Morning journal and courier., 1891-10-03

est tobacco year on record. The gross revenue from this source amounted to
 e9, ,717, ,O0O, or e5O3, 900 in excess of the previous year. This the commissioners at tribute to the improved wages of the work | ing class, but it is also worth noting that the revenue has gained and not lost by the | reduction of the duty. The consumption of rum, on the other hand, has continued to increase in spite of the extra sixpence a gallon imposed last year-a fact which marks it out as fit subject for another sixpence next year. But the alcoholic tendency of these times has not been con- fined to spirits; it has asserted itself in wine also-whence the commissioners, who gauge mankind by the wine and spirit test, infer that the ''upper strata" also have en- joyed better pay. Tea, coffee and cocoa suggest similar reflections; indeed, large part of thereport is writing of contem- porary history by the bibulous method.
 The last mail from Japan brings news of the death, at the age of eighty-th of Shibata Zeshin, the greatest worker in Japanese lacquer that ever lived. Zeshin, as he was generally called, began his artis- tic career at the age of eighteen or nine teen as painter of fans, and even while pursuing this humble calling his work was of such excellence that the sons of artistic families became his pupils, and many of them gained high regulations afterwards. It is said of Zeshin that when his pupils complained of business being slack he told them they ought to congratulate them selves, for it was only when the pressure of everyday employment was removed that men could undertake works calc ulat- ed to establish their reputation. He worked up to five days before his death, and was engaged upon 8 decorative pie ture painted on silk of the Japanese Elysian- fields, which was almost com pleted. Examples of his great works ir Europe, and have given him position among the greatest industrial artists of his country. It is curious to note that the four greatest artists of modern Japan have died within the last four years.
 The sub-treasury scheme is fast losing ground in the South. The fight against it which was made by Senator George of Mississippi not only resulted in the over throw of it's advocates in that State, but set the tide running against it through all that part of the country. The Georgia house of representatives few days ago rejected proposition to endorse the policy. In. Tennessee the Memphis Avalanche Appeal says that "the sub-treasury disci- ples are getting few and far between as the time approaches when the Democracy must again face the Republican foe. The most thoughtful of the leaders of the Alliance the men who live by farming in reality are opposing the effort to make political organization of the order, and common sense is beginning to prevail everywhere. In all parts of the State men who represent farming constituencies are hurrying into field to preach Democratic principles" :" The Memphis Journal predicts that within year "those who have gained position in the public eye by advocating the mosts mischievous financial proposition that was ever submitted to g. enlightened people will have disappeared in the limbo of for gotten spirits"