The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10
ITEMS OF INTEREST.


cradle extent, which has in times past
been a sought-for refuge in tempestuous
weather. The explanation of its presence
Is that the oil, coming perhaps from the
same level as that which spouts from the
great well at Beaumont, Tex, works it's
way through the sands at the bottom of
the Gulf and SO rises to the surface of
the water
A current report of the government of
India shows that during the year 1899 the
number of deaths among human beings
| attributed to wild animals was 1885, IL
! gers caused the death of 500, wolves of 1888
and leopards, hyenas, jackals and croco-
diies were accountable for large proper
ton of the remainder. The loss of human
life from snakes reached the high total of
A,621 a greater mortality than in any of
the four preceding years. Nearly half the
deaths occurred in Bengal.
The highest cross in the world is said
to be that which caps the Hottest peak of
the Hartz mountains. The cross is, in
reality, tower, and it commands a mag
| nihcent view of the country around. The
| hight of the tower is 120 feet and it stands
| on mountain of 1,731 feet above the sea
level. A stair of 200 steps leads to the
| top of the cross, but there is an elevator
OF which people may avail themselves
| who, for any reason. wish to avoid the
long climb.
The lake Of asphalt in Venezuela over
which two American syndicates are
| squabbling, is a possession worth fight
| ing for The supply is inexhaustible and
| the lake, as described by one who has
| seen it, is huge, black sea of wealth,
stretching out as far as the eye can reach.
The excavations fill up as rapidly as the
| workmen leave them, and no amount of
reasonable work in taking out asphalt
| can produce visible diminution of the
supply. 1t is a well of wealth that never
overfiows and is always filed to the brim.
Its upcoming is wrapped in mystery, its
birth time is unknown. 1t is impossible
to estimate its actual value as a mer-
charitable commodity, and to say at haz-
ard that it is worth hundreds of bill
lions of dollars is not putting the figure
too high.
Public dinners are so rarely remun-
erative to the walters, who in the flow of
post-prandial oratory are apt to be for
gotten, that where the tips do not come
in as they should the walters have adopt
ed scheme for bringing absent minded
diners to a sense of their obligations, says
the Philadelphia Ledger. Between the
dinner and the oratory at several recent
feasts glass with a collection of small
silver at the bottom has been passed
along the table as unobtrusively as posi-
BILE, with the whispered comment that it's
contents were for the men behind the
chairs. So plain hint has never yet fail
ed. There are several restaurants where
so plain hint would not be tolerated
but many others are not so particular
and the practice shows how the walters
tip is developing from a gratuity into a
charge.
1t is now coming to be recognized in
Chicago at least-says the American
Electrician, that under certain conditions
the electric arc affords the cheapest and
most convenient method of cutting struc-
tural ironwork or vault steel. In the re-
construction or alteration of modern Office
building 1t sometimes happens that some
of the steel girders forming the frame
of the building must be cut to accommo-
date the necessary changes, and likewise
the changes sometimes made in bank
safety deposit vaults necessitate the cut
ting of the vault Innings. Often the Cir
ders are in a place difficult to get at with
saw or drill. and the cutting through of
modern vault walls can only be done by
aannealing spot and then drilling 1t, and
so on lad nauseam" TO the man doing the
job and the people waiting for him to
finish it. Under either of the conditions
strated itself by far the quickest, most
convenient and economical method if cur
rent is available.
In the new typewriting machine cleo
tro-magnetic power is utilized. In appear
ance and general construction the ma
chine is quite like the ordinary typewrit-
er, and the addition of the electrical fea-
ture has not made it complicated it is
said. The very simple electrical device
consisting of a motor frame, an electro
magnet and a~Theostat is placed below
the type basket. The motor frame has a
fiat bar on the front side, and is held
down by a spring. which is Immediately
below the magnet. There is but one
electric circuit, one contact point, and one
magnet. By depressing a key a pendant
is thrown over the motor frame and the
circuit is closed. Instantly the magnet
pulls up the motor frame and shoves up
the pendant The pendant actuates
lever which pulls down a wire, throwing
the type bar upward and making the i'm
print. The circuit is automatically broken
The type bar is free to return independ-
emily of the key. In the company's
salesroom and the government depart
ments and business Offices where the
machines are in use, plug has been in
| serted in the electric-light socket, and
current is taken from the local lighting
circuits.
"A peculiar feature of the Brazilian
newspapers is found in the birthday cards
| printed in their columns" says a cores
! pendent of the Chicago Record "They
are oft-times extravagant in language. es-
! pecialy when the poetical nature of a
! swain gets the upper hand. Birthday fes-
| tivities are always celebrated in Brazil.
/ the public officials receiving a deluge of
| good wishes on this suspicious day each
year. The birthday cards in the news
papers are something like these as a rule:
| Fluctuations. Hail the Sth day of Decem-
! Der, 1900! At the break of day was gath
cred one more beautiful bouquet of vio-
| let's from the garden of the precious ex-
| istence of Senorita. Zulmira Rainho For
this glorious date many compliments from
| one who esteems her. Hail 9-12-19OOi Al
| the dawn of a beautiful morning (this
seems to have gone wrong some way. for
1t was raining torrents the little birds
fill the sky with their sweet singing and
| the angels bedeck themselves with flow
! ers in their precious couches to felicitate
the natal day Of the distinguished business
man, Antonio f. Villas Boas I pray God
you may have brilliant future and a life
Of roses. Always yours (Signed by his
sweetheart.)"
Athens is excited over the great dis
covery of the Grecian statues that were