Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-29
TIMELY TOPICS.

their lives and none were left to tell tie
tale OF the disaster, Is the most dreadful
kno wn in the annals Of railroad travel.
IL Is no use 10 sneeulate whether human
foresight could have prevented the calam-
ity, says the New York Champion, but,
with the thrill of horror which IL flashes
through the world. will be forcibly re-
cal."d the scriptual warning" Tn the
midst Of life we are in DEATH
According TO the Detroit Free Press
Japan is now furnishing the French
market with eggs. A cargo to the value
of $3.50, 900 passed over the Union Pacific
and Pennsylvania Central railroads the
other day on their way TO Havre. This
route is superior TO the Suez canal
journey on account of the high temper.
ature in the Indian ocean. The cargo
filled six freight cars and was carefully
packed. Some cases were opened in
jersey City aud the eggs found in good
condition. Owing TO .he short crop in
France they are in great demand, and it
| may lead TO regular trade between that
country and Yokohama. The eggs were
silk-worm eggs.
The taking of the next United States
census will begin June |, 1880. On
that day about 90, 600 cnumerators will
commence their lnbors-those in the
cities being required 10 complete their
work in two weeks, while otkers will he
allowed the whole month OF June. Per-
sons alive on the first of June, but dying
before the enumerator reaches them,
will be counted in the census births
subsequent to the first OF June will not
be counted. Special agents will be en-
ployed 20 collect statistics relating TO
education, mining, manufacturing. agri-
cultural and various other departments
of trade and industry.I
The aggregate steam power in use In
lie world is at present 3, 500, 900 horse
ever employed in stationary engines,
nj 100000 horse power in locomo-
i've engines. The force is maintained
without the consumption of animal
food, except by miners. who dig the
Goals. and the force maintained in their
muscles is TO the force generated by the
product OF their labor about one TO
l,0e0. This steam power il equal TO the
working force of $4,000. 900 horses. and
one horse consumes three times ~ much
food as one man. The steam power,
therefore, is equal to the saving Of 75.-
OO0,O 600 human beings.
Martin, n Cincinnati sharper. was
waiting for something to turn up.
Knight, visitor from Texas, advertised
in the Gazette for a fifteen-year- r-old girl
to marry. Martin discerned a probable
clance TO make money, and went with
Annie Lotus, young and pretty thief.
10 answer the advertisement. Knight
likea Annie, and the match was quickly
made. Martin claimed TO be clergy
man, and in that assumed character per-
formed marriage ceremony, using a
bogus license. While a wedding dinner
was being eaten at a restaurant, Martin
and Annie stole Knights wallet, but
n vigilant detective arrested them before
they could get of with it.
The islands at the western end of Lake
Erie and the neighboring shores of
Sandusky bay are largely devoted to
the production of grapes and wine. Tke
Sandusky Registers annual report, just
published, for 1879, shows that there are
in this district 1000 acres planted with
vines, the yield for the year being in
round numbers $4,000, 600 pounds OF
grapes. The wine houses report pro-
duction of l ,526, 400 gallons. The Req
ister estimates that not more than I, ,O00.-
600 galloDs oF pure juice has gone with
the SOC, 900 gallons Of wine. Some of
the dealers. it says, make no secret of
the. fact that they use spirits. sugar and
water largely. and claim that this doc
tored stuff is more acceptable to their
customers than pure wine.
The condition of Italy just now is sad.
The harvest was altogether deficient;
tie Indian corn, on which large part
of the population mainly depends for
food. was almost n total failure; the
potatoes are diseased and very bad and
dear; the chestnuts, which are the chief
staple OF food in the billy districts.
were "A poor crop; ana now comes
winter, unusually y early and severe, pre-
venting all outdoor work. At Faenza
there have been bread riots and the mill
tary had TO be called out At Ravenna
the bakers shops have been sacked by
bands of hungry peasants; nj Sermide
like scenes have occurred. and in the
provinces the people are clamoring for
bread and employment. In Rome the
number of bcggars is very much on the
increase.
OF the late Duke of Portland. Lon don
Truth says that he left personal property
valued at more than SIO. .0OO, 900, and
that though eccentric he was certainly
8 model landowner. From the time
of his succession 10 the dukedom he de-
voted himself to the Improvement Of his
immense estates, and properties in all
respects In better order could nowhere
be found. Schools. churches, farm
buildings and colleges, he was ready to
build all on the most approved prin-
ciples. wherever they were required;
and his draining, planting ana road
making undertakings were invariably
on the most liberal scale. lie made
Welbeck one of the most perfect abodes
conceivable. He certainly was prac.
teal benefactor 10 the working classes,
as for many years he kept hundreds of
hands regularly employed at high
wages.
An elaptr;eiav. of VIRGINIA. (Nex, \ rs