SECULAR | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 2, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 46.

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SECULAR.

—The new States have now all been admitted by proclamation of the President.

—The post-office at Santa Rosa, Cal., will be made a free-delivery office January 1.

—The National Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, demands the restriction of immigration.

—The schedule time of the new fast-mail train is 108 hours between New York and San Francisco.

—Up to the 18th ult., the present season, Riverside, Cal., had shipped 204 ten-ton car loads of raisins.

—The Chinese Government has refused to grant a concession for a telegraph line from Siberia to Pekin.

—The suffrage proclamation of the new republic of Brazil allows all Brazilians who can read and write to vote.

—The National Palace at San Salvador was burned on the night of the 19th ult. All the government archives were consumed.

—Secretary Windom contemplates withdrawing a greater part of the $47,000,000 on deposit in the United States depositories.

—The jetty partially constructed at the mouth of the Columbia River has already caused a deepening and widening of the channel.

—Sierra Madre College, at Pasadena, Cal., has been sold to a Mr. Daggett, of Kansas City, who will convert the place into a luxurious home.

—A lot of Chinese goods were recently seized by the Collector of Customs at San Francisco, on account of obscene toys found amongst them.

—Two explosions of natural gas are recorded for November 22, one at Pittsburg and the other at Braddock, Pa. Both were attended with loss of life.

—A large raisin packing house will be built in Tulare next spring, the enterprise being based on a guarantee of the product of 3,500 acres of grapes.

—Natchez, chief of the Piutes, has 160 acres of land at Big Meadows, Nev., 100 of which are under cultivation. His ranch and stock are valued at $3,000.

—There is now in session at Brussels an anti-slavery congress whose purpose is to devise ways and means for the suppression of the slave trade in Africa.

—The latest news from Samoa is that Malietoa has been re-instated as king amid great rejoicing, the British, American, and German agents recognizing him by proclamation.

—The Secretary of the Navy has advertised for propositions to build the hulls and machinery of two steel gunboats of 1,000 tons each, and a steel practice vessel of 800 tons.

—The Interior says: "The Grangers will soon be a political power in Michigan. Not less than 75,000 farmers in that State have joined the Patrons of Husbandry since last May."

—Owing to the change of government in Brazil, the war vessels Richmond and Tallapoosa have been ordered to Rio Janeiro to protect the interests of our government and her citizens.

—They say that the lightning never strikes in California, but the Vallejo Chronicle says that during the recent storm a bolt cracked the brick smoke-stack of Starr's Mills from top to bottom.

—Harriet Beecher Stowe is said to be so much demented in her old age as to be virtually a child again. She wanders around, talking to herself, humming old tunes, and picking dead leaves.

—The superintendent of streets of San Francisco is trying to draw the color line in the matter of contracts for street work, and the courts have been appealed to for protection of colored contractors' rights.

—The railroad employes of Iowa, 50,000 strong, seem disposed to work together politically for the furtherance of their own interests, which they deem to be in the main the interests of their employers.

—A project is on foot for the reclamation of the famous Death Valley, New Mexico, by the use of water from the Rio Grande River. The land is very rich, but has hitherto been a desert waste for want of water.

—One of the Samoan chiefs who was banished by the Germans when Malietoa was dethroned, died in San Francisco November 20, aged 39 years. He had been in the city only two weeks, and died of typhoid-pneumonia.

—The new European squadron of war vessels, under command of Admiral Walker, sailed out from New York on the 18th inst. The squadron consists of the flag-ship Chicago, the Boston, the Atlanta, and the Yorktown.

—Ex-President Cleveland, commenting upon the question of what to do with our ex-Presidents, says: "The best way of disposing of them is to let them alone and give them a chance to earn their daily bread in peace."

—There was a gala day at Olympia, Wash., on the 18th ult., on the occasion of the inauguration of officers of the new State, and the assembly of the State Legislature. Ex-Governor Watson Squire and John B. Allen have been elected U. S. Senators.

—The sultan has cast his lot with those opposed to the slave trade, and has issued an edict empowering the commanders of German and English men-of-war to search all Zanzibarese dhows (the name of the African merchantmen), and other boats.

—The Los Angeles Herald says: "The reports of fine ore discoveries in the San Gabriel Range are attracting a great deal of attention. The rock recently exhibited in this office was notably rich, and the only question is as to the extent of the deposits."

—The financial agent of eight Australian and Italian noblemen, travelers in a Central Pacific sleeper, lost $3,000 at Ogden, on the 13th ult. He left his coat in his bunk and went out for a wash, and on returning discovered that his pocket-book was missing.

—Permission has been granted the French Cable Company to land cables at Charleston, S. C., thus connecting this country with Cuba, San Domingo, and Hayti, and thence on the French West India colonies, connecting with Venezuela all the South American republics.

—Some of the large land owners of Tulare have hit upon an excellent scheme for securing the improvement and settlement of the county. They offer their land in tracts, at low prices and on long time, without payments down, on the sole condition that the settlers shall plant vineyards.

—Last week was truly a rainy one throughout California, being the second general storm of the season; heavy snows in the mountains are also reported. Coincident with the Pacific Coast storm come reports of heavy rainfall in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, together with unusually high water in the streams.

—A special Indian agent recently ordered a chief at Acoma pueblo to get twenty-five children ready to send to the government school at Albuquerque. The chief refused to send the children to any but a Catholic school. Of course the Catholic authorities stand by the chief, and there is a lively contest between Church and State.

—The United States Government has brought suit against the Southern Pacific Company to declare forfeited all its land grants, on the ground that the corporation is void. It is claimed that the company which was authorized to build the road never did so, and that the subsequent corporation has no legitimate claim upon the lands.

—The Volks Zeitung, a Catholic paper of Bologne, says the "pope is willing to arbitrate the Irish question if asked by the English Government or the Parnellites." Of course he is; that is just what popes are made for,—to "arbitrate" the affairs of nations. But all such arbitrations are one word for the nation and two for the church. Just now Leo's principal ambition is to have all nations recognize his importance as a factor among nations.

—A boy at Spafford Springs, Conn., recently made a balloon of wool sacks, which he lined with paper, and tied at one end with cords. Then he built a fire underneath it until it "filled" with hot air; after which he fastened a smaller boy to the balloon, as ballast, and let it go. The rude structure ascended about seventy-five feet, floated around a short time, to the great consternation of the people, and then safely landed the screaming lad on the steps of the Methodist Church.

—On November 21 the Supreme Court of California filed a decision to the effect that a husband has no right to bequeath by will the wife's share of community property. The cause at issue was one wherein a man bequeathed to his wife one-half his estate, the other half going to other heirs in equal shares. The wife set up the plea that half of the whole estate was hers in her own right, being community property, and that the will gave her half of the husband's part. The Supreme Court has affirmed the judgment in her favor.

—While all is quiet under the new order of government in Brazil, the republic has not yet asked other governments to recognize it. The emperor has left for Europe, and it is now asserted that he was aware of the plot and acquiesced in it to save anticipated trouble to his daughter, who would succeed him at his death. He is now an old man, and was conscious of a growing republican sentiment in the country. All the national obligations, it is said, will be respected, and the deposed emperor is to be allowed an annuity during his life-time.

Obituary.

McPHIE.—Died of diphtheria, November 2, 1889, at Soledad, Monterey County, Cal., Mabel Christina, daughter of A. W. and Mary A. McPhie, aged 11 years, 4 months, and 28 days. Mabel was raised in the Seventh-day Adventist faith, and though young she gave evidence of being truly a child of God. After an illness of two weeks, Mabel sweetly sleeps in Jesus. Her parents, brothers, and sister are bowed with grief, but realize the sustaining hope of the gospel. Words of comfort were spoken by Rev. Dr. Hurtell, M. E., from John 11:25, 26.

BABCOCK.—Died of dropsy of the heart, November 16, 1889, at his home in Oakland, Cal., John H. Babcock, aged 53 years, 2 months, and 28 days. The deceased was born in Augusta, Maine. When war broke out, he twice responded to his country's call, and served two terms of enlistment. It was while in the army that the foundation of the disease was laid which at last proved fatal. For the last six months he was a great sufferer. Shortly after the war he came to California. Some sixteen years ago he heard and embraced present truth, to which he adhered till his death. He died trusting and hoping in the merits and power of a risen Saviour, who, when he comes, will bring back the "prisoners of hope" from the prison house of the grave. He leaves a companion to mourn his loss, but her hope rests in Him who is the "God of the widow." Words of comfort by the writer from John 11:25, 26 and kindred texts. M. C. W.