New-York tribune., 1881-12-03
GENERAL NOTES

The annual death rate of London has lately
increased, like that OF NewYork. For the week ended
November IL the death rate increased to ga per 000
The 636 deaths included fortyone from measles forty
nine from scarlet fever twenty-seven from smallpox
twenty three from diphtheria forythree from whoop
ing cough, three from typhus fever thirty five from
enteric fever and two from simple caSera mol The mean
corresponding week of the twenty years ending 1858
The cause of the disagreeable taste of the
Cochtuate water having been discovered, Boston is ag.
tated-not for the first time, howeverOver the demora
izng tendency OF much OF the fiction that is circulated
through the Public Library. Mn James NJ. Hubbard has
recently published pamphlet on this subject which 10
under discussion in the newspapers Considerable
feeling manifested against the trustees OF the library
because they will not stop the circulation among adults
well as among young persons OF certain sensational
novels the influence Of which Is thought to be immoral
William Florith, of Peoria, Ill., will have to
tic himself in his bunk the next time he rides in sleep
ingcar He Is somnambust; and the other night
while riding from Chicago 10 his home, he got up
walked out OF the and landed IN field OF c0rn TO
his smazement. Strangely enough he was not inured
and after q somewhat chilly promenade IN his under
clothing he obtained a and pair Of trousers from
farmer and wenfed HE way homeward. His relatives
he had been killed by the fall and his escape seems lit
tie short OF miraculous.
A curious blunder, The London Echo thinks,
has been made by those who put the sphnxes in posi-
ton at the base OF Cleopatras Needle Two OF These
stead the being turned toward the spectators
they turned toward the needle, while the spectators
view the sphinxes' tails The result s udicrous. More
over the mpassiyeDess which is the main characteristic
Of the ace Of sphinx is not well preseryed-indeed
OF the bronze figures seems to be Laughing at the
| oddity of It's Position"
The heads of FrenchwOmen are now said to
be turned the subject OF esthetcs. The mania has
crossed the Channel and the ingenuity OF Partisan
modises will be taxed in order that the coors admired
by the fair aesthetics may he combined ii possible,
offend the eye The Temps has tried In yain ap
parently, TO stem the tide. Here IL the forbid
| ding picture which 1t recently gave Of the
asthete male and female: THE male esthete wears
long hair and raises his deep to heaven The more
emaclated bis cheeks are the better No beard ana
look Of the He Is variety OF the Anthony OF
romance an Anthony wno sighs but does NJ not swear
dull farfetched hues OF sticky sage green by prefer
and slash their sleeves Whistler is their avorte artist
and they regard the nOnesthetc world with contempt"
Baron Strousburg has obtained the concession
Of q railway along the Valley OF the Euphrates. Tho
report the concession caused in England
especially in military circles. where the usefulness OF
such railway OF swiftly transporting troops
India pointed out. The possession OF such rail-
way line by foreign Power therefore regretted in
advance. The 81. Jdnness gazette commenting on tho
concession, said at is curious that on the very day on
which the OF the German concession was
made the long and perfectly explicit note OF Secretary
Blaine on the su1ect OF the noutrauLaon OF the fanae
Canal published In London As our shortest way TO
India and as strategic defence the line Of the Sues
Canal ITSELF Euphrates Railway is question OF
vital importance to Empire. II Ii be made w1thOut
and II IL be put under the protection OF
an International guarsLtee on such terins as 70 aae ~
useless for transport Of troops In times OF need we
shall have chiefly our own neglect to thank. Had the
policy Of England pr0vident Is that OF the
United States eve say nothing OF Germany, broad
band OF cutivatng propretors would by this time have
been settled along the fertile land 20 the right of the
Euphrates mails would have taken that easy and
rapid route and centre of order ana Of rty would
been liked amid the shifting quicksands Of Eastern
policy"