The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-02-17

feet and complete In every part, yet so thh
md slender that all of them were included
1t once in cup turned out of apeppercorn
Of the common size They were SO small
as to be almost invisible to the eye. They
were presented to Pope Paul V.
Queen Victoria is in the possession of
curious needle 1t was made at the cele-
brated needle mandatory at Redditch, and
represents the column of Trajan in minia-
ture. This we'll known Roman column Is
adorned with numerous scenes in sculpture,
which immortalize Trajan's heroic actions
in war. On this diminutive needle scenes
in the life of Queen Victoria are represen-
ted in relief, but so finely cut and so small
that it requires nlagnifying glass to see
them. The Victoria needle can, moreover,
be opened; it contains a number of needles
of smaller size, which are equally adorned
with scenes in relief.
A celebrated old manuscript wakes en-
thusiastic on "The German Masterpiece"
to quote verbatim, ''being that famous knife,
which hath been for some time in England
and highly applauded by the most exquisite
artists, containing in the handle sixty odd
several figures, some engraved, others
carved, and all to the admiration OF those
that beheld them. 1t hath two keys, which
open seven locks, including those various
Rarities containing therein; it was seven
years a-making, and valued by the author,
the famous artist of Germany, at Fifteen
Hundred Pounds, and is now exposed to
publique view for England's satisfaction.
To be seen at Bartholomew Faire against
the Kings Head
In 1861 a barrel was made at Sleidel-
burg, in Germany, which is composed of
112 solid beams, twenty seven feet in length,
is sixteen feet across the ends and eighteen
feet through the centre, and contains 800
hogsheads, yet it was once drank out in
eight days. ........
A carpet in the palace at Versailles,
France, was sixty-two years in manufac-
ture at the Gobelins, the whole border
wrought with rich garlands of flowers, en-
bracing all the roses known in France
An ivory arm chair, elaborated y orna-
mented and presented to Gustavus Vasa
by the city of Lubbock, was sold in 1925
to the Swedish chamberlain for $1,000
forms.
A type of antiquity in the vegetable
kingdom is that of fig tree in Ceylon,
planted, according to documentary and
traditional evidence, 268, B. c., making it
2,165 years old
The rare edition of the BiJiia Gernn-
MICA, in two folio volumes, published in
1855, contains many colored wood-cuts,
remarkable for the singularity of their
design for instance, Bathsheba is repre-
scented washing her feet in small tub of
water, and Elias ascending to heaven in a
four-wheeled wagon.
| The most enormous eater on record, pro-
badly, is mentioned by French physician
| in a late work on medical science He was
soldier in the French army. At seven
teen years of age, when he weighed but
100 pounds, he could eat twenty -four
pounds of beef in so many hours Hewas
allowed quadruple rations in the army, be-
sides pickings and waste meat. He was
once observed to eat whole cat, except the
bones, raw; and he was fond Of serpents
and cells, swallowing them whole In the
presence of some officers heswallowcd thirty
pounds of liver and lights at one sitting.
He once fell under suspicion of having
eaten a child fourteen months old After
his death his stomach was found in a very
diseased condition. Strange to say he was
man of mild manners and gentle appear
ance
An enormous crab has lately come into
the possession of the British Museum. Its
habitat is Japan. 1t measures ten feet be-
tween the tips of the claws, but has a COM
paratively small body of a triangular shape.
The claws, including the pincers, are six
feet in length.
A rather curious specimen of French in
genuity-a copy LIE SOnv' of November 25,
compressed by means of photography into
sheet measuring only 3}x2ll inches, was
received in London. This liliputian jour
nal nevertheless presents the full contents
of an ordinary sized number, and with the
aid of powerful microscope can be read
easily
The Rev. L. J. Knapp, of Paterson, New
Jersey, has silver coin of the reign of Ii
berius Caesar, who died A. d. 81. 1t was
under him that Christ was put to death.
He was the second emperor of Rome. This
is the penny of which Christ said ''Show
me penny?" (Denorious.)
The Mongols ascertained the number Of
enemies slain by cutting off the right ear of
each of the dead In 1889 they collected
10000 of these from the plains of Russia,
and after the battle of Leighmitz in 1241
filed with right ears nine enormous sacks.
Over hundred years ago the inn of an
English village was noted for character
called ''Old Boots" His work was to clean
boots. He had curious face. His nose,
extending an inch and half beyond his
lips, curved downward until it met his chin
which ran out straight. When guests gave
him piece Of money he received it on his
chin, and held it fast there with his nose
till he put it in his money-box. He had a