The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-17
TIMELY TOPICS. y

TIMELY TOPICS.
According to the investigations Of a
Russian professor, DR.. Monassein, sing
ing is an excellent means of preventing
consumption, and for the development
and strengthening of the chest it is more
effectual than even gymnastic exercise.
The professor has examined 220 singers
varying in age from nine to fifty. three
wears, and found that the chest is greater
and stror ger among them than among
persons of any other occupation. -.
Scarcely eight weeks have elapsed
since Deadwood, the business center ol
the Black Hills mining region, was en-
tirely destroyed by fire, and now the
own is completely rebuilt with large
rick and frame buildings far superior
to the original ones. The city presents
lively appearance to-day. and business
is more active than ever. Mechanics
wages, which advanced just after the fire
to SO a. day, have dropped down to $4.50
All the mercantile establishments are in
full blast, and many firms are carrying
100000 worth of stock. Theaters,
varieties and gambling dens have sprung
up as if by magic since the fire and it is
estimated that there are now in the city
nearly 700 gamblers. s%.E'f. .... -.
A singular case of recovery from in
sanity thro gh an injury occurred re.
Gently in the Homeopathic State Asy.
lum for the Insane. A male patient,
twenty-four years old. when in a state
gas fixture, caught hold of a slender
tubing, and swung himself with con-
siderable force: The fixture gave way
and the patient fell, striking his head
upon the stone pavement. Instently he
arose, walked out of the ward, and gave
a clear account of the accident he had
met with. He had, in fact, recovered
his mind, though he suffered greatly
from the external injuries to his scalp .
This case is not alone Of its kind. Some
physicians have seriously tried to raise
the question of the application of sudden
and violent shaking of the head to the
treatment of insanity; but as the ques-
tion of the dose is one of gre at difficulty,
the heroic method remains optional with
the patients themselves. -. o. ..
An awful career of crime, an exhibi-
tion of juvenile depravity which would
have astonisned the country, has been
most fortunately arrested. There were
ten young lads in London, Ont, who
were all devourers of books about pirates
and buccaneers, and m ambition to
shed blood and to freeboot it furiously
over the placid waters of the lake took
possession of their bosoms. One young
ster, who comprehended the financial
necessities of the enterprise, stole from
an unfortunate uncle the snm of $3.50.
With part of this they bought revolv-
ers and ammunition, and il was their in
sentionl with the rest of the money to
purchase proud vessel of the schooner
description, and so sail out with The
black flag flying. But they were caught,
and at least, it is to be hoped. sent sup
PEERLESS to bed. The case is a curious
one as showing (the dictum of Ur. r.J ohm
son 10 the contrary notwithstanding
that reading about robbers does really
stimulate boys to rob. This isn't the
first instance of the kind which has re-
Gently occurred. These little fellows
can, if they receive early treatment, be
cleared of the perilous stuff, for there is
no real harm in them, or in a majority
Of them. Considering the perils which
environ boyhood and girlhood-it is Il
standing miracle that there are so many
honest men and virtuous women.
Those who believe that women are
to their sisters who have
transgressed will find IN Endorsement of
their views in the following story, told
by the Bangor (Me.) Whig: '"Mr.
Joshua Nye, who recently visited the
State prison, relates the following: The
warden told of q young woman who
served out sentence OF tive years, and
while there found means of education
and becomi z thoroughly reformed and
a Christian, left the prison in appear
ance O lady. She was employed by n
dry goods firm in Portland as sales
woman, and gave the most perfect salts
faction TO her employers for some time,
till one day wealthy lady of the place
entered the store and recognized her.
Calling the proprietor aside she asked
him if he knew who he had in his store,
telling him that such a girl was gradu.
ate from the State prison, He replied
that lie knew it, bu that she had done
her duty faithfully and that they were
we'll satisfied with her. "Well," said
the lady, Z" if you keep her in your store
I will neither trade with you myself
nor suffer any of my friends to, if ] can
help it." So the proprietor rather than
lose his customer called in the poor girl
and discharged her. He had heard from
her since that she still maintained q
course of conduct above reproach, be-
ing employed in QUE Of the mills in
Lowell, Mass. , q.