The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-01
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

In PARTS Of Massachusetts, it is thought that
If a girl puts a piece of southern wood down her
back the first boy she meets will be her hus-
band. In Boston, If a marriageable woman puts
q bit OF southern wood under her pillow on re.
firing, the first man she sees in the morning
will, 30 says the superstition, be the one whom
she is to marry.
ALEXANDER, the youthful King of Servia, mar
rowly escaped death few weeks ago. While
returning to Belgrade with his adjutant from
a drive to Belawoda, his majesty was obliged
to cross the railroad several times The
trains did not travel far. The rising ground
also cut off the view OF the passengers. At one
place the coach approached within a few feet
OF the track. when policeman named Lietka
Mlrkovic rushed madly toward it and grasped
the reins of the horses. A second later train
dashed by Had the policeman not seen the
dangerous position of his king and acted
promptly, the coach would have been cut to
pieces. His majesty thanked the policeman
profusely at the time, sent for him later to
come to the palace, loaded him with presents.
decorated him with the Takova order, and
made him a captain Of gen d'armes.
THE British consul at New Rochelle, in.
France, tells startling story Of the ravages Of
white ants in that city. The general belief is
that these pests, whose chief delight is TO eat
out the heart of all woodwork, leaving nothing
but hollow shell outside, are confined to trop-
ica climates, but it is plain that they can flour
isb in European ATTITUDES. They gained foot
ing in New Rochelle at the end OF the last
century. but for many years they were con-
fined to one quarter of the town, where they
wrought their accustomed destruction. Now,
however, they prevail all over the city having
been carried from one point to another by car
penters and builders, who, with fatal economy
and Ignorance, in repairing the ravages of the
ants, kept for future use any piece of wood
that seemed to be sound. Thus new colonies OF
ants were founded in every direction The
creatures have invaded the prefecture and de-
strOVnd of the archiVa1 hafOFN
ence was discovered Supporting beams and
woodwork have been replaced by iron TO pre-
vent threatened collapse, and no one eau say
where the mischief may end Nobody supposes
that 1t will be possible to keep the pest con-
fined very long within the boundaries Of New
Rochelle.
THERE is one popularity about the Mexicans
In their social and family relations which l
doubt to exist among any other people on the
globe, said P. L. He'll Of Chihuahua, Mexico,
- " writer for the st. Louis Gtobs Democrat.
"While it is true that majority of those oc.
cupyIng the highest social and political posi-
proud old aristocratic Spaniards, yet 1t is as
equally trne that a great many others of wealth
and acknowledged leadership have come up
from the lower ranks by some sudden turn OF
the wheel OF fortune or eruption of revolution
Unlike the American, the Mexican who acquires
fame or fortune never forgets or neglects his
poor kin. And, unlike the American again, he
treats his more impecunious relatives in queer
way. He takes them into his household as
servants, giving to them the most mental ser
vice. but never denying the relationship or at
tempting to conceal it. l know of many in
stances where a rich Mexican's mother Is his
cook, his sister his house girl and his father or
brother his butler. The American would either
disown them altogether or put them on unequal
footing with himself. In this regard, you must
admit, the democracy OF Mexico is purer than
that SO loudly boosted of in this country"
ExrRAvAGANcE in binding has frequently fur
vic ba Of
tricks and fads In booksellers catalogue at
hand as | write is an advertisement of Latin
copy of Apulein's Golden ASS bound in the
skin of a Jerusalem ass, the leather being still
unhaired. A book by Jeffery Hudson, the
noted dwarf, was bound IN the silk waistcoat Of
Charles l., the dwarf's patron saint. de luxe
edition of Fox's historical works, specially At.
ted up for Edwards, the philosopher, was bound
throughout in fox skin, forty-Seven pelts of
these little animals being required
to complete the Job. O'Connen
who SO delighted -.. IN 1.-The the pos;
f Baeons OF works h hsd 'q the e0 0l
tire set rebound in pig skin and always lovingly
referred to them as his "Baconrnd" books.
During the French revolution. when death
stalked through the land and murder lurked in
every dark corner" some of the philosophers
who had become hardened with their nightly
revels, where skulls were used drinking
cups" carried their love of the greWsome and
the horrible so far as to reoind whole libraries
in human skin. The writer of this note, who ls
connected with the,St. Louis Republic, OF cs had
he pleasure @? Of handling a copy OF muir
erar's confession which was bound in the
tanned skin of the murderer himself
OLD TOYS so very seldom survive the rough
work which their possessors give them that if,
ry any chance, they do weather the storm they
become exceedingly valuable A collection Of
old playthings, many of which belonged to royal
children, has just been sold at the Hotel Drouot,
and some OF the articles fetched prices which
even their artistic merit and their strange sur
seemed to merit, says the GGli0n0nI Messenger.
For instance. little doll, rather less than foot
high, but clad in q panopy Of Steel armed at
all points exactly cap-a-pio," but perfectly
modelled and made at the time when Louis
XIII sat on the throne of France sold for
els francs, and even this price was eclipsed by
that given for a tiny set of carriages carved in
wood, and accompanied by little wooden SOL
diers made not consuls plauco, but when Ma
poleon was first consul, which brought in nearly
1000 francs. miniature Kitchen interesting
as being an exact model of that useful house
hold apartment, tempo Louis XVI, and little
iointed doll sixteen inches high dressed in a
broche silk Vatican dress, fetched $40 francs
and ITO francs respectively. Many other toys
belonging to bygone epoohs sold at almost
fancy prices. II is sad to reflect that the little
hands that played with these trinkets have
hardened, grown cold, and have now turned
into dust, whilst the toys themselves remain
mute satires on mans mortality. Probably
sentimental considerations of this kind did not
weigh heavily with the purchasers.