The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1888-01-18
ONE THING AND ANOTHER

RAPID Observation-Disclosures on the
speed of the electric current, prove that
If proper conductor could be wound
round the globe, signal starting from
any point of it, would return to the start
ing point in one-half of a second.
AT the annual meeting of Plymouth
Church, Brooklyn, 2 543 members were
reported, with an average attendance of
1861 in its three Sunday-schools. The
treasurer's receipts for the year had been
over $41 900, of which $28. 900 came from
pew rent.
Theodore Tilton is living in remote
quarter of Paris In by no means affluent
circumstances. With his hair hanging
down his shoulders he presents pecu-
liar appearance as he walks about the
streets of the French capital. He does
little literary work now and then, but
writes with no regularity.
Sir Kenneth Cummings, the son Of
Gordon Cummings, the great lion slayer,
ls back In this country alter years abb
sence, during which he visited Central
Africa, and killed three lions and several
leopards and other big cats. He is large
ly interested in land schemes near the
City of Mexico.
FIVE YEAR CLOCKS "A clock has
been invented, and is coming into use in
Europe, which is warranted by its manu-
facturer to run for five years without
either winding or regulation. The Bel.
glan government placed one in railway
station In 1881 sealed with the govern.
ment seal, and it has kept perfect time
ever siuce.
President Eliot, of Harvard Univer-
slty, who has just returned from trip
through Europe, says that English is rap.
idly spreading over the continent as the
universal language. He travelled through
Spain, North Africa, Greece, and Aus
tralla, as we'll as through more commonly
visited countries, and found that be could
travel through all Of those countries with
no language but English.
"A pail filled with fresh mortar fell
from the top of the new court house in
Macon, Ca, and struck squarely on It's
bottom on the head of colored workman
who was standing on the ground. The
bottom was split into flinders, and the
pail and moran completely incased his
face, so that he was in great danger OF
smothering until relieved by fellow
workman.
The New York Central and Lake Shore
Limited is distinguished as the fastest
train run IN America, and as making the
longest distance run yet attempted by
trains In regular service. These trains
run between New Nork and Albany, a !
distance of 142 miles. without a stop, the
water supplied being scooped from track
tanks while running at full speed-a de-
vice originally introduced here by this
road
John Fiske, the interpreter and die
ciple OF Herbert Spencer, has certainly
no afiliation with Calvinism, but he star
tied an audience lately, in a lecture on
the Puritan Exodus, by paying an unex-
pectedly high tribute to John Calvin,
whom he characterized as the constitu
tional lawyer of the Reformation" and
one who had helped mankind to take the
longest step towards personal freedom OF
any figure in human history.
The course of systematic study of the
Bible, offered this year to the students at
Yale College as an optional addition to
the college curriculum, will REQUIRE ear
-'SoV WI n vi VIC par vi luOb6 VINO ILl
prove the opportunity extended. The
Divine Word will be studied both from
historical and literary point of view.
The course will be prepared by Prof.
Harper, of Yale, Prof Ballantine, OF
OberliD, Prof. Beecher, OF Auburn Theo-
logical Seminary, and Prof Burroughs, of
Amherst, and will be presented in the
Old Testament Student"
THREE YEARS SUNDAY School
Work The last three annual reports of
the American Sunday School Union show
that since 1884 it has brought lS5O34l
children into CAT new Sunday-ychcols.
number equal to 5000 more than one
halt of all the increase reported as hav.
ing been secured by this and all other
agencies during these three years. The
Union aided 925 other schools which
have 46,774 teachers and SIS TIA schol.
ars,-so that In these three years it
reached 9 872 communities and Sunday.
schools, and 700 TAB children, and youth,
and then re-aided and revisited these
schools Q 245 times, besides making 90. !
pa visits to families, supplying 45OI9I
destitute persons with the Scriptures
and holding 27 247 religious meetings.
The Maternity Hospital erected in
New York by Mrs Sloane, daughter OF
the late VIM. H. Vanderbilt. was opened