People's voice., 1893-01-20
FOREIGN GOSSIP.

Mud baths were common among
The ancients, the mud on the seashore
and the slime of rivers being especially
priced for this purpose. The Tartars
and Egyptians still use them in certain
diseases. They are taken by people at
many places on the continent Of Eu-
rope, among which may be named Dri-
burg, Eilsen, Neundorf, Pyrmont, Spa,
Marienbad, Franzensbraun, Eyer, Kis-
singer and Trenlitz.
-Tolstoi, writing in tie Russian Ga
zette. says it would be impossible for
him to describe the real situation of the
people in the famine district. Famine
again threatens the district in which
he lives. The rye harvest has been very
poor, and oats have entirely failed.
There is a complete dearth of firing.
and, added to this, the people have used
up their last reserve of strength in the
miseries they endured last winter.
Western Australia with its enor-
nous territory does not supply enough
cattle and sheep for local consumption.
This land is remarkable for its i'm.
mense area of arid sand upon which
the only green thing that fourishes is
the inevitable gumtree. OF grass there
is almost none, and even the kanga-
roos are half starved. The non-arrival
of a cargo Of live stock by steamer
from South Australia is sometimes a
serious matter in the more western COL
onv.
The Royal Humane society has
awarded its silver medal to Boatswain
MDermott for an extraordinary feat of
bravery. Two sailors of the war ship
Swallow were bathing from boat in
the sea off Zanzibar, when a shark ap-
peared. M'Dermott, who remained in
the boat, was clever enough to leap
from the boat square on the sharks
back just as the latter came alongside
for his prey. The fish was frightened
off for time enough to pull all three
men aboard the boat
The sultan of Turkey has made a
vigorous break through the trammels
of national tradition, and has given an
order that Turkey shall take place
in the march of civilization. He has
granted concessions for the construc-
ton of long railways which will open
up his territory to the east. the north
and the south, all having their termini
at Constantinople. One is to extend
to Damascus and another. the Tigris &
Euphrates railway, to the Persian gulf.
The concessions have been granted to
German and Belgian firms, English
firms being entirely left out.
National prizes for orchards were
offered in New South Wales, Australia.
1t was found that the smallest orchards
paid the least profit per acre, the
largest paid more than the smallest,
but those of medium size paid the best.
From forty-acre orchard the net
profits were $1,000, or s135 per acre;
another of fifteen acres giving profit
of S2,2OO or more than S145 per acre,
while an orchard of less than ten acres
gave a profit of nearly 81, 800, or $3.50
per acre, and a small orchard of four
acres gave profits of only $3.50.
Efforts are being made to establish
a trade for South African tomatoes
and potatoes in London. Tomatoes
would be needed in the London market
during January, February and March.
and potatoes during February, March
and April and it is urged that the lat
ter be grown in red soil where posi-
bic. The London vegetable dealers are
prepared to pay from one and one-half
to two cents per pound for tomatoes,
which would pay the farmers, one of
whom guarantees to supply from eighty
to one hundred tons of the Acme and
perfection varieties.
Out of a population of 20. 900, 900 in
Prussia only 9,4S5,S5S persons possess
an income ,of over 900 marks a year.
which is equal to about sS25. This fact
is shown by the first years results of
the new income tax in Prussia. Two
million one hundred and eighteen thou
sand nine hundred and sixty-nine pay
income tax on the lowest is,
an income of between 900 and 5000
marks. Only 1O,69S persons have in
comes of over $4,000 marks, or about
$1,000 year The highest income de-
clared is 6,76O,OOO marks, and from the
locality where it was registered the
person is supposed to be Krupp, the
gun-maker of Essen.