Secular News
3%Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 22, 1879
FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 5, No. 21.
Read the full editionSecular News.
- Short costumes are coming in fashion for out-door wear.
- The business portion of Farmersville, La., was burned May 16.
- Russia is reported to be still making further demands on China.
- Germany has concluded a favorable treaty with the Island of Samoa.
- A French Coast Guard Cutter has captured six English fishing vessels.
- Henry J. Cross, city Treasurer of Salem, Mass., hanged himself May 16.
- Henry M. Stanley is in Africa, acting as interpreter to an exploring expedition.
- A heavy rain storm—"a regular southeaster"—visited California May 17, 18.
- Fires in Russia are "catching." Upwards of 80 houses were destroyed at Irlit May 17.
- The earthquake in Persia March 22 totally destroyed 21 villages and killed 922 persons.
- The Empress Augusta of Germany arrived at Windsor Castle on a visit to England, May 14.
- There is complaint that many peach trees in Napa Valley are affected with the curled leaf.
- In a menagerie in Pawlings, N. Y., a camel attacked and severely whipped a large elephant.
- A "new party" to run the Constitution of California has been organized, and Denis Kearney has been left out!
- The town of Halas, Hungary, has been inundated in consequence of continuous rains, and much damage is done.
- There is some prospect that England will have an Egyptian trouble on her hands, with her other little war matters.
- It is said that Queen Victoria has a "morbid dread" of assassination, to which sovereigns seem to be much subject of late.
- Potatoes in San Francisco county are affected with blight. Crops which one week look well, the next look as if the tops were burned.
- The President having vetoed two army bills, his political opponents have held several secret caucuses to determine what to do to accomplish their object.
- Gen. Frisbie, formerly of California, now in Mexico, says the Mexican mines are poorly worked, little machinery being used; the annual production is about $25,000,000.
- The depression in farmers' interests in England increases. Rents are being reduced yet with little prospect of relief. The immense supply of food from the United States causes a gloomy outlook for English producers.
- Gen. Howard, in a letter to the Governor of Oregon, complains that the murderers of Indians of the Umatilla Reservation go unpunished, the civil officers ignoring complaints. Gov. Thayer, in his reply, offers no hope of a remedy.
- The newspapers are inviting the United States Government to mediate between the belligerent South American Republics, which are just now doing great damage to each other in destroying improvements which are much needed.
- Prof. Dwight of Columbia College, in his address to the law graduates, said that the New Constitution of California is "a sort of Noah's ark, with all sorts of creeping things and slimy creatures, without any Noah to take charge."
- Correspondents represent society as being terribly demoralized in Russia. Nihilism, or communism, is rampant, and the lack of morality apparent everywhere, amounts even to public indecency. Is the colossus nearing its destruction?
- The Oldham, England, Chronicle says that salmon caught in the Tweed have been found diseased. Prof. Christian of Edinburgh says that attached to the fish appears to be an irritating fungus which eats into the flesh, causing them to rub their destruction on the gravel.
- The President of Tufts College offers the products of one hundred acres of land to the manager of the boarding club, if he will give the students board at $2.50 per week. We know of no institution which has successfully reduced board to a rate almost nominal in price equal to the College of Battle Creek, Mich.
- An enthusiast International Canal Congress has been held in Paris, to take steps toward the construction of a canal across the isthmus of Panama. There were delegates from all the great powers of the world. M. de Lesseps, originator of the Suez canal, was elected president.
- Wallace Wilkerson was sentenced by Judge Emerson in Salt Lake city, to be shot, having been found guilty of a murder committed in 1877. Judge Emerson's decision was affirmed on appeal by the Supreme Court of Utah, and by the Supreme Court of the United States, and the sentence was carried out at Provo city, May 16.
- George F. Maynard, city Auditor of San Francisco, committed suicide at the house of Mr. Gwin, his son-in-law in Amador county, May 16. There appears to be no doubt of his integrity, but he was exceedingly sensitive, and the unscrupulous charges of corruption by the "sand lot" orators caused a depression of mind leading to self destruction. This at present is given as the cause.