The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-09-19

Theughtfnlly Discussed For C1refl
Readers.
The fact that Mr.. NJ. L. Murphy
Of Pittsburg has perfected glas.
furnace in which gas manufactured
! from coal is substituted for natural
gas is q matter Of interest to US all
and particularly to those engaged in
a business which has depended, in q
great measure, for its prosperity. on
the abundance and the cheapness Of
natural gas. 1t is claimed that this
invention viii not only take the place
of natural gas as far as to its effect
iveness, but cheaper very materially
the cost of production. 1t has been
introduced into the Hartley works
of Tarentum, and those of the Brad
dock Glass Company, and will also
be adopted by Bryce and Higbee
flint glass works of Homestead.
-
There is no other system Of heat
ing our houses, however effective,
clearly and otherwise satisfactory it
may be, that can take the place of
the bright open fire, the red bank of
Goals, and the warm -colored light
that chases the shadows away into
the corners. The day may be murkey,
the sky lowering, and the earth din
gy and muddy, and ones mood en-
tirely in harmony with the outside
gloom, yet it cannot long withstand
the cheerful glow and real welcome
Of the open fire But it takes very
strong minded individual to throw
off a fit of "blues" and subside into
genuine cheerfulness, when he looks
for comfort through the bars of a
dingy heater, or has to toast his toes
on decorated steam pipes.
Even the people who would iAdlg-
nantly repudiate any weak yielding
to blues must acknowledge that
now and then they are subject to Fits
of depression" and if there is no sun
shining out of doors and no fire burn
ing within, the spirit finds it difficult
to rise superior to the alI-pervading
grey gloom. So success, we say, to
the man who can assure US that we
may always look into cheerful blaze,
and be neither bothered by dust and
ashes, nor terrorized by enormous
gas bills.
.*#
Gradually one idea after another
of Mr.. Bellamy's is being tried, and
so far, people have either not advan.
ced to the state of unselfishness nee
essary, or else the ideas are imprac-
ticable. Several co operative house
keeping experiments have collapsed,
we were never told exactly why, but
perhaps because men find it difficult
to agree upon what to like and what
to dislike.
1t will be remem bered that in
Looking Backward" the telephone
kindly removed the necessity of
church going from the citizens, and
the preacher and the choir were sup.
posed to eloquently address them
selves to the speaking wires. Sew
eral experiments were made in Eng
land last year along this line, and
are announced as quite successful.
1t is supposed to be only for invalids,
but Sunday always does develop
great numbers of people who do not
feel well.
1t is said that, provided with the
special receiver used, the effect is
very satisfactory, and the prayers
can be followed, the sermon is dis
tinct, and the singing as delightful
as in the church. 1t has its favor
able features indeed, and if the mu-
sic is sweet one need not be disturb
ed so as to only partially enjoy it.,
because the musician chances to be
hideous and open her mouth in an
alarming fashion At the same time,
it would discourage the average
preacher to talk to telephone wires.
**#
This has been year of prosperity
for the farmers all over the United
States. Kansas alone has surplus
of one hundred millions. With fruit,
and grain and all farm products our
country is overlooking.
In striking contrast is the failure
of the crops in European countries,
and particularly the terrible famine
that seems to be prevailing in large
part of Russia. We are told that
numbers of peasants are almost starv-
ing, without bread for weeks, eating
leaves and grass for food. The Pal
Nal Gazette gives a letter from a
clergyman in which he says that he
visited every one of the one hundred
and forty houses that constituted
one village, and he found but twenty
people eating ordinary food in guam
tity sufficient to keep them alive.
The Russian peasantry are suf-
fering people. The great burden of
the empire falls upon them-the toll,
the i'll usage, the taxes and now star
walton. One cannot wonder that Rus
STA is the home of Nihilism, nor that
many of the hearts that feel at all
the suffering of others should grasp
eagerly at an overthrow ofeverything,
satisfied that the situation cannot be
made worse II only the spirit of
the peasants were wakened from the
stupor into which long years of bru-
tai treatment have plunged it, the
Nihilists themselves could not plan
such revolution as it would carry
out.
~
l see that the Prohibition party of
Nebraska has nominated woman
Mrs. Ada Observation-Disclosures the po-
sition of Supreme Judge of the State.
Mrs. Bittonbender is perennial can
didate. She was nominated for Coun-
ty Judge, and in 1887 ran for the Of
flee of District Judge. This year
her husband, who is also her law
partner, is one Of the nominees for
Judge in the District Court She is
said to have a large practice, and to
be a good lawyer, and her party think
that some time or other she will be
elected. As is, | suppose it does at
make much difference what office she
is nominated for. 1t is a harmless
amusement.
~
Our last summer month has left
US, and soon the leaves will be fall
ing in great golden showers. and