The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-28

|2.M - SONopoN 1hN PNAA
-1rhe rumors again come to US that the United
States is to become possessed of the Bay OF Sa-
mana. 1t is stated that the lease Of Samana for
ninety-nine years has been offered to the United
States at an annual rent of $500, 900. In this view
of affairs, Secretary Seward has been telegraphed to
to suspend all negotiations for the purchase Of 81.
Thomas.
A Western paper tells O good story Chico
dore Tilton had just entered o hotel i'll a Western
town, and was going up stairs, very ira yel-stained,
to change his toilet preparatory to lecturing,
when he encountered on the second floor an over
dressed aud vulgar woman. Are you the porter?'
questioned the woman, laying her hand upon
Theodore's arm. NO, madam was the quiet re-
spouse; are you the chambermaid ?"
"A Paris letter indicates that the French En-
peror is going into the school-teaching business.
It says that Napoleon is to assemble in Paris a
congress icr the purpose Of securing a uniformity
Of pronunciation of the alphabet" This story
may or may not be true, but Napoleon has a pas
sion for congresses, and the success of one like
this might compensate for the failure of others in
which more important questions have been de-
cided to his disadvantage.
a 4NoRASS SSe~A "a haS AVA o4s', 1yo Wv
vius is attracting thousands of strangers from all
parts of Europe, who crowd the way up to the
Hermitage. The base Of the mountain at night
is Illuminated with a multitude Of torches carried
by explorers, and when viewed from Naples pro-
duce o curious effect, which is increased when the
let from the volcano launches forth flames mixed
with stones. Long observation leads to the be-
lief that this eruption will last about three weeks.
Pennsylvania passed o Jaw last Winter making
nine hours a days work. Tho Reading Railroad
Company have carried it INTO effect in all branches
Of their business, reducing the wages of theiI
workmen in o corresponding ratio. This will be
the result of all similar attempts. Until the gov.
srnment assumes to fix the price Of corn, or wheat
or broadcloth, it cannot fix the price of labor; an6
an attempt to define the number of hours which
shall constitute a days work is only a roundabout
way Of fixing the price OF labor.
New York is distressing itself with the pros
pect that an innovation is to be made in the an
cient and ~fayorite custom of New Years calls. Al
advertisement appears in one of the papers offer
ing for sale New Year call cards." The Evening
Post protests, both seriously and humorously
against making cards do the business which hal
always heretofore called for the personal presence
of the caller and the person called upon. Their
would seem to be no reason why any chang
should be made in the time-honored custom, un
less it be that if it is adopted, some young mel
will be apt to make fewer and briefer visits to tn
side-boards of those upon whom they call.
The Seventy-eighth Highlanders, now station
ed at Montreal, are having q severe test Of thei
powers of endurance in that cold climate. Al
though there has been only about three inches o
snow, the weather has been extremely cold, ant
frosted ears and toes are very mmon Until
few days ago most Of the soldiers wore the kits
but they are now allowed to wear trousers, ant
most of them have so far conceded their natura
rights as to adopt the new order. The pipers
however, having objected, are allowed to wear tn
kits. Before the adoption of the trousers, thu
men might have been seen with bare legs, while
On their hands they had very large and comfort