Miscellaneous.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXI, Issue 1041, 6 July 1894, Page 7

Miscellaneous.

~ I Camels are, perhaps, the. only animals that cannot swim ; immediately after they enter the water, they turn on their hacks and are drowned! Ifc is said that in America 100,000 horses have been thrown out of their ordinary employment in the past two years by the use of electric car?. The rival holy coat — that of Argentfcuil — is to be exhibited, after being concealed from view since 1680. The priests actually declare that it is none other than the seamless robe -of Christ A lady giving evidence at a Government, inquiry into the working of underground slate quarries in Wales, said that the incessant tea-drinking and the neglect of wholesome food were becoming a real calamity to the physic of men and women in Wales. The Russian authorities have intervened on behalf of the nightingale. The police of ELiev found some birdcatohers who were on their way to Moscow with 600 nightingales in cages. The birdcatchers were captured and fined, and their little victims wore taken to the botanical gardens and released. It is said they rose in the air in song, which was responded to by the other birds around. The words carron oil and carronades are derived from the great iornworks at Carron in Stirlingshire. Carron oil, which is a mixture of linseed oil and lime water in equal proportions, was so called because its valuable proporties as a dressing for burns and scalds are said to have been first discovered there, while artillery known as carronades were originally made at the works in question. Prince Bismarck receives fropi the State an annual pension amounting to less than L3OOO. But his income is really a very large one. He is a very large brewer of lager beer, employing over 200 men in the business. He owns a considerable poultry farm, and he has a large holding in a big insurance society which deals principally in tire business. From these various sound investments his income is estimated at L 17,000 per annum. According to Colonel Mapleson, Madame Patti, when in America, travels in a special car, which contains a bath of solid silver. The car is opened by a golden key. It is no slight undertaking in fact to undertake a series of engagements for the great prima donna, for, in addition to the lavish expenses incurred, her manager has to find LIOOO forlip.r salary for each performance at which she sings, and to guarantee two hundred performances for one tour. Madame Patti's car played an important part in a little incident referred to by Colonel Mapleson. On one occasion when thpy were travelling to Montreal the railway officials suddenly demanded 300dols, which for some reason they considered their company entitled to. Colonel Mapleson refused to pay. They thereupon seized th n car in which Madame Patti lay asleep and wheeled it into a stable. There, all unconscious of what had happened to her, she remained until her rescue was effected by the payment of the money.