The Portland daily press., 1867-08-23
Varieties.

Varieties.
AT the recent meeting Of the National Ac-
ademy of Sciences in Hartford, Professor Ag-
assiz read paper on the termination Of the
vertebral column Of fishes" in the course of
which he made the somewhat startling, though
not entirely novel, assertion, that "men, as well
as other animals, have tails" Yes, he argued,
and proved, scientifically that we are possessed
Of actual caudal appendages, even as the
monkeys are, the only difference being in the
extent of development. This would seem to
strength Lord Monboddo's fantastic theory of
the Simian origin of the human species. Can
it be possible, after all, that the gorilla is a
"man and brother?" aaeaaAf'io io 'A-
The Boston Post says that Gail Hamilton's
next book will be a tougher affair than any pre-
vious preparation, and recommends Hide
Lathering' as its title. 1t thinks Calls blows
are not those of q zephyr. .... G
The tired swell of Paris have found a new
sensation. They propel velocipides in the Bois
de Boulogne, by the cascade. Among the am
steurs are some of the most eminent men in
Paris-Prince Murat, Count Savern, and 9th
ers. Some of these have become SO skillful as
to go twenty -four kilometres (ffteen miles) an
hour, without the least fatigue. Some grand
races during the autumn are at present being
organized, the course to be gone over extend
ing from the Rond-point of the Champs Elys-
ees to Saint Cloud. hn
The Smithsonian record shows that six in
ches of water fell there during the late storm,
whicn c~e.--ia the rainfall for many years.
NO papers are now Psssa;-LAd ON Mondav
in Vienna. Printers, editors, and reporters
have concluded to enjoy themselves ON Sun
day. Public disguised.
No other than the Boston Post could have
perpetrated the following: Bonner paid S50,-
900 for the bonheur of possessing Dexter"
Prof Henry, in the meeting of the Acade-
my of Sciences at Hartford, speaking of the
electric spark, said he "could Judge better of
the duration of the spark seen perpendicular
ly than horizontally" When it tappeared in
print it read: He could better judge of the
squash when seen perpendicularly than hori-
zontally." That is equal to Mr. Burlingame's
eloquent aIlusion to the "9ranite shaft" on
Bunker Hill-but which was printed the "grog
shop on Bunker Hill. But that was before
the days of the Prohibitory Law.
Thursday, the fifteenth OF August, was the
fete day of the French Emperor, and not "the
anniversary of his birth" as some of the papers
announced. The fifteenth of August is the
day devoted to Saint Napoleon and Sainte
Marie, and is universal holiday throughout
France. This is not alone on account of hom-
age to the Emperor, but because nearly every
woman in France Is named Marie-for her sec
ond, if not her first name. Many men also
bear the name of the Virgin. The greatest of
French historiographers is Henri Marie Mar
tin, and we are all ia miliar with the eau de CO.
logne of Jean Marie Farina.
The New York journals speak very highly
of Mrs. Jean Davenport Lander's rendering of
the great character of Elizabeth in which Ris-
tori achieved her greatest triumphs in this
country. t-..
AN unprincipled contemporary says that
Agassiz and his pupils are going to Southern
Ohio for gneiss little time. nh
Id Liberte announces fact which it says
has not received the attention it deserved. The
Alps no longer separate Italy and Germany.
The first locomotive has crossed the mountains,
and Venice is twenty-five hours from Frank
fort lseoH % n14l- -l'tai
"A handsome, dashing young fellow from
Boston visited Providence, r. l., last week,
dressed with the most elaborate regard to the
latest fashions, and as q young lady passed
him in the street, he stared, smiled sweetly,
turned, and addressed her with a request to
see her home. The young lady knew what she
was about; she let him see her home, and even
asked him into the house. She left him in the
sitting-room for awhile. Presently he heard
C.klx.~
entered, advanced and collared the fellow, and
kicked him down stairs into the street. H
Pierce Butler, the husband Of Fanny Kem-
BILE Butler, lately died on his estate in Georgia.
An international congress of cooperative
societies was to take place in Paris on the
10th, 18th and 18th of this month. .a
1T is said that 10000 copies of the Queens
book, "Early Years OF the Prince Consort,"
have already been sold, and that another edi-
ton is in the press. H.If
The Emperor of Russia has taken an en-
lightened step. A system of instruction is to
be organized over the length and breadth of
the land. School houses are to be provided,
and teachers appointed at the expense of the
government. The secular education will be
taken entirely out of the hands Of the priests.
Last week, in the midst of one Of the
heavy showers of the prolonged storm, little
miss was observed at the window crying bit
terly. "What is the matter?" she was asked
"Pm 'faid." There's nothing here to hurt you;
what are you afraid OFF" ,F'aid Of Moan D" -
In Greenfield, Mass, farmer who could
oat on,v balfa cent apiece for his cucumbers,
,,h;Io tbe retailers sold them for four cents
,,,ocad a busheI basket full on the sidewalk
With notice that each passer-by might help
himself to four free
Fighting the tiger" at Saratoga, this sea-
son, has been improbable for those who kept
the tigers. All but one of the faro bankers
have lost heavily.
Two rough soldiers. with pipes in their
mouths, and thicket of hair over their faces,
meet, and one complains to the other: u tell
you what, Bill, don't like these moustaches
They do mop up such a lot Of grog.
Larry Lorpy a Rochester vagabond, was
drowpad the other night, while attempting
BURGLARY at q canal bank grocery. He was
climb ng by sheet to window, when it gave
way. and he fell thirty feet into the canal,
striking timber in his descent. A woman
heard him shrek as he went down. A stolen
pocket book. and other articles, were found on
his person. l.... ..
An island, one quarter of an acre in area,
and covered with heavy growth of bushes
and trees twenty feet high, that has long been
stationary in a pond at Tyringham, Mass,
foated, the other day, half-mile from its ORR
ginal location.