Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-05-12
FROM FOREIGN SOURCES.

A RUSSIAN lady proposes, In tho
columns OF q Russian newspaper, that
the women of Russia and France should
Join In forming corps Of amazons to
fight the amazons Of Dahomey.
THE recent persecution of the Jews in
Vienna became 80 dangerous to all shop
keepers that the city recently appeared
covered with such signs as 81 am
Christian Tradesman;' Christian
Brandy Shops" christian Cheese
monger;" Christian Old-Clothes Shop"
A COMPANY has been formed to ex-
ploit tho auriferous sands of the
Rhine. A calculation has been made
that from Rheinan, in the canton Of
Zurich, to Phillipsburg, in the grand
duohy OF Baden, at least twenty-five
million dollars worth Of gold is mixed
with the sand of the river.
A new Atlantic cable is spoken of, to
extend from Claw Bay, in Ireland, to
Greenlv Island. in the straits Of Belle
Isle. The comparative shortness Of the
cable, 1900 miles-is used as an argu-
ment in favor of the scheme, although
longer telegraph lines will be required
than for any Of the English-American
cables.
| THE Pail Mall Gazette reports that
three Of the Inhabitants on the island
Of Sappho are considerably moro than
100 years old. A certain Isman Apa Is
100 years old; Khalil Apa is in his 10th
year. and Aschik Bahia has just reached
his 115th year. What is quite as re-
markable, the trio are obliged to earn
their daily bread.
| THE Dominion Government is about
to organize an expedition to explore the
oil regions Of the far north, near Atha-
basca. Prof. Dawson, who has passed
through the territory, says that If the
indications are correct 1t is the largest
| oilbearing district In the world, COM
prising nearly $50, 900 square miles.
THE annual catch Of fish on the Eu-
ropean and North American coasts is
computed by German statistician to
amount to 10000 tons. A ton of fish
corresponds with IS sheep in weight.
and with 20 sheep in nourishing
power. Therefore, the total European
and North American catch equals in
number AZ, 900, 900 sheep and in nourish-
ing power 100000
THE most curious draw-bridge in the
world is in st. Anne's Bay, Island Of
Curacao. 1t is pontoon bridge, and
one OF the pontoons. Is n steamer built
in Camden, Me. 1t Is scow forty feet
long, twelve wide and seven deep.
There is a single shaft that runs clear
through the boat and has a screw pro-
peller on each end. The shaft Is turned
by two steam-engines. When the draw
Is to be opened the captain of the
steam-pontoon casts off the lines, gives
@ toot on the whistle, and sets the pro-
pellers a-whirling, and thereupon half
the bridge swings around far enough to
let the coming ship pass through. Then
the wheel is reversed and the gap Is
closed.
A BERLIN dispatch reports that a
curious ceremony has occurred at Ellis
dorf. Two Japanese young men OF
noble birth were baptized, and re-
nounced their names, titles and nation
atty. Count Anne, of Yeddo, now be-
comes plain Herr Curt, and will study
at the military school with q view OF
becoming Prussian officer. Viscount
Kobayakawa, of Toxic, will be known
in future as Herr Bruno, and intends to
study for the German bar. The cause
assigned for this remarkable act on the
part of the Japanese is that they have
fallen in love with two sisters, daugh-
ters Of a good, old Brandenburg family,
Tho young ladies declined to accept the
addresses Of the yonng men unless they
consented to become Christians and
naturalized Germans.