SECULAR NEWS | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 14, 1878

SECULAR NEWS.

—Fresh troubles are brewing between the German government and the Vatican.

—There is already talk of a conference respecting a revision of the treaty of Berlin.

—A destructive fire occured in Cape May, N. J., November 9. Total loss $400,000.

—The Chinese residents of Oregon are said to be returning to their native land by the ship-load.

—The Medical Department of the University of California has just conferred the degree of Doctor of Medicine upon eleven graduates, two of whom are ladies.

—Alabama has an anti-equestrian society, based on the belief that horses were never made to carry burdens on their backs, and that it is exceedingly cruel to ride them.

—Ex-President Grant dined with the king of Portugal on the 1st instant. The palace was decorated with flags, and a general holiday was observed throughout the city.

—There is a rumor of a secret treaty between England and Austria, agreeing to unitedly insist upon Russia completely evacuating Turkish territory, in case she should endeavor to remain after May, 1879.

—A panorama of heaven was exhibited in a Lutheran church in Philadelphia, and it is charged that some of the pictures were old views of the International Exhibition buildings, altered by the addition of angels, halos and clouds.

—The Porte has addressed two very energetic notes to the Russian ambassador at Constantinople, one referring to his denial of Russian connivance at the Bulgarian insurrection, and the other demanding reparation of Mohammedan refugees and the evacuation of Turkish territory.

—The net revenue for the year from the sale of postage stamps was $16,839,115, against $15,881,935 last year. Amount of stamps, stamped envelopes, etc., sold, $27,375,593, against $25,757,515; expended during the year for mail transportation $19,444,179, against $19,356,023 the previous year.

—The Gentile ladies of Salt Lake City have memorialized Mrs. President Hayes on the subject of polygamy. One of their points is this: "The Mormons are rapidly extending their settlements into Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico and Wyoming. They have a balance of power in two territories, and are without doubt plotting for it in the others."

—The A. T. Stewart family vault, in St. Mark's Church burial ground, New York, was broken open on the night of the 6th instant, and the body of the deceased millionaire abstracted therefrom. It is supposed to have been done in hope of a reward for its return, but no reward will be given by the family, only for recovery of the body and conviction of the robbers.

—The female elephant in the Philadelphia zoological garden was greatly frightened by the recent gale, and when she cut one of her feet on the glass of a broken window her terror was complete. She sat on her haunches, held up her wounded foot, and bellowed long and loud. When the keeper entered, her male companion had his trunk wound round the foot, as though trying to comfort her.

—The present year is a memorable one in the development of the Russian navy. One hundred torpedo boats and numerous cruisers have been constructed. Three clipper steamers have been launched, four steamers have been bought in America, and two ironclads are on the point of completion. Several ironclads also have been lately launched, but have not received their armaments. To these, four cruisers have been added by private subscription.

—A lengthy account of an earthquake in Salvador on the evening of October 5, is published in the Panama Star and Herald of October 26. In Jucupa nearly every house was destroyed and many families buried in the ruins. At the latest advices ten bodies were recovered, and many persons are still missing. Nueva Guadalupe, Santiago de Maria and Chinameca are destroyed, and the loss of life is serious in each place. Other towns which suffered by the earthquake are Guadalupe, Unsu'atara, the Casariodel and the Arenal. An eruption of the volcano of Santa Ana is apprehended, and serious consequences feared.