The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-20
OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

Bank of England notes are numbered
backWardS-that is, from ! to 600 hence
the figures 90, Dol.
The huge guns of modern navies can be
fired only about seventy-five times, when
they become worn out.
America is America to all the world, and
is pronounced in the same way except in
France, where it becomes Amerique
A Philadelphia man wrote his will on the
fly leaf of a Bible, and the court compelled
the whole book to be filed for probate.
Cobeza di vaca explored the ella river
country in 1885, and reported that the ma
tives were dressed in cotton garments.
During the siege of Sebastopol, in 1S54-55
the batteries of the allied armies threw
10000 tons Of shot and shell into the be-
sieged city.
Osaka has been called the New York of
Japan. With the manufacturing villages
that cluster around it, it has population
of about 100000.
The eagle first appeared on the seal of
the United States in q design submitted to
Congress by William Barton, of Philadel-
phia, in 1882. The device was adopted June
20 of that year.
Helmets made of aluminium, to be COW
cred with waterproof cloth of various
colors, according to the branch of the serv-
ice wearing it, are about to be adopted in
the French army.
When Queen Victoria assembled the throne
more than Al per cent. of the people in Brit
ish islands could not write their names
The proportion in that condition has now
Only twenty years have passed since
Stanley solved the mystery of the Congo
river. To-day fifty-five steamers ply on it's
waters; half of them belong to the Congo
State, the other to foreign companies.
The temperance people of Portland, Me-,
have been getting snap shots in some of
the Portland saloons of bartenders, custo-
mers, pictures back of the bars and even
ing drink.
Mexico has been manufacturing cotton
goods for centuries, the first cotton mill on
a considerable scale having been estab-
lished in Pueblo by an enterprising Span
lard in the sixteenth century, not long after
the founding of that city.
Bigamy is not a crime in Iowa at pres
emf When the States code of laws was
revised the legal experts forgot to put in
section forbidding man to have more than
one wife at time. The Legislature is
about to remedy the omission.
The aggregate bonded debt of the cities
of the United States is over $500 900, 900; that
of the cities of England 81 025 900 900; that
of the cities OF France, $640, 100000 In the
debt of American cities was $116,0 900, and
of those of England, $685., 100000.
Lake Rikwa, or Leopold, between Lakes
Tanganyika and Nyassa, in Central Africa
ago, was $50 miles long by 80 broad, is re-
ported by recent travellers to have closed
a plain covered with thick woods.
In the forests of Nubia grows a tree from
which, when Swayed by the wind, come
strange sounds like the note of a flute, fife,
whistle. The vocal tree is a terror to
the natives. The sounds are caused by the
wind blowing through little holes in the
trees that have been made by insects.
Canada has homestead law. Farm lots
head of a family and one hundred TO each
male adult, on condition of their building
a log house 16x20 feet, cultivating fifteen
acres in every hundred and residing six
months in each year during five years on
the property.
There are in Germany no less than 1000
women marble workers, $40 feminine black
smiths, 800 perforated masons, 147 female
timers, besides so roadmakers SO skaters, 10
clockmakers, armorers, all of the gentler
sex, also three lady chimney sweepers and
a humber of ouarrywomen and female
workers in sewers.
Floating boys" are found in the Lake of
the Woods and other waters Of Minnesota.
The boys nourish large number of plants
shrubs and even small trees, as well as
little animals. They drift about with the
winds, and sometimes get caught in shell
tered coves, where they remain and become
fixed to the bottom.
Lord Kelvin estimates the time since the
earth became sufficiently cool to become
the abode Of plants and animals to be about
twenty million years. within limits of error
ranging between fifteen million and thirty
million years. From similar physical data
Clarence Killing has made an estimate near
ly agreeing with this.
Carolina Legislature makes it unlawful to
have hip-pocket in the rear of the trous-
ers or coat. Persons who may be permit
ted, for good reason. to carry a gun are
granted license, but must also wear con-
spicuously metal badge which bears the
legend: II have my gun concealed
Several of the ladies of Monsoon, Me-,
have organized a walking club. They meet
at designated spot and walk from 7:30 to
s a. m. During the week past their number
has increased to twenty Persons OF all
ages join the club, from twenty TO eighty
nine years. Mrs Chaplin. who is over eighty
years old. was seen at the head of the line
few mornings ago.
The most extraordinary things were eaten
in the reign Of julius Caesar. Varro. a
writer of the time. gives rules for fattening
rats for the table, and the menus included
sharks flesh, thiStles. cacu and sea net
ties. The cooks were exceptionally skill
full. One of them served a whole pig, boiled
with thrushes, mincemeat. yolks OF eggs
and spices