The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05
OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

taxes than the people Of any other natior
on the globe.
1t is said that the Prince OF Wales re.
ceives two hundred begging letters on ar
average every day.
People in Madison county. Kentucky
who have paid their taxes are entitled to be
married free by the sheriff.
In Silesia there is a superstition that a
boy born on Christmas day must be brought
up a lawyer or he will become thief.
The annual report of the coroner of New
York shows that during the last year 4,50t
women were buried in the potter's field.
The average duration of human life in
European countries Is greatest in sweden
and Norway and lowest in Italy and Aus
tria.
The celebration OF Christmas Is said by
the church historians to have been formal
ly Instituted by Pope Telesphorus, who died
A. ID. 13S.
Greenwich records show that for fourteen
years there has been an average of only
twenty hours of sunshine in London in
December.
Christmas is respected by Mohammedan
nations, though not observed. 1t IS consid-
cred second in sanctity to the birthday OF
Mohammed.
In Britain a man is not bound TO con-
tribute to the support of his brothers and
brothers and sisters children.
In England the Christmas decorations
may remain in the churches during the
month OF January but must all be cleared
away before Feb. 2. or Candlemas day.
admiration and envy of all South American
countries, the single gold standard being In
force and the public debt being of quite in
significant proportions. -
BY the law of Scotland the bushes or
shrubs planted in The garden belong 10 the
landlord, and the tenant cannot remove
them at the end of his tenancy. The Eng
lish law is the same on this point.
In several towns in Holland a birth is
announced by exposing at the door SILK
pin cushion covered and edged by plated
lace, the sex of the infant being shown by
the color-for boy. red; girl, white.
Count De Gobelin says that cards came
from the ancient Egyptians, but. the ma
jority of authors agree upon their French
origin, and assert that they were invented
to amuse the lucid intervals of Charles vi,
who had fallen into state OF Insanity.
Most of the ivory that comes to the mar
ket is "dead''-that Is, ivory taken from
animals long since dead, and which has
been stored away by the natives for years.
There is no danger in Africa of the supply
being exhausted for several generations at
least.
In 1913. after the introduction of metal
pins as an article of feminine use they be-
were very expensive. and for a gentleman
to make his lady friends a present OF four
or five pins was considered very happy
thought
spread consumption. Some parrots brought
from Brazil died two years ago OF mys-
terious disease resembling consumption, ana
recently several persons at Versailles and
Maissons- Lafftte have died of what seems
to be the same disease.
An ivy bush. half century ago, was the
common sign of taverns-as branch or
nistletoe Is to the present day In Norman
dy-and especially OF private houses where
beer and wine could be obtained by trav-
elers In France a peasant who, sells his
vineyard has to hang green push over MS
doorpost
The christian Era was suggested or de-
yised by Dionysius Exiguus, a Roman
monk, who, in 527, began its use,. and pro-
posed that all public and private documents
should be dated I'm the year or our Lord.
1t did not come into general use in France
until the eighth century. nor IN England I'M
til July, SIG.
young man named Johnson, an employe
OF one of the DanbuIy Comm baggagemen,
is a curiosity in his way. He is seventeen
years old. and measures six feet seven
inches in his stocking feet. With his shoes
height. During the past year he has grown
nearly foot.
Melrose, Conn.,, has probably the largest
cider mills in the country, which have used
They have shipped their cider and vinegar
to almost every State in the Union They
shipped carload OF cider to Illinois last
week. and have about f1ye hundred barrels
Of cider stored for vinegar.
The marshy ground OF the Ganges delta,
with It's vast masses OF vegetation. decay
ing under a tropical sun, Is the native home
OF the cholera. In that pestilential region
the cholera and plague are found every
year, and all the year round. Every ohol-
era epidemic which has desolated Europe.
every visitation OF the plague, Is believed
to have started from the mouth OF the
Ganges.
Iceland is a model country. there being
neither prisons, soldiers, drunkenness nor
police. Colonized in S74, IL soon after be-
came independent, and its isoiated position,
far away from the beaten track of ocean
has preserved its population
from many of the vices which seem al
most inseparable from a high state OF COM
mercial prosperity and extensive inter-
course with the rest OF mankind.
Few hostesses understand the art Of pour
ing tea and coffee, simple as IL appears.
AS rule. the guest of honor is offered the
first cup, which is the weakest, and the
If served at all. are given the last
and strongest. When Ii Is desired to have
all the cups OF uniform strength, one should
pour little into each, and then begin over
again, reversing the order. In England this
Is so well understood that a pourer of tea
or coffee does not begin to replenish the
cups till all are before her.