OLDENBURG 



4367 



OLDHAM 



Few citizens receive more than $50 a year. 

 England, since 1909, grants five shillings ($125) 

 a week, or less, to those over seventy; Australia, 

 >ince 1909, and New Zealand, since 1898, pay 

 twice as much to all over sixty-five. 



Theories. It is claimed for the old age pen- 

 sion that it gives greater national efficiency by 

 relieving the younger generation of the care 

 of their parents. Canada, in adopting the vol- 

 untary system, did so because of the belief that 

 l>oth the compulsory and the free pension 

 inn discourage thrift. On the other hand, it 

 is plain that the Canadian annuities benefit 

 very few people. There are of course oppo- 

 nents to all these views, but it does not seem 

 possible for either side to prove its case. Ob- 

 jectors in the United States lay emphasis on 

 the huge cost of free pensions, but to main- 

 tain the Australian or New Zealand system 

 would require less money than the present War 

 of Secession pensions consume. C.H.H. 



OLDENBURG, ohl'dcnboorK, until 1918 a 

 irrand duchy of Germany, tenth in rank among 

 its states. It has a total area of 2,479 square 

 miles and includes the duchy of Oldenburg, 



LOCATION MAT 



Though small, it is an important part of tin- 

 country. 



which comprises four-fifths of tin entire area 

 and population; and the two principalities of 

 I.iil.i.-k and IlirkeniYld. The combined area 

 of these principalities is little more than 500 



It is now ,-i part of the 

 republic. The duchy of Oldenburg, which 

 is a part of the plain of Northwestern Germany 

 lying between the Weser and the Eras, consists 

 of low, marshy coast lands along the North 

 Sea, and an inland sandy region containing 

 extensive heaths and moors. The soil of the 

 inarch hnl- H very tVrfilr. producing wheat. 

 oats, rye. hemp and rape, and it also affords 



pasturage for superior breeds of cattle and 

 horses. On the inland soil crops of rye, oats, 

 potatoes and buckwheat are raised, and large 

 numbers of sheep graze upon the moors. The 

 chief articles of manufacture are woolen and 

 cotton goods, hosiery, jute and cigars. 



The principality of Liibeck, which lies within 

 .is bordered on the east by the 

 Bay of Liibeck, an arm of the Baltic Sea. It 

 is dotted with small lakes and has much de- 

 lightful scenery. About three-fourths of the 

 principality is under cultivation. Birkenfeld. 

 which lies 150 miles south of the duchy of 

 Oldenburg, is situated in the Prussian province 

 of the Rhine. The grand duchy sent three 

 deputies to the Reichstag (lower house of the 

 German Parliament) and was represented by 

 one member in the Bundesrat (upper house). 

 The capital of the division is Oldenburg. 

 Population of the state in 1910, 483,042. 



OLD FORGE, PA., a borough in Lacka wanna 

 County, in the northeastern part of the state, 

 between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, five miles 

 from the former and fourteen miles from the 

 latter, on an interurban line between those 

 two cities. It is on the Lacka wanna River and 

 on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western and 

 the New York, Susquehanna & Western rail- 

 roads. The chief industries are the mining and 

 Chipping of coal and the manufacture of silk; 

 5,000 men and boys are employed by the 

 mines in the vicinity. Glass blowing is an 

 important industry, and chemical and fertilizer 

 factories are among the industrial establish- 

 ments. Old Forge was settled in 1830 and 

 was incorporated in 1899. It is four square 

 miles in area. It had a population of 11,324 

 in 1910, which had increased to 14,902 (Fed- 

 eral estimate) in 1916. Among the inhabitants 

 1 ians, Poles, Slavs and Russians. M .M . 



OLDHAM, old 'aw, a town in Lancashire, 

 England, seven miles northeast of Manchester, 

 in the center of the textile industry. It was 

 once known as the ugliest city in Great Britain, 

 but now presents an entirely different aspect; 

 the children have taken a personal inter- 

 est in helping to beautify it. Oldham has about 

 300 mill*, with more than 12,000,000 spindles, 

 which consume one-fifth of the total imports 

 of cotton from abroad, and huge weaving-ma- 

 chine works which pivr employment to most of 

 tin- workers. The children were taught to grow 

 flowers, to plant trees and to keep their yards 

 as well as the streets clean. Each one took 

 personal pride in helping to give the ci- 

 tation for cleanliness and beauty. Then 



