The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-02-18

and that as soon as the exhilaratins
novelty of the wheel wears Off, the four
footed nag is reinstated.
According to the Novoe yremya, OF
st. Petersburg, France will be menaced
during the coming spring with an in
vasion of the "tchouma," or bubonic
plague, which is now prevalent in the
region round about Bombay, in Asia.
DR.. Roux, of the Institute, in the Rue
DuDoit, Paris, announces that his col
league, DR.. Yersin, has just left Paris
for Tonquin armed with serum which
will allow him to combat successfully
the dread disease. Concerning DR..
Yersin. DR.. Roux says: This young
physician went to Hong Kong in 1881
in order to study the pest, and during
the following year he continued his
meteorological studies at the lnstitut
Pasteur. As soon as he was able TO
unite the elements Of serum antago-
nistic to the tchouma he departed for
Canton and Annoy. The result of his
experiments has been that of twenty
seven cases treated he lost only two, or
less than 10 per cent, whereas the us
ual mortality of the persons stricken
is so per cent, especially in Bombay,
wher the serum is not employed
While it might elicit some differ
ence of opinion to say that national
debt is an evidence of progress, 1t is
nevertheless a fact that some Of the
are burdened with heavy national OBJ
legations. In round numbers the Pail
Mall Gazette estimates the present ma
tional debt of the world at $29,00O,0oo,-
600 in federal money, as opposed 10
500. 750, 100000 in 1875. During the
last twenty years England, Germany
and the United States have consider
ably reduced their Indebtedness, ana
yet within the same period OF time the
worlds aggregate debt has increased
$4,210,000,000. France is at present
the heaviest debtor nation. In 1870 the
national debt of France was only 81
800 100000, while in 1895 it had climb
ed to $4,000, 100000. Although reduced
somewhat, the national debt OF Eng
land is $4,000 100000. Russia's DEBT
has been steadily increasing for several
years. and while the exact figures can
not be given, She ranks fourth among
European powers with respect to the
burden which she carries.
After an experience of two years III
serving cheap luncheons at the hlsn
schools in Boston the idea is pro-
| nounced a success. 1t has strong APP
prevail from many parents ana also
from the principals of the schools, VINO
ascribe to it good results. The scheme
is self-supporting. For five cents
choice is given of many excellent
things. while for ten cents one may
fare finely. The management rather
| favor the ten-cent lunch in the De
| lief that it is better for the pupils 10
have as much as the spending or that
sum win provide. Soups are served,
also bread and butter, crackers, light
digestible cakes, fresh fruits, milk, CO.
Goa, and even ice cream not made, OF
| course. from over-rich cream. Pas-
try is tabooed, and in this respect the
promoters of the luncheons have to
| compete With the pie wagons when
still cater to the American appetite in
the vicinity of the schoolhouses, No
provision has been made for those 100
poor to afford even small outlay, as is
done is European countries. About
| 1,600 pupils are catered to daily, anu
the luncheon is served in less Than
twenty minutes. The practical sue
cess Of the plan has led to its introduc-
ton in other cities. Somerville (Mass)
has a different grade of prices, giving
the pupils chance to buy simply n
glass of milk, a cup of cocoa, or a
sandwich at prices ranging from two
cents up to ten cents for these ana
other things. Fitchburg is another
city which has adopted the system, aa
has Manchester, n. H., where bitter
strife between outside piemen and the
promoters of the school luncheon ended
in victory for the latter.
Until recent years the purchase OF
Alaska from the Russian Government
was regarded by many in this coun-
| try as a grave national mistake. one
reason for this impression is found i'll
the extreme northern latitude which
the peninsula occupies. Because of the
severe climate peculiar to that remote
section of the map, it was commonly
supposed that Alaska could produce
nothing short of icebergs. While the
purchase covered $4,000 square miles
and made handsome addition to the
geographical extent of the nation. it
was thought for quite while that
Congress had virtually squandered 81
100000, which was the price of the ter
ritory purchased from Russia. Since
Alaska has been recognized as Il part
of this country the serious apprehen-
sions which formerly existed in re-
gard to the purchase have gradually
disappeared. From the seal industry
alone quite handsome sum has been