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i - m ®Jte JKclfnru glamdeata; J. VAN 8LYX1L 1*CBLISH*R. McHEKRY, ILLINOia AURICULTURIlL and domestic. ', jti- - ' f Aroand the Farm. To T>ESTROT LICE. --There are various specifics ; among the simplest and most effective are these : Put two ounces of powdered lobelia seed into a quart of ' boiling water ; let the decoction stand a few hours, and, with a sponge, wash the skin night and morning. Here is an­ other : Take linseed oil, one ounce ; Pyroligynous acid, four ounces ; spirits of turpentine, one ounce. Apply two or three times a day. When the veimin have disappeared, the skin should be Washed thoroughly with soap an i water. The animals should be liberally fed with nutritious food. DIVIDENDS.--Many farmers look upon other men who get immensely rich out of business as in very much more fortu­ nate circumstances than themselves, and still there are very few kinds of business that pay regularly better dividends on investments in improvements than in farming. Take, for instance, tile drain­ ing. It is the universal testimony of those who have made investments in it that the money is refunded in three or four yeais. A railroad investment that would pay 20 or 30 per cent, on the in­ vestment would be a remarkable corpo­ ration. Still this ib what money put into tile-drainage returns. To PBEVENT MICE FROM GIRDLING FRUIT-TREES.--A correspondent of the Western Rural, giving his experience with this pest of the orchard, tells now he cleared his orchard, as follows: " Find where the mice burrow around in the orchard and dig a hole there twenty inches deep as you would for a fence-post; make the sides smooth; throw in an apple. Tha mice will go in and they cannot get out. I catch from one to five per day in each hole until they are all gone. I have had abundant experience in this method; and know it to be successful. Soon as the cat finds it out, you need have no further trouble about taking them out. She will attend to that matter." LAZY FARMERS.--Laziness prevents a man from getting off his horse to put on the first rail that gets knocked off the fence, and through this lazy neglect a whole field of corn is seriously damaged. Laziness keeps a man from driving one nail when one would do, and finally costs a carpenter's bill for extensive repairs. Laziness allows a gate to be off the hinges, to lie in the mud, or stand propped by rails--or a stable or a barn to leak and damage hundreds of dollars' worth of provender. Laziness, in short, is the right and proper name for nine- tenths of the excuses given for bad farm­ ing. Bat far the most prolific of the many wastes that are due to laziness is the waste of ignorance. WATERPROOF BLACKING.--If ever one needs a good, water-proof blacking for boots and shoes, it is at this time of sleet and snow. The following recipe for making a water-proof blacking comes to us highly recommended : Dissolve an ounce of borax in water and in this dissolve gum shellac until it is the con­ sistency of thin paste; add lampblack to color. This makes a cheap and excel­ lent blacking for boots, giving them the polish of new leather. The shellac makes the boots or shoes almost entirely water-proof. Camphor dit solved in al­ cohol, added to the blacking, makes the leather more pliable and keeps it from cracking, This is sold at 50 cents for a small bottle. By making it yourself, $1 will buy jnaterials for a gallon. SEASONABLE HINTS.--Be sure to have the ground where you put onions next spring rich, and, to make it so, cover it over with manure now, run it over in the spring, and rake off all the coarse parts. Throw your coal ashes around your fruit trees and under the currants and gooseberries. Don't throw away or sell wood ashes, but use them around your peach and other fruit trees. Carefully examine with a sharp in­ strument, the peach trees wherever gum is escaping, and kill the grubs. If not done before, trim currants, grapes and gooseberries; cut up the cuttings six to ten inches long, and bury below frost for spring setting. There is nothing better for hot-beds than leaves mixed'*with barn-yard ma­ nure, as they produce heat for so long a time. We advise hauling mow from the woods and throwing them under the horses and cattle. To grow good roots from cuttings of quinces, currants, gooseberries, flowering shrubs, «tc., it is well to take off the cuttings first open, spell and bury in earth, so they will callous over before planting out in the spring. Cut scions of apples, pears and cherries now, and boxy in sand for grafting. one table-spoonful of flour and brown it; put it in a bowl and mix "with it one ounce of butter, stir thera together to a smooth paste; then add half a pint of boiling water, with a slice of toasted bread cut in small pieces and just enough salt to taste ; if approved, a iittl© black pepper may be added. When animal food is forbidden, this may be used as a substitute for a richer soup. THE MUMPS.--In mild cases very little treatment is required. Keeping the face and neck warm, avoiding exposure to cold and damp, drinking warm infu­ sions of balm, spearmint or sage, and taking occasionally, if there be some severity of symptoms, four to six grains of Dover's powder, or the compound powder of jalap, if there be costivenees, is about all that is required. The diet should be very light and simple. INDIAN MEAL DOUGHNUTS.--A teacup- ful and a half of boiling milk poured over two teacupfuls Indian meal; when it cools add two cupfuls wheat flour, one of butter, one. and a half of sugar, three eggs and a tablespoonful nutmeg or cin­ namon; if not stiff enough, add equal portions of wheat and meal; let it rise till very light; roll it about half an inch thick; cut it into small diamond-shaped, cakes, and boil them in hot lard. THE ORIENTAL CONFLICT. About the House. A CERTAIN way to keep ants from •sugar barrels, lard cans and preserve jars, says one who has tried it, is to tie a string wet with kerosene around the barrel, can or jar. Repeat the wetting of the string with the kerosene oil every • few days. BAKED TAPIOCA.--Soak eight table- spoonfuls of tapioca in a quart of warm water or milk, till soft; then add two table-spoonfuls of melted butter, five eggs well beaten, spice, sugar, and wine to taste. Bake in buttered dish, and without lining. To WHITEN THE COMPLEXION.-- Squeeze a little lemon-juice on a soft, wet rag, and pass the rag over the faoe a number of times before retiring at night. Repeat the operation as often during the following day as you find it convenient, allowing the juice of the lemon to dry on the face. In a week or so you will experience great benefit. FLANNEL CAKES.--Mix three table- spoonfuls of flour with one pint of -cream; add two eggs, and beat the whole well till quite smooth ; then add slowly half a pint of new milk, into which has been put a teaspoonful of baking powcter. Beat all well together, and fry with lard, a little of which should be made hot for each cake. Eat with powdered sugar, mixed with cinnamon or grated nutmeg. BROWN SOUP FOB INVALIDS.--Take A Desperado Slain by a Woman; Dave Raggio, a notorious Chicago tbief and desperado, was recently shot by a woman whose premises he had in­ vaded. Mrs. Mitchell, the name of the woman who gave the villain his quietus, reldted to a reporter the circumstances of the affair: She said it was about 8 o'clock, or a little past, on Saturday night, that she came off Wabash avenue, along Harrison street, to her apartments* When on the latter thoroughfare she happened to glance up at the window of her sitting-room, which fronted on the street, and noticed that the gas, which she had left burning there, was turned out, or down very low. She did not take much notice of it, thinking that her servant was there and had attended to it. She went around on State street, and proceeding up stairs walked straight into her bedroom, and facing the look­ ing-glass proceeded to take off her fur cloak. The sitting-room was on her right hand as she stood in this position, and the front of the bed on her left, while the door she entered by was direct­ ly behind her. Before she had time to get her cloak off a slight sound caused her to glanoe towards the darkened sitting-room, and she then noticed a man close to her and another back in the shadow. The near one immediately struck her on the arm or shoulder, and she, simultaneously retreating to save herself, fell on the side of the bed on her left side. With her left hand she drew the revolver from her pocket, and quickly changing it to the other hand fired it at the man nearest her. This is the shot she thinks that told, if any did, for the man threw up his arms and then contracted them, saying, "O, God!" and the two of them started out. She regained her feet, having first fired in a kneeling attitude, as she had been pushed, or had fallen, and fired again, this time pursuing them, and fired a third shot down the stairs at them, which broke the glass in the stairway door. > Making War by Contract. An ingenious pamphlet has been writ­ ten by a Get man on improvements in war. Believing that war is but a natural outbreak of the pent-up forces of hu­ manity, which must from time to time occur, he proceeds to show that its hor­ rors are in a great measure due to the injuries inflicted on peaceful civilians by a wanton destruction ot life and prop­ erty. War, he maintains, if properly conducted, should in no way affect non- combatants, except in so far as they must suffer by reason of bereavements; and, moreover, much may be done to make it less disagreeable to actual com­ batants. With this view, he suggests that some neutral territory be set aside by the European powers, and devoted entirely to bloodshed. No fighting is, un Jer any pretense whatever, to take place out of this territory, which is to be fitted up for war in the most elabo­ rate fashion. There is to be a training- school for nurses, a college for surgeons and large hospitals. Prisoners of war will be confined in suitable buildings specially prepared for their accommoda­ tion. There are also to be vast ceme­ teries and depots for artificial limbs, etc. These conveniences will be open to all nations wishing to fight at fixed and reasonable charges. Weapons of every description--and, in fact, all the appliances of war--may be bought or hired ; but no oredit is given, and the charges for battle-fields are to be paid for before the first gun is fired. And the profits, after payment of expenses, will be devoted to the maintenance of the widows and orphans of the fallen.-- --Pall Mall Gazette. A Maniac's Vision and a Watcher's Nerve. A gentleman in Oonnellsville had lost his reason, and, pending his oommitt&l to Dixmont, Mr. R. M. Sibbetfc was sitting up with him one night to pre­ vent him from doing himself bodily injury. Near midnight, when the only occupants of the room were Mr. Sibbett and nis crazy patient, the latter, who was in bed, reached under the pillow, and, drawing from beneath it a revolver, cocked the weapon and pointed it at Mr. Sibbett, accompanying the act with a statement that he had a vision, and than an angel from heaven had com­ manded him to shoot the watcher at his bedside. Mr. Sibbett looked at the man an instant and then coolly said : " Why, that pistol isn't loaded. This had the effect of diverting the patient's mind from his purpose, and also aroused his curiosity as to whether the revolver was really loaded. He got out of bed to examine it, and in an unguarded mo­ ment Mr. Sibbett snatched it from him. He found that four of its six chambers were loaded. He then, as a precau­ tionary measure, closely examined the room and bed, and under the pillow from which the revolver was taken he also found a hatchet.--Pittsburgh Ga­ zette. HOMEOPATHY appears to be making headway in France. From statistics just {mblished by the Academy of Science we earn that there are seventy homeopathic doctors in regular practice in Paris and over 300 in the provinces. Since 1869 three homeopathic hospitals have been founded--two in Paris and one in Lyons. The Approaching European Campaign-- An Invasion of Turkey No Holiday Job. [Prom the New York Time#.] Russia has evidently gained all from the conference she oould have expected. She has now united Europe on her side so far as moral influence is concerned. She has gained several invaluable months for needful preparations. The mobili­ zation of her armies has evidently been a grand fiasco. The Russian journals are not permitted to report the move­ ments of troops, but enough leaks out to show that large bodies of men were kept for days at little stations waiting for transportation ; that provisions and water failed, and tie 'utmost confusion prevailed. Many regiments proved, too, mere skeletons, so that Russia seemed in some such condition as France before the last war. This, however, by the lapse of the necessary time, has been remedied, and the empire is every day girding itself for the struggle. A oer- tain change has, it is true, come over the popular spirit; but this is probably no more than the seriousness which al­ ways precedes a great war, and the dis­ content which official stupidity and mal­ administration produce in all countries. We observe thai certain military wri­ ters in Europe predict an easy "prome­ nade " of the Russian armies from the Pruth to Constantinople. This is alto­ gether improbable. Any one who reads Mcltke's account of the campaign be­ tween Russia' and Turkey in 1828-9, in which he served personally, or any other good history of the various wars be­ tween these two powers, will see that an advance from the Danube to Adrianople by the Muscovites is likely to be any­ thing but an easy task. The physical peculiarities of the Danube are all in favor of the Turks. The high banks are on the Turkish side, while such islands as might form good supports for bridges are near the other bank, leaving the broad and difficult stream between. The left shores are low, wet and marshy, the roads upon them often quagmires, and the whole country so malarious that the Russians have usually lost more in former campaigns from dis­ ease than in battle. The river can be crossed on the ice, or at least partly so, during such a winter as this ; but the Russians evidently have no liking for a winter campaign in such a difficult country, and in a month from now the ioe will begin to break up and the roads to be impassable. At every suitable crossing the Turks have heavy works, besides several strongly fortified places. In former years the Russians have crossed on the many narrow channels near the mouth of the Danube, but now the Turks com­ mand the Black sea, and their gunboats ought to control all the lower stream. The Russians, if they succeed. in cross­ ing, must do it quite far up, by march­ ing through Servia. By this advanoe they might, to a certain degree, turn the posts on the Danube and some in the Balkans. But the danger would be that they would leave the Austrian corps of observation directly in their rear in the Carpathians. Provided a full under­ standing were had with Austria, there would be no danger in this. Otherwise, it would be fatal to such an approach to Constantinople. It is doubtful if any Russian army would venture a march OK Adrianople with Shumla unmasked. This place is a sort of fortified post at the foot of the Balkans, toward the river, capable of holding 150,000 men. Its siege and capture would be a very diffi cult matter, Varna, which lies near the sea, would be impregnable with the superiority of the Turkish fleet. And, indeed, this fact alone would compel the advance of the Russians to be by in­ terior lines to Adrianople. When it is remembered how tena­ ciously the Turks defend fortified places, how much better equipped they are than was the case in 1828-9, and even in some respects better provided than in the Crimean war, it will be seen what a task the Russians have taken on themselves in "drivingthe Turk from Europe." In former campaigns disease and sanitary neglect have terribly thinned the Rus­ sian ranks, while the blunders of their commanders have cost them many de feats. In the last war the Turks, under British officers, were so obstinate in de­ fense that the forces of the Czar scarcely crosscd the river. In that, as in this, the Ottomans controlled the sea. Ev erything points to the march to Con­ stantinople being, far from a " prom­ enade," in fact, i: tag and bloody strug­ gle. The Turk Ms counted on this in his obstinacy at the conference. He could not lose more than he might by a campaign--the chances of war offer many escapes and opportunities. It is natu­ ral, too, that Russia desires all the time possible for such a severe contest. looked up at the Bench, and, with a grave countenance, but a twinkle in his eye, answered coolly and composedly, " You have got me this time, your Hon or I"--Utica Observer. MANIAC MURDERERS. The Surplus tienera Award. The Americans are puzzled to know what to do with the money paid under the Geneva award. They have paid up all claims, and the Alabama Commission ceased to exist at the end of the year, but there is a surplus of £1,800,000 re­ maining undistributed. Part of this has accrued from interest, but the whole sum now lies at the disposal of Congress and the President. It is said tha* there is a strong feeling in the United States in favor of returning the balance to Great Britain, and we can only hope that it may be influential enough to affect the action of Congress. Such an act of political honesty would do more to make future abitrations possi­ ble, and to restore the confidence of Great Britain in the American people, than a dozen treaties, and we are not without hope that it may be performed. There is sometimes deficiency of justice over there, especially about boundary claims, but there is never a deficiency of generosity. This country does not want the money, but it does want evi­ dence that the Americans, in pressing the Alabama claims so sharply, sought only justice.--London Spectator. One More About Gen. Nye, It is related that he was trying a case in the Southern tier, the presiding Judge being peevish and irritable, as well another dull. Gen. Nye had not only cross-examined a witness at great length, but had frequently put the same questions, which the Judge had fre­ quently ruled against as improper. At last the patience of the Judge was ex liausted, and he rebuked Gen. Nye, and petulantly asked him, "Gen. Nye, what do you think I am sitting here for t" Nye THE ROMAN CATHOLICS. Organization and Number of the Denom­ ination In the United States. [From the New York Sun.] From the latest statistics, it appears that out of the 40,000,000 inhabitants in the United States there are 6,000,000 of Roman Catholics. Opening "Sad- lier's Catholic Directory and Almanac" for this year--a work approved by ec­ clesiastical authority and in common use among the Catholic clergy and laity --I find that the whole territory of this country is divided into seven provinces, containing eleven archdioceses, forty-six dioceses, and eight vicariates apostolic. The provinces are Baltimore, with- eight diooeses and one vicariate apostolic; Bos­ ton, with six dioceses, all in New En­ gland; Cincinnati, eight dioceses, em­ braced in Ohio, Michigan,. Indiana and Kentucky; Milwaukee, five dioceses and one vicariate, included in the States of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Dakota Territory; New Orleans, seven dioceses and one vicariate, and embrac­ ing five Southern States; New York, in­ cluding the States of New York and New Jersey with their seven dioceses; Oregon, three dioceses and one vicariate; Philadelphia, five dioceses; St. Louis, seven dioceses and two vicariates; San Fiancisco, three dioceses; and the prov­ ince of Santa Fe, with its one diocese and two vicariates. These dioceses, archdioceses and vicariates are under the ecclesiastical rule of as many arch­ bishops, bishops and bishop coadjutors, and at the head of these and the hier­ archy is now the first appointed American Cardinal or Prince of the Church, His Eminence Cardinal John McCloskey, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York. In addi tion to these higher clergy are five mi- tered Abbots, whose rank is almost equal to the Bishops. Under these prelates there are about 5,000 priests, including both seculars and those living in monasteries or religious houses. These last belong to that vast army of oelebates in the Roman Catholic Church who are formed into orders or commu­ nities, living under a rule. These or­ ders are composed of both men and women, known as monks, friars, or brothers, and nuns and sisters, such as the Sisters of Charity, who are religious vestals, but not nuns or cloistered re­ ligious. Again, the large corps of workers known as the Christian Broth­ ers, the Franciscan Brothers, and oth­ ers are celebates, but not priests. They devote themselves mainly to the work of education ; they do not preach, or celebrate mass, or perform any of those offices relating to the sacraments, which pertain strictly to the priesthood. The "Catholic Directory" gives us also a list of the names of about 5,000 Roman Catholic clergymen in tbe United States, and from Thomas O'Kane Mur­ ray's " History of the Catholic Church *n the United States" we gather these figures: Total number of monks or men living in religious houses, tinder the rule of twenty-seven different religious orders in the United States, 2,954; re­ ligious houses for men (termed various­ ly monasteries, retreats, abbeys, pri­ ories, and convents), 228; colleges and seminaries presided over and in­ structed by these celebates and some secular priests, 75; number of students attending the same, 13,943. Those col­ leges and seminaries are authorized to confer degrees, and are generously and amply provided with libraries, appara­ tus and all the appliances and aids nec­ essary to enable them to bestow a lib­ eral education. Besides this part of the work of education, these religious and priests do a part of the work of teaching in various pay schools and academies, and also in the 1,700 free Catholic common schools of this repub­ lic, with their attendance of over half a million of children. In these common schools are engaged also large numbers of the Sisters of Charity and other women belonging to other religious or­ ders. There are forty-four regular or­ ders for women in this country, with a membership of about 10,000 professed nuns or sisters, besides novices and post­ ulants or candid?tea for membership. These ladies own and live in 600 con­ vents or religious houses, conduct over 400 academies,, about 250 pay schools, 111 asylums, and manage and nurse the patients in 66 hospitals. This is be­ lieved, however, to be a very small esti­ mate. They form, moreover, by far the largest number of teachers in the free parochial or Catholic common schools mentioned above. These, it will be re­ membered, draw no part of the common sohool fund in any of the States, but are supported by the voluntary contrib­ utions of Roman Catholics themselves. Horrible Batcher? of a Woau la LM](. •ille bjr Her Boil. A shocking case of matricide occurred in Louisville, Ky., a few days ago, Tim McCarthy, a boy aged 19 years, splitting open the head of his mother, aged 65, with a hatchet. When the flfrair becamc known, and a man went to the house, young McCarthy was found sitting on a chair by the side of his mother's body, crying bitterly. He tapped him on the arm and said: " Tim, go back with me." He started up and drew back, saying: "Joe, leave me here until I see my mother die." He was allowed to sit by her side until she died, and a policeman came to take him away. The poor old woman was doubtless sitting in a chair when the boy found the fatal hatchet vriih "hich ths killing was done and standing over and in front of her, dealt the cruel blows upon her. If there had been a struggle, the evidence of it had been removed. All that told of the awful tragedy was the shrunken form of the dead woman, that frightful hole in her head, and the crimson spots upon the floor. In his cell in jail a reporter asked him why he killed his mother* He was silent for some momenta, but when the reporter turned to leave he said: "Yes, I struck her in the head with a hatchet Well, they surrounded the house and were going to burn it. I did not want to see my mother burned to death, so I killed her." Here he burst into tears and slowly walked away. The murderer has for some time been afflicted with a mild type of insanity, caused by an enlargement of the brain. utiuiiornia are sep» a those which cerifc: and Sacramento^' TV" A Staten Island Lunatic Kills pis Mother Mutilates Ris Sister. A terrible tragedy was reoently enact­ ed at Egbertville, btaten island, N. Y. Patrick Doian, a young Irishman, has for some time been of unsound mind. His aged mother and a sister, not will­ ing to place him in an asylum, took him to Egbertville, hoping the quiet of that village would aid to restore his reason. Dolan seemed harmless, and the pros­ pects of his recovery promising. But, at 8 o'clock on the morning of the tragedy, he rose while his sister was sleeping, went to the woodshed and got a club. Thus armed, he stole back to the house and mounted to the room in which his mother, an old lady of 70 years, was sleeping, and began to as­ sault her. The first blow injured the old lady severely, but she managed to get out of bed and elude her crazy son for some time. An opportunity finally offered, and he felled her with' a blow, mutilated her body in the most horrible manner, and then sought an­ other victim. His sister Ann, who had been aroused, escaped him with cuts on the head and limbs, which will probably not prove fatal. The neighbors were startled by the cries of her mother and herself, and, before Dolan could be se­ cured, he had hurt Lawrence Curry severely, and would have killed him but for the arrival of his son, Sylvester,who had a fearful struggle with the madman before a rope could be procured, and the latter bound. He was arrested and plaoed in the Riohmond jail. Hereto­ fore he has borne a good reputation, aud was not a drinking man. No cause for his insanity is known. A Prison-Keeper Brained by a Crazy Con- •ict. While A. J. Casler, one of the keep­ ers of the Auburn (N. Y.) prison, bad a gang of eight convicts shoveling snow in the prison yard, a few days ago, Wm. Barr, one of the prisoners, struck Cas­ ler over the head with an iron shovel, causing death almost instantly. Barr was under a ten years' sentence for rob­ bery, which would have expired in July of this year. This crime will probably insure the execution in March of Thom­ as, the negro oonvict, who killed an­ other keeper, and for whom an effort for reprieve is making. A Startling Scene In Church. Last Sunday week, after the first hymn had been sung in the Congrega­ tional Church at Geneseo, N. Y., a wealthy and respected resident of the town rose in his pew, took out his watch, and, addressing the clergyman, exolaimed : "There is a devil in this church, and I give her just five minutes to live." At the same instant he drew a revolver and pointed it at a lady seated in a pew in front of him. The lady was discreet. She rose quietly and left the church. The preacher gave out his text, but his sermon fell on dull ears, and there was gossip without end after the benediction. The gentleman had. been summoned home from 4-lbany to look after his daughter, but when he arrived he had learned that she had run away with this lady's son and been mar­ ried at Mount Morris a few days before. He was convinced that the elopement had been planned by the mother-in-law, and was unable to repress his indigna­ tion in church. An Lagle Carries Off a Pig. On Monday afternoon last the schol­ ars attending the Fegely school, in Pottsgrove township, this county, saw a very large bird alight on a tree about 300 yards from the school-house, on the Gue property, carrying in its talons a small sucking pig, which it began to de­ vour. The children scampered off in the direction of the tree, when the bird went sailing away, leaving behind it the two hind legs of the young porker. From the description given of the bird by the children, it was no doubt an eagle.--Pottstown (Pa.) Ledger. How a Forger Paid William M. Erarts. The most clever forgeries which had been ever known, up to the time of their occurrence, were those of Monroe Edwards. This man really possessed commercial genius, and had he devoted himself to legitimate business he would have become a merchant prince. He preif ii. u frar.:', however, a"d bore the consequences. It is thirty-four years since Monroe Edwards was convicted. William M. Everts was then a young lawyer, and was retained in the defense. It is said he got his pay in a forged check. Edwards had great personal ele­ gance and grace of manners. He went to England with forged letters from Daniel Webster, traveling as John P. Caldwell. The aristocraoy welcomed him to their festal halls, and he actually borrowed £1,000 to return with. In this city he forged $25,000 on Brown Broth­ ers & Go. s and by three clever forgeries in Philadelphia he raised $66,(MM) more. His trial in this city was the occasion of James Watson Webb's duel with Tom Marshall. The latter was one of the counsel for the defense, and made severe reflections on Webb, who chal­ lenged him and got a bullet in his leg. Edwards was sentenced to Sing Sing for five years, and died before the ex­ piration of the sentenoe.-- Utica Herald. Another Pacific Railroad. There is a very modest Pacific rail­ road project before Congress. It only asks for $10,000 or $15,000 to enable a survey to be made, under the direotion- of the War Department, of a line from Austin, Texas, crossing Mexico, and terminating at a harbor on the Gulf of California called Topolovampo bay. The length of the pi ©posed line is only 800 miles. A bill making the appropriation is now on the Senate calendar, backed by a report of the Committee on Railroads. The route indicated is the shortest available lino for a road connecting the road system of the East and South with a good harbor on the waters of the Pa­ cific ocean.-- Washington Cor. New York Tribune. in support of this project that the ii*. terests of Southern California are sep* arate and diverse from " " ' " ter at San Francisco and that, as the southern section deveK ops in population and wealth, as it will 1 rapidly do as soon as it has railroad, communication with the East, it will de. mand a distinct political existence.-- Washington Cor. New York I'Hbune, ILLINOISLEGISLATURE. THURSDAY, Feb. 1.--SENATE.--The Senal* .. met pursuant to adjournment, but, no qnonufe. being present, an adjournment was taken tin to­ morrow. HOUSE.--NO quorum present. FRIDAY, Feb. 2.--SENATE.--The Legislator* met to-day with a large attendance in both houses but transacted but l'ttle business of special impor- tanoe.. .Kelioe's till, providing for the maintenance or murricd living apart frcia their bna- bands, wag ordered to a third reading Petition* were presented asking for a law to require the semi­ annual collection of taxes, and for the passage of n law for the punishment of wife-beaters at a public whipping-post.... A number of bills were intro­ duced--to levy taxes for levee and drainage uuiw poses; to amend the Registry law, restoring the provisions of the law as they were three years ago, and increasing the penalties for illegal voting.... Mr. Dement introduced a bill to create a Northern Normal University, to be located north of the Chi­ cago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad. HOUSE.--Bills were introduced M fellows: To protect widows and orphans in the sale of proper­ ty ftnaer mortgage or deed of trust; prohibiting the hiring, apprenticing, or giving away of chil­ dren to showmen to be exhibited in acts endanger­ ing life, limb, or health, or to engage in concert* hall shows: to provide for a rebate of taxes in cases of the destruction of property by tire; to create a State Board of Education to take charge of- the State Normal institutions; to require railroads to be fenced; to punish the desertion of married * women by their husbands; making appropriations for the Industrial School at Champaign, and fat the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. The former appr^ priates $40,000 for the erection of laboratory build­ ings, and $84,500 for current expenses. The lattar appropriates $103,000 generally, and $M,00l) far specific repairs, etc. Providing for the submission to the people of a constitutional amendment at> propriating $700,000 additional for the completion of the new State House. SATURDAY, Feb. 3. --SENATE.--In the Senate bills were introduced as follows: By Southworth, to provide for the care of the geological collection be­ longing to the State; Kehoe, to amend the Revenue law, so as to lessen the cost of collecting taxes; Taliaferro, to amend the License law; Bonfleld, to punish engineers on public works for making false estimates; Marshall, allowing license fees from dramshops to be apportioned among the townships, or put into the county treasury at' the discretion of the County Board; Ware, appropriation for South­ ern Normal School Kehoe offered a resolution for a committee to investigate doings of State House Commission. HOUSE.--The following bills have • been intro­ duced : By Cronkhite, to emend Election law so that witness to affidavit of s person challenged shall only be required to have resided in the precinct thirty days; same, to repeal the Registry law; Powell, to amend revenue law so that parties sign­ ing an assessment return shall swear to the same; Thomas, for compulsory education of children from 7 to 16 years of age, at least twelve weeks eaoh year, with appropriate penalties; Budlong, for com­ pulsory education of children from 8 to 14 years old ; Zepp, making personal property liable for real es­ tate taxes; Jack, to authorize the leasing of school lands: Winter, to amend Exemption law so that $25 only shall be exempt of the wages of a laborer; Williams, to prevent the discharge of in­ curable insane from the State insane hospitals: Mathews, to provide for payment of ell county taxes after Jan. 1, 1879, in coin, county orders aud Jury certificates, and in no other ciuv rency [the State taxes shall be paid in coin or Auditor's warrants, or, if for special purposes, in coin ouly; this is to make the State law conform to the Resumption act of Congress, as it is claimed has been done in New York]; Oak wood, declaring all roads laid out in pursuance of any law of the State or late Territory of Illinois, and not vacated by law, to be public highways. MONDAY, Feb. 5.--SENATE. --Bills were in troduced, among others: Providing that th books, accounts, etc., of corporative companies shall be open to the inspection of all stockholders, and providing penalties for the refusal of the officers to produce them; that in suits against partnerships, service upon one, when the others are non-resident, shall be sufficient; for the punishment of wife-beaters ... Joslyn offered a resolution instructing the Railroad Committees of the Senate and House to investigate the charges against the Union Stock Yards Company for extortion. Adopted. HOUSE.--A large number of petitions were pre­ sented asking lor the passage of a law to compel the payment of back taxes.... Besolutiona were of fered: Asking for the appointment of a special committee of five to inquire into the manner ifa which the supplies and furniture f«r the House and the State House generally were purchased; calling upon the Government for the re­ ports which the Judges of the Supreme Court are required to make, suggesting amend­ ments to the statutes; providing for an amend­ ment to the constitution for the collection of the taxes from the receipts of railroads and other com­ panies, and from licenses in lieu of taxes on real and personal property, was sent to the Revenue Committee; looking to the revision of tbe laws In relation to the State charitable institutions. TUESDAY, Feb. G.--SENATE.--In response to a statement made by a'biember of the House yes­ terday relating to the great excess of employes In the Senate. President Shuman made a personal statemeut, which was spread on the journal Bills were introduced appropriating money for the Northern Insane Asylum, in relation to the school lands, and a number of others of minor importance The State House in\ estimation resolution came up. calling for the appointment of a committee to ascertain if an in­ vestigation was necessary, and was adopted. HOUBK.--The resolution to prohibit letting the hall to parties for auj pmpoEc was reported from* the committcc av.tf adopted. ..A memgo tuna th& Governor was presented relating to coal mines. The Deficiency Appropriation bill was reported favorably, with a few amendments. It provides for the neee»«ary expcuK J of the State Government, to the amount of about $70,000, which the last Legislature failed to provide for Mr. Granger's resolution to have a commission created to revise the Revenue law, and report at an ad­ journed session of the present General Assembly, was reported Back favorably by the Committee on Revenue and caused a lengthy debate, which the Honse adjourned. WEDNESDAY, Feb. 7.--SENATE.--A petition was presented asking for a more stringent law In regard to damage by fire from sparks from loco­ motives The appointments of H. Billiard, as Adjutant General; N. B. Wiggins, as Inspector General, and the full militia staff of the State, were confirmed... .The Committee on Appropria­ tions reported favorably en the bill providing for a constitutional amendment, allowing further ap­ propriation for the new State House.... A number •f bills, mostly of minor importance, were pre­ set ted, and several others were read a first time and referred to appropriate comsoittees... .A large number ot members have gone away on comhut- tees. HOUSE.--A number of bills were presented, among them: To complete tbe Douglas monument by a sale of the present site and its relocation on tbe Chicago University grounds; to repeal the stringent lawn against strikers; to hold town meetings ou the second Tuesday of March; to j, •ent extortionate charges at stock-yards; appro*]), ating money for Copperas creek dam; providii for compulsory education.... A joint resolutii was offered by Mr. Taylor, of Kankakee, to abolish the office of the State Agent for Swamp Lands The Senate joint resolution in regard to pensions to soldiers of the Mexican war and their widows was concurred in. A Plan to Divide California. Pacific coast politicians say that a project will soon be agitated for divid ing California and making a net? State out of the southern portion, together with the western part of the Territory of Arizona. The boundary line between the old and the new State would run directly eastward from Point Concep­ tion, and the capital of the latter would probably be Los Angeles. It is urged ON* of the latest Parisian toys is called the " Eastern Question." It is A steel crescent, around which hang a cer­ tain number of rings strung together. The problem is to bring order out of oonfusion, but the more one tries to ar- range them the greater is the confusion. In the end the toy-seller divides the crescent into several pieces, and the rings arrange themselves in the simplest way imaginable. A SINGULAR bill, introduced In the Virginia Legislature, provides that any person found guilty of carrying con­ cealed deadly weapons shall be lined in the discretion of a Justice, not exceed­ ing $20--one-half to go to the in­ former--and shall likewise forfeit to the informer his weapon, in default of which to be committed to jail by the justice for one month, or until the Muue be paid or delivered up.