The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-07
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

DIR. Nansen's proposed visit to Rome,
where he was to deliver a lecture, has
been abandoned, because his terms were
such that the Geographical Society of the
Eternal City found Itself unable to meet
them.
The ''Novoe Vremya" of Moscow gives
details of the preliminary count of the
first census ever taken in Russia ST. Pc
tersburg has a population of 10000; Mos
COW just under 100000. Nineteen other
towns are returned at 100000, and the COM
paratively modern LODI, the Manchester
of Poland ranks fifth. Thirty-five towns
have over $1,000 Inhabitants each. Samark-
land and Kokand occupy higher places in
the list than such ancient and important
centers as Tver, Kursk and Poltava. The
complete results of the census are expect
ed to be made known by the end of Au-
gust.
The office of public hangman has al
ways been a respectable vocation. Jack
Ketch, Calcroft and NARROW were men
of reputation, and succeeded in keeping
out of debt. But Cheddy the Indian
hangman of Natal, had failed to pay a
debt of "a and was asked by the Maritz-
burg magistrate why warrant of impris-
onment should not be enforced. Ched-
uy, III reply, urged lnaL as matters now
stood in South Africa he would soon have
a number of Jobs" and if his honor would
only have a little patience he would be
able TO pay the debt. The warrant was
suspended.
Prof. Luigi Dambon of Rome attempts
to prove that northern ATTITUDES do not
conduce to longevity, says the New York
Commercial Advertiser. He says the av-
Ara h OIfliVpG the H'SnniD1O
by no less than twenty-five years and
that the people who live on the unhealthy
coasts of South America survive the in
habitants of the higher and cooler alti-
tudes of the interior. The natives OF In
dia live to a surprising old age. Even in
Europe people live longer in the south
than in the north. Among the $1,000 600
in England there are but 146 centenarians,
while in Spain, with population of only
100000, there are 400 centenarians. go
south, young man."
-Belgium's government, which owns all
the railroads in the kingdom, has put for
ward a curious defense for resisting the
claim for damages brought by the widow
and orphan children of a merchant of the
name of Lesaffre, who was killed in an
accident says the New York Tribune,
caused by train running off the line near
Bruges. The state argues that if the suit
is based on the transport contract con-
stituted by the railroad ticket, the heirs
Of the deceased have no right to any other
indemnity than that arising from "the
| non-arrival of the merchandise at destina-
| ton; secondly, that M. Lesaffre, having
been killed on the spot was unable to will
to his heirs an action for damages on ac-
count of suffering endured; thirdly, that
the heirs must explain the cause of the
| accident and prove satisfactorily where
the state was at fault.
1t should here be explained that the
title of admiral was not used in Eng
land in the earlier days, says the London
Nautical Magazine. In fact, the better
opinion is that it was not used before the
| beginning of the fourteenth century. He
was called captaneus maris Captain OF
the sea-, keeper of the seacoasts, cap
tain of the kings mariners" The title
admiral or "amiral." probably derived
from the Arabic amir or emir (prefecD
was used in foreign countries much ear
| lier than in England, and came to us
| from France. Prynee C'AnimadversionS
| (p. 1861 states that there were admiralS
| and an admiralty court in England as
early as the time of Henry 1, derived from
| our ancient Saxon kings-Alfred, Edgar
| Ethelred and others who had the domin
| ion of the British ocean. None of these
! kings probably was more potent thar
| King Edgar, who, possessing an absolute
! dominion of the neighboring sea, sailed
| round about it every year and secured it
with constant guard. These ships, being
| very stout ones, were in number 1900
some writer's even affirm that there were
! 1880 sailing ships.
| Washington, says the st. Louis Globe
| Democrat, was nicknamed the Father OF
| His Country, Americas Fabius. the Gin.
| cinnatus of the West. Atlas of America
| Lovely Georgius Ga sarcastic nickname
| applied by the English soidery) Flower
| of the Forest, Deliverer of America, Step
| father of His Country applied by bitter
| opponents during his presidency, anC
Savior of His Country; Adams was nick
named colossus of independence; Jeff
| erson, Sage Of Monticello and Long Tom
| Madison, Father of the Constitution
| Monroe. Last Cooked Hat; j. Q. Adams
| Old Man Eloquent; jackson, Old Hickory
| Big Knife and Sharp Knife, Hero of New
| Orleans, Gin'ral and Old Hero; Van Blu
rem was Little Magician, Wizard OF Kin.
| derhOok, Follower in the Footprints
| Whisky Van and King Martin the First
Harrison, Tippecanoe. Old Tip and Wash
| ington of the West Tyler Young Hick
| ory and Accidental President; Polk. Youns
| Hickory Taylor, Rough and Ready Ole
/ Buena Vista and Old Zack; Fillmore, the
American Louis Philippe; Pierce Purse
| DuCHdHdH, Olu PUBIC FunCtlOndfy, Bach
| elor President and Old Buck.
One of the curiosities of nature i.
known as the plant atol. There are bu
few of these known to scientists, say,
the New York Ledger. This atol Is mad,
up of circle of growing plants They
| are found floating on the top of ponds OF
lakes. They form a hoop-shaped figure
| and are loosely matted together at III,
roots, which make a sort of cup or basin
to which more or less vegetable matter
falls or floats. There is suficien
amount of nutriment in this to keep tn,
plant growing. AS it increases, the root,
become longer and larger. and in time IN,
| plant may anchor itself in the soil at tn,
| bottom of the pond. These rings, aftel
many years of accumulation and growth
| make what appear to be small islands. /
Is the opinion of certain scientists tina
Islands may have been formed in thi
| manner. The roots catch all floating veg
tables or animal matter. Leaves collec
and form mold and after awhile bird,
may drop plant or tree seeds on the nth,
pod that floats on the surface of the wa
| ter. These take root and further assis
In the growth of the little island. IL ma,
q. H..