The Portland daily press., 1867-08-14
Varieties.

1t is difficult to see how q rupture between
Turkey and Greece can be much longer avoid
ed. A Cretan squadron of six vessels carrying
thirty guns is being organized at Athens, in
order to give chase to Turkish ships Of war
OF course Turkey weuld long before this have
declare dwar upon her heighbOr II she had not
felt that behind the young King George stood
the Gar Alexander.
81 say, boy, is there anything to shoot
sbout here?" inquired a sportsman of boy he
met. .Well," replied the boy, nothing just
about here, but our schoolmaster, is lust over
the hill there cutting birch rods; you might
walk up and pop him over"
In January, 1851, "Gales sappho," the beau
tiful work of the Virginia sculptor, Alexander
Gait, who died in Richmond during the war,
was shipped from the banks ofthe Arno to Mr..
Grigsby, of Charlotte, Va, and was confscated
in New York, and sold by the United States
Herxns8 60. D.. Nelssn Tappan, Esq, of that
City; hut a few weeka ago Nrr. GrixsbF learn
ing of the disposition that had been made OF
the Ssppho went to New York and offered to
repurchase the work. When fun knowledge
of the case had been announced to Mr.. Tappan,
he at once refused all overtures of purchase,
standing his legal right to it. Mrs. Tappan al
so improved the unexpected opportunity to
forward to the artists mother a very beautiful
memento of her gifted sons residence in Italy.
s-Blondin has been compelled to break his
engagement at Asineres from causes not very
creditable to his rivals. On closely inspecting
his rope the other day, he discovered that it
had been sawn asunder, so that one fibre only
remained, which would have broken.
Henry Ward Beecher says the ''item" col
umn in a newspaper is worth all the rest for
''like a caravan, it stretches along with pack
ages and parcels, spices and gems, bits Of ira
gance or cunningly wrought metals, gathered
from the Orient and from the whole world be-
sides. The items of the paper, like the stuff
ing Of the Thanksgiving turkey, represents ev-
erythiDg in the house, crusts of bread, crackers
and all spices" .l.,..
in running to catch "Ay ball" In a base
ball game at Usage, in Mitchell County, Iowa,
a few days ago, two players came in contact
with such force that one of them had jaw
broken and was knocked down insensible, and
was crazy for twenty-four hours thereafter,
while the other had his face bruised and the
bones of his nose broken.
There has recently been discovered in Bor-
neo new mineral mixed with the platinum
found in that region. 1t forms small grains or
globules of dark black-gray color, and Of
considerable Iustre. Many of these grains
exhibit brilliant crystalline facets of q regu-
lar octohedron. The new mineral is very hard
and brittle 1t does not fuse before the blow
pipe, but diffuses a strong odor OF sulphuric
acid. 1t is to be called Sulphate of Ruthe-
neum.
"A gentleman from Yale College lately as
cended East Rock. taking a barometer to as
certain its height. Accidentally dropping the
barometer, it was broken, and the mercury
flowed down among the rocks. A day or two
after farmer discovered the deposit, scooped
up some in VIAL and started for New Haven
in great excitement over his discovery Of
quicksilver mine Finding rineralosist he
induced him to visit the spot, where the stu
dent seeing the pieces of glass at once divined
the cause of the metallic deposit, and con-
cluded not to prospect further
"A French paper announces that the Prus-
sian police have searched the publishing houses
of Hanover for maps in which that country
figures as kingdom, and have destroyed all
the copperplates of this class except few
which have been forwarded to Berlin.
For some time past an agitation has been
going ON in Dumfermline, Scotland, for the
purpose of erecting a monument to 1.-THE
Bruce A committee has been formed, con-
sisting of Sir j. Noel Patton, DIR. Henderson,
the eminent antiquary, and other influential
gentlemen. 1t is hoped the movement will as
sumo national proportions, and that Scotch
men will heartily respond to the call.
There is a man ON Blackwells Island VINO
takes himself to be the United States. Every
time that a boat passes he runs down to the
| shore tn "coIleot customs" as he calls 1t.
| The London Spectator alter making the
remarkable statement that the western FAR
,ners of America declare that they cannot and
,viu not cut grain at the present rate OF wages"
follows up that apocryphal announcement by
stating the undoubted fact (not peculiar to
London) that if live meat were selling at q
penny pound the butchers would charge
10d."
The second biennial Convention of the
Empire State DeafMute Association viii DO
held at the Institution for the Deaf and Dumo'
in New York. ON Wednesday 2sth inst. On
| this occasion the deaf-mutes will present ates-
ti,oon;al 40 DIR. Peet the retiring principal Of
| the institution, for his long and faithful SER
vices in their behalf. They will also celebrate
the fiftieth anniversary Of the founding of the
| New York Institution.
The Louisville Journal swent or as fol-
! lows on the morning Of the late election In
Kentucky: "Fellow citizens, you know the
great duty of the day. Be sure that you fulfill
| it all. Let rain and hail and thunder threaten
| from above,-but vote. Let the earthquake
rumble and spout fire beneath-but vote. Let
the we'll of fiends fill the air around-but vote.'
Edmond About is, perhaps, the busiest
arthor in France. He is at the present time
regular contributor to seven "eeAy PAp..o -
and two reviews, is engaged IN WILLIS
long romances, and has two or tnree NC" wv