The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-18

ton which SO recently converted into ashes the
places of business OF many of the most sub
stantial men of that city, but which did not para
lyze their energy.-Laaorence Her. Of Freedom
Is SCOTLAND THE MosT moral NATION IN
THE WORLD Pit is a very singular fact, that
while the Scotch claim to be set down as the
most religious and moral nation in the world,
there are more illegitimate children born in
Scotland, and there is more whisky drank, in
proportion to the population than in any other
country of Europe. Ii appears, from recent re
turns, that Scotland, with its population of less
than three millions, generally poor, proverbially
cautious, and universally thrifty, consumes
whisky annually to the amount Of upward of
seven millions of gallons, and at cost,
duties included, which has reached of late
the enormous of twentyfour millions of
dollars "a year. or eight dollars head for every
man, woman, and child, in the country Con
trary to what happens in almost every other
case, even duplication of the price has not OPP
Grated to check the consumption--at least, not
so far as the knowledge and intention of the
consumers went.
In the year 1854, the duty on the Scotch
whisky was raised from some three shillings
and eleven pence to about seven shillings and
six pence the gallon in consequence of which,
the price rose from SIX shillings and six
pence the gallon in the years 1851 and 1852, to
eleven shllings and two pence in the last two
years. This had the effect to produce in these
two last years a reduction in the amount of
whisky which paid duty, TO the extent of FIVE
hundred thousand gallons a year but so far as
the consumers were concerned, they were wholly
unconscious Of any such reduction. They
thought, in fact, that they were consuming
more whisky than ever. The dram-sellers to
meet the rise in the price Of the article, ought
to have raised their charge per gill from three
pence to five pence but, for fear of frightening
their customers, they did not venture on that
They raised the price only to four pence but,
to save themselves from loss in selling at this
rate, they added quantity Of water, double the
amount of the diminution in the quantity Of
whisky entered for duty; so that, although the
consumption was slightly less the consumers
supposed themselves to have drunk more, hay
ing paid for a million of gallons of water at the
rate of four pence glT-all which they swal-
lowed, supposing it to be whisky. 1t would be
curious to observe what might be the effect of
an addition of three or four shillings more to
| the duty. Perhaps, by gradual increase on
the part Of the dram-sellers of the water part of
the liquid, the Scotch, under the idea all :he
time that they were drinking whisky, might be
brought at last to put up with pure water.
AN INCIDENT OF THE EPIDEMIc-A touching
case was presented recently to the consideration
and charity of one of the Good Samaritans who
now take care of the sick, relieve the destitute
and feed the starving. A boy was discovered
| IN the morning, living in the grass of Claiborne
street, evidently bright and intelligent but sick
a man, who has the feelings of Kindness strong
! " developed, went to him, shook him bv the
shoulder, and asked him what he was DOING
/ there
! Waiting for God to come for me-" said he.
! "What do YOU mean ?" said the gentleman,
touched by the pathetic tone of the answer and
the condition of the boy, in whose eve and
flushed face he saw the evidences of the fever
God sent for mother, and father, and little
brother, said he, and took them up to his
home, up in the sky; and mother told me, when
she was sick, that God would take care of me.
! | have no home. nobody to give me anything,
and so . ca'ne ont yrery, aud have been looking
| so long up IN the sNg for God to come and take
| care of me, as mother said he wonld. He Will
come, won't he? Mother never told me a lie"
| "Ies, my lad, said the man, overcome with
emotion. q" be has sent me to take care of YOU"
! You should have seen his ewes flash, and the
smile of triumph break over his face, as h.
/ said
Mother never told me a lie, sir; but you've
been 50 long on the way."-N q. Delta.
HEAD-DREssEs AND Hoops - In the year
! lib, one hundred and forty-fve years ago the
Duke of Shrewsbury was English Ambassador
at the Court of France. The Duchess of
Shrewsbury on the wrong side of forty-6ve,
and, having been a beauty in her youth. she was
unwilling to believe that time had made any
change. She spoke bad French huently, was
eccentric, gave magnificent balls and suppers,
and all Paris Titled Paris, of course) felt hon.
ored by her invitations. The Duchess dishked
the head-dresses in fashion. They were made
of wire, ribbons, gauze, and other millinery
materials, intermingled with the hair of the
head, and were more than two feet high so that
the face of the wearer if a short woman, appear
ed in the middle of the body Old women wore
them made of black gauze, from which we infer
that gay colors were worn by the Young The
slightest motion of the head caused the edifce
to trcmbe, and the fatigue of CARRYING it was
excessive.
Louis NV, SO absolute in little as well as
great things, disGked exceedingly these head
dresses and although they had been the fasll-
ION for ten years, he was unable to change it,
What the grand monarch could not accomplish
was brought about by the icW Of the Duchess
of Shrewsbury, {" Une Uielie tolle etrangere,' as
st. Simon calls herr in surprisingly short
time. She gave out that no lady wearing high
head-dress should be permitted to appear in her
extreme of depression the change was then
made, and, with slight notifications, the fash
ion has remained the same ever since.
All reasonable people, says St. Simon, wait
impatently the arrival of une riei1le foUe
etrdItgere," who shall induce our fashionable
women to leave off their immense hoops, so in
supportable to themselves, and so detestable to
those who approach them.-EUe. Post.
The following statements may be interesting
to persons DESTROYS of knowing something of the
condition of the Old World in regard to educa-
ton:
In France, the number of primary schools in
lS43 was 59,938; the number of normal col
leges for the instruction of teachers was 60
and the number of teachers actually engaged in
instruction, 1885 and, as the population in
France amounted to 34,230,l78 it follows that
there was, In that year, one primary school for
every $50 inhabitants; one teacher for every 446
inhabitants; one normal college for every 356, 564
inhabitants.
In the same year, there was in Prussia one
primary school for every 653 inhabitants; one
teacher for every 662 inhabitants; one normal
college for every 377, 300 inhabitants.
Berlin, 1.-THE capital Of Prussia with about
$4,000 inhabitants, has 264 public primary
schools
Rome, with population Of l5S,672 souls,
has 372 public primary schools, and 482 teach
ers.
In the Kingdom of Bavaria, Catholic in the
year 1916, there was one teacher for every sos
inhabitants; one primary school for every COS
inhabitants; one normal college for every
$50, 900 Inhabitants.
In the Kingdom of Saxony, protestant. with
Catholic King there was, in 1898. one primary
school for every 900 inhabitants one teacher
for every. 5s8 inhabitants; one normal college