General News.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4000, 24 October 1881, Page 2

General News.

Ireland, before the famine, and with nine millions of people, produced more food per head of her population than she does now with only fire millions. Thii decrease in her fertility has gone on. -with lier decrease in population. And yet, Ireland, after all, yields more than twice as much wheat per aunum per aerie ai> America yields, and very nearly twice kl* much o^ts and barley per acre as America and Canada. What would Ireland not do, if, as in Jersey and Guernsey, the " land belonged to the hand that tills it? Roughly, Guernsey supports three people. to the acre of land ; Ireland, blessed with a richer soil, but cursed with landlordnm, only supports one soul to the three acres —and what support that' is,- let' the - wretchedness of Mayo, Galway, Donegal, and Kerry testify. Europe, of Brussels, publishes some curious statistics of suicides attributed to unhappy marriages. According to this statement, in Sweden, out of erery 1,000 suicides, those of 16 men and 24 women were said to have resulted from matrimonial misunderstandings ■ of iuconipatability of temper. In Norway, the figures were 21 m.en and 18 women; in Prussia,' 48 men and 51 wooaen;- in - Saxony, 26 men and 29 women; in Italy, 75 men and 76 women; in France, 138 men and 164 women. It is remarked that the largest number of these suicides occur-in France and Italy, where dirorce does not;exist.

Anotheb phase of revivalism, it apparent England.-' Messrs Moody and Sjnkey appeared at (Nowcastle-ou-Tyne to Tcy largo audieris».'; The preaching of one and the eiuging and praying of-tho other hare created great religious excitement.