The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10
rlnELY TOPICS.

TIHELY TOPICS.
It is said that diamonds have lately
declined in market value. The decline
is attributed to the large numbers re-
Gently found in Brazil and i'll the South
African diamond fields. A Paris
jeweler says that the trade in diamonds
after all is very limited. owing to the
very few who wear them; and they
keep passing in rotation from hand to
hand. Of fifty persons who buy dia-
monds, forty purchase to sell again, six
buy to give away, and four only actu-
ally keep and wear the gems.
Since the agitation of the subject of
lighting by eleetxicit and the partial
success of some of the schemes, unprin-
cipled patent-rights men are infesting
the large towns in the United States and
inducing prominent men to invest in
plausible inventions under pretence of
forming stock companies. They col
lect money to carry on experiments un-
til their victims are tired, and then de-
part to carry on the same game under
other names in other places. A man
who has a possibly practical plan for
electric lights does not need to 60 either
to Dan or Beersheba for money to start
it.
The portion of Asia Minor, compris-
ing Batoum, Kars, Olti and Artwin,
which has been acquired by Russia un-
der the treaty of Berlin, is q district
very rich in natural productions and
capable of great development under an
efficient administration. There is not
much agricultural produce, but there is
an abundance of wood and metals, and
the climate and soil are well suited for
the cultivation of silk and tobacco. The
natives appear reconeiled to the new
state of things. They have ceased to
emigrate into Turkish territory, and
boards of money which had hitherto
been concealed have made their appear
ance in the towns. Batoum, thanks to
its great advantages as a harbor, is in
creasing in size. while Poti, notwith-
standing it's dockyard ard railway; de-
clines.
The New York correspondents of out
of.town papers are reporting what enor-
nous fortunes have been made in that
city during the last few months in the
stock market. One of them has heard
of one gentleman who has cleared $780,.
600 by his speculations, OF another who
pooketed cool $l50,000. Of judge
who has made $4,000. Extravaganza
in living is said to be one of the conse-
quences, and we are told that "new
houses and apartments are being expen.
siyely furnished. Fashionable tailors,
dressmakers, and millfners never were
so busy. One Fifth avenue tailor boasts
of having made one hundred and nine
teen dress suits for his regular clientele
since the opening of the fall season. 1t
is a notable fact that in all matters per-
tanning to dress, both men and women,
among the we'll to-do classes, now
choose the most expensive articles.
Economy is no longer the order OF the
day"
The return of the number of wolves
and other wild animals killed last win
ter in France has just been published,
and shows the following result: Wolves,
400; young wolves, 1853; foxes, 9TH;
badgers, 5,036; wild boars, 5.320. 1t is
supposed that the returns for the pres
ent winter will show vast increase in
the number of slaughtered wolves. in
consequence of the exceptional severity
of the weather. Most of the wolves
which perish in France are slain by the
louveterie, special body charged with
that duty. Under the ancient regime
the grand louvetier of France was an
officer of the kings household, and the
Office, after having been abolished dur
ing the revolution, was re.established by
Napoleon I. There are now in France
462 ieutenants of louveterie, who keep
up at their own expense considerable
staff of beaters and 1906 hounds. The
office of lieutenant is honorary, and
merely carries with it few privileges,
such as that of hunting the wild boar
twice month, during the season, in
the state forests. .''.
Paris always mas watchful enemy en-
camped within its walls-its poor. They
are estimated as amounting TO- nearly
$50, OOO.people. This az ay is not like those
which underie the, ciety and politics
of American cities. its components are
vivacious and a yer, little pleases them.
Hunger and cold are their intimate
friends. Yet little wine and a little
sunshine warns heart and body. But
the fires of their passions are only
banked, and when the Paris pauper has
gone unfed and unwarmed a little too
long be becomes worse than q wild
beast. So the city watches this army
of the ferocious and feels it's pulse and
mufles its claws, and is wary OF its un-
rest. There is always fever In the
faubourgs-t the fever of starvation. The
authorities treat it with oharity-not
the loose, unwise charity that is lavished
upon the poverty-stricken in America,
but with conservatism and wisdom:
The ordinary annual appropriation OF
the city for such purposes is between
S3, 600, 600 and $4, ,0O0, 900. increasing ac-
cording to the severity Of the winter.
Much Of this appropriation is from the
gifts from charitable sources, and from
uncertain taxes. But even this amount
is insufficient to meet the wants Of the
pauper element; and the ways and
means for increasing the amount are
already the subject o. anxious discus
sions.