Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-12-09
FOREIGN GOSSIP.

The Jericho, J affa & Jerusalem rail
road through the Holy Land Is pro
crossing very slowly. The Turks ART
very inefficient contractors They per
form the easier parts of the work first
and then a rainstorm comes along and
washes IL all away, and 1t becomes nee
essary 10 begin anew.
In the course of an interview with
a representative of the Eclair, on the
opening up of African territory, Mr.
Stanley. who is in Paris, declared thai
the center of Africa teemed with
riches, which, however, could not be
utilized before the construction of rail
ways, but this construction would be
easy.
"A marvellous illustration of the
patience of the Chinese is found in the
salt mines in central China Holes
about six inches in diameter are bored
in the rock by means of primitive
form of iron drill, and sometimes a
period of forty years elapses before the
coveted brine is reached, SO that the
work Is carried on from one generation
to another.
The Chinese are very particular
about lucky and unluclzy colors. They
liked English sewing needless but
would not buy many of them because
they were wrapped in black paper
black being an unluclxy color. A print
er used green paper for the Chinese
calendar and his trade stopped almost
Immediately. He finally discovered
thatgreen was an unlucky color.
"A Russian contractor has found out
an original method to test the strength
and alertness of the laborers he en-
cages for his work. He comes to the
market where the workingmen are
waiting for a job, and orders them tc
run, to wrestle and TO lift each other.
When 1.-The boys have played" enough
for him TO make observations he en-.
Cages those who have displayed the
greatest strength and adroitness.
Foreign bicyclists are enthusiastic
over the long ride of Charles Terront,
who rode from Paris to Brest and re-
turn, distance of seven hundred and
forty -seven miles, in seventy-one and q
half hours. He never slept during the
ride, and his only refreshments were
a few cups of bouillon. 1t appears
that on the way pneumatic tire burst,
delaying him an hour and a half, and
permitting Level to head him. But, in
spite OF the mishap, he arrived first by
more than three hours.
Like Germany and Austria, Turkey
has worried herself into preparations
tosresist an expected attack from Rus
sia. The work of fortifying the Turko-
Russian frontier in Asia Minor is being
pushed with great energy and several
new fortresses on the roads leading
from Russia TO the strong points of the
Turkish empire in Europe have been
begun. Large tanks for the storage of
water for troops have been put up at
an expense Of S., 900 each in many
mountain passes.
The attention of the Italian minis
ter Of education has been called to the
fact that the best pictures of the great
masters are kept concealed from the
eyes of the public in the various
churches which own them. Not only
has the public no benefit of them, but
the most precious works of art them
selves are consigned to rot for want of
light aud air. The minister has there
fore ordered that churches owning such
pictures shall exhibit them where the
public may be able to see them, and
where they should not be deprived Of
the necessary amount of light and air.
In some cases the government will pay
the respective churches an annuity for
exhibiting their art treasures to the
people.