Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS.
rhe unrId naa 2 00n lirhthonses.

The Middle Ages were famous Ior tnef
soups.
Greek infantry men are trained in
stone throwing.
The coast survey of the United States
was begun in 1871.
The first newspaper printed in England
was issued in 15SS.
"A French version ofTa-ra-ra-boom-de-ay
is the sensation in Paris just now.
-Woodchucks numbering 1928 have.
been killed in Cayuga county. New York,
this year.
The wine list of sardanapalus has been
found on a terra Gotta tablet. an contains
ten kinds.
There are now 1000 loan associations
in this country, with Il membership of 2OOO,.
0JO persons.
1t is reported that 1900, O00, 900 cedar
shingles were shipped East from Washing
ton this year.
Weaving cigar ribbons into mats is the
latest fad of the girl whose best masculine
friend smokes.
Two years ago there. was only one.
cooperative dairy society in Ireland, while
now there are 3D.
Jerusalem is still supplied with water
from Solomon's Pools through an aqueduct
built by the Crusaders
Before a Chinanan can leave Australia
he is compelled to register his departure
and leave his photograph
"A Mexican street car can be hired for
personal use for So so a day. with right to-
stop at any one place Tor TWO hours.
Hair dye is considered so detrimental
to long lie that Paris Insurance. company
refuses to insure the lives of persons who
use it.
The latest fad in autograph books is one
of cooking recipes. Each formula written
in the book has the signature of the con-
tributing friend under it.
The present French Republic has spent
100000 600 in improving the waterways OF
the country, which reach q total length OK
7,4j6 miles. All these canals are free-
1t is assertsd that waterproof sheets Of
paper, gummed and hydraulically COM
pressed, make n material a. durable as
leather for the sOles of shoes. It also makes
Serviceable hOrSeShOeS.
In Japan, ii a woman is not married by
a certain age, the authorities pick out a man
whom they compel her to marry. This may
keep down the old maids but it increases.
the number OF male suicides.
1t is claimed for the new magnesium
flash light for Lighthouses. introduced exper-
mentally in Germany, that its ability to
penetrate almost Opaque atmosphere ex-
ceeds Tnat OF any other known light.
A bell that could be heard at a distance
of A, QUO feet in water could be heard at a
distance of only 6j6 feet in the open air.
Dogs barking on the earth can be heard by
Dalloonists sailing at height OF four miles
"A Paris laundryman has discarded all
soaps, sodas and boiling powders. He mere
ly uses plenty of water and boiled potatoes,
and can cleanse without employing any
alkali, the worst soiled linens, cottOns or
wOolens.
No wonder the fish crop is never
"short." The founder lays 100000 eggs an
nually; several others from 100000 TO 3.00O,-
co., while the turbOJ is credited with depos-
iting rom ll.0OO,O10 to l2,OOO,OOO during each
breeding season.
Media, this State, is said to be the
home OF some of the largest families in this
country. That OF Samuel Field, who has 3
children; Joseph Chandler, VINO is the fatneF
o. % children: James Barrett, who has %,
and William Wright, who has ID children.
"A funeral on bicycles recently took
place in an English town. The dead map,
vino had been the captain of bicycle club,
requested, before his death, that his body
should be conveyed to the cemetery on bicy--
cles and, to make the event complete, tnea
members of the club went on bicycles.
There are many strange customs OBJ.
served by the BraZilians. Funerals are
notable in that for young unma rried lady,
coffin, hearse, and the livery of the driver
must be bri ht scarlet the four white horses
drawing the EeaTse must be covered with
scarlet nets, and scarlet plumes must deck
their heads.
"A form of sport very popular in Nor
mandy is that of flying kites, which are.
some of them, of very large dimensions
There has been competition recently at
Rouen, on the heights OF Saint Cath crime.
TIE victorious kite rose 20 the height OF
2 go metres, Ind would have scared higher
but iOr lack OF string.
At a recent marriage in England the
bridegroom was feet inches tall and the
bride only feet ~ inches. The witnesses
were as notable as the bride and groom.
One had no arms and signed the register
With Il pen held in his teeth, another was q
man 7 feet inches all, and another IL
woman who weighed $50 pounds.
AS soon as the new military laws shall
have come into full effect the German army
will comprise 5OOO,OOO men; the French, ,35G,-
COO. the Russian, f. 600 900; the Italian, 1885,
900; the Austrian l 100000: the SWISS, 4S9, ,OOO
ami the Belgian 25S 900. Altogether Europe
will be able to dispose nf not less than g.
eco 900 soldiers, or l5OOO,OO0 more than she
had i'll 1863
line crew or the wv anQeflng Jew,
which recently arrived in Boston, was COM
posed OF two Cinnamon, negro, French
man, German, Irishman, Swede, Norwegian
and an American. Before the vessel had
been in port 4S hours the entire crew were
in JAIL being held as witnesses against the
captain and two males, who are charged
with having treated them in cruel man.
ner.
The tippet is the latest popular revival
in dress. 1t now differs, o. course. some
what in shape from that worn by our grand
mothers; it has not yet arrived at that nice
polnt below the waist Mt the back and front,
being aG the moment perhaps more of a
Delerine, but it is TO be mes with i'll dozen
and one different iOrms, and there is not the
least uoubt that the winter will ind it well
in .avOr.
A touching old rural custom still pre-
walls i'll the western parts OF France during
the harvest season. On the edge o field
bordering the highway sheaf OF grain is
left standing, to which all the peasants OF
the village contribute, and which Is called
''the strangers sheaf" as it is the property
OF the first tramp or other homeless way
farer VINO may care to carry it away and
profit by it's price.