New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-19
GkNERAL NOTES.

The proprietors of a cotton factory in Oar
England, recently dned e3l Do Cd for keep.
Ing their hands al work twelve minutes after the hour
fixed for closing by the Factories Act.
An Imperial Commission lately appointed ut
st. Petersburg to consider the question OF drunkenness
has recommended the closing OF large number of auor
shops throughout the Empire. But the recommendation
will not be acted upon because OF the serious loss OF rev.
enuc IL would entail.
A green Christmas" is threatened not alone
in the vicinity OF New-YOrk In some parts OF England
the unusually open. In Kent primroses aren
bloom, yiolets perfume the dells and the sOng-birs
have notlost their notes. while on the commons
the heather is purple, and the furze respleDdent with
golden bloom.
Red squirrels, said to dovOur the eggs; small
parasitic insects, said to burrOw the brain and
cause death, and migration to fresh fields and pastures
new in the Black Hills region. are. each and all OF them
assigned OF the rapid disappearance Of rufed
grouse from huntnggrOunds OF the Mississippi.
But no to have thought Of LAYING the blame
upon the sportsmen socalled, who ruthessy slaughter
the birds IN and out or season. without regard 70
species Of game.
Nine hundred and thrty-six soundings were
made az the mouth OF the Mississippi River last week
by select committee Of the New-Oreans Chamber OF
Commerce. with view OF ascertaning the actual depth
Of water secured by Captain Eadss jeties The least
depth that could be found anywhere was on the crest u
the bar, where there were twentysN feet Of water,
WIN tue tiuc nchlIg TWO itel below average Hood.
England has become alarmed lest foreign
nations learn the secrets df any there be- Of her naval
superiority The unsuspciousness of the English char
acter and sefconddent Of superiority in marne
affairs hitherto have operated TO throw the dockyds OF
that country open to all visitors In other European
countries the entrances to naval establishments are
guarded with jealous So now a strong movement
IS foOt for the exclusion Of all foreign visitors from Eng.
ands dockyards, unless provided with special letters Of
credit To guard against the possibility OF there coming
tmther from some rival Power, chieP" for the pur.
pose Of " takn' notes."
The luckless dwellers on tie banks of the
having just got rid OF plague Of locuss
are now groanng under plague Of horse thieves. Az
organized Society for the Stealing Of Horses under the
protection OF members OF the Government Of the Porte
carrying its operations successfully that scarcely
farmer settler in that region has not been victim
zed The operations Of the society are conducted by
issued from its "head centre" Each section
acts in its locality and the animals stolen are driven
of at 10 the coast for shipment or to places where
il is useless to follow them The authorities when ap
peaed to decline to take any steps In the matter unless
guarantee Is given that all expenses incurred will bo
paid by the person who prefers the complaint
expenses Oten amount To than the value OF tho
animals stolen the farmers who robbed put up with
the loss rather than throw good money after bad
and its shares ought to command premium in the
mn gpf