The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-08-11
DOMESTIC MISCELLANY.

Literary EonOrs.-The College of William anC
Mary has conferred the degree of Doctor of Law
on Basil L. GilderSleve, Esq, Professor of Grcel
and Hebrew at the University of Virginia anc
that of Doctor of Divinity on the Rev. D. S. Bar
ton, of Norfolk.
DR.. VIM. A. Smith has succeeded in raising about
$4,000 toward the endowment of Centenary Cot
lege, Mo- He is now on Misunderstanding visit
to the Springs OF Virginia.
The Parkersburg West Val Gazette has beer
purchased by Major William p. Cooper, who wa:
gallant officer in the service of the late Confed
crate Government He is an experienced journalist
Tsnnesses-Senter is elected Governor over
Stokes by an immense majority, and thus ConSer
vatism triumphS over Radiealism This will result
in removing political disabilities in Tennessee, and
in the election of a Conservative United States
Senator
Msssrs. ]. B. LippincOts Co.. Philadelphia, have
ready the first FIVE parts of their - Universal Pro
nOuneing Dictionary of Biography and Mytholo-
gy, by DR.. j. Thomas, the learned editor Of
'Eppineott's PrOnouneing Gazetteer Of the
World. Such work OF reference Is greatly need
ed, and its issue will be warmly welcomed both
by scholars and by general readers.
Of the Tauchnitz edition of the New Testament,
from the three best manuscripts, $4,000 copies
AN1VN
Of the Tauchnitz republication of works in the
English language.
The property known as the Marble Yard attached
to the old Mcdowell Hotel property, aud fronting
about 100 feet on Main street, Lexington, was
bought a short time since by the Roman Catholics
as a church site, tor the sum Of $4,000.
Lexington, Xss.uOky and the county in which IL
is situated voted FIVE hundred thousand dollars for
the continuation of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road through that city.
The American Dental Association, held at Sarato-
ga, has decided to hold its next meeting at Nash
vile, Tenn The election Of officers took place on
the 5th and Horner Judd, ofSt. Louis, was chosen
President.
Pacific RallrOad.-A correspondent of the PbilG-
delphia Presbyterian writes:
eff it is a noteworthy enterprise to unite two
great cities and make them one, it is no wonder
that an interested crowd surrounded car that
bore the inscription, San Francisco to New
York" Such a car reached the Hudson River
Railroad depot last week, containing within 1t
nearly forty passengers who had without change
of cars come through from San Francisco in six
and half days. Several of them were just in
time to sail in a Havre steamer for France The
description given of the journey shows it to be one
full Of variety. No unpleasant Incidents occurred.
The slowest time made was fifteen miles an hour,
while during much of the way they travelled TWEEN
ty and twenty-five miles an hour Thus the two
oceans are linked together, and highway Is
opened over which the preacher and the teacher
may carry Gods word to distant lands. AT the
late celebration Of the completion of the Pacific
Railroad, in Trinity church, collection was taken
up to build churches along the rosie. It Is said
that the Pope has most perfect map of the same
region hanging in his palace, with the points de-
sgnated where future cities must rise, that these
may be seized upon as strOnghOlds for ROmanism
Our Board Of Domestic Missions is ready to enter
in upon the same line of progress; but where are
the dollars for such a work
Opening Of the susz eapal-In the papers pub
lished at Alexandria, Egypt, it Is publicly an
nounced that two hundred Of the principal jour
nalsts of Europe have been invited by the Vleeroy
of Egypt to be present at the inaugural ceremonies
of the opening of the canal in October next.
NJ de Lesseps has requested list of some of
the leading journals of this country to be forwarded
him, with a view of sending special invitations
from the Pacha to be present. a list of some
twenty Of the most influential papers has been for
warded.
1t is understood that the representatives of the
press from the United States and Europe will be
the guests of his Royal Highness, and will be
brought there and returned free of expense
a steamer is expected to leave this port tor
Port Said and return, for the accommodation OF
those who may wish to be present at the opening
ceremonies.
? Marked Changes at Niagara Fals.-Ihe Utica
Observer saws: Various accounts agree that there
has been marked change In the appearance OF the
falls since last year. The theory in regard to the
eaving in, or wearing away OF Niagara has never
had stronger confirmation before. The Horse
Shoe has evidently given way some thirty feet in
that mart of the cone where the green water IS
seen. so that the horse shoe appearance is meta
morphosed to that Of a triangular shape. 1t Is
tbonght that about one hundred and fifty tons OF
rock must have fallen In on the Horse Shoe alone,
and old habitues are taking landmarks, to notice
the recession that may take place before another
wear The American fall has evidently gwen way
at points to considerable extent. There is no
doubt but that Niagara is always erumbllng away
and falling back, but the present recession Is pro-
bablv the greatest ever witnessed by any one gen
Grafton. The heavy ice fields which pass over in
the spring the strong currents aud eeaSeleSS wear
and tear of time. and the mighty laundering
cataract must inevitably tell heavily upon the
rocky crest of the grand old shrine; but of course
its falling away must be so slow as not to be OBJ
seryable to the eye, except when, from time to
time, some of the immense boulders are torn from
their places.
Life Assurance COmpaniss.-The last number OF
Applstoa's Journal contains the following item:
While, in the United States, the failure OF a life
assurance company is an almost unheard-of thing,
and while our Oldest companies are apparently the
most stable, the statistics Of English companies
show somewhat different state of things A re-
cent report to the House of Commons states that,
in the last twenty five years, two hundred and
seveptv-two insurance companies have been
formed of which one hundred aud 6fty-two have
been wound up, or have discontinued business
and forty-four have been absorbed by other com
panes leaving only seyenty-six still in existence
Eghty-6ve per cent. Of the companies formed be-
fore 1862 have broken down, and fifty three pei
cent of those organized since that date have shared
similar fate. In view OF these facts pl!l ma
been brought forward in Parliament which is In
tended to compel such statements and reports iron
the officers of insurance companies as will ettectu
ally expose and crush all insOlvent organizations.