New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-14

been employed III speculation. Inc c0hse-
duences of excessive speculation may be read
in the daily reports of failures. Meanwhile,
the dstust as to the future may be seen In
the abundance of money for loan on call, and
in the scarcity of money for investment or for
ordinary commercial loans.
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Sir Lyon Playfar. in the course of the recent
debate in the British Commons on the operation OF
the Education Act. laid bare the absuriity Of the
charge that the health of the school children Is
steadily declining IN consequence OF oyer-educafion
and oveI-pressure lie cited statistics showing that
the mortality among children under ten years OF
age had diminished 30 per cent for boys and 80 per
cent for girs and among hildren between the ages
of ten and fifteen the percentage of decrease was 80
for boys and 80 for girls As improved hygiene
would only account for per cent Of this decrease,
his Inference was that the health of children had
been directly promoted by systematic education.
All diseases among children betw On the ages OF i've
and fifteen had declined with single exception.
This exception, TO be sure was brain disease but
there was no more of it than there was before the
Education Act wes passed Sir LYON PlavfaiTs con-
ciusion that there has beon n marked and growing
increase in the health of children since the introduce
ton of a national system of education IS borne out
by practical experience in every country. Alice
Tomato parents need not disturb themselves Win
the thought that their children running their
heal h by over-worK at school. The vitality OF
American children is oftener impaired by everyday
than by Over-stuty.
Sir. Buchanan sagey remarked in one of those
interesting letters printed day or two ago that
age does not cool the ardor OF ambition" He was
spea king of General Cass. who would be III his
seventy fifth year when the next Presidential term
should expire bnt whose I" movements In Washing
ton seemed 10 indicate that he a candidate, In
spie of the assurances that he not and of Mr.
Clay. who would nearly have completed four
score years at the same time. Now Mr. TIlden.
who is only slxty.nue. is mere boy in compari-
son with those men as they at the period
named. and should not count himself out too
hastily
The floor of tho Brooklyn Bridge is repaired with
superior warness and caution. IL q plank two and
a half inches wide and ten feet In length is TO be re-
placed platoon of police forms = Gordon abouG 1t
with the carpenter in the centre The plank IS
taken mp with precipi,ate haste, and two OF the
most stalwart members Of the squad are stationed
TO guard the abyss. one at each end. The reckless
pedestrian approaching within twenty feet OF the
chasm is warned by an impressive motion of the
pohceman's club that he is risking his life to no
purpose When tho new plank Is substituted for the
old one. the Gordon Is reformed at another point
the guards are depoyed Mt suitable distances. and
the public is again protected. The angements
perfect so far as the pedestrians are concerned.
There is no chance OF their being precipitated
through that gap OF TWO and half inches to the
river below. But tho carpenter in his passionate
haste for completing the repairs before the police
can DO tempted To desert their posts ought TO be
protected against the possibility of ndlscreton. II
| a third stawart policeman were detailed to stand
guard over the carpenter and To caution him to 20
slow" and even TO catch his heels in the event of
premature disappearance. the precautions would be
wholly adequate As 1t is there is q slight risk Of
accident To the carpenter.
Dr. Waters in presiding the recent annual
meeting of the British Medical Association deliv-
cred remarkable address upon the present aspects
aud future prospects OF medicine. Tho dependence
of certain diseases upon mIcro-organisms he con-
sdered OF the most important questions now
engaging the attention of physicians. He referred
at some length to the experiments OF Dr. KOCH but
preferred to leave it open question whether the
so-caed bacillus tuberculosis is the cause or the
consequence Of the tuberculous disease. He ad-
mitted that the therapeutics OF consumption would
no materially aided If future researches should show
that the disease caused by the parasite. For his
own part, no believed that consumption had more
than mode of origin. and there were some aleo-
tons OF the lungs closely resembling phthsis from
which complete recovery was always possible under
careful treatment by free nutrition. Apparently,
DIR. Waters was not prepared to concede the exist
ence of the tubercular parasite without moro
thorough investigation, and II the microscope
should reveal its reality beyond peraventure he
would hesitate before pronouncing it the cause
rather than the effect Of the disease.
One thing at least. will help to check tendency
to use the postal notes as currency. Many Of
the notes will DO taken out for odd sums Of money
which will not tit into the process o. making
change. postal notef for 81 81 for example, or for
90 cents, will be- of to anybody currency.
Another thing is that the postal note will be pay
able Mt only two plaoes-the Office Of issue, and the
Office 10 which 1t Is directed. The English postal
order. il called offers much greater facilities
for currency. 1t is issued for certain pre-
scrbed sums, usually even amounts, and 1t Is pay
able at any money order ofico where tho holder
chooses to nave Ii cashed Yet the last report of
Mr. Fawoett the Postm aster- General, showed that
the average time the postal orders were out" was
SIX days showing that they did not get into crcu-
laton M currency The fact Is that tho chief need
of fractional currency has been In sending small
sums through tho mails For the pocket change
coin is cleaner and better than paper. And whom
the postal note can bs bought with scarcely mora