The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-11-25
TIMELY TOPICS.

"A novel way of catching a swarm of
bees was unintentioually tried at De Wa
tur, Mich, the other day by young
man. He ran toward the swarm with u
green hou gh in his hand, over which the
queen bee poised, and then alighted on
his hat. In twinkling the Others TO-
lowed and completely covered Linn, so
closely knit together that he could
scarcely breathe. A box was procured,
the mans head stuck into it, and the
swarm was finally worked off and
hived.
The constitution of Michigan requires
the levy of certain taxes to pay the in
terest and principal of the State debt.
The increase of wealth has been 80 great
in the State that the money raised
annually is greatly in excess of the
amount required. The result is that
more money Is in the treasury than is
required to pay the principal and inter-
est of the entire State debt; but the
bonds do not mature till 1890, and the
creditors refuse to receive their pay.
Meantime the tax must be levied annu-
ally. 1t is now proposed to amend the
constitution so as to avoid this unneceg-
sary tax.
The Matrimonial Benefit Company y
has just opened its Offices for business In
Cincinnati. 1t is a duly Incorporated
body of mutual insurers, which paws a
benefit to its members at marriage in
stead of at death, The cost of mem ber-
ship is five dollars, with an assessment
OF one dollar on the marriage of mem
ber. If the scheme works well, says the
Detroit Free Press, it looks very mncb
as il each member might receive the
munifcent sum of twenty five cents as
his or her marriage portion. For, with
respectable sum in the treasury, the
members would all marry On the very
next day, and, after ceducting expenses,
divide the " reserve" between them. Ii
has very plausible philanthropy about
it, however, and we should think it had
prosperous future before it-of about
q week.
There are 100000 beehives in the
United States. Every hive yields on an
| average little over twenty-five pounds
of honey, and is sold at twenty FIVE cents
a pound. So that after paying for their
board, our bees present us with q
revenue of SS,sO0,OOO. To reckon
aLuOtlleE way, Iuey MAKE u CJe9r gilt Ol
one pound of pure honey to every man,
woman and child in the United States.
In 1850 over %, 3S3 3i2 pounds of wax
was made and given to US by these in.
dustrious workers. An agricultural ex-
change says the keeping OF bees is one OF
the most profitable investments that
people can make of their money. The
profits arising from sales of surplus
honey average from fifty to 200 per cent.
OF the capital invested.
Rapid transit has increased the oppor.
tunities for crime as well as the facilities
for sightseeing on the mountain sides OF
Vesuvius. Signor Alcotti, the con-
tractor of the new railway which runs
up the side of the volcano, was recently
walking on the new road which leads
from the observatory to the lower sta
tion, wnen three men suddenly seized
him and carried him into a grotto. One
OF them held the muzzle of a pistol TO his
mouth, while another robbed him OF
his watch and chain and q portfolio con
tanning $272. They then bound him
hand and OF, threw him on the ground,
covered his face with handkerchief,
and left him. Sienor Alcotti, as soon
rs he was alone, shouted for help, and
carabineers and some countrymen wen,
to his release. Two of the thieves have
been arrested.