The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-05
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

II imported s2,7OO,O0O worth of wheels
last year. mostly of the cheaper grades,
costing from S12 to $25. They are
chiefly used for business purposes; also
in the army.
Negroes are good cooks in Africa as
well as in America. A recent tourist
declares that the average negro fam
lily in the Sudan enjoys much better
cooked meals than the average Amer
lean family. Palm oil and cayenne
pepper are an ingredient in most of
their dishes. and these are considered
almost a specific against dyspepsia.
A society has been organized in
Paris called Les Jeux du Soldat," the
object of which is to prevent the con-
scripts at the French barracks from
forming bad habits. The society has
provided wholesome games for the
army-chess, cards, deck, quoits and
perhaps ping pong. So far 140, 900 sol-
diers have been provided with games.
The Army Committee of the French
Senate has given the finishing touches
to the two years service bill. 1t re-
jected as contrary to the principle of
equality Gen. Andres proposal to keep
portion of the conscripts three years
during the period of transition in order
to maintain the electives. Therefore,
it fixed the operation of the measure
for two years. instead of twelve
months, after its PRONUNCIATION.
"A somewhat remarkable textbook
for the use of young German soldiers
has just been published. 1t deliber-
ately instructs soldiers to inform their
superiors of all kinds of offenses COM
mitted by their comrades. Services of
this character are stated in the text
book to be high duty and worthy
of commentator. If the soldier hears
anything derogatory of his officers or
the kaiser he is to fetch a policeman.
The Russian Admiralty is now pre-
pairing plans for a new type of bat
t(eship, which is to be laid down early
in 1903, and which will be the most
powerful in existence. The new ships
are expressly intended to surpass the
British King Edward class. They will
be of from 10000 to 1900 tons, and
will carry four twelve-inch guns and
sixteen eight-inch quick-firers, besides
a large number of smaller weapons.
They will be able to steam from Eu-
rope to the Far East without recoal-
ing.
In lecture at the Philadelphia
Academy of Natural Science on dis
ease being carried by insects Dr. Henry
Skinner declared that the common
house fly was responsible for more
deaths during the Spanish-American
war than bullets. There were Asa
soldiers killed in the late war with
Spain" said DR.. Skinner, land 5,277
died of disease, nearly all succumbing
to typhoid fever carried into the camp
by house flies. This death rate could
have been considerably modified by
protecting the tents from the flies and
proper sanitary arrangements"
notwithstanding the complaints
that the medical profession is over
crowded, young physicians and sur
geons seem to be unwilling to secure
permanent career for themselves in the
army and navy. The navy has been
short-handed in this respect for years
past, and now the army authorities are
complaining. There are thirty-five
vancancies in the grade of assistant
surgeon in the army, and very little
prospect of filing them. The next
examination will be held in Washing
ton in April. Examinations are now be-
ing conducted in the Philippines to fill
some of the places.
in the reign of Henry VIII a proc
lamation was issued against almanac
makers encouraging the belief in saints
ruling the weather. says the London
Chronicle of November 25. Notwith-
standing this and similar efforts to ex-
plode popular notion, certain saints
days are, however, still supposed to as
sist in what may be called long dis
lance forecasts. st. Catharine, whose
festival falls on Nov. 25 is such
saint, for "as at Catharine, foul or fair,
H.,
terday there were all sorts of weather
the elements being under the control
of gale that was clustering in the
west. Halos, too, have recently been
seen round the moon, so that the o:nens
for fair st. Catharine.s Day was not
very satisfactory.
The proprietor of the Falmouth Ho-
tel in Portland, Me-. has abolished his
public register and henceforth will use
card system. Every card will be
numbered and a coupon bearing the
duplicate number given to the guest
The card bearing his autograph win be
kept on file at the desk. When sew
eral hotel men in this city were asked
yesterday what they thought of the
idea, they said that it was useless. for
positively no advantage could be gain
ed by 1t, except secrecy as to who was
at the motel. which wasn't always de-
sirable. If a hotel with the card sys-
ten did any kind of business, it would
have to use a large number of cards.
which would be extremely cumbersome.
they thought. Frequently a hotel prof
tied by man seeing the name of a
friend on the register. A reunion was
held, the proceeds of which went to
the bar. Large hotels use two or more
registers at the desk. so that if a Wis
1tor is examining one, the other can
be used for an incoming guest without
delay.
The veterinary surgeon was vacci-
mating big Newfoundland dog. The
animal was muzzled and an assistant
held its head, says the Philadelphia
Record. A space the size of a silver
dollar was shaved clean on it's back.
and here the virus was being applied
: choose this spot to work on said
the surgeon, because the dog can't
scratch himself here. If l vaccinated
him on the leg he would be apt to irri-
tate the wound and make it very sore.
Inc vaccination of dogs is new" he
went on, but it is a very good thing.
l wonder that it was never tried before
this year. Many valuable dogs have
died from time to time of SMALLPOX.
There have, indeed, been cases where
whole packs of hounds have contracted
the disc ase, and their killing has heen
necessary. l advocate every nuns
vaccination. When dogs take small
pox they take it badly. Their death is
nearly always bound to follow. When