The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-01
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

country east OF the Jordan. The governor
general OF Damascus has lately reopened the
old fortress. which stood so long IN the soil
tudes at karak, on the mountains which skirt
the southeastern part OF the Dead Sea,
and placed garrison within the walls there
OF. The region has long been under the con-
troll OF the Bedouins. and abandoned to law
lessness.
The seemingly extravagant price paid for
some kinds Of lace is easily accounted for
when it is known how difficult and slow is the
process OF manufacture, says WOrthington'S
Magazine. The Valenciennes lace maker, work
ing twelve hours a day, can only produce one
third OF an inch in week. Every piece Of
Alencon point passes through the hands of
twelve .workmen. The best Brussels thread
is spun In underground cells, because the dry
air would cause the thread to snap. Upon
the worker, as she sits ia the dark. is directed
one ray OF light, but the thread is so fine that
her delicate fingers are better guides than
her eyes. Very many soon lose their sight
and the high pay the lace worker earns is pro-
pOrtlonate TO the acknowledged unhealthlneSS
of the occupation. Old lace is more variable
IN price, and some of it can be counterfeited
by limitations. OF some varieties. however,
the secret is lost, as of point d'Argentan,
which continued to be MADE upon the banks
OF Jne Orne I'LL the french revolution stopped
the demand for a time and gave the peasants
other means OF earning their bread.
According to recent statistics about half the
population of France lives by agriculture: a
tenth by trade; a twenty-fifth by the liberal
professions, and three hftieths on private in
comes says the Pail Mall Gazette. OF the ag
rlculturistS 0l76,0J0 are owners who farm on
their own land. The others are tenant
farmers graZiers, laborers or small proprie-
tors, who in their spare time work for others.
ne mines, quarries and manufactures en-
ploy I,s00.O COO persons, while 60J3.U00 are en-
gagged IN various petty industries Among
traders there are 100000 bankers. commission
agents, and wholesale merchants. $3.50 co..
Shopkeepers, and 1854 COO keepers OF hotels,
cares. and public houses Railways and the
other transport agencies by sea or land EN-
ploy SCOT 0 persons. There are sU5.O0O state
servants in the various departments and
parishes of France. With regard 10 he pro-
fessions there are liz 900 preachers OF various
denominations, and lI50OU members of
different religious orders; 10000 members of
10000 teachers in schools other than those
OF the state, III 900 artists and artistes of
every description, while $4,000 are recognized
as savants, men OF letters, journalists, etc.
4 he number OF persons living entirely on in
come derived from land or other investments
reaches l.S49C0), while there are 900 pen
sloners, public and private.
A special parliamentary report on Sur
names in Ireland" has been issued, with
notes as to numerical strength derivation.
ethnOiogy and distribution, SAYS the London
Times he volume is full of curious infOrmc-
ton. gathered together evidently at very con
siderable pains. II shows among other things
That Murphy is the cOmmoneSt surname in
Ireland there being no fewer that u 6J1 per
sons or 1873 per 900 of the population so
called, ana the next in order of numerical
strength are Kelly, $500; Sullivan, 4S coo;
Walsh. Al, 100; Smith, 80, 100; O. Brien 30, 400,
and Byrne, 337O0. In chapter on the derl-
walton of Surnames there are examples like
the following: McFadden, derived from Mac
Paidin QriSh) son Of little Patrick; O'Toole,
from O'Iuathaill, the descendant of Tuathal:
Kilbride from Glolla BriRhid, the servant of
st. Bridget; Gilchrist, from GiOlla Chriosd
the servant of Christ; Mcintyre. from Mac
aO-t-SaOlr. the Of the W nil
the usual pecullarities occur in surnames Ge-
rived from locality, personal peCuliaritieS
etc. In many cases the descendants of the
ancient families are still dOmtciled in the
same tracts as their forefatherS. and on this
point we learn that the MacCabes were a
warlke clan originally from County Mon
Afghan; the Mace arthyS were anclently kings
and princes OF County Cork and elsewhere;
the MacDermotts were ancient princes their
chief fortress being on an island in Tough
Key, near Boyle; the O'Doegherty's were
powerful sept in County Donegal, and so on
with many others.
A romance that is reflected in the lives of
thousands of adopted citizens Of this country,
saws the New York sun, will be strongly pic
tured In the April numter of the Century
magazine It is series Of Illustrations
called simply From the Old World to the
New, drawn by Andre Castaigne. Artistic
head and tale pieces alternate with full page
engravings Many Of the drawings have a
simplicity, truth and dlreetnesS that recall
In the Fields of Old Europe " The tailD!ece
shows woman and,an ass yoked together and
Iaborlously breaking the ground with pillow.
! ne full page picture represents man and
two women planting Held. while troop of
cavalry with trumpets and flying pennons is
seen against the skyline. "Hald Times, the
next set; Gears It's own commentary. The
starving family in their little howell is Drawn
with remarkable strength. Gone" shows
the deserted house and the hustle of embark
alton on the steamer. On the Deep" PIE
al nd 81,
passengers on the lower deck. Landing
gives the first impression Of crowded Broad
way and the Eoardlng of the cars for the west.
The Land Of Promise shows the happV
homestead, with fertile fields and the family
growing up IN comfort and contentment.
There IS no text with the pictures. and none
IS needed 1t IS story OF the experiences of
countess immigrants, who have become de-
voted citizens Of this country. And 1t is a
lesson in patriotism and gratitude 10 The
Lana of Promise
Herr Dove, the inventor Of the alleged bull
let-proof coat, has made some further public
experiments with the invention says a Berlin
dispatch in the London times. He claims ia
have essentially improved the coat The ex
periments were as follows: At a distance of
176 metres an object was fired at first with
the old Mauser rifle, and then with the rife
USED al present In the army, the proectlle of
which. as Is known, penetrates the bodies of
four men, one behind the other The object
hred at was an eight-centimetre thickness of
more modern arm passed clean through it
while when the Mauser ride was used pieces
OF the lead stuck fast to the gauze steel
plate about half a centimetre thick was also
pierced. piece of one of Herr Doves bul-
let-proof coats was now fired at. 10 was fast
ened in an iron frame and was of the
length Of a mans chest. and about three
quarters the breadth. The front was covered
with military cloth, to which also buttons
were attached, and the back with grey boI-
land. several shots were fired at il with
nj r nd no
struck fifteen times. Three of the shots were
close together and formed large hole bt1t
none of the bullets pierced the back thonah
their POINTS could be felt. The coat was from
live ana a half to six centimetres tbicI-
Herr Dove states that when the coat Is made
by machinery and properly pressed. it will
weigh only about eight pounds. 1t seems To
be somewhat too heavy for the infantry but
might perhaps do for the artillery. Herr
Dove states 49, he has already received or
ders Tor coats for military expeditions IN the