The morning call., 1892-06-16

San Francisco has League OF Progress
and Oakland has a Progress Association.
These organizations are not precisely on the
same footing nor ara the objects precisely
alike. Both have been formed, however,
for good purposes, and If they cOhere ia
loyal spirit the results cannot fail TO be
beneficial. One healthy rule. as matters
stand in San Francisco, is that the league
declares that no ef1ice-hOlder shall be on the
board of control. Tie fortnlghtly meetings
for the purpose Of discussion on topics con-
nected with public affairs may do much to
keep up the spirit Of citizenship. The objects
are the advancement Of CalifOTnia'S best
interests, very broad platform, and it is.
perhaps. not pleOnasm to add, "the pro-
notion of any enterprise that will contribute
10 the welfare of the people" The league
in Oakland las already formulated some
plans which will occupy its members use
fully. More railroads are wanted there as
here, and an effort is to be made to get pos
session Of the water,frODt Tor the city again.
This instruction in two cities must be
rather annoying to the Southern Pacific
managers.
Professor SWEET opposes a grant of $4,000
for physical culture IN Our schools. Per-
haps he is right. 1t is a considerable sum
and might be spent uselessly. He thinks a
master in physical culture could drill the
teachers and that then the teachers could
drill the pupils. This also might be done,
but it is doubtful whether any physical
culture On a good system would result.
Teachers have at present q considerable
range of subjects to handle. but admitting
that they NAV snatch a quarter Of an hour
out OF the days work for the purpose of
physical training. how many of them are fit
TO undertake the task? Very few lady
teachers could touch the points of their toes
with the finger tips without bending the
limbs, and very few male teachers could
perform the feat. Possibly Professor SWEET
has thought out some plans by which the
teachers will be rendered competent for the
new duties. He is known TO be versatile
In resources.
Certainly some surprise has been excited
by the resignation of Professor S. w. Burn
han Of tie Lick Observatory for the pur-
pose of taking up the dull routine Of court
work in Chicago. He has distinguished
himself as an observer especially OF the
double stars or binary groups, and he may
feel proud of the fame his name has at
tanned. But Mr.. BuTnbam was formerly
connected with court duties as a shorthand
writer, and he has possibly a preference for
his former field of labor. In addition we
may suppose that life is a tIifle monOtO-
nous, except on Saturday. on the summit of
Mount Hamilton.
A very unusual il not upheard of freak
of lightning is reported from Pennsylvania.
A thunderbolt descended the shaft of a
mine 1900 feet deep and severely injured
man before getting to earth" An efficient
lightning-rOd on the upper gear Of the pit
would have carried the current into the
ground at the surface. An occurrence of
the nature described would be very awk-
ward If cage containing men were coming
up or descending. There is happily no
danger of gas being fred in mines by light
ming. Accommodations of gas take place at
a remote distance from the foot OF the shaft.
A Vienna telegram states that the Pope
has enjoined DR.. Vaughan. the recently ap-
pointed Archbishop Of Westminster, to
avoid party politics, and especially not to
oppose Irish Nationalist aspirations. There
is a bare possibility Of a modicum of truth
existing in this dispatch, for DR.. Vaughan
is not as friendly TO the Irish cause as was
the late Cardinal Manning; but the news
comes from Vienna. and that is a very
roundabout and dubious course. 1t may be