Evening star., 1893-10-28

| Top. George Vil1ters, the first Duke of
buckingham. who. going as ambassador to
france In the reign Of Charles l, took with
him suit OF white uncut velvet and a
cloak to match. both covered with dia-
monds, feather made of diamonds and
sword gtrdle and spurs set with the same
| million dollars OF the present value Of
money.
The most expensive head-dress Of mod
ern times was worn In Paris during the
exhibition year by a lady who had chosen
miniature Eiffel tower a yard high and
formed Of diamonds, which were vouched
| to be genuine and cost $100. 600.
The most costly Jewel in the world Is
owned by the royal house OF Germany, be-
Ing superb sapphire valued at $16.00O,OOO.
The Emperor OF Austria possesses the most
| valuable opal. which weighs seventeen
ounces and is worth $25O.0O0. The Mat
TAM" belonging to the raJah Of Borneo and
weighing 367 carats, Is said to be the largest
white diamond, and the largest steel-blue
diamond. called the Imperial Kimberly,
from the famous mines In Africa, weighs
lS0 carats and Is held by London syndi-
cate, which values it at 81, 100000.
The largest bee owner is one HARRISON Of
est cattle breeder. Gustav Jovanovitch, cali
| ed the king OF the Steppes," who pastures
more than 100000 sheep with $4,000 shep-
nero dogs upon his 100000 acres in Rus
The largest dairy in the world is owned
by Queen Victoria at her model farm near
windsor. This Is thirty feet square, with
noors OF porcelain tiles Of white and blue
containing medallions Of the queen, her
husband and each Of their children marble
columns supporting the roof and windows
OF stained glass bordered with daisies, but
tercups, primroses and May blossoms. Bas-
reliefs Of the seasons and various agricul-
tural designs complete the ornamentation
ana marble tables and basins are ranged
around the wall at intervals, while per-
petuaI stream OF water runs through the
building.
Temperature md Tides.
semipalalinsk. in Siberia. holds the record
Tor the most intense cold as the mercury
drops there to Is degrees below zero, and
some parts Of Africa cannot be eoualed
IN heat, as the thermometer registers ls5
degrees. The Bay Of Bengal and the Bay
OF F'undy have the highest tides, measur-
ing sixty and seventy feet: the deepest sea-
soundings have been made at Tristan d,A-
conna, 1885; the most northerly point
reached was by Lockwood in Nav. isss. be-
ing ing . degrees. "a minutes, seconds; and
l842. II degrees. II minutes; the highest al
titude ever reached was in the balloon as
cent C NJ OF Coxwell and Glaisher who attained
atitud 5eet IN n, 1857 and the highest Inhabited
Glass stands first Of all elastic substances;
pearl IL the heaviest Of animal substances:
mercury the heaviest liquid; the heaviest
woods are pomegranate and lignum vitae:
cork. the lightest wood; emmensite has the
hlenest explosive power of any substance
yet invented. and platinum is the most
dnctile metal: capable Of being drawn SO
Russia Is the largest empire, China the
most populous. and Great Britain the larg-
est exporting country. and the United
S.ases tne greatest producer Of gold. Italy
holds the record for crime, as 27,07O murders
are annually committed there
Inc Oldest printed newspaper Is claimed
py tns Cninese. as the proprietors Of the
imperial Gazette celebrated its fifteen hum
dredth anniversary at Pektn in 1882 The old
est european newspaper belongs to Ger
many. dating from 1l47. The Oldest Amer
ican is the Boston News Letter, dating from
Ilo4. France expends more than any other
country In public works, and this same land
mas the biggest pawn-brol1ing business The
worst riot occurred within her bounds at
Mayence In 1346. when the citizens burned
10y E Jews. SO hated and prosecuted in the
middle ages.
The Tallest Tree.
The tallest standing tree IS in Tasmania
$50 feet high. but the Mammoth" of Cal
ifornia, which has now fallen. was hundred
leet taller. Though California grows the
largest fruit and flowers, the most enormous
mower Is native Of Sumatra It was dis
covered by the suite of Sir Stamford Raffles
ana named "Raffiesia." in his honor. When
the pud, which is like a monstrous cabba ee.
unioids, 1t shows five petals fesh-colored
ana marked with yeliowish white protuber-
ances surrounding cup Of an intense purple
that Will hold a gallon and q half of iiouid
Inc hover Is nine feet In circumference and
gives out a most repulsive odor like tainted
meat, which Is, however, attractive to in
sects. The vulture beats the record of birds
for flight, travelling 150 miles an hour. The
elephant Is the longest lived, reaching his
five score of years before he is gathered to
mis- fathers. The flea Is the strongest insect
relatively, leaping 200 times It's own length:
put the beetle Is the strongest Of all insects,
as IL Is able to move a mass 200 times its
own weight. The Mordella beetle has the
greatest number of eyes, possessing & 900
infinitesimal orbs of vision The Japanese
rooster, Mino Hiki, has the longest tail
feathers Of any bird, as his vanities measure
on the average twenty feet The Australian
jungle fowl builds the biggest nests, which
are often eighteen feet tn height
The most valuable specimens of pocket
knives are owned by the cutters of Sheffied
In England. One is knife not larger than
thumb nail. having twenty blades Anoth-
er, only an inch long when closed, has sew
enty blades, each made In a beautiful man
ner, illustrating nearly all the shapes given
to knife blades. Another one has 22O blades.
all exquisitely etched with portraits. land
scapes and other subjects, while still anoth-
er contains 1,S40 blades, all provided with
hinges and springs. and closing into the
handle. These are valued very highly the
most expensive reaching $500. A knife with
1OO blades was presented to George w by
the Sheffield cutters and can still be seen
among the royal plate at Windsor
America owns the key of the most famous
prison, the Bastile which may be seen at
Mt. Vernon. 1t also possesses the fastest
trotters. ships and railroad trains, and it
has just been demonstrated that the fastest
yacht. the Vigilant. Is also numbered among
Its treasures.
ESTHER SINGLETON.