The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1880-02-26
TIMELY TOPICS.

An old resident of Washington
county, Pa, is in jail for selling liquor
without license, and it is recalled that
since ls45 he has been prosecuted for the
same offense thirty eight times, and has
been fined an aggregate of $4,000.
Counting the time of the court and the
uries, what was paid to witnesses and
officers, and what it required to board
him in jail, the amount expended by
Washington county to suppress this old
offender amounts to $4,000, or probably
more.
An English scientific journal says it is
thought that a crisis in the history of
Mt. Vesuvius is approaching; either
there will be great discharge, such rs
will terrify the neighborhood, or, as is
more likely, there will be an overfowing
of lava covering the cone with mantle
of fire, and silently inflicting more de-
struction on property than a grand erup-
ton. Vesuvius has been in an active
state now for several years, and Profess
sor Palmieri has from the first prophe-
sled that the eruption would consist in
the overaowing of lava.
Silesia, in which fearful destitution is
reported, is chiefly inhabited by Poles.
1t is the extreme easterly province OF
Russia, and not far over the line is the
city OF Cracow. The part Of Silesia in
great distress lies next to the Russian
line. The unhappy Poles, who hare
long been the victims of territorial greed,
are now in danger of starvation. 1t
would seem as if the powerful govern
ment that holds them subject against
their will, should come to their relief
when eighty thousand of their people
are destitute OF the most common neces-
saries of life.
In recent lecture on " Eclipse Prob
lems," Professor Young, of Princeton.
said, with reference to the observed in
crease in the rapidity of the moons mo-
ton, that the discoverer led at first to
the opinion that the moons orbit was
growing shorter, and that ultimately
the moon would come down upon US.
More accurate calculation. however,
shows that there is no danger of so dis
astrous aresult. The moon is not COM
Ing nearer, but our day is growing
longer, owing to the friction ofthe tides
upon the earth's surface. The tides act
like brake, and slowly diminish the
speed of the earth's rotation.
New York's total imports for 1879
amounted to S424, lS9, 1913, an increase of
Sl2l, ,0OO, 900 upon the total for 1873. Of
this increase nearly 100000 were in
free goods, and s65,OOO,ooO were in
specie and bullion. New York, while
receiving two-thirds of the imports, has
usually shipped but forty-tive to fifty
per cent. ofthe exports, but this proper
ton has increased during the past year.
The gain in the exports in December
was about S6,5OO,OOO over the cor
responding total of December, 1878, and
the total exports for 1879 amounted to
S37I, ,O46, 600, against S362, ,522, ,0S5 ex-
ported from New York in 1873, and
1926. .43l, l40 exported in 1877.
The Boston Herald has discovered Il
"bank" in that city which receives de-
rosits from single ladies only. and in
sums between 5000 and $1,000. No de-
posits are received from persons owning
a house, and the very comfortable rate
of eight per cent. a month is paid for
interest. Deposits can be drawn upon
call on any day but Sunday. The in
stitution is said to flourish and con-
trives to evade the law. These spin
sters who are credulous enough to
believe that any institution would pay
them annually S9e for the use of 800
are not very likely to attempt to with
draw their deposits, and those who
han become sufficiently wise tosee how
foolish has been their confidence are
quite likely to silently endure tnelr
lossess. a more inhuman way Of prey
ing on the trustfulneSs Of unprotected
women and stronger Illustration OF
the gullibility Of some people has
rarely been exposed.
A Washington correspondent recalls
the generally forgotten feet that to Mrs.
Langdon, of New Hampshire, whose
husband was member of Congress,
are the ladies indebted for permission
to listen to tue debates and proceedings
of that body. They had been originally
excluded from tie galleries, but when
the famous Jay treaty was brought
home there were heated debates in the
House for and against its ratification.