The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-08-31
FACTS IN FEW LINES


A pair OF old English brass andirons,
or "fredogs," were sold for go guIneas
in London the other day.
The missionaries OF the American
board will return to north China to re-
sumo work In the early fall.
In Persia the man who laughs is con-
sldered elfemlnate, but q free license
IS given to female merrlment
The new state census OF Maryland
makes the population 6O4, 650, but the
federal census Of 1900 gave 6Sl, 093.
There are $3.50 places Of public enter
tanment I'm London, with a combined
seating capacity for 100000 people.
4 company Is being formed to sup
ply London residents with rain or soft
water for the bath at twOpence per gal.
lon.
The government OF Greece proposes
to devote at least 100000 per annum
for the renovation Of its existing naval
munitions Of war.
The British war Office Is said to be
considering the training Of dogs to
carry water and provisions to sick and
wounded In time Of war.
The king OF Siam has a bodyguard
OF 400 female warriors. They are
chosen from the handsomest and most
robust women In his kingdom.
Dispatches from Siberia say that the
crops, owing TO the two months
drought, are almost total loss. Meas
ures have been taken to avert famine.
Rotorua, in New Zealand. is the only
place under the British flag where hot
springs exist. in addition to which 1t is
further remarkable for mud volcanoes,
boiling pools and hot waterfalls.
A North sea Goldman carries an outfit
Of lines which extends eight miles in
length and has usually fixed upon It
the amazing number OF 1850 hooks. ev-
cry one of which must be baited.
Punch, that solid Embodiment of Brit
ish humor, has given up its experiment
Of printing short stories. The public
was too firmly fixed In It's habit Of look
Ing at the pictures, but not reading the
text
one day recently swarm OF bees
took possession Of the letter box at
Kilbrlde, Ireland, and the rural post
man was not able to collect the letters,
ms the new tenants strongly resented
any interference.
The most influential newspaper In
Scotland Is the Edinburgh Statesman,
and the oldest Is the Dundee Adyer-
tiser They are edited respectively by
Sir John Leng and Charles Cooper,
both Of whom are EnglIshmen and ma
tiycs of Hull. Yorkshire.
The total amount OF land In the Phil
ipplne Islands Is approximately 73.345,-
4lj acres. or this amount II is estl-
mated that about 100000 acres are
owned 10y individuals, leaving in pub
lie lands GS.40j,4l5. The religious or
ders own about 100000 acres.
The majority Of ladies would be sur
prised II they were Informed that a
bottle OF lavender water contains but
about n thlmbleful of pure oil, for a
larger proportion would not only render
the water too strong for use, but would
burn holes through the handkerchief
wherever the scent touched it
The determination OF Japan to be-
come in every sense a modern nation Is
I'm no line OF development made more
plain than in the matter Of shlpyards.
The Tokyo shlpyard, covering fully 90
acres, ls reported as employing 5000
men. who have all the latest machln-
cry, including pneumatic rIyeters.
Five dentists In the employ OF the
United States government are perform
ing duty In the Philippines, ten more
are on their way there. one has been
ordered to Cuba, one to Porto Rico, one
to West Point, one to Fort Leayen-
worth and one TO Fort Monroe. All
have been provided with kit Of Oper-
ating machinery.
Among the ceremonies which will
likely be abolished Mt the coronation Of
King Edward Is the kissing of the king
by each peer. William " wished to
get rid Of this ceremonial in 1881, but
ultimately he was obliged to submit
and was even kissed by the archblsh-
ops and bishops, part Of the affair to
which he had strongly and specially
objected.
Among the British newspapers there
are now 100 Advertisers, 80 illnesses,
40 Newses. 1913 Gazettes, 100 Chron-
lcles, 119 Heralds, l04 Journals, %
Expresses. 20 Guardians, 90 Observers,
IS Standards and AZ Mercurys. There
are 40 Free Presses, 80 Telegraphs, 81
Mails, 30 Posts, 30 Independents, %
Couriers a1d as many Examiners and
% Echoes.
The statue Of the late Hon. Alex
Mackenzie, the Scottish stone mason
who became prime minister Of Canada,
has been placed in position on Par!ia-
ment hill between the Cartier monu-
ment and the summer house. 1t Is the
Joint production of Hamilton Mccarthy
and Philippe Hebert, Canadian sculp-
tors. The pedestal is IA feet high and
the statue 0 feet.
Fifty counties Of Alabama, 80 OF Ar
kansas, 80 of Florida, 1913 Of Georgia,
10 Of Kentucky. 20 Of Louisiana, 10 Of
Maryland, "a OF Missouri, 60 Of North
Carolina, 70 OF Tennessee, 100 Of Tex
as, 50 Of Virginia and 40 Of West Vir-
ginia have adopted temperance regula-
lions which prohibit the sale at retail
of liquor within their territory save on
medical prescriptions.
When the twentieth century dawned
on the world. the number Of minutes
which had elapsed since the beginning
of the year l A d. was 098, 640,0 900. and
we shall celebrate the 1.OOO,OOO,OOO
minute at the end Of April, 1902. Or II
you prefer to have 1t so the ammo domi-
nj clock will tick for the sixty thou