The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-08-17
FOREIGN GOSSIP.

"A suburban beadle whose charge -
near Glasgow has been reprimanded by
his kirk session for taking the copper
collections of the plate" to neigh
boring pub on the Monday and getting
silver exchange prior to lodging the
offertory in the bank.
The best tea in Japan is raised In
districts where snow often falls to the
caves Of the houses. Many plants will
survive under such snow that are not
hardy even in the southern states. By
the same rule some varieties OF Japa-
nese lilies will survive Vermont win
tiers that are not hardy in Missouri.
With population about half that
In this country. France is getting
along toward the billion dollar mark
In annual expenses. The interest ON
the national debt is 1870. O00, 900, and
the cost of the army and navy SlSo. 00o.-
900. The revenues this year are csti-
mated at s66s, 600, 900, and a deficit of
about $40. 900. 900 is probable.
Lord Ronald Cover, who is . good
deal of swell in England, writes to a
London newspaper that "cycling has
become not only a nuisance in town
and country, but danger. Even in
our once quiet country lanes one is liza
BILE to be cut in halves by some demon
AIRY or diabolical 'Arriet careening
like so many Mazeppas on their infer
nal machines"
-Messalina, the infamous wife Of
Claudius Cesar, was small and lively.
She had black eyes. that sparkled when
she talked, and persuading, pleading
way that no one could resist. 1t was
said of her that she was so clever at
hypocrisy that she could smile on her
lover and lean caressingly on his bosom
while he drank the poison her own
hands had prepared.
Some interesting discoveries have
recently been made about animal life
on the Hawaiian islands. It appears
that all the land and fresh water
shells are peculiar to the locality. Nor
is this all. Fifty-seven out of the sew
enty-eight species of birds and seven
hundred out of the one thousand
species of insects do not exist in any
other portion of the globe.
-Germany's imperial standard is go
ing to make matters unpleasant for
the French visitors at Kiel. 1t Is OF
yellow silk, with black Maltese cross
bearing the imperial arms in the cen.
| ter, and on the arms the words, "Gott
init uns. $780, the date of the estab.
lishment of the empire, and also OF the
taking of Alsace-Lorraine. When the
emperor visits the French men-of-war,
as matter of etiquette they must fly
this flag at the mast head.
| A new issue of copper coinage is
being made in England to bring out
Queen victor's title of empress of In
dia. The reverse is the same as on the
old coins, the figure of britannia seat
ed, but the diverse is new head o.
the queen, with the inscription VIC
toria Del Ora. Britt. Regina Fid. Def
Ind. Imp. "by the Grace of God. Queer
of the Britains, Defender of the Faith
Empress of India" The inscription i
already on the gold and silver coins
| Emperor Francis Joseph, who wa
made field marshal in the PrussiaI
army. in succession to the late Arch
duke Albrecht, has just received hi
marshal's baton. 1t is of chased gold
inlaid with diamonds. rubies, and 9th
er precious stones between which ar
enamelled oak leaves on red AM
white ground; at one end is the Prus
sian eagle with the imperial crown
The staff bears the inscription: evil
liam the Second, King of Prussia. t
his highly esteemed ally, Francis 10
seph, Emperor of Austria, King o
hungary"
The cantharides, or Spanish flies
used for raising blisters on the cuticl'
of afflicted humanity, are found il
Spain, whence the name. At certain
times of the year they appear in grea'
swarms, giving forth fetid and ex
tremely offensive odor. by which thu
presence of a swarm of the insects MAJ
be detected at a considerable distance
It is said by one chemical authority
that the active principle Of the insec
is q species Of acid.