The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-11
FOREIGN GOSSIP.

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Titans, as far as sewing-machines are
concerned, has recently been finished
at Leeds, England. 1t weighs exactly
five and a quarter tons, and is specially
adapted for general manufacturing
purposes of the heavier sort. This par
ticular machine will be used for attach
.ing cotton betting.
Telephone operators In Belgium,
many of whom as in other countries,
are girls, are required, now that the
government has absorbed the business,
to pass an examination in Flemish,
French, German and English. They
must also have good knowledge Of
geography and be able to draw a COM
plete map of Europe.
Every Mussulman, however high
his rank. from the Sultan down to the
lowest dervish, is compelled to have
trade. The grandfather of the present
Sultan was a toot-pick maker. The
boatman, porter or groom is eligible to
the grade of pasha. The butcher OF to-
day may be the generalissimo of to-
morrow, and the lowest slave may be-
come grand vizier.
The agricultural possibilities Of the
Amazon valley are very extensive.
The soil is fertile, and there are no
droughts, frosts or grasshoppers.
Products are mostly tropical, cereals
grow rank but produce no grain. rice
and tapioca are the only breadstuffs;
sugar, coffee, rubber, cacao and cotton
all do well. The lowlands form good
pasturage, but are liable to floods.
Since the war of 1901, twenty.
two years. the military expenditures of
France have been fifteen milliards,
three hundred and sixty-eight millions
of francs, or about IS, 800, 900, 600. This
sum is exclusive Of the five milliards
paid to Germany as an indemnity. of
the sum expended on the navy and of
the amount used in building strategic
railroads and the payment OF military
pensions
The new tax upon bicycles in
France will be 81. As there are about
$4,000 cyclists, the revenue will be
about $3.50. 600. Cycles used for bust
ness, such as those employed by street
messengers. pay half duty. Those in
the army and the government service
will be exempt The cyclists, as rule,
do not object the tax. for the reason
that they expect some special legisla-
ton in return.
The custom of adoption is universal
in Japan, where it is practical to keep
family name from becoming instinct.
Indeed, there is scarcely family In
which it has not at some time or other
been practiced. A person who has no
male issue adopts a son, and if he has q
daughter, often gives her to him in
marriage. A youth. or even a child,
who may be the head Of family, often
adopts, on the point of dying. D son
sometimes older than himself to sue
coed him.
The finest caves in England are
those in Derbyshire, Of which the Peak
cave at Castleton Is noted for its gran
deur. 1t is rather a succession of caves,
and is situated at the extremity of a
deep rocky gorge Immediately beneath
the Peak castle. The entrance is a
large archway in the cliff ~ feet high
and 100 feet wide. A long hall or cor
ridor runs for 100 yards into the noun
tain, contracting as it proceeds into a
mere gallery, and, when this is passed,
another large cave is reached.
The German socialists report that
they control seventy newspaper organs,
of which twenty-five are political
dailies. The subsidies granted to some
of them amount to $4,000 marks year.
The Vorwaets, the leading socialist
organ, circulates about SO, 900 copies,
and makes money. The socialist book
trade is also growing. Sentences
passed upon socialists during the
twelve months ending September ag-
gregated 1T years imprisonment and
10000 marks. The year before they
were SO years and Is, 900 marks