Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1876 — Page 2

RENSSELAER UNION* HOUCK K J4MI.X, rrvfrietor. A RENSSELAER, - INDIANA.

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

FORKION. Intelligence wu received in Madrid on the 38th, giving the details of a terrible hurricane in the Philippine Islands on the 80th of November.* Two hundred and fifty lives were lost, many cattle perished and the crops in all directions were rqlned. According to a London dispatch of the 2Sth serious disturbances had occurred at Bannsfoot, County Armagh, Ireland, resulting from the marriage of a Protestant girl to a Roman Catholic. Several Protestants had attacked the house where the marriage occurred, and during the fight that followed a number were killed and several badly wounded. A Paris special of the 28th says the Orleans Princes had decided not to take seats in the Senate or Chamber of Deputies. " A Vienna special of the 29th nit. says: “The Secretary of State of the United States has transmitted to every European Government a circular asking for an expression of opinion regarding American intervention in Cuba." The dispatch further says that all

the Governments had replied satisfactorily, England being willing to indorse intervention at once, and other nations expressing a willingness to support an intervention but hesitating to take the initiative. A Madrid special of the 29th says arrangements had been entered into for the return of ex-Queen Isabella to Spain. The Alphonsists had concentrated 80,000 men in Navarre and Alava. Two hundred Americans attended a meeting in Berlin on the evening of the 29th to protest against the declaration of the German press that the Thomas-Mosel explosion affair was the fruit of American civilization. A large number of Germane cordially concurred in the resolutions. In the French Assembly on the 29‘.h the Press bill introduced by the Government was adopted by nearly a unanimous vote. The proposal to raise the state of siege throughout the country was rejected—339 to 377. The British Admiralty has issued another circular in regard to fugitive slaves. It states that fugitive slaves asking admission to a British man-of-war, when in the territorial waters of a foreign State, must be received only when their lives are endangered, and once received must not be surrendered at the demand es any power. The rate for cable dispatches other than commercial intelligence over the AngloAmerican line has been fixed at twenty-five cents (gold) per word. The National Rifle Association of Great Britain has accepted the invitation of .the New York team to participate in the match for small-bores during the Centennial. Sir Henry Halford has been appointed Captain of the English team. London dispatches of the 30th ult. say that all the German papers except the National Ziitung had withdrawn their offensive comments upon Americans. Recent investigations in Liverpool by German detectives had revealed the fact, according to a London dispatch of the 31st ult, that Thomas, the dynamite fiend, at one time attempted to obtain insurance Ou a box which he said contained $30,000 in gold, and which he wished to ship from New York to Liverpool. Inspection was demanded, but he refused to open the box, and the company refused to insure. The suspicion had been raised that he was privy to the loss of the steamer City of Boston in January, 1870. The police believed his accomplices were yet living in Liverpool, and that they still had possession of his appliances. The French Assembly was prorogued on the 81st ult. until March 8, 1876, when the new Chambers are to meet. A Posen dispatch of the 31st ult. announces the arrest and imprisonment of the Bishop of Posen, who was lately convicted of a violation of the Ecclesiastical laws and condemned to six months' imprisonment The sale in 'Germany of bogus American medical diplomas has been interdicted by the Government. * The British steamer Dante collided in St. George’s Channel on the 31st ult. with the steamer Gronsaver. The latter sank shortly after, and twenty-three persons were drowned. I The Spanish Cabinet has issued a decree convoking the Cortes to consider Cuban affairs. DOMESTIC. A woman named Holdson, living at Merom, Ind., in attempttug to set a lamp on a mantel, the other evening, drop[>ed and broke it, scattering the coal-oil over her clothes, which took fire and burned her so badly that she died a short time afterward. Fifteen States have taken a census of population in 1875, and the total increas* since 1870 is estimated at a little over 2,000,000. As these States had in 1830 something more than one-third of the population of the United States, a common average progress throughout would show an aggregate increase in five years of upward of SJMW.OOO, or atotal population of 44,000,000. A Labor Convention in session at” Tyrene, Pju, on the 29th appointed a National Committee of thirty-seven to issue' a call for a convention of representatives of labor and industry from all parts of the country, to be held in Pittsburgh in April next A recent Washington dispatch says the work of consolidating the revenue collection districts throughout the country has been' completed, and the number is reduced from 209 to 163. The Secretary of the United States Treasury has given directions for the retirement of $644,550 legal-tender notes on account of National Bank circulation issued during December. This will leave outstanding legal, tenders, until a further reduction, $37,182,722. The amount of additional National Bank notes issued since Nsv. 1 is $1,761,280/ and the total amount issued since the paasagd of the act of June 14, 1874, is $12,715,975. The amount of legal-tender notes deposited by National Banks for the a purpose of retiring the circulation, since Nov. 1, is $2,987,306. tn the case 6f the $176,000 illegally collected u income tai on dividends of Illinois Central Railroad stock held by non-resident alifsnfi, Atty.-Gen. Pierrepont has de-cided-that the money should be returned to the company and not to the stockholders. Tte oMiney was unlawfully exacted from the company, and should, therefore, be paid back to the company, from which the alien stock holders can recover.

A San Diego (Cal.) dispatch received in San Francisco on the 29th says almost the entire Mexican population in the vicinity of Campo' were implicated ifi the recent raid. Tuscon news received on the same day reports a fight between the State and revolutionary forces, twenty-five miles south of the line, in which the former were defeated, with ten killed and a number wounded and taken prisoners The revolutionists were marching on Hermoeslllo. Most of the Americans at San Francisco sympathize with the revolutionists, considering that they represent the better class of Sonora. Several whisky distilleries and rectifying establishments in Chicago were seized by Government officers on the 29th, the proprietors being charged with revenue frauds. The residence of Mrs. Rachel Gordon, ten miles west of Rising Sun, Ind., was burned on Christmas night, and the next morning the remains of Mrs. G. and her three children, aged eight, ten and twelve years, were found in the ruins. It is supposed by some that they were murdered and the house set on fire. According to a Washington dispatch of the 30th ult. the Secretary of the Treasury would not receive checks and drafts in payment of debts due to the Government. This will prevent the National Banks from paying their semi-annual dues in anything else than lawful money. „ Joseph Bork, City Treasurer of Buffalo, N. Y., is said to be a defaulter to the extent of $350,000 or more. A dispatch of the 30th ult says he had fled to Canada. The city will not suffer, as his bondsmen are considered ample security for the amount of his deficiency. Collector Shaughnessy, of Mississippi, having reported to Commissioner Tratt that Deputy-Collector Redmond by armed bands from discharging his duties, and that the Mayor of Summit, Pike County, had notified him to leave, as he and other peace officers could not protect him, President Grant sent an order on the 29th ult to the Secretary of War to furnish the necessary protection. A special dispatch from Summit to the Vicksburg Herald of the 30th says there was no armed band of men at the Summit at any time before the 29th. On Christmas several young men from Amite County, on a drunken spree, talked a good deal about Redmond, in-

tending to annoy and frighten him. Redmond had a personal difficulty with one of the men, and he became frightened and telegraphed for troops. The dispatch says the citizens of Summit were able and willing to protect Redmond in the discharge of ins' duties. The beginning of the new year, the centennial of our national existence, was ushered in amid the ringing «f bells and firing of cannons at Washington and many other localities. Nearly all the principal cities of. the Union extended a hearty and jubilant welcome to “ seventy-six.” ' , Benedict Bros.’ jewelry store, under the Grand Central Hotel, in New York city, was robbed a few nights ago of $25,000 worth of jewelry and diamonds. The persons in charge of the store were chloroformed by the robbers, who then deliberately broke open the safe and rifled it of its contents to the amount above'stated. Among the ocean steamers which arrived at New York on the 2d was the Sailer, on board of which it was at one time rumored had been placed one of Thomas’ dynamite infernal machines. A severe wind-storm did considerable damage to property in Chicago on the night of the Ist. A dispatch from Tucson,; received in San Francisco on the Slst ult., says three companies of United States cavalry made a forced inarch to San Rafael on the 26th, but finding that all armed bodies had passed into Sonora they returned. It is reported that Fesquiera’s troops, while in Arizona, behaved badly, taking stock and grain without payment. The revolutionists scrupulously respected the rights and property of all.

PEICNONAI.. On the evening of the 28th Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was served with a summons and complaint in a suit for “ malicious prosecution,” instituted by Francis D. Moulton in the Supreme Court, Kings County, N. Y., for $50,000. A New York dispatch of the 28th states that Judge Donohue had forfeited the recognizances on seven indictments for felony against the fugitive Tweed. Among the suspensions announced on the 28th were those of Jas. A. Smith and G. N. <fcJ.A. Smith, woolen manufacturers, who operated five mill* in Massachusetts. Liabilities variously reported at from $300,000 to $600,000; assets unknown. E. L. Paterson, Republican member of the Louisiana Legislature from Natchitoches, was shot and instantly killed on the 26th by Cosgrove, editor of the Vindicator. The difficulty grew out of abuse of Paterson by Cosgrove in his paper. Announcement was made in New York on the 29th of the death, at the house of his grand-daughter, near Richmond, Staten Island, of the Rev. Henry Boehm., better known as Father Boehm, tha,oldest preacher of the Methodist Church in this country, and probably the oldest clergyman in the world. He was over 100 years old.

Cornelius Vanderbilt, the President of the New York Central, Harlem, and Lake Shore Railroad Companies, has been elected President of the Canada Southern Railroad Company. Thomas G. Shearman, on behalf of Plymouth Church, and J. M. Van Cott, fpr Mrs. Moulton, held a conference on tlie morning of the Slst ult. and agreed that ten churches and five ministers should be called on each side to form the mutual counciLto decide on the questions submitted by Mrs. Moulton, as to whether the rMons given by the church for dropping her from its membership as it did are valid and sufficient, and as to the validity and sufficiency of her reasons for abstaining from the services and sacraments of the church. The mutual council is to convene on Tuesday, the 18th insL Great excitement was caused in Chicago on the 3lst ult. by the arrest of Anthony C. Hesing, H. B. Miller and Jacob Behm on warrants charging them with complicity in whisky frauds. Hesing and Rehm were held in bail of $50,000 each; Miller’s bail was fixed at $20,000. A warrant was also issued for the arrest of Wm. Minty, a Deputy Collector of the Revenue Department, who had not been found up to the morning of the 3d. The Illinois Distillery, one of the largest in the country, was also seized on the 31st

POLITICAL. Eight lawyers of Franklin, La., a few days ago banded to Judge Mentz, of the St. Mary’s Parish Court, a document, signed .by themselves, requesting hup to resign -because, as they alleged, of his manifest incompetency and the interested motives which, in most cases, influence his judicial decisions. The

Judge replied that he had tried to perform his duty faithfully and impartially, and stated that, inasmuch as the signers of the paper did not vote for him at the last election, he should continue to administer the functions of his office until his constituents (meaning the colored people) called upon him to resign. The members of the bar talked of appealing to the next Legislature to secure the Judge’s impeachment by that body. A largely-attended public meeting was held In Charleston, S. C., on the evening ,of the 28tb, in response to a call, to sustain ti e action of Gov. Chamberlain in refusing commissions as Judges to Whipper and Moses. Resolutions were unanimously adopted-de r nouncing the action of the Legislature in electing them, protesting against their elevation to the bench and “avowing an unalterable purpose never to allow them to occupy the position. The Alabama Legislature met on the 28th The Governor’s message is devoted entirely to matters of State interest. A call has been issued for a State Convention of the Independent party of Illinois to meet at Decatur Feb. 10, to nominate candidates for State officers and to select delegates to the National Independent Convention called to meet in Indianapolis May 17, 1876. The Spencer Investigating Committee made an unanimous report to the Alabama State Senate on the 30th the effect that fraud and bribery were used by Mr. Spence? to secure his re-election to the United States Senate. Other charges of official corruption and misconduct were made against him. The report was received and ordered printed, with the evidence, and the committee was given time to prepare a memorial to the United States Senate against Mr. Spencer’s further occupancy of the seat in that body. A Washington dispatch of the 31st ult. says President Grant had stated chat all the disabled Union soldiers removed from positions in the House of Representatives had been given other places. A meeting of colored Republicans was held in Washington on the 30th ult., and the general sentiment expressed by those present was that President Grant should be nominated for a third term.

Particulars of the Great Dynamite Explosion.

The following particulars respecting the dynamite explosion at Bremerhaven are from tlie Weiser Zedong: It oppears that just before the Mosel was about to sail a cart containing four eases ajul ii. barrel was being unloaded for shipment. Suddenly a terrible explosion occurred. The effect was horrible. The quay was then thronged with people—partly belonging to tlie steamer, partly spectators, and partly passengers who had remained there to take a last'farcwell of their friends. An eye-witness who stood under the gangway of the Mosel, on hearing the terrific report, saw a number of black lumps flying about in tlie air, whilst very few of tlie persons on land remained visible. Apprehending a boiler-explosion he threw himself flat on deck, when he received a volley of sand, broken glass, fragments of flesh, bones, etc. Tlie devastation on board the Mosel was terrific. No skylight was left; tlie cabins aft, starboard and port were either crushed in or bulged out by tlie pressure or altogether smashed; tlie side plates of the ship were burst; tlie ports with their glasses and rivets forced inward, and the whole ship was besmeared witli Mood and stuck over with pieces of flesh and other human debris. In the hold and all parts of the ship were found anus, legs and other portions of the human frame; thus the lower hold received some limbs through the open hatchways. Tlie sides of tlie hatchways were burst’by the pressure, and tlie front of the navigation cabin on deck stove in. The whole ship was littered with glass shreds, which even tilled thedishes from the steam kitchen as they were being served to tlie ’tween deck or steerage passengers. The tug got off comparatively unhurt, being so much more below the quay line than the Mosel; still, the whole of its deck was destroyed. Thecrewcaine off with a mere fright,' only tlie engineers and stokers having been hurt slightly. On land, where the packages had been unloaded, a hole had been produced six or seven feet deep. The whole place was strewn with limbs, shreds of dress, etc. In large reeking pools of blood you might see here an arm, there a calf, intestines, mutilated busts, etc. Amongst the most horrible details of this calamity is the fate of the Etmer family, who were seeing off one of their sous to California. The father, mother, son and son-in-law are dead, all four; the daughter-in-law has had her arm, and her child its hand, blown off. Tlie case which exploded had been in tlie care of tlie carrier Westermanu, of Bremprhaveuv and was accompanied on its way to the steamer by a Mr. Tumforde, of whom it is said all trace has been lost. Tlie cart lias been shattered into thousands of splinters, and the poor horse has had his four feet blown off near the hoofs. Tlie authorship of the terrible catastrophe is now traced to W. K. Thomas, a passenger of the Mosel. Thomas has acknowledged that he was the owner of the barrel which exploded, and tliat he intended to take this barrel on board the vessel for the purpose of sinking her. The motive of this diabolical wickedness appears to have been the hope 'f gaining a large sum by means of exaggerated and fictitious insurances, and the sum thus obtained was to have been shared with others. He is perfectly conscious and answers all questions put to him. He is in the same room witli many of his victims. According to information at present in possession of the police, Thomas had prepared only one barrel for the carrying out of his horrid work, although a report had spread in Bremerhaven that a number of machines had been put on board the Mosel. Tins barrel was made for Thomas by the master cooper Delvendhal. It was made of strong material, and was divided by means of a partition in the middle, through whicli there was a hole. Ijj one division it is assumed that he had placed the igniting apparatus, and the other was filled with dymrmite. He accompanied the barrel when it was taken to the depot of the North German Lloyd Company, and told the porters it should be handled with care. It is supposed that his plan was to effect the ignition by means of a clock-work apparatus, which in all probability was to be set in motion when he arrived at Southampton, to which place only he had booked. It appears that he intended to sail with the ill-fated Deutschland, but the aparatus for effecting the ignition was not completed in time. The number of the victim is constantly being increased. According to authentic information the list of dead and wounded amounts to 180'persons.

The scene at the hospital dead-house was of the most harrowing character. The mutilated remains tilled a large basket which four strong men could hardly carry. There were also a number of heads, which from time to time were inspected by people looking for friends or relatives. About thirtywounded,persons were in the hospital; many others were in private houses. Nearly every family in the* little town has suffered severely. —There is said to be living in the neighborhtfod of Wilkesbacre, Pa., an American family blessed /with three children speaking some kind-of gibberish peculiarly their own, and which, although well understood by the little ones, the parents even cannot understand. All attempts to compel their offspring to converse in plain English having failed, the parents, as a last resort, have been compelled to separate the children in order to break up what might otherwise become an incurable

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

** J. Curran wa* cut in two by a »witchengine at Indianapolis on the 10th. k The State Grange will hold an adjourned meeting at Indianapolis on Jan. 11. Robin Clark, ' the Terre Haute murderer, has surrendered himself and is now in custody. A new Christian church is to lie erected at Kokomo, which will cost, when completed, S2O,(XX). Arrangements are making to celebrate I the fiftieth anniversary of the location of Lafayette as the seat of justice ofTippecanoest'ounty. The Supreme Court has recently decided that the Reporter of the Supreme Court is restricted to three dollars per. volume for his reports, and that dealers cannot recover'a larger sum. The Chicago train due at Lafayette on the morning of the 19tn ran over a man two miles west of the city, cutting off his head, Lgs and arms, and scattering portions of the body for a considerable distance along the track. While hunting near Lotus, Union County, a few days ago, Burgess Gardner was accidentally shot and instantly killed. In order to get a better shot at a rabbit he had climbed a tree and pulled the gun up after him by the muzzle. * Miss Condon, of Seeleyville, wanted to go to a party. Her mother objected. The girl cried but the parent was firm. The gushing creature was romantic and ' took “cold pizen.” A stomach-pump brought her back from the border.

The Evansville Common Council recently voted to fund $300,000 of the city debt by an issue of thirty-year 7 per cent, semi-annual interest bonds. The total city debt amounts to a little over $.>50,000, and was created to aid certain railways. Reports to the State Centennial finance Committee show that auxiliary committees are busily at work in thirtyfive counties, and Jhat throughout the State a gratifying degree of interest is shown. Educational interests will be fully represented. The State’s building op the grounds will be constructed, almost entirely of material donated. The family of Rev. J. W. living at Wakarusa, recently had a narrow escape from burning to deajhby the explosion of a kerosene lamp. ■ The oil set fire to the carpetand the room in which the family were congregated was filled almost instantly with flames, which blazed (<f the ceiling. Mrs. Seaman was seriously burned on the feet and hands before tlie flames were extinguished. The fifty-fifth anniversary of the , Parent Missionary Society of tlie Methodist Church closed its session at Indianapolis on the evening of the 19th by a union meeting of the Methodist churches held at the Academy of Music. Hon. Will. Cumback presided, and addresses were made by Bishops Foster, Harris, and Bowman and Revs. Spencer- and Parkhurst. In the morning missionary sermons were preached in all the churches. The State Grange, recently in session at Indianapolis, elected the following officers for the ensuing year: Henly James, of Marion, Master; Archibald Johnson, of Crawfordsville, Overseer; B. F. Ham, of Pendleton. Lecturer; Mrs. Pauline Paddock, of Union County, Chaplain; E. W. Carr, Steward; J. S. Phillips, of Lebanon, Assistant Steward; J. F. Oliphant, of Lawrence County, Treasurer; C. C. Post, of Starke County, Secretary. John Halford, a farmer living two miles from Middletown, in the south part of Vigo County, was called up a few evenings since about ten or eleven o’clock, and met at the door by two men who asked him to go with them to help them get up a horse which had fallen down on the road a short distance below his house. Suspecting nothing, he went with them. Some time elapsing, and he not returning, his wife grew uneasy, and went in search of him. She could find no trace. Nothing had been heard of him at last accounts. Dr. Pettyjohn, having a medical practice near Westfield, on the borders of Hamilton sonic ten miles north of Indianapolis, recently brolight to Dr. Fletcher, of Indianapolis, for microscopical examination a piece of pork tenderloin and some portions of human muscle which he believed to be infested with triohime. It was learned from him that a family named Beals ate freely of pork tenderloin. Soon after they became affected, some seriously, and one little girl fatally, with symptoms which he afterward traced directly to the presence of trichina:. After the death of the little girl he procured a portion of the gastric tenderloin, and specimens were then submitted to a close microscopical examination by both Drs Fletcher aud Chambers. In a piece of the muscle, the size of a pin-head Dr. Fletcher fpund twenty of the little varmints, of mature growth, and still showing signs of active life. Up to the 19th only the little girl had died, but others of the faiuily were dangerously ill. The following postal changes were made in Indiana, exclusive of Presidential appointments, during the week ending Dec. 18, 1875: Established—Marcy, LaGrange Count}’, Allen Woodruff, Postmaster. "Names changed—Huntersville, Clay County, to Clay City; Rock Lick, HiuTison County, to Locust Point and John Dugins appointed Postmaster. Postmasters appointed—Ashborough, Clay County, George M. Moss; Atkinsonville, Owen County, David Welty; Bear Branch, Ohib County, James Buchanan; Eel River, Allen County, Charles Brown; Gundnim, Pulaski County, George W. Waterman; Irvington, Marion County, John Sim; Oswego, Kosciusko County, John Horrer; Staunton, Clay County, Thomas E. White; Stockdale, Miami County, Andrew J. Casper; Turman’s Creek, Sullivan County, Owen Kisner; Twelve Mile, Cass County, Daniel Shoemaker; Wild Cat, Carndl County, Warren Adams; Williamstown. Decatur County, Benjamin S'. Hester.

The Blood Bath.

About a year ago a curious thing happened here,” yesterday remarked a robust and rosy-cheeked butcher whom we had been complimenting on his fresh and hfealthy appearance. “ I know,” continued our butcher a rule, men engaged in my business enjoy good health and have a fresh, rosy look; but whether dabbling in blood and breathing and absorbing the fumes and vapors arising from fresh meats-has anything to do with this, as you appear to believe, I cannot say - neither have I ever seen any blood-drinking, either by butchers or others. But, as I have said, a very curious circumstance occurred here about a year ago. I generally work in the market —so 1 must get my red cheeks through what I absorb from the meats I handle — but about a year ago one of our butchers took sick and I filled his place in the slaughter-house for about six weeks. I had not been in the slaughterhouse long until one afternoon, about two o’clock —our time to begin killing—a carriage drove up. Two ladies alighted; one known to me as the wife of thelsuperintendent of one of our leading Comstock mines, and the other a young ladyifrom San Francisco, as I afterward learned. I saw, almost as soon as the ladies arrived, that the younger one had no use of her right arm. It was so completely paralyzed that she was obliged to move it about with her left hand. I observed that when she wanted to put her dead hand into her. muff she was obliged to reach through with her left, get hold of the hand and then draw it to where she wanted it, just as though it had been a skein of yarn. Well, it appears there had been some understandingabout the young lady coming there, but what she dia not a little surprised some of us the first day she came. The ladles stood looking on while we hauled up a bullock and knocked him on the head. No sooner had the knife been withdrawn from the animal’s throat than the young lady suddenly threw off the large mantle that she wore, and rushing forward sat down upon the floor just at the bullock’s neck, where a torrent of blood was gushing. She then bared her right arm and thrust it to the shoulder into the gaping and blood-spouting throat of the animal, holding it there until the blood had ceased to flow. We were then killing about thirty animals every afternoon, and every day regularly the girl came and thrust her dead arm into the bleeding throat of one or more of them. That girl had great courage and was not one of your overnice kind, I can tell you. She had a coarse dress of some heavy woolen stuff that she wore for the purpose, and when the bullock fell and the knife had done its work she at once ran up and seated herself on the floor as regardless of the blood as if it had been so much water. There she would hang across the neck of the beast until it ceased to bleed. She was so brave that we were all glad when she got well. I remember how happy she was when she came one day and showed us that she could begin to open and close her fingers. From that time forward she improved rapidly. Soon she could move her arm, and finally could grasp and lift things with her hand. I think she came for about three weeks before she was cured. The last day she came she was quite bright and merry — more so than I had ever seen her. After putting on her mantle she thanked us all for our kindness to her and shook hands with us, giving us the cured hand, which, as she laughingly said, we had ‘ some right to.’ We all felt a great interest in her, but never saw her again. I never learned her name. All I know is that she came here from San Francisco. I suppose I might have found out who she was by asking Mr. , but I didn’t know but I might be considered impertinent. I don’t know whether the cure proved permanent. After the young lady went away we thoughtwe should see many persons there to try the blood bath, but none have ever come. That girl was the only one, and I never saw anything like it before or since.’’— Virginia, City (Nev.) Enterprise.

The Australian Desert.

On looking at a map of the Australasian continent one cannot fail to observe that though Western Australia occupies a larger space than any of its sister colonies, a vast extent of it remains a blanK, unas the dwelling place of man, a huge expanse of desolation; and this although the earliest of discovered portions of the continent are included within its boundary. The story of Western Australia is one of incredible hardship, disappointment and gloom, but also of pluck, determination and patience, though so fretted has the energy of the colonists been by the nature of the country and the small area of agricultural land yet discovered that in 1848 the inhabitants seriously entertained the project of abandoning the settlement for good. Since then repeated expeditions have been organized for the exploration of the great blank space which constitutes a little less than one-fifth of the entire 'continent and forms the western slope of. that which geographers call “the' Great Interior Basin.” On the whole these expeditions have achieved but little, at a great cost of life, money, toil and sutiering; and there is hardly any hope that it will ever be possible to construct that overland route from east to west which would be of immense advantage to both regions, for South Australia needs fresh outlets for her capital, and Western Australia longs to pierce through the mystery of the desert •which shuts her in upon the landward side, and says to her people: “Thus far shall ye go, and no further.” The ex-, plorations which preceded that of Col. Egerton Warburter—known severally as the expeditions of Sturt, Eyre, Stuart, Gregory and McKinlay—ha”d, with the exception of Mr. Stuart’s discoveries on the banks of the Adelaide River, which led to the addition of hundreds of thousands of fertile acres to the colony of South Australia, been almost destitute of result. The upshot of them all is briefly described Eden as follows: “We have followed Sturt until a sea of sand checked his progress'; we have seen the brothers Gregory, one striking from the north, the other from the northwest, both brought to a stand still by the same obstacle; and of the arid nature of the country bordering the Great Bight Mr. Eyre's terrible journey has sufficiently convinced us. On the other hand, we have Stuart discovering a fertile belt running due north and south through the very center of the continent, by means of which the communication between the two seas had easy. Diverge miles east or west, and the sand ridges in all their hideous uniformity are before the traveler.”— Cha:iibern’ Journal. —L •’ • j . The largest foreign mail ever sent from this country was dispatched on Saturday, Dec. 11,. from New York. It consisted of 72,260 letters jind ninety-one bags of paper.

A Patriotic Woman.

A correspondent of the Canbcu North Star tells an interesting story of a Massachusetts woman who married- a Maine man named Baker and settled on some territory of whicli the possession was in dispute between the English and American Governments. Says this old lady: “He bought some land, and, we being Americans, the next summer I made with my own hands an American flag, and the next Fourth of July, with’ tlie help of Mr. Walter Powers, we raised it. ‘For this act Mr. Baker was indicted for high v treason, carried to Fredericton, tried (alter being imprisoned ten months), condemned, fined S2OO, and then allowed to go free.” Tills was the beginning of theAroostook war, which resulted in the establishing of the northeast boundary line between us' and the British provinces. The raising of the Stars and Stripes was thought to be a very disloyal act by Mr. Baker’s neighbors, and after he had been taken by the provincial authorities and carried off they very naturally concluded that all his property was to be confiscated, and they immediately put themselves in possession of it. When Mrs. Baker saw this, with that true courage and heroism tliat carried her through the wilderness, she armed herself with a broomstick, demanded a return of her cattle and other property to their places, and they obeyed. She commanded them to leave her premises, “ that she was not brought up in the woods to be frightened at owls,” and they left. Although living so long out of her native country her love for it has not grown cold, even at her advanced age. Site has now in her possession a quilt on which she has wrought the American eagle, and when she could not see anything else to remind her of the country she loved she would look on. this quilt.— Woman's Journal.

The Shakers and Their Beards.

The Albany Times says: “A meeting of the leading male members of the Shakers’ Societies was held at Niskayuna on Christmas Day to consider and decide the beard question, which has been agitating the community for some time past. The discussion called forth the expression of quite divergent and ultra views. Some ot the brethren were emphatic in opposition to the abandonment of the old rule which proscribed the growth of hair on the face, while others—and Elder Evans among the number—favored making the wearing of beards by the male Shakers compulsory. It was even urged tliat, as shaving lias been obligatory for 100 years, until the next centennial epoch the Levitical prohibition against cutting the corners of the beard should be adopted. The result of the conference was a compromise. The beard partly triumphed, but failed to obtain a complete victory. It turned out, as was hinted some weeks since, that the ‘Jeff Davis’ whisker would obtain sa»«fion. In addition it was determined that all new male members of the society should adopt tips style, while the older ones should be giuen the option whether they would iliave smooth or notA few will adhere to the former fashion, but the larger portion and the new disciples will appear hereafter with tlie un-der-chin whisker.”

Chinese Habitations.

Between fights tlie Chinaman is an industrious animal. Just now' he is turning his energies to building, and, like his fighting, some ot it is contrary to law, and also shocking to a correct architectural taste. On the northwest corner of I and Union streets John has created a marvelous affair. It is built out far enough to occupy a third ot .the roadway. The front elevation (height five feet) is composed of odds and ends of stone picked up in the neighborhood. The one window is formed of three oil cans—two upright and the other laid across the top. The roof of this edifice—which has a frontage of about twenty-five feet and a depth of thirty or more—would make a handsome playground for a school, as it is perfectly flat and composed of earth. The interior, which the reporter doubled himself up to enter, is divided into numerous little dens and one spacious saloon, with earthen floor and one oil-can window. The place is shortly to be opened as a restaurant, provided the police don’t interfere, which they should do. The idea of utilizing oil-cans for building material has been eagerly seized by other Celestials, and the consequence is numerous fire-proof shanties. The cans, tilled with earth and piled one upon another, make a solid wall, and no bullet can penetrate them — not a slight consideration these times. Underground residences are also popular. A big square hole is dug into the hillside, covered in with sticks, straw, and an occasional plank. The door is naturally furnished by the eflstem slope. Although such trifles as light and air are left out of consideration, the bomb-proof character of the underground structure has a charm for the Chinese innabitants. The only drawback to such a house is the probability that on some rainy night an enemy may take it into his shaven head to dig a. trench and direct the water of tlie street down the chimney.— PT'rpwiia City (Nev.) Chronicle. A Quakertown man has solved Mrs. Livermore’s query: “What shall we do with our daughters?” He has purchased* two washing-machines and will take in washing. His wife and seven daughters are to do the work and he will superintend the business.

THE MARKETS.

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