National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-06-07
MISCELLHRY.

Chicago, Sick"
A movement Is on foot 10 unite the
homeopathic and allopsthic systems Of medicine, |
the homuopathists abandoning the extreme views
on trituration Of TIahuemann.
The other day the Newark Aldermen took
an excursion to Greenwood lake and at the amer
dinner feast OF reason when Congressman Peddie
told them that pure water was one OF Gods best
gifts" II was fun to see them look at him, and then
at each others noses, in quiet wonderment
"A new attempt is being made In london
to turn Lady Burdettc Coutts beautiful hut hitherto
unsuccessful Columbia market to account A lin
tied liability company has been formed to import
American beef and supply II to the poor Of the East
End the baroness giving the market and the com
pany takinga profit OF only one half penny per
pound.
Last week the birth rate Of London was
thirty one per thousand Of the population and the
death rate only ninctccn--fgures which speak
volumes for the sanitary condition OF this greatest
metropolis Of the world The extent Of the national
savings bank business in the same city is shown in
the fact that in fftccn years the deposits have
amounted to s5s5.OoOOO.
Nothing so thoroughly plcascs a man who
has learned that a collection is to he taken in his
church on Sunday morning. and who has consc-
quently been unable to be present on account Of
severe pain In his back. as To attend the evening
service and hear the clergyman announce that "ns
many who desired to give were not present al the
morning collection II will now he repeated"
I'm spite of the railroad and the telegraph.
an old fashioned highwayman case came up m
London among the police court reports the other
day II seems only fair since the old time sport Of
coaching has been revived. that II should be sup
plemented by the revival Of the art Of Dick Turpin
and Claude Duyal, who used to stop and rob the
| Classic localities.
The one hundred and four-years-old
mother Of Judge Mouiton. Of Kiuanning. Ia. Is
the subject Of as remarkable rciuvcnation as II
she had dipped In the fabulous fountain Of youth.
Within the past few years her hair, which for
long time had been pure white. has gradually
darkencd until Il has nearly recovered Its original
color while her mental faculties have appeared to
| receive new impulse, and she can read without
the aid Of glasses.
There Is no doubt whatever that the SUI
tan earnestly exerted himself to prevent war. but.
finding himself obliged to choose between rcvolu.
ion. with probable loss Of power, and measures
which were sure to make Russia declarc war. he
chose the latter reluctantly and with serious fore
bodings The character OF this man may be csti-
mated from the following incident: He suffers from
| a decayed tooth, and having been advised to con-
| suit dentist summoned one. The dentist advised
the extraction Of the TOOTH and at the request Of
| the Sultan, explained the Wodus operuRdi. The
| Sultan summoned a slave and directed the dentist
| to show him how II was done. The slave Loaf his
tooth. but the Sultan unncrvcd by the sight of
blood and deferred the operation on himself II is
| stated on the best authority that the dentist has
already been summoned eight times and that eight
slaves have lost more teeth each but that the
Sultan still suffers from toOthache. This incident
might well serve as parable to illustrate the way
in which Western Europe has dealt with the rotten
fabric known as the Ottoman Empire.
| st. Stephens day, in the Isle Of Man, is
given over, among great part OF the population.
10 cruel custom that of hunting wrens with sticks
and stones; and. when they succeed In capturing
one it is tied to the end Of long pole and carried
around the country. The custom arises from a
superstition, dating far into the past Of fihry so
beautiful that all the youths OF the island went to
look at her. and then she WOULD sing such wondrous
! songs that they followed where shc chose to lead
them, which was into the sea: for she was cruel and
| wicked, and led them. one amer another 10 theif
death, until at length scarce young man was len
and roublewas In every mans home for the brother
| or son that was missing At length there came
knight who, vowing vengeance. laid deep plot fol
the destruction Of this wicked lady He seized her
by her long hair. but he stood oyer her with hi.
drawn sword. she suddenly changed into a tiny
wrcn flying away from under his very fingers, and
so escaped with mocking song Of triumph; but by
some power greater than her own the wicked lady,
fairy was compelled once in every year to reappeai
In the island In her assumed form: and this on 81
Stephens day, when the young men Of the super
sttious island hunt amer her with vivid mcmor,
OF their ancient wrongs.
If there exists anywhere outside of the
boundaries Of romantic fable a land which is al
once "a beauty and mystery" Il Is probably the
Gold Coast of Africa A Slv nf n nj
ncSs; luxuriant Flora, yielding in the garden tn,
most tempting fruits and rising in the forest int
the grandcSt forms Of vegetable life; birds of Ia,
most gorgeous plumage animals and insects o
almost infinite variety-gve to the external sp
pearance OF this coast an extraordinary charm anC
gayety. The outward sparkle; the voluptuou
sense of easy and relaxed enjoyment, though com
mon in their degree in all tropical countries. be
come intensified in Africa. from the luminou
mists which hang over the earth. The story OF III,
land is also singularly in harmony with its out
ward aspects. Its dismal forests offer themselyc
as appropriate scenes for those supcrStitous rite
and cruel customs In which the natives arc know
to indulge. Altogether. there is u lurid harmon,
of tones and colors on that coast at once mora
and physical. The white cottages Of the European
residents, which appear from the sea as II about Il
be swallowed up In the luxuriant vegetation, ar
but the types Of a human story. How weak an,
wasted seem the white population OF the coast II
contrast with the Astounding nature how few tn
houses! how numerous the tombs.
Nice observers Of nature have remarked
the variety oftoncs yielded by trees when playe,
upon by the wind Mrs. Hcmans once asked 81
Walter Scott ifhe had noticed that every tree give
out its peculiar sound. Yes" said he, Il have
and think something might he done by the unior
OF poetry and music to initiate those voices givin
different measure to the oak the pine. the vii
, low" &c. There is Highland air of somewha
similar character. called the Notes Of the Sc
Birds" In Henry Taylor's drama Edwin tn
Fair" there some pleasing lines where the win,
Is feined to feel the want Of voice and to WOO tn
, tree to give him one. He applied to several: bl
the wanderer rested with the pine, because he
voice was constant, son and lowly deep: and b
welcomed In her wild memorial OF the ocea
? mis- birthplace There is a fine description q
a storm In "Coningsby," where a sylvan Ianguag
is made to swell the disrasOn ofthe tempest "Th
/ wind howled; the branches of the forest stirrct
4: and sent forth sounds like an incarnation. 500
! might be distinguished the various voices OF IN
mighty trees they expressed their terror or thei
agony. The oak roared, the beech shrieked. III
elm sent forth its long, deep groan while ever all
I anon. amid momentary pause, the passion of III
! ash was heard In means OF thrilling anguish"
The expense of maintaining camels is re
markably little; a cake of barley, a few dates,
handful Of beans, will suffice. In addition to tn