The Newtown bee., 1880-07-28
TIMELY TOPICS.

The correspondent ot the London G1ordian, referring to the enjoyment of summer life in Paris among the working classes, says: The best and most dis tinctive characteristic of all the popular assemblages in France is still, one is glad to say. the absence of coarseness, and, above all, of drunkenness. Thou sands and tens of thousands of people poured out of Paris yesterday to Yer sailles, whither Grandes Faux by day and illuminasions of the fountains by night attracted them. But rudeness and riot are unknown, and mainly because sobriety is still the rule. Acre, on the other hand, scarcely week passes with out the record of some brutal row on an excursion boat.
 The Electrician says that the life of a submarine telegraph cable is from ten to twelve years. If cable breaks in deep water after it is ten years old. it cannot be lifted for repairs, as it will break of it's own weight, and cable con- panies are compelled to put aside large reserve fund in order that they may be prepared to replace their cables every ten years. The action of the sea eats the iron away completely, and it crum- bles to dust, while the core of the cable may be perfect. The breakages of cables are very costly, and it is a very difficult matter to repair them in comparison with aland line. A ship has to be char tered at $500 a day for two or three weeks in fixing the locality and in avoid ing rough weather, as cables can only be repaired in calm weather. One break in the direct cable cost $l00,000.
 The Hannibal (Mo.) Herald has an elaborate article on the losses by the break in the levee on the Illinois side of the Mississippi river. After
 tating that the levee is fifty-two miles long, extending from a point nine miles miles south of Charlesville, and that it redeems l01 ,269 acres of land, it makes an estimate of losses by multiplying the number of acres in wheat and corn, which were overhowed, by the average yield per acre, which, at present prices, would show loss of wheat of S200, ,OOO, and about the same amount on corn. Other losses, as to fences, lbarns, dwell ings, farming utensils, etc., will reach fully $lOG, ,0O0, making the total loss half a million dollars. Not more than one third of either the wheat or corn crop is lost. The overflow from the break was nearly seventy hours travelling twenty-four miles, which gave many farmers time to save much of their property outside the growing crops.
 Several correspondents have asked the New York Graphic to state what is the law governing promotions in the United States army, and whether, in case of General Hancock resigning, the vacancy would be filled by seniority or selection. The Graphic replies that there is no law nor custom governing promotions to tine higher grades of the army. It is a matter of selection on the part of the President or through a special act of Congress. General Crook, for instance, was made brigadier-geI- eral by Executive selection from the rank of lieutenant-colonel, being pro- noted over all the colonels in the army. General Sheridan was promoted so rapidly over senior officers that in few months from a captain to major-gen- eral. Officers, especially in times of peace, are inclined to look for promo tion as rule according to seniority, but they have no assurance that they will get it, and in fact usually do not, it ap- pears, among the two or three highest grades. If General Hancock should re- sign, President Hayes might appoint any one he chose to the position, taking perhaps none of the brigadiers."
 Great consternation was manifested through Teesdale, England, on the fact becoming generally known that tour ist had been swept over High Force, the well known waterfall at the head of the dale. It appears that the two gentle men, who had ascended the summit of the Force on recent occasion, were seated on the rocks in the center, which, when the river is low, are usually dry. A roll of water, consequent on the recent heavy rains suddenly and without warning made it's appearance, and with a deafening roar the now swollen waters of the Tees rushed over the fall, a depth of seventy-two feet. The tourists, be- coming aware of their dangerous posi- tion, made frantic signals for assistance, and at length they were observed by a man who was staying near the falls. He speedily procured assistance. and a party of men proceeded with ropes to the top of the Force. A rope was thrown to one of the tourists, who was dragged through the seething waters for distance of about ten yards with great difficulty, and landed in gasping condition. Afterward the rope was flung to the remaining man, but unfor- tunately it was broke as he was being dragged through the water, and his companion who had been already saved, together with those who had been in- strumental in the rescue, saw the body carried over the rapids by the strong current of water which was at the time rushing over the rocks.