The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-23
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

TIE Baltimore Amerfcdn says that the tndig-
nation of the passengers on Western Mary
land train was aroused the other day by the IN
usual spectacle of richly clad boy of or 6
years, whose legs and feet were perfectly bare,
although the day was cold one. The child was
accompanied by his mother and sister, who were
evidently people of wealth and refinement On
inquiry it WAS learned that the boy was the son
of prominent physician, who had lost several
children with throat diseases, until he hit on the
idea of turning his children out barefooted.
The experiment proved to be perfect success.
The bsrefooted boy was the picture of health.
At the union station in Baltimore he ran
around on the cold bricks totally unaware OF
any discomfort. People are constantly shocked
and amazed at seeing the children of this gen
tleman going about barefooted. winter and sum-
mer, but inasmucA as it saves their lives in his
opinion. he is Indifferent to criticism.
some YEARS AGO, says writer in the London
Lancet. owing to illness and long residence In
the tropics, became morbid, sensitive to noises
of every kind. and procured complete relief in
the following way / placed some spermaceti
ointment in the center of little square of
thin, limp cotton, brought the corners together,
then tied them with thread, and inserted one of
the little plugs well into each ear, and after
little kneading and gentle pressure found that
was absolutely deaf to all ordinary noises. such
as the loud barking of dogs and the loud
rumbling OF heavy carriages in the street. A
couple Of points must be carefully attended to.
The ointment must not be too soft, and quantity
about the size Of a small pea. and the little bag
must De somewhat larger Ehan us contAnts, TO
allow the plugs to take the shape of the audi
tory canal This little experiment is easily
tried, and daily experience or over twelve
months warrants me in saying that Ii will be
found invaluable in the sick room.
A BROOKLYN physician who has recently
visited the capital Of Mexico took a snap shot
on his way south at the Tropic of Cancer, says
the New York Sun. This imaginary line is
marked where the railroad crosses it by a
pyramid that was built in 1891. The idea was
suggested by Gov. Gutierrez OF the state Of
San Luis Potosi and under his energetic init
ative the pyramid was soon built. 1t is about
fifteen feet in hight and the longitudinal center
OF its base is supposed to coincide with the
Tropic of Cancer On one side of the pyramid
are the words, 'rropico de Caucer: IONA Tor
rida." On the other side is an inscription to
the effect that the pyramid was erected in 1891
under the direction OF Don Thomas Milan, the
superintendent of the Mexican National railroad.
In South America there is. near the coast, a
series of stone pillars, extending for some dis
lance, showing the position OF the equator.
All passenger trains on the Mexican Central
pause minute at this pyramid TO enable pas
Sengers to look at the spot where they leave one
geographical zone ana pass into another. As q
F, matter OF fact, however, the country where the
Tropic of Cancer crosses the railroad is far more
| temperate in climate than It is In Northern
! Mexico and Southern Texas. The railroad has
| been carried up grade until 1t has reached the
| elevated plateau of Central Mexico, where
| wheat and other products peculiar TO cool, tenn
perate climates are grown, as well as many sub
tropical prOductS All who see the Tropio of
| Cancer pyramid, therefore, may derive from it
the interesting information that a temperate or
| tropical climate does not depend entirely upon
distance from the equator, but is largely infiu-
enced by elevation above the sea; and the great
Mexican plateau, on account of its lofty alti-
tude, is q more temperate region than q large
territory north of ii, just as the great plateau
OF Southern Africa. extending far north, carries
| a comparatively temperate climate far toward
| the equator.
As SOON as a child is born in China, saws a
vx-rJta ;,,
| which presents itself is its initiation into the
human family. The pdtrfo poteStds rejgns SUI
preme it is for the father TO say whether the lit
tie life-bud shall grow up to become a citizen or
citizeness OF the middle kingdom. In accord
ance with the family law, which is supreme in
China both Tor the emperor and for his mean
est subject. until the child has been lifted upH
by the father 1t has theoretically no existence
Il follows, therefore, that infanticde, or the
\ failure TO provide for offspring. receives the
\ tacit approval OF the law. As male children are
means OF support in old age. they are useful
| and rarely if ever destroyed Daughters. how
4 ever. are a responsibility and an expense, and
are frequently exposed. Obviously, they are
not over welcome in the Chinese home Moth
ers OF the poorer class exhibit considerable
anxiety as to the matter, and frequently
consult the neighboring Joss house which, of
course, has panacea for all woes The Taouist
priest throws up the sticks in order to ascer-
tain whether the tree which represents the
woman in the underworld bears white or red
flowers. IT white, then something must be
surely
the sun rises. to her no male children shall be
born. But what is to be done: The remedy ia
certainly curious one. 1t is an illustration of
the principal homeopathic principle that like
cures like. In such g case the girl child Of an
other family must be adopted, in order to ward
on the long line Of females which Threatens the
welfare Of the house. This process is known as
grating" Thus it turns out that girl not
wanted in her own home is at least permitted to
live in another But even then there is a sur
plus. and the manderns are at their
wits ends 20 stem the fearful tide OF
infanticide. A number of benevolent Chinese
merchants have devised plan which ia GER
tainly charming, considered both from the
point Of view Of ingenuity and charitable in
tent. The little girls are broughtupi in asylums.
which are practically female universities, Al.
though deserted by their families, the authori-
ties take great pains to obtain their pedierees
which are hung up over their cots, and are OF
course, invaluable for future use As thew
grow older. these children are carefully trained
and elaoorately educated. Arriving at mar
riageable age, they have an enormous edvan.
tage over the average Chinese woman, who
never receives any education whatever unless
belonging TO the wealthy or official class In
deed, paredoYlcsl as it may seem, very few
Chinese women can even read or write, aud
therefore the little founding carries TO her
husband the one great boon which is the ideal
however remote, OF every Chinese heart-an
education.