The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-30
MISCELLANEOUS.

lnfitdI'On' NUN Ouy or LIE Dust -
Baltimore american.
IF a man could only catch fish as
easily as he can lie about it," laments
a Texas editor. He could, if he only
understood fishing as we'll as he does
lying. Chicago Daily Business.
The actual number of persons en-
gagged in agriculture in the United
States, including their families, is
placed at 25.OOO,OOO, an increase of
5000, 600 since the last census Chicago
Tribune.
The Yuma tribe of Indians. in Cali
fornia, has decreased from 5000 souls
to LOCO since their contact with the
whites. Yuma understand from this
that they do not take kindly to civiliz-
ation.-NOrriStown Herald.
1t is not the sole aim of people in
this world to endeavor by hook or crook
to place each other under the yoke. and
1t IS no excuse for the grabber and job
Der of to-day to say that his exploits
may be equaled or surpassed by some
body else in the future. - Chicago
Herald.
During the American civil war five
hundred horses were destroyed or rem
dered useless for every twenty-four
hours. The Confederate army was
crippled for want of horses, while the
Northern army was able to secure its
supply from the Dominion of Canada.
brooklyn Eagle.
The Italian coral fisheries employ
a tlSh hn
$4,000 Kilograms of coral, valued at
$S40,O00. The manufacture of this
coral into beads and crosses, in which
form it finds its way to every part of the
world, adds millions every year to the
wealth of the Italian people.
The little town of LAFAYETTE,
Chambers County. Ala. is taking on
airs. A horn is blown at six o'clock in
the afternoon as signal for the closing
of stores, and few minutes thereafter
scarcely soul is seen on the streets.
The boys play baseball from six o clock
until dark.-ColasmbuS (Ga. J Enquirer
Sun.
The London Truth gives the follow
ing original observations on astronomy
from a sermon of a Welsh curate
preaching to an English congregation:
"A starr is but lidl dot in the skvee
Saw many STAIRS mex one plannat.
Saw many plannats mex a conStel-
lesShon. Saw many considerations
mex one miikee we. Six milkee ives
mex one rOrriborrialls.
In the outing there is a good argu-
ment in favor of the tricycle. for the
health and pleasure of girls and women.
The argument is full of both theory and
fact. The fresh air, the exercise and
the inspiration of these wheeled toys are
better than any three doctors. The tri
cycle costs less than a trip to Newport.
ard is much more valuable. Chicago
Current.
1t is related of a distinguished
lawyer who observed that his wife
always delayed ten or twelve minutes
before she came down to dinner, being
lOath to lose so much precious time
daily. he commenced the composition of
a work which he prosecuted only while
he was thus kept waiting. The result
was at the end of fifteen years book in
three volumes quartO, which has met
with large sale and is much needed
IidbitS.
The hedgehog is very fond of fruit,
and adopts curious way to obtain it.
1t is known that they often climb walls
and run off upon low bOughs, and in
stead of scrambling down in the same
manner, they boldly make the leap
from the top to the ground, sometimes
ten or twelve feet. They coil into
ball in the air. strike upon their armor
of spines and bound away unframed.
In taking this jump, they have been
seen to strike upon fallen fruit, which,
thus impaled upon their spines, was
carried away by them. Chicago Herald.
The first of the five-inch breech-
loading rife Guns b1jlt Ut the Washing
ton Navy Yard for the new steel cruisers
was recently tested at Annapolis with
powder invented and manufactured by
prominent American powder maker.
This gun. designed by the Naval
Ordnance Bureau and built of Ameri-
can steel, developed an initial velocity
of over 1900 feet n second. with q
pressure of only twelve and half tons
per square inch, which is better thar
has been done by any other gun of it.
size. - WASHINGTON Post
An almanac three thousand years
old, found in Egypt, is in the British
Museum. 1t is supposed to be the
oldest in the world. 1t was found on
the body of an Egyptian. who had
doubtless regarded it with as much
reverence as he did the Egyptian Bible
THE Book of the Dead"-and, in
deed. it is strongly religious in charac-
ter. The days are written in red ink,
and under each is figure, followed by
three characters signifying the probable
state of the weather for that day. Like
the other Egyptian manuscripts it i,
written on papyrus. 1t is written il
columns.
1t is a singular fact that the popu-
latiOn of France is decreasing instead
of increasing. The mortality among
infants belonging to the poorer classes
is appalling. So, also. is the death rate
among the orphans or foundlings left to |
the charge of the cOmmunes, who are
placed out to nurse. and drop out OF |
life in large numbers during the first |
year of their existence. This can hardly |
be wondered at when babies in the first |
year of their existence are paid for at the |
rate of only six to fifteen francs a month, !
and of this sum of from four to ten sous
a day the nurse is supposed to lodge, |