The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-08-03

1t is estimated that two-thirds of the
public money held by the London
banks does not draw interest.
The increase of population in France
during the last five years amounted to
only one-half of l per cent.
One of the London theaters admits
free to the performance all Soldiers
and sailors who come in uniform.
In Scotland the semi-annual fair for
hiring farm servants and fixing rates
of wages is still an institution.
Jacob Seltz, Jr., of Montville, Pa,
carved an excellent likeness of each
member of his family upon cane.
1t is estimated that there are less
than 10000 paupers in the Japanese
empire. with its population of 2S7,-
100000.
A letter came to the Topeka, Kan,
postoffice the other day addressed to
"George w. Eightquarts. 1t was de-
livered to George w. Peck.
"Good-by" is a contraction of God
be with you" The Frence adieu means
@to God"-an abbreViation of Il COM
mend you to God" or some equivalent
phrase.
The latest thing in night clocks has
an incandescent lamp over it and
ward or so of silk-wrapped wire which
runs to the bed of the person who
wishes to know what time it is in the
dark.
In the new British pharmacopeia
the metric weights and measures will
be adopted, to the entire exclusion of
the English weights and measures
hitherto used there and in the United
States.
In Kansas there is an energetic su-
perintendent of schools, who, when he
visits the different districts, takes with
him box of tools, saw, hammer, etc.,
and mends all the broken seats, dam
aged desks, and what not.
An exhibition called the Magic
Maze of Mirrors" has sprung up in
London. As the visitor enters the
door he sees a crowd beckoning him
from a hundred different angles-an
effect produced by one stuffed image.
The daughter of Professor Huxley,
who is the wife of civil engineer, is
now living in the City of Mexico, and
finds, among other English residents
of that place, Rider Haggard and two
great-grandsons of the famous Lord
Chesterfield.
A writer in a recent magazine arti-
Gle declares that the day is not far dis
tant when the entire labor, from the
preparing and tilling the ground to
the transportation of the crops to the
railway station, will be performed by
electric motors.
A gentle of Concord, Mass, the
heart of the pie-eating district of New
rious kinds is a brain stimulator, and
he cites Emerson, Gladstone, Carlyle,
Moliere and others as giants who
thrived on pie.
The last occasion previous to this
year on which the house of commons
sat on Derby day was in 1882. The
house was then discussing the preven-
ton of crimes bill. For six and thirty
years before that the house had regu-
larly adjourned on Derby day.
It is said that mulberry wood makes
the most durable fence posts. Near
Strode's Mill, in Chester county, Penn
sylvania, there is farm which was in
closed with mulberry posts ninety-fve
years ago. They are still in good con-
dition and are now supporting the six
teenth set of rails.
The small guild of draughtsmen who
have the franchise to draw pictures on
London payements have suddenly
taken to cultivating higher style of
art. They have improved greatly in
their profession and are going into
political caricature. something they
never used to do at all.
The heaviest of battle ships, the
Resolution, was launched a couple of
weeks ago, her weight on the stocks
being $500 tons. 1t is twin-screw
man-of-war of over $4,000 tons dis
placement. She viii carry 67-ton
guns, besides other arms. The hull
IS divided into 221 water-tight COM
partments.
The work of installing the Jewish
immigrants in the Argentine republic
is being actively carried on. A branch
railway has been constructed to what
is known as the Mauricle colony, where
the Hebrews are being established, and
200 families are already comfortably
settled and engaged in the cultivation
of the soil.
Miss Ormerod, an English woman
who is enjoying a high scientific repu-
tation, bit the tail of a live triton some
years ago in order to study the effects
of the acrid secretion the animal gives
out when angry. She was seized with
spasms and conVulsions that lasted
several hours, and sore throat that
lasted as many days.
A strange case of insanity has re-
Gently come to light at Ballston. The
unfortunate person is Charles II. Nor
ris, 80 years of age, and an expert ac-
countant. He has for long time been
known as man of many eccentricities.
1t is thought that constant joking and
teasing have been a potent factor in
impairing his mental faculties.
The most famous mine in Alaska is
the Treadwell, bought by Mr.. Tread
well for $500. Messrs. Fry, Freeborn
and Hill, of San Francisco, with Sem
ator Jones, of Nevada, became equal
partners. Eight hundred thousand
dollars have been spent in improving
the mine, which has already yielded
S5, 109, 164 in gold bars.
Electricity is now used in French
gun factory for tempering gun springs.
The springs consist of steel wire,
wound spirally, and when they have
been brought to high temperature
by the passage of the current, the cir
cult is broken and they are dropped
into trough of water. 1t is stated
that by this method a workman can
temper 2, 400 springs day.
In many out-of-the-way places it has
been found necessary to manufacture
nitro-glycerine on the spot in order to
avoid the very high rates charged by
transportation companies. Such has
been the advance in methods of max
ing this explosive that, with ordi-
nary precaution, thorough washing,
and careful watching of the various
changes of color, it can be made with
out fear of serious accident.
From the last annual report of the
Telephone company it appears that the
number of instruments in use at the
close of the year 1891 was 512, 4O7-a
large increase over the previous year.
The total earnings for the year were
81, 375, 29O. The expenses were ST.
1912, leaving the net earnings at
So, 869, 418. The extension of the long
distance telephone system is RAPIDLY