The Press., 1883-08-02

.s3axl1ssa .aa sa
 ,Postmasters throughout the country are instructed to take all available means tc
 call public attention to the fact that re.
 duction in postage begins October 1, that
 purchasers may not accumulate an unnec.
 essary supply of three-cent stamps and en.
 yelopes. No arrangements have vet been made for the redemption of the three cent
 stamps and envelopes in the hands of post
 masters, or for the exchanges by post
 masters of those stamps and envelopes in
 the hands of private holders, until further notice postmasters willnot make exchange S for the public nor, return to the depart ment the stock that remains on their own
 hands after October l. Postmastefs are however instructed that as the two and
 three cent stamps and envelopes of the
 present issue will continue to be valid after
 that date, they must be accepted in pay ment of postage when offered in proper amounts and that the three-cent stamps can be used in combination with other de- nominations on letters requiring more than one rate of postage on parcels of third and fourth class matter. .i '.'- '-''-'5;~ E-'s e
 The Norwalk Hour denies by authority the statement of the New Haven News that Senator Platt was urged to act as counsel for the Olmstead parallel road. The orig inal statement was coupled with the asser- tion that the senator would take no law cases, considering that his whole time must be given to his senatorial duties. MT. Platt, as we have reason to know, was an- noyed by the publication in the first place, because it looked as if he had given some authority for it. At such times as he is not engaged in the performance of public duties, he is at liberty to work in his pro- fession and in doing 50 does just what all senators and members of congress, who are lawyers, properly do. The Hour makes this pertinent comment i; .. ......... .-s' MT. Platt is an honorable, conscientious gentleman, who has thus far filled his posi- ton in the United States senate ably and faith fully. But neither he, nor any other man, can afford to be United States senator un- less he has an income from sources other than his salary and Senator Platt, during the re- cess of congress, returns to his law business and accepts such cases as he thinks he can at tend to without interference with his duties as senator.
 At WilGmantic an altercation took place Tuesday afternoon between Thomas Hast ings, of that place, and Francis Edwards, claiming to belong ill New buryport, Mass, Hastings accused Edwards of undue famil- iarity with his wife. After few words Edwards drew knife and stabbed Hast ings twice in the head and near the left shoulder blade. The cut in the head is an ugly wound, nearly five inches in length, from which the victim bled profusely. It started near the left eye and laid the cheek open to the jaw bone. Edwards fled, but was captured by Sheriff Pomroy. He is ''transiant" in town whose business is tat tooing, and has several aliases. He claims to have been in an insane asylum several times. He certainly is not safe man to have around. The assault was not wholly as Edwards had cause to fear injury at the hands of Hastings. .....,. j..
 Ssnor Don Franeiseo Raroa, Spanish Minister to the United States since April. 1881, shot himself at the Albemarle hotel, New York, before daybreak Sunday. He with a secretary, whom he dismissed with to call again a o'clock. The returning at the appointed hour, U1AC A11AA0UC4 OSttA III AlD IOOu1s I1O had sent a ball from a forty-ons calibre re- volver through his brain. His wife and who were at Seabright, were to the city. With them the dead minister had intended to sail for Spain on Wednesday of this week. The suicide Is supposed to have resulted from deep in debtedness in which the minister involved himself. Washington society was greatly shocked by the news. ..... s-'....,.
 Devout Mahometans in Calcutta are ag- itated by report that Mahomet recently appeared tQ the guardian. of his tomb at Mecca and announced that at the compile tion of the fourteenth century since the Hegira, in the year 2O22, tho sun would begin to rise in the west, confusion would break out all over the world, cyclone would deluge the earth, the printing in every Koran would be effaced and the f. nal end of all things would be ushered in.
 Nineteen persons lost their lives and as many more were injured on Friday even- ing on the Rome, Watertown and Ogden burg railroad at. Carlton Station, N. Y.- The disaster was caused by freight car left so insecurely on siding that the foree of the wind el was sYaffieiient to carry 1t on to U10 uld4u GTdGh III lIOub Ol au express Ifa1n at full speed with two engines,
 The depression in the straw-goods trade has carried down Henry F. Hills & Co.,, of straw goods at Prince and Green streets, New York, with $12O,- goo liabilities. The members of the firm are Henry fl. Hills of Amherst and George Griffin. This is MT. Hills's third failure. s
 Everybody will rejoice to learn from Gov Blackburn that s'quite an effort is now being made in Kentucky to inerease the efficiency of our common sehQols.p He invites all the governors to send delegates to the educational meeting at Louisville, 18th, 2oth and 21st of September. / 5 During the shower on Saturday lightn- ing struck the house of Mr. Norton in Ash ford without doing much damage. It struck the roof, ran down rafter, through the jet on to the portico, and then passed to . tree. About sixty years ago the same house was struck by lightning on the oppo- site end, doing much more manage.
 The goyernment Is new running by Subs President Arthur and every mem Der of his cabinet Jas well as hundred subordinate ofioials) are off, and Washing ton is still, hot, sleepy.
 The cholera. epidemic 1in Egypt, after