Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-05-18
OF GENERAL INTEREST.

OF GENERAI Nv lGheoi'
The first bank in the United States
was the Bank Of North America, char
tered by Congress at the instance oil
Robert Morris in 1850, and by the
State Of Pennsylvania m 17Sl, with a
capital of 100000. 1t is still in en-
istencc in Philadelphia
A curious animal peculiar to Tas-
mania is the Tasmania devil: 1t is |
equal in size to the short-legged ter
rier. Its skin is ne etrly OF equal thick
ness to that ola pig, and is covered with |
coarse, jet black hair. 1t is of the
bear species and possesses a POWER OF
jaw scarcely inferior to that of the
bulldog.
A lar.o number Of Canadians have
gone to Southern California, and most
of them are men of intelligence and
character who have taken IA good deal
Of capital with them. Indeed, it is said
that no country has contributed more
to the material and social progress of
Southern California than the Province
Of Ontario.
The cause Of ill-temper has been
discovered by dress-reform lecturer,
who docs not consider it an evidence
Of bad disposition. She says that
.'oftener than not it is owing to bodily
discomfort proceeding from improper
dressing, and that wives would all be
sweet-tempered if they were properly
attired and took sufficient exercise"
Two Georgia women, Miss Jane
Smith and her sister, have worked
their hundred-acre farm near Shiloh
for the past twenty years. They get
up at four in the morning, work hard
during the day, and weave cloth for
their clothing in the evenings. They
have never been i'll, and their farm
compares favorably with many in the
same region.
Walking sticks are now being
made that are useful as well as orna-
mental. From one a silk umbrella
can be drawn and screwed to the cane;
another has a receptacle for nickels
and cents, and is convenient for those
who ride on street and 9th er city cars
and cross ferries: another contains a
measure for the height Of horses and
has a spirit level attachment; and an
other has good little watch set in the
crystal handle.
A New York man, who appears to
be favorably situated to see what is 60
ing on, says of Illuminating gas that
instead of being in its last days it is
Just born When the companies had
matters all their own way their atti-
tude toward inventors was one Of hos
tility. Now electricity has stirred
them to try new materials for produc-
ing gas and new burners for increasing
its illuminating power In few years
its use for fuel may be general.
Says the Rev. DR.. j. Nj. Buckley
bribery is general in Spain. Almost
any thing can be done with a fee. Nc
more than 10 per cent. of the taxes
levied by the Government can be col
lccted, Mayors Of cities get rich in {
yc;rr One at least OF the most i'm
4 porlant cities is destitute Of credit. Nc
one will lend itany money. Spaniard,
so disrust each other that money Il
not forthcoming for great public
works, The English manage tht
water-works, street cars, and almost
every thing else
M. Coquelin, the French actor
said to a San Francisco reporter: III
was a long ride across the country, but
enjoyed it. What surprised me most
was the wonderful development Of this
great land. It is marvellous. So many
towns and cities and all OF them sc
great Every thing is Manufactured
so quickly! A man requires something
not heard of before, expresses his de-
sire and wakes up in the morning
finding the thing at his door, did
not expect to find so many people in
America speaking the French Ian
! guage.'
( "A Bangor gentleman who recently
/ us aled ia Europe, while on German
rui.ro1d fe,lu o German who had
partially mastered the English idn,
guage The two engaged in converse
sation when it appeared that the Ger.
man was a director of the road. After
a while the latter asked the Bangor
ian, who was accompanied by his wife
and two other ladies, "Are all these
ladies of your party?' On being
answered in the affirmative he endeav-
ored to be complimentary by remark
ing, "Ah. They are remarkably fine
specimens.
A Philadelphia business man, ac-
cording to the Times, has hit upon Il
novel scheme for avoiding unwelcome
visitors. He has placed n detective
camera directly opposite the door of
his Office. When a visitor enters,
the office boy, II bright lad and we'll
schooled in the diplomacy of his pro-
fession. turns the knob and takes an
instantaneous photograph of the in
truder. This is developed and forms
one Of Il collection of undesirable Wis.,
itn"s whiah il. i-,nf in "a boot for tho
boys instruction in the future. Peo-
plc who come to waste others time,
collectors with bills that theg wish
paid and the thousand and oue disa-
grccable characters known to 'he av-
cragc business man form the iT'sis OF
this unique collection.
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Curios in Cotton Bale
At the WampanOag mill tho other