The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-10-10
CURRENT TOPICS.

There Is at last CndnCo VI ouPeiCeuuS ZIG nio-
potonous narrow routine of monkish instruction
with something like real knowledge. A conven-
lion of two thousand school teachers recently as
sembled in spacious hall in the Imperial palace
at Viens to deliberate upon the means Of improv-
ing the system of education. The resolutions
show the immense progress Of liberal ideas in the
old crumoiing monarchy. They are. of course,
far behind the American standard, but they are
imm snse for Austria. Among other changes it is
demanded that the schools shall be emancipated
from the influence Of the priests; that teachers
shall be protected by law both in regard to their
appointment and dismissal, that the free choice OF
books shall be left to teachers and that liked schoo
rates shall supercede the present system OF school
payments by individuals 1t was also demanded
that the teachers should he secured suhclsnt saa-
ries for their support These propositions, accord
ing TO our American experience, are admirably
calculated 10 improve the school system OF any
country, and if they can be carried out in Austria
they will exercise an important influence in ele-
vatlng the condition of the rising generation.
A project of law has been prepared, and is now
under consideration, which embodies most of the
suggestions Of the school teachers. The central
idea is that the State shall guarantee each school
degree of local independence. Schools may be
sectarian; mixed or entirely sectarian, according
to the wishes of the majority OF the lnhaDltants
in each ssschool circle" The School Committees
are to have control Of the schools, and shall con-
sist OF the burgomaster, clergyman, teacher,
and elected members The election OF members
is. perhaps, the greatest innovation in the new
I,aJi n
liberty TO control the school, The religious opn-
ions of the teachers Of the secular schools shall
not be inquired into, and clergymen OF any de-
nomination are prohibited from visiting OF inter-
fering with them. The only doubtful feature OF
the new law is the clause providing for the local
election of members Of the School Committee IL
is not quite certain whether the Austrisn peasan-
try arc sufficiently intelligent to appreciate the
importance Of the educational trusts conferred
upon them. But it would seem that any change
from the present narrow-sprited, thought-crush-
ing system of the priesthood, must be an improve
ment. and in this, as in other things, the people
may be safely trusted to find out their true Inter
ests, and to act according to their increasing
knowledge
A11Us1oN has already been made to the dlfh-
entities which the British expedition to Abyssinia
will have TO encounter. There is great deal OF
croaking in England upon this subject; but the
most ominious raven has just appeared in Paris,
in the person Of NJ. du Bisson, who has just
given in the Patrie two columns OF doeful fore
bodings about the difficulties to be encountered.
He saws: eve will not speak OF the Guedaref
we-m or of the toenia one is safe from them II
one never drinks water. We will say nothing of
the gigantic defles, of the absence OF roads over
mountains inaccessible to Europeans, OF the rains
that commence in April, a frightful deluge that
breaks down the strongest tents, changes rlyu-
let's into torren.s and rivers into oceans, drown
ing the plains for two months, and leaving them
during the three succeeding months ravaged by
tsphus and by the pernicious fevers engendered
bv mountains Of deti. us in fermentation, OF car
casses of animals in putrefacton, under sun
heat of .s5 degrees centigrade. We will not point
out the desperate position of an invading army
in q country which has already been methodi-
cally ruined, sacked and burnt, surrounded on
all sides by pestilential marshes, hemmed in by
fanstical free corps, implacable in their hatred,
nexorable in their vengeance, indsfatigable in
their attacks Of an army cut of from its base
of operations by muddy and mephitic oceans,
without communications, without the possibility
during one-third OF the year OF obtaining sup
plies, and consequently obliged to take with it
provisions, stores, medicines, ammunition for four
months. We will not dwell upon the absurdity OF
employing in endless defles, strewed everywhere
with rocks fallen from the mountains, cavalry
accustomed to the plains Of India, draught ami
mails accustomed to the sandy, easy paths Of the
DESERT in provinces where often man alone serves
as beast of burden, helping himself with his feet
and hands. All that concerns the skilful English
generals and their 80 we'll organized commits
sarat" NJ. du Bisson, after thus directing atten-
ton to all that he does not point out, goes Oh to
predict that neither Is 900 90 900 soldiers In
dian or English, will suffice TO rescue the prison
ers whom he maintains to be still in the power
Of Theodore who will pitilessly cut their throats.
However, it is possible it must be granted in
reply that they may be able to take revenge on
the barbarous monarch.
TIE NEW YORK TIMES says "Mr. y. Barnum
has become the happy possessor OF GORILLA the
only one ever brought alive to this country. 1t
was captured in Equatorial Africa, brought down
to the coast by the natives, and shipped on board
The Harding, which brought it to this port. Du-
ring the voyage the animal became much attached
to the Captain of the Harding, allowed him to en-
Ter his cage and lead him about the decks, and
would also Jump on the captains shoulders wher,
ordered. All this amiabiity of temper, however,
soon changed when the vessel arrived in port,
md the animal was separated from his friend the
captain. On shipboard he had been placed in
strong cage, and had bosn further secured BY
,hain This cage was placed In a wagon, and
conveyed to the museum on Tuesday last. The
olting of the vehicle irritated the animal, and
when the cage was carried up into the Museum
t was found difficult to get the animal out and
secure him. As soon as his chain was loosened
le seized 1t and dragged it into his cage in spite
II the best efforts OF three strong mel, who had
,old of the other end of it. scraper with
strong iron handle, with which they endeayored
o reobtain the end of the chain, seized by the
nmal and bent double. During all this time the
.nimal roared and grunted furously. Finally he
gas got into his now cage, and secured by strong
hain placed around his neck attached to beam
beneath his cage. yesterday he was exhibited
publicly, and appeared to have recovered some of
lis good humor. His keeper, Mr.. Davidson,
kinks that in week or two he will be as tame and
,layful as 6 kitten. He does not much resemble
me at present. He is scarcely as formidable an
nimal as Professor Du Chaillu's descriptions
rould lead one to expect. He is probably about
i've feet in height, is covered with dark shaggy
1,o1 To- 10 IL h,,f md 10
ently very agile and muscular, leaping from end
o end of his cage at single bound. He is fed on
egetables, and exhibits a strong prediction for
pices Of all kinds. The gorilla was secured by
Ir. Barnums agent at a cost . eight thousand
ollars in gold. He is said to be very fine speci-
nen; he is young male, appears to be healthy,
nd will doubtless soon learn to be contented. At
resent his favorite position is sitting on his
launches, with his back against the rear part of
lis cage.