Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-23
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS.

LONDON, IN monetary Ndluc,lS WOIth "a
times as muchas Paris.
The only gold fish-hooks ever found
| were OF the virgin metal. and were taken
from grave IN New Grenada-
The average annual rainfall in the
United States is 29.6 inches, the variations
ranging frorn to Gbout 125 inches
In the fourth century, A. D., the EN-
peror Julian used bridges OF boats to cross
the Tigris, Euphrates, and other rivers
1t is proposed to employ aluminium for
| the manufacture of the metal parts of photo
graphic cameras and plate holders, owing to
Its extreme iightness.
"A recent English invention is a screw
propeller, in which the blades can be ad.
Justed for maneuvering, ,,or can be feathered
Tor running under sail.
On a recent date there were in New
York harbor 552 ocean-going vessels of all
kinds. OF which 116 were steamers, 81 ships,
lOl barks, % brigs and 225 schooners.
The Roman saying that Cardinals die
by threes." has been notably verified by the
deaths of Cardinals Manning. Simeonf and
Agostinf within a few hours of each other.
"A partisan electrician has succeeded IN
forcing violets by the aid of his battery,
and recently sent a bunch of these fiedg-
lings only four hours old, to ex-Empress Eu-
genie.
The Newfoundland census shows an in
crease of only LOO, or ~ per cent over the
1884 population of 197,7OO. the. previous de-
cade Qs74S4) having shown an increase of
OF 22A per cent
If the earth's atmosphere extended to a
height of 700 miles, the SUMS heat and rays
could never penetrate it, and we would
freeze to death while wrapped in darkness
olacker than the biackest midnight.
forgery by placing one thumb on the paper
he wished to sign, and tracing its outline;
then he placed the other thumb across, out
lined that, and his signature was complete
-SolomOn's Temple, as described in the
Scriptures, would not be regarded as a very
imposing structure in this day and age of the
world. Its length was 107 feet; breadth, 36
feet, and it was 81 feet in height, with u por-
tico OF veranda So feet long and Is feet wide.
The old question as to whether the
upper part of the carriage wheel in motion
moves faster than the lower part seems to
have been definitely settled by instantane-
Gus photography, which shows the top
spokes indistinct, the bottom clear cut and
we'll defined.
There is in the district of Dude species
of so-called walking fish, with snake-like
heads, which are often seen floating on the
water as If asleep. The people shoot them
they are killed, so that they have to be dived
for afterward.
Travellers in Central Africa during the
hot season often follow the dry beds of rivers
and creeks for miles to obviate the necessity
of cutting their way through the heavy
jungles which everywhere abound. Africa
Is well known to be the native land of many
extraordinary things, animate as well as in
animate.
The early fruit-growers of Oregon had
wonderful market for a few years at San
Francisco. In 1854 500 bushels ofapples were
shipped from Oregon to California and re-
turned a net profit of from 81 so to So per
pound. In 1855 the shipments rose to 5000
bushels, which sold at from $50 to $50 per
bushel. In 1856 the shipments rose to 200
boxes.
THE Chinese have many very curious
ways OF catching fish," says a piscicultural
sharp. "In winter they dive for them. A
certain species demanded in the market
seeks shelter during the cold season under
rocks at considerable depth. They cannot
be got with hook and line, and so the fisher
men go down into the water after them,
plunging from a boat"
The "Angelus" is prayer to the vir-
gin, introduced by Pope Urban II. in the
year 1895 as an intercession for the absent
crusaders. 1t begins with the words can
gelus Domini Nunfavit Mariar," or, "The
Angel of the Lord Announced Unto Mary"
Then follows the salutation of Gabriel.
"Ave Marie," etc. The whole prayer con-
tains three verses, each verse ending with
Ave Marie.
The explorer Coudreau, for instance,
found a while ago while wandering among
the Tumuc- Humac Mountains, in the west
ern part Of Guiana, that it was not necessary
for his men to descend to creek when
they wanted a drink OF water. A vine
known as the water vine is found all through
that region. 1t yields an abundant supply
of excellent drinking fluid whenever it is
called upon.
The Chinese have long been aware that
the impression of no two thumbs, even OF
the same individual, are alike; and impress
sions of every criminals thumb are taken
by the police and numbered for reference.
He may disguise himself as he will, make up
as he can, but a comparison of the impress
sion OF his thumbs with that in the police
archives settles the identity of an old Of
fender beyond doubt.
-Herodotus mentions that the Egyptians
allowed their boards to grow when they
were in mourning. So particular were they
as to shaving at all other times that to have
neglected it was to make ones self the butt
of coarse and ridiculous jokes. Even in this
day and age, when the Egyptian wants to
convey the idea of a man of low condition
and slovenlY habits. they always picture to
you a man with full beard.
Gold and precious stones as medical
remedies were once largely used by the
rich. Queen of France, consulting her
physician in 1920. secured the following pre-
scription, which was filed by the court
druggist: "Nine-eightieths of an ounce OF
emeralds, 1ve-eightieths ofan ounce of Alex
andria rubies, and hye-eightieths ofan ounce
of iacinths mixed with ducat of gold" The
The gold and precious stones were reduced
to the form of powder and prepared with
honey.
I'm 1867 Her Majesty's ship Falcon re-
ported u shoal about 80 miles west OF Ma
muka, one of the islands in the Tonga or
Friendly group. This was considered rather
odd, deep-sea sounding expedition having
but nine months previous reported COO feet
of water in that vicinity. Ten years later, in
lS77 Fl. u. 8. Sappho reported seeing smoke
arising from what had been called the "Fal-
con Shoals" and in 1885 passing ships log
book noted that volcanic island had arisen
on the site of the shoals"
JINGLES AND JOkELErs.