The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-17
CURRENT TOPICS.

A AscoRRIspoNDENr or THE New Orleans Crescent,
writing from Bavaria, writes thus about German
dialects: SAT home we are apt to form rather e1-
aggerated ideas Of the difference between the diff
ferent German States. especially in regard to
language. The terms High and Low German arc
often used, and perhaps few words explanatory
Of their meaning would not be out OF place here.
Throughout all Germany educated men speak but
one language, what We call High German;it is
used in the courts, at the schools and universe
tics in the pulpit in short, it is the language Of
the country, the only one foreigner ever learns.
Low German is something very different. 1t
would be useless to trace here the numerous
changes which tie German tongue has undergone
in the course Of centuries, but may remark that
at the tin Q of the Reformation each province had
it's own strongly marked dialect, whilo Latin was
used almost exclusively in books and at the uni
| versities. LUTHER however, translated the Bible
for the use Of the common people in the present
language, which he improved considerably by the
force Of his vigorous intellect. This translation
spread throughout all Germany, and in course Of
time Its language supplanted entirely, among the
higher classes, the language spoken by the
peasants Of each particular district. LUTHER's
Bible had more influence in making the present
language Of Germany what it il than anything
else that was ever written or done. The dialects
Of the peasants differ greatly, aud often almost
uninteligible even to q born German from the
Low German. At present, however, they are
heard but seldom, unless you 60 among the lowest
classes in their own homes for, in consequence
of the excellent school institutions, oil can read
and derstand the high German, and never use
the other except when speaking to each other.
Although the Dutch language is often confounded
| with the German in consequence Of our indis-
criminate application OF the title Dutchman' to
all who speak cultural language, it need hardly
ba added that 1t is an entirely different language"
Tm ANNUAL DIRECTORY Of the City Of Boston
shows diminution in the number Of JOIN SMITHS
there to the alarming extent Of thirty-three per
cent since the publication Of the work Tor the year
1885. This inspires tho belief that the day may
arrive when that name will altogether disappear
from the catalogue Of humanity. Ha Congress OF
JOHN SMITHS were called upon some question OF
disputed property, momentous enough to bring
them t,gether from ell parts Of the world, what
vast eonoourse We should witnessl No building
could possibly hold them, and their meeting would
require some large open space like the Central
Park, where the orators would have to employ
speaking trumpets to make themselves heard. 1t
seems inoomprehanAibie that any sensible SMITH
fand there are many hundreds Of thousands Of
sensible sx1rHs) should deliberately, and afler
proper reflection, perhaps IS much as Mr.. SHANDY
bestowed upon the subject Of TRBrRAs's appells-
ton, give his son the name Of JOHN, we'll knowing,
ss he must, that it ls no desig alton at all, and in
the world outside his family, will be source OF
vexation, derision an annoyance to the chid from
his school boy days to hs embittered old age. We
rejoice at this hopeful sugury from Boston. 1t
ssems to promise : form in thematter Of training
children, who are quite hepless to this matter,
wh,eh is dns n the most impdttant Of their lives.
( WE Hrvr a.cuszD pamphlet endtsd "An Ap-
peal Againss the anaschy Of Sex" Eisa vigorous
protest against what are vulgarly styled women,s'
rights. and though not as VIII put together as
might be, contains some Striking. and novel points.
The writer is severe il not unsataht. when he re,
fers to tho so-cslled "strong- tfsmales" as
.spersons who seem TO constitute Substantially q
Eand Of Qrd sez, 30 to spe K, OF somewhat mon
strous aspect;" and We think that some people viii
dispute his knowledge Of the sex when he says
that .swomen aro 30 constituted chat they will 90
whatsoever man wishes them to do" he certainly
MAKES what one portion Of the female sex will con-
sider very conclusive argument against women
going to tile polls ss voters, when he says, for oe
e remembered, Bsddy 70 to be aerr az ioel as her
ssistycss, and in that unwonted encounter what
scsrss may arise must surely give rs pause" Eis
philosophic conclusion, from study OF the whole
matter, ia ethat the male and female man oonsti-
tute an essential unity-shst they must always be
considered together s cnot apart, and that the
responsible representative Of this entity is the
male" M 50 e @-5' '-..' -
TaE ANNUAL EXHIBIT Of The Auditor contains
much statistical information about the present
state Of Boston. He estimates she total value Of
the real and personal estate Of the city at $4l5,
Ss2S6 The debt Of the city has been reduced in
the year $5s9, ,475 and is now $8,5s7, ,1s4. It has
increased snoe 1851. $s25. .4sa The war expendi-
trrss Of the city n; this period were t2,5i1 1897.
The city treasurer paid out during the year 81, ,15O-
9A7. The tar assessment for the year, city and
county, was $5,46e 69a The estimated expendi
lures for the year 1867 and 1853 are s7,742, ,4s5;
amount TO be raised by taxation, 6,462, ,5s5. The
Auditor reports that the present numLer Of dwell
ng-houses and hotels in Boston is 1S 8H. OF these
houses I79o are valued at less than s1OO0 nine are
more than 1876 0Oo. Two hotels are appraised ct
between s115, 900 and SIG 900; one between $780,.
600 and Sl21 900; one between 9125 O00 and $780,
900; one between $145 600 and $146, 900; one be-
tween $50 600 and $151 90; one between SITE, 900
and $176 600; two between $225 900 and $226O00;
one between s9sO0oOl and s2sl, 900, and one be-
tween $s25, 600 and ss9d,OO
TIE INV H1BREw Collegiate institution, OF
which we recently spoke rs In contemplation, is
now definitely determined upon. The Jews in
this country hare already established educational
institutions Of different grades in New York, sa-
vannah Mobile, New Orleans, Cleveland, Albany,
and other cities. This projected Maimonides Col
lsge at Philadelphia is designed for more sd-
ysncsd coarse Of study than is pursued in any of
the others, and gilmore thorough instruction in He
brew than has eyeryet been Afforded In any theolo