Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-25
THE STROLLER'S STORIES.
Odd Opinions and Quaint Observations Frou
Curb and Corridor.

Curb and Corridor.
j CHRIsTMAs comes with weather not at all in
accordance with the views Of the animal
kingdom. It Is rare that the beaver and the
goose make false prediction for the winter,
but reliable returns frcm the back counties in
dictate that they have fallen into grave error on
| this OCCASION Men from the great Northwest
4 say that last fall the beavers built their houses
strong and thick, indicating severe winter.
Along the saskatchewan and other unpro-
nounceable rivers of the British dominions the
| furry rodents are well housed and almost
/ smothering to death. The beaver, however, is
degenerating, with the buffalo and the red man.
| His sagacIty must be going with his numbers.
Poultry dealers and caterers say that the goose
bone this winter is decidedly heavy. The goose
is as badly away in his indications as the beaver
HIS error only confirms the old theory that
however good he may be when roasted, he
always was goose.
| SERGEANT OSCAR D.STEwART.o OF the United
States Signal Service. yesterday received
the following telegram: Dear Os-Snow nine
feet deep and thermometer 20 below zero A
spanking white Christmas. Everybody happy
and blubber cheap. Congratulations. Yours,
Chief OmeuAvik, Sukkertopper, Greenland -
The Sergeant Immediately went and bought an
umbrella.
| HoN. r. B. STONE, Of Bradford, Pa, was at
the Seventh Avenue Hotel yesterday. He
is small, black-whiskered man, with keen
| countenance. He is brother to Hon. Charles W.
| Stone. Secretary of the Commonwealth, and one
OF the candidates for the Republican nomina-
tion for Governor. The brothers look much
alike, the Secretary being somewhat the fairer.
Mr.. R. B. Stone spoke hopefully Of his broth
er's chances for the nomination.
| THAT newspaper man had very long head
who, last spring, when days OF were being
assigned to the members Of the force, looked
up an almanac and discovered on what day of
the week Christmas would fail. He put in his
bid for Wednesday, and got it. He is happy to
day.
JAMES E UMBsrAETTER tells story which
Illustrates one Of the tricks In the patent bus
iness. He wears a peculiar, old-fashioned watch
chain, with . ring for a fob hanging from
vest buttonhole It was given to him by his
father, who had worn it many years. A day or
two ago he visited jewelry store and asked to
be shown some watch chains. The urbane
clerk handed out tray. and, holding one chain
delicateIy between his white thumb and fore
finger, said: There is the latest thing out. It
bas just been patented" "Why. it's just like
the one wear" Mr.. Umbstaetter said, and he
compared the chains. The designs were identi-
cal, but the new patent was bona tide.
GtVoU cannot buy real estate in any Of the
blocks adjoining the new Postofice,"
Superintendent Malone said 70 the Stroller.
The reason is that the owners set their prices
too high. They seem to think that the com
pletion of this building will make 1t the busi-
ness center Of the city, as the old Postofflce
corner is now. They would rather hold their
4T.. ST. a
their figures are almost fabulous. Several real
estate men have been trying to get options on
some Of those lots on the opposite side Of
Smithfeld street. but have given up the at
tempt to bring the owners down to anything
reasonable. There is that Fulton property,
where the three-story brick stands which
escaped the great IRE Of 1846 You can see the
memorial tablet in the front wall You would
not believe me If would tell you what that
propertyis held at Undoubtedly the opening
of the new Postofice will bring to this neigh
borhood vast number of people, and make the
vicinity good one for retail stores, but Pitts
burg is too large to have a distinetively central
point any longer. When the traction lines are
running on Fourth and Sixth avenues you will
see great deal of its glory depart from Fifth
avenue"
OF Boston are trying to form labor
union" Letters of inquiry have been received
from that city asking for particulars concern
ing the Pittsburg union, which has not been
formed.
THE strolIer's friend from Fayette county
was in the city yesterday. "DoH'tyou want
to buy some crab ciderf' he asked. Hanged il
crab cider amt getting hard to sell. It used to
go off like hot buckwheat cakes on cold
morning Ten and twelve dollars barrel and
more Now can't get six. Pve got 30 barrels,
as fine as ever come out Of q cider press. It'd
make Captain Wishart's eyes sparkle. Nobody
seems to want 1t, though. What's the reason2
They're getting too slick making cider. They
fix most anything up, with different sorts Of
stuff, to taste just like the genuine crab, and
they make 1t so confounded cheap that
decent man can't afford to make cider to sell.
was down at the market, trying to get rid of
mine, but it WON'T pay" With q sad face and
regretful tone, he added: II guess Ill have to
drink that cider myself"
THE following kind contribution was received
yesterday by the society reporter Of THE
DISPATCH, and is published with pleasure:
Mrs. Hiram A. Wegg gave a brilliant and
recherche party at her charming mansion at
No. 1898 Fifth avenue last night. Among the
guests were Mrs. Reginald de Courcy Smydt
(wife Of old Smith, the boot and shoe man,
Miss Dorothy Neville Robbynsone daughter of
Tom Robinson, agent for well-known button
house), Mrs Gallia Cisapina Muldoon (wife of
Colonel Muldoon, who used to keep Muldoon's
Rest on Speakeasy street), Mrs. G. Washyng
ton O'Bryen (wife Of the West End contrac-
tori, and other distinguished society people Of
this city. N. B.-Please insert the above and |
oblige Hiram A Wegg, candidate for Alder
man."
A DRUMMER banged his valise down on the |
"A desk at the Hotel Duquesne. Attached |
by string to the handle was tab set in small |
frame of wood, and bearing the words, "Mr. |
Barnes Of New York" The Stroller rlooked atthe |
possessor Of the valise with some interest won |
dering If he were the real and only. The gentle- |
man grabbed pen and plunged his name head
long on the register. It was. "a Solomon,
New York." When he had departed for his |
room the clerk explained that it had become |
quite the cutest thing out, among q certain
class of drummers, to fasten such tab to their
luggage. The STROLLER.
who Has Got 1is
From the Philadelphia nquirer.1
Somebody must have run away with the
Worlds Fair. Nobody hears Of 1t any more.