davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS.

ExPREsIDENT ANDREW D. WHITE recently
| sent to Cornell University papyrus found in
the tomb of priest of the Ptolemaic period.
The inscriptions, which are partly hieroglyphlc.
represent certain chapters of the Book Of the
Dead" With the papyrus was sent also COL
lection of 140 large photographs to illustrate
Egyptian art.-Ihe Epoch
THE statement of DR.. spitzka, apropos to
the case of Bishop that there is no absolute
proof of death except decomposition, will be
apt to create disquiet in some minds The con-
lecture is often made whether many people are
not buried alive, or, at any rate frozen to death
bv the undertaken. The period between disso-
luton and sepulture is generally brief and in
the excitement distress and hurry; it may be
tnat premature interment is sometimes the re-
sult.-Bahimore Netcs
DIR. Won DUHRING reports to the British
Medical Journal case of tuberculosis which
was contracted by wearing pair of earrings.
The patient, a girl OF IA years, removed the ear
rings from the ears of young girl who died of
consumption, and wore them in her own ears.
Soon after, an ulcer formed in the left ear, the
discharge from which, when examined, was
found to contain tubercle bRclli, and gland
in the neck also enlarged and liberated. The pa
tient developed pulmonary consumption, and
at the date of the report was sinking rapidly.
THE efficacy of filters has been questioned
and denied in many professional quarters. A
New OrR uOcbOr mas recently CalleQ aCLenLlOn
to the fact that, so far from lessening the
number of bacteria a f1ltering substance may
allow more rapid multiplication of micro
organisms than unfltered water would ordi-
narily undergo, and that even in the best of
filters the germs Of disease may be bred. The
old-fashioned but not yet effete theory that
chemical agents act as effective germ destroyers
no longer holds water. And mankind in gen.
eral is coming to learn that if drinking water is
to be purified 1t must be on some grand CO.
operative scale, and not through the instru-
mentality of little patent reversible double
back action machine in his kitchen.-Philddet-
DhiG Record,
THE British Medical Journal has this to say
about the intemperance of boys and girls in
Austria: $50 serious and widespread has in
ebriety been of recent years among school chill
dren that the Vienna School Board have,
though hitherto Intellectually been making
strenuous efforts for tn prohibition of the sale
of intoxicating drinks to children. The board
has Just resolved to invoke the Intervention of
the Government, and bill is to be laid before
Parliament during the present session to pro-
hibit the sale OF intoxicants to boys and girls
under 15 years of age. So alarming is the pres-
ent state of matters that the appearance o.
boy at school In a state of drunkenness is by no
means rare sight During the winter poor
children are often sent to school with only
glass of the cheapest spirits for breakfast,
partly to allay hunger and partly to keep out
the cold'-that venerable delusion, which still
fingers in England"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
TIME MEASUREMENT.
Why Our Hour is Divided Into Sixty Min.
utes and Minutes Int Sixty Seconds.

Why Our Hour is Divided Into Sixty Min.
utes and Minutes Into Sixty Seconds.
American Analystl
Why is our hour divided into 60 minutes,
each minute into 60 seconds, etc? Simply
and solely because In Babylon there existed,
blythe side of the decimal system ofnotation,
another system, the sexagesimal, which
counted by sixties. Why that number
should have been chosen is clear enough,
and it speaks we'll for the practical sense
of those ancient Babylonian characters.
There is no number which has so many
divisors as 60. The Babylonians divided
the suns daily journey into "a parasangs.
or 72O. stadia. Each parasang, or hour,
was subdivided iEto 60 minutes. A para
sang is about German mile, and Baby
lonian astronomers compared the progress
made by the sun during one hour at the
time of the equinox to the progress made by
GOOD walker during the same time, both ac-
complishing one parasang. The whole course
of the sun during the IA equinoxial hours
was fixed at "a parasangs, or 720 stadia, or
$40 degrees. The system was handed on to
the Gresks, the Hipparchus, the great
Greek philosopher, who lived about $50 B.
D., introduced the Babylonian hour into
Europe. Ptolemy, who wrote about 150 A.
c., and whose name still lives in that of
Ptolemaic system of astronomy, gave still
wider currency to the Babyionian way of
reckoning time. 1t was carried along on
the quiet stream of traditional knowledge
through the middle ages, and, strange to
say, it sailed down safely over the Niagara
of the French Revolution.
For the French, when revolutionizing
weights, measures, coins, and dates, and
subjecting all to the decimal system of
reckoning, were introduced by some unex-
planned motive to respect our clocks and
watches, and allowed our dials to remain
sexagesimal-that is Babylonian-each
hour consisting of 60 minutes. Here we
see the wonderful conference of the world,
and how what we call knowledge is the re-
suit of an unbroken tradition of teaching
descending from father to son.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
RELIGIOUS SUMMARY,

THE Sunday-School Year Book of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church reports 25O95 schools,
with 066, S48 scholars.
THE voluntary contributions to the Discs
tablished Irish Church for 1888 amounted to
sl4S 600 an increase of ell 400 oyer the previous
year.
THE yearly increase of ordained men in the
Anglican Church seems to be in excess of re-
uuirements. The clerical deaths last wear were
460, AMI there were but 20 churches built
while there were 734 ordinations. The unbene-
feed clergy in England now number from II, 900
to u, 900.
AT the worlds quadrennial conference of
the United Brethren Church recently held at
York, Pa, the opening address of Senior
Bishop Weaver showed an increase in the past
quadrennial of 10000 members, l43 organized
societies, nearly 100000 in benevolent inter-
ests, over $500. 900 in church property valuation
and gain in the Sunday school attendance of
81, ,OOO
THE statistics read at the recent conference
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, report that
the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints" has at present II apostles. 20 patri-
archs, S,9l9 high priests, L, ,S05 elders, 2069
priests, 2292 teachers, I,6l0 deacons, 81. .S99
families. 1895 officers and members, 49, ,303
children under wears of age total Mormon
population of l5S9lL
THE annual report of the American Sea-
mems Friend Society, Just issued, contains
many interesting facts about the work of this
ancient and excellent association among the
sailors. About S35, 900 has been spent in the
past year in missionary work, publications.
loan libraries, and other aids. Altogether 8, 22i
libraries have been given out to vessels; over
lg,600 have been reshipped, making in all near
ly 500 600 books, which have been put within
reach of about $50, COO Omen.-Chutrch of Today.
In 1898 the First Presbyterian Church, Wash
ingttn City. removed to the present site on
FuuI-and-a-half street. In 1859 the church was
reno deled to its present form. In this church
four Presidents and large number of the
most distinguished men of the country, in the
earlier councils of the Republic, have regu-
larly worshiped. The church has had only
seven pastors. The last and the present one
Rev Byron Sunderland. ID. D., is now in the
thirty-seuenth year of his pastorate.
IT is not an uncommon occurrence for an
East Ind iaman from Liverpool, just from the
Red Sea and the shadows of Sinai to touch at
Madras aud Calcutta, then lie up at Rangoon,
ar each wharf landing a missionary from her
cabin and crate of craven images from her
hold The English nation continues to derive
an income of some $40, 000 900 from the exeesses
and miseri1s of the richer part of the Chinese
people, white the poorer classes of Chinese are
opium. On the contrary. the British and
Foreign Bibfe Society has issued, during the
past yes1, 4206 900 copies of Bibles, Testaments
and portions of the Scriptures. larger number
than ever betpre.--Jous7lat and 4esseagers
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26

ration day rests entirely with Father Jacob
Henrici. their civil and religious head. He
invariably chooses day in the latter part
of Nav, and as in addition to other gifts of
prophecy ascribed to him he possesses great
skill in forteIling the weather, he is gen.
erally fortunate enough to select one whose
sky is fair and cloudless. His choice is
announced to his people the night before,
and the long hour of darkness which follow
are devoted to meditation and prayer.
Throughout this strange community a
solemn vigil is maintained. Old relics and
mementos of the 10 we'd and lost are brought
forth from the old @aken chest, with which
every house is supplied, and are wept and
mourned over. "Reminiscences of by-gone
days are fondly recalled, and the good quali-
ties of those whose graves are to be decorated
on the morrow are freely descanted upon. 1t
is only their personal belongings by which
the Harmonists can recall their dead, as they
have conscientious scruples against the
taking of pictures, which they believe to be
expressly forbidden by the terms of the Sec
ond Commandment
With the dawn of their decoration day
peace and joy seem to come into every heart.
The prayers and meditations of the preced-
ing night have filed the good Harmonists
with plous ferVor, ond tney reel more strong-
ly than ever that death is not thing of
gloom to be Stunned and dreaded, but
most desirable and happy translation from
earthly sorrow to endless bliss.
AJoYFUL DAY.
Just as the first rosy hues of dawn are
visible in the heavens, the excellent mill
tary band of the Harmonists awakens the
town with its music, and the whole popula-
tion sally forth to gather flowers from the
large gardens attached to every house. At
2 o'clock in the afternoon the people as
semble in the great public hall. Elder
Henrici marshals them into quaint pro-
cession, which marches through the streets
behind the band.
This procession was a most unique sight.
All were clad after the fashion of provincial
Germany in 1905. Both men and women
wore garments of peculiar blue cloth man.
here in Economy years ago. The
women all wear high pointed caps of blue
satin. The Orchard Cemetery reached, there
are prayers, Scripture readings, remarks and
singing, and then all deposit their flowers
and garlands till the graves are covered.
Then the procession marches back to the
great public hall for dismission, and the
Economics Decoration Day is at an end.
FRANK FERN.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
FREE TEXT BOOK SYSTEM.
How the Five Years Trial In Massac chusetts
Has Operated.

Has Operated.
Lewiston Journal.l
The free text book system which was
adopted by the last Maiue Legislature, has
had five-years' trial in Massachusetts and
has operated to the eatire satisfaction of the
people Of that Commonwealth. The elev-
enth annual report of the committee of
supplies, recently submitted to the Boston
School Board, enters at some length into
this subject and presents several facts we'll
worth considering.
The cost for furnishing books, drawing
materials and stationery, during five years,
has amounted to s272. .239 30; to offset which
the city has on hand books estimated to be
worth SIG, ,1O9 90. From these figures it is
apparent that the average cost for such sup
plies is about $50, 226 per year, or at the rate
of 63 cents for each of the 81, 900 pupils.
The average cost in Lewiston per capita has
been found to be about 20 cents yearly, or
less than cents week for the school yearl
The cost in other Maine towns, which are
now compelled by law to adopt the system,
probably will not exceed this insignificant
sum.
The remarkably good care taken of these
supplies is shown by the committees report.
The total number of books reported lost
during thee past year was 749, of which
number more than so per cent here in the
primary and evening schools, were the
books used are inexpensive. But taking
the entire enrolment as basis of calcula-
tion, we find that the proportion of books
reported lost, is to the number of pupils
who had books, as less than one to eighty
one. The same evidence of honesty and
carefulness is furnished by the statistics of
books returned as worn out. The total for
the past year was 25, ,397, or only about
per cent of the whole number in use. The
committees estimate, on the basis of five
years experience, that the average duration
of textbooks loaned to pupils will be six
years and the average annual expense for
replacing those worn out will be 80 cents
for each scholar.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
FASTER THAN THE SWALLOW.
An Application of Electricity That Ia Des-
tined TO Annihilate Space.
New York Commercial Advertiser.1

An Application of Electricity That IL Des.
tined to Annihilate Space.
New YORK Commercial Advertiser.1
The new and beautiful application Of
electricity for the purposes of rapid transit
described in special dispatch, is destined
to work revolution in methods of overland
travel, if upon further test it shall prove
successful. By this process, in which the
momentum of a car passing between mag.
netic coils is utilized for the attainment Of
speed greater than that of swallow and
equal to that ofa swift, which goes through
the air at the rate of 200 miles an hour, the
the distance between Boston and New York
can, it is claimed, be covered in about an
hour, and.itwill be possible to send parcels,
and ultimately passengers, from this city to
Albany in 45 minutes.
This seems to be incredible, but there ap-
pears to be good reason to believe that it is
true. Experts in electricity who have ex-
amined. the invention say that it will do
even more than is now claimed for it. The
cost is small when compared with that of
transportation of railroads, and the conven-
ience will be much greater, especially in
summer, when the lives of travellers are now
made a burden to them by smoke and flying
cinders, jar and noise. The invention seems
almost too simple and beautiful to be be-
lieved in. Yet there it is, and-atter elee-
tricity, what? 1t is long stretch from the
time when it took months to carry the news
of Nelson's victory at the battle of the Nile
to London to the present time, when travel
is promised and seemingly assured, at this
marvellous rate.
1t may be interesting to compare this
speed with Others A grey hound can, for
short time, cover ground at the rate Of 70
miles an hour. In 1884 Count CaroIy's
carrier-pigeons flew from Pesth to Paris at
the rate of ia miles per hour. Swallows
60 at the rate of 100. and swifts at that of
200 miles in the same time. A surface
tempest wave on the ocean moves but 30
miles, and good ice boat skins along at
70 miles-say third of the rate promised
by the new invention-and the swiftest
running now made in English railways is
that attained on the Great Northern, over
which cars are sent at a speed OF 105 miles
in 100 minutes, though it is said that trains
have been driven 100 miles in an hour on
this road. All these speeds are trifing when
compared with that which we are now
promised. Surely electricity is destined in
time to "annihilate space" and to disprove
the saying of Ecclesiastes that there is no
new thing under the sun.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
OCEAN-GOlNG GAMBLERS.
sharpers Who Fleece Passengers 0as Of
Large sums of Money.

| sharpers Who Fleece Passengers 0ut Of
Large sums of Money.
Joe Howard in the Boston Globel
In this connection it is of interest to know
that professional gamblers are now travel
ing to and from Europe on our best lines,
practicing on the ignorance or freshness of
their fellow-passengers. One of the best
known steamship men in this city says of
the gambling for big and little stakes which
is carried on while crossing the ocean:
II don't believe that any large steamship
crosses the Atlantic now without more or
less gambling going on on board. Only a
few weeks ago, to my certain knowledge, q
club man OF this city was feeced out of
"a, 600 between Queenstown and New York.
He was what is known as man of the
world and cosmopolitan who would will
ingly give another 81, 1000 rather than have
his losses made public. He thrashed one of
the gamblers just outside of Sandy Hook,
and the matter was hushed up for fear of
scandal"
Mr.. Gibson, an agent of one of the lines.
admitted that only last week he had refused
to sell tickets to pair of sleek-looking
gamblers who brought letters of intro
duction from prominent politician asking
IOF tue DesL SbaUer0OmS IN Lne snip.
TITS impossible to tell gamblers from
honest men," said Mr.. Gibson, "but the
regulations ON shipboard should always be
strict regarding games where money is
played for with cards."
Occasionally, however, the bitter is bitten,
as will be shown by the following story told
by clerk employed by large steamship
line:
"a few days ago" said he, "a young man
apparently none too bright, came in and
bought frst-class ticket He was going to
the Paris Exhibition. After I had sold
him ticket he told me that on his way
over few weeks ago, two gamblers had
inveigled him and two friends into
a, ,.uiIt friendly game Of poker. They
ing and played until close npon
midnight. All three young men won large
sums of money and decided to stop. The
gamblers bemoaned their losses, but agreed
to renew the game the next day. Two of
the young men went back and resumed the
friendly game. The other quietly re-
mained on deck with a lady acquaintance.
He did not gamble for, the rest of the voyage,
but was obliged to loan his friends money
for cab hire when the steamship reached
port"
Poker is the most popular game on steam
ships, although it is related that q gambler
quite recently tried to start game of faro
in his stateroom. Gambling among steer
age passengers is also quite common, but far
less disastrous. The professional gambler
never invades the steerage.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
A WOMAN'S STRANGE TASTE.
Yankee Matron Who Prefers Chewing
Slate Pencil to Candy.

Yankee Matron Who Prefers Chewing
Slate Pencil to Candy.
Auburn (Me.) Gazette
"How much are slate pencils?" asked Q
woman as she stepped into a stationery
store yesterday morning.
'Ten cents Dozen"
"Give me one Dozen"
Then, unwrapping the package, she de-
Hberately began to eat the pencils. Yes,
eat them, not just chip the ends with her
teeth as do school children, but biting off
substantial quarter-inch pieces and crush
ing and swallowing them with infinite
relish. This was quite a remarkable
achievement for a staid, matronly person,
such as she appeared to be, and naturally
she was questioned concerning this strange
propensity. From what she had said in
replying it seems that this unusual system
of diet was by no means confined to slate
pencils. Gravel is staple article of food
with her, properly strained and assorted;
oyster and clam shells and friable sand
stone she mastieates as a man eats a soda
cracker, and asks for more.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
THE INVENTION OF HASH.
The Compound Supposed to Have Orlgi.
mated During Hurricane.

AHo OOmpOauu OhppOscu 11aEo OrtSls
mated During Hurricane.
Richmond State.1
Who invented hash, who was its p rimary
artifcer? is as much a mystery as the COM
pound itself There has been ratiocinated,
however, the conclusion that the first at
tempt in the process of invention were ac-
cidental rather than designed. 1t is sup
posed that in one of the wild and devastat-
ing hurricanes of the tropics herd of cat
tie, riven by the thunderbolts and dismem-
bered by the storm, was found by hungry
and weather-beaten natives "when the
clouds rolled by" and steak ribs and all
other ports being lost in the conglomerate
mass, then and there hash, marvellous hash,
had its origin.
The dish was passed around the civilized
globe. gathering in potatoes in IRELAND, pep
per in the West Indies, and the enticing
flavor of the onion in Mexico The whole
sale character OF its composition made it
peculiarly suitable food for the use of those
who, not circumscribed by the family
circle with its favorite child and consequent
demand for special tid-bits, undertake to
feed a multitude of strangers at so much
head
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26

newspaper correspondent of faclle pen, of
unbounded vocabulary, and Of fame and
reputation that give his writings currency
wherever newspapers are known. His para
graphs are often like string Of epigrams,
his weightier thoughts are sometimes clothed
after the similitude of Browning's poetry,
and what he does not know of men and
events of the quarter of a century just
passed is not worth knowing.
OF recent years he has been established in
Western Maryland, perhaps in the region
of South Mountain, where he employs
corps of trained assistants, who put his
thoughts upon paper, and send off his copy
to the various publications with which he
has standing contracts. He probably enjoys
larger income derived from newspaper
correspondence pure and simple, than any
other living man. But this is not the
strongest evidence of his genius.
AN AMBITIOUS AUTHOR.
Other men have evolved vulgar dollars
and cents from the alchemic depths of an
ink bottle; but no other newspaper man.
from the days of Ben Franklin down, ever
monopolIzed the front page of q leading
Democratic daily paper, week after week,
with three-column installments of the very
soundest kind of Republican doctrine. And
that, too, mind you, at price that would
cause the eyes of the ordinary penny-a-
liner to stick out an inch, more or less.
Upon reflection, the statement is not here
with made that the versatile genius from
the Eastern shore did perform this literary
gymnastic feat, but many disgruntled pa
irons Of the leading paper aforesaid were
ready, not many moons ago, to solemnly
aver that he could and did. But all this
is not what saw in the library.
Stuck away in one of the alcoves was,a
little nest of books, all bearing the name of
Gath as their author. tasted them, and
they were Gathy to degree-here an epi-
gram, bright, pointed, sparkling; striking
elbows with thought so profound that it
needed diagram of explanation. The
thought that grew out of it all was this: We
are never satisfied with what we can do
best If success comes to US in line for
which we may have more or less talent. we
straightway begin to reach out for some
thing else. The world knows Gath as a
newspaper correspondent; he longs to be
known as a writer of books.
MILTON T. ADKINS.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
A VERY SLICK GAME.
A Thief Personates Tailor and Secures q
Lot of Good Clothes.

A Thief Personates Tailor and Secures n
Lot of Good Clothes.
From the New York Sun.i
A b6arder in fashionable uptown house,
who had been delayed one night last week. ar
rived home as seedy-looking individual came
down the front steps with an armful of spring
overcoRts- The boarder recognized some of
these as the property Of friends in the house.
and stepped the man.
"Where did You get those7" he demanded.
A light smile flashed over the mans face as
he replied:
Pm a tailor around the corner, and the gem
tlemen sent for me to press and fix their coats. +"
The poarder suddenly remembered that his
own coat needed repairing. so he gave it to the
man with instructions to fix it with the others
and return 1t. When he got down to the table
he said to one of the boarders
Jones, met the tailor with your coat as 1
was coming in, and gave him mine, too"
Jones looked up wonderingly.
What are you talking about2' he asked.
The boarder explained and in a moment
there was panic Several of the coats were
thief Is still at large