Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1879-08-16
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
Personal and Literary.

Andrew Johnson's granddaughter
Miss Patterson, is reported to be pre-
pairing to take the platform as lee
turer.
Henry d. Thoreau was an unsocia
woodland companions OF beast and birt
than of human beings. This reserve
did not, however, extend to children
he loved them dearly. He was natura
and boylike with them, and they al
liked him and were always ready to &C
with "Henry" on berrying excursion:
and walks in the woods.
One of the busiest fnen in Newport
is Mr.. George Bancroft, the we'll known
writer. He is an early riser, and hi:
pair of stenographers are obliged to be
at his cottage upon the cliffs soon after
8 O'Clock every day. The eleventh vol
ume of his "History of the United
States" will be sent to the printers next
winter, and this will take the great work
up to the year 1870.
The new comic opera by Gilbert
and Sullivan, which is to be brought out
in this country next fall, is described by
the London newspapers as burlesque
of Italian opera, great deal like opera
bouffe, and not much in the style OF
Pinafore." The introduction of six
burglars into house, where they fall in
love with six maidens, constitutes the
second act, instead of furnishing the en-
tire action of the piece, as at first pro-
posed. No name has yet been chosen.
Mr.. James Whistler, the artist, is
described by writer in Scribner as be-
ing exceedingly witty and original, and
also not unsatisfied with himself. "Do
You see that bit thereP" he asked one
day of a visitor to his studio, indicating
with caressing gesture spot of can
vass he had just been painting. "That,
sir-that-by Jove, the man who could
do that could do any thing" with a
humorous twinkle, half delighted with
himself, half amused at his conceit in
recognising It.
MIR. JOAQUIN Miller has returned to
New York after an absence of a feH
months, during which time he has trat-
eled several thousands of miles in pay
ing flying visits to the Sierras, to his old
home in Oregon, to Mexico and to Can
ada, where he has placed his daughter,
IA years of age, in convent school.
The poet went away wearing long
brown hair and full beard. He re-
turns in a smart gray business suit and
smarter mustaDhe, and with his hair
cropped short.
When Payne, the author of "Home,
Sweet Home," returned to Boston after
long absence in Europe, he called up
on lady, an old schoolmate, who said /:
"Mr. Payne, don't you find Boston
much chsngedf' h" Yes, madam" he
answered, "very much-I receive, many
invitations to attend church, and very
few to dinner" When the poor poet
went to assume his office at Tunis, his
luggage was at once most pathetic and
amusing-he had several trunks filled
with books, and hardly any clothes.
"A very graceful act was performed
by the University of Oxford, says the
London Hornet, in comforting upon Ivan
Sergeitsch Turgueneff its honorary de-
gree of d. G. L. M. Turgueneff's rela-
tions with the powers that be in his own
country are scarcely friendly. He loves
and he has been instrumental in freeing
the Russian people. With their rulers,
on the contrary, he is in no favor; but
it was not as Russian that M. Tur-
gueneff has been honored, but as a poet,
an artist, q profound student and paint
er of human character.