The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-29
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

make II bulge again. the camel remains
where it kneels, and where it kneels it
dies. A fire under its nose is useless.
When the Cornell scientific party was
in Greenland last summer an extensive
collection of botanical specimens was
made, but as nearly all the species were
new to the collectors, it was not known
now valuable the collection was. As it
turns out, practically all are rare and
valuable. As there are many duplicates,
the national museum at washington and
the museums of various universities will
be enriched as well as that of Cornell
There are in the collection specimens of
full grown forest trees less than three
inches in hight.
1t is said there is nothing in scripture
commencing or prohibiting cremation.
says an exchange. The Jews buried their
dead and looked on it as d duty to do so
and misfortune when they could not do
so; but occasionally they burned their
dead, as in the case of Saul and his sons,
and in times of pestience The feeling
against cremation is a matter of senti-
ment principally. The Christians took
many customs from the Jews, and seem
ihgly adopted the custom of burial in
preference to the Roman custom of Gre
nation. The various denominations of
the Christian church have taken no form
al position, as yet on the question of Gre
nation the various funeral services. pro-
vide only for burial, however. 1t is said
that the Roman Catholic church does not
regard cremation with favor.
Most people think the horse type of
the greatest strength, says Answers, but
if they were good naturalists they would
know that insects are immeasurably
stronger in proportion to their size. A
horse ok
weight; many insects can drag a body
siXty-seVen times their own weight A
man pressing upon dynamometer with
one hand eXerts a force equal to three
quarters of his own weight and a dog
lifting his lower jaw does it with a force
equal to eight times his own weight But
CRABS and mussels are even more mus
cular. The pinch of a crab is no joking
matter, considering that it is effected with
force equal to tWenty-eight times its
own weight. Worst still is it to be caught
between the shells of a musseE A mussel
closes its she'll with a force equal to SS2
times its own weight. LAS strong as a
mussel" might sound rather absurd, but
1T expresses much more than "as strong
as a horse
Pure Food Commissioner f. ". Moore
of Pennsylvania has, according to the
Pittsburg Dispatch, just completed an in
vestigation and chemical ANALYSIS of some
of the finer grades of candies and bon
bons Mr.. Moore makes the rather start
linS statement that in many kinds of
chocolate drops, rum drops and similar
dainties there is one large whisky glass
of rum or brandy to the pound This is, of
course, in the better grades of goods
which retail for from 40 to 60 cents per
pound. Il am not sure whether the pure
food commission can take any action on
the matter" said Mr. Moore, but it will
certainly be placed in the hands of the
proper authorities. The National Confec-
toners Association, at it's recent meet
ing, passed strong resolutions condemning
this grade of goods, and can probably ac-
complisn more towards obliterating it
than any other organization. Statistics
show that the largest consumers of choco-
late and rum drops are children between
the ages of 10 and 16 years. 1t is no Won
der, then, that in addition to the amount
of liquors that are placed in all kinds of
baby food, the coming generation develops
taste for intoxicating liquors in child
hood.
"A reader sends to the Boston Trans
cript the following: Il find the following
description of Washingtons appearance
and character in 'Bickerstaff's Boston AL
manac or Federal Calendar for $780,
Gen. Washington is now in the JSth year
the 18th Of February last, as it appears by
the federal calendar; that truly worthy
and brave veteran was born in the year
1872. He is tall, well-made man, rather
large boned, and has tolerably genteel
address; his features are manly and bold
his eyes of blueish cast and very lively
his hair deep brown; his face rather long
and marked with the smallpox; his COM
plexion sunburnt and without much color,
and his countenance sensible, composed
and thoughtful There is a remarkable air
OF dignity about him, with a striking de-
gree of gracefulness; he has an excellent
understanding without much quickness
Is strictly just, vigilant and generous; an
affectionate husband, a faithful friend, a
father to the deserving soldier; gentle in
his manners in temper rather reserved:
total stranger to religiuos prejudices,
which have so often excited Christians of
one denomination to cut the threats of
those of another; in his morals he is ire
proachable, and was never known to ex-
| coed the bounds of the most rigid tenn
perance. In word, all his friends and
acquaintance universally allow that no
man ever united in his own person more
perfect alliance of the virtues of the phil
losopher with the talents of a general; can
dor, sincerity, affability and simplicity
seem to be the striking features of his
character until an occasion offers of dis
play ING the most determined bravery and
independence of spirit.
I'm Modoc county, Cal, says a writer
in the Popular Science News, is an inn
mense field of lava covered with a beauti-
full forest of conifers, which is inhabited
by deer, bear, panther, lynx, coyote, porcu-
pine and numerous fur-bearing animals,
whose pelts are of value to the trapper. 1t
was in these lava beds that the Modoc In
dams made their stand against the govern
ment troops some years ago and were
with very great difficulty destroyed 1t is
here that the ice caves are found, and
from them the Modocs drew their water
supply while besieged by the troops. One
never having been over a lava field can
form but little idea of the chaotic manner
in which the igneous woTkmen have left
the products of their labor. The only or
der observed is disorder of the most ex-
aggerated kind, wherein every mass of
rock has been twisted or raised or depress-
ed or arched over some cavern in a diff
ferent way from that of its neighbors
The caves scattered throughout these lava
beds are of very varying shapes and d.
mansions. Some are mere covertways with
an arch Of stone thrown over them. Others
are immense chambers some yards from