Earlier text: VINDICATION OF THE TRUE SABBATHThe Second Coming of Christ.
Is it to be literal? Will the Lord really return to this world in person? Or is the language which in so many different ways predicts the coming of the Lord to be taken in a figurative or mystical sense, meaning death, conversion, spiritual manifestations, calamity and overthrow, either national or individual? The next appearing of Christ is to be his second appearing. So Paul explicitly states it: “Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin unto salvation.” Heb. 9 : 28. Now we say that to make death the second coming of Christ, destroys this language of the apostle; for then we have as many second comings of Christ as there are deaths in the land. If it be said that the death of an individual is not the second coming of Christ in a general sense, but only to that individual, then we inquire, what was the first coming of Christ to that individual? If it is to individual experience that these predictions of the second coming of Christ refer, it must be also in individual experience that the first coming occurs; for these two comings are related to each other; and a second implies that a first has taken place. Now if death is to any individual the second coming of Christ, it is incumbent on those who take this view to tell us what constituted to that individual the first coming of Christ. Will they do it? No doubt they would willingly if they could, but can they? The same remarks apply to conversion. The second coming of Christ was not the destruction of Jerusalem; for predictions written after that event prophesied of it as an event yet future. Rev. 1 : 7; 3 : 11; 6 : 16, 17; 14 : 14. To bring out in vivid light the absurdity of all views which spiritualize the second coming of Christ, we have only to view them against the background of some of the plain declarations of the scriptures concerning this event. The first passage to which we call attention is one which the Christian reads with ever fresh delight. It is one which electrifies with joy every heart in which the love of Christ is found. It was spoken under circumstances which cannot fail to give a correct and vivid idea of the nature and manner of the return of our blessed Saviour; and it contains an enunciation of the truth so clear and forcible that it cannot well be evaded or ignored. We refer to the testimony of the angels to the men of Galilee, as they stood gazing up into heaven to catch the last view of their ascending Lord. When Jesus had finished the work which he had personally to accomplish on the earth, he led his disciples out as far as Bethany, bestowed upon them his parting blessing, and was taken up into heaven. And while in mute astonishment they gazed steadfastly up toward the cloud which had received him out of their sight, two men in white apparel stood by, bearing to them the very promise best calculated to comfort them in that sad hour of separation, and one which has been of equal comfort to the saints of every following age who have mourned the long-continued absence of the Lord. Hear what the angels said: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Cheering words! Worthy to be inscribed in letters of gold! worthy to be worn as frontlets between the eyes, and engraven on every door-post, as no doubt they are deeply enshrined in every Christian heart. Three points are made clear by this testimony:— 1. That the Lord will surely come again. He “shall come.” 2. That this coming is to be in the person of Jesus himself: “This same Jesus.” 3. That his coming is to be visible, in the clouds of heaven. Otherwise it would not be as they had seen him go into heaven. Personally, bodily, visibly, he ascended. It was a literal transaction, seen with their natural eyes, accomplished in the light of day. They beheld him till a literal cloud hid him from their view. In like manner will he come again. Literally the clouds will reveal him. All eyes shall see him. Even those which would gladly be buried forever from his presence beneath earth’s massive mountains, will be compelled to look upon his majesty and glory. Blessed are those eyes which shall be prepared to behold in the Coming One a friend and Saviour, and shall hail him with the joy that shall be born of the certain knowledge that their salvation is at last accomplished. Is Adventism a New Thing?
By J. O.
No. From the days of Enoch (see Jude 14, 16) to the age of the Messiah, prophets and holy men spake in the most enraptured tones of the scenes of the last days. Scripture writings abound in prophetic warnings of the final catastrophe, and the victory. Both are held up to the view of all who read the word of God. The New Testament is more clear than the Old on this subject. The revelation is an inspired commentary upon some portions of the prophecy of Daniel; and the words of Christ, in Matt. 24, seem to be brought in still clearer light, in the pages of John's Revelation. Since the close of the canonical writing, good men have borne their unequivocal testimony to the same doctrine. Almost all the best and holiest of the universal church from Polycarp to Luther have borne the most undoubted testimony, to the common belief of the church, in the coming of the Messiah (personally) to the earth in the last days. Very lately, coming in possession of a work written by that learned and devoted minister, Dr. John Owen, a dissenting clergyman, of the English church, in 1636, an author of many valuable works, I was surprised to find an elaborate argument, proving that the decree of Artaxerxes, of Ezra 7, was the true date for the beginning of the seventy weeks of Daniel 9:24, rather than the decree of Cyrus, or Darius. See Ezra chapters 7 and 4. This argument written by Dr. Owen some 200 years since, seemed so much like the writings of Seventh-day Adventists that I could not help comparing them; and placing them side by side, I was more firmly established than ever, if possible, in the truth of our position. Here we have Dr. John Owen, in those stormy times of Cromwell, writing out the very truth which others have produced in our days. Adventism is as old as the Bible.
J. O. Visit to Oregon.
By Ellen G. White
MY visit to Oregon was of special interest to me. I here met, after a separation of four years, my dear friends, Brother and Sister Van Horn, whom we claim as our children. It was a most precious season to me; especially did my motherly heart go out in sympathy and love for Adelia Van Horn, and her two children whom I had never before seen. Separation had not estranged our hearts; our love and confidence had never been broken. Every moment of my stay with those dear children was precious to me. The labors of our brother and sister have not been in vain in the Lord. They have labored amid much discouragement, and deprivation of the society of familiar friends, and the sacrifice of many comforts, to do what they could for the Lord in the distant field of their labors. Sister Van Horn and her sister, Frances Jones, have suffered from ill health, and at times it was feared that both would lose their lives. But many prayers have ascended to heaven from their house, pleading that the great Healer would remove disease from them and give them health and freedom in him; and the Lord has brought them through their sore afflictions that they may glorify his name. Both sisters are now in much better health, for which we praise God. Elder Van Horn is a missionary in the true sense of the word, and a man of excellent ability and deep spirituality. His wife is equally talented and self-sacrificing. Their devotion to the cause of present truth has led to the sound conversion of many souls. Brother Van Horn, with characteristic modesty, has not furnished as full and favorable reports of his work as he might justly have done. I was accordingly somewhat surprised, and very much pleased to find the cause of God in so prosperous a condition in Oregon. Through the untiring efforts of these faithful missionaries a company of Sabbath-keepers has been raised up on the North Pacific coast which does honor to the cause. As a class they are persons of intelligence and rare moral worth. My association with them was very pleasant. I felt my heart linked with theirs in Christian sympathy and fellowship. I felt it my privilege to rest upon the first Sabbath after my arrival in Salem. Tuesday evening, June 18, I met for the first time in this State a goodly number of Sabbath-keepers, who possess true moral worth. My heart was softened by the spirit of God. I gave my testimony for Jesus, and for the sweet privilege that was ours of trusting in his love, and of claiming his power to unite with our efforts to save sinners from perdition. If we would see the work of God prosper we must have Christ dwelling in us; in short we must work the works of Christ. Wherever we might look the whitening harvest appeared; and the laborers are so few. I felt my heart filled with the peace of God, and drawn out in love for his dear people with whom I was worshiping for the first time. On Sunday, June 23, I spoke by invitation, in the Methodist church of Salem, on the subject of Temperance. The attendance was unusually good, and I had freedom in treating this, my favorite subject. I was requested to speak again in the same place on the Sunday following the camp-meeting, but was prevented by hoarseness. On the next Tuesday evening, however, I again spoke in this church. Many invitations were tendered me to speak upon Temperance in various cities and towns of Oregon, but the state of my health forbade my complying with these requests. Constant speaking, and the change of climate, had brought a temporary but severe hoarseness upon me. The camp-meeting was a season of profitable labor for God, and strengthened the church to go on in their warfare for the truth. I had freedom in speaking, though suffering almost constantly from hoarseness. I felt glad to meet with his people, who deeply appreciated my labors among them. During my stay in Oregon, I visited the prison in Salem, and by invitation spoke to the convicts in the prison chapel. Next week I will give an account of this visit, and my discourse on that occasion. The old adage, “Take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves,” is a good motto, but like many other good things is disregarded on account of its age. While contemplating our missionary work I have been impressed with the important part our spare dimes and half dimes might be made to act in the great work. I am reminded of the widow’s two mites cast into the treasury of the Lord at Jerusalem, and how the little sum was appreciated by the Lord himself. Jesus called his disciples and especially commended the act of the poor widow; a record of the deed was made in the book we recognize as the word of God, and the fame thereof has been handed down to all succeeding generations, and will probably never cease. Two mites is a sum equal to about half a cent, and we see what that small amount accomplished. It procured the blessing of God; and a small sum given with like humble faith, will procure a like blessing now. How much good missionary work could be accomplished with the dimes and half dimes that are carelessly thrown away for little follies. Five cents will buy forty pages of truth-bearing tracts, and ten cents will buy eighty pages. But think of how much an accumulation of these small moneys will do. Probably one-half of the receipts of all our thousands of saloons are dimes and half dimes—given away by those who say to themselves as they thus squander their means, “Oh, ten cents is nothing.” And perhaps the same persons, if solicited for a dime to assist some beneficent cause, would deny their own argument, and maintain that “every ten cents counts, these hard times.” Dime savings banks accumulate so much means that dishonest bank officers frequently find it convenient to fail and retire rich. Another feature in this connection is pride. The missionary work, the publishing work, and the preaching work could all be greatly increased in usefulness by the dimes that are kept back through pride. Many would gladly do some great thing who are too proud to give a dime, hence they do nothing, and the dime probably goes for candy or some other injurious or useless folly. Many poor persons will subscribe to a good cause, and through pride subscribe more than they are able to pay; consequently they pay nothing, and the cause lacks the little that might have been given. If the dimes that are thoughtlessly thrown away as nothing worthy of saving, and those kept back through pride to give so small an amount, were cast into the treasury of the Lord, there would be no lack of means to carry on the cause of truth.
W. N. G. THERE is not the slightest reason to believe that he meant to teach that one of the ten commandments had ceased to be binding on mankind. If he had used the word in the singular number, the Sabbath it would then, of course, have been clear that he meant to teach that that commandment had ceased to be binding, and that a Sabbath was no longer to be obseved. But the use of the term in the plural number, and the connection, show that he had his eye on the great number of days which were observed by the Hebrews as festivals, as a part of their ceremonial and typical law, and not to the moral law, or ten commandments. No part of the moral law—no one of the ten commandments—could be spoken of as "a shadow of good things to come." These commandments are from the nature of moral law, of perpetual and universal obligation. Catholicism and Communism
THE Catholic Review denounces communism and rejoices that no Catholics are communists. Of course, the papacy both fears and hates the commune, for the spirit of the commune is passionate hatred of the church and religion. But the Review ought to remember that nearly all the communists of the world to-day were once Roman Catholics, and that their present attitude is a violent reaction from the superstition and formality of popery. And if the communists are not Catholics, the Mollie Maguires were, and Catholic newspapers conspicuously fomented their discontent, palliated their crimes, and fostered their excuses. —Christian Statesman. WISE sayings often fall to the ground, but a kind word is never thrown away. I SHALL not soon forget the family of Israel Day, who lived neighbor to my father when I was a boy. Mr. Day was working out as a laborer, and as he had a large family dependent upon his earnings for support, and sometimes in our neighborhood it was difficult to find employment, the family was poor, and the strictest economy had to be practiced to furnish the bare necessities of life. I often wondered how it happened that such a man as Mr. Day should be so poor. He had no intemperate or extravagant habits and was a man of more than common education, and there was an air of intelligence and refinement about the entire family that commanded the respect of their neighbors. Mr. Day was industrious, but always seemed to me a man who had no ambition in life, and who expected and desired no more than a mere subsistence for his family. No one in the neighborhood knew anything of his history. The family had come from another State a few years previous, and while polite and friendly they were very uncommunicative as to their former life, and there was something about them that forbade inquisitiveness. I was at this time sixteen years old, and on very intimate terms with Mr. Day's family. At the time of my story he was helping my father on the farm for a few days and boarding with us. One day when we came in from our forenoon work, we found 'Squire Black was to take dinner with us, and as he was reputed to be the wealthiest man in the township we felt quite honored. He was a very genial man and an excellent talker, and had an adroit way of flattering and making every one feel easy in his company. On this occasion he made himself very agreeable; he praised the neat appearance of the farm and buildings, complimented mother on her good cooking, called me a fine, manly fellow, gave some small change to the children, and by the time dinner was over had gained the good will of the entire family. After dinner Mr. Black asked to see the stock and examine the arrangement of the barn and outbuildings, and as father took pride in having good, well-fed stock and one of the most conveniently arranged barns in the county, he was glad to show him around, and was much pleased with the hearty commendation which Mr. Black bestowed upon them. He finally made known the object of his visit; he had found a piece of very desirable property for sale, low, so that there was no question that within less than a year he could clear several thousand dollars on it, but he must pay all cash down and he lacked two thousand dollars of having enough money to pay for it. He wished father to become security for him for one year, as he had found a party who was willing to lend him the amount if his signature could be had to the note. He did not give father time to think or scarcely to answer his questions, but took out his pocket-book and handed him a paper supposing it to be the note which he had drawn up, and signed by himself, all ready for father's signature. I verily believe that if the paper had been what 'Squire Black thought it to be, father could not have refused to sign it; but it so happened that he had made a mistake and left the note at home and had substituted for it another paper. A shade of vexation passed over the 'Squire's face when he discovered the mistake, but he at once recovered his good humor and said, "Never mind; I will call again this evening," and hastily mounted his horse and rode away. Father looked troubled, and turning to me said, "I do not like to indorse for any one, but 'Squire Black will be insulted if I should refuse, and as he is rich I suppose there can be no risk about it. It is only complying with a legal form and I suppose I shall be obliged to do it; but I wish he had not asked me to do so." Before I could reply, the barn door opened and Mr. Day came out; he was pale and deeply agitated, and when he spoke I should not have recognized his voice. Calling my father by name he said, "I believe that you are in danger, and if you will listen to me I will give you a chapter from my own history that I had never intended should be known to any in this neighborhood." Father motioned for me to leave, thinking that Mr. Day wished to speak to him alone. He noticed it, however, and said, "No; let him stay, for one cannot learn too soon the lesson that my experience teaches. I would be willing that it should be published to the world if thereby some could be saved from my bitter experience. I overheard, as you know, what 'Squire Black said to you. Listen to my story and then decide as to whether you will put your name on his note. "Fifteen years ago, when I was married, I was not the poor man that you now know me to be. My father gave me as my share of his property two thousand dollars, which I had increased to three, and my wife received as her wedding portion one thousand dollars. We were both strong and willing to work, and ambitious to succeed in the world, and we bought a good farm, running in debt a few hundred dollars. For several years we were greatly prospered. We had good health, and the seasons were favorable, so that we grew heavy crops and obtained fair prices for them. "At the end of five years we had paid off our debt and had nearly one thousand dollars in bank, and we felt that it would be safe to build a new house, although we expected to put more than the amount of money on hand into it. "In the meantime there had come into the neighborhood one of the most companionable men I ever met. He was familiarly known as Capt. Cole. He had been a lawyer, but had been appointed by the General Government to a lucrative office which he held for some years, and had the reputation of being very wealthy. He lived in good style, and was a general favorite in all the community. "When my house was finished I found myself in debt seven hundred dollars, and as I had given the contract to a carpenter, he to furnish everything, he needed all his money. I went to the bank to borrow the amount until I could find some one who would let me have it for one or two years, and not being accustomed to borrow money it did not occur to me that an indorser would be necessary, until the cashier of the bank informed me that it was their invariable custom to require security. Capt. Cole, who happened to be in at the time, overheard the conversation and came forward with a pleasant 'good morning,' saying, 'I shall be only too happy to indorse for my friend, Mr. Day.' I felt both grateful and flattered, and when a few months later I happened to be in the bank when he wanted an indorser, I was glad to return the favor. "We had two years of prosperity, and I paid the debt on my house. I now determined to build a fine barn, and as I had always paid my debts easily and could not well get along with my old barn until I had saved the money to build the new one, I determined to borrow one thousand dollars, and happening to meet Capt. Cole I asked him if he knew where I could get that amount for three years. He told me he did, and offered to become my security. The money was borrowed and my barn begun. "A few weeks later Capt. Cole called to see me. Like 'Squire Black to-day, he seemed delighted with everything he saw. His flattery put me in the best possible humor, and when he asked me to indorse a note of $5,000 for sixty days, and assured me that he could meet it (or even twice as much) promptly, to the day, I consented against my better judgment, and affixed my signature to the note. That act ruined me. Before the sixty days expired I learned that he was bankrupt. My farm was sold at a sacrifice, under the hammer, and when I paid the thousand dollars which I had borrowed to build the barn with, I was left penniless. "With my history in your possession, do you wonder that I was alarmed to-day when I saw you about to fall into the same trap? I tell you I have a right to feel deeply on this subject. Would that I could make my voice be heard by every young man in the land. I would say to him, shun as you would a serpent this evil which has brought ruin to so many families. I realize fully what it means to put my name on another man's paper, and it is just this—that I assume all the risks of his business, without any voice in its management or any possible chance of profit if he is successful; but with a fearful certainty that if from any cause he makes a failure, my earnings must make it good, even though it reduces my family to beggary. Since my own misfortune I have made this a matter of study, and I find that a very large per cent. of the business failure of the country (and nearly all among farmers) are due to this practice." The remainder of my story is soon told. My father was deeply impressed by Mr. Day's story, and before night I was dispatched to 'Squire Black's with a note from Father stating that after carefully considering the matter he had decided not to sign the note. In less than a year after this 'Squire Black was declared a bankrupt, and in the final settlement of his business it did not pay ten cents on the dollar. Father felt that he owed a debt of gratitude to Mr. Day, and he presented him with a good team and helped him to rent a farm. This encouraged him, and he worked so industriously and managed so prudently that in a few years he was able to buy a small farm and has since been able to support his family comfortably. Many years have passed since these events transpired, and I am now passed middle life, but I have never ceased to be thankful for the lesson taught me by Mr. Day, and in fulfilling his wish I would repeat the lesson which the story teaches—never indorse.—Selected. Parental Responsibility.
By J. F. Patterson
God, the Creator of man, has established the family constitution. It is he who setteth the solitary in families. As to the design of this constitution, we are expressly informed in Malachi 2:15: "And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed." And it is declared that "a seed shall serve him." Ps. 22:30. The parent is the divinely constituted head and lord of his family. The authority which he possesses is not usurped, but is delegated to him by Him who is the source of all authority. It belongs to the station which he occupies, and to which he has been called by the providence of God. He is invested with certain legislative and executive prerogatives. He has committed to his supervision a most interesting and important charge. And to God, the judge of all, he must one day render an account of his stewardship. Nor is he left without ample instructions as to his duties, and the manner in which he should discharge them. The Scriptures are a safe and sufficient guide in this matter. The inspired volume abounds with precept and examples bearing directly upon the subject of parental duty and responsibility. These duties and responsibilities are weighty and solemn. An adequate conception of their magnitude might make an angel tremble to assume them. Parents, remotely and instrumentally, control the nations of the earth by forming and directing public sentiment and feeling. They wield the scepter of authority, though visibly held by the hands of a few. They enact and execute the laws by training the minds and habits of those who become law-givers and judges. And they, humanly speaking, decide the character and destiny of their respective generations, both for this world and the next. How stupendous the power! how awful the responsibilities! The parent is a sovereign in his family. His word is law to his household. The Apostle Paul enjoins: "Children obey your parents in the Lord." Eph. 6:1. The decalogue enjoins: "Honor thy father and mother." This is the first commandment with promise. Servants are exhorted to be obedient to their masters according to the flesh. God said of Abraham: "I know him that he will command his children and his household after him." Here is the existence of rightful authority, and a command to render it due obedience. No human authority can interfere with, nor contravene that of a parent over his family. The civil arm reaches beyond its legitimate sphere, when it presumes to obtrude its power into the domestic circle. Even the most absolute monarch is compelled to respect the family authority; for no king can be secure on his throne, where no subject is safe in his house. But although there can be no appeal to human authority from the due administration of parental government, yet the head of a family is not the ultimate lord with underived authority. His power is delegated to him by the Founder of the domestic society. And should he presume to contravene the primary obligations of religious duty which are imposed on his children and servants by their Creator, he would usurp an authority with which he has never been invested. This would be treason against the Most High, and rebellion against the Supreme Head of all families, while children are commanded to "obey their parents," it is nevertheless added, "in the Lord." Eph. 6:1. This delegation and restriction of power should ever be remembered by parents, and never be forgotten by their children. While the parent, therefore, acts within his prescribed sphere, obedience to his commands is obedience to God. This circumstance imparts to parental authority a moral influence which no usurped power can ever exert over the minds of children and servants. A child should be made to distinctly understand the source whence his parents derive their authority to command, direct and control him. This knowledge will beget in his mind a reverence for that authority, which will most commonly secure a willing and a habitual obedience. It brings to his mind the influence of higher motives than can possibly be derived from mere human authority or natural connection. He looks upon obedience as a religious duty, and not as a forced submission to the caprice and tyranny of parents. And he regards his obligation to obey, not as imposed by human authority, or by the223 mere relation which he sustains to his parents, but as flowing from the express command of God.—J. F. PATTERSON, in Christian Statesman. ANOTHER day, another day,
And yet another wears away;
Another year, another year,
How soon the close of life draws near;
On fleeting wings the hours pass by,
'Tis but a day, the end is nigh.
'Tis but a step from youth to age,
We glide so swiftly down life's stage;
And oh! what scenes of joy and strife
Are crowded in this one short life.
The flashing eye, the dimpled cheek,
The joy, the hope of youth bespeak;
But all too soon maturer age
Will stamp them with her signet sage.
Too soon those velvet feet must press
O'er rude, rough paths of ruggedness;
Too soon that dimpled cheek will bear
The furrowed trace of grief and care;
Too soon that stately form will bow,
Too soon will change that youthful brow,
And the elastic step give place
To a more measured lengthened pace.
Then let the bright, glad morn of youth,
Be stored with gems of fadeless truth,
Culling each day what needful be
For this life and eternity.
Oh! let the early years be fraught
With only pure and lofty thought,
From all base lusts and grov'ling soar,
Then, when the scenes of life are o'er,
Return to God all pure and true;
Pure as the snowflake or the dew,
Bright as the sun, bright as the star,
And leave no stain thy life to mar.—Sel. —There is a great flood in the Missouri river. —The grape crop in Sonoma county promises to be large. —There are over 80,000 children in San Francisco under the age of 18. —Calistoga experienced a slight shock of earthquake on Saturday, July 20. —The army worm has appeared in the vicinity of Woodland, Yolo county. —Sweden has sold the island of St. Bartholomew, in the West Indies, to France. —Dr. James Ayer, the patent medicine man, recently died, in Massachusetts, worth several millions. —The wheat crop the present year in the United States will reach the large sum of 400,000,000 bushels. —It is estimated that over 100,000 persons in New England have signed the total abstinence pledge since December 1. —The harvest of Nebraska this year, will be the most bountiful in its history. The wheat crop will not fall short of 15,000,000 bushels. —Yellow fever has broken out at the Brooklyn Navy Yards, N. Y. Measures have been taken to stay the spread of the dreaded disease. —It is stated that in the well-to-do classes of England, 8,000 children out of every 100,000 die in the first year of their lives; but in the poorer classes, 32,000 in every 100,000. —Over eleven hundred French Communists have received either a remission or a commutation of their sentences in honor of the Paris Exhibition fete. Forty thousand francs were also distributed among the poor of Paris. —The ancient tower of Aspermont in Switzerland, which crowned a mass of high rocks, and which had withstood the tempests of ages, fell lately with a tremendous crash, and crushed a number of goats which were browsing in its shadow. The castle, with which it was connected, was built by the Roman Emperor Valentinian, in the year 368. It had long since crumbled away. —The net value of bullion product of the United States and Territories west of the Missouri river, for the year 1877, according to the more reliable statistics on this subject, which it is possible to produce, were: gold, $44,870,223; silver, $45,846,109; lead, $5,085,250; being a total of $95,801,582. This is the largest ever turned out in this country in any one year. The amount produced during the same year in British Columbia and Mexico was $2,610,172. —July 17, a freight train of twenty-eight cars, bound west, was thrown from the track while crossing the bridge over Tippecanoe river, near Monticello, Ind. All the cars except the caboose tumbled into the stream, a distance of ninety feet. The caboose, with six passengers, was saved by the presence of mind of a brakeman, who uncoupled it just before the inevitable plunge. The engineer was crushed to death, and the bridge tender was instantly killed. Four tramps stealing a ride on the under side of a car were miraculously saved by the car falling bottom up in the water. —A new Pompeii has been discovered in Italy. At the foot of mount Gargango a buried town has been laid bare, the houses being twenty feet below the surface. A temple of Diana was first brought to light, then a portico composed of columns without capitals, and, finally, a necropolis covering nearly four acres. The Italian government has taken measures to continue the excavations on a large scale, and has already discovered a monument erected in honor of Pompey after his victory over the pirates. The town is the ancient Sipontum, of which Strabo and Levy speak, and which was buried by an earthquake. —A cyclone struck North Albany, N. Y., July 21, sweeping through West Albany, unroofing houses, scattering the contents of lumber yards, and damaging the gas works. Loss, $100,000. —The cost of our alcoholic drinks in this land is $700,000,000, and in great Britain $765,000,000. The number of cigars made here in 1877 was 18,000,000, besides 149,000,000 cigarettes. —According to the latest returns, the cultivated land of France is divided into 5,500,000 properties. Five millions are under six acres. Belgium has a like subdivision of property. In Ireland, on the other hand, 110 owners hold more than one-fifth of the soil. —The foundation schools of England are Eaton, Winchester, Westminster, Shrewsbury, Rugby, Harrow, Charterhouse, St. Paul's School, and Merchant Taylors' School, the "sacred nine," as they have been not inaptly designated. They were founded within a period ranging from the close of the fourteenth century to the beginning of the seventeenth. —The value of fruit crops in the United States is estimated by the Government statistician at $140,000,000 annually, or about the value of the wheat crop. The value of the annual crop of Michigan is put down at $4,000,000. California has 60,000 acres of vineyards, producing 10,000,000 gallons of wine annually, besides vinegar, raisins, brandy and fresh grapes. The other States produce 5,000,000 gallons of wine annually. The single port of Norfolk, Va., reported 3,000,000 quarts of strawberries. Illinois, whose fruit growing is of recent origin, now has 320,000 acres of orchards.