The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-04-12
CURRENT TOPICS.

The fact that New York's death rate
for 1894 was the lowest since 1914 af-
forded the Gothamites special and
practical reason for a cordial inter-
change of the compliments Of the sea-
son.
1t has been estimated on recent off,
cial authority that the population OF
Maine is now $4,000, a gain of 1000
in four years; and the remaining years ,
Of the decade promise to show even |
more rapid increase. Emigration to |
the West" from the Pine Tree State |
has practically ceased.
The erection Of great reservoir In |
Upper Egypt is now an assured fact. |
The work will be begun this spring.
In the next Egyptian budget the sum
of 10000 Egyptian pounds, about
$500, 900, will be set apart for the pur-
pose, 1t is announced. The height or
the dam is to be so regulated that the
Island of Philae, on which Is the Tenn
pie Of Isis, will not be flooded. This
is due to the protests received from all
parts OF the world when the subject
was first cussed.-Fortnightly Re-
view.
In the little village OF Gruchy, near
Cherbourg where Jean Francois Mil
let was born and grew up, still swings
an old blacksmith's sign in front OF
the village smithy, representing
horse tied to a door. 1t was painted
by Millet long before his "Angelus"
and cleaners" had attracted the at
tention Of the world to him. But now
the French Government are desirous
OF securing 1t, and have made offers
| to purchase It that 1t may find rest
ing place in the Museum Of the Lou
| vre-Literary Digest.
An Italian editor with a turn for the
curious has collected statistics with
reference to European fads during the
year 1894. In England 1t has been
clay modelling, the chief victims hav-
ing been Mr.. Gladstone and Sir Will
lam Harcourt: in Paris 1t was riddles;
in Italy and Southern France it was
jumping beans, painted to represent
prominent persons; they jump best on
hot plates. In Belgium they have had
slow smoking races; the pipes having
been filled with half an ounce OF to-
bacco each, and the winner was he
who held out the longest without re-
lighting.
A writer in Macmillan's Magazine
thinks it must be common expert
ence with us all to look back with
something Of wonder, even Of humili-
alton, to the things in literature or
art we once thought exquisite and OF
highest worth. The oratory We once
sat under, the music we once sang or
played, the engravings we used to buy
and hang on our walls when we were
eighteen (and infallible), how poor and
cheap they often seem after quarter
of a century or so, during which VIC
have read more, thought more, usec
our eyes more, and drunk deeper OF the
still and sad music Of humanity"
The Maryland Society Of the Sons
Of the American Revolution will erec
a monument in Prospect Park, Brook
lyn, in honor of the Maryland regi
ment which took part in the battle o
Long Island on August 27, 1776, ant
. distinguished itself by it's bravery. Th
, monument will be of Maryland gran
ite in the form of a monolith, fifteel
feet high, with four faces, each fiv
, feet in width. The site will be on tn
, spot where the Maryland regimen
, made it's famous charge. The cere
, monies will take place on the next an
I niversary Of the battle.-New Yor
Z Sun.
Z Through the efforts of DR.. Sheldo
Jackson, who has had charge Of tn
Government schools in Alaska fo
many years, herd of over 700 reir
/, deer has been transported from s.
8 IBERIA across the Bering Strait int
t Alaska, and they are reported to b
: doing very we'll. More than 200 fawr
" were born last year. There used to /
o large herds of wild reindeer on tn
: moss-covered tundra of Alaska, bl
: they were all exterminated years ag
= and the walrus, whale and seal, whic
= have since supplied the natives wit
y food, clothing and fuel, are gettir
y very scarce.-New York Times.
s.