The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
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 the Russian Ga
zette, says it would be impossible for
him to describe the real situation of the
people ID 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
This land is remarkable for its i'm
mense area of arid sand upon which
the only green thing that flourishes is
the inevitable gumtree. OF grass there
is almost none, and even the kanga-
roos are half starved. The non-arrival
of cargo of live stock by steamer
from South Australia is sometimes a
serious matter in the more western col
ony.
The Royal Humane society has
awarded its silver medal to Boatswain
M'Dermott for an extraordinary feat of
bravery. Two sailors of the war ship
Swallow were bathing from boat in
the sea off Zanzibar, when shark APP
peared. M'Dermott, who remained in
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-
tion 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 te
German and Belgian firms, English
firms being entirely left out.
National prizes for orchards were
offered in New South Wales, Australia
It 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 IS 5000, or s185 per acre
another of fifteen acres giving profit
of 50. 200, or more than s145 per acre
| while an orchard of less than ten acres
| gave profit of nearly 81, 500, or s15t
per acre, and a small orchard of foul
acres gave profits of only $3.50.
Efforts are being made to establish
o trade for South African tomatoes
and potatoes in London. Tomatoe.
would be needed in the London marke'
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-
BILE The London vegetable dealers ar,
prepared to pay from one and one-hal
to two cents per pound for tomatoes
which would pay the farmers, one o
whom guarantees to supply from eighty
to one hundred tons Of the Acme ant
| Perfection varieties.
Out of population of 10. 600, 900 il
Prussia only 2,435.s5s persons posses
an income sof over 900 marks a year
which is equal to about $685. This fac
is shown by the first years results o
the new income tax in Prussia. Tw'
million one hundred and eighteen thou
sand nine hundred and sixty-nine pa,
income tax on the lowest scale-that is
an income of between 900 and 800
marks. Only 1o.69s persons have in
comes of over 30. 600 marks, or abou
81, coo year. The highest income de
clared is 6,760.00 Marks and from tn
locality where it was registered tn
person is supposed to be Krupp, tn
/ gun-maker of Essen.