New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-21
CHANCES HERE AND THERE.

Old Forty. Nnsrs snort with dIsdain at what they
can the little two penny excitement the alleged
discovery of gold In southern California. "Why,'
said one Of them yesterday, people now. adays
roo ALFRED cod-blooded to understand the red
hot excitement Of genuine gold fever. They talk
about IS being paid for Fifty pounds Of -four in this
new gold camp ANY Fory.Nncr viii tell you that
u was very common thing to pay 300 for hfty
pounds Of -four in those days. rough board shanty
rented for 81. 500 month and the poorest kind OF q
servant could easily get $500 and 300 month. At
one time coo ships were anchored in the harbor of
San Francisco. whose crews had abandoned them and
Joined in the mad rush for gold No Forty Miner
ever believe that the stirring Of that era can be
iObbing'
Western Democrat says that Oklahoma win be
overwhelmingly Democratic State when Il is admitted.
fon SEQ" he says, about Tie time it IS opened for
settlement tho Democrats throughout the country who
have been holding office Will got their walking papers.
Naturally they viii look for something new, and their
attention will be at directed to the rich Territory
OF Oklahoma, which In many respects Is of tho
most desirable spots IN the Union. They will realize
that there IS a promising political future for them
there, and they will emgrats 10 It in crowds In six
months after the tide turns that way the Territory viii
DO fun OF Democrats, all Of whom will write " ex'
after their names. When becomes populous enough
TO be q State these Democratic politicians VIII at
once demand admIttance for It, and tho Republicans
VIII admit IT, they will be committed TO this course
by their past record. oh, yes, Oklahoma Is good
Territory for Democrats To emgrate to- and they know
There Is a law " for the better government OF the
Navy which provides that ali officers before being
entitled to professional examination for promotion
must first satisfy the Medical Board that they arc
sound in mind body and wind" Lieutenant Com
mander James NJ Forsyth, who Is almost giant in
stature and Hercules in strength, was recently
ordered to Washington to be examined for promotion,
and interval OF ten years had passed since he
was p promoted from lieutenant. the inprYed appH-
ances TO. determine his physical qualifications were
unknown to him. The machine 10 measure the dis
lance from the SOLE Of his foot to the crown Of HIS
head was much too short, and hts height had to be
measured as Is the way in country taverns-sand up
against the wall, while the measrrer gets on chair
and marks with pencil where the top OF the head
comes. When the surgeons asked him TO give test
blow into The tubes and then followed cracking
noise like the expansion OF cold heater pipes wheh
tho machine came of. Ho was reported physiealS
qualified
An actor was talking tho other day about tho
mental effect OF .Ung rlnsT-tho effect upon the
brain Of the 'ecltsi for period OF over year, Tor
Instance, OF ono part and one character SAID he
Such a course will lead to mental stagnaton. II not
10 actual prost ration OF tho mental faculties How
Il DO othcrwise7 At first, OF course, one enters
naturally and with ambitious vgor upon the study and
deneatlon of any part but this inspiration must with
equal natnTalness, soon wear away, to be repaired
when the first interest has tagged by peculiar FORM
Of automatic mechanism. in which one goes through
the details aud reflects, In part, the spirit oil the
action, with little regard % the meaning or human
interest OF tho scenes. When this condition Is pro
Ionged indefinitely, the actor, perfoce, assumes tho
functions OF nero machine. loses his mental VIsor'
and his appreciation OF tho logical effects q Whist he
Is doing and saying. ] call TO mind the case OF
veteran actor who, for know not how many hundred
times, enacted part without change without rest
Tho Inevitable result thst softeninG Of tho brain
appeared aud he thereupon obliged TO end long
and honorable career upon the stage. The wear and
worry the siraln and tension OF performing one paro
for hundreds OF times must as natural sequence,
result IN serious mental damage such as loss OF
memory softenng Of the brain, or mental disturb
ances which Imply serious affection OF the BRAIN
A representative Of prominent Arm OF engine
designers and builders, OF Philadelphia, who was
present AZ tho opening Of the bids for building the
maohlDory Of the arme cruiser Maine, at Washington,
on Friday gave n A. his opinion and that Of hts firm
that the speencAons for this machinery tho most
complete and most perfect Of all they had ever seen
He added that II his firm, or any other hrm IN inc
United States or any other county, received an orer
to build machinery TO be complete in every particular
they would unhestAtlnGy take tho specifications OF
the Maine as a model. This not only goes TO provo
what was known before that it Is not necessary to go
abroad for what can DO produced at homo and equal
10 Tho best but II Is dcscrvodly high compliment to
the bureau OF steam Engineering which prepared tho
and designs Of the machinery and augnrs
wei for the success Of the Maine and OF the ohcr
vessels whose designs ar now In progress ID mat
Bureau.