The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-08-15
FACTS IN FEW LINES


In the first five months of 1901
France imported $27,S65,OOO more gold
than ii exported.
Tasmania, In proportion to Its area
is the richest of Australasia's colonies
In mineral wealth.
Nearly 1000 farmers within 30 miles
Of Chicago have had their houses
equipped with telephones.
Japan has two imperial universities,
one at Tokyo, the other at Kloto. The
latter is only three years old
Over 1000 men deserted from the
French army last year. Great Brit
aims record for desertlOn is under 300
In one year.
A Belgian pigeon won the great race
from Burgos. in Spain, to Brussels.
The distance is roo miles, and the time
taken was just il hours, which Is at
the rate OF 30 miles an hour.
Potatoes have ceased to be the prin-
cipal root crop Of Ireland If they are
to be compared with turnips by weight
or yleld-last year. for example, only
about 1.542, 900 tons against 4,426,OOO
tons of turnips.
The Canadian government Is Install
ing the Marconl wireless telegraphic
system In the gulf Of ST. Lawrence,
and the steamer Tyrian has been dis
patched to establish the first station
nj \Vest Point AnticOsfi
4 prayer book was recently lost by
an elegantly dressed lady In a Berlin
conrectioner's and found. to the dis
gust Of the loser. The book had three
compartments for prayers, one
for sweets and one for brandy.
The book abdul Hamid lntime,"
which has Just been published In Swed-
sh translation. was prohibited by the
Swedish government at the request OF
the Turkish minister. A Jury OF well
known Swedish authors and Journal
lists has decided that the book Is not
criminal
There Will soon be no newspapers
left In Finland II the Russian govern
ment continues its crusade. Two dai-
lies, Pojalainen and Wiborgbiadet.
have been suppressed. and the pub
lication Of four other papers has been
suspended for periods Of from 10 days
to four months.
In a recent lecture at Gresham col
lege DR. Symes Thompson In speaking
of the effects of climate remarked that
It had become necessary to sublet Eng
lsh government work In Egypt be
cause II was found that the natives
would only work when chastlsed. and
II was a rule that a British officer must
not strike native.
An English organization known rs
the Decimal association. with head
quarters at Botolph House, East
Cheapside. London. is promoting by
means OF distributed literature the
adoption Of the metric as the legal sys-
tenn Of England. The matter which
they send out is interesting and may be
had for the asking.
Russian detectives have been told of
to watch Russian students studying
in Germany for the purpose Of ascer-
tanning whether they have had any
thing TO do with fomentIng the dis
turbances in Russia. German students
in Berlin have been molested by the de-
tectives, who have followed them into
houses and cafes and questioned them.
Consul Mahln Of Reichenberg says
that, according to a report from Brus-
sells, Belgian engineer by the name OF
Tobiansky has discovered method by
which smoke can be turned into light.
In operating his device the inventor
collects the smoke from any kind Of a
fire and forces it into a receiver. 1t Is
then saturated with hydroearburet, and
a brilliant light results
The Salvation Army commander
some three years ago bought 1000 acres
Of land in Colorado, to which has late
" been added 1000 more. and the
task OF colonizing great farms IN the
west with the surplus poor OF the cities
is being prosecuted with great earnest
ness and with great success as well.
These farm colonies are now being
multiplied in all parts of the country.
The Paris fire department has adopt
ed automobile fire engines and hook
and ladder trucks, and they are notably
superior to the old apparatus. The en-
gines are run by storage batteries. The
electricity is used not only to propel
the engine, but to work the pumps also.
There is no delay getting up steam,
and one charge of the accumulators
will keep the pumps going five hours.
For a number Of years the largest
ships using the Suez canal have sailed
under the German flag. Further, Ger
many has on the average larger ships
than England, for while the average
size Of the German vessels is ABB reg
istered tons the average size Of British
vessels is only 4,016 tons. Twenty
years ago only IS German vessels
passed the canal, and now the number
has reached 462.
A Paris schoolmaster has petitioned
the French chamber against kings still
being portrayed on French playing
cards. He suggests that kings should
be replaced by pictures Of Theirs, Mac
Mahon, Greyy and Carnot and queens
by equally prominent republican WON
en-. The parliamentary commission sit
ting on the petition has replied that the
change is impossible since 1t would
ruin quite a number of playing card
factories,
An imperial ukase DEGREES the build
ing of the Russian Northern railroad,
which is to connect St Petersburg,
Tichwin, Tacherepovetz, Yalogda, Bui,
Galltch and viatka- This line is to be
begun next year and will be built by
the government, as also branch from
But, to connect at DanilOw with the
Moscow Y Observation-Disclosures line. a
part Of the latter is to be broad gauge,
a A.. AhNs