Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-07-07
Things in General.

The Reno(Nev.) Gazette remarks: "The
editor of Carson paper was asked by o
stranger if it was possible that little town kept
up four newspapers, and the reply was:
No; it takes four newspapers to keep up
the town.
1t is estimated that about half of the
family silver of Boston now reposes, free
from the care of the everlasting polishing
of servants, snugly in the different safe
deposit vaults Of the city.
Two hundred and sixty years ago the
first duel was fought in England between
two servants, They fought with sword
and dagger, and both we're wounded.
Puritanism sentenced them to be tied
twenty four hours with their heads and
feet together.
George j. Seney of New York, the rich
Methodist who has given so much in be-
nevolence lately, gave 800, 600 to the Wes-
leyan female college at Macon, Ca, max
ing $1,000 given to that institution with
in two months.
A gentleman in New York wrote two let
ters concerning one matter the other day,
and placing them in wrong envelopes, sent
one to his brother and the other to the
counsel for a man who was involved in q
law suit with the brothers. The letter re-
ceived by the lawyer contained a pro-
gramme of the manner in which his client
was to be worsted.
An enterprising rascal drew to New
York young countryman, to whom he
had agreed to sell $4,000 in counterfeit
money for $500. The young countryman
received the counterfeiter in his room at
the hotel. got the drop on him with a six
shooter, and politely handed him over to
police officer.
Goyernor Bell of New Hampshire wrote
as follows in his recent message upon the
question of the improper use of money at
elections: ave have already statute affix-
ing penalty to acts of this description
which is not enforced I recommend that
the attempt be made by further enact
ments, and if need be, by prescribing
ignominious punishment, to stamp out in
New Hampshire, at once and forever, a
practice so degrading to the voter and so
corrupting to the whole body polite"
The increase of population in the United
States during the last decade was large. but
that of Australia was proportionately great
er, it being estimated at forty per cent.
One colony, which is not supposed to be
Wales, had in 1870 a population of 544 600,
whilst in 1880 the figures had swollen to
100000, New Zealand is reported to have
had still larger increase. There is un-
doubtedly a great future before Great
Britians southern colonies.
In his address upon powers and duties of
the p1ess before the Northern Indiana Ed
iterialN association last week at Wabash,
Mr.. Richard Smith, editor of the Cincin-
natl Gazette, speaking of the evils of the
credit system, said: ''When kthe Gazette
company changed from the credit to the
cash in advance system there were $S0,000
due on the books for weekly subscribers
alone that had been accommodating for
o third of century. OF that amount not
$4,000 cents were collected. We employed
a man and furnished him good horse and
sent him off ON collecting tour. In six
months the horse died, the saddle and
bride were pawned for keep, and the man
returned q considerable balance against the
company. We sold the books for old pa
per and called those credits lost
It is believed that the first postage stamp
used in this country was one designed by
the Hon. E. A. Mitchell, postmaster of
New Haven, in the year 1847. 1t did not
differ much in size and form from the
present government stamp, but was of a
brown color, was printed on ordinary pa
per and contained the words, paid. New
Haven Post Office. cents. E. A. Mitchell
P. NJ" Mr.. Mitchell had them printed for
the use and convenience of citizens of New
Haven vino had complained to him of the
delay sometimes occasioned by their being
unable to prepay letters except in Office
hours. The stamps were sold by the post
master and accepted in prepayment when
affixed. high price is put upon speci-
mems of this stamp by collectors, and the
present postmaster at New Haven has fire.
quent applicants for them.
One of Prof. Newcomb's assistants says
that the earth meets 5O,000,000 of comets,
more or less. every year. Almost all of
them are ignited by the rapid passage
through our atmosphere, and become shoot
ing stars. Now and then one does not ig-
mite. and strikes the earth. These are
called metorie stones, of which very large
specimen is in the Smithsonian Institute.
| The universe is full Of them. The assist
ant adds that it is held by some astronomers
that the result which would follow, should
comet strike the earth large comet
would be to resolve both bodies at once,
by the conclusion, into clouds of incandes-
| cent mist, or gaseous matter, a result
which would be so sudden and 1nstanta-
neous that the inhabitants Of earth would
never know what had happened.-Net
| York Satn. 10