The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-02-06
NEWS AMI NOTES.

Phrenology and chiromancy have long
ago become established branches of
pseudo science and b JOks and phample 8
on the subjects are within the reach of
every body. There is, however, new
branch OF the curious methods of ply g.
ical researches III, character which is as
yet very little developed. Ii is the stuuy
OF the finger nails, the shape and color
of which are said TO indicate certain
traits of character. Finger nails, &C.
cOrding to the experts of the new fad,
If long and slender, denote imagination
and poetic feelings, love of art and lazi-
ness. II long and hat they are the signs
of prudence, good sense and grave men.
tai faculties; If wide and short they in
dictate high temper, rudeness, a desire
for controversy and Obstlnacy. A pink
color signifies virtue, liberality and cour-
age; dry, brittle nails belong TO murder
ers aud other cruel persons; curved IN
shape of claws, as bad or worse than the
last named. Soft nails indicate feeble
ness OF both body and mind, and nail
gnawed close 10 the fl sh signify sill =
ness and dissipation.
A down East paper says a goood word
in behalf of the organic tion of the
Kings D iughters. The young women
composing it are pu ely demucractic
and undeEominational, and its Who'll
creed is on the little silver cross worn
by its members and bearing the lie ters
Ii. N, I'm His name), the working motto
OF the whole ordOr. 1t is divided into
bands of ten, and each ten has its own
watchword and aim. They are ''shut-ln
tens," Whose lives are shut off from the
busy world through invalldism, and
and they carry on their work through
correspondents and co operation with
each her. Their work Is pathetic and
inspiring to the well ones. As an Illus
tration, mention may be made Of band
Of ten young women IN Boston, whose
work last year was tremendous. They
are all what the world would call $50
ceiy girls," but, with an Garnet desire
To help the less fortunate. they took for
their motto, LESS of SELF" They made
over 800 visits among the sick poor and
never empty handed. Their sell-denial
was taken on laughingly and cheerfully.
and meant no candy, matinee tickets.
etc., but they are stronger, sweeter and
more womanly for their denial and ex-
perience, and their spirit, "less of self, !"
is carried into society as we'll as into the
sick room. This is only one band among
many, all working with an earnest, sim
cere unself|hness, and the kings
Daughters deserve all honor and en-.
couragenent, for they are great power
for good and do much to restore faith in
poor human nature.
A writer in the London Times advau-
ceS an ingenious theory OF the origin OF
Ia Grippe. He attributes it to the over
flow oI the Yellow river in China, which
broke through its barriers about year
ago, and flooded vast tract of territory,
destroying lives by the hundreds of thou
sands. 1t Is stated that, when the water
subsidized. the land was covered with
yellow mud from which the river de-
riyes it's name, and that this dried into
dust Of 80 sickening character that
it led to local epidemic of the type Of
influenza, the germs of which could
have been readily carried, either by air
currents orthe slower process of trans
pOrtation of merchandise or persons, all
over the world. In support of this
theory, the statement ia made that, pre-
vious epidemics of influenz, have close.
ly followed great floods 10 Northen Asia.
The Rev. G. H.'Merrill, secretary of
the Vermont Domestic Missionary So
ciety, is authority for some rather dis
couraging statements regarding the
condition of religious affairs in this
State. One-half Of the church pulpits
are vacant. Vermont ministers are do
ing more work for less pay than any
other ministers in the country. One
half the population of the State of YER
mont are not only Misunderstanding
a'e absolutely unreached by any relig-
iOus agency. The people of this S ate
are giving literally to the support of the
foreign missionary work. while their
own State is fast becoming a missionary
field. The reason for this is, Mr.. Mer-
rill thinks, that the people know about
the distant fields and are ignorant con-
corning the home field. A Kansas
clergyman recently sent to Mr.. Merrill
for rs copies of the Fairbanks map and
pamphlet, showing the religious des'i-
tuition of this State. for distribution
among the people of Kansas and for the
purpose of raising funds to send East
A similar request was recently received
from the South. The foreigners in YER
mont are not the ones who are thus des-