Worcester daily spy., 1872-11-30


Al the Boston meeting, Professor Agassiz de-
scrihed the development theory" as "mire of
mere assertion" Some ardent supporters OF
that theory are disposed to criticise this express
sion, lrut witt out attempting to show that it is
not entirely truthful. The critics assert that the
theory in question is favored by this, that, and
the other eminent scientist" but not one Of
them takes notice that Professor Agassiz proved
what he said. As for the eminent scientists re-
ierred TO, we have yet to hear of the first oil
them who maintains that the theory has been
prored. Even Professor Huxley's acceptance
of the Development theory, is, according TO his
own explicit statement, provisional only" 1t
is good instrument TO aid scientific
investigation; but, after all, it is nothing but
theory; and if its supporters who eriticise Agas
siz will analyze it canddly, and attempt to
count the assumptions used in constructing it,
they may begin to understand what is meant
when he calls it a "mire of mere assertion"
They may also become wise enough to inquire
whether it is really eminent science" to use
any improved theory as an established doctrine
of science; and, especially, this theory which
assumes that all living creatures were dev .loped
from one, or, at most, three or four original
forms Of life, while it can not he proved that
even one species of living creatures ever was de.
yeloped from another.
The report of the commissioner Of pensions
shows an astonishing vitality in the survivors
of the war of 1912, as well as in some other
classes of pensioners. How many of the veter-
ans Of the ''last war with Great Britain" still
survive we cannot learn from the abstract of the
report before us; but it contains the statement
that II, 81 of them were added to the pension
rolls during the last year. Remembering that
the war ended nearly ffty-eiaht years ago, and
that the army was not large, this number
of survivors seems wonderful. The men
who enlisted for that conflict must. have
been of a remarkably tough and endur-
ing quality. The widows of revolutionary
soldiers also last remarkably well. SIS
are still on the rolls, and the num-
her decreases at the rate of about fifty or
sixty each year. The soldiers of 1912 are drop
ping off at the rate of about 900 year. The
whole increase of pensioners for the past year
has been greater than for any year previous
since 1867. The increase, besides the veterans
OF 1877, consists of 6317 army invalid pensioners
1920 army widows and dependent relative pen
sioners, 1d navy invalid pensioners, 124 navy
widow and dependent relative pensioners, and
3105 widows of soldiers of the war OF 1872 making
the entire addition to the pension rolls 33 S3S Of
new pensioners in the last fiscal year. o.
course some names are dropped from the rolls
on account of death, re-enlistment,
recovery from disability, marriage oil
widows, expiration of minor pensions
and failure to claim pen,ions for three
years. The whole humber Of names dropped
for all these causes is 9tO4, so that the net in
crease in the number OF pensioners is 24,7O4,and
the whole number of pensioners of all classes is
49,, ,229. 70 pay these pensions there has been
appropriated for the current fiscal year for the
army $50, 900, for the navy S4S90OO. The
number of artificial limbs furnished in kind or
paid for by the government for the use of disa-
bled soldiers since the acts authorizing that ex
peuditure were passed is 9SO2. Tie number OF
pensioners and the amount of annual expeudl-
ture for pensions have doubtless now reached
their greatest height, unless some legislation
should extend their benefits 10 greater numbers
or increase their amount.
OLD LANDMARKS AND Historic PERsONAGEs
OF BosToN. By Samuel Adams Drake. PIofusl-
ly Illustrated. Boston: James R. Osgood & Co.
In this book, Mr.. Drake has aimed to carry into
effect the suggestion of an old Boston clergy
man, who said: at would be no Improbable
thing for you 10 pass over the several streets and
call to mind who lived here so many years ago"
The volume contains miscellaneous mass OF
notes and sketches relative t. the history, topog-
raphy, antiquities, and eminent citizens of Bos-
ton. Careful attention is given to the history,
men, and monuments of Old Boston, and the
abundant pictorial illustrations are all pertinent
and very well executed. OF course, cold South"
and other notable churches get attention; the
Common" which formerly extended north.
ward as far as the fremont House, and eastward
considerably beyond fremont street, is not for
gotten; and even the famous old frigate Consti-
tuition, which was built in Boston, is .remem-
bered in full sketches. But we cannot enumer-
ate One or two curious matters, however, may
be noticed. Here is one:
'About 171S a number of colonists arrived
from Londonderry, bringing with them the man
Ireland. The matter was earnestly taken up by
the Bostonians, and vote was passed to estab-
sh Il spinning school on the waste land in front
OF Captain SOulhack's, about where ScOllay'S
Buildings were These immigrants likewise
introduced the general use Of their lavorite veg.
etable the potato"
The spinning school grew to be an i'm
portant institution. An act to establish the
school on a large sale was carried through the
legislature, and the result was the "0ld Manu-.
factory House" which stood on the east side Of
what is now Hamilton Place, and had figured
on its walls Il woman holding a distaff Arti.
cles of luxury were taxed to pay for this estab.
lIshment. Spinning became the order of the
day, the supreme fashion Of the Boston women,
high and low, rich and poor. Premiums were
offered for the most skillul work, and spinning
matches were held on the Common. The cold
Manufacturing House" was afterwards fitted up
as tenement house and occupied by private
families. About 176S a British colonel sought
20 eXpe The tenants in order to quarter his regi-
ment in the building; but he was defeated bv the
bold and resoluie conduct Of Elisha Brown, one
of the assailed tenants, after struggle which
lasted several weeks, in which the colonel was
dlueu ny tue Ioyal poNeThOr. lhls 1Sut ulaue
stir in Boston, and Browns brave conduct is
commemorated on his grave stone in lAe Grana-
ry burial ground.
In giving an account of the entry of RocLam-
beau's forces into Boston, in 1882, MIR. Drake
states that "Ihomas'S Massachusetts Spy,"
published at Worcester, was much more enter
prsIng than any newspaper published in Boston
at that time. One Of the Boston papers did MOI
mention the matter at all, although the French
spent seventeen days in the city; the other two
barely mentioned this arrival in the brieles
possible way, whereas Thomas's Spy had
Boston letter in which there was a spirited ae-
count of the FrenchmeD, accompanied by To-
nunciation Of the "peridious Bfitons" Here
is another curious matter:i
con the first day Of January 174S, the select
men gave certificate to the province treasurer,
that tneY had paid out of the town stock E154
13s, 4d, old tenor, 10 sundry persons for $3.50
rats killed in and near the town since the last
day of August"