ITEMS OF NEWS | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 2, 1880

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 6, No. 45.

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ITEMS OF NEWS.

—Salt Lake City is to be illuminated by the electric light.

Joseph Cook is about to begin a series of lectures in Edinburgh.

—Another shipload of Socialists has left Hamburg for America.

—Mr. Muller of Bristol, England, is on his third visit to this country.

—A Chicago special states that navigation on the lakes is practically closed.

—Commissioner Prescott sailed from China on the 20th ult. with the new treaty.

—Beaconsfield has been engaged for years on his forth-coming political novel, "Endycion."

—Prof. Watson, the eminent scientist and astronomer of Wisconsin State University, is dead.

—An emigrant train on the U. P. R. R., near Carbon, was run into by a construction train, Nov. 18, killing two persons and wounding nine.

—Nine ocean steamers were overdue in New York, Nov. 29. Those that have arrived report extraordinarily severe weather on the Atlantic.

—Preliminary steps have been taken in Chicago to form a Central Land League, the purpose being to assist in the defense of Parnell and his party in Ireland.

—The trials of the indicted Land Leaguers have been fixed for the 17th. Fourteen men were arrested at Cork last week for participation in a Fenian procession.

—The ringing of the curfew bell which was introduced by William the Conqueror to warn the people to cover up their fires and retire to rest, has been resumed at Stratford-on-Avon, England.

—By a collision of two Atlantic steamers, the Ortegia and the Uncle Joseph, the latter was so injured that she soon sank. She had 300 passengers on board, only fifty of whom are supposed to have been saved.

—Unusually cold weather has prevailed in Oakland and vicinity for the last two weeks. An Oakland paper tells the story when it says that "sleigh rides were indulged in by the little folks Friday morning on the hoar-frosted sidewalks."

—The stockholders in the Old Colony Railroad, Boston, have directed the officers to employ no persons hereafter who use intoxicating liquors. If all other companies would do the same, many fearful accidents would be prevented.

—It is said that the Union Pacific Railroad Company recognizes the tendency toward lower passenger fares; and the rate from Omaha to Ogden, a distance of 1033 miles, has been reduced from $77 to $62, or from 7½ cents per mile to 6 cents per mile.

—Five signers of the Declaration of Independence—Joseph Hewes of North Carolina, William Whipple of New Hampshire, John Witherspoon of New Jersey, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Maryland—died in November.

—A five-thousand-dollar prize has been offered by the American Humane Association for the best and most practical improvement in cattle cars. The President, Hon. Edwin Lee Brown of Chicago, has received many models, and the time of competition is extended to January next.

—The manager of Booth's theater, New York, says that he feels he has no right to set his single opinion against that of almost the entire community, and thus to outrage any sentiment they possess, and therefore he has concluded not to produce or give any representation whatever of The Passion Play.

—Fears are entertained that the prevalence of diphtheria in Brooklyn, N. Y., will compel the closing of the public schools. Out of 161 cases reported in one week, there were no less than 57 deaths, or a percentage of fatality greater than even that in the Southern States during the yellow fever epidemic of 1878.

—The Japanese Mail states that the 'Japanese Government is making preparations for a very cordial reception of the Russian fleet, which is shortly expected to visit that port. It has been determined to offer every hospitality to Admiral Lessoffsky and his officers during their stay in Yokohama, en route to Chinese waters.'

—After a sharp skirmish of eight hours, the Turkish commander was successful in gaining possession of Dulcignio. He at once informed the Montenegrins of his ability to transfer the town to them. They hesitated at first, asking a guaranty for their possession from the Powers; but the Pasha said they must occupy within twenty-four hours. This they did. Whether Montenegro has been strengthened or weakened by this addition to her territory remains yet to be seen.

—The managers of the New York Cooking School, under the presidency of Mrs. Robert L. Stuart, have this season extended their scheme of training so as to cover all branches of housework. All applicants must be of good character, over fifteen years old, and willing to bind themselves to the service of the School for one year, and to take places as domestics when the year expires, or before, at the discretion of the managers. In return, they will receive thorough training, board and lodging, two suits of clothing, and a small compensation. At the end of the year certificates of proficiency will be given, and situations provided.

—The Parnell defense fund grows slowly. It now amounts to about £2,500. The League officially announces that the expenses will be at least £10,000, and urgently appeals for more. The town of Enniscorthy, where, eight months ago, Parnell was rotten-egged, has subscribed £800 for the defense. This shows which way public opinion is leaning in Ireland.

—Father Gavazzi, the noted Italian clergyman, has arrived in New York. He comes to this country to collect funds for the support of the Free Church of Italy. There are now five different Protestant evangelizing agencies in Italy—the Baptist, American, Episcopalian, Wesleyan English, Waldensians, and the Free Church of Italy—the last two being mainly supported by Presbyterians and Congregationalists. Father Gavazzi contemplates traveling through the south, and thence to this coast.

—The Examiner and Chronicle, speaking of the extensive preparations made for the late naval review at Hampton Roads, which was attended by the President and his Cabinet, says: "But nothing could conceal the fact that while there was a distinguished company of reviewers, there was pitiably little for them to review. We should not like to see our whole naval fleet pitted against a single war-ship like the Duilio. The result would be too likely to hurt our national pride, and blow what navy we have out of existence."

—To make shoe-pegs enough for American use consumes annually 100,000 cords of timber; and to make our lucifer matches 300,000 cubic feet of the best pine are required every year. Lasts and boot-trees take 500,000 cords of birch, beech, and maple, and the handles of tools 500,000 more. The baking of our bricks consumes 2,000,000 cords of wood, or what would cover with forest about 50,000 acres of land. Telegraph poles already up represent 800,000 trees, and their annual repairs consume 300,000 more. The ties for our railroads consume annually thirty years' growth of 74,000 acres; and to fence all our railroads would cost $45,000,000, with a yearly expenditure of $15,000,000 for repairs. These are some of the ways in which American forests are going.

—A New York dispatch to the Alta California, says: "The storm of opposition to the production of 'The Passion Play' still continues. Abbey has already felt compelled to announce that all proceeds, after expenses are paid, will be devoted to charity, but this has not allayed the storm a bit. Not only has the pulpit of this city denounced 'The Passion Play' with all the fearful energy and ability it possesses, but the newspaper press, without a single exception, is opposing it, and even the dramatic profession is outspoken in condemnation of the play, which they, in common with the general public, denounce as sacrilegious, an outrage upon the religious sentiment of the community, and in wretchedly poor taste. The rehearsal has been proceeding with the role of the Virgin Mary unfilled, simply because no competent actress in New York City could be found who would take the part. Abbey has been compelled to send to San Francisco for a Virgin Mary. The part has been offered to nearly twenty New York actresses, who, in spite of the salary of $200 a week, have all refused to take it."