Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-08
Here and There.


Five Paris firemen on lark captured
n countrymans wagon-load of hay on a
public street and after turning sOmer-
saults and going through other athletic
exercises upon it began to throw the
bundles of hay at one another and at
others. The police arrived about this
time and ended the fun.
A general of the Russian army quilted
4 the service nearly forty years ago, and
had ever since been occupying some very
poorly-furnished rooms. A nephew OF
his. also an army officer, visited the old
man frequently, taking the remnants OF
bis meal to feed the dog, for whom his
uncle was 10th to buy food. Imagine the
Young officers establishment when his
uncle, whom he had considered very poor,
by his last will made bis nephew heir to
a fortune of nearly 5000, 900 rubles.
Here's n suggestion in a South Caro-
lima newspaper that ought to move the
heart end pocket-book OF any man VINO
has a particle of manhood and gentility
in him Some OF our subscribers owe
us for two years. Some for three. In
the stringent times Of the past twelve
months our manhood and gentility have
forbidden us to trouble any of our sub
scribers. At present the matter IS diff
ferent Money is tolerably plentiful.
And now the manhood and gentlllty
should be on the other side. And 1t Will
be. We need say no more"
Careless legislation is not rare. Here
is a sample from Manitoba, which Ger
tainy ranks among the cuuoslties OF
law making: "No person catching any
animal that has been advertised by the
owner as st or strayed shall be liable
to fine or imprisonment unless he snail
establish TO the satisfaction OF the court
that he took immediate and proper mea-
sure to inform the owner OF the animal
OF its having been caught" so that 4
man charged with OBTAINING an animal
escapes punishment ii he abstains from
proving that he tried to restore the
beast.
A medical writer notes some curious
superstitions which prevailed in me-
dieval times. For Instance, 1t was held
that a chip from a gallows on which
several persons bad been hanged worn
in a bag around the neck was a cure fol
ac1e. A halter by which some criminal
had been hung was bound around the
TEMPLES as an inialible cure for head
ache. Tumors of the glands were SAID
to be "driyen away" by nine blows OF
dead mans hand, while the hand OF q
man who had been cut down from the
pallows was said to work wonders III tins
particular. A ring made from coffin
was applied for the relief of cramps,
which were also said to be dispelled 10y
rusty sword hanging by the patient
bed. If one had the toothache he was
told to go and drive nails in an oak tree
which, it is true, would not Kill the pam
but was q sure preventive against future
attack.
At Detroit favorite cat belonging to q
large Wholesale firm crawled into hole IL
the wall and climbed toward the celllns
Of u new building that was being erect
cd. The workmen did not see her anC
closed ND the hole When the firm thai
were TO occupy the building moved IL
they heard the mewing of q cat tol
several days, but could not tell where
the sound came from. The noise grew
fainter and fainter, and finally was hearC
no longer. Last Tuesday evening, while
making some alterations, 1t became ne
cessary to break into the wall near The
ceiling. The workmen tore down the
mastering, cut away the laths, and 10
there Law the once big, fat cat, now re
duced to a skeleton, but still alive, pant
ing for breath, bat feebly blinking 1t
ewes. 1t was tenderly taken ont ant
fed. II rapidly revived, and 1t IS nov
engaged in filing ont the wrinkles III 1t
skin. The cat WAS boarded up wlthou
food or water, aud with very little AR
for lust three weeks.
The section of country about Sal
Marcial. n. NJ, has been considerable,
aroused of late by reports OF Mexican
who state that an extinct crater Located
near the plain known as the "JOruad'
de Muerto" is the abode of monster
Some say it is 100 feet long and aoou
two feet in circumference. The Mex
cans are now afraid TO venture within
miles of the crater A Mr. Alexander
who owns some mining property III tina
part OF the country, says that he saw tn
serpent once while crossing the tornado
on the way to his mines. III
was about hallway across tn
plaip. logging leisurely along behin'
| his burro, dreaming of the lmmens
. wealth that he hoped to realize from HI
propertv. when suddenly the BURR
stopped. erected its long ears, wheele'
, quickly around and made a mad STAN
pede in the opposite direction. Nh
Alexander was at "a loss to account 10
this strange freak of the burro, and wa
about TO start in pursuit of the runawa.
, when he Glanced TO look ahead. Then III
ewes gazed upon the monster. Hewas 81
beside himself with fear at first, he says
{ that his nerves were completely para
, lived. his hair stood on end, and NOV
he could not he was rooted 10 the spot
and his ewes were fixed upon the serpent
, II was about quarter of mile fron
[ him. and was travelling IN an opposit
direction-toward the crater. He says
appeared TO be about sixty feet il
length but what surprised him mos
was the queer proportions OF the crea
| ture. The fore-parts were OF enormou
I size, its head being fully as large as
barrel. A few feet behind the creature
, head two large scales were visible whlc
! glittered in the sun ike polished shields
! further back were two huge claws o.
either side, about two feet apart, who
were all the monster had in the shape O
, feet. The rest of its body was compare
lively small, and tapering to the end
[ its tail. 1t travelled at a rapid gail
} sometimes rearing its whole body u
from the ground and walked on Its lou
claws