Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-10-06

SHANGHAI WEATHER.--Mr. James Brooks,
in one of his letters from China to the New
York Express thus describes tho state Of the
weather at Shanghai during his visit to that
vace:
The thermometer is the biggest liar that
over lived 1t is only 95 or 9S here at night
and lOn or l03 by day, and yet it is hotter. in
tensely hotter, than have felt 1t in the Napa
jCafornia) Valley. coming from the Geysers,
in July at is, or on the sands OF Egypt.
Thermometers, therefore, | have no hesitation
in saving, lic not exactly in words, or figures,
or letters, but in spirit, in substance III calorc,
at least. am sntfocaing here! | cant get
breath enough! What would give for puff
and how much more for i typhoon, even II
destructive one? There is no air, night nor
day, and, if possible it is hotter by night than
by day There is no sleep in this oven bed,
and if there were, the mosquitoes would eat
you up if you did not throw over you the we'll
reticufated net 4 mattress is uncomfortable; a
mat has to be laid on that, or your persplra-
ton would stick you to the mattress. Never,
never, Yankee pilgrim, enter here in June,
July, or August They say you can breathe
and live and sleep in all other months OF the
wear; but if YOU will be such fool as [ anl
and come, drink, and drink deep, not exactly
of the Picrian Spring-not water, for that is
poison herc--but claret hock champagne, ,por-
Ter, beer, and cat ice, and little else, except
bread and meat Shanghai is nearly in the
latitude of northern Florida, but amid lowlands
as it is, on which are boundless fields of cot
ton, near the mouth of the great Yang-tse
doubtless the climate is like that of New Or
leans, on the Mississippi, with the tEermome-
ter ranging higher What know tor certain
is, YOU will never catch me here again in July
if there be any way of getting around 1t, Or,
over it, or under it.
MATniMoNY IN FRANCE. A curious French
man, Earnest Cadet by name, has recently
been examining the matrimonial statistics OF
France and the examination has developed
some singular aud significant facts
In 1854, there was ono marriage to every
los Inhabitants ; in lS4l, one to every l2l in-
habitants, and in 1870, one to every l2I. AS
the arts, appliances and principles of civiliza-
ton are supposed to have materially increased
during the past ninety:years, this exhibit shows
that from French standpoint, at least, advan-
cling wealth, refinement and knowledge do not
tend to assist matrlmony.
NJ. Cadet also finds that in lS4l the number
Of illegitimate children horn in France was
74.0O0-it is now 77,0Q0 Moreover in Paris
and its immediate suburbs, SS per Ct OF the
births are outside the pale OF WedlocE
According to the French law, there is no alb
soute divorce, decree of separation prevail
ing instead. Ia 1871 there were l.GTS suits
for separation begun. and they now amount
annually to nearly 5000. Assuming from the
figures given above that there are 100000
marriages year in France, this proves that
one in every hundred sock through the courts
to return to single blessedness. How many
separations occur without any legal formallty
cannot be ascertained
WALKING To FAME. Weston, the "walkiSt'
has added another to the long list Of his illus
trious failures to get over the promised number
of miles in the time agreed upon. Mr.. Weston
is certainly favored mortal to be able to sup
port such reputation as he has acquired on so
small a proportion Of success. 1t IS no doubt
= laudable ambition to desire to walk to the
very pinnacle of fame with only one S legs to
carry him there. 1t may require very little
brains to keep those useful members going and
the result may be of no possible consequence
to any body, and yet, if Que can acquire great
ness by success in pedestrianism no Que can
reasonably object. 1t does seem hard, however,
to those who arc struggling along in obScurlty
with only mental endowments and desire TO
accomplish something useful to inspire them,
that the common rule should be reversed III ia,
vor of professional tramp, and glory should
be accorded to continual failure. Weston, OF
course, explains his latest ''6zzle," and threat,
ens to do greater things than ever before, but
that is a wav he has