The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-05
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

ITEMS OF INTEREST.
The peculiar Institution known as the
Queens Bounty Is about to be cast into
the shade by the draft law just introduced
into the Transvaal Yolksraad. This pro-
vides that bonus of 500 shall be granted
TO every parent of twelve boys who can
show that he has burgher rights The
aim, of course, is to insure, if possible, that
the future lighting force of the country
(burghers of 10 years and upward liable
10 command) shall be substantially and
permanently augmented at no distant date.
The Imperial library of Russia, estab-
lished by Peter the Great in 1714, is the
third among the worlds great Libraries.
1t contains about 100000 volumes, and
about $500 manuscripts. II attained a
place, in the front rank of the celebrate
Zaluski collection; Count Zaluski had col
lected about zee, coo volumes and 1000 man
uscripts. on the suppression of the Jesuit
order in Russia the collection of books in
their possession was taken in charge by
Prince Itaiinski, and, among other libra
ries, the Prince transferred the Zaluski
collection from the Jesuit College at War
saw to St. Petersburg. The most import
ant Of the manuscripts in this library is
the 'CodeX Sinaiticus'' of the Greek Bible,
brought from the Convent of st. Gather
inc on Mount Sinai by Prof. Tlschendorf in
1859
Who would believe that it took four
teen trains, each containing 500 passen-
gers, running several days, to accommo-
date the annual pilgrims from Paris to
Lourdes? Yet such is the case, and a
number undergoing the preparation neces-
sary might have been seen IN
the Orleans railway station. A
large proportion of the pilgrims were in
valids-paralytics, consumptives and suf-
ferers of all kinds. Many of the compart-
ments resembled infirmaries, and were in
charge of Sisters of Mercy. All classes
Of society were represented in the pilgrims,
not few bearers of noble names being
prominent 1t is calculated that $4,000 pill
grims viii be collected at Lourdes by Sat
urday, says the Paris Messenger.
Even after tea was introduced into Eu-
rope and had come into general use tea
cups were scarce, says the jewelers. Cir
cular. AT the same time coffee was intro
duced, but apart from Constantinople the
first conee-cups in Europe date back only
as far as 1915 in Venice, 1853 in Paris, 1862
in London and 1854 in Leipsic. From the
first, however, the conventional oriental
coffee-cup, without stem or handle, was lit
tie used, and in Germany not al all. The
Chinese tea-cup was used for tea, coffee
and chocolate as well. Specimens of porce-
lain were undoubtedly introduced into Eu-
rope in the middle ages, yet not till the
sixteenth century We're cups imported
from China in any great quantities, and
even then II was as articles of vertu. Most
Of those found their way back TO China
again, as collecting porcelain is a lasting
fad there, and high prices are paid for good
specimens. The collection of Chinese porce-
lain, if only the genuine specimens are de-
sired, require immense study and knowl-
Il fep as he { if,1f+ ia
and put numerous falshcations on the
market.
THE Prince of Wales is the champion
godfather of Great Britain his record be
ing seventy-five occasions on which he
has OBLIGATED in that capacity, says the
New York Herald. He also holds another
unique record in this respect in having
stood as godfather to the Duke of MARI
borough as well as TO the Duke of MARI
borough's infant heir-that Is, godfather
to both the father and the son. The cere-
mOny in connection with the baptism of
the son took place al the Chapel Royal,
st. James Palace, on Saturday, Oct Is,
1897 when the Prince of Wales, who had
been one of the god-fathers at the Dukes
christening twenty-five years before, in
the same chapel acted in a similar ca
pacity for the Dukes heir, the other spon-
sors being the Warehouses of Blanford
peror OF Germany stands godfather to all
seventh sons in Prussia The former En-
press Eugene in one year acted as god
mother for the 1884 children who were
born in France on March IS, 1855, the same
day as the Prince Imperial. Mr.. Cecil
Rhodes is god-fatheF to about forty young
scions of the aristocracy. Ii is his custom
10 transfer TO each of his go1-children fifty
shares in the De Beers mines.
in late report, gives some interesting
figures about the straw industry. He says:
The manufacture of straw IS one of tie
most important industries of this EN-
p1rS, giving thousands means of support.
1 believe il could be Proftably introduced
into Wisconsin, Minnesota Northern M.ch.
igan, the woods of Maine and the hills
OF Vermont, New Hampshire, and Western
Massachusetts. Straw that once only SerV-
ed for fuel or fertilziug purposes, is put
up by these people into the most useful,
beautiful and fantastic forms Plates dish
es, baskets boxes, tables, trunks, fans,
hats, caps, mats, etc, are made ~ the
million and sent to all parts of the world.
In a stretch of country containing xix
square miles there are 10000 persons en-
Dioyed in making articles of straw. Of
Inc straw used The best. comes from Ius-
cany. They are rye and wheat straws. and
are known as the 'grano marzdlo," or
March grain. 1t is sown in March. very
tnick, to prevent the blades from growing
toe fast or strong. In June it has gr)wh
to a length of eighteen or twenty inches
and is ready for use. The rye and Whear
is torn out by the roots bound into sman
bundles, exposed 10 the sun, but not to the
rain, and is then laid aside for one OF two
years seasoning. Before being worked, the
bundles are spread out like fans, exposed
three nights 10 the dew and three days
to the sun; they are tden turned 10 expose
the other Side two nights to the dew and
three days 10 the Sun. In this way the
straw that was green becomes "A beauti-
full yellow or goden-white. The ears and
roots are now removed and the steus are
sorted into twelve TO twenty different sizes.
While a British brig was gliding
smoothly along before good breeze in
the South Pacific three months ago, says
the Maryland Bulletin, a flock of small