News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-09-12
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

In WIlkeSDarTe, Ia. IN marcu bl0
marine losses further increased to 35l,
the number being swelled by the l46
sailors of the German and American war
vessels who were drowned during the
hurricane at the Samoan Islands. In
May the floods began their work OF
death and devastation. The first intel
ligence came from Austria and Bohemia,
where 135 lives were lost. The consum-
nation was in the Conemaugh Valley
en- the last day of the month, when
nearly 5000 persons perished and
$40, 900, 900 worth of property was des--
troyed. The month was characterized
by frghtful series of disasters. Thirty
persons were xii ed by an accident on
the Pennsylvania road at Latrobe, ~
by q railroad disaster at Armagh, Ire
land /; ], POO by fire in China, 40 by
falling market building in Mexico, ~
by n mine disaster in Austria, and 70 by
n cyclone in Cuba. July well keeps up
the record with railroad, mine and storm
disasters Altogether during the first
six months of the year nearly l5,OOO
lives were lost in disasters of all kinds
Besides the loss of property involved IN
these disasters, fire has swept away
property amounting to over $40, 1000, 900
in value in the United States. It adds
to the mournful record of the six months
that suicides, murders, hangings lynch
ings and crimes of all kinds have also
shown n marked increase over the cor
responding period for many years past.
RUSSIA is making an attempt to get
hold Of the trade in salt pork, which is
q new export for that country. Papers
ON the curing of pork, ham and bacon
are be ng read at different towns by eX-
perts who have been sent abroad to study
the subject theoretically" says the
English Consul Mt Taganrog, " this new
industry seems easy to introduce, but its
establishment on a practical basis in
South Russia is doubtful. The econ
omic conditions of the inhabitants must
first be raised considerably before any
care will be bestowed By farmers on
cattle, which at present are sadly neg
lected and miserab'y fed, as is shown
by the meat selling in the market.
Reports show that the trial shipments
of salt pork, twenty-three railway wagon
loads, made from E!etz were very
successful, but later exports from other
places left n margin of profit, which will
alone deter Russian traders from ser
iously taking up this branch.
ACCORDING to Sir Spencer Wells, the
practice of cremation is on the increase.
In Rome the number of human bodies
creamated had increased from 119 in
1886, and 155 in 1887, to more than 200
in the past year. At the Woldng Gre
matorium, in England, the number of
cremations has been 90 since that
method of disposing Of the dead had
been authorized by Parliament. Sir
Spencer Wells holds that it will be inn
possible to prevent the sproad of num-
ber of our most terrible diseases, includ-
ing consumption, diphtheria, scarlet
fever and cholera, if burial in the earth
of the bodies of those who fall victims to
such ma aides is continued, and that
onr cemeteries, in fact, by preserving
the germs of seeds of such diseases, are
nurseries for their perpetuation.
THERE has been q greatly increased
consumption of silk in China, officially
attributed to the large quantity required
for court use on the occasion of the
young Emperor's marriage in February
last. In n proclamation lately issued
the acting Governor of the province of
Kiang-su denounces the custom Of wear.
ing expensive silks and satins richly
embroidered on the neck and sleeves.
He warns the young men that if they
are found dressed in ways forbidden by
the sumptuary laws they will be arrested
and punished. "The mashers who
parade street in Shanghai where
native restaurants abound" says the
British Consul General, "male it al
most as gay as the tulip beds in our
public gardens"
SPEAKING of handshaking at the
White House, n correspondent says
"The duty fails heaviest on the Presi-
dent and his wife, and the wife of the
present President has wisely concluded
to make bold break for freedom. Mrs.
Harrison, it is said, will henceforth dis
pense with the handshalHing feature at
her receptions. Her decision will un-
doubtedy call down criticism, some of
which will be adverse, but this is the
fate of all reformers, and, fortunately
for her, no one is so well fitted for such
fate as the present mistress of the
White House.
THE forty third annual report of the
Commissioners in Lunacy for Great
Britain contains interesting figures. On
New Years Day last there were III the
kingdom 81, $40 insane persons. Vari-
GUS Gauss of insanity are set forth in a
table covering 1876, ATS cases OF these
1860 persons lost their reason from
domestic trouble, $3.50 from "adverse
circumstances, 3,27S from overwork
and worry, 3,769 from religious excite
ment, and 1890 from intemperance.
The influence of heredity was ascertained
in 2S. o63 cases, and congenital defect
in 5,8S1.
LIKE all modern fads, the building of
high towers seems destined to develop
into q craze. The great success of M.
Eiffel in Paris has set the world agog.
Even staid old London now comes to
the front with proposition to build
tower 2, GOO feet high, or more than twice
the height of the Eiffel tower. Various
American cities, including New York,
are discussing the tower problem as
gravely as if the future Importance of
city were to depend on the nearness to
the clouds of its towers.
THE American people, as a rule, are
intensely practical, but they have q
vein of sentiment in their natures, and
once in while it crops out. 1t cropped
out in the Washington constitutional
convention, when the members, having
finished their labors, plucked the feath-
ers from an eas lie and made themselves
pens with which to sign the momentous
document.
DENMARK for twenty-five years past
has spent $50, 900 yearly in the main
tenance of dairy schools. AS n result of
the training the butter makers have
received at this school, the butter of the
country has So much improved in quail
ity, that within twenty years Denmarks
exports of butter have increased from
So, 100, 900 to S13, 100000 per annum.
AGAIN the wicked English sparrow is
attra ting the indignant attention of the
country. A good many newspapers are
dis :ussing the ways and means of des-
troying the birds, but Forest and
Stream says that the sparrow can only
be exteIminated by a concerted attack
upon him in al paris of the United
States and Canada.