Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-02-12

NANUFACTURES--CRU TO CHILD
REN-LIQUORS-THE WEATHER.
NEW YORK, Feb. 4, 1875.
DIPHTHERIA.
Diphtheria has become an epidemic in
New York and Brooklyn, and indeed in
many of the Hudson River towns. particu-
larly in Albany. 1t is claimed that the
disease has increased frishtfully by the
common practice Of sailing the streets in
snowy weather. 1t appeared in Albany
early in the spring of 1858, and in that half
of the city which is situated south of State
street almost decimated the children be
tween two and seven years. Over 2,000
cases of the disease occurred 10 the whole
city during the first ten months of its pre-
valeuce, and 179 deaths are recorded from
it. Since that day it has appeared as a
local epidemic, and has ragged with more
or less virulence in all the principal towns
and cities in the country. 1t is fearfuIly
prevalent now in New York, and suburban
cities and villages, carrying off hundreds
per diem. The disease is 80 virulent in its
nature that the physicians find it difficult
to treat it successfully.
BEECHER TILTON.
Well, Frank Moulton is off the stand
after weeks of examination and cross-ex-
animation. He has surprised his friends
and his enemies. The most acute legal
talent of the city has been after him all
these weary days, traps have been set for
him without number, but from first To list
he held squarely to the statements he origi-
nally made, and has not desiated hairs
breadth. He has explained in the most
frank and candid manner his entire con-
nection with the matter, and has thrown
hoods of strong light on all the dark pIaeco.
He has shown himself quite the equal of
the lawyers who had him in hand, and has
impressed everybody with the idea that he
was telling the truth and nothing less.
The trial will probably furnish authori-
ties and precedents for ali the divorce cases
10 come i'll the century. Such ransacking
of judicial decisions on Difficult. points, and
so many of these points as occur, make this
trial Of special interest in legal point
of view. Thus far two pretty important
side-essons have been eloquently enforced
by the history of this case, namely, the
folly of believing i'll hearsay, and the use
lessuess of lying. Much Of the scandal
that has broken up households, when placed
under the searching ray of judicial exarni
nation, melts away TO impressions, TO goa
sip, tn emagination that has made the
worst of things. and taken its own horrors
for fact. And this bold and deliberate
system Of lying. which even good men held
justitiable to keep scandal from breaking
out. proves but an added trouble, that
darkens the case for both sides.
The struggle now is whether Tilton shall
he allowed to testify in this case. and a
vigorous fight is being made over it. can
see no reason why he should not. If he
tells the truth, all well that is what the
people want. If be lies he cannot 80 hide
it but that the lynx-eyed lawyers for
Beecher will discover it. 1t strikes me
that Beecher is injuring himself by this
perpetual objecting and quibbling. If he
is innocent he ought to give every one who
knows anything about it chance to tell
what they know. Keeping testimony out
OF court which everybody knows exists,
NAV acqut him in a court of law but it
will not before the people.
BUSINESS.
The first of February, merchants faces
grow shade lighter, for the Spring trade
opens, which, it is hoped. will revive bust
ness from the depression of the last two
wears. 1t is very well understood that in
tiated prices are things Of the past, and to
do business in future, q man must offer the
public something it wants. at the lowest
prices, for economy is growing fashionable,
and socially grace is made of necessity.
Merchants are marking goods down un-
sparingly. 4. 7. Stewart & Co.. whose
figures are the thermometer of prices, be-
gan their spring campaign by offering the
standard twilled wool dress fabrics, which
sold last year at 81 90 yard, for 30:cents-
difference by which one can measure the
tumble in the value of most fabrics. In
cotton goods the reduction is equally grati-
flying to consumers LOnsdale muslin
selling for 129 cents. and New York Mills,
the finest American brands. for 10 cents.
And yet croakers fear that the spirit of
Republican institutions is losing its force
in this country. In what other one. pray,
is a round threaded, full-bleached. and
soft finished, taking the needle freely, sort
of ''bied Shirt" within reach of every
voter who goes TO the polls?
AMERICAN SHOES AND SILKS.
Even those who 20 aoroad- there
are not few who make light of q winter
voyage across the ocean-are beginning to
appreciate home manufacturers, as they
deserve. l was surprised to hear fastid-
ious lady, late from Europe, declare that
the shoes made in this country were better
than those she found either in London or
Paris. The shape of American boots was
more graceful than the English, which
were clumsy-looking, unnecessarily broad
and square, and short in .he ankle, while
French shoes, of good make were little, if
any, cheaper than in New York.
American silks are steadily gaining
national repute. like that of Irish poplin,
like it defying changes of time and fashion,
always in style and favor for its worth and
intrinsic beauty. 1t is the thing for ladies
going abroad 10 take dresses of American
silk with them. partly for the sake OF home
associations, as the Scotswoman takes her
clan tartan, or the Irishwoman her Lime
rick lace, but more because no other fabric
stands the voyage as well or is as good
hotel toilet, always sufficiently rich and
subdued.
Nor are these the only manufactures
which we have reason to esteem. The late
meeting of the American china and pot
terry makers to take measures for protecting
and developing their industries brought to
LIGHT the fact that the finest elays and china