Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-10-06
FACTS AND COMMENTS.

FACTS AND COMMENTS.
A Western statistician has calculated
that the annual loss to the country by
fires set by the sparks of locomotives is
dollars; and yet it has been shown by
the successful and prolonged expert
ment Of the London Underground Rail-
road company that locomotives can be
fitted at small expense SO as to COL
sumo their own sparks and smoke with
out any necessary loss Of speed.
A little girl of three years, who had
been attacked and was about to be
killed by so-called tame deer in San
Antonio, Texas, was rescued by her
brother, only two years older than her
self. The plucky little fellow seized
the angry beast by the horns, and, in
spite Of vigorous pitching and tossing,
held on with great spirit and determin-
alton until his mother and servant in
terfered and reduced the animal tosub-
lection.
The chief medical officer of the New
Jersey State lunatic asylum points out
the fact that, notwithstanding the great
prevalence of malaria in that section,
not q single case of that disease has
been found among the 1unatics, who
last year numbered 672. Attendants
and laborers about the institution suf-
fered severely. The explanation is
found to lie in the fact that, not that
insanity protects from malaria, but that
the lunatics are never allowed to be out
of doors after nightfall.
One Of the most remarkable petitions
on record has been presented to the
police commissioners Of ST. Louis,
signed, it is said, BY many prominent
business men. 1t asks plainly that
"square gambling" may be allowed.
The petitioners say that they ale op-
posed to the offensive and disreputable
feature Of gambling, but not to "square
gambling, operated under proper aus
pices, as it has been by certain citizens
of good character and reputation, who
are interested in the prosperity and
welfare of the CITY,"
Failure to get divorce from his wife
has led Moravian peasant to commit
an extraordinary crime Returning home
from the court, he set fire to his own
house, in which his wife then was, and
the flames got so far beyond control
that they not only destroyed this house
but thirty six other houses in the neigh
borhood. and the barns adjoining, in
which were the results of the years
harvest. The poor woman escaped from
her burning dwelling house in safety,
but in another house woman was
burned to death. Several persons were
severely injured elsewhere.
Leprosy exists among the Chinese to
greater extent than is generally sup
posed. 1t is one Of the most dreaded Of
diseases in China. There is q current
belief there that If person afflicted
with it can kill young girl and eat her
heart the evidences of the disease will
not appear in the face, and that he can
thus escape being known as leper.
This notion has probably been the
cause OF many murders. The leper's
demand for aims is seldom refused,
most Cinnamon dreading the victim OF
this loathsome affection, and fearing
that, if denied assistance, he may in
some way infect them with his leprosy,
as, for instance, by tainting their food.
Even in small things they are taking
after America every day in England.
Hitherto it was necessary in the parks
in London to pay one penny or two
pence for the use Of a chair to rest and
enjoy look at the handsome gardens,
rich in flowers and shrubs. During the
height of the season these rows Of chairs,
at some points three and four feet deep,
extending from the corner Of Rotten
row to the rails opposite the French
ambassadors house at Albert Gate,
have been filed by crowds paying small
sums to witness one of the most splendid
sights in the world. The minister of
public works announces that hereafter
seats will be provided for the public
after the fashion in the parks Of New
York.
French journals contain accounts of
terrible accident which occurred at the
railway station Of Seclin. "A young man
named August Provost opened the door
of his carriage and got off on the side Of
the other track. He had hardly got on
the track when an express train from
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