The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-01-02
FACTS IN FEW LINES

Soldiers in the Italian army are each
allowed half gallon Of wine every
week.
British America Is about 100000
square miles greater than the United
States.
Ireland has 40S ablebodied persons
TO 1000 Inhabitants. Scotland 424 and
England 1872.
Nova Scotia fruit has been well re
ceived on the Scotch and English mar
kets this year.
In North Carolina and Louisiana only
three persons out OF every four can
read and write.
The Chinaman carries fan, even IL
he Is a soldier on active service or II
he II going to his execution.
Losses in sheep. stock, wool and sug
ar represent for last year alone in
Queensland total OF f7,500.000
An American dealer has reduced the
price of Ice in Rouen, France, in one
year from 300 francs q ton TO 80 francs.
The alarming increase OF drunken
ness among women IN large centers In
England Is creating disquiet in many
quarters.
In Ye Ode Seven Stars inn Man
chester boasts the oldest public house
in all England. II has been licensed
for $50 years.
The three largest cities In Sweden
are Stockholm. with about 100000 in-
habitants; Gothenburg. with $1,000.
and Malmo. with $1,000.
Irrigation has converted the South
American desert valleys near the city
Of Mendoza Into some OF the most pro-
ductive vineyards In the world.
The official entomologists Of Georgia
predict that within a few years tho
empire state OF the south Will contain
more than lO0.OO0,0OO fruit trees.
The royal crown OF Persia. which
dates back TO remote ages. Is 10 the
form OF a pot Of flowers surmounted by
an uncut ruby the size OF hens egg.
The quickest passage from Europe TO
Australia IN now made by a line or
French steamships sailing from Mar
sellles The trip consumes thirty-four
days.
There are S9.S03 Chinese In the Unit
ed States and 24.236 japanese. In ten
years the Chinese have decreased H.
025. and the Japanese have increased
22.2S7.
The number OF children working In
the factories Of Germany today Is lit
tie more than one-third OF what II was
in 1895. bur tho laws are still often
evaded
In some parts Of the north OF Scot
land fisher folk turn back II hare or
pig crosses their path. and at sea they
never pronounce the name OF the hare.
the pig, the salmon. the trout or the
dog.
Leeds. England. has q teetotal work
house The cost OF intoxicants In the
institution Is under farthing per head
per annum. brandy being the only stIm-
ulant used. and that solely for the In
Urinary patients.
The Manchester Guardian says that
the collections In the prlntroom OF the
British museum have recently been en-
rlched by the gift from q Spanish col
lector OF a number Of original etchings
for Illustrations to Wagner's operas
and other musical compositions.
The royal library at Windsor castle
Is about to be enlarged by the Inclusion
Of room adjoining. hitherto used
by the lord In waiting. This viii
enable many thousand more volumes
to be added to the hundred thousand
valuable works now on the shelves.
In Paris the getting out Of artistic
menu cards is generally intrusted TO
young women. One young lady has
been particularly successful In this
work. Her last unique idea was the
decoration OF menu cards with insects,
with their wings siivered and gilded
The New Zealand government has
decided that swimming and life say
Ing shall be- taught In all lis schools
The Life Saving society's method has
been adopted. and 1000 handbooks
and charts have been sent by order Of
the government for the Use Of school
masters.
Since 1912 the United States has
grown over 81. 200. 0O0. 900 OF corn. over
$l9.650.000.00 OF hay. over sll.S50.-
100000 Of wheat. over IS. 10000 900 OF
oats. over s3.9S0.00O.0o0 OF potatoes.
over Sl.75O. coo. 900 OF barley. over $780,
100000 OF tobacco and over S30000O..
600 Of buckwheat
The new Spanish income tax SEIZED
ule is based on the Idea OF taxing busi-
ness profits wherever found. Banks
must pay IL per cent OF their income
to the government besides per cent
more on all dividends paid. while or
binary corporations must pay II per
cent on income and per cent on diyl-
dends.
The island Of Java. which Is nearly
673 miles long and about l2o miles
wide aud located only three degrees
of the equator. has the distinguishing
position Of supplying practically all the
cinchona bark from which the worlds
supply OF quinine Is made. There are
about $4,000 acres OF this island used
In growing cinchons.
The semicentennlal Of the birth OF
Kansas City will occur In 1908. and
the suggestion is made that It be OBJ
served. The incorporation Of the city
was in 1853, Just half way between the
Louisiana purchase and the Worlds
fair that Ia TO celebrate H. Previous
to that time Kansas City was called
Westport Landing and was strag-
Cling frontier town on the Missouri
river.
An exposition dealing with means for
preventing seasicknees was held at
Ostend recently. II comprised appa-
ratus for diminishing the effects of the
motion Of vessel, plans OF special YES