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Fannin County Me.
MINERAL BLUFF, GA.
Some statistician has estimated that
426,088,080 railroad ties now rest un¬
der the 161,397 milos of track laid in
the United States at the present time.
No road uses less than 2640 tics a mile,
and 6omc lines over whichihc traffic i
heavy lay 3816 or more. The average
life of the tie is about five years, so
that the yearly consumption of tics is
about 85,217,616.
Says the San Francisco Chronicle:
‘The free zone is a standing nuisance
which will perhaps remain unabated
until Mexico becomes part of the
United States. The latter event may
not happen soon, but the manifest
destinarians are all firm believers that
the people of North America will one
day find it to their interest to live
under one flag, and something is
bound to come from tho belief.”
The Bell telephone patent monopoly
in England has expired, announces the
Scientific American. The patenl
there was granted for fourteen years.
Cheap telephones will now prevnil in
England the same as in Germany,
where Bell failed to obtain a patent.
In this country tho Bell patent will ex¬
pire March 7, 1893, having been origi¬
nally granted March 7, 1876, for o
term of seventeen years.
A pallietic interest attaches to the
discovery of the new work by Aristotle
at tho British Museum in London,
England. A month ago Monsicui
Jules Barthelmy St. Hilaire completed,
as lie thought, the translation of Aris¬
totle, which has occupied him for the
last fifty-nine years. If the discovery
is authentic, and of that there seems to
be no doubt, then there lies before the
great French scholar a task which
would be truly herculean for a man
af eighty-five to attempt. His transla¬
tion, as it stands now, is published in
uo fewer than thirty-five volumes.
Tho opium traffic is troubling tho
people of California. Within eleven
years $8,000,000 worth of the drug
have been imported And seven-eighths
of that \Vas prepared. The legislature
will adopt a resolution calling on Con¬
gress to prohibit to importation of
prepared opium and limit the importa¬
tion of the crude article. The smok-
ers use the prepared exclusively.
Collector Phelps’ idea is to bar out tile
drug altogether and then destroy all
that is soized. “This will probably
prove a very practical means of bar-
ring out the Chinese,” observes the
Atlanta Constitution.
The interesting fact that asplialtnm
is being made out of crude Ohio po-
tioleum at the rate of 7600 barrels per
day is of great importance to street
contractors and others. The refiners
of Lima and other grades of petroleum
have discovered that although there is
but from twenty-eight to thirty-six
per cent, of pure white illuminant and
ten per cent, of naphtha and benzine in
the oil there is sixty per cent, of as-
phaltum residuum. Tho Standard Oil
Company refine about 8000 barrels of
crude petroleum daily and the outside
refiners about 4000, making 12,000
daily. The output in asphaltum is
profitable enough to refine for that
product alone.
1 he dearth of intellectuality among
German army officers, amounting to
an almost complete suppression of
literary aspirations on their part, lias
been made the subject of acrimonious
newspaper discussion. It seems to be
a fact that German army officers con-
tribute far less to military literature
than their English, French and even
Russian colleagues. As a reason is
given the extreme discipline, which
not alone claims nearly nil the time of
officers for physical exercises, but also
subjects all their literary efforts, be¬
fore they can be published, to their
superior officer’s approval. There
was a time, muses the Chicago News,
when the German schoolmaster ivas
looked upon as tho best friend of the
German army", but sineo the school¬
masters’ have become liberals the
powers that be may not look as favor¬
ably upon intellectual freedom, and,
least of all, in the army.
The New York Commercial Adveiv
tiser alleges that Germany is already
finding its African colonies an un¬
doubted white elephant on its hands.
The European fad of founding
African colonies for the fun
of the thing and the benefit of
the rum trade is not likely to be half
as popular ten years hence as it was
when the powers divided u>p what did
not belong to them in the Dark Conti¬
nent.
“A small item ‘of news’ has jus
appeared in the papers, which to my
thinking,” writes the Taris (France)
correspondent of the Bostpn Tran
script, “is the most pathetic story that
could be told of human misery, and
the bitterest sarcasm that could bo
cast upon this age of highly organ¬
ized philanthropy. A poor woman
who sold pins and needles in the
streets of Toulouse died from cold in
lier tireless room, and when her corpse
was found it was perceived that the
last tears which her anguish had
drawn from her eyes were frozen on
her checks.”
The amount of capital invested in
new manufactures in Maine during
1890, as bliow’n by the Lewiston
Journal’s annual industrial report,
was #4,000,000. Just 149 new manu¬
facturing industries have been started
and ninety-six old ones have been en¬
larged. This growth has given em¬
ployment to 5800 additional hands.
The two branches of industry that
show the greatest progress are tho
shipyards and pulp mills. The largest
single enterprise of the year was the
construction of the new iron ship¬
building plant at Bath, but the busi¬
ness of building wooden ships lias
been better than for several years.
France is suffering as much as Ger¬
many from the overcrowding of the
learned professions. Fifteen thou-
sand schoolmistresses, 7000 primary
schoolmasters, and 500 high school in¬
structors are looking in vain for em¬
ployment. There arc 27,000 French
physicians, that is about 6000 or
7000 more than there are in German}-,
with her 10,000,000 more inhabitants.
Paris has 800 apothecaries, Two
thousand lawyers in Paris, who have
passed all preliminary examinations
for a full practice, cannot make livings
injthcir profession. Civil and mining
engineers are so numerous that hun¬
dreds of them are seeking eagerly
petty positions in mines and factories.
The New York Central boasts a car
that is a novel specimen of a labor-
saving machine. Inside it is some
clock-like mechanism which, as tho
car goes over the track, records every
defect in the rails. If these have
spread the thirty-second part of an
inch beyond tho standard width, or
there is a loose joint or defective con¬
nection, (lie machine notes it all down,
as well as the distance from one place
to another. Formerly this work was
done by an army of track-walkers.
It is proposed, says the Chicago
Ilcrald, to develop the invention and
combine the detective mechanism of
the car with an ordinary coach so that
mechanical examinations of the tracks
can be made with the regular trains.
The New York Tribune says: “One
of the most notable characteristics of
tho Hebrew race is the generous con¬
sideration and benevolence displayed
by the rich to the poor in general, and
to the impoverished members of their
creed in particular. Rarely, however,
has this trait been manifested in so
munificent manner as by Baron Ilirsch,
who lias cabled to the truslees of the
Hebrew Immigration Fund in tills city
an authorization to draw on him for
$2,500,000. He adds that if the in-
come of this sum proves inadequate to
accomplish the good work for which
it is destined among the poor Hebrews
in the United States, the trustees can
make use of the principal, and that lie
will make good the amount. Nor does
this in any way constitute his first
donation to the fund,which lias already
received from him sums to the amount
o£ $100,000 during the last twelve
months. Since the death of his only
son, a few years ago, the Baron has
devoted much of his time and his for¬
tune to analogous deeds of benevo¬
lence, and has created and endowed
with many millions of dollars organi-
zations both in Russia and Austria for
the relief of indigent Hebrews.” .
DOMESTIC GEESE.
Some Facts of Interest Concern¬
ing Them,
They Originated In Wild Geese
Domesticated Ages Ago.
There is some difference of opinion
regarding tho origin of the domestic
goose, some authorities insisting that
the wild goose is a different species.
But the writer of the article upon
thegoose in the Biitannica says that
the gray-leg goose, which is the type
of the. genus anser, and a bird which
had a wide range in the old world, is
undoubtedly the original of the well-
known domestic race. Mr. Darwiu
says: “The domestication of this
species is doubtless of very ancient
date, and yet scarcely any other ani¬
mal that has bceu tamed for so long a
period, and bred so largely in cap-
tivity, has varied so little. It lias in¬
creased greatly in size and fecundity,
but almost the only change in
plumage is that tame geese
lose the browner and darker
tints of the wild bird, aud
arc invariably mdre or less marked
with white, being, indeed, often
wholly of that color.” The custom of
plucking feathers of geese forjso many
centuries has helped to perpetuate the
variation, as a white feather is often
produced in place of one of the natu¬
ral color pulled out. The goose is
historic bird once especially dear to
the Romans and are cordially hated'by
the Gauls. Owing to its ivatch-dog
character it gave the alarm which
saved Romo from tho Gauls in the
year 388 B. C. Hence, the story goes,
that tho Romans maintained a certain
number of geese at public cost, and
oil the anniversary of tho day the un-
faithful dogs were whipped for their
carelessness iu presence of the watch¬
ful geese.
In poetry and fables as well a3 in
history, the goose has fared badly, its
namo becoming a synonym for silli¬
ness, greeness and lack of discretion.
Fortunately for thegoose the influence
of societies for the prevention of
cruelty to animals has ameliorated the
hard conditions of its lot in one re¬
spect, as fcathoarsf now begin , to be
sheared instead of plucked. A case
was tried not long since in the English
courts wl ere a farmer was accused of
cruelty to his geese—the result of
plucking the feathers—and he was
obliged to pay a fine. Shearing the
feathers only slightly decreases the
weight, while it increases the value, as
the feathers are thu9 rendered more
soft and downy. Goose raising, which
has long since fallen into disfavor on
many farms, may be resumed now
that this cruel feature of it is re¬
moved.
Both the Old and New worlds pos¬
sess several interesting types of the
goose. Among the number may bo
mentioned tlie bean goose, the pink¬
footed and the white-fronted, the bar
goose, the snow, the horned wawa,
and the painted, the rock and the up¬
land, the brent and the barnacle, the
large swan-goose of China and the
Australian goose. The Chinese swan-
goose looks like a swan aud is very
beautiful, and may be kept for orna¬
mental purposes in a warm climate.
The Sebastopol goose is also handsome
on the water, as its feathers are friz¬
zled and waved, but on the ground it
has a bedraggled look. Tho goose is
a fine pastoral bird, not duly appre¬
ciated, yet it makes a good appearance
on a pond.
The wild goose surpasses the tame
in beauty of plumage, as it has five
shades of green and purple op its
graceful neek. Intelligence is indi¬
cated ill its manner of flying, as the
triangular form allows all the birds in
the real’ to see the leader. The wild
goose obeys the signal of the guide aud
docs not deserve to be called “silly.”
Its strong cry, konk! konkl audits
high, graceful flight are always heard
and seen with pleasure by the country¬
man, even though l?e no longer needs
the bird to prognosticate the weather.
The two favorite kinds of geese for
domestic purposes are the Toulouse
and Embden or Bremen. The former
is the larger variety, of excellent
weight, a single gander sometimes
weighing as much as 34 pounds,
though usually a pair will weigh at
maturity some 30 or 40 pounds. The
Toulouse goose is quite profitable on
account of the large yield of feathers.
The Embdeti is smaller, but the flesh
is superior and its snow-white feathers
are preferred to the brow nisi', ones of
the Toulouse; but the latter may be
raised without a pond if provided
with a trough of water, whereas t.*a
white or cross-bred require a pond.
No fowls can be so cheaply raised
as geese, for they are good grazers and
are able to take care of themselves if
given a pasture with a water course as
soon as the snow is off and the grass
is up.
Geese begin laying early in the
spring. The eggs hatch better if the
nest is on the ground, though a very
good plan is to put the eggs under the
chicken hens to hatch. The young
goslings are very tender and should
be protected from dew and rain for at
least six weeks. On no account should
they be out of the coop during a
storm. Bread crumbs, scalded meal,
onion tops, aud various other kinds of
food may be given them', and in about
two months they cau be allowed to
forage for themselves.
Some farmers dislike to raise geese,
because they are considered worse
than sheep about eating the grass off
close on fresh pasture, but there is
often waste or open land where they
do very well, and they arc useful iu
“stubbling” the farm.— [St. Louis Re¬
public.
The Bible of the Buddhists.
The bible of the sect is not without
bea'uty and high moral as well as
poetic conceptions. There is much in
it of the nature of mythology and
mysticism, which Buddhists do not
pretend to understand themselves, yet
there is much to admire. From a book
of extracts and translations from the
Buddhist biblo I give a few examples:
“The perfect man is like the lily,
unsoilcd by the mud in which it
grows.” Another: “The perfect
man will not bo angry with him who
brings him evil reports of himself,
lest he be not able to judge truthfully
of the matter whereof lie is accused.’’
Its moral code contains such rules as
“Do not steal”; “Do not lie”; “Do
not kill”; “Do not bo a drunkard”;
“Do not to another what you would
not wish done to yourself.” From
these examples it may be obsorved
how nearly their moral law runs
parallel with our own; and that this
has exerted a potent influence iu form¬
ing the Chinese character is evident.
Also, that they cover the cardinal rules
of right living in good society, none
•will question.
The system offers motives in the
way of rewards for right living, and
punishments for evil-doing. It de¬
velops sympathy, the source of many
virtues. It teaches the equality of all
men. One mau is better or worse
than another only as lie observes the
laws of good society or breaks them.
— [Popular Science Monthly, f
Mermaids and Mermen.
The dugong, a species of whale
found abundantly in the waters of
both the great oceans, but specially off
the coast of Australia, in the Pacific,
is believed to have furnished the
slender basis upon which all mermaids
and mermen stories have been
founded. Its average length is from
eight to twenty feet. It has a head
much resembling that of the human
species, and breathes by means of
lungs. It feeds upon Submarine beds
of seaweeds and when wounded
makes a noise like a mad bull. Long
hair in tho female species, and hair
and beard in the male, adds to the
human resemblance of the head and
neck. The flesh of this species of
whale is used for food and is said to
have the flavor of bacon, mutton, or
beef, according to the parts of the
body from which the meat is taken.
For Twine, $72,000.
It seems to be the impression of
many people that the mail when sent
from an office is gathered carelessly
together and thrown into a mail bag,
which is then locked and despatched.
This is wholly wrong, for even in the
smallest offices the letters and cards
are all gathered face upward and tied
into a neat package. The Govern¬
ment furnishes the twine to do this,
and some idea of the immensity of the
postal service can be formed from the
fact that in one year the cost to the
Government of the twine for this pur¬
pose (which, though strong, is of the
cheapest quality) was nearly seventy-
two thousand dollars.—[St. Nicholas.
Old Time Songs.
The songs we used to sing? All me!
I love them, and if I could bring
My voice their sad, sweet tones to sing
The air should with an anthem ring
Of sweetest melody.
The songs vre used to sing? Ah. met
Their music fills my heart with te-rs,
For those lost hopes of long-gone years.
That Time’s eternal river bears
On to Eternity.
The songs we used to sing? Alt, me!
In dreams I hear each tender strain,
In mystic minor sung again—
I wake, and dies the sweet refrain
To all but memory.
—[New Orleans Times-Democrat.
HUMOROUS.
Overland—The sky.
Run to seed—Birds.
A receiving teller—A gossip.
A grave danger—The resurrection-
ist.
Coming up to tlw scratch—The vac¬
cinator.
A little woman’s fidgets are four
times as big as she is.
An honest man pay9 up. The other
kind lias to pay down.
“Oh, what a snap,” ejaculated the
tramp when the dog bit him.
Because a man has a silvery laugh
it docs not follow that lie has .a rich
voice.
Charity covers a multitude of sins,
but most of them contrive to kick itfiE
the covers.
“Is'' Brown’s credit good?” “I
should say so; his best friends lend
him money. ”
Speaking of hydropathic cures, it
strikes us that well viator ought to be
good for sick people.
Then what reason have you for
marrying?” “Really, no reason at
all, only I’m in love.”
A boat is a funny thing, and so
polite, too. It never goes before the
public without a boif.
IIow good a man is to his w r ife the
first day after she has caught him
doing something wrong!
Ethel—Does this picture do mo jus¬
tice? Maud—It does something nobler,
dear. It shows you mercy.
“Were you touched at'the minister’s
eloquence last night?” inquired Weeks.
“Yes,” returned' Went man, gloomily,
“for ten dollars.”
Old Lady (in drug store to small
boy)—What am I to take this medi¬
cine in, sonny? Sonny—Take it in
your mouth, mum; ’taint to be rubbed
in.
Husband—Six hundred dollars for
that suck? Dealer—But, sir, it’s a
perfect skin. Husband—A perfect
skin! Yes; I know it is. Come on,.
Clara.
Husband—I sec that a woman is
about to apply for a seat in the New
York Stock Exchange. Wife—Why
don’t some of the men get up and give
her a seat?
A Scotch gentleman of fortune on
his deathbed asked the minister
whether, if he left a large sum to the
kirk, his salvation would be secured
The cautious minister responded: “I.
would not like to bo positive, but it’s
weel worth trying.”
Telegraph and District Messenger Boys.
An army of 12,000 boys is employed
in the telegraph and district messenger
service in and around the metropolis.
These boys get from $3.50 to $4 a
week, but the cost of their uniforms
and the heavy fines which are levied
upon them for trivial causes would
make their incomes very much smaller
were it not for the odd “tips” which
they get from time to time. Then,
again, the messenger boy is in the line
of promotion to sergeant, to clerk and
to telegraph operator, and with every
step ids pay increifies. Iu the up¬
town districts, especially in and around
the Tenderloin precinct, where the
district messenger service is only in
full blast in the small hours of the
night, the small boys do the day work
and the big boys serve at night.
Ihese lads make more in presents in a
week than their wages would amount
to in a month. The Stock Exchange
pays the highest wages received by
boys in the messenger service. Its
boys get from $4 to $7 a week, their
uniforms free, a yearly Christmas
present,of $25, have only to work
from 9.30 a. in. to 3 p. m., and have
their Sundays and all public holidays
to themselves.—PNew York Times- ,