The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-26
OF GENERAL INTEREST.


There are as many cities with q pop
aiation of 1000. 900 and over in this coun-
trysas there are in Europe, yet wo ars
only century old.
The ''Old Witch House," in Salem,
Mass, is still standing, just as in the
days OF Hawthorne, and by o sort of
grim wooing OF circumstance, almost
opposite 1t there is, on door, O sign
which reads like this: ''Clairvoyant
and Business Medium"
In tho days Of Columbus learned
men boldly asserted thatif ship should
reach India she would never got back
again, because the rotundity OF the
globe would present kind OF mountain,
up which it would be- impossible to sail
even with the most favorable wind
AT Lake Pearl, Mass, recently, A.
IL ieilborn and Thomas Richards made
an attempt to swim mile, run mile,
walk milo and rdo bicycle mile
inside OF one hour lIeilborn accom-
piished the feat in 81 minutes Q So sec
onds and Richards in 81 minutes Is
seconds.
TX. Lyman. OF St Johns. n B., is the
possessor OF u dog that he claims has
quite keen instinct for business A
few days ago, when the dogs license
needed renewing, he turned up with a
81 bill and placed it at tho feet of the
owner. Mr.. l.. immediately went and
took out the license.
1t is not often that grain is found TO
grow in n mans boots, but such n case
IS reported farmer brought pair of
boots to Guelph, Ont, cobblcr to be
repaired When the shoemaker COM
menccd operations on them ho found
grain growing to tho lcngth of several
inches. Such s certa My curiosity.
People have no idea OF tho fatal
speed of express trains. LISA common
thing to SEQ thor buffers despatched
WITH blood after long and quick run.
The noise OF their approach disturbs tho
small birds from the hcdge-row and as
they fly across tho limo along comes the
thunderer ut Il speed OF which they hayo
no conception and dashes them to
pieces
There is an cntcrprising photor-
raphcr in the Isle of Wight. lie posts
himself at tho stopping place of Il coach
ana photographs the vehicle and pas
sengers at about eleven O'clock in tho
morning. by five in tho afternoon, on
the return journey, the passengers arc
met it is said, with supply of mounted
prints madc from the negatives taken
only e few hours earlier
Tho average life Of rabbit is nut at
about nine years The doe NAV havo
young eight timcs year, averaging
eighteach time. The first litter is ,ro-
duced when but four months old. Tho
progressions based on these figures lead
to astound ng results, For three wears
the poss bic progeny Of two rabbits has
been calculated at over 1900, O0O and
for seven years at l, $780, 600. 600.
Every traveller has noticed that the
railroads get rid of the r old discarded
ties by burning them up. The ordinary
practice is to pace them in p les as near
the rails as possible and then set fire to
them. to the great annoyance and dis
comfort OF passengers. At tho same
tine there are thousands OF families on
the line of the road who would be GLAD
to tako these ties away and use them
for fuel
The other day A. Strachan music
seller OF Galashiels, N. H., received an
unsigned letter written in red ink. con-
tanning tho following: "Sr-Seyon
years ago stole concertina from vour
workshop, which was getting repaired
Some time ago I joined tho Salvation
Army. and Christ has pardoncd all NV
sins, think it right that should let
you know. May God bless YOU and meet
me in Heaven"
Certificates OF character given to
servants are sometimes misused. Not
long since lady was speaking OF hav-
Ing taken q girl who was highly rcc.
commended by well-known lady. To
her surprise her friend informed her
that girl with the Same name recon-
mended by tho same lady was living
with her. Upon investigation it was
found that the written character had
been used by both parties
The Dominion experimental farms
arc SAID not to DO very helpful to agri-
culturists- On the contrary, thcy have
a discouraging effect When farmer
OF moderate means visits ono OF these
farms no secs largo number of dwell
ing houses, barns, stables. etc. erected
ut enormous cost. He sees valuable
horses. large staff OF men and fancy
farming" on u largo scale. lie con-
clndes that If snch costly luxurics arc
necessary in order to make farming nav
he can not afford them and he gives up
ayr culture TO try something else.
- have made discovery" said
Colonel Glenn this morning. "What's
that?" why that tho most tcrriblo
habit man can have is tho habit of |
hav ng regular habits. mean, to got
into the habit OF doing certain thinps
at certain times without variation, day
in and day out My idea is that the
hnHt for a mn To, do, t.