The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-08-27
MISCELLANEOUS.

Baltimore american.
-"If 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 well as he does
aging Chicago Daily Business.
The actual number Of persons en-
gagged in agriculture in the United
States, including their families, is
placed at $4,000, 00G. an increase Of
5000, 900 since the last census. Chicago
Tribune.
During the American civil war Sve
hundred horses were destroyed or reu-
'dered useless for every twenty-fout
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.
-BrOokty's Eagle
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 Columbus (Ga. J Enquirer
ESufL
The London Truth gives the follow
ing original observations on astronomy
from sermon of a Welsh curate
preaching to an English congregation:
"a starr is but lidl dot in the skvee
Saw many stars mex one plannat.
Saw many plannats mex constel-
1ncchnr o0nctalloccbnyo
mex one milkee we. Six milkee ives
mex one rorriborriallis.
The Austrian Government has re-
fused to authorize the establishment Of
private cremation societies. on the
ground that they might encourage
crime. The decree states that murders
are often detected by the elimination OF
bodies. and that, even if bodies were to
be examined before cremation, there
would be no time to apply in every case
those delicate chemical tests which arr
used where poisoning is suspected.
1t is related of 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
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
ISd6ttS.
The hedgehog is very fond of fruit,
and adopts a 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 a
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 rifle guns built at the Washing
ton Navy Yard for the new steel cruisers
was recently tested at Annapolis with
powder invented and manufactured by
a prominent American powder maker.
This gun, designed by the Naval
Ordnance Bureau and built of Ameri-
can steel, developed an initial velocity
of over 1000 feet second. with a
pressure of only twelve and half tons
per square inch, which is better than
has been done by any other gun of its
size Washington Post.
An almanac three thousand wears
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 bv
three characters signifying the probable
state OF the weather for that day. Like
the other Egyptian manuscripts it is
written on papyrus. 1t is written in
columns.
If walking alone is adopted as the
means to counterfeit the effect of too
much sitting, then care should be taken
that system enters into the walk. A
slow, desultory sort of walk is of no
earthly use; it simply tires one without
any beneficial result. The walking
should be brisk, with the head up and
the chest thrown forward. The breath
ing should be regular and as free as the
swing of the limbs. The distance is
optional. OF course, but two miles ought
to be no task for the man who wants to
improve his health. The distance can
be increased as the pedestrian begins
TO feel the benefit of the walking.
Y. Star.
1t is a singular fact that the popu-
latlon 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
DE wondered at when babies in the first
year of their existence are paid for at the
rate OF only six to fifteen francs month.
and OF this sum of from four to ten sous
= oay the nurse is supposed to lodge,
feed and care for the child.-N. Y SIN,
Pride of Character.