Generalities.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume IX, Issue 1197, 21 February 1902, Page 4

Generalities.

It is not generally known, says an English paper, that the Czar wears a ring in winch be believes is embedded a piece of the true Cross. It was originally one of the treasures of the Vatican, and was presented to an ancestor of the Czar for diplomatic reasons. Some years ago the Czar vas travelling from St. Petersburg to Moscow. He suddenly discovered he had forgotten tbe ring. The train was stopped immediately and a special messenger sent flying back on an express engine for it, nor would the Czar allow the train to move until, siveral hours afterwards, the messenger returned with the ring.

James Morrissey, the Lai Hal snake-charmer, ha 3 again been arrested by the Ballarat police with a number of poisonous reptiles in his possession. He was drinking with another charmer named Mitchell ip Ballarat East Hotel, and had throe snakes recently captured in the Bullarook Forest in a bag. Oppressive weather caused the serpents to become uneasy in the bag, and when it was opened one of them bit Morressey on the wrist. He immediately tied a ligature round the arm and applied his antidote. Morrissey became irritable, a 3 the result probably ol the after effects of the snakebite, and quarrelled with companion Mitchell. The uproar attracted the attention of Senior-constable Crowe, who arrested both men, together with the snakes. The latter found by the lock up keeper. Constable Wall, to be vary lively, and were placed in a small cell, in which their hissing could be heard distinctly. It is probable that the police will destroy them.