The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-08-15
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

The word influence at FRS: had an
astrological meaning. 1t referred to
the subtle energy supposed to emanate
from the sun, moon and stars, and to
exercise some mystic power over the
human race.
The first state in flax seed is
Minnesota, the fields of that common
wealth yielding 2,721,9 bushels OF
seed and 5000 pounds of fiber; the sec
ond in rank is Iowa, with 2,2s2, 359
bushels of seed and 6,28l pounds OF
fiber; the third being South Dakota,
with 1901, ia bushels of seed and 3,275
pounds of fiber
The French are experimenting
with single track temporary railroad
that can be laid on a country road or
across the fields. They expect to use
it in military operations and in har-
vesting crops. The barrows and cars
used are on the bicycle principle, and
they can be operated either by hand
or horse power.
"A beetle which feeds on the lar7e
Of the potato bug has been discovered
in Jap0n by Prof. Koebele, of the Cali
fornia horticultural commission, who
recently discovered the Australian
ladybird, which is fast clearing Cali
fornia orchards of scale pests. He has
not communicated any details concern
ing the new discovery, but says he bes
heves the beetle will extermina Is SKI :.
potato bug, which has cost American
farmers so many millions of dollars.
The Latin word from which pagan
is derived originally meant . fountain
or spring; then the village which
sprang up around it, and finally the
residents in the village As Christian
ity took strong root at first in the
large centcrs of population and the
worship of the pagan deitics fingered
longest in the country and among the
country villages, it came to be under
stood that pagan or villager was. in
virtue OF his residence, worshiper of
the old gods. end thus the term ac-
quired its present significance.
Some bicyclers when ont riding
like to do queer things for the sake OF
show. There is one in New York. and
she is said 10 be cross-eyed, who whirls
along like mad behind very big pair
of green goggles, which attract every
body's notice There was one who was
seen with newspaper in front of
him, which he bent over and read. or
pretended to read, as he wheeled.
There is one who rides out in the coun-
try with big spotted dog running be-
side his machine. Many of them like
to play antics OF one kind or another.
There are wheelmen who smoke cigars
or cigarettes on the wheel, and there
are wheelwomen who chew gum on it.
New Gold Fields.-North America
is likely to find a powerful rival in
South Africa in the item of gold pro-
duction. According to the most relia-
bic figures, the product in 1898 was
about twenty-eight and half millions,
while in 1894 it was nearly thirty-nine
millions of dollars. Experts who have
studied the gold fields of South Africa
announce that that country is becom-
ing one of the most important factors
in monetary matters. The ore is in
many places exceedingly rich. and
forms pockets, streaks and veins, ana
abounds in pudding stone Pyrite peb-
bles are mixed with the gold, and there
are large veins of gold bearing quartz
Very quietly and without attracting
more attention than is necessary, min
ing parties0are being made up, and
preparations are in progress by means
of which the product of these rich
fields will furnish the basis for irnpor-
tant and extensive mining operations