The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-28
HARD TIMES ABROAD.
The Blessed Condition of America as Com |
pared with Europe.

pared with Europe.
LONDON, Dec 27.-If the ghost of the Christ
mas of the present day could have taken Co.
lumbia over the expanse of the old world last
night she would have realized as never before
the full measure of her own miraculousiy
blessed condition among the nations of the
earth. Here in Europe ones heart aches at the
Astounding misery which the seasons affected
merrment illumnates. The suffering among
the poor of London, which is always great, is
now said to be unprecedented and the usual
efforts at Christmas alienation seem to have
been paralyzed by the immensity of the task,
for comparatively little organized charity has
been reported Any day during the last fort
night one could see thousands of faint and rag
ged wretches prowling outside the wharves.
each ready to fight the other in order to be one
of score who were admitted to a days
work for 40 cents if ship happened to come
in. Everywhere business is reported
to be worse than it was year ago. It is said
that not a single Christmas publication has
Welded profit At the London docks less than
half the quantity of wine has been taken
out of bond that was taken last year. More
tangible Injuries suffer in the same way. When
it was stated year ago that the British ship
building industries were off half million toDsit
seemed that the worst showing had passed; but
the report is now likely to show further dimi-
mutton and one nearly as great This is sample
of all industries, while the farmers prices have
reached starvation point. And yet the cost of
necessities of life is greater than it was then,
owing to the grevous condition of the middle
men, whom the lons-credit system forces to
plumber cash purchasers While the price of
cattle is almost halved, butchers meat is as
high as ever, and the Kent farmers are COM
bning to do their own killing in order to GO rid
of the butchers altogether The budget. too,
will show large decrease ir receipts, despite the
increased taxation.
Across the channel the same sad strain is
chanted everywhere. From Paris, of course
one expects to hear nothing but lamentations
But the fierce prolongation of the political
wrangie into holiday week and the grave uncer-
tainty or the near future seem to have made the
business stagnation worse than ever Copenha-
gen is sullen and gloomy under a despotc mar
tial law, with threats of revolution in the air
Italy has Christmas present in the form of
news that King John, of Abyssina. is about to
declare war on account of the Massowah affair.
which means many added millions to the tax
burden. Vienna is in truly doleful frame of
mind, with cholera at Trieste, riots in Croatia
and with heavy national damage caused by the
collapse Of her principal debtor Servia, and a
national humiliation at the loss of her Balkan
prestige. The mail reporte show that the condi-
ton Of the starving and freezing soldiers of the
two wretched little principalities is appalling.
Perhapsit has had nc parallel siuceArnold's march
to Quebec. Prince Alexander has already lost
twice as many men, By death by exposure and
disease as in battle. 1t is only the wolves THAT
have had a merry Christmas in the Balkans this
year.