Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-06
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS.

-Hermetically sealed wine has ks hav,
been foundin Ponpeii
When tea was first brought TO England
the leaves were eaten.
"A signal passes through the Atlantic
cable in 3I1O0 of second.
"A full-grown elephant is capable Of
carrying load OF two tons.
"A colony of about !, 900 Japanese is to
be established in sinaloa. Mexico.
Tragedy was first represented on Q
wagon by Thespis, at Athens, B. C. 5S6.
| In the reign of Louis XVI the hats Of
| the ladies were two feet high and four wide.
| "A number of the finest CO aching teams
in and about Paris belong to American anna
| teurs.
| 1t takes 100 gallons of oil a year to
keep large-sized locomotive in running
| order.
In the early days of Henry VII gen.
tleman's hats bore plumes sometimes nalf .
yard long.
The great Cedros Hacienda in Zacats-
cas-, Mexico, comprising 100000 acres, has
been sold for s., 900. 900.
The State of Washington has lie, ,oo5
| horses mules and asses, 224, 73s cattle, 24s,.
30 sheep and 49, 16S hogs.
The cemeteries of London cover An
aggregate area of 1000 acres, the value Of
which is not less than slo,ooO.OOo.
st Augustine, Fla, New York and
Salem, Mass, are the only three cities IN the
United States that are older than Boston.
"A New England college numbers among
its students scholars from Kioto, Japan.
Thessalonica, European Turkey and Ice.
land.
The nearest approach yet to perpetual
motion is the discovery of a European
clockmaker who has invented a clock that
will run for ten years without winding.
1t is said that the most precious collec-
ton Of German wines In the world is that
stored In the cellars of the Grand Duke of
Luxemburg. Some of the vintages date back
to 1706
Jerusalem has been enjoying boom
since the completion of the railroad that
connects 1t with Jaffa. Over 300 houses
notels, stores and residences have been
erected.
The Chinese value an old pair of boots
which have been worn by an upright mag
1strate, and the custom of wishing friend a
happy foot" Is still observed all through
Europe.
In India and South America there IN
said to be a small tree, known as the "sor-
rowful tree" which bears sweet scented
flowers that "bloom only in the night time
duu lAlA OIL dG Ino Dreak OF Qay.
Charles D. Young aged, IL years, Of
Denver, Col, has built what his friends
claim to be the smallest coaLburning loco
motive in the world. The engine is said to
De hVe feet long, and weighs 235 pounds.
The cholera has not left everybody in
Hamburg stranded. A merchant Of that
city has presented a waitress in Munich
cafe with a check for $1,000 marks to show
his appreciation of her attentive ser vice.
If you put hslfpenny in your money
box, and add thereto by doubling the
amount every week after the first for 50
weeks, at the end of the year the money box
Cf large enoughD will contain f9,3s2, ,499 223,-
6Ss los. 711d.
"A departure in the way of driving
compound punch and shears for iron has re-
Gently been made in a Delaware mill. The
machine is driven by electricity, and owing
to its light weight can be moved to any de-
sired position.
France possesses capital in which it is
said more murders take place in six months
than occur in London, Berlin and Vienna to-
gether in twice that length of time, but alto
gether more murders take place in the
United States than any other country.
"A peculiar incident is reported from
Brienz, in the Bernese Oberland. One of the
names drawn from the jury box was that of
Uhlrich Amacher. Amacher was assassin
dLou III ldSI anu ID0 jury WHICH was
being made up was to try his m urderer.
We learn now that the famous jubiles
shot fired from a twentY-two-ton gun in -
Queen Vfctoria's jubilee year, to ascertain
how far a shot could be carried remained in
the air 69h seconds, and the highest point
reached in its fight of Il miles was HOOo
feet.
Photographs Of growing plants show
some marvellous results, especially among
the climbers. The young stems are said to
move in a succession of irregular circular or
ellipitical curves, which vary in every direc-
ton. These movements are due to tho
irregular growth in various parts OF the
stem.
The subjects of great Britain are the
most tremendous patent medicine swallow
ers on the globe. During the past year the
revenue derived from the three-halfpenny
stamp upon patent medicines amounted to
ST. 200 OOO Licenses for the sale of patent
medicines have increased ], $40 in England
and Ill in Scotland.
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 q 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 an
gels are on watch.
Handkerchief, which used to be
1rOWneu upon ny Guo
thorities, have now been sanctioned, and Q
military handkerchief has been patented ON
which shall be printed all sorts of informa-
tion concerning the use and construction OF
the rifle, the flag alphabet, bugle calls and
general rules Tor the soldier.
"A convict in Hungarian prison has
device for shaving whereby It
requires but % seconds for the operation.
He has been permitted to try the thing on
the $50 inmates of the prison, and the exper-
lment is said to have been conducted to the
satisfaction OF the governor OF the
prison.
Between 5000 and 1000 itres of wine
are made every year from grapes grown in
the gardens of the Vatican. This wine Is
used almost exclusively in administering
the sacraments at mass. The Pope always
assists at the harvesting, and this is one OF
annual occupations to which he looks for
ward with great pleasure.
The new tax upon bicycles in France
will be S. As there are about 225,0O0 cyclists
the revenue will be about s45O,OO0. Cycles
used for business. such as those employed
by street messengers, pay half duty. Those
in the army and the Government service
will be exempt. The cyclists, as a rule. do
not object to the tax. for the reason thaf
they expect some special legislation In re-
turn.
ORIGINAL AND JOCOSE.