Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-31

An exchange saysl The fearful mortality
which has ragged for tho PAST fifty or sixty years
among the servants oi George Washington and
Andrew jackson, has at length attacked the
nurses Of our later Moses Andy Johnson. 1t
Is predicted that in another hundred years there
will not be half dozen Of them left
DIR. Oliver Wendell Holmes refuses all re-
quests for his autograph. A collector, knowing
this fact, thought to crcumyent him by the shall
low artitlce of asking by letter. (which do you
think is the best dlctionary-W ebster's or Wor-
cesterSP-a question which he believed
Holmes courtesy would compel him to answer.
The return mail brought single sheet of note
paper, on which was neatly pasted the one
word, clipped from the writer's own letter,
"Webstel'S
The records Of the New York county clerks
office for more than half century have been
keptin basement room Of the city hail. and on
Tuesday the work Of transferring them to the
county court house was begun. Some 20 back
as far as 1870, and bear the names of James H.,
William ILL.,, George l., George H., &c. Sheriti2s
warrants not served, actions for money due for
negroes sold, and several other curious and
long,iorgOtten papers were brought to light.
1t is not perhaps generally known that what
is now a layorite summer resort for citizens OF
New York was once sold for n barrel of cider.
Yet il is fact that in 1870 the tract of country
including what now are Long Hrauch, ShrewS-
bury and Latontown,w was in the possession of the
Indians, but was purchased Of them by one
Lewis Morris for that consideration. Millions
could not purchase the land now.
Horace White of the Chicago Tribune writes
to the Cincinnati Commercial TO deny the state
ment that part Of the Tribune building was
blown out during the recent fire by a Krupp
shell, kept as a curiosity, He says there are so
many reasons why this shouldn't be so that he
hardly knows where to begin to enumerate, but
perhaps one fact will suffice, that the shell
stands IN the new counting room, uueyploded,
there having been DDWQer in IT,
Thomas Duncan of Philadelphia, an insane
man, who was being taken by detective to the
Pennsylvania asylum, the other day, walked
along very quietly, bur on reaching the lodge he
said: 81 have brought you gentleman WI o is
insane. lie imagineS, among other things, that
he is detective officer, His frieHds wish him
left here for awhile" Despite the protestations
OF the officer, he was locked up as insane for
several hours,
genius in Cayuga county, New York, has
been experimenting this season with the view Of
utilizing the Canada thistle, and has succeeded
10 dstilng from the stalks and leaves an arti-
Gle OF spirits which no styles thistle whiskey
1t is represented to he about thirtv-hve per cent
alcohol, Of pleasant aromatic flavor, and the
engct upon inc system Is peculiarly penetrating
and celebrating
A Partisan newspaper of the Figaro type tells
an absurd story OF how well-known French
photog amer was summoned by the queen TO
appear al Bllmoral and take Il copy of a portrait
Vi luB pIlnCc COUSOft. Inc Ercncnmau Drc-
pared himself for the august presence by taiinr
his camera aud change of iuen, the latter
carefully folded up within silk handkerchief
to preserve it from dust and mishaps Arrived
at Balmoral he was referred to the chef as the
only person on the premises who could speak
French, and to him he made known his desire
to change his linen before meeting her majesty:
bat the chef poOh-poohed him for such nj CIV
saying that the queen was not over particular
about such triaes, During the alteration
which ensued as the photographer insisted upon
being SHOWN TO dressing-room, Lady S. ar
rived al the scene Of action and took the agoni.
zcd Frenchman to the white drawing,room. He
made known his anguish to Lady S., who
assured him that no change of linen was neces
sary, and then left him for few minutes He
saw Il screen ard his opportunity. He rushed
behind the former and seized the latter, madly
| endeaYoring TO take off one shirt and put on
| another, and while he was engaged in this in
teleshns act the queen entered and saw the poor
| leiow Struggling in that most terrible of or
| deals-tfylng to put on a shirt in hurry. The
queen laughed and retreated, and since that
| time nothing has been seen OF the poor aud cal.
! lant French photographer : W. o.