Connecticut western news., 1879-03-26
The agents for the New York So

-11lo dSouGS LOT Gu0 N0W 4OTk OO- ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, in the prosecution of their duties, have accomplished such a work as commends the society to the helpful sympathy of philanthropic citizens. According to the fourth annual report, about three thousand femilies have been visited, 61 9 children have been placed in homes or sheltering institutions, and 286 have been temporarily, relieved. During the year, also, 351 cases of abuse have been prosecuted, and BOA convic- tions secured. The report contains de- tails Of some sadly interesting cases of rescue from life of abuse. Many simi- lar societies have been formed i'll oth CT cities since the incorporation of the New York society, so that at the present time the Christian work of rescuing children from cruel treatment is rapidly extend ing.
 -Ex-Pastor Vosbur9h, formerly of New Jersey, turns up in Dakota Dis trict Court as the plaintiff in divorce suit. The charge he brings against his wife is "extreme cruelty," the chief specification being that she circulated the story about his having tried to poi son her, which made such stir in Jer- sey City and finally resulted in sensa- tional trial. Furthermore, he complains that she has told other scandalous stories about him to newspaper reporters and others, and by her " malice and wicked ingenuity" has driven him out of the pulpit and into Dakotian exile. Mrs. Vosburgh's answer to the conjugal ar- raignment has not yet been made public.
 king Alfonso of Spain has been be- trothed to Princess Marie-Amelie dor leans, daughter of the Count of Paris, anl consequently niece of his recently deceased wife. The young Princess is but fourteen years old. She is the daughter of the late Queen Mercedes, and great.granddaughter of the French King Louis Philippe. The family of the Count of Paris has always resided in England, at Twickenham, and Alfon- so XII. has not even had an opportunity of seeing the girl he is said to be be- trothed to. She is utterly unknown in SD ain, is neither rich nor pretty, and cannot secure any important political alliance for Don Alfonso. But as the Duke of Montpensier has no daughter to make Queen of, he may be working in favor of granddaughter, and it is possible that in two or three years time he may succeed in placing her on the throne he was once so anxious to cap- ture for himself.
 A famine next year in Russia is pre- dicted by Russian journals. Last year about one-third of the crop was destroyed by beetles and marmots, so that the seed has been deficient and the cattle plague took off nearly ninety per cent. of the cattle in many places. To these things must be added the extraordinary drought of the past year. Then in Russia there are too many holidays (about one hun dred in the year) drunkenness also is widespread vice, whose wastefulness is greatly felt. Most of the land in Russia is under mortgage to bankers, the pro- prietors are hardly able to pay their in- terest, and the arrears arr everywhere about twenty per cent. The grain, which is the chief article of export, and which furnishes taxes and all supplies, is de- voured by parasites while growing, after being gathered, and on railroads.