The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-07
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

THE Turkish cavalry still have Winchester
carbines and will retain them for a short time.
The infantry has 800 900 Henry Martini rifles
and 100000 Manser rifles of 95 millimeters cali
Der An order was placed in Austria a short
time ago, moreover, for 2S0,000 Mannlicher
rifles of rs millimeters caliber.
IT HAS long been a disputed question as to
how the motto of the United States, "E Pluri-
bus Unum," originated and how it came to be
adopted by this country The phrase 'E Pluri-
bus Unum," having the same meaning-one out
OF many-was used by several classic authors.
During the last century the Gentfemdn'S Naga-
ztne. periodical published in Great Britain,
had the words ''E Pluribus Unum" as a motto
upon its title page and there is very little doubt
that 1t was taken from this source when first
placed on our national coinage IN 1896. There
was also question as to the exact meaning of
the phrase some persons having imagined that
IL was meant to indicate simply that there was
new nation formed among the many in the
world, but the general conception of the mean
ing or the phrase Is that 1t means one made up
OF many, and in this sense Washington and
others spoke Of the United States undo the
constitution as a nation as well as a confederate
republic. In this sense It is properly styled by
all nation and this was the idea symbolzed
in the motto, ''E Pluribus Unum, one from
many. That is one state or nation, one con-
1ederate republic, made up OF many republics,
states or nations.
THE sacred cup, the traditional "Sacro
Catino," belonging to the cathedral at Genoa
which for centuries has been supposed to have
been carved from perfect emerald, has lately
been thoroughly inspected by a 1eweler, who pro-
nounces it simply green glass. The cup, which
is more pan than cupshaped, is IA inches wide
and inches deep, and is by many, believed to
be the identical cup used by Jesus at the institu-
J1on of the Lords Supper. After the crucfixion
1t Is said TO have fallen into the hands of King
Herod, who used 1t in a triumphant way at
many wild banquets. According to tradition
it came into the hands of the officers Of the
Genoese republic in the year ll01, having been
given as an equivalent for money due from the
crusaders, who had captured the relic during
their famous expeditions TO the east. AT the
Sienoese government paWned the cup
for the magnificent sum of $500 900
and afterward redeemed it, more on
account of its supposed value as gem
than for It's historical worth. Had the officials
known what now seems to be the fact, that the
cup was simply an extraordinary specimen of
the glassworker's art, the 9200, 900 would, no
doubt, have been slow In forthcoming. When
the French captured Genoa the Sacro Catino
was part of the spoils. Their chemists, jew
elers, glassworkers and others tested the sacred
cup, the majority of the eXperimenters con
curing in the belief that it had been fashioned
from genuine emerald of great size and ex-
traordinary tineness. Among the dissenters
was Chervl, who cOntended that the sacred
relic was made of glass. Sincs that time the
genuineuess of the cup has been doubted. The
testimony of the American jeweler mentioned
adds weight to the suppositun. Many believe,
be it glass or gem, that it is really what the
church claims-a relic OF our Savior.
A@BosToN Traveller reporter had the good
fortune to meet distinguished arch8ologist
and eastern traveller, in the person of John
Henry Haynes not long ago. MIR. Haynes was
spending but a short time in Boston, but con-
sented to give some description of Bagdad
and the surrounding country. This Mr. HAYNES
is well qualified to do. as he has resided for
some years at Bagdad as United States consul
after explorations with the ASsos expedition,
DR.. j. r. s. Sterretts expedition in Asia Minor,
and the Wolfe expedition in Babylonia In
speaking OF life in Bazdad itself, he said: The
houses are Of yellow brick. The clay soil of
the country anywhere makes good brick. and
stone must be brought long way and is quite
scarce. The houses are arranged convenient
for defense, being built around a square
court. The outer wall contains no win
dOws and only one door, from which
the passage leads into Sthe court. There
| is one row OF rooms opening upon the court,
and beneath it is q basement. story half under
| ground. Here every one retreats during the
| day, for it is very hot. These basement rooms
are unfinished, with the exception of a few
| tables chairs, ETC., for the chief endeavor of
| the people during the day is to keep cool The
/ average maximum temperature in the shade
during July is ll4o; the extreme is 1902 All the
| rain is in winter and none falls from April to
| November The sun beats down from per
fectly clear sky, and everything becomes burn
| ing hot Foreigners do not attempt to do any
| thing through the most OF the day. The natives
1 stop work from IL to 3. AS soon as the sun has
| left the court and level housetop, servants
| drench the heated bricks with water. There is
} a parapet around the roof which casts a
shadow over 1t as soon as the sun is
| low, and then the water is poured
| on by the pailful. Ono can almost see the
| steam 50, the bricks are so hot. and can see
| the edges OF the wet surface fairly run back
| along the bricks. To cross a court Just after
| the water has been thrown on is agony; il is
| like nothing but going into the hortest room Of
| the Turkish bath. But the wettins oools the
| place, and then every one goes 80 the roof
| where dinner is served and all calls received
| and paid, and finally every one sleeps there 1t
| is dry and warm all night with not a suspicion
| of dew. OF course one must rise some time be-
fore the sun. The foreigners are accustomed
| to take exercise at this time. The favorite
kind is riding, and on taking a canter outside
the town into the edge of the country the air of
the early morning is found 10 be cool and deli
! cious One can stay out not more than an hour
| or two after sunrise. All official calls are paid
| and state business is transacted at this time
| Then comes the struggle to keep cool in the
| cellar rooms.