The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-07-19
MISCELLANEOUS.

Observation-Disclosures i'll steal
kiss?' She-"I hope you will never
be guilty of keeping stolen goods"
-Constance-"By the way, grandpa,
what seeds are the most valuable for a
florist to possess?" Grandpa with a
chuckle) -"Pro-seeds"
Leather working was practiced in
Egypt at least 4, 900 years ago. There
are manuscripts of that age written on
an excellent article of leather.
During the famine in Lorraine in
1858 the benevolent societies of Paris
collected and distributed over 2, 900, 600
livres among the sufferers.
The island of Ascension is entirely
under the control of the British Admi.
rally, is governed from the naval office
and used as coaling station.
The most noted aims houses in En-
gland are those of Dame Owen. They
were built up by her in 1918 in graft
tude for her escape from an arrow shot.
The Needle-makers' society was
formed at Nuremberg in 1870. The eyes
of the needles were made by looping
the wire at the head of the needle.
When you mean to save, begin
with your mouth; there are many
thieves down the red lane. The ale
jug is a great waster. In all things
keep within the compass. -Ram's Horn.
-'I told that new story of mine to
Dalton last night?" Brumble-"What
did he say?" Nothing. Now, what
do you thinl1?" Bramble-''That Dali
ton knows more than I thought he
id."-Inter Ocean.
Observation-Disclosures become of old
Moses who used to spend the summer
here?" Smillet-"O, he left last year
in high dudgeon because the proprie-
tor of the hotel allowed fakirs with
bulrushes for sale around. -Harper's
Bazaar.
"A new railroad has recently been
completed between Loudun and st.
Croix, in French Switzerland, and was
dedicated with religious services con-
Quoted by laymen. The costs of the
road, about 1000, 900 francs, were paid
by wealthy gentleman, M. Barley
Boisin, and one of the conditions for
building the road was that no train
should ever be run on it Sunday.
"A well-known political economist
was accosted in the street by a poor
woman begging aims for her seven
children, under ten, who were starving
at home "Seven children, did you
say, seven children?" yes" sobbed
the woman, "and my husband is in the
'ospital" 'Ah!' said the philosopher,
solemnly, ''seven children are Injury
which have never been able to afford.
Good morning"
The new big 13-inch gun, the larg.
est ever made in the United States, was
fred twice March 81, at the Indian
Head (Md.) proving grounds in the
presence ola company of distinguished
officials and proved to be a success.
The rife itself weighs IS tons, the brass
saddle upon which it rests 10 tons, and
the carriage upon which it is mounted
% TONS making a mass of 100 tons.
With 500 pounds of powder it throws
projectile Weighing 1,15O pounds.
"A woman in Ohio utilized the high
temperature of her phthisical husband
for eight weeks before his death, by
using him as an incubator for hens
eggs. She took a number of eggs, and,
wrapping each one in cotton batting,
laid them alongside the body of her
husband in the bed, he being unable to
resist or move limb. Fifty was the
number of eggs first used as an expert
ment, and after three weeks she was
rewarded with forty-six lively young
chickens.
Probably the patriarch's staff was
the first adaptation of the walking
stick, and from its first inception to
the present day it has undergone al
most endless changes. In 1901 foot
men attending gentlemen were forbid
den to carry swords these being re-
placed by porter's staff. Thirty years
later gentlemen were forbidden to
carry swords, but allowed to carry
large oak sticks. Before many years
vanished and polished woods With
ornamental heads came into use, and
in one form or another have held their
own.
Perhaps the much discussed Rus
sian thistle will go the way of the
Sodom apple. This latter was twenty
five or thirty years ago and earlier the
terror of farmers 100 miles south of
New York, but it cuts no great figure
now. 1t is low, handsome plant
with sharp thorns and small round
fruit that when ripe looks like tiny
orange. English folks sometimes
brought it over as an ornamental plant,
but were speedily induced to destroy
it when they came into a region where
it was known. There was strong be-
lief that the farm upon which the
Sodom apple appeared was well-nigh
doomed.
Mrs. William Todd Helmuth, the
new president of the Sorosis, tells a
good story on herself with great en-
joyment, being so proud of her hus-
bands Dr. William Todd Helmuths)
decidedly handsome person, and her.
self by no means an unattractive wo-
man. She has in her employ negro
butler, who is an old servitor and who
appreciates DIR. Helmuths good looks
in manner second only to Mrs Hell