Connecticut western news., 1880-06-16
NOTES AND COMMENTS.


 THE London Graphic says : "We re- gret to learn that in the southwest of England the depression in farming and the fearful losses of farmers by sheep disease have caused a fall in laborers' wages below what we consider the limits of decency, food and shelter. From $2. 50 to $3.25 is the present range"
 THE Charleston NeaOs mentions the death lately of William Jones, who is believed to have been the original inven- tor of lucifers (so called after the Morn- ing Star, not the Prince of Darkness). He pasted composition of chlorate of potash and sulphate of antimony on the ends of split blocks by means of starch. Phosphor was added few years later. His ingenuity brought him in small competence, on which he retired to Chilli cothe, Ohio, where he died at the age of eighty-three.
 THE St. Petersburg GoIos relates that peasant ill-treated his wife, because, as he said, Che had ceased to love her." Complaint was made to the Justice of the village, who, after satisfying himself of the truth of the wife's story, sentenced the man to twenty lashes, with the pros- pect of more, if this dose would not warm his love into life again. The fellow had received but half of the amount when he declared on his honor that his love for his wife was stronger than ever, stronger, in fact, than before their marriage.
 IT SEEMS to be decided that the use of the drum is to be abolished in the French Army. The reasons assigned for this step are that the drum cannot be heard amid the din of the battle or on the march by the ranks in the rear. Then the drum is useless in rain, as we'll as an incumbrance in the field. There is also talk of suppressing the regimen tai bands, and of having only one band in every garrison town. The question is one of economy both in men and money.
 THE cost of living in Germany has ad- vanced at very rapid rate during the past ten years. An instance of this is found in the averege expenses of the young men who attend the courses of lectures at the Heidelburg University. In 1871 the average yearly expense of these students was but a triae over $50, while in 1878 the average had increased to more than $340-that is, it had dou- bled in seven yerrs. If these are the fruits of the French war, the triumph has been costly one.
 DR. COIN of Breslau has examined the eyes of 1O,05O German children, and found out of that number 1,OO4 who were short sighted. The defect was found to increase steadily as his .observa- tions rose from the elementary to the higher classes in the schools. Bad light was an unvarying concomitant, as was also the faulty construction of desks and seats, causing the children to stoop over their work so as to bring their eyes closer to it <; both causes compelling an undue amount of ocular conveyance, fatiguing the optic sense and accustom- ing the eye to short focus.
 MAYOR KAL1ooH has sent a threaten ing letter to Wm. M Nelson, San Francisco journalist, in the course of which he says: "I am informed that you are engaged in compiling pamph- let against me, for circulation in San Francisco, which contains defamatory matters, and whichis expressly designed to affect the proceedings instituted to re- move me from office, and the defence of my son, I. M. Kalloch, who is charged with murder. It is, of course, perfectly well understood that such unmanly and cowardly attempts to influence pending litigation and to gratify private venge- ance could only emanate from one quar- ter. I have now to give you distinct notice that do not intend to submit to such unmanly proceedings. hope the Penal Code of the State will afford me adequate protection" Mr. Nelson re- joins in a long communication, wherein the Mayors menace is characterized as impertinent, insulting, false and timid.
 THE "Princess Olga" in an amusing work on Russian manners, asserts that many of the Muscovites buy their collins during their lifetime, and keep them at home, where their thrifty wives use them as repositories for groceries. Sometimes the rats gnaw into them, and then the undertakers are called upon for repairs. These useful tradesmen, also, are in the habit of keeping magnificent caskets" on hire, which when an actual death occurs in 8 family, are hired by the afflicted relatives. At the funeral a cheap coffin, containing the dead body, is enclosed in one of these caskets and at the churchyard gate the accommo- dating undertaken takes back his splen- did shell, which has fulfilled its purpose by conferring distinction upon the body of its temporary occupant during its transport through the public streets and the departed being is consigned to the grave as inexpensively as is compati- ble with due homage to the opinion oi the Russian Mrs. Grundy.
 A LITTLE New Yorker, fifteen years oi age, named George McDermott, has turned up in 8 Manchester, England, police court, having been arrested fo1 begging. The story he told won him the sympathy and aid of the Judge. He said that both his parents were dead, and he had for the last three years kept himself and a little sister who was now six years old. A short time back he shipped on board vessel from New York on voyage to the United King. dom. On the ship getting to Antwerp