The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-08

| made in France on the relative rapldlty WIN
! which messages pass through telegrapnic
| wire and impressions are conveyed unIOuS"
! the nerves to the brain; and the result esIao-
| lished is that the electric message travels WiOn
! n syviftness MANY thousand times greater IMAM
the physical sensation, which is translr'i'oeu ',
| only at the rate of thirty metres IN secohu;
| Thus, supposing whale thlrty meeres (apoS' lv
1O3 feet) in length to be wounded IN the tall,
n sacond would eapse before the brain would
be informed by the nerves of the event, and
another second would expire before the Will
of the brain could be conveyed to the caudal
muscles and action be taken to resent the
injury, thus leaving an appreciable interval
for the escape of the offender. This theory is
strongly opposed by Claude Bernard and other
eminent physiologists, who affirm that the
limbs can take care of themselves without
instructions from the brain; and quote in
support of their opinion the fact that if re-
Gently decapitated frog be touched on the side
with the point of n lancet, he will endeavor
with the hind claw of the corresponding side
to push away the offending instrument, which
would appear to indicate the existence of ner-
vous centres distinct from the brain. still
more curious and hitherto unexplained fact is
that, if during the above experiment the claw
be forcibly withheld from the part touched
the animal will endeavor to use the other
claw for the same purpose. This experiment.
which clearly shows that some process of rea-
soning is carried on in the decapitated body,
and is an apparent contradiction of the uni
versally admitted theory that the brain alone
is the seat of intelligence, has excited great
curiosity in scientific circles; and one shud-
ders to think of the fearful massacre of frogs
which is certain to ensue during the investi-
cations now actively carried on with view to
clear up this physiological mystery.
"A few weeks ago great 'Turkestan ex-
hibition" took place at st. Petersburg-great,
not in respect of its value but rather in
respect of the sensation produced by it in
governmental circles, as well as among the
middle classes the mass of the people in
Russia being completely Indifferent to Asiatic
conquests. The exhibition had been ar
ranged, under the superintendent of the
Governor of Turkestan, General Kaufman,
by several of the official as well as unofficial
representatives of the new settlement.
Everything that could give an idea of the
character of the country was brought to-
archaeological and meteorological collec-
tions, military trophies, specimens of Asiatic
costumes, writings, and paintings, photogra-
phic views of the most important cities, etc.
The general impression produced by the ex-
hibition was that Russia has made a splendid
acquisition as regards the natural produc-
tions of the new country Specimens of coal
and raw silk attracted general attention, as
being articles of which Russia is most in
want Coal is, in fact, the main question for
the Russian settlement in Central Asia.
Only few years ago the Government paid
as much as 20 roubles (e3) for the convey
ance of each bag of -four weighing about
cwt from Orenburg to the military posts on
the Syr-Daria, distance of $50 miles. Under
such circumstances the maintenance of the
Russian dominion in Central Asia would be
quite impossible. Collieries give them the
means of establishing communication by rail
through the Steppes as well as by steamer
along the Syr-Daria and Amou-Daria in con-
nection with the Aral and Caspian seas. Con-
sequently the Imperial family, who went to
this exhibition en- 1VHSSe, and who usually pay
attention only to military trophies and curl
osities, showed quite an unexpected interest
in the various specimens of coal. The EN-
peror also examined some specimens of Eng
lish printed calico for the markets of Central
ASIA which had been imported by one of the
Russian merchants conversing at consider
able length with the importer about the
means which might be taken to supplant this
material by Russian chintz, and expressing
his opinion 'that English calico is far too
good and too dear for Asiatics."
The North German consuls in Japan re-
port that the establishment of central gov
ernment, and the transfer of all the sovereign
powers to the Mikado, have not had the bene-
fetal effect on trade which was expected.
''Ihe total absence of rules regarding the cir
culation of money! says the consul at Yoko-
hama, ''and of means of communication, press
on foreign commerce more heavily than ever.
At the close of the year 1868 peace seemed to
be assured and the revolutionary movement
crushed; but already the large demand for
steamers, arms and war material of all kinds
gives plenty of ground for suspicion as to the
supposed love Of peace of the various princes,
and make the approach of new conflicts high
ly probable. The consul at Hakodadi
reports that the constant riots and the unset
tied state of japanese politics have entirely
paralyzed trade III that town, and even
agriculture and mining have been very much
neglected of late.
We have no wish to be too censorious,
more especially with reference to foreign
parts, but there is a district in the Austrian
empire in which the most tolerant must adj
NIT there is room for improvement. 1t APP
pears that in the province of Carinthia last
year the number Of legitimate children born
amounted to 533S So far so good; but we
regret to add that the illegitimate births
amounted to 44lO 1t is, however, fair to
add that no other portion of the Austrian
empire, with the exception of the capital,
shows a number of illegtimate births equal
or even approaching the above
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