The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-04
FROM FOREIGN LANDS.
News and Comments OF Various Kinds
Brought by Mail and Gable.

News and Comments OF Various Kinds
Brought bv Mail and Gable.
SCIENCE not only accounts for a great
deal. but has = great deal to account for.
The other day NJ. Charcot publicly hypno-
tized 4 gendarme and then told him TO as
sassinate ", Grovy. whom he would find I'm
the corner OF the garden, says the Pail Mall
Budget. The poor constable went out and
stabbed a tree with "A paper knife, and came
back trembling and confessed the murder.
Such leats have been done in Leeds as well
- in Paris, and we know what is the power
of the magnetzer. II has hitherto been one
Of the fairp tales Of science, but now il is
said % have added new and terrible chap
ter 20 the records Of crime. One waits for
proof, but accusation is definite enough.
One malefactOr, a French libertine actually
i'm the hands Of the police, is said 10 nave
selected his victims. choosing those Of an
emotional temuerament. and then TO have
magnetized them and ordered them TO COM
NIT suicide. One poor girl did do 80. Law
and science are equally interested IN the re-
suit of an investigation, which, IL is said,
will very shortly be held. II the facts are
proved the question will arise whether the
onense actually amounts 10 what the law
recognizes as murder. II not we certainly
ought TO have new law, and we shall pro-
baby have "a new word so suicide per-
sons seems a contradiction in terms.
$50 many cherished traditions Of my
childhood have been shattered since the
Swiss Archaeological Society repudiated
William Tell" said a yiYaci0us matr0n.
that / am prepared for almost any olsen
chantment and reyulsi0n Of belief; Occa-
siOnally. however / resist some Of the limo
yations f0isted upon me. and ] am prepared
20 ight tooth and nail, IL need be, this latest
dictum Of some wise man that in lieu Of be-
ing injurious 10 run up flight Of stairs,
setting all YOUR veins thrObblng with the
effort, it is "A rather cOmmendable habit II
not INDUCED in 20 excess. lie SAYS that 10
sets the blood jumping through the system
in q way TO remove all clogging impurities,
but don't believe him. ! have spent wears
impressing upon my daughters the enormity
OF the habit, and propose 20 stand by my
opinion 20 the end. Exercise on the tennis
field is a much better way 20 clarity their
life liquid, I'm sure, and that l encourage
largely
AN interesting story is told Of the manner
in which the celebrated Russian physician
DR.. Botkin, who has just died in the south
OF France, lost the intimate friendshipOf the
late Car, which he had possessed for many
years. II appears that through serious
illness Of the present Emperor, Dr. B0tkin
remained day and night az the patients
bedside. Alexander II asked the doctor 10
choose something with which he might re-
compense him. DR.. B0tkin replied. .N0ur
Majesty, do not want anything, but / be-
seech you 90 have mercy on Internationally
(the Socialist author who died few weeks
ago, and who had been banished 90 Siberia.
The Car turned away without saying "a
word, but next day DR.. BOtkin received the
II. Vladimir Order and lOO,OOOrubles, Icher-
nlcheysky remaining where lac was.
DIR. NoELcKER, the eminent chemist, is
now engaged in an important personal in
yestigation into the state Of agriculture in
India 40 the request Of the Government, one
OF the special objects Of his mission being 20
ascertain the causes that have impeded the
progress OF India as a wheat exporting
country. DR.. Noelcker has been impressed
by the evidences Of careful cultivation, in
spite 0f the difficulties in the way Of the in
PRODUCTION OF machinery and the free use Of
manures among 30 poor people.
THE government Of India has been COM
PEELED by law TO purchase three copies Of
each new BOOK Issued IN the country, and 10
has been discovered that aspractce has
grown up Of printing new books simply for
the sake OF the sale Of those three copies,
for which any price within reason could be
charged. A change Is about 10 be made in
the law, and hereafter the publishers will
have 10 present the copies 10 the govern
ment.
The friction in art circles in Paris con-
tinnes. NJ. Meissonier declares that the dis
pute with regard 10 the Salon qualifications
is affecting his. health, and the opposition
party, led by NJ. Bougereau and VI. Fleury,
shows no signs Of giving in.
The Russian artist sokolow, who, by the
Of the Car, has painted a huge
picture Of the Bork Railway accident for
the Imperial Gallery at -. Petersburg, being
now exhibited in Paris, has been paid $1,000
for his work. The picture j. o very striking
nne.