Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1891 — NOTES AND COMMENTS. [ARTICLE]

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

In order to celebrate the fourth centenary of the discovery of America, Spain has prepared various festivals and expositions. One of the lattor, entitled “Amer- ' ienn History of Madrid,” has for its aim the presentation in the most complete manner of tho 'condition of the various countries of tho new continent at the time of tho conquest, up to the first part of tho seventeenth century. This comprises ull objects, models, reproductions, plans, drawings, etc., which relate to the American aborigines. Accordixo to “Tlio Presbyterian and Reformed Review,” the total number of distinct words in the New Testament, excluding proper names and their derivatives, is 4,829. A few comparisons may bo interesting. The vocabulary of the (>ld Testament is larger, Gcsnius’s "Lexicon,” omitting proper names und obsolete roots, contains 5,810 words, of which 042 are marked “Chald.” Tho “Iliad” and tho "Odyssey” together contain 9,000 words. Shakespeare uses 15,000 and Milton 9,000. Gkroximo and his captive Apaches must hour with surprise, in their wintor quarters in tho South, how Dr. Oarl Luinholtz has discovered now cities of the cave-dwellers iu the Sierra Madro range of mountains, so long the Apachoß’ stronghold. Dr. Luinholtz represents both the American Museum of Natural History and tho American Geological Society. On tho eastern slopes of those mountains, so long objects of abhorrence iu the eyes of all Americans in the Apache country, Dr. Lumholtz Ims discovered many caves containing wonderfully interesting houses, some of them throe-stories high, built of “porphyry' pulp," whatever that is. Missouri is competing with Knnsas for the honor of producing the largest crops. A Cass County farmer, who has 920 acres, raised this year wheat on 100 acres ami corn on 100 acres. From tho 1(H) acres of wheat ho got a crop of 3,500 hushols, which sold at tho nearest railroad station for 85 eonts a bushel, or a total of 12,975. Tho corn is still in shock, hut good judges say that tho yield will be at loast 50 bushels to tho acre, which, at 50 cents a bushol, would not the farmer $2,500. So that in wheat and corn lie would oleur $5,475. Besides grain, ho has twenty acres in hay, iui orchard of twonty acres of heuvily laden apple-trees, fifty heuc\ of cattle, ‘ ond u poultry-yard, lie calculates that his farm this year will bring him inslo,IKX) above all expenses. This following petition, addressed to the Congress of tho United States, is being extensively clrculuti d for signatures: “The undersigned citizens of tho United States, having u profound souse of tho evil mid inadequacy of war as a mode of settling international disputes, hereby pray your honorable body to take what- • ever notion may ho necessary to invite a conforeuoo ot tho governments of tho world to sit, during, and in commotion with, the World’s Columbian Exposition, to be held in Chicago in 1893, for tho devising, discussing and recommending measures by which the principle of arbitration may be incorporated into treaties, conflicting international laws may be harmonized, and an international court established, having jurisdiction iu coses which governments sliail fail to settle by negotiation." Wkatiikh prophets In tho countries o£ the torrid zone iu this hemisphere, a region of exceedingly diverse climates and generally erratic conditions, have to work from very different data from tho doings of the ground hog and the chipmunk. hi the vicinity of Quito, tho oapital of Ecuador, a city about twenty miles from tho equator, yet having in sight eleven snow-capped mountain summits uud possessing u climate like a raw New England spring, mtvtliqoakCi are tho weather sharps' stronghold. Quito is mainly noted for its luxuriant crop q£ earthquakes. There was a very severe shock of earthquake tliere three or, four weeks ago, followed by a still strpuger shook two days later. Tho last shook wus followed by a heavy hu.il storm,, "which," a local paper says, "is n sure sign that tho winter will bo ns sovoreanth ns long as the summer we have lind this year." Wohkmkn whilo boring for tho Kansas* city water-works tunnel under tho Missouri river tho other day observed some< brightly tinted particles' in tho dirt which they were bundling, and showed them to tho engineer who hud formerly boon connected with a mining company. Putting tho sample submitted to him under a powerful microscopo ho declared that the stratum contained frcogold in quantities to make the mining of it profitable.. Mr. John C. Hopo of tho Kansas city Board of Public VVorks, who lias had a. great deal of experience us a prospector, also detoeted tho presence of gold in the dirt. The precious stuff’ was struck at a depth of 117 feet at u point on the Harlem sidoof tho Hannibal bridgo. The samples of gravel woretestod witn acids, and there is no doubt that flic dust was gold. Kansas'city pooplo are now talking about paying for the tunnel with tho profits to be made by mining tho stratum discovered. At any rate, an assay of tho gravel Ims been ordered. « '♦ The new pauper law of Denmark is,, according to tho American Agriculturist, a model of paternal governmental philanthropy, und worthy of adoption in every civilized country having the necessary means nt command. By its provisions u man, if ho accepts cither for himself or for his family .support as a pauper, loses liis political rights or privileges. If persons, after having bcoa paupers, become aide to do so, thoy are obliged to pay back tho money paid by tho municipal authorities for their support while paupors. Husband and wife must not be sep- rated if they conduct themselves properly. Aged and feeble persons must not be plucjJ whore they will bo disturbed or annoyed, and children must not be placed under immoral influences. And, most wonderful of all, pensions ure hereafter provided for tho aged native and naturalized citizens, men and women,who have completed their sixtieth year and are of good clmractor, not having been convicted of crime, and who have not, for the bonofit of their children or by improvident living, impoverished themselves, and who huve lived for the ten, years immediately prccoJing without having received relief! All such persons nrc suppo.tod and provided for during their declining years, uot as paupors, but as pensioners, losing none of their political rights. And,finally, throughout the Danish kingdom, whoever cannot maintain himself is givou the necessaries of life by the parish authorities, and none arc permitted to go naked, or starve, or be without shblter. _____________ ♦* The rage for feather boas continues unabated. Ostrich, black and green coque, turkey, and even peacock feathers are used, the two latter in conjunction with some other variety. To complete a carriage, reception or theatre toilet tho long rich boas are very suit* bie uud handsome.