The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-05 00:00:00

THE HURRICANE IN FRANCE,

The late hurricane has caused several fatal acci•
dents both in Paris and the provinces. Between 6
and 7on Saturday evening, while slates and tiles
were flying from the roofs of houses, Baron de
S—, 75 years of age, Colonel on half-pay, was
walking on the flag way of the Quai de Louvre, on
his return to his residence in the Rue de Bee. As
he passed the baths on the river one of the large
poplar trees in front of them was blown down by
the violence of the wind, and knocked him down,
inflicting a severe wound on his head. In falling the
Baron unfortunately fractured one of his legs, and
it became necessary to carry him to the nearest
apothecary, and thence to his residence. From his
great age it is feared that ho may not recover. A
letter from Nimes gives the details of another fatal
accident during the late storm. On Thursday after-
noon last two farmers who were returning home
were overtaken by the rain, which was falling in
torrents, and sought shelter at a neighbour's house.
They were hospitably entertained by the mistress,
who pressed them strongly to remain the night.
They obstinately refused, and their neighbour placed
at their disposal a cart and the best mule in the
farm to convey them home. Two of the farm ser-
vants offered to accompany them and to assist them
in case of accident, as the roads were completely
flooded. Five persons set out in the cart—the two
farmers, the son of one of them, and the two farm
servants. When they arrived at the high road from
Nimes to Montpellier they were met by a rush of
water which upset the cart. The driver held by the
seat, but the others were carried away by the tor-
rent. At this moment the farmer Roux thought
only of his son, who sank in the waters. He made
desperate efforts to recover him, but in vain, and,
having become exhausted, he was drowned. The
other farmer and the farm servanta were so fortunate
as to lay hold of the branches of a tree. After hav-
ing remained for four hours in this perilous position
their cries were heard by some persons in the neigh-
bourhood, and they were saved. The body of the
son was found the following day, 'out the search for
that of the father, who leaves a widow and four
children, was ineffectual.

THE LOCAL TAXATION OF ENGLAND.—According
to the annual summary, published this week, the
total amount thus raised appears to be £3,462,685, of which
the principal items are—church rates, £232,907—t0115,
£lO5, 116—drainage and embankment, £l42,os3—district
and highway rates, &c., £436,ooo—improvement, £290,779
—burial rates, £9B,4os—harbour dues, £1,042,967. The
ratepayers ewe no less than 11 millions. The amount raised
for church rates is increased by £50,000 a year derived from
property, and the whole sum expended, £129,245, was for
public worship, the rest for repairs.
FRIENDLY SOCIETY FEASTING.—The Registrar
of Friendly Societies announces that he shall feel
it to be his duty to compel the restoration of any funds ap-
plied in payment for feasting, whether charged openly or
as " incidentals." His report just issued shows how
prevails.
d:w management of one society iet
ey xp writes s
of our ex-
tensively
this misapplication of the funds still
The
secretary
Touhre
sick
cl
k 8 1
and6s ,lbduril
puta
society was spent in drink, music,
&0., and those who do
not come to the Whit-Monday the dinner they do not have, th dinner are made to pay for
shall not come." An Odd ell though they give notice they
vr.rites—
liquor upwards of 308 every lodge " We spend in
the box, and on the feast-day afotirtgh t ; this comes out
ber (we are above 205), the band 3s, liquor for each mem•
pubic houses in walking round the towainnLers, 68—spent at
and lmany other expenses besides. I think tlii3irsocession, 12e,
is too much,
as many of our members are out of employ, and when at
work, which is chiefly handloom weavinga
m
wife in our town with both working cannot
average and his
little
more than ss; I love oddfellowahip, but Cannorgtdeo
t
spendthrifts." A secretary writes...." Our society Wash
established in 1837, and we have spent in drink since then
£568." Another says—" Each member may receive from
two to four pints of beer at our meetings every month, and
order or good behaviour is quite an exception." One ac-
count runs thus :—" These two last Easters £6 have been
taken out of our funds for feasting and drink—a few oppose
it, but one or two of the officers, with one trustee, have
gone with the majority, and the laws have been set at
nought. This day week feast they would have 25s out for
drink; the chairman opposed it with all his might. They
demanded his key of the box, and threatened to turn him
out of the room. Charles Buswell, a trustee, taken pos-
session of the key, and with two more taken the money
out of the box, and before the day was over they got
drunk, and fighting took place, and some of the landlord's
furniture was broken, and all was confusion and uproar."
Careful and prudent men will rejoice if every one is made
to pay out of his
own pocket for what he drinks, and not
out of the funds subscribed for making some provision
for members and their families in sickness, misfortune,
and age.

WHO WAS THE INVENTOR OF LUCIFER MATCHES P
—A Question for .Notes and Queries.—The man
who invented lucifer matches was doubtless one of the
greatest benefactors to humanity. What labour was lost,
what tempers were tried, what nuckles were made sore in
the hundred thoueand households of England, every morn-
ing, as Betty the h,usemaid, with flint and steel, endea-
voured to strike a light on the damp tender I—what a minor
misery of life was abolished by the immortal genius who
schemed, and made, and struck a light with, the first Con-
greve I The invention might have been a very small one,
but how stupendous its results appear, multiplied by the
daily convenience it affords to the entire population! Pro•
ozptheus stole fire from heaven only to animate one man.
The inventor of the lucifer match calls into life one of the
four elements to do our bidding in our domestic and Indus-
trial
homes every day, and vet even his name is unknown
to the public,—once a Week..