The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-10-08

practical wisdom, sons time since called the at
tention of Memphis to the fact that proper sew
erage was the great need of that city-that there
were at least 100000 tons of filth for which
there was no escape, and that they might wash
their streets every day with cologne or rose
water, and yet leave the main source of the evil
untouched. We are glad to see that his wise
suggestions have awakened the Memphians to
consider the subject, and that measures are like
y to be adopted for a complete system of sewer
age for that Capitalization Standard.
The Chinese in New York are more numerous
than most people know. There are in the city
over 300 laundries, so groceries, 20 tobacco
stores, 10 drug stores, 6 restaurants, and varle
ty of other establishments, all owned and carried
on by Cinnamon. The Chinese residents of
Brooklyn number over $50, and females. Jer-
sey City and Hoboken boast about 200. Over
50 per cent. of the total Chinese population are
regularly engaged in some honorable business
They have shown an inclination to marry prln-
cipally with the Irish and Spanish. There are
three schools in New York attended by adults
and their half-breed children. Under these cir
cumstances, Mr. Browns mission among the
Chinese near Five Points becomes an object of
much interest to Christians.
During the present year. 1888 miles of rail
road track have been laid in this country against
$40 for the corresponding period last year The
demand for steel rails is so great at present that
the mills are utterly unable to supply sufficient
quantities.
Our Romish friends are now said to be spend
ing 100000 ayear among the Freedmen, among
whom they have 10000 pupils under priestly
schools There are 1877 Catholic missionaries and
teachers among the Indians.
The increasing prosperity of the South appears
from the statement that the cotton crop of 1878
was larger by 100000 bales, the sugar crop by
$1,000 hogsheads and the tobacco crop by -
100000 pounds than in any years since 1870.
$4850O0O left Paris for New York September
26th. 1t would be worth while to be on COM
mittee Of reception when it arrives.
The bell-punch has been introduced into
Texas
Foreign.
The Russian Official Messenger states that 2
9S7 fires occurred in Russia during the month of
August, causing damage to property to the
amount of Sl5, 100000
The defeat by Locusts of a Russian Detach-
ment Of infantry on the march from Goatschkai
is reported. 1t was assailed by flight of locusts
twenty-t two miles square, which arrested its pro-
gress and compelled it to take refuge in the mil
itary station of Dzigamskoi. Next day the de-
tachment made another attempt to continue its
verst from Dzigamskoi by the locusts, which had
alighted in such masses upon the ground that
the soldiers could not wade through them, and
they still filled the air, swarming upon the men
in countless myriads. In the hope of dispensing
~ H., To- |, ~
command to fire in the air, and kept up a series
of volleys for nearly half an hour but the To-
Gusts paid no attention whatsoever to the rapid
discharge of Russian musketry directed against
them, and the detachment was forced to retreat
for the second time to Dzigamskoi.
The following are the amounts George Eliot is
reported to have received for some of her novels;
For "Scenes of Clerical Life" 600; Adam
Bede, $4,000; "ROmola," $4,000; Middle
march, $4,000.
The London Spectator discusses the question
whether wealth is help to popularity, and de-
clares that Mr.. Gladstone and Lord Beaconsfeld
are both comparatively poor men, leading sim
pie lives and utterly careless of that visible OPP
ulence' which is supposed so greatly to impress
the multitude. The Queen also keeps less state
than half her mobiles, and what little she does
keep is not visible; and she is reverenced by
comparison with her Hanoverian predecessors,
to alteration.
Jenny Lind writes to a gentleman in this
city, who desired to engage her to sing again in
this country: "The kind feeling which you were
pleased to tell me still continues toward me in
America, Notwithstanding the lapse of time since
my departure from that youth-in-spring country
can only fill my heart with still deeper gratitude
toward that great continent where | received
such warm hospitality and met with such ap-
probation Of my cherished lot.
A curious superstition is exhibited in Western
and Southern India, where the lands desolated
by the famine of 1877, are now being ravaged
by plague of millions of rats These animals
have overspread the country like locusts they
destroy the crops almost as thoroughly, and are
even more difficult to keep down. So grave has
become the aspect of affairs that Rat Com
mittee" has been appointed to inquire into the
best means Of getting rid Of these creatures. The
natives in some places refuse to destroy the rats
as they believe that the souls of people who died
in the famine have come back in the bodies of
rats to get the food they should have had in
their previous existence. Thus we see how su-
perstition becomes its own scourge prov. i: 81 J
1t is announced that the cathedral at Cologne,
the grandest ecclesiastical building now in exis-
tence, will be completed next year The first
stone was laid August 18th 1913; the cap-stones
are almost ready to be laid. eI
In the capitalo of Japan, writes missionary,
there are about 70, 1000 soldiers, all in the Amer
lean uniform, and provided with arms purchased
from the United States and England.
The check which the Russians received at
Geok-Tepe by the Turkomans, IAN account of
which is given in a dispatch from Simla Sept.
23,) was doubtless Of the advance column of the
large Russian army which left the Caspian Sea
in the early part of the year. with Merry for its
objective point This vanguard was 1900
strong under Prince Dolgorouki The army
was 10000 and very thoroughly equipped, with