St. Landry democrat., 1894-02-17
SOMEWHAT STRANGE.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS OF
EVERYDAY LIFE.
Queer Facts and Thrilling Adven-
lures which Show That Truth is
Stranger Than Fiction.

Queer Facts and Thrilling Adven-
lures which Show That Truth is
| Stranger Than Fiction.
A Missouri farmer recently dehorned
steer by process that must have been
cruel and unusual, for afterward the
steer was able to breathe through the
holes left in its head by the operation.
A MAINE paper tells the story of a
colt which strayed from pasture on the
upper St. John River, n. B. Last sum,
mer two moose hunters came upon the
colt running wild with two bull moose
It was fat, but wild, and they built q
raft to take it to its owner.
WHEN Catherine Of Russia was on the
throne an ingenious peasant presented
her with marvellous watch, which is at
present being exhibited in st. Peters
burg. In size and shape it somewhat
resembles a chickens egg. When wound
up to the proper pitch it plays religious
| chants, accompanied with scenic effects.
MICHAEL CARRIER was engaged to
Ellen Vervene in Pennsylvania. Then
he went to jail in Ohio for four years.
A parole was offered him, but he
wouldn't take it because he would have
to stay in the State Recently his term
was finished, and there was a blushing
bride within reasonable number of
hours thereafter.
The citizens of Dion, France, have
just voted tax for putting railing
around tree which stands within the
city limits. The tree bears label which
informs the sightseer that it is the Oldest
poplar in France. The town Council
has record tracing the history of the
tree since the year 722 A. ID. 1t is 1872
feet in height and 45 feet in circumfer
ence at the base.
IMAGINE household numbering 5000
persons in which no woman is allowed
any share in the management Such is
the case at Dolma Bagtche palace of the
Sultan. Perhaps the women would OBJ
ject 10 his Majesty's manners, for he
never uses a plate and is seldom open to
the attractions of knife and fork. His
dinner services are Of gold and silver,
however.
A PHILADELPHIAN reports that family
living near the Falls Of Schuylkil. were
aroused the other night by a tremendous
clatter on the roof The head of the
house rushed to window, and was
about to give an alarm to the police in
apprehension of burglars when two i'm
mense cranes, with loud tlappings of
wings. passed over his head and disap-
peared down the river The head of
the house quickly disappeared, too.
The Princess of Wales has remarka-
bic collection of hats and bonnets, con-
sistng of all those she has worn during
the thirty years she has led London
fashion. Each hat or bonnet, carefully
put away, bears the date of the season
OF its use, and history of the whims,
vagaries and changes of feminine fash
ion, which are never so capricious as in
matters Of headgear, might we'll be
written upon this interesting collection.
NATHANIEL SrRAUGHAN, who lives
in Crawford county, Ind, will lie
1902 years old next April, and has child
living who is 50 years of age. This
old mans mind is unimpaired, and he
can remember things that happened
nearly century ago. He came from
Kentucky in 1920, and has lived con-
tinuously in Crawford county ever since.
He says that he was never under the in
tluence of liquor in his life, and never
uttered an oath.
In China there is a profession for
ladies, strange because openly and hand
somely remunerated in the current coin
of the realm. 1t is carried on by
elderly ladies, who 60 from house to
house of rich people, announcing their
coming by beating drum and offering
their services to amuse the lady of the
house. This offer accepted, they sit
down and tell her the latest scandal and
the newest stories and ondts, and are
rewarded at the rate of half a crown an
hour, besides handsome present should
some portion of the gossip prove particu
larly acceptable.
A MILLIONAIRE living in London, who
is somewhat at loss to know what to
do with his money, has hit upon the
idea of employing detectives to keep a
watch on the doings of perfectly harm
less people of note in various walks of
life. 1t interests him, apparently, to
know that at $50 p. m. Mr.. Gladstone
was seen taking out his pocketbook in
Downing street, or that the author of
"The Light of Asia ordered dinner for
six at Willis's Rooms five hours later.
Mr.. Balfour and Mr.. Tree have been
subjected to this peculiar form of espion-
age.
AT late meeting of the Geological
Society of London most remarkable in
stance Of evolution in the adaptation of
animal organisms to their environments
was demonstrated Mr. Tegetmeier said
that the English rabbits imported into
Australia were gradually changing their
habits and becoming tree CLIMBERS the
available food for them there being
largely the bark and leaves Of trees
In evidence of his assertions he showed |
the feet Of some Australian rabbits,
which showed that they are slighter
than those of their English progenitors,
and their claws are longer and sharper.
A REMARKABLE case was presented to |
the students of Startling Medical College |
at Columbus, Ohio, by DR.. Loving.
The patient had been subjected to an
operation for pleurisy by Buffalo
physician and tye E 9jAs ia frept ana d fqs
through the chest. The heart
was laid bare, covered only by the peri
cardium, and could be clearly seen pulls
ing in its normal activity. DR.. Loving
stated that there was probably not an
other case like it in the United States.