Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-24
GLEANINGs AND GOSSIP.

The inhabitants of southern Italy and
Sicily are complaining over an invasion
of ravens, and the birds are doing great
deal of damage. A strange part of the
affair is that there was a similar invaS-
ion by the birds at Messina just before
the great earthquake.
Pure iron is only a laboratory prepara-
ton. Cast iron the most generally useful
variety, contains about 5 per cent. of i'm
purities, and the curious thing is that it
owes it's special value to the presence of
these. Pure iron can be shaved with a
pocket knife; impure iron can be made
almost as hard as steel. q
In answer to a deputation from Bosnia,
which came to present their respects, the
Austrian emperor merely said, ''Zgogom"
good day.. A firm of publishers in Sara
yevo had previously received orders from
the deputation to issue the expected dis
course from the emperor on vellum In
rich binding and now insists that the
contract shall be carried out
Rev. S. NJ Stewart, who has spent
eight years on the northern coast of La
brador, says that up there it is often a
question of starvation or diet of raw
seal. He says that raw seal is an ac-
uuired taste, but on his trips to visit
distant Eskimo settlements he has learn
| ed to like it, and says that it tastes like
a combination of Goldfish and beefsteak,
with dash of rabbit thrown in.
The Mendelssohn bank differs from all
similar institutions in Germany in the
| nature of the relations existing between
| it and it's employees. It's attitude toward
them is patriarchal, nd it has the repu-
tation of never having dismissed one
! One or two hav retired. but the rest
| have grown or are growing gray in the
service with view to ultimate retire
ment on pension. The salaries paid are
exceptionally high, and no employee in
place of trust gets less than $1,000 year
No Christmas presents arc given, but
all employees share in the prosperity of
the bank as reflected in it's dividends.
"a characteristic common to most
presents given to the blind is perfumery,"
said asylum worker. ''They fairly
| reek with it. The inmates of the home
visit received holiday presents by the
wholesale. They We're of every descrip-
| ton and came from diverse quarters.
ooiile Hdu Deell iIidue Dy the SlVeTS, Soihc
had been bought but all smelled Of the
sachet bag. People who would shrink
| from a scent bag attached to present
for anybody else literally pour perfume
| on gifts to the sightless Their intention
| is most kindly, too Somehow they fan
cy that what the eye lacks the nose
| must make up for, and on goes the per-
| fume. New York Sun.
| A dog living at Los Praz, near Chamo-
| tax, in the summer of 1908 distinguished
! itself by climbing Mont Blanc. Its mas
| ter, workman, was employed on repairs
| to the observatory on the summit. One
morning, after having been seen Ly it's
owners wife at o'clock, the dog disap-
peared. 1t must have rapidly tracked it's
master by scent, for it arrive at the
summit at go in the afternoon, having
| accomplished in 61s hours what usually
is estimated to require Is hours for a
| man. The presence of some tourists at
the top insured this fact being properly
| atested, and Mount Blanc, as the dog is
now called. is quite a hero in the Village.
The Strand. f}t~