The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-11-01
islands had a swimming race while on a

Islands had swimming race while on q
recent excursion. James G.. Fair, the
Nevada, millionaire, who was then visit
ing the royal family, says that the party
could not land from their steamer for
reason of the breakers. The King said
that all ought to swim to the shore.
The Queen assented, and the pair jump
ed overheard together. They buffeted
the waves with skill, and soon reached
land. They not only went where no
boat could 60, but braved another dan
ger, for the place was alive with sharks.
THE following are the heights Of the
principal monuments, domes, etc., in
the world: st. Antoine column at Rome,
1856 feet: principal tower of the Smith
sonian Institute, Washington, 145; Ira
JAMS column at Rome, 145; Napoleon's
column at Paris, $50; Washington Mon
iiment at Baltimore, 100; the great ODE
lisk at Thebes, 200; Bunker Hill Monu-
ment at Boston, 223; column of Delhi,
262; Trinity Church steeple at New
York, 264; the contemplated new dome
of the Capitol, 800; dome of St. Paul's
Cathedral, London, 800; tower of Man
Illus, $50; tower of the Cathedral at
Strasburg, 400; dome Of st. Peters
Cathedral, Rome, 465; Great Pyramid
of Egypt, ALL.
A CUBIC inch of gold is worth S210-
cubic foot, 1852, $50; cubic yard.
80, 797, 1862. This is valuing it at 1850
an ounce. At the commencement of the
Christian era, there was then in the
world 1927 600, 900 in gold. This had
diminished to $57, 100000 at the time
America was discovered. Then it be-
gan to increase. Now the amount of
gold in use is estimated to be sc, 0O0,-
OO0,O00 Yet all this welded into one
mass would be contained in cube of &c
feet. This, in the case of a man per-
ishing from disease, would not of itself
avail him so. serviceably as some little
shrub growing by the wayside, which
was especially calculated as remedial
agent in his particular case.
AMONG the claims against the estate
of Mrs. Elizabeth Vassels 81 New Bed
ford, Mass, was that of Nathaniel HAM
mond for So "a visits, with medical adj
vice." at 81 each, and "nine gold pills.
at 81 for the lot. The fact that Mr..
Hammond is not physician led the adj
ministrator to refuse payment, which
brought on a lawsuit Mr.. Hammond
testified that he doctored Mrs. Vasse1s
at her urgent request, and prescribed
pills made of solid gold, nine of which
actually cost 81 to make. He thought
they would strengthen the patient. II
iron was a good tonic, why should not a
more precious metal be betterp Mr..
Hammond's account-book was put in
evidence. 1t was an almanac, inscrib-
ed "Doctrin Mrs. vassels, y and the
visits were marked at the corresponding
dates.
OF Joseph Jefferson's first appear
ance on the stage when IA years old,
Mr.. L. C.. Davis gives in LippipcoH a
touching description. The young ac-
tors widowed mother had for weeks
trained him in the music, words and
business of his part. They were very
poor, and both hoped intensely that the
debut would be successful. The night
came, and young Jefferson took his
place upon the stage more dead than
alive with fright. He became conscious
that his mother was watching him, and,
though half blinded with fear, he saw
her hands tremble up to her mouth, saw
the tears filling her eyes, and saw her
trying to smile encouragement to him
through them; yet after the first line or
two he broke down utterly, aud amid a
storm of Kisses ne tottered off at the
wing, to which his mother was clinging
for sy1Dport so great was her Distress
He flung himselfinte hera arms, crying
out through his sobs and hers that he
had failed that he should never sue-
coed. The lovely lady and loving MOTH
er died, not, indeed, before her son had
gained good position on the stage, but
before he had reached the success that
would have made her SO proud and
happy -s,-s..-e..e z