The morning call., 1893-05-25

Inc HodgklDS prizes oH2red Dy Tie
Smithsonian Institution for treatises EN-
bodying the results of original investiga-
tions into the nature and properties OF
atmospheric air should lead to useful ad-
ditlons to our knowledge if they are con-
tihued from year to year. The first prize
of $4,000 is to be given for new and lm-
portant discovery in the relation of air to
any field of scientific inquiry. One essay
is to relate solely to the properties of air.
Those colleges and universities which are
well endowed with scientific apparatus
and have distinguished investga ors
should achieve fame in this line of inquiry.
Our notions of the atmosphere have within
few wears undergone great modification
through the investigation Of the properties
of gases i'll the laboratory. By studying
gases under great pressure ana cold, and
by ascertaiDlng the temperature and
weight OF air by automatic registering
barometers carried as high as ten miles
with the assistance of hydrogen ated
balloons. a flood Of new knowledge mas
been let in upon our former very erroneous
conceptions. Electricity is also playing
its part in solving many mysteries of
gases. The ply siciSt is now able 10 dem
onstrate why cyclones are so violent, and
why there are Gains al the equator and
fierce storms in northern ana southern
latitudes. such investigations are costly
and need the stimulus these prizes offer.
San Francisco has always embodied a
great diversity of race in its popu alton,
but few would suspect there are 5000 of
Seryian nationality, and that on The coast
there are 25,0O0 This, however, is the
assurance given in the first number of the
Srbin AmerikdnGe, published in San
Francisco as the only paper specially de-
voted to Servian interests in the United
States. The editor is B. Nj. Gopchevtch
The sheet is neatly printed, but the diff
culties of the language interfere with an
otfhand opinion of the contents. Journal
ism is very cosmopolitan i'll the United
States. The Arabs have an organ in New
York, and the Gr ekS have one in Boston.
Every country and many divisions Of
countries have papers in the native tongue
or dialect. 1t is probable these distinctions
and attachments To the parent soil will not
persist. American nationality will absorb
them all eventually. and amalgamate the
races IN one patriotic blend.
In Northern Europe and in England the
drought is playing havoc with all vegeta-
ton aud great is the loss TO agriculture
Official figures in Germany attest the
heavy damage to crops, and France admits
loss of S6G00,000. Italy. Austria and
Hungary have also suffered. but there the
rains have begun to descend with phe-
nomenal copiousness and floods are re-
ported. In Algeria The desiecatiOn of the
SOIL has been SO severe that famine is
laying low the population OF certain dis
tricts and food has to bs distributed.
Floods in the Lower Danube country
are causing widespre devastation. But
where has the rain been falling during all
these months OF dry weH ther prevailing in
Europe? 1t is altogether a strange year,
and the physicist can give little assistance
IN Offering an explanation, save that there
seems to be some sort of periodicity in
very wet and very dry seasons. Sun spots
are the pivot for much of this haZy specu-
lation IN meteorology.
The Six Chinese Companies, il is stated.
exemplify the truth OF the adage that if
man wants to lose case he had better be
his own lawyer or make his own will.
These all-powerful organizations did not
entirely dispense with legal advice when
they made up their minds to defy the
Geary law. They took the opinion of
lawyers of marked alb lity. but they de-
liberaiely disregarded it when told that
they should accept registration. They
were told that the law would be pro-
nounced valid, yet they insisted upon con-
testing Its constitutions Now comes
tne question why they persisted In obstinate
Dlnu resistance TO what would occur.
Ihe assessments they levied upon the
Mongolians they were anxious to protect
came TO half million dollars, according
TO IN oderate estimate. What has become
OF the money? 1t cannot all have gone
into the pockets of the lawyers who carried
the cases to the Supreme Court.
When next he proceeds on visit of
state at the head of his feet the German
Emperor will have to go at oDe-third
speed on his yacht, the Hohenzollern, to
let other vessels keep up. His secret de-
sire is TO excel in al! things, even nautical.
He bought sailing yacht. the Meteor.
with view to beating all British pleasure
craft at least. 1t having been left behind
by the American Volunteer. Now he has
steam yacht, the HohenZollern. which
has run % knots an hour. He is proud of
1t, and would feel i'll il any other yacht
went half a knot faster in his company.
Even, In exercise on horseback or in driy-
Ing his Majesty is imperious. He does not
Ike any one to ride nose and nose with
his horse.
The lynching of murderer at C0runna,
In Michigan, appears to have been hot
affair in cold blood and rather mex
pllcable. The crime was brutal beyond
question, but it was commit ted in January
last, This is MAY. Yet the mob exrlted
nendishly when they dragged the wretch
OUT OF his cell, where he had attempted
suicide, and they slashed him with knives
anu rlddled him with bullets when die had
been run up to the limb of tree. 1t is
altogether nice picture of civilization, n OF
lar from the Worlds Fair.
A recent telegram from Washington in