Earlier text: Nevada Camp-MeetingThe Cause in North Dakota.
By George C. Tenney
In the history of our country and perhaps of the world, there has never been recorded so rapid a settlement and development of country as has taken place within the limits of this Territory. There are so few obstacles here to be overcome before the reward of labor can be reaped. The hospitalities of free homes and free government have been extended to other nations; and they, with a large class of our own people, have availed themselves of the advantages offered by the boundless prairies of Dakota. Many young men starting out for themselves in life have chosen homes here. The land and money "sharks" and speculators have discovered their opportunities. Men of more money than judgment have also tried their fortunes here. Some have come here for their health; some to obtain a home which they could call their own; but the moving consideration with nearly all is to make money. In North Dakota the principal dependence is upon raising wheat. The farms are generally large, sometimes embracing several thousand acres, one man having the present year 32,000 acres of wheat. The season is short. The work is facilitated by machinery; and seeding, harvesting, threshing, and plowing are "rushed." Between the seasons there intervenes a long and fierce winter, during which but little can be done or is undertaken. Being far north, and upon the western border of the standard central time division, the evenings in summer are almost annihilated. One can read by natural light in summer until 9:30 o'clock. In the country, houses are very scattering, and the villages lie along the lines of railroad. Civilization in the shape of railroads and school-houses has, in most instances, preceded the people. The former are built through countries without inhabitants; and the latter are often built by a town system of schools which prevails where there is scarcely a house in sight, and that means a long distance. Into this country a few Sabbath-keepers have moved, and for some time have been sending calls for labor. Directed by the counsel of the General Conference Committee, and, we humbly trust, by the will of God, this field has now been opened. There are difficulties to meet, as may be seen; but already have we seen many tokens for good. A large portion of the inhabitants are Scandinavian, and there are many indications of an earnest interest among them. We are happy to have Eld. M. M. Olsen associated with us in this field, and he is sometimes welcomed with tears of joy by those of his language who have been receiving the papers from missionary workers, and are longing to see the living preacher. Several opportunities for public labor are already presented. "A great door" is opened to us. God grant it may be an effectual one. G. C. TENNEY.
Fargo, D. T., Sept. 5, 1884. Fault-finding Philosophy.
We do not say that the fault-finder is not a Christian, but he is certainly a very imperfectly developed Christian. He is the slave of an evil habit, of an infirmity of speech that it is his duty to overcome. We have often insisted on the duty of truthfulness, and the evil of exaggeration in speech; the fault-finder is simply a man who has fallen into the habit of exaggerating the evil that he sees about him. He magnifies every disagreeable circumstance in his life to thrice its real proportions, and then puts his thoughts into words for the annoyance of others. Things do go wrong sometimes; work is badly done, and services well paid for are rendered in an incompetent and bungling fashion. It is perfectly right to call the offending person to account, and administer a fitting reprimand for the misdoing. If this is done in the right spirit, it will have a good effect and be followed by amendment. But the habit of finding fault results in the opposite way. After a little, finding that good work as well as bad is criticized, that honest endeavors to please meet no appreciation, the conclusion is finally reached that it is no use to try, and the consequences on the conduct are likely to be bad. The fault-finder defeats his own object, if he can be said to have any object beyond the venting of his ill humor on somebody. A habit that is equally useless and odious, a habit that violates the Christian principle of utter truthfulness of speech, a habit that makes one a nuisance and a burden to one's dearest friends, is surely no habit for a Christian man to cherish, but rather one to be fought against. A recent communication in the Boston Transcript takes up very briefly the controversy which has been recently opened on this subject, and makes the plain and blunt inquiry, Why are there so many people who are subjects of charity? What is the real occasion of the so innumerable and extensive charitable institutions? It asks if they are generally from the laboring classes; and if they are indeed honest and hard-working people, what is the reason of their poverty and their necessity for help? The writer asserts of his own knowledge that they are not unfortunates, crippled, incompetent, incapacitated for self-support. He says he knows that the great majority are able-bodied, constant, and life-long toiling producers. Then why are they in need? He asks us to look at the great building just completed for the working-women of Boston, the Young Women's Christian Association Building. Why, he inquires, are not these girls paid self-supportingly for their labor? Why are they so poorly remunerated as to be in need of such benevolence, and why should there be any occasion for it? He reminds us of the old maxim, "Justice before generosity," and says with stinging truthfulness that the wealth that is bestowed as charity would, if it were paid in decent wages, be immeasurably better and more just for all concerned. The charities increase; the institutions by that name multiply; and the demand is constantly for more. Meanwhile poverty is on the increase. The monster grows by what it feeds upon. And yet the source of the evil is not touched. Evidently it will not be until justice comes before charity. Self-Supporting Churches in Burmah
The doctrine of self-support has been so well inculcated by the successors of Dr. Judson in Burmah, that 206 of the churches are now reported as self-supporting. There were 1,636 baptisms the past year, chiefly among the Karens. The ruling class, the Burmans, clings to Buddhism, and has as yet been little affected by Christianity. There are in Burmah 491 stations, 97 missionaries, and 452 native preachers. The total number of members is 25,200. The Telugu field, under the auspices of the same society, has 24,500 members. God can make the grief a grace, the burden a blessing, and light up the disappointment so that it becomes the torch of hope. The rod itself shall bud and blossom and bring forth almonds, so that the very things that chasten us shall present beauty and fruit. “Tribulation worketh patience,” and “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Not of croup, or diphtheria, or measles, or any other physical disease, but of a moral weakness—a bad fault. His name is Oliver Perry. The Perry family, of Merriville, is a large one, and there are so many Georges, Johns, Joes, Harrys, etc., that this little boy was given an unusual name—Oliver Hazard Perry. Did you ever hear of a person by that name? If you have ever read United States History you will at once get an idea that there is something familiar in the name. Nolly, as they called this hero of mine, was the son of a poor widow—that is, she was called poor because she had but little money, though she was very well off in other things. She was well educated, a grand woman, and a Christian. Her two boys, Nolly and little Theo, were the very best boys in the place, everybody said; and any mother who can have that said truthfully of her children ought to be considered richer than Vanderbilt or Jay Gould & Co. Nolly was not only one of the best boys in town, but the best scholar in the school. He won his title and position fairly and squarely, too. He never thought of peeping into a book on the sly when reciting, or having some bigger scholar behind whisper the answer to him. Not he. His lessons were learned through persevering study. He wasn't so very "clever," but he had a good faculty for sticking to what he undertook to do. He always wanted to understand his lessons before he "learned them by heart;" so when once learned they were never forgotten. He rarely failed to answer a question to a lesson he had learned; but when he did fail it was due to his one great fault—heedlessness. This failing of Oliver had cost his mother much trouble and some money, and himself not a few tears. Twice in this particular summer he had laid his books down "just for a minute" by the roadside on his way to or from school, and, forgetting them, they had been caught in showers and ruined, or torn by dogs, or carried off by somebody. He had resolved each time that he would never do such a thing again, never. But he must have the last tag, and his books would drop—for he lost his book-strap and "couldn't keep track" of a string stout enough to tie them with. If it was not "tag" that went against his book-keeping, it was leap-frog, or "snap the whip," or fifty other things. It took so much cash to keep him in books that his mother could not afford to buy him a satchel or even a piece of canvas of which to make him one. He had a bright idea one day when he saw an old woman plaiting straw. In two weeks he had plaited enough straw to make him a very nice school-bag. "Now," he said triumphantly, "my books are safe! I'll have to lose my shoulders or my head before I lose track of my school-kit again." But one day at the close of the school session, as he was putting his books into the satchel, one of the boys outside called to him excitedly: "Nolly! Nolly! There's a snake out here in the grass—or a muskrat! Come quick and help catch it!" Oliver rushed to the door, his satchel in one hand and slate in the other. Sure enough there was something mysteriously moving about in the tall grass a rod away. All thoughts of books and slim portemonnaies and good resolutions vanished in a twinkling; the articles in his hands dropped—he did not know where—and he was on the hunt in two seconds, the merriest boy in Merriville. The largest girl in the school was Carrie Small, a great, overgrown, fleshy girl, pretty, good-natured, clumsy, and near-sighted. Highly pleased over something, she emerged from the school-room with what one of the "Natural Ph'los'phy" class called "her double accelerated quantity of motion." As she reached the last step there was a stumble, then a crackling like that of half-smothered fire-crackers. A long, surprised "W-e-l-l!" came from Carrie's lips, and the teacher and half a dozen girls appeared in the entry to see what was the cause of the exclamation. On the lower step Nolly Perry's slate lay in fragments, his arithmetic face downward in the gravel, and the strap of his satchel was still coiled about Carrie Small's foot—she quite unconscious that she was using the precious straw-work as a mat. Nolly was called, and met the facts with blank dismay at first. Then his anger arose. "You great, clumsy elephant, you!" he began, addressing himself to regretful-looking Carrie. "You never—" But the teacher stopped him. "Don't be so ungentlemanly as to call names, Oliver. You can't blame Carrie. How was she to know that you had made a book-shelf of the steps? and what did possess you to do it?" "I—I—didn't think," stammered the troubled boy. "That looks like multiplication of complex fractions," said a boy at his elbow. Nolly did not smile. He felt as if it were complex everything. He picked up the frame and the largest pieces of slate, and carried them home soberly enough. He laid them on the table before his mother and burst into tears. "I put it down on the step for only just one minute, mother," he sobbed, "and when I came back it—was—no—nowhere." "Carrie Thmall put her foot down on the thame plathe where it wath and cruthed it tho," exclaimed Theo, pressing his fat palms together. Mrs. Perry looked very, very sorry, and she sighed as she said gently:— "I don't know how you are to be kept at school at this rate, Oliver. I had hoped your fault would be overcome as you grew older; but, instead—" She said no more. Nolly wished she would whip him, or punish him in some way. He thought he could stand anything rather than to see her look so troubled. He took himself to task stoutly that night after he had gone to bed. "Oliver Hazard Perry," he said—he always gave himself the full name when he was disgusted with himself—"Oliver—Hazard—Perry, you'll have to be disciplined. Yes, sir, disciplined! You're old enough and big enough to have some judgment, and I saw somewhere that where there's judgment there's inquiry and decision. Now, sir, you will have to look into this and decide on something that will put a stop to such affairs in future." What was resolved upon was made known to his mother the next morning. Observing that he took the worst-looking corn-cakes and the most uninviting pieces of dry bread (and did not garnish these with either butter, gravy, or molasses), she tried to press upon him some warm cakes and gravy, but he thanked her and refused them. "I am going to diet," he said. Then, in reply to further questioning, he continued:— "Dr. Foote says when a person gets wrong, dieting is a good way to get set right again. There must be something wrong with my constitution, or I wouldn't be so careless when I really don't mean to be. I am going to discipline my constitution by dieting; and please, mother, don't ask me to eat anything but the barest sort of victuals for a week." Mrs. Perry at first thought of urging her son to give up the idea of curing heedlessness by such stern measures; but, on reflection, she wisely decided to let him alone as long as his earnest attempts at reform did him no harm. She soon saw that this self-discipline was just what was needed to make a true man out of her darling child. She feared his resolution might not hold out a week. It was a long time in which to deny himself what he loved so well—good things to eat. But he did hold out. No rock in the hills or no oak in the forest was more unyielding. When the week was ended, there was a tip-top dinner in that widow's cottage, and a splendid supper—it was good enough for a birthday. And there was something better. There was the stuff in at least one of the boys of that cottage out of which the world's heroes are made. Oliver is a young man now, gladly supporting his mother, and in a position of trust and honor which few so young men are called to fill. In speaking of his first act of self-discipline, he says:— "Of course I thought of my fault all the time I was dieting myself to cure it. I got a good start toward reform in that week, and as 'a good start is half the battle,' I found it much easier to remember after that. Every time I failed I repeated the prescription; and I shouldn't wonder if, after all, the ruin of that slate was the means of putting me into the way of becoming of some account in the world." Of course the spoiling of the slate did not help him one particle. If he had not put into strong actions the resolves which sprang from the crumbled slate-dust, the slate and spoiled books would have been a total loss to this day—"only that and nothing more."—Gracious Words. All day, all night, I can hear the jar
Of the loom of life, and near and far
It thrills with its deep and muffled sound,
As the tireless wheels go always round. Busily, ceaselessly goes the loom,
In the light of day and the midnight's gloom;
The wheels are turning early and late,
And the woof is wound in the warp of fate. Click, clack! there's a thread of love wove in;
Click, clack! another of wrong and sin;
What a checkered thing will this life be
When we see it unrolled in eternity! Time, with a face like mystery,
And hands as busy as hands can be,
Sits at the loom with its arm outspread,
To catch in its meshes each glancing thread. When shall this wonderful web be done?
In a thousand years, perhaps, or one;
Or to-morrow. Who knoweth? Not you nor I,
But the wheels turn round and the shuttles fly. Ah, sad-eyed weaver, the years are slow,
But each one is nearer the end I know;
And some day the last thread shall be woven in.
God grant it be love instead of sin. ONE who has given much study to the habits of birds, insects, etc., writes to an exchange as follows: "A few mornings since my attention was attracted to a flock of English sparrows, whose chattering was so earnest that I at first thought war was declared in the bird world, and that they were trying to adjust an amnesty. But soon I saw one fat, chubby little brown fellow fly up a few inches from the ground, carrying in his beak a soda-biscuit. He flew but a few feet before he dropped his biscuit, when another sparrow seized it and carried it a few feet farther on, and so one after another of the little brown-coats carried it along, until finally the last sparrow dropped it plump on to the horse-car track. Then away they all flew, as if their object had been accomplished. Pretty quickly along came a car, and, passing over the cracker, ground it into crumbs. Then down swooped the whole flock of feathered philosophers, and made a good breakfast." THE eggs of the ant are very minute, and are covered with a glutinous matter, which enables the worker to carry them off, without injury, in her mandibles. The eggs are placed in specially prepared chambers, and licked now and then, probably to give them the requisite amount of moisture, and they are carried alternately to the upper and lower stories, in order that they may be kept at the proper temperature. "When the larvae are hatched," says Blanchard, "more care than ever is required on the part of the laborious insects; for then the ants, which we have noticed as able and industrious architects, have to take their turn in the nursing, and certainly more attentive, vigilant, and devoted servants could not be found. The little vermiform larvae cannot move; but they have the instinct to lift their heads and open their mouths, so as to receive their subsistence from the jaws of the nurses; and they are thus fed like the little birds lately hatched." Even when the larval state is passed, and the little grub fastens itself up in its silken web, and lies inert and helpless, the care of the nurses does not cease. Should an ants' nest be disturbed, the first care of the workers is to seize these little silken balls, so often erroneously called ants' eggs, and to convey them to a place of safety; and when at last, by attentive listening, they discover the pupa moving within its silken prison, they hasten to tear it open and release the prisoner. Should the newly-born insect prove winged, the attentive nurse smooths out the glittering wings caressingly, feeds it, and cares for it, till it is time for it to take its flight from the parent nest. Should it, on the contrary, prove a worker like herself, she takes her and instructs her in household affairs, as human mothers would do; and, doubtless, this early education has much to do with the so-called instinct so largely developed in this class of insects.—Selected. THE following interesting sketch of an ascent to the crater of Pichincha is from the note-book of a young English engineer, who has recently returned home after a six years' residence in South America:— "Pichincha is a volcano situated in close proximity to the city of Quito, the capital of the republic of Ecuador, South America. Its height above the sea is estimated at fifteen thousand eight hundred and sixty-five feet, or about six thousand three hundred and fifty-five feet higher than the city of Quito, which is situated at an altitude of nine thousand five hundred and ten feet. "Humboldt tells us that he was twice at the mouth of this crater, and goes on to say: 'I know of no one but Condamine who ever reached it, and he was without instruments, and could not stay above a quarter of an hour, on account of the extreme cold. I was more successful. From the edge of the crater rise three peaks, which are free from snow, as it is continually melted by the ascending vapor. At the summit of one of these I found a rock that projected over the precipice, and hence I made my observations. This rock was about twelve feet long by six broad, and was strongly agitated by frequent shocks, of which we counted eighteen in less than half an hour. The mouth of the volcano forms a circular hole, a league in circumference, the perpendicular edges of which are covered with snow on the top. The inside is of a deep black; and I have no doubt that the bottom of the crater is on a level with the city of Quito. Condamine found it extinct, and even covered with snow; but we had to report the unpleasant news that it was burning. On my second visit, being furnished with far better instruments, I found the diameter of the crater to be sixteen hundred yards, whereas that of Vesuvius is but six hundred and seventy yards.' "Humboldt's 'eighteen shocks in less than half an hour' need excite no surprise, when we remember that throughout this region the mighty and irresistible subterranean 'fire-king' seems to reign supreme, and earthquake shocks are so common that the people seem to heed them but little, notwithstanding the terrible facts that in 1795 a fearful earthquake, doing an enormous amount of damage, occurred here; and another two years later, which was so appalling in its destructive powers, that it is said forty thousand persons perished in a few minutes; that the ground opened in all directions, throwing out sulphur, boiling water, and mud; and that the face of the country was changed in consequence. And yet the denizens of Quito, in spite of these visitations, are a gay, light-hearted people, much given to amusement and pleasure, never appearing to recollect that awful 'mine' lying beneath their feet, which at any moment, and without the least warning, may hurl both city and citizens into eternity." WE have been favored with the following extract from a lady's letter: "I must not forget to tell you of one very pleasant experience of this passage. F. intended to come up through the Fijis, that being the shortest route, but the wind we had at starting soon squashed that, so we had to come round Pitcairn Island, which we sighted at 4 A. M. When nearly up to the island it fell calm, and a boat with ten men came off to us with quantities of fruit—oranges, lemons, limes, bananas, cocoanuts, pines, rose apples, jack fruit, Cape gooseberries, sugar cane, and pumpkins. They pressed F. very hard to go ashore and take me, but he would not leave the ship, but intrusted me to Mckoy, the head man of the island, who took me off in his boat. We pulled for about an hour, the men all singing from 'Moody and Sankey,' to the landing, close to the wreck of the old Bounty, where some of the women of the island met me and showed me everything. I had to go into each house, and every one gave me something—relics of the Bounty, old native curiosities, coral shells, baskets, straw hats, fresh fish, cocoa-nut oil, choucokki, arrowroot, coffee, tappa, or native cloth, and some most awful combinations which I was recommended to eat for supper; but those I handed over to the apprentices, who in their turn consigned them to the deep. Besides all this they ransacked the island for fresh eggs, and when I left, all the inhabitants escorted me to the beach, laden with these presents and a fresh supply of fruit. I was on the island four hours, when F. signalled with a rocket for my return. A fresh regiment pulled me off for about five miles, and they stayed till midnight, singing 'Moody and Sankey,' and as the ship was proceeding slowly all the time, they must have had about twelve miles to pull back. The vegetation of the island is simply magnificent, everything appearing to grow spontaneously. Some of the orange and bread fruit trees were gigantic, and the whole place was sickly with the scent of the orange blossoms. Flowers grew everywhere, heads of double geraniums as large as my head, and some splendid lilies. Our cabin was like a florist's shop for the next fortnight. I was very much pleased with it all, and they said I was the first English lady who had been there for twenty-five years. They have built a nice little church and schoolhouse, and they seem perfectly happy and contented. Pitcairn is a small island in the Polynesian Archipelago, and was first taken possession of in 1790, by some mutineer sailors of the English ship Bounty.—London Times." HISTORY OF THE SABBATH AND FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK.
The Bible record of the Sabbath; the secular history concerning it; the successive steps by which the change to the first day was made, and the work of restoration, are given in detail. EVERY TEXT OF SCRIPTURE concerning the Sabbath is commented on at length; and the COMPLETE TESTIMONY OF THE FATHERS in regard to the Sabbath and first day is given. The comparative merits of the seventh and the first-day Sabbaths are fully shown. A copious index enables the reader to find any text, or the statement of any historian. Should be read by everybody. 528 pp. Price, $1.25. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. THOUGHTS ON DANIEL, CRITICAL AND PRACTICAL.
AN EXPOSITION OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL, VERSE BY VERSE. We are now living in times plainly pointed out in this prophecy, and it is important to understand it; for Daniel himself says that in the time of the end, the wise shall understand; while, if we fail, we are equally guilty with the Jews, who knew not the time of their visitation (Luke 19: 42-44), and shall meet a similar fate. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. THOUGHTS ON REVELATION, CRITICAL AND PRACTICAL.
This work presents every verse in the book of Revelation, with such remarks as serve to illustrate or explain the meaning of the text. It is a new and harmonious exposition of that important book, and is designed to create an interest in its study. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. THE NATURE AND OBLIGATION OF THE SABBATH OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.
The title of this little book sufficiently explains its character. It contains more Scriptural information in regard to the Sabbath than any other book of twice the size, and yet it is so simplified as to be easily apprehended. The author quotes the opinions of many learned men concerning the Sabbath, and their conflicting views are strongly contrasted with the clear, straightforward teaching of the Bible. 64 pp. Price, 10 cents. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. THE GREAT ISSUE NOW PENDING IN THIS COUNTRY.
This book contains a complete history of the rise and progress of the National Reform Party, together with an exegesis of the last portion of the thirteenth chapter of the book of Revelation, assigning to the United States its proper place in prophecy. EMPHATICALLY A BOOK FOR THE TIMES. 434 pages, in muslin covers, and will be mailed to any address post-paid, for $1.00. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. This is a pamphlet of only 34 pages, but its value is not to be judged by its size. It is just what its title indicates: a faithful presentation of Bible truth on this important subject, and an exposure of the false theories prevailing in regard to it. Every believer in Bible truth should read it. Buy it, read it, and lend it to your neighbor. Price, 10 cents. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. —The State Fair at Sacramento, Cal., is now in full operation. —The first snow of the season fell at Truckee, Cal., on the 6th inst. —It is said that 50,000 French troops are ready for transportation to China. —The Arlburg Tunnel, between Austria and Switzerland, will be opened Sept. 20. —The physicians of La Spezzia, Italy, have decided that cholera is transmitted by flies. —Thirty cents a day is said to be the common rate of wages for country-laborers in Mexico. —In future Russians will not be allowed to reside in Germany without the permission of Russia. —The steamship charges for taking cattle from this country to England are now $7.25 per head. —An underground stream flows beneath the city of Birmingham, Ala., and it is to be used for a sewer. —For the past thirty years Denmark has contributed a yearly average of 1,500 people to Mormondom. —The loss by the recent flood in Wisconsin, from Chippewa Falls to Eau Clare, is estimated at $1,500,000. —On the 10th inst., 432 Mormon immigrants from Europe were landed at New York and forwarded to Utah. —Seventeen persons were poisoned by eating canned fruit, at a wedding in Burnside, Ill., last week. —Efforts are being made in the postal department to expedite the delivery of Eastern mails in California. —The Prohibitionists of Massachusetts have nominated President Seelye, of Amherst College, for governor. —At Boonton, N. J., on the 12th inst., W. M. Messor killed his wife and daughter, and then committed suicide. —All Mormons in Lewis County, Tenn., are being warned to leave or die, and many of them are obeying the edict. —George Moore, superior judge of Amador County, Cal., was found murdered in his own house at Jackson, on the 8th inst. —A large number of temples in Foo Chow, China, are leased by the priesthood to Europeans for dwellings or business purposes. —At Petaluma, Cal., on the 9th inst., a stranger named Patrick Shea poisoned himself and four children with strychnine. —An Indian in jail at Spokane, W. T., charged with assaulting a white woman, was hanged by vigilantes on the 7th inst. —The Pittsburg Council has instructed the chief of police to make ample apology to the Austrian consul for tearing down his flag. —The Germans have lately added twenty-five torpedo boats to their navy, and many larger vessels are now in course of construction. —The small town of Clear Lake, in northern Wisconsin, was almost obliterated by a tornado, on the 9th inst. Three persons were killed. —It is calculated that in India alone there are over one hundred thousand lepers, with very few asylums where they can find any refuge. —A Senatorial Committee, consisting of Messrs. Dawes, of Massachusetts, Cameron, of Wisconsin, and Morgan, of Alabama, are investigating California Indian affairs. —Among the last arrival of Mormon converts from Europe, was one Irishman, Rev. A. W. Blossett. He is said to be the only Irish importation by this people in fifteen years. —Yellow fever so reduced the crew of a vessel which arrived in New York from Cuba, last week, that the captain, his son, and one sailor were all the available working force on board. —Over 15,000 Italians have sailed from New York to return to their native country during the past four weeks. The stoppage in railroad building and the hard times have thrown them out of business. —Admiral Courbet has been ordered by the French Government to resume active operations against China. The latter Government, it is said, is willing to submit the difficulty to the arbitration of any friendly power. —A large shipment of arms and ammunition is on the way overland from the East for the Chinese Government, to be sent on the Mail steamers. Large consignments are also being made by the way of Liverpool from New York.575 —Two lawyers in a Nashville (Tenn.) court recently became so abusive toward each other that the judge gave them permission to fight out their dispute in presence of the court. After one blow, the audience interfered and the trial proceeded. —The president of the National Bank at New Brunswick, N. J., committed suicide on the 8th inst. The cashier, to whose dishonesty the bank's failure has been attributed, had taken his own life a few days before. There is said to be a deficit in the funds of over $1,000,000. —The cholera scourge still rages in Naples and other parts of Italy. King Humbert went to the afflicted city in person, last week, and visited the worst localities, giving all the aid he could, thus shaming the flying nobles and wealthy people, many of whom turned around and began to imitate the king's worthy example. —The Victoria, B. C., daily Times of August 30, is quite sensational on the subject of leprosy. It says several cases are known in that city, and one has appeared in the jail, the victim being a Chinese vagrant. Another instance is reported of the Chinamen burning to death one of their countrymen who was afflicted with the disease. —At Bridgeport, West Va., the people have tired of drunken men being run over by railroad trains, so last week they resolved to put a stop to it. A party of masked men chopped down a grog-shop, poured out all the liquor, and ordered the female proprietor to leave the place. Notice has been given that no more liquor shall be sold in the town. —The czar of Russia visited Warsaw, Poland, last week. Great precautions were taken to secure his safety. Five hundred secret police preceded him, and the city was thoroughly searched for evidences of intended hostility. Many persons were arrested on suspicion. The police issued an order prohibiting unauthorized persons from approaching within 300 paces of the czar. The soldiers and gendarmes were ordered to fire at any one who crossed the czar's route as he entered the city. During his stay, a nihilist proclamation was profusely distributed in the city, boldly declaring their purposes and boasting of the murder of Skiritsyki, the journalist, whose death had been attributed to thieves. It says: "He was executed by us as a spy; no traitor escapes." The police failed to discover the source of the publication.