The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-08-03

DaQy is u COSllieSt DulluiuS VI
v modern tincs. Nineteen mill
~ ion six huno-ed thousand dol.
lars nave been expended on it to date.
The Capitol at Washington from 1898,
when its corner stone was laid, to 1878,
had cost, inclucing its expensive furni-
ture, it's almost annual alterations and
repairs, less than S13, 100000.
The most expensive municipal hall IN
the world and the largest in the United
States is the City Building OF Philadel-
phia. The largest clock in the world is
to be in its tower.
The most expensive Legislature in the
world is that of France, which cost an
nually So, 100000. The Italian Parlia-
meut costs $430, 900 year.
The next to the highest price ever paid
for horse in the world was $1O5, 600,
for which Axtell, the trotter, was sold
in Indiana at the age of three years. On
January II, 1892, AIion was sold by
Senator Stanford to 1. Malcolm Forbes,
of Boston, for $15O, 900. That beats all
prices. Charles Reed, of the Fairview
Farm, Tenn, gave 100000 for the
great stallion st. Blaise at sale in New
York in October, 1891.
The costliest paintings of modern
times are Meissonier's "1S14" and Mil
let's "The Angelus." M. Chauchard
gave $4,000 francs ($17o,0OO) for
"1s14" and $50, 900 francs ($150, ,000
for "The Angelus." Mr.. Henry Hilton
in 1887 paid S66,0OO for Meissoniers
"Friedland, 1907" and presented it to
the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The most costly book in the world is
declared to be Hebrew Bible now in the
Vatican. In 1912 it is said that Pope
Jules II refused to sell the Bible for its
weight in gold, which would amount to
S1O3, 900. That is the greatest price
ever offered for book.
In 1886 tulip bulb WIGS sold in Hol-
land for $4,000. 1t weighed 200 grains.
The coatliest meal ever served, accord
ing to history, was supper given by
Elius Verus, one of the most lavish OF
all the Romans of the latter days, to q
dozen guests. The cost was 5000 ses.
tertia, which would amount to f4S, 500,
or nearly quarter of million dollars.
A celebrated feast given by Vitellius, a
Roman Emperor of those days, to his
brother Lucius, cost little more than
5000, 900. suetonius says that the ban
ouet consisted of 1000 different dishes
of fish and 1000 different fowls, besides
other courses.
The largest sum ever asked or offered
for a single diamond is s430, 900, which
the Nizam of Hyderabad agreed to give
up to Mr.. Jacobs, the famous jeweler of
Simla, for the "Imperial" diamond,
which is considered the finest stone in
the world.
The costliest toy on record was q
broker. nosed wooden horse, which be-
longed to Napoleon Bonaparte and was
sold year or two ago for 1000 francs.
The costllest cigars ever brought to
this country were of the brand made for
the Prince of Wales in Havana, the
manufacturers price for which was
$1.S7 apiece.
The costliest mats in the world are
owned by the Shah of Persia and the
Sultan of Turkey. The Shah and the
Sultan each possess mat made of pearls
and diamonds, valued at more than
$500, 900. The largest mat ever made
is owned by the Carlton Club OF London
and is a work of art.
The costliest crown in Europe, experts
say, is that worn by the Gar OF Russia
on state occasions. 1t is surmounted by
a cross formed of FIVE magnificent dia-
monds, resting upon an immense uncut,
but polished, ruby. The ruby rests up
on eleven large diamonds, which in turn
are supported by a mat of pearls. The
coronet of the Empress, it is said. con-
tains the most beautiful mass of diamonds
ever collected in one band.
The most expensive royal regalias IN
the world are those of the Mahara jah of
Baroda, India. First comes gorgeous
collar containing 500 diamonds, ar
ranged in five rows, some ss large as
walnuts. Top aud bottom rows OF emer.
aids of equal size relieve the lustre OF
the diamonds. A pendant is single
brilliant called the "Stsr of the Daccan."
The Maharajah's special carpet, lox6
feet, made of pearls, with big diamond
in the centre and at each corner, cost
81, 500, 900. -,
The most valuable gold ore ever mined
in the United States, and probably in
the world, was a lot containing 2oo
pounds of quartz, carrying gold at the
rate of $50, 900 a ton. 1t was taken from
the main shaft of the mine at 1shpeming,
Mich.
The greatest sum ever paid for tele-
graph tolls in one week by newspaper
was the expenditure OF the London
Times for cable service from Buenos
Ayres during the revolution in the Ar
gsutine Republic. The cost OF cabling
from Bucnos Ayres to London was Sl.7o
word, and the Times paid out $50, ooo
for one weeks dispatches.
W. j. Florence, the comedian, once
offered $4,000 for a catch phrase about
which an American comedy could be
written. Nobody supplied the demand.