The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-29
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

A LARGE BED of South American peoples in thu
Union square fountain, in New York, now ex.
hibits more than 100 blossoms in the sunshine
The flowers fold their leaves when the sun gets
low, and do not usually open them until after
sunrise. But it s noticeable that on nights
when the clouds are heavy and the atmosphere
IS full OF mist, the guieless blossoms unfold
Their leaves to The bright glare of two electric
lights that falls directly upon them, apparently
under the impression that they have had their
nap and the day has come.
SOME fifty miles from ST. Petersburg upon the
lake of Ladoga, there is a small granite island
entirely occupied by fortress. It is Schiussel-
burg, the dreadful prison or state worse than
the French 5astile, worse than the fortress of
st. Peter and st. Paul, with It's TroubetZol and
Aleneevsky ravelins aud its underground cells
The most resolute Of the revolurionists, men
ana women, who have taken part in actual con
spiFacies, whom It is not considered safe }
keep in the fortress OF Peter and Paul, are sent
there, says Free Russia. The absence OF any
Inhabitants except those employed in ser
vice renders it possible TO isolate O.
prisoners TO degree unattaInable anywhere
else. No one is allowed TO land upon the
island. Sentinels have orders to shoot any one
who approaches II the near relatives of a
prisoner inquire concerning him at the police
department in St. Petersburg they are some
times told alive" or dead" Sometimes no
answer IS given. The soldiers and guards are
themselves prisoners who mingle only with each
other, and are carefully watched on the rare
occasion when they are allowed to make visit
secret communication with even the most isaI-
ously guarded prisoners in the st. Petersburg
fortress But the fortress Of Schlusselburg
remained dumb, like the grave it fs, though
some OF the best known mon Of the revolution
list party, in whom the greatest interest was
felt among the whole body OF revolutionists,
were kept there.
THE REPORT has got out that Elsie DeWolfe is
mad because some OF the papers have com
pared her to Bernhard, for which she claims
- n no ind NJ k,fu S,f baF ,rK,
NEST thing that has happened i'll playd0m since
James Owen O'CouDer quarrelled with his wife
because he said, she did not consider him a
greater actor than Edwin Booth. Elsie SAYS
that Ssrdou scoffed at Bernhardt. Fancy
sara as 'Fabienner " he exclaimed ''She could
burlesque it capitalIy, but play it, never"
Truth gives the whole history Of Miss De
Wolte's connection with "Thermidor' away as
follows: LAS for poor Mile. Bartet, the leading
actress at tina Theater Francois, >Sardou was
AFRAID that she would be too strong for the
part. No; what the author of "rhermidor'
wanted was q niGerweak, little actress who
would give no robustness or force
TO the character: just simper through IL. That
WAS the Fabienne' that Sardou conceived The
trouble was where to find an actress weak
enough 20 play it. What bothers me with your
American actresses. he said to Miss Devote
is that they are all SO terribly strong But,
nkatre, she replied, am not terribly strong
You" cried Sardou; heavens above us, didn't
know that you could act at all I can't said
Kiss DeWof Then you are Just what want
lOT Sdlu the OESInhClbt he gave her
the part and has cabled to her that Bsrnhardt
and Bartet cannot henceforth be ranked beside
her" Perhaps there are so many chances for
error in the Transmission Of a cable) he meant
10 say they could not henceforth be rank he
side her.
A SPECIAL MEETING of the board OF regents of
the Smithsonian Institution was held 10 Wash
ington recently to tase action in regard 10 a
glft OF $500, goo made by Thomas c. Hodgkins of
Setauket, y. Y. to increase the permanent
fund of the institution. Half OF the amount is
Is to be used like that of ths original belest Of
James Smithson for the increase and diffusion
OF knowledge among men," The income of the
other half is to be applied to the increase and
diffusion OF more exact knowledge in regard to
the properties of air and its relation to the
physical and intellectual vel are of mankind.
the sans to be effected by the Offering of pre-.
lniums for discoveries and essays. for which
competition Is to be open to all the world, or
bY such other means as may hereafter appear
TO the regents of the Smithsonian institution
as calculated FO produce the most bened-
cent results. Mr. Hodgkns, who, like Smith
son. was born in England, came 20 this country
about 1880 and was a successful merchant In
New York. Since his retirement in 1859 he has
Leen living retired and scholarly life on his
farm on Long Island. II is understood thai il
is his intention TO make still further gifts to the
institution IL is believed by the regents that
the generous act Of Mr. Hodgkins Will call Al.
tention TO the fact that the Smithsonian Iustf.
tuition, of which the President of the United
states Is ex-of1cio presiding officer, aud tho
chief Justice is the chancellor is by its peculiar
organization. especially well suited 10 act a. a
trustee for any fund intended for the Increase
and diffusion OF knowledge. not only Of a scieu
thc nature, but IN other fields OF intellectual ac
tivity.