Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-09-01
FOREIGN GOSSIP.

The famous termites. commonly
called white ants" although they be-
long to the order of the dragon fly, in
fest Ceylon in countless swarms, de-
youring everything eatab!e. and even
cutting the timbers of dwelling houses
so tnat the latter are reduced to mere
shells
ne Glasgow Herald makes the
graceful acknowledgment at the head
OF Its column of humor that fully one
haf the humorous savings we hear
come from America, and of the other
half full fifty per cent. should be ac-
credited to that country" Two or three
Weii-paying publications in England
are weekly papers whose contents are
almost all composed of clippings from
American papers, and rarely credited
Sir Edmond du Caue, student of
crime. says there were s.. $50 ''habitual
criminals" known to the London police
In 1854. and that in 1890 the number had
fallen to $4,000. He scouts the idea
that crime would cease if drunkenness
were swept away. "If any social hab
more than another leads to crime" he
says, sit is that of betting and gam
bling, which derive their attraction
from the hope of getting rich without
work"
The Nile has fall of but six inches
to the ! 200 miles. The overflow COM
mences in June every year and con-
tlnues until August attaining an eleva-
ton of from twenty-five to twenty-six
feet above low-water mark. and flow
ing through the valley of Egypt in a
Pm b
During the last 1000 years there has
been but one sudden rise of the Nile.
that of 1899, when 10000 people were
drowned.
The custom of adoption is universal
in Japan. where it is practiced to keep
family name from becoming extinct.
Indeed. there is scarcely a family in
which it has not at some time or other
been practiccd. 4 person who has no
male issue adopts Il son, and. if he has
a daughter. often gives her to him in
marriage. A youth. or even child.
who may be the head of n family. often
adopts. on the point of dying, a son
sometimes older than himself to succeed
him.
That lonely speck in the Behring
sea where Commander Behring of the
Russian navy. the first efficient explor-
er of these waters. lies buried beneath
rude cairn will presently have a mon
ument to the navigator's memory. The
Russian man-Of-war Alcoot recently
visited the spot. and will return with a
metal cross inscribed to the memory of
Behring and his followers and pro-
claimed as the tribute of the Alcoot
Rahrirn y,-rorlyaI fIa is1a ~,
1741.
The last giraffe in the London ZOO
logical gardens has recently died, and
the institution is, the first time since
1896. without living specimen of this
animal. 1t has had in all thirty speci-
mems. of which seventeen were born on
the place. The giraffe market is very
poorly supplied, and there is but one
specimen now for sale in Europe. The
giraffe is practically extinct in south
Africa, and can not be found within a
thousand miles from Cape Town. There
are still giraffes in east Africa, but there
are no means of catching them.-Popu-
lar Science Monthly.
Japan possesses a remarkable time
piece. 1t is contained in a frame three
feet wide and five feet long. represent
ing MONDAY landscape of great
beauty In the foreground. plum and
cherry trees and rich plants appear in
full bloom: in the rear is seen hill.
gradual in ascent, from which appar-
emily flows a cascade. admira bly, imi-
tated in crystal. From this point
thread-lilSe stream meanders. encircling
rocks and islands in its windlings, and
finally losing itself in far-off stretch
of woodland. In miniature sky Il
golden SIM turns on a silver wire.
striking the hours on silver gongs as it
passes. Each hour is marked on the
frame by n creeping tortoise, which
serves the place OF a hand. A bird of
exquisite plumage MARBLES at the close
of each hour. and. as the song ceases. a
mouse sallies forth from neighboring
grotto. and scampering over the hill to
the garden. is soon lost to view.