The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-05-12
CURRENT TOPICS.

lays the cause Of the disease to the
handkerchief, and recommends the
Japanese paper nose.wipe
The cradle In which Napoleon II was
rocked belongs to the Emperor Of Aus
trls, who is about TO loan 1t for exhi'
bition at the Paris Exposition.
Since 1868 the corn production Of this
country has increased more than 1872 per
cent while the production Of wheat
has increased nearly $50 per cent.
The State Board Of Medical Exami.
Ders will meet in Lynohburg on the
2Gth instant TO examine applicants for
license to practice medicine in this
State.
At the entry into Bloemfontein the
Welch regiment was headed by the reg
imental goat. which seems to have
thrived on the hard fare necessitated
by the campaign.
Oue Of the largest hospitals in the
world is in Europe. at Moscow and has
1000 beds. Its staff consists Of 90 ply
sicians and 900 nurses. aud about 10. 600
patients are cared for every year.
People are beginning to guessthe pop
ulation Of the United States as 1t will
be exhibited by the Twelfth Census re-
turns The reckonings average all the
way from 20 OOOO 900 to 100. 600. 900 IN
habitauts
Few people know that the Govern
ment owns 500, OOO 600 acres Of land
outside Of Alaska Much Of this is
barren mountain and desert, bat ct
least one-fitth Of it is capable Of being
developed and improved.
Secretary Hitchcock sent to the Sem
ate an answer to the resolutions OF In
quiry concerning the work Of the Geo.
logical Survey on irrigation. The APP
pomattcx river, in Virginia. is mem
toned as q promising field Of investi-
CATION.
Gen. John. B. Gordon, comman.
der.in chief Of the United Confederate
Veterans. who Is on lecturiug tour
through Texas, attended revival In
Gatesville, Ooryell county, the other
day, preached sermon. and Is said to
have converted forty persons.
At Dewey, Kan a gigantic walnut
log has just been cut for shipment TO the
Paris Exposition. The tree from which
the log was taken was supposed to have
been 400 years old. The trunk was six
teen feet in circumference. and the first
limb grew forty.hve feet from the
ground.
A correspondent Of The New York
Sun suggests that the Stars and Stripes
would make an admirable design for
postage stamp. "a plain flag three
quarters Of an inch long on q white
centre, with brown lace.work border, "
he says, would be the prettiest postage
stamp in the world. and with 1t our
flag would truly float over every land Of
the globe. "
The names Of seventy.two judges for
the Hall Of Fame of New York Univer-
sity were made public this evening By
Chancellor MaoOracke. The names
include shose Of college vofessors,
editors, authors, and justices Of courts.
Among the judges appointed are Pro-
fessor Hearth Dabney Of the University
of Virginia, and Judge Keith, Of Vir'
ginia.
JEFF Davis, an octogenarisn negro
who died at Palestine. Texas, recently.
was q former slave Of President Davis
of the Confederate States. At the close
OF tn6 OtNll Whf bdo oA-sAe'O WV
Palestine from his masters home In
Mississippi, and has lived ever since
near the farm Of the Hon. John d.
Reagan, the sole surviving member Of
She Confederate Cabinet.
Old Uncle George Harris Of Month
cello fame, who has had charge OF the
gate that leads into those historic
grounds for many years. died this week {,
aged about ninety-five years. The deHth
Of ''Uncle George" will be regretted by
thousands Of people throughout Ihe
United States and Europe. who have
visited this world-renowned estate du-
ring the last three.quarters Of q century.
"Uncle George" was an old Virginia
darky-an old landmark-whose ia
miliar form and coonskin cap, with
tail, will be remembered by thousands
Of people who made his acquaintace at
the gateway that leads to the historic
mansion Of the author Of the Declara-
tlon Of independence. near OharlotteO-
Vile.
A Fighting Wild Turkey Gobblsr.
Mr.. Luther OOppedge, Of RehOboth.