The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-07-27

greatest ON record in the history Of the
country. Emigration promises to be larger
this summer than ever before, and most Of
the aliens coming here will settle at some
western point.
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania de-
cided IN a recent case that the solemniza-
ton of marriage vow on Sunday was null
and void. The Judge, in handing down
his decision, held that according to the
Sunday laws NO contract executed on that
day is legal, and that marriage was moth
lug more than civil contract.
Edison has invented new dinner clock
which talks. Instead Of striking the hour
it speaks it. At dinner time voice issues
from the clock and says "Dinner time"
a lso ri o'clock, - ''2 O'clock" etc., as the
case may be. Another device which he is
perfecting In connection with the clock is
that of a female face which he purposes to
set in the face Of the clock. The lips of
this figure will move at the hour, the head
will bow and the fictitious lady will say:
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, it is
bedtime"
The tramps in New York have hit upon
new scheme to procure cheap lodgings
during the hot weather. 1t is not safe for
them to sleep in the squares on account OF
the police, so they have struck system Of
working the elevated roads for ive-cent
lodgings. The,nickel adpnd'.se tramp to
the station platform and it is a very stupid
one who can't find snoozing room enough
to last till daylight somewhere along the
road. There are dark corners about every
platform where the lodger can usually stay
stretched out for an hour or so before the
sts ton hands discover him. Then all he
has to do is to board the next train and get
off at the next station for another nap.
An important inyention in railway prac-
tice is the method lpvente by Baltimore
electrician for welding steel rails by cleo
tricity, which will enable track layers to
lay continuous track. The end rails are
welded together through the appli cation of
transformed electric current, and are
afterward tempered. The inventor pro-
poses to thus make continuous rails quar-.
ter of a mile in length, having expansion
Joints only at intervals of that distance,
the rails being fastened at the centre 80 as
to expand in both directions. Making the
joint only takes half minute.
Superstitious people feel certain that 1888
will be famous for the Inauguration of
some great war. Not only are the l7-ycar
locusts marked with q most omnious "W,"
but an old prophecy has been discovered
which runs as follows:
IN every future year of our Lord
When the sum of the figures is twenty
five
Some warlke kingdom will draw the
sword,
But peaceful nations in peace shall
thrive.
A subscriber writes-"A friend asks me
to multiply So by $5. do 80 and announce
the result as $25. All right. Now multi
ply 500 cents by 500 cents, giving the an
swer IN cents, pure and simple. not as frac-
| tional parts of a dollar. / do so and am
surprised to see the figures climb up to
csc, 900 cents, which is 80, 900. AS 30 and
500 cents are equivalent, the result is puz-
cling. 1t cannot be urged that decimal
marks should be used. A cent, as such, is
as distinct unit as dollar, and, as the
result is to be announced in cents, the
decimals cannot be pleaded in cxtehuatior
of the rather surprising result. But there
is clearly something wrong. What is itS-
Penman's Art Journal
The New York electrical machine for tn,
execution of criminals after January /
1888, is thus described An electric batter,
or dynamo machine, a chair constructed
for the purpose, some copper wire aud
steel collar and manacles, will complet,
the outfit that is to replace the cumbroui
gallows and the ugly rope, and the who'll
will cost less than $3.50. The condemned
man will be seated in the chair ard the
wires affixed to his wrists and neck. Tn
momeptary pressure of a button complete
the circuit and powerful current wi
pass through the mans body causing
painless death in the one-hundredth part .
a second. The new law provides that a
executions snail take place in the Stat
prison within ten days after the sentenc
has been pronounced. The exact day c
the execution will not be fixed, and onl
one prison official will be present.