The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-03

Mr.. John r. Hoffman, in private letter
10 an Albany gentleman, quoted in the
ArquS. says that Gambetta is an admirable
and most digniiied presiding officer; "but,"
adds Mr.. Hoffman, I" do not think 'Old
Salt himself, or the 'BIldheaded Eagle
formerly OF Weslchester and now OF Rock
land, could keep the French Chamber OF
Deputies in order. They Iaugh-they ieer-
they clap-they cheer and sneer, and inter
rurt in every possible way.
1t was, taken all in all, poor exhibition OF
intellectual and oratorical power, but 10 me
it was interesting, for it gave me a chance
TO see and study some OF the great men
we read so much about. How true is the
old saying that Great men, like great
mountains, seem smaller as you get nearer
to them"
All day long il rains in Johnstown. It's
depre>sing-very. have cold in my head.
/ don't feel very cheerful. II is too dark and
too damp and too cold TO be funny. | will
stop writing and smoke a cubeb for change.
am cross and hOmesick. ] wish | knew
where there was some man in this town
small enough for me to quarrel with. !
wish / was in Sagetown; how quickly |
would get me into Burlington. | wish |
was a, rich as am good, 50 that wouldn't
have TO 20 wandering over the country with
a funny lecture. wish was as good as
am beautiful, so people would love me. |
wish | was just seven years old, and Christ
mas lasted three months, and had a stock.
ing as long as a telegraph pole.- Buriing-
ton Haloteye.
The queercst thing in the whole animal
creation is the Norwegian lemning. 1t is
about the size OF 4 mouse, Kisses, bites, and
lives under stones in summer and snow in
winter. About once in ten years they inn
migrate in large armies. They march in
straight line. They cross lakes and rivers.
They 20 straight through haystacks rather
than 20 around. Nothing stops them, not
fire, cascades, nor swamps. II a man stands
in tie way they will jump at him as high as
his knee. They continue their course until
they reach the sea, into which they plunge
as persistent and aggressive as ever, until
the waves drown and eXlerminate them.
We know some men who are Just about as
| big fools as that
General Horace Porter in his speech at
the New England dinner said a Phila-
dephian was in Boston. and they were
showing him round. They always show
people around 10 Boston. lie asked the
! Boston man, Why do YOU not lay out Bos-
tor like Philadelphia III Boston, was
the response, ever gets to be as dead as
Phladelphia, we'll lay it out '-Iroui-
dence journal.
The following colloquy is reported to
have occurred on upper Main street on
Christmas day: Small boy TO Governor
Garcelon-" Did We hear that boy had
! fallen into a well fifty feet deep, DOctory"
"No; and how did they get him Out!"
.'Sent word 10 the Governor and Council
TO count him out" said the lad.-LeloiS-
tOtcn Journal.
We Judge that the census will show a
large increase in the number OF tin-h0rns
in th3'country. We do not think that We
were ever so impressed with the growing
importance OF this industry a we were on
last Thursday. With the incessant roar OF
the pop-crackers, we fear i almost embit-
tered us against Christmas. Central Pres
byerian.
Some idiot has started fresh story about
the hopeless Illness Of Mr.. Scott, president
OF the Pennsylvania road. The gentleman
is, or was day or two ago, neither i'll nor
hopeless. and has no idea whatever why the
press wants to make him continually sick.
Ner York Mail.
The London Times refers 10 the fact that
1t announced in recent issue the death of
twenty-siX persons over eighty years OF
age. Ii attributes this remarkable mortal
ity TO the recent cold weather.
A telegram from Atlanta, Ga. says that
"persons walking on the streets" in that
city. on Christmas-eye, "perspired freely !"
So they did oil through Maine.
A minister In one OF the small Illinois
towns was the unfortunate loser Of several
dollars the other night. He had donation
party Chicago journal.
Appropriate New-Year's gift for printer:
A golden rule, set in diamond or pearl.
That type Of iewelry is valuable in either
case.
A Broadway engraver recently made this
mistake: MIR. and Mrs. respect
fully request your presents at the marriage
Of their daughter"