Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-04-25
Where Catfish Grow Very Large

"Anfiler in Philadelphia Times
The Florida fishermen are like all
the rest of us. While was stopping
at small hotel or tavern down on the
st. Johns river the proprietor asked
me to play game of pool one day,
while we were awaiting the arrival Of
party of gentlemen who were to join
us fron Jacksonville. The landlord
tossed me cue, and as | applied the
chalk | noticed that the cue was pc
culiarly heavy and had the appear
ance of polished ivory. He used
cue of similar pattern, but the others
in the rack were quite ordinary. Tho
covering of the table also attracted
my attention. Instead of the usual
green blaze it looked like IA peculiar
species of smoothly tanned leather
of dark gray color
"What is that cover made OFF, / in
quired
That replied the Southerner,
"why, that's piece of catfish skin. 1t
makes the finest cover in the world
when its nicely tanned and stretch
ed"
You don't mean to say you got
that off of one tish2' | said incredu
lously, as failed to discover single
flaw or seam in the cover. 'Oh, yes;
that isn't all, either. There was
enough over To make me fine pair
of water proof overa.ls. Yes, sir, |
caught that 4 year ago last summer
about mile below Cypress Point, III
the st. Johns river. We had to har
poon him and land hmm by means of
a tlatbeat and block and tackle Per
haps yCu have noticed The popularity
of these cues, too. They were made
from the horns Of that same catfish. :
"And these balls, added the fisher
man, as he emptiGd the fifteen colored
balls from wicker basket and arrang
ed them for the game, are another
product OF the same catch.
How in the world2a | asked, try
ing TO look serious.
well, sir you may not believe it,
but sent fifteen of that fish teeth up
to a shop IN Jacksonville and had
them made into balls on turning
lathe
A poet chirps: 'Eucircled by that
yawning gulf stood entfanced. " 1t
looks like Il delicate lmtlmatlOn Of the
fact that he tried to kiss st. Louis
girl.
New spring bonnets are certainly
very beautiful, but it would interest
horticulturist to know where the flow
ers grow that are represented on some
of them.
A wholesale tobacco dealer III New
| York city claims that cigarette smok-
ing is dying out, and that 1900, 600
less cigarettes were sold in 1888 than
in 1882.
Mrs. Dublys, OF Pass Christian,
daughter Of General w. i. Sherman,
is the owner Of one of the loveliest
rose gardens IN Mississippi. She has
$50 varieties of roses in 1t.
ASt. Louis councilman has right
to be mad The package for which
he sold himself was made o. 81 bills
and pad of brown paper.
"a grateful friend" sent the Boston
Herald s. Gin recognition OF what
that paper has done for him" The
publishers sent the money to a chari-
table institution.
There has been much talk about the
| disappearance from the Museum OF
the Acropolis, Athens, OF a statuette
representing woman. The statute
was of great value.
Representative Luke Z. Poland, OF
Vermont, is mainly distinguished as
the only man in the house who per
sistently appears ia the old-time blue
swallow tail with brass buttons.
A quantity of ore from the Ellen
vile. New York, gold mine sent To a
New York assayer, the other day, as
saved at the rate of 1868 ton. The
mine is said to be rich in both gold
and silver.
A woman with five pairs OF twins
took the cars at Woodline, Iowa the
other day. and the entire party Of
eleven Travelled on one ticket, none of
the children being old enough to pay
one fare. 1t is such things as these
that make stockholders poor, and
bankrupt railway companies.
It is commented upon as an import.
ant epoch in the theological history oil
Boston, which sees installed in the
Old South pulpit clergyman who
"discards the doctrine ef vlcarious
atonement, and does not assert thu. of
endless punishment.
The quantity and value of the an
tirnony exported from New South
Wales in 1881 was l, i03 tons, OF a
value OF nearly $50, 000. Ores are
now found ia several parts Of the
country, common fern being oxide
and sulphide Of antimony, which oc'
ours in suncAes.
The best ttOrange County butter
sold In New York markets comes from
Illinois. Next to Illinois Iowa ranks
as the best putter-producpig state
New York leads in cheese making.
i M;ehal Fitzgerald, Federal soldiel
who deserted Is years age, recent.
surrendered himself at Vicksburg
Miss, because his eyesight is failing
and ke.can no longer. take care Of him
4 self.
II Mr.. Cupples, the publisher Of Mis-
McLean's Cape Cod Folks" say
that since Nightingale's verdict in tn,
| libel suit nearly every person in Ce
darvillc has presented a claim 70
damages, and that he has paid some
thing to pretty much everybody in tn