The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-10-01
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

have an aggregate capitalization of
1907, 100000.
A curious illustration Of paternalism
is furnished by New Zealand. 1t is pro
posed to create pension fund for per
sons who have reached the age OF
sixty-five. A tax on public amuse-
ments is the suggested source OF rev
enue, and the sum of two dollars and
a half is to be paid weekly to each pen
sioner.
The old story of an immense herd OF
camels roaming about in Arizona mas
been revived again, and is going the
rounds of the press. The Arizona Re
publican, after saying that the story
has been denied for years, declares
that there is not a camel to be found
anywhere within the borders of Ari-
IONA. But it expects to find the story
bob up again, as usual, next year, ex-
cept that the herd of camels will be
much larger.
One of the most remarkable "mush-
room" towns ever known is Mena,
Ark, which is Just now having a boom
on account of the completion of the
Kansas City, Pittsburg ard Gulf rail
road, which taps the rsion. few
weeks ago there We not a house or
man in the L. There wasn't even
a town. Now there are 1900 people,
with several mills, numerous stores.
and hundreds of houses completed or
under construction.
BY far the longest tunnel in the
world will soon be commenced at
Sunderlake Creek, Col, and compared
to it the other great tunnels will be
mere rat holes. This tunnel will be
As miles long and it will completely
pierce a high mountain. 1t will not be
in operation till 1906, ten years being
required to build it. There will be
branch lines in the tunnel and one of
16 miles will connect Colorado City
with Cripple Creek, now 81 miles apart
by the roundabout railroad. Il
That hypnotism produces diseases of
the cerebral cortex-tbG" most impor-
tant part of the bratn-has Just been
asserted by ap.. eminent Washington
scientist. The Youths Companion
thinks That a more vital argument
against the practice is, that it places
mind and will under the control of
another. No second person has the
moral right to WELD that power unless
direct necessity compels it, and no
man or woman under ordinary circum-
stances can be morally justified in con-
ferring it.
According to recently compiled sta
tistics, the Bible is now printed in 3S1
languages. fifty-two versions having
been added in the last five years.
Forty-two of these versions are credit
ed to English and Scotch societies, and
five to American societies. Twenty
three of the languages and dialects be-
long to the African Bantu family, and
four belong to each of the Malayan,
Chinese, and Malanesian, three are in
Indian languages. two each belong to
the negro, Turk Druidian and Ham
itic groups, and one each to the Thib-
eto-Burman, Aryan and Micronesian
families.
An Alabama man is quoted in The
Washington Times as saying that a
coal company of that State will soon
be able to put coal on ocean steamers
leaving New Orleans cheaper than
any other operators can do. Millions
of dollars which have heretofore gone
into the Golfers of other States, will
now be turned into Alabama. Other
companies" he says, will be formed.
and soon every foot of ground in our
valuable mineral belt will be the
scene of mining operations. If all goes
smoothly as it now promises, the need
for Northern capital will soon cease to
be felt, and the industries of Ala
bama will be run without outside as
sistance.'
1t is rather curious that with all the
decadence of the American merchant
marine Ii Hung Chang, the visiting
Chinese Viceroy. should find the
American flag flying over the highest
type of commercial marine architec-
ture he has ever seen. He took pas
sage for the United States in an Amer
lean built steamer that eclipses any
thing he has had an opportunity of
sailing on up to this stage of his
travels. and as Orientals are apt to be
impressed by what they see more than
by what they hear, he will probably,
thinks The New York Journal, carry
to China a different idea of Americas
place among maritime countries from
that prevalent in Europe.
The United States Postoffice Depart
ment has decided to establish a sys-
TEN to facilitate transmission of mail
matter by railway trains other than
the regular mail trains. 1t proposes to
open sub-offices in the Eastern depots
thirty minutes before the departure of
such trains as do not have the regular
mail service, for the reception of mail
matter which is placed in closed
pouches and sent directly to destina-
ton. This will practically make every
train available for speedy transmits