The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-12-25


Some extraordinary posers have been
included in the census paper Just dis
tributed throughout the empire. The fol-
lowing are among the questions the peo-
pie are asked TO answer:
II you do not know the date of your
birth, how many years old are you?
What is your main occupation in life2
Was your mother tongue German.
Dutch, Friesian, Danish, Wallonian, Po-
Iish, Massurian. cassublan, wendish
Czech or Lithuanian?
If you are not German. do you COM
mand the German language?
What rank have you attained in the
army or navy?
Are you blind in both eyes. deaf dumb,
insane or weak-minded7
Are you subject TO epileptic fits?
II your children are less than a year
old. how are they fed-on the mothers
breast, by wet nurse, OF by bottle?
Il is expected that the national census
will show a population of 65,oO0,000. There
were 61,720529 souls at the end OF 1907
ana 1t Is believed that the annual in
crease of $4,000 has been more than main
tanned. In this connection it is interest
ing to note the prophecies of economists
on tho growth OF the fatherland's future
population. Herr Huebbe- Schleiden esti-
mates that there will be 1000, 900 Ger
mans in 1890. while Leroy Beauleu the
French economist. believes that by the
end of the present century the popula-
ton VIII reach 200, 10000.
It will surprise readers of Ernst Hack
els works that their author has just
severed his connection with the Lutheran
church. 1t may be assumed there is not
a scientist living with larger reading
public than Haecleel. His celebrated
Riddle OF the Universe" has had we'll
over a million readers.
Neither In appearance nor manner does
Professor Haeckel answer the popular
conception of scientist.
He is tall, broad. with a pink flush in
his face. his gray eyes are lit by an ever
sustained smile, and his hair IL white.
| He drinks little, smokes less: never misses
| the opportunity of declaiming the Bac-
chic absurdities-the duel and the drink
ing bout--for which his nation Is con-
| spicuous. In early years Haeckel was an
| athlete, and when ne settled down to
practice as a lawyer the open air called
him. and he went for a tour round tho
| world. The immediate results we're some
| hundreds of water colors which have be-
| come almost as popular as his books.
| Prince Henry Of Prussia is learning the
| business Of aviation He is brother
! OF the Kaiser. He visited the United
| States SEVERAL years ago. Deepftc the
fact that he Is prince he is considered
q pretty good fellow. Unlike his some
what famous brother he does not talk
| too much and what he says is sometimes
worth hearing. He never attempts 10
palm himself off as a special agent OF
| heaven, nor as an expert on all things
frcm breakfast food to the management
OF the universe.
/ ri al n prOyidQf
with a summary Of the forthcoming bill
| for increasing the army. The present
strength which was fixed In 1865 at 606. 83s
| men, will be gradually increased until In
| 1915 1t reaches 515.321 men. The cost pt
| the increase is estimated for the whols
period of five years at f1090,000 of re-
| curing and E4.220,00O of homecoming
| expenditure, or a total OF about $26,000, 00O
Experiments have recently taken place
here and in other parts of the empire ir
| connection with the manufacture OF q
new fuel out OF the papyrus and other
reeds which cover $4,000 square miles, or
tho upper reaches of the White Nile. and
| obstruct navigation. Tt Is proposed tc
dry and "disintegrate' these reeds, which
are generally known as 'sudd," and re-
ducing them to q powder. which will be
| compressed into briquettes. No binding
material is necessary. An Anglo-Germar
syndicate has been formed to promote
| the manufacture. Representatives of the
Sudan government and of the British and
| German admiralties we're present at the
trials. The promoters claim that the
sud- fuel can be put on the market IS te
40 per cent cheaper than coal.
| Count Kraft Donnersmarck, son Of
| Prince Henckel Won Donnersmarck, IL
| " orking as a collier in one of the minel
l H. f,t 1, II. Lat MI
| Won Donnersmarck is one OF the richest
men In the empire. 1t may be added
for the sake Of historical accuracy thai
| the young man is not overworked ant