The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-07-08
FACTS AND FANCIES.


The construction Of gun weighing
100 tons has been begun Dy Sir William
Armstrong in England. This gun is to
be muaae-loader, l7.inch bore, and,
il succe siul, will be the most powerful
weapon ever constructed.
--" Sir, said a little clustering man
to Il religious opponent, "to what sect
do you suppose / be!ong?" "Well, /
don't exactly know replied his oppo-
nent, "but to Judge from your size,
appearance, and constant bu2aing, |
should think you belonged to the class
generally called insect
Out of 296, 1000 of the last levy of
conscripts in France $1,000 have been
declared exempted from both active and
passive duties in the military line. 1t
looks had when so many men are not
even ii5 10 be food for gunpowdtr,
though the fact should be considered as
a good sign in behalf of peace.
A Swiss boatman recently pulled a
ould.he.suicidc out of Lake Geneva.
An hour or two after the boatman dis
covered the same man hanging by the
neck to a tree, but did not interfere tnat
time. The magistrate summoned him
to answer whg he did not prevent the
suicde, but he replied that he supposed
that the gentleman had only hung him
self up to dry.
The college orator is now abroad in
the land. His voice is heard from the
four quarters of the earth, telling Of
the efforts he has made for distinction
in the past, aud his homes and asplra-
tions for the future He is sanguine-
far more sanguine, than he will be n
few years hence, when he shall have
and been conquered by
some of the stern realitiesof life. Thus
far his education has been only theoret
zeal in the future it will be practical.
Whether the former shall fit the sub
iects for the latter, the future alone can
determine.
A Brussels paper gives a painful
account Of the cX Empress Charlotte of
Mexico. Her physical condition is good,
but her mental condition is hopeless.
She lives in constant communication
with imaginary beings, and dsllkes the
presprce of any living person. She
speaks only when obliged to do 20, and
gives orders to her attendants in writ
ING. She dresses herself without per
mitting assistance, taxes Il fixed walk III
the park every morning when fine, ire
uucntly plays on the piauo-iorte, and
draws and paints with de
cided taste. She recognizes no visitors,
not even her brother, King Leopold or
the queen. The latter always accom-
panied the physician on his monthly
visit, when, in reply to his inquiries as
TO her health, the empress coldIy says
she is well, ard Immediately retlres.
She has become stoutcr and shows Il
tendency to corpuIency, hut at present
it Is stated that this has only Increased
her beauty, which is now truly striking.
1t has been Justly said that tho
greatest discovery OF our IVeS IL t!l't
the world is not SO bal as, IN the irst
di apuointmtnt Of youths ext%vagant
eypeciations, we are disposed to regard
if The plssage from bOyhoOd to man
hood is cover the bridge OF sIghs; and
mr. first experiences Of life rs 1t If,
.esembIe the flavor of the forbidden
,ppIe-.we mc enlightened and mlsera-
bic. Gladly would we command the
secret of feeling ~ We once did; but
,las, every day takes from us some
happy error some charming illusion
never to return. We are reasoned or
ridicnled ont of all our ioclmd mistaken,
hill We are Just wise enough to be nlser-
able. and we exclaim with Lady Mary
Wortlry Montague, "To my extreme
modification find myself growing
wiser and wiser every day" But
time comes, at length, when our views
are moro lust. Weleave our imaginary
Eden with "solemn step and slow, ana
begin to appreciate the good qualities
Of those whose friendship we thought
hollow, and the necessity OF that labor
which we deemed curse. We eX'
change ecstasy for content, and, "ior,
getti9p the four rivers Of our ideal
heaven, open our eyes to the mnniioI4
beautles of earth-its skies islanded
stars, und its oceans starred by islands,
its snnshines and cnlms, and the gooi-
ness of its great heart, which SENDS
forth trees and flowers and fruits Tor
our benefit and exuItation. '-|f"i'H"o'