The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-21
HERE AND THERE.

When women decide to vote will it
be possible to keep the secret BALLOT
Baltimore American
The pine trees over in North Carroll
ma are whispering a whisper to the
effect hat after the Mississippi bear
hunt is over the anti-lily white axe
will be ~strenuously welded in that
state.-Richmond Times.
A certain author wrote to a noted
critic who had persistently ignored him:
Il will give you $50 to read n review
my latest book" The critic replied:
"Offer tempting; out nave no insurance
on my life ."-Atlanta Constitution.
The gypsies employ a very simple
method to check the member of their
band of musicians Who has to make
the collection. They give HIM a plate
to hold in his right hand AMI a live fly
which he has to keep imprisoned in his
left as he goes collecting mJney.-Chi-
cago Chronicle.
AS many of the Washington CORE
spondents have now related with great
particularly just what President
Roosevelt will say in his forthcoming
message, it really seems like a waste
Of time for that statesman tC go to the
trouble of writing out the document at
all. Congress can get all the necessary
information from any bureau of press
clippingS-ChicagO Chronicle
The death of a Minneapolis merchant
from apoplexy caused by a bout at
chess calls attention anew to the
danger of games which demand too
close mental effort. A very large num-
Der of the masters OF chess IN particu-
lar have died insane, and the stress
which menaces the nerr u with de-
rangement must in full-bodied anna
tours past middle age s~ggravate any
apolectic tendency.-Ncw York World.
Having little besides ennui to comfort
them. vandals in Havana are destroy
ing the famous old city wall at the
Punta. and it's surroundings known at
Los Fosos, where the recommended IS
of Gen. Butcher Weylcr were herd ed
together. The wall between Zulueta
and Monserrate streets IS being torn
down for removal. the block of gram
lite being used for building stone. Ha-
Vana. therefore. is losing Its ancient
beauty and picturesqueuess. Once it
was ranked W artists with Venice and
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES York Press.
And now We have the electric long
distance typewrite which has been ex-
pected for some years. 1t is being used,
1T appears, between Berlin and Ham,
burg, Germany, and will soon be util-
lied by the German government
boul III CIIIpllC, i 10 StdtSu, "
postal t~elegraphing. It is a very simple
continuance according to the accounts
of it in the papers. A person sits at a
keyboard somewhat similar to that
Of an ordinary typewriter, and by play
ing upon the keys causes a little instru-
ment fifty, se~venty-five or one hun
dred miles away to print the words in
plain type on a roll OF paper as rapidly
as the keys are pressed.-Richmond
Dispatch.
The United States army is to have a
new rifle. according to the report of
General Crozier. chief of the bureau
of ordnance. The rifle in use has
been improved" and provided with a
rod bayonet. instead of the heavier
bayonet so long used. One advantage
Of the rod bayonet is hat it lightens
the weight OF the gun and dispenses
with the bayonet and the baycnet scab-
bard now in use. n in the place of
which ~intrenching tools may be carried
by the soldier. The new piece weighs
a little less than min and one-half
pounds, being considerably lighter than
the German and the Mauser vet the
bullets have greater veiocitv and great
er penetration. Some 5000 of the new
rifles are to be made for further trial
Baltimore Sun.