The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-08-08

les in China and Japan. The quality
of tone Is due, he says, not only to the
use of excellent material, but also to
the absence of iron clappers. The
bells are never swung, but are always
suspended in a fixed frame, and are
sounded by striking them on the outer
edge with wooden mallet.
- - -
Among young peoples societies in
France one of the most interesting is
La Jeunesse Republicaine, an assocfa-
ton devoted to the support and honor
of the Republic. At a recent public
festival a youthful representative OF
the association offered in the name
of his comrades a solemn pledge, clos
ing with these words I'VE proclaim
our devotion, without reserve, to the
Republic of France. We will aid by
every effort in the enfranchisement
of the people to whom we belong, by
means of science, truth and justice. "
- - -
Curacao, the most important of the
Dutch West Indies, is without fire in
Isurance and q fire department, though
the island has a population of over
so 900. The buildings in the towns
are all of stone, hence this happy con-
dition of affairs. Recently the first
saw-miu was installed, being furnish
ed by an American firm. 1T is hoped
lskat will tho prpn-
ton of wooden buildings and necessi-
tate insurance and a fire department,
- - -
Japan is to include the study of the
English language in the regular cur
Iriculum of its graded schools. A re-
solution providing for this was adopt
ed at the convention of school direc-
tors recently held in Toxic. 1t was
brought about by the necessity for
substitute for the Japanese language
in the practical use of the typewriter
and the linotype machine, the imprac-
Iticability of the Japanese in sending
telegraph and cable messages and
the growing importance of the en-
pire's relations with the English
speaking people of the world.
Strangers in foreign countries al
ways find some difficulty in getting
used to the current coinage. In Eng
land they find themselves up against
quite a number of problems, not the
least of which is the guinea, aid the
difficulty is not lessened by the fact
that the guinea is practically obsolete
as a coin of the realm. The English
physicians fee is always calculated
as so many guineas, and the same
thing holds good at sale of pictures
or what not at Christie's salerooms.
The guinea is a gold coin current for
III shillings sterling, or about IS, but
it has not been coined since the issue
of the sovereign in 1917.
=. -. -
| The intimate connection between
hungry bodies and hungry minds is
receiving practical attention in Eu-
ropean cities. In Berlin 1000 pupils
in one year had school lunches fur
Inished them; in Hamburg 5000; while
I in Leipzig the number thus aided
amounted to 1900, according to infor-
nation received at the United States
Bureau of Education. In Munich and
Nuremberg both breakfast and lunch
are furnished to needy pupils. In
Ludwigshafen bread and milk are
given each morning to the children
who have reached school without hav-
ing been fed In Belgium soup and
bread are given TO the Impoverished
pupils; in Liege alone in 1910, 3O4,-
297 rations were supplied. IN Italy
it is considered part of the duty of
the authorities to be on the lookout
for pupils who seem not to be prop
erly nourished, and to provide them
with food. In Norway substantial
lunches are furnished by the city au-
Ithorities, a central kitchen being
f,