Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-02-18
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

A FEW old toll bridges in Maine bear
signs that perpetuate the memory of o
curious law. These signs proclaim that
al! persons, save 'paupers, Indians, and
clergymen," must pay toll in crossing
the bridge. The indulgence shown to
paupers and clergymen is easily under.
stood from the practice elsewhere, but
why the Indians were exempted is not
SO clear, unless, indeed, it was u recog-
milton of the aboriginal right to the free.
dom of the region.
THE British warships Royalist and
Ringdove have just completed "cruise
OF revenge" among the Solomon islands
where several native chiefs have been ex-
ecuted. The chiefs in question were i'm
plieated in the murder of some British
subjects, and having had this proved ty
their satisfaction the captains had til,
men shot. One native, an accessory
was publicly ilogged. The men mur
dered by the natives were British subjects
trading in the islands. In furnishing the
natives for the murders their war-canoes,
villages, and other property were do
stroyed by the men who lauded frou the
warships.
A RECENT report of casualties to ship.
ping shows some remarkable facts in re-
gard to the great age Of some craft still
in active service. Thirty-nine sailing
vessels mentioned in the report are be-
tween fifty and sixty years old, eighteen
between sixty and seventy years, thirty
between seventy and hundred, while
six have been afoat during q century,
This is, of course, only part of the list
of ancient craft still in service, and the
vessels referred to are sea-going craft,
and not barges or river boats. 1t is, how,
ever, probable that there is exceedingly
little of the original structure left in the
old ships. Constant repairing and re.
lifting has almost rebuilt them but while
one plank of the original remains, the
vessel retains its identity.
AN Ohio paper tells story of two
young girls who were recently travelling
on train in that State. As the train
stopped at a station, two ladies entered
and took seats in front of them; then
stout lady came forward and greeted
them and kept up a lively conversation
until the train started. Then one of the
two said: "Sit down here near US, and tell
those girls to sit somewhere else" So
the stout lady turned and said, in freez-
ing tones: ~ wish to converse with my
friends and would like that seat. l am
Mrs. President r., of this road" The
girls stared at her an instant, and then
ono of them drawled, "Pleased to meet
you, I'm sure. suppose you know |
am Mrs. President Harrison, of Washing.
ton" The other girl, settling herself
comfortably in her seat, said. "And am
Mrs. Queen Victoria" Neither of them
moved and Mrs. President X. had to go
back to her own seat.
The journal of the American Statistical
Association gives some curious facts con-
cernng the number of suicides in the
ranks, and more especially among the
officers, of all the great European powers,
The Austrian army takes the lead in this
matter. From 1875 to 1887 yearly
average Of 122 suicides is recorded for
every 100000 effective troops. In 1889
the number was 149. Death by suicide
represents a fifth part of the whole
mortality of the Austrian army. No
disease is more deadly. The Germans
report abolt half the number; the Italian
army about one-third; the French army
about one-fourth; the English army in
the home service about one-sixth; the
rate in the Russian army is nearly the
same, while in the Spanish army it is
least of oil. There are some curious
facts about these suicides. In the Euro
pean armies, especially in Austria, it is
the young soldiers who kill themselves
during the first month of their service.
Suicides are the most frequent among
the cavalry and infantry, and in the
latter among the soldiers who are accused
and awaiting trial. The most frequent
method is shooting, though hanging and
drowning are frequent methods. The
infantry use firearms, and usually aim at
their heads. The mounted soldiers hang
themselves by their horse brides. The
Algerian soldiers almost always shoot
themselves through the body, perhaH
because the Arabs think it is Infamous t,
mutilate the head. In Austria third oi
the suicides are attributed to distaste
for military duty; in France, love trouble
is II very frequent cause; the fear of
punishment is everywhere a great in
centive. The maximum of suicides is
reached in the hottest weather, and the
minimum is reached in tha coolest
weather. The late Mr.. Buckle affirmed
as law of civilization that there is
periodic regularity in the suicide mania,
and this testimony of the suicides in the
European armies goes far to confirm