Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-11-28


"Ihc lumentable famine now raging in
Pcrsiu, and threatening to carry off hundreds
of thousands of the sOanty population Of that
extensive kingdom, has been caused by the
unparalleled drought which has prevailed
throughout the county during the last three
years.
ain On area far exceeding that Of Great
Britain and France together, no river of any
importance exists, and the quantity Of rain in
tho spring and summer is insignificant In
ordinary years, however, the fall Of snow be-
tween November and March is considerable.
1t thickly covers the hugo mountain ranges
which iutcrsect Persia, and as it melts in the
spring aud summer, it fills the watercOurscs
and small canals, trOm which tho peasants
irrigste their crops. The soil in the 7sl!eya
is naturally fertile, and a little labor insures
large harvest if only the winter snowfall has
been abundant. This, unhappily, has for
the last two or three years been singularly
wanting; the springP, warehouses;, and rivu.
lets, have been completely dried up, the corn
sown over and over again has been wasted,
the supplies in the country have been exhaust.
ed, and famine, with disease in its train, is
now rapidly doing its deadly work.
"rho population of Persia has recently been
estimated ut about four millions, large pro-
portion Of whom arc Eolyau;s, wandering
tribes, who correspond to the Bsdaween Of
Arabia and Mesopo,amia. These Eclyauts
principally inhabit the southern and caote:u
parts Of tho empire, where the drought has
been most severe. Their means of subsst>
cncO depends mainly on their focks aud
herds, persisted, owing to the total want Of
grass on the mountain slopes and in the val
lGys. The most pitiful destitution and the
most appalling mortality are the results. The
towns have suffered scarcely less. At Blu.
shire where much has been done under tho
auspices Of tho British Resident, deaths BY
starvation arc of daily occurrence. 1t is re.
ported that the poula,ion of Kazeroon, lat!ly
estimated at ten thousand, has fallen during
these days of visitation to one>fIth that nun.
ber; tina; in round numbers some four thou,
sand have died of famine since this time last
ycar, and like number have fled the place.
a similar condition OF affairs exists at Shiraz,
lioomesbeb, and moro or less all over the
large provinces Of Kirman and Khorassan,
while even in the less afflicted northern dis.
tricts the most lamentable distress PREVAILS
1t is reported that in the city Of lspahau alone
no less than twelve thousand people have died
of want, and moro than double that number
in the province. No material improvement
can be looked for until next spring."
TIE PRounEss OF CoMMUNrsM-Mr.
George Wilkes, 10 letter to the New York
Herald anulizes at great length the lntcrns.
tionu Society Of Workiugmen, and reviews
the progress Of the great socialisic society Of
Europe aud its influence on the coming issues
of American politics. He Comes to the con-
cnsion that the banded workmcn of tho world
aro to bu tho supreme power Of the tuture.-
This does not seem SO extravagant if the late
advices from Europe are true, which represent
that Count Bismarck has already surrendered,
and hit upon n startling measure for alluyiug
the discomfort Of wOrkingmen. ltis reported
that he intends to prepare "bil for tho reg.
ulption Of the profits Of manufacturing assOcia
tionsi" providing that when the profits shall
reach certain per ccntage the plus shall be
divided among the workiugmcn employed in
them. The bill applies only to manufacturing
companies, but most of tho large manufactur.
lug establishments in Germany are in tho
hands of associations, so that the importance
and bearing Of the bill AFRO obvious. 1t is a
bold step towards socialism. The social pro,
blcm has assumed SO threatening an aspect
that even reactOiary organs, such MS the Bcr-
lin Krcu=.Ze'tung, freely admit that some
thing must be done, and done very quickly,
to prevent general social ronvulsiOn.
[Baitimore american.
FlvECRors IN A SEAsoN.-The Lancaster
Express says "Who in the world ever heard
of five crops ofapples on one tree in one year?
We certainly never did until to-day, but sec.
ing is believing, and wo darO not doubt
There arc here, in this Office, specimens Of
each crop, and can be seen by the curious
The tree that produced them is Of the grind
stone variety and is growing upon the promises
of Mr. Miller, in the village of lIiti2. The
first crop consisted of large and remarkably
fine apples; Lhe second crop Of ordinary size,
but perfectly maturod and fully ripe and
what is most remarkable, this second crop was
plentiful one, tho tree bearing rs well rs
would be reasonable To expect from first
crop; the third crop green aud Of tho size Of
huled walnuts tho fourth crop about the size
of pigeon eggs; and tho fifth crop about tho
size Of our Lancaster county chestnutsI while
tho trec yet rejoicos in an abundance Of bios
SONS, rs though preparing for sixth crop
Reader, this is no joke, aud no cznggCraton.
Mr.. Miller, the owner Of the tree, is a rCs>
pcctcd, reliable aud truthful citizen; and in
addition to hiswOrd We can furnishthe oCcular
demonstration in the shape Of tho fruit, of
such varieties, Of size aud appearance that any
person can SEQ they were not at all produced
in ono crop, Who's next7"
Tho ten plant has been cultivated sue.
cesslulIy in Martin county, KY, by a Mr.. j.
j. McCoy, who claims to have grown and pro.
pared tea as good as any that can be imported.
In letter published in the IrontOn (0hio)
Journal Of tho 18th ultinO, he says: "Thc
seed was obtained from tea chest, but l dis.
remember the grade. l have grown the tea
three years, and find ii q success, as have
used il nt my table, and l believe it is equal
in every respect to tho imported tea. The
plant produces four or Eve crops Of leaves a
year. can mako tea enough on thirty feet
square for small family year, 1t begins
to ripcn in July, and shoots new leaves and
ripeas on till frost. It grows from three to
four feet high, but l have grown some plants