The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-15
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

"A novel election bet was paid at Wapa-
koneta, o., ON Friday. Three democratic
girls in a millinery establishment rode
in an old spring wagon dressed in mouru>
ing, and with Bryans picture hung in
the back draped in black, while four re-
publican girls rode in a fine barouche,
decorated with flags and Mckinley ana
Hobart pictures The procession passed
through the principal streets. The three
democratic girls had to defray all ex-
penseS.
There are many persons, even yet, in
Talbot county. Maryland, who believe
: that Bryan has been elected to the presi-
dency, because woman fortune teller
says so, says the New York Tribune.
About two months. ago she planted two
beans. She went through the necessary
incantations in such performances. One
of the beans was named Mckinley ard
the other Bryan. They were tended care
fully, and the fortune-teller declared that
whichever came UP first represented the
successful presidential candidate. A day
or two before election both beans came
TO the surface, the Bryan bean outstrip-
ping the other three hours and twenty
six minutes. Therefore she declared
Bryan would be elected by small ma
jority.
"A goat with an inordinate appetite
for rats is owned by Rene Clayton, who
keeps a cigar store down on Passyunk
avenue, says the Philadelphia Record In
order to appease it's craving for rodents,
the goat sneaks in and out of neighboring
cellars and generally returns with prey
in it's teeth Various complaints have
been made to Mr.. Clayton about his trou-
blesome pet. A family living a few doors
below Claytons store were eating sup
per a few evenings ago, when suddenly
rat darted through the room, and after
it in hot pursuit came the goat. AS the
rat had a good lead it escaped while
Nanny got mixed up in one of the din
ing-room chairs. and in it's desperate at
tempt to get free demolished that piece
of furniture, which Mr.. Clayton had to
pay for. The animal is now rusticating
in the country.
The following calculation on the length
of time which it would take a person to
count 100000 900 recently appeared in an
issue of an English periodical: What is a
billion? The reply is very simple. In
England a billion IS a million times
million 100000, 100000. This is quickly
written and quicker still pronounced. But
no man is able to count it. You will count
100 or 40 a minute. But let us suppose
that you go up as high as
200 a minute hour after hour.
At that rate you would count 1900
an hour, 2SS,O0O a day, or 105, 10000 in
year. Let us suppose now that Adam, at
the beginning of his existence, had begun
to count, and had continued to do So and
was counting still. Had such a thing been
possible, he would not yet have finished
the task of counting a billion! To count
a billion would require a person to count
200 minute for a period of 9,5l2 years, 542
days, hours and 20 minutes, provided
he should count continuously. But sup
pose we allow the counter twelve hours
daily rest, eating and sleeping. Then he
would need 18,025 years, S19 days, 10 hours
and 45 minutes in which to complete the
task!
Carriage watches have a reputation
for being useless Injuries, says the New
York Times They gain this reputation
from being considered accessories to the
comfort Of the feminine portion of hui
manity. The general run of carriages
are used almost entirely by women. Ny
lady may occasionally take the men of
her family driving, but a man, when he
drives for pleasure, uses a trap or cart.
Carriages are built with this idea in view,
and the brougham Is particularly designed
for the use of women. The well-appoint-
ed brougham has a small case of toilet
articles at the front, where it can be con-
veniently reached from the seat. 1t con-
tains a couple of dainty silver and cut
glass bottles for smelling salts, mirrors,
etc., and in the front of the case is set
the watch. This is almost invariable.
Occasionally a watch is set in the front
Of the victoria. But what is the good of
it?" says the man who knows. ''They are
never going. They are first-class watches
but did you ever know a woman'S watch
to keep good time? If it is an hour out
of the way, why then it Is, that is all.
The carriage watches are never wound.
If the coachman is expected to do it he
breaks it the first thing. If he doesn't
do it, 1t isn't done. Then what does
woman need of a carriage watch when
she has her own or can look out at any
| of the large clocks around the city and
see the exact timer"
In it's attempt to avenge the death of
a woman, the court of appeals has re-
Gently been divided on nice question of
law" commented a lawyer a day or two
ago, says the New York Times. Minnie
Ingersoll, a young girl of II, lived on a
farm in Lewis county. On the evening of
July 10, 1895, she, in company with an ell
derby man, had been milking cows in a
barn. and as they were passing out with
the milk pals a shot from ambush was
heard and the girl fell to the floor NOR
tally wounded. 1t transpired that a young
farmer, John Hoch, who had sought her
hand in vain, committed the murder The
only plea sought to be established on his
trial was insanity, produced by intense
jealousy. The jury promptly convicted
the murderer, and he was sentenced to
be executed. In summing up, the district
attorney indirectly commented on the fall
ure of the prisoner to take the witness
stand in his own behalf and used these
words: The little mound under the snow
alone knows, and the defendant will not
speak Although the trial judge, in a
very impartial charge, told the jury that
under the laws of the state the omission
of a person accused of a crime to take the
witness stand in his own behalf could not
be commented on, and the inference of
guilt could be drawn from such omission.
this little slip of a jealous prosecuting
attorney came very near reversing a lust
conviction. The court of appeals took the
summer recess to deliberate on the case
and affirmed the conviction only Iast
month by a divided court Six Judges
heard the case argued, and four of them
decided that the district attorneys indis-
erection did no harm, two taking a directly
opposite view. Strong oninione x-ara .,,.tt