Connecticut western news., 1879-03-05
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

for newspaper work and was interested
 in one or two small ventures. He had
 noticed that things which sold for a
 penny met with rapid sale, and be-
 heved that newspaper at the same
 price would prove success. He talked
 with several printers, among them Hor-
 ace Greeley, who laughed at the idea and
 advised him to bring the paper out at
 two cents. He did so, and soon discov-
 cred his mistake. Then he changed the
 price to one cent, and the sales in-
 creased rapidly. It was too late for the
 Doctor, as he had then spent all his
 money, and could not go on. The Sun
 and Tribune were afterwards started as
 one cent papers and met with success.
 The man who originated the Idea real
 ized nothing but failure.
 A member of the New York House
 of Representatives has presented reso-
 lution which will attract general atten-
 tlon, and may possibly turn out solu-
 tion of the convict problem. The reso-
 lution calls upon our "Senators and
 Representatives in the Congress of the
 United States to urge that the Territory
 of Alaska. or some other portion of the
 common territory, be set apart by the federal government for the purpose of 8 penal colony, to which the several States
 may banish convicts, under proper con-
 ditions, each State providing for the maintenance of it's own criminals" The prisons of the country are full. A strong public sentiment is opposed to convict labor being brought into competition with that of mechanics, as it necessarily
 must be, and the proposition made above will be regarded with no little interest.
 When the British squadron appeared off Rangoon at the opening of the last war with Burmah, the native Governor of the city sent messenger to announce that every European within the walls should be put to death the moment the first shot was fired. This menace hay-
 ingn effect, a score or. so of foreign resi- dents, including two American mission aries, were ordered out for immediate execution. The word was given, and the headsman had just stepped forward with his huge knife, when the first Eng fish broadside was discharged, shatter- ing to pieces, by singular chance, the very house in front of which the Gov ernor and his suit were standing. Never was panic more instantaneous. Away ran Governor, officers, head sman, and all, while the victims, bound and unable to stir, remained kneeling in readiness for the fatal stroke, with no one left to attend to them. They were speedily re- leased by party of British blue jackets; aud to complete this sudden turning of the tables, the inhuman Governor was brought in by sailor that very evening, with his hands tied behind him and a gag in his mouth.
 An exchange referring to the case of a young Baltimore naval officer, wonders why lieutenant in the navy, with good salary, good wife and two good children should elope with the daughter of a boarding house landlady. Such things are mysterious. Not long since there was young cashier in New York bank. He had wealthy and influ- ential friends who would do anything for him. He had devoted and loving wife, large salary and every prospect ahead. He went to the safe one day, took $25, 900 in bank notes and then ran away with concert saloon girl, one of the lowest of her class, and one without 8 single quality of attraction. Instances almost as marked are occurring every day. No wonder people ask what can possess men to thus throw themselves away.
 Some years ago Australia was over- run with peculiar weed. It could not be exterminated until somebody sug- gested that wild rabbits would do it. They were introduced in large numbers and faithfully performed the task as- signed them. The rabbits increased so rapidly that now they are curse to the colony. In the plains it is possible to keep them under, but in rough country they drive out everything else. Thou sands of pounds have been expended on their destruction, and even then the slightest relaxation of vigilance sees them make head again at terrible rate. New Zealand seems to be suffering quite as much, and more than one bill has been introduced to deal with these pests. Nothing short of a combined eff fort on the part of the settlers will ever uproot them where they have once fair ly got hold.
 Nov there is trouble in the Indian Territory, and it a ppears to be pretty serious too: Each of the five civilized nations in the Territory held negro slaves. By the treaties of 1866 some of the freedmen were made citizens of the nations, and others were permitted to remain as citizens of the United States. Under cover of an illegal construction of clause in the treaty, the Council of the Cherokees has begun system of confiscation which threatens the ruin of the negro population. In one district, that of Coowiskoowee, the farm and homes and other property of 300 fami- lies have been confscated by order of the Council and directed to be sold by the Sheriff, and under such conditions that they can be purchased by certain citizens of the nation for merely nomi- nal sums. Thus, farm of 16O acres, with all the Improvements, which ten years of thrift have enabled the rightful negro owner to put upon it, may be sold put to Cherokee Indian for $1O or S15, | md 4bo oo1a,a1 r..z..-. 1 IL.