Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-04-30

Astoria. Nothing very remarkable about that,
of course That happens every day or two.
The curious part of the story is that there
was policeman on land who took him into
custody as soon as he got out of the water
believe no parallel to this coincidence is on
the police records of this vicinity and in
fact, this alleged fact would hardly receive
credence but for circumstance which will
be noted further on From this point, how
ever, the story sounds more natural. On the
way to the station house the convict told the
officer that one of his fellow convicts was
making his way across the river by the same
means which he had and that he would land
at Astoria also The officer, while thinking
as to the best course to pursue in tho matter,
let his prisoner give him the slip, who fled to
the woods leaving his coat in the officers
hands The officer did not give chase, but
hurried down to the shore to npprehend the
other convict which his late prisoner had de
clared was making his way to the Long IT,
land shore need hardly add that the con-
fding cop waited in vain for the supposit-
tious fugitive and finally went to hendquar-
ters very much crestfallen to relate his sad,
sad story and turn over the captured coat in
corroboration thereof
curious Law suit, in fact, the most novel
that has come before our courts, is ou trial
before Judge Nelson and II jury in the court
room, and before the same judges rs Theo-
dore Tilton's suit against Henry Ward Beech
er. The suit in question is brought by one
German woman, who demands $50, 900 dam
ages from another German woman rich
4 H., ,1s ,F l.a~
husbands affections. Her story is that the
perfidious widow first took away her better
half for short time only when he returned
and asked forgiveness which was readily
granted, and everything would have been
lovely but for the sudden temperance of the
widow, who drove round in her carriage one
fue morning to say that she must have the
man. as she couldn't live without him, and
ended by carrying him off in triumph. Then
the wronged wife resorted to law to claim the
erring husband but was defeated, and now
asks the Court for damages. The decision it
eagerly watched for as there is natural Gu
riosity among both sexes to ascertain just
how much a husband is worth. 1t is piece
of information that's handy to have in the
house.
The public will be relieved to learn that
Mr. William II. Nanderbit's family are at
last beyond any immediate danger of becom-
ing a burden to the parish. The industrial
and frugal head of the house has succeeded
in selling enough of his New York Central
stock to enable him to purchase about $50
OOO, 600 of four per cent. bonds, so that now,
by industry and strict attention to business
ha 10 hot nj
dollars out of Uncle Sans pocket every work
ing day in the year as interest on this snug
little sum, beside whatever his other $50, OOO,-
600 of miscellaneous property may net him.
This is gratifying state Of things. 1t is 50
pleasant to see honest toll thus rewarded.
| Among large number of new and elegant
residences now in progress of erection in
Fifth avenue are five magnificent houses,
! palaces in fact for various members of the
Vanderbilt family. These five mansions are
to cost, all told, 81 $50 600, the most expen-
sive being that of young Cornelius, who pro
poses to expend three-quarters of million on
a home.
Our New York Street Cleaning Bureau has
great difficulties to contend with. 1t no sooner
makes pretty and artistic little mounds of
dirt thus adding to the architectural beauty
of our renowned city, than the feet of horses
and the wheels of vehicles scatter the labori-
ously- collected heaps TO the winds or into peo-
ples eyes and ears and necks, or whatever
may be convenient, and the modern mound
builders have to do the work all over again.
This thing is repeated over and over, ana
must be very annoying to the Commissioners,
lsl. a
serving citizens in receipt of wages. Some
simple people who comprehend nothing of
the mysteries of oficialism, seem to think it
would be much better to have the miniature
hills shoveled into carts Immediately and TAX
en- away but their notion is evidently absurd,
for no street official within the memory of the
oldest inhabitant has ever done such thing.
The question of how and where to spend
the sultry days that are rapidly bearing down
ou MS promises to be perplexing one for
New Workers this year. Not that there is to
be any lack of suitable resorts, but on the
contrary because the number of eligible places
is being multiplied to bewildering extent.
ANY quantity of improvements are now be-
ing pushed to completion, one of which, that
at Rockaway Beach, is the most stupendous
ever attempted in this country. The main
hotel, now building there, is to be five times
as large as any other in the Union. There is
so much of interest to tell about this great
work that shall probably have to devote a
| letter to it before long.
The eastern side of this city is mostly pop
ulated by Germans, and their amusements
differ from the ordinary kind To cater to
their tastes many so-called museums are es-
tablished on the Bowery. One of these was
recently dismantled and big savage monkey
| was forgotten, or at least, left inside without
food He became ferocious with hunger and
managed to break out of a window in his
prison and clambered along a clothesline
across to the back windows of a tenement
house and made furious attack upon little
four-y ear old child The beast tore the child's :
face in frightful manner before he could be
driven off and killed.
A vessel now loading in this city for Rio
Janeiro has for the most important part of its
cargo a lot of forty large railroad scales, built
by the Howe Scale Company especially for
the Dom Pedro Railroad of Brazil. This line
is particular pet of the large-minded and
progressive sovereign whose name it bears
and who gives constant attention to its inter
ests. The selection of the Howe scales for
use on this road is the most pointed compl-
ment possible and indicates the official pref
erence for them in that country.
An eccentric citizen of the metropolis was
missed recently and the house he had oecu-
pied alone for years was opened by the au-
thorities and his dead body was found. The
house was discovered to be one of the most
remarkably furnished ediiees in the city
Fverv room was hung with oil paintings OF