Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-07-22
MINOR NOTES.

The wealthy widow" whom Guiteau has
been expecting to marry is Mrs. Van Colt,
the revivalist
Another comet has been discovered in the
Constellation of Auriga, almost in the spot
where the present large comet was first seen.
This new comet is apparently coming directly
toward the earth, and for telescope comet,
is very bright indeed, it can be readily seen
with good opera glass. This makes the
fourth comet discovered within ten weeks,
circumstance heretofore unknown in history.
Secretary Window seems to be in sober
earnest on the subject of civil service reform.
He cannot afford to spend his time and waste
his strength and patience upon office-seekers.
He is therefore arranging a system of exami-
nations, which he will put in force in a few
days, applying to all the bureaus and offices
in his department, including the custom
houses, SO that applicants will be turned over
at once to the examiners, who will, according
to some rational system, select the best of
them to fill whatever vacancies may exist. No
vacancies will be made for the sake of pro-
viding for anybody.
Thomas McDevitt and Legrand Ensign were
arrested at Philadelphia on Tuesday, and tax
en- by United States marshals before Commits
sioner Gibbons on a charge of conspiracy to
defraud the government in connection with
the star-route frauds. They are charged with
being concerned in the issue of worthless
bonds for star-route contractors.
Mrs. Eliza Garfield, mother of the presi-
dent, was taken dangerously i'll on Friday
with cholera morbus, which was followed by
fever symptoms considered serious because of
her extreme age; but her condition is now
much improved, and she is apparently out of
danger. She was cheerful, and exhibited the
same pluck shown by her son, saying: with
such good news from Washington, must
get we'll" She still has the implicit faith in
the presidents final recovery which she has
maintained from the first.
Mrs Mary A. Livermore says that one eve
ming twenty years ago few ladies interested
in the welfare of women discussed the en-
Payments open to women. They counted IL
and could think of no moro. Recently the
same ladies repeated the enumeration, and
were able to point out 2S7 employments which
women could engage in.
Mrs. Stewart O. Gardner, the nurse who
attended the President at the time of his
birth, died about the hour the assassin at
tempted his life, at the home of her son, A.
j. Gardner, in Mason township, near Dowagiac,
Mich, at the age Of 81 years.
The Chinese educational mission in this
country is to be abolished, and the students
now in American institutions are TO be recall
ed. This step is taken in consequence of its
fear that Chinese youth educated here will be-
come too liberal in their views-that is, too
Americanized.
All is not lost. Mr.. Conkling has the use
of the franking privilege until December.
George W. Seward, a deaf-mute, was ar
rested Tuesday while going from door TO
door in Philadelphia soliciting aid to defend
the assassin Guiteau. In reply to a question,
Seward wrote on a slate "Guiteau is a
Frenchman; l am a Frenchman. He is all
right to kill Garfield"
Edison expects to light almost eight hun.
bred houses in New York by the first of Octo-
Der. Improvements have recently been made
in the construction of his lamps, and he ia
now manufacturing them at the rate of about
one thousand day.
Mrs. Garfield says that every hour she has
passed in the White House has been replete
with care, sickness aud danger. 1t is a dis
grace TO the American people that such a
home is provided for the president and his
family. Malaria, bad drainage and office
seekers are the bane of Presidents exist
ence.
Apr0pOS of the governments recent award
of medal to Ida Lewis, the Lime Rock hero
inc at Newport, the records at Washington
show the total number of lives she has saved
since 1854, so far as known, to be IS. In all
but two Of these cases she has relied wholly
upon herself.
A comparison of the tax returns of Yer
mont and New Hampshire will be of interest.
Number Of polls taxed in Vermont 70, 594 /;
in New Hampshire, s9,17; personal
property in Vermont, $40, SO4, O79 in
New Hampshire, $88, 1885, real estate
in Vermont, SlO2, IFS, 514 in New Hamp-
shire, 1928. oil, 1884 assessed valuation OF
Vermont, $l63, S91, 1893; of New Hampshire,
GIGS, 1854, sos.