Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-25
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS.

Textiles are first IN PruSslan lnuustrles.
The yelocipede was invented by Drais
in 1917.
The nails on amputated fingers often
continue to grow.
But ~ per cent of Bulgaria's popula-
tion can write and read.
The Crusaders stormed Jerusalem with
the aid of wooden towers.
Thirteen millions sterling have already
been spent on the Manchester Ship Canal
The Turks, in the final siege Of Con-
stantinople employed catapults and balistas
side by side with cannon.
There are 1000, 900 adult male inhab-
itants of the United States and 100000 col
ored, Chinese and Indian inhabitants above
the age of 81.
japanese doctors never present bills to
their patients. They await the patients in
clination to pay, and then thankfully accept
Whatever sum is offered.
-Salton lake, which so suddenly appeared
a few months ago in the Colorado desert,
has entirely disappeared. and its bed is now
covered with luxuriant verdure-
The Rothschilds smoke Henry Clay's
."sobranos," which cost or 6 shillings each.
They are wrapped in gold leaf and packed
in little 1nlaid cedar wood cabinets.
The center of population in this coun-
try. which at the close of Jefferson's term
was 40 miles northwest of Washington, is
now II miles east of Columbus, Ind
Platinum is the most 1nfusible of all
metals, melting only before the oxy-hydro-
gen blow pipe, or In a very powerful blast
furnace. It's fusing point is l,77Oo c.
The fathers of New Guinea sell their
daughters for an ak apiece. Down in New
Guinea when a blushing maiden favors a
young mans suit she slyly murmurs, "Ax
papa"
The organist at Cardiff church found
several of the notes soundless. An exami-
nation revealed the fact that no fewer than
six birds, including robin, had built their
nests in the pipes
The Government makes no charge for
coming. The only mint charges are for
melting, parting. refining, etc., and for al
loys. certain scale of charges is fixed ac-
cording to the work to be done.
The greatest days run of an ocean
steamship was 515 miles. The steamer IN
question was 562 feet long, and had pre-
viously been known to make 800 miles per
day for three days in succession.
In England, notwithstanding that in
our own dependency of Malta the hangman
receives ESQ Il year from :he British Govern
status since the death of Calcraft.
The Central Pacific Railroad has some
monster engines, in use on the western end
of its route-those made at the Sacramento
shops in 1888. Each of these gigantic loco
motives weighs, exclusive of tender, 123, 900
pounds.
in connection with the Egyptian na-
tions, the Gnostics, as we'll as some of the
early Christian fathers, speak of Christ as
q "a ha1n MT 1iNnli NJ
with beetIe's head. The Egyptians always
embalmed this sacred insect.
"A valued possession of the President of
the Masonic Veteran Association is q call
bell that was cast from chippings from the
famous old Liberty Bell OF Philadelphia. 1t
has been rung in many Iodge-rooms and al
ways amid great enthusiasm.
No President of the United States was
born in New York City, but two of the I'd
died there. One President, one ex-Presiden1
and one occupant OF Presidential Office dur
ing the period of four years for which hid
opponent was elected survive the contest
OF more than q century.
There were, according to the Federal
census of 1890, 1,769, 600 male inhabitants Of
voting age in New York two years ago OF
these 6s5, 600 we're foreign born. About two
thirds of them (4l6,000) were naturalized,
q, COO had taken out their first papers and
49,, 900 were Ut that time aliens.
Both the Kurds and the Cassacks be-
lieve that Ararat is guarded by an unearthly
being and that no man can ascend the peak
and live. They have somewhat contrary
opinion, however, as to what kind of spirits
are on guard, the former claiming that the
devil is guard supreme, the latter that
angels are on watch.
But little mention is made of breakfast
in ancient history, it being simple meal, in
striking contrast to the luxurious dinner.
The Greeks ate but two meals; the first at
the second at evening. The first
was generally composed of fruits and light
wines, the heat of the climate rendering
more hearty food distasteful.
Mime. Adam, editor of Paris journal,
says that there is an emancipation OF the
young woman of France caused by their in
tercouse with English and American visit
ors. They are no LONGER chaperoned on
every occasion, their manners and customs
have undergone great changes, and they are
Anglicized and Amerlcanized to a great ex-
tent.
The earliest chest was simply the trunk
Of an oak tree scooped out and cut down the
middle, one-half serving as lid, which was
1t first kept closed by a strap of leather,
md later by one made of iron. As late as
The fourteenth century the oak chest, in ad-
lftion to being repository for valuables,
,erved as seat and sometimes also as a
able.
There is q touch of humor in the fact
hat mosquito and musket are from the
anne root, the Latin word for fly. One
zones through the Spanish mosca, a fly; the
,ther probably through the italian. The
popular notion that the Mosquito coast Of
CENTRAL America gave name to the Jersey
,est is probably an inversion of the true
equence.
Attention is called to the fact that the
present is the first time for half a century
hat New England has not had a representa-
i've in the Cabinet, excepting only about
I've weeks under President Polk, and dur
ng the summer of 1874 between the resigna-
ion of Secretary Richardson and the ap-
,ofntment of Postmaster General Jewell by
ieneral Grant.
There is curious group of rocks near
filan which form the Oft described "Na-
ure's City" An irregular mass of rocks
ONE 200 feet high resembles citadel Be-
ow are five depressions, of which one is a
'igantic amphiuheater, and the second a
eoropolic, a third q parade and the fourth
regularly laid out city quarters, with pub
Ic monuments, gates, streets, etc.
FLIGHTS INTO FUCNYDOM