The Osceola times., 1882-10-28
EUROPEAN ECHOES.
Matters and Things In the Old World of In
terest In the New.

The fiffieth anniversary Of the forma-
ton of the first Total Abstinence League
in England was celebrated with great re-
joicing at the Crystal Palace in London
nineteen days ago. Even the enemies of
the movement admit that within half a
century teetotalism has become power
in the land. Its advocates are most vig-
orous missionaries. But, after all, the
millennium oftemperance, or rather total
abstinence, in the matter of intoxicating
drinks has not yet come in Great Britain.
The average amount spent by each British
citizen for liquor in 1881 was c., last year
it was nearly ca. The total drink bill of
the country in 1881 was G70,000,000, in
1881 il was El20,O00,OO0. In 1880 there
were $4,000 licensed places for the sale of
drink in England and Wales, or one for
260 inhabitants. Now there are 10000.
or one for every 10. last year 10000
persons were arrested in England and
Wales for being drunk, or twice as many
as in 1850, even. A committee of tie
House Of Lords not long ago reported
that, though since 1865 drunkenness has
not increased in the rural districts of the
provinces, il has had notable increase
in cities and large towns. They would
not affirm that the condition of things
was better than thirty years ago, though
it might be no worse. An intelligent
English writer thoughtfully adds; "No
dispassionate observer can fail to be
impressed by the extent and the force of
the tendency which at the present day is
compelling government to restrict the
sale of drinks. From Kansas to New
South Wales, from Ireland to Iowa. the
movement in self governed communities
toward restriction has long been known
to be gaining strength"
All over Europe, save in the extreme
South, the summer has been complained
of as remarkably unpleasant. England
has had heavy storms; Paris has missed
its natural brightness. One soured person
says there have not been twenty days OF
sunshine in the French capital since
June. The absence of light and heat ha,
been felt in the country as well as the
city, and the crops have unquestionabl,
been badly damaged. Nevertheless
Paris is suffering water famine. The
summer rains have not visited the
sources of its aqueduct supplies, and last
winter had no SHOWS to melt in July and
August TO fill them TO the brim. A veal
ago the case was almost as bad. Then too
besides dry springs and low rivers, the
pumping engines have been found toe
small to supply the wants of the rapidly
increasing population. 1mprovidence and
carelessness seem to characterize munici.
pal maIagement the world over.
Swiss travellers say the season in the
Alps has been one of the most unflvor.
able ever experienced. Many amateur
inn-keepers have thereby come to grief
Fine weather has been exceptional; snow
has fallen not frequently. OF course
under such circumstances, it has been
difficult to climb the most attractive. be-
cause the most dangerous, peaks, and the
list of casualties is very long. Nearly. il
not quite, ten tourists and vet more
guides, have lost their lives on the
mountains this year. Nevertheless one
mountain, the "Giant's Needle" in the
Mont Blanc region, has been conquered
this year for the first time, the venture
some and successful climber being an
Italian. Ordinary travellers have spent
their time hugging fires. Crops have
been retarded or destroyed, and the
peasants are bewailing their hard lines.
Men of science are discussing the Dos
ibility of employing something besides
steam for motive power in the st. Gothard
Tunnel. The coal now in ordinary use
makes dreadful smoke. The air in the
interior Of the tunnel is usually almost
saturated with moisture, and near the
northern end, to which it is forced by a
permanent natural draft, condenses and
fills the gallery with mist. This current,
however, helps to dissipate the smoke
from the engines. Traffic is thus far light,
and il is thought that enough steam can
be made, as rule, before the trains enter
the tunnel to drive them through without
to fresh fuel. The cable system
and compressed air have been talked