The St. Johns herald., 1888-01-12
De Omnibus Rebus.

tionists think the removal of the tariff would mean the swamping of our markets with foreign goods, and the destruction of our (pam- pered) home industries This is not the general opinion abroad. For instance, the reduction or abol- ition of our tariff charges will not prove an unmixed good to English trade. It is the high tariff that prevents American manufacturers from producing so cheaply as our own consequently they (the Amer jeans cannot compete, quality for quality; with ours in neutral mar kets." This was fact recognized by the commission lately appointed to enquire into the depression of trade in Great Britain. A great English authority has said that "the commerce of this country 1 (England) would receive its first great blow when free trade is adopt ed by the United States" The com petition of free trade America was what he dreaded. In connec- ton with this subject the unusual question was lately put as to wheth CT the electricity which comes over the wires from Canada to supply the light used in Calais, Me, be as- sessable or not. Secretary Fair child replied that electricity, hay ing no substance as q mercantile commodity, is not provided for in the tariff.
 Another subject now agitating some people is the Baconian cipher or Shakesperean cryptogram. Ci- phers have been discovered in the epitaph on Shakespeare's tomb :; others in his writings. Four of these have found believers or pros clytes, among them being MT. Don nelly's. The object is, of course, to prove through these ciphers or cryptograms that Bacon, and not Shakespeare, was the author of the works generally assigned to the lat ter, The first doubt expressed as to their authorship is found in a farce written by Rev. Townley in 1759, entitled, High Life below Stairs" These attempts to trans fer the laurel to the brow of Fran cis Bacon are amusing enough, but quite unsuccessful. Bacon was a powerful thinker; but the uncon- nected, inchoate style of his own writings forbids our conceiving him as the author of the pure and per fectly ordered" English of Shake speare's plays.
 It seems the erection of the great telescope in the Lick Observatory is about completed ; the adjustment of the instrument, however, will Oc- cupy some time By the way, has any one observed what has been called the Star of Bethlehem. now or lately visible in the heavens. In 945, 12G4, 1572, and now in 1887, bright star has been recorded as appearing in a certain position. Judging from its periodicity, cer tain astronomers, assert that 1t must be identical with the star that led the Magi-The Star of Bethlehem. On this account, and as it will not agaln appear for 315 years, those who have seen it have been privi legged indeed. I would just hint that on these cold nights, the Mon arch Saloon would prove the best point for observers. And for the same reason, the bitter weather, let me beg any one who has puppies to drown, to do it in warm water.
 It is asserted that the new loco motives on the Pennsylvania road can, and do travel one mile i'll 50 seconds! St. Johns to Holbrook [ in 30 minutes Talking of roads (other than railroads Thomas Ste vens, the famous bicyclist says "After riding 400 miles through 4Io D,,1;ob OuJl oDJ Do,,UoI op,