The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-07
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

1t has been assumed bv large num-
Der of people, especially in England. that
Gibraltar has always commanded the
straits which bear its name. That belief
was erroneous until recently. The straits
are twelve and half miles wide, and the
hest guns mounted at Gibraltar heretofore
could not possibly cover that distance. A
few weeks ago. however, two of the new
est 9.2-inch wire guns, 36 feet in length
and firing a projectile of $50 pounds
weight were mounted on Europa Point
These guns have range of fifteen miles.
and are most formidable weapons.
The recent protest of ]. Sterling Nor
ton of Nebraska against the cutting of
Christmas trees is warmly commended in
the West. In his protest he said: "The
trees selected for slaughter on this ami
versary are always the straightest and
most symmetrical. There were last year
more than 100000 of Christmas trees cut
down and put on the market. The alb
surdity of celebrating the birth of the
Savior of the world by wanton waste
and extravaganza which jeopardizes the
welfare of millions of human beings yet
unborn is obvious to every thinking man"
a Columbus (O) dispatch of Jan says:
Ira Mariatt, Familiarity known as the
Prison Demon was returned to his cage
in the Ohio penitentiary to-day Marlatt
has been on his good behavior for severa.
months until within the last few weeks.
when he again became troublesome. On
his promise to be good he was given the
freedom of the prison enclosure at GER
tain times Of the day, but recently violat-
ed the rules by carrying food 10 the pris-
oners in the solitary cells Yesterday he
made a murderous assault on Guard Stall
Smith, and as it was evident he could no
longer be trusted, the warden ordered him
placed in the iron cage which was built
expressly to restrain him, and which he
occupied for many months. Marlatt is de-
ciared by experts to be a moral pervert
and in his spells, which break out al long
intervals, he can only be controlled by ex-
treme measures"
The New Orleans Times-Democrst de-
scribes at length the operation IN that
city for the past several months of what
is called cotton delinting machine. which
is the invention of Mr. William A Rags
dale. young native and resident of
Greenville, Miss The machine, says the
Times-Democrat, has long since passed
the experimental period and the results of
its operation have been not only successful
and satisfactory, but wonderfully so. 1t
turns out lint that is entirely free from
trash and foreign subs tances, making a
most desirable commodity that is eagerly
bought up by hat and paper manufac-
turers, and leaves the cotton seed entirely
cleansed and freed from lint. A market
is found readily for the lint in those cities
where hats and paper are manufactured,
and the thoroughly cleansed seed is ship
ped to Marseilles, whence it finds a market
in France, Germany, England and Bel
GUM,
Anecdotes of Mr.. Gladstone, giving the
literary opinions of that versatile states
man, are always of suggestive interest
A cores 5ondent of the London Spectator
says: Some years since l mad the great
pleasure of meeting Mr.. Gladstone at din
ner. one of the other guests asked him
whether it was true that ne had pronounce
ed Shakespeare to be the greatest man
who ever lived. Mr., Gladstone at once
replied, and l can almost repeat his words
verbatim No, do no think 1 ever made
such a statement. Undoubtedly the three
greatest men who ever lived were Homer
Dante and Shakespeare. Homer created
a people language and a religion. Dante
created a people and a language but not
a religion. Shakespeare did not create any
Of the three, but 1 am inclined to think
that his reputation will increase. and that
in another century he may be universally
acknowledged to be the greatest man who
ever lived"
japanese military and naval officers
are to be instructed in the Chinese, Turk
ish and Russian language, and the fact is
considered very significant by the Oriental
press. Russian and Turkish scholars are
now al work with classes in Japan, but
those who are to master Chinese are to go
to Picking for that purpose. 1t is said
that if Japan is able to carry out her
present wish TO take China under her
arm, that the officers may be put in
charge of Chinese troops and cruisers. In
the past Chinese has not been included in
the subjects of examination, and com-
petition will be held to decide who shall
study the language. years leave of
study in China will be given all who pass,
and The number is expected to be over 100,
mostly of the younger officers. officers
who have qualified in the language Will
not necessarily be considered to estab-
fish for them any right 90 preference of
selection for any appointment that may
be created.
The names of towns and villages in
Kentucky" says a writer in the Louis
vile Post, develop some queer facts. For
instance, there is the long name, McGold-
Ink. A few of the curious and unusual
names OF hamlets and country neighbour
hoods l happen to recOllect just now are
Tywhoppity, Ingierubber Postum Trot,
Frog Level, Dog Walk, Bully Boy, Slaugh-
ter House, Broken Bridge, Misery Mount,
Maiden Blush, Tipsey Creek, Barlow
Flats, Rabbit Hash, Riddlemerock, Red
berryrock. Ransom Free, Buncombe Bog,
Ubetyou, Uno Unit. Democrat, Darling,
Digitout Fossil Fork, Rat snest Eighty
eight Sunset Salt Creek Ingomar, Linn
berneck. Chickory Greek, Hckorynut,
Holy Haunt, Tinkleyturn, Tadpole Bank,
Lovelyville, BatchtOwn, Chestnut Grove,
Whangdoole, Whereaway, Crickmorecrack,
Caesars Coast. Liberty Love, Mud,
Money. Cold Buckle. Silver Dust. Goose
bone, Beefburg, Buzzards Roost and Tip
p.etub"
The behavior of people in crowds, says
the North American Review. would make
an interesting study of itself. In an or
binary crowd the majority are apt to be
unacquainted with any formal etiquette