The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-13
EDITORIAL NOTES.

COMMANDER fOiBtt Ol TIE bureau Vi Otl-
nance, in commenting on the recent sinking
OF the Chilean inSurgent aTmOrc clad BlancO
Encalada, pointed out that the BlancO Encalada
had very poor anti-toTpedO armament, but
seven machine guns and four other light guns,
including boat guns. She had no torpedo nets
and poor search-ights, II any at all. She was
also OUT OF ammunition for her small guns. so
that her anti-torpedO battery had practically
ceased 10 exist. Covered with baruacies and
marine growth. she could not steam rapidly or
vancouver well if called upon to DO so. She was,
therefore, al the mercy OF the AImrante Lynch,
a new war vessel, recently tested, fresh from the
hands Of her builders, in perfect order and per-
feetV equipped in all departments. Note the
contrast between. the Bianco Enealada and the
new battle ships being built IN this country.
These batte-ships VIII have tweniy-fOur anti
torpedo boat gunsA effective at great range.
They VIII have double search4Ight outfits
sweeping the horizon in every direction, ana
will be supplied With The best torpedo nets. The
range Of the guns VIII not be limited by tile tor
pedO which is 50 limited in range as 10 make 1t
always subordinate to the gun. The battle
ships are designed for use at a distance from he
enemy'S porls where his torpedO-bOats cannot
come. TOrpedO-b0ats are not TO be neglected,
however, and Commander FOger's Idea of fight
ing unit would be 10 have each battie-shiD &C
companied by two torpedo boats, which would
steam behind her, aud in action would keep off
The euemy's torpedo boats leaving the battle
ship free to use her guns against similar vessels
belonging to the enemy. While tOrped0eS are OF
great importance as auxiliaries, they Will always
be subordinate to guns on account of their TINT
ted range.
a Philadelphia court, instead OF maintaining
the Old maxim that man and wife are one held
that married couple are III reality two. The
law, says Judge Arnold OF the Court OF Common
Pleas, now regards the unity OF husband and
wife as an obsolete legal fiction and has accom-
modated Itself TO that TACT. The old rule OF law
that on a gift to man and his wife and third
person, The man aud wife together took only
half the property, aud the Third person took the
other half is abolished by the modern legislation
In regard to married persons. Each takes
third now. Statute law recognize that hus-
band and wife are two persons IN substantial
matters. There was time when husband and
vile were one In the eye OF the law. The hus-
baud on marriage took all his wife's horses,
cattle, sheep and oxen. He could cbastlse her,
moderately, say the books, but If he does 1t now
he will b. punished as wlfr-beater. Formerly
married women were under an actual disability
TO buy goods aud make contracts; now they are
not except that the law OF the State, in It's trans
ition state, still puts the burden on The store
keeper TO prove aud for Judges ana iurles TO
decide thai the articles sold by him to The woman
were necessary for her, overlooking the fact
that the best judge of what is nee ssary for
woman, SOUND in mind, body and estate. is her.
self. Her disability in this respect is changed
into privilege to get and keep all she can, with
an immunity from liability except for necessaties.
There is little doubt that Emperor William
would like to see Germany control the naVlga-
ton OF the Rhine clear to the German Ocean.
How The French regard the situation is shown
by the assertions Of the Partisan papers that
Lord Salisbury and King Leopold of Belgium
recently entered into bargain that has all the
force Of a treaty with Emperor William, by
which Germany was TO be free TO Violate Bel
gian neutrality so that she might invade France
on her only vulnerable frontier. The price TO be
paid Belgium for acquiescence 10 this arrange
ment is said to be large slice OF territory in
Northeastern France and strip OF Holland the
remainder Of the latter country being annexed
to Germany. This would give Germany COM
plete control OF the mouth OF the Rhine. While
these declarations may only be based on sensa-
tioAal rumors, it is undoubtedly a fact that the
war OF '70-71 made The Rhine once more Seer
many's river, not Germany's frontier" The
Rhine has always exercised a peculiar sort of
fascination over the German mind, and the long
array OF ancient and fiourishing towns along its
banks bear witness 10 its great Importance. Who
knows but that the legends of the Rhine may yet
contain the fulfllment OF this French prediction
II is curious coincidence that the brains OF
Professor Joseph Leidy and his distinguished
brother, DR.. Philip Leidy, were turned over TO
the AnthrOpometric Society OF Philadelphia at
tie same time for careful examination and scien.
flic observation. Professor Leidy, who was
deeply interested Ia the plan of the society 10
study the characteristics OF distinguished men,
and to connect, If possible. the pecularities OF
great mans achievements with peculiartIes of
his brain as shown after DEATH became It's Presl-
dent when 1t was organized but few months
ago. IL is a notable fact that when the brains
Of the brothers were compared, each was of the
same weight to the fraction OF grain and both
were notceaby below The normal size, confirm
ing the deductions OF noted ANTAGONISTS that
quality OF tissue rather than quantity distin.
cuisines the valuable brain from that Of the
ignorant.
Perhaps Russia has indirectly had consider
able to do with recent shiDments of gold to Eu-
rope. The balances held by the Russian Govern.
ment IN London banking institutions are vari-
ously estimated at from g., 100000 10 10000.
000 Cable adyices show that the Rothschlds
have been accommodating gold in anticipation of
a sudden demand upon them to pay the Russian
deposits in London, Paris and Berlin.
The board appointed by the Secretary OF the
Navy TO devise the best method Of fitting armOr
to naval vessels has completed its task, The
bolts adopted as a standard for securing armor
are OF peculiar construction. designed TO resist
shock most eifecually the threaded portion In
serted in the armOr being OF an entirely new de-
sign. For boring the holes through the steel