The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-23
PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE.

Blaine is fond of blue broadcloth.
Tennyson continues to his hair long.
Grant and Longfellow are about the same height
The Rev. Edward Eggleston has sailed for Europe
Senator William B. Allison. of Iowa. Is at the Bro
wort House.
Senator james B. Beck. of kentucky. Is at the
Sturtevant House.
The Duke of Edinburgh plays on violin while his
wife plays on the piano.
James Russell Lowell our Minister to Spain, parts
his whiskers in the middle.
1t is claimed that the highest rent ever paid for
store on Broadway was 100000 year.
Mr.. Frank Hatton. editor and proprietor OF the
Burlington uowa Ha,ckeye. has been appointed post
master at Burlington. Iowa.
Ha,pers Bazaar tells of q Mexican Governor who Of
dinner had seventeen courses Of hash served be-
fore the main part of the meal.
George Stewart. Jr the, author of "Canada Under
the Administration of the Earl of DuHerin,' has
been elected to the International Literary Society OF
Paris.
London Spectator:-"Mr. Parnen in the House,is
formidable person. because Of his fixed determi.
nation and his occasional keenness of insight into
the momentary situation. but We question his ever
developing into great Irish leader
London World hears that the opera house on the
Thames embankment is to be taken up by
from Colonel Mapleson and Mr. Webster, and. adding
new capital. will now build it out at last,
The following extract from Mr.. Delaine's will will
be read with interest:-"f bequeath to my friends
and colleagues. John Walter G. W. Dasent. J. O. Mac
Donald. William stebbing. L. II. Courtney. T.
Motley. H. WAGE. II. woodhan and T. Chenery. the
sum of f1O each; and thumbly beg that they re-
spcctvely be pleased to accept the same from me 81
a token Of my regard and affection for them. ...,,
Mr.. Proctor writes:-" have received several In
quires some Of them rather anxious inquiries. re-
specting the dangers to be feared from meteoric
downfall. the death Of David Meisentlater having
apparently suggested that such dangers may be
greater than has heretofore been supposed. II we
know the average number Of meteoric mpsses which
break their way through the earth's armer-that is.
through the armament. expanse OF ether. pure
transparent elemental ART would be very easy to
calculate the exact chance OF death by meteoric
downfall. AS matter of fact we have no satisfac-
tory evidence Oh This point. because most Of the me-
teorites which fail upon the earth escape attention
I suppose. however, that If Professor Newton. of
Yale College, rightly assumes the number of falling
stars of all orders to be 4O00O0.000 yearly. we may
fairly assume that about 1000 meteortos fall annu-
ally upon the earth's surface. This allows mo
teorite for 100000 falling stars Now let us take the
total number Of human beings at any one time on
sons within doors equal to that Of persons In the
open air-for meteorite falling on house
would not be seriously interrupted in its course,
since it would travel with velocity Of several miles
per second. Again. Remembering that the meteors
do not fall vertically. nor. even il they did. do
men always stand upright. wc must take larger
for each person than that which he presents
as seen from above when standing. We may take
half square yard for an adult and perhaps quar-
tor OF square yard for the average human being.
Now. the earth's surface contains about 200 600
square miles, each containing about 900 square
yards, or 12,OO0OOO quarter square ysrds-in all
2.4OOOOO 600 100000 quarter square yards-wheress
tho human occupies only 1900. 100000 quarter
square yards. Thus the chance OF single meteorito
striking some one is Is In "a. 100000 rs In
Loo 900; and II 1000 meteorites fail per Annhm the
chance OF death occurring in any givon year is
about l. 4OOth On the average one death by meteor
stroke might be expected to occur in 400 years. II
1t is true. I have recently stated. that nine
such deaths occurred in the last 800 years IL
would appear probable that 10000 meteorites. in-
stead Of 1000, annually reach the oarth.''