The Washington critic., 1889-03-23
MATTER WORTH READING.


The diminutive canton of Basel icity) Is
setting shining example to all the great
European powers In the matter of popular
education, says the Paris american Register.
Throughout the territory not only are the
schools Of every description free, but the
cantonal government also furnishes all
school books and utensils gratis Public
instruction up TO the point OF entering a
university, therefore, does not cost the
pupil or his parents cent In addition to
this universal liberality, the caDtonal gov
ernment also defrays the expense OF burials
In commemoration Of the great earthquake
In 1856 an institution was founded which
annually distributes gratis large quantity
OF cloth to needy boys and girls, amounting
last year to 600 meters of cloth, given to
1875 boys and ,2s7 girls. II to the fore
going are added the gratuitous distribution
of clothes, shoes and food, and the contem-
plated cantonal relief society for the sick,
one cannot but admire the humane meas
ures instituted by the ancient town of
Besal.
Happy Islanders.
The natives OF the Gilbert group OF is-
lands have just enjoyed veritable wind
fall. A large ship with a full cargo and
nobody on board sailed into their harbor.
The vessel was the British Ship Rock Ter
race, and the strange part about the mat
ter is that the ship was abandoned by her
crew about twelve months ago, and instead
of laundering soon, she drifted on and on
until she reached the Gilbert Islands. She
left Philadelphia for Japan in September,
1897 tvfth af NIL anI ,.ha .l,.,t.
valued at $4,000. When near the Phil
ippine Islands the crew abandoned their
vessel, landing on an island close by, all Of
them being saved. Nothing further was
heard of her, and the underwriters paid tho
sum for which she was insured She had
but few inches of water in her hold and
WINS in fair condition. She was owned III
ST. John, N. B.
California Economy.
The following example of economy comes
from Pasadena, says the Los Angeles Times:
A fashionable and wealthy party OF five
people, whose worldly possessions foot up
near million dollars, drove into the city
from lively little town not far distant.
As it was late, q hotel must be sought at
once. The place was found, and the
parties quartered for the night at 25 cents
head. Next day one Of the quintet went
down town and bought 10 cents worth of
doughnuts. With pitcher of water and
the pastry the whole outfit sat around In
their rooms and breakfasted. The visitors,
after such healthy morning meal, sought
their conveyance and ,eit the city.
Noiseless Ii.
France, Austria and Germany have
adopted smokeless gunpowder for their
armies and are conducting experiments to
get an explosive also as noiscless as posi-
BILE. A fair degree of success has been
reached and experts have no doubt that by
the time the next European war begins the
smoke and noise of battle will have been
done away with. 1t is alleged that the
French will suffer most by this, as the men
Of that nation are least able to Withstand
the terrorizing effect of being moved down
by silent missiles by unseen enemies.
The British Sword.
Lord Wolseley has been writing an essay
upon the English swords, that proved in
recent battles In the Soudan to be no bet
| ter than sticks, bending and breaking under
The most ordinary strain. he says that The
present style Of sword is too light by two
or three ounces, and too thin In the 'ful-
ler," but he thinks that one main trouble
has been that the weapons were weak
ened by the tests to which they had to be
| submitted before acceptance, and he sagely
suggests that 1t might be better to accept
the swords without testing them.
His View of 1t.
A bright youth, undergoing examination
few days since for admission to one Of
the Government departments, found him
self confronted with the question, "What
| is the distance from the earth to the SUM-"
Not having the exact number Of miles with
him he wrote in reply; ~ am unable to state
accurately, but don't believe the sun is
near enough to interfere with proper per-
formance Of my duties II get this clerk
| ship.