Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1895 — Mongolian Magic. [ARTICLE]

Mongolian Magic.

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 1 * The Fifty-fourth Congress will not contain a single colored member. George Washington Murray,of South Carolina, who is a member of the present Congress, has been defeated, and no representative of his race was chosen at the November election.

Ths KaisCr's “Song to JEgir” has proved to be a financial success. Thirty-six thousand marks IfavtTalready been realized bj r the royal author from the copyright. The proceeds will all be handed over to the memorial fund of William I Memorial Cathedral at Berlirj.

A Philadelphia architect thinks the great flats of the future will attain a hight of forty stories. The only difficulty now standing in the way of such structures is the inability of machinists to make elevators that will operate satisfactorily beyond a hight of 300 feet.

The editorial chair of Harper's Weekly, so long and ably filled by the late George WtlliamGurtis, variant since his death, will in the future be occupied by Henry Loomis Nelson. Mr. Nelson is probably entirely competent to fill the position, but we do not recall any remarkable characteristics—or any characteristics, in fact—of his at this writing.

The steamship Campania con tinues to “break the record.” That unfortunate “record” has been having a hard time for several years. The last trip eastward, from New York to Daunt’s Rock, was accomplished by the Campania in five days, nine hours and eighteen minutes —a gain of one hour and twenty-nine ’•minbtes over the best preceding effort in th is direction.

Corea is believed to have a*great future. Its fisheries could supply the world. Its gold mines, yet undeveloped, are believed to be practically inexhaustible. Its manufactures of porcelain, yet in their infancy, ate unequalled for certain varieties ’of that article of merchandise. Given an independent government the Coreans are likely to attain an important position in the world of commerce at least.

The wool industry developed a new phase out in Wyoming recently. Three thousand head of sheep were stolen and shipped to Chicago, from which place they were sold to various points, in bunches, in Illinois. Indiana and Michigan. Wool is very low and it is claimed that sheep-rais-ing does not pay, but the men who worked the steal are said to be en - tirely satisfied with existing conditions.

A sure-enough duel took place at Paris, Christmas Day. M. Juarez, the Socialist leader, fired two shots according to the code, at Dr. Barthou, Minister of Public Works. Dr. Barthou, wishing to be polite, returned the compliment. It is quite unnecessary to state that both gentlemen felt that their •‘honor” was vindicated, and that neither was |mrt. Those French duels are “too funny.”

As a matter of contemporaneous Information it may be stated that |.he rifle—so long the favorite instrument of revenge and death in Kentucky, either cn the field of ‘honah,”or in the murderer’s hands —has of late given way to the ax. which has been getting in, some very effective work that could hardly fiavebeen accomplished with powder and lead, however effectively admin- . istered. Mechanical progress in all departments has achieved astonishing results, but in no one line of development have changes been so marked and important as in marine architecture. Ocean steamers within the past fifty years have been length ened four hundred feet, and their capacity has been trebled. Speed Jtlso has kept pace with other changes, and a voyage across the 'Atlantic has practically become a mere protraqted ferriage. • L The farmer near North Vernon who saved, a train by burning his shirt, when he discovered arf obstruction on the track, deserves a testimonial. The übiquitous reporter [who telegraphed an account of the affair, is unfit for the position he attempts to fill, having failed to give jto a waiting world the name of this (self-sacrificing individual. For once the hackneyed advice, “Keep on

your sinkt,” would have been ill timed, and it is probably the only case on record where that intimate garment has acted as a life preserver for a large number of peopk* in imminent danger. The “season’’ of 1894 on the great lakes lasted 234 davs. Over 13,00'»,000 tons of freight passed through the ship canal at Sault Ste. Marie. Tlie vastnessur tins traffle can not i)C easily compreiie.nded- An expert has figured out that it would require twenty miles of freight trains a day •~taW6a.le.it. Thc 1 imilllas not yetT been reached in tlie carrying trade of our inland seas.

South America, chiefly noted for revolutions in the past, has of late become prolific in alleged gold fields. ’We had occasion recently to note the a new Eldorado on the Carsewenne river, between Brazil and French Guiana. Strange to say, no fresh advices have since been received from that locality, but another gold field of quite as remarkable a character is reported to have been found in the Argentine Republic. The discoveries are in the foothills of the Andes, known as the Chubnt territory, and old California miners who have investigated the region are said to be'ieve that the richest gold veins the world has ever seen are now being opened. There is great excitement, and thousands of prospectors are flocking to the region. " - .. .... . - The Lexow investigation at New York developed many sensa lions. One of the important expos! urcs was that of Police Captain Crecdon, who testified that it cost him $15,(100 to securer tjic appointment, $5,000 of that sum going to one of the Police Commissioners. The Captain reimbursed himself by “levies” on criminals for suspending their arrest, and upon honest business men for “letting them alone.”. Capt. Crecdon, at the time of his appointment, made oath before the Police Commissioners that he had not paid a cent to get the position. Accordingly Creedon was suspended for perjury, which would seem an cm in ently proper action, for on ce, on the part of the Commissioners, but was reinstated on the intercession of the Lexow committee, who had promised him immunity. A man who will swear to contradictory stories is not a very reliable witness.

The new Czar and his government appear to have inherited the good will so long cherished for America by the rulers of that great empire. The United States, strange as it may appear, has in the past received very substantial benefits on this account. That the relations between the most despotic of all civilized governments and the administrations of the greatest Republic on earth should be especially cordial is a phase of international comity quite -urn accountable, and for which we as a people have every reason to be thankful. The latest exhibition of this peculiar friendship is the placing of an order by the Russian government for $4,000,000 worth of armor for. two battleships at Bethlehem, Ba., over the competition of Herr Krupp and a dozen other European manufacturers. The United States can stand an indefinite amount of this kind of friendship.

W. Woodville Rockhill, in Tlie-Century. These Taichinar Mongols are much given to all forms of magic. Stormdispelling they seem to have learned from the K’amba Tibetans; but the origin of some of their other practices is not so clear. Certain among them, they claim, can cause a person to be stricken ill or can even compass his death. After having procured a few hairs, a nail paring, or something from the person of the intended victim, they, make a little image of him in flour, and in this stick the relic. Then it suffices to prick the head, heart,Hungs or limbs of the effigy to cause acute pains to be felt by the orig’nal in 'the same portion of his body. Of course one must recite certain potent charms the while; in them lies the secret of success. lam not aware, that this modeiof bewitching a person, so well known in the Western world in ancient and medieval times, obtains io any great extent in Asia. Personally, I have never met it elsewhere.

The round bald spots on a heifers’ face, often near the eyes, are caused by a parasitic disease, a plant that grows in the skin and destroys the hair roots, thus causing baldness. It is infectious, for it produces seed, very minute and invisible to the naked eye, but having great vitality, nevertheless, so that wherever the animal rubs itself these germs gather and from thence get on to other animals. The remedy is to apply a solution of bichloride of mercury, or mercurial ointment, to the spots after washing them with warm water. To paint the spots with tinctjure of iodine will also cure the dis ease.