The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-27
CURRENT TOPICS.

European musical critics are discussing
the question whether composition may be
fairly judged by reading the score without
hearing the music performed. Both sides Of
the question have strenuous supporters. Wagg-
ner's music is the occasion for the new contro-
versy.
One of our Texas exchanges prepared
notice of Admiral Farragut on the recent an
nouncement of his death. Not wishing to lose
prepared matter" little sentence was in
serted in the first paragraph rejoicing that the
announcement of his death was premature
The necessary corrections were not made, how
ever, in the rest of the article, and there is q
delightful mixture of twas" and SIS" ending
with the statement that ''his death was quite
sudden
Father De Smet, the venerable Indian
missionary, says he advised Brigham Young,
in 1877, to take his tribe to Salt Lake. He
SAYS that at the same interview Young told
him that he thought the Catholic Church was
more nearly in unison with the Mormon Church
than any other, and that he responded that
the two churches might be considered, in his
opinion, as belonging to circle, Of which the
Catholic Church was the head and the Mormon
the tail. This is rather an unusual description
of circle, but it is Father De Smets, and not
ours.
The following is Remains description OF the
personal appearance Of st. Paul: paul had
sckly appearance which did not, as it appears,
correspond with the greatness Of his soul. He
was ugly, short, thickset and STOPPING, and his
broad shoulders awkwardly sustained a little
bald head His sallow countenance was half
hidden in a thick beard; his nose was aquiline.
his eyes piercing, and his black and heavy eye
brows met across his forehead. Nor was there
ANYTHING imposing in his speech; his timid and
embarrassed air and his incorrect language
gave at first but poor idea OF his eloquence
He shrewdly, however, gloried in his exterior
defects, and even drew advantages therefrom." !"
About three months previous to his death,
Sainte- -Beuve the French academician and
feuilleton writer, was asked by q lady friend OF
his to visit celebrated Partisan f0rtune-teller.
He laughingly consented, and when he appear
ed before the fortune-teller, he asked him in
jocuar manner, "Tell me, my friend, what
ace shall reach ?" The fortune-teler gravely
replied that his days were numbered, and
that he would die before New Years day.
Sainte-Beu left the house in the same good
humor in which he had come; but his friend
could hardly restrain her fears, and assured
her companion that she believed in the for
tune tellers prophecy. Sainte-Beuve himself
related this adventure at the next soiree which
he gave.
The Emperor Nicholas, of Russia, it is well
| known was sworn enemy of duels. One day
his adjutant fell on h s knees before the Car
and implored him to grant him permission to
fight duel The Emperor harshly refused to
grant his request But, your Majesty" ex-
claimed the adjutant, despairingly, ~ am dis
graced; must fight duel" The Car knit
his brow and asked what he meant MY ad-
versary has slapped my face in the presence Of
large number of personsl ]" " Follow me-"
said the Car, laconicaIIy. He stepped WITH
the adjutant into the adjoining room, where.
the whole court happened to be assembled,
When the Car was in the middle Of the room.
he took the adjutant by the arm and kissed the
cheek which his adversary had struck. "Go in
peace,n said the Car; ~ have kissed away your
insult"
Emigration was the subject of an arima-
ted discussion at the Social Science Congress,
recently held at Bristol, England. 1t was sug-
gested that s., ,0OO, 900 should be appropriated
by the government, and that like sum should
be raised by the over-peopled districts. The
income of this fund, it was asserted, would
enable 81, 900 families to emigrate every year.
In this way, it was contended, the balance be-
tween labor and employment would In few
years be restored. The question was also dis
cussed, whether the emigrants should be sent
to the British colonies or to the United States,
many of the speakers csntending that the col
onies would consider the new settlers as q
burden, while the United States could furnish
sufficient employment to and be happy to re-
ceive the emigrants. 1t was decided that no
aid should be granted to single men desiring
to emigrate, but only to entire families.
The Emperors speech next month-sup-
posing the Corps Legislatif to meet at the date
named in the first decree-wnl refer, 1t is be-
lleved, to the armaments OF Europe, and
belief exists that he n suggest simultane-
GUS disarmament on the part Of the great pow
ers. We are not very sanguine on this head.
There is too much distrust in Europe. Each
power would fear lest its rival was stealing
march. If France is not in revolution, an i'm
perial invitation on this matter might be be-
ginning of happier and cheaper epoch; but
the French Government will have its hands
full for some time 10 come. The postpone
ment of the meeting of the legislative body
has given serious offence. The Chamber will
have barely month to discuss the bills that
must be voted this year-among other things
the extraordinary budget of the City of Paris.
Personal government, some one has said, has
abdicated, and parliamentary government has
not yet taken its place.
Sunday has hitherto not been generally
observed in France bya complete cessation
from labor Recently, however, decided
movement has been made in that country by
mechanics, workingmen, and attendants in
stores, to obtain holiday on the first day OF
the week, and extensive strikes are now
threatened to secure this object. This move
ment is warmly supported by the religious pa
pers, who assert that the working people de-
sire TO enioy the privilege of attending church.