The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-27
Varieties.

-Ine international Commission of the
Mont Gems Railway met at st. Michel on the
4th of this month for the purpose of making
the trial trip over the new road The train
containing the members of the commission,
and consisting of locomotive, tender, and
three first class passenger cars left the station
at halt-past two o'clock in the afternoon,
reached the tunnel at four o'clock, passed the
night at Modena, started again at halfpast
seven O'Clock the next morning, stopping fire.
quently by the way to inspect the works: and
finally reached Susa, at the foot of the Italian
slope OF the Alps, by five o'clock that after
noon. The ascent and descent of the noun
tain grade were made in four hours and halt.
The time occupied in this trial trip was, of
course, much heightened by the many stop
pages and visits of inspection
Many are the Jon-na0ts attributed to Au-
Der, the most popular and genial of composers.
Here is the last: He was at a funeral recently,
and his great age. he deems, permits him GER
tain freedom of expression on all occasions.
"C'est egal" he said to friend at his side,
"cest probdblement Ia derniere fois que je viens
ici en- amateur"
A vitriol-thrower in San Francisco, who
destroyed the eyes of one of his victims, has
been sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment
in the penitentiary.
"A few days ago negro named JEFF. Davis
was arrested in Elmira for stealing chickens.
1t is said that wag thereupon telegraphed
Horace Greeley to come on at once and go his
bail.
"A deplorable mistake was recently COM
mitted in the town of La Mancha, Spain. A
criminal was being conducted to the place of
execution, when he escaped and took refuge in
hospital. AS admission could only be en-
forced in presence of the civil authorities the
building was surrounded until the corregidor
(magistrate) could arrive. When that func-
tionary came an entrance was obtained, and a
person wearing dressing-gown and night
cap was seen walking in the yard; an alguazil
thought he recognized him as the fugitive, and
at once arrested him. The man on being ques-
toned did not reply, but gesticulated with
great animation; he was nevertheless hurried
away and the sentence of execution carried
out without his having uttered q word. 1t
turned out afterward that he was deaf and
dumb inmate of the hospital, and the brother
of the real culprit, which last circumstance
accounts for the resemblance.
A young machinist in Detroit has made
locomotive engine and tender, complete, about
four feet in length, and weighing only 300
pounds-attached are headlight, bell, whistle
and every "fixin" to be found in a regular To-
comotive engine. 1t can be run with fifteen
pounds of steam, though as high as thirty
pounds cab be put ON if necessary.
-G. p. Putnam & Son announce byron
and His Contemporaries" by Countess Guic-
coli, and the long-expected "Posthumous Pa
pers of Talleyrand."
1t is said that Marshal Naryaez was ex-
horted in his last moments by the attendant
priest to forgive his enemies. "Enemiesp re-
piled the dying statesman; "rve none left
ordered the last to be shot long ago."
Chicago pays more for the maintenance of
public schools than Rome.
John A. Olmstead, of New York, has in
vented boat which can be doubled up into a
trunk.
An Indian applied to an agent in Iowa for
four quarts of whiskey, to be used as an anti
dote TO save the life OF young warrior who
had been bitten by rattlesnake. The agent
demurred at the quantity. 'Four quarts;
snake very big" was the response
AT sale of pictures in Paris, two anna
teurs obstinately disputed the possession of a
fine picture by celebrated Dutch painter,
which represented an ass. Each bid against
the other. AT last one of the gentlemen said,
Tits OF no use, will not yield. The picture
once belonged to my uncle, and 1 will give
anything Tor it," 'In that case," said his ad-
versary, II will not so on. You shall have it,
as it is family picture"
The latest puzzle has relation to very
lamentable fact in regard to the present
| spring. 1t is