The Portland daily press., 1868-09-01
Varieties.

The sum annually paid out of the public
revenues of Great Britain, for the support of
the royal family, is e496 ,0OO-about two and
half millions of our money This does not
include the large private fortune of Queen
Victoria, or the revenue of 100000 per annum
which the Prince of Wales derives from his
duchy of Cornwall Royalty would seem to
be costly whistle. ..lt .
The New York Herald is melancholy. 1t
is also prophetic, and declares that 1.-THE his
torical perspective is picturesque with the ru-
ms OF one more grand attempt to govern just
ly failing through human passion" Though
seeming in the very heyday of life and the
blaze of glory, we are treading irrevocable
steps toward calamity" In short, we are fast
going to what Mr.. Mantilini would call ''the
demnition bow-wows" There was a time
when the Herald thought the election OF Grant
might save us; but it has finally concluded
that such an event can only postpone the
catastrophe for four years longer. We are
doomed any way. ad-- a.f haa
"A gentleman who was informed that Plan
chette would answer anything, bought ore to
answer the door bell, but found it wouldn't
work. Ffs.a
A man who was never heard to swear an
oath. sing song, whistle tune, or utter a
prayer, and who was never intoxicated, and
never had a lawsuit, has recently died in Lin
coin county, Tenn, at the age of 81 years.
Well, who cares7 Such man as that is of no
use any way; he ought co have died before.
-Euphemism is a high art in California. A
paper of that State speaks Of an enterprising
and highly successful murderer as having "a
wonderful talent for bereaving any family he
does not happen to like
The Kaiser, Franz Joseph has found the
way to his peoples hearts, not more in Hunga-
ry than nearer home. He attended shooting
festival recently in Vienna, and tossed off a
mug of beer, took few shots with the rifle,
scattered pleasant compliments right and left,
put everybody in good humor, and went away
with the admiration of the crowd following
him. s- EaEr
There have been received in this country q
few copies OF a beautiful Grant medal s.ruck
in Geneva, Switzerland, for Republican Club
organized in that city. 1t has fine head of
Gen. Grant on one side, and on the other his
words, "I intend to fight ii out OF this line if
it takes all summer surrounding the legend,
Patient of toll, serene amidst alarms, inhexi-
BILE in faith, invincible in arms"
"A delegate to the Chicago Convention,
during the last days session, happened to be
standing near one of Indiana's noble sons who
was curious to know the name of each success
sive speaker. When Grants nomination was
announced, those present will remember the
effect with which a banner was disclosed on
the Opera House stage, representing "Colum-
ba welcoming Grant to the Capitol" The
Indiana delegate, sharing the enthusiasm of
the occasion, fixed his admiring gaze on Co
lumbia's noble figure, and exclaimed, "Well,
Mrs. Grants pretty good-looking woman,
amt she?' r.,H| .0#i....rH
"A severely slashed author complains that
there are three degrees in reviewing: criticism,
hyper-criticism and viper-criticism.
One OF our Southern exchanges has an ar
ticle on the "aim OF the Southern Democracy"
| The aim of most of them, Judging by the col
umns of the Southern papers, is good. They
"brine" negro whenever they see him. They
are excellent marksmen.
The i'll effects of the brick-layers' strike in
New York are already showing themselves.
The builders have expressed the determina-
tion to enter into no more contracts this sea-
sou, but to devote their whole time to finish
ing such work as they have already begun. In
a number of cases the owners Of buildings
have had the contracts altered so as to substi-
tute iron, marble and brown stone fronts for
brick ones, and thus render themselves in
some measure independent Of the bricklayers.
Up TO the time the strike commenced the trade
was brisk, and many new buildings were erect.
ed. Thus it seems likely that the strikers will
be punished severely for their folly and obsti-
macy, as when they are ready to return to work
they viii find none to do. The strike has fall
ed, as thousands before IL have done.
The wes"r Gazette states that the North
German L'oyd's Company Is about TO estab-
lisb direct line Of steamers between Bremen
aud New Orleans.
"A French paper mentions that gentle
man whose cellar had been greatly infested
with rats, found that they disappeared very
soon after he plaerd = eask Of petroleum IN
the place.
-rbe Great question discussed at Watering
placs. this summer is whether Il Is proper To
ear green corn from the cob, and take chicken
bones in the fingers.