or at least never
arrive at their destination or return
to their homes
A visitor who has lately been
staying at Ems tells a characteristic
story of the German emperor. A
great packet of journals arrives
every day for the emperor's read
ing. In order to make the reading
as little burdensome as possible, a
high court official is charged with
the duty of looking through the
entire heap of newspapers and
marking with red ink the passages
which the kaiser's private secretary
is to read aloud to his august mas
ter. The emperor one day took up
one of the journals and asked the
meaning of the red lines with which
it was profusely scored. Upon the
secretary explaining the signiiica-
ton of these red strokes, the ven-
erablc monarch said with a hearty
laugh: "Then, my dear fellow, let
me beg you, for once in way, to
read me everything in this journal
which has not red line underneath
it,"
Prof. Wyman, the distinguished
comparative anatomist, used to tell
4 story that illustrates the falIibility
Of human evidence. One day a
clergyman brought to him q live
young black snake which he said
parishoner of his, a gentleman of
unimpeachable veracity, had elected
from his own stomach. The cler-
gyman grew very indignant when
Prof Wyman doubted the posi-
bility of this, saying that his par
ishioner was absolutely sure that
the reptile has been living in his
stomach for years. To settle the
matter, therefore, Prof. Wyman cut
open the stomach of the snake and
turned out Of it number Of grass
hoppers, beetles and grubs. at
seems" he said to the clergyman,
. that your parishoner has liking
for a peculiar kind of diet"
The London World thus grieves
+" An American journal states that
certain leading club-men, amazed
at the number of Americans elected
this year as honorary members,
have determined upon starting a
club which shall be entirely con-
fined to Englishmen. This is, of
course, a most ridiculous and pre-
posterous statement. Honorary
membership of London clubs is
Kept down to the lowest limits, and
it is matter of great grief to all En-
glish gentlemen who have received
the widespread hospitality of the
delightful clubs in New York, Bos-
ton, Washington, Baltimore, etc,
that they are unable to return the
compliment when their American
friends are visitors to London"
In the last number Of London
Truth there is "a Queer Story"
which is plainly meant to convey |
the idea that the steamship Oregon
was blown up by parties interested
in the over-insured cargo. AS
sumed names are employed, and
the vessel is referred to as the Par
agon. 1t is evident that there is
a strong belief in London that the
Oregon was not run down by an
unknown schooner.
The British war scare Of 1885
cost the British government f1 Ill.,
900 for the hiring of transports
which were never used. For the
they paid f66,O0O, the
Umbria f4S,O0O, and the Rosetta
f32 900.
SETTLED EME BILL.
ARKANSAS Traveller.
A circuit rider. in a nciphbor-