Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-01-28
Foreign uOssip.

The most curious instance of the APP
plication Of the proceeds of theft is re-
ported from Montreal where letter
carrier on probation stole registered
letter containing six dollars, and used
the contents to insure himself in one of
the companies that guarantee the honesty
of their policy-holders in responsible
positions.
Pope Leo XII. once, when hard
pressed for money, induced several rich
Roman families 10 make him advances,
and, by way of compensation, freed
them and their estates from liability to
taxation during the present century.
The taxgatherers Of the new Italian
Kingdom, however, refuse 10 acknowl-
edge the validity of this dispensation,
and have demanded payment of four
years taxes from the Representatives Of
the families in question. The latter
have, therefore, determined to contest
their liability before the courts
Many Americans are now travelling
in. Europe who would certainly travel
with more ease and profit if they only
possessed some knowledge of one or
more foreign languages. Noiceless
among the chatterers whom they en-
counter they sit or move at a serious dis
advantage, and their enforced dumbness
is often the source of serious damages
inflicted upon them by sharpers. A rea-
sonable amount of the French language
would save our travellers pecks and
pecks of trouble, and all who look for.
ward TO visiting and enjoying European
trips should take hold Of the study of
French before starting out. Better little
than none. French is more universally
known and spoken on the Continent than
any other tongue.
An ancient widow was walking the
other day in the Avenue du Maine, Paris,
with her dog, which disappeared in the
Rue de la Gate, and shortly returned
carrying piece Of bacon, which it
buried in some soft earth. Your dog
is clever" said passer.by. " Poor
thing" said the widow, 1" she has young
ones, and this develops her instincts"
So saying the widow uncovered the
bacon and placed il in a capacious
pocket Presently the dog reappeared with
pair OF socks. This seeming to be a
sign Of over.anxiety for her young the
passer.by pointed her out 10 the police,
who found in her pocket cake, pair
of small boots, knife, the piece OF
bacon, a sausage, book and some other
matters. The poor dog was sent to be
slaughtered, and the widow taken to the
police station.
An extraordinary account has APP
peared in French agricultural journal,
TO the effect that straw forms an adj
mirable lightning conductor. 1t had
been observed that straw had the prop
erty Of discharging Leyden jars without
spark or explosion, and some one in the
neighborbood OF Tarbes had the idea Of
constructing straw lightning-conductors
which were formed by fastening a wisp
or rope Of straw to deal-stick by means
Of brass wire, and Gaping the conductor
with a copper point 1t is asserted that
the experiment has been tried on large
scale around Tarbes, eighteen communes
having been provided with such straw
conductors, only one being erected for
every six arpents, or $50 acres; and that
the whole neighbcrhood has thus been
preserved from the effects not only Of
lightning, but of hail also. The state
ment comes from respectable source
New York Independent.