The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-25
ITEMS OF INTEREST.


Geographical Survey reports. the man.
ufacture of artificial graphite has in
creased enormously in recent years. g.
100000 pounds, valued at $1,000 hav-
ing been produced in 1901, as compared
with S60,750 pounds in 1900, valued
at 500. $780, and 1872, 1882 pounds, valued at
$10,149, in 1897, the first year of COM
mercial production. More than one
half of the output for 1901 was in the
form of graphitized electrodes for use
in the manufacture of alkali and
bleach by electrolytic processes, the
remainder being consumed in the man.
ufacture of paints, lubricants, pencils.
motor brushes crucibles, and dry
batteries. The total consumption Of
graphite of all forms in this country
is nearly 10000 tons, almost 80 per
cent. of which quantity is imported.
"A gasoline locomotive has just been
completed in Kansas City for use at
Mexican mine. 1t has had it's sue
cessful trial trips, and in a few days
will be taken apart and shipped 10
the mine, which is at Batopilar, $50
miles from the Mexican Central Rail-
way across the Chihuahua Mountains.
None of its parts weighs more than
$50 pounds, as the whole engine has to
tination on the backs of burros. 1t
will run in a tunnel five feet wide and
six feet high, and will take the place
of sixty burros, which now pull the
cars of ore from the mine. AS the tun-
mel is small and its length great, the
locomotive had to be constructed so
that no fumes escaped. To accomplish
this, the carbonic-oxide gas is passed
through a water-wash in the same
way gas is passed through "scrubbers"
at a gas works. 1t is claimed that
the process will effectively prevent
fumes from escaping into the tunnel
and that the combustion will be per-
feet.
Dinner was a substantial affair in
the reign of Queen Elizabeth, who was
by no means Indifferent to the pleas
ures of the table. The first course on
great occasions would probably be
wheaton flummery steWed broth, spin
ach broth, cruel, or hotchpotch. The
second consisted of fish, among which
may be noted lampreys, stock fish and
sturgeon, with side dishes OF porpoise.
The third course comprised quaking
pudding, bag budding, black pudding,
white pudding and marrow pudding.
Then came veal, beef, capons, humble
pie, mutton, marrow paSties, Scotch
COlIOpS, VIII lONl dIIQ dillCs LII bAAC
fifth course came all kinds of sweets,
creams in all their varieties, custards,
cheese cakes, jellies, warden pies, junk
cts, Syllabus and so on, to be follow
ed perhaps by white cheese and tansy
cake. For drinks there were ale and
beer, wine, sack an numerous varieties
of mead or metheglin, some of which
were concocted out of as many as five
and-twenty herbs and were redolent of
SWEET country perfume.
The proposed Constantinople-B Bag
( dad Railway for which the German
and French bondholders obtained a
concession on Dec %, 1892 is fully
surveyed, but construction halts. The
necessary capital was estimated at
$751; 500, 900, of which the Germans were
to raise so per cent and the French
40 per cent. But it was later stipulated
that a Turkish guarantee of not less
than $6000,000 a year was advisable.
This sum the Porte. could only raise
by obtaining the consent of the pow
ers to increase it's customs duties
from per cent. to IL per cent. While
the Germans have been endeaVoring
for two years to have the powers con-
sent, England-for commercial and
Russia for political reasons-hold out
against it. Russia objects because such
a railway would open up the wheat
fields of Mesopotamia, to the detri-
ment of Russian wheat; it would com
pete with the Siberian and Tashkend
Railways, and would interfere with
the already irregular payment of the
Russian war indemnity due from Tur-
key.
Few people are aware how strict a
Sabbath is still legally ordained in
act forbidS not only Sunday trading
but also every possible occupation
walking, riding, rowing, or any game
and strictly enjoins upon all subjects
over nine years of age attendance at
church. At the opening of every as
size the Kings proclamation for the
preservation of morality is read. Peo-
pie who are then present for the first
time are astonished to hear that the
King forbids and calls upon the mag
istrates to punish absence from di-
vine service on Sundays, any playing
of cards or other games of chance, or
haunting of public houses on the same
day. Everybody found in an inn dur
ing service hours is liable to a fine of
80 cents, the landlord to a penalty of
$2.40 and for successful prosecution
church wardens are entitled to a re-
ward of $40. AS recently as 1864 Isaac
for refusing to attend church on Sun
day when ordered there by his mis-
tress. About the same time a mother
was prosecuted by her son and actual
ly imprisoned for not attending church
Noise, says Health, is one of the
greatest foes to health that is encoun-
tered in city life. There is enough of
it and to spare in the streets due To
the ordinary advocations and traffic;
but the home should be a haven Of
refuge from noise, to give the tired
and harassed nerves an opportunity to
recover from the strain to which they
have been subjected out of doors. 1T
takes no longer to handle things light
ly than to fling them down with a din
sufficient TO arouse the celebrated sew
en- sleepers. How many minutes would
It require to change the cumbersome
heavy footwear worn in the streets for
a pair of lighter shoes that would not
jar the sensibilities of those in need
OF rest? The time and trouble involved
in these and similar precautions is in
intestinal, but the interest on the ex-
penditure is enormous from the stand
point of health since it conduces to re-
pose and speedier recuperation from
fatigue. Slamming of doors, heavy
walking and running up and down
stairs, loud and boisterous talking
these are offenseS against health and
tranquility that are painfully common
in many households.
Inability to comprehend events be-
fore science had been brought forth.
gave rise to earnest effort to grasp