The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-21
EDITORIAL NOTES.

Russia has concluded, according to
a letter in the London Times, a new
loan for eS000.000, which brings up
the total of her outstanding debt to
9553, 100000, taking her internal obli-
cations at the reduced rate of 24d. per
rouble. What is most noteworthy is
the fact that her debt has almost
doubled since 1872, the annual deficit
in her finances averaging 924! 100000,
whereas during twenty previous
years it was only Ell, 100000 per an
mum.
In the debating clubs of German
universities there is a rule prohibiting
two kinds of argument from being
used in discussion. The one consists
in saving, Il am very glad not to think
as you do" and it is called the Spinach
argument, in recollection of a famous
bit of reasoning once used by
IA lady--"I am very glad that l
don't like spinach; because if l did l
should always be having some for
dinner, and can't bear ii" The other
forbidden formula is that which re-
minds a speaker that he has altered
his opinions; and it is styled the
Apple Argument; because an apple
being twitted with having changed its
color, is said to have answered that
lit is only fruit that remains always
green"
According to a correspondent
writing from Cairo, the Egyptians are
in the very darkness of ignorance.
He writes that "among the entire
Egyptian nation there are not more
than two hundred individuals pos
seSsing what in America would be
called a common school education.
This is certainly a very much greater
percentage of illiteracy than it was
supposed existed in Egypt. Not only
does this correspondent describe the
Egyptians as lamentably illiterate,
but they are ignorant even of the real
condition of their own country and
its affairs. They have the most alb
Surd ideas of the late Egyptian war
and its events. Among other absurdl-
ties they believe that Arab Pasha
whipped the English forces, and was
only finally overcome because the
sultan ordered Arab to submit to the
| English.
The crown prince of Germany, who
| takes deep interest in the village
schools near his estate at Potsdam,
visited the school at Bornstedt the
other day to see the newly-appointed
master. He had scarcely entered the
| room when messenger arrived with
Il telegram summOning the master to
come to his mother, who was dying in
"a neighboring village. The crown
prince insisted that the master should
| instantly depart. But the children
/ IL "a
them?" cried the agonized and per-
| picked man. Tut never mind such
things" answered the prince; Il will
| teach the school until the vicar comes
to prepare candidates for confirmation.
Go! run and may you find her yet
alive!" So for more than an hour
| the heir to the imperial throne exam
ined and instructed the children, until
| the vicar came, to whose care he then
entrusted the school.
A New York letter says: al
though it lacks barely two weeks of
Christmas, and although it is general
" conceded that the time is prosper
Gus and money easy, the streets and
| the shops show a want of the usual
holiday hustle and drive. The trades
men complain of want of patronage,
and are at loss to what to aScribe it.
The so-called novelties" and special
attractions are quite as varied and en-
ticing as of yore; but the eagerness to
possess for the sake of purveying again
seems singularly absent from the
great general public. OF course, there
is large class of purchasers who
never make up their minds to buy till
| tho last mOmpnt who ALWAYS freOuent
the stores about the 23rd or 24th of
December; and it isn't time for them
to present their distraughtly undecid-
ed visages; but where is that still lar
ger class of New Workers which ap-
pears to have nothing to do but to
shop under any and all circumstances
They are unfaithful to their traditions
| and disloyal to their cult.