Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-07
STORMS IN LONDON
Many Fatalities and Much Damage
to Property Result.
HOF SPELL SMELLS DEATH RATE
Reported Discoveryof Composition
Which Will Render Vessels Invisible.
PARIS SUICIDE EPIDEMIC

LONDON. August IA long spell of
hot weather was broke by severe local
thunder storms Thursday and Friday,
in which several persons were killed, a
number OF buildings were damaged and the
crops sustained serious injury. The Their
moEleter registered 80 degrees on Wednes-
day in London and at Cambridge the heat
was Is degrees above the average which
has only been reached three times during
the last quarter of the century. There
were over 200 prostrations from the heat
treated in six London hospitals on Thurs
day. There YVES only one-third of an inch
rainfall IN July. The crops are seriously
threatened and the experiences of the 1876
water famiAe in the East End of London
seem imminent The heat which has been
usually prolonged, has affected the London
death rate. There were 2,023 deaths last
week, of which ,2D5 were children bring
Ing up the death rate to 1916 per Thousand.
There were many sunstrokes and general
discomfort was experienced. The judges
and counsel in the law courts DOTTED their
wigs and gowns.
Lnnguid Interest I'm Yachting.
The waning season has been marked by
rather stupid Cowes week. Only the most
languid interest in the yachting was felt
outside the strictly fashionable circle, and
the absence of the Emperor William, though
he is detested by many members of the
Royal Yacht Squadron. deprived the week
of the brilliancy of 1896. the presence of the
Kings of Belgium and Siam failing to fill
the void.
The members of the house of commons
have gone home after placing an unusual
strain upon the kitchen committee which
reports having served a total of &c. $50
meals The postmaster of the house of
commons also records a big achievement,
315.9o0 letters having been posted SOC, 80
letters being received and &c, los kilograms
being handed to members or sent by them
from the house.
Referring to the reply of Mr.. A ]. Bal
four, the government leader and first lord
of the treasury. in the house of commons
on Thursday last, when he said her majes-
tvs government would consider the advisa-
biiity of prosecuting, on the charge of OBJ
tanning money by false pretenses the
agents of the so-called National UNIVERSE
grees for s. each" Truth calls the atten-
ton OF the American public to the bogus
ness of the London Society of Science,
Letters and Art" which is selling de
grees. with "a gown, hood and the rank
of M A.. to unsuspecting Americans, and
quotes the Churchman of New York as
saying that such a degree, with a silver
medal for merit. has been acquired by the
Rev. John Wright of St. Paul. Mimi
Lord Revelstoke, the senior partner of
Barring Brothers, who died on July IS, left
f35O00 (s175,0OO to be divided among his
children.
Mr. A. J. Balfour is proceeding to Bav-
reuth, in order to be present at the Wag-
ner musical festival
To Render Vessels invisible,
Much interest is taken in French naval
circles at the discovery of a composition
which is alleged to have the marvellous
property of rendering vessels invisible be-
meath the rays of electric search lights 1t
is stated that at the naval maneuvers off
Brest torpedo boat No. 81, representing the
enemy, succeeded in traversing unseen the
luminous zone produced by the electric
projectors, thanks to having been coated
with the new composition.
Though other jubilee peerages have been
gazetted, that of Sir Donald Smith, the
Canadian high commissioner, hangs fire
He desired to assume the title of Lord
Glencoe, but it is understood his intention
caused lively indignation among the Mac
donalds, who were owners of Glencoe cen
turtles before Sir Donald Smith bought the
property. These objections and those of
the Argylis are causing Sir Donald to re-
consider the matter.
An Ex-Queen's Book.
Ex-Queen Natalie of Servia has joined the
ranks of authors, publishing a book of
aphorisms. some of which are interesting,
as they were evidently learned from her
THE dream of every brave soldier is to die
for something great and to live for some
thing nice" I'm every country the army is
like angels before the throne ofGod." "A girl
is an angel. Take care that when she be.
comes n wife she is not changed into
devil" THE heart tried too far no longer
knows how to be happy" and "A moment
of apathy may render superfluous a whole
existence OF the greatest energy"
Suicide Epidemic in Paris
There has been a veritable epidemic of
suicide in Paris for some weeks past, the
recent rropieaI neat adding to the number
of cases. The tragedies commenced with
the self-destruction. on July last, of the
quarter of Paris, who suffocated them
selves in small room with the fumes of a
charcoal stove after dining together Since
then, almost daily, one or more women have
committed suicide and the self-murder Of
men has been equally numerous.
The bodies of men are found daily hang
ing tn trees in the Bots de Vincennes In
one alley of that part alone six bodies of
and the morgue is so full of dead bodies
found in the River Seine that there is no
further room for them.
The grouse prospects for August II are
well up to the average. The birds are
healthy and strong. The bad weather kill
ed off the delicate birds. but there are
plenty left for the sportsmen.
A Leith firm invites tenders for the con-
struction of a steam yacht, over 800 feet in
length, to be built for the Car of Russia.