Curios and Oddities From Around the World
A roundup of oddities from Quito to England and Uganda. Tales include a lightning hat tradition in Quito, a Hungarian burial dispute, a giant child in Recife, an enormous hen egg, old English laws, and organ grinders in Belgium. An Uganda rail report notes a giraffe crossing with no damage to the train line.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Quito
Ecuador
Kuss
Egregy
Hungary
Recife
Pernambuso
Swindon
Eng
England
Chester
Vervieres
Belgium
Nimba
Uganda
Nairobi
Venani
Selected Science Notes On Chemistry and Inventions
Fine gold shows slight solubility in strong ammonium sulfide solution. Hess finds external friction of vacuum tubes increases conductivity. John Butler Burke, famed for radiographs, is an Irish Trinity College graduate. Radium shines by itself with no known parallel. New smoke burning devices aim to reclaim chimney soot through coke and petroleum vapor filters for fuel.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Herr Hess
John Butler Burke
United Kingdom
Trinity College
Why said She Cry
A Yonkers Statesman excerpt shows a mother asking about tears as a daughter replies she has cried after attending a wedding rather than a funeral. The brief dialogue frames family concern and social expectations in a simple domestic exchange.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Yonkers Statesman
OUST THE DEMON COFFEE SCARE PROMPTS POSTUM TESTIMONY
A California couple reports severe nervousness and headaches from ordinary coffee. After switching to Postum Coffee they say their symptoms disappeared, their neck and head pain eased, and they could again share coffee with their children. Postum claims no drugs and promotes benefits with a Battle Creek company note.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Calif
Postum Co
Battle Creek
Mich
Postum Coffee
The Corn Kernel Analysis by Kernel Size and Content
The article explains how kernel composition reveals corn quality. It describes two kernel types with varying protein and crown starch levels and notes the germ size as an indicator. It urges breeders and growers to study plant seeds and perform careful comparisons across varieties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Prof
Hopkins
University of Illinois
Abe
Diversification vs specialization in farming discussed
Progressive farmers weigh whether to diversify or specialize. The piece compares eastern, western, and southern practices, notes dangers of overproduction, and highlights successful single-crop specialties as well as balanced, varied farming. It urges rational diversity and cautions against concentrating all eggs in one basket.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Nature
Kansas
Iowa
New York
Boston
Hastings
Florida
H. A. Bereman
Ben Franklin
Summer Hints For Farmers From The Farm Journal
Series of tips on farm upkeep and tillage urging prevention of sunstroke with shade and hay field care. Emphasizes balanced traits of Young Courage and Old Caution, calling for whistle as morale tool and noting farmers’ lack of study on tillage to improve profits. Encourage readers to whistle at home.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Farm Journal
Quick breeching lift method for horse cooling
At noon time, lift the breeching on the back and push the collar forward on the neck while the horses rest and eat. This method is quicker and just as effective as unharnessing, used when the horse lowers to its toe rather than lifting upward.
Covered water pail helps chicks avoid drowning
A Utah farmer describes a simple device for watering chicks in round vessels. A circular float with multiple holes sits inside the vessel and prevents drowning by lifting chicks that fall in, while chicks reach the water through the float’s holes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Utah
Advice on Axle Grease for Farm Implements
Farm Journal urges farmers to coat mold boards and cultivator shovels with axle grease after use. This quick maintenance allows easy hitching to equipment later without prior scrubbing, improving field efficiency.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Farm Journal
Boy's Trip to the Moon Ends At Lincoln School
A Morris county eighth grade exam story imagines a voyage to the moon. John Duffy, age 12, relates a fanciful tale involving a storm, an anchor lift, Santos Dumont, moon mit tens, and a speedy return that lands just as he reaches the Lincoln schoolhouse for his tests.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Morris County
John Duffy
Newark
N. J
India
Santos Dumont
Lincoln
Sugar Treatments Claim Wood Preservation Benefits
The article outlines two methods for seasoning timber and preventing dry rot. One cuts a wide bark strip from trees before felling to hinder moisture movement and hasten drying. The other uses beet sugar to replace sap, injecting sugar via heated pipes to penetrate pores, then drying to deter insects.
King's Anarchist Chauffeur Prompts International Alarm
King Leopold of Belgium employs Marcel, a pronounced anarchist, as his chauffeur. Police in France, Germany, and Belgium have warned against the man, but the king ignores their counsel. He praises Marcel's driving through parks and along highways and remains unconcerned for his safety.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Leopold
Belgium
Marcel
France
Germany
Meningitis in Animals and Human Risk
Veterinary surgeons warn that some animals, notably goats and horses, can suffer meningitis and transmit infection to humans. In horses the illness is called hydrocephalus acutus, with about 78 percent mortality and many survivors prone to relapse per the London Globe.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London Globe
Far-Sighted Japanese Sail to Naval Supremacy
The Guardian notes Japan has internalized naval doctrine from strategists. It asserts Japan aims to secure maritime ascendancy established by Admiral Togo and to deter Russian sea attack by forcing any invasion to launch from an extremely distant base, ensuring Japan preempts an attack before gunfire.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Togo
Russia
Baldness as Sanctity Sparks Hairless Russian Sect
A Russian religious group views hair as sinful and bald heads as a sign of sanctity. The sect advocates baldness as a spiritual principle, attracting attention for its unusual practice.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Russia
Lydia E Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound Endorsed
All women face similar ailments from daily labor and duties. The ad claims Lydia E Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound strengthens female organs, relieves backache and menstrual pain, and helps restore health with patient testimonials from Miss F Orser and Miss Pearl Ackers in Nashville and Boston.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
F. Orser
Warrenton Street
Volla
Pinkham
Boston
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Nashville, Tenn
Miss Pearl Ackers
North Hammer Street
Guiss
Frankie Orser CG
AissPearl Ackers
Mull's Grape Tonic
Mull
Americas
Mull's Grape Tonic Co
Third Ave
Rock Island
Mull’s Grape Tonic Co
Grace Tonic
Stomach Tonic
Aemes Co
Sil
Iff
Carters
Carterse Whven Pills
Ohio
McCormick & Song
Valent H
Cincinnati
Tus A. Paxton Company
Boston, Masten
Reci