The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-19
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

the hon. W. ftotnScniiO at Ting fteEbS,
is said to be worth f13o, 900, more or less.
Some New Guinea butterflies have fetch
ed $50 apiece. One of the Rothschilds is
said to have paid goo for a Papilio, now
quite common. The demand for rare spec
linens has led to dishonesty The insects
are dyed, or else wings from one species
are fastened to the bodies of the other
species.
1t is reported that Japanese engineers
are preparing plans for the construction
of a bridge across the Straits of Simon
oseki, so as to unite the main line of the
Kin Sun Railway with that of the Sanyo
Railway from ShimonOseki to Hiogo. The
straits, al the point referred to, are about
one mile in width, and the current through
them is very rapid. The bridge, moreover,
must be constructed sufficiently high to
enable the largest ocean steamers to pass
beneath. Thus the undertaking, if sue
cessfully carried out, would be one of the
greatest engineering feats of its kind. The
work will be undertaken and supervised
by japanese engineers exclusively.
The masculine silk cocoon yields more
silk than the feminine, hence for rails
ing purposes such varieties as give more
masculine eggs are by far preferable. Up
to the present it was not easy to distln-
guish the masculine from the feminine
cocoons; the distinction was solely found
ed on the greater weight peculiar to the
feminine cocoon. The X-rays have great
ly facilitated the distinction. On account
of containing the unrpe eggs, rich in
mineral salt, the hind part of the feminine
cocoon is found to be by far less transpar
ent than that of the masculine one. The
dark shade in the vicinity of the ovary
admits of readily recognizing the femin-
inc silk chrysalis.
A curious industry has sprung up in
Spain since the decline of silk culture
there in the production of what is known
as silkworm-gut for fishing lines. The
grub is fed on mulberry leaves, as usual
in silk culture; but before il begins TO
spin-that is, in May and June-it is killed
by immersion in vinegar. The substance
which would have formed the cocoon is
then drawn out from it's body in the form
of a thick silken thread, which is treated
with chemicals and afterwards dried.
These threads are made up in bundles of
100, and the Spanish peasants travel with
them along the shores of the Meditcrra-
mean as far as France. The best quality
of thread is round, the fiat form being in
ferior and due to unhealthiness in the
worm. The chief seat of this industry is
Murcia.
"A few days ago, says the Bombay Ad
vocate of India, a well-dressed man went
into the shop of Messrs. Marcks & Co.,
for the ostensible purpose of purchasing
some diamonds. He stated he had
banking account in Calcutta with the
Agra Bank, and that he came from that
city. He gave his name as Chunderdass.
A packet containing three stones, valued
a 1000 rupees each, was handed to him
by an assistant. He said they were what
he wanted but would take them to the
window to get a better light on them.
After very closely examining the gems,
he returned and placed the packet on the
counter. But it only contained two stones,
and when asked for the third he indignant
ly denied that three were given him. The
assistant who served him, was, however,
quite confident as to the number of stones
in the packet and calling the police,
charged him with having swallowed the
missing diamond. He pleaded guilty, and
was sentenced to two years hard labor
The most northern hotel in the world
is on the inhospitale shore of Advent Bay,
where it washes the west coast of Spitz-
bergen, says the New York Tribune
Tourist Hythen" (Tourist Hotel is the
name of the remote establishment. Its
season is necessarily short, extending
from July 10 TO Aug. IS, but it extends a
hearty welcome to the few venturesome
lIdN6IeIS VINO nave lne tSln6FlIy 10 seek
its shelter. 1t has accommodations for
thirty guests. It is announced that the
increase of travel to the gate of the Arc
tic regions has made the establishment
of postoffice in the hotel a necessary
feature. The hotel is in an approximate
latitude of Is degrees, IS minutes, or five
hundred miles further north than Ham
merfest. Probably better idea of its
situation may be gained from the state
Of ba To
son-Harmsworth expedition in Franz
Josef Land were hardly more than one
hundred and fifty miles nearer the Pole
The building naturally is unpretentious
in appearance, being only one and one
half stories high, with a diminutive porch
at the front. AS a matter of course, it is
built of wood.
Little Willie Young, a West Philadel-
phia lad, has been doing some wonderful
feats in hypnotism, and is all unconscious
that he possesses a highly developed form
of animal magnetism, says the Philadel-
phia Record. The first demonstrate
which later developments have made sig
nificant, occurred when he was only 6
years old. At this age he would be put to
mind his 4-year-old sister, and although
she was usually very cross with others. it
was noticed that with Willie she ALWAYS
went to sleep in a short time. If the rest
VI the AdL1ily lIleu 10 awaken the child
she would at once doze off again. and only
Willie could successfully arouse the sleep
er. This caused some comment at the
time but, as the children grew older, it
was forgotten. Rumors of Willie having
powers" reached the Youngs at various
times, but as they are exceedingly prac-
teal people, they gave no heed to what
they thought childish talk. Last week
Willie gave birthday party, and as the
evening progressed he volunteered to
amuse the party with some tricks. The
services of some of the children present
were called for and several volunteered
With few passes and suggestions. he
threw the children, one by one in a hyp-
motto state. Various phenomena were
shown, much to the amazement Of the
older folks. But when Willie began stick
ing pins all over a little boys body the
boys mother Indignantly stopped the
proceedings, and Willies exhibition was
at an end.
An experiment of considerable interest
in the manufacture of bricks has been
tried in a brick yard in New York state,
fuel oil being used instead of wood or coal
to burn a kiln of brick, says the Railway
Review. Fuel oil is the product left after
crude petroleum has been refined. 1t has
been used for some time as fuel for en-
gines and furnaces, but its adaptability
for the more delicate operation of burning
0fN mi.