Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13
BREVITIEs.

1t is proposed 10 use the steamship p Great
Eastern for carrying cattle from this coun-
try TO England. She will be fitted up to
answer modern requirements, at a cost of
S25O,OOO. She is now in the Milford Docks.
The potato bug has been bonered by
dicussion in the English House OF Lords.
The Earl of Caruarvon stated 10 bis brother
peers tha. the insect has been sat upon by
learned professors, who pronounced the
American and German species identical.
The Queens state saloon on the Great
Western Railway, England, is made entire
ly OF boiler plate, and so lined and padded
that if the carriage were TO 60 over an en-
bank ment and roll TO the bottom the chances
are that the occupants would escape unin-
jured.
The great misery at present prevailing
among the working people of Lyons,
France, is soon TO be relieved by an operatic
Jete in that city, at which Madame Mac
Mahon will preside, and for which between
COCO and 1000 tickets have already been tax
en-.
The ex-Empress Eugenie still preserves
much OF her youthful beauty-her eyes, her
brow, her expression were always lovely.
The Prince imperial is said to be an utterly
common place boy-with no beauty and no
cleverness in his face. He has been going
everywhere during the past winter in
Florence and seems 10 enjoy everything in
a mild way.
The manufacture of oleOmargarine has
become one of the fixed industries of this
country and Europe. One factory in Phil
and one in New York produces 10000
pounds per week, while the aggregate
weekly production in all the city is 5000
frkins.
A boy named James McCann was kill
ed in a singular manner at Cincinnati the
other day. While running through the
street with some other hoys and blowing q
tin horn he fell, the end of the instrument
striking Tue curb-stone and forcing the
smaller end into the boys mouth, tearing
through the back of his mouth and sever
ing his jugular vein, causing death in ten
minutes.
The compulsory education bill recent
ly passed by the State of Ohio, providing
all children between 8 and II years of age
must be sent to school at least twelve weeks
In every year, except those who are physi-
cally incapable, or who have to support in
digent relatives in which cases the local
school authorities have power to excuse.
The school boards are to see that the act is
enforced in their respective localities, and
the penalties for its non observance by par
ents and guardians strictly enforced.
Mrs. Hester johnson, an ancient Balti-
more colored woman died in that CITY re-
Gently at the great age of l07 years, as is
abundantly proved by the records. She
was a slave for 81 years, and it was the
greatest cause of pride 10 her that, when 65
years of age, she could cut a cord and half
OF wood day with women of half her age.
She was over six feet in height, and died,
not so much from any disease, as from the
general wearing out of her powers by old
age.
An exciting scene recently occurred at
the Paris Jardin des Plantes in Paris. A
large crowd was gathered around the Polar
bear-pit, when little child Of five, leaning
over its nurses arms, fell headlong into the
den. The two bears, accustomed 10 pres
ents of food, sprang toward the child, but
we're startled by cry Of horror from the
crowd. Nobody dared attempt the child's
rescue till gentleman courageously iasten-
ed a rope round his waist, was lowered in
to the pit by the keepers and succeeded In
bringing up the child in safety just as the
bears recovered from their surprise and
were darting upon him. The little one es-
capped with several bruises and a broken
arm.