Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-11-22
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

BENJAMIN Franklin left fund of
$4,000, which he directed should be
put to interest and left to accumulate
for century. When that time had
come round, according to the directions
of the splendid old philanthropist, half
of the money thus accumulated should
go to some public purpose for the bene-
fit of the people of Boston. The other
half was to be put aside, as in the first
case, for another century, at the end OF
which time the State and city should
be equal partners in the fund. Now
arising from that $4,000 there is an
aggregate of something near $4,000
half of which the trustees will use to
build and equip an industrial training
school, one of the best uses to which
the money can be put, and one which
Franklin would surely approve, if he
were living now. The board of alder
men and three ministers Of the oldest
religious societies in Boston are the
trustees.
Those who study the "signs" say
another long, cold winter, filled with
storms, is ahead of us. The goose
bone is nearly all white, and snow $50
they say will lie on the ground from
early in December until April, or per-
haps later. Corn husks are more than
usually thick. The maize has put on
an extra overcoat to protect itselffrom
the zero temperature to come. Wood
chucks and chipmunks are already fat
enough to kill, and their fur is dense,
and fine and soft. They, too, predict
cold weather, and will seek their winter
quarters early. The birds are migra-
ting south earlier than usual. The
squirrels are harvesting and putting
away a larger crop ofnuts than usual.
The weather prophets say that all the
signs point to an unusually severe
winter.
While crazed from effects of pro-
tracted spree, Peter Hopper, a barber
animate Of the City Hospital in Louis
vile, Ky, Thursday night grasped his
tongue in both hands and tore it par
TALLY from his mouth. An attendant
discovered the suferingman who was
still tugging away at his tongue. All
efforts Of the hospital surgeon to save
the mans life were unavailing, and he
died shortly after in intense agony.
John Graham, widower Of East
Rochester, O., was engaged to marry
Florence Wright, maiden lady Of
40 summers. The wedding day was
set, but Miss Wright declared she had
seen the ghost of her afianced's first
wife, who told her not to marry him,
and Miss Wright sent her lover a letter
informing him that she no longer
wished to keep the engagement. Miss
Wright has since gone West.
Within the past month or two post
masters have found it necessary to re-
turn to Washington a number Of sheets
of postage stamps which were not
properly gummed, and some on which
the gum or mucilage was Of such infer
iorquality that they would not stick.
The stamps are now manufactured by
the Government direct and not by con-
tract as formerly.
The employees Of large terra Gotta
establishment in Perth Amboy, who
were receiving $500 a day, struck for
higher wages, on a job that would have
lasted all the winter The proprietor
was so disguised with their foolishness
that he closed his works and took his
casts to France, where the work will
be done.
A sharp advertiser, who offered for
small sum to supply women with
cheap substitutes for hat pins, has
been arrested in Boston for misusing
the mail. He sent two rubber bands
to each inquirer with the advice,
"Sew one end to the hat and fasten the
other behind one of your ears.
Three masked robbers attempted to
rob the bank at Sylvan Grove, Kan,
last Monday and one of their number
was shot by the cashier of the bank,
John Calene. The dying robber was
perforated with bullets by his own com
rades to save themselves from exposure.
The Chinese claim that the japanese
did not fight fair at the battle of Ping
Yang, as they attacked them on the
fifteenth day of the eighth month,
which is a great Joss day in China
consequently nearly all the Chinese
soldiers were drunk.
Ora Clark, aged y, was almost in