Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-20
Miscellaneous Paragraphs.

1t was in the reign of Alexis Mikhailo-
witch, father of Peter the Great, about
the middle of the seventeenth century,
that Siberia received its first caravan Of
criminals, and there has been a regular
annual succession of them since. The
yearly contingent increased largely I'M
der the late Emperor Nicholai, and from
about 5000 in the middle of his reign
the total number of transported persons
has risen to $4,000 or 10000 under Alex
ander l., or comprising other countries
than Siberia) 10000. While a portion
of these convicts in Siberia are condemn
ed to hard labor. another and much larry
er portion simply hold the position Of
forced colonists forbidden to leave GER
tain place. The government Of TobOlsk
alone receives nearly half of the convicts.
From 1870 TO 1875 there were transport
ed to Western Siberia 10000 persons,
| and little under $4,000 to Eastern ST.
IBERIA. In such a multitude, dispersed
| over immense spaces, and the majority
IN such tree terms, it is not easy al
ways to maintain discipline and prevent
assertions, and it is not surprising that
criminality attains frightful proportions.
In the government Of Tobolsk there is on
an average one crime committed annual
| ~ per seventy-two convicts.
| A painter of celebrity Ill Paris, when
| his first wife-he is now married to anoth-
er-Was sick unto death, was informed
by her OF her great fear of being buried
alive, and thereupon promised to make
an incisien in her neck when he thought
her dead. He, however, tailed to recol-
lect it. Some months after he was dining
with friend and paying court to the la
| DIV he wished to make successor to the de-
ceased one. Out of a brown study he ex-
claimed; "By Joye, forgot to cut my
wife's throat" 1t needed long explana-
tions before the other took him.
Herr Johann Boch, well-known pain
ter of Germany, was killed by stroke OF
Lightning some weeks ago while taking
walk In the neighESorhood OF Bavarian
village, where he had been passing the
summer. 1t was beginning to rain, and
he opened his umbrella, which almost
| Immediately thereafter was struck by
| thunderbolt that killed the unfortunate
| artist instantly. A black mark, extend
ing from the head downward, showed the
course tie electric fluid had taken. The
gold chain that Boch wore could not be
found, and it is supposed to have been
consumed; the coin about his person was
scattered in all directions, and his clothes
were torn to bits. He was about fifty
years of age.
Among the chemicals of American
manufacturs which have superseded
foreign articles may be mentioned tarta-
ric acid, the importation of which last
year reached only 1873 pounds against
100000 not long ago. Of cltric acid.
27,01S pounds was imported against a
previous annual importation Of 259, 900.
The lime juice from which the acid is
made is still imported on account of the
small growth of lines and lemons in the
United States. II Southern agricultur-
lists gave attention to these fruits new
industry, IN extracting the juice, could
be developed. Last year but ), 492 pounds
of borax was imported, owing to the
working of new borax mines. Formerly
600, 900 to 100000 pounds was annually
received. Of cream tartar, none was
received in 1878 from abroad. About
six years ago the receipts were 100000
pounds annually.
King Oscar, eff Sweden, has published
a new work on Charles XII, Of which
translation has been brought out in Lon
don. 1t is the result Of genuine investi-
cations and is said to lie incomparably
more accurate than the lively and bril-
liant pages of Voltaire, while it gives the
reader deeper impression of tho cour-
age, resources and mental greatness of
Charles. King Oscar is of the opinion
that Charles failed because, unlike Gus
tavus Adolphus, he did not form great
school of statesmen and generals so that
when he died there was no one to carry
out his designs. His title TO remem-
brance and honor is that he saw the real
dangers of his country, and boldly met
them. His purpose was high ard honor
able; his blunders were many, but il
must be remembered that when be died
he was yet young.