The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-24
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

1t is stated that over 81. 100000 are spent
annually in New York in public banquets.
Atlanta, Ca, is believed to be the only
city in the United States which has house
constructed wholly of paper from founda-
tion to turret
There are more than 100000 persons in
Italy who inhabit dark cellars and 1865
communities which are SO poor that meat is.
never seen on the table, and bread only on
Sundays.
A Connecticut boy is famous just now be-
cause he has tin-whistle one and a half
inches in diameter and several inches long
IN his stomach. He swallowed the toy
while playing on it,
The pendulum of the gigantic clock on the
Eiffel Tower is 115 feet long, the steel bali
ON the top of which weighs ninety-sfx
pounds. The face of the clock at night is to
be made plain by the electric light.
The death rate among the Indians who
aim to live like white people is three times
that of those who continue to live semi
wild life. Tie Pawnee tribe has lost more
men by lung troubles in the last ten years
than they lost. in battle during the previous
thirty.
1t is stated that Koch's comma bacillus.
which is very probably the inducing cause
of that excessively fatal ZymOtic disease
known as Asiatic cholera, has its power of
growth and development entirely arrested
bv exposure for several days TO an atInos-
phere of carbonic acid gas.
A species of porous terra Gotta tiling is
rapidly coming into use. Sixty thousand
dollars worth of it was recently put into
one building in New York Citv. Experts
say, however, that as far as freproof floors
are concerned alternate layers of plank and
cement form the most impenetrable Of con-
strGctions.
Some practical Improvements in diving
apparatus have been effected by NJ. Albert
NJ tnah t,rAA -
the heavy electric hand lamp hitherto used
by divers he affixes light but powerful
glow-lamp on the top of the helmet, so that
the divers hands are both at all times free
for work
Africa has now at work within her bor-
ders ten American, twelve British and.
twelve continental missionary societies.
There are more than 700 ordained mission
aries and more than 1000 native preachers.
1t is estimated that there are, both white
and native, about 1850 COMMITMENTS and
100000 adherents.
The statistical reports of the Ministry of
Roads of INSTRUMENTATION show that
from 1879 to 1888, inclusive, there were
65, 249 vessels of various denominations built
for the internal trade of Russia. Sixty
seven per cent of these piled on the Volga
and II per cent on the Neva. The cost of all
amounted to 5,195, ,24S rubles.
Corporations have no souls " is a much
1t originated with Sir Edward Coke, who,
in the sixteenth century, was considered
one of the best legal writer's of the age. He
says. in one of his treatises: " Corporations
cannot commit trespaSs, nor be outlawed,
nor communicated. for they have no
SOULS"
Clocks are out of favor in fashionable
Partisan drawing-rOoms; they suggest the
hour of departure to visitors too openly.
Still, as it is inconvenient not TO know the
time, fashion sanctions an old watch hang
ing on the wall, framed in an artistic
drapery of antique brocade. The watch
ought to be family heirloom. the more old
fashioned the better.
Last summers eXcurSionStS to Iceland
say the geysers, which have been among the
greatest attractions of the islands, are grad
ually losing their force. Eruptions at the
Great Geyser do not occur now oftener than
once in ten days. The region around the
geysers is particularly uninviting, and only
a very enthusiastic Sight-seer is willing to
spend more than couple of days at this
desolate spot.
A fire was caused in singular way the
other day in Highland Park, opposite New
Brunswick, n. j. The handsome country
residence of Peter Zimmerman was dis
coveaed to be on fire. The flames were first
seen in bay-window at the east end of the
third story hall, where tine sun was shining
in. 1t is concluded that the fire was started
by a dimple In the window glass contracting
the sun 5 rays.
The order of the Thistle has claimed
very ancient date for its fOundation-even
as far back as A. ID: 500; but IL was either
restored or instituted by James V, 1540.'
when he with twelve knights completed the
roll. 1t now consists Of the sovereign and
sixteen members; ST. Andrew Is its patron
saint, and the color of the distinctive ribbon
is dark green. The knights of this order
are invariably Scntcbman.