San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-05-17
STRAY BITS.

A French workman Inns succeeded In pro
ducing artificial silk.
Tho highest recorded price for Stradiva'
rins violin IN sad 10 bo 5000.
England uses seventy pounds Of sugar per
capita; tho United States fifty pounds.
Stephen Webb, of San Luis, Colo, has ad-
vertised for "a wife who can milk cow"
The Australian savages arc passing out OF
existence faster than any other aboriginal
race.
A man OF Blossburg, Pa, owns nine dogs,
seven cats, eight cannries, two white mice
and monkey.
The great storm Is said to have caused the
postponement of 800 funerals in Brooklyn
and New York.
Lumpkin's Jail, an old slave pen, and one
of the conspicuous memorials Of Richmond,
is being torn down.
The largest fish market In tho world is
Billingsgate, London, where 1921 900 tons OF
fish are sold n Year.
The citigons OF Larkhall, Scotland, are
about TO present testimonial to Michael
Smith, who is said TO have reached the great
age Of II years
A man who exercises profound influence
over tho car is Ivan of Cronstadt, n hermit
priest, who Is said to perform miracles and
whom the car frequently visits in his mon
astic cell
petition for tho closing Of public houses
on Sunday In England, presented recently to
the home secretary by Mr. Phillips, OF Liver
pool, measured IL BOB yards In length. 1t
was signed by l,i32, 900 women over the age
Of 10.
Miss Hemersham, who Ia lecturing In Eng
land Oh nursing, recommends that the sick
room should contain only two chairs. zone
very comfortable one for the nurse and II
very uncomfortable one for visitors who stay
too long" '-'
A French bachelor advertised for a wife.
A typographical error changed his age from
81 to 81, but 1t made no difference, for he re-
ceived $50 applications from ladies ranging
from tho age of l6 to 80, and all promising
love and devotion to tho rest Of his existence.
Some of the New York legislators who were
on train that was showed in near Science
tady, had TO pay fancy prices for refresh
ments. Pies cost 81 apiece, sandwiches %
cents, and eggs % cents each A farmer was
hired for $50 to transport the odibleS six
miles to the train.
Tho name Of Emerald Islo is generally sup
posed to have boon derived from the ever
green appearance of Its shores, but an an
tiquary asserts that il arose from tho ring
which was set with the words "Optimo
Smaragdo," aud which Pope Adrian sent to
King Henry II, as the Instrument OF his i'll
vestituro with tho dominion Of Ireland.
Austria has tho largest number of public
librarfee of any European country They
number on and contain 5,475 900 volumes,
exclusive Of maps and manuscripts. France
has 800 public libraries, with 1868, 900 |
volumes. Italy comes next with 4Q3, Ger |
many with yOS, aud Great Britain with only |
200 public libraries.
Old Philip Winebiddle, tho founder OF the |
Winebiddle estate in East Liberty, Pm,
bought 100 acres OF land where the city of |
Erie now stands sixty years ago, and paid |
$500 for 1t. Almost before the ink was dry |
on tho papers he made up his mind that he
had been swindled, but thirty years later
the land could not be bought for s2,OOO,OOO,
and it Is now worth s3,0oO,0oG
Among some articles Of rare old Persian
art reccntly sold at auction in Liverpool werc
some exquisite ombroidorcs, such as n divan
cover worked in gold and silver thread on an
HrabesQue pattern on sky blue ground; an
other showing pale citron ground worked
with gold thread while "A third was so rich
and gorgeous as TO have tho appearance OF
being entirely of two shades of gold
A resent analysis of the population of
Kansas reveals the fact that Missouri has
contributed almost twice rs many people TO
that commonwealth rs any state in the
Union. Ohio has sent 1858 emigrants to
Kansas, while Missouri, which is the only
state that exceeds that number, furnishes
1856, 72i. The New EnglRnders in the state
number lO.7s3. Tho total number Of per
sons of foreign birth is 60,2lS
Near a corner of the Parthcnon, at Athens,
o large head OF IA male statue has been
brought TO light, It Is made Of porous stone,
exhibits traces Of brilliant cUloring and is
stated to be moro ancient thRn anything yet
discovered on the Acrupplis, aud quito
unique IL is believed to BE- the head Of
Triton, and b belong to a serpent like body,
ending in the tail Of a fish discovered n few
days since.