The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-03-28
CURIOUS FACTS.

just died in the Pyrenees. t-s.~a.-e-.
A baptismal garment known to be 1873
years old is in use at Pekin, Ill.
The Athenaum at Rome was erected
by the Emperor Adrian, A. d. 1s5. {
Amadeo Won der Hoya, aged IS, of
Atlanta, Ca, is phenomenal violinist.
An Ottawa (Kansss) blacksmith has
bellows that has been in the family
eighty years.
A swinging sign in front of Chicago
store bears the legend: "The Truth
Spoken Here"
A Brooklyn dentist has successfully
filled tooth of his favorite setter. The
dog bore the operation nobly. =
1t is said to be the custom in Spain for
the girls to kiss every young man they
meet on the 29th of February.
Slavery existed in Mexico from the time
of the Conquest, 1921, until shortly after
the independence Of the country In 1921.
The first Save labor within the present
limits of the United States was that en-
ployed at the founding Of st. Augustine
in 1865. -
The first Chinese tramp ever seen in
this country turned up at Baltimore
police station the other eYening and de-
manded nights lodging.
A. W. Gray's Sons, of Middletown
Springs, Vt, resently shipped to Africa
rice threshing machine, to be run by.
man instead of horse power.
If few drops of aquafortis had not
dropped upon the spectacles of Nurem-
burg glass cutter, etching on glass might
still have remained unknown.
If watchmaker's apprentice had not
held up some spectacle glass between his
thumb and forefnger, telescope lenses
might never have been known.
A man was recently sentenced in Liv-
.erpool, Eng, to five years penal servi-
tude for obtaining shilling under the
pretence that it was for charitable OBJ
ject. .. -
Chalcedonyis no. a gem. It is species
of quartz, very hard. Good specimens
derive their value from their markings
and from the work put on them by
artists.
Spain signifies country of rabbits or
comics. This country was once so In
tested with these animals that the inhab-
itants petitioned Augustus for an armyto
destroy them. 49,.
Probably the oldest violin in the Uni
ted States is owned by Rev. W. N. Beau
champ, of BuIdwinsville, N. Y. 1t was
found in the ruins of Glastonbury Alb.
bey, which was destroyed in 1888.
The first normal school for the instruc-
tion of teachers was established at Paris,
by a law, October 80, 1894, and opened
January 20, 1895, and this design has
been followed IN other countries, espe-
cially in the United States.
A st. Louis man says that Mar b is the
lucky month for the birth of great
statesmen, and instances, in support of
his statement, the fact that many of the
Presidents of the United States and
Sovereigns of Europe were born in that
month.
Captain Baldry, of the steam whaler
Orea, has returned to San Francisco from
a voyage in which he killed thirty.fve
whales, the largest catch on record.
Twenty-eight of those-all the ship
could carry-were slowed and yielded
$500 barrels of oil and 1890 pounds Of
bone. The catch was valued at 500, 800.
A rattlesnake was discovered carrying
off half-grown turkey near Waukeenah,
Fla, and two dogs were set upon it. It
struck both animals, and both died, but
the turkey was released unharmed, which
is proof that snakes do not poison their
own food. The snake killed was six
feet seven inches long and had fifteen
rattles.
The average Russian is said to drink
from ten to twelve glasses of tea day.
Every Russian merchant has tea-urn in
his counting.room, and the lawyer or
mechanic goes out to his cafe for tea as
often as the German for beer or the
Frenchman for wine. At the cafes at all
hours of the day and night one can see
crowds of people slipping tea.
Mrs. Phillips, handsome widow Of :
thirty, who runs farm in Cypress Town
ship, Barnwell County, Ga, last year,
unaided, made thirty-eight bales of cot
ton, besides raising corn, peas and pota.
toes. She plowed with an OK and did
all the work of preparing, planting, cul-
tivating and gathering. She Sas bought
a mule for the farm work this year.