The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-25
Varieties.

IN Uaruiner, with ner little daughter, observed
on one of the stones a neatly cut figure of a
horse. Wondering why such AN emblem
should be used, they examined the inscription
closely but could find no clue to its appro pri-
ateness, when her little girl remarked: "I pre-
sumo she died of the nightmare"
Walt Whitman, whose article on "Dem-
ocracy' in the recent Galaxy, in reply to Car
lyle, has attracted much attention, is UNDER
stood to be preparing series of papers for
that periodical, containing his Hospital
Notes."
--The North American Grand Chapter of
the Zeta Psi Fraternity, one of the most pop
ular Of college secret societies will hold its an
nual session in New York on the 9th inst,
and delegates are expected to be present from
all the principal colleges and universities i n
the country. -it a
Punch defines the English Summer as
three fine days and thunder storm. 1t ap-
plies also the characterization to matrimony.
In Newark, the other day, a stranger who
pretended to be tipsy slipped on the step in
front of a machinery wareroom and broke a
large plate glass window. The proprietors
demanded payment, but the man pretended
proposed that the culprt should be searched.
This was done, and hundred dollar bill
found In his poolset. The owner of the win
dow changed the bill, and astAr taking out
$12 for damages, handed the inebria.e- eee
10 this the stranger made no objection but
staggered off and was soon lost to sight. In
short time the machinists had occasion to
make deposit and the the hund red dollar
bill was sent to the bank which returned it as
counterfeit. The stranger is quite safe as he
did not attempt to pass the bill.
-Wm. d. O'Conner, Of Washington, whose
brilliant Christm as story-aThe Carpenter
in the first number of Putnam's new issue, at
tracts attention, will have poem in the next
number. He is understood to be preparing
some papers OF Abraham Lincoln
Mrs.. Frances Anne Kemble is to read the
Merchant Of Venice" before the Boston
Mercantile Library Association on the 18th of
Januaay.
The farmers living from one to three miles
from Cayuga Lake, in the county of the same
name, New York, are compelled to drive their
stock daily to the lake for water, and in many
cases to obtain thence the water for all domes-
tic purposes. This is the result of the drought.
AT meeting Of historical society in st.
Louis, Irving's Astoria was discussed. Colo
mel John Erskine, who accompanied Irving to
the plains, said the book was wholly a romance.
He doubted whether Irving ever wrote sim
gle line useful to mankind. "Some authors
write for q living, others for the benefit of
mankind. Irving wrote for living" There
is class of people who think rose is of no
use in the world because it is not good to eat
like cabbage; and the same class of Grad
grinds can see no use in an Irving because he
dealt more in fancies than in "facts, sir; facts"
"A woman in Worcester, Pa, went into the
orchard to gather some fruit, and left her lit
tie baby, less than a year old, sitting upon the
ground. She soon passed out of sight of the
child, but hearing his voice cooling and laugh
ing, she gave herself no upeasiness Sudden
ly the sounds ceased, and she stepped around
to him, supposing him asleep. But to her hor-
ror, she saw him perfectly motionless, his lips
parted, and his eyes fixed upon an enormous
rattlesnake that was approaching him by al
most inperceptible motions. She looked in
vain for some stick or stone to kill the mon
strous reptile, theu quick as thought sprang
toward it, overturned the pan which she had
in her hand, so 0s to effectually cover its
body, got upon it, and screamed for help. The
covering upon the sLake broke the spell upon
the child its little body swayed to and fro,
and it quickly crept toward his heroic mother.
In few minutes friends came to her relief,
and the snake was dispatched.
DIR. Conneau, physician TO the French
Emperor, and one OF the re Gently created
batch of Senators, was formerly secretary to
the Emperor's father, Louis, King of Holland.
Abandoning his desk for the study of medi-
cine, he was appointed physician to Queen
Hortense, and subsequently, attached himself
to the fortunes of Louis Napolean, whom he
accompanied in bis famous descent Oh Bou-
logne, and was arrested and condemned with
him. Having solicited and obtained the fa-
vor OF being permitted to share the Princes
cell, he contributed mainly to his successful
escape from the fortress of Ham. Mdme. Con-
neau is a prima donna of the Partisan salons
and is celebrated for the sweetness and the
compass OF her voice. Their eldest son is, as
is well known, the intimate companion of the
young Prince Imperial.
"A fashionable lady wrote to a friend that
SAO Hau uCch " ucdr OlCk6nS reau David Cop
perfull and Bob Soyer. She must have been
descendant of the worthy woman who saw
Mrs. Kemble in katherine of Oregon"
The trial of Rev. S. H. Tying, Jr., is to be-
gin on the 10th of January, 1868. Mr.. Tying
having declared to the Bishop his determine
tion not TO choose from the twelve presbyters
named by the standing committee, of Ave to
form the court for the trial of his case, the
Bishop of the diocese has selected FIVE as pro-
vided by canon. He has selected Rev. DR..
Tuttle, of st. Luke's New York, Rev. DR..
Beach, of St. Peters; Rev. DIR. Hoffman, of
Grace Church, Brooklyn Heights; Rev Dean
Moore, of Hampstead, and Rev. Samuel Hol-
lingsworth, of Portchester.
The annual session of the South Georgia
Methodist Episcopal Conference met in Sa-
vannah on Wednesday last, the opening ser
mon being delivered by the venerable DR.. Lo-
doyick Pierce.
The Young Mems Christian Association
at Chicago is doing good work in providing
a course of free lectures on popular topics for
the benefit especially of young men and the
working class generally