The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1858-05-26

hands were saved.
The complications existing at present in
European affairs and the serious results that
may possibly flow therefrom, make state
ment Of the relative strength of the naval
and military force of the principal powers Of
that continent of especial interest at the
present time. There are but three great
naval powers. In December, 1854, the
British feet in commission and actual SER
vice consisted of 142 steamers and 1O4 sail
ing vessels, with 5000 men, Since that
period it has been largely increased. The
navy of France is stated to include more YES
sells than that Of Great Britain, and it is GER
tain that since the establishment of the en-
pire, it has been greatly strengthened. Du
ring the CrimeaE war, however, as we all
recollect, the force Of the French navy was
found to be much exaggerated, and it is GER
tain that France has not the seemen, who,
after all, make naval power. The Russian
fleet in 1854, consisted of 50 ships-of-the-
line, 4S frigates and 81 smaller vessels, with
81, 900 men.
France has compact and efficient army
of about 100000. Russia claims an army.
which upon a war footing, numbers ,5O0,-
900 men. The Austrian army upon a war
footing, numbers go 900 men; that of Prus-
STA about 525, 900. But neither Austria nor
Prussia have resources sufficient to maintain
such armies in active service. England has
an army of 169, 900 men; but she is obliged
to maintain an immense army in India and
her other dependencies, so that she could
not bring any considerable military force to
bear upon the continent without the aid Of
subsidies. Her strength there lies in the
arms Of the liberal party of every nation.
NEWSPAPER FAcTs.-There are sixteen
millions fifty thousand four hundred and
sixty newspapers printed in the course Of the
year in the city Of Albany. This is 32l to
each individual, or more than one to each
person every week day in the year. 'The
man who don't take the papers" does not
live in Albany.
The people in the United States spend in
year for newspapers, SIS 100000, or would,
if they all paid their debts.
The newspapers that they read, if all put
together in continuous string, would reach
more than ten times arouud the world and
weigh seventy million pounds! If they were
spread out to dry, they would more than
cover the whole District of Columbia, like
blanket.
The origin ofnewspapers is traced to Italy
The first in England appeared during the
reign of good Queen Bess," at the time of
Spanish Armada. 1t was named. "Ye En-
glish Mercurie," imprinted in London by her
HIghness" printer in 1868. Frankln's Bos-
ton News Letter was the first in America. 1t
commenced in 1904. A hundred years ago
there were not more than twenty-five pub
lisbed in America.
Boston issues ll3 papers, with an annual
circulation of 81, 900; New York, lO4
papers, circulation 7s.OOO0OO; and Phila-
d-phia 81 papers, circulation 100000.
And, after all, there is not one newspaper
too many. Fancy every newspaper in the
United States abolished He is poor, indeed,
in money, and wretchedly poor in spirit,
who cannot take newspaper. When you
economize-as many are doing just now in
this region-let your newspaper be the last
thing to go.-Nothing under the sun helps
to keep man or his family more at home
than something to read-and nne-tenths of
the extravaganza aloat is picked up by loaf
ing around at other places. After all :here
is more money spent annually for liquor
alone in this country than for newspapers.-l
Grohanas Magozine
nv l,oI