Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1894 — SOMEWHAT STRANGE. [ARTICLE]

SOMEWHAT STRANGE.

ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS OF EVERYDAY LIFE. Queer Feet* and Thrilling Adventures Whioh Show that Truth la Stranger Than Fiotlon. A rather perplexing trick of photography recently worked out by F. A. Gilmore, of Auburn, ft. 1., is explained as follows: The trick is that of taking what appears to be the head of a living person on a platter forming part of the furnishing of a dining-room table. Although the way in which the work is done is very simple, pictures made in this manner have been extremely puzzling and are of especial interest to amateur photographers, as they suggest other methods of producing novel effects. In this case a centre leaf wa9 removed from an ordinary extension table, the lady to be photographed then being seated so that her head appeared just above the table top, on which the cloth and other articles were arranged as nearly as possible in the usual way, as shown in one of the views, the table being built up in. place of the removed leaf sufficiently to support the cloth and other articles. To make the illusion complete, a pan cut away so that it may be conveniently placed around the neck, has the appearance In the photograph of being an ordinary platter bearing the head of a living person. “I never took any stock in dreams,” said J. L. Santer, of Lexington, Mo., ‘‘but from recent experiences I am inclined to believe that there is something In the mysteries of sleep after all. About two months ago my wife informed me that she had dreamed of a marriage and that it was a sure sign of death. Two days afterwards my grandfather was killed by a train at Omaha. Following this up, my better half warned me to look after my financial interests, as Bhe dreamed I was being treated for hysterics. To dream that I was being treated for anything, she informed me, was a never-falling sign that I would suffer a financial loss. In less than a woek came the Sedalia Bank calamity, and I am out S2,CKX). Just before I left home I accidentally broke a looking-glass. Now I am told that I will have seven years of trouble. It has not materialized, but I expect to receive a telegram before morning informing me that my boy haß been drowned In the river, my house has been destroyed by fire, or that something else equally as horrible has occurred.” “The hardest thing to train a wild beast to do is to perform with a weak, defenceless animal,” remarked A. L. Hutchins, an old circus and menagerie hand, who has deserted the arena and ring for mercantile pursuits. "I remember once several years ago an effort being made to persuade a very docile lion to lie down with a lamb. The Idea was certainly a good one, but It took several lambs and also several weekß before the Hon, which was willing to jump through a burning hoop, sham death on being shot, etc., could be Eersuaded so allow a lamb to enter is den with impunity. Twice he killed a lamb in the presence of his trainer, and the second time he nearly killed the trainer,who rather recklessly tried to get away the carcass. Finally the Hon would tolerate a lamb In Its den jußt as long as the keeper stood over It with an iron bar. But the effort was so evidently forced, and the performance was so utterly lacking in smoothness and interest, that it was abandoned after two or three attempts.” In company with “Skinny,” aceJebrated pickpocket and housebreaker, Professor F. Starr, of the University of Chicago, has left Chicago for southern California and Old Mexico. Professor Starr is a specialist In anthropology and criminology. He believes that the criminal is as much different from the law-abiding citizen as the savage is from the civilized man. So he has chosen a crook for a companion, in order to have a good opportunity of studying him and trying the effect of a different environment. In southern California the professor will make a study of the Penitent sect that practise cruelty on one of their number every Good Friday. He will be joined there by Professor Harley, and together with their companion will explore the ruins of Sonora, the ancient city of the old Mexicans. There is considerable speculation in Chicago as to the outcome of the professor's experiment with “Skinny.” The police are almost unanimous in the belief that the professor will get the wont of the bargain.

The latest Methuseleh storv comes from England. This time it is not from a man who has a distinct recollection of Napoleon’s grandfather, or an old, old lady who witnessed the execution of Charles the First, or nursed the infant Cromwell; nor yet does this story tell of a devoted couple who arm in arm have wandered down the path of time together since their wedding day, the same day that George Washington's father and mother were married, and are now about to celebrate their platinum wedding. This time the hero is a horse, and a very grandfatherly old horse, too. He belonged to the Mersey and Irwell Navigation Co., but left their employment recently and embarked for the happy hunting grounds at the green old age of sixtytwo. « A queer enough place is the dog farm hidden in a hollow of Crow Hill, between Brooklyn and Flatbußh, N. Y. It is, perhaps, half an acre in extent, and is owned and managed by an elderly Englishman and his wife. This couple occupy the smallest and stuffiest of board shanties, and they live surrounded by a mass of dogs—big dogs, little dogs, good dogs, bad dogs, one-eyed and two-eyed dogs, Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, collies, terriers, spaniels and plain dogs. The surrounding region is of bare hill, with slimy pools in the pouches of land. There are snakes, catbriars and smells. But the dogs seem to enjoy it, and their loud chorus can be heard afar when an infrequent stranger stumbles Into the neighborhood.

A very strange electric phenomenon is reported as having been seen at the village of Flora, Ind., the other day. A heavy black doud was seen approaching from the west, accompanied by a sheet of fire. As it came over the town it settled to the earth,causing awild panic among the frightened villagers. Its descent to the ground was followed by a terrific explosion that shook the earth for miles and shattered windows to fragments all over the town. The leaves were burned from the trees, but no buillngs were set on fire. The broken glass was invariably sucked outward, instead of falling inside the houses. There were no thunder reports. The explosion was Instantly foHowed by a dead calm and a clear sky. A few Sundays ago the family off Mr. W. A. Wykeham Musgrave entering their pew in Thames Park Chapel, Oxfordshire, England, they were sunprised to see a partially built robin'n nest on the book ledge against a prayer book and a hymn book. The family immediately decided to occupy another seat and to leave the littl» red breast unmolested in its strango abode. On the following Bunday the nest was completed and contained five eggs, and on the succeeding Snikday the bird sat on the eggs during the whole of the service. It has now been found, says the London Standard, that the bird hatched four young ones, and the mother flew in and oat, of the chapel during the service lasfc Sunday with food for her young. An application has already beezi made for this year’s award of tha» celebrated prize the “Dunmow FKiok of Bacon.” The prize was instituted in 1244, for “that married couple who will go to the priory and, kneeling on two sharp-pointed Btomns». will swear that they havo not quarrelled nor repented of their marriage within a year and a day after its. celebration.” The awarding of th» flitch has been revived of late years, and is the occasion of a great festival of fun. It will be awarded this yea* some time in August. The visible supply of dogs In Evanston, 111., was somewhat reduced one day recently by an iron post et the North Shore Electric Kailroadi. Through imperfect insulation' thspost became charged with electricity, and six vagrant dogs rubbing against it after the manner of their kind were ushered into the canine hereafter with great suddenness. A curious case of death from hlbod' poisoning is reported from a Berlin (Germany) hospital. The victim wan a young girl, and It was proved, that her death resulted from the- lightblue tunic of her sweetheart, a soldier, touching a scratch, on, her arra_ It appears that there was some poisonous ingredient In the dye of this particular uniform. Miss Kate Johnson, of Hamilton, Mo., got angry because a horrid man said no woman could drive a nail straight. She grabbed a hammer, and proved him a base fabricator by pounding ten nails into one square inch of a block of wood within thirty: seconds. Then she felt better. Elihu Sorivner, of BcattyvHle* Ky., had a line set In the river witii. a crawfish for bait. A catfish swallowed the crawfish, and then. » Bike swallowed the catfish. EUhu says the first victim spread his fins otiH inside the Becond one, so as to hold' him fast. A black French poodle in Gavers,. Columbian County,Ohio, has adopted, a brood of ducklings, and crouche* over them at night, like a hen over chicks. The intelligent animal haa learned to modulate his bark so that, it sounds something like a quack. Two young Kentuckians caught »< wild cat in a trap. They loosened) the trap from its moorings and sets, their three dogs on the wild eat. Two* of the dogs are dead, and the wild cat, with the'trap attached, is ingA whale 100 feet long was washed ashore on the north beach at Yatqoitua Bay, Cal., a few days ago. Thetroterrlfied natives killed the monster with axes and tried out its blubber, with fun and profit to themselves..