The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-09-15
CURRENT TOPICS.

lNt cfUtu5 ItluIUh ol htN 'hho Will
it is reported show an increase in pop
ulation Of 8. GOO or more.
The outside paupers cost the county
now 81. 300 year. The Board # Super.
visofs met last saturday and succeeded
in reducing this expense by about $500.
Louisa News.
The figures show that during last
month there was decrease Of 81, 96l
bicycle riders in Fairmont Park, Phil
adelphia as compared with the same
period in 1899.
Msj9r Holmes Conrad. who was
Solicitor General Of the United States
under Oleveland's last Administration
and a strong Gold Democrat announces
his purpose to support Bryan.
Wm T. Ward, Of Cusf,ld was SEN
teuced to one year 10 st. Mary's Indus
trial School by u s. court for opening
a letIler and stealing 80 cents therefrom.
The letter was address to Miss Margaret
Stewart, Of Acc0mac county.
Experiments in the Department OF
Agriculture prove that the dragon fly,
heretofore regarded as pest, is deadly
foe to the mosquito, and the department
advises the Jersey farmers TO go into
the dragon fly business without delay.
Gen Fitz Lee says former Cuban
soldiers show spirit Of bitterness
against the Americans. They look upon
Americans as iutruders and desire 10
rule without aid or advice Of the United
States or the presence OF an American
soldier
The Postmaster. General has received
communication from +. W. Vaille
Director OF Posts in the Philippines,
showing that there will be a surplus Of
receipts over expenditures up 20 June
3G Of $40, 40. This does not include
fees for money orders Of SO 800. and
there is one department-that Of Baco
lod-yet 10 hear from.
While prayer meeting was In progress
in the Baptist Church Of Flemington,
n. j., last Wednesday night a woman
discovered q snake wrlggling down the
aisle. Others saw it about the same
time and there came near being panic.
One Of the members. however, asked the
leader to discontinue services Temporal
rily, and the snake was dispatched. The
prayer meeting was then resumed.
George Butler, Senator Marion But
ler's brother, and fourteen other Popu.
lists were bound over to Duplin county
Superior Court, North Carolina, on the
charge Of criminal libel Butler was
charged with writing, and the others
with endorsing an article in the Cau-
casian, the Populist organ in North
Carolina, accusing Democrats in the last
election Of openly and boldly stealing
votes.
The pearl bearing oyster that held
out such luriug prospects of great wealth
to the first Virginia oolonists, was out
in all his glory at Atlantic on Wednes.
day. when Mrs. K. ] Miller, wife Of a
business man at Sunbury. Pa, found
an oyster on the beach, which, when
opened, was found to contain a pearl.
Max Friedenberg, the largest jeweler
in the place, offered Mrs. Miller 800
for the pearl. She refused the offer.
The oystermen state that the bivalves
are not so plentiful as In years gone by,
but that they are better TO handle and
will bring a better price. The absence
Of the great quantity Of spat, or smaller
oysters, is especially noticeable. and
this augurs no good to the oystermen
for years 20 come. II is becoming more
patent as time passes that this industry
is nearing its end, and that the time is
not far distant when the only oysters to
be procured will have to come from the
beds of private planters.
Joseph Sims, Of Cuckoo, Louisa county,
a successful farmer and miser, is dying
az the age Of ninety -four. He has for
three quarters Of a century done his own
cooking and washing. A few days ago
he sent for Miles II. Gardner, a neigh
bor, and gave complete instructions
about his funeral, saying he had stored
away pine boards for his ooffiu, and the
work on the casket must not coat over
80 Il is said the old miser will leave
his wealth to Gilboa Christian Church
which be has long attended. Rich
Corr Balto American.
The Department of Education is con-
stantly being advised Of the fact thai
the agitation for separation by con-
stitutional enactment Of the school funds
is going on in many sections Of the
State. A superintendent Of schools In
one of the counties of the four districts
stated at the department that this sub
jsct was being pressed by the white
people in his section. In 1899 the State
appropriated for schools about 81. 800,
900; cf this amount the oolored schools
received about s4sO. OOO In 90 year
Virginia hes expended $40. 900 900 oil
her schools. The negroes received o
this amount sl5 000.000
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