Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-11-27
SOMEWHAT STRANGE.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS OF
EVERYDAY LIFE

ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS OF
EVERYDAY LIFE
Queer Episodes and Thrilling Adven-
lures Which Show that Truth is
Stranger than Fiction.
THE following curious tale, according
to Philadelphia newspaper, comes
from Bridgeport, Conn: 1.-TWO twin
sisters living at the east end are so iden-
tical in appearance that even members
of their own family cannot tell Martha
from Mary, except by small mole under
Marys right ear. They are pretty and
winning, and have plenty of admirers.
For several months past Marys accepted
lover has been young blacksmith
named Rogers, and last Sunday evening
he made up his mind to learn for GER
tainty whether she would marry him.
When he arrived at the house Mary was
out, and Martha received him cordially,
expecting to entertain her until her sis
ter's return. Rogers supposed she was
his adored one, and at once broached the
subject nearest his heart He found her
little more reserved than usual, he
| hCI uCSllutlOu Hlul
all the more persuasive. At length she
accepted him, just as Mary came into
the parlor and turned up the light.
Rogers then at once discovered he had
proposed to the wrong girl. He made
profuse apologies, and the sisters kept
him in hot water for an hour. Then
Martha released him from the engage
ment, and left him to finish out the
evening with his 'speckled beauty 1t
was too good joke for Martha to keep,
and she whispered it to one of Rogers
friends the next day."
A SPECIAL dispatch from San Francisco
CAL, says: "The steam whaler Beluga
arrived to-day from the Behring Sea,
bringing remarkable news of the recovery
of harpoon which had been thrown in
to whale sixty years before in the South
Seas. Every whaling vessel has her
name stamped on the harpoons it uses.
In August last in the Behring Sea the
Beluga killed big whale and when it
was cut up they discovered an old har-
poon bearing the name of Moctezuma in
it. The head of the harpoon was per-
fectly preserved, but the shank had been
eaten away close to the skin of the ami
NAL by the action of the salt water.
The records show that the Moctezuma
quit whaling in the South Seas sixty
years ago. She was New Bedford
craft and while lying idle at that port
during the war she was bought by the
government and sent with other old
hulks down to Charleston harbor, filled
with stones and sunk at the entrance of
the bay to break up blockade running.
This veteran whale that carried har-
poon for more than century proved q
formidable fighter, and while the Belu
gas men were after it it several times
came near escaping. One of the boats
had to be cut away to prevent its being
drawn under. Finally, after exhaustine
all devices, the old whale was killed"
, A CORRESPONDENT of The Field records
an experiment which he made some years
ago with wasp. Having Che says sew
cred wasp in two pieces, found that
the head and thorax with the uninjured
wings retained full vitality, at any tate
for considerable time. 1t tried to tiy,
but evidently lacked the necessary
balance through the loss of the abdomen
To test the .,matter further | cut out ar
artificial tail from piece of thin card
board, as nearly following the shape o
the natural body as possible To faster
the apperdage to the wasp used little
oxgall (such as is used for gold leaf in
the art of illumination), gum or more
sticky substances would not do, as it I'M
pedes the use of the wings in flight
Presently the operation was completed
and to my surprise, the wasp after one
or two Intellectual efforts, flew in rathe,
lopsided fashion to the window. |,
there buzzed about for at least quarter
of an hour, eventually flying out at the
top. The chief difficulty ist construct
tail atfording the requisite stability
care must also be taken not to injure the
second pair of wings, which are not SC
readily seen as the larger ones. do not
for one moment suppose the mutiated
wasp could exist for any length of time,
but it was vigorous when it flew away.
THE Penn township school district
possesses prodigy of q school teacher
in the person of little Clara Greenawald,
of Bernvill, Penn, 13 years old. She has
been filling her post ably and acceptably
ever since the fall term began in Septem-
Der last. She is a remarkably bright girl
for her age, with exceedingly bright
eyes and fresh complexion and has
about her an unmistakable air of self-re-
lance. When the little lady first pre-
sentea her application for the school,
the trustees looked with astonishment at
her childish figure and felt skeptical as
to her qualifications to instruct big
room full of children. She produced a
certificate, however, showing that she
had passed the required examination at
21t, the highest standard obtainable
being 22. Then the trustees were doubt
full as to the propriety of allowing so
young person to teach, but she pluck
lily asked for trial. This was reluctant
ly granted, and after less than two
months experience her tri.mph is com
plete. canvass has been made among
the patrons of the school. and the senti-
ment is practically unanimous in favor OF
her retention. The people admire her
courage and ability, and are delighted
with her methods of teaching and her
style of government.
GEORGE WHARTON, of Brown County,
Ind, tells a blood -curdling snake story.
Mrs. William Huxelly, living in log
cabin was making soap in the back yard,
having kissed her sweet little six-month
babe to sleep in the cradle. Presently
the baby screamed, and she rushed in
and was horror-stricken to find hid
eous black snake of enormous size trying
to swallow the child, having ongulphed
the hand, had swallowed it up to the
armpit and was writhing in its contor-