The Portland daily press., 1868-01-10
Varieties.

The Hannabal (Mo,) Courier says there
were about a dozen fights in that city on
Christmas day. A number of blacks and
whites We'd with each other in drinking and
fighting. ssa r
Very pretty floral fans have recently been
introduced. They are of wood. painted to
represent flowers; for instance, one formed Of
lilies of the valley is arranged in this way:
Each stick represents long green lily leaf,
pointed and shaped after nature, and on each
leaf are sprays and clusters Of small white bell
flowers. Others are formed of thick rows of
different colored flowers, blended charmingly
with foliage. ..1
Every one has heard of Frederick the
Great passion for playing on the flute, and
how, in spite of his fathers prohibition, he
used, ON pretence of going out hunting, to or
ganize concerts in caverns and woods, at
which he could indulge in his favorlte amuse-
ment. Quite recently the famous flute on
which Frederick used to play has come into
possession of the Paris Conservatoire de
Musique. The instrument is valuable as his
toric relic, and also on account of the richness
of its ornamentation and the excellence of its
tone.
Il hev alwuz thot," says Josh Billings,
"thet eff the kolery could be managed with
discreshion il would prove public blessing"
Cotton is cultivated in Italy in The plains
of the Provinces of Lucca, Salerno, Calabria,
and the valleys of Sicily and Sardinia. The
value of the produce of late years has equalled
100000 of francs. This branch of industry
is destined to bring abouts in time, a fortunate
H. -, aFC
ern Italy and Sardinia
Jacob Barker, of New Orleans, who has
been millionaire, is now in the bankrupt
court. Although he is eighty years Of age, he
will again begin business as soon as he is free.
"A new and green Justice of the Peace in
Kansas closed marrying his first couple with
these words: "What 1 have this night Joined
together let no man but God Almighty put
asunder." .
The Germans are in ecstasies over the
m.rvelously cheap editions of their standard
poets, which the leading publishing houses Of
fer them since the valuable copyrights have
expired. Schiller's poems, neatly printed on
good paper, can now be bought for five cents.
The best cure for drunkards, says an old
philosopher, is, whilst sober, to observe
drunken man.
Several nations in Europe, particularly
Austria, are obtaining breech-loaders from
America.
"A social microscope meeting" is an
nounced by the Essex Institute of Salem,
Massachusetts,.
"A rich old lady, ninety years of age, has
just died at Clifton, England, who for long
time believed that she never could sleep except
in her carriage. She used, therefore, TO ride
out in her carriage every afternoon, with the
blinds drawn, to take her daily rest. The car
rage was seen daily travelling at snail's
pace over Clifton Downs. .... .......
Josh Billings says he never viii patronize
a lottery as long as he can hire anybody else
to rob him at reasonable wages. The same
sage gives this piece of advice: "Young man
before you try to be rascal, hadent you as
well see if you woodent make better fool?
We have seen no heading for the miscel-
laneous column of a newspaper more concise
and descriptive than that adopted by West
ern journal: "Pen Cab
AT a spiritual meeting short time ago
the prophet Balaam was called up, and asked
if there were airy jackasses in his sphere
"No," he replied, Indignantly, they are all on
earth" r..