The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-12-15
GENERAL SECULAR NEWS.
DOneSfiC.


Everything seems to show that the
electric light has come to stay. and that the
incandescent light is going to succeed, as well as
the arc light. AT present however it looks as
If some of the other inventors were passing
Edison In the race. Mr.. Swan in England
claims to have found method for producing a
better and more enduring carbon than the
palm ibre used by Edison and in this country
Maxim has patented a method tor building mn
a carbon upon a suitable nucleus by means of
the vapor of gasoline, thus obtaining a fament
capable of yielding much more brilliant light
than the Edison lamp for the same consumption
of power. The vaults of the Equitable building
IN this city, are now lighted by lamps of this
KIND with perfect success AID in Professor
Mortons laboratory the writer saw one of these
lamps, designed for about 300 candlepower,
pushed to over $50 candles, and shining steadily
at that rate for some FIVE minutes before it gave
out.-N Y. Independent.
Prof James G. Watson, of Wisconsin
bequeathed his property, valued at 5000 to
the National Academy of the United States.
excepting the sum of 50 900 and 5000 annuity
set apart for the support of his wife, and $3.50
annuity to his mother. Mrs Watson is pos.
sessed OF considerable property in her own name
and Is wholly independent of her husband
estate. Having no children it has long been
the expressed purpose of the Professor and his
wifeto give their property, after death, to aid
the cause of science.
The Occident, of San Francisco,
speaking of Mr. Moody's meetings now in pro-
gress in that city, says:
" The daily papers have given more attention
to these meeting than they ever gave before to
continuous religious services in this CITY.
Some of them have tried to be wondrous witty.
and have used the slang of the slums in reporting
the work OF the evangelsts But as the meet
ings grow In spiritual interest and power, even
the most goddess OF our journals is compelled to
treat them with respect. The general feeling in
the city Is certainly favorable and Christians of
all names and creeds cooperating cordially. and
hoping for great blessing. At a meeting of
the ministers on Monday morning more than a
hundred were present, and all manifested the
fullest confidence in the leadership of Mr. Moody,
and were glad to work with him in this effort to
revive religion and to save sinners"
The gifts already made by Mrs
Valera u. Stone OF Boston, out of the estate left
by her husband, to aid and endow colleges and
seminares in this country and in missionary
helds, amount to more than $S00,OOO besides
100000 to churches, relatives and friends, and
various objects of charity
M. De Lesseps says: al have great
er confidence in the Panama Canal than I had
in the Suez Canal. The Atlantic and Pacific
breezes will make it the healthiest region in the
world. There are already excavators made
which will excavate 800 cubic meters an hour
Everything necessary is ready to start the work
The CO operation of England alone will make the
canal fact"
The principal subscribers to the ex-
Presidential fllnd are Jay Gould $4,000; w.
H. Vanderbilt, $2G COO; John NJ Forbes and
Others 9th 66 OF Boston $4,000; Mackay; of Nevada,
Pc, OOo, and ten other contributors, SIS 900 each
The remainder 1t is said is to be raised in Penn
sylvania by Don Cameron and his friends.
The Chicago Tribune furnishes the
following statement of majorites, taken from
the official returns from every State in the Union
OF the late Presidential election: Garfield. 4.
439,4l5; Hancock, 4,436,O14 Weaver. 3O5,-
729; Dow, 1914; scattering, ,793; total g.
l92,595 Garfeld's plurality, 3,4Ol
"A Romish crusade is evidently BEING
organized In opposition to the ". Y. Herald on
account OF Its campaign against Grace for Mayor.
Roman Catholic subscribers advertisers, etc,
are being called on to show it no grace
The fve-hundredth anniversary of
the translation of the Bible into English bv John
| Wyclitfe was celebrated, under the auspices OF
| the Board OF Managers of the American Bible
society, by meeting in the New York Academy
OF Music on the evening of Dec. I'd.
The English are beginning to be
troubled at the number of people coming to the
United States The London Economist estimates
that the immigrants coming t this country dur
ing the current year bring with them $35, O0O.-
600 IN specie, while the average value to the
United States of each person in adding to the
productive resources of the country is S94O 81
that the number landing this year constitute an
actual or potential addition to the wealth of
the country" of $l00OOOOOO. Let them come
and keep coming. Room enough and to spare
Christian at Work.