The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-21
CURRENT TOPICS.

Conn.,.
low.citizen, DIR. HoLDRooK, for many years Pro-
fessor of Anatomy in the Medical College of South
Carolina and tho author of tho only systematic
work on herpetology ever published in this coun-
try. From the correspondence Of the New York
Times, August Is, We have the proce ,dings OF the
second day, which must have been OF great IN
terest to those capable Of appreciaing the higher
sciences. Unfortunately, however, the Learned
men who take part in the proceedings OF sucn
Conventions usually come 70 be heard rather than
to hear. 1t is through the published ''Transac-
tions," therefore, rather than from personal COM
munion and intercourse on such occasions that the
domain of science is enlarged. professor FIERCE
delivered two lectures on Algebra during inc
morning, and Professor GIBBS read paper on
Atomicities. "The Significance OF Classes In the
Animal Kingdom" vas the subject Of the lecture
nv Professor AaAssN, who said that OXEN, the
German naturalist, based the csssi6cations Of
animals on character, and that he was better ac-
| ouainted with the significance OF group OF ami
mails than had been shown by his successors. AS
far back as 1911 he had expressed views indicative
of belief in the existence Of classes the repre-
sentatives Of structural ideas. Thsre had been
but little advancement beyond that point since
that time. The learned Professor said he had for
many years divided the scay reptiles and the am
phibious into two classes. They we're distinct In
nature. Classifcations he based on nerves, mus
Gle and bones. He had began with those reptiles
which had been divided by BAnvILE into reptiles
and batrachia. These classes had features which
we're totally different. Professor AaAssIz said the
animal kingdom was not a mere combination OF
fortuitous actions. 1t was susceptible of posi-
tive classification in which each group would be
the embodiment Of distinctive idea. For the
present condition Of science, however, the subject
was too broad, and could not be fully and clearly
understood. All that he (the speaker) had sue
ceeded in doing, after many years investigation,
was to examine q single group and CLEAN there
from mere glimmer of light. which, he believed,
would help investigators hereafter in forming q
correct and comprehensive scheme OF classihca-
ton.
IT 1s POPULARITY supposed that California has
the biggest trees in the world, but Professor
SWALLOW, Of the Missouri Geological Survey,
csims the distinction for his own State. He gives
the following actual measurement Of big trees In
Southeast Missouri: ''The largest is sycamore in
Mississippi County, sixty-fve feet high, which,
two feet above the ground, measures forty-thlee
feet in circumference. Another sycamore in How
ard County is thirty eight and half feet in diane
ter. cypress in Cape Girardeau County, at q
distance of one foot above the ground, measures
twenty-nine feet in circumference. cotton wood
in Mississippi County measures thirty feet around
at distance OF six feet above the ground. Pc
can in the same county is eighteen feet in cir
cumference. black walnut in Benton county
measures twenty-five feet in circumference.
A white oak in Howard County ia TWEEN
ty-six feet in circumference. tulip tree (poplar)
in Cape Girardsau county is thirty feet in crcum-
ference There is tupelo in Stoddard county
thirty feet in circumference. There is hack
berry in Howard county eleven feet in circumfer-
ence. A Spanish oak in New Madrid county
twenty-sx feet in circumference. white ash in
Mississippi county is sixteen feet in circumference
A honey locust in Howard county is thirteen feet
round. There is willow in Pemiscot county that
has grown to the size Of twenty-four feet in cir
cumference and one hundred feet in height. Mis-
sissippi county boasts Of sassafras that must be
king Of that tribe it measures nine feet in circum-
ference. 1u6C6 ID pC1oiLlLuoA IA sAAAo
same county nine feet in, circumference.
In the same county is red bud six. feet
in circumference. In Pemiscot, there is
dogWood tree six feet in circumference. In Mis-
sissippi county papaws grow to circumference OF
three feet, and grape vines ed trumpet creepers
10 circumference Of eighteen to twenty-five
inches" 7:1
II THrRr 1s SOME HOPE that the reign Of terror has
let up somewhat in Mexico, snd that the blood
thirsty temper Of EsooBxDo toward Americans
and other strangers is not to furnish inspirations
for the government that is to be. An election for
President is shortly to be held, ct which JUARrz,
with real or affected reluctance, consents to be
candidate. There csn be little doubt as to his
being retained in office. There was q story that
he would proter to come to Washington as Minis
ter; but different considerations hare probably
prevailed While Affairs afe in their present situaE
Gbn, he is acting with vigor to reestablish order
and prepare the way for permanent peace aad in
tarnsl prosperity. He insists on the necessity for
labor, which he tells the Mericans is the ''bas:s
OF social welfare.". II he can convert guer-
rillas into industrious -sgriculturists, he can
work mirsclesn indeed, and will prove him.
SELF qualified to lead and rule, by other
evidences than the one Of power merely. The
Church property has been ordered by him to be
sold. That party, therefore, need expect nothing
from him. EsooBEDo puts forth q directly oppo-
site platform to that Of JuAREz. He believes in
violence and blood. It was his wish mainly that
was conceded to by JUAREz, in the disposal OF
Mix1nnIAN; the Mexican President should have
known then Of EsoonKDos character as well as
now. He could oppose him now with far greater
effect, II he had refused to give him his head then
EsoosEDo well represents the bandit element Of
what may by favor be styled the Mexican civiliza-
ton. Robbing, and plundering, and numbering are
the only practices by which he knows how 70 e1-
hibit statesmanship. Mexico is never to be re-
deemed by that road ahe has been travelling it far
too long already and it has cost the character OF
the nation. All things are to be made new in that
country, and governments on the basis Of murder
must disappear.
A CORRESPONDENT Of the New York Times, Civ
ing an account of the recent Commencement OF
the University Of Georgia, ct Athens, says: The
medals were delivered to the successful sophomore
orators by Right Rey, GEO. PIERCE, Bishop OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church, accompanied by an
address on ''oratory," which illustrated its subject
more happily than any speech have heard in
some time. From grave to gay, from lively to So
vare. from smiles and laughter to tears and back
again to smiles helearned prelate at his pleasure
led one Of the largest and most refined audiences
present during the exercises. His address was
gem Of the rare article Of which it treated 1t is
long, long time, since opportunity and circum-
stances have allowed me to enjoy as much Of
east Of reason and flow Of soul as was served up
here during the past week. For some years my
life has been passed among scenes in which intel
lectual culture, literary refinement, classical at
tsinments, oratory, have had no part. To find
them all combined and engaged in their own estab-
hshment and diffusion, was treat which confess
Ihsye relished, and dwell over the recollection