Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-25
ITEMS OF INTEREST.


LAST WEEK there was exhibited in Mayence
richly carved wine cask, holding over GU
litres, made entirely from the wood OF the old
Roman bridge built across the Rhine by the
EmperOrs Trajan MaXimian. Inc ruins Oh
the bridge were fished ont of the river IN lsSu
Several smaller casks, to be made OF the Woou
that is left, have been ordered by Americans
/ a SINGULAR CUSTOM obtains to this day in
some of the towns on the Lower Rhine,
namely, that OF selling maidens at pubic
auction. For nearly four centuries, on Easter
Monday-auction day-the town crier or
clerk of st. Goar called all the young people
together, and TO the highest bidder sofa the
privilege of dancing with the chosen girl ana
her only during the entire year. Inc lees
Moved into the public poor box.
MILE DosNE, the sister-in-law of M.
Theirs, has just presented the Marseillcs SoGi-
ETY. of Science, Art and Literature with two
houses in the street of that town which bears
the name of NJ. Theirs, and which formerly be-
longeu to his family, on condition that the
academy shall take up its quarters there ana
shall preserve intact the chamber In Wnlcn
the statesman first saw the light. The pres
ent, apart from the historical associations, is
worth e., 600.
Dir GUNPUT RAo, the native Minister OF the
young Maharajah of Gwalior, does most OF
the governing of that interesting province at
present. He is exceedingly deaf and news
paper correspondent who interviewed the
agent inquired whether this in1rmlty was
not bar TO his usefulness. Sir Lepel Griffin
who Is funny, but not admirable in the eyes
OF Americans-repliedt that deafness was SO
great an advantage in private society that he
could not but think it might also prove OF
service in political life.
THE contracts for constructing the new ad-
diton to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in
Central Park, New York, where signed Mon
day afternoon, and the work. which after
hanging fire, as it were for two years, in con =
sequence of the refusal of the city authori-
ties to grant the full amount of money re-
CURED for the purpose 1929, o00), will be com
menced next week. The plans adopted pro-
vide for southern wing containing almost
as much available floor space as in the old
building. Spacious rooms. for a fine art IL
brary, are also to be provided.
AMERICAN inqusitiveness and ingenuity
united have produced thread made from the
blossom of the common milk weed. which has
the consistency and tenacity of imported fax
or linen thread. ana is produced at much
less cost. The fibre is long, easily carded, and
may be readily adapted to spinning upon an
ordinary fax spinner. 1t has the smoothness
| and lustre of silk, rendering it valuable for
sewing machine use. The weed is common
throughout this country. but grows profusely
at the South. The material costs nothing for
cultivation. and the gathering Is as cheaply
done as that of cotton.
NEWLY appointed consul to one of the
West India islands called at the State De-
partment few days ago to receive his final
instructions. During his interview with
Secretary Bayard, the question was asked If
any distinctive uniform was necessary when
making official visits to American vessels.
The Secretary replied that the regulations do
not prescribe any particular uniform for con-
suls, but it would be wellYin this instance to
wear uniform similar to that of Captain in
the navy. in view of the fact that the
new consul would thus be secure from the in
suits of drunken sailors, who would respect
the uniform in the absence of better &C
quaintance with the wearer.
THE MYSTERY Of the Rue vertbois is in a
way to be cleared up. The refined little girl
whose body was found in that street in a
nightdress of fine lawn, trimmed with dainty
lace, the post norton has brought out was
not murdered. She was simply suffocated by
one of those large intestinal worms that got
into her throat, and when she was perhaps
coughing entered the windpipe. The parents
were terrified at, there is reason to believe,
her sudden death, and from fear of being de-
nounced as her murderers by malevolent
neighbors, and of undergoing the fortunes of
perhaps detention, followed by an Assize
Court trial, agreed to leave her body in a
lonely street in part of the town where they
were not known.
IN the course of the grouse talk which al
ways crops up just before the Twelfth, at
London. one is sure to hear something about
the big bags OF 1879, the kill at Studley Royal,
when in one day 2.24o birds were erased. or
the magnificent days work of Lord Walsipg-
ham, who shot 042 grouse to his own gun Sir
T. Milbank madesS big bag in the same year.
In the course of a drive on the Wommergil
moors with three guns he brought down 364
brace of birds on Aug. 20. shooting right on
for nearly twelve hours. Some other big bags
were made in Yorkshire in the course of the
season. Lord Ripon and party, seven guns in
all, shot 1870 birds in the course of two days.
nd in crrn oIo
abundant. good bags being made over the
dogs. Birds were so plentiful on some moors
throughout that season that there was no
necessity for driving.
A COOL HAND is the Vicar OF Stratford- on
Avon. He has been pressing ON the "restora-
ton" of his church against the wish of the
great body of his parishioners. and, should
imagine. of the great body of his fellow
countrymen. In the high handed way Pc
culiar TO Wears he has Quilted the interior Of
the church. removed galleries which accom-
modated 200 or 800 worshipers, and cost the
best part of 900 only fifty years ago; and
among other things, has allowed the mural
tablet sacred to the memory OF George and
Esther Hart, who were closely connected with
the Shakespeare family. to be thrown out into
the churchyard, where the inscription has
been partly obiterated by the weather. After
this the reverend gentleman has the face to
write to the Times and implore subscriptions
from Shakespeare's countrymen toward the
good work! Doubtless he will feel quite sur
prised and hurt when he meets with no re-
sponse.
THE Committee of the Academy of Medi-
cine has drawn up long report on the drink
question in France and the evil effect of alco-
hol on the human system. The different
points on which 1t is thought desirable that
legislative action should be brought to hear
have been embodied in series OF resolutions.
which will be moved and. in all probability
be carried at the next sitting of the academy
The principal abuses TO which the govern
| ments attention is drawn are set forth as fol-
! lows: The academy is of opinion that from an
| exclusively hygienic point OF view the com
| mon practice OF adding alcohol to wines is a
baneful one. For the same reasons such an
adulteratlon of beer, cider, perry, etc should
be prohibited. The Importation of strong
drinks rendered artifcially spirituous ought
also to be strictly prohibited. The academy
calls the attention of the public authorities to
the eXpediency OF diminishing the number Of
public houses and OF stringently enforcing the
existing liquor laws.
CHARLES e. BISHOP has just returned to
Boston from New York, where he has com
peted arrangements for dropping into the
East river near the Brooklyn bridge at the
same height as that from which "Steve" Bre-
die made his plunge into the river. He saws:
"1es, am going to drop from balloon into
the river ! have hired Prof. Brown to take
me mp In balloon. How will / drop On,
the bottom of the basket will be arranged like
an athletes trap. will be let down through
1t suspended by straps passed under my ARM.
AT the proper time they Will let go from