The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-10
FOREIGN M4cEL1ANH.

-Villemessant is to distribute, gratis,
100000 copies of the Figaro dsily, for week,
and bets that he will increase his circulation
1000 thereby.
1T is believed in Pa ris that the Emperor
Napoleon will ask old Adolphe Theirs to form
q new Cabinet as soon as the Senatus Con-
sultum has been adopted.
French ingenuity has invented o new
amusement for persons waiting for the appear.
ance Of those on whom they call. lady in
Paris has had placed in her drawing-room an
immense marble shell in which are to be seen
q great number of fishes OF various species.
A gentleman called upon her for the first time
the other day. Madame is at her toilette"
said the servant, "but il, while waiting for her,
monsieur would like to pass his time in fish
ing, he will find here hooks, lines and bait.
As for fish, the shell is full OF them."
Mr.. Charles Dickens is either 30 unac-
ouainted with the geography Of This country
as to suppose that Harvard University is with
in the bounds of the late G. s. A., or else was
the least bit satiricaI in his speech at the ban
ouet given the contestants in the late boat
race, on Tuesday night, at the Crystal Palace.
Referring to the Harvard boys, he is reported
to have declared that "nothing is more re-
markablc in these descendants Of our fore
fathers than the invincble determination with
which some of them fought against odds in
the late war, and the dauntless spirit with
which they sustained defeat"
This is how Paris correspondent de-
scribes sweet thing in sleeve-buttons: One
gold button, as large as small cheese plate,
is covered with crystal, under which the rouge
ct noir roulette, tho other it's companion con-
tains under crystal cover three dice, touch
Of the nail sets little hook going, and round
turns the roulette disc in unison with the other
button. which, when touched, also sets one of
the dice leaping somersaults, when both stop,
the die on ono cuff shows~a number, and
either rouge or noir stands at the hook. In
this manner gentlemen can gamble in railway
trains, in bed, at the cafe, anywhere, and set
new fashion besides.
All the extraordinary proceedings OF the
many fanstical sects whose rapid increase has
excited 80 much anxiety in Russia ore fairly
thrown into the shade by terrible act Of self
immolation which is reported from the Gov
eminent OF Saratow. A few months ago the
prophets Of new religion made their appear
ance in that part Of the empire, preaching self
destruction by fire as the only sure road to
salvation; and 80 readily was their dreadful
doctrine received by tho ignorant and super
stitious pessantry, that in one large village no
less than seventeen hundred persons assem-
bled 10 some wooden houses, and, having bar
ricaded the doors and windows, set the build
ings on fire, and perished in the flames. The
authorities are doing all they cln to stay the
progress Of this new madness, but their task
is obviously difficult one. be punish ments
which the Law can inflct must have little ter
ror for enthusiasts who deliberately choose
death 80 horrible as the SThe true road to
Heaven"
81 never heard" says Paris ccrrespon-
dent Of the London Star, "a more striking iu-
stance Of strong men dying hard than one
that is given in the Paris papers. A well known
wrestler and athlete OF Avignon, bearing the
irustrious name Of Meissonnier, caught, o few
weeks ago, his death Hines, by carrying little
girl across q swollen ford, which she was
obliged to traverse in order to take to her
father his dinner. This action was performed
in the most good-natured way. Mcissopnier
seeing the child, who was to him au utter
stranger, trembling and weeping on the brink,
said to her. Take heart, little one, I'll serve os
ferry for you.' Swinging her on his shoulder,
he carried her over On returning to the bank
whence he started, he slipped, and was
thoroughly submersed. cold, which led to
yiruleut fever, was the result. As his end ap-
preached, Meissonnier literally struggled with
the malady, and his last words were, Oh,
Death, if you were man what short work I'd
make OF you.'
At a regatta at Cherbourg, France, on The
18th ultimo, one of the boats from the United
States frieate Sabine won the first prize
against eleven competitors. The American
boat drew number eight, and accordingly took
the position in line at the buoy bearing this
number, where il quietly lay, awaiting the hour
of departure. Meanwhile the French boats
were pulling up and down the line, to show
off. in the presence of the thousands Of spec
t4tors assembled on the shore. Nearly all
the boats for this race pulled more oars thai
the Sabines; most Of them having sixteen,
and some of them eighteen oars; the American
boat, though quite as large as any other, had
but twelve, an important difference in a con-
test like this, and one which would have de-
tered most others from taking part in it. At
two o'clock the first gun was fired. In one
minute the second was fred, and the boats
we're of. Now "came the tug OF war;" Most
of the crews pulled hard for the fest FIVE hun
dred yards, leaving the sabne's boat behind.
But then Lieutenant Commander Bartlett, who
understood his men, began steadily to gain,
and when his boat turned the buoy, mile of,
he was eight boat lengths ahead Of all. The
America g now pulled with will; they felt
their strength, and knew just what they had TO
contend with. On they went, steadily gaining
on their eleven adversaries, and when they
gained and passed the grand stand, the Sa-
biues boat was more than len lengths ahead.
Each boat carried little penuant at its bow,
and as the American boat tpassed the staff in
the water, upon which the French flag was
fyipg, Lieutenant Commander Bartlett dipped
his ensign and tossed oars. His boat was at
once saluted as victor by some ten thousand
i lo ,,,oro od nr n1f;fuIa IN choro