Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-04-02
The Recent Census.

" iate 10 tue SUBJECT OF statistics.
Suppose the recent census has had
sonething to do with 1t. There are
certain friends Of mino who take O
singular delight in that census. They
pore over it as a child pores over Gul-
liver or books of African travel. They
come away from it's pages with glow
10 their eyes and o flush upon their
cheeks and q wonderful story upon
their lips. According to The recent
census, IL appears that in Rhode Isl
and alone tho number Of adult males,
Of Portuguese descent, who died from
spinal meningitis during the first half
Of the last decade, was Just twice the
ppmber Of Cashmere goats imported
during the succeeding Eve years by
the entire State Of New York" They
not only say it, but (if am 10 q hur.
ry to go anywhere) they prove 1t By
figures, and they write communica-
tons to the newspapers, consisting
mainly Of tables ard maps, 10 order
to promulgato ideas like that.
While ! acknowledge that there is
sphere in which statistics are useful
as well as entertaining, l am sure it
would be well for the world If their
limitations were better understood. -
The number Of periodicals that have
been started on statistics in the Uni.
ted States and have miserably per-
ishcd Of them is lamentablo. A cor.
rected list would make an interesting
chapter in our next census. A young
friend Of my own started one of these
papers. He took sheet Of foolscap
and two or three ead-pencils, and tho
then recent consus, and began in this
fashion: Here is community with q
population Of so many thousands; ]
may calculate, on general principles,
that at least twenty persons 10 every
thousand will take the paper the fret
ycar--which gives a handsome pay
ing circulation to begin with. Then
so many columns OF advertisements
viii come to SO much per week, and
pretty nearly all of this may be put
down TO account of profits. So the
second year will open with an increase
of, say--to be moderate-one. third in
circulation and tho same in advertise
ments.
i tried to wean him away from his
and his confounded sums
in arithmetic. But ii was Of no use.
Ho went around town for about three
weeks in hectic condition with bis
pockets full Of lead d-pencils and little
note books, containing all sorts of de-
ceitful calculations, based on the re-
cent census. At the end of that time
the Morning Mdgnyfer made its ap.
pearance. i caught occasional glimp-
ses Of the editors baggard counte.
nance as he fitted home to his
nights repose al eight o'clock in the
morning. But why prolong the mel
ancholy tale? Enough TO say that
my young friend has long since gone
West.
And then have another friend who
believed in the doctrine of tho ami.
hilation of the souls OF the wicked
In fact, hc was generally acknowl.
edged to DO the foremost expounder
Of that doctrine in the country
Well, what does he do but write a
novel of socicty--with little or moth.
ing in II concerning his pet doctrine.
That is not so pathetic as the fact
that he too became slave 10 statisti-
cal delusions. He had taken somo
sort Of private census of his own,
by which be had determined that there
were in the United States l forget
how many millions Of people, who be-
lievcd with himself as to tho matter
OF annihilation. There were the
avowed believers-so many millions |;
and there were tho believers who dared
not avow---a great many millions
more and he was tho celebrated Ex-
pounder-and 80 many thousands out
of every million Gt was quite q low
estimate, ! tbought,) would buy the
novel, of course. myself was fresh
In the faith OF statistics in those days,
and / remember how l envied that
man his copyright--till six months
after the date Of publication the pub
fishers sent in their bill for stereotype
Old Cabinet" Scribner's
for March.