The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-13
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

tending army maneuvers has built herself a
glass carriage. so that she may observe pa
rades, marches past and other military func-
lions IN any sort OF weather. Every part OF
the vehicle is made of glass, with the eXcep-
ton OF the upholstering, the springs and the
tires.
The experiment of putting carrier pigeons
on Sable Island, that narrow, low sandy
island lying to the southwest Of Cape Canso,
NOVA Scotia, which has been called the
graveyard OF the Atlantic" has proved sue
ceSsful. The experiment was tried by the
Canadian government as a relief to island
ers, the government steamers making only
monthly trips. The homing loft Of the birds
Is Halifax, nearly $50 miles from the island,
and the flight is made over the stretch of sea
In less than day. One pigeon was out in the
heavy storm on Nov. % and lost part OF its
message, but enough was deciphered to show
that all were well on the island that morn
ing.
Lower California, which somebody periodi-
cally threatens to purchase and bring under
the territorial dominion of the United States,
IS the longest of North American peninsulas
1t IS Of about the same area as Florida It's
greatest length is about 500 miles and its
greatest width about 145 miles, The whole
peninsula is subtropical in climate and pro-
auctions, and its extreme southern end is just
WITHIN the tOrrId zone. The coast line on
gulf and ocean is about l, 700 miles in length.
The population is sparse, and the means of
communication are so undeVeloped that IL is
OilC Vi the uOSJ remote regions IN the CIVIL
lied world The gulf ports are almost I'M
known to people OF this country.
The life" which some derelicts on the
ocean possess is truly remarkable. One was
reported not long ago. which had fioated at
least $500 miles; but that is outdone by the
record of the schooner Fannie E. Wolston, of
Bath, Me. which was abandoned Oct 80. 1891
and is still a menace to any vessel that may
encounter what is left OF her. According to
the records OF the photographic Office she has
drlfted 5000 miles, and she has been reported
twenty two times. When last seen she was
not far from the spot where her crew left her.
If the kearsarge comes across her she will
make short work Of the water-logged hulk
1t can be little satisfaction to the men
who deserted the Wolston to know that more
than two years afterward she is still afoa
The pride and flower of all the youth of the
Zoo is the young hippopotamus, says the
London Spectator. AS 1t lies on it's side,
with eyes half closed, its square nose like the
END or bolster tilted upwards, its little fat
legs stuck out straight at right angles to its
body, and its toes turned up like ducks, it
looks like gigantic new born rabbit It has
pale, petunia-colored stomach and the same
artistic shade adorns the soles OF its feet. 1t
mas double chin and its eyes, like a bull
calfs, are set on pedeStals and close gently
as 1t goes to sleep with a bland, enor-
nous smile. 1t cost $500 when quite
small and, to quote the opinion OF an eminent
grazier who was looking 1t over with pro
fessional eye, it still looks like growing into
money" here are connosssurs in hippopot-
anus breeding who think it almost too beau
tiful to live.
Some three hundred and odd cats are main
tanned by the United States government, the
cost Of their support being carried as regu-
lar item on the accounts of the postoffice de-
partment. These cats are distr .buted among
about fifty postof1ceS. and their duty is to
keep rats and mice from eating and destroy
ing postal matter and canvass mail sacks
Their work is Of the Utmost Importance wher-
ever large quantities of mail are collected as
for example, at the New York postof1ce
where from 1000 to 5000 bags of mail matter
are commonly stored away in the basement
Formerly great damage was done by the mis-
chleYous rodents, which chewed holes in the
sacks and thought nothing of boring clear
through bags of letters in a night. Troubles
OF this sort no longer occur since the official
puSsleS keep watch. Each of the postmaSters
in the larger cities is allowed from IS to $40
year LOT the keep OF his feline staff. sending
his estimate for cat meat" to Washington at
the beginning Of each quarter.
We are so used to regarding the world
round US from the standpoint OF our own
sight that 1t is hard to realize that to other
creatures, far outnumberfng us and perhaps
quite as important in the economy of nature
it must look quite different. The honey bee,
for example is supplied with pair of com
pound eyes with hundreds Of facets each
capable OF sight by itself, and several occelli
or little, simple eyes more closely allied to
their separate functions, what sort OF images
they can present to their owners all remain
questions as interesting and well-nigh IN
solved as they heretofore days of our powerful
microscopes Notwithstanding the fact that
hundreds Of entomologists have been and are
interested in this subject we yet are only at
the stage where we can affirm that the honey
bee sees very different flower from the one
in which we observe her in search for sweets
although of what that difference is and how il
i s produced we can form but little idea.
1t was left to Kansas City man to foil the
ice man, and another prolific subject of the
funny men who write for comic papers seems
doomed, says the Kansas City Star. w b.
Dickson, who, by profession. is at the head of
the Dickson school of shorthand. and Incl
dentallY, is an author and inventor was re-
Gently granted patent for al ice meter, to
be attached to refrigeratorS. 1t is to he known
as the Dickson Ice Meter" By it's use the
consumer will be no longer at the mercy Of
the ice man, and the ice man will no longer
compelled to listen to the complaints of
his customers The device weighs the ice as
it Is day by day put into the ice box and reg
listers the weight of each days purchase on a
monthly register, so that at the end of the
month look at the register will show the
exact number Of pounds used during that
period. 1t indicates the exact number of
pounds OF ice remaining in the refrigerator at
any time OF the day enabling the owner In
know whether or not it is necessary to order
ice, There are also other advantages attached
to the use OF the meter Mr.. Dickson has re-
CSlV6u numerous inquiries ABOUT his iQVen-
ton, and has been offered flattering sum for
it.
One of the largest mourning houses In
London has STAFF peculiar to its own Or
ganlzation. This is made up of the daugh-
tiers Of clergymen. These live in the build.
ing, which is most extensive. They have
their Wellappointed rooms and their com
Portable table. They have their times and
seasons OF relief, opportunities for recrea.
ton, but their hours are appointed They
are we'll dressed. says the New York Even
ing Sun, and always in black silk When
the notice Of death is received one Of
these young women is sent in a
cab If it is in driving distance and per
sonally superintends every detail OF the
mourning. She goes, comes, takes meas.
transmission, and at last goes personally IN
adjust bonnets. wells. drapery. If the err
rand is out of town, in a distant place. she
takes the train, goes up and down until
everything is in readiness. II the order
comes from distance so far that her nres
ence is impracticable she assumes its entire
charge in town. The ceremonial of Fngiisb
mourning is so well prescribed and SO thor.
oughly understood that any order can no
easily filled Mourning for grandmother
brother-In-law, cousin once, thrice removed
have laws and agreements so fixed that only
telegram, accompanied by measurements
is needed to insure their being carried ont in
that strict spirit of decorum that belongs 70
good form. From India, the islands of the
sea from whatever quarter of the globe the
English flag floats, an order for moUrnine, lie
as dehn1te an announcement as the laws of