Soda Water.—In Byron’s “Don Juan” we find the following in Canto II., 81, 186:
Ring for your valet—bid him quickly bring
Some hock and soda water, then you’ll know
A pleasure worthy Xerxes, the great king;
For not the best sherbet sublimed with snow,
Nor the first sparkle of the desert spring,
Nor Burgundy, in all its sunset glow,
After long travel, ennui, love or slaughter,
Vie with that draught of hock and soda water.
The Essence of Rose Industry in Turkey.—The Bulletin du Musée Commercial, in its issue for September 1st, states that the essence of rose industry in Turkey, which was until quite recently one of the principal resources of Eastern Roumelia and the principality of Bulgaria, has within the last few years shown a decided decline, the falling being the quantities and values of the exports during that period:—1889, 2,767 kilos., valued at 1,542,544 francs; 1890, 3,163 kilos., valued at 1,771,427 francs; 1891, 534 kilos., valued at 317,937 francs; 1892, 439 kilos., valued at 267,379 francs. In 1893 the value of the exports was only 143,185 francs. This decline is due largely to the fact that in France, Germany, and in several other places in Turkey besides Roumelia a development has taken place in the growing of roses, so as to provide to some extent for the requirements of consumption in these places.—Brit. and Col. Drug., 1894, 421.