Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-12-26
FACTS FOR THE CURIOUS.

The latest list of American beetles de.
scribes 8, 400 species on this continent
alone.
Grindstones are made from natural
sandstone, the stone being cut into shape
and afterward turned.
A milk white alligator was discovered
in pond at Escambia, Ala. lately, and
also one that is parti- colorcd.
In Lincoln county, n. NJ, near the
Pattos mountain, can be traced what
were once the walls of large city. In
side the walls are growing monster cedar
trees, said to be thousands of wears old.
The gold dug from the mines in Thibet,
writes missionary, is so plentiful that
it is used to cover the pinngclcs of tho
pagodas, and is made into idols, chairs,
couchcs and ornaments for the people.
A matchmaker in Newcastle, England,
has made a set of three gold shirt studs,
in one of which is Il watch that kcens
correct time. The three studs are con-
nccted by a strip OF silver inside the shirt
bosom, and the watch in the middle one
is wound up by turning the stud above.
and the hands are set by turning the one
below.
Near Marysvile. Cal, there is large
gravel pit in which there are many fish.
and into which flows the refuse matter
of winery. Ever since grape crushing
began this year the fish have been af-
fected with drunkenness and come to the
surface of the water. where the China
men take them in with rallcs in great
quantities.
The heavy copper consumption of India
is due largely to religious rite of the
natives. At certain seasons of the year
small cups of sheet copper about an inch
in diameter and an inch and half deep
are filled with rice and are thrown into
the rivers us an offering, with religious
ceremonies. The quantity of copper
thus annually consumed is very heavy,
India sheets being an important article
of commerce.
''Indian summer is term applied to
an indefinite autumnal season of fine,
fair weather with haze. Some date its
beginning about November 10, but that
Is arbitrary and not warranted by the
season itself Such Il bri f season is apt
10 come II November, as every American
knows. In that Summer" the Indians
used to gather their corn and scour the
woods for nuts. They thought the mild
ness due to the Good of the southwest
wind, which god they looked upon as
their benefactor. As he smoked his pipe
the blue haze curlcd upward from the
bowl thereof and was blown benignantly
over the land.
Bridge building brotherhoods were re-
ligious societies that originated in the
south of France in the latter half of the
twelfth century. Their purpose was to
establish places of refuge and eatertain-
ment for travellers at the most frequented
fords of large rivers, to keep up ferries,
and to build bridges. During the mid
die ages the church regarded the MAX
ing of streets and bridges as most meri-
torious religious service. The founder
of this brotherhood is said to have been
Beneget, a herdsman, subsequently can
onized, although this fact is not authori-
tatively vouched for by historians. Tho
fraternity was sanctioned by Pope Glenn
ent ILL.,, in 1889. Its internal ofganiza-
ton was similar to that OF the knightly
orders. and the members wore rs badge
u pick hammer or the breast. They
laborea very actively in France, but
were gradually merged into the order of
st. John. Similar organizations, under
different names, existed in other lands.