The leader., 1901-01-02
FACTS IN A FEW LINES.

In courts of law.
Ore hundred and fifty firms in this
country manufacture school textbooks.
Last year Germany imported PA, 139
metric tons Of potatoes and 1,3i0,SJO
of wheat.
Over goo, 1000 worth of diamonds are
annually stolen from the South 'Afri. |
can mines.
The minister of agriculture In France
still upholds the law giving premium
of from "a to &c for every wolf killed.
In the Lake Erie fisheries 3,12S men
are employed and S2,T19,65i capital |
Last years catch was valued at ST.
150, 800.
In consequence of the increasing cost |
of Holland oysters American oysters
are coming more and more into vogue
In Germany.
The United States supplies the great
est number of visitors from abroad to
Carlyle's birthplace In Ecclefechan,
Dumfriessbire.
The Uruguayan government has very
wisely decreed a holiday for planting
tEttst EOultthihS dLltA thN sasiS VI
arbor days In the United States.
After suffering for long time from
the migratory rats the inhabitants of
Copenhagen organized war against |
them, and In IS weeks 100000 were
killed.
A number of Scottish grouse have
been imported by the Canadian govern
ment from the highlands of Scotland
for the purpose of stocking the proyin-
cial parks.
Some idea of the enormous extent to
which pocket picking fourishes may be
had from the fact that in London alone
over 100000 men, women and children
exist on what they can relieve other
people of.
The Northern Pacific relaid $50 miles
of main track with - pound rails in
the last fiscal year, but on account of
the sale of old rails at excellent prices
the net charge for rails in the year was
only $4,000.
Robert Burns, the poet, divided the
scale of good wifeship into ten parts:
Good nature, 4; good sense, 2; wit, ];
personal charms, l. The remaining two
degrees covered fortune, education,
family, blood, etc.
| Paris latest innovation in street light
ing is oil lamps. They are not the sort
of lamps used 100 years ago when the
cry was "aristocrats a Ia lanterne," but
enormous structures that give out 1000
candle power each.
The Bible is still the most popular of
all books. During the year 1899 the
American Bible society issued 1,406,-
800 copies in IS different languages.
In the 81 years of the society's exist
ence it has issued 1862 O6 copies.
The largest grape growing region in
the world is not the champagne dis
trict of France nor the sunny valley Of
southern California, for western New
York owns the title by virtue of co.
600 acres now given over to grape cul-
ture.
An implement to be added to the SOL
dier's kit. which can be used as
spade, pickaX or saw, and also as
shield for protection from bullets, has
been invented by the Earl Of Wemyss.
1t Is said that the contrivance is to be
adopted by the British army.
1t Is said that the Canadian 500 canal
may be closed because of lack Of pat
ronage. Vessel men say that this would
be bad move, for in case of accident
in the American canal there would be
blockade. They say that they will
use the Canadian passage more in fu-
ture that 1t may be maintained.
A single firm of chairmakers in Buck
inghamshire, England. will turn out
many gross weekly. Five thousand
were made for the Alexandra palace in
six days; 5000 for the Crystal palace.
The record order is $4,000 chairs fin
ished and delivered within a few weeks
to the order of Nessrs. Moody and
Sankey.
Twenty years ago the city of Toronto
began the erection of a city hall which
was to cost 100000 by the original es-
Innate. The outlay on it to date has
been $2,345 900, and 1t is not yet finish.
| ed. Meanwhile the architects fees, it
| is said, have exceeded 100000, and an
effort in the city council to dismiss him
has failed.
The United States leads all other ma
lions in the matter Of fruit growing
Strawberries were valued at SS0,00O,-
600 last year and grapes at 100000
900. Peach orchards containing as
many as 100000 trees are to be found,
while the apple crop has been known
to return in barrels 210,0O0,00O in one
season. OF these England has taken
5000, 900 barrels.
At the national prison congress
George Terrence of the Pontiac reform
atory declared that at least s. per
cent of all young men and boys who
have committed crime ''if taken charge
of In time and subjected to proper
treatment will become good citizens"
He estimated that not more than 10
per cent of the criminal classes are so
through heredity.
The introduction of trolley roads has
not seriously disturbed the business of
steam roads, as was predicted. Trolley
lines are especially numerous in Con-
necticut. and the Hartford Courant
finds by an analysis of official reports
that while the trolley relieves the
steam roads of some local travel 1t
adds to the grUw-th of cities and towns
and largely increases the freight traffic.
In the face of the clock of the parish
church of st. Matthew. Bethnal Green,
| London. arc two small holes. which
from the pavement do not appear large
enough Ia admit even tiny bird. Yet
| these appearances have been chosen by
sparrows is nesting places, and the
birds can be frequently seen flying to
and from ,hefr strange abode, The OPP
erations of tlse sparrows do not appear
! to have affected the time keeping &C
| curacy of the clock.
Ill L.. ~. ,loI