The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-03
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

i
places" but there are official documents that
prove that the present name is a variation of
Others like Ja-da-qua, Ja-da-chque. ETC.. and
the meaning is place OF easy death"
THE Chinese medical writer's recommend such
remedies as tiger bones, bears gall, ground
blood, tree bugs, fossil crabs, fowls gizzards,
elephant blood, "insects of nine smells, " dew
falling in the dark of the moon, COW hair
ground bones of cows knee. Jobs tears, snake
skins, ground rhinoceros horn. hedgehog skin
and claws, dried silk worms, and many other
remedies equally as absurd and foolish.
A YOUNG FRENcHMAN is astonishing the people
of Paris with his marvellous feats OF mental
calculation, which surpass anything that has
ever been known before OF a similar character.
He performs multiplications and divisions OF
numbers of twenty-four figures, and extracts
the square and cube roots OF numbers with
almost incredible rapidly The youn calcula-
tor scarcely knows how to read or write, and
does not interest himself in any other pursuit
than calculating, which amuses him con-
stantly.
AN industrious searcher after reconcile facts
has prepared list of musical compositions by
women, extended from 1878 to 1885, 1t includes
hrty-hve serious operas, flfty-three comic
operas and two oratoros, besides few cantatas,
ballad operas, etc, Songs and detached pieces
for piano are not included: yet the best known
musical compositions by women. Frau Schu-
mapns contributions to her husbands song
collections and Fannie Mendelssohn's assist
ance to her brother in his Songs Without
words" are comprised in these TWO classes.
ASK the average man what he thinks is about
the average diameter of the tunnels, or smoke
stacks, of the large Atlantic steamships and
be will most probably say somewhere between
four and eight feet, the latter figure being put
as the outside limit. And he will be about ten
feet wide OF the mark on every guess. for
steamship tunnels are the most deceptive
things ahoat. The tunnels of the Etrurla,
which may be taken as q fair standard for the
big liners. measure 0iRltA0n feet
diameter. One of the leading engineering
journals Of this country is responsible for the
measurement.
THE Chicago market supplies IN outlet in one
way or another for some remarkable Industries,
says the New York Tribune Somebody has been
telling the Chicago Mail OF some he aaw near
Grand Rapids. 1t Is JUST in the hight Of the
fishing season In the upper lake region. and
farmer boy has taken advantage OF IL to start
cricket ranch. He is raising ericOets by
thousands and sells them to amateursauxls for
bait, lie Las only just started uDon this novel
undertaking, but says that there's millions In
it. and that he is sure it will prove profitable
and successful line OF business. In tue whit
time he proposes to convert his cricket ranch
into skunk farm and raise skunks for their
skins. For several years past he has raised a
colony Of cats every season and says that he
finds ready sale for all of the pelts that he can
deliver to the Chicago market.
THE latest defender of opium is Surgeon Gen
eral Sir William Moore of the British army, who
read paper the other night in London before
meeting Of the East India Association. He
upholds the opinion that the effect of the drug
is less injurious, mentally and physically, than
that of alcohol. and adds that in many cases
the moderate use Of it Is absolutely beneficial.
1t is only the adulterated opium, he declares
that effects analogous to those OF alcohol
Moderate smokers Of the pure article, he as
serted, we're more likely to derive benefit than
harm from the practice, and were no more
likely to commit excuses than a man accus.
toned to take glass OF beer with his dinner
was likely to become a dHunkard. 1t was
opium, he contended, that enabled Cinnamon to
compete successfully with Europeans, showing
themselves the strongest, most Industrious and
enduring, as well as the most thrifty and pru-
dent, of all people. Sir William, it is conceded
Is great authority, and his opinion comedies
with that Of many experts who testified before
the recent Parliamentary committee.
SOME apprehension has been felt recentlyin
certain parts of the west respecting the large
winglesS insects known as western crickets
which have their home in the sage brush re-
gion, their distribution reaching over the Great
Salt Lake basin into Northern Oregon, Eastern
Washington, Western Montana and occasionally
into Western Wyoming, says the Washington
Stdr. These remarkable bugs move over the
country in immense droves like sheep some
times, although usually they are found wander
ing about sngly or in pairs aud feeding upon
the scanty vegetation of the arid or semi arid
regions AS rule each species is confined to
somewhat limited area and prefers some par
ticu ar plant as Its chief diet. But few of the
different kinds have thus far been studied at
a as to their habits and life history, and most
of them as yet possess no scientific names. Two
species of these crickets appeared last year in
great numbers over an extensive territory one
vast swarm, that spread over the en-.
tire region drained by the Malade river. covering
q tract nine miles long by three miles wide
They laid eggs, and fears are entertained lest
the country will be exposed to further depreda-
tions by their progeny during the present year.
AS with many other insects when they develop
in excessive numbers. the desire to move in
great crowds seems to seize these crickets at
times At such periods they move toward cen
trail points and gather in amazing numbers,
after which they strike out in a body in some
particular direction. When moving they turn
neither to the right nor to the left, but keep on
in direct line, even plunging into streams
which happen to run across their line of travel
When such streams are encountered, il not too
large, they are soon filed to such an extent
that the oncomlng hordes are enabled to cross
over on the bodies of the leading hosts. 1t
said that they can be driven Just like drove
of sheep" when they have stopped to feed, and
at such times they are often "herded off,
gardens and fields Of grain.