Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-10-21

CHAFF.

gated Opah, a species of fish supposed to
be almost extinct, was captured few
days since in the North Sea. Its prevail
ing colors are splendid red and green,
with tints of purple and gold dotted over
with round silver white spots. The fins
are brilliant vermilion, and the iris of
the eye bright scarlet A curious ridge
runs in irregular curves from the tail to
the gill cover. The fish is three and a
half feet long and weighs lightweight
pounds. 1t is being set up in museum
and is attracting notice of ichthyologists
generally.
~
The latest news of Verdi, the king of
composers, is that he has received from
Humbert, King of Italy, the Grand Cor
don of the Order of Annunciation on his
eighty sixth birthday. This is the highest
order that royalty can bestow, and ell
titles the holder to call himself "cousin
to the King" 1t is said that Verdi had
no ambition for the honor. Having lived
the life of true artist, the vanity that
caters to the pleasure of princes, had it
ever been his, has by this time of his life
disappeared. After the great success of
his "Falstaff" King Humbert wished to
create him Marquis, but he was so op.
posed to the honor that, through the in
tercession of Queen Margherita, he was
spared this dignity Verdi is devout
Catholic.
Nv
Dried-up beer in the form of lozenges
is the newest thing that chemical science
has been able to produce. The lozenges
are pressed out of a powder obtained by
the evaporation of lager beer and contain
all the original ingredients. To convert
the lozenges into beer it is only necessary
to dissolve them in water, adding little
carbonic acid. This will inaugurate a
new move in the era of beer consumption.
Gardens and resorts where the amber
fluid is on draught in course of time may
not be such centers of enjoyment as they
are now, when man can carry his
beer around with him in his vest pocket
and drink of 1.-THE flowing" dipper at the
pump corner, having first inserted his
lager beer lozenge therein.
W.
visit to any of the parks is particu-
larly gratifying at this season to all lovers
of nature. Quite large crowd every Sun
day go out for an airing or rest to Jacob
Park probably as much for the long ride
as anything else. Once there, the visitor
is charmed by the variegated dress in
which mother earth is decked-low trail
ing vines in bright scarlet, yellow, brown,
dull red and copper tints pervading all
others. Deep ravines are filled with the
beautiful locks that have been shorn by
autumn winds from the proud heads of
lofty walnut, oak, sycamore, beech and
poplar trees, all yet glorying in holiday
attire. Here lying under the mass of
freshly fallen leaves in damp spots can
be found the beautiful waxlike plant
known to botanists as Monatropa COM
monty called Indian pipe from its resem-
blance to a perfectly formed pipe. Golden
rod, blue-eyed daisy, the tiny wild geran-
ium, species of herb resembling spirae,
and a very singular and beautiful grass
growing in long, slender racemes, form
very interesting collection for an autumn
bouquet.
Nv
Miss Helen Gould keeps at her country
establishment, Lyndhurst, an interesting
collection of aged animals She has
given orders that they be cared for till
they die. Most of them belonged to her
father, Jay Gould, and it was his wish
that they be well kept we'll groomed and
well watched. In one stable are "Gypsy"
and "Tassel," the road team that Jay
Gould priced so highly. The great mill
ionaire drove them regularly to the rail
road station whenever he took the train
for his New York Office. They are fat
and sleek, and continual idleness has
made them very lazy. Gypsy is nearly
a quarter of century old. In her prime
Jay Gould would not have sold her for
81. 900. An old watch dog, dying slowly
of old age, is particular pet of the
nOuSenOiu. MISS OOulu is great lover
of animals, and the older pet grows the
more carefully she watches after it,
~
The most remarkable history yet given
of exploration in the land of mystery and
darkness, the land of the midnight sun.
will be that given by Peary describing
his groupings through Arctic frost, hun
ger, sickness, whole weeks of dark night,
in peril of rotten ice and soft snow, the
temperature all the time low enough to
freeze mercury. His diary contains much
interesting material for young people to
read, especially his description of the
killing of immense polar bears, whole
herds of musk oxen and the capture of
seals, etc. Among the practical results
from his expedition are the rescue of the
original records and private papers of the
Greedy expedition and the familiarization
of himself ard party and the Whale
Sound natives with the entire region as
far North as Cape Beechy. He intends
to start again next spring and pursue his