Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-12
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS.
Iron horseshoes were made in 4s1.


1919
Kerosene was first used for illuminating
in 1926
Cork is the bark taken from species Of
oak tree.
Electricity moves at the rate Of 2SS,OOo
miles second,
The term almighty dollar" originated
with Washington Irving.
Egyptian pottery is the Oldest known,
and dates from 1000 B. c. ~---
Slavery in the United States was be-
gun at jamestown in 1870
Soap was first manufactured in Eng
land in the Sixteenth century,
-Forty-rhree Popes reigned during the
building of st. Peters Cathedral.
The first fire insurance office in America
was established in Boston in I724
1t was once upon time considered a
test of orthodoxy to eat mince pies,
1t would take freight train containing
35cars to transport s., 900, 900 in pennies
1t is said that the Alexandrian Library
contained 100000 valuable books AZ B. e.
The most ancient catacombs were those
of the Sheban kings. began 4OOOyears ago.
The first sugar cane cultivated in the
United States was near New Orleans in 175l.
Postage stamps first came into use in
England in 1910, and in the United States in
1S47.
The first public schools in America
were established in the New England States
about 1872
The first cotton raised in the United
States was in Virginia in 1921, and the first ex-
ported was in 1747.
A Christmas entertainment in 1858, gotten
up by Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn, cost these
two societies 100000.
Mrs. Matte Wooten, of Viola, Tenn,
has quilt containing 3,l62 pieces, no two
pieces OF which are alike.
Glass was made in Egypt 5000 3. c.,
but the earliest date of transparent glass Is
said to have been 7l9 B. C.
Perhaps the earliest occurrence of the
term valentine" as signifying lover, is to be
found in Rabelais, 1885 to 1858.
1t is alleged that tine catacombs of Rome
contain the remains of about 6,OOOOO0 human
beings, and those of Paris about 3,0O00O0.
Those which are supposed to be the
earliest poetical valentines known are still
kept in manuscript in the British Museum.
On the West Spanish peak, Colorado,
r. l. Smith trapped handsome golden eagle
that measured feet 4 inches from tip to tip.
The date of Christmas Day was prob
ably fixed upon more by tradition than by
Papal DEGREES, and some time between A. ID.
i39 and 352
There is an old Saxon ordinance, in the
days of King Alfred by virtue of which the 13
days after the nativity OF our Saviour are made
festivals.
Two brothers were wrestling at North
wood, Iowa, the other day. when one of them
was thrown with such violence that his neck
was broken.
The first apple orchard along the upper
Ohio is said to have been planted on Beech
Bottom on the West Virginia side few miles
above Wheeling.
The saltiest body of water in the world is
the Lake of Urumia, IN Persia. The salt in the
water analyzes % per cent, which is greater
than that of the Dead Sea-
The fastest vessel af1oat is said to be the
3,200-ton English built warship intended for the
Argentine Government. She made 2L2 knots
under ordinary draft and pa knots with
| forced draft.
-Smokeless powders are not noiseless, as
| Is so frequently stated. The noise is some
| what different from that of black powder be-
| ing on higher key; but it cah be heard quite
| as distinctly and as far as when the latter is
used.
MIR. Edwin Streeter says that opals were
found in the Rising Sun gold mines. in the
Kimberley district, Western Australia. two
years ago. He adds that there is no doubt thar
opals will be found largely in Western Aus
tralia.
If a tablespoonful of kerosene be put
into four quarts of tepld water, and this be
used in washing windows and mirrors. instead
| of pure water, there will remain upon the
| cleaned surface polish no amount of mere
| friction can give.
During the existence of the Common
wealth many laws were passed forbdding all
| observance of Christmas Day. In l647 some
| parish officers were committed for permitting
ministers to preach upon Christmas Day and
| for adorring the church.
AT Jackson, Ga, last week. while
George Washington was picking cotton. buzz
Zard alighted near him. With some difficulty
he captured the bird and took from its feet a
small steel trap and two feet of cham. Being
relieved of its burden the buzzard scared away.
The English Government, in its endeav-
or by act and by example, to abolish the OBJ
serVance of Christmas sat regularly every
Christmas Day from 1915 to 1856. but in spite of
its ordinances the people would not abolish the
feast and Christmas still survives to tell the
old old story.
The rifles which are now being gener-
ally adopted are all Of magazine type and of a
caliber varying from G.302 to 0.3l5 inch. The
bullet weighs less than One-half that used dur
ing our Civil War: the charge of black powder
used at present is % per cent greater, and the
velocity impaired Is about double.
There is trade which consists in the
destruction of echoes. These in churches.
meeting halls and even large rooms
powerful at times as to prevent all enjoyment
They are destroyed by spinning wires not far
from the ceiling at points and lines where the
waves of sound are most easily shattered.
1t was at one time claimed and at
tempted to be shown that the Puritan May
flower of 1920 was afterward used as a slave
shin. Close research revealed the fact that the
SLAYER was another ship of the same name and
different burden. Historical records SHOW that
about the wear l474 Richard. Duke of GlOuces-
ter mad q ship called the MayhOwer; and Hun
ter. in his Founders of New England" men
tions some 20 ships as bearing that name
between the years 1858 and 1888.
The Newcastle Chronicle Of January 6,
I77O. describes a giant of the race of English
Christmas pies which was feet in circumfer-
ence at the bottom and weighed 16S pounds. 1t
required two men to present it at the table, and
it was neatly fitted with case and four small
wheels to facilitate its use to every guest. It
contained bushels of -four 20 pounds Of
butter, geese, 2 turkeys, rabbits, wood.
COCKS, 8 snipes. 4 partridges, meats tongues,
curlews, 7 black birds and pigeons.