Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-22
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS.

| OUhlOOO OOuDIN0h11V4t0
Since the Franco-Prussian war Germany
has spent 81, 200 OOo, 900 on her army and navy.
| Arkansas has rooster that still lives,
though its head was cut or several weeks
| ago.
The French War Office has provided
for the enrolment of between 5000 and 1000
| b1cyclists in war.
"A woman in Stokes county, n. G., is
| cutting her third set OF teeth. She is in the
SSth year Of her age.
The Horse Accident Prevention Society
| In London reports that 1000 horses fall
upon asphalt to 500 on wood
The Germans not only sleep upon Q
feather bed but underneath one. The
leather covering used in Germany, however,
Is not so large or as thick as the one which is
USED as mattress.
One of the largest camellia trees in
Europe is now in full bloom at Pilnitz, near
dresden. 1t was taken from Japan $50 years
ago, Is so feet high, and has an annual aver
age OF 4O, 900 blossoms.
According to the census of 1890, there
are 100000 people living in the States and
Territories lying west OF the Mississippi
river, almost one-fourth of the entire popu-
lation of the United States.
1t is said that German family living
out West have in their possession a tame
fox with beautiful bushy tail, with which
the animal has been trained to dust the
parior furniture every morning.
1T appears from the official records that
last year articulation was taught to no less
than 245 pupils in American schools for the
deaf. In q large number of these cases the
fnfrmity dated from birth and was inherited.
One result of the May-Day dynamite
De-, AI,, SAI-.
theaters for that day were only q, ,316 francs,
whereas on the preceding Sunday they had
reached Sl,5N francs, the loss being H,2n
francs.
The oldest hotel in Switzerland and
probably the oldest in the world is the Hotel
of the Three Kings, at Basle. Among its
guests in 1925 were the Emperor Conrad IL,
bis son, Henry I'LL and Rudolph, the last
King of Burgundy.
The largest cotton crop in the Southern
States pri or to the war was in 1860. when
4699 40 bales were produced. In 1s71 it was
4,352, BIZ bales. In 1891 the production reached
$685. 597 bales, and $685. ,661 bales of the produc
tion were consumed in Southern mills.
France points with pride to its Tunisian
colony, where there are now 81, 900 French
citizens and persons claiming French pro-
lection. Great results are expected from
the opening of the harbor of Tunis next
year. and of Bizerta the year following.
The old Virginia custom of drinking the
first glass OF wine standing is a survival Of
the custom of testing wine to show that it
contained no poison. The host held his
glass up to the light in the presence of all
his guests and then drank its contents as
guarantee OF good faith.
On the coast of the channel dough is
adjured to initiate the leaven, the miller and
the baker and to rise. The oven is a sacred
object and connected with crowds OF
superstitions. The oven is dedicated, with
ceremonies; in certain places of Brittany the
wood is watered with blessed water.
The cold in a cavern in France is so
great, no odds how warm the external at
mosphere, that the visitor cannot prolong
his stay without Inconvenience unless wrap
ped in winter clothing. There are not less
than q score of these natural icehouses in
France, and probably half as many in Italy.
The Greeks were probably ignorant Of
the use of rings until the time of the Trojan
war. Then they adopted the custom of
wearing them on the third finger of the left
hand. This was to prevent the hand from
dishonorable action, as that finger was sup
posed to be connected to the heart by
small nerve.
"A few nights ago one of Rock Mounts,
n. e., citizens was awakened from his slum-
ber by hearing pet chicken squeaking. He
arose and found the chicken under the
house with one foot part in the ground
Cutting around it with his penknife, he
discovered a crawfish gnawing away on it.
The crawfish had already devoured one toe.
"A new material for paving is now being
introduced in London. 1t is composed OF
.ranulated cork and Ditumen pressed into
blocks, which are laid like bricks or wood
paving The special advantage of the ma
.erial lies in its elasticity. When used for
it gives a soft tread which is eI-
pleasant, recalling the feeling Of .
carpet.
"A French doctor has evolved the theory
that the color and nature of the hair have
In influence on the pursuits Of man. Thus,
ne declares that administered men havea
tendency toward the race track and the
hunting field; men with straight black hair
Ire apt to feel that they have a call to the
while light-haired men are natural
travellers and Adventures.
One of the "fnds'' frequently made in
I'D curiosity shops on the Continent, and
in Paris, is the cross of the
Mexican order created by the ill-lated Max
millian. AS for the insignia of Isabella the
that decoration and the military
orders created by her father Queen Isabella
bestowed so generously that many unworthy
people had them. and the lavish bestowal OF
hem suggested the libretto Of la Grande
Ouchesse.'
south Africa that looks for all the world
ike piece of toast with four legs, a head,
md O tail. 1t resembles pussy cat about
he forehead and ears, but its nose is
that of rat, while its tail is not
rery di5similar to that OF a fox. This strange
.nimal is called the aardwolf. and doubtless
wells in South Africa because, judged by
lis looks, he would not be admitted into
,ood animal society anywhere else.
Sunshine is recorded at the Meteor
logical Office in England by means of the
tokes- Campbell instrument, the essential
eature of which is a spherical lens, which
cts as burning glass. As the sun accom-
fishes its apparent journey from East and
Vest it burns its autograph into a strip OF
ard placed beneath the lens, but can only
O so when it is unobscured. As the card is
ivided in to hours, it is easy to calculate the
mount of actual sunshine with which each
ay is favored.
THRILLING WITH TRIFLEJ