The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-07-06
ODDS AND ENDS.

a dumb woman at Martha'S flne-
yard owns and manages small schoon-
or, living in it with a kitten and huge
Newfoundland dog for company. She
supports herself by fishing and her lob
ster pots, and by peddling thread and
buttons and such small wares along the
coast when the fishing season is over.
Among the various charity societies
of Moscow there Is one for the endow-
ment of poor brides The funds of the
society are constantly increased by the
gifts or requests of benevolent persons,
but only the interest of the money is
used for the designated pur. ose,
The cable to connect Halifax with
Bermuda has reached the latter place
It's length is S74 miles, and throughout
it is of much greater weight than has
hitherto been used. A careful survey
of the bed Of the ocean will be made,
so as to discover the most suitable posi-
ton for the cable. The temperature at
different depths will at the same time
be determined.
A process for marbeizing silk plush
without pressing or endorsing it has
been discovered By this process the
light and dark effects are reversed when
looked at from opposite points. The
finish is nicely preserved and does not
give the appearance of having been
wet, as shown in many goods of this
character.
There are sixty-four churches of the
Church of England, besides those of
other denominations, within quarter
of mile of st. Paul's cathedral. Most
of them have moro seats than there are
residents in the parish. Many of the
clergymen live far from London. One,
whose income is 81, $50 year. has not
visited his parish for fourteen years.
1t is said that there are thirty-iive
kinds of granite in Maine, each of
which possesses distinctive character
istics readily recognized by workmen
acquainted with monumental and
builing stones. There are all shades
of what are termed white granite, the
most beautiful of which is the Hal
lowell, together with the red granite of
Red Beach and the black granite of
Addison.
The Passion Play" at Ober-Am-
mergau was discovered by English
men in 1880, when two Oxford fellows,
who were staying at Bad Gadstein,
heard of it by chance and decided to
be present. They lost no time in de-
scribing it to their friends in Oxford,
and Dean Stanley, then an Oxford
tutor, visited the play and wrote a de-
scription, which made it well known.
A theatrophone has been set up in
Paris, whereby persons at a distance
can hear the performance at any par
ticular theatre or concert. At present
the apparatus only communicates with
one house, the Nouveautes, but it will
soon be extended TO all the theatres
and halls, and connected with the chief
hotels, clubs and restaurants BY
dropping half franc into slot people
will be provided with five minutes en-
tertainment, a longer hearing being
charged in proportion.
The larynx of the great tenor Gayarre,
who died not long ago in Madrid, was
removed after his death, and was found
to be of such peculiar formation that
it will probably be preserved in some
Spanish museum. Gayarre received
81, 400 night in opera, the largest sal
airy ever paid n tenor, and his fortune
is estimated at $500. 600 He was the
son of a blacksmith and common
workman when his voice first attracted
attention, and he was only 40 years old
when he died.
The vatican is garrisoned by com
pany of eighty gendarncs, including
officers, and by a company of seventy
five Swiss guards. The pope has also,
for state occasions, his papal guards,
composed of former officers i'll the pom
tiflca army, and the guarda mobile, or
corps of gentlemen-at-arms. These last
two corps serve gratis, but the gen.
darmes and the Swiss guard have to be
paid at the rate Of about sixty centimes
man per day, besides being lodged,
fed and clothed.