Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-01-27
Alexandria Gazette
Miscellaneous Items.

Miscellaneous Items.
IF Europe can boast of an NJ. P, Somervllle,
America is not without an eminent lady as
tronomer, in the person of Professor Maria
Mitchell, of Vassar College. This distinguish
ed lady, as We learn from an exchange, IS ma
tive of Nantucket, and is now 81 years old
By birth and education she is member OF the
Society of Friends. When but II years old
she taught in her fathers school, and from hlm
she learned the first elements OF the science IN
which she has been so much distinguished.
On October ], lS47, she discovered telescope
comet, which was afterwards observed by Father
Du Vico. at Rome, and elsewhere by other as
tronomers. For this discovery she was pre-
sented with gold medal by the King of Den
mark. She was subsequently employed IN OBJ
ervations connected with the United States
coast survey She 1lso assisted in the complla-
ton of the Nautical Almanac. She was chos-
en- member of the American Association ior
the Advancement of Science and Art, on the
recommendation of Professor Agassz. A New
York college has conferred the degree OF Ph.
D. on her, and at present she is Professor OF
Astronomy and Directress Of the Observatory
in Vassar College.
\ singular old man was lately burned to
death near Utica in cave, where he had lived
for thirty y-eight years. His name was Ira
Mills and he had once been clergyman, but
for some reason best known to himself he had
retired from the world to mediate upon hye
old coffee pots, seven lanterns, three axes, skill
let's. pans, hoes, scythes, horse-shoes, mails,
hammers, and scraps Of old iron, with which
he decorated his cave which lay at the top of a
hill near the lovely city of Utica. lie was
great reader of the Bible, and took remarkable
views of human life and transactions. He was
Il miser, and gave one of the most remarkable
reasons on record for not collecting 81 900 that
were due him. He said he was afraid to COL
lect them as he might receive counterfeit mo,
ney 1t is thought that he had secreted good
deal of money somewhere III the nelghb0rhood
Of his cave.
In Lee county, Iowa, man named katcr
had a large and ferocious dog, which some
Young man of the neighborhood determined to
kill. He accordingly entered the premises and
shot the dog. which was chained close to the
door of the house Mr.. Rafer, hearing the re-
port of the pistol so close at hand, naturally
concluded that burglars were about the build
ing, and that the pistol had gone OFT accident
ally as one of them was making his entrance
He arose, seized an axe, and quietly began to
tv soon he found himself near somebody, and
struck the intruder with great force. A ter
rbe scream followed, and he discovered that
he had struck the ax into the face and should
er of his wife whom he had left in bed, but
who had got up to look out of the window to
see if she could catch any glimpse OF the burg
lars.
There is much indignation in Iowa against
the medical faculty of the State University, be-
cause of their alleged completely in, or know
ledge of, recent case of body-snatchlng at
Iowa City. The Burlington Hawk Eye asserts
that the body of Il woman was taken from a
grave and publicly dissected before a class OF
medical students by one who knew the Venera,
bic and yenerated woman in life. The enraged
peoplc we're only saved from destroying the
college building by the friends Of her whose
sacred remains fell into such unhalowed hands
The Chicago Post, in commenting on the
performance in that city of Hand els Mes
siah," saws 'Handel would have been pleas
cd with such house but if Handel had seen
men and women rise and move out of the hall
while "Behold, will tell you Il Mystery was
being sung, Handel whould have seized adrum
and thrown it at the ill-bred rustics who could
be guilty of such IN outrage on music and good
taste
a conceited fellow, who prided himself on
being able to explain and understand every
thing, was present during a conversation about
apple butter He had never heard the term
before, and commenced repeating it to himself,
when one of his friends said to him: Perhaps
You do not know what apple butter is z ION
yes, dc" was the answer; Il suppose it Is
made from the milk of COWS fed on apples.
BEET SUGAR IN CALIFORNIA The Califor-
mia Beet Sugar Company, in successful opera
ton ut Alyarado, Almeda county, we learn from
Il cotemporary, are turning out s, 900 pounds OF
sugar per day, being the yield of 50 tons of
beets which will yield in round figures 5000 per
day. The expenses necessary to secure this re-
suit are set down as follows: Fifty tons of beets
at So. so per ton, $l75 35 Chinese laborers
at 50 cents, $2S; 35 white laborers, at 81 so
per day, $3.50; coal, $40; interest, Superin-
tendent's wages, barrels, insurance, commits
sions, &C., say $l05-making total of $3.50,
which leaves large margin for profits, and in
sures the success of the enterprise. The estab-
hshment OF beet sugar as a fact, and the
profitable nature of the investment, has awaken
ed the liveliest interest in this new branch of
our manufacturing interests throughout the
State. The Sacramento mill, which had proved
unsuccessful by reason of mismanagement and
want 6f skill, is to be reconstructed, and will,
during the present year, be in successful opera
ton San Jose has incorporated company
with capital stock OF $20o,0oo, and Will forth
with proceed to the erection OF mill and build
ing From Healdsburg comes lntelllgenee that
the citizens of that place are moving III the mat
Ter, and propose to have beet sugar r iIaetor!
Altogether, before the year is over Caltornl;
Will produce sugar enough to supply the acih'
coast.-Sm Francisco Chronicle.
COMMUNICATED.
Please insart tho Eollo,uinn arithmptical DuZZlt