The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-12-31

Governor Mathews, OF w esJ IgInla, says he
has now no doubt that the White Sulphur
Springs property will be sold next March, and
that the sale made then will beconhrmed by the
court
The total debt of Boston at the close of this
year will be $40, 359 Sl623, being a decrease
during the year of 50, 72O,6 24.
The steamship Great Eastern is said to be fit
ting up for conveying beef to England, from
Galveston, Texas. Nearly every steamer leav-
ing New York or Boston takes on board the
sides Of thousand or more large oxen as a part
Of their cargo, the beef arriving in Just that con-
dition which gives the Engishman the tender
est and most palatable cuts. The total exports
Of beef to England cannot represent at the pre-
sent time, less than 100000 animals annually.
The Atlanta Constitution says that never
since the South was settled has there been
such uneasiness and activity in her railroad cir
cles as at present. Never were such gigantic
moves being made and contemplated. The pro-
blem that is agtating the magnates is the secur-
ing lines from the West to the South Atlantic
coast The drift of trade is clearly toward sup
plying part of the European demand through
the Southern ports, and importing goods for the
West through the same ports
A magazine of nitro glycerine and mica pow
der on Fox Island, opposite Amherstburg, Ont,
exploded few nights since with a terrific re
port, shaking the ground like an earthquake,
and frightening the people generally. The ex-
plosion was felt forty miles away, in Leaning
ton and Ruthven, shaking every house in both
towns. 1t was also felt for forty miles along
the Canada Southern railroad line. The cause
of the explosion is not known There were
obi &c Mt ,y1r- NJ
powder, in the magazine at the time. Nothing
whatever can be found of the magazine Where
it stood is a hole sixty feet in diameter and ff-
teen feet deep made by the explosion A large
number of mica powder cartridges are laying
around unexploded. 1t is the opinion of many
that it was the work of an incendiary
Alexander H. Stephens says, in an interview,
that Tilden will be the Democratic candidate in
1880.
Foreign.
Mr.. Ruskin remains impatient. my dear
Furnivall," he writes, 4" not one man in $4,000
in the ninteenth century knows, or ever can
know, what any line-or any word means, used
by great writer. For most words stands for
things that are seen, or things that are thought
of and in the nineteenth century there is GER
tainly not one man in $4,000 who ever looks
at anything, and net one in 100000 capable
of thought.
The Empress of Russia is not progressing.
The climate of the part Of France in which she
is passing the winter excites nerves and relaxes
tissues. The disease from which she suffers is
anemia, malady often engendered by the hot
house atmosphere of Russian dwelling between
the months of October and April
Thomas Carlyle was eighty four years old
December 4. His literary work began in 1923.
For awhile Carlyle had many times more read
ers in America than in his own country.
The snow fall in Paris fortnight ago was the
heaviest known there for many years. The cold
was intense and the quantities of snow accumu-
lated in the thoroughfares were so great that
there was little or no circulation for vehicles
Omnibuses, though drawn by three and in some
cases by four horses, only moved at funereal
pace; the tramways and circuit railway ceased
running and very few hackney carriages were
in the streets. In the suburbs the snow lay on
the ground to an average depth of foot but in
places where it had been drifted by the wind or
accumulated by the efforts of the armies of
sweepers it was three and four feet deep.
The Rev E. P Hammond, the revivalist. &C
CoIlpd ny d uullpeI Vi preachers VI LouuOu
Ont, and band of ladies and children who sing
hymns, are visiting the hotels and saloons there
and holding prayer meetings. They are polite
ly received in all cases.
1t is officially announced that all the Powers
which are parties to the present judicial system
in Egypt have sanctioned the decree making the
Rothschilds mortgages the first charge on the
surrendered Khedival estates. This removes the
last obstacle to Anglo-French financial control
in Egypt.
The leading hotel in Dundee, Scotland, is fur
nished throughout with furniture made in Grand
Rapids, Michigan.
1t has been thought that forks were used by
mankind in eating food at a very recent period
in history. But the art of eating with a fork is
proved to be revival of very ancient one
The fork is by no means an invention of modern
times. Lately in the debris of the lake-dwel-
lings, forks evidently designed for table use have
been discovered They were made of bone
The spoon is a still more ancient instrument.