St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-10

when its corner stone was laid, had cost
up to 1878, including all its expensive
furniture, its almost annual alterations
and repairs, less than Sl3,000,000.
The most expensive municipal hall in
the world and the largest in the United
States is the city building of Philadel-
phia, upon whose yet unfinished tower
the largest clock in the world is to
be displayed. Nobody knows exactly
how much money it has cost, but it can
not be far In the aggregate from the
amount invested i'll the state house of
New York.
The most expensive legislature in the
world is that of France, which costs an
nually s3.600.000. The Italian parlia-
ment costs $50, coo year.
The next to the highest price ever
paid for horse in the world was the
S1o5, 200 for which the trotter AXtell was
sold in Indiana at the age Of three
years. 1t is true the local tax assessor
only valued the horse for the purposes
of his returns at $500, and AxteiPS own
er's neighbors grew indignant thereat.
Wbereupon the owners observed that
If their lorSetiesh was assessed at any
thing like the figures which they paid
for him they would move him out of the
state. and the Indignation quieted down.
AT that time it was the highest. But
on Jan. II, 1892. Arion was sold by Sen
ator Leland Stanford to l. Malcolm
Forbes. of Boston, tor S150,000. That
beats all prices.
The next highest price ever paid for
horse in the United States was the
100000 given by Charles Reed, of the
Fairview farm, Tennessee, for the great
stallion St. Blafse. at a sale in New
York city in October, 1891.
A Buff Leghoru pullet showed at the
chicken fair in Madison square garden
in January, 1892, was valued at 500.
The costliest paintings of modern
times have proven to be Meissonier'S
''lSl4' and Millet's 1.-The Angelus." M.
Chauchard gave $4,000 francs (S170,O0O
for 1.-The Apgelus." Henry Hilton in
1887 paid $4,000 for Meissonier's
"Friedand, 1907" and presented it to
the Metropolitan Museum of Art. That
was the highest price ever paid for
. modern picture until '.The Angelus"
was sold at the Secretan sale for 500, QUO
francs. OF course, after sales of the
two great pictures, mentioned broke
even this record.
The Shah of Persia has tobacco
pipe worth 100000.
The most'costly book in the world is
declared to be a Hebrew Bible in the
Pope Jules III. refused to sell this He
brew Bible for its weight in gold, which
would amount to 100000. This is the
greatest price ever offered for book.
In the year 1885 tulip bulb was sold
in Holland for $1,000. 1t weighed 200
grains.
The costliest meal ever served as far
as history shows was supper given by
AeliuS VeraS, one of the most lavish OF
all the Romans of the latter day, to
dozen guests. The cost of this supper
was 5000 SeStertia, which would amount
to 800, or nearly quarter of mill
ion dollars. A celebrated feast given
by Vitellius, Roman emperor of those
degenerate days, to his brother Lucius,
cost little over 100000. Sueto-
MUS says that this banquet con-
sisted Of 1000 different dishes of
fish and 1000 different fowls. besides
other courses in proportion. Vitellius
fortunately for his eXchequer. did no
reign very long, else that would have
been exhausted, as well as the game
preserves of Llbya, Spain and Britain
and the waters of the Carpathian and
Adriatic seas. One dish alone at the
table Of the Emperor HeliogabuIus cost
5000 900.
The largest sum ever asked or offered
for single diamond is e43O, 600, which
the MAN of Hyderabad agreed to give
to Mr.. Jacobs, the famous jeweler of
Simla, for the "Imperial'' diamond
which is even now in litigation in India.
This is considered the finest stone in the
world.
The coStliest toy on record was
broken-noSed wooden horse which be-
lOnged to Napoleon Bonaparte, and was
sold year or two ago for 1000 francs.
The costiiest cigars ever brought to
this country were a box of the brand
specially made for the Prince of Wales
in Havana. the manufacturer price for
which was S1.S7 a piece. Quite a popu-
lar cigar among some of the rich men
OF New York is a special Henry Clay,
which comes in handsome box
wrapped in gold foil and retails a SI.4O
piece.
EThe largest price ever paid for cane
was bid at an auction at London of the
walking sticks which were once the
property of George LII. and George ".
1t was eighteen pounds, or ninety dol
lars, and was given Tor walking stick
Of ebony with 4 gold top engraved .G.
r." and with a crown, and also contain
ing the hair of the Processes Augusta
Elizabeth, Mary Sophia and Amelia,
and inscribed 1.-The gift of the Princess
Mary. 1904"
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 over
S2,500,000. The largest mat ever made
is owned by the Carlton Club of Lon
don, and is work of art.