The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-09-06
SCRAPS.

Philadelphia was the first city to is
sue a directory, it's first edition ON
ing out in 1885.
Red russell shoes are being worn
this summer. Eight out Of every ten
persons seem to be wearing either
black oxfords or black shoes.
It is now an established fact that
dates of a good quality and in COM.
mercial quantities can be produced
in the warmer parts Of Arizona, Mex
leo and California.
The kitchen Of the shah of Persia
is the most valuable in the world.
Even the cooking pots are lined with
gold, and the plates and dishes used
at the royal table are Of solid gold,
incrusted with precious stones.
At a rough estimate the total
amount Of income taxes which Amer
leans in England are compelled to
pay for John Bulls support is $4,000
600 a year.. All whose incomes are
below $500 a year escape free.
In China there is no regular stand
ard of distance. Standards vary in
the different provinces Of the empire,
the chin, or unit of length, varying
from nine to sixteen inches in differ
ent provinces. A Chinese mile may be
from a quarter Of an English mile to
a mile and three-quarters, according
to the province.
For the first summer i nthe MEM
DRY Of the Oldest inhabitant there has
been no gambling at Long Branch this
year. Every n of the half dozen
or SO club houses as the gambling
places are politely called, is bolted
and barred, the chains are up to the
| gates, and the grass is growing where
flower gardens have been accustomed
to bloom.
In London they have a street lamp
which provides a stream Of boiling
water and dispenses tea, coffee and
cocoa. The heat of the lamp warns
the water and by dropping a e n in
the slot a gallon of boiling water may
be had. Two cents brings you milk
sugar., tea, coffee, etc. The light and
heat are provided by the city, which
~co-operates with a private corporation
that furnishes the rest.
All modern writer's on the art and
science of war declare that no civil--
lied nation should employ barbarian
troops in warfare. This prohibition
has, however, been frequently violat-
ed; by the English in India and in
Africa; by the Russians in Asia Min
or; by the French in Algeria; and by
the Turkish government when it turn
ed loose the Bashi-Bazooks a ferocious
soldiery, on the ~defenseless inhabi-
tants of Bulgaria.
"Tattooing is very popular among
criminals said one Of the wardens
Of the Eastern ~penitentiary. sProba-
bly, three-fourths Of the convicts here
have ink designs of mn sort on their
body or limbs. The characters are
varied and curious-anchors, ships,
tombstones, animals, notices, figures
and buildings are zen This tattoo
ing is very useful often, in the identi-
fcation Of a criminal
Mr.. John Morley, talking with a
friend about his literary work at Ha-
warden, said that his labor had been
greatly lessened by Mr.. Gladstone's
personal habits Of order and regular
ity. Through the last sixty years
of his career he not only preserved
every important letter or document
that reached him, but neatly Endorsed
it with his own hand and slowed
it away in order of date. Among the
papers docketed and stored at Hawar-
den in order of date Mr.. Morley found
notes Of a speech delivered by Mr..
Gladstone at the Oxford Union just
seventy years ago.
The royal domain of Osborne-nam-
ed for one Fitz-O Osborne, kinsman of
William the Conqueror, who made him
a present Of the Isle of Wight-com-
prises 5000 acres of poor land made
rich by fertilizing, and a splendid pal
ace built by Mr.. Cubitt after designs
of the prince consOrt. The house Is
the Italian style, of irregular plan,
consisting of a principal building,
fanked by a tower ninety feet in
height, inclosing a clock, and of a
very high lateral pavilion surmount-
ed by a square tower. In the latter
portion are the royal apartments, rich
ly and elegantly furnished and decor
ated. The gardens and park extend
down to the sea.