News and Miscellany

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 11, 1916

News and Miscellany

Notes and clippings from the daily and weekly press

— In order to perfect the title to a building in New York City which recently changed hands, eight square inches of land adjoining it was sold the other day for $2,500. About 300 years ago the whole island of Manhattan, containing twenty-two square miles, was purchased for $25.

— The death of Susan Blow, known throughout this country as the “mother of the kindergarten,” was announced recently. Years ago Miss Blow spent some time in Germany in studying the principles and practices of teaching children there, after which she returned and founded the kindergarten system in the United States.

— What is said to be the third largest check ever cashed in New York was one recently honored, calling for the payment of $43,538,131.11. The amount went toward paying for $50,000,000 worth of steel bonds which a New York banking syndicate had bought. The largest check on record is said to be one for $62,075,000.

— The Ellen Wilson Memorial Fund has been increased by a gift of $1,000 from President Wilson, which was received at the headquarters in Atlanta, Ga. The fund is being raised for the purpose of awarding scholarships to children in mountain sections of the South, a work in which the former Mrs. Wilson was greatly interested.

— Stones to replace the worn flooring of the portico at Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, are now awaiting shipment from England to this country. They were taken from the same quarry in England where Washington procured the first stones, when he built the mansion, nearly 200 years ago, and are believed to be their exact duplicates.

— A law has been passed by the legislature of Maryland, providing for compulsory military service in that State. It divides the State militia into two classes, the active and the unorganized. The active militia comprises the organized National Guard. The unorganized militia, consisting of all other able-bodied male citizens between eighteen and forty-five years of age, is a sort of reserve to be called on in emergencies.

— At a recent auction sale in West Forty-fifth Street, New York, Napoleon’s war chest and his bed, Marie Antoinette’s vanity case and the boxful of other personal belongings she took with her to prison were sold; also dozens of other personal effects of kings and queens, dukes and duchesses. The sale is one of the most interesting and priceless Napoleonic collections in the world. It is known as the Stephen Jumel collection, and was brought to America by Jumel in 1816, when he took a ship to Europe to bring back the dethroned emperor. The collection is being sold by Jumel’s descendants. It has been hoped for many years that the collection would be presented to the city of New York.