Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-29
miscellaneous fte,tis.

The highest salary paid in this country to a
lady teacher is said to be given to Miss Anna c.
Bracket. principal of the st. Louis normal
school, $500.
Mrs. Brettel who recently died in England,
in her ninetieth year, was for seventy wears a
faithful servant in fhe households Of George
Ill George w., William w., and Queen Vic.
toria,
In responding to a request from New York for
his autograph, Gen. Spinner United States
treasurer at Washington, lately wrote: "You
ask for my autograph with sentiment. NV
sentiment is this: When a gentleman writes
another on his own business he should iuclose a
postage stamp"
The French ant-tobacco association is widen
inc the field of its operations, and now includes
alcoholic liquor among the abuses which it aims
at Iemedyng. This is the first temperance so.
ciety established in France.
Among the recent deaths in Europe was that
OF John Baptisia Santos, known as the "three-
legged man" He was native of Portugal,
and was born with three legs, four feet, and
twenty toes. His age was twenty-five. His de-
lormity was, of course made use of as an exhi-
bitlon. He left widow and children.
Among the victims of the last outbreak of
cholera in COnStantnople were the chief cook
and thirteen servers and HlQTnitOnS of the i'm
pelial kitchens. In these kitchens several hun
dTed servants are huddlcd together, where they
live, sleep, cook and overeat themselves. The
sultan'S physician, Marco Pasha, remained
night and day at the palace for more than
week, to get the place cleaned, sweetened, and
diSinected.
The Raleigh IN. c. Era says the dismember-
ment OF the democratic party has begun at the
capital OF the state. When the bill fixing the
senatori al districts came up for consideration in
the senate, prominent democratic senator arose
in his seat, and placing his hat upon his head in
perfect contempt, he said, "Mr President,
leave this senate chamber never to return, but
before leave it l denounce Won all as an I'M
worthy and corrupt body and set of men," and
so, with his hat on his head, he stall1ed out of
the senate chamber.
THE OPIUM TRADE WITH CHINA.-A recent.
ly published report by Journal of political
economy shows that the opium trade with China
is of very great extent and importance Nearly
all the opium introduced into China comes
from the East Indies. Persia furnishes only an
insignificant quantity. Opium is divided into
three claSSes-that which comes from MalIva,
from Patna, aud from Banares The best is
from Maliva, and is sold for nearly $1,000 per
chest OF 1874 pounds; whereas the Patna opium
sells for about one-third less. During the irst
three months Of 1871 the duties levied on opu'n
entering China amounted to more than $780,
QUO, and the number of chests was 10 233 ,050
This unholy commerce is almost entirely given
IN to the English and Germans. Neither the
American nor the French enter lhto it,.
eXcept on rare occasions when the spec
ulative fever quite Overcomes them. In
the beginning this commerce was confined OK
clusively TO the Plrsee houses and some lew
Jewish firms established in China. The price
of the market to-day depends upon the will of
the existing commercial firms. No one can
fight against them. Last year. in order to dis
gust certain foreign SPECTATORS, one of the Drin-
cpal opium firms risked several ships and thou
sands OF chests OF opium in dangerous naviga-
ton, TOR the purpose of stocking the market.
The opium habit grows constantly in China.
Tue lmportations were larger this year than last !;
in eight ports the augmentation was very notice
able. In spite of the imperial edicts indigenous
culture of the noXious article makes rapid pro-
gfess in all the provinces of Manchoora? Mon
golla and Shansi also produce opiums nearly
analogous to those OF India. The Chinese authori-
ties pretend that by allowing this indigenous
culture to supplant importation, they can one
day destroy the whole commerce; that when
foreigners are no longer interested in its culture
It Will be easy, by imperial edic's, to root out
the usage OF it. But the authorities will find
that TINS specious reasoning harms their conn.
Try when tney attempt to put their theories into
practice. An increase in the custom tax has
oeen suggested, but that would be worse than
useless, Tor a country like China, the moment
that duties assume prohbtory character it is
as ii premium were paid on smuggling. En-
gland, by Withdrawing from the ignomnous
trade, and balancing up the Indian budget in
some more honorable manner, can do China I'M
| mense good Opium is absolutely eating out
| the life OF China and Cinnamon A man who
gives himself up to the drugs use is no LONGER
| good for any kind of work. The best autbori.
| ties say that there is but one more DEGRADED
race on the earth than the opium-eating Chi
| nese, and that is the Senegal coast natives who
| gives themselves up 10 the passion of absinthe.