In the chapters already studied in Daniel, we have seen how the gospel of the kingdom was preached in Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar the king, and through him “unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth,” so that the knowledge of the true God, his manifold wisdom, his power to deliver, and his dominion in the kingdom of men, had been fully made known. By this revelation of the most high God, in the faithful testimony that had been borne by Daniel and his companions, and the experiences connected therewith, Nebuchadnezzar the king had been “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.”
With a genuine sense of the nothingness of man and the greatness of God, he praised and glorified the King of heaven. The signs and wonders that the high God wrought toward him, and his own conversion, had been heralded abroad by a royal proclamation, and thus the testimony that might have gone forth from Jerusalem as a world-wide message, went out from Babylon.
The same power that converts a man attends the story of his experience, when it is told to glorify God. Such testimony is the gospel in concrete form, and it requires no theological training to preach it. So Jesus told the man out of whom he had cast the legion of devils, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” So Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, before Felix, and again before Agrippa, told in simple language the story of his own conversion; and thus the gospel, the power of God and the light of the world, was preached in the king’s palace. So it was in Nebuchadnezzar’s case. And the divinely written history of his experience has been, and still is, preaching the same gospel to all the world.
The fifth chapter records the downfall of Babylon, with such a statement of the events of that fateful night as throws light upon the cause of its fall. But the lesson contained in this brief record, and its meaning at the present time, can not be rightly understood except as we see in the light of the Scripture the application that the Lord himself has made of the name of Babylon, and the meaning that he himself has put into it.
If we should anticipate our future studies a little by reading the remaining chapters of Daniel, we should readily see that, taken as a whole, the book of Daniel deals almost exclusively with the first and the fourth of the four universal kingdoms of the world.
In the earlier part of the book we have so much of the history of the first kingdom as serves the definite purpose of the divine historian, and in the latter part we have prophecies concerning the fourth kingdom. The second and third kingdoms are mentioned briefly, and serve merely to make the proper connection between the other two.
To the first three kingdoms the same names are given in the book of Daniel as are given in human history; namely, Babylon, Media and Persia, and Grecia; but to the fourth no name is applied. It is simply mentioned as “the fourth kingdom.” We shall also find that it is not so much the fourth kingdom, as a power developed in the fourth kingdom which occupies the prominent place in the prophecy; and this power is not designated by any name in the book of Daniel.
If we turn, however, to the book of Revelation, which is a supplement to the book of Daniel and deals wholly with the period covered by the fourth kingdom, we shall find further light upon these things. By a careful reading of the seventeenth chapter of Revelation, with special attention to the third, ninth, twelfth, and eighteenth verses, it will clearly appear that a power is described there which was to arise during the time of the ten kingdoms into which the fourth kingdom was to be divided, “that has sovereignty over the sovereigns of the earth.”
This power corresponds to the little horn mentioned in the seventh chapter of Daniel, and also to the little horn mentioned in the eighth chapter, and these symbols occupy the leading place in these chapters. It is a matter of common knowledge that the fourth of the universal kingdoms is known in human history as Rome, and that Rome as an ecclesiastical power has exercised much more influence upon the history of the world than has Rome as a civil power.
It is with ecclesiastical Rome, or papal Rome, or the papacy, that the prophecies deal more particularly, and it is this power which is described under the symbol of the little horn in Daniel and of the woman in the seventeenth chapter of Revelation.
This application will be fully justified by our further studies. But in this last chapter the Lord himself gives the name by which this power is known in the divine history: “And upon her forehead a name written, a mystery, BABYLON THE GREAT.” Rev. 17:5, R. V., margin.
We can now appreciate more fully the meaning of the historical portion of the book of Daniel. It is not merely to set forth general principles, although this is done most effectively, but it is to give a living picture of the closing events of this world’s history, during the time when “Babylon the Great” is again the chief power in the earth, and “reigneth over the kings of the earth.”
Thus the earlier part of the book of Daniel is truly a prophecy as well as a history, a history which is to be repeated “in the latter days.” And inasmuch as we are now living in the last of the latter days, in the very generation when this history is to be re-enacted, this book in the fullness of its meaning ought to be known in all the earth, and the picture drawn by the divine Artist in the history of Babylon ought to be so clearly in the minds of all the people that its counterpart will be easily recognized. This is the true message of the gospel of the kingdom, which “shall be preached in all the world for a witness; . . . and then shall the end come.”
The book of Daniel opens with a statement of the controversy between Babylon of the Chaldees and Jerusalem of Judea, which ended in the utter overthrow of Jerusalem, and the captivity of the professed people of God. This loss of their city and their kingdom was due simply to the previous loss of the kingdom of God from within, the apostasy of the people from right principles. Being corrupted by the principles of Egypt and Babylon, having lost the true power of the kingdom without acquiring even fleshly power in its place, they became worse and weaker than the nations about them, and were easily overcome by the king of Babylon. But Daniel and his companions, having retained the kingdom of God within them, carried with them into Babylon a power which finally conquered the king himself, and made him a loyal subject of the true God.
Since the days of Nebuchadnezzar, the people of God have never been fully out of Babylon, although there have been faithful men in all the centuries who, like Daniel and his companions, have had the kingdom of God within them; and while they have been outwardly in Babylon, yet they have not been identified with Babylonish principles. Through them the true gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and a long line of witnesses has testified to the superiority of its principles. In the meantime, Babylon of the Chaldees has become a waste and a desolation, and Jerusalem of Judea long ago lost its opportunity of standing forever, and is no longer “Zion, city of our God.”
And yet the controversy to-day is still between Babylon and Jerusalem, between the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God. At the close of this long controversy between the two kingdoms, which, under ever-varying conditions and appearances, is always “the great controversy between Christ and Satan,” there will be a short but decisive struggle between “Babylon the Great,” the apostate church of any and every name which has adopted Babylonish or papal principles, and the citizens of “the heavenly Jerusalem,” those who stand for truth and righteousness. Then “shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all,” “but the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.”
As a preparation for this closing scene in the conflict, the message is now going forth “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” the same message which was proclaimed in Babylon of the Chaldees, and preserved for us as a living history in the earlier chapters of Daniel, “Fear God, and give glory to him.” And with it is now to be heard the further call as to Babylon, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
We are now better prepared to understand why it is that the prophecies which speak of the ruin of Babylon of the Chaldees mention details and describe a situation which could not possibly be fulfilled simply in the destruction of that city. Thus the prophet Isaiah says: “The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amos did see. Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them [compare Isa. 11:9 and Rev. 14:7], shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. . . . The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. . . . Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. . . . Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. . . . And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. . . . Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. . . . And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.” Isa. 13:1-19. Again, the prophet Jeremiah says: “As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth. Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still; remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. . . . Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan. . . . And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts.” Jer. 51:49-57.
It is evident that here the Lord has in mind, and is describing through the prophets, not simply the overthrow of Babylon of the Chaldees, but the final and complete overthrow of all which he calls Babylon in the earth. Thus the downfall of Babylon is a prophecy of the downfall of the whole world, the ruin of the nations, and in particular of that power which the Lord designates as “Babylon the Great,” “who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thess. 2:4.
And so the cause which led to the downfall of Babylon of the Chaldees will in the same way lead to the downfall of the world; and the same experience of the kingdom of God within and faithfulness to its principles which not only gave light to Daniel concerning this downfall, but also saved him from it, will give light to the faithful, and will save them from the destruction that is even now threatening the world.
Therefore it is that this record of the fall of Babylon should be studied not simply as a record of a past event, but as a prophecy for the present generation, a prophecy which is even now ripe for fulfillment. “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; he will render unto her a recompense.”
W. W. P.
Seek the Unerring Counselor
“AFTER you have received counsel from the wise, the judicious, there is yet a Counselor whose wisdom is unerring. Fail not to present your case before him, and entreat his direction. He has promised that if you lack wisdom and ask of him, he will give it to you liberally, and upbraid not.”
WORTHY OF IMITATION.
By George A. Irwin
In the REVIEW of July 17 there appeared a brief notice of the death of Sister Mary Ellen Underwood, wife of Elder R. A. Underwood. To my mind, such characters deserve more than a passing notice; for they are rare in these days of self-seeking and personal ambition.
Thirty-six years ago, while still bearing her maiden name,—Ellen Reynolds,—she accepted the truths of the Third Angel’s Message, under the preaching of Elder J. H. Waggoner. Shortly after the organization of the Ohio Tract and Missionary Society, she was elected secretary and treasurer, a position she filled with acceptance for five successive years, refusing to take any pay for her services; although during that time she had to pay for hired help to attend to the necessary domestic duties. She resigned the position only that she might attend Battle Creek College with her husband, to become better fitted for work in the Master’s cause.
But what gave promise of a life of usefulness in a public capacity, was changed by an overruling Providence into a domestic life, where the real beauty of her character unfolded and bore fruit in comparative obscurity, on the quiet homestead of her childhood. About this time her oldest sister became a chronic invalid. The circumstances of the case and her malady were of such a nature that she must be taken care of at a public institution, or else Sister Underwood must devote her life to that work. Her affectionate and self-sacrificing nature at once chose the latter, and she accepted the obligation with that Christian cheerfulness for which she was particularly noted.
The care of a child that was born to her later on, and the principal oversight of a large farm, would have been thought by most women sufficient excuse to call her husband from work in the field to share these burdens. But not so with her; amid all her cares, the Master’s cause was not forgotten. She was willing to put up with inconvenience and endure hardship, even to the suffering of bodily pain, that her husband might remain in the field. Those who labored in the Cleveland Mission in times past can bear testimony to her thoughtfulness and liberality, shown in the barrels of dried and canned fruit, grains, and other products of the farm supplied them each year. In addition to all this, there was room in her heart and home for the orphan and the friendless, many of whom, because of her care and motherly advice, will, along with her family, “arise up, and call her blessed.”
Her life was a practical demonstration of a true home missionary. Although deprived of the privilege of attending camp-meetings and other general meetings, and at times of even the meetings of the home church, yet she kept abreast of the times, and was full of the spirit of the message. During the last days of her sickness, when she was suffering extreme pain from the cancer that was consuming her vitals, her daughter asked her if she had written her husband how fast she was failing. She answered, “No; husband has all the burdens now that he can carry; and if he knew how I am, it would add to his already heavy load of care; he will be home soon.”
Her last words were, “I see the glory.” Of such characters it can truly be said, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” In these times of great moral darkness, the taking away of such lives can only be accounted for in the light of the mercy of our Heavenly Father as revealed in such statements as these: “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” Of those who follow Christ in self-denial, it is said: “They will bear the fruit the Saviour bore; and even when their life shall close, the seed scattered by the trees of the Lord’s planting will be multiplied to the praise and glory of his name.” By faith her life was given a “living sacrifice;” but being dead, she yet speaketh.
It is the prayer of the writer that, by the reading of this brief sketch, others may be inspired to emulate her example, and thus her life be duplicated many times before the Life-giver comes to bring the final reward to all who have lived a life of unselfish devotion to his service. GEO. A. IRWIN.
OUR LITERATURE.
By G. W. Spies
“If there is one work more important than another, it is that of getting our publications before the public, thus leading them to search the Scriptures.”
The value of our publications can be estimated only by the value of the truths they contain, or by the value of the souls they will save. And these are valued by our Heavenly Father as he values the life of his own dear Son.
Hence the importance of circulating our periodicals is apparent. And any enterprise that has, for its object the salvation of precious souls should have the most hearty sympathy and co-operation of every member of our denomination. If we could realize the magnitude of the work that is before us, and appreciate the stubborn resistance that we shall have to meet from opposing influences, it would lead us to greater activity, greater aggressiveness, in our God-given work.
The Lord tells us that in the performance of his work we should be “far ahead” of other denominations. But, alas! we are far behind. “We are years behind.” “Not one one-hundredth part has been done or is being done by members of the churches, that God requires of them.” A year ago a single one of the two hundred periodicals published by one of the leading denominations alone, had a circulation that exceeded the combined circulation of all our periodicals. Think of it, brethren. The millions of error-laden periodicals published by one denomination alone, outnumber, twenty-five to one, our entire circulation. But what shall we say when we compare our work with the combined efforts of Romanism, Spiritualism, and apostate Protestantism, the three principal factors with which we have to do in our work? Surely we should bestir ourselves.
Shall we not see an advance made in the circulation of our precious literature? Shall we not average more than one paper a member each week in carrying out our God-appointed commission to rescue a fallen world from the thraldom of sin? Brother, sister, how many of these truth-laden, heaven-inspired messengers are you sending out each week on the wings of prayer? How many precious souls will be garnered as the result of your untiring efforts to spread abroad the printed pages like the leaves of autumn?
The question is not, “What is the denomination doing?” but, “What am I doing?” “What are you doing?” Are you accomplishing your part in God’s great purpose of enlightening a benighted world? Am I? May the time soon come when our periodicals will indeed be scattered everywhere like the leaves of autumn.
Already our mailing privileges are being threatened. Many of our present facilities will soon be removed. Satan is closing up every avenue possible. “Soon it will be more difficult than we can imagine.” “Everything will be placed to obstruct our way.” Then “the work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity, she will have to do in a terrible crisis, under most discouraging, forbidding circumstances. This day is just before us.”
May the Lord of hosts inspire us with zeal and courage, that “the truth may be given wings to speed it” and the coming of our dear Saviour.
G. W. SPIES.
ITEMS FROM BRAZIL.
By F. W. Spies
“Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,” are precious words of comfort to us in this field. Were it not for the presence of the Lord, and the power of his Spirit, which he has assured us, we might well despair as we see iniquity and wickedness stalking abroad in the land. But notwithstanding all drawbacks and hindrances, the Lord is constantly converting souls to himself, setting free the captives of Satan, and causing them to shout victory over their besetments; and as we witness these things, should not we praise the Lord, and take courage?
Having spent the concluding months of the last year in Rio de Janeiro, the calls from different places made it necessary to go into the interior; and accordingly, December 31, I set out for the state of São Paulo, expecting to return home in four or five weeks. *But the ground I was to visit was to me unknown territory; and when I arrived at Itararé, the first place in my trip, the prospects before me, and also my plans, changed.
At Itararé, however, I met with a new experience. This being a small town, and all its inhabitants being natives, except Brother Zimmerman and one other man, a German also, and not being able to secure an interpreter, I was obliged to speak to the Brazilians in their own tongue as best I could; for when they heard that there was a Protestant minister in town, they came together to hear the gospel. In this, my first attempt to speak the precious message of salvation to the natives, the Lord greatly blessed me; and each evening as I spoke to the people, I realized more freedom, until I soon felt a desire to withdraw from the work among the Germans altogether, and to work only for and among the Brazilians. But this was impossible; for in several new fields there was an interest springing up among the Germans.
So after remaining in Itararé ten days, I baptized two persons, celebrated with them the ordinances of the Lord’s house, and then started for Castro. At Castro I spent five days visiting different ones, and studying the Bible with them. I then came to Curityba. In Curityba I visited and labored with the church, and other somewhat interested persons; and the last night of my stay there one person yielded to the entreaties of the Lord’s Spirit, coming out firmly on the side of truth. I was also glad to see the school conducted by Brother Krämer in a prosperous condition. When I left Curityba, one hundred and fifty-six pupils were enrolled.
From Curityba I went to Rio Negro, where I also found some outside interest, but I could remain only a short time. I celebrated the Lord’s Supper with the two families of believers who live there, and then went on to São Bento. At this place Brother Graf and I had stopped a few days a year ago. I now found quite an interest existing among Catholics. I remained there eleven days, baptizing five persons, and celebrating the ordinances with them. When I left, there were members of four other families keeping the Sabbath. In this section the truth caused quite a stir, especially since the interest began among the Catholics. The Catholic priest spoke against us in a vehement manner. But as the people contrasted the truth we preached with his manner and life, he lost ground with all candid and sensible persons.
From São Bento I came to Joinville, which is a malarious district. I found many, even of our own people, suffering from malaria; and in consequence of this, our meeting was but poorly attended the Sabbath of my stay. Then, too, the heat was excessive. But in my own case the great heat was rather a benefit; for when I started away from home, I took a cold on the train, which settled in my bronchial tubes, and from which I did not fully recover until I got down off the mountains into Joinville. Here, however, in a few days I was soon well again.
As I travel about, exposed to all kinds of weather, constantly changing food, and sometimes receiving almost none at all, amid dangers of different kinds, I can only thank Him who neither slumbers nor sleeps,—him whose hand has thus far safely guided me and kept me from falling. To him be thanks and praise forever. F. W. SPIES.
DISTRICT 5.
By R. M. Kilgore
AFTER the spring council at Battle Creek, I remained at Graysville with my family a few weeks. At Black Rock, Ark., I assisted in a tent-meeting. I was present at Keene, Tex., during the closing493exercises of the academy, and engaged in council, as the board had been called in special meeting to consider important interests of that institution.
I was pleased with the high character of all the exercises. They were refining; and the moral tone breathed in all that was said and done, gave evidence that the Bible had been studied, and had had a molding influence on all the actors, from the little ones who had had three weeks’ instruction, to those graduating. To all these the large crowd gave marked attention, and approved of the departure from the old methods and worldly principles adopted in the popular education of the day, to the higher education established by the Lord, with the Bible as the text-book and foundation of all study.
The board effected some changes for the future management, which must result in a better condition of the finances of the institution. The debts must be settled, and no new ones contracted. The teaching force must be no larger than the patronage will support. Each department must sustain itself, and not be permitted to draw on others to make up its deficits. The department that fails financially, after repeated experiments must be discontinued.
The rendering of the auditor’s report gave the true standing of the institution—its resources and liabilities. The school is owing over eleven thousand dollars. Its bills and accounts receivable cover about half that amount. The present worth, with a conservative inventory, is more than twenty-two thousand dollars. For three years it has been impossible to obtain any financial statement that was satisfactory to the board. The present report relieved the tension. It was presented to a special meeting, with full explanations, so that doubt and uncertainty were removed from many who were anxious to know its true standing. I am sure that a greater degree of confidence, and a more hopeful view for the future of the Keene Academy exist in the minds of our people there than in the past. At this time the board is greatly perplexed to know how to meet present, pressing demands. Will not some of our brethren who are able to do so, come to the aid of the school by a loan to the General Conference Association in its behalf? If the money could be obtained on the right basis, we are confident that, with the present plans and prospects, the entire debt may be canceled in three or four years. To this end the present management shall strive. While millions will be squandered in the next few months for the support of politics and party, will not some of our brethren come to the aid of this school with a few thousand, which will be returned to them, if they can not give it?
At Houston, Tex., I attended the local camp-meeting. The continued rains, high waters, and bad roads prevented many from attending. About twenty-five persons were present. The Lord was there, and gave his servants freedom in preaching the Word. The laborers present were Elders E. T. Russell, D. U. Hale, Brethren Felix Conway and J. F. Babler, and the writer. Prof. C. C. Lewis and his wife attended the latter part of the meeting. They presented the higher education of the home and school life, and the proposed plan for the relief of our schools. The interest manifested on the part of Sister White in giving her new book, “Parables of Jesus, or Christ’s Object Lessons,” to our schools, by the sale of which the debts may be lifted, meets a hearty response from the rank and file of our people everywhere. About two hundred books were subscribed for at this meeting. One man took one hundred copies, and says that he will sell them, and may take more of the books. How many will do likewise?
On my way to Arkansas I stopped two nights at Oklahoma City. I found the tract society in its new commodious quarters under their new church, which, when completed, will be an imposing structure. Elder Mc Reynolds is hopeful. The outlook is encouraging throughout the Conference. He is working hard in the interests of the new sanitarium soon to be built there.
At Fayetteville, Ark., Elder A. E. Field and D. E. Huffman were engaged in a tent effort. Not succeeding in awakening an interest, they closed the meeting last Sunday. Here the first case for the violation of the Sunday law was tried in the Arkansas courts, which sentenced to jail some who kept the Sabbath. Since then strong efforts have been made to set the truth before the inhabitants of this city, and the church here was anxious for another effort to be made, and offered to help. A few persons are interested, and some may be added to the church.
The last two days a Sabbath-school convention was held in the tent. Three other schools came in, which made the occasion profitable and encouraging. Many good things were said, and important principles were laid down. All who were assigned a part did well. It was good to be there. All returned to their homes instructed and benefited.
R. M. KILGORE.
NEWS AND NOTES
—Russia is moving 45,000 troops from Odessa to China.
—France and Great Britain have both taken steps to prevent shipment of arms to China.
—Within a week seven tourists have lost their lives while scaling the Alps of Switzerland.
—An American army of 22,000 will co-operate with the Powers in restoring peace in China.
—The Salvation Army officials say that they will follow the army of invasion into China.
—Major Moore, of Port Huron, Mich., says that all saloons in that city must close on Sunday.
—The Boers recently attacked Pole-Carew’s and Hutton’s forces, near Pretoria, but were repulsed.
—United States soldiers will receive twenty per cent over the pay allotted in time of peace, for serving in China.
—The German textile trade is seriously affected by the Chinese trouble, 28,000 men in three districts being out of work.
—The pesthouse of Cape Nome is filled with smallpox cases, and great excitement prevails over the rapid increase of the disease.
—Cardinal Satolli, papal delegate to the United States from 1893–97, has been appointed prefect of the propaganda, by Pope Leo XIII.
—The president of France has received a message from the emperor of China, asking the mediation of France with the foreign Powers.
—The new Russian cruiser “Variag” has left the Cramps shipyard, Philadelphia, and will have her speed officially tested off the New England coast.
—Work has been discontinued on the Manchuria railroad, which has already cost $51,500,000. The workmen, 25,000 Chinese and 600 Russians, have dispersed.
—Jackson (Mich.) proposes to increase its water supply from 7,000,000 to 10,000,000 gallons a day, by means of a direct suction system from new wells that are to be dug.
—The Hong-Kong correspondent of the London Express says that an attempt was made to blow up the Baptist chapel at Canton, with apparent intention of killing the Christians.
—President McKinley has appointed William W. Rockhill, director of the Bureau of American Republics, as special envoy to represent the United States government in China.
—The Prince of Wales has given his indorsement to the marriage of Lady Randolph Churchill and Lord Cornwallis West. The latter is about the same age as Lady Churchill’s sons.
—Reports from Yokohama, Japan, say that “several villages were engulfed by streams of lava from Mount Azuma,” and that “great damage was done in adjacent districts, and 200 lives were lost.”
—During the last seven weeks, plate and bar prices have dropped from forty-five dollars to twenty-five dollars a ton. The plan is to “freeze out” the small steel and iron mills. One at Minerva, Ohio, and one at Erie, Pa., have closed down.
—James Petoskey, one of old Chief Petoskey’s sons, died last week, at his home near the Indian camp ground, about four miles south of Petoskey, Mich. There now remain but four sons and one daughter of a family of fourteen children.
—William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., recently drove his automobile from Newport to Boston, a distance of seventy-five miles, in two hours and forty-seven minutes. He paid a fifteen-dollar fine for fast driving through the Blue Hill Park reservation.
—France has asked the United States to pay the Transatlantic Steamship Company $300,000 damages for the detention of the French steamships “Manobia” and “Lafayette” during the blockade in Cuban waters, during the Spanish-American war.
—It is said in Nashville, Tenn., that twenty-nine cars of fancy bananas were dumped near that city, by order of the “trust,” lest continued heavy shipments from Mobile should cause a drop in the price. It is said that a total of 100 car-loads has been dumped.
—It is said that sixty-four marriage licenses were secured in St. Joseph, Mich., last Sunday. The secret of this wholesale matrimonial business is that “the steamboat company sells round-trip tickets [Chicago to St. Joseph and return], two for seven dollars. This includes license, service of minister or justice of peace, a good dinner, and a wedding tour—a kind of ‘bargain counter’ matrimonial.”14
—The shah of Persia is visiting St. Petersburg.
—American capitalists are exploiting the Japanese petroleum fields.
—The Canadian Bank of Commerce has absorbed the Bank of British Columbia.
—The Italian faster Succi has been declared insane, and is confined in an asylum.
—One hundred marines from the Brooklyn navy yard have been called to service in China.
—Heavy rains in northern Kansas broke the drought of five weeks, and saved the corn crop.
—San Francisco Chinese offer to fight under the United States flag, against the Boxers.
—The Eighth United States Infantry battalion has been ordered from Fort Snelling, Minn., to the Philippines.
—It is announced in Canton, Ohio, that President McKinley will make no speeches during the presidential campaign.
—The late vice-president Hobart left $1,000,000 to his wife, and $2,000,000 to his only child, Garret A. Hobart, Jr.
—A British force has captured all the Boer positions in the neighborhood of Rietfontein; the British casualties were trifling.
—It is said that “Parisians have heard the first American college yell, and it created as much of a sensation as Sousa’s band.”
—The Peary relief steamer has sailed for North Greenland. Mrs. Peary and her six-year-old daughter are the only passengers on board.
—The American hospital ship “Maine” has been accepted by the British government for service in China, instead of returning to South Africa.
—Morton County, Kan., reports to the State board of health that it had had no physician for one year, having had no sickness among its four hundred inhabitants.
—Of twenty-one contests in athletic sports at the Paris Exposition, Americans won sixteen, thirteen seconds, and twelve thirds. Besides, they did not compete in all the contests.
