People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1895 — NOTES AND NOVELTIES [ARTICLE]

NOTES AND NOVELTIES

The records of Massachusetts are written in nn official ink specially made for the purpose. In Ungland the taxon farming lan Is exceeds ten per cent of the value of cropsiin Egypt It Is fourteen per cent. Explorations of Northern Siberia that that region Waa inhabited by tigers until within a paratively recent date. Haverford college has a SIO,OOO gift, the income of which is to be used in securing a course of lectures each year on biblical subjects. A Mexican professor of physics proposes to foretell earthquakes by connecting telephones to the pip-s of deep artesian wells an 1 to met il plates sunk in deep mountain crevices. The Greek republics raised monez for war by “inviting’’ wealthy citizens to contribute. They always contributed liberally, as on one occasion the head of a rich man in Athens was cut off for a refusal. T-- Switzerland Yi milkmaid or man ■ better wages if gifted, with a good voice, because it has been discovered that a cow will yield on ;• fifth more milk if soothed during t ie process of milking by a pleasait melody. Several curious golden objects have been unearthed from Etruscan tombs, the use of which for a long time was conjectural. It was at length ascertained that they must have been the heads of walking canes, probably belonging to the dudes of 2,500 years ago. The individual communion cup innovation is gaining ground, but encountering some obstacles. Plymouth Congregational church at Milwaukee has adopted it, but Bishop Nicholson of the Milwaukee Episcopal diocese declares that any clergyman within his jurisdiction who uses anything but the chalice will be disciplined. The Massachusetts bo ird of agriculture issues an annual catalogue of abandoned farms for sale in the state. I'liis year’s catalogue shows that of the 400 farms listed in the catalogue •if last year 150 have b.-en sold. Mo.t of them have been purc iaved for tanning purposes. The average price was $1.50 an acre, and they averaged 100 acres in extent.