Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-10
FACTS IN A FEW LINES.

tive soldiers.
The crows of Ceylon are protected by
the people, because they purify the at
mosphere by acting as scavengers.
There have been over 60 lions in the
London ZOO the last 80 years, many be-
ing presents from the queen or mem-
beers of the royal family.
The bulk of the Russian cavalry is
composed of dragons, who are trained
TO fight on foot as well as In the sad
die and are drilled to attack in mass.
London is growing so rapidly and the
population is moving so far away from
the old centers that the suburban thea
ter is becoming an institution Of impor-
lance.
Sir Richard Phillips says that In the
Hebrew language there are l. 700 rad
ical words. 1t is said that the Sanskrit
language contains ~ vowels and "a
consonants.
1t is claimed for Ireland that, with
its less than 1000, 900 population, it
has more centenarians than any country
in Europe--perhaps in the world. They
number 57S.
Cardinal Mezzofanti spoke ia Ian
guages and dialects, 90 of them with
such ease and fiuency that he was some
times mistaken for "A native of the lands
where they We're used
The German language has greater
power of combination of words than
any other European tongue. By the
liberal use of the hyphen almost any
combination may be formed.
Skates made of gold are popular in
st. Petersburg. One lady had the blades
of her skates enriched with diamonds.
Skates set with pearls and precious
stones have also been in fashion.
In 1915 pneumatic springs were pro-
posed to increase the comfort OF car
riages, and it was then that the idea Of
pneumatic tires presented itself to Will
liam Thomson, O. E., Of London.
The japanese are now getting used to
glass. AT first glass in a railway car
riage window had to be smeared with
streaks of white paint to keep passen-
gers from poking their heads through it.
While pearls have long maintained
popularity in Europe surprising that Of
any other gem, it is only within COM
paratively brief period that they have
been so highly esteemed in the United
States.
An unbreakable carriage shaft has
been invented. having joint which
permits it to fold when the horse falls
Thus in whatever position the unfortu-
nate creature may lie on or under the
shaft the latter will remain undamaged
England has more than six times as
much capital in railways as Scotland,
and Scotland more than three times as
much as Ireland. The mileage open is
14,651 miles i'll England and Wales,
$3.50 in Scotland and 3,173 in Ireland.
The pearls from Australia and Pana-
ma are all of medium and large size.
Generally speaking, the India pearls
command the highest prices, because of
their superior form (many of them be-
ing perfectly round) and their brilliant
luster.
1t would seem that the influence of
climate upon national character has
been greatly exaggerated, says recent
writer. Assyria, Babylonia, Egypt and
Carthage, situated in hot ATTITUDES,
were among the most masterful nations
of antiquity.
Fair haired people are becoming less
numerous than formerly. The ancient
Jews were fair haired race; now they
are, with few exceptions, dark. So it is
III a lesser degree with the Irish, among
whom $50 years ago dark haired per-
son was almost unknown.
A curious custom is made known by
a correspondent in Berlin. The butch
ers of that town are in the habit of in-
forming their customers of the days ON
which fresh sausages are made by
placing chair, covered with large,
clean apron, at the side of the shop door.
The pearl shell fisheries of the Mer-
GUAM archipelago, in the government
of Burma, comprise !. 900 square miles
The gathering of pearl shells is the chief
industry, though of course pearls are
also found. The banks are rented from
the government and rights to fish sublet
on royalty.
A Frenchman's pipe recently saved
him from Disagreement. He was at
tackled by discharged waiter, who
threw "a bottle of vitriol at his face
The bottle broke ON the pipe he was
smoking, sending the greater part of its
contents into the face of his assailant,
who was terribly burned.
The first carriage supplied with pneu-
matte tires was built for the present
Duke of Northumberland, and they
were afterward adopted for the motor
car, but the wheels were so constantly
requiring repairs that the idea was
finally abandoned. The cost was another
drawback, the price of these being
81 $50 pair.
The great pyramid Of Cheops is the
largest structure ever erected by the
hand Of man. It's original dimensions
at the base were 764 square feet and
its perpendicular height in the highest
point 44S feet. 1t covers four acres, 1
rood and 30 rods of ground and has
been estimated by an eminent English
architect to have cost not less than
$165, 900, 900.