IRISH TIMES ODDITIES:A selection of quirky stories from the Irish Times archives
A CURIOUS CONSIGNMENT
A correspondent of the Newcastle Chronicle writes: “Not many days since, the Bishop of Durham had a number of foxes conveyed to his establishment at Bishop Auckland from Inverness-shire.
“They were in boxes, and after they arrived at the station one of them, not being satisfied with his confinement and travelling expedition, gave vent to his impatience by barking. The bark attracted the attention of the bystanders, and it took some management on the part of the Railway officials to make the sly gentleman silent. This singular consignment caused several very curious comments.”
March 31st, 1859
A DARING THIEF
The boldest theft which has been committed of late was perpetrated on Sunday night last at the residence of Martin Nolan, on Eight Street, between Cutter and Lynn.
Some time during the night Mrs N was partially awakened by the hand of a person in an effort to remove a gold ring from her finger, and under the impression that it was her husband, she asked why he was taking her ring off? The hand was immediately dropped, and the lady dropped into a state of semi-consciousness.
A minute or two later after she was again aroused by another effort to remove the ring, which was this time more successful, and becoming thoroughly awakened, she discovered a man retreating from the room. The thief had actually stolen the ring from her finger!
Upon arousing her husband it was discovered that other articles of jewellery to the amount of 50 dollars had also been carried off. Cincinnati Gazette.
March 31st, 1859
THE EFFECT OF A KISS
Rather an old story comes to us fresh from Paris. An amateur of the violoncello once played before Rossini with such fire and soul that the great maestro, in the middle of the performance, rushed at the player, and rapturously kissed him on the forehead.
“Since that time,” says the triumphant scraper of catgut to a friend, “I have never washed that spot.”
The mystery is solved why the artistes are many of them so dirty – they have been kissed by Rossini.
April 5th, 1859
A HAIL STORM IN INDIA
A private letter from Benares, dated February 13th, states that that station was visited the preceding evening by one of the most terrific storms ever remembered, even by that undoubted authority, “the oldest inhabitant”.
For three hours, hail, rain, thunder, and lightning reigned supreme, and as all the buildings are tiled, the state of the interiors of bungalows may be imagined. The hailstones are said to have averaged the size of hens’ eggs, and several three and a half tolahs.
Great damage was done throughout the station to furniture, books, bedding, etc. The roads were strewed with leaves from trees and dead birds, even vultures, falling victims to the force with which the hailstones fell.
Bengal Hurkaru. April 5th, 1859
FEATHERED PENSIONERS
Le Pays of Monday says that all the accounts from the departments concur in describing the acceleration of vegetation by the dry and warm winter. Amongst the signs of a genial spring, our Paris contemporary mentions the fact that a landowner near Lyons has for several years fed a male and female stork at perfect freedom, and that every year, in the month of May, the birds have returned regularly to take possession of their quarters in the pigeonry of the house.
This year the feathered pensioners have returned on March 31st, and installed themselves in their abode as usual.
April 7th, 1859
