The morning call., 1892-12-26
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Only one man in 2oa is over feet in
height.
Iron pavements were first laid in London
In 1917.
Greek infantrymen are trained in stone
throwing.
Ginger essence contains twice as much al
cohol as whisky.
Heath is South African plant which
came TO Europa in 177i.
The Paris sewers are the largest and
most complete in the world.
Baking bread. cakes and pies became q
profession in Greece B. G. 14S.
The Phenieians were the first to employ
engineers TO fOrtify cities.
Several thousands of hairpins, in many
styles, have been recovered from Pompeii
The word encore" was first used ia Eng
lish' theaters in ITO and gave great Of
fense
In 1891 the number of newspapers pub
lished in the United States and Canada was
1888.
At banauets. In Queen Elizabeth's time.
every guest came with his spoon in his
pocket
The wine list of Sardanapalus has been
found on terra-cotta tablet, and contains
ten kinds
There are now 1000 loan associations in
this country, with membership Of 2.000.-
600 persons.
Greek and Roman architects placed earthen
Jugs IN the walls OF theaters TO increase the
resonance
1t is reported that 1,5Oo, OOo, 900 cedar
shingles were shipped East from Washing
ton this year.
Ninety-four elementary substances are
used In cotton dyeing with several thousands
of combinations.
Ude says: "What Bacon was to philoso-
phy. Dante to poetry. Angelo to painting.
Columbus to geography. Calico to astren-
omy, Gonthier was to cooking"
Professor j. W0rtley Axe estimates that
upward OF $4,000 horses annually die or are
killed In London, and of these about half
succumb to accidents or infrmity.
The Suez canal. the greatest work of
marine engineerlng. Is eiShty.eight, miles
long and reduces the distance from Europe
to India from II, 379 miles TO 1923 miles.
In 1880 black masks were worn in public
by ladies of all ranks. The mask was held
10 place by ribbons passed behind the ears
or by glass button held between the teeth
The ordinary folding fan Is said to have
been invented in japan in the seventh GEN.
fury by native artist. who derived the idea
from the way in which the bat closes its
wings.
Mount Ararat, the resting-plac OF the
scriptural ark, is in reality two mountains
senaratea by valley. the higher peak Is
1920 feet and the lesser 600 feet above
sea level.
Oysters come nearer to milk than almost
any other common food material as regards
both the amounts and the relative propor-
tion of nutrients, the food values Of equal
weights OK milk and oysters being nearly
the same.
When resident of Rolls County, Me-,
went 10 cast his vote on election day he
found that he was several sizes larger than
the voting booth. The Sheriff was obliged
TO construct for him screen made of horse
blankets.
Here Is an idea of what little spot of
land may do In the way of production: The
Island OF Jamaica sells annually to the
United States bananas exceeding in value
the entire apple, peach and cherry crops of
that country.
The smallest coin ever struck in this
country was half cent, which was issued
between 1898 and 1857. China is the only
country that has coin so small as our
mill; the Chinese cash" Is worth about
one-tenth OF cent.
A form Of sport very popular in Nor
mandy is that OF 6ying kites, which are,
some of them, of ve-y large dimensions
mere has been competition recently at
Rouen. on the heights of St. Catherine.
The victorious kite rose to the height OF
700 metres, and would have scared higher
but for lack of string.
The crew of the Wandering Jew, which
recently arrived in Boston. was composed
OF TWO Cinnamon. negro, Frenchman Ger.
man. Irshman. Swede. Norwegian and an
American. Before the vessel had been in
port forty eight hours the entire crew were
In Jail. being held as witnesses against the
captain and two mates, who are charged
with having treated them in cruel manner.
Among the numerous presents sent to a
Shah OF Persia by one of the Russian EN-
perOrs was bedstead of extraordinary
magnlhcence. 1t is said TO have been en-
tireiy made OF crystal, and was accessible
by steps OF the same material all worked in
Imitation OF large diamonds, incrusted in a
solid frame. On each side there were
spouts made to eject scented water, VIII ch
by its murmurlng invited sleep.
The shipment OF live Holsters from this
side the Atlantic to England is declared By
fishery experts in England to be impract-
cable. Experiments were made last wear.
but they have not been repeated this season.
Under the most favorable circumstances the
Holsters did not reach the English market
In a healthy condition. and the Government
experts deprecate any further attempt to
demonstrate the feasibility Of the scheme.
The congresses held in Spain during the
centennial concentration almost rival in
number and variety those thatit is proposed
TO hold In Chicago in 1885, They include
the Congress of Americanists, Pedagagic
Congress, Congress of Spiritualists, the
Catholic Congress. Geographical Congress.
Congress OF Freothinkers, Hispano- Ameri-
ean-Portugese Mercantile Congress, Span
ish-American Legal Congress and minor
congresses OF artisans and others which pass