Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-03
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS


IA cat set Greensburg house on FIRE By
pulling from table the cover and with it3
lighted lamp.
"A set of false teeth exploded in New
port dentists office the other day, smashing
things In the office.
"A San Francisco family used phono-
graph to cheer the mothers illness, and also 70
preserve the tones of her voice after DEATH
During the past year 315 divorces were
obtained in Philadelphia. Itis said the greater
number Of them resulted from Camden mar
riages.
"A number of London medical men have
united to form hypnotic society, the purpose
Of which will be to prevent by law public exhi-
billions Of mesmeTism and hypnotism. Another
object will be to study privately and in scien-
tlnc manner the phenomena Of those morbid
states.
"A willy old fox gave about 200 hunts
men one Of the best ehases over enjoyed in
Delaware county, Pa, Wednesday, and when
satisfied with his run sly old Reynsrd crept into
hole and laughed at his pursuers. 1t was the
occasion OF the annual meeting Of the Upper
ary Club.
Allentown has girl to be proud Of A
few nights ago she ate "A fried oysters, two
pieces of bread. three pickles, two pieces Of red
TWO pieces Of chocolate cake. piece Of fruit
cake, a lot of grapes, piece Of cocoanut cake
and some candy.
An old resident of Germantown who
plants potatoes and cuts his hair according to
certain phases Of the moon, says we can Judge
Of the general character of the weather that
has been prepared for Us for the coming three
months by that sent Us on Wednesday Friday
and Saturday Of last week.
"A franklin editor happened to mention
to friend on Christmas Day that. among other
things he really wanted, was an extra pair Of
suspenders. Before the day was over half the
stores in town had sold all the suspenders they
had, and enough Of those articles to last him
for l5O years were in the possession Of the
editor.
Stanley sees fine prospects for railway
in Africa. According to his estimates, 800
miles could be LAD down for s17,OO0OOO. This
mileage would open to commerce four great
river basins with total area Of 80 900 square
miles, and total population Of s0,960, 600. Of
the resources of the region he speaks in the
highest terms.
"A bridge across the English Channel is
not among the improbabilities Of the near fu-
ture. The project is pronounced feasible by
competens engineers, and q late number OF the
Scientific american contains the plans and esti-
mates for such a structure, which we're dis
stitute at Paris during the present year.
Last week, at Beach City, O., funeral
sermon was preached over the remains Of re-
markable lady. The deceased was Mrs. Cath
crime Brown, q widow. Her age was 90 years 9
months and 26 days She made her burial
robes, knit herself pair Of linen stockings for
the occasion, gave full details for her burial
and calmly awaited the messenger.
When the Atlantic and West Point
train pulled into the Union depot at Atlanta,
Ga, a day or two ago large white and blue
speckled hound was discovered perched in front
Of the locomotive. He was sitting upon his
launches Immediately under the headlight,
and looked like the fgurehead Of ship. He
could not be coaxed from his perch, and had to
be forcibly pulled from the engine. Nobody
knew how or when the dog got there. He had
ton is that he was struck by the engine and
jumped or was thrown up under the headlight.
"A very useful invention, tending to
lessen the possibility Of accidents in factories,
is now being extensively adopted in England.
The breaking of glass, which is adjusted
against the wall of every room in the mill, will
at once stop the engines an electric current be-
ing established between the room and the
steam in an instant By this means the engine
was stopped at one Of the mills recently in
few seconds, and young girl, whose clothes
had become entangled in an upright shaft, was
released uninjured.
when Lewis Grissel, a resident Of Pal
myra, N. J., got on q train in the Camden
depot to ride to his home few weeks ago he
undertook to take his usual soft seat. AS he
sat down he came in violent and sudden con-
tact with hole where the cushion ought 70
be. The suddenness Of his stopping gave Mr..
Grissel such shaking up that he found it
difficult TO reach his home. He has now
l.
against the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
claiming $4,000 damages for his injuries. He
says the car lights were 50 dim that be did nos
notice the absence OF the cushion
-"Prof." P. E. Rowland, of Boston, IL
an English cobbIer who has won a reputation
at the Hub as q prophet. He claims to have
been educated in the art Of reading coming
events by the leading clairVoyants Of Europe.
He has been interviewed in regard to the out
look for tire coming year. Some Of his prophe-
cies regarding public men are interesting He
says: ''Blaine will die. So will General Butler
and Samuel ]. Randall Ex-President Hayes
has black mark before his life. l cannot say
1t is death. Cleveland is all right So Is Thur
man and Reed and Jay Gould and Harrison
and Hill and Depew. Gladstone and Queen
Victoria will live, but the Gar will commit
suicide"
--One of the most interesting specimens on
exhibition at the Smithsonian 400" in Wash
ington, is monkey-faced owl, born and bred in
the District jail. Truly he is genuine jail bird.
He first saw the light Of night in the caves Of
the big old building, but was arrested for dis
turbing the quiet Of the establishment and now
ekes out q miserable existence in a cage. His
face Is almost an exact counterpart OF mon
keys 50 much so, in fact that were the rest OF
his body covered it would be difficult to dis
tinguish the difference The bird has cage all
to himself, and Is the only one of the kind on
exhibition. He sits all day quiet and unblink-
ing; but at night, so the reporter was informed,
he has q high old time, and makes the building
resound with his piercing shrieks.
Isaac Hoffman, Of Caenarvon, Pa,
whose only means Of locomotion is upon his
hands and knees, is one o. the famous hunters
of that region. He has never been able to
walk. He can operate = mower, reaper or
horse rake equal to anyone. As loader ofhsy
and grain he is hard to excel. He has often
driven one and two horses. and has no fears Of
their getting away. He assists in most Of the
work about his fathers farm, and as chopper
Of wood none but those who have witnessed bis
welding the az would believe the amount he
can cut in a short time. During the last dozen
wears Of his life his chief enjoyment is to travel
over the hills with his gun and dog, and as
rnarksman he Is pretty hard to excel. In COM
ing down flight Of stairs he always descends
headforemost. When he comes to a stream Of
water not more than to feet wide he actually
springs over like cat alighting upon bis knees
or hips,