3
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PCBUfSBKD EVERT SATURDAY BY
COLL. VA.1ST CLKVE.
ALBANY. - - - OREGON.
PKKSOSAL
Ret. Mr. Beechkr, on the 21th, arrived at
Littleton, N. H., and proceeded directly to the
law-office of Harry Bingham, where he signed
and swore to a paper which had been drawn
up by his counsel, Thomas G. Shearman, of
New York, and which was an explicit denial
ot all the charges made in the allegation of
Vm complaint brought against him by Theo
dore Tilton, except the specification that ho
(Mr. Tilton) had been married to Elizabeth M.
Richards, now Elizabeth B. Tilton. The pa
per was very brief, making not over ten lines
of manuscript. The paper passed through
the hand of the Secretary of State this even
ing, and he made the necessary certificate
upon it, after which it was sent by mail to
Shearman at New York. Mr. Beecher re
turned to the Twin-Mountain House after
concluding his "business.
The Hon. It. W. Taylor, First Comptroller
of the Treasury, has been appointed to repre
sent the United States Treasury Department
in the Executive Board at the Philadelphia
Centennial Exposition, vice ex-Assistant
Secretary Sawyer.
The firm of Jones, Sonneborn & Co., of
New York, a leading petroleum exporting
house, has suspended, with liabilities at about
$800,000.
Henry C. Bowes has instituted legal pro
ceedings in a libel suit against the Brooklyn
Eagle, in which damages are laid at $100,000.
The complaint is based upon an interview
published in the Eagle purporting to have
taken place between Bowen and an Eagle re
porter, which Bowen claims to be false in
every particular, and upon three editorial ar
ticles immediately following the publication
of the same.
The Democratic State Convention of Penn
sylvania nominated W. B. Boss for Suprem
Judge, and adopted a platform of principles,
the important features of which are, the de
manding of restrictions upon national banks,
denouncing attempts to procure decisions
from the Supreme Court adverse to the new
Constitution, and opposing mixed schools, be
lieving that co-education of the whites and
blacks would be detrimental to both races.
Bcmors are in circulation of the resignation
of Secretary Bristow, and the appointment of
Hon. Hugh McCulioeh, of Indiana, to suc
ceed him.
Prof. Pierre Blot, the celebrated calinaEry
artist, died at New York recently.
Henry C. Bowen has brought a second
libel suit against the Brooklyn Eagle. Dam
ages to the extent of 100,OOG are claimed in
each case.
At the recent Spiritualists' camp-mee.ing
at Terre Haute, Iud., Mrs. Suydam, of Chi
cago, gave a seance, In which, claiming to be
under control of the spirits, coal and alcohol,
both burninar.'were poured over her face and
raids without injury.
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher preached at
the Twin Mountain House. N. H., on the 30th
nit., to a congregation of over 1,000 persons.
The sermon was pronounced one of his most
successful efforts.
6KKKKAL.
An important circular making some new
regulations and amending existing regulations
governing the lumber trade will, in a few
days, be Bent to Treasury officials along our
Northern frontier.
It has been ascertained that Spain has
made a demand of indemnity in the Virginius
affair and for other alleged wrongs suffered
by Spain owing to filibustering expeditions
from this country.
The British steamer Colima made the trip
from San Francisco to Yokohama in seventeen
days and thirteen hours the quickest pas
sage ever made between those ports!
The managers of the Canada Southern road
have projected another international bridge
which will cross the western international
branch of the Niagara river just below Black
creek, to which a short line will be built from
Stevensville ; then i un along Grand Island,
a distance of about seven miles, and across
the eastern American branch to the main
land, near Tonawanda, there connecting with
the Erie and Central. The bridge, it is an
nounced, will be finished in August, 1875, and
will take the road around Buffalo instead of
through it.
There is a temporary lull in the operation
of the principals to the Brooklyn scandal. It
is probable that the report of the investiga
ting committee, which is to be given to the
public in a short time, will cause a renewal of
attention to that matter.
A large meeting of old miners and others
interested in the development of the mineral
resources of the Black Hills was held at Des
Moines, recently. Two hundred and fifty
names were enrolled under Capt. Russell, who
intends to leave there about the 10th of Sep
tember for the Hills. It is understood that
this organization will move in conjunction
with several others forming in different places
on the frontier.
The American base-ball players, who have
been in England for several weeks trying to
instill a love for the American national game
in the breast of John Bull, have got through
with their tour and started on their return.
The trip has doubtless been pleasurable, but
it has not been a brilliant financial success.
Gen. Terry, St. Paul, has received a gen
eral order from Gen. Sheridan's headquarters.
Chicago, stating that unofficial information
has been received there ot the organi
zation of parties at Sioux City, Yank
ton, and other places, with the view of
visiting the Black Hills country ; but that
such expeditions will not be permitted unless
under authority from the Secretary of the In
terior or Congress.
Gov. Brown, of Tennessee, has issued in
structions for the suppression of disturbances
in Gibson county, and offered a reward of
$500 each for the arrest of the murderers of
Julia Hayden, the colored school teacher of
Trousdale.
The thirteenth annual convention of the
Fenian Brotherhood was held in New York
last week.
Frost has already appeared near Ottawa,
Ont.
The reports of rich gold discoveries in the
Black Hills country seem to be pretty gener
ally acceptei as true. Gen. Forsyth, in a let
ter from Harney's Peak, eays the very roots
ot tie trass in that vicinity would pan five
cents to the pan. Cea. SLeridan has issued
THE NEWS.
an order forbidding parties from going into
the reservation, and of course any occupation
of the territory will be technically illegal ; but
it is likely that the risk will be assumed, and
that we shall soon here of the results of prac
tical mining there.
Gov. Osrorvk, of Kansas, has oalled an
extra session of the Legislature for the 15th
of September, to devise means for the relief
of the settlers whose crops have been de
stroyed by the grasshoppers .
The cost of the government of New York
city for the year ending Aug. 1 was. in round
numbers, 50.000,000. The debt, in the samo
time, was considerably increased.
K1KK8 AND CASUALTIES.
A portion of the mammoth wagon factory
of the Studebaker Brothers", at South Band,
Ind., was burned last week, resulting in a
loss estimated at $300,000.
CKinU AND I KiniSALS.
As comvany L, Third Cavalry, was proceed
ing to Camp Brown, Wyoming Territory, to
relieve company B, Second Cavalry, a most
atrocious crime was committed by a member
of the former company. An escort of fou.
men and a corporal were at the North Fork of
the Popoagie, going toward Brown, when,
without any warning, one of the eseort,
named Green, rode up to one Mahoney. and
presenting his pistol, shot him through the
lungs. He then immediately turned upon the
others and commenced an indiscriminate lire,
shooting one man through the bowels, and an
other through the side. As Ryan fell, the re
maining uninjured man ran to help him get
his feet from the stirrups ; consequently
Green had plenty of time to get two of the
horses and take to the bluffs. An ambulance,
coming up soon after, took the wounded to
Camp Brown ; but the man Mahoney died be
fore reaching the post. Parties were at once
sent in pursuit, and at last accounts were
close on the trail of the murderer.
A man giving the name of Gustav Meyer
has been arrested in New York, having been
recognized by one Lewis Moses as Theophile
George Kerstein, who is alleged to have rob
bed the Kulm Credit Bank, of Western Prus
sia, last December, of 180,000 in bonds and
money. Kerstein was Director in the bank.
It is said he committed many forgeries besides
the embezzlement, and that one man in Kulm
lost $75,000 by him, and several banking
houses in Berlin were victimized to the amount
of $30,000.
Tee U. S. Marshal and Gov. Leslie, of
Kentucky, have held a consultation, and the
militia and the United States troops will act
together in arresting the contending parties
The State troops have thus far been pursuing
both parties of offenders. At Lancaster,
Garrard county, tho scene of last week's
troubles, all is quiet, but the State troops
remain to insure order. Forty-five rioters
have been arrested.
At Pickettsville, Gibson county, Tenn., last
week, some negroeB threatened a riot on ac
count of some supposed wrong done to them,
and manifested a desire to kill certain whites,
and sack the town. On the 26th sixteen of
the ringleaders were arrested ; but were taken
from the prison by about 100 masked men.
who tied them together and marched off on
the Huntington road half a mile from town.
Six of the number were cut loose and ordered
to escape, and, as soon as that command was
given, a full volley was fired upon them, kill
ing four and wouuding the other two one
mortally. The remainder were carried up the
river two miles and killed.
At New Orleans, recently, in one day, two
suicides and three homicides occurred, and.
in addition, three persons were dangerously
wounded with razors and pistols in affrays.
It is reported that the strike in Belfast, Ire
land, has ended, and that all the operatives,
40,000 in number, have resumed work in the
factories at reduced rates.
A Frenchman named August Gardner,
while walking on the track of the Jefferson
ville, Madison and Indianapolis railroad, near
Henryville, on the night of the 29th ult., was
attacked by three men, who took his pocket
book and five dollars, and then tied him on
the track over a small culvert, where he was
run over by a passenger train. He was alive
when found, but died soon after. No clew to
the perpetrators of the crime.
The citizens of Memphis have held an in
dignation meeting to protest against the re
cent murder of sixteen negroes by a band of
masked men. Jeff. Davis, Gen. Forrest and
others addressed the meeting, and denounced
the inhuman outrage.
FINANCIAL AM) INDUSTRIAL.
A committee of the Shreveport (La.) Board
of Trade have arrived at New Orleans, to con
fer with Maj. Howells, United States Engi
neer, upon the improvement of the Red river.
POLITICAL.
The Illinois Democratic Convention, in ses
sion at Springfield on the 26th ult., nominated
Charles Carroll for State Treasurer, and S. M.
Etter for Superintendent of Schools. A plat
form was adopted declaring in favor of the
" restoration of gold and silver as the basis of
currency, the resumption of specie payments
as soon as possible without disaster to the
business interests of the country, by steadily
opposing inflation, and by the payment of the
national indebtedness in the money of the
civilized world; opposing any tariff
except for revenue laws ; denounc
ing all sumptuary laws, and declar
ing it to be the right and duty of the State to
protect its citizens from extortion and unjust
discrimination.
The Republicans of Michigan have put in
nomination the following ticket : Governor,
John J. Bagley ; Lieutenant-Governor, Henry
H. Holt ; Secretary of State, E. G. D. Hol
den ; Treasurer, William B. McCreary ; Auditor-General,
Ralph Ely; Attorney-General,
Andrew J. Smith ; Superintendent of Public
Instruction, Daniel B. Briggs. The platform
favors a return to specie payment at the
earliest day practicable ; expresses the belief
that " banking, under a well guarded national
system, should be free, the volume and local
ity of issues being regulated by the business
law of demand ;" and denounces repudiation
in every form or degree.
The Republicans of Kansas have renomina
ted Gov. Osborne for re-election. The plat
form of principles expresses the opinion that
the public debt should not be reduced spas
modically, but gradually and surely ; favors
such legislation as will make national banking
free to all ; denounces the salary grab ; de
clares that all railroad corporations are the
creatures of the State ; denounces drunken
ness as " one of the greatest curses of modern
society," and favors such legislation as will be
most effectual in destroying the evil ; declares
against a third Presidential term ; affirms that
the public lands are for the use f actual set
tlers, and condemns any further grants of the
public domain to railroad or other corpora
tions. The Democratic Convention of Ohio assem
bled at Columbus on the 26th ult. an nom
inated the following ticket : For Secretary of
State, Wm. Bell, of Licking ; for School Com
missioner. C. 8. Smart, of Pickaway; for
Judge of the Supreme Court, W. J. Gilnore,
of Preble ; for Clerk of the Supreme Court,
Arnold Green, of Cuyahoga; for member of
the Board of Public Works, Martin Schiller, of
Ross. The platform declares "in favor of such
an increase of the circulating medium as
the business interests of the country may
from time to time require, and that sound
policy and justice require that no less than
one-half of tho customs duties should be pay
able in greenbacks ;" favors tho abolition. of
" tho franchise of the national banks to issue
a paper currency as soon as tho same can
safely and prudently be done, and thai the
notes so overdrawn by the banks bo sub
stituted by the Government with a legal-tender
currency ;" declares that the 5-20 bonds
ought to be payably in legal-tender notes : op
poses "all combinations that tend to increase
tho cost of transportation beyond a fair re
muneration to the carrier ;" opposes the Civil
Rights bill and the third term principle ; and
closes by "arraigning the Republican party for
its extravagance and proiligaey," etc., eta
The total majority against the new CUio
Constitution is 147,284. Tho " license " prjpo
sition is also defeated by 7,286.
The Democrats of Missouri, in their con
vention at Jefferson City, nominated the fol
lowing ticket : Governor, Charles H. Harlin ;
Lieutenant-Governor, Norman J. Coleman;
Secretary of State, M . K. McGrath ; Auditor,
Thomas Halladay ; Treasurer, Joseph W.
Mercer ; Register of Lands, Oscar Kochlitsky.
The platform declares that the 5-20 bonds
ought to be paid in greenbacks, and favors a
repeal of the Nationa'. Banking law and the
substitution of greenbacks to the extent of
the national Dank currency. It also de
clares that "the legal-tender notes of the
United States, in addition to being receivable
in payment of all debts and demands
of every kind due to tho United States and to
individuals, should also be made receivable
for duties on imports." In regard to tho rail
road question, it demands 'such legislation
upon the wubject, both State and national, as
will effectually secure the industrial and pro
ducing interests of the country against all
forms of corporate monopoly and taxation."
The Republican State Convention of Now
Jersey mot in convention at Trenton on the
27th ult.t and unanimously nominated George
A. Halsey for Governor. The platform ap
proves the past record of the Republican
party, eulogizes President Grant and his ad
ministration, and favors a speedy resumption
of specie payments.
In consequence of the confiscation of the
property of the Carlists by tho Spanish Gov
ernment, Prince Alfonso, brother of Don
Carlos, has issued an order to tho troops un
der his command announcing that retaliatory
measures will be taken.
It is reported that a Ministerial crisis exists
at Madrid, and Sagasta and Cotoner are ex
pected to quit the Cabinet ; also that the in
habitants ot Madrid refuse to submit to a
fresh conscription.
In India 8,000.000 natives are still dependent
on charitable relief. Tho weather has been
excessively dry in Tirhoot, and further dis
tress is threatened.
The Spanieh Federalists who took refuge in
Portugal after the defeat of their echene for
a Federal Republic are to be banished from
the domain of King Ferdinand.
The Carlists have made another attack on
Puycerda, and again met with repulse. The
defense was most courageous. Even tkjo
women assisted in repairing the breaks in the
ramparts during the fight.
At St. Petersburg, on the 28th ult., the
Grand Duke Vladimir was married to the
Duchess of Mecklenburg.
Spain is about to add 100,000 men to her
armies by conscription.
A Brussels dispatch says that the Interna
tional Conference, at a full sitting, rejected
four introductory general principles proposed
by Russia, and all the proposals concerning
reprisals.
The F.enjh authorities have disarmed a
Carlist battalion for entering French ter
ritory. The sale of the London Hour baB been pro
hibited in England.
Quarantine regulations have been put in
force at Queenstown, vrhich cause great
hindrance to commerce.
Report of the Plymouth Investigating
Committee.
Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, was densely
packed on the evening of August 28, when the
Investigating Committee reported. Probably
over 3,000 people were present, and many had
to leave for lack of accommodations. The
following is an abstract of the Committee's
eport :
They find in detail an acqnital of Mr.
Beecher on the charge of adultery with Mrs.
Tilton at the times and places specifiedjin Til
ton's accusation ; that Mr. Beech or never
committed an unchaste or improper act with
Mrs. Tilton ; that he has committed errors of
judgment that he will now admit, and which
he must regr jt most of all : and that there is
nothing in the evidence that should impair
the confidence of Plymouth Church in the
Christian character and integrity of Henry
Ward Beecher. The errors of judgment to
which the committee refer are : That Mr.
Beecher did not take counsel with some of his
Christian brethren instead of a man of
whom he knew so little, and who has
proved bo unworthy as Moulton ; and that he
should have been so unguarded in his rela
tions with the Tilton family that Mrs. Tilton
had an opportunity to fall in love with him.
The report is quite lengthy, and concludes
as follows:
First We find from the evidence that the
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher did not commit
adultery with Mrs. Elizabeth B. Tilton, either
at the time, times, or at the place or places
set forth in the third and fourth subdivisions
of Mr. Tilton's statement, nor at any other
time or place whatever.
Second We find from the evidence that Mr.
Beecher has never committed any unchaste
or improper act with Mrs. Tilton, nor made
any unchaste or improper remark, proffer, or
solicitation to her of any kind or description
Tvli & fc v r
Third It this were a question of errors of
judgment on the part of Mr. Beecher, it
would be easy to criticise, especially in the
light of recent events. In such criticism,
even to the extent of regrets and cenBUre, we
are sure no man would join more sincerely
than Mr. Baecher himself.
Fourth We find nothing whatever m the
evidence that should impair the perfect con
fidence of Plymouth Church or the world in
the Christian character and integrity of
Henry Ward Beecher. And now lot the per.ee
of God. that passeth all understanding, rest
and abide with Plymouth Church and its be
loved aud eminent pastor, so much and so
long afflicted.
(Signed) Henry W. 8ao,
Augustus Btorrs,
Henry M. Cleveland,
Horace B. Claflin,
John Winslow,
S. V. White,
Committee of Investigation.
Brooklyn, Aug. 27, 1874.
The report of the Committee of Investiga
tion, witli the statement of conclusions, upon
being read to the church, was adopted amid
shouts of acclamation.
The following resolutions were also unani
mously adopted :
Resolved, That the evidence laid before the
Examining Committee not only does not af
ford any foundation for putting the pastor of
this church, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher,
upon trial, but, on the contrary, establishes,
to the peifeet satisfaction of this church, his
entire innocence aud absolute personal purity
with respect to all the charges now or hereaf
ter made against him by Theodore Tilton.
Resoloed, That our confidence and love for
our pastor, far from being diniiuishea, are
heightened and deepened by the unmerited
sufferings which he has so long borne, and
that we welcome him with a sympathy more
tender and a trust more unbouuded than we
ever felt bofora to his public labors among us.
to our churcii, our families, our homes, and
our hearts.
During tho reading of the report frequent
interruptions were caused by applause, which
followed the reading of certain passages sus
taining Mr. Beecher, and outbursts ot laugh
ter were drawn by any allusions to the mutual
friend, Moulton, and his participation in the
matter. The concluding portion of tue report
aud summing up of the committee were re
ceived with tho waving of handkerchiefs,
hats, and whatever else came handy, and the
applause which greeted its ending was almost
deafening.
Iu response to a call, Mr. R. W. Raymond
made a short speech. Referring to Mr. Moul
tou's part iu the affair, he said: "Mr.
Francis D. Moulton has tried to poison the
minds of men against Mr. Beecher." This
brought Mr. Moulton to his feet, who glared
at the speaker, and exclaimed twice in a loud
voice : "You're a liar, sir ; you're a liar, sir."
Much confusion ensued, men and women
standing up, the latter mounting on seats and
joining in the cry with a hearty good wiil of
"Put him out;" "Shame, sir," etc., etc.,
mingled with loud and prolonged hissing, in
the midst of which Mr. Haliiday came for
ward, and making himself heard above, the
din, partially restored order, saying: "Gen
tlemen, let him sit still and hear the truth ;"
but Moulton still remained on his feet, saying :
" I dare you to put me out." Aconpleof po
lice officers put in an appearance benind Mr.
Mom ton. aud he resumed his seat.
Order being partially restored, Mr. Raymond
continued : " Well, now I want to say "some
thing to you about blackmailing." Orits of
" Yes, go for tho blackmailer.'' He claimed
that Mr. Tilton did not know where the money
came from, but it was evident that Mr. Moulton
paid him the money out of his pocket. Was it
upon his insinuations, garbled language and
letters,? Was it upon this, he wantt-d to know,
they were to wait and doubt? With regard to
the pistol, it was not pretended by Mr. Beech
er, or advanced by Mr. Moulton, that under
the influence of the pistol he was hurried or
iutiuiidated into any action. The story of the
pistol was just this : It went to show the
character of a man who went to call upon u
minister with his pistol. He concluded his
address by stating that, come what might, they
would all stand by the man who had stood up
so nobly for them.
The Ohan man then put the question on re
ceiving the report of the committee, and
adopting the resolutions offered. On motion,
it was passed by a standing vote, with the
waving of hats aud haudkarchiefs when the
" ayes " were called for, but when the " noea"
were called, Frank Moulton only rose, and
was greeted with a perfect storm of hisses,
and another uproar succeeded, but was calmed
in a slight degree when Mr. Gilbert rose and
offered resolutions tendering thanks to mem
bers of the committee for the faithful and
impartial manner in which they had performed
their duties, and alto to the counsel of the
committee for their valuable services. This
was also adopted.
A motion was made to adjourn, but Mr.
Holiday announced that tho proceedings
would terminate with the signing of the dox
ology. At the cloe of the meeting, Moulton started
out with two or three friends. A crowd im
mdiately surrounded him, uttering intense
hisses, calling him names, and shouting "Put
him out !" " Trample on him !" aud like ex
pressions, and when he was passing through
the iuLer door several of the crowd attempted
to strike him. A squad of policemen inter
fered and shielded him from the insame mob.
giving him au opportunity to get to the out
side door. He started along the alley-way,
which leads from the rear door, where the
mob again attempted to get at him and do
him violence.
Pistols were flourished and men tried to lay
hands on him Policemen braced themselves,
waved their clubs, and threatened that if the
people did not cease their outrageous proceed
ings they must charge . On reaching the out
er gate, a crowd mot them from the front,
aud another critical moment was at hand. A
new force of police also appeared, aud proba
bly saved Mr. Moultou's life, and this alone
saved it. He was carried to his carriage by
the officers. Cries of " Lay him out I" " Kill
him!" "Shoot him!" resounded on every
hand. The crowd surrounded the carriage,
men blocked the wheels with the r arms and
attempted to stop the vehicle, but the police
succeeded in beating them off, and he was
driven home in safety.
THE JCELAMJIC MILLENNIUM.
A very remark able solemnity -was ob
served on Saturday, August 1, in an
isolated but interesting country on the
confines of the Arctic Ocean. It is the
celebration of the millennium of the
first colonization of Iceland, which took
place in the year 874, and it is also the
day on which a new and liberal consti
tution, granted to it by the King of
Denmark, goes into operation. The Ice
landers are comparatively few in num
ber, but they are a people noted for
their great intelligence, for enterprise
as navigators, and for having maintained
what may be called a pure democracy
for many centuries, despite the efforts
of powerful neighbors to reduce them
to subjection. Whether it was that Na
ture placed obstacles in the way of ar
mies being sent against them, or that
their country was not well adapted for
military operations, or that their pov
ery was so great as not ! make it an
object to conquer them, the Icelanders
have, through all the vicissitudes of
their history, managed to retain in their
own hands the right of self-government.
Besides this they have a wonderful at
tachment to their dreary and inhospit
able island. This, however, has not pre
vented several hundred Icelanders dur
ing the past few years emigrating to the
United States and settling in the North
west, to be followed, no doubt, by many
more of their countrymen.
Texas can't get much ahead of Mas
sachusetts. In Texas eight men out of
ten are " Colonels," but in Massachu
setts, nine men out of ten answer prompt
ly when a person shouts "Professor."
A CAIRO SENSATION.
Cairo experienced a real sensation
Saturday morning, and we shall prob
ably hear more of it. The sensation
came in the shape of an aerolite or
meteor, and according to the descrip
tion, one of the largest, brightest and
most remarkable ever witnessed. It is
described as appearing in the northern
sky, of a size apparently as lar-e as the
moon, and as dazzlingly bright as the
sun, and moving toward the horizon
with lightning rapidity. When seem
ingly near the earth, it exploded with
terrific force, frightening people out of
their beds and shaking the houses like
an earthquake. Search is being made
for some of the fragments, which will
probably be found not far distant
There are many accounts given of the
falling of these strange bodies, and
though usually the phenomena take
place without services results, there are
instances on record where the contrary
has been the case. During a shower of
aerolites in Saxony in early times, a
great many persons were killed and
thirty-five villages were set on fire. The
largest specimens of these stones found
on the earth were discovered by the
Swedish Arctic expedition, in 1871, on
the west coast of Greenland. One of
these, which was brought to Stockholm,
weighs twenty-five tons. Th$ Smith
sonian Institution at Washington con
tains some fine specimens, many of them
found in Mexico, but the largest !of
them weighs but 1,400 pounds. Ac
counts go to show that the meteor seen
at Cairo will take rank among the most
interesting which have witnessed. In
1818 one was seen in England, shining
with the light of the sun, and descend
ing vertically, a hissing sound accom
panying it, while a great trembling of
the earth was felt. One was also seen
in 1719, in London. The stars disap
peared in its brilliant light, aud the
moon paled so as to be scarcely visible.
It moved very rapidly, and finally burst
with a loud explosion on the opposite
coast of Brittany. A meteor was seen in
1819 at Danvers, Mass., and at Balti
more, the diameter of which appeared
to be half a mile. Two minutes after its
disappearance a rumbling noise was
heard which lasted something longer
than a minute. What these bodies are,
where they come from, and how they
became heated to such an extraordinary
degree, has never been satisfactorily
determined. Ch icarjo Inter-Ocean.
PREISER VING WOOD.
The Manufacturer and Builder de
scribes Hatzfeld's new method of pre
serving wood, as follows: "It seems
that in 1830 specimens of oak were dug
up in Rouen, which had been buried
since the year 1150. This wood was
quite sound, but had acquired a black
color like ebony and an astonishing
hardness. Hatzfeld ascribed its pres
ervation to the joint action of the tan
nin in the wood and the oxides of iron
iu the soil. Accordingly he now pro
poses to preserve wood artificially by
means of tannin and pyrolignite of iron,
a combination which would in some
measure bring about the same changes
noticed in the specimens from Rouen.
Hatzfeld impregnates the wood to be
preserved first with tannin, and subse
quently with the pyrolignite solution.
The latter substance has long been used
alone as a preservative of the best char
acter, and it is doubtful whether the
addition of the tannin, as proposed by
Hatzfeld, will prove of sufficient advan
tage to warrant the extra expense."
A iaiCBINtt APPEAL.
An assault in which eggs were freely
used calls forth the following appeal
from a Missouri writer : " Give us back
the palmy days of the inquisition, or
the foul fires of witchcraft lifting their
black columns to the sky, but let the
low principles of such midnight cliques,
in whose breast is lurking in embryo
the feelings of a highwayman, like the
putrid yeast of death that often spread
throughout the physician's frame and
reduced it to a living skeleton, be
banished from the nation over whose
domain the star of empire now trembles
in its last revolution in the historic
heavens. "
An examination of the Legislative
expenses of eight different States shows
that it costs less per head to do the
legislation for Michigan than in any of
the States alluded to. The various
sums are taken from the Treasurers'
annual reports in the respective States :
Year. State. Amount. Per head.
1873 Connecticut .$97,216.18 $0,181
1871 Iowa 134,276.42 .144
1872 Kansas 32,686 35 .086
1872 Massachusetts 319,234.60 .233
1873- Michigan 75,176.48 .064
1872 Minnesota 64,735.65 .152
1872 New Hampshire 42,493.17 .133
1872 Wisconsin 112,326.80 .106
Lansing Republican.
The Chassepot Thrown Aside. That
great fraud of the reign and fall of Na
poleon III., the Chassepot, is no longer
to incumber the defeated Frenchman.
The 15,000,000 of weapons of Mons.
Chassepot's pattern are to be made into
rifles that will not shirk their duty in
the face of the enemy. Two rifles which
have been tested by a committee of
French Generals have been found much
superior to the Chassepot. They are
the Gras, a French invention, and the
Beaumont, a Dutch weapon.
ONE OF NATURE'S WONDERS.
I hasten to inform you of a most re
markable discovery we have made here
in the shape of a burrowing-worm that
we find along the numerous stretches
of hard, sharp and brittle sand lying
above the ledges of gray, flinty stone
that skirt this section in every direc
tion from three to five feet below the
surface. They average from five to six
inches in length, and are about the size
of a pipe-stem in their largest parts.
Their color is dark gray, and the skin
very nearly as tough as tanned hide.
Their undersides are several degrees
lighter in shade, and a ridge of rough
ribs extends along their undersides
about three inches. One inch of their
tails is hard, and much resembles a
bone. Their heads are small and very
sharp. Two small black eyes are sunk
deep in their heads, and their noses are
hard and bony. Undoubtedly they are
the most muscular little reptile living.
In a narrow strip of sand deposit in
this section of the township, about a
half mile north of the Postoffice, we
found countless thousands of these
worms burrowing in the sand. With
the aid of several farm laborers we
threw up a quantity of sand and dug
down about four feet until we came to
hard rock.
Upon close examination we found the
rock literally drilled through in hun
dreds of places. The holes were the
exact size of these worms, and to fur
ther prove that they were the sole and
only cause of this most singular state
of affairs, many of the holes were punc
tured and worms withdrawn from them.
By great effort, and with the use of a
crow-bar, we broke off a piece of the
boulder and found it drilled through
and through in fifty-seven distinct
places. The holes were drilled with as
much regularity and evenness as if the
work had been done by man, aided by
the best and most improved machinery.
We placed several worms under the
microscope, and found their bodies a
perfect network of strong and fibrous
muscles, concentrating at a point on the
back about midway between the head
and tail. Their noses are strong bone
of flinty hardness, and with "these they
are able to work their way through the
hardest buolder. Berks County Pa.)
Letter to New York Sun.
THE LANGUAGE OF STONES.
There is a superstition, which origin
ated, it is said, in Poland, .with regard
to the choice of gems for wearing. It
is that the month of the nativity of
every individual has a mysterious con
nection with some of the known precious
stones. From this follows the proprie
ty, in the selection of presents, or for
wear, of the adoption of those jewels
belonging to the month which fate is
imagined to have made significant. To
illustrate this, one born in the month
of January should wear garnet or ja
cinth those stones being understood
to belong by their fated character to
that month. Subjoined is the list for
the year :
January Jacinth or garnet. Con
stancy and fidelity in every engagement.
February Amethyst. Peace of mind.
March Bloodstone. Courage and suc
cess in dangers. April Sapphire and
diamond. Repentance and innocence.
May Emerald. Success in love. June
Agate. Long life and health. July
Cornelian and ruby. Forgetfulness.
August Sardonyx. Conjugal felicity.
September Chrysolite. Preserves from
folly. October Aqua marine or opal
Misfortune and hope. November To
paz. Fidelity and friendship. Decem
ber Turquoise or malachite. Success
and happiness in life. According to the
proverb, " He who possesses a turquoise
will always have friends."
The Morgan Envelope Company at
Springfield, Mass., which received the
contract for printing the postal cards a
year or two ago, was found to be the
lowest bidder for the stamped-envelope
contract just opened at Washington,
the contract to run for four years from
October 1, 1874. There were three bid
ders ; the Morgan Company's figures
were $351,643; George H. Reay, of New
York, who has had the contract for the
last four years, $380,152; and George
F. Nesbitt & Co., of Washington, $461,
132. The estimates for the yearly pro
duction require 138,815,500 stamped
envelopes, 6,000,000 official envelopes,
for the use of postoffice officials, and
2,000 stamped wrappers.
Bleeding at the Nose. The health
of persons subject to bleeding at the
nose should be improved by nutritious
food. "Violent exercise will sometimes
bnt g it on. Plugging the nostrils with
lint or cotton wool soaked in a strong
solution of alum will be found to be
efficacious. Where persons are often
troubled in this way, a regular practi
tioner should be consulted. Applica
tions of iced water to the forehead and
ace are also good.
Mrs. Tract, of Missouri, had been
sick a long time, and Tracy had her
coffin in the barn. When she died the
coffin was found four inches too short,
and the neighbors wouldn't even let
him saw four inches off the body to make
a fit.
Five misses at Cornell University are
practicing rowing.