The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-01-25
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

States is at the head of the biggest
printing establishment in the world,
employing over 1920 men and turning
out annually about 200,0G0,0OO blanks,
envelopes, etc., $4,000 blank books,
and 100000 pamphlets and books.
lie uses up every year about 81, 100000.
Cinnamon in this country, and es-'
pecially in the West, have been quick
to see the increased value Of their
services, caused by the, enforcement OF
the restriction act. Soon after its pas
sage the Chinese farm laborers in
California demanded, and received, at
least a third more in weekly wages,
and now many of them are agitatlng
for another increase.
The increase of insanity is not con-
fined to this country. In 1868 the
number of lunatics reported in France
, was $4,000; to-day it is nearly 10000
1t should be remembered, however,
that such statistics presumably become
more accurate and complete every year,
and moreover that many a person is
now pronounced insane who would
have been considered merely eccentric
fifteen years ago. There are lO3 luna
tic asylums in France, of which 81 are
public and AZ private.
That the South is rapidly develop
ing as manufacturing as well as a
producing country is evidenced by the
following items: Mississippi has ST.
100000 invested in manufacturing
industries, gain of 100 per cent. in
five years, and Alabama has $5,0OO,0O0
in the iron production. The late South
Carolina legislature chartered nine new
cotton factories, with an aggregate
capital of 81, 725,000 and in three years
272.139 spindles have been added to
the manufacturing capacity of the
Carolinas, Alabama and Georgia
In the dull routine of commonplace
pains and pleasures which make up
modern fashionable life, natures, cray
ing excitement, sometimes find it diff
cult to satisfy their longings. 1t was,
no doubt, to fill some such aching void
that Boston lady made pets OF two
lion cubs, who took the place of lap
dogs in her drawing-room, until their
increasing size provoked a~mutiny
among the neighbors, and she was
compelled, reluctantly, to send her
dangerous pets to a menagerie LII
like manner, a London enthusiast filled
her backyard with venomous snakes
until q similar revolt compelled
the interference of the authorities.
Much is printed in the religious
newspapers on the other side of thu
Atlantic regarding the scarcity o
ministers in the United States ant
Canada. 1t appears that the disease
complained of -pastorless ilocks-is
not confined to this continent alone
From recent publication giving SOM
religious statistics for France it il
gathered that not less than 5000
Protestants- nearly one-tenth of tn
whole Protestant population of tn
country-belong to churches which
are without pastors. One of thei
churches has been without reguia
pastoral superintendent for lively
years. Eighteen churches have beel
deprived Of Their pastors during tn
past year.
Italy will not be very formidabl
competitor in the grain markets O
this year, The report Of the crops O
1888 show that Of wheat Italy harvest
cd 45,l66,000 hectoliters, or 129, 1856
800 bushels, which was about SO pc
cent. Of medium crop. This is TIL
third consecutive year in which tn
wheat crop Of Italy has fallen belo,
the average production, the shortag
in those three years having amounte
to 20,77S,000 hectoliters, or abou
60,25S,52O bushels, deficits so niue
the more deplorable and dolorous," say
the report, seeing that the mediul
production of wheat with us is est
mated in the poor and shamefl
proportion of 1915 hectoliters pr
hectare--about II 1-3 bushels p,
acre. Nor a better fortune had I'll
wheat production in various 9TH
European States"
The postal service of the republic {
Mexico is very imperfect, writes co
respondent Of the Illinois State Jou
nal. 1t costs to send letter ten mile
or any distance within the countr
twenty-five cents. A letter to Ameri,
only costs six cents. 1t takes abo,
two days to get letter through Il
post-oflice in this city. When a ma