The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-19

III the couth are negotiating tor a union of
the churches. Committees of conference have
agreed upon basis of union. and the Associate
reformed Church has referred this to its Presby.
terles Tor their decision to its acceptableness
Inc feeling In favor of union Is growing strong.
er.
There was deal of perverse human
nature IN little girl who was in the habit of
asking God in her prayer to bless her father and
mother and her nurse, Miss Smith; but one
night, not feeling very kindly disposed to the
latter, she emitted her name from the PRAYER.
Nothing was thought of this till when the other
sister prayed, the naughty little girl remarked,
Don't tell God bess Miss Smit"
The area of drought in the country is
estimated by Canadian writer IS "an immense
oval extending fro central Texas in the south.
west to little beyond Montreal in the northeast.
and from Kansas and Iowa to Georgia in a
northwest and southeast line" This includes
territory 1900 miles long by over 900 miles wide,
embracing nearly 800, 900 square miles-eight
Times as large as France, or thirteen times as
large as Great Britain and Ireland The de-
hclency OF rainfall over this area, if it could be
coliected In one place, would make body of
water OF the average depth of 120 feet and as
large as Lake Erie, or it would exceed the total
surface OF the great lakes if spread out at an
average depth of fifteen feet, which would be
sufficient to float any lake vessel Niaga
rails at Hood height discharging at the rate of
l,OOO,OOO cubic feet of water per second would
require one whole year to pour the estimated
deficiency of rainfall over the brink into the
chasm 6eloT. Lake Ontario is said to be eigh
teen inches lower than ever before known, and
the fall IN the other lakes has been in proper
tion.-Interior
The Second Annual Convention of
the Inter Seminary Missionary Alliance is to be
held at Allegheny City, Pa, October 9th, 28th,
18th, and 3Oth. The first day will be given to
the cepton of delegates and opening proceed
ings with an address by DR.. j. T. D1ryea con-
sldering and answering the objections to foreign
missions
Students and all others who are interested in
missionary work are urged to attend and take
part In the exercises of the Convention Enter
talnment will be provided for all who will for
ward their names to w. M. Hayes, Memorial
Hall, Allegheny, Pa, on or before Oct. 18th
and upon their arrival, repeat at the Western
theological Seminary, on Ridge Avenue. Those
desiring any further information may address
the Caalrma of the Convention Committee or
Mr.. G. S. Webster, 8 University Place. New
fo5, Chairman of the Cor and Pub. Commit
tee
That good Method st gentleman of this
city, Mr.. George l. Seney seems possessed ofun-
Ialling resources and corresponding liberality
Ills latest gilt OF money is to Miss Rutherford
Principal of the Lucy Cobb Institute at Athens
Ca, school under the auspices of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. On receiving the written
thanks of Miss R therford for his generous
promise to give $1,000 for the erection of a
chapel for the use of the school, if the citizens of
Athens M would give $4,000 more, he has replied
that he would like to make this change in his
proposition; That if the citizens raise 81 900 he
VIII give $4,000 toward building and fitting M
the chapel.-N. Y. Evangelist.
ANOTHER GROVE OF MONSTER TREES
A grove of mammoth trees, ninetv-tbree in
Number, and many over one hundred feet in
circumference, has been discovered in California.
these monsters some eighty miles north of
the big trees usually visited BY travellers in the
Yosemite route.
ON THE HIGHEST PEAK.-A scien-
tho party, consisting of Professor Langley of
Fittsburg, and Captain o. Michaelis, u. s. A..
OF OF the frankfort Arsenal, Philadelphia, and
their assistants, recently planted the stars and
stripes on the summit of Mount Whitney Cal
the highest point In the United States out of
Alaska. Recent measurements show that the
mountain Is about if cen thousand feet high.
The HOTTEST CLIMATE.-The hot
test climate in the world probably occurs in the
'esert interior of Australia. A Thermometer
was hung on a tree, sheltered from the sun and
WIND; 1t was graduated to one hundred and
twenty seven degrees, yet so great was the heat
" Ine ar that the mercury rose till it burst the
a
least one hundred and twenty eight degrees,
apparently tn highest ever recor ed in anv
part OF the world. Nevertheless. in the south
ern mountains and table lands, three feet of
snow sometimes fall in day. The heat some.
times, it is said, sets the forests on fire.
The Chicago Tribune states that since
the commencement Of the present wear 9-3 mpr,
ders have been reported in its columns Dnrino
the same period there have been but seventh
executions in the United States OF tbesa fortT;y
nine, or considerably more than half, took place
IN the southern States, and of the forty-nine ali
but four or five were negroes
-REMARKABLELoN LONGEVITY William
ballard came to this county in the wear 17o9
IRON Eastern Virginia. Mr.. Ballard had Eve
sons johnson, William, James Jereroiob 81
Willis. Johnson died in Kentucky AZ tbo % al,a
OF 9S years; the other four died in this counts,
az ~ tne following ages William aged 81 years
lanes lanes 90, Jeremiah 30. Willis, the Youngest
dled the 10th Of August last, near Spri1e6ei3 ~
lhe age Oh 81 years. He leaves a long train If
relations to mourn his less. He was AGED and
feeble, but his vacant seat is sadly fell IT,
nve brothers lived to the average ace Of al
Years Yea and 4 months.-H, in (Monro6 Borier
General Lee is said to have asked o
straggler, whom he found eating green ners;ro
mons, If he did not know thew we're INIT fo-
1000. I'm not eating them for food. General >
replied the man. I'M eating them TO drsyy ~,
my stomach to fit my rationsR '" up