The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-28
Value of Horse and BIZ
'Cycle as Investments.
Postal Department Officials
= Curious Signature.
Pearl Fishing In the Cult Of Callfor.
nia-C0l. Darlington.

A gentleman who is not bicyclist but
who Is lover of horses says that the
horse is better investment than wheel,
In spite of what the wheelmen themselves
may think or say on the subject. He sup
ports this assertion by the statement that
the average horse will render from ten to
twenty times as much service as u bicycle
The horse will live and work for from
twenty to thirty years, while no bicycle
e-er built will render efficient service Tor
more than two or three years. Those who
are authorities on the subject declare that
the lives Of animals are generally from six
TO seven times AS long as their period OF
growth. Horses usually attain growth IN
about four years, and the average duration
of their lives IL from "a to % years, that
is when they are properly fed and cared
for. Hartman says that it Is an un-
doubted sign of good breeding when the
horse Is slow in developing. Those that
do not attain their complete growth until
six or seven years old. except In cnsos OF
accident are useful for twenty or more
years and may still be sound and healthy
at thirty years Those that attain their
growth at four years rarely live To be
more than twenty years old.
First Assistant Postmaster General
that excites the curiosity of many who
soc his autograph. After his name he
aiway places a period within small cir
Gle. The signature would not be complete
without this supplementary mark, ana
his check would not Da honored at his
bank II the circled period were omitted.
Members of the Universal Postal Con-
gress. noticing this popularity were pnz-
zled to know To what secret society Mr..
Heath belonged that was rs they thought,
designated by the little point within the
circle. The fact is Mr.. Heath has carried
with him a mark he learned MS printer.
newspaper correspondent and editor. As
writer and editor he was accustomed TO
circling his periods and he got in the
habit of doing 10 at the end Of his sigma
ture He formed the habit many years ago.
and now on every official document ap-
pears his name with the ciroled period.
The whole coast of the Gulf of Califor-
MIA abounds In pearls and the entire ter
ritory is controlled by those who have &C.
cured CONCESSIONS from the Mexican gov
ernment. Until within a few years native
divers were employed, and the depth TO
which they could descend did not exceed
80 feet. With the introduction OF diving
apparatus the limit has been Increased tn
80 fathoms The best divers could for
merly remain under water not more than
thinks nothing Of remaining on the bot
tom for two hours. even when he Is at
depth of 100 feet At greater depths the
time during which the divers can remain
down Is shorter because of the enor-
nous pressure of the water A diver
whsn OH the floor Of the gulf looks aSout
for an oyster, which ne tears from the
object To which IL is attached, and places
IL in a small bag that hangs from q rope
which is hauled into the boat on n given
signal. Sometimes the number OF
oysters secured is large, but at others it is
very small.
The diver does not conflue himself to
the pearl oysters alone. but II he sees n
rare specimen OF coral or new species OF
shell he places IL in his bag and sends IL
to the surface. where 1t becomes the prop
erty of tho concession and one of the
sources OF its large income. Last year
the value of the pearls harvested in Lower
California was about $3.50. 600. In addi-
tion 5000 tons Of shells were exported
which were valued at 81, 250, 900 moro.
Pearl fishing Is the entire occupation of
the natives, and Lapetz, the headquar.
ters. city with population OF about
1000. is solely dependent upon tho indus
try. The business is one of chance, and
the pursuit Is fascinating one TO the in
habitants. who are born gam mDlers. Every
oyster uOts HOt COutolu anu OHlN
ut intervals. ana rare ones at that Is a
really valuable pearl discovered. The
largest one ever found was about three
quarters Of an inch In diameter and was
sold in Paris to the Emperor of Austria
for $40, 600. Many black pearls are found
In lower California. and are valued
higher than the pure white. The large
majority are seed pearls and are only of
moderate value.
There are few members OF her household
n whom Queen Victoria reposss more
confidence. or to whom she Is more kindly
disposed, than Col. William Darlington,
tho brother Of Lord Darlington and the
husband of one of tho most popular
American girls who ever married
foreigner, namely, Juliet Warden of New
York. Not only is he equerry TO her
m ajesty, out he serves her as sort of
maid -of-all work. That is 10 say. he is
ready at n moments notice 20 undertake
all sorts Of odd jobs about court and thero
is scarcely a single branch Of the royal
establishments with which be has not been
connected Mt one time or another. Thus,
when the queen WAS in the south Of
France, no acted as her private secretary,