The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-07-26

The Emperor of Brazil was received by the Geo
graphical Society inst before leaving New York, as
was also Dr. A. Peterman, of Gotha the dlsdn
guished German Geographer, aud d.. Z. II Be
rendt, the Central American ethnoogist. Dr. A.
Il Nordenskj did, of Sweden, the Arctic explorer
had been expected. but he sent letter OF regret,
in which he said that as be was about to start on
an expedition for the exploration OF the great Slbe
rian rivers, it was impossible for him to attend.
Judge DAILY welcomed Dom Pedro. and was fol-
lowed by Bayard Taylor, to whom had been as.
signed the duty of welcoming Dr.. Petermau, the
worthy successor Of Alexander Humboldt and Karl
Ritter" Mr.. Taylor after gracefully aud warmly
eulogiz;ng D.: Peterman for his services to geo.
graphical science, especially ia organizing the geo
graphical conquest of Africa and ala, paid high
tribute to the Emperor OF Brz for the liberal aid
he had extended to Agassiz and other students OF
nature who had Travelled through his dominlons--
No distinguished stranger has ever visited US,
said he who after three moaths among us has
seemed go little like a stranger as the scholarly
gentleman whom we delight to welcome aud to
honor to night" His reference to the emancpa.
ton of the slaves in Brazil received with hearty
applause, and he closed his address with the quo
tation of the lines of Whittier poem, in which oc-
ours the beautiful apostrophe to the humane Bra
lillian monarch. DR.. Peterman read paper con.
tanning his views of the condition OF the United
States, after which. on motion of member of the
Society," Dom Pedro was unanimously elected an
brief reply to the Presidents speech of welcome
! He said
| La my country We prizs geographical science;
and it affords no small pleasure to know that
our brethren of the Northern Continent are SO
Jealous in furthering It's interests Ii is another
bond OF sympathy between my country aud yours,
with which Brazil, as you know. has always eudeav-
ored to maintain frie ldship. L. is subject OF re-
| greet that must so soon bid adeu to people who
have treated me with such unvarying kindness and
courtesy. and shall ever retain. as among the
pleasantest memories Of my life, the recollection OF
my three months tour through this great and WON
derful country"
The Wrong Day-The terrific fight in which Gen
eral Custer and bis small band of soldiers were so
sadly defeated occurred on the 18th OF June-the
Sabbath day. Throughout the land it was day
of peace, passed in the worship of God and in the
quietuess of sheltered homes 10 the narrow de-
files, or on the barren hills where Custer and his
gallant men we're posted, it was day Of fierce bat
tle--of blood, and carnage aud death. The sun.
| which set that day elsewhere on scenes OF haowed
peace threw its last rays on one spot where there
we're heaps of the dying and the dead.
| We do not say that General Custer was not IN.
der the necessity of fighting when he did. without
regard to the day, or to the command which made
it sacred day. We judge him not in this regard.
| We know not the circumstances which impeed
him to the attack. But it is a mournful thing to
read now. in the dispatches which come from the
commanding Off GER of the department, that bad
| General Custer ,oait,d another day. other forces
would have Joined him. and that the battle which
ended SO disastrousy might have been triumph
to the national arms A Sabbath spent in rest and
worship might have been far more than day OF
enforced ideness. 1t might have insured combina-
tions leading directly to signal victory.
| terrain.
Mikado Empire We learn that Prof. CRITICS
book. 1.-The Mlkado Empire is in the press of
Messrs. Harper & Brothers, and will soon be pub
lished. We learn from critic of ability, who has
perused it that profoundly interesting, and con-
tsius larger amount of reliable information re-
specting Japan and its interior affairs, than has
ever before been given to the public The volume
will have over six hundred pages, and will be il
Illustrated by one hundrCd and eight engravings, be-
sides valuable statistics. maps. an exhaustive in.
dex, etc. The book will be permanent addition
to our literature especially it relates to japan,
and will give Americans favorable opportunity to
become intimately acquainted with the affairs of
that interesting people Christian Intelhgencer.
Competition Abatng The passion for intercol-
From the - University Regatta" YaIe has retired
in form, and Harvard has announced the intention
Of retiring Williams has gone out of the boating
business IN the face of an offer by Mr.. Cyrus w.
Field to expend some thousands of dollars 10 the
improvement of their water course. Vermont Uni.
versity proudly declines invitations to strive for the
| honors. -
sSs GR IF Evil ns sTs 81
not seem to point to better times coming, but in
reality they promises, If not OF more active bus
mess, at least OF greater security IN such business
as exists. Every failure, in this day of sbrunken
values and the inability to collect debts dsposes Of
a certain quantity of fictitious values. and exposes
a certain number of costly ialsehoods which have
been acted, if not spoken. The aggregate amount Of
these failures exceeds one hundred million dollars
"a sum whose magnitude, appearing in the same
manner, would friQhten the business world in the
best of times. Christian Union.
Ocean steamers.-The Boston Journal represents
the condition and prospects of the Ocean steamship
lines between the United States and Europe as by
no means fattering. 1t says:
1.-The reverses which have attended American
enterprises in this field are well known, but it will
be surprise to many persons to learn that English
and Continental capital is now finding like hard
load to carry along the same pathway At the
outbreak of the late War of the Rebellion two
thirds of the steam transportation to X lrope was
in American bottoms; now there is but one Amer
lean line-that out OF Philadelphia In 1872, COM
mercally one of the busiest of recent years. there
were running to New York alone from Europe
nearly $50 frst.cass steamships; to-day there are
from 40 to SO such laid up at foreign whsrves, be-
cause
Both last year and this there has been a falling off
in passenger travel and strange to in this Ues
tennial year, with the Philadelphia Exhibition for
an attraction, by far the heaviest sets out
ward La all these facts there is certainly food for
reflection
Hebrew Convention. third annual conven-
ton of the Council of the Union of American He.
brew congregations assembled at Washington, j uly
llth. About 100 delegates were present. Mr..
Simon Wolf, of Washington, was elected President.
The aunua! report recommended the foundation of
Hebrew seminary for girls, the stricter observ-
auce of the Sabbath, aud the opening of a corres-
pondence with the Alliance Israelito Universelle of
Paris, and similar bodies in London, Vienna. and
Berlin, with vi,w to bringing colonies of Jews to
this country. 1t also suggested that parents should
Oe reminded of the importance OF training their
sons either to trades or to agricultural pursuits
R solutions were PAST approving the proposition
TO found Hebrew college in New York.
Southern Public Lands-A bill has been passed ir
Congress and signed by the President which is Of
great Importance 10 some OF the Southern States.
especially to Florida where large amount of the
lands is owned by the U lifted States. These
lands" says the SunJaad Tribune, published at
Tampa heretofore could only be acquired uLdsr
the homestead law, to be entered at the minimum
price of 81 rs per acre. or to be taken under Il e
presumption law. This, however, does not repeal
the homestead law SO that the parties can now
choose either one Of the three modes of securing
homes. This cannot fail to prove of immense ad-
vantage in promoting immigration to this State,
and in inducing wealthy cit of other States to
provide themselves with winter homes and orange
groves IN our genial climate.
FOREIGN ITEMS.