The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1894-02-24 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

EIS NARROW ESOAPB.  A man named Kuenschner who has died in prison in Saxony had as narrow an escape from losing his head as any man ever had. Nearly 30 years ago Kuenschner was condemned to death for the murder of a shopkeeper at Leipsic. He was actually on the scaffold, and the knife was about to fall, when a niessenger arrived bringing a telegram of reprieve. The shouts of the messenger and the warning cries of the public were heard by the executioner just in time to save the condemned man's head. Sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life, and since 1865 Kuenschner has been in prison. Before his death he confessed that he was guilty of the murder.  Somebody says that gas meters are like Arabs because they "silently steal away." The Chinese language is spoken by the greatest number of people, over 400,000,000. There are in the United States, 14,056,750 horses ; valued at 911,000,000 dollars.  An aluminium violin, invented and patented by a Cincinnati musician is highly spoken of. At the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, the eight hours day will come into operation a week hence. The effect of the sun-rays on the ratio of deaths during periods of epidemics is very marked. Vandykes are extremely popular, and both ribbons and laces are arranged in this fashion. The Normanton Gas Company have declared a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum. Mr. F. H. Cowen thinks his new opera "Sigrid," (not yet performed) is his best work. The Queen has not worn her crown more than twenty times during her whole reign.  Of the members of the Parliament of 1832 there are only two survivors now that 6ir Harry Verney is dead.  The Dean of Melbourne, in his 95th year, preached without notes in his cathedral a few weeks ago.  The Rev. Charles Moore, curate of Dewsbury Parish Church, has been appointed a chaplain in the Navy. A well-known painter has died who called him. self Frederick Clive Newcome. His real name was Suker.  The fund for presenting a testimonial to Mr. Peter M'Lagan, ex-M.Y. for Linlithgowshire, now amounts to £1,813.  The Basque language is said to be that in which the first woman contradicted the man, and it resembles no other tongue. A man who reads the law reports wants to see a "Society for the Propagation of Knowledge amongst Judges formed." Mdlle. Bob Walter, who dances with lions at the Aquarium, is better known in Paris as Madame Caran d'Ache, the wife of the great caricaturist. Mr. Edward Lloyd has only once appeared on the stage, though the late Carl Rosa made him tempting offers. _  The smallest newspaper in the world is the "Little Standard," which is published at Torquay. It measures exactly 3in. in length and breadth. A relative of Burns has passed away in the person of Mr. Alexander Burness, who was for many years a farmer in the parish of Durris, in Kincardineshire. Queen Christina of Spain is carrying out, to the intense disgust of her household, reforms by which the viands coming from the Royal table are retained instead of becoming the perquisites of servants. Admiral Duncan's order to his fleet, before the memorable engagement with Admiral de Winter, was given in these words, "Gentlemen of my fleet, you see a very severe Winter fast approaching, and I have only to advise you to keep up a good fire,"