Newspapers / The Times-Democrat (Charlotte, N.C.) / Jan. 13, 1882, edition 1 / Page 2
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Tho Gharlotto Eooo and Somocrat, Gharlotto, 0. G. Home andemocratT n vr 1 CH AKLU 1 1 ' Correspondence of the Home and Democrat New Yokk, Jau. 9, 1882. Editor Home and Democrat: I am favored with the annual catalogues ot the Bingham School and St. Mary's School, both of which, it is gratitying to know, maintain their "pre-eminence" among Southern High Schools. The former num bers 258 scholars during the year, and the latter 171. A happy new year to them both, and to all good Seminaries of Learn ing like them. The catalogue of St. Mary's is beauti fully and tastefully printed by Messrs. Uzzell fc Wiley of Raleigh, whose excel lent work, I am glad to see, brings to titiem so much patronage that they have been obliged to enlarge their establish ment. Have you noticed the proposed sale at auction, on the Gth February, of the Roa noke Navigation Company, with its canal and lands, aud water power equal to six teen thousand horse power? A power equal to that of Lowell and Lawrence combined, the two great manufacturing centres of New England. If the property were in these parts, it would bring mil lions of dollars. And when it shall have been bought for a song by some Northern capitalists and improved, some of your own moneyed men will reproach them selves for having allowed such a bargain to slip through their fingers. The New Year's celebration in this city seemed to me to be a very quiet and sober one. It was certainly so with me, for I spent the day in my lodgings, reading and writing, and therefore unaware of any drunkenness or rowdyism. But on open ing the morning paper on Tuesday, I was astonished to find that there had been a more than usual amount of dissipation and crime. Street fights, and stabbings and shootings, and deaths from exposure whilst drunk, were the order of the day. Among the drunkards committed to the Tombs, was a boy ten years old ! Henry Ward Beecher appears to be los ing somewhat of his popularity. At the public renting of the pews of his church last Tuesday evening, the premiums for choice of pews amounted to 125,492, a falling off of $3,982 from last year. This must be discouraging to him. His salary is $20,000. The year's receipts of the church, for pew rents and all, were $59, 172. The expenses $58,220. Mr Beecher has so conducted himself since the great trial as to have had no scandals about him, and it looks as if his congregation loves him less the less he sins. I am glad to find that Southern people are showing a higher appreciation than heretofore of a History of the United States Hon. A. H. Stephens' which does justice to all sections of the country; not like the Histories written by Northern authors, to flatter the North and to dis parage the South, but a History which such a Northern man and patriot as the late President Millard Fillmore com mended for its impartiality as well as its ability. Its adoption by the State Board of North Carolina has added materially to its use, whilst its sale iu other quarters has sensibly increased. On one day last 'week I received orders for it from St. Louis for 40 copies, Cincinnati for 25, Memphis for 20 and Nashville for 12, 97 in all. Four such orders in one day show the extent of its use, though orders for much larger numbers from 100 to 250 are occasionally received. And its circu lation is not obtained, as is so common, by either bribery or drumming. The book stands upon its own met its it speaks for itself. As a specimen of the stupendous opera tions of capitalists in this great city, I may mention a fact stated to me by a lady boarder in the house where I am sojourn ing. On one day last week she was in formed of a dividend of forty-five per cent, (payable in income bonds, equal to cash,) declared by the Georgia Central Railroad, in which she owns a thousand shares and her husband six thousand, their joint divi dends amounting to three " hundred and fifteen thousand dollars. This lady's wealth is somewhere between twenty-five and thirty-five millions of dollars, and her husband's eight or ten millions. Though "the richest woman in the world," (as I have heard her described since Miss Burdett-Coutts gave up to much of her fort une for the sake of a husband,) she is as plain and unpretending as if she were as poor as your humble servant. In his sermon yesterday Dr. Potter of Grace Church, announced that a building adjoining the church, recently erected and presented by a private individual is to be opened as a Club Room for young people of both sexes, for the promotion of social intercourse and intellectual improve ment, furnished with books and periodi cals. In such hands an establishment of the sort will be free from all the evils of the usual club houses, and wiil be inval uable to many of the wait's of the great city. A correspondent of the World, dating at YVarrenton, N. C, thus describes the burial place of Mr. Macon : "Not a great distance from the old town of "Warren ton, there is a heap of stones piled upon a sterile spot in the woods, a monument to the memory and the peculiarities of a man whom John Randolph in lm will declared was "the wisest and best man I ever knew," and upon whose tombstone Thomas Jefferson said " Ultimvs Ro manorum" ought to be written. A text for the political moralist, a character both simple and lu dicrous, and extremely interesting, old Nathaniel Macon, by all odds the greatest man that North Carolina ever gave to the public service, is as completely forgotten as his strange modesty could have desired." A marvelous estimate of "greatness" Las this writer! No one will deny that Mr. Macon was a respectable gentleman, of perhaps rather more than ordinary ability, but to speak of him as "the great est man that North Carolina ever gave to the public service," is ridiculously absurd and unjust. The writer says, that daring his service of forty years in Congress "he cast more negative votes than any ten other members." Yes, and after voting for the war of 1812-'15 with Great Britain, he voted against the bills to provide for carrying on the war. And his negative votes were given upon his avowed princi ple, that if the measure against which be voted proved to be good, nobody would take the trouble to arraign hie opposition, whereas if it was bad he would receive credit for sagacity in opposing it. A rare specimen of greatness this. Philadelphia finds that the managers of its Alms-House have been supplying bad food to the paupers, and otherwise treat ing them badly, and have employed them in making various articles, from boxes up to carriages, for the officials. These offi cials are to be dismissed ; and probably the new oues will be worse. The various panics recently in churches and theatres, by which many people have been hurt and killed, the crowd rushing madly and trampling men and women under their feet, reminds me of an inci dent in the church in Baltimore where the Whig National Convention was held that nominated Mr. Clay in 1844. A few old men like myself may remember the im mense concourse that visited Baltimore ou that occasion, the magnificent procession, the banners, the arches, the enthusiasm, which I don't think have been surpassed by anything since. Well, the body of the church was given up to the members and alternate members of the Convention, and the galleries were packed with spectators. Suddenly a startling sound was heard from a corner of the gallery, and the im pression prevailed that it was falling. As one of the Secretaries of the Convention, seated on the platform, I had a full view of all the church, and remember to this day the calmness with which the multi tude found the danger. In a moment the Major of the city was at the place of dan ger and in an authoritative voice and manner ordered that part of the gallery to be cleared. This done order was at once restored. Not an individual was hurt. It might have been otherwise if women had composed half the assemblage, as in the theatres and churches, and had screamed and fainted. II. COMM CNIC ATED. 1 Mecklenburg County Expenses. Editor Home and Democrat: There was a communication in the Charlotte Observer of Sunday morning last about Mecklenburg County Expenses that should attract attention and serious con sideration. The tax-payers of the County are being swallowed up by Court Ex penses, costs of-Coronir's Inquests, Jail expenses, &c. Our people used to get along very well with the old County Court 4 times a year and two terms of the Superior Court of one week each. Now, it is a Commissioners' Court 3 or 4 days in every month, an Inferior Court four times a year, a Superior Court twice a year of 3 weeks each, and Special Courts of unlimit ed duration. Something should be done, by somebody, to relieve tax-payers of some of the burdens they now have to bear. Please copy the following extract from the article in the Observer and ask some one to favor the abolishment of some of the Courts, and make suggestions for other relief: "Iu ante-bellum days it was quite common to see the actions of our county and State officers criticised. Now-a-days one rarely sees it, unless some State officer "touches up" a railway com pany, or some embryo statesman, eager to serve his country, raises a clamor to pull down an offi cial, in order that he may gain his place. Having never held an office, I claim the "old time" right of the citizen to call attention to our county ex penses. From the last statement of our county Treasurer, the Inferior Court seems to cost about as much as the Superior Court. If the extra ordinary expenses (boarding juries at hotels, lawyers' fees and expert witnesses) of the latter are deducted, the difference is very little. The Court expenses amount to $5,207 43. If the pris oners' expenses, $1,790 15 ; jail expenses, $266 47, and Coroner's expenses, $610, be added, we find that justice cost the people of Mecklenburg $7, 874 05. This year promises much greater ex penses, as an extra term of the Superior Court has already been called, and if we judge it by the work of former Courts, it will take a good mathe matician to calculate when the docket will be cleared. When the Inferior Court was estab lished it was claimed that it would relieve the Superior Court to such c. degree that it could transact all necessary business. It was soon found that the Superior Court docket was crowded as bad as ever. Then an extra week was added to each term of the Superior Court, and still the disease grows worse, and the Governor has applied the costly remedy of extra Courts. Where the fault lies, I cannot say, but there is a general impression that the Judges could save the people much of this expense by preventing the lawyers from wasting so much time "in running rabbits." The expenses of the county Commis sioners, including their clerk aud lawyers' fees are $1,276.15 not high wages for active old gen tlemen, who only drink buttermilk as a beverage.' The poor and poor-house expenses ($3,457 57) seem to be increasing and will proba bly be greater this year on account of the failure of last year's crop. There appears in the expense account of the poor house, a bad precedent. Commissioner R. M. White, receives $1,286 27 Tor furnishing supplies to the poor-house. The overseer of the poor-hou&e is simply the agent of the county Commissioners, and it places Com missioner White in the attitude of trading with his agent, which is virtually trading with himself. Commissioner White's accounts have to be ap proved by the county Commissioners His brother Commissioners cannot feel that liberty to criticise his accounts that they would with an outsider; besides Commissioner White sits in judgment upon his own case. I disclaim any in tention of reflecting upon Commissioner White. I believe the county and the poor have received full justice from him, but one of his high char acter may not always till the office, and the pre cedent of to-day may be upheld in the future by Commissioners with unclean hands." It would look a little better if the Super intendent of the Poor House was to scat ter his favors a little more, or at least "try the market." It should be stated, in connection with the complaint about frequent Courts, that the County Commissioners are not to blame for the present special Term, for it was ordered by the Governor without their consent or recommendation. The Magistrates of the county, however, cin afford some relief by abolishing the In ferior Court and reducing the number of Commissioners from fi ve to three. T. P. COMMUNICATED. Wonderful Freak of Nature A Veritable Horned Man! Editor Home and Democrat : Among the many wonders of this "progressive age" there is one very notable which I have never seen reported in our State pa pers, though the subject was exhibited at the Centennial at Philadelphia. About 30 years ago a colored man near Wil liamston (my native town) in this State, named Drary Reddick, had a comical shaped excresence over his left eye. It was by some pronounced a "wart." It gave him very little if any pain. The ex cresence would occasionally "shed off." This process continued till about the year 1865, when the excresence continued to grow out about l inches, then formed two prongs very much like, i. e., in sub stance, a sheep's horn. Each prong at tained about 4 inches in length, and re mained till the Fall of 1880, when it "shed off" again; but a new "horn" began form ing at once, and while on a visit to Wil liamston in December last, I met said "Horned Man" on the street, with one prong of the horn resting against the right side of his nose, the other on his left cheek. If any one wishes further informa tion in regard to the case, I refer them to Dr. Alonzo Heapell, Williamston, N. C, W. T. Crawford, W. J. Hardison, Sheriff, or Mr. Albert Duggan, who exhibited him at the Centennial. Respectfully, W. P. Williams. Davidson College, Jan. 9, 1882. COMMUX IC ATED Answer to Problem No. 1. M. Puerorum: In your Problem for children of Common Schools, published in the Home and Democrat, you say that : Three persons, A, B and C, agreed to purchase together a tract of land contain ing A. 249, R. 1, P. 5, 16 dollars per Acre, of which A wanted 30 acres and 12 poles, B 16 acres 2 roods -and 15 poles and C the remainder, 142 acres 2 roods and 18 poles. The sum of these three parts are 189 A., 1 R., 5 P., being a difference in the number of acres of 60 acres. I solved the problem by the sum of the three parts given or 189 A, 1 R, 5 P. The first thing you want to know is the value of the whole tract, $16 per acre. A. R. P. 189, 1, 5, $16, $3,028 50 According to the condition of the question, A and B would each pay per acre, $15, C would pay per acre, $16, 2465 S fMft K 1185 A P 30. 12. A'a part a 15.2465 2019 9158.5402 154 673 460 673 A. R P. IB. 2. 15. B'a part a 15.2465 3019 A R P 142 2 18 C's part a 16.2465 L5- asi9 Total, $252.9975 2316.9622 673 93023.5000 The sum of these three parts make ex actly the game A. 108, R. l, P. o, 16 dollars per acre, which is a proof of its solution. John W. Todd, Age under 19 years. m NEWS ITE1S. An attempt has been made to steal the bodies of Napoleon III. and the Prince Imperial from the vault at Chiselhurst. The national board of health report that the small-pox is now prevailing in eigh teen states and territories. It is not con sidered epidemic in Philadelphia, Pitts burg, Alleghany, Cincinnati and Chicago. The Dress Album. The latest novelty is a dress album. A piece of every new dress is carefully cut and gummed on one side of the leaf, and the date attached. Thus the book forms a complete history of a lady'i costume from season to season. Boston Herald. Courier-Journal: Mr. Waller, of Carter county, raised this year a crop of corn from seed that he obtained from the Ag ricultural Department at Washington. The ear contained twenty-eight rows each 1,460 grains to the ear and seventy two bushels to the acre. Death of Hon. Clement C. Clay. Hon. Clement C. Clay died on the 3d inst., at his residence, near Huntsville, Ala., and was buried with imposing honors at Huntsville. Mr. Clay was born iu Madi son county, Ala., in 1819, and was conse quently in the 63d year of his age. Jdf President Arthur is simply Collec tor Arthur, who was dismissed from office by a Republican Executive and Senate for prostitution of his position to partisan profligacy, and he accepts the fact with out affecting to have acquired elevated ideas with elevated trust. Carlisle Vol unteer. Kingston, Jan. 5 Six weeks ago Mr. R. Taffinder of this city accidentally swal lowed a silver dime, and soon forgot all about it. Not long afterwards he was at tacked with a cough, which daily increas ed in severity. He thought he had con sumption, and made a disposition of his property. On Wednesday last, after a violent coughing spell, he suffered acute pain in his lung. While stooping over, out came the dime, and he is now cured of his cough. Washington, Jan. 5. Ex-Senator Tim othy O. Howe to-day took the oath of office and entered upon the discharge of his duties as Postmaster-General. The department being practically without a chief clerk, one of the first acts of the new Postmaster-General was to appoint his son, Mr. Frank Howe, Chief of the division of mail depredations, and detail him for duty as chief clerk. Frank Howe says that this appointment is only temporary, and he has not yet decided upon retaining the office permanently. In the course of the summing up of the Guiteau case, Mr. Davidge referred to the Mormon case decided by the Supreme Court, in which the defence that the Mor mon practised polygamy in obedience to the inspired word of God, was pronounced no defence. Upon this, Guiteau broke in with: "Yes, talk about the Mormons; they are breaking the law every day and the Government is doing nothing about it." Calf" The Mississippi river is now open for navigation as far north as St. Paul, and Lake Pepin is entirely free from ice; something never before known at this sea son of the year. Messrs. Wallace and Cranston, cotton factors and guano dealers at Augusta, Ga, have failed for $100,000 ; assets in notes and accounts $150,000. N. C. NEWS. Death of Judge Bkooks. We regret to learn of the death of Jndge Brooks, Judge of the Eastern District of North Carolina, which occurred at his home in Elizabeth City. The Judge's health has been on the decline .for several months. He was in his 64th year, and was born in Pasquotank county in this State. Appli cants for the place made vacant by his death are said to be Jndge Moore, Judge Buxton and Judge Albertson. Judge Faircloth, Judge Russel, and Judge Sey mour are also mentioned in the same con nection. Released on Bail. Messrs. Jno. H. Stevens, Jr., and W. S. Ringstaff were carried belore Judge Bennett, recently, at the Court House in this place, on a writ of habeas corpus. Several witnesses were examined by both sides in regard to the circumstances attending the unfortunate affair which cost Mr. Wesley P. Clyburn his life, and after hearing the evidence and the arguments of counsel, His Honor de cided that the defendants should be al lowed to give bail for their appearance at Court. The bonds were fixed at $5,000 each, which were promptly given and the defendants discharged from custody. Monroe Enquirer. Best vs. His Assignees. We believe it has never gotten into the papers, and hence has not become generally known, that at the last term of Rowan Superior Court, held about a month ago, Mr. W. J. Best, by counsel, entered formal suit against his assignees, Messrs. Clyde, Bu ford and Logan, to oust them from pos session of the Western North Carolina Railroad. The complaint is very vol uminous, and the assignees were given 90 days in which to answer it. The case will come on at the next term of Rowan Court for hearing, but as Judge Avery, who will hold the Court, is a Director of the Road under the administration of the assignees, it will be either moved or continued. Statesoille Landmark. Mysterious Disappearance. On Fri day the 30th Dec, which will be remem bered as a very cold day Mr. T. Baskins, who resides at Mrs. Walker's, was in town and left for home late in the evening. The last time he was seen was at the resi dence of Marion Sutton, where he hailed at the gate, and was invited to come in and warm. He replied that he was not cold, and after making some inquiries in regard to the roads, rode on. Later in the night his mule was discovered at a public gate at Leroy Helms'. Not know ing to whom the mule belonged, or that any one was missing, but little search was made on Saturday, but on receiving news from Mrs. Walker's neighborhood that Baskins was missing, fears were enter tained that he had met with some mis fortune probably had fallen off the mule and was frozen. The snow which fell Saturday night interfered much with the search, which was begun Sunday, and kept up until the woods were thoroughly scoured, but without success. It is re ported that persons at Matthews several miles away claim to have seen him at that place early on Saturday morning, and it may be that he boarded the traiu and left the country, though his relatives and acquaintances in Charlotte saw noth ing of hinv "-4 fciiuic is notning known that would prompt him to leave in this mysterious manner, and it is not known that he had any money with him to pay his expenses. He would get drunk oc casionally, we are informed, and at such times would fall down and go to sleep, and as it is known that he had a flask of whiskey with him it is supposed that he got drunk, went to sleep and was frozen. Monroe Enquirer. Larkin Little shot and dangerously wounded Robert Bishop, in a bar-room at Gaffney's City last Saturday. Whisky the cause. Gastonia Gazette. Broke Jail. The prisoners iu Hills boro iail nine in number broke out of jail, and made good their escape. They over-powered the jailor, but did not injure him. Professor Fries, music teacher in the Oxford Female Seminary, while walking on the streets of that town, fell suddenly dead on Monday evening. Heart disease is supposed to have been the cause of his death. Rev. Clayton Moore, of Martin county, died at bis home near Jamesville, on Tues day evening he was about 72 years old. He was a member of the Primitive Baptist denomination and eminent for his devotion to his ministerial duties. Messrs. Hall & Bros, of Hickory, are engaged quite extensively in the dried fruit business. They had a line of their goods at the Atlanta Exposition, arranged by their clerk Mr. J. N. Bohannou, and we are happy to say they received the first premium for the finest display of dried fruits. "Silver Creek Sam" Pearson, who killed Walker near Morganton a few months ago, has surrendered himself to the sheriff of Burke and is now awaiting his trial Lenoir Topic. Mr. Henry Kiser of Beaverdam, Cherry ville township, while returning home from Dallas, Monday evening, his mule fell in the snow, pitohing Mr. Kiser against the frozen ground on his face and fractured his jaw bone. Gastonia Gazette. The Notorious Bank Robber Escapes from the Albany Jail. Albany, Jan. 7. There is intense excite ment in police circles to-day over the escape from the jail of the notorious bank robber, William Burk, alias "Billy the Kid." The man was recently brought here from Cleveland on a charge of bank robbery at Cohoes, N. Y., and when lodged in jail the opinion was freely stated that he would speedily be liberated. The facts concerning the escape to-day are briefly these: There are two massive doors, one of iron aud the other of wood, separating the. prisoners' cells from the jailor's office. About 2 o'clock this afternoon a young man entered the office, and, as usual, was permitted to talk to the prisoners throngh a fine wire netting in the doors. While thus engaged the jailor was called up stairs, and when he returned the prisoner and his confidential friend had fled, leaving behind the two keys with which the doors were opened. Telephone and telegraphic messages have been sent in all directions, and Sheriff Houck offers a reward of $1,000 for the arrest of the "Kid." Burke robbed a banker in Cleveland of $117,000, and is one of the most skillful burglars in the country. Attorney General Brewster wears ruffles of the style of seventy-five years ago, a long waist-coat of bright buff, and a blue swallow-tailed coat with brass buttons. A cocked hat, sword, and silver buckles in his shoes, would be just too gorgeous. The Mystery of the Weather. A New Theory by Hon. Thos. L. Cling man of North Carolina. When in this city a few months ago I remarked to yon that as your paper had contained several articles on the remarka ble weather of the season, I wished to suggest something for the consideration of the astronomers. 1 was called away lrom the city suddeuly, however, and I now present the question. It strikes me as not improbable that the extraordinary weather of the jear that has just passed away is dne to one or more of the comets that have been observed. Though there is much doubt as to many of the features and qualities of comets, yet there are some of their characteristics which are unmistakable. In the first place, they often exhibit tails of great length. For example, that which was seen in March, 1843, must have had a tail of nearly a hundred million miles in length. Near the comet the tail is brightest in fact, often having the ap pearance of a solid mass. As the tail re cedes' from the comet it becomes less dis tinct, and after appearing ae a faint haze, gradually becomes invisible to the naked eye, but may be seen with the aid of tele scopes at a greater length. There can scarcely, however, be a doubt but that the tail is longer even than the best tele scope discovers it to be. If the visible tail be twenty million miles in length, then let it, for illustration, be assumed that the density of the tail nearest the nucleus or head of the comet is 100, at ten million miles is 50, and at the outer visi ble portion 10, owing to the diminution of the number ot particles contained in it. There can be little doubt but that this tail extends much further than it is seen to do. In fact, there might be a large amount of matter, in minute particles or in a gaseous form, which would not be observed. Even in our clearest weather the air con tains an immense amount of minute par ticles. You may remember that Sir John Tyndal has made some interesting publi cations on this point. Again, if comets consist of matter so much heated as to be self-luminous, there can be no doubt that great quantities of gaseous matter would be found in the pro longations of the visible tails. It seems not improbable, therefore, that if the visi ble tail of a comet should extend twenty millions of miles, the invisible portion might reach to thirty or forty million miles. If the earth in its revolution about the sun should pass through the tail or a por tion of the tail of one of these comets, its outer atmosphere would receive heat. If, for example, comets and their tails consist of heated matter, of course the earth would acquire some of that heat. But suppose we adopt the other view that the matter of which the tails of comets are composed is cold, then the Same result would follow. If the cometary matter consists of minute particle, it would re semble those small meteors which are of ten observed, and which are consumed in the atmosphere before they reach the sur face of th e earth. The earth is moving through space at a speed nearly one hun dred times as great as a cannon ball moves after it has gone one mile from the gun. The particles of the comet.' tail, thprufo, rr?pragtH rough the earth's atmosphere at this speed, would be, by its friction, intensely heated, and, of course, this heat would be absorbed into our atmosphere. Whatever, therefore, be our opinion as to the different theories with respect to the nature of comets, the passage of our earth through the tail of one of them would re sult in the attraction to it of more or less heat. Again, with respect to the height of the earth's atmosphere, the old opinion of Newton must be abandoned. In an article on the great meteor of 1860, which I published about ten years ago in Apple toil's Magazine, the facts there stated make ii evident that the atmosphere must extend much more than 150 miles above the earth's surface. I remember that at that time Prof. Newcombe told me that he regarded that article as furnishing the best evidence of the height of the earth's atmosphere that had been given. If, then, our outer atmosphere should get into con tact with portions of the tail ot a comet, we might not at the time perceive it. If portions of the upper air of the earth thufl became heated, that air, being thereby rendered still lighter from its expansion through the heat imparted, would remain lor a time in the outer portions of our atmosphere. Gradually by mixture and cooling it would get nearer the earth. When this air came down to the regions of our higher clouds, what would be the effect produced ? We know that clouds are formed by the cooling of the air saturated with moisture, which thus causes particles of cloud to be formed. We often see this illustrated about the surface of the earth. In the morainer the valleys show fog in the summer. This fog is caused because the moisture which arises from the warm streams, when it gets up into the air, cooled during the night, is condensed into vesicles or small particles ol water, v hen, however, the sun rises and the air is warmed, this fog is recon verted into vapor of water and becomes invisible. But along the sides of the mountains, where the air is still cool, the fog remains for a time. Toward midday it is only seen about the tops of the moun tains or at great elevations, where the air is still cool. Now. it is obvious that if the upper air were as warm as the lower no cloud would be seen. Hence, if one of these comets had warmed the upper at mosphere of the earth no cloud would be formed. In fact, if one formed lower down was, by rising currents, carried up into this warm belt, it would be dissolved and disappear. It may be not improbable, therefore, that the extraordinary warmth and drought in certaiu parts of the earth has been thus caused. Again, the mixture of hot and cold cur rents of air would tend to produce atmos pheric disturbances ; and, in fact, an un usual amount of stormy weather has been noticed in England and in other regions during the past season. We know, too, that a considerable period may elapse before these different currents are so mixed as to produce a u l'i form temperature. For example, New York may have warm wet weather, while localities only a few hun dred miles off may be very cold and dry. T. .1 I ? 1 ii way iiiub nappeu mat a considers Die period of time will elapse' before the for mer normal condition of the atmosphere is obtained. The important question, however, to be answered is, Did auy comet move during the past year in such an orbit that the earth might have come in contact with some of the matter of its tail ? Remember that the earth's motion through space is so rapid that it might traverse a million of miles of a comet's tail in a little more than twelve hours. Again, portions of a comet's tail during the most rapid parts of its movements when nearest the sun I may be detached and separated. The manner in which the tail of the great comet seen in 1858 was bent at its ex- trpmitv favors this idea. It looked as if the motion of the comet was so rapid that the extremity of its tail,' which, in i" the whirl around the sun to keep, its position, must move the fastest, was not able to accomplish its task, and was being left be hind. Hence, if minute portions and vapors forming the extremity of the tail could not keep up, they might have been left to float for a time iu space. Such frag ments might therefore be picked up by one of the planets. Is it not worth while, then, for our as tronomers to ascertain whether any one of the comets of the past year moved in such. a uirecuon mat a part ui ua u u ch caught by our atmosphere ? Denning's comet, discovered Oct 3 in England,passed within three and a half million miles of the earth's orbit in its ascending node, and is supposed to have made seven rev olutions within the last sixty years. It was stated in the newspapers that the large comet visible during the summer approached within sixty-seven million miles of the sun, and was, therefore, with its long tail, many million miles inside the earth's orbit. The immense rapidity with which some of the comets move should be kept in mind. Sir Isaac Newton estimated the speed of one of them when it was nearest the sun as equal to 200 miles per second, which is nearly a thousand times as great as the rapidity with which sound is trans mitted through the atmosphere. Of courpe, with such speed as this its whirl around the sun, requiring as it would still greater rapidity ot movement in its tail, might well be supposed to leave portions of the matter of the latter to float in space and be taken up by the earth in its revolu tions. Another interesting question presents itself. It is regarded as certain that the earth has not grown sensibly colder with in the last two thousand years. Though it daily receives an immense amount of heat from the sun, yet its radiation throws off just as much, and it retains its same temperature. But if, by reason of its con tact with a comet's matter, it should re ceive an additional supply of heat, how long a time must elapse before it gets down to its former temperature? I remember that when I was young the old people used to say that the winters were not then as cold as they had former ly been. I mentioned this to Prof. Henry of the Smithsonian Institution, and he told me that there was reason to believe that there were, at intervals of about thirty years, periods of greater cold for a few years at a time. He did not seem confi dent on this point, however. But we do know from the revelations of geology that in the past times the earth has been much warmer and also much colder than it now is. At one time tropical plants and ani mals existed far in the northern regions, while at another period immense masses of ice visited South America. What pro duced these changes? Again. I have often wondered what became of the peo ple who built the North American mounds and the massive structures found in Central America and elsewhere. It does not seem probable that such a people could have been exterminated by the sav4r tribes mat our ancestors found on this continent. Again, the works seem to be too recent for the people who built them to have. de cayed and perished from want of fur ther vitality in the stock, as geology shows that other races of animals have done. I was formerly inclined to attribute their destruction to some great "Volcanic disturbance that threw out an immense quantity of noxious gases that terminated their existence. Is it not, however, probable that in the earth's motion part of it came in contact with some noxious cometary matter, which for a time covered that side of the globe, but which was not abundant enough to spread itself over the whole surface of the earth? I have, however, perhaps extended these suggestions sufficiently to invite the attention of astronomers and other men of scientific attainments to the interesting questions connected with the subject. J. L. Clingman in Neto York Sunt Jan. Uh. How to Detect Incipient Small-Pox. While isolated cases of small-pox are being discovered in various parts of the city, it may be of interest to know how to detect the disease. Dr. Robert D. Mc Mary gave a Globe-Democrat Reporter the following as infallible: "The feeling of tiredness and pain in the back are almost universal and prominent symptoms, but the one thing that distinguishes small-pox from everv other is the hardness of the eruption. By pressing and passing the hand over the forehead or legs, the feeling is exactly that which would be caused by medium-sized shot being buried under the skin, and the severity of the disease may certainly be known by the number or thickness of these shot-like bumps. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. ALEXANDER & HARRIS Are carrying an immense Stock of Ready-Made Clothing This season. Also the best shirts in the market for the money. A nice line of Hats, Flannel Shirts, Pants Goods, etc. ALEXANDER & HARRIS. Dec. 1, 1881. THE NEW FEED AND COMMISSION STORE. A. J. BEALL & CO. Have now in store 1 Car Load Patapsco Patent Process Floui. 1 " " Waverly Extra Family Flour. 1 " M Yellow Corn. 1 White Corn. 2 " " Bran. 1 " " Pea Meal. v 3 - " Hay, Graham Flour & Pearl Grits. The above goods were bought at lowest cash prices and we invite the public to give us a trial before purchasing elsewhere, as we are con vinced we can make it to your interest to do so. A. J. BEALL & CO. Dec. 2, 1881. ly Blacksmiths' Tools. We have a cnmnlt tvlr nf Tllaolramitlia Tools or the best quality and at prices that will put them within the reach of every Farmer. Nov. l, 1880. KYLE & HAMMOND. Turkeys, Geese, Buckwheat Flour, New Orleans Molasses and Hopey at o a M- HOWELL'S. Dec. 23, 1881. Alf the popular Patent Medicines are for sale by WILSON & BURWELL. Comparative Cotton Statement. The following is the cotton statement for the week ending Jan. 6 : 1882. Net receipts at all United States ports during the week, Total receipts to this date, Exports for the week, Total exports to this date, Stock at all U. S. ports, Stock at all interior towns, Stock at Liverpool, Stock of American afloat for Great Britain, 1881. 148,330 3,262,922 121,186 1,624,318 1,203,731 217,518 519,000 111,642 3.525,948 125,331 2,095,107 922,521 177,290 480,000 240,000 351,000 From the N. Y. Financial Chronicle it appears that the net overland receipts of cotton for this year are 373,510 bales, last year they were 316,763. The consump tion of southern mills is put at 100,000 bales against 85,000 last year. Receipts at the ports to January first were 3,196 637 bales, against 3,454,099 last year. Stocks at interior ports are 421,000, while last year they were 325,000. The result of the showing is that of the present crop there have already been marketed 4,092, 147 bales, against 4,180,862 last year. So despite all of the suggestions of a short crop, it wonld appear that the crop of 1881 is but 88,715 bales short of 1880. But then the weight of the bales of this crop average so far 474 ponnds -against 486 last year, which would make some differ ence. The receipts from the plantations last week were 142,970 bales against 90,019 last year. Because of the very bad weather iu January, 1881, the cotton marketed that month was comparatively small. . We can not expect it to be so small this year. The result will be, probably, that the indica tions during January will point to a crop nearly as large as last year, and the price may be influenced by these indications. It is because of these comparatively great receipts that the price has fallen. Hargraves & Wilhelm. NEW GOODS. Our Fall 8tock is now complete, and the hand somest and cheapest ever offered in this market. It embraces a full line of Silks, Satins and Surahs, in all shades and qualities. Our Stock of Dress Goods and Dress Trim mings is the most varied and attractive ever seen in this city. Cloaks, Dolmans, Ulsters, Walking Jackets, and Children's Cloaks, in all qualities and shades. Shawls, Balmorals. Repellants, Cloakings, Oil Cretonnes, Worsted Fringes, to match. Velvets, Velveteens, Plush, fcc. A complete line of Flannels, Cassimeres, Da masks and Towels. A large assortment of Ladies' and Gents' Neck wear. We have an immense stock of Boots, Shoes, Hats and Clothing, That we are selling at extremely low prices. All we ask the public and our patrons is to give our stock a careful inspection. They will find the greatest variety and cheapest stock of Goods ever shown in this place. - We will save you muney by calling to see us. All-wool Plain Black Bunting at 15 cents. HARGRAVES & WILHELM. Sept 30, 1881. For Rent. Two good bed Rooms in the "Democrat Office" building. Rates low to good tenants. Jan. 8 1882. OUR SECOND STOCK This season has just been received, and we ask a thorough examination of the same before you make your purchases. We will, At the very low est market prices, satisfy all your wants in Plaids, Sheetings. Tickings. Calicoes. Ginghams. Cotton and Woolen Flannels, Table Damask and Napkins, Drew Goods and Trimmings, Buttons. Hosiery, Gloves, Valises, Hats, Caps, Boots, Shoes and Clothing. We have a large lot of Cloaks that we are selling at a great sacrifice. We sell the best Corset in the world ; if it breaks with six months' ordinary wear we will give you ten dollars. Ask for . Warner's Cor aline Corset We have a bargain counter for Dress Goods, on which will be found goods at 25 cents per yard worth 50 cents. An examination of our Stock will convince you that all we say is true. T. L. SEIGLE & CO. Dec. 9, 1881. Stand Lamps. We have a large supply of Stand Lamps which we are closing out at very low prices. WILSON fe BURWELL. GOOD THINGS! Lyons' Patent Metallic Stiffeners PREVENTS BOOTS AND SHOES FEOM RUNNING OYER,, Wearing off at the Sides, or Ripping in the Seams. Johnson's Silk and Felt Insoles PREVENTS Rheumatism, Cramp, cold feet, Bunions and chil blains. PEGRAlt & CO., Sole Agents, Jan. 6, 1882. Charlotte, N. C. Squibbs' Medicines Are regarded by all as Standard. We have just received a supply for our prescription counter. 'WILSON & BURWELL. Notice. Mr. H. PEYSER, Manager of the Atlas Printing Company, has just received a new, and one of the latest improved Job Presses that could be obtained for the office. They have also just received a new line of handsome Job type. The office is now prepared to execute all orders in the latest and most artistic styles. Jan. 6,1882. ET We pay special attention to the retail trade and use in the preparation of prescriptions SQUIBBS MEDICINES a fresh supply of which we have just received. WILSON A BURWELL. Jan. 6, 1882. - Trade Street. BINGHAM SCHOOL. Established in 1793, Mebaxevtixe, N. C w Pre-Eminent Among Southern Boarding Schools for boys in age, numbers and area of patronage. Messing club U of a mile from Barracks for young men of small means. The 176th session begins Jan. 11th, 1882. , . , .. For catalogue giving full particulars address Maj. R. BINGHAM, Supt. Dec. 23 3wpd
The Times-Democrat (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 13, 1882, edition 1
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