Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-23

The English secretary of war has concluded
to let the soldiers play cards in their recreation
rooms, and see if it won't keep them from the
grog shops.
Sheriff Mcdonald of Woodbury. county, Iowa,
recently ran across Norwegian whose coat was
ornamented with more than thirty buttons made
from ancient Norwegian coins. Some of them
dated back TO 1900. He bought the whole lot
Tor ten cents, and the Scandinavian is now say
inc, 81 was a stranger and We took me in.
ST. Petersburg is 50 situated that the concur
renee OF three conditions would destroy it by
inundatiOn: The swelling of the NeYa river,
very high tides, and a strong westerly wind.
Two of these have happened together several
times.
The artist, Carpenter, is putting some supple
mentary touches to bis "LjncOln Signing the
Proclamation Of EMANCIPATION" and he will
soon take the picture TO Washington, when con-
gresS will have an opportunity to purchase it as
a historical souvenir.
Emilio CASTELAR, and King Amadeus of Spain
met recently in a side path in the Dldrid Pardo.
The king, who had never been introduced to
CASTELAR,, approached the great republican ora
tor, and, shaking his hand, said 10 him: "SenOr,
| admire your genius" And i" said CASTELAR,,
admire your majesty's courage"
Those who stood in Venice on the Bridge of
Signs, a short time since, were startled by the
perpetuatiOn Of an act OF piracy committed in
broad MONDAY on the grand canal. The gon-
doa belonging TO Messrs. MaStero & Pensa,
bankers, having on board 900 forms, was
boarded by pirate yIpera, very sharp, swift
canoe, and the money taken from those in charge
OF it. The pirates escaped unharned, but 40 900
forms Of the money was subsequently recovered
by the revenue officers.
The Chicago Times tells how gentleman of
that city got the better of an eXtortiOnate hack
man, who, taking advantage of the epizoOtic,
demanded three dollars for taking the gentle
man and his trunk a distance of two or three
squares He found a place close by where
wheelbarrows were for sale, bought one for
81 so, wheeled his trunk himself to the station,
aud thus saved half the fare demanded besides
having serviceable wdeebarrow on hand.
Mr.. Beecher appointed the Sunday after the
recent election for the baptism of children. Due
notice had been given from the pulpit, and
among the array of little ones presented was
bright, curly headed bow, and MIR. Beecher pro-
ceeded with the service: "ThiS child, Horace
Greeley, Ibap-" 1t was too much for the
congregation, and the announcement was
greeted with universal laughter, which drowned
the rest of the sentence, while amid the laugh
ter, the only thing heard was the exclamation
Of lady, whose sympathies were apparently
ant-Horatian, saying, "What shame, and
such nice looking fellow, tool"
Five years ago il was a crime punishable with
death for any person to make any drawing,
painting, bust, or resemblance of the mkado OF
Japan. By papers from that country we learn
that the august Son Of Heaven has had his pho
tOgraph taken, and that copies are selling at
Jeddo and Yokohama for fifty cents each. Less
than year ago Photographer secretly took a
negative OF great puOllc ceremonial at Jeddo,
in which the mkado appeared. The entire
kingdom was in panic at once, and the I'M
happy artist was Obliged to destroy the negative
and every picture he had taken from it.
During the Franco-Prussiau war it was esti-
mated that averaging both armies, five Germans
OutwCighed six Frenchmen. Not only are tue
Germans huge compared with Frenchmen, but
huge as compared with their own ancestors.
The PruSslan soldier who fought at Sedan aver
aged three inches larger round the chest and
two inches taller than the Prussan soldier who
fought at Waterloo. This astonishing develop
ment is aScrbed to fifty years Of stringent mill
tary training enforced upon the whole mail
population.
The London Times publishes letter, which
il admits contains such astounding and scarcely
credible statements that it may be hoped they
will draw forth an explanation and criticism.
The writer, coal owner and consumer, states
that coal has advanced at the pits mouth in the
neighborhood Of Wioan from 1870 TO 800 per
cent in less than year; and at the same time
the golfers wages have been advanced only forty
per cent, and the other wOrkmen have not par
ticpated in the advance. The result OF this is
that one small proprietor has realized during
the year E100,000; a small company, which last
year divided .G2S 900 among his shareholders,
has this year paid them E220 900; another COM
pany has returned the shareholders the whole
of their capital in two years. Other private
firms are estimated to have melted each from
100000 to 100000 within the last twelve
months.
The Scranton Republican gives the following
account OF marvellous escape from death in
one of the mines in that vicinity: Grassy Isl
and Shalt, Il mile above Oliphant, on Eddy
creek, is one of the deepest in the valley.
Brian Fallon, the fireman, had occasion TO 20
down the shaft part way upon platform used
for bringing up coal and carrying the miners
up and down TO their work. After descending
10 the desired vein he stepped from the platform
for few minutes to attend TO some duty in one
Of the chambers. Returning with can of oil in
bis hand and dim miners lamp in his cap, he
walked forward to the shaft to go up expecting
that the platform still remained where he left it,
instead of being lowered to the bottom, some
300 feet below. He walked on to step on the
platform, as he supposed, and to his horror he
started down this dark abyss. As he began to
fall he turned perfect sOmerSaut and struck
the long chain suspendiug the platform 800 feet
below HIM. BY mere accident he caught and
clinched this quick as lightning, as he was fall
ing with all the rapidity his weight could give
him. He chung to this for his life, and actually
tore the flesh from his fingers before he could
arrest his descent, $50 feet from the bottom.
Smarting with the pain, yet clinging TO the huge
cham for his delrverence, be called the attention
of The engineer to his perilous condition by a
loud whistle, and was drawn up ON the chain in
safety.