Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-24
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS.

There is a news stand in Atlanta, Ga,
whose proprietor refuses to sell newspapers to
colored people.
"A Portsmouth, o., man has a welI-de-
veloped apple growing on an ordinary grape
vine, the result Of skillful grating.
Some practical but inartistic German
has made up q compound of sugar and con-
densed milk and tea, from which a Gun of tea
can be had by simply pouring on boiling water.
The Jackson ambulance is painted black
and is used as a coffin wagon, operated by an
undertaken; all of which combine to make the
thing very consoling to anybody who has use
for it.
There appeared last week in the obitu-
ary columns of the Public Ledger notices Of
the deaths of q persons, 16 men and IL women,
who had lived to or beyond the advanced age OF
81 years.
"A Bucks county farmer writes to say
that he has common hen that has hatched
out brood Of ducks and Is raising them in a
motherly way. She must have been set good
egg-sample.
"A Japanese paper states that at Kama
waza family of six generations lives. The
oldest is said to be 1S2 years of age, and to be
great-great-great grandmother, her husband,
aged 130, also being alive.
AN Office has been opened in Paris
-
list of eligible American maids, widows and
Divorces with information in regard to the
amount of their fortunes.
The greatest marvel in telegraphy ID
said to be the syDchronous multiplex, an instru-
ment by means of which six messages can De
transmitted upon one wire, either all from one
station or in opposite directions.
The search for the SIC, ,O00, 900 which
was in the hold of the British sloop-of-war
De Braak, which sank on May 25, I79S. is still
proceeding. The treasure lies somewhere at
the bottom Of the sea at Cape Henlopen.
The first elephant ever seen in England
was sent as a present to Henry I'LL by the
King of France about the year 1856 Numbers
OF people crowded TO see the curiosity. and a
special building was erected for it at the
Tower.
The barn owl, when she has young,
brings mouse to her nest about every II
minutes; and as she is actively employed both
at evening and dawn, and as both male and fe-
male hunt, 40 mice day is low computation
Tor the total capture.
Frank hopkins. of California, who has
been visiting the Ottoman Empire, declares
that the sale of women there has not been
stopped-only carried on little more privately.
he quotes Circassian beauties at s., 900 each,
and NuDian maidens at about 500 apiece.
-Tightlacing has wrought the death of
Berlin actress. She had taken part in an eve
nlng performance, and then seemed to be per-
fectly well, but the next morning she was
found dead In bed. Subsequent examination
showed that death was due to syncope, and
this had been induced by tight-lacing which
the actress practiced In an extreme degree.
Squire Adams, of Chattanooga, dis
covered a curious matter in connection with his
signature the other day. He happened to
glance over his name from right to left, or more
properly, backward, and saw that rs. NJ.
Adams" could be read both ways. Another
gentleman present said he had a relative who
could spell both her Christian and surname
either forward or backward-Hannah Drep-
perd- A reporter SAID he could go them one
better; that the names of the children of his
family in the order of their birth formed a
question, Peter. May Emma Carrie Jennief'
The phonograph figured at a wedding
for the first time at the marriage of Miss Ten
nsnt and Mr.. Stanley. Three of them were
placed In Westminster Abbey during the ser
vice. One was placed in the tower, to record
the full sound of the wedding bells The second
Phonograph was placed by the organ; to note
the music and the wedding march. The third
was placed in the choir, to give the hymn as
sung by the voices. These records have been
presented to Mr.. and Mrs. Stanley SO that at
any time hereafter the wedding bells. the organ
and the voices will sound as on the 18th of July
1890.
John McCraney, living near Kingston,
Ga, has found a most wonderful stone. While
plowing on a sandbar near the Etowah river
he saw something shining with the most
brilliant of lights jdst to one side of him. He
stopped his plow and went to pick it up. It
was clear white stone. the size Of an egg. re-
fecting in one way all the colors of the rain
bow. Turning it over, the colors took Oh the
character of spirit level, following each
other up through the center OF the rock till all
been offered 81, 900 for 1t, but refused it. He
will take it to Atlanta to have it tested. 1t may
be diamond. 1t emits perfectly white light
in the dark.
Among the trophies brought home by
the French Army from an eastern expedition
was specimen of bird rarely if at all, seen
in Europe. This is the celebrated Chinese, or
rather Manchoorian lark. He is a larger bird
than his European congener; his notes are
more brilliant and his natural repertoire. IL the
expression may be used, is more extensive.
But the most noticeable feature is his wonder
ful promptness and skill of mimicry initiating
most natural sounds which he hears-the notes
ard songs of other birds, the cawing of crows
the growing of cocks, the braying Of the
turn this faculty to account, and train the lark
to sing many airs.
w. E. Baker, the late sewing machine
had curious conceits in regard to
the arrangements Of his private grounds. His
place at Wellesley, Mass, in the matter Of the
grounds particularly, is q curiosity. Every
where on the premises the visitor is confronted
with some ingenious piece of extravaganee.
Here In the pathway is a concealed platform,
which, as you step upon it, swings and sends
you a-lurching; there is an inviting chair in
front of Towering cactus and when you take
. seat to inspect the cactus the plank sinks out
of sight and in its place springs mp a wooden
devel, painted red. and grinnihg in your face.
There are dozens of grotesqueries of this kind,
which suggests the mechanism of Humpty
Dumpty rather than the arrangement Of .
sentleman's private lawn.
w. j. Ayers and his divorced wife, Mrs.
Gertie A. Ayers, were married in Chicago the
other day Their wedding cards bore this
startling and original line: "Whatever God
Joined together let not rum put asunder."
During their former welded life Mr.. Ayres had
been much addicted to the flowing bowl, and
when he became so dissipated that his wife
could not live with him she got divorce.
Ayers reformed and for couple Of years has
been temperance exhorter. His ex-wife be-
ieYes his reformation complete and is willing
@ try him again. The bridegroom had the
lniuue sentence put on his wedding cards as q
ort of admonition to the demon of rum to stay
inf of his domestic affairs in the future and