New-York tribune., 1908-02-01
THE TALk OF THE DAY.

United States Consul Arnold writes from Tamsu
that the monopoly bureau of the Formosan govern
ment has decided TO discontinue the sale of cam
phor through a foreign selling agent. The consul
adds: Japanese commissioners to be sent 10
New York. London, Berlin and Paris to open
offices in those cities for the sale Of the bureau
products. In this way the monopoly bureau hopes
to increase the governments revenues from the
sale of camphor The Formosa camphor industry
became a government monopoly August s. 1899
Since April. 1900. British firm. with offices in
Formosa and Japan, has acted as sole selling
agent for the bureaus products. This firms con-
tract with tne Formosan government terminates
March 81 1905 after which the monopoly bureau
will sell camphor through its commissioners. as
stated. Since camphor became a government mo-
nopoy the bureau has been able by judiciously
regulating the supply of the product. to adj
vance considerably the price of camphor to con-
surners. The price finally became SO high that the
camphor industry of Fuken province China, which
some years before had become inactive. revived.
and during the year large quantities of Fukien
camphor entered the market in competition with
the Formosan product. resulting in enforced de-
cline In prices Moreover. synthetic camphor has
also been placed in competition with the natural
product.
Aunt-Jack. do you know your alphabet?
Aunt-Well what letter comes after "A
Jack-All the others. aunte.- Philadelphia In
qu!rer.
Stories about New York's police dog squad seem
to have inspired other cities TO bid for fant with
bow-wow yarns. Philadelphia comes forward\with
a tale of Dodo dog with an artificial ear Dodo
II appears, is a good natured spaniel, owned by a
Goth street shoemaker, About two weeks ago the
dog attempted to cross the street in front OF
Market street and the wheels cut OF his left
ear Dodo's ears long and of a light brown
hue. and the loss OF one made him look lopsfded
To make matters worse persons looked at the dog
and laughed and this annoyed the old shoemaker,
who is rather proud of his pet. The other day Dodo
appeared with ear which is just as good
looking and durable as the real hearing appendage
was His master made it Of light brown leather
which was covered with curly brown wool TO give
the natural effect. The ear is held in place by
means of rubber band, which is fastened around
the dogs head.
Il suppose you are bothered great deal by
persons who want to know how 10 get to certain
NO. replied the New York policeman: hardly
every iav wants 10 let that he's right at, home
here and knows all about the town -Chlcaso
Record Herald.
For the first time in its history the British Mint
last year used aluminium for coinage purposes In
all 81 Ns72134 coins struck from TINS metal
these comprising hafcent pieces for use in Uganda
and one-tenth of penny pieces for circulation IN
the Nigeran protectorates, good deal of imperial
silver finds its way to the west coast Of Africa,
much of it going into Northern Nigeria Bronze
coins also circulate to some extent on the coast
but il IS rare for them to be met with in the In
terror In those regions the little shells known as
cowrfes the value of which is continually fiuctuat
ing being highest In the remoter districts nav"
hitherto formed the medium for exchange. An
officer of the Mint explains that the low value OF
the coins and the immense number OF them re-
ouired rendered it necessary 10 make them OF some
extremely light metal hence the adoption of alum-
mum. The smaller the amount the greater the
cost of coinage he remarked. "Halfpence are
much more costly coin than pennies, and yield
far less profit So far know, these are the only
aluminium coins in the world The new coins are
perforated in the centre to permit the natives TO
string them together, has been their habit with
the cowries.
We'll" said the devil, Il will let you off If you
can think up three tasks which can't accomplish
"AU right we observed; bring us the Great
American Novel. an interesting vaudeville show
and a fountain pen that won't leak.
TIN old boy shreked terribly. but there was
nothing for him but to acknowledge gracefully that
hnaf pDCk