Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1884 — Debts and Standing Armies. [ARTICLE]

Debts and Standing Armies.

The following table of the debts and armies of the six leading governments of Europe is, to say the least, interesting and suggestive: Standing Army. National Debt. Peace Footing. France $5,365,000,000 498,483 Germany 1,076,000,000 445,274 Austro-Hungary... 2,095,000,000 268,204 Italy 2,025,000,000 733,712 Spain 2,760,000.000 138,742 RuS3ia. 3,410,000,000 884,319 Totals $16,620,030,000 2,223,022 The enormous French debt is due to the German war indemnity, which was $1,000,000,000, while the war itself cost $747,500,000. The Austrian debt is equal to 28 per cent, of the wealth of the empire, and taxation absorbs 15 per cent, of its entire income. Italy’s taxation is the most serious of any in the world. It amounts to 35 per cent, of the entire income of the kingdom, which is double the European average, and three times that of Great Britain. This is because a nation of 29,000,000 of poor people has to support a standing army of three-quarters of a million of soldiers. No wonder European nations, and especially Italy, have so large a population of very poor people. The condition of Italy is shown by the numbers of wretched Italians Who, when they reach our shores, are willing to work for the merest pittance.— Demorest’s Monthly. The matrimonial chances of a young lady in life have been determined partially by an old maid in Philadelphia. Having kept the record of 1,000 oi her acquaintances who have been led to the altar, she finds that the chances between the ages of 14 and 40 are as follows: There are 32 chances at the ages of 14 and 15; 104 chances at 16 and 17; 219 at 18 and 19; 230 at 20 and 21; 165 at 22 and 23; 62 at 24 and 25; 60 at 26 and 27; 45 at 28 and 29; 18 at 30 and 31; 11 at 32 and 33; 8 at 34 and 35; 4 at 36 and 37; and 2 at 38 and 39. It will therefore be seen that from 18 to 25 is the golden floodtide of matrimony, and that it is at these ages that the most chances are taken in the great lottery.

Thebe seems to be no limit to the follies and vagaries commited in the name of religion and by peculiar sects.* A corresponnent of the New York Evening Telegram visited some religious fanatics in the most northern capital of Eastern Siberia, Yakutsk, where he found a people that outdo the Shakers. They claim to avoid the use of meat, tobacco and liquors, and all the males are eunuchs. The writer saw “pitiable cases of the younger members of the sect who had been initiated into the brotherhood by their fanatical parents or relatives long before they could understand the meaning of the rites they were compelled to undergo.” These very peculiar people are called Skopts. —Dr .Footers Health Monthly. A rich man was approached on the street and asked to contribute to a charitable purpose. He declined on the plea of hard times. Just then a third party appeared. He was a newspaper reporter. “Are you meeting with much success?” he inquired of the collector. “I am doing splendidly,” was the reply; “just look at that list of names.” “May I make a copy for publication!” “Certainly.” “I guess you may put me down for, say, $50,” whispered the rich man. A new mothod of fastening 1 the strings of upright pianos has been Invented by the Mason & Hamlin urgan and Plano Company, which Is regarded as one of the most important Improvements ever made, making the Instrument more richly musical in its tones, as well as more durable, and less liable to get out of order.— Boston Journal. A woman’s influence is very great for good or evil. A kind word from a wife or a mother may stay a man from untold evil, and one sharp, bitter, thoughtless word may drive him to desperation.