Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-03-18
IN GEN EIlAL.

NJ. De Lesseps, it is said, is physically
comparatively well, but mentally is
wreck. He is incapable of sustaining con
vcrsation and does not readily recognize
old friends.
twenty-five acres of land are needed to
sustain man on fresh meat, while the
same amount of land under wheat feeds ~
people, under oats IS people, under pota-
toes, Indian corn and rice IFS people,
and under the plantain or bread fruit tree
over 5000.
When the Panama canal project was
first discussed it was believed that the
sea level of the Pacific at the isthmus was
at least 100 feet higher than that of the
Atlantic. According to a recent survey
the difference is in reality but 81 feet and
of the two oceans the Atlantic is the high
er.
The 100000 Germans who are preparing
to leave the Nolga provinces of Russia for
the United States, are very different from
the natives of Germany. They are 10Th
century Rip Van Wrinkles, gaunt in form,
wearing garments of the style of a hun
dred years ago, and having the furniture
yet that their ancestors brought from Ger
many to Russia. They are excellent peo-
pie, industrious in their ways and honest
in everything, but entirely ignorant of the
world.
Several days ago seven tramps were ar
rested near Burgettstown, Pa, for safe
blowing, but two were afterward discharged
for lack of evidence The others still i'm
Jail have been identified as members of a
gang that has been operating in Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio for four months, and in
that time have stolen nearly $50 900 worth
of goods and destroyed fully $4,000 worth
of property. There are % men in the
gang, and it is believed that one of the
men discharged is James hickman of New
Haven, Conn, a notorious safe blower and
bank robber, commonly known as New
Haven Jimmy"
An Englishpape gives some interesting
statistics as to the pecuniary return of
few inventions. The stylographic pen for
a while brought in $4,000 year: the In
dia rubber tips to pencils, 100000: metal
plates for protecting the soes and heels of
boots brought i'm e2jO.0O0 in all. the roll
er-skate, 100000. \ clergyman realized
t4OO a week by the invention of a toy:
another toy, the return ball, brought in an
income Of 10000: the Dancing Jim
Crow e15,OOO year. The invent
or of a copper cap for children's shoes was
able to leave his heirs e40O 900. while
Singer, of sewingmachine fame, left at
his death nearly e3,0OO,6O
Statisticians abroad have been making
an estimate of the population which this
earth maintains. They place the total at
1910. 2S2, 900 persons Asia is returned
as having S30599, 600 population: Europe
349, S73, 900: Africa, 203, 32l 600: America.
III $50, 600; Australia and Polynesia and
Poarland maintain together a modest T.
100000 Taking the average of Europe
less than - people are found to one square
mile. \ STA, though holding five-ninths of the
total of the worlds population. has only IS
persons to the square mile. Africa has
Is, America 10. Less than two persons
are found to the square mile in Australia
and Polynesia. Polarland maintains about
one person to every 20 miles.
One-cent postage would be a costly ex-
pertinent for this country, according to the
figures which Representative Henderson has
obtained from the post-oftice department
A reduction of one-half in postage on first
class matter would mean, on the basis of
the estimated business for the present year,
loss of nearly S23, 0OO, 900 of revenue.
Some of this would doubtless be made up
from the larger number of letters written
in consequence of the low rate, but it re-
quires good deal of faith to believe that
any large proportion of it would be-
These figures are not encouraging to the
advocates of lower postage, of whom
Postmaster General Wanamaker is one of
the most earnest.