The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-24
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

THE German scientific eXpedltlon uA-
der DR.. Ko.deweys. has discovered III
Babylon the ancient profession road OF
Marduk, says a Der in correspondent Inc
large limestone flags of the roadway Oeei
the Inscription of Northumberland ana are
inlaid with smaller squares OF req anu
white stone The German scientists std 70
that the temple discovered last May III
the interior of the Amrum hill is the IA
nous natinoal temple of the Baoylohlaips:
known to history under the name Oh
Esagila. These discoveries will give the
key to many questions concerning the
topography of Babylon.
An electrician of Albany has applied
for a patent on an electric mai.-oox'
which is intended for houses. 1t is small
and is so arranged that when the 'etter-
carrier deposits a letter in the ooN nc
presses a push button, which is connect
ed with an annunciator within the ouliu-
ing. A drop comes down showing the
word mail. The household knows at once
that the mail is at the door Any mali
FIR the carrier is paced on the box, where
there is w.re rack for papers. The bat
terry is in the top of the box, and not in
the house. II is readily accessible, ana
requires but little atteGton, no more than
an ordinary electric door bel.
For the last three years farmers
telephone system has been in success ul
operation in Heath, Mass. The company
began operations with fourteen miles or
wire ard nineteen instruments, at tct II
cost of only $780, AT present there are
nearly 200 subscribers, who pay but :
a year, and the company Is capita ized
at $1,000 The amount of stock sold 10
any one person is limited, and the p ant
is owned and managed entirely by far
mers During the last two years the divi-
bends have been 10 per cent. and the
system is undoubtedly a success. The
central is over the postoffice in the city,
and farmers often have their letters read
to them over the telephone. and dictate
replies, which are mailed in the regular
course The farmers are enabled TO Ike p
in touch with the markets in various
towns on the line, and are thus embed
to sell their produce at favorable times.
The line runs through a d Zen tow S in
Northwestern Massachusetts and South
ern Vermont.
The Philadelphia Press says that Seth
Thomas, who died in Camden. N. j., on
Sunday, wes employed as tailor in Phil
adelphia during the Civil War. The firm
employing him conceived the idea of pre-
senting suit of Clothes to some general
then in the field who would get the most
votes at a fair in aid of wounded soldiers.
But none of the generals won d consent 10
the scheme, declaring it to be beneath
their dignity. The firm then sent Thomas
to President Lincoln to ask If he would
object 10 being measured for broadc,oth
suit, which the firm would pres mt to the
fair ard allow the patrons to eXh bit the ir
patriot SIN by subscribing the money to
pay for 1t, which would go into the gem
eral fund of the bazaar. Lincoln smiled
and So d: why, that seems like a good
scheme to assist a worthy cause, and It
might add about $500 to the fund" He
then called one of the cabinet officers,
who put down the measurements as
Thcmas called them off. La .er Thomas
took the Clothes to him, and it was the
suit in which he was buried. Instead of
500 the suit of clothing realized several
thousands for the fair
The due.ling code in the German army
has just been the indirect cause OF an
abominable murder in the garrison OF
Morchlngen, a town in Lorraine, half
way between Avricourt and Metz, says
the New York Post At the close OF a
military feast, in celebration of the En-
peforS birthday, an army surgeon, Or.
Ruger, who was Blasting of his muscu>
lar strength, seized an officer of the Sew
enteenth Infantry Regiment, Capt.
Adams, by the wrists and forced him off
his chair on TO the floor. Capt. Adams
lost MS temper, and resenting DR.. Ru-
gers rather rough humor, went SO far as
to strike him. He then left the enter
tainment and went to his rooms. Thither
he was soon followed by two other cap
tains, deputed to arrange the affair Ia ac-
cordance with the military code of honor
Capt. Adams he'd gone TO bed. bur a
third visitor was awaiting him. This was
Lieut.. Ruger the brother of the insulted
army surgeon. Although the two captains
expostulated with him, Lieut.. Ruger in
sisted on remaining, and when the door
Of the room opened and Capt. Adams was
about to enter, he drew a pistol and shot
him dead on the spot. The murderer then
handed his sword to the two captains ana
explained that he had sacrinced himself
for his brother. who was the father of a
family, and who would probably have
been killed IL he had fougng duel with
Capt Adams, who was a VIGOROUSLY
good shot. on surronderng himself 10 the
authorities OF the garrison, Lieut. Ituger
was conveyed TO Metz. where he awaits
his trial by court-mauial. An imposing
military funeral was accorded 10 CAPT.
Adams, who was most popular officer.
Thus two lives are sacrificed 20 an idlotle
tradition, in an aftair which ga any rea-
sonaple community, could certainly have