Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-05
miscellaneous Etcms.

The late Mr.. elliott was not only great pen
manufacturer and an ardent admirer of the tine
arts, but he also had a passion for collecting
fine volins, although not himself player. lie
possessed a very valuable collection of the rarest
instruments, including several genuine Gre
mOnas.
There is actually considerable commerce in
toads between France and England. toad of
good size and in good condition will fetch a
shilling (25 cents) in the London Market and
dozen of extra quality are worth FL (S5.) You
may see these imported tOads in all the market
gardens where the soil is moist, and the owners
Of these gardens even prepare shelter for them.
They pay their way by Catching insects.
Fifty wears ago no fine wool was grown ex-
cept in Spain. In 1884 a small flock was sent
to the elector of SaXony as great present from
the king OF Spain, whence came the entire pro-
duct of SaxOny wool, now of such immense
value. In 1900, during the invasion of Spain
by the French, some of the valuable flock were
sold 10 raise money. The American consul Mr..
Jarvis, at Lisbon, purchased 400 head, and
sent them to this country. Such was the origin
OF the immense focks of fine wool sheep in the
United States at the present time.
Joaquin Miller lectuTed in San Francisco a
few nights ago. He introduced himself by say
ing that this was his first attempt to lecture,
and, if the then condition of his mind remained
unchanged, it would be his last. He spoke
without notes, and talked about life in London.
He closed with the following remark: 81 thank
ward,) l am thankful to Him who doeth all
things well that l have been enabled to get
through" Atterward, at the request of the au-
dience, he read some parts of his poem entitled
ARIZONA"
Samuel c. Kline, of Greenville, WAYNE coun-
ty, Mo-, recently having had three daughters
born unto him, straightway wrote to Gov. B.
Gratz Brown and promptly received the follow
ing reply: 81 have received your letter of Jan.
5, informing me of the large addition to your
family, and inquiring if there is any state pro-
vision for such cases. | regret to saw that there
are none, but shall refer the matter at once to
the representatives of your county, with the re-
quest that they present the case before the leg
stature. But allow me, sir to tender my ind-
yidual congratulations, with the assurance that
you have deserved well of the country"
There Is Digger boy employed on a sheep
rancho in Monterey county, Cal, who is a human
curiosity. He herds about eight hundred sheep
all by himself, and the overseer says he knows
every one of them by sight, and when he brings
them in at night he will get on the corral fence
and tell whether one of them is missing. lie is
about fourteen, and has a face as round as the
moon, and the brightest black eyes, which fair
ly sparkle with mischief He turns more soIner-
saults and hangs head downward from more
trees than any man can count readily, and seems
hardly to be aware of the existence of the sheep
during the day, yet brings them all in at night
Few people who had mortgages in Chicago at
the time Of the fire lost anything. Some have
been obliged to grant few extensions on the
interest, but they have collected large amount
on the insurance policies held as collateral Sc
Curlty, the real estate has not deprecated so
much as was expected, and the most of the in
terest falling due since the fire has been paid
The experience of a single Hartford insurance
company is a fair example. Said the vice
president, in conversation a few days ago: eve
had over S1000,000 loaned in Chicago on
mortgages at the time Of the fire. We find now
we have lot lost dollar. We were prepared TO
grant extensions to such as could not pay
their interest, but scarcely any one has asked it.
The only thing can't understand is where they
get the money TO pay with"
London paper says of an ancient ridiculous
usage in the court of St. James, 1t is only
right, at the commencement of Lent, to call Sir
Charles Dukes attention TO the gratifying fact
that the office of the kings cock-crOwer has been
abolished. The duty of this official was to crow
tue hour each night within the precincts of the
palace during Lent, instead of calling it
out like an ordinary Waterman, The last in
stance on record of the cock-crower performing
his duties was on the first Ash Wednesday after
tie accession of the house of Hanover, when
the unfortunate man got into sad trouble, for
George H., then prince of Wales, being disturbed
at supper by the cOck-crower entering the room
and making an unpleasant noise to announce
that it was "past ten o'clock" imagined that
some insult was intended, and was with diff
Guilty made TO understand that such was not the
case. There Is, however, reason to fear that the
O1tlce existed sometime sinecure after IT'S duty
had ceased TO be performed, for in Debrett's i'm
peria calender for 1922, the Cock and cryer at
acotand-yard' appears in the list of persons
holding appointments in the lord stewards de.
pastment OF the royal household.