Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-04-17
Over the Ocean.

Mr.. Moncure d. Conway, native oil Fred
ericksburg, Va, but for a number OF years past
a resident of England, and an author and cor
respondent of distinction, will visit this coun-
try next Fall on lecturng tour.
Paul Boyuton swan the English Channel
last Saturday, between daylight and dusk
He wore his life preserving dress.
A London photographer offered Mr.. Moody,
the Revivalist, El 900 for the right to take
photograph and to publish it exclusively, and
he declined the offer.
The coming installation Of the Prince of
Wales as Grand Master of the Freemasons will.
il is said, be the most splendid and important
ceremony in the history Of English Masonry.
The King of Burmah announces that he is
about to start newspaper, and will engineer
the editorials in person. Those Of his subjects
who do not subscribe are to be executed
That's business.
Queen Victoria, having had the Princess Of
Thule, Justin McCarthy's last novel, read to
her last autumn by one Of her ladies-in- wait
ing. was pleased to ask Lady Abercrombie to
paint picture of the heroine, Sheila.
The Mikado of Japan intends visiting
France next August, coming ria Suez and Mar
settles. The Mikado is only % years of age.
Prince Albert is said to have asked the ju-
vene Prince of Wales at a moment of inter
esting anticipation " whether he would rather
have little sister or brother" and he au-
swered that Le would rather have pony.
The Duke de Richelieu, great-grand-nephew
of Cardinal Richelieu, is soon to marry a
wealthy heiress, Mile. Heine. Special permits
sion has been obtained to have the ceremony
performed in the Church of the Sorbonne,
where the remains of the great cardinal are in
TERED.
The Pail Mall Gazette urges the imposition
of Stamp duties on marriage-offers, and says a
three-fold benefit would come of it, viz: The
Exchequer would receive a Considerable annu-
al sum from such duties, " breach-of-promise y
cases be lessened or put an end to, aud spirit
of earnestness would thus be thrown into So
cial intercourse, quality which, ii thinks, So
ciety sorely needs.
The snug little sum of el00 900 has come
into the hands of the trustees of the London
Royal Academy, the interest of which is to be
spent in advancing sculpture and painting
Thirty-four years ago Sir Francis Chantrey
sculptor, died. leaving splendid fortune to his
widow for life, and at her death to be devoted
to artistic uses. The widow recently died at
the age of seventy.
The binding of carriage wheels with rubber
tires, is proposed in London. Popular belief
would set this down as joke, but it is assert
ed by the fabricators Of rubber that they can
make it of greater durability, even, than iron.
10 Berlin, these tires are doing practical SER
vice.
The famous Eucalyptus tree is making, 1t
would seem, the tour of the world. Garibal-
Iii has just finished planting it around Rome to
prevent malaria, and it may be seen by trave.-
lers, in the public squares of Nice, Cannes,
Hyeres and Algiers Spain recognized its me-
dicinal qualities in 1860 The Eucalyptus has
also been introduced into Corsica, Sicily, and
Ceylon.
The number of fires in London during 1873
were 1925; aud during 1874, 1850. The
citys fire brigade consists of fOrty-nine FIRE en-
CINE stations, l03 fire-escape stations, -four
floating stations, fifty-four telegraph lines,
eighty-six miles of telegraph lines, three float
ing steam engines, five large land steam en-
gines, twenty-one small land engines, eighty
five manual engines, 129 fire-eScapes and 89J
6remen.
Prince Bis mark, thougha powerful speaker,
has small, hoarse voice, which is in striking
contrast to his gigantic presence. When he
speaks he lays hold of the first object at hand
be it pen, parliamentary report, or pair
of scissors, and shakes it ike a cane he can
not speak without handling some such toy
He speaks slowly and with great deiberation,
aud often INDUCES in Jonmots which excite
laughter on all sides of the Reichstag.
A Partisan family, while at dinner the other
evening, were astonished at receiving the fol-
lowing letter: M. aud Madame: ! have
inst learned that what cooked for veal is a
piece of the butchers little nephew, who was
assassnated by his uncle and sold
in slices. | do not dare to come home. Ma
rie." Marie was the name Of their servant
This horrible announcement created great con-
sternation, and all the family began to feel
pangs of Indigestion, which were not allayed
until it was discovered that the note was a
! hoax.
There was a goodly assortment of American
women at the recent opening of the Grand OPP
era House at Paris. Chief among these were
The Duchess de Praslin Miss Forbes, OF
New York;, Duchess de Mouchy princess An
ma Murat, of Bordentown), Madame Barrot
Miss Forbes of New York, but no relation to
Duchess de Praslin), Baronue de Beyens ano-
Their New York girl, Countess de SartiGes IA
Boston girl, Madame Waddington Miss King,
of New York;, Madame Thayer IA Boston girl,
the Dutch ministers wife IA Washington girl,
Countess de Chasseloup Laubat Miss Pilte, OF