The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-08-22
Var.ieCieS.

Queen Victoria's health has of late been
very poor, she having been subject to frequent
fainting- fits, and showing other signs of physi-
cal weakness. An official paragraph in Lon
don paper says that the Queens journey to
Switzerland has been undertaken upon the
advice of Sir William Jenner, who is of opin-
ion that "a few weeks of comparative repose,
with change of air, is highly necessary for
her Majesty's health"
Great success has attended the trial of the
new submarine telescope on the river Eure, in
France. Very small objects were distinctly
visible at great distance under water.
Some enterprising Philadelphian has
taken out patent for the manufacture of
wooden shirt bosoms and collars the material
being the same as that now used in "papering"
rooms
The King of Prussia came across a bust
| of himself in shop at Ems, crowned with lau-
| REL Going in, he said to the dealer: "Take off
the poor mans head-dress; he does not like to
| see himself made such a show"
An old woman lately threw herself from
the top of Milan Cathedral. A young man
who was passing was so pleased with her mode
of getting out of the world that he walked in
which she had stood pointed out to him, and
then Immediately precipitated himself from
the awful height. The most awkward part of
this double suicide is that the young man near
y &TAea q TT russian major upon whom he fell.
"A writer in Lppincott's gets off this
You call that trunk, do your" growls de-
jected porter. at only needs hghtning-rod
to make it look a darned sight more like a
clearinghouse than what's to be found at
Saratogyl"
-Advices from Toronto announce that the
distinguished English Methodist divine, Rev.
Mr.. Punshon, was married there on Saturday &.
to his deceased wifes sister. 1t was given out
in the London papers some months ago that
Mr. Punshon was going to America to con-
summate this marriage, which would be ille-
gal in England. 1t is very doubtful whether
this Canadian marriage would be recognized
as valid in England, should he ever return
there. and any event should cause tie question
to be raised. 1t is but few years since case
was on trial in which an Englshman had gone
to Sweden Tor the purpose of marrying his de-
ceased wife's sister; but the marriage was pro-
nounced invalid, and the children incapable of
asserting their rights of property. Mr. Pun
"A novel question in railway law and ethics
has lately come up in England. A party of
weavers went on an excursion, buying return
| tickets, and one of them was drowned during
the picnic. His friends rendered the unused
half of his ticket as the pay for the transporta-
ton of his body back with the party, but the
station master refused to consider the corpse
passenger, and required separate bargain for
conveying it in the usual way.
| The Boston Posts London correspondent
says: "You will see by the papers that JEFF.
Davis and his wife and family arrived at Lv-
erpool, on Tuesday, in the Austrian steamer.
There was foolish attempt to exploit them a
| little, by Spence and other ex-Confederates,
American and English In the same delightful
taste the papers announcing the debarkation
stated that Mrs. Davis has apparently dash
| of the mulatto blood in her veins; her sons
and daughters also presenting similar pecu-
harities.' Pleasant, for an ex-Northern wo-
man! l should not wonder If Bedford PIN
and the Army and Navy Club, who feted
Semmes of the Alabama, do try little Ii
onization of jefferson, when he comes to Lon
don. But it will be very mild, certainly. He
didn't succeed you see, which involves an inn
mense discount in the estimation of most
folks, neither excepting Engishmen nor
| Americans"
One of the few surviving attaches of Lady
Hester Stanhope has died at Constantinople
M. Michael Naoum, proprietor and impressa-
| rio of the Italian Theatre of the same name in
| Pera. Naoum was the son of a tobacco dealer
in Aleppo. When boy of fourteen or fifteen,
he attracted the notice Of Lady Hester, and
was by her taken to Syria. He remained with
her for some years, being at length dismissed
for too great assiduity in featheriDg his nest
| OF late years he claimed to rank as dragoman
| to Lady Hester.
We find the following in an English pa
per: "The overseers of Stafford have placed
twelve hundred and eight women on the regis
ter of electors for that borough. Above five
thousand women ratepayers have sent in
claims to vote for the city OF Manchester At
Alton, in Staffordshire, the overseers have put
the names of the female ratepayers as claim
ants of votes on the church door"
| There is an oak tree on the border of Lee,
Mass. which stands in two counties Rocking
ham and Stafford-and three towns-Lee, ,Ep-
ping and Nottingham.
Miss Blandina Conant, of Brooklyn,
daughter of Rev. DIR. 7. j. Conant the we'll
known Biblical scholar and translator, has
been appointed Professor of English Litera-
ture in Rutgers College, in New York. The
Post of that city says: The appointment is a
most excellent one, tor Miss Conant is a lady
l.of uncommon culture and scholarship, an ac-
complisbed student, not only of English, but
also of French and German literature. and
nrecise and accurate scholar. She has had the
benefit of most careful training by her father,
DIR. Conant, and also by her lamented mother,
who was woman Of many and thorough ac-
complishments, writer of acknow wledged ex-
cellenGe in several departments of literature.
The Chinese Government has, through
the agency of Minister Burlingame, conceded
to New York company the privilege OF con-
Meeting the principal seaports OF the empire
nv submarine telegraph cable ana
line nine hundred miles in length wlu
he laid down at once between ten Oh 'ne Prin-
cipal ports of China.
"a man in California has not worn hat
for twelve wears. In 1856 be declared he
iol w .t cover his head until General Fre-
,,ont was elected President.