The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-17
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

A wELL-KEowN London firm of refreshment
contractors recently advertised for 1000 add
tional walters, and 10000 applications were re-
ceived in response, the whole of the candidates
claiming to have had experience.
a SPARROW has built a nest on one OF the
trucks of Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
passenger coach. and makes regular trips to
Syracuse and return. The bird is sitting on Two
eggs, and seems to be undisturbed by the noise
and confusion.
A PErRIFIED pignut has been found in coal
mine near Wellston, o. 1t was taken from the
slate which covered a coal seam. mass of
rock 90 feet in thickness rested upon the slate.
The nut was in the hull and the petriication
was complete.
ALFRED WIGGET, of Reynoldsville, Pa, claims
to have killed seven rabbits and snake nine
feet in length recently while out hunting. He
says the snake had the rabbits charmed, and a
single load of shot fired into their midst enabled
him to bag the entire lot.
AUSTRALIA and Canada are shortly to be
united by a cable $500 miles in length. The
Egeria, a vessel belonging to the British navy,
has begun to survey the route, and it is ex-
pected that the work will take three years. The
cable will commence from poiut on the east
ern coast Of Australia and proceed by way of
the northern coast of New Zealand to British
Columbia, passing the Fiji Islands and landing
at Victoria, on the southern end of Vancouver
Island.
In DENMARK it is becoming customary for
friends to send to the relatives of a person who
has died what Is called Good Works Card, "
in place of the usual floral tributes. These
cards are of white pasteboard printed in silver,
and are issued by various charitable organiza-
tons On each card is the name of the society
which issues it; in the centre is an ivy wreath
on which the name Of the deceased may be
written; and at the foot is space for the name
fhng 4 OF.
for moderate sum. The idea appears to be a
sensible one, as by sending these cards people
can show their sympathy for those in sorrow,
and at the same time do something for their
favorite charity. AS might be expected the
florists do not like these cards.
THE RUSSIAN RAILROAD into central Asia is
now complete to Samarcand, in the valley of
the Oxus 1000 miles east of the Caspian sea,
and within easy reach of both the Chinese and
the British possessions. When half the British
nation expected any moment to see the Rus
slams falling upon Herat, the key to India, three
years ago the Russian railroad was 200 miles
west of Merry, which is directly north of Herat
But now the road passes through Merry and 800
miles to the east. In the meantime the car has
been eniargng the borders OF Siberia all along
the Chinese frontier, and the railroad ad-
vances by rapid stages 1t will act as an artery
drawing blood from Europe to give new life to
the east by infusion The mention OF Siberia
produces dismal impression 1t suggests
frozen explorers, arctic htS and eXiled nihilistS;
but large reaches of northern Asia are to be ia
vorably compared with the best parts Of Eu-
rope, both in climate and fertility of soil The
expansion and development of Russian Asia is
really the most important fact in current geog-
raphy, and we wonder very much that England
is looking on with apparent unconcern. When
Gladstone was in power the tories became fran
tic with fear OF the Russians in Turkestan a
country that has since been pierced with a rail
road, equipped with facilities for the rapid
transportation of troops.
MAJ. E. c. Browne, an Englishman, writing
about the acquisition of Burmah by the British,
describes the effect upon the natives of the first
exhibition of the electric light "a great ray
Of soft light" he says, shoots across the
heavens from horizon to horizon A flood of
light is cast on spot in the village but it is of
with more than lightning rapidty to illumine
another: IL leaps and hobs and bounces about
the earth in most uncanny fashion. The village
is illumined. The light visits every portion of
it, and seems to enter at the doors and windows.
At first the people rush away, but finding that
in many cases the light follows they throw
themselves down with their faces to the earth.
In q few minutes the village and river banks are
cleared, and the terrified people take refuge in
the bush or at the backs of the houses. But
this only lasts very short time. Curiosity is
stronger than prudence. So far the light has
struck no one dead. Perhaps it may be harm
less; so the children, olinging to each other.
venture into the glare, then run to their
mothers arms screaming half with fear and
half with delight Some of the big boys then
rush out, have a good stare, and having dared
so much once more disappear. The ladies seem
to gain confidence next to the children. Their
curiosity cannot be restrained any longer so
they get together in groups and hide their faces
and scream and giggle. Some of the more
cheeky ones actually put out their tongues at
us and begin dancing and gyrating about The
men, last of all, moodily emerge from their
cover, and, still not half liking it, walk eau
tiouSly about, and gradually the village is gay. l."