The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-03-04
FOREIGN GOSSIP.

I'm England, France, Germany and
Belgium the number of births per thou
sand of population is steadily falling.
The rate of decrease is slower in some
of these countries, but is marked in all.
During the last decade he birth rate
In England has fallen from BAT to 30.2
per thousand; in Belgium from S1.5 to
2s.7; in Germany from $50 to s5.7, and
in France from rs to 21.s.
"A touching old rural custom still
prevails in the western parts of France
during the harvest season. On the
edge of field bordering the highway
sheaf of grain is left standing, to which
all the peasants of the village contrib
ute, and which is called the strangers
sheaf." as it is the property of the first
tramp or homeless wayfarer who may
care to carry it away and profit by its
price.
1T is reported in the Journal du
Jardin d. Acclimatation that eight or
ten days before the appearance of
cholera in Hamburg last summer, all
the sparrows and other birds left the
town and suburbs and did not return
until the plague had completely disap-
peared. The same thing happened in
Marseilles and Toulon in 1884 a day or
two before the cholera visited those
towns. Similar migrations have been
noticed in different parts Of Italy, Aus
tria and Russia, always some days be-
fore the appearance of cholera.
The women of some portions of Ire
land inherit unusual skill in fine hand
sewing and embroidery from many
generations, says Miss Emily Rayner,
burt few of them on coming to this
country make use of their skill. A
lady, who had suffered much from the
blundcrs and mishaps of q willing
but incapable Irish girl, said in de-
spair: s'What can you do, Mary?"
"And, sure" said the girl, with tears in
her eyes. cts embroidery that car do,
marin, and do it to please both yer eye
and yer heart" The mistres permitted
her to try some fine embroidery on
silk, quite expecting that it would be
ruined, and discovered that her I'M
lucky handmade was an accomplished
artist with the needle, and Mary was
soon transferred to the sewing-room.
Great efforts are making in Vienna
to build up there toy-making indus
try to compete with the famous fac
tories Of Germany and France. An ex-
hibition of toys is now being held in
the Austrian capital, at which all the
best models Of German and French toys
are shown for the Viennese artisans to
copy. Lectures on the subject of toy
making are delivered, in which the best
articles to make and the best way to
make them are discussed. The idea is
to establish a cottage industry for the
manufacture of such toys as can not be
made by machinery, the French and
Germans being considered beyond COM
petition in the latter class. Some in
stances of marvellous cheapness in pro-
duction are given. A paint box, with
seven cakes of colors and several
brushes. is turned out at Sonneberg, in
Thuringen, for half cent
Mime. Boudin, ook of Scissors,
won prize of 300, 900 francs in connec-
ton with the City of Paris Loan in
1883, and had nothing but trouble
since. Her husband. who had pre-
viously deserted her, tried to avail him
self of the deficiencies of French law,
which does not recognize very def
nitely a married woman's right to hold
property, to obtain possession of the
entire amount for his sole benefit.
Then NJ. Dogny, a former employer of
Nine Boudin's, claimed the prize on the
allegation that he boupht the ticket
for the cook with one for himself and
his wife gave up the wrong ticket. At
ter much litigation the -woman's hus-
band died and his heir agreed to accept
half the prize in settlement. M. Doggy
compromised his claim for 80. 900 francs.
This left Nine. Boudin but 10000
francs. Now Dogny has been arrested,
charged with making fraudulent
claim, and a lawyer is being prose-
cuted for embezzling $1,000 francs of
the share awarded to the heirs Of the
woman's husband.