The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-06
Varieties.

afIeT1eS.
About year ago a resident of Georgia
effected policies of insurance ON his life and
against accidents, to the amount of about 800
900, and some time afterward intelligence was
sent to the insurance company that the man
had been drowned by the upsetting OF a boat
on the Savannah river. The proofs of his
death We're clear and apparently conclusive.
and his legatee chimed the payment 0. the
policies. The company liable for the principle
part of the amount declined to pay, and legal
proceedings were instituted. A few DAYS ago
an agent OF the company travelling in another
State, discovered the supposed drowned man
alive.
"A mail-carrier and military escort of four
men of the Pacific Railroad Survey were re-
Gently lost in the wilderness; but after seven
days wandering during which they were
near perishing OF starvation, they found mil
itary post.
The Missouri Legislature is considering a
bill to abolish capital punishment and substi-
tute imprisonment for life and bill establish
ing Board OF Pardon Commissioners, who,
after receiving testimony, are to forward their
decision to the Governor for final action.
The Prihce of Wales is said to be greatly
in debt. His Cornwall mines do not supply
tin enough for his extravaganza.
The Turks are getting excited again about
Crete. 1t is evident that the rebellion is not
subdued. Fighting is fierce as ever, and
meanwhile the French ambassador has lust
sent in a note to the Porte, on the part of the
Emperor, insisting that the Porte appoint a
1HatZ a.
Crete as TO their wishes respecting the future
of the island. This has been demanded before
and has been positively refused by the Porte
But The French note adds now that If this is
not done Russia viii undoubtedly declare war
against Turkey, and in such case, France
"tiA refuse heE gid aud remain perfect, neu-
trail England has also addressed new note
to the Porte, insisting in the most serious and
formal manner that the Turks make an end of
their attempt to deceive Europe, and at once
constitute Crete a Principality like Servia and
Roumania. The gravity of this news can
hardly be oyer-estimated. Poor Turkey is to
be left now to make head as she can against
Russian Propagandism.
The old world is copying many of the mo-
tions of the new. In Paris the American
horse-railrosd is conspicuous among the pub
lie conyeyances Of the city. Hair-cutting in
American style, American paper collars,
American leather trunks, sewing machines on
the American model, American shirtings, one
sees placard in many windows; and half
the fancy-goods shops of Paris have been COM
mending the style of naEMw silk neck-ties, in
black and various colors, ,Fbat are everywhere
exposed for sale as "Cravates Americdins" A
gentleman from New York, having completed
the tour of Europe, went the other day into a
famous tailor's to stock his trunk with gar
ments OF Partisan style before he should re-
turn home. Judge of his surprise when the
salesman produced, as his most recherche nov
elties what he declared were the latest New
York styles, just received
For little lady of two-and- a half years
this will do: She had picked up cane in the
| corner of the room and was playing with it-a
plain stick bent at the end. Papa asked,
"What are you doing with the cane?" SIT
isn't eane." what is it, then?" "Its an
umbrella without any clothes Oh"
| Punch has cartoon representing white
winged Peace displaying to Napoleon his call
for an army of twelve hundred thousand men.
| The Emperor politely raises his hat in reply to
a query: Pedce-"Pray, what does this mean,
your Maiesty?" Emperor Napoleoa.-"Entire-
| ly in your interest, dear madame. Special
constables merely. My special constables"
Victor Hugo's new work will be entitled,
''Les Ilees des Tro's Revolutions
| Colonel Isaac Clark nephew of the cele-
brated George Rogers Clark, and particlpator
| in the latter's campaign in the Northwest, aged
eighty-two, died at Louisville on the 27th. He
was unmarried, and left large estate.
Madame Marie Damas, wife of the young
er Dumas, has written a novel on events in
the late war in Austria.
The Providence Herald has puff for an
accomplished bake beanist'' of that city.
Uniforms are the rage. The letter carriers
of New York are to be done up in dark blue
with red trimmings.
An athlete in Chattanooga has carried two
barrels OF flour, one under each arm, upwards
of two hundred feet.
The Houston Telegraph hears of mail rob-
berries all over Texas, and adds: "Unless a
speedy stop is put to them, We shall soon be
practically without mail facilities, for people
win not trust anything in them.
A Paris ieweller has introduced q new
STYLE of scarf pin, in which curious applica-
ton OF electricity is made. The pins are fin
ished with imitation human heads the eyes Of
which open or close at the win of the owner.
The wearer is from necessity obliged to carry
an electro-motor, consisting of a small brass
case containing a simple voltaic battery Of
zinc aud car ,on, or zinc and platinum. The
carbon is liked in a vessel pan filled with a
solution OF sulphate OF mercury. Tue zinc is
attached to the lid of the case. When the ap-
pararatus is placed in horizontal position
the curren. is formed A scarf pin with an
| electro-m0tor and connections costs from six
ty francs upwards.
Mr.. Samuel Lover, the Irish .sopg writer,
will soon publish a complete edition of his po-
etical works
"A paper in Cologne after dwelling on the
terrible state of Ireland contrasts 1t with the
happy state Of political freedom in France.
The mobs of Venice are scandalized by the
presumption of the young Duchess OF Aosta,
Victor Emanuels daughter law, who wears
acheap and commonplace white petticoat."
Names of places get very badly twisted in
New Mexico in their transition from French
or Spanish to English. Thus the place called
aBob Euly" was originally "Bois Brule, and
.Bob Long" was first called "Bois Blanc.
The carts which used to be sent TO ST. Louis
with piles of empty sacks to be filed with
goods were called wide poche" teams, which
American ingenuity soon transformed TO
"Weed Bush" carts.
A man escaped FROM the moving ice in ths
Mississippi River the other day, only to be
robbed of $4,000 by the humane individual
who pulled him out of the water,