The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-29
STRAY BITS.

The English admiralty say that the tota
abolition of masts and sails in oil future fight
ing ships has become absolutely necessary.
Uranium is now classed among the rare
metals. On account Of it's electrical resistance
it is likely to be used in electrical insulation.
The center of population of the United
States is now at Madison, Ind, near the juno
ton of the thirty-ninth parallel and the
eighty-fifth meridian.
The olive tree lives TO a surprising age.
One lately destroyed at Beauaieu had re-
| corded age of FIVE centuries and was thirty
six feet in circumference.
A lady has invented mustasae spoon.
The spoon has a shield over the top, and soup
can be conveyed to the mouth without danger
of soiling the mustache.
Iceland fishermen now carry oil regularly
as a means Of smoothing the waves and ena-
bling them to continue at work in weather in
which heretofore their boats could not have
lived.
The shofar or cornet, used in the ceremonial
of the Jewish synagogue, is said to be the
Oldest form of wind instrument known to be
retained IN use. 1t is usually made Of a rams
horn Strengthened and fattened by heat.
The telegraphic postal card is great con-
venienca in Paris. Open cards of this kind
arc delivered anywhere in Paris within an
hour after they are mailed for six GENTS;
closed ones, giving as much room as an ordi-
nary letter, Tor ten cents.
Denmark has adopted new rife, after the
system of Krag-Jorgensen. The weapon has
a cniiber of eight millimetres. weighs a little
over eight pounds, and can be used as re-
peater or otherwise. Compressed powder Of
the ordinary sort is to be used for the present.
An innovation at funerals is silk skull caps,
TO be worn by the minister in charge and the
bearers at the grave, also by the male mem
bers Of the family. The caps are put on in
the carriages, and the ordinary hats left
there, the gaps to be worn all the time at the
grave twill prevent many colds
Unrivet three large japanese fans, then let
the sticks fall downward. Gather the top into
a puff Of satin. Weave in and out of the
slender sticks ribbon to match in tone your
satin, finish each stick with tiny. silk tassel
or ball, and you will find yourself in posses
sion of a wonderfully effective lamp shade.
In 1871 a man living at PorterviIle, Cal,
set slip of ivy at one end Of his store. To-
day it covers the whole building and has
climbed upon a large oak tree. The first occu-
pants were pair of mountain linnets, who
were not disturbed. and their descendants still
breed there in immense numbers. They sing
as well as the German canaries.
There is very curious stone about which
very little is ever heard. 1t is called the AL
exandrite, in honor of Alexander Of Russia,
who was very fond of them. In the daytime
they resemble an emerald, except that they
are somewhat darker, but at night ther are
adeep purplish red. They are found in India,
and, like all rare stones, vary much in their
qualities.
An official stenographer of the German
imperial parliament has calculated the exact
rapidity of speech of some of the most cele-
brated German statesmen. Rickert, leader
of the free trade Independents, he says, talks
in a minute 153 words; Count Herbert Bis
marck, IA; Singer, the Socialist, 121; BAN
berger, the best known bimetallist among the
Independents, 129; Stumm, the coal baron,
AS
Ten Englishmen Of sporting blood recently
had a steeplechase by moonlight over the
Thorpe Hill meadows, near Melton Mowbray.
They turned OUT in night shirts; according to
the ancient rules of such contests, and rode
over a course which was indicated by lamps.
A hundred carriages held the spectators OF
the event. Half of the racers drew out be-
fore the end, but five rode it out, and Lieut..
Burnaby, of the Royal Horse guards, came
In ahead, Count Zborowsi a good second.