The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-12
STRAY GIFTS.

Bells were first introduced into churches as
a defense against thunder and lightning.
II Is said in England that the Russian
wheat crop this year has been better than for
ten years.
Announcement Is made OF the discovery OF
rich gold quartz in Buckingham township,
Province Of Quebec.
Bookkeeping as a system was originated in
Italy, where IL was derived from a system OF
algebra, published by Burgo at Venice.
R~oundhead, a term of contempt applied
10 Puritans in the time of Charles |, arose
from the custom Of cutting their hair close.
The inhabitants Of London consume an
nually 10000 oxen, 100000 sheep, S,oV,VW
chickens and game birds, and 10000 oysters
Efty-nine survivors Of the coo who charged
al Balaklava thirty-nine years ago held tneir
annual reunion in London q short time ago
The British government is making efforts
70 cultivate oysters on the shores OF lasina-
mia. aud is said 10 be meeting with good sue
cess.
II is said that Alaska viii become a great
mining cOuntsy within n few years, and VIII
furnish canned salmon enough 10 supply all
creation.
In a Virginia newspaper Of thirty years
AGO is a tong account OF the sentence OF a
woman 70 two years Imprisonment for teach
ing slaves to read.
During the past seven years more than
10000 acres in England have gone out OF
cultivation. This means an immonse loss 10
the land owners and farmers.
In the Desert Of Sahara rain falls in tor
rents at intervals Of five. ten and twenty
wears. In winter the temperature frequently
fails below the freezing point.
The islands on the eastern coast OF Virginia
are beng restocked with hares imported
from England. Several thousands oil the
animals have been turned loose.
Elihu Stevens, OF S%mithGeld, Ne, is at the
hcad Of a family which is probably the
largest in the country. In this family there
are five generations, which comprise 30 per
sons.
Mr.. Holcomb, lately secretary Of the
American legation at Pekin, says that out Of
the 20 100000 iahabitahtsof ta6 Chinese EN-
pirc fully 800, 10000 spend loss than slIOa
month for food
Sea otter las only been known 10 Euro
reans as a fur for about 80 years 1t Is the
rival Of seal in fashionable favor Minever
or gray squirrel, isa very old fur, and wa
at one time the special fayorite OF royalty.
1t is said that scales for weighing diamond
are brought nearly 10 that delicacy Of balance
---TI ...l1. .l..1r.g 4. I-f.4f 40 Il. IN
tie stones by minute variations IN weight
Tho, weigh accurately the ooh part Of q
carat.
Dr. Gross, Of Geneva, ha5 lately expert
mentei with himself in hanging. Ills ex
porimcnts established that the sensations
were only warmth and a burning in the head.
without coayuisions. OF course bis eXperi
meuts didn't 30 very far.
The monument Of Gen Toombs has Leen at
last shipped from Italy. This is tho third
monument chat has been built. Tie first
vas lost at yea. y bed of crystals was found
ia the second after al bad been completed
except the base block.
The Lincoln journal while 1t does H0t
claim that the town has the p~rettiest women
~ Nebraska, is quite certain that 1t has the
homeliest men. They are warm hearted
AID nice. it says but ls homely as a sorrel
horse with q ti4lci face
II is estimated that pm factories IN New
England turn out l6.soO,0 0O.O JJ pms yearly
and that other factories il the states bsing
me number up to IS 10000 90 This is
equal t. about one pin a day Tor every III
uahitant of tie United states.
English etiquette has decided that unmar-
red ladies should never use d crest on any
tiinr-n0ts paper. servants buttons, brushes
DR. other article. ltispsnslly found tina.
tL0 pc0ti4 lest entitled 10 crcsts and coats Of
olmrs make the least use and display Of them
A curious law case in Liverpool concerned
chewing gum. y confectioner was fined for
selling The article for fool, which, it was
claimed, was as indigestible as a button, buf
The defense stated that the article was per
lectlr harmless and not intended 70 be swal-
loved
in order to retain ones place Oh the pen
s.0n rolls Of Germany IL IS necessary 10 ap-
uoar there ii person once in ten years. A.
i.allatt, Of Gleunore, Ga, had nearly lapsed
she time. and nj the last moment sold his ten
acre form, with u good house, " COWS ana
bis entire crop and effects for $50 10 raise
money 10 go.
An experiment is being made on the Cali
coast TO test the utility Of ocean wave
force. At an opening in some cliffs great
fans are suspended, and their movement at
Tic ebj and flow OF the waves IS so geared as
70 work immeuse pumps, which are designed
- i'll large reservoirs on elevations, these be-
used 10 supply water power to manuiac-
tories Of various kinds.
The United States is the largest consuming
country Of raisins in the world, and the an
nual consumption is about 100000 boxes Of
about twenty pounds each, which at an aver !
ace OF - a box shows al expenditure of
100000 per amnum for one article in the
dried iruit line Theamount referred TO repre- |
say, l.O00.OOO boxes Valencia, 10000
boxes California, 100000 boxes Malaga and
boxes Smyrna.
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RrDH q AE WINTER 1