West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-09-11

her nccklaco. Mira. Hicks-Lord is the
owner OF a diamond necklace which cost
$3.50, 900.
The highest priced plano in America is
owned by Dir. III. G. Aiarquand of this
city. The case, which was built In Lon
don, was designed and painted by Alma
Tedcma. 1t cost $4,000.
The late Judge Andrew Davis, OF
Butto, Mon, who left fortune of So
000, 5000, bought the famous Lexington
mines twelve years ago for n $50 debt.
He afterwards sold n controlling interest
In the mines for $1,000
Elsie Hall. the little Australian girl
who Is dolighting English audiences with
her piano-playing, Is only twelve years
old. Shc Is said to have wonderful
amount OF strength I'm her wrists and
fingerS-almost as much as man.
The most expensive sldeboard over
made in the United States Is owned by
Judge Harry l.. Packer, OF Mauch Chunk,
Penn. IL covers tho whole side OF u
room, and was built for CAT 900. It Is
marvel OF elaborate and beautiful carvinge
William Moulton and vito OF Saco,
Aieinc are both 80 years OF ago ond have
been married sixty years. They have
had seven children, including two pairs
OF twins, and there has never yet been a
death or any serious sickness In tho fam
lily.
The famous picture fly Meissonier, call
ed 1907" was painted for the Lotto A. T.
Stewart. AT the sale OF his gallery Mr..
Henry Hilton bought It for SG0,t00, and
presented 1t to the metropolitan Museum,
where IT now hangs, the costllest paint
Ing In America.
In Belgium the umbrella is seemingly
unknown. When II rains in that country
The DQOnlR other rnTnafn nn6nr fnp w
I'll tho storm is over or go out TO get
soaked. AS rule n rainy day hes no eff
feet on the people, though they do shell
ter their horses.
The table upon which Prince bismarck
signed tho prclirninaries OF peace with
Theirs at Versailles In February, 1871,
was the only souvenir of the campaign
which tho Iron Chancellor bore back to
Germany with him. lie paid his Ver-
saiiies landlady twenty-four francs for 1t.
Miss Elaine Goodalo, the poet, who Ia
superintendent OF Indian schools I'm Da-
kota, will live principally in wagon
next summer. She has been supplied by
General Morgan, Commissioner OF Indian
Affairs, with covered wagon and pair
OF horses to travel from school 10 school
through Dakota.
A horse that has been for twelve years
employed TO haul away tho sawdust in a
lumber mill, has become so well scauaint-
cd with his work that he goes from one
hopper to another, Through Intricate pas-
sageways, without driver, and never
strikes post. lie begins and ends work
with the whistle, as do the men.
An electric cash-drawer has been in
vented. 10 must be securely closed after
using IL, or q bell win ring until this is
done. 1t cannot DO opened when par
tally closed until 1t has been shut, and
no one can open 1t but persons familiar
with the combination, which is operated
by instantaneous touches on three num-
bered keys.
The women's branch of the Society for
the prevention of Cruelty TO Animals I'm
Philadelphia, after winning notable VIC
tories over fox-hunters and pigeon-shoot-
ers, has begun o determined campaign
against the practice, and they now ofYera
reward OF one hundred dollars for inform
alton that will lead to the conviction OF
an offender.
An enterprising capitalist In Philadel-
pnla mas engaged number Of bootblacks,
and pays them n fixed sum for their ser
vices, no matter how much they take In.
he ts as suspicious as he is enterprisipa.
and has attached to each bootbIackin1
box a register, which the operator Is re-
quired To ring every time he secures a
patrons BnOeS 10 black.
II Columbus were alive to-day. and II
his contract OF April IL, 1892 with FerdI-
Dand and Isabella wero sustained bv the
American courts, he would be ENJOYING
an income Of about $4,000, 900 a wear
from the bullion product OF the Western
Hemisphere, to say nothing Of his one
tenth claim In the pearls, precious stones
and general merchandise OF America.
To prevent the theft of postage stamps,
a special stamp for business firms that
use tho mails largely has been proposed.
III the idea Is adapted the stamp will be
twice the size OF the ordinary ono. with
the business card OF the firm beside tho
usual yignette. Dishonest employees
would find IL difficult 20 dispose OF
stamps bearing their employers cards.
The champion fine handwriter OF tho
world IL believed to be Mr.. Ria Kitter-
idge, who resides in Belfast. lie Is sew
enty-eight years old, but has written the
Lords prayer six times repeated on tho
space covered by a silver Ave cont piece.
which Is at the rate OF 5000 words on n
postal card. lie has written the Lords
prayer once on space ofthree sixteenths
Of an inch, and says he will come under
a contract 10 put 80 900 words on "A postal
card. Mr.. Kittendge does not use mi
croscope in writing, but one Is needed to
read what he writes.
RAILROADS.
The first locomotive was built by Peter
Cooper Of New York.
The average Dolly earning Of an Amer.
lean locomotive Is about 500.
They have cost about s0.OOO. 600. OO0
and employ moro than 900, 900 people.
The Manhattan Elevated railroad. New
York, carries JIj,0J0 passengers a day,
OF 191 ,G2J, 0OO yearly.
Tho highest railroad bridge in the
United States is the Klusua viaduct on
the Erie road, Pa, 800 feet high.
The longest mileage, operated by q
single system is tho Atchison. Topeka
and Santa Fo system, about 900 miles
Tho longest American railway tunnel
Is the iIoOsio tunnel on the FItchburQ
railway, Mass, four and threo-quarter
miles.
The cost Of n hlRh-olass, eight wheel
passenger locomotive, Is about 81, 900 :
~ a palace sleeping cor, $1,000, or @17,
900 n vestibulod.
The fastest time made by train was
~ miles 10 80 minutes, one mile being
made in 80 seconds on the Philadelphia
aud Reading railroad.
The highest railroad IN the United