Social ^Topics. 
CURRENT COMMENTS. 
Worthy of Imitation. ' 
The following story is told by the Springfield, 
Mass., Republican and is well worthy of Imita- 
tion. Wo hope It will be imitated until Railway 
Companies learn that people who pay fares on 1 
railways are entitled to eertlau rights -.—Among ' 
t he passengers who got on I ho train at Utiea, 
N. V., were twenty-three men who were unable 
to find a seat. Among them was a lawyer, who 
proposed to the rest, that all decline to give up 
their tickets until .they wore furnished seats. 
The agreement was made, and when the Joon- 
ductor came around he found twenty-three 
gentlemanly but very obstinate men who re¬ 
fused to give him either tickets or money un¬ 
less ho would show them a place tosit. The con¬ 
ductor replied that there were plenty of vacant 
seats in the next car, but on inquiry it was as¬ 
certained that this was a drawing-room-ear, 
for which extra charge was made. So the twen¬ 
ty-throe declined to budge, and matters re¬ 
mained in thisunsettled condition until the cars 
had gone a long distance. The conductor final¬ 
ly induced two dozen persons who had seats to 
go into the drawing-room cur without extra 
charge, and then made place for the obstinate 
twenty-three, who then gave up their tickets, 
as they had said they would do. Dndouptedly 
they had the right of it, as the courts have re¬ 
peatedly decided that a passenger is Justified in 
refusing payment of fare until the railroad 
company gives him proper accomadations. 
Abuse of the Franking Privilege. 
We have evidence going to show that poli¬ 
ticians of both political parties are busy and 
unscrupulous In their violation of law, and that 
the moils are encumbered with political docu¬ 
ments franked by Members of Congress per¬ 
haps often franked by men to whom they have 
delegated the power to use their names for this 
purpose coni rary to law which have no public 
interest and which are Just as much a swindle 
upon the people as it would lie if the Ri'RAL 
N BW-YpitKEH were to obtain the frank of some 
M. C-for Its own private business purposes. If 
nnyTmiur wore wanting to show that the per¬ 
petuation of this “privilege" Is due out! roly t o 
the schemes and interests of politicians, who are 
more than willing the people should pay theex- 
ponse, the practice during the present political 
campaign Is sufficient. It ought to be made one 
of the Issues in every Congressional District 
that candidates shall vote for its abolition. 
The Ex-Emperor of the French nt Brighton. 
There was a French row (in mild but em¬ 
phatic form) at the late meeting of the British 
Association for the Advancement of Science at 
Brighton, F.ng, Ex-Emperor Napoleon was 
present, lb 1 was described iu the Association 
list of members as “ His Imperial Majesty, the 
Emperor of tho French." M. do Fonveille, a 
representative of the present French Govern¬ 
ment, and a brother of Count de Fonveille, 
whom Prince Napoleon attempted to shoot 
when the Victor Noir affair occurred, protested 
against tills designation of the Ex-Emperor as 
“disregarding the present state of things in 
France," and withdrawing from participation 
in the proceedings of the Association. It was 
modified, and M, de Fonveille staid and partici¬ 
pated, while the Ex-Emperor quickly withdrew 
from public notice and left Brighton. 
The French Academy 'of Sciences and 
Charles Darwin. 
Co uit.es Darwin having applied for admis¬ 
sion to tho French Academy of Sciences, lias 
been rejected by a large majority. Tho reasons 
given for his rejection were solely scientific. 
M. Moignc said “tho Author of Tho Origin of 
Species and ‘The Descent of Man.’ has too far 
sacrificed science to renown and reason In im¬ 
agination, to deserve a place in the first rank of 
earnest scientists. * ♦ He has fallen too low, 
especially in bis last work, has too much belit¬ 
tled himself not to be made to expiate It, * 
In closing itself against Darwin, our Academy of 
Sciences desired to protest energetically against 
the abuse which has been made or his doctrines, 
by such men ns Clemenee, Royer, lloeckel and 
Togt.” __. 
Sweden Depopulating, 
There is a good deal of apprehension because 
of t he emigration from Sweden of able-bodied 
moil and women—working men, riecluuiics and 
domestics. In 180$, CtO.tKK) loft the kingdom ; in 
18(H), 38,500 migrated ; In 1870, up to August 20th, 
20,403 had left the town of Goethborg, alone, for 
America, and they migrated al ter that, regular¬ 
ly, a l I he rate of 100 to 200 per week. The drain 
lias been sternly and Increasing since. No won¬ 
der there should bn alarm on the part of those 
interested in retaining ibis population at home. 
Every one of those who settle in tills oountry 
sends back seeds of discontent, which develop 
(herein increasing emigration. This is, there¬ 
fore, the Land of Promise. There is need that 
it be wisely governed, and this influx of popu¬ 
lation bo wisely control led. 
American Missionaries In Egypt. 
Consul-General Hams, hi Alexandria, was 
a friend of the American Protestant Missiona¬ 
ries in Egypt and protected them. The disgraced 
G. II. Butler, his successor, was not—at least he 
failed to protect his own countrymen engaged 
In missionary work in their rights, and it Is as¬ 
sorted was actually engaged in persecuting 
them, actually inciting an assault upon otv of 
them. Protests were made to tho American 
Government, and Butler's removal asked for; 
but Ibta was so long delayed that these mission¬ 
aries were compelled to take steps to bo natu¬ 
ralized as British subjects and seek the protec¬ 
tion or I ho British flag. If this statement Is 
true and it is made authoritatively—Homebody 
is a disgrace to, and has disgraced tho American 
people. _ 
The Meeting, of the Emperors. 
Berlin has been tho scene of brilliant festiv¬ 
ities; but It is all over. The Emperors of Ger¬ 
many, Russia and Austria have had n formal 
meeting, discussed European affairs and poli¬ 
cies, but have not attempted, nor is it known 
that they have suggested, a formal alliance. 
They wore aided in this interchange of views by 
their respective Premiers, and it is asserted that 
ns a consequence of this meeting the peace of 
Europe is assured. Franco’s representative has 
received assurance of Kindly intentions towards 
Unit country. Thiers professes himself satisfied 
and Prince Bismarck now expresses the wish 
that tho making of history may eonso -whioh 
means whatever the reader may choose to con¬ 
struct out of such diplomatic utterance. 
The "Straight-out” Democrats. 
Charles O'Conou and John Quincy Adams 
were nominated by the Louisville Convention 
of "Straight-out" Democrats for tho Presi¬ 
dency and Vice-Presidency respectively. The 
former declined, and the latter also declined un¬ 
less O'Conor would consent. During the past 
week a Committee of that Convention has been 
laboring with Mr. O'Conor to Induce him to ac¬ 
cept. lie still declines hut in such a way that 
the Committee hayo decided to run him for the 
Presidency, having faith that ho will accept the 
office If he is elected! His response to tho Com¬ 
mittee is ft curious document, and is the best 
proof possible that he is an Introspective phi¬ 
losopher and not, in any sense, a politician. 
Mental Telegraphy. 
It is reported that ft scientific Russian has dis¬ 
covered what we have many times heard pre¬ 
dicted would he discovered and practiced, n 
system consisting simply In the exercise of n 
power to impress upon other peoples' minds, at 
whatever distance away, the words uud ideas 
which at the moment, occupy his own. lie is 
said to claim that he can teach this system, that 
it will do away altogether with the telegraph, 
and Is absolutely practical. This Russian Is on¬ 
ly asserting that he hns discovered what many 
intelligent people have been impressed with the 
belief will sometime be discovered. And there 
mo singular experiences current going to prove 
5 its possibility. 
The English Ballot Bill. 
This bill, recently passed by Parliament, gives 
to the people of Groat Britain the ballot they 
have long struggled for. It is called the “New 
Magna Chart* of the People.” It is a surrender 
of aristocratic power wit hout modem precedent 
In England. Tt secures to the English working¬ 
man the right to vote without question: or sur¬ 
veillance, and hence, independently i f he chooses. 
IN AUTUMN DAYS. 
nv AL1QUA. 
We hear the cricket*’ ceaseless song 
These dreamy days. 
While hills ufur are dim and blno 
In robes of haze. 
And Summer waves a last adieu 
With imddened face. 
While Autumn slowly comes along 
In stately grace. 
The butterflies with yellow wings 
Flit o'er the flowers, 
Wo fancy they but typify 
The golden hours 
Tho fleecy clouds that sail tho sky 
In silence pass. 
And still tho cricket i chirp and sing 
Low In the grass. 
The chirping clilmefl with our day-dreams : 
To saddened liniivts 
It speaks but of diseaso that blights, 
And death that parts ; 
To happy Hearts whose hope Is bright 
It sweetly tells 
Of pleasnnt, ways where sunshine gleams. 
And ring Joy.holls. 
Among the Autumn blossoms bright 
Tho low wind talks 
Of feet that pressed In years agonn 
Theso garden walks. 
That since beneath the marble stone 
Censed wandering. 
And o’er them now through day and night 
The erlokots slug. 
Among the green gleam leaves of rod, 
A banner bright 
That Autumn flings upon tho breeze 
To state her right, 
While with sad sighs anw g the trees 
The soft winds pass, 
And crickets mourn for beauty dead 
Low In tho grass. 
(Sitr jstovii-i^llitr. 
A MODEL ROMANCE. 
“ Sir," said Or. Johnson, “ let mo show you a model." 
“Oh, Mr. Ormond, I am so tired of this posi¬ 
tion. I wish you could let mo have a rest. Do 
—there's a good follow—please." 
"Wait just, five minutes, Polly, till I’vodono 
this bit. of your head. Don’t move—just one 
minute more. I’m getting it right now, and 
then we'll knock off for a bit." 
Tho request wns tho request of a model; tho 
answer was tho answer of a painter. ’1 he model 
reclined, in a half kneeling attitude, apparently 
at. t ho foot of ft cross. Her clasped hands wye 
uplifted; her eyes wore upraised pathetically ; 
her long hair streamed down, liowlngly, over 
neck and shoulders; a loose while sort of shirt 
clothed her to the waist; below was a reddish- 
MOORE’S 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
