The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-31
Varieties.

"A Denbighshire (England) paper tells of a
man who fell over precipice in that neigh
borhood, and remarks: "The tall was about
fifteen yards, ard the poor man, who was 60
ing home that way, died Instantly"
"A camp near Marseilles has been provided
for the purpose of practicing soldiers in firing
with the Chassepot rife. This weapon requires
considerable space, as its range may extend
to 200 metres. The camp is to be provided
with tents and wooden houses
Have you ever read the Ancient Mari
ner?" asked Rev. Mr.. Spurgeon one day Of
his congregation. II dare say you have
thought it one of the strangest imaginations
ever put together, especially that part where
the old mariner represents the corpses of all
the dead men rising up to manage the ship
dead men pulling the ropes, dead men steer
ing, dead men spreading the sails. thought
what strange idea that was. But do you
know that have lived to see that true; have
seen it done. 1 have gone into churches and 1
have seen dead man in the pulpit, and a
80 man as deacon, and dead man holding
''e P'"'o' anu ueao men sitting to hear"
1t is said that the French and English
diplomatists see with ill-disguised disgust the
brilliant success of Mr.. Burlngame in China,
and are not little vexed that the Chinese
mandarins go first on a mission to the United
States.
General Grant was greatly mortified at
the publication of his early history by his fa-
ther. A correspondent states that justice to
the General requires the statement that he
made every proper effort to prevent their pub
lication. 1t is now understood that he has
quite recently made such peremptory repre-
sentations as will be apt to stop their appear
ance.
The Kingdom of Greece seems to be an
exciting place for politicians. They have had
since October, 1863 sixteen different cabinets,
and ninety changes of individual members of
the various ministries.
"A German speculator intends to arrange
six pleasure trips to the United States. Five
hundred persons are to take part in each, and
pass a month in the United States. The who,s
expense win be but about double the ocean
steamer fare.
There is a great deal of talk at Berlin Just
now about will said to have been made In
favor of the descendants of the ex-King of
Hanover by the Duke of Brunswick. This
document it is stated, names the eldest son Of
King George as the Dukes heir to the sover-
eighty of Brunswick, and leaves the whole of
his property to his Majesty's family. The lat
ter consists of a considerable sum of money,
several castles and the Duchy of Oels, in si-
lesia, which covers q territory of thirty-two
German square miles. 1t is said that Prussia
also has a claim to the succession of Bruins
wick on the demise of the present sovereign.
Mr.. Goodwin Smith expresses the opinion
that "the root of this monarchy is dead" in
Great Britain.
Cholera, tornadoes, yellow fever are no
longer to be had at st. Thomas. A few earth
quatxes are yet on hand, and can be had low,
if applied for soon,-a handsome deduction
made to this country, should it take the lot
Boston Traveller.
1t may not be generally known that the
trombone was in use among the ancents, but
the art of making this instrument was lost.
In excavating Herculaneum, one of them was
| found and sent to George III. of England, un-
| der whose direction the manufacture was re-
vived.
German red tape is illustrated by an In
| stance in which the citizens OF one town rau
| twelve miles to another town to get some hre
| engines TO put down q great conhagration, and
then were refused the engines until they went
back and brought written requisition.
| AT Toulon, France, an old sailor left some
property to be given as prize to the most vIr-
| tuous girl in that town, which was to serve as
her dowry, and that she should wed the hon
estest sailor The Mayor was to find the vir-
tuous girl, and the Admiral of the port the
honest mariner. This year, however, the
prizes have heen duly awarded but, on pre-
sentation, the Jack Tar did not come up to
the young lady's expectations. SO the matter
remains unsettled.
| This, from the Independent is rather
neat way of doing up constitutions ques
ton: michigan is sitting with ner nnser
On ber sorebead Wondering the question, Is the
negro man?" x.v..,,.
-...r;aoo solemnized in England after IL
o'clock, noon
Rev. Dr. Manning conceives Ralph Waldo
rmerson 10 be far greater man than Thomas
| CARLYLE, because he does not scold and rave,
hut is ever self-contained, measured and calm.
He occupies higher plane than even Goethe,
against whom he gives judgment, being him
self always benevolent and pure.
The Beirout correspondent of the journal
| of Commerce says that Mr.. Chnrcn' Ine "a
merican artist, has started on Journey " lne
stony mountains of Arabia, with a view TO
| na;ptino the landscapes and curious sculptures
| - patr,- the ancient and wonderful merops-
| Lis of Ed0u'