the United States a billion is considered to be a thousand million
(1,000,000,000). See any dictionary.
* * *
A SPIDER IS NOT AN INSECT
Are you surprised?
So was I until I discovered that a Spider is an Arachnide. The
Arachnida family consists of Spiders, Scorpions, and Mites. These
beings breathe atmospheric air, have no antennae, and have four pairs
of legs attached to the fore parts of the body. The fact that they have
more than the normal number of six legs is alone sufficient to separate
them from insects.
* * *
ST. PATRICK WAS NOT AN IRISHMAN
The patron Saint of the emerald isle was a born Frenchman, having first
seen the light of day in Tours, France. His real name was Succat.
His father’s name was Calpurnius, and his mother was a sister of St.
Martin, the Bishop of Tours.
* * *
[Illustration]
BUFFALO BILL NEVER SHOT A BUFFALO IN HIS LIFE
It is not my intent to cast aspersions on the famous name of Bill Cody,
but it is nevertheless a fact that the valiant old warrior never shot a
single buffalo in his long career along the frontiers.
Buffalo Bill was not to blame. He earned his name--but not the name of
“Buffalo” Bill, because the only true buffaloes are found in the old
world, principally in Africa and India.
The American animal is the bison and is distinctly indigenous to North
America.
The bison differs greatly from the buffalo, both in appearance and
habits. The buffalo resembles an ox more than a bison, and has short
hair besides being very fond of the water.
* * *
SEX APPEAL
Lady Gough, distinguished blue-nose of England, wrote a book on
_Etiquette_ in 1863; and on page 80 I find this paragraph:
“The perfect hostess will see to it that the works of male and female
authors be properly separated on her bookshelves. Their proximity
unless they happen to be married should not be tolerated.”
* * *
“THE QUEEN OF SPAIN HAS NO LEGS”
When Margaret of Austria, Queen of Philip III, entered Spain in 1599
she passed through a town celebrated for the manufacture of silk
stockings; and the authorities, wishing to show her courtesy, presented
her with a costly pair. The offer was indignantly refused and the
delegates were sternly informed that the “Queen of Spain had no legs.”
Since that day of rigid etiquette it has been customary to say that,
officially, “the Queen of Spain has no legs.”
* * *
A PHILADELPHIAN COMMITTED SUICIDE AND LEFT THE FOLLOWING NOTE:
I married a widow with a grown daughter. My father fell in love with
my step-daughter and married her--thus becoming my son-in-law, and my
step-daughter became my mother because she was my father’s wife.
My wife gave birth to a son, who was, of course, my father’s
brother-in-law, and also my uncle for he was the brother of my
step-mother.
My father’s wife became the mother of a son, who was, of course, my
brother, and also my grand-child for he was the son of my daughter.
Accordingly, my wife was my grandmother because she was my mother’s
mother--I was my wife’s husband and grandchild at the same time--and,
as the husband of a person’s grandmother is his grandfather--I AM MY
OWN GRANDFATHER!
Mark Twain.
* * *
[Illustration:
MRS. ELLIOTT LYNN--famous
flying woman
VISITED EVERY AERODROME IN ENGLAND
(75 IN ALL) IN 15 HOURS.
1927
RAMESES
(AS HE IS TODAY)
WAS WORTH
$10,000,000,000.
WHEN HE DIED
(He was 10 times richer than Ford)
[signature]
Drawn from death--Cairo, 1925
THE
CRAWLING FISH
(Anabas Scandens)
TRAVELS OVERLAND
THE DISTANCE OF A MILE
CEYLON
SQUIRE
OSBALDESTON
RODE
200 MILES
IN 8 hrs. 39 m.
Newmarket
Eng., 1834
(20 horses)]
* * *
RICHEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED
Rameses II, who now serves as a peep-show in the Cairo Museum and as
an ad for cigarettes, was once a “ten-billionaire.” Ford, Rockefeller,
Croesus, and others, were only pikers when compared with the “sunset
glory of the royal dynasties of Egypt.”
The most famous of the Pharaohs conquered all the kings from Nubia to
Syria and exacted great tribute from them. He exploited the gold mines
of Nubia for the benefit of his own purse during a period of 67 years.
The entire known world of that time contributed to his great wealth and
magnificence.
* * *
THE CRAWLING FISH
This crawling fish is a native of Asia, and is remarkable for its
apparent disregard of certain natural laws. This singular creature
has long been noted for its powers of voluntarily leaving the failing
streams, ascending the banks, and proceeding over dry land toward some
spot where its unerring instinct tells it that water is yet to be
found. They sometimes cover a distance of a mile or more, and can live
for a period of a week out of water.
On opening the head of the “Anabas Scandens” it will be found that the
bones are much enlarged and modified into a series of labyrinthine
cells and duplications, so that they retain a large amount of water in
the interstices, and prevent the gill-membranes from becoming dry.
* * *
THE HARD RIDING SQUIRE
Squire Osbaldeston was the most famous sportsman in the world one
hundred years ago. The sporting annals of his time are filled with the
various events of horsemanship of the doughty old gent. He was of the
hard-riding and hard-drinking school of country gentlemen, and when he
died he left a legacy of riding records that has never been beaten to
this day.
* * *
THE TRACER BULLET
Death will find a way.
One day early in February, 1928, A. V. Bonham, of Cotter, Arkansas, saw
smoke.
He was startled to learn that it was his own house. It seems that
Bonham’s little 12-year-old son had used kerosene to start a fire and
an explosion followed which set the house in flames.
With the aid of neighbors, Bonham removed most of his household goods.
But he overlooked his loaded revolver which reposed in a bureau drawer.
As Bonham stood sadly watching the hungry flames, the report of a
pistol rang out. Mack Medley, a neighbor, felt something strike his cap
and at the same instant Bonham cried out “I am shot,” and clutching his
breast, he staggered a few steps and fell dead.
The heat had exploded Bonham’s own gun and the bullet had found its
mark.
* * *
GERMAN INSECT POWER.
There was a plague of fleas in Münster, Germany in 1670. The High
Court of Münster, upon complaint of the burghers, summoned the fleas
to appear before it for disorderly conduct. As the fleas disobeyed the
summons, they were found guilty, disfranchised and banished for 10
years. The language of the Court decree is very pompous and treats the
culprits with withering anger.
* * *
“Dear Rip:
Believe it or not? Where do they charge more for a one way ticket
than for a round trip? Answer: San Pedro to Los Angeles, Cal., on
the Pacific Electric. Men in uniform get special rate of fifty cents
round trip and must pay fifty-two cents for a one way ticket.
Heinie Miller.”
* * *
[Illustration]
A REMARKABLE RUNNER
Mensen Ernst, the Norwegian cross-country runner, was unquestionably
the greatest long-distance foot racer that ever lived. The records set
up by this tireless Scandinavian in Europe during the early part of the
last century have never been equalled. The Indian or Arab has never
lived that could keep in sight of him.
Note a few of his records.
Mensen Ernst ran from Paris to Moscow in two weeks. He ran over poor
roads, in all kinds of weather, and swam 13 big rivers on the way, yet
he averaged 125 miles a day!
He averaged 95 miles a day for 59 days in a race from Constantinople
to Calcutta, and return. He swam rivers, crossed deserts, and endured
dangers and suffered the blazing sun on his way across Anatolia,
Persia, Afghanistan, and India--a distance of 5,625 miles.
_Ref: Life of Mensen Ernst. Pub. by Rieck, Norway._
[Illustration:
W.J. BRASSARD
--of Momence, Ill.
HAS ONE BLUE EYE
AND ONE BROWN EYE
JOHN
RADCLIFFE
of GROVE, Pa.
REPORTED FOR WORK
EVERYDAY
INCLUDING SUNDAYS
FOR 26 YEARS
O.T. WERTZ, of Chappell, Neb.
CAUGHT THE SAME FISH TWICE!
HE HOOKED A PERCH WHICH BROKE THE LINE AND GOT FREE
6 HOURS LATER HE CAUGHT THE SAME FISH NEARLY A MILE AWAY
July 24, 1926
A BULL FROG
THAT CAUGHT AND ATE MICE
WAS KEPT FOR THAT PURPOSE
By J. WARD TOMLINSON
Shiloh, Pa., 1915]
* * *
CATCHING THE SAME FISH TWICE
This unusual happening in the gentle art of angling is explained in the
affidavit of E. C. Wolf, of Big Springs, Neb., an eyewitness.
“World-Herald, April 17, 1928.
Omaha, Neb.
Gentlemen:
July 24, 1926 at 10 A. M., Mr. O. T. Wertz, Chappell, Neb., while
fishing in Jumbo Reservoir, which is three miles in diameter, in
Colorado, hooked a perch but gut attached to hook broke and fish was
lost. The same afternoon this fish was caught by him over half a mile
distant from where he hooked it in forenoon, with hook in mouth.
Yours truly,
E. C. Wolf.”
* * *
“ONE LONG HOP”
A Chinese baby born in Chicago, Sept. 14, 1927, was so named in honor
of Lindbergh.
* * *
Karl Kmetty, a lieutenant in the Hungarian army (1919), convicted of
280 different crimes, sued a Budapest editor for libel.
* * *
As a class, the actors have supplied the largest number of Saints. St.
Genest, St. Ardaleon, St. Porphyre, St. Pelagie.
* * *
Heinrich Noste, an Austrian musician, can play tunes on the piano with
his tongue.
* * *
Eberhard Wagenes, of London, called his wife a liar 10,000 times for
which a statuary fine of $75 was paid.
* * *
Mme. Marie Ollivier, of Hondschoote, Flanders, who committed bigamy,
was sentenced to wear two pair of pants around her neck for life.
_Ref.: “Registre des sentences criminelles exécutées à Hondschoote
sous le règne de Phillippe II.”_
* * *
The Grand Inquisitor Peter Arbuez, who burned 40,000 people at the
stake, was made a Saint by the Pope in 1860.
* * *
A QUEEN CROWNED AFTER DEATH
Iñez de Castro, beloved wife of Pedro I of Portugal, became Queen of
Portugal after she was dead.
She was assassinated at the instigation of her father-in-law, the King
of Portugal, who had other marriage plans for his son. Three years
later, when Don Pedro ascended the throne, he had the body of Iñez
taken from the grave, placed upon a magnificent throne, arrayed in
all the robes of royalty, and crowned “Queen of Portugal” with full
ceremony. One fleshless hand held the sceptre and in the other was the
orb of royalty while the assembled court did her homage as if she were
a living queen.
* * *
Oliver Cromwell was hanged after he was dead.
* * *
The posthumous trial of Pope Formosus is famous. Pope Stephen VII
(896-897), for some political reason, had the body of Pope Formosus
exhumed and arraigned for trial. A legal defender was appointed and
the entire trial was conducted according to the laws of the living.
Pope Stephen appeared in person as the prosecutor and won his case,
whereupon the body of Formosus was stripped of the papal robes and
insignia, mutilated, and thrown into the Tiber.
* * *
The Cid, noted Spanish warrior, led his troops to battle after his
death.
In the eleventh book of the “Chronicle of the Cid,” Southey relates
that the embalmed body of the Spanish warrior was placed in the saddle,
according to his wish, and at the head of his army advanced to battle
against King Bucar and his countless hosts of Moors ... winning a great
victory.
* * *
Benjamin Franklin invented the harmonica.
* * *
There was never a famous twin.
* * *
[Illustration:
OLIVER CROMWELL
WAS HANGED
AFTER HE WAS DEAD
TOM M^cAULIFFE
--of Buffalo.
THE ARMLESS GOLFER
PLAYED 18 HOLES
IN 98 STROKES.
J. JOHNSON
DROVE THE ‘ROYAL SCOT’
300 MILES IN 338 MINUTES WITHOUT
A SINGLE STOP.
1927.
Euston-Carlisle.]
* * *
THE KAISERPOKAL
The most celebrated of all drinks is the drinking of the Kaiserpokal.
In fact, it is still celebrated each year with a festival.
In 1616, during the Thirty Years’ War, Burgomaster Nusch of Rothenburg
on the Tauber saved himself and his city by draining in a single
draught the huge stein of seven pints of wine.
Each year the city of Rothenburg commemorates that occasion with a
celebration and the present mayor takes a long and ceremonious drink
from the same stein--the Kaiserpokal--that Herr Nusch used.
* * *
A COUGH IN THE CAR LOAD
In 1851, during Napoleon III’s coup d’état, when an aide reported that
the mob was facing the Imperial Guard, Count de St. Arnaud, who was
just troubled with a cough, exclaimed, “ma sacrée toux!” (my damned
cough!). This the aide understood to mean, “massacrez tous” (massacre
everybody). The order to fire was given and thousands of human lives
were lost.
* * *
HOT DOG
The wonder “weenie” of all time was stuffed by the German Butcher’s
Guild for their celebration in Koenigsberg in 1601.
This hot dog was more than half a mile long--exactly 3,001 feet--and
required the efforts of 103 butchers to carry it on parade. It weighed
885 pounds and was later equally distributed among the members of the
guild at the banquet table.
* * *
FLAMING YOUTH
Charlie Pardie, of Albuquerque, got lit up one night and had a hot time.
No wonder.
He drank 15 cans of canned heat in 24 hours.
* * *
“O P Q R S T”
The above letters were sent by Hué in 1867, and were correctly
interpreted by the French to read “Au Pecu arresté”--Arrested at Pecu.
* * *
All the books of both the Bible and the Talmud contain no more than
6,654 different words--including derivatives.
* * *
GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS _NOT_ THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
This is a statement from my daily “Believe It or Not” stint that also
caused my readers to doubt--and the mail man to stagger.
Who was the first President--if not Washington?
A man of whom you have never heard--John Hanson, of Maryland.
Although there had been meetings of the Continental Congress from 1774
on, it was not until 1781, when Maryland finally signed the Articles
of Confederation, that a union of all the original 13 states became an
actuality.
John Hanson, who signed for Maryland, was then elected President of the
United States in Congress Assembled, 1781.
George Washington, himself, addressed Hanson as President of the United
States in his reply to the latter’s message of thanks upon the occasion
of the victory of Yorktown.
_Ref.: Fiske’s “Critical Periods of American History,” Senator
Dollivar’s speech in the Senate, 1910._
* * *
THE HEN THAT BECAME A ROOSTER
This apparent impossibility has happened many times. The particular
hen chicken that I saw lived, laid eggs, and cackled in its home in
a Pennsylvania poultry yard for several years before it manifested
anything unusual. Then its owner noticed new sprouting feathers, bright
hackles, and the growth of a long drooping tail, and most surprising of
all--three full-sized spurs grew on each leg.
The owner, Dr. M. S. Gillespie, brought the bird to the Natural
Science Halls of the Brooklyn Museum where the sex-changed chicken was
exhibited for some time.
This freak of nature is by no means unprecedented. It is caused by
specific changes in the physiological processes--frequently the product
of abdominal tuberculosis.
_I refer you to Brooklyn Museum Quarterly, October, 1927, and to
George P. Engelhardt, Curator, Dept. Natural Sciences, Brooklyn
Museum._
* * *
[Illustration: SANKAL-WALAH]
THE MAN OF CHAINS
This Faquir--once a familiar sight in the city of Lahore (India)--was
dressed entirely in a mass of heavy chains weighing more than 600
pounds.
He was a Mohammedan. “Sahib Allah Shah” was his name he said, but when
you consider the meaning of the words it is obviously an egotistical
assertion. The Punjab public called him the “Jingling Faker” and
made considerable fuss over him as he slowly crawled along under his
self-imposed burden.
“Sankal-Walah”--the “Man of Chains,” was an adopted surname, and it
became him very well. He began collecting this chain suit of armor when
quite a young man--gradually welding on the links and chains, bit by
bit, until his groaning load--at the time of his death--weighed 670
pounds.
He had borne this burden for the last 13 years of his life.
* * *
A FLEET CAPTURED BY CAVALRY
The entire Dutch fleet, ice-bound in the Zuyder Zee, was captured by
the French Hussars under Pichegru who galloped across the frozen sea.
The Dutch ships were powerful, but, alas--immovable and became easy
prey to a charge of cavalry! The result was that the government of the
Netherlands collapsed, and Holland was forcibly allied to France (1795).
* * *
“IF YOU WOULD SEE HIS MONUMENT, LOOK AROUND”
The above inscription is placed in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, to the
memory of Sir Christopher Wren, who built it.
* * *
MOTHER GOOSE
“Mother Goose” was a real character, and not an imaginary person as has
been supposed.
Her maiden name was Elizabeth Foster, and she was born in Boston in
1665. She married Isaac Goose in 1693, and her famous rhymes were
written for her grandchildren.
* * *
THE GHOST SHIP
The Gloucester fishing schooner, “Columbia,” went to the bottom in a
hurricane in August, 1927, with her crew of 20 men. On the following
New Year’s Day, Capt. Myhre, on the “Ventosta,” while dragging the
bottom of the sea, caught something with his trawls and suddenly there
rose to the surface the battered remains of a dead ship. For a few
minutes the “Columbia,” with masts erect, remained suspended before
the eyes of the startled seamen. Then as suddenly as she had cleft the
waves, she disappeared from sight as the 3-inch cables which had hauled
her to the surface parted.
* * *
WHAT PRICE PRIVACY
Francesca Nortyuege, famous reformer of Dièze, who died in France in
1903, left her fortune to her niece with the proviso that, for the sake
of decency, she keep her goldfish always clothed in tights.
* * *
T I P
Comes from the initials of the words “To Insure Promptness.”
* * *
HE WHO LAUGHED LAST
Chalchas the Greek died from laughter when the day that was predicted
to be his death day came around and the prediction did not seem to
materialize.
* * *
A YEAR AND A DAY
A Japanese child is one year old the day it is born.
* * *
Dr. Schmeckegut (taste good) changed his name to Dr. Schmeckebesser (I
taste better) in Vienna.
* * *
A case that has been in the Courts since 999. In that year, a wealthy
land owner who expected the world to end in 1000, donated the mountain
of San Tisone, near Naples, to the Convent of the same name. The world
did not perish of course and the owner claimed to cancel his donation.
At present the two communities of Ravella and Lettera are still
disputing ownership. For 929 years testimony has been taken with never
a decision.
* * *
THE SHORTEST POEM IN THE WORLD
“Hired.
Tired?
Fired!”
* * *
When I printed the above poem a number of readers called my attention
to this one which is even shorter. It is entitled:
“Lines Written on the Antiquity of Microbes”
“Adam
Had ’Em”
* * *
EVEN UP
Patrick and Eleanor Grady, of Crookhaven (near Cork, Ireland) were born
in 1796 in the same house on the same day--were married on the same
day--and on the same day fell sick and died on the same day at the ages
of 96--leaving 96 descendants.
* * *
IT’S NOT THE HEAT--IT’S THE HUMIDITY!
The thermometer registered 158.8 degrees Fahrenheit in the Oasis of
Toauregs, in Northern Africa, 1927.
* * *
THE MORNING AFTER
Herr Reinach, of Vienna, placed a 25-pound cake of ice on his head and
allowed it to remain there until it melted. 1928.
* * *
THE JAKUCK WEATHER REPORT
The temperature in Jakuck, Siberia, varied 256.6 degrees in the season
of 1928. The thermometer rose from 154.4 below zero to 102.2 degrees
above.
* * *
THE FOUNTAIN OF BLOOD
In the center of the village of Vertud (Dept. de Gracias) between San
Salvador and Guatemala, there is a fountain--“Mina de Sangre”--which
ejects a red liquid that coagulates like blood.
_“Apuntamientos sobre Centro America,” Squier._
* * *
Princess Anthony Kohary, of Hungary, the last of her line, was
officially appointed a man. 1889.
[Illustration:
[signature]
Shanghai
FINGER NAILS
OF A CHINESE PRIEST
IN SHANGHAI
22³⁄₄ INCHES LONG
He was 27 yrs. growing
them
THE FOUR-FOOTED CHICK
Owned by H.G. BOYDEN
ELY, England.
The Pepe-aweto of the Maoris
STRANGEST INSECT ON EARTH--
A CATERPILLAR THAT TURNS
INTO A PLANT.
Is it an insect or a vegetable?]
* * *
A COMMA THAT SAVED A HUMAN LIFE
Maria Feodorewna accidentally caught sight of the following note
appended to the bottom of a death warrant. It was in the handwriting of
her husband, Alexander III. It read as follows:
“Pardon impossible, to be sent to Siberia.”
Maria transposed the comma so that it read:
“Pardon, impossible to be sent to Siberia.” Whereupon the convict was
released a free man.
* * *
Professor Netomeff, an Assyriologist, who wrote a book about
Nebuchadnezzar, the ancient King of Babylon, was sentenced to perpetual
exile in Siberia because the caption of his book, “Nebuchadnezzar,” was
the same in the Russian language as “Ne boch ad ne tzar” Which meant
“No God and no Tzar.”
* * *
The name of the letter “Q” is the French word “queue”--a tail. In other
words, a “Q” is an “O” with a tail.
* * *
Cyrus, King of Persia, knew the name of every soldier in his army by
heart.
* * *
Themistocles could call all of the 20,000 inhabitants at Athens by
their first names.
* * *
Rev. W. B. Hogg, of El Paso, Texas, memorized the Bible.
* * *
Mrs. Wilhelmine Alff, of Cherokee, Iowa, attended the movies every
night for 8 years. 2,927 consecutive evenings.
* * *
Joseph Conrad, famous master of the English language, could not speak a
word of it at the age of twenty-five.
* * *
The fiancé of Miss Matilde John, of London, died in 1795. She died 89
years later of a broken heart.
* * *
Señora Salomea Wolf had the portrait of her husband tattooed on her
tongue to atone for nagging him to death. Jerez, Spain, 1927.
* * *
The editor of The Torch, Central Lake, Mich., assures me that the
following paragraph which appeared in his newspaper is nothing but the
truth.
“Seven years ago a farmer in Iowa hung his vest on a fence in the
barnyard. A calf chewed up a pocket in the garment in which was a
gold watch. Last week the animal, a staid old milk cow, was butchered
for beef, and the timepiece was found in such a position between the
lungs of the cow that respiration--the closing in and filling of the
lungs--kept the stemwinder wound up, and the watch had lost but four
minutes in the seven years.”
* * *
Hastings, Minn.
Dec. 18, 1927.
“My Dear Mr. Ripley:
I have a little item for “Believe It or Not.”
A gentleman from my home town by the name of Carl (Tiger) Franklin
can swallow three (3) eggs in the shell and cough them up one at a
time without breaking the shells.
In my travels into the far corners of the world, this is the only
case I ever heard of or seen of this kind. I think this might be
mentioned in your “Believe It or Not” section of the papers.
Yours truly,
Wm. Tenner.”
* * *
Herman Heidegger, of London, could call from memory the wording of
all the signs along both sides of the street for 10 blocks after once
walking past to observe them.
* * *
Porson, the Greek scholar, could recite the complete works of
Milton--backward and forward.
* * *
La Croze could repeat 12 verses in 12 unknown languages after hearing
them read aloud once.
* * *
Arlinin, the Neapolitan, recited 15,350 lines from Dante without a
moment’s pause.
* * *
Gambetta, the great Tribune, had a wonderful memory. Among other
mental feats was his ability to repeat the Book of Ruth word for word
backward. He was able to do the same with all the works of Victor Hugo
and Ossian.
* * *
[Illustration:
WOO-OO-EE-EE!
FRED
PATZEL
CHAMPION HOG-CALLER
--WHOSE CRY CAN
BE HEARD 3 MILES.
Nebraska
[signature]
The
LAUGHING JACKASS
IS A BIRD
THE WORD--
‘PERSONALITY’
CONTAINS 1307 OTHER WORDS
WILL
LEA--of
Texas
AGE 67
IS STILL A
CONTORTIONIST
BLUB BLUB
GUS SUNDSTROM--N.Y.A.C.
SWAM 100 YARDS UNDER WATER
--without using his arms.]
* * *
THE MENTAL FREAK
Dr. Charles Bernstein, superintendent of the Rome State School for the
Feeble-minded, tells me of a remarkable mental freak who is an inmate
of the school at the present time.
“Barney” is 43 years old physically, but his mental age is 6 years. He
is unable to read or write, and speaks very indistinctly with a very
limited vocabulary, yet he gives instantly the day of the week on which
any date falls on either in years past or years to come. Barney never
saw a calendar. Several psychologists of note have studied his case but
are entirely unable to fathom his mental state.”
* * *
THE WILL OF AKBAR THE GREAT