The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-07

ted to il know that II il most disagree
able habit. and fully realize the specta-
apparently unable to break it off. 1t Is
habit that is growing rapidly, owing
largely to the high-pressure rate at
which we live. The habit has nc last
been given name: M. Berillon, a
French doctor. who has been directing
past to the study of nail-biting,
or, as he calls It, onychophagy
finds that habit or disease extremely COM
mon. In public school in Paris, .out
of 265 pupils examined during the mouth
of April last, 6S. that is TO say. nearly
one-fourth, were addicted TO biting their
dnger-nails. Curiously enough, results
vary greatly in different districts and Ia
different schools in the same district. 1t
seems that girls are more given TO
gifls' school in the department of
the Yonne eleven out OF twenty-ope
were confirmed nail-Diters. In another
girls school tho proportion was OIL out OF
207 pupils, and OF those 6l 15 were found
TO be in the habit of biting the nails or
both hands, and the others of biting only
those or one hand. M. Berillon recog-
nizes that nervousness has much TO do
with the habit. and he proposes TO cure II
by means OF "suQgestion." Probably 1t
would be more effectual TO make the vic'
Tins wear gloves or finger stalls
The bursting of the big reservoir on
che Eastern Promenade in Portland. Me-,
yesterday. caused "A loss of four lives.
The reservoir is of comparatively recent
construction, and was designed by j. III.
Shedd, ESQ.,, of this city, and was sup
posed to be one Of the strongest reservoir
in the country. The Grand Army boys
who attended the national encampment
In Portland a number Of years ago will
not need to be told its location, for right
in front of where the reservoir
now stands was located the camp
tents were located n little more 20 the
eastward. The eastern promenade Is
high promontory jutting out into the
back bay and the harbor, aud fortunately.
at this particular point there are but few
houses. The fort tunate discovery of the
saved the lives of many OF
those in the immediate neip hborhood.
This new reservoir was intended to give
high pressure on the highlands of the
city, but it has never been particularly
successful, even in this. Portland has
Swo reservoirs, the older one on the west
ern promenade. This, TOO, has caused
much damage by breakage, though that
was years ago. Those who remem-
ber It. however, tell thrilling stor es
about the breaking Of the reservoir,
and how tfa-, water tore great
gullies through the streets. sweeping
everything before il. Exactly what
caused the break OF yesterday is not yet
known, but it again demonstrates the
foolishness of leaving reservoirs OF sucn
dimensions within the limits of crowd
ell city where life and property are ever
endangered by.a threatened break. The
reservoir was designed by one OF the best
engineers in the country and jt is inn
possible that the break was caused by
hny mistake of the designer
m Ia m mn n l. a
one reuiniscent. The "Miller's River"
disaster of twenty odd years ago, Is gen
rally the first one recalled when bursting
Jams and reservoir banks are spoken OF.
This m turn WAS overpalled by the mag,
nitude OF the Johnstown disaster, which
is by far the worst in the history OF the
country and beside which such accidents
as that OF yesterday seem trivial.
! !
The latest fad in knives is the beautiful
new design in orange Knives which has a
saw-blade back for cutting through the
fruit. 1t comes in silver, sometimes in
the shape OF a souvenir knife, and Is Of u
very tasteful design.
/ / !
When 1o-year.old boy expresses
desire to do something and makes the
desire very evident, as did John Henry,
it is fairly safe to assume that tho boys
shouldn't be done John Henry
was riding down tho bay
In steamer and had a soft. comfortable
seat on n camp stool, but it did not sat
isfy him. He wanted TO sit astrad.lle of
the railing on the side of the boat
Mamma aud papa filed their objections
straightway, and John Henry was
forced temporarily to give way to their
authority. Finally his parents wan
dered out to the further end OF the deck
and John Henry saw his opportunity. He
glanced furtively around TO see If any
body was observing him, then slid quiet
ly up to the rail and an instant later be-
stroue IL, the purser who watched the deck
hands roll John Henry around on the
floor said that he never before saw n
small boy who could swallow so much
dirty sea-water aud come out Of the or
deal alive.
The after-sunset croquet rage is now on
and hundreds of devotees to the quiet
game are engaged in projecting balls
through wickets whose location is pointed
out only by a dim lantern. or n red hand
kerchief. OF course there is lots of sport
IN the game. 1t is highly exciting for
}here is just "a chance that you may con-
1ound the lantern with an itinerant
lightning bug.
y The big engine that furnishes motive
power for the Crescent Park electric
cars met with mishap last Saturday
that laid 1t off duty for several hours.
IL is new and ponderous
hachine aud the company thought that
e would be good idea to use a little
sand on the bearings To wear them down.
II worked like charm until the bear
ings became overheated and then the
cars stopped work for tho remainder
of the day. There was n noticeable fall
ing off In the attendance at Crescent
park on this account. and all the shows
played to rather small audiences.
I ! !
The Rhode Island Yacht Clubs regular
clam bake was n success from both "A
social and culinary point OF view.
About fifty were present to enjoy
the feast, including guests
from Attleboro and Newport. The at
tendance perhaps was not so large as on
some occasions, but goodfellowship, and
,..sl. a A..