Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 9, 1877, Page 4

B et THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY. DECEMBER 9, 1877—SIXTEEN PAGES. 1 der this proposition so unjust as to be almost publican party to go on praising his Admints. :@1719 Tribune TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. - BY MAIL—IN ADVANCI STAGE PREPAID. Delly Edition, one year.. %12:00 of 5 yedr. permon! ) L Eundsy “waicls terary 2.50 Double Sheet. s.il'u Eaturday Edition, Tw! 208 -Weckly, one year. 9% Yartsof & vear. 0 WEELKLY EDITION 1:30 e copy. per year. 1. e 500 Spectmen copled sent ITec. Give Post-Ctice address in foll. including State aad County. Temittances may be made either by draft, CXpress, ot-Office order, or in rexisered letters, at our risk. TERMS TO CITY SUBSCRIBIRS. Datly, delivered. Sunday excepted, 23 centa per week. Tany, delivered, Sunday {ncluded. 30 cents ner week. Address THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, ‘Corner Madison and Dearborn-+1s.. Chicago, II. Orders for the dellvery of Tap TRIBUNZ at Evanston. Englewood; aad Hyde Park left in the countiez-room ‘Wil recefve prompt atzentlo SOCIETY JMEETINGS. CLEVELAND LODGE, No. 211, A.F. and A M.— Chihers are hereby notified to be at thelr Hall, on lidny next. DEc..9. at 11:50 fiarp, to stiend the fune: T of our late Brottier Wiiliam Goodiin rown. Car Flaxea to depot. car to Ttorehill. btk clething should Tesorn, he members of the " Veteran Assocition of Fattery A, Uhicago Lignt Artfilery. will sccompany ne coftese. G 3 LAIR. W. M. APOLLO COMMAYDERY, NO. 1, KNIGHTS TEMP. LAit—nstallation of ol A Shecisl Conclave will “Asylum, 7 1078 Monroc-st., un Tuesday evening next, Dec. 11, for instattation of oflicers-lect, Sieinbers of other Commanderics ate courlevusly in- ed o be present. Ly order of omiusnder. vited o bepresent By 01 "DUNLOY, ltecorder. o, 12 A M.—Tiall, 76 jon ond LAFATETTE CRAVT y_evening. wual Convgoa %0 o'clock. for busine:s. payment of g“l‘l. ‘All members are 0o+ 3 o o seat. By order Of w . REID.H. P E. N. TGCEER. Scc. COTINTRIAN CHAPTER, N Avugal Convocation Munday eveil ielock, for the election of olee olligers and payme: PRV RO KEYSTONE LODGE. Xo. 632 Epecial Communication Wedneytay 1250 o'clock for fmportant busin THEU. HALZ, sec. SUNDAY. DECEMBER 9, CHICAGO MARKET SUMMARY. The Chicazo produce markets were fairly active Saturday, and most of them were strongez. Mess pork closed 102 per brl hicher, at $12.00 cash and 71; for January. Lard cloked 10¢ per100 s higher. at £7.9712 cas] )71228.00 for Jur- pary. Mests were firmer. at 415¢ boxed shoul- Jere and @4¢ fordo shortribs, Whisky was steads AL€1.05pergallon. Flonrwasquiet. Wheat closed 4G " hizher.at 81103 for December 2nd $1.10% ; Corn closed 4@ 3c higher, at 432c forJanuary. Ontsclosed easy, at p5c 253 for Junuary. Rye was firmer, 8t 30@a6kie. Barler closed 1£@1c lower, at 0112 @61yccash i1c for January. Hosswere active and at $4.20@.4.70. Cattle were dull, a1 S2. 0. Sheepwere quict, AFLTD@ Hof citv since the 1stof ceived mn Chicazo 0vember, Jast week: 0.0 283,182 bn wheat, 417.091 bu com, 139,007 bu oats, 15,7 bu rye, 139 hwe hogs, 93,208 bu barley. esttle. Exporis bris flour. Inspected into tore in thix i 221 cars wheat, 67 cars corn, e, and $ cars barl bu. One bundred aoltars in 3ld would buz 53 30 groenbucks &1 the lose. In New York on Satanday greenis steady thronghout the d: Careful inquiries of persops well informed | jn Washington show that nmot more thun [ three Senators have exvressed an intention Confederzto inflaence has secured the £p- pointment as taily-clerk of the House of Gen. Lauiz, formerly Sccrotary of tho “Rebel - Sennto, of wkich Airvaxprr H. Srrerexs, as Vice-President of the Confeder- In the opinion of Comptroller Exox there will be a two-thirds majority in the Senate for the Silver biil: This does not refer to the Braxp bill, but {o thet.reported by the Senate Finance Committee with the free coinage scetion stricken out. 1t 1s also his opinion that the President will veto the bill, and that the Senate will pass it over theveto. e A number of influential citizens of Chi- cago como together last evening, among them being Messrs. R. P. Drsrcssox, Por- opn Paraen, Judge Boorm, Judge Law- RENCE, and Mr. §. H. Kzeroor, and decided upon hoiding a mass-meeting of citizens of all parties favorable to remonetization. Notice of the time and place will be given here- after. The strength of the allisnce between the three Emperors is daily becoming more ap- parent. During the eacly part of the sumn- mer campaign in Bulgarin it wes the foshion for English pepers to assume that Austria was friendly to the Tarks aad jeslous of the encronchments of the Russians upon the Danubinn provinces. But that favorite illu- sion has long since béen dispelled, and now, avcording io the latest sdvices, an uneasy fecling is becoming apparent in London lest 1he settiement of the Eastern guestion may ‘be made in a manner nufavorable 10 English interests. . — P sox, of Boston, referring to the suit, writes : T also beg leave to call your attention to the fact thatall tne originallegal-tender acts have been re- pealed by the repealing section of the Revised Statatesof 1874; and, as rome changes were made in tlie revieed section relating to legal tenders, the Revised Statutes must be considercd the only sctnow in force, whence will arise the question whether an act paseed in 1874, in time of profound pesce, is not condemned upon_the same reasoning by which the Court sustained the acts of 1862 and 1863. v Tho Boston Bulletin says : 1t is impossible to exaggerate the importance of thesnit referred to by Mr. ATkixsox. The issue it raises has the most vitsl practical bearinga: and, when fts relation to our currency system and to the ‘brsiness interests of the nation come to be uuder- stood, the issne will become one of those great public anxicties too many of which are now rack- ing commercial confidence. For this reason, it is 1o be hoped that the caee may not be needlessly prolonged by legal processes. It is to ‘be presumed that the determination of the case will mainly de- pend upon the view to be taken by the Supreme Conrt 85 to the force and effect of the Revised Stat- mtes, Nr. ATKINSON appears totake the view that, while the Revised Statuter take the place of all Jaws in force on the ist of December, 1873, yet they do not necessasily have the same force as the original enactment. Advantage was taken of theabsence of Re- publican members from the House yesterday to consummate a steal of more than ordinary importance, by voting to pay the first dis- tinetively Southern claim that has ever been ellowed by Congress. It was private-bill day, and scarcely more than a quornm were presert ; hence, a more ausplicious time for the perpetration of the fraud could pot huve been sclected. Thel bill, as passed by n bare mujority, sppropristes £40,000 for the reimbursement of Mrs, Cona Stocuss, of New Orleans, whose property was seized during the occu- pation of that city by tho Northern troops under Gen., Bavms. The Southern Demo- crats were mightily rejoiced at the result of fha vote, as they declare that the House has thus established tho principle that all such clpims must be recognized by the Govern- ment. Itissaid that this precedent covers ndditional claims to the aggregate amount of $5,000,000. SOME MASS-MEETINGS NEEDED, There is just one way at this time to en- courage the advocntes of silver remonetize- tion in Congress, and to counteract the de- pressing influonce of ths Presidentiel utter- ances on that subject, viz.: By holding mass-meetings in the principal cities and towns throughout the West and South which shall give a spontaneons and emphatic ex- pression - to the popular sentiment. The mess-meeting is the most direet and forcible vebicle for organizing public opinfon snd mnking it respected by tho public servants. Iiwas the huge mass-meeting in favor of municipal reform which was held in the Exposition Dailding which sounded the death-knell of the Corvey regime in this city. The numbers gathered there, and the uneoimity of sentiment, overawed the bummers nnd gave them swarning that it was time for them to stand back. As the Chicago City Government was revolutionized in this way, so tho National Congress can be gnided by n series of similar mass-meetings throughout the country demanding the re- monetization of silver a simple act of justice and the only available meaus of com- mercig! salvation. Chicago is tho very city to inangurate this system of moctings. We understand that there hes heen mors or less talk about it ; what is needed now is prompt and decisive action. 'There is no danger of a failure to raspond on the part of the people. There has not been for many years any public question on which tiere was such boundless harmony of sentiment, without 1cgard to party divisions, as thero is to-day in this city in the demand ‘for ‘the restora- tion of silver to its rightful place in the American monctary system. Proper notice and an absolute departure from all perty attachments or advantages will bring out as many sympathizers as can be crowded into any structuro of the city. If the Ex- position Bnilding were not oceupied it could e filled to its utmost capacity. The Taber- nacle is the next largest available building, and the mecting should be called there. The business men aud the working classes will alike flock there fo share in the manifesta- tion of the most urgent demand that hos beea mado upon Congress since it was neces- sary to urga a vigorous prosccution of the War of the Rebellion. Then the occasion \was tho struggle for nationsl life; mow 1t is a struggle for commercial solvency. If Chicago set the example, cities like Cin- cinnati, St. Louis, Detroit, Cleveland, IMii- waukee, St. Paul, Memphis, Vicksburg, New Orleans will not be long in imiteting it. Similar meetings will be held in the cities of second size and the chief towns. Ringing resolutions will be poured in upon Congress with tho rush and impetuosity of a torreat, and the Representatives of the people gen- erally will begin to feel iike the Chicago Con- gressman whois accredited with the state- ment that e would be burned in efigy at ome if ho refused to vote for the Silver ‘The troubles on the Mexican border aro assuming o shape that may lend to really serious complications. One of the two parties of troops which recently crossed the Rio Grande in pursuit ot depredators has been heard from, our dispatches this morn- fug telling of an encounter between Col. Youxe's conmand and o number of Mexican Indinss, in which two of the latter were Xilled and three were wounded. The camp and property of the Indians wero completely destroyed. No news has yet been reccived from Col. Buruts, the leader of the other detachment of United States troops. Yesterday was another day of excitement and uncertainty in Paris. The course of Marshal MacManox in claiming the appoint- ment of three members, after having un- conditionally surrendered to populer senti- ment by inviting M. Duravee to undertake . the formation of the new Alinistry, was an svent 5o unexpected that the leaders of all parties were filled with astonishment. Even ihe Constitutionalists were puzzled; and at ‘snimportant meeting, held after the adjourn- ment of the Chamber of Deputies, a great diversity of views was expressed by tho different members, but no decision whatever ‘was reached. A guestion involving the validity of the ‘present issue of outstanding greenback legal- tender notes is now pending in the Courts ~of Anssachusetts, from which, in time, it will ba carried to the Bupreme Court of the TUnited States. It will be remembered that the principal reason given for upholding the constitutionality of the legal-tender acts was; that, in caso the necessity existed, Congress had the power to do any act essential to the national safety. The state of war consti- tuted such a necessity for this forcedloan as to jusfifym;ui render constitutional what, per- ‘haps, under other circumstances, as inastate of peace, would not have been so considered. - In the revision of the laws in 1674, the logal- tender acts were re-enacted, os of 1874, and the originsl acts were repealed. Mr, ATEIN- bill. Even the President will be made to comprehend how serious a matter it will be for him to veto the combined demands of the Representatives of the people in the National Legislature and of the people them- selves. CARTER HARRISON'S INCOME TAX. The Communists cf this city, ns well as those in other cities, have a plan of taxation which is peculiar to them. They call it progressive, and this beeanse it increases in s compound ratio,—somothing betweon geo- metrical and arithmetical progression, ac- f:onling to the increase of carnings or sav- ingsof the citizen. Mr. Cagrer H. Hinrnr- soN, who represents the western wards of this eity in Congress, has undertaken to give this Commanist principle of taxation legis- Iative form in a bill proposing the levy and collection of an income tax. Mr. Hannisox proposes to establish $1,000 as the maximur income which shall pay no tax. The rete of tax on incomes from $1,000 to £2,000is to be 1 per cent ; from $2,000 to £3,000, 14 per cent ; the rate to progressively increase with the amount of income until $23,000 is reached. All incomes over §23,000 or under $33,000 are to pay s tax of 3 per cent; from | £85,000t0 $50,000, 4 per cent; andonall incomes over £50,000, 5 per cent. Regarding a taxin the way of a penalty and a punishment, Mr. HarpisoN recognizes the man whose earnings are $30,000 a year 2s such a monster of evil that heis to be subjected not only to the aggregate punish- ment provided for twenty-five men having incomes of $2,000 each, but his offense against society is ranked as equal to the com-. bined offense of 125 men, each eerning $2,000 8 year. The bill recognizes the fundamental principle of Communism that the man who earns by his Iabor §2 a day is an epemy of all thoso who do not earn that 1nuch, and he should be stripped of = portion of his income to equalize those who get less; and, taking $1 a day as the standard of income, the injustice of sny man earning $3, 5, €8, $15, or $20 a day becomes criminal in proporticn as the earnings riso above the standard. The Communist remedy for this is to take from all- persons whoso earnings exceod thé common swm, and distribute it among those who earn less, or even nothing. Mr. Harnisox proposes, therefore, to confis- cate a portion of the earnings of the men who earn £2, §8, 84, and $5 a day to pay for the support by the State of those who earn nothing. -The paternal system of government which takes from those who earn to feed snd clothe those who do not exrn is founded on the identical principle embodied in Hz- risoy's Income-Tax bill. The bill is not one to tax incomes, because such a tax, if hon- estly levied and collected, would be upiform and just,—every man paying ‘ac- cording to his receipts, no more and no less. This bill has for its purpose the pursuit and punishment of industry, skill, perseverance, thrift, and intelligence. The man who saves a portion of his earnings, sllowing them to accumulate until they become o source of income equal to his labor, is, according to the principle of Hazmisox’s bill, an enemy of society,—one who is possessing ‘himself of the heritage of mankind ; who is drawing a double share of the life-blood of labor, and piling up wealth with which he and his descendants shall enslave the sons of toil. The processes of the tax are characteristic. The nunual tax on $2,000is $20; on $4,000, the tax is $50; on £25,000, the tax is $750; n $40,000, the tax is $1,600; and on $50,- 000, $2,500. Thisisnota tax on incomes, but a tox on individuals, because the incomes are not to be taxed nccord- ing fo their proportion; all principles of uniformity of rato are disregarded, and the progressive policy of forcibly despoiling those who have property and income to sup- port those who have no property and have 1o income is adopted. Mr. HamrisoN, wo believe, may cloim the distinction of being the first member of Congress who has com- mitted himself to the Communistic doctrine that wenlth is a public evil, to be abated by prompt confiseation, and a distribution of it among those who have no wealth and do not labor to acquire it The income tax was in force in this conn- try several years, It was found to be very unjust,because of the impossibility of enfore- jngit. One-holf of those who were subject to the tax escaped taxation. The tax was inquisitorial, vexatious, and led to perjury and fraud, The honest féw of moderate in- comes wero the victims, while the multitude escaped. We do mot understand that the couniry desires the revival of ony of the War taxes ; on the contrary, the demand is uni- versal £or a reduction of all taxes and a re- duction in all expenditures. Mr. BarrisoN's tax is not only untimely, but unjust and un- fair in its application. HELL AND THE CONGREGATIONALISTS. The Calvinistic canon of everlasting per- dition isseriously agitating the Congregation- al laity and elergy in Western Massachu- setts. It crose out of the refusal of the Tirst Church in Springfield to install the Rev. Mr. Menrrax beeause he is not sound on the question of Hell. The refusal was considered in the recent Council at Indian Orchard, nnd, in order to ascertain the status of the clergy., cirenlars were sent to ninety-six Congregational pestors in the four. western counties, very much in the style that the Com- missioner of Agriculture occasionally sends his circulars to the farmers asking their opinions of potato-bugs and grasshoppers. The circular from the Council asked the question plumply: “Do you teach that endloss, conscions suffering awaits the im- penitent?? Ont of the ninety-six pastors addressed only forty-seven replied, and of theso but forty-one made & categorical an- swer accepting Hell without quibble or evasion. The poll, in fact, stood s follows: For Hell . 41 Againet Hell. Total..... Anti-Hell maj P A Eleven of those who answered did not wish to have their names appended to their ~views, for fear it might bring pein to their families, or besguse they do not make hob- bies of their beliefs. Somo of those who preach the doctrine, however, do so with some reservations. Ono teaches it ‘“not dogmatically, but as a thing probable.” An- other * doas not try to paint what the end- less misery mey be, but leaves it where the Bible does.” Another says: *‘3Means of al- leviation may Do in the life to come greater or less tunn they are here.” Another says: 41 judge thet suffering awaits the impeni- tent so long as they remain jmpenitent.” Another charitable brother says: *I do not ‘eliove thet all thoso who differ from me will certainlygo to Hell.” Another venturss upon the verge of the doctrine of aunihilation: 7 think the Bible is against any hopo of recovery; and that it tenches that the im- penitent man enters into a future of con- scions suffering, whick I hope may some time terminate by suspension of consciousness, if not by utter destruction, and Iam inclined to think tha$ without violencothe Scripturas mny be explained consistently, with that hope.” Another expresses thesad conviction : + Some men know just who will*bo saved and wko will be damned, but it troubles me to tell.” Still another answers, to hit if it is adeer, and missif itisa calf: “T believo in tho everlosting punishmentof the wicked ; 1 do not understand by this the ondless in- fliction of penal suffering ”; end again ho says: * Thold that every maw’s futuro is the proper, inevitable sequence of his pres- ent, ond should hesitate to ordain as a Con- gregational minister, though I might give ‘him fullest recognition s a Christian broth- er,—a man who weso't sure but he might teach the annihilstion of the wicked.” The nction of the Congregntionalists of Western Massachusetts, and the discussions which have arisen upon the case of Mr. Mrx- riay, have elready had the result to show that in the whole State over one-half the Congregational ministers do not believe in Hell or preach it, at least so far as it involves tire dogma of endless perdition. It is not unlikely that the sume proportion wil! hold good throughout the whole country, showing that there is still left in Congregationalism a great decl of that charity of belief and creed which characterized its earlier days, and that it has made decided advance since the time when its more liberal members bolted off into Unitarianism because they could not remain within the Congregational or even evangelical pale with their differcnce of belief. And now comes up tho great Calvinistic dogms, which hns been rosred and thuadered so many long years, and one- half the clergy are silent when they ere put upon the witness-stand to testify whether they believe or disbelieve it. How long is it sinco Mr. BEECHER raised & breeze and sstounded the other demominations by publicly preaching ngainst the -Calvinistic doctrine of the'future state of the wicked? Andyet, at the very same time, half the Congregetional ministers of Massachusatts held the same wiew, only they kept it to themselves, a3 a matter of policy perhaps, or perhaps because they were not asked to ex- press _ their views. If the same-question were propounded fo: tho clergy of other churelies that was sent out from the Indian Orchard Council, how many 1m0ro disbe- lievers would be found ? And this is all the more remarkable because the clorgy are likely to decide upon this question from the dogmatic and theological point of view. The laity would be likely to regard it from a more practical standpoint, withont reference to traditions or precedents, and, looking at it in this way, would very natarally arrive at the conclusion that Hell, instead of appertaining to & futuro state, 8s it did once, has been transforred to the present, and prevails quite profusely in this and other conntries, and that Hell exists, not only, as some contend, in cach man’s breast, but is also to be found in society, in politics, in courts, and in Governments, and that it is possible to raise it without the nso of levers or the waste of much straagth or time. , e . TEE KEY T0 THE UNIVEBSE Various speculations have been made by scientific men with reference to the Great Pyramid of Gizeh; and their principal con- clusions have recently been collated and pub- lished in book-form by the Rev. Joszpm A. Stss, of Philadelphis. He does not claim a high degree of merit for his work ; most of his facts and figures have been drawn from other authorities, and he has noi verified them all by rigid processes. He is inclined also to give equal importance to the deduc- tions which rest upon unquestioned premises and to those which are merely entertnining because they confirm, or seem to confirm, tho truth of revealed religion. But the co- incidences between the proportions of tho pyramid and certain units of measurement in the netural world are so striking, and they have been so attested, that they are en- titled to the nttention of enlightened people. "Tho symbolism of the Great Pyramid must always remain more or less & subject of speculation ; it may, or may not, have fore- shadowed tho history of the chosen people, the story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and ths sdvent of the Messioh upon the eartl:; = moy uave pointed backward to the flood, and forward fo tho millennium, for all wo Imow to the contrary. These are secrets which the pyrawmid has entombed more com- pletely than the bones or the treasures of its founders. But the mathematical properties of the building, and their relation to solar and terrestrial distances, are more easily ascer- tained. When tried by the appliances of ‘modern science and established by the most | exnct methods, thoy suggest n degree of knowledge among pre-historic men which is humilisting to onr pride and ought to bo encouraging to our industry. The Great Pyramid is the only one that is supposed to possess peculiar scientific sig- nificance. It stsnds about ten miles west of Cairo, and at the centreof the arc described by the shore-line drawn about the mouths of the Nile. It is atonce the oldest and the largest building in the world. Covering thir- teen acres of ground, or sbout four ordinary city blocks, towering 438 feet above the sur- rounding country, and containing gigantic blocks of stone, which no machinery known in our day could lift in position—it is, in its simple presence, eloguent testimony to the intclligence and industry of the race that constructed it. The moro it is cxamined the grander and more mysterions it appears. The circle which is described with its perpendicular as » radius indicates the mathomatical idea of the building, the circumference being the longth of the four sides of. the square base. The edifice thus nccomplishes a ‘practicel squaring of the circle, according to Mr. Srss. The quality of fiveness is strongly marked in the pramid. It has five sides and five corners. The first interior chamber is five times five layers of masonry from the Dbase, and the second chamber tive times fivo Inyers from the first. T'ho mensures of both chambers answer to a standard of five times five, or ten times five, inches. The granite coffer in the King's chamber hos five golid cxternal sides, snd 1s contained in the chamber just ten by five times. This intense fiveness is preserved even in the word pyramid, which derived from the Coptic pyr, meaning * division,” and met, “ten.” Nine is another number character- istic of the pyramid. At high noon the sun shines on a1l five of its corners and four of its sides, counting nine of its essentinl parts. Its practical shaping is mine to ten. For evory ten feet that its corners retreat ding- onally inwards in the process of building they riso upward or sunwerd nine feet. These may be ealled coincidences rather curious than valusble ; but the same cannot e said of the relation which the height of the pyramid bears to a most im- portant nstronomical measurement. Thir- ty feet of the original building hes been destroyed. Supposing this tobe restored, its height would be 485 feet. This number multiplied by ten to the ninth power gives the mean distance of the sun from the earth, that is 1,000,000,000 times the pyramid’s height, or 91,840,000 miles. The sun-dis- tance used to be put down at 96,000,000 miles. Later observations reduced the limit of uncertainty to between 91,000,000 and 93,000,000, and the transit of Venus in 1874 confirmed thelower figures, making the limit botween 91,000,000 and 92,500,000. The mean of the cstimates is very mnear the approximation arrived at by the multiplication ~ of . the perpendicular of the pyramid. Still more wonderful is the proportion sustained between the baseline and the scmi-dinmeter of the enrth. The French deriva their unit of measare, the metre, from the. guadrant of the earth’s circumference, supposing this to be divided into ten million parts, ome of which would be the length of the metre. But, in consequence of the impossibility of reducing a curved line to a straight one, and some errors of calculation, they did not reach an exact result. Tho better measure would have been s semi-diamoter of the earth, which can be ascertained more easily becauso it is a_straight line. It bas been found that the ten-millionth part of this semi-diameteris 25.025 inches, which is exact- Iy the old sacred cubit. The lengthof either of the Great Pyramid's four sides isa frac- tion over 761} feet, or nearly onc-seventh of a mile. In this ance the sacred cubit is contained 365} times—just as many times as there zre days in the year. The intention evidently was to epitomize ot once the earth’s diurnal and yearly motion nnd the length of its axis as a shorter expression of the other two forms. In this congection Mr, Szss remarks that, “as the existence of an axis of rotation makes the days, the grand stendard of length founded on that axiscounts them.” The inch also, which is the twenty- fifth part of the standard cubit, is contained in the perimeter of the pyramid one hundred times for every day in the year. There ara other ralations of linear meesure, not less interesting, which are too intricate to be described in this place. The pyramid is also & measure of capacity. As neary ascan ba computed, it is the one thousand billionth part of the weight of the whole earth-ball of and and sen. The capacity of tho coffer in the King's chamber of the pyramid is an ex- act divisor of the whole capacity of the build- ing; sndit contains 12,500 cubic inches of ~water at 68 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the equivalent of 2,500 pounds pyramid, one of +which is not very different from our pound avoirdupois. Theinterior chamberof the pyra- myd always has an even temperature, which, Mr. Sess has discovered, is the mean of tho earth’s tomperature. He infers, in summing up its properties, that the Great Pyramid proves itself abundsntly competent 1o determine on a nataral and most scientific ‘basis all mensures of length, weight, capaci- ty, and heat! ‘While we may not be prepared to go with him quite to this longth, we may safely sy that Lie has written of wonderfal things, and deserves ns much praise for his patience as for his credulity. Nor should his large faith and his still larger protensions entircly destroy the confidence of all readers in his narrative. He has mingled the truo with the false and the unknown in jnextricable confusion; but, as it wounld not be safe to accopt his conclusions in mass, neither would it be wise to reject them in the same manner. It is not Mr. Sriss, but Prof. Surra, Astronomer-Royal for Scotlend, who is responsible for most that has been written on this subject. It is, indeed, in their astronomical significance that the pyramidal relations aro most important. Sir JorN HerscErn showed unmistakably, in 1839, that the mouth of tho entrance tube pointed, in the year 2170 before Canist, to AAlpke Draconis, the then pole- star. Owing to the precession of the equinoxes, it no longer points in that dirce- tion; but 25,000 years from that time the unusual 1ark in the heavens which was then recorded will occur again. This astronomical phenomenon has been accepted as meant to e the sign of the date of the building of the pyramid, which is thus fixed ns 4,047 yearsago. It has been found also that, at the time of the building of the pyramid, its summit corner looked towards Alcyone in the Pleindes, which is believed to be the point towards which the whole solar system js. moving, and possibly the centre of the universe. In view of thes~ facts, which the most learned astronomers . ..ve rot disputed, who shall say that there wero not astronomers before history began; or that profounder secrets than any the world now knows were not revealed to the race in its infancy, and lost again through the sloth and crrruption of succeeding ages? THE FIRE FIENDS. There are some people in the City,cf Chi- eago who scem determined to burn it down again; at all events, these people are always rendy to incur the risk and increnso the danger, for sclfish and unworthy motives of their own. Ald. CurLERTON has taken upon himself the unenvizble task of representing this class of people in the Common Council, and a few other Aldermen, with the purpose of pandering to certain elements which they think may bn useful to them politically, scem disposed to assist him. The following is the copy of a new fire ordinance recently intro- duced into the Council by Curizrroy, and discussed before the Committee on Strests and Alleys : Secriox 1. That Section 1 of an ordinance amendatory of Chap. 11 of the Reviced Ordinances, passed July 20, 1874, entitled ** Fire Devart- ment, " and repealinz an ordinance paseed Nov, 24,1873, amending Scc. 5 of kaid chapter, be, 2ud the same i¢ hereby, amended €0 as to read as follows: Tue fire Imits of the City of Chicaco shall embrace and Include within the samé all of that dlstrict or terri- fary which 13 now contaihed within the corporate ltinfts of fatd City of Chicago, aud no bullding suall be here- after erceted within falll ire lmlts, 'inlcys a permit for Tins crection tnereot shail have been first obrained from the Superictendent of Pulldings of sald city. Drovided framc or wooden buildlngs, not over two lortes in hebzlit, may te erccted within the followiog mimnenciag on Stewart avesne ith Egan avenue, thence north alons The centre iie uf Bteware avenu to the centre line o ‘\ensy-ninth street, thenee west on Tweaty-nth street to_Haisted sireet, chence south on lfalsted Street to Thirty-first, thénce west on Thirty-Ant 1o ‘AShland avene, thence north on Ashiand avenue To 1 welfth strect. thonce west on Twelfc sireet to the ety tts; provided, further, that the fee for Issulng such permic suall notexceed 50 centa. Sec. 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in foree from and after its passage and on publication. This is o preposition, iu effect, to throw open the entire southwestern district of the city to the licensed erection of shanties, cot- tages, a5d wooden tenements without limit. 1t is a district which, in view of the large number of frame buildings it now contains and by reason of the preveiling southwest +winds, is slready a constant mennce to the most valaablo residence and business por- tions of the city. The proposition to multi- ply the number of wooden structures is sim- ply o proposition to maultiply the existing danger, and to carry it out will be to entail immedinte damage pending the calamity that is threatemed. It has created wide- spread pstonishment that o man like ALpeRT CraxE, repnied to be very wealthy, should appear beforo the Committee to advocate this scheme, which threatens his own prop- orty ond that of his neighbors, simply to seck an ndvantage for certain real cstato which he happens to own in the district which it is proposed to except from the re- strictions of the fire ordinance. Itisa con- spicuousinstance of the selfishness and short- sightedness which greed develops. The moral effect of announcing o the world that Chicago has sgain resoived to tolerato the erection of fire-traps without number will of itself cost this city millions of dollars a year in incrensed insuranco rates, withdrawal of the best companies, and loss of general business. ‘Tho district which it is proposed to except from the operation of the fivo ordinonce is large enough to create alarm of itself; but the license will not stop here. Other districts will cleim the same exomption, and get it, too. It will not be fir to permit the erection of wooden build- ings in the southwestern portion of the city, and refuse the same privilege to the south- ern, the western, the northwestern, and the northern districts. The resuit will .be that it will be impossible to onforce the fire ordi- nance in any portion of the city, except, perhaps, the business district which consti- tuted the old fire limit before the disastrous conflagration of 1671. The step cnce taken in this direction, the safe insurance com- panies, and especially the English companies, will probably withdraw cltogether from Chi- cego business, and those that remain will in- crease their rates enormonsly. It is not im- probable that tas adoption of the ordinance proposed would take 1,000,000 out of the pockets of Chicago business men and house- holders for incressed insurance retes, end it might lead to a concerted movement among the substantial compaaies to sbolish their Chicago agoncies. This was threatened, it will be ‘remembered, after the July fire of 1874, and it was only the passage of the law making the fire limits; co-extensive with the citylimits that prevented it. The withdrow- al of irsurance would be n death-blow to the business of the city; commercial houses would simply close their doors and seek lo- cation elsowhere. Even s material increase of rates would be a frightful burden on busi- ness and impede its growth. There ace other considerations which ren. icked. It would necessitate a large increase of taxation. The Chicago Firs Department, as now organized, enjoys the confidence of the community. Itis felt to be adequate to conquer any conflagration that may gete headway, as long as the present ‘building restrictions are enforced. But to begin again the unrestricted erection of fire-traps will be -to require o vast increase in the machinery and working force of the Fire Department, and such an increase can only be secured at the outlay of a large sum of money and s permanent addition to the annual tox-fund. Is there any justice in taxing the business and house-owners of a lerge part of the city in order to per- mit the property-owners of a favored section to build a lot of shanties? The city at large has alrendy beon taxed enormously to enable the land-owners in the southwestern portion to build brick houses. Sinee the enlargement of the limits, probably over $2,000,000 have beea exponded on sewerage and water-pipes in the outlying districts, in order that the property-owners might construct proper foundations. Is it fair that taxpayers gen- erally should have been compelled to con- tribute thus liberally without receiving the consideration that was promised to them? “Even those owning and living in frame houses in the district named have no interast in extending the same- privilege to meigh- boring property; on the contrary, the erec- tion of new frame houses will only increase their own danger. The fact is that thereis not a single ward in Chicago where the ma- jority of the residents are not opposed, by interest and inclination, to a revival of the old fire-trap privileges. * The Committes which have had the pro- posed ordinance under consideration have resolved to report- it back to the Council without recommendation. It will- come be- fore the Council without any other prestige than that which a few demngogues may give it individually. All the property and busi- ness interests of Chicago, large and small, are uncompromisingly opposed to it, so that there should not only be a majority ngainst it. but it should be voted down so promptly and overwhelmingly that the proposition will never again be revived, and certainly not while brick houses can be built almost as chesply as frame house: The fair suthoress of *“That Lass o’ Lowrie's” has already managed to get the traditional peck of trouble which is allotted to every as- plrant for literary fame. One of her earlier novels has been sold by the original publishers to another firm, who are about to print it, al- though Mrs. BORNETT has emphatically objected to the proceeding. Another book, which was originally written for a well-known ladies’ mag- azine, has, now that her reputation is estab- lished. been issued in cheap form by the publishers of the magazine. As if this were wot enough, Mrs. BURNETT has recently come into collision with the gentlemun who dramatized her most important story for the London stage. The play of ** Liz" was the grrentest artistic success of the summer in Lon- don, aud Mr. Joszra HATTON, Who flxed it up for theatrical representation, entered into negotia- tions with Mrs. BURNETT to have it produced at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, in New York, with FaxNT DAVESPORT in the leading part. Miss DAvENPORT - herself, when in Enzlund last summer, agreed to bring it out. But later, for some unknown reason, Mrs. BURNETT broke off the partial arraneement, preflerring to make her own adaptation of the movel. The conse- quence is that the piece has not been produced, nor is there any probability of its ever cominz out under such favorable auspices as werc offered. T We hear a great deal about the necessity of placating Mr. CoNKLING and allowing him to dictate the policy of the Republican party fn, order to help the party in New York. That is all poppy-cock. New York went Democratic in 1875 by 10,000; in 1874 by 50,000; fn 1875 by 15,- 000; in 1576 by 33,000; this year by 11,000, thougn the Democratic ticket was headed Ly amuch smirched candidate, and Mr. CONELING and Mr. Corris alike iabored for the Republican cause. The Democrats have run in those five years straight Democrats, and TILDEN Reformers, and Liberal Republicans, and Canal-Ring Democrats, and heve always carried the State. Suppose we take aleaf out of the Democratic book. Last vear the Democrats were urged not to adopt a Free-Trade platform for fear of **losing Penn- sylvania™; but, as they argued that Peonsylrania was lost anyhow, and so it dido’t make any difference whether the adversé majority was 5.000 or 50,000, they came out against Protec- tion, and came nearer carrsing the State than they had for years. When Mr. CONKLING can carry his State it will be time to placate him; but it s Zolly to attempt to do 5o when by put- tiug him down and sitting on his head we shall losc nothing fn New York and gaiu a good deal in other States. L —— . A mastodunian howl of despair comes all_the way from Davenport, Ia., from a diseruntied mother-in-law, whose erstwhile pleasant home has been reduced from “ alittle Eden” to a highly-colored chromo of the regions infernal by the introduction of o young person wbo evi- dently don’t know her place. *‘I have scen several articles in the papers against mothers- in-law,” says the complainaut, “*but it is very seldom sou see oné against daughters-in-law,” upon which text she elaborates the formula, “ Don’t marry untll you have a home of your own to take n wife to.” The auntagonism be- tween the girl of the period and her husband’s mother has been accepted as n peculiar social condition, which, like tie antagonism between the whites and the blacks, is not to be rcgulated by legislative cnactment or the application of any scientific principle, but left to its own force to solve its own problem. It is a questiou from the discussion of which men naturally shrink, ecither through a consciousness of inability to properly tackle the subject, or a demoalac de- lizht in sceing one woman et the Uest of anoth- er. no matter what their relations may be. - The opposition to American meat is being re- vived in England. But, afterall, that is an old story; tor did not CAMPBELL sing s innia necils no bultocks; ‘Not ours her longed-for sheep; Ter people will bave British beef, Altkoush the price is steep. With sirloins from her cative ox Housekeepers homeward go, As they roar and deplore ‘That the price is tac from low, That the butchers tack it on to them, ‘And the price is far from low. * The New York Commerciat advertiser isvery eevere on the President’s poliey, and .affects to be the only depository of pure Republicaaism and undefiled in the universe. Letus see. We believe that the cditor of the Commercial Adver- tiser s the Mr. [luen HASTINGS whose name figured inzhe TWEED fnvestigation on tbe back of some gushing letters to and thumping checks signed by the Boss. —e— A history of Tarkey written from an English standpoint musi be a remarkable production. The tolerant spiric of the Oitomans, and the wise and able statesmanship of the Viziers, are |, “nag. **1 have no orders to recelve from yol Gambetts. topica such as could only be discovered by s British historian, and Sir EDmarp CREASY is his name. ——— Tiow humiliating it must be to the sharp speculators, and kinzs of Wall street, and the raflrond magnates to reflect that the late Com- modore VANDERBILT, who always was too sharp, shrewd, and clever for them, was only o driveling luuatic, with intermissions of raving ‘madness! g ——e—— ‘We do not very clearly sec how, If President HAYES abdicates in favor of Mr. CONELING by decliniog to renominate Mr. RoosgveLT for the New York Collectorshiv. he can expect the Ke- tration for ts action 1 aopointiag the Jiy Commission of Tnvestization. The withdrawa) of Mr. RooseveLT will be the repudiation of ‘Mr. JAT. Thefe is no middle eround. ———— Two of the New York papers had the enter. prise to order specinl reports of Mr. Wigg. BURNE'S lecture on Paris and the horrors of thy Commune, and one of them was the Sun, whose de jacto editor, Citizen JORN SWINTOX, is one of the leaders of the New York Commune. ——— In St. Louis the other day a petition was ;5,. culated for the introduction of the studyor German in the public schools, wherenpon som, knavish individuals got up anoter petition ask. fng the Directors 1o introduce -also the study of Trish. —— An amateur philolozist writes to ask Tmy TrigoNE what “eftsoons™ meansin this lay Tine from “The Aucient Marines Eftaoons hia band dropped he, . Why, it means that he dropped it p. & q. . s Memorandam to President Haves: Ity with Civil-Service reform, as quacizs say of thejp patent medicines: * The lurgest bottles arg much the cheapest.” e ————— According to an Eastern corrcspondent, Tiil- nois is represented. abroad by a dozen Govern. ment officials, the ageregate of their salarjey being $33,000. ————— There are only 8,000 applicants for Goverg- ment positions abroad, and there will probably be as many 18 thirty changes in the next twelys months. —— Sepator Davis does not promise to be any conspicuous exception to the rule that a Sena. tor can never be & successful Presidential candi. date. —_—— ’ Gov. HENDRICES has put an end to the story about TILDEN’S rencwing the contest for thy Presidency. So the country is safe. e —— ‘The good young men of the Base-Ball League will not play mateh games on Sunday any more,—no more. The idea of taxing Chinese immigrants s op- posed to all principles of free trade. PERSONAL. The London Theatre says: * Prompt. Dbooks prove sometimes an acceptable legicy. A well-known ,Liverpool manager Iately paid Mrs, Charles Kean 100 gaincas for the loan of the prompt-book of *The Winter's Tale," a3 arranged riate husband, and played atthe Princen’ - The e A presentiment of the fate of the Huron made Licar. Arthur H. Flewcher, her erecu- tive officer, acsert her laat March, while she was in the harbor of Port Royal, S. C. For this he was court-martialed last August, at the Washingtoz Navy-Yard, and the fact of the presentiment now on record as his defense at the time. During a discussion in the Pittsburg Pres- Dbyters on dancing recently, Dr. Jennings sad he ‘had heard that in some dances it was castomary for 2 gentleman to place his arm around alady's walat. Tic hzd never scen anything of this kind done, but if such was the practice he was clearly of the opinton it could result only in evil. The venena- ble Docto:'s lack of kzowledge on this point occa- sloned the most nproarions laughter. Prof. Goldwin Smith is passing the win- ter with higold friends of the colleges, andthe many attractions of the Bodlelan Library at Ox- ford. The Professor's pen is never idle, and articles over his siznature find their way Into the. Contemporaryand otber English reviews. Hebis 8lso promised to write the volume on ‘Wordsworth fora scries of handy yolumes, to be published by s London hoase. & Gen. Grant has-written a letter from Paris to 2 Washington friend which takes a very hopefal viewof Preaident Hayes' fature condact. I iy probably based npon s leaf from Grant's own ex- perience. He sald President Hayes woald very soon find ont who his friends are, and whom he could depend tpon. As soon ns the Democrats begin showing **their hands in the game they st playing the Kepublican pacty will dnd President Hayes withit, heart and.soul.” .. .. Farjeon 1 rebuked by the Jewith Tima~ because he says his mother was Irizh, thusdis- avowing s Jewish ancestry, **We have slways known him 85 2 Jew of the Jews,” says the Tima; he 18 o brother of Mr. Isrzel Farjeon, awell-kaowm Jewish merchant of thiscity. In London he ks always moved in such Jewish soclety as was open tohim. Before his marringe to Siiss Jeerson b was engaged to the daughter of a Jewlsh rabbiln London. At the beginning of his careerhe was generously aesisted by his co-relizionists in Eo- gland, and his ppearance, menners, and aseoci: tions all stamp him 8y & pure-blovded Jew.™ John Carter, Jr., o Manchester ses-Cap- tain, isa man equal to any emergency. His ship was tosall rom New York on a certain dsy, sod on the day preceding the Captain was to wed oneat Manchester's fairest daughters. The happy dsy found the gallant sailor st his natlve place, bus the Town Clerk was in o distang town and o mar- riage certilcate wasto be had. Tae undaunted Captain promptly had 4 town meeting called and3 Town Clerk pro tem. chosen, from whom he ob- tatned the necded document, shufled of his ‘bachelorhood af the appointed hour. and the nexd day was on his bridal journey npon the sea. A dispatch to the London Times, dated Nov.10, says: *Lient.-Gen. Skobelel. the dssh- ing young hero of the war on the Russian side, W35 wounded last might on his outpost liue. The wousd is aid to be in the side, and not dangerat but accurate information is wanting. Ile is lylog at his headquarters in Brestoves, whither the Grand Duge Nicholas has gone to sce him. The reckless manaer in which Skobelef always exposed Dimeelf In his brilliont nniform caused bim t0 b rewarded as possessing 3 charmed life, but he wad hit last night by & chance buliet, after passioz ua- scathed througn many desperate battles dariog the present war.” “While the Turks and the Russisns aré slaughtering one azother by thousands in Earose and Asia, 2 ball is given In New York in ald of the fands of the Socicties of the Crescent and the Cross, in which Mr. Schisken, tne Russian Ambasesdos, and Aristarchi Bey, the representative of Tarkels have promised to dance in the same quadrille. the forcizn Ministers at Washington, the very 2ed whose respective Governments are watching one another like tigers, ready, upon occasion, to spring. into the arena for » division of the spoil, hare promised to be present, and the President and his Cabinet have been fuvited. Tke ball Is under the superintendence of some of the leading ladies of the most fashionable society in New York, and th¢ fands will, of course. be equaily divided betweed the two noble Societies. Dr. Oliver W. Holmes wrote a discrimi- ating obituary notice of Dr. E. IL Clarke, the anthor of **Sex in Education,” for the Bostod Adeertiser. He does not prasse Dr. Clarke a8 3 ‘writer, except on topics strictly professional. i books were much read by the general public. 8% Dr. Hoimes eays, but they diminished, ratber thaa increased his just reputation. Zoscius in sud arte 15 go0d maxim, and u little more polite than thsk ‘mechanieal rule about the shoemaker and his 13t Dr. Clarke did not quite know (few people 0 where the limits of Lis own art were, aud it made agrea difference whether he was within them 0f withont. It was necessary when he wrote *+Ses in Edacation” 1o eriticise what he zaid rather thad the conselentious and wise physician whosaid i —and the censure he received was sometimes rudes 23 D13 ownrages were. There was s trying scene, worthy of the American Conzress, in the French Assembly 0088 16th of November, when Gambetts Geclared that the Government bad gained forty scats ** by thef and fraud.” The report says that, upon the BHer ance of these significant words: *+Take back the word thefr,” yelled Paal de Cusas® o, thundered © S4B Wil et thiem from the Chamber.” cried Patl ‘it toe ‘oratur espiain higisclr,” sald Grev). ©20 President. Alittle later M. Creneo d'Omano, Bonapartist, Wi reccatly announced i ] **would make such & pusie out of the Republieaiiby, even the doze wouldn's fouch it,” Interrupted GAR) ta azain, awkine if the oratur thought he was the Caf Procuge. or In the atled which be used 20 artag a *“Gocare for the kennel where you are PICISlis your Kepublican, paite. M. Ceenco @oroano. ctia's contemptuous réAponse. % this junciure. W Crenwo d-Oriano raa down I3 his seat to the foot Of the tribuge stairk i1 out provocation after provocation sz Usmbetit. o nolscon both 121ght and Lert was almost dealthin, Fluaily M. Grery.in his stera fmparziaiicy, made C7h Dettn tané Lagk fis phrase nbout. -~ thert gnd ity ‘The orator did 80, 23 ho thougnt it prematura. W-’ Femaried, **When the. {ovestigation geus 10, 6orK, Wli1 have the proof of what I have sdvaaced. a_plctaresads