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BUT LITTLE IS KNOWN OF ORIGIN OF INSTRUMENT USED BY MEN AT SEA. ITS USE BY THE CHINESE. This Wonderful People Knew of the Magnetic Needle Long Before the Christian Era—The Claims of Gioia, the Pilot, and the Credit Due Him. Much interest must forever attach to the discovery of that valuable iustru ment the mariner's compass, aud yet there are few subjects concerning which less is known. For a period the honor of the invention was ascribed to Gioia, a pilot, born at Fasitano, a small village situated near Amalfi, about the end of the thirteenth cen¬ tury. His claims, however, have beeu disputed. Much learning and labor have been bestowed upon the subject of the dis¬ covery. It has been maintained by one class that even the Phoenicians were the inventors, by another that the Greeks and Romans had a knowledge of it. Such notions, however, have been completely refuted. One passage, nevertheless, of a re¬ markable character occurs in the works of Cardinal de Vitty, bishop of Ptole mais, in Syria. He went to Palestine during the fourth crusade, about the year 1204. He returned afterward to Europe and subsequently back to the Holy Land, where he wrote his work entitled “Historia Orientalis,” as uear ly as can be determined, between the years 1215 aud 1220. In chapter 91 of that work he has this singular pas¬ sage: “The iron needle, after contact with the loadstone, constantly turns to the north star, which, at the axis of the firmament, remains immovable while the others revolve, and hence it is es¬ sentially necessary to those navigat¬ ing on the ocean." These words are as explicit as they are extraordinary. They state a fact and announce a use. The thing, there¬ fore, which essentially constitutes the compass must have been known long before the birth of Gioia. In addition to this fact, there is another equally fatal to his claim as the original dis¬ coverer. It is now settled beyond a doubt that the Chinese were acquainted with the compass long before the Europe¬ ans. It is certain that there are allu¬ sions to the magnetic ueedle in the traditionary period of Chinese history, about 2,000 years before Christ, and a still more credible account of it is found in the reign of Chingwang of the Chow dynasty, before Christ 1114. All this, however, may be granted without in the least inmairinsr the lust Features Of Fall m ' 7. |P -7 v - Clothing & * xx Us b'W :: For Men and Youn Men XX XX ! ww 11 g \ & XX The most any man wants of his clothes to have them stylish, look well himself M XX I is to to \:x • XX XX W i\ m ; and to his friends, to fit well, and to give good wear. That’s satisfaction, and that’s all a man XX XX \ wants, isn’t it ? TfX XX Well, that’s exactly what you’ll get when you wear the clothes we sell— EBERHE1M- gj XX ER, STEIN & CO. CLOTHES. And they’re not only satisfactory, but they’re also low ^ XX XX jyr* —^ • - •-> XX f W - priced lower priced than you 11 pay elsewhere for inferior garments. That’s why you can ^ XX ^'Tg-v! dress well and economically by purchasing clothes here. XX XX 9 your r > .rt ' \ 9 . PRICES RANGE XX Young Men's Kenwood Suits, $8.50 to $25.00. XK XX Ederheimer, Stein " & Co. ” Overcoats, $5.00 to $20.00 || XX XX Clothes for The Boy XX XX That Ml Combine STYLE With \\ e have the BEST and BIGGEST line of Boys Clothing to be had any where in this section. See line of “CAST IRON” Suits our the pants have double seat and double knee, prices right, bring the boy in and we will fit him in a good suit. ¥ SWANN COMPANY 9 Georgia on //u<i claims or uioia to tne gratitude or man¬ kind. The truth appears to be that the position of Gioia in relation to the compass was precisely that of Watt in relation to the steam engine—the ele¬ ment existed; he augmented its utility. The compass used by the mariners In the Mediterranean during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries was a very uncertain and unsatisfactory apparatus. It consisted only of a mag¬ netic needle floating in a vase or basin by means of two straws on a bit of cork supporting it on the surface of the water. The compass used by the Arabians in the thirteenth century was an in¬ strument of exactly the same descrip¬ tion. Now, the inconvenience and in¬ efficiency of such an apparatus are ob¬ vious. The agitation of the ocean and the tossing of the vessel might render it useless in a moment But Gioia placed the magnetized needle on a pivot, which permits it to turn to all sides with facility. After¬ ward it was attached to a card divided into thirty-two points, called rose de vents, and then the box containing it was suspended in such a manner that, however the vessel might be tossed. It would always remain horizontal.— Electrical Engineer. Stung. The old gentleman went into the par¬ lor the other night at the witching hour of 10:30 and found the lights out and his daughter and a dear friend enjoying a tete-a-tete In a corner by the window. “Evangeline,” said the old man stern¬ ly, “this is scandalous!” “Yes, papa,” she answered sweetly. “It Is candleless because times are hard. Lights cost so much Ferdinand and I said we would get along with the starlight.” And papa turned about in speech¬ less amazement and tried to walk out of the room through a panel In the wall paper.—Exchange. A backwoodsman went to New York city for the first time, says the Satur¬ day Evening Post. He stopped at a Broadway hotel which was pretty well downtowu. Next morning his nephew, who lives in New York, came to take him out and show him the sights. They walked down Broadway until they got to Canal street. The backwoodsman stopped and contemplated the great congestion of traffic there, hundreds of trucks going every way. “Son,” he said to his nephew, “you have a nice city here, but it 'pears to me that your folks is a hull passel be¬ hind in their haulin’.” THE COVINGTON NEWS Rob. Norton Hurt. Mr. Robert Norton sustained a very painful injury caused by a fall one night last week when he fell through the trestle on the Central of Georgia railway in this city. Mr. Norton had just left his engine, of which he is fireman, in the Central yard and started for his home on Cor¬ ley Hill. To make a short cut he de¬ cided to cross the trestle and when he had gotten only a short distance his foot slipped, causing him to fall be¬ tween the ties. In trying to catch his right hand was badly lacerated and sprained and he also sustained slight injuries to his legs. He is out again and will be able to go back to his duties within a few days. His Money Was Melted. Bearing a blackened mass of molt¬ en silver, representing the wreck and ruin of a small fortune to himself, John Fish was in Americus one day recently to ascertain the value of his property. Fish’s house was burned several nights before and among other valua¬ bles consumed was a considerable amount of bank notes totally des¬ troyed. The silver money was melted into an unrecognizable mass. Fish was afraid of banks and kept all his money concealed in his dwelling. Why He Was a Heathen. Sir Arthur Faushnw related an amus¬ ing story of a Mohammedan servant who when asked his religion replied: “Beg pardon, sar. I’m a heathen.” When asked by his master what he meant by a heathen the man answer¬ ed: “Beg pardon, sar, a worshiper of stocks and stones.” “Confound it,” remarked the master, “I can't keep a man like that in my service.” To which came the Immediate re¬ joinder: “Beg pardon, sar, in your highness’ service no time to worship anything!” —London News. He Spoke Too Soon. A well known business man attended his daughter’s commencement exer¬ cises at an eastern college. He had been greatly pleased with the beauty and dignity of the exercises and was discoursing to his wife upon the refin¬ ing influences of college life. Sudden¬ ly his impressive monologue was cut short. A girl in cap and gown came dashing down the steps of the main hall waving her diploma and shout ine. “Educated, by gosh.'”—Ladies’ LOCALS Hon. J. W. Black, one of West Newton’s progressive planters, was mingling with his many friends here Saturday. The season is almost here for sow¬ ing winter grain, and it is believed that more will be planted this year than for a long time. Messrs. W. L. Gibson and Frank Patrick, of Brick Store, were in the city one day last week. Just suppose that good roads would bring twice the cotton to Covington that now homes, would it pay? Mr. D. J. Adams, one of the most influential and prosperous citizens of the county, was in from Dixie Monday. Mr. Newton C. Adams, formerly of this city, but now of Lawreneeville, spent several days last week with rel¬ atives in the city and county. Mr. Chas. E. Hardman, one of the pioneer citizens of Mansfield, was a visitor to the city one day last week, shaking hands with his many friends. The many friends of Mr. J. D. Archer in the city will be glad to know that he has returned to Coving¬ ton, and is again connected with the popular drug store of Mr. Geo. T. Smith. Col. L. F. Livingston, who has held the fifth district congressional seat down for the past twenty years, was mingling with his friends here Satur¬ day, and seems confident that the seat referred to above will not be too warm for him another term. Mr. R. L. Middlebrook, of Starrs ville, one of the county’s prosperous and progretsive citizens, came to the city last Thursday for the purpose of buying one hundred bales of cotton off the wagons which bring this commodity in to town from the differ¬ ent sections of the county. Mr. Mid¬ dlebrook stated to a News man that he was paying from 13 1-4 to 13 7-16 for the fleecy staple, and it is useless for us to say that he bought nearly all the cotton that came to market on that day. Dry Pine Wood delivered anywhere in town. Apply to S. A. Brown. 4t —Barred Plymouth Rocks, Wm. El¬ lery Bright Strain, the kind that will please. Eggs, $1.00 for 15.—The Dairy Farm, W. P. or Henry Odom. tf The Well Known Optician From A. K. Hawkes Co. will be at my store on OCT. 25 and 26 two days only. You can have your eyes test¬ ed absolutely free of charge. You can have your glasses m fitted properly and save one half the price by having them fitted up here. If you need glasses don’t miss this opportunity. Remember the place; remember the date, Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 25 and 26, two days only. Respectfully, E. H. MOBLEY Covington, Ga.