The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-10
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Ali the way from Kansas City comes
the news of the temperance of the I'm
mortal j. N" an eccentric character
known TO every Old railroad conductor
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Several
months ago It was reported that j. n"
was dead, but that individual has again
appeared. TO prove, in the language of
Mark Twain, that the reports of mis- talk
ing of" We're greatly exaggerated. The
Immortal J. N" has been prominent
character since the civil war. His mind
became added trying to solve the prob
lens involved in that great struggle, and
he has since been wanderer of the earth.
One of his eccentriciues is to go into
newspaper Offices and write a column edi-
torial about removing the pressure. His
efforts are never printed, but this does not
discourage the Immortal J. NJ" and per-
haps he will submit another communica-
ton 70 the same paper al the time OF his
next visit The name of This eccentric
character is not known. Years ago the
genial manager of an Eastern railroad
gave him card instructing his conductors
TO Pass j. N Free" This led 10 the be-
lief that his name was Free, and that is
the name he has gone by since that date.
M. Emile Zola is very fond of animals,
and touching story is told in this con-
nection. When the novelist left hurried
ly for England a the time of his threat
ened arrest he had no opportunity of tax
ing his little dog with him. The affection
ate creature looked in vain for its master,
and not finding him became very detected.
Later the poor dog met his death from
stroke of lightning. Writing of the cir
cumstances to Mile Adrienue Neyrat, the
editor of the Ami des Betes Friend of
Animals. Nj. Zola SAYS: 1T seemed to me
as if my departure had killed him. and l
wept like child Even now il is impossi-
BILE for me 20 think of it without being
moved to tears. When I returned cor
ner of the house seemed empty. OF all
my sacrifices the death of nv dog in my
absence has been one of the hardest This
sort of thing is ridiculous. l know. and
if ! tell it 10 YOU. Mademoselle. il is be
cause I am sure 10 find in YOU a tender
heart for animals. and one who will not
laugh too much" lola, it seems, lived in
complete obscurity in a hotel Just off Fleet
street in London. and Ernest VizeteIly
the translator of Zola's Paris" has in
hand record of his exile in England
"'''oi' i'''eN a'o0' eie'eii iiiOi''iiS
In an officlal address the municipality
OF Mainz CMayence) on-the-Rhine has IS
sued the following appeal ION the 4th
day of June, 1900-St Johns Day-the
city of Mayence will celebrate the five hun
dreth birthday anniversary Of its great
son. Johannes Gutenberg. The birthplace
of the art of printing has the foremost
right and the especial dutv to honor the
memory of Gutenberg Put with Nav
ence the whole world will on that dav
unite in Draisine the noble arr which
marks the most innortant Drooress IN, the
| civilization of humanity. lust as Guten-
berp's work encomnasses the elohe and
draws the neoDles together So also ought
| the nations of the earth TO take a grateful
| part in the celebration of their benefac-
| tors birthday In order TO nav homage
| TO his memory and his art the undersien-
ed belonging to various nationalities
| make appeel to the whole civilized world
| inviting universal parttcjpation in a
| worthy celebration. for which the ancient
| cltv on the Rhine Is making due nrepara-
| ton. The detailed programme will be
| announced before many days One of the
! outward tokens. with which IT Is intended
| 10 honor the great master for all time to
| come is the founding of a Gutenberg Mu-
scum within our walls"
! "A new rule has just been promulgated
| by the Indian government which is of deep
| interest to the whole medical service, says
an exchange. This provides that the Sc
! lection of an officer for promotion shall
| be influenced by merit only-in other
! words that the practice of giving higher
| rank to officers who are merely in the
! position of having done nothing to merit
| suppression is inadmissible Every selec-
| tion is intended. it is pointed out, to estab-
! lish the fact beyond dispute that the Off
Ger so favored has earned the higher rank,
pay and privileges by ability and merit
| At the same time the British secretary OF
state for India has been in communication
with the local government on the subject
| of the great increase which has taken
place of recent years in the establishment
OF the Indian medical service owing to the
| larger number of civil charges at present
| held by members of that service An in
| quiry has disclosed the fact that at the
present time three-hfths of the Indian
medical officers are employed on civil duty
| The secretary, Lord George Hamilton con-
| siders this state of things open to serious
! objection, and a proposal is therefore I'M