March 26, 1889
The question has been asked, “What nation has the largest army in the world, counting actives and reserves?”
Probably Russia. On a peace footing there are 28,640 officers and 735,218 men, on a war footing, 44,753 officers and 2,149,664 men, not counting non-combatants with the colors. The total available war forces amount to about 3,250,000 men. Germany, has less of a paper army than any other nation; in peace she has 492,000 men; in war, 1,567,600 men, with reserves (Landsturm and on year men) of 1,000,000 men, making a thoroughly trained body of fighting men of 2,650,000. France has in peace a nominal army of 523,711 men, with reserves, also nominal, of 616,000; its force in war, on paper, amounts to 2,500,000 men.
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March 25, 1889
New York, March 25.—Eighty thousand pounds of bones formed part of the cargo of the steamer Wingate, from Alexandria, Egypt, which arrived here a day or two ago. These bones are to be used in this country as fertilizers. They were gathered from the deserts of Egypt; some of them are human bones and some the bones of camels, horses, and jackasses.
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March 19, 1889
Man Gradually Increasing the Average Years of His Existance.
The mean age of the members of the sacred college is about 80, and not one of the cardinals displays any mental falterings which are supposed to be incident to such advanced years, and to prclude, save in exceptional cases, a continuance of usefulness and activity in the discharge of their public functions. It might be supposed, perhaps, that there is something in the Italian method of life which tends to prolong activity beyond the average limit in other countries. But the fact is that Italy is not particularly favored in this respect. Taking the whole number of Italians, the of those over 60 is just 7 , against 7.7 in Germany, 7.8 in Sweden, 8 in England, 8.7 in Brazil, 9.9 in Belgium, and 12 in France.
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February 19, 1889
A Ship in good condition after being deserted for over a year.
Information has reached Philadelphia that the clipper ship Rock Terrace, which was supposed to have gone down a year ago while bound to Japan, had drifted into the Gilbert group of islands in a sound condition and with only a few inches of water in her hold. The Rock Terrace sailed from Philadelphia on September 20, 1887 for Hiogo; Japan with a cargo with a cargo of oil and phosphate lime valued at $125,000. When near the Philippine Islands, Captain Atkinson; for some unexplained reason- but it is thought through trouble with his crew- left his vessel and landed on an island near which the vessel happened to be passing and left her to her fate.
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January 22, 1888
Garland, Colo., January 21.- Word has been received from Coatilla, New Mexico, of an assassination occurring at that place between a couple of Mexicans whose names could not be learned. It seems, from reports, that a Mexican rode up to a house and called a young Mexican to the door, and when he reached the door the one outside shot him. It is said the trouble was over a woman.
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January 15, 1889
The life of a professional diver must be classed as an extra hazardous risk by the life insurance companies. Only the other day the air tube of a poor-fellow, who was a t work upon the wreck of a sunken steamer off the Rockaway Reach, became entangled and he was suffocated to dean in an instant. A similar accident happened on the same day this to the air hose of a diver in the Schuylkill river, who was drawn to the surface, however, before the vital spark had entirely gone out. And comes the story from New Zealand, of a content under water of a diver with an enormous octopus.
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