Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-15
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS.

/
"A colored woman in Milledgeville, Ga,
claims to be 124 years old.
| Clerks in London have formed a union.
and intend agitating for better pay and shorter
| hours.
] "A house at Americus visited by one of
the census enumerators Monday contained II
negroes. all Of whom made it their home.
AT depth of 81 feet, at Sprngport
Ind, vein of water was struck which onsbes
several feet above the surface and is clear and
cool
"A hailstone that fell during the storm
| IN st. Louis Wednesday, and was measured at
the Signal Service station there. is said to have
Deen nine inches in circumference.
Mark Slenker, bright little lad in
Belding. Mich, was sick, and on Wednesday
last he sang: "Pm going to die to-morroW .
and on Thursday the prophecy came true.
DIR. Edward O'Neill was a successful
practitioner at Grand Rapids Mich. But be
toyed with cocaine until it became a fixed
habit, and now he's to be sent to the asylum az
county charge, his wife and sister making the
application for his commitment
In 1859 Rufus B. Rogers, of Vassar,
Mich, was in Arizona, and one day he en-
graved his initials upon silver quarter, ad-
ding the year. Last week Mr.. Rogers received
the identical coin from a customer. He will
not tletit out of bis possession again.
The chief chemist of the London Gas
Company has succeeded in making from the
refuse of a gas retort a perfect emerald. The
cost Oh making the gem, however, was many
times greater than that for which q natural
stone could be purchased at jewelers.
Isaiah Powers, of Curtis, Neb, has an
orchard Of Russian mulberry trees that are
gifted with a second blossoming. The trees
blossomed out nicely at their proper season
t5is year. but frost completely destroyed the
blossoms, and now the trees are again in bloom.
"A curiosity in the shape of a potato Of
last years growth, bursting from the inner
center of which are perfectly formed potatoes
of this springs growth, one of the youngsters
DeIng about as large as walnut. was found by
crawford county farmer. Both old and young
potatoes are in solid and perfect condition
otherwise.
Two years ago Thomas Roe, of Slim
Timber, in Tippecanoe county, Ind, was found
dead at the foot of a wind pump, with his re-
mains half eaten by hogs. The esupposit1on was
that he had fallen while suffering from epilepsy.
Recently there are developments indicating
that he was murdered, and the authorities are
investigating.
"A writer upon queerly directed letters
received at the postofiees of the country saws
that some amusing results arise from Italians
here learning few words of English and
placing them at the end of letter. The un-
suspecting friend copies them. with results like
the following: Good BY. Farewell Verget
me not Nord America"
Isabella county, Mich, has a genuine
hermit. HIS hut is full of scientific instru-
ments and two of his brothers are professors
in Leipsic and Heidelburg. His Greek and
Latin are proficient enough to make the text
Dook makers blush for ignorance. What fate
drove him to his lonesome, friendless and
studious life in the woods nobody knows.
"A Griffin, Ga, farmer has on his farm .
grindstone which has been IN his use Il years;
he IS the owner of bride, which can be seen
on one of his ponies whenever he comes to
town, which has been in use 2 years, and IL Is
not a bad looking bride either He also has a
pair of shoes which has seen five years service
and large armchair that tradition accounted
TO be 10 years old.
Last Thursday William Mapes, a
farmer near MiddleVille. Mich, ate a hearty
dinner and then lay down for nap. He slept
until Tuesday noon, the combined efforts of
his family and two regular physicians failing to
arouse him. When he awoke of his own ac-
cord Mapes was bright and clipper as dollar,
but was terribly surprised to learn that he had
been in snooze for SO long time.
The residents OF the eastern section of
Reading were surprised to find their yards and
pavements in front of their houses covered
with small toads, which had fallen from the
clouds during the night. At Fourteenth street
were covered with tOads for distance of half
a square. A number of Reading fishermen
visited the place and secured bucketsful of
toads TOR bait
"A seal recently caught in the River
Parker by two fishermen of Newburyport,
Mass. was day or two afterward returned to
The river, but it refused to be left behind and
nj ed tho mar hac tn tho xuha -
be taken into the boat. Finding it impossible
10 force the seal to leave them, they made
little house for it on one of the wharyes and
every day since it has gone into the water to
get food. returning at night to be locked up in
its new quarters"
1t is remarkable the perfection to which
the postal system has been brought. Not even
> cent is overlooked. Colonel Riley, of Gin
cinnati. handed the reporter a check for lone
cent" drawn by Third Assistant Postmaster
General Hazen. 1t was as formal as if it repre-
sented million dollars. It was in favor of E.
s. living, Postmaster at Chester Cross Roads,
Geauga county. living was settling his ac-
counts with the Government, and balance of
one cent was found in his favor.
"A boy named Drews performed dam
yerous feat in West Orange N J., the other
lay, it is related. The contractor for the drain
hat has been laid to carry OFF the standing
water in lots on Valley road wanted to deter
nine whether or not the drain was free from
and offered the lad a small sum to
20 through it, The pipe is Is inches in diam
tier, is eight feet under ground and is 200 feet
ong. The boy accepted the offer and entered
he pipe. Half an hour later he emerged
afely from the other end.
The peculiar performance of a passenger
N the steamship Iroquos was the cause OF
considerable excitement on the trip from New
FORK to Jacksonville Fla. Just after crossing
he bar he tied the lead line around his waist
nd Jumped over the side for swim. He was
erked through the water at frightful rate Of
peed and the ship had to be stopped and the
rraUic gentleman hauled aboard He said he
merely wished to take ocean dip, and
hought that he could keep ~ with the ship.
FUNNV MEMS FANCTFS