The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-05-13
TIMELY TOPICS.

Professor George L. Vose. OF BowdoiD
college, Maine, who is regarded as an
authority upon such subjects, says that
over 200 railroad bridges have fallen
within the past ten years. He attributes
these "accidents" either to the selec-
ton of bad material, faulty construc-
tion, and imperfect supervision, or all
of these causes com bined.
1t is said that, when completed, the
Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore
will be the most complete and best en-
dowed institution of the kind in the
world. The grounds cover an area of
fourteen and one-half acres, and there
will be twenty eight buildings in the
asylum Mr.. Hopkins left four million
dollars.
Adam Wagner was about the most
popular old man in Gallipolis, Ohio,
but he was confirmed swearer. The
community was frequently shocked by
his language, but liked him for his
kindly heart. His nephew, Philip,
owed him a grudge, and took advant-
age of his failing to injure him. When
ever he cursed outrageously before wit.
nesses, Philip had him arrested and
fined under the law against profanity.
This went on for several years. AT
length the justice before whom the
cases came refused to infict another
fine. Philip was maddened by the fail
ure of his old device, and killed the old
man on the spot with pistol.
By an official return relating to Eng
lish merchant shipping, lately issued
the number of sailing vessels employed
both in the hons and foreign trade, has
diminished from 10 900 in 1860 to 16, A!
in 1879, the tonnage being 1852, 245 in
the first year, to 3,9l8,676 in the last.
The height of prosperity for England's
merchant fleet was in 1865, since which
year there has been a marked falling
off. On the other hand, the number o
steamers has augmented from 929 il
1860, to $3.50 last year, and the Tonnage
from 399, ,49i to 1881, ,l57. This increas
of about six-fold in the tonnage of tn
steamers means more than similar in
crease of sailing vessels would imply
for the effective power of the steamer a
a carrier may be three or four times tina
of the sailing vessel, as the former vii
make three or four voyages to one O
the other.
In Zurich, Switzerland, the use of
portable water power, so to speak, j
being extensively used for household
purposes. Firewood, for example, is
be sawn into convenient lengths fo
burning. A small saving machine O
wheels is drawn by two men to tn
front Of a house. They connect by
flexible tube with the nearest hydrant
the water flows to the machine; th
saw dances, and cuts up the wood wit
surprising rapidity. A portable turbin
has also been invented, and employe
in many places in the same city,
driving Gramme machine for the pre-
duction of electric light. Water is yer
abundant in Zurich; but there al
other towns in which this domesti
water power could be advantageous
introduced. Where it is any object
keep q record of the water used an il
dicator showing the quantity might
affixed to the m achine.
During a recent performance in tt
Teatro del Girco, at Madrid, n madma
with hatchet, and contrived to elm
| ITOIu Uue duullOIluu upOl lllc eldg
where, brandshing his weapon fur
ously, he announced himself to the terr
fed audience as the "Avenger of MAJ
kind" All attempts to remove hi
having proved in vain, and his ful
momentarily increasing, detachmeI
of soldiers received the order to 10.
, with ball and fire upon him. A minu
later the wretched man lay a corp
upon the stage, three bullets havi1
passed through his head and, tn
highly sensational dramatic episo
having been thus brought to close, Il
audience returned to their places, fro
which they had fled in terror when Il
mailman made his first and last appea
ance upon the stage, and the evening
. performances were resumed at the poi
at which they had been interrupted
"Mankind's Ayenper,n