The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-22
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

DAGGERs, intended for use and not for orna-
ment and just large enough to slip inside a
womans gown, are now manufactured aud sold
in considerable numbers, says the JeTe'ers'
ca GUAR The purchasers are, az q rule. women
who adorn themselves lav.shly with diamonds
and other precious stones.
THE island of Heligoland, in the North sea,
which was ceded to Germany by Great Britain
two years ago, has just had its first case OF
e-n0jeSte. The victim, an old woman. spoke
disrespectfully Of the emperor, for which ter
rible crime she was arrested and taken to AL
tona, where she was convicted and sentenced to
three months Imprisonment.
THE heavy snow falls brought calamity in
curious way to the Chinese pheasants that
to be found in some parts Of the northwest.
The sleet and snow stuck to their long tails in
such way that the birds were unable to fly.
The country boys saw their opportunity ana
captured the birds by dozens. Tha birds are
said to be worth $40 pair alive and in good
condition, and three boys in one family in
Oregon caught nearly three dozen.
DARWIN the great naturalist, gave 1t as his
opinion that earth worms annually bring to the
surface not less than ten tons of dirt to every
acre the earth over. This they do through
swallowing earth for the sake of the vegetable
matter it may contain, the rejected casting
being the portion brought to the surface, be-
cause 1t is rendered unfit for further use by the
action of the worms digestive fluids Thus il
will be seen that earth worms are the farmers
best friends. aiding in agricultural work by
rendering the surface porous. Tueir work of
| constant performing makes the soil highly per-
vious to rains, the tender stalks OF plants etc.
They also cover up decaying vegetable matter
| that may be lying upon the surface and per-
| form otter services that are as yet unex-
p anable. The earth without worms would be
Ii dough withou yeast, cold hard bound and
void of fermentation, and consequently sterile.
| This has been the case in many instances where
| the earth worms have be n accdently or in
tentionally destroyed. In all such cases tho
lost fertility OF the soil has been again restored
as soon as the worms resumed their work Of
fertilization.
TIE average Dutchmau Of the south, though
he can skate very well, looks rather foolish OF
| the ice. His short legs and wide brooches are
admirable adjuncts to his nose, his thin cooked
beared and TIE lumpishness OF his expression.
| says Chambers journal To be sure this
| breadth makes him look important but If he
were less muscular 1t would be a sad hindranco
| to him i'll battling with the wind. which in the
winter is apt to make skatinS in one direction
| something OF trial. Tae Frieslander, how
ever, is taller bstter proportioned and in all re-
| spects a handsome fellow. The yellow beard
| he sometimes wears seems to put him on a bet
| ter footing OF affinity with T. Q other members
| OF that respectable An glo Saxon family to
| which we ourselves be!o x quite as much as his
provincial speech aud his blue eyes. He is a
most masterful creature when he
skates of his, and thinks nothing OF max
in< q score Of miles from one village al
| other before you and are out OF bed. As
for the cold, what cares he for 1T He knows
he must rely on that lusty circulation of his to
| keep him from being benumbed, though he
| clothe ever so lightly, and seems more regard
full for his head-which seslskin cap. takes
| care of-than OF his well-shaped body. A
| Friesand canal in winter Is lively as any
thing can be. The ice may not be very good or
| Of unquestionable strength, but no sooner are
! tine coats penned in and the broken pieces of
ice sufficiently welded to allow him to skate bo-
| tween them than the sport begins. 1t is feat
| OF honor to be the first in the district to cross
the canal when the wintry season is In Its youth.
The name of the bold lad is remembered for q
week or two, and have no doubt his pluck
stands him in good stead In the esteem of the
cherry checked damsels of his province, whose
eyes dance past one SO brightly when the ice
festival IL in full swing and journeying is all
done on skates.
THE total population Of the county Of London
on April 6. 1891, says the Pail BaH Gazette was
231 431, the increase in ten years being S97 237,
| or 10 SO per cent The number of inhabited
houses was b57 ,l34, an increase 1881 of 81 249
or 10 90 per cent. The total expenditure on the
local government OF London In the year 1Ss9-'90
| was 9l0. 0O0, much an Australian
colony This was equal TO e. los Sd. per head
| of population. The rates were levied upon a
ratable value of 93i, 200, so that the amount
per 81 was 6S. 3D., but the ratepayer only paid
Is 10d of this amount. TIE central rates fall
equally upon all the parishes, but the rates for
parish purposes are very UNEQUAL. ranging from
IS. 934d down to is 04d. For i'm perial and
local purposes combined London pays in taxa
ton approximately 8I7, 100000 The inland reve-
nue. returns show that the total incomes earned
I In LOnOon amount 10 +l25,ol3,UO0, so that the
! burden of taxation amounts to IL per cent The
| balance OF the loans outstanding at the end of
| 1891 vas 84S,032, 900. On Jan /, 1891, the
paupers numbered 1884 and the cost of
pauperism was in l8S9-'90 22,340,00O the
cost of each pauper being 92l los Id.
| The number OF persons committed for trial
during 1S69-90 2.906, while 100, 74S were
convicted summarily The habtual offenders
known to the police not committed during the
year numbered 2,392. The total represents a
percentage of 81 to the whole population Tic
cost OF police was 81, 799.0l0 or Els l2s 3D. per
head OF the incriminated class. Industrial
schools cost fc0,652. In the schools of the
metropolis the pupils numbered in lss3-9I,
652. 354. the total cost of the board schools was
81 969, 900 of which 81 .272,000 was thrown on
| local rates The death rate in London in 1891
was 81 4 per !. COO of the population which com
pares favorzbiy with other large towns, Liver
pool rising as high as "a per 1000. The open
| spaces In London, without reckoning the dis
used burial grounds, extend to 5 449 acres Be-
sides there are open spaces on its borders which
bring up the total of parks accessible to Lon
doners to 2, 900 acres The fir ia the metropo-
! lis in 1885, numbered 1852. Of which 1913 were
| serious. The lives lost numbered 81, 81 of tnese
| having been taken out alive The total co Il of
| the brigade was Elk, 723, or 63<d per head of
the population. The fire insurance companies
contributed e27, 1886 Property was insured for
aG -