CLIPPINGS.

Evening Star, Issue 3085, 8 January 1873, Page 3

CLIPPINGS.

It is repeated that Alsace and Lorraine are to receive as their share of the war indemnity levied on France, 3 50,000, OOOf., a sum equivalent to 75f, or L 3 a-head of the population. However, the 150.0U0,005f. are to be expended, not in purchasing the good-. wiU of thp peasantry, but in building forts, barracks, &c. Such is the present which Germany gives to her most recent acquisition. Mr E. Lois sail, of Philadelphia, lately submitted to the Franlin Institute spee mens to illustrate his proposed new method of utilising coal dust. This consists in thoroughly mixing about seven per cent, of clay with the fine coal, and forming the mass into balls, and then dipping these into a bath of benzine containing some resin in solution ; the object of this operation being to render them impervious to moisture. The solution penetrates the lumps to the extent of about one-fourth of an inch, and after the evaporaiion of the benzine, which takes place rapidly upon exposure to a current of air, a film of resin is left behind, which so effectually stops up all crevices, that, in the experiments made by the Franklin Institute Committee on Science and Arts, while investigating the process, masses which had lain in water for twelve hours were found to have Jpst none of their compactness, and lo be fcfill dry in the ‘interior. The consumption of the artificial fuel took place very satisfactorily, all the specimens burning until completely ashed. The committee found that the heating power of the material was somewhat below the average of solid coal, but that the compactness of the substance will firobably allow its transportation with as ittle loss from breakage as is suffered by many kinds of coal now brought to market. The conclusion arrived at was that the plan is one of the most practicable yet submitted to the public for utdising this waste product, the slight cost of its production being one great point in its favor .—Harper's New monthly Marjqzine . ‘ With all the wealth of England, and the general prosperity which now prevails there, the condition of certain classes of the population is really distressing to contemplate. A Liverpool philanth-opist, Mr .Simpson, who takes a keen interest in the laboring poor, has lately instituted some inquiries among the seamstresses, and the result is Startling. The best paid among them are cloak makers, and yet the wages of such a one for a day’s work of twelve hours is only twelve shillings per For plain machine sewing the pay is but seven shillings per week for a day’s w6rk of eleven hours. A seamstress making boys’ Jacket receives fivepence for four of thorn, which is a good half day’s work. One old woman, after gears’ practice, earns one shilling and sixpence in five days. And there are others still more wretchedly remunerated. The price for making three dozen of men’s pants is three shillings. By working steadily for eighteen hours half a dozen may be finished in one day. In reply to Mr Simpson, one of these unfortunate pantaloon makers stated that she had to furnish the silk and thread herself. Another seamstress, who sews linen cuffs and collars, earns fivepence per day in ten hours’ work. A correspondent of the Liverpool Albion confirms, from personal investigation, these statements, and adds a description of the places in which many of these working women labor. In a cellar, eighteen feet long and fifteen feet wide, nine feet under ground, he found five machines and eleven people at work. This is the way in which many feeble women “live” in Liverpool, ono of tho wealthiest cities on Mrth,

There are at this time four chemical laboiatories in Japan, where the science is taught, three of them being presided over by Gormans and the fourth by an American. The chief one is at Osaka, where there are nearly one hundred students. r l he rest are at Kaga, Bhidzoka and Fuwuki A fifth will soon be opened at Jeddo. ihe students are said to be fairly intelligent, but theii minds are at present encumbered with astrology and other kinds of *purious philosophy. The officers of Her Majesty’s ship Ganges, stationed at Falmouth, England, gave, the other day, a concert at a place called Redruth, a few miles distant, in aid of the foresters’ funds, Mr Boyne, Chief Gunnery Instructor, forty years of age, sang a humorous song in character, whiefi was warmly applauded. He re-appeared to an encore, and staggered forward upon the orchestra. His fall being taken to be intentional, the applause and laughter were renewed, but Boynes continued struggling, and the merriment was soon turned to wild alaim. Doctors were summoned, but before their arrival all motion had ceased, and in full view of the audience he had died. An agitation has been commenced in Germany for a consolidation of all the Protestant sects, or at least those who are generally classed as evangelical orthodox, including the two main divisions of Lutherans and Calvinists. Each sect admits that the differences of opinion are not material to salvation, or necessary to Church discipline; and that the separation in the organisations is a source of ecclesiastical, social and political weakness ; but it is probable that the influences similar to those which have prevented the union of the orthodox Protestants in England and America, will keep up the siparation in Germany.