The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1884-08-02
HERE AND THERE.

S0A'SN 10 AAu~A 40 ~<130~~ AVA OAAS
seasons crop.
HERE AND THERE.
The dwellings and farms Of Wild
ows, minors, and spinsters are exempted
from taxation in several states Of the Mex
ican republic.
Over 100 bushels of grasshoppers
have been captured this summer on one
farm in Plymouth, N. H., by the owner. for
which he received q bounty of 81 per
bushel.
A Binghampton physician is suing
the estate of deceased judge of that place
for the recovery of \ 5000 doctors bill.
One item for s., 900 is charged for enbaln,-
ing the bsdy Of . son of the Judge.
Gen. Sherman, who has at last
paid his license for extra street washing,
added to his letter: ''The city of st. Louis
reminds ME very much of hotel in Omaha
per day; board and lodging EXTRA
Redwood forests in California are
yearly diminishing, as this wood is increas-
ingly used in building on the Pacific coast.
The superstructure of most dwellings in
San Francisco is of redwood. and the 'Fris-
cans cherish tho belief that it does not burn
as readily as other light material.
The total muster of the House of
Lords is 5ls. OF these five are members Of
the royal family, who, in accordance with
usual practice, abstain from divisions on a
political question. OF the remainder. 2s8
rank as Tories. and 2ls are usually classified
as Liberals. But many nominal Liberals,
like Lord Bradbourne and Lord Dunraven.
usually vote against the government on
party questions.
The production of oil from sun
flower seed has become an industry of con-
siderable importance in Russia: 1t is ex-
pressed on the spot, and the product is
largely employed in the adulteration of
olive oil; the purified oil is considered equal
to olive and almond oil for table use. The
most important industrial application Of
the oil are for wooden dressing, lighting and
candle rnd soap making, it being regarded.
for the last named purpose. as superior to
most other oils. The Russian article is Of
pale yellow color.
AS an evidence that the paintings
Of Sir Joshua Reynolds have not lost their
value or interest, the London Academy
mentions that one Of his pictures, known
as "Simplicity." has recently been sold
privately for the SUM of e. ,76O. 1t is .
DO rtrait of Miss Theophiia Gwatkin,
daughter of one of Sir Joshua's nsices miss
Palmer) by her marriage with Robert Lovel
Gwatkin of Killiow Park, Cornwall. It
was painted in 1889 as special present to
the father and mot Ler of the subject, to
whom it was presented by Sir Joshua after
exhibition. Until the sale above recorded.
it had never been out of the possession of
the family.
DIR. French, in a recent work,
Nineteen Centuries of Drink in England"
says that mead was the intoxicant Of the
ancient Briton. The Romans introduced
wine. Cider was known at an earlier date,
but the Saxons, Danes and No-mans
brought in the secret Of strong beverages.
Distilled liquors were introduced by the
Plantagenets, and clergymen then began to
tipple. In the sixth century men Of all
degrees .'slumbered away their time in
drunkenness" The prevalent intsmper-
ancc of the seventeenth century is said to
be due to the Act to Encourage Distillation
the exhaustion Of light wines, the influen-
ces of the court, and the development OF
toasting and club life. DR.. French predicts
that moderation will increase until intoxi-
eating beverages shall be used and not
abused and thus become one of our bles-
sings.
The Chinese farm house is curl
GUS looking abode. Usually it is sheltered
with groves Of feathery bamboo and thick
spread ing banyans. The walls are OF clay
or of wood, and the interior OF the house
consists of one main room, extending from
the floor to the tiled roof, with
closet looking apartments in the corners
for sleeping rooms. There is q sliding
window on the roof, made of cut oyster
shells arranged in rows. while the side
windows are mere wooden shutters :: Tho
floor is the bare earth. where at nightfall
there often gathers together miscellaneous
family of dirty children. fowls. ducks.
pigeons and q litter of pigs. all living to-
pether in delightful harmony. In some
districts infested by n,arauding bands the
houses are strongly fortified with high
walls containing apsrturss for firearms, and
| protected by a moat crossed by rude
drawbridge.