NEWS ITEMS

Colonist, Volume XXXI, Issue 8688, 8 October 1896, Page 4

NEWS ITEMS

(From ocr Latest Exchanges.) A contemporary says that it is now noticed tbat the waists of women of fashion are fally tbree inches larger — j a most pleasing result. Of course, it is cycling that has wrought the miracle, for all fashionable women ride, and the exercise, causing the chest to expand, demands far greater freedom of respiration than was permitted by the tight corset. The Ameer of Afghanistan has assumed the title ol " The Light of the World," and a coin bearing his likeness and the new tide has been struck. The local paper states that, the upper lake at Te Aute has risen to

such an extent lately as to threaten

the perman nt way. The pressure of water has cracked part of the bank, and in order to remove the danger the

railway authorities are cutting a drain about nine feet deep, which is expected to lower the water in the lake by two feet.

A woman named Delia McGreen, a native of Dublin, who has been living Bince 1880 in Nova Scotia, died at Providence, Rhode Island, recently. From her appearance and mode of life she was believed to be poor, but when her belongings were overhauled property worth 25,000d015. was found concealed in a bustle which she always wore.

A New Yobk florist recently was stung in the tongue by a small insect. The injury was so serious that a surgeon was compelled to cut the man's tongue out in order to save his life. There are about 100 grains of iron in the average human body, and yet so important is this exceedingly Email | quantity that its diminution is attended with every serious results. A lawyer on his death-bed willed all his property to a lunatic asylum, giving as a reason for so doing that he wished his property to return to the same liberal class who patronised him.

Me Houlihan : " Oi dreamt lasht noight thot Oi died." Mrs Houlihan : I«• An' how long did yez lay in purgatory ?" Mr Houlihan : '* Divil a minute I Saint Peter Eaid to tne, "Ye kin go roight into heaven ter wanst, Houlihan. Oi know yer woife V " When King George IV died his clothes were sold by public auction, which lasted over three weeks, the a being no less than 500 lur lined coats alone. A deplorable proof that prohibition does not accomplish all that is ex pected of it by some of its advocates is fum'shed by the « Portland Daily Adviser,' a journal published in the oldest Prohibition State in America. It records that on August 3rd last a boy aged fourteen stood up in the dock of the Municipal Court and admitted that he had been convicted of being a convicted drunkard. The London * Times ' of a recent date states : — The Fox, an open boat 3 Sft long, having on board two young Norwegians named Harbro and Samuelson arrived at St Mary, Kcilly, on Saturday morning. The occupants have performed the unprecedented feat of rowing from New York in 55 days. The boat has no masts, ; sails or rudder, and the men used a I pair of oars, one rowing while the other slept. Tney report having had fair winds all the way, but the weather was rough on three days. One night tbe boat capsized, and they lost come of their provisions and gear. The ■» men wore lifebelts attached by lan-i " yards to the boat, which they sue- ! ceeded in righting and bailing out. \ A Chicago woman has asked for a judicial separation because she claims 1 her husband formulated the following ' rules for her guidance, pasted them oa • the walls of their home, and endeav- » oured to enforce them: — "1. There must be no whispering. 2. Secret 1 society affairs must not be talked i about. 3. The new woman has nothing to say here. 4. After eight i o'clock at night this house is strictly I private, and it is time to lock the I door."

A whirlwind occurred on the sea front at Eastbourne recently. Three rowing boats were^blown into the aic aad whirled about like paper. A dozen people were thrown to the ground by the force of the wind. A traveller in Morocco describes a slave market which he visited in Fez. A woman sold for about =610, a young girl finding a purchaser at £11. Herr Lilienthad, the inventor of a navigable flying machine, recently made an experimental journey, starting from Goemberg, iv the province of Bradnenburg. He had flown along safely for over 200 yds. when a gust of wind suddenly caught and carried him upwards, causing him to lose control over his wings. The unfortunate man fell perpendicularly t j the ground, broke his spine, and died soon afterwards. A de patce fiom Tunis brings information concsrniug a most extraordinary occurrence. Mahomed B. n Aid lei Benzerti, who had been condemned to death for a quadruple murder, wes hanged. After banging the u=ual time tbe rope was cat, and tbe e xecutioncr 3 handed what were believed to be the remains to bis rela'ifee. As they wera preparing to enshroud bim ha suddenly sat up and exclaimed, " Before burying me give me something t3 drink." He was conveyed to the hospital, where he is now under treatment. Tbe despatch aSEerts that he is expeoted to recover.