The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-11-29
CURIOUS srrrLBuENTs.
Towns aud villages Built OF Queer
Materials.
From TIt-Bits.

From Tit-Bits
One Of the most popular health resorts
at this season of the year is the railway
carriage village near Shoreham, in Sussex,
England. Some time ago railway COM
pany put up a 10" Of 100 old railway
carriages for auction, which were knocked
down to builder, who conceived the novel
idea of founding village on the foreshore
with them. During the summer months
the demand for these strange dwelling
places is enormous, and they not infre-
quently let at from two to three guineas a
week furnished, while in winter they have
been found to be proof against the toughest
weather
Nor is this village unique, for not a
single brick has been used to build the
town of Nidah, in Georgia, which boasts
1000 inhabitants, all Of whom live in dis
used tram cars. The Mayor and Corpo-
ration transact their business in the Town
Hall, consisting of two cars knocked into
one, and there are also two tram car
churches, theatre and nine public houses.
Another peculiar town is Carracrcss, on the
west coast Of ireland, which was built in
1850 entirely Of fishing boats. There are
large stone quarries in the Deighborhood,
but the inhabitants stoutly decline to have
proper house in the town on the ground
that an inverted fishing boat is far more
comfortable.
There is probably only one town built
Of glass Id the world, and that may be
found near Yellowstone Park, Wyo. The
glass is not artificial, but obsidian, natur-
ally formed by ages of volcanic action,
though in every respect it resembles plate
glass. save that it is either dark green Or
black in hue. 1t is cut in slabs, and, be-
ing practically impervious to the weather,
is excellent material for building. There
are over 100 houses and shops, and large
church supported by prismatic pillars which
have been excavated intact. A great
number Of people visit the town every year
on purpose to watch the effects of the sun
sets on the glittering houses.
Bareira. in Portuguese East Africa, has
the reputation Of being the only zinc city
10 existence. Although but six months
were required for its erection, it has a
population of some thousands of people;
the reason that zinc was chosen being that
it is the only material capable of withstand
inc the peculiar climate. The hospital,
churches, arsenal and every residence is
zinc; zine utensils are in the houses, and
when man dies he is buried In zinc
coffin, while even the railway with its car
riages and trucks are zinc throughout.
Those who have predilection for art
cannot do better than reside IN the Illus
trated village of st. Legier, near Vevey,
in Switzerland. Some years ago an artist
of considerable repute, who is well known
in the Paris Salon, M. Alfred Begun, be-
gan to paint all the exteriors Of the houses
both in water colors and oils. Every shop
has series of pictures representing its
trade skillfully painted upon its plaster
walls, and private houses are adorned with
landscapes and caricatures Of local celebrl.
ties, etc. NJ Begun has now extended
his work to the neighboring hamlets, and
hopes before he dies to adorn all the larger
villages in the canton.
One of the most remarkable cities in the
world is KeIberg, near Cracow, for besides
being situated underground, it is excavated
entirely in rock salt. The inhabitants, to
the number of over 5000, are, Of course,
workers in the famous salt mines, and all
the streets and houses are of the pnrest
white imaginable.
One of the most famous features OF the
city is the cathedral, carved in salt and lit
with electric light, and when the late Gar
Alexander visited it eleven years ago be
was SO fascinated with the magnificent
effect of the light upon the crystal walls
that he presented the cathedral with a
ieweled altar cross. Such thing as in
fictitious disease is unknown in Kelberg; in
fact, the majority of the inhabitants die OF
old age.
Finally, we may conclude with briefly
mentioning Cooktown, the seaweed settle
ment Of Alaska The town was originally
built of clay bricks, but the action of the
sea salt with which the air is redolent
caused the bricks to crumble away, and in
their place slabs of seaweed mixed with
salt, compressed and baked, were substi-
tuted. Cooktown is now built almost en-
tirely of seaweed, and besides being proof
against the vagaries of the atmosphere, the
houses are found to be much warmer dur
ing the long spell of arctic winter.