Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 31, 1875, Page 9

THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 1875.—SIXTEEN PAGES. 9 ——oo eS pwowith a “body of sound divinity” taken from the works of the most eminent divines, down to the present time, when the trafic in good sermons for the benefit sf bad preachers has become s0 large ond bold. Of course Sir Rocrr’s chaplain made no pretensions to originnlity, and is no more to be accused of plagisrism than Dr. ‘Pant, or any of the here-and-there preachers inthis country who follow their example, sod dispense the beaten oil of Jax, Wester, or Sronceox to the rural congregation. But our concern is lest this first method of preaching other people’s sermons should de- generate into the third. There is nothing more perilous to originality in preaching than familiarity with other people’s sermons. It. ig very difficult for a preacher to mrintain his jndividuality as a sermonizer, whether he yead, memorize, or extemporize, while he slternates between vigorous sermons of other gmen and feeble ones of his own. The tran- sitions from one to the other will become more and more marked with every repetition. ‘4nd how are these transitions to be avoided by the plagiarist except by abandoning either his own composition or that of his favorite yolume of other people's sermons? There is just one other way of escape from this dilemma, and that only ends in. another. It is the third method of preach- ing other peopie’s sermons,—a familiarity with them which so charges, we may say 80 surcharges, the memory with them that the preacher is at last unable to tell whether his extemporo phraseology or protempore “skeleton ® is his own or that of another preacher. of another era. This is some er's skeleton in the closet, which some- times brezks jail and stalks abroed, to the dismay of the flock and theruin of its un- iershepherd. The whispered gossip of the prencher’s plagiarism has in ‘some ‘eases grown into a hurricane of indigna- ‘Gon that drove him from the pulpit, lwhich, perchance, he’ leaves protesting his innocence of the charge. The identity of phraseclogy he attributes to chance, or to the fact that ‘‘ Great minds run in the same chan- nels.” Be that as it may, there is no doubt that in the case of such a preacher a good memory is the worst kind of a memory. This plagiarism by absorption, then, being just as perilous as any form of the vice, we have no hesitation in saying that the less a preacher Amows of other people’s sermons the less like- ly he will be, to absorb and reproduce them. We are informed that the Supreme Court Yhave filed their opinion in the case of Kioxxs os. Wrionz, and have affirmed the judgment ‘of the Gjreuit Court. This, it will be remem- bered, was a suit broight by Kxorxe, who had been removed from the office of Police (Commissioner by the Mayor of Chicago, to have Waicut, who had been appointed and confirmed as his successor, ousted. Krone thad been appointed Police Commissioner by ‘the Mayor to fill a vacancy; at the next elec- tion he was elected by the people of the county. Inthe meantime the law known as the “ Mayor's bill” was passed, and under the authority of that lew the Mayor removed him for cause, and appointed Wricur. Judge Wreruos sustained the authority of the Mayor under that bill to remove him, and the Bupreme Court now affirms his decision. De- igpite the hostile criti¢ism of that law, its provisions, as far as attacked, have all been tastained by the Courts, and, though it has Jong since expired, experience confirms the wisdom of incorporating its substance in the r of every large city, and those in this ¥ity who most violently opposed it are now asking the Legislature to re-enact it, THE KEW OPERA-HOUSE IN PARIS. Bomebody with s passion for generalization Saya that the ‘more civilized a man is the more hepleys. Ase barbarian, he has to work almost donstantly to wring from reluctant Nature the Jeanty food, clothing, and shelter which he aeeds, As hesdvances in the scale, he has more eisure, and he grstifies his tastes more fre- (ently and fully. In short, he plays. Thisis & cheering theory, albeit, judged by it, the hnglo-Saxons have-not gone far in civilization, )od tho French haye. The new Opera-Honse in Paris is the most ornate and costly building Jrected in modern times for public amusements. ~ [he union of « people passionately devoted to under the rule of adespot made the liseum of Rome and the Opera-House of Paris Mike possible. Tho architect of ihe Istter is M. Cuanes Bagster, who was 8 sub-inspector of municipal Yorks when the plan he submitted for tho build- Ing-to-be was preferred to the 172 competing Yesigns, This was in 1860. M. Ganvosn had sthis command unlimited funds, at first, and the best painters, sculptors, and artisana, contin- tally. Tho world was ransacked for choico wsrblea, and the finest silks were orderod from the looms of Lyons. Still, the architect's bed not becn one of roses. The palace was to have boen finished in 1967, in, time for the Inter- Ystional sxhibition of that year. Lack of , Pouey prevented this. The same cause post- joued the complotion from time totime. Had yot the old Opera-House burned down a short fime since, the new-ono would not have been Inithed before 1885, Besides these delays, Bf. + Bansree bas had to suffer from the anxieties of. Wosieges. The building was used as a mags- sme daring the German beleaguerment. While bs Commano rnied, King Mob crammed itfallof der and sheila and threatened to blow it up. eral attempts were made to fire it, and shells Mashed around it, M. Gamwien'e bair grew fy during this terrible time. Happily the Frest building was unecathed. It hassinoe been sompleted and opened. The splendid facade towards the Boulovard is $taze of parti-colored marbles, mosaice, gild- and etatuary. A similar, but somewhat whore snbdued, richness marks all of the six or even fronts. Everything is fire-proof, outside Rd in. Everything is sumptuous, Mirrors, WAlntings, frescoca, and atatuos line the walls, fhe floors are of rich mossic, in which hot-air fipes are imbedded. ‘The anditorium bas only 2,194 seata, ‘The tomber is email, but the reason: is plain. hb the first plnco, each seat is comfortable, eaen commands a full view of the ‘age. Every box has s privsto drawing-room #tachod to it, Elevators carry persons to the per tiers.. The corridors are 25 feet broad; he balls broader still. Tho 2000 spectators ‘mall leave the house, without confusion or towding, within three minutes. All these ar- Srgements, of conrse, require great space. then, in the second place, the auditorium occu- ¥eabut a very amall part of the building. The tage is twice xs large, A chorua 7U0 strong can Toom upon it, All soene-shifting, otc., is bne by steam.“ ‘There are several green-rooms, Stashed to one of them ia @ hairdrosver’s es you. ‘There are twenty-four seta of dresaing bd waiting rooms for the choras. The private artments of the singers are forty-eight io num- ar. Esch containg a vestibule, drawing-room, tessiugroom, and batk-room. Besides the ‘dditoriom and the stego, the building contains for seventy-one horses, a police-sts- ba, two gusrd-rooms, » largo waeb-houss, & pod nized house attached to the Emperor's box, Hrugsstare, » resding-room, room forwrilfog, Wlove-store, a fowaretore, one amall and one Wego restaurant, o sumptnons sroking-room, = Fawiig-room, » eragh-room, and endless galiex- Vailibates, ateirways, eto, Imaging this : Of rath, sadiant in abizhia, Brohes, Saddle ic, gold, painting, sculpture, silk, and lace, and you have some shadowy idea of the world’s great play-housa, is A NEW PROFESSION, THAcKERAr, in a dainty minor essay, once sug- gested three new occuations for gentlemen in search of the wherewithal to live. It was cer- tainly a philanthropic: thing todo. Women are, not the only parsons who must wail for a widen-\ ing of their sphere. What isa man, well-bred, theoretically educated, penniless, to do in a time like this, when employora are either discharging their surplus subordinates or keoping many of them out of sheercharity? The unfortunate will probably at first write sovoral square yards of prose or poetry, mail it toa victimized editor, and spend & conts a day fora week thereafter forthe sake of being sure that his effasions have becn refused. Then he will apply for a place on the paper and suffer the fate of tho effusions aforesaid. If tho theatres hap- pens to be open,” he may pick up an occasional quarter by forming one-tenth of the tnmultuous armies which defile across the stage, checred by the muttered curses of the manager from behind the fiat. If, in deepair, he finally takes a place, proffered by some chance, as 8 porter, he feele degraded, and is disappointed at not having the senior partner fall upon his neck, within a week, in an agony of admiration over his method of rolling barrels, and cry, ‘‘Be one of the firm, noble young mao, and marry my daughter.” Instances have been known in which the man without an employ- ment has managed to support himself for two or three years by attending theological lectures. Most of our seminaries pay the badding-minister who pleads poverty sround sum annually for the pleasure of his company. Hecan get a room free, and furniture free, avd board free, and fuel froo, and generous donations towards the cost of his clothes and cigars. It is a question whether it pays to make ministers paupere from the date of their studies, but this 18 a side issue. If our work-wanting gentleman bas too much conscience to play theological student for a consideration, and if even the place of a porter is not to be got, what shall he do? Tnackersx suggested, among other things, that he should be a Purveyor,—thst ia, a master of tho etiquette of dinners, who should sell his taste to people anxious to climb a few steps on the social Indder and afraid of falling off the au- accustomed rounds. The trohblo with this is that people must have a certain degreo of taste in order to know that they lack taste. The nouveau riche, after busing his house, bis glar- ing forniture, his servants, and his viands, thinks ho has everything needful. He proceeds to feed people who ridicule him afterwards. A French Baron, resident?in Paris, has im- proved upon THackERay’s idea. He announces himself as a teacher of the art of conversation. His pupils can win honor, not only at a dinner- party or a ball, butin a whispered tele-a-lele. They will scorn commonplaco and platitude. Thoir talk will bo # series of sparkling bon-mois orincisive sabre-cats of logic. Baron H. will not only instruct members of his classes for the trifling sum of £1 per month, but he will allow them to invite him to dinner at their homes. His charge for attending dinner is 20 franca, Four dollars is not an exorbitant price for s guarantee of entertaining talk durmg the tiresome hours of ceremonious meal, If the Baron remains throngh the evening, his charge is of course greater. He will, moreover, if properly paid therefor, introduce guests, chosen from the graduates of his school, who will shine like stare in the talk of which he is himself the sun. 2 ‘This now profossion is open to the public. It hss money in it, If sedulously cultivated, it would be of incalculable benefit. Society might become « set of conversera instead of dancers. ‘When a dinner-party was given, the inevitable stupid people could be sandwiched between trained talkers from the school. The prudent hostess would order herdinnerand hex convarsa- tion with equal ease. THE BENGAL FAMINE, fhe greatfamine which has during the last year devaetated Indis is at an ond, and Sir Ricwanp Texere, the late Special Commissioner for the famine districts, has submitted to his Government his final report on’ tho relief opera- tions. It contains some very interesting stato- ments, The tract of country in which the fam- ine was lately raging is eituated in the Province of Behar, under the jurisdiction of the Liea- tenant-Governor of Bongal, and the greatest distress prevailed in the Zillaks (counties) of Patna and Tirhoot. These two districts are the most prosperous and flourishing under the Government of Bengal ‘Tirhoot, especially, is callod the garden of Indis, It produces the finest indigo, and fornishes one-quarter of the quantity annually exported from Bengal of this valuzblo staple. It is alao one of the best opinm-growing districts of Indis. Owing to the fortility of the soil, end the generally abundant rein-fail, as well as the no- merons rivers, fed from the snowy ranges of the Himalaya Mountains, famines have been al- most unknown in the Province of Behar. Tho causes which brought on the Ista famine were 2 failure of the rains during the scason of 173, simultaneous with « scanty supply of water from the melting snows of the Himalayan glaciers, ‘Tho result was 8 drought, and its con- sequence an almost entire failure of the crops of the season of 18734. The intensity of the famino was the greater as the peoplo had made no preparations for so unusual an pccurrence. On the contrary, the export of grain is said to have been unusually brisk upto the beginning of the cold weather of 1873-’4, when it was dis- covered that the supplies of grain were ex- hausted. "The first rumors of a famine from the ontly- ing districts wero pooh-poohed, but they soon be- camealarming, The Government of India, having still fresh in ite recollection tho famive in the Northweat Provinces of 1861, during which halt a million of people died; and the Orissa famino of 1865-'6, during which over one million of hu- man beings perished from hunger and disease, bestirred itself in time, and appointed a Special Commiseioner to report on the famino, and, if necessary, suggest measures to be adopted. Tho officer selected for this responsible duty was Sir Riczarp Texrte, at the time financial member of the Indian Viceroy’s Conncil—one of the ablest officers of the Indian O1vil Servico. With the experience gained in former fam- ines, Sir Bicnanp Texpre reported that the laws of demand and supply were inoperative in an emorgency of the kind then on his hands. Ho waa of opinion that, in the. usual course of trade, the province conld not be supplied by the mercantile classes with food sufficient for tho millions of people that had becomo destitute ; moreover, that previous famimes bad demon- strated that the grain-merchanta and petty deal- ers made it not their object to reliove the dis- tresged, but to realize the highest prices for the food thoy imported on speculation. Sir Riesz, therefore, suggested the temporary establish- ment of a relief department, to import grain and other necoasaries of life, and to sell it to the starving people below cost price, in small quap- tities daily, just enongh for theirown consamp- tion onty. ‘Those that were too destitute to buy their own food were to recive rations fres ; but to avoid the appearance of giving alms, ss well aa to prevent ‘desd-beats” spplying for relief, he recommended that thoy should do some equivalent in work for the Government. For this purpose a system of public works, all through tho famine districts, was projected. Tho Government of India immediately in- dorsed Sir Bicmany’s recommendations, and in- trusted him with slmoat unlimited powors to carry ont bis own views and provent the recar “pence of euoh oslamitices az those of 1861 and 18658. The work introsted to Bir Rrcnarp ‘Temrxx wos one of nausual importance and re- sponsibility, but it hee been ciccnted with a foresight aud judgmont thet have added to his alrendy grést reputation aud populatity, One of bia fiw) Works wae thé extabliah- sibed ct & op eairtad trots tha liver Ganges to Durbangab, a distance of 53 miles. Tt was completed in fifty-threo days by the famishing people themselves. This tramway became of tbe greatest importance in transporting the food that bad been collected in Bengal, Burmah, and the Northwest Provinces, snd which was brought into the famino district by the River Gangos and the East India Railway, In connection with the railway, a series of tele- graph-lines were established to connect the va- rious reliof-centres with each other and with Sir Rrcowanp Texpre's headquarters. In this man- ner 525 miles of telegraphic communication were established by the starving labor, The destitute wero next employed in constructing s system of public roads through the entire length and broadth of the famine-stricken districts. Over $,000 miles of road were covstructed, at a cost to the Government of £1,750,000; and gavo subsistence to 1,730,000 human beings (men, women, and children). In addi- tion to the railway, 50,000 bultock-carts (with two bullooks to each) and 15,000 pack buttocks were employod in the transportation and distribution of food. Over four millions of bags of rico, exceeding in weight 326,000 tons, wero imported and distributed at the expenso of the Indian Government, It was cither sold be- low cost, or used for feeding tho destitute. Every person receiving relief was bound todo some equivalent in work. This is an example which might advantageously be imitated by the Rolief and Aid Society of this city. ‘The largest pumbor of people receiving relief amounted, at one time, to 4,500,009 individuale. The ontire ccst of the relief operations to the Indian Government has not yet been ascer- tained, as the accounts aro not yet all closed ; but it is estimated at near £9,000,0C0, or nearly 935,000,000 in currency. This famine has really been s heavy tax on the Indian Tressury; but tho money has been well spent. Whoreas during former famines people periahed like flies, scarce- ly any deaths from starvation occurred during this last ono. ‘The famine has really been 2 blessing to the distressed districts, by supplying them with 4,000 miles of roads, which, under ordinary cir- cumetances, those districts could not have ob- tained in fifty years. Owing to the natural fer- tility of tho soil, the districts will soon recover from the calamity from which they lately suf- fared, but the roads contracted aro s permanent improvement of their country. Besides the Government assistance, large gums were contributed by private individuals, European as well ag netive. ‘The Maharajah of Burdwan, for exampie, spent £42,000, and the Durbangah Rajah’s ostates £240,000, in afford- ing reliof. For his services in these famine-relief opera- tions, Sir Rromanp Texrve has carned the thanks of his Government and the gratitude of the en- tire population of the Province of Behar. Moro- over, his services have been rewarded by bis ap- pointment as Lientenant-Governor of Bengal. ses ee TALES IY POLITICAL ECONOMY, ‘Tatzs rx Porrrican Econouy, Dy Mriuicest Gar~ nerr Faworrr, Loudon: Macnutlun & Co, 1874. This little book by the gifted wifo ot Prof. Fawcets, tho eminent political ecouomist, is in- tended as an aid to thogo who are ongaged in the task of teaching political oconomy.- It con- sists of four tales, illustrating some of the main printiples of tho scienco in a most happy man- ner. Tho first, the Srimuts, is davoted to show- ing tho effects of protection to native induetry; and we cau recommend it to all opponents of free trade. The Srimata woro 2 peoplo who had had no intercourse with other people for 200 years, and who made overything they used themselves, food, clothing, and machinery. Capt. Adams, an old sailor, who telis the story of Srimsts, was anxious to set up a communica- tion between thom and Achoen for trading pur- poses. He found them mild and courteous, liv- ing in neatly-built houses and dressed in a neat and simplo manner. What surprised him was that the hereditary members of the Council slono wore allowed to own the palm trees which yielded the palm oil, To enbance the value of the palm oil, the Council of the Srimats hed decreed that no inhabitant of the island should allow the light | gethor. of the eun to enter his dwelling, Nota chink of light passed through the windows. ‘Thus a good market was eecured for the palmoil. To pro- tect native industry, they found it absolutely necessary to shut out tho light of the sun. When Capt.. Adams wished to engago them in trade with Acheen, # Chief of the tribe told him that two-thirds of the people were occupied in tho mak- ing of palm oil, that the other third had to pro- vide food and clothing for all, and that there wag nothing left which they could exchango for the products of other lands. The old Captain saggested that holes should be made in the walls of the houses, and that the two-thirds of tho population engaged in the manufacturo of palm oil should be employed in the calti- vation of spices. Tne Chief rejoined that to tske such a step would be to reduco the palm- plantation laborers to beggary by destroying the most important industry of the island. Tho in- habitante would not even listen to a proposition to tranefor tho Jabor gradually from the cultiva- tion of tho palm to the cultivation of spices. Capt. Adams had to leavo the island, and the Srimats continued to enjoy the loxary of their baé-emelling lamps. Tho story is intended to show that when once protection has obtained in a country it is im- possible to get rid of it without injuring those who have invested their capital and labor in the protectedindustry. tis an un- fortunate fxct that,to a certain extent, the American people are Srimats, and will not hearken toa thousand Capt. Adamscs. They do not cultivate the palm oil, but they aro inveating their capital and Jabor where it will not produce tho greatest return, just as the Srimats did, and in principle tnere is no difference at all between them. . ‘The second story—that of the Shipwrecked Sailors~illustrates the economic principles ofthe division of labor, the influence of luxorious habits on the well-being of # people, of that of increase of population on the cost of food ; also of the principles that a demand for commodities ig not s demand for labor, and of a few others which will be better understood from the fol- Jowing condensed account of the story itacl! Capt. Adams is shipwrecked with his passengers and crow on o small cninhabited island in the Pacific. From the goneral wreck they saved = few small articles, but only auch thinga as were washed ashore. They acted on the principle that “ Findings iskeepings.” Three men hauled to ehore a case containing twelve dozen pairs of boots. ‘Ono man who had found a case of epirits offered a bottle of ram in ex- change for s pair of boots. ‘Another, tho finder of a box of carpentor’s tools, but who was una- blo to uso them, was very anzious to part with them to one of tho owners of tho boots, a car- pester by trade. The carpenterywas equally anxious to Ret possession of the tools. Ho of- fered s pair of boots in exchange for them. The partios, howaver, could not agreo. Finally, tho finder of the tools succeeded in getting a pair of boots from one of the other two men in ex- change for the loan of the saw for one day. Groen was tho name of the man who had found the toola, and bo soon discovered that byloaning one or other of them ho could obtain a share in what tho others had found, or an equivalent in the form of Iabor. To one man he lent his ax and obtained three dinners of dsh in re- turn. To snother he loaned hia caw and got half the number of planks made in the time for which the saw wag loaned. Sut the men who ueed the tools wore ovly amateur carpenters, who bent the teoth of the ssw and turned the edge of tho ax, and broke tho chisel in tro. ‘These accidenta demonstrated to all that it was beat that the carpenter should do all the carpon- toring. And, for like reanons, it wae determined ‘upon that each one ehould find oat what be or she conld do best and stick to that—~all of which the tyro in political economy might have told tho colonists from the vory beginning. The lesson wad @ vory mood one for sll, All the fish snd geme whi2h the colonists néaded was not proved be tired of thats, io ane did that which he had been educated to do, to the great advantage of the community at large. A Mr. Davies, alone, » lavendor-kid-glove gentleman, who would not accept the principle that a de- mand for commodities is not a demand for Jnbor; who, on tho contrary, insisted that in allowing the fish with the cooling, of which he was intrusted, to broil to 2 cinder, he was doing that which was good for trade, inas- much as it necessarily created » demand for more fish, camo to griof. Ho did not appreciate what he had afterwards to loarn, that, in conee- quenco of his carolessness, the other colonists had to pay doable for their fish that day, and that next day they would be in a worse condition to provide themselves a meal thanif be had? beon more vigilant. There are other principles the trath of which is brought home to the reader oy the story of tho Shipwrecked Sailor, not of so much imme- dinte interest 2s those just illustrated, for tho elucidation of which we must recommend them to the book itself. ‘The third story—Iele Pleassut—shows the in- convenience of barter, and the pert played by money in commerce. A better chapter on the nature and use of a good circulating medium we have nowhere read. Isle Pleasant was the namo that Capt. Adams had given to the settlement made by the shipwrecked sailors. Tired of carry- ing on their exchanges by means of barter, tho islanders introduced cocoa-nuts as a species of money. The cocos-nuts had two of the nec- .esuary elements of value. They were useful in themselves, and thore was some difficulty in ob- taining them. But there were a few drawbacks .to their use. They varied in value. A hurri- cane now and then blow down a dozen of trees. The yalue of the nuts declined rapidiy for o time, Sometimes they were very plontiful; at others very scarce. Parties who had agreod at a definite time to deliver a certain number were liable to find them yery difficult of attainment and very much enharced in value. Then the bulk of the cocon-uat was another very strong objection to their being used as a modium of ox- change. Somotimes, vhon tho value of the arti- cle purchasod was very staall, it bocame neces- sary to divide a cocoa-aut into very little bits, and sometimes it was nocoasary to carry 100 cucoa-nuts on the badk to pay a bill. Sueh was the condition of the crculating medium in the island when o chet of gold pieces was discovered among the rocks and hauled tosbore. “Tho chest containod £7,450. Some of tho finders of the gold stopped working, Gradually the money became more ovenly dis- tributed among tho settlers. Prices becamo fixed for a timo ; but, 28 the supply of money in the island was absoluily limited, while the busi- ness of tho little colory, was increasing all the tine, money increased in valuo; that is, o smaller quantity of go'd and eilver was exchang- ed for other commodities, and prices fell. Thus there was s steady :ncr¢ase in wealth in tho island, and w steady daclino of prices. On ac- count of the rapid ris in the value of gold, the gottlers now had recourse to written promises to pay, end thus very frayuently the use of money in effecting exchanges was dispensed with alto- Written promises to pay made by a number of men wire exchanged and debts canceled without the transfer of a shilling, just as debts are canceled evory day in inrge commercial commanites. STho last story—tho *Islanders’ Experience of Foreign Teade "—tellshow Capt, Adame set sail for Sen Francisco with produota of tho island, plantains, plantain flow, cloth, plantain wino, cabinet work, etc., etc. Tho settlers ull insisted that they would have nothing in exchange for their goods but money—not other goods. Gold and silver picces were thick as blackberries in San Francisco, and te ship returned with a plentifal supply of tem. A hittlo millenninm on the island waa exprcted from the influx of all this gold. - It turned ait otherwise. The com- moditios for home conumption bad been reduced by exportation, and noney alone bad boen ob- tained. Tho result was that money became cheap and all other thngs dear. Noxt time the islanders changed ther tactics, and exchanged their goods for San Frmcisco goods. ‘The result was both San F'rancisw and tho island was bene- fited. Tho inhabitants of each obtained what they wanted from eachother cheaper and better than it could ba prodaced at home, Little or no money paesed betwem the two places, and thus the islandera learned that “ Foreign trade, to ba pormanent and bonefidal, must be in the nature of an exchange for conmodities.” Mrs. Faweott’s littlebook willdo much towards holping baginners in tohitical economy to master the fundamental prinéples of the'scionce, gee PEISORALL Laporte, Ind., thiols ic i@ the ice-markot of the West, If not itisnot for lack of coolness in making the claim. Adelaide Phillinps s going to withdraw from the staye, and comresces a round of farewells a Boston, where he :esolve first took shape. A New York manger, cither Jarrett, or Pal- mer, or Barnum, it going to give a tournament after the fashion of olden times. There will be ‘no lack of Biack Inighta whatover elso may be wanting. Congressman Smil, of New Hampshire, is called a “‘nepot™ bs Cincinnati paper, because he has nominated ae son for a West Point ca- detship and recommnded saother for the posi- tion of mail-agent. A professedly reigious paper, the Echo de Rome, was fined 1,00 francs a tew days ago, and ite printer imprigced for three months, for an article grossly inawing King Victor Emmanuel. Tho paper has sino bean suppressed. At Antwerp, in th Zoological Garden, « large and matronly fema) of the species dog 1s bring- ing ups family of three infantile tigers, who have been separate from their tiger mother for foar that she woulimake a breakfast of them. Willie Gooldy, offerre Haute, aged 11 yonrs, traveled ‘‘on his en hook” to Son Francisco and back, Now hi parents call him Windy, be- canso he goeth were ho listeth,and no one knows whence he ometh or whither he goeth. AMr. Pym, linet deecendant of Long Parlis- ment Pym, was rcontly killed byan English railroad accident. His widow received $75,000 damages, but 2s hrwas “tenant for lifo " of an income of $25,00 a year, the damages were light. * Asuper who had been struck by the manager of an English thatro the othor dey came in front and told tb audience he bad resigned. The audionce, semg, therefore, no excuse for his coptinuance a the stage, yelled to him to get outand be biaked. In one of the Pris courts a mother recently sought to invalidan a certain stipulation of hor deceased son's wi. Ho had directed that bo should be buried rithous religious ceremonies, aud the mother saght to avoid this clause, but the decision was geinst her. A man entered tticket-office in Sen Francisco recently and astedor a ticket for ‘‘ Destination.” To prove that he ss not mistaken, bo pointed toa notice which read: ‘* Passongere who in- tond going farthe than Yokohama are requested to purchase throwh tickets to destination.” King William he presented Moitke and Bis- marek with ministre models of the Berlin Col- umn of Victory. i decent bedstead for the war- rior, and s new merechaum pipe for the states- man, would havebeen mora appropriate, and porbaps saved the notion from all gorts of for eign difficulties, Tho Rov. T. HMcGrath, of Nevada, fought bard againes Sheon and the railroads at the Inst election, Whn he appliod for s half-fare pass, as usual, over the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, tho Suprintendent regretted that the resuite of tho latelection mado it imporsible to grant the pasa dered, ‘Mr. Tracy propsea—so it is eald—to read in evidonca the who! of Mr, Tilton’s novel “ Tom- past Tossed,” an the other sido will retaliate by reading Mra, Eows'a book on Byroa and Mra, Beechor's Cook-Hok. Ths privilege of attend- {hg this geons tel is neatly equivalent to Ubdral edibation-Griphte. THE SMOKE QUESTION. Letter from F. Baumann, Esq. Consideration of the Theory of Com- bustion, How to Get Rid of the Gases, - farious Experiments Made. To the Editor of The Chisago Tribune: Cutcaco, Jun. 28.—Having noticed with grati- fication your interest in the abolition of tho smoke nuisance, which prompted you to publish aseries of articles, I will venture to farnieh, in addition, or supplomentary to these articles, tho information I have on tho subject of combus- tion, and excuso the venture by the fact that, in former stages of lifo, I had opportunity and occasion to investigate the subject somewhat. Besides the theory of combustion furnished by your reporter, to say the least of it, is rather Hiable to leave people wanting ‘information on the subject pretty much where they were bo- fore. : COMBUSTION. The recognized interchangeable forces of na- ture are heat, light, olectricity, chemical affinity. ‘What we call phenomena are but the interchange of these forces, which must be regarded as mere forms of one common enorgy. When heat in- creases beyond o certain boundary, light will moake its appearance, the heat boyond this bound- aty partly assuming the form of light. When eleciricity sets in it is at the expense of the othor forms. So does the destruction of affinity yield heat, light, or eloctricity. Ielated cle- inents will combine. In tho act of combination the affinity is destroyed, and heat appears in alt cases. If there is much affinity, and the process of combination is lively, ther light will appoar with the heat. Whenever this is the case we havo to deal with combuetion, which is the com- bination of elements under development of heat and light. Itis not necessary in all cases that one of these elements must be oxygeu, though commonly this is the cose. Combustion may take place with hydrogen and other eloments,— chlorine, for instance, combining with hydrogen under developmmt of heat and light. Com- bustion which is instantaneous is called ex- plesion, FUEL. ‘The principal elements of fael are carbon and hydrogen mized with moro or Ices earthy aud other foreign substances, which are left behind agashes. Tho hardest anthracite coal contains tho least, the softest bituminous coal the largest, amount of hydrogen. ' Petroleum is a carbo- hydrogen, from tbick erode oil down to the lightest gasoline, only varying in the propor- tious, Resin and turpentine aro carbo-bydrogen. Fat oil, wood fibre, alcohol, are carbo-hydrogens with a proportion of oxygeu. Both carbon and hydrogen form lively combinationa with oxygen under development of heat and light, tho prod- ucts being in the one caso carbonic acid, in tho other wster-vapor, though carbon, imporfost- ly combined, may yield bat carbonic oxide. In the «ase of any fuel already containing oxygen, there isa large surplus of tho othor elements calling more oxygen into requisi- tion. ‘Lo initiate the combinating of tho o'e- “ments with oxygen go largely dilnted 2s it oo- curs in the atmosphere, requires in all ordinary cases a high degeo of temperature. The process, set once agoing, 28 ws all know, generally craates more heat than is required for its inaintenance, FLAME. Flame accompanies the combustion of gases only. Parely carbon merely becomes white with heat. The blue flame we observe with coke and hard coal is either that of hydrogen gas, which, slightly charged with cazbon, is separat- ed from the coal, or that of carbonic oxide gas first arising out of imperfect combustion and then itself burning when in contact with more oxygen. Theo flame of puro hydrogen gas is or- dinarily next to non-luminous, and that of alco- hho} and carbonic oxide but little better. As tho hydrogen becomes more and more chargod with carbon the flame increases in luminosity. and an ovorcharge with carbon produces smoke: fine particles of the carbon are carried off «with the products of combustion. These particles are, bowevor, not directly derived from the coal —ernde coal is not carried off—they are o pre- cipitate from carbo-hydrogen gas first developed from the coal or oil, which occurs within the red central portion of tho flame, while the out- er rim appears blwsb, and the inner part white, this white state of theso precipitated particles of carbon being believed to explain the inminosity of tho flame. To render the flame of hydrogen ges luminous, it is but necessary to introduce into its contre a resistin, earthy substance, which becomes white-heate and throws off some of its molecules. Such is the theory of the lime (incorrectly called calcium) and gircon lights. Iwiltnow mention a remarkable fact, con- nected with the degree of pressure of tae atmo- aphere in which combustion takes place,—a fact of the utmost importauco as to the question of perfect combustion, and with whch every engi- neer should be familiar. A dull smoky fiswe grows brighter as the air bocomes rarified go as lastly to become simost non-luminous, like the flame of alcohol, A non-lumin- ous, blue feme _ becomes brighter as the air is condensed so as to become lastly smoky and quite thick. Thus even the fame of pure bydrozen becomes luminone under a high degree of pressure, which fact would seem to upset the theory of lumixosity first given, wero it not, as I believe, for the other fact that com- mon air contains, as is well established, quite an emount of matter, furnishing carbon and earthy particles to the flame. We all know that the gas developed from the wick of a kerosane Ismp burns with a very smoky flame. Combustion be- comes at once perfect as ve put over the flame a chimney which keeps heated,—i. o.: rarified air around it. We likewise Inow that another mode (though we are less snecessfal here) of prodac- ing alumnious flamo from tho oil is to firat ox- pand the gas before allowing it the fall contact with the air. é In this connection I will at once mention 4 cage in which I instantly solved the provlem of perfect combustion in this very manner. For heating by means of heavy oil, I bsd con- structed a flat pan 14 inches in diameter, porfor- ated with twonty gas-pipes and allowing 3¢- inch space all around for the purpose of con- acting tho air around and into the body of the gas. ‘The result was a very dull, smoky flame, and the heat was very unsatisfactory. Having a epaco of about 20 inches bolow the pan, I at once introduced there a basin filled with glowing charcoal. At this instant combustion became perfect, the flame was perfectly freo from amoke, and even consumed the soot first de- posited on the walls of the furnree and pipe. ‘The heat, of course, wes very satisfactory. ORDINARY COMUUSTION. ‘When hard coal ia thrown tnto a farnace there ig developed a light bhydro-carbon gas, which may escapo wholly or partly uncombinod; and, if the supply of oxygen is scanty, the combina. tion will stop at its first etago under dovelop- ment of but bal tho amount of heat. Carbonic oxide will be formed, which mavzescspo with the other ges. Here, then, are chances for consid— erable loses, though particles of carbon itaclf do not escape. When softcoal is thrown in, the development of heavy bydro-carbon gas is very rapid. Not only will this gas, or a considerablo portion of it, oscare uncombined, but, while combining, will precipitate flne carbon, which gives tho smoke its tint. Ordinary smoke con- sista, therofore, of five distinct elements: first, the proper produsts of combustion, which are sapor and carbonic acid ; second, carbonic oxide gaa; third, hydro-carbon as; fourth, atmos- photic air, with a surplus of nitrogen gaa ; fifth, precipitated carbon—to say nothing of minor matters which do not pero enter into sccount ‘The loss in fucl is very heavy, sometimes no: jess than 40 per cent, and tho atmosphere of 9 large city ia put in an intolerable condition. THE PROBLEM OF PEPFECT COMEUSTION may now bo stated as the problem of buraing the gases with bright (or blue) fame. Thore are two diatinct ways of attsining this end. The 000 is to diluta the gases before or while in con- tact with air; the other is to dilate—or rather expand—the air before or while miagling with tho gas. One condition, howewer, muss never ba lost eight ce any erat Shey te as pert erature of the momentary He tonet pineye Vegrseatte the temperature that is neaded to begin the procees. Adilution of the gases—heavy =a they are, coming from soft coal—may be produced by adding hydrogen gos in any way. Goo hin {a the projecting of atésm upon the glowing cos in the fornace (aut fate tie gat ts goms {g- i ioty trisd), Corbon av rec | BorAne, men hove valgiy Sette conalirneang hee eon 18 agtojen fab dtd osy Gn gas, the former diluting, the Intter ly con- smnivg, a proportion of the gas. ‘The reader inay soa this method in operation in the boiler- furnaco of \fesers. Brown & Van Arsdale, ut the corner of Kingsbury aud Illinois etrects. Tuo steam-jets stopped, smoke ig the result; turned on, the result is clear flame and no smoke. I must confess that I ean seo no rezyon why this same method, rightly applied, should nor answer inallcases. Tuero is, too, neither trouble, diffi- dalt;, nor large expensé connected with it. Diluting or expanding the air means heatiagi t. This, besides, makes sure of the poiat of tem- ferature, which is so necessary for combustion. Forcing common air into the body of ther 7 zn ordinary farnaca is to no purpose, an” augments the amount of escaping gas & If sufficient hoight is afforded over tho air may be let in over it and become, = pears, sufliciently heated before reac critical point.. In fact, a limited auanti-, any caso be there admitted with marked : Ajho:-sir furvaca for hard coal fire kis son lately constructed by Mr, W. H. Lotz, zee ical engineer, No. 157 Washington s which the gas is completely consumed in this manner. He admits the air into s large space over, and separated from, the fire, so tha: the as comes in contact, as 1b were, with the farther heated edge of a considerable bedy of air. ‘Whatever may be the. explanation, the result is that the gas is cousumed, without cceasioual ox~ plosiona, in such a.degreo that even small lumps of soft coal may bo mixed with the hard coal without becoming offensive. But tho most ra- tional way, in vase of soft-coal fires, seems to me to introduce the air, in a hected state, into tho vory body of the gas bohind the grato. ‘Tho ditti- culty only seems to be to suilicient!y heat the air. A porforatod iron bridge may suffice in gomo cases, but cannot be fully relied upon, as the oxperience of Messrs. Maginnis & Co. seems to bo; their bridzewall-apparatus only giving satisfaction in exceptional cases. If they will givo a sufficient amount of heating surface to the airinoducod, they will doubtless meet with general success. Experimontera are apt, as I -believe, to overlook one important fact connected with farnaces, namely, that there ia great ditfer- ence iu ‘the temporaturo of their gazes, owing mainly to ditferences in draught, which, as is well known, varies with the season as well ag with the condition of the atmosphore and from other causes, Hot gases will bear mixiog with cold air moro readily than will gases of Jesser temperature. A ready mode of heating the air suggests itself, as by means of common regonerators, through’ which part or all of the products of combustion are allowed to pass alternately. This, in fact, was tried thirty years ago, under applicution of a blower, with good success as to combustion, but with poor success ag to any boiler, the heat being too exceasive. Anothor mode has been tried by one Nobl, in this State, and tho Crane Bros. Manufecturing Company had one of their boilers operated by bim. He dlew cold air into the coal to raiso the temperature of the gas enough to enable him to blow cold airinto it. The succoss as to por- fect combustion was vory marked, but the heat was too excessive, and destroycd the boiler. A very ingenious mode of perfect combustion was establishod years’ ago by tho Siemens Brotzera in London. They menutacture the ges in a distinct furnace, 200 or S00 fect away from the furnace proper, and condact it to the samein tunnels. Their theory is that the gas mnat be cool, and the air heated. They there- foro lead the hot gas on its way through, al- ternataly, one of two large regeneratore, through witch, vice versa, the air passes, to absorb the leat there deposited. Gas and heated air enter the foraace side by side. Combustion is abso- lntely perfect, und enormous temperatures are attained, Such furnaces, of course, ara rot applicable for steare-boilers, still it seems to me interesting to know how a pretixed principle of perfect combustion is applied with such perfect success. What I have endeavored to do in this articlo is to furnish information to ths experimenters upon the eubject of emoke-burning. In ono di- rection, that of diluting the gas, I regard stacke- burning wholly solved. In tho other direction, that of ditu‘ing the sir, it seems to me not diffi- cult of somtion, if the experimenters will heed the points. May they consider that after tho temperature of the gas is quite tow (compara- tively yo), and that, consuquently, means must bo provided of rawing that of tho air, the higher tha better for perfect combustion ; if, however, too high, it is detrimental to boilers. The result is a hearty indorsement of the demand made by Tue ‘fnteoNne to indict the smoke-nuisanca aa an offense to be punished by law. 1 P. BAUMANN. A ROYAL CALENDAR, Whe Almanach de Gotha. From the Pall Matt Gazette. The customary paragraph has been going the round of the pspors announéing the appearance for tho present year of a publication devoted to such sublime matters as the births, deaths, alli- ances, and genealogies of sovereign Princes and Princeeses,—a work which naturally costs all more Peerszes, bestificas these msy bo, com- pletely into the sbado. It is noadlezs to say that we refer to the well-kngwn * Almanech de Goths.” One hundred end eloven yecrs ago—a fow months after the bizth of that august infant who was to develop into the finost gentleman of Enrope, and aiter the strangulation of the Czar Peter by tho ancestor of the Orloffs—merely a week or two, moreover, before the termination of the seven years’ war, and when such notable monarchs as Frederick the Great, Maria Theresa, Catherine II., Lonis XV., snd George TIL. oc- cupiod the thrones of Europe—the first number of tho “‘Almanach Go Gotha” made its ap- pearance. It was then, and for some years to come, a slander brochure of twenty pages, simply conteining tho calendar, the times of tho departure or arrival of the Gotha couriers, = table of moneys, anc somo elogantly eograved tablets on which to inscrito one’s daily losses and gains at cards. At this epoch French was in fashiox at allthe Gorman Courts, and especially at Gotha, where Voitaire had sojourned after his quarrel with Frederick the Great, and had brought the Freuchlanguage and literature more than ever into favor. It was for this reason that Herr Von Rothberg, the orig- inal publisbor of the Almanack, judiciously pro- daced his brochure in French; perceiving that Germsn was not sufficiently aristocratic to insure areception for 1tat Court. The result showed his wisdom, and in Fronch the Almanack has continued to bo printed uatil the present time. Tho frat matorial change was mado io the Al- manack for 1783 at the instigation of Herr Klap- pel. who had accompanied the nereditary Prince of Saxe-Gotha to Paris in the capscity of a ta- tor. He conceived the bold idea of largely in- creasing thesize of the publication, which h: already seqvired celeurity, and, im’ accordance with bis suggestion, the title of that year’s is- zye announced the addition of “ various, euri- ous, and usefa! items of knowledge;” said items consisting of an article on the genealogy of the reigning families, a chronolagical list of the Emperors of Germany, notes on astronomy, and tatles showing tae humber of years indi- viduals of a given age might expect to live, with hygieuic hints, aud articles on the organization of the earth, and manicnd in gereral, In the course of the latter we are incidentally informed of afew things which would astonish tho savants of our own day; notobly that a man weighing 100 pounds bas ordinarily a brain that weighs 4 pounds, whereas a bullock. no matter whother he weighs 250 pounds or 500 pounds, invariably bas a brain 1 pound in weight, Far- thor on, tho colors of tho sisins of different races of men sre described, some as being reddish- purplo, and others se brilliant yellow; while the Manghians of the Island of Miodoro aro said to fe furnished with tails precisely 5 inches in length, and the women of Formosa with beards half a foot long. We aro also informed that in Nikobar, people unfortunate enongh to be provided with one tigi looked unon ss monsters, and that among tlg$Monzols, next to no body, an unusual allowartte of legs constitutes the highest typo of fomnle beauty, which is, howoyer, capable of being enhanced by tattooing the skin all over with o brilliant floral pattern. The Siamese bellos, we aro farthor fold, have lozenge-ebaped faces, yellow eyes, hollow cheeks, Jargo mouths, thick lips, black teeth, and long ears. a ‘Tn an article on the grand discoveries of the Jest two conturies, the editor, by way of compliment to Frouce, whore he is then sojourning, credits the grande nation with the invention of hats, silk stock- ings, military uniforms, playing-cards, ond carriages; aud then observes that the moat re- cent remarkable discovery which has come to his knowledge is one made by M. Linn:ons, firat yhyaician to the King of Sweden, to whom tho Pappy idea bas occarred of administering « cer- tain ldnd of nourishment to oysters, 60 as to aagment the sizo of pearls, and has so far suo- cecded 8 to have beon able to presont Hor Swedish Majesty with several. poarla of ox- traordinary dimensions, Some special mformation regarding previous stones gonorally, point sod ethor laces, tea, coffee, chocolate, and icee, is appended for the banedt of the falr sex, aud is foilowed by tebles of weights and meavures, and of the values of difforent moneys. ‘Henceforward tha Almanack appoara to have been modified sod hoptoved year by yess, its statistical informotion and clos op topics like history and astronomy being cnlivencd by oa- says on tho langungo of the eyes, and the shape of the boot in formor tines, and histosica of gach ag sonffers, and wi; arliga bad Lee introdnosd inte the ccidlenie, £n- mensok lng Lue darly yack fr ade terwards some of the most celebrated artists of the epseh were employed in their prodcotion. In ovo illastrated calendar tho device for Feb- ruary represented Neptune letting loose ail hia alutces, apropos of which the gallant poet of the Almanack exclaima: O que Neptune en ce mois est vilain! ‘Mais Cupidon wen moque et va son train, For September Vulcan figures’ with tho couplet: ‘Vivent Valeain, les arts et e Gar do tenr sein matt is Pradesea} From 1774 untils dozen years lator the engray- ioge illnstrated episodes in the fashionable nov- els. dramas, and romances of the epoch, whilo those for 1739 referred to the career of Freder- ick the Great, who had diedacouple of years before. Afterwards the illustrations degener- ated into fashion-plates, among which are some remarkablo chapeanx of tha period, notably one @ grande gneule de toup, and another with large wings and surmounted byaminiature Monte golfier balloon. : From 1803 ti1914 the Almanach de Goths was bronght under the iaflacnce of the Emperor Napoleon, who, asia wall known, kept a walch- ful eye over all books and cewspapers, Conse- quently wo are not surpried at finding him writing on Oct. 20, 1807, to Champagny, Minister ot Forsign Affairs, as follows: Mousiear de Champagny: The last Almanach da Gotha is very badly done. First of all, it montions the Comte de Lille, and atl the Pricces of the Con~ federation, just 2s if nothing had been changed in the Constitution of Germany. The names of tho Famille de France are, moreover, enumorat- e'lin improper terms. Sond forthe Ministor of Goths and make him understand that all this must be changed in the next Almanack, which require to be communicated to you before being printed.” : ‘The Emperor being a pervenn, and not tho descendant from an ancient family, folt znooved atgecing the names of other soveraigne pre- ceded by their genealogy, and accordmgty had the latter suppressed, and merely the birth, marriages, and deaths of the various sovereign Princes and Princesses introduced. After toe battle of Jena, the partisans of Prussia, includ- ing the House of Orange, and the cid dynasties of Hesse-Cassel and Brunswick, were erased from tho Almaneck. ‘The Almanack for 1810 is orramented with the diiferent Kings Napoleon hadsot up. 4 fow years later, however, there was such a shifting of. the occupants of European thrones, that Herr Parthes, the publisher, found himself obliged to reprint the Almanack no fewer than three times. A complete collection of the Almanach de Gotha is not believed to exist. Hor: Perthes, the present proprietor, poasesses the most per- fect set known, which has been augmented by purchases of deficient numbers whenever an op~ portunity offered. This set we hava had the privilege of looking over; and it is easy to per- ceive that sevors! of the Almanacks, bound in perfamed morocco, or rose-colored satin. orna- mented with medallions, 2nd the entries in which refer to losses at cards and purchases of expensive face, belonged to ladies of the court of Frederick LIT. Grorge Wasbington’s birthdsy is to be celo- brated by the failure of Donaldson to make a balloon ascent on that day in Brooklyn. A sore throat is soon relieved by Dr, Jayne's Ex rectorant—an old remedy for bronchial and pulmo- . nary disorders. NS Buy Your Family Supplies at SLACKS HAMHIOTH GROCERY HOUSE 109 Hast Madison-st., Betweea Clark acd Dearbora-sts, he Save from 10 to 30 Per Cent, and get Standard Goods. Fresh Arrival of Fine Flavored Now Chop TEAS! At the following LOW PRICES; Oolong = = = « = Oc, GUE, Bie. ‘Bide, $1 Young Hyson = i Gunpowder jt] Engl GUe, 80e, 81, BL.Z0 is Breakfast 5 = GROCERIE Rio, green. Bi, feasted. id. “Avabian Socks. Cofices roasted and ground daily, strictly pare. Standard A Coffee Sugar, per D. Granulated Sagar, pee Deve Hayle Sagat, yer Dass inccace olden Sirup, in b-aai s : Hates Goldge, in Seal: kegs, por Ea Zanto Currants, por and guarantesd Rigio Sagar-Cora, per Elgin, aud other choica c ‘caso of 2 doz... 2 y “di ‘Soap in the msrkot, a bart, foll weight, por bar. Proctor & Gambio's Original Motded Geriuan Soap full wolght, per bo: “$4.10 aryea's. 033 @ bars, Kingsford’s and box of c weizhe 5b cars. Shorisweizbt, 1-10 Rovai Hulsing Vowder, Culieweixht, i-lb cans, Ales, Wines, Liquors, Imported and Clear Havana Ot. ears, and a full, nu, complete, and woll-soloctod atock of STAPLE AND FANCY GROCERIES Of every description, at prices that dofy compecition. Satisfaction guaranteed in every Instance Goods delivured to any part of the city fre of charge. Country orders carefully and promptly attended to. CC. Et. STzrACE! WHOLESALE AND RETAIL GROCER, 169 East Madison-st. SAVINGS BANS. Merchants’, Farmers & Mechanics’ SAVINGS BANK, oem West Sa Os = Oppasita ths Re ee PE Sera’ Tiss, ond court Haze S22 aa THE BUSINESS OF THIS COR- PORATION is confined exclusive- ly to the receipt and care of Save ings Deposits and Funds for In- vestment. No commercial or gen- eral banking business transacted. SUMS AS SMALLAS ONE DOL- LAR received from any person, , and a bank book furnished. MARRIED WOMEN and minor children may deposit money so that no one clse can draw it. INTEREST at the rate of G per cent per annum, is paid on sums of One Dollar or more. THOSE DESIRING TO INVEST their savings upon real estate se- curity at a higher rate of interest than can be safely paid on Savings Deposits, should call at this Bank and examine its INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES. SYDNEY MYERS, Manager. FLOUR. If YOU WANT TUE BES i GO-TO GOLVIN'S 73 WESP i a af B00 ie iza Winter, 4 a ter, 98.75. Chalee Missourt Wists’ ot a eholeo Winter, 26.19. Spris Buckwheat to per ib, 85. A pet Bt Siote Bo, 135 arther-ay, Ghd Hi, 03 Teiety cede,