The Helena independent., 1891-07-06

to leave property in cabs while they enter
shop or house, as it is highly probable
on their return they may find both cab
and property vanished into space. Several
cases of this ''strange disappearance" have
occurred of late, the last one being that of
young officer of the 10th Cuirassiers.
He was on his way with his baggage to
the Care du Nord, and stopped at tobac-
conist's to buy some cigars, leaving the
cab at the door. When he came out of the
shop the vehicle, together with his trunk;
had disappeared. AS the officer had
lost the whole of his regmentals. down to
his sabre, it was useless to continue his
journey, he having been on tho way to re-
join his regiment, and he, therefore, stopped
i'll Paris, and sought the assistance of
the police to try to discover the wherea-
bouts of his effects.
A singular discovery was made the other
morning in the Rue Fabert. Some work.
men who were engaged in repairing the roof
of No. 40 i'll that street found concealed un-
der the tiles large number of chassepot
rifles and quantity OF cartridges. 1t ls
sup osed that these "engines of warfare
were hidden there by the communists in
1871.
A good deal has been heard lately from
certain quarters about the Jardin des
Plantes-or, rather, about the geological
portion of it. The animals forming the
collection according to special report.
lodged. All the buildings in which the an
imals are lodged date from the beginning
Of this century. In 1904 the first stone was
laid Of the rotunda now containing the
elephants, hippotami, camels, etc. The
bears den dates from 1905. The house con-
tanning the animaux feroces was finished
in 1921. The ayiary for birds of prey WAS
erected in 1926, and that for the other birds
| two years later: while the latest building of
all, the monkey house, dates from 1886.
| Since that nothing has been done; some OF
the buildings are in very ruinous condi-
| ton, all are more or less unhealthy.
Another fact is that the annual credit
given to tho menaeerie is the same now in
| 1891 as it was i'll 1868, viz. 63 600 francs a
year. Since then, however, everything has
| risen. the cost of labor, the cost of wild
| animals. the price of their food-all are
! pay for everything remains the same. For
| instance the sea lion, which only cats fish,
alone costs the administration 1000 francs
| a year to feed.
| Out of the yearly grant tho sum of 1900
| francs is all that can be set aside for tho
| acquisition of fresh specimens. But for n
hippopotamus. the price ranges from $1,000
to 80, 600 francs. If the menagefis had the
| ill luok to lose the present specimen. which
has been in tho Jardin des Plantes for thir-
| ty- five years-having been presented in 1856
| by the brother of the vlcerov of Egypt-it
/ WOulu Do ueCebSdiy W hiSo up Ior Blk OF
| seven years, perhaps, before, with the pres
ent sum yearly available, n new hippopotn-
| mus could be purchased. The hippopota-
mus is not the only expensive beast. A
| rhinoceros costs about as much. An ele-
| phant costs from 900 to 10000 francs. A
| giraffe costs about 10000 francs. An adult
lion from 1000 to 5000 francs, and a tiger
| about the same. Birds also arc far from
cheap: pair of Indian cranes cost 1,S0C
francs, and even q simple blue parroquet
fetches 800 francs. Therefore, it Is evident
that 1900 francs will not 20 very fur to-
wards replacing animals lost.
| The menagerie suffered great deal dur
| ing the recent severe winter. Forty I'VE
mammals and eighty eight birds succumbed
| to the cold, i'll the main owing to want OF
funds to spend i'll properly heating the
| houses.
A morning pnper states that Sir William
Gordon Cumming will shortly publish 4
| book giving q new version of the baccarnt
case. Tho volume will also contain details
about tho private life of the prince OF
Wales. Curious Details" says this jour.
nal, ARE awaited because il appears thai
Sir William has the intention to treat hi.
old friend without any considera ion."
Here is the foundation for future novel
A certain Mile. Eucenla Vilcoq when 10
turning the other evening to tho hous,
where she occupied apartments found OF
the staircase outside her Hat a little bab,
not more than month old. Itwas wrapped
| in luxurious linan and bore round Its noel
u gold chain with medal of tho Virgin
affixed to 1t. Amongst the clothes was
letter cnse containing bank notes for 10,
francs and n pieee of paper on which wa
| written: "fFakc care of IL. Hers ure bo
francs for the drst months nursing a"a'