The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-25
OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

Among the Egyptians embalming ceased
about 700 A. d.
1t is customary in China to congratulate
a fat man, because it is taken for granted
that he must be rich.
A Japanese bride gives her wedding pres
entS to her parents as some slight recon-
pense for their trouble in rearing her.
The average number of horses killed in
Spanish bl:ll fights every year exceeds 5000,
While froIS 1000 to 1900 bulls are sacrificed.
The Kurds and Cossacks believe that
Mount Ararat is guarded by an unearthly
being, and that no man can ascend the peak
and live.
At Swedish weddings. among the middle
and lower classes, the bridegroom carries
whip This is an emblem of his authority in
the domestic circle
Excepting grape wine, the oldest alcoholic
beverage known to man is sake, rice wine.
1t has been used by the japanese for over
two thousand years.
Lemon baths are popular in the West
Indies. Three or four lemons are cut up and
left to- soak in water half an hour. The
bath is very refreshing.
Artificial flowers were unknown to the an
cient civilized nations of Europe. They are
first mentioned in Italy in the fourteenth
century, but in China they were known at
an earlier date.
Among the regulations posted by a New
England railroad for the guidance of the
wearerS of its uniforms is the following:
The, cap shall be worn straight, neither
Ilpp6Q Sideways HOT DdCkWdfuS.
In 1923 there were LOSS debtors imprisoned
in Philadelphia, their debts amounting to
SIS, 400; the expense of keeping them was
$9O2076, paid by the city; the amount of debts
recovered by this process was 1926.
Only seventy years have elapsed since the
first railway in the world was finished. Dur
ing that comparatively brief period 100000
miles have been constructed, the British
empire accounting for about a sixth.
An ambulance of the Kilrush England
worxhouse was recently swooped down upon
by the sheriff Just as it was starting for a
$lOO
The magnitude of the Escurlal, the great
Spanish palace, may be inferred from the
fact that it would take four days to go
through all the rooms and apartments, the
length of the way being reckoned at about
120 miles.
Ninety-fve per cent. of all the toothpicks
made in the United States are formed from
white birch timber in Franklin county,
Maine, and yet scarcely more than one hum
dred persons are employed in the industry in
that State.
Cocoanut shells make excellent fuel. The
enormous amount of oil they contain causes
them to take fire at once Many hotel keep
ers in England recognize the fact and buy
large quantities of them to mix with coal,
fire-lighters.
Debtors in Siam, with three months in ar
rears, can be seized by the creditors and
compelled to work out their Indebtedness
Should d debtor run away, his father, his
wife or his children may be held in slavery
until the debt is Cancelled.
A curious custom is made known by a
correspondent in Berlin. The butchers of
that town are in the habit of informing their
customers of the days on which fresh
sausages are made by placing a chair COW
cred with large, clean apron, at the side
of the shop door.
The wedding ring is worn on the third
finger of the left hand because it was be-
leved by the Egyptians to be directly con-
nected by a slender nerve to the heart it
self. And these ancient wOrshipers of Isis
held this finger sacred to Apollo and the
sun, and, therefore, gold was the metal
chosen for the ring.
The estimated value of the Sultan's Jewels
is $40, COO 600. If his Majesty has any hobby
of jewels and Witnessing private theatricals.
No professional of note-be he actor, singer
or cOnjurOr-pdSSeS through COnStantinople
without an invitation from the Sultan. He
always pays for these performances in Bank
of England notes.
Grenoble is the place where most of the
kid gloves come from. At this place alone
featured annually This represents a value
of &1 600 to 81, 100000 and gives employ
ment to p, 900 working people of both sexes
There are 1900 men and q, 900 women resid-
ing within radius of thirty-eight miles
round Grenoble who live by this work.
Russia possesses the largest standing
army on earth. Every year some 2S0 900
in time of peace number 100000 men. On a
war footing this rises to 100000, and, call
ing out the reserves. would increase it to
6947, 600 well-trained soldiers. Should neces-
sity arise, the militia would be called out.
bringing the Gar forces up to 9,OO00 900