The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-14
FACTS IN A FEW LINES.

acre; good farming land at f2O to t3O.
There are five automobile clubs In
Belgium, and their combined member
ship is 40.
Twelve camels shipped from Algiers
to New York died on the voyage across
the Atlantic.
The imports Of crude rubber to this
country have In the last 80 years in
creased 431 per cent
Typewrltlng experts instead Of hand
writing experts were introduced in a
recent trial I'm New York.
On a duck farm near Fort Dodge,
H., there were recently $4,000 ducks.
They ate 100 bushels of corn daily.
Settlers in Siberia along the new rail-
road are buying their agricultural and
other machinery In the United States
From Constantinople comes the re-
port that the sultan has forbidden all
his state officers to visit the Paris ex-
position.
The earnings Of one German line be-
tween Hamburg and New York In 1899
exceeded the earnings of the previous
year by 100000 marks.
The affairs of the colonial Office are
managed at an annual cost to the coun-
try Of over 100000. Mr.. Chamberlain's
salary as secretary is $4,000.
The king Of Sweden never touches n
gun. The king Of Belgium has shot
only once In his life, and the sultan Of
Turkey cannot bear to see gun.
There are two schools Of vegetarians.
One favors vegetable food which grows
below the earth's surface, and the 9TH
er favors that which grows above.
AS q rule the consul who saves mon
ey outside such prize places as London,
Liverpool. Paris, Hamburg or Bremen
is viewed with suspicion by his col
leagues.
A Leeds England gentleman has
left f100 In trust for the benefit OF bis
| eldest son ION condition that he does
not reside within 100 miles OF Leeds
town hall"
LompOc, IN Santa Barbara county
Cal, grows mustard for the whole ma.
ton. In that region 1000 acres are
cultivated to the seed. the industry EN-
ploying about 200 farmers.
Switzerland is cheerful over the re-
suit Of its exports to the United States
last year The total for the year was
| $17,234, SO3.39, an increase Of $500
1889, or 20 per cent, over 1898.
The most renowned ruby in the
world is in the crown Of the car of
Russia. In shape 1t resembles a bish-
ops inter, and on its crest IS a cross
composed Of six superb diamonds.
The German emperor is a believer In
luck attending horseshoes, never pass
es one by and was once seen walking
home through the streets of Berlin car
rying a huge shoe In his left hand.
There were no white inhabitants In
Kansas In 1850. In 1856 there were
less than 10000, and In 1860 but 107,-
0OO At the last enumeration, March,
1899, her population was 1925. 119.
Frequently at Modder river men
soaped their khaki clothes and dived
into the river for n swim without IN
dressing, thus washing their clothes
and refreshing themselves at the same
time.
The most characteristic feature OF
Siberian farm life Is that the farmers
live not scattered all over the country,
remote from neighbOrs, but In villages
as near as possible to the land they are
cultiYating.
The Chilean government has cOnced-
ed to the Richmond Gold and Silver
Cigarette company the exclusive right
to issue In that republic for the period
Of nine years a patent for the covering
Of cigarettes.
In New York city the Metropolitan
Street Railway company has 2S4 miles
of track and last year carried on them
255, $4,000 passengers, or about half
the number carried on all of the steam
railroads of the United States.
1t is stated In The Western Electri-
clan that an arch is soon to be erected
at the extremity of the Avenue de Ia
Grand Armee in Paris to the memory
Of Levassor, as he did much to promote
the interests of the automobile.
A botanical garden has been estab-
lished at CoQuilhatville, Kongo Free
State, by the Belgian government 1t
will be called the Kew gardens, and 1t
Will probably be important to the rub
Der and other tropical industries.
The great increase in commerce and
In naval ornaments has placed the
services Of experienced seamen at
premium. The scarcity of sailors is
felt In all nayies, and even the great
steamship lines are Inconvenience.
Artificial silks are made of wood fiber
reduced to cellulOse by the action Of
acid. This is dissolved to a gluelike
consistency, forced through holes in
glass and drawn out into threads,
which dry and harden IN the air, just
as those Of the silkworm or spider do.
Wagon hill, at Ladysmlth, takes its
name from the peculiar formation Of a
clump OF trees on the top, which so
closely resembles a wagon at little
distance as to deceive anybody but an
expert. The hill exten6s for about
mile in length and is about 500 feet
high.
''Not only is 1t healthy to yawn,"
says a French physician. 'but artificial
yawnlng should be resorted to in cases
of sore throat, buzzing Of the ears, ca
tarrh and like trouble" 1t is said to be
as efflcacious in its way as gargling the
throat. with which process it should be
combined.
There is now living In hale old ags
Mr.. George Croal of II London street.
Edinburgh, who was present at the an