Connecticut western news., 1885-02-18
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

stance that the new teacher used the end of the bell rope to correct refrac- tory pupil.
 THE North Carolina Legislature has passed bill prohibiting the selling or giving of cigars or cigarettes to boys under ten years of age. The bill Is de. signed to check rapidly growing evil in the State.
 A VESSEL passing the island of Guern- sey reported having seen an enormous ball of fire shoot from the heavens and fall with terrific explosion into the sea to the west of the island. Houses were shaken and great alarm prevailed.
 Cor. BURNABY was enormously strong and used to twist pokers and carry ponies up stairs. This accounts for the , serious embarrassment of the Arab who gave him his death wound, but whom Burnaby got by the throat and sirangled before he himself died.
 A YOUNG gentleman of Adairs-ille, Ga., made the mistake of proposing to his sweetheart by postal card. The card was read by about twenty persons be- fore 1t fell into the hands of the one for whom it was intended. A big social sen- sation is the consequence.
 ToM ELLIOTT, a rich young farmer of Dakota, having announced that he would never marry until wheat sold at $1 per bushel, neighboring farmer, who has daughter willing to relieve Toms loneliness, has offered to take his entire crop at $1 bushel and give him check for it at the wedding.
 VIM. ROBERTSON, young man living in Louisburg, N. O., while in a grog shop, made bet that he could drink quart of whisky inside of forty minutes. The money was put mp, and ho drank the liquor from the quart measure, get ting through in thirty -one minutes. He died two hours afterward.
 A MINNESOTA farmer states that he can "keep one stove going" during six months with the sunAower stalks pro. duced on an acre of land. The seed produced and fed to fowls pays for all the work of cultivation. He burns the smaller heads with the stalks, which are cut in the fall to the required length.
 A KANSAS criminal, indicted and con- victed upon three distinct counts, has been sentenced to imprisonment for three years upon the first charge, for ten years upon the second and for the rest of his natural life upon the third. It would seem as if the last sentence might cause him to lose interest some what in the other two.
 A NEW ORLEANS doctor calls attention to very simple fact which merits atten- tion from medicine takers. If the medi- cine is mixed with very cold water, and few swallows of the water be taken as preparatory dose, the nerves of the organ of taste become sufficiently be- numbed to make the medicine nearly tasteless. This method will not dis bguise bitter tastes, but acts we'll in oils and salines.
 Ar meeting of the St. Petersburg Health Committee the fact was brought to light that the large death rate in Rus sian hospitals is caused by the lack of nourishing food for patients. The al- lowance of about fourteen cents a day for diet does nor suffice to buy so much as a pound of beef for broth, and of such food as the patients succeed iu procuring they are partially robbed by the ill-fed nurses.
 To TEST the purity of water there has been found no better or simpler way than to fill clean pint bottle three fourths full of the water to be tested and dissolve in the water half teaspoonful of the purest sugar-ioaf or granulated will answer-cork the bottle, and place it in warm place for two days. If in twenty-four to ferty-eight hours the water becomes cloudy or milky, it is un- fit for domestic use.
 LORD AYLEsFoRD, the famous Texas cowboy, two or three years ago, insured, with some difficulty, in various English and Scotch offices to the tune of $4OO,OO0. The medical off, cers of the companies met at the time in solemn conclave, and the only dis sentients were the medical representa- tives of well-known American office, which refused the risk, and thus has escaped heavy loss.
 By means of simple and conveniently worked device of coiled spring, an Eng fish inventor has succeeded in dispensing with the need of driving sewing ma- chimes by hand or foot; 0 few turns of 8 handle winds up sufficient power to keep machine going at full speed over an hour. It is completely under control as to the rate of stitching and stopping, and can be applied to any existing ma chine at moderate cost.
 A BOOKSELLER in Philadelphia says he can name five men to whom he would not hesitate to sell a bill of goods linen whom would trust" to use his own words, "with my watch and pocket book, but I would not leave them five minutes behind the shelves of this store" The literary kleptomaniac is described by him as well dressed usual ly; he has a studious, if not cultured look; he may be young man, not through with his studies; or he may be of mature age.
 Wished he had Been There. Ex Mounr Rohinrnrn of IInrIE.r..l