The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-12-07
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

An Iowa court has decided that a
woman can sue her husband for money
borrowed of her.
A young convert down in Maine de-
monstrated the force of habit by re-
marking in conference meeting that
some of the proceedings were not "ac-
cording to Hoyle."
A young blacksmith in London has
undertaken to earn money in the last
two years in rather novel way. Half
crown fee is paid to the individual who
gives the first intelligence of the break
ing out of fire. This diligent youth
has set fire to 100 different buildings,
with no other purpose than obtaining
the 100 half crowns. The last time he
was detected, and is now on trial.
A "jour tailor named Jimmy Yolk,
ninety-four years old, is now traversing
Ohio as professional tramp He has
been on the tramp for seventy-fve years,
and has visited every State in the Union
many times walking on an average 5000
miles every year. He has good eye-
sight yet, and processes to be able to
work at his trade. He has Just returned
from little walk into Nova Scotia, and
is now en- route for Texas.
The Speaker of the House of Commons
enjoys magnificent residence, finished
and kept in repair at the public expense,
and containing one hundred rooms. He
receives salary of $4,000, and on re-
tirement is always created viscount
and has pension of $4,000, which en-
his death passes to his eldest son. Oddly
enough neither the late nor the present
Speaker, although married men, have
any son to inherit these good things.
Alarm bells of new style have re-
Gently been attached to thirty-four loco
motives of railroad company in Michi-
gan. The bell is placed Immediately in
front, and is SO attached that at each
revolution of the driving wheel it is
struck once by a hammer. 1t is CLAIMED
that the position of the bell causes the
sound to be thrown forward and con-
Quoted by the earth and railroad track
SO that it can be heard considerable
distance ahead of the train.
A professorship of Chinese is mooted
in California, and from the interest taken
the idea may really before long find form.
The English have long had professor
ships of the Oriental languages and
literature with singular advantages to
their sway in their Eastern possessions,
and from some popularization of Chi
nese and its twin-brother, Japanese, we
of the United States might derive no in
considerable benefit In our commercial
intercourse with the coming man.
The records of the American whale
fishery tell the story how petroleum is
driving other oils from the market
Only four years ago the whale fisheries
OF this country employed three thousand
two hundred and eighty vessels, but
since that period the number Of the fleet
has been continually decreasing. In
single year after the time named over
two thousand nine hundred vessels went
out of the trade. In the succeeding
year there was diminution of twelve
ships, and this year there are fifty ships
less. In four years the entire whaling
fleet of the United States has been re-
duced to one-thirteenth of its former ex-
tent, there being but two hundred and
forty nine vessels engaged in that trade
in 1871.
4 Chicago lover went to visit his girl
one evening recently, but for some rea-
son, possibly that the fire had materially
changed his condition in life, she re-
ceived and treated him coolly. He re-
mained standing in the parlor few mo-
ments, but finally made movement to-
ward the front door, remarking that "he
guessed he'd CO." "OhW she remarked,
starting from beautiful condition of
semi mi-unconsciousness, "won't you take
chair Z" "Well, don't care if l do"
was his reply, and he took the chair,
thanking her kindly, and carried it
homes He says it is good chair, made
of walnut, with stufing, and green cover
Just what he wanted. But he is down
on that girl, and declares he wouldn't
marry her-not if her father owned a
brewery.
Gail Hamilton recently attended
meeting of the woman's branch of the
American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions. She found it decided
ly tiresome to stand in the aisle for two
hours to listen to feminine oratory, and
openly processes that if she is obliged to
stand to hear anybody speak she prefers
that the speaker should be a man. In
the course of the meeting a small dog
entered the hall, and after listening to
the speeches proceeded to have fit.
The ladies present shrieked in fear, and
called upon a man to put the dangerous
beast out. Wherefore Miss Hamilton
laments that women will never be true
to themselves, but that after clamorous-
ly demanding an equality in all things
with men they seek refuge behind the
latter whenever small dog inconsider-
ately barks. That malicious little brute
furnishes her with a conclusive argument
against the equality of women.
The Illinois Legislature has taken up
the subject of abolishing Canada thistles.
A bill has been introduced providing for
a Canada Thistle Commissioner in each
town, whose business shall be to extir-
pate them in the roads, and when he
finds them growing upon any persons
land, to place the infected spot in quar-
antine Immediately, and devise measures
to prevent the spread of this botanical
Ku-Klux. The Chicago Tribune says
this is matter of very serious moment
to the farmers of the State, and may in
volye thousands, even millions, of dol
lars if the thistle is allowed to go on
sowing itself unchecked In one county
alone there are two thousand acres of
these noxious, purple headed weeds and
the flight of their winged seeds this fall
will probably still further extend their
area next year, and choke out all useful
vegetation. The Tribune is not inclined
to envy the commissioner whose lines