The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-25
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

AMONG the curious taxes levied on trades
people in Corea, according to Col Rockhill. was
one on sorceresses arriving at the capital where
they had to pay the board of revenue a certain
number of logs or sticks of wood, for what pur
pose 1t ls not said, but certainly not to burn
them with later on, for they are an influential
class in the community. The tax is no longer
levied.
In Grass Valley, Cal, Is a quarry Of one Of
the most remarkable and valuable building
stones known to the Pacific coast. 1t is unlim-
tied in quantity. cropping out of the surface
like an immense ledge, traceable for long
distance. 1t is so soft Just underneath the sur
face of the ground that it can be cut with
knife, Clipped with Ratchet or planed with a
carpenters plane.
ONE of the most persistent beRgars in Port
land, Me-, is a collie dog which is a very fond Of
doughnuts. The collie. In company with his
mistress, visited a bakery one day last fall and,
perceiving some doughnuts in q show case, he
sat down and pleaded, by means of short,
sharp barks, for treat. The clerk generously
fed the smart dog but now he wishes that he
hadn't, for every day since the collie has ap-
peRred to beg for more doughnuts. II the shop
door is closed he will wait outside until some
one opens it, and then dodge in to get his regu-
lar free lunch.
Some of the Maine coast dwellers are no better
off in respect to school and church privileges
than the people Of the remote Aroostook will
derness who never see anything much except
trees aud bears. A man who lives on Great
Diamond Island, Portland lower harbor, has
three children OF school age, but there is no
school on Great Diamond, and therefore he ap-
pealed to the mayor of Portland for assistance
in the matter. It has been arranged that the
children shall be transported daily at the city's
expense to Peaks Island, where there is q
school. 1t isn't every poor family who have
private steamboat at their disposal daily. as
in this case, and the children enjoy the distinc
ton about as much as they do the ride.
JUsT before Christmas Hans Egerlein, 9 years
old, sent from bis home in Spandaua letter to
Emperor William In which he said that he and,
his younger brother had long wanted uniforms
rifles and swords. Their father who was a SER
geant IN the Prussian army was too poor to buy
these things for them, and they therefore
begged that they might have the small arms
and military clothes outgrown by the princes.
On New Years eve there arrived at the Egerlen
house in Spandau package from Potsdam con-
tanning two little helmets. two swords, two
drums and two tiny rifles of the 'SS model. Ae-
campaigning the box was an autograph letter
from the emperor exhortinE the two little Eyer
leins to learn to use their arms for the defense
Of emperor and empire.
One Of the first settlers of Wayne county,
Pennsylvania was John SwIngle, who settled
in South Canaan nearly 100 years ago. He
came from Germany. His wife present ed him
with Child every two years for fifty years,
and was only o. when she died. When Swiugle
died the twenty-five children were all living.
lies. One of the children, Mrs. Catharlne
! Names. died few days ago in Dunmore in her
eOth year. She was the last but two OF the
twenty five, two brothers being alive both
octogenarianS. Besides them she IS survived
by six children, twelve grandchildren and
eighteen great grandchildren. 1t is est mated
that the descendants of John Swinge in Penu-
| sylvania number over 600.
If all the locomotives in the United States
were coupled together they would make train
of solid iron aud steel over 300 miles long. Add
the passenger cars and We would have 800 miles
more of wood aud iron; this would give us a
gigantic passenger train 600 miles in length,
counting both engines and cars Should we
! want a huge mixed" train we might add the
box, g." fiat" and every other kind of freight
car. aud our train would then have a total
length OF over /, 900 miles, The passenger cars
In this gigantic train would be capable of seat
ing 900 people, and upon the freight cars
could be loaded The weight OF all the pyramids
of Egypt, and all the state capitol buildings ia
the United States besides. Verify great is the
railroad system of America.
THERE recently died at Westminster Md, an
aged negro. Abraham Ireland. who was a sub
jecr of study amen medical men. In his Youth
Abraham was as Oack as jet; when he died he
was entirely white. The change was gradual
but sure, first appearing in the form of white
spots, which in course of time spraad over his
whole body, until there WAS no black to be seen
Both his parents we're ful-blooded Africans
and slaves. He was born in Baltimore county.
on Palm Sunday. 1909, and changed masters
several times, until the emancipation proclama-
ton made him his own. The old man received
handsome offers to exhibit himself from P. T.
Barnum and other showmen but he preferred to
work for living at bis trade of tanner, and
kept in retirement much as public curiosity
would let him. He died Of the grip.
A SHORT TIME AGO leading Scotch news
paper printed letter from a correspondent
who sought for information and advice in re-
gard TO emigrating to Australia. The expecta-
ton was that the inquirer would get some
advice from some Australian reader of the
paper. He did. man writing from Sydney
offers the following advice to the eager emf
grant: First, change your mind Second.
take course of lessons from an acrobat in
lightning changes. We have no climate, only
samples, and we show great many in twenty
four hours. Third, take life belt Fourth.
let your clothes be mud color They will as
sumo this hue very soon, anyhow. Filth, take
few hogsheads of carbolic acid. The people
have never seen their way to knock a 10 per
cent dividend out of a drainage scheme hence
they do without one, and ask you, What do
you think Of our tramwAysi' Sixth, puy a
return ticket"
nVnER