The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-26

leap year. This correction made an error
of seven days I'm 300 years. In l4l4 II was
observed that the eQuinoxes were gradu-
ally moving from March II and Septem-
ber where they ought always 10 faii,
had the Julian year been exact. re
form OF the calendar was thus required
and IL took place under Pope Gregory
XIII by the omission OF 10 nominal days
after the 4th OF October, 1852, so that the
next day was called the 10Th. The change
was adopted Immediately by Roman Cath
Ollie countries, but tardily by those pro-
Tossing Professionalism. ~Some countries,
notably Russia, still retain the old style
calendar. The change OF style took place
in England after the I'd day OF Septem-
ber, 1852, IL nominal days being dropped,
the last of the Old Style being called the
I'd and the first OF the New Style, which
was the next day, the l4th instead OF the
Sd of Septembe The same legislation
which established the Gregorian year in
England shortened the preceding year,
1851, by a full quarter. Up TO that time
the year began on the 25th of March and
the year 1861 did so. but 1t was not suf-
fered to run out, being supplemented on
the 1st OF January by the year 1852, which
1t was enacted, should commence on that
day.
We don't have many blowing -out-the-g
when some unsophisticated visitor from
the "rural districts" may make the ex-
pertinent which has sent so many OF his
kind to their last and long accounting.
Under the circumstances, therefore, the
Gossiper would suggest that the Provi-
dence hotel keepers look into the merits
of recently patented device which is
intended to save country cousin from in
voluntary suicide by the familiar method
OF blowing out the gas. The inventor Is
an ingenious native of the Wooden Nut
meg State, and his device consists OF
gasburner made of a metal having great
expansive aud contracting properties
The gas is turned on in the usual way,
and a small screw Is turned which admits
a minute flow OF gas through the burner.
This gas is ligh and the heat from
the diminutive flame expands the metal
and automatically opens valve, permit
ting full flow and consequently large
flame. The gas can be turned off In the
usual way, but IL IL Is blown out the
metal Immediately contracts, closing the
valve and all the gas that escapes is the
very small quantity admitted by the
screw valve, which IL is claimed Will not
be sufficient to cause any serious results,
although Ii may give the unsophisti-
Gated countryman a dose OF nausea that
will teach him the folly and danger of
using his lungs as gas extinguisner.
This morning the Gossiper heard n
druggist, whose shop he visited, growl-
ing and all because of a cork. woman
came into the store and asked to have a
bottle filed with paregoric. Before hand
ing the bottle to the druggist she removed
the cork, but the druggist did not see her
do SO. The bottle was filled, a new label
put on IL and the cork inserted. Then 1t
was wrapped up in white paper and
handed TO the purchaser "Oh, / bave
the cork here" said the woman as she
displayed the.article in her hand. "Never
mind, madame" said the druggist, 81
guess the one I've just put in will do all
right" When the door closed behind
the woman the druggist began to fume
somewhat. "That's generally the way"
he sputtered, "Ninety-nine out of every
hundred persons who come to a drug
store to get bottle filled will do just as
that woman did. or course you think it
a trivial thing, but tell you corks cost
money and then we have to spend some
time in getting one to tit properly. II it
wasn't for this bit OF retaining corks
we druggists could save 90 per cent. on
our cork bills annually" he concluded,
as he made vicious dab at an early fly
that was meandering along the showcase.