The Indianapolis journal., 1898-12-11
OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

Profanity is forbidden by both the army
and the navy regulations OF the United
States
Professor Proctor asserts that 1OO,OOOOOO
people lived and died in America before Co.
lumbuSs discovery.
Playing cards were first printed about 1850
1t is estimated that the present annual out
put exceeds 100000 year.
The library of Gottingen has Bible writ
ten on palm leaves. There are 5S7S pages,
each made of a single leaf
In a Mexican home the sofa is the seat of
honor. and a guest does not take a seat
upon it until requested to do so.
The population of the earth at the time of
Emperor Augustus is estimated at $4,000 600.
1t is now estimated TO be about 1850. O0O 0C0.
Beef is never seen at Chinese table
oxen and cows capable of working the plow
being accounted too valuable to the farmer
TO be consigned to the butcher.
The sawmills of Portland last year cut
13e 0o0C00 feet of lumber, at $S per thousand,
worth $104,OO0 600. The cut of the State brings
the total value of Oregon'S lumber produc-
tien to $4,S9S, ,5S5,O43.
Two crocodiles in a circus at Bayeux
France. got into a fight, in which the hind
leg of one of the beasts was badly lacerated
A veterinary surgeon was called in, who
aaputated the leg successfully, the croco-
dile being as lively as ever.
In Manila most of the houses have tiny
window panes made of translucent oyster
shells instead of glass. An average window
six feet high by four feet wide, contains 260
shells. which temper the heat and light of
the sun and prevent blindness.
1t is curious to note that wood tar is pre-
pared just as it was in the fourth century
b.. c. A bank is chosen and a hole dug,
into which the wood is placed, covered with
turf. fire is lighted underneath and the
tar slowly dripS into the barrels placed to
receive It,
The earliest record of the presence of
gypsies in Europe is in 1417. They said that
they came from Egypt but it now seems
he
mass of their language is of Indian origin,
though there are also some Greek and Slavic
loan words.
The best hotel in San Juan, Porto Rico.
charges $2 day. but the sleeping rooms
all open into courts, have no outside win
dows and are extremely hot Under Snan-
iSh law, in towns where houses ioin no out
side windows are allowed
1t is curious fact that exactly as many
boys as girls were born in London during
the week before last-1,S4S of each, making
2,6S6 births in all. Such tie is a rare oc-
currengce. There was, however. similar
when l,lbI OF each sex were born.
Oberammergau is making ready to per-
form the Passion play in 1900, though the
consent of the Bavarian government has not
yet been obtained. Most of the parts win be
taken probably by the persons who acted
them in 1890. The managers count on a verv
exhibition.
The lack of a timber supply for the world
Is not likely 10 cause much uneasiness for
some years yet II is stated that I'm the
province Of Archangel, Russia there are
forests belonging TO the government which
cover SS91s,40o acres, in which the ring of
the woodsman's ak has, as yet scarcely
been heard.
a scientist, looking for microbes. saws
there are absolutely none on the Swiss
mountains at an altitude of 1000 feet Here
Is the place for the purity party and scare
r1ongers, who are forever horrifying the
public with the dismal fear of microbes.
would have to t9Ae their supply with them
most of which are useful TO man.
a ferry for loaded cars is talked of be
tween Tampa, Fla, and Havana The idea.
according TO Southern paper is to build
suitable tracks at both ends and load cars in
Havana with fruit and perishable goods riIn
them on the ferry boat and then scud Them
away across the gulf TO Tampa run them on
the tracks and then away to Northern desti-
nations
Mrs. Ann Smith. of Worcester. England.
ll0 years 81 age, has spent over one hum
dred years of her life in travelling from fair
70 fair in van. She has had sixteen chill
aren. ard one OF her daughters now eighty
years OF age has also had sixteen Mrs
hmlth eats four meals day, drinks spar
lngiy Of intoxicants smokes clay pine
ateadiiy and attends to all her household
duties herself.