The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-07-24
Varieties.

1T is said, by writer in Lippncott's Mag
azine, that former Vice-Presdent of the
United States, noticed, in walking through .
large library. = folio lettered Vrgilii Opera
BLESS my SOUL" he exclaimed, "I had no idea
Virgil wrote operas!" Strange as it may ap-
pear, this Vice-President was not the gentle
man who was once Alderman of his native
village, but the hero who was elected as vice
to Van Buren.
Among the latest inventions il q rubber
bath-tub, about three feet in diameter when
inflated, which can easily be slowed away in
a lady's satchel. 1t is described as "just the
thing" for city people who are passing the
summer at farm-houses, where the convenien!
ces for bathing are not very good.
A sand grinding and baking mill is in the
course OF construction at Cheshire, Mass, for
the purpose of preparing sand to be used in
the manufacture of crockery.
"A gentleman in Holyoke, Mass, was re-
Gently awakened by some one trying the win
dow on his lower floor. He took his revolver
and quietly followed the would-be burglar, the
gentleman inside. the burglar outside. until
every window was tried. As it happened,
they were all fast; had they not been, the
thiefs reception might have been rather un-
pleasant.
The new Catholic church in East Boston
is nearly completed. 1t is of very peculiar de
sign, built of wood, ninety feet by iorty-sx,
with an arched roof twenty-one feet above the
floor. The roof is built like the sides Of ship,
being composed of solid plank, screw-bolted
together, and supported at the caves by large
hackmatack knees, similar to those used in
building large ships. These knees support
both the roof and sides, preventing the other
wise inevitable spread of the building.
"A Kentucky clergyman Rev. Cadwallsdsr
Lewis, has declined the honorary degree Of
Doctor Of Laws, modestly averring that he
knows nothing about law, having found lei
sure only to qualify himself for preaching the
gospel. This honest clergyman adds, with
quiet wit that his experience as a trustee Of
college proves that honorary degrees "are gem
orally sought by the friends Of those upon
whom they are conferred" He might have
added that editors of newspapers are some
times solicited to publish paragraphs recon-
mending the bestowal of such honors.
An old and weather-worn trapper was re-
Gently seen sauntering along the main street
of one of our Western villages. Pausing in
front of little meeting for moment,
he went in and took his seat among the con-
gregation. The preacher was discoursing on
the text of "the sheep and the wolves" and
had evidently been drawing contrast be-
tween the two subjects. Says he: I'VE who
assemble here from week to week and do our
duty and perform our part are the sheepj now
who are the wolves2" A pause, and our friend
the trapper rose to his feet: "Wa'al, stranger,
rather than see the play stopped will be the
wolves" The preacher was vanqushed.
The following is told for true story. It
is a pretty commentary on some Of the idea
of our modern society: rich merchant near
Binghamton, N. Y, arranged an elopement
very nicely by paying the girls father the es-
timated cost of her education and giving q"
own wife house and $1,000 in money Tne
wife packed her husbands trunk had oado
him an affectonate farewell, the father sccon-
panied his daughter to the depot. snd tue nap,
nv pair went off to California. They repeuteu
| and came back by the return steamer the nus,
band deserted the girl, VINO poi'oneu nerseh'
| ond want hack to his wife, who received him
with omen arms" and all are now presumed
ly happy.