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The Green Bag.


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IN the June " Century " Florence Hayward de scribes the official record, that is preserved on a parchment roll, of Queen Victoria's coronation. Miss Hayward says: The "Coronation Roll" is wonderfully and curiously complete. It sets down every detail with minuteness and elaboration. The " Coronation Roll " of Queen Victoria is like the rolls of all her predecessors since the time of Richard II — a huge, bulky roll' of parchment. It is what the lawyers would call a deed poll as distinguished from an indenture. It has its pre ambles and recitals and its obligation, all of which are quaintly set out in stilted phrases on a series of pieces of sheepskin, each fifteen inches wide, fastened together by loose stitches, until the whole attain the length of nearly one hundred lineal feet. It can be perused only by unrolling from one end to the other, and is so unwieldy that the seeker for any information of which the precise location is unknown must invoke the aid of no end of manual assistance to attain it. The script is in the highest style of the scrivener's art, and is an excellent ex ample of the engrossment that is still considered necessary in England for wills and deeds, which, as there is no general system of publicly record ing such instruments, are kept in "strong boxes" under lock and key. Speaking generally, the re sult, as a whole, is over a hundred square feet of solid reading in one breath, and in a language that is a mixture of legal, medieval, and court phrases, but each line gives one a glimpse not to be had otherwise of the intricacy, dignity, and significance of the coronation ceremony.

CURRENT EVENTS. KANSAS CITV has an ordinance imposing a fine of two dollars and a half on every elector who fails to vote at a general election. Hut the supreme court of Missouri has just declared the ordinance invalid, on the ground, so it is stated, that it is degrading to as sociate the franchise with a money value. It really ought to be made necessary for every man to vote who has the right of suffrage and who can get to the polls. If a fine is not proper, some other plan may be found. It might he well to experiment with a sug gestion made some time ago. that a capitation tax of, say five dollars per annum, be laid upon every voter, to be remitted if he casts his ballot on election day, and rigorously collected if he does not. Put in this form, the proposition might pass the ordeal of the courts.

THE Germans are by no means behind the Ameri cans in developing the wheel so as to make it useful in every possible way. A unique tricycle cab has made its appearance on the streets of Berlin, and for the first few days attracted considerable attention. The people, however, soon noted its usefulness, and took kindly to the new vehicle. As a result, a tri cycle cab company has been organized, and it will not be long before the streets of Berlin will swarm with them. The construction of this tricycle cab is very simple. The two hind wheels support a carriageframe containing a cushioned seat and a support or platform for resting the feet. A folding hood is se cured to the carriage-frame in order to protect the rider in wet or inclement weather. The driver of the tricycle sits in front and propels the vehicle in the same manner as an ordinary bicycle. Herr Hoffman, the inventor, believes his tricycle cab will supersede the cabs now in use, as it is capable of high speed, abso lutely noiseless when in motion, and can be cheaply constructed. In addition, the low charge for fare will soon make it popular with the masses.

IN Philadelphia there is located the most remark able institution of its kind in existence, a museum which will contain specimens of the natural and manufactured products of all the countries of the world. Its object is to stimulate commerce and boom American trade, particularly with South America and Africa. All parts of the United States are interested in the enterprise, to which contributions have been made in one shape or another by cities North, South, East and West. The idea is that anybody who has anything to sell shall be able to find out just where and how it is wanted and the best way to seek pur chasers anywhere on the globe. Merchants and manufacturers in every section of the country may obtain from the trade museum the most complete and comprehensive information respecting markets and all commercial data up to date. There are a great many points that the American manufacturer will have to learn before he can dispose of his goods in South America. At the museum he will not only find out what is wanted in those markets, but also how the goods ought to be packed, what the freight charges are, the latest price quoted, and the names of firms which are guaranteed as reliable consignees. All the valuable woods of the world are assembled in one great room. If a manufacturer wants material for tool handles or piano covers, he can find therein a short time the best woods furnished by forty countries. The museum occupies the whole of the large building on Fourth Street near Walnut, which until recently was used for office purposes by the Pennsylvania railroad, with the addition of four adjoining houses.

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