Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1888 — SOME ODD THINGS. [ARTICLE]

SOME ODD THINGS.

What is Baid to Be the largest railroad station in the world has recently been opened at Frankfort-on-the-Main. It covers an area of about 100,000 square feet and cost 113,000,000 marks. ~ * The latesttthing in barometers has three little landscapes representing a stormy, a fair and a variable sky. The rise or fall of the mercury causes a thin mica plate to cover or reveal these pictures in accordance with the indications. The collection of postage stamps recently exhibited in Boston is said to' o be worth neaidy SIOO,OOO. There were single stamps valued at SIOO each and several groups of six placed at SI,OOO. That the prices were not at all fancy was shown by the offer of SBO from a dealer for a blue envelope on which was a small stamp marked Bremen. The old tragedy of the hull and the locomotive was enacted near St. John, N. 8., the other day. A huge bull strayed on the Grand Southern railway just as a locomotive drawing a picnic appeared in sighs. Hedowered his head, pawed the ties, switched his tail, bellowed, and paid no attention to the frantic toots of from the engine. When the locomotive drew near the bull charged furiously. There was a bellow, a cloud of dust and steam, and then silence. When the smoke, dust, and steam rolled away the locomotive and the bull lay in the ditch the horns of the latter locked in the bars of the cowcatcher. The noble animal’s neck was broken. No one on the train was hurt.

A gentleman who attended the Charlestown, Ind., fair related recently how a great many persons secured whisky while at the place. The town does not afford a saloon, and an enterprising individual hit upon a novel plan for satisfying the thirsty. A load of watermelons was purchased, and upon the underside of each melon a plug was taken out of sufficient size to hold a half-pint flask, which was filled with a vile mixture claimed to be old Bourbon. The man located his wagon outside of the grounds and whenever a smile was wanted the customer paid 35 cents for a watermelon; which, on being opened, was found to contain the much desired bottle. Several persons who were not into the secret purchased melons were greatly astonished to find the flasks. Some of them are still wondering how they got there.