p. 16 | Increase of Disease by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 7, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 43.

Increase of Disease

By Editor

Monday's paper, October 22, tells us that a fearful storm has ravaged the state of San Salvador, leaving in its broad path ruin and death; that during this storm the volcano Chulo burst forth without warning, vomiting thousands of tons of sulphur-impregnated water, sweeping away isolated farms, literally inundating and destroying the town of Panchimalo. In Coatepeque more than a hundred persons were killed by the storm. Piminento and other towns are reported destroyed, and great damage to ships, shipping, and railways. Later reports from Central America show that the awful hurricane swept Nicaragua as well as San Salvador. Bluefields, its most important town, is said to be entirely destroyed. Little Corn Island is said to be swept clean of buildings and life, and Great Corn Island has suffered immensely. Millions and millions have been lost on various plantations. A Russian coasting steamer came in collision with a floating torpedo near Vladivostok, the torpedo exploded, the ship was blown up, and 200 were drowned, only one being saved. A rusty bomb of the Civil War exploded on the peanut farm of Samuel C. Oliver, seriously injuring four men, and the buildings on the farm. And every day is about the same. Calamity succeeds calamity. The year has been a fearful one.

Mrs. Jefferson Davis, widow of the late president of the Southern Confederacy, died in New York City on the 16th inst., of pneumonia. Mrs. Davis was the daughter of President Zachary Taylor. When President Taylor was an officer in the army, young Davis was a lieutenant under his command. When the young officer desired to marry the daughter of his superior, the latter objected on the ground that he did not want his daughter to marry a soldier and become subjected to the vicissitudes of army life. Then Davis promptly resigned, and with his brother settled on a southern plantation, thus removing the objection to his marriage to General Taylor's daughter.

Elder Henry Shultz sends us an earnest appeal for the International Publishing Association collection which is to be taken November 3. The association needs funds to enable it to print for the twenty million foreigners in this country. But the appeal did not reach us in time for our paper previous to the date of the November 3 meeting. The date of this paper is November 7. However, the donation will be acceptable at a later date. The SIGNS mentioned that collection several weeks ago. We regret the appeal came too late.

Rumors come to us from Rome that there is likely to be a breach with Spain. The Spanish Government appointed as their ambassador to the Vatican a member of the Liberal party whom the Vatican authorities, warned by the Spanish prelates, have refused to receive and protested against his appointment. The Spanish Government has insisted that he be accepted, and if not, the nuncio will be recalled from Madrid to Rome. Unless forced to do otherwise, Rome does not believe in liberalism. The old monarchic ideas are much more in harmony with the government in the church.

Increase of Disease.

Sir James Crichton-Brown, an expert in mental diseases, addressed the congress of sanitary inspectors in England on September 13. Among his declarations are, "Nervous diseases are increasing." "A gospel of recreation by communication with nature is needed." "Rapid locomotion is a craze, involving blindness to natural beauty." "Fast motoring at its worst tends to homicidal mania." "A confirmed motorist must become sluggish in intellect and excitable in temper." And there is yet more to be said.

Referring to the finances of the country the New York World of September 9, tells us that the bank notes show a deficit of $6,577,925, that their condition is the weakest since the panic days of 1893. The present condition is due to the tremendous speculation in Wall Street.