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Gas tar mixed with lime is saidto be impervious to wet. 'J'hiiber in aperfectly dry state does not i; ipar to be injured by dry lime. Icii poets have been brought to premature decay by painting them before their moisture had evaporated. The leaves of the coffee plant will make nearly as good coiïee as will the berries. 'Wie llavor is more delicate. Arsenic may generally be detected by its smell. [f placed near the fire, it emita a sickening flavor, very much Uke garlic. Every one should know that a prompt shock of electricity will restore a person to consciousness, who is dying from the effects of chloroform. The United States has 179,20-1 miles of telegraphic wire working within its limits; GreatBritainhas 103,000 miles ; llussia, 31,000; France, 28,000. No certain theory is formed on the cause of eavthquakes; but the most genend and rationa! ascribe them to steam and the force of gases formed by water and metallic oxides. It has been long believed that the water of the ocean had little, if any motion, below 50 fathoms; but it is now well established that there is rapid motion often at 500 fathoms' depth. The striking laboréis of various classes now in Liverpool are said to number over 30,000 men. They have been guilty of mob violence, and presently there may be bloodshed on a fearful scale. Tlie total exports of provisions from all United States porta from November 1, 1878, to February 8, 1879, 'are 396,700,827 pounds, against 311,085,539 pounds for the corresponding time last year, showing an increase of 85,675,288 pounds, which is equivalent to the net product of 460,000 head of hogs. A lad of 18, confined in prison at Paris for theft, has recently constructed a watch which runs three hours, his only materials being two needies, a pin, a little straw and some thread Efforts are being made to procure liis release, in hopes that he will, as a mechanic, be a useful member of society Nature announces the invention of a .,,,1,:.. xiiilnj, mnuan ff 1M)I the writer at one end of the line moves his pen, a pen at the other end tran scribes the words in precisely similai curves and motions, as though guided by a phantom hand. Experiments have been entirely satisi'actory, and at last accounts the apparatus was soon to be made public before the British Society of Telegraphic Engineers. Mr. E. A Cowper, a member of the society, is the inventor. The Oneida Commimity have made a defense Of their peculiar social sys tem from the attacks made upon it by the late meeting of ministers at Syra cuse. They deny the existence of the immoral practices charged upon them and make at least a plausible plea for their peculiar mode of life. They seem to be a rather harmless set of fanatics and so long as they maintaii their present good order and pay theii taxes promptly, it is not likely tha they will be disturbed. Tlie court-martial which has beei tos several weeks trying Major Reno on several charges of miseonduct dur ing the Little Big Ilorn battle, wliere the gailant Custer and his men were slaughtered by the Indians, has acquit ted him, and the findings of the cour have been fonnally approved by Gen Sherman and the President. There was mucli ill will, apparently, between lleno and Custer, and the conduct o: the former, in not hastening to the re lief of the latter, is severely censura by many civilians. The linancial difficulties of Archbisliop Purcell of Cincinnati, whicl have been causing a sensation in church circles for several weeks, are in a faii way to be settled. The deficit in his accounts are stated to be about, $4,000,000,inostly made up of the small deposits of devout Boman Catholics. Yesterday's dispatches state that a concerted movement on tlie part of the ltoman Catholic churches is tobe made for tlie Archbishop's relief. It seems his fmancial affairs were conducted b his brother Father Edward Purcell in a very unbusiness-like way. His accounts were kept in the most primitivo manner on slips of paper or in little pass-books kept by depositors. Tl would be the easiest thing in tlie world to falsify tliese accounts, and Father Edward lias absolutely no meansof detecting such falsiflcation. It appears that during the last eight years Fathei Edward has paid interest amounting to $500,000. As noted in the daily dispatches Elihü Burritt, the"learnedblacksmilh,' philanthropist, and reformer, diet March 7, at New Britain, Ct., his birthplace, aged 68 years. His early life was poverty-stiïcken, and he learned the trado of a blacksmith, giving six hours daily to manual labor, six to sleep, and 12 to study. At Worcester Mass., he gained access to the antiquarian library, and mastend 10 or 12 languages. He was brought into prominence by Governor Edward Everett as a self-educated wonder. He failed in business, failed as a preacher, and fail ed in a scheme to buy the southern slaves and set them free. But he performed good work as editor of the Christian Citizen, and a lecturer for anti-slavery, peace, temperance, and self-culture. For about 20 years he resided in Great Britain, and was consul at Birmingham from 1865 to '70. Ho returned home eight years ago, and passed away of consumption. There are to be no less than three International Expositions in 1880 - in Mexico, Spain and Australia. The buildings for their accommodation have all been commenced. Doubtless the United States will be represented at them all ; but will take the most interest in that of Mexico. Does riding in an airy Pullman induce pulmonary disease ? Take things easy - take them just as they come, and take a good many of them.