Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-03-17


"A washerwoman of Franklin, Pa, has %
living children. She is about so years of age.
David Navarro, the fat boy weighing 72O
pounds, died at Pittsburg, Pa, of smallpox.
There are no less than ten railroads char
tered to cross the line between this country
and Mexico.
In the past five years there have been
5000 fires in the United States and Canada
involving loss of over 800, the aggregate
loss by which was 1922, ,O12, 2OO of which the
insurance companies bore 1929, 264, 200.
Artificial mother-of- pearl has been made
by an ingenious SWISS after several years
experiments. 1t is SO accurately manufac-
tured that the false cannot be distinguished
from the real substance, while, further, the
imitation mother-of- pearl can be produced in
any color or nodded in any shape, and is be-
sides impervious TO weather.
The latest novelty in invention is pro-
ject for sending grain from the West to the
seacoast by means of pipe lines, in imitation
of the oil pipe service. Mr.. A. K Williams
of Minneapolis Mimi, is having machinery
constructed by which he expects to operate
pneumatic tubes for the transportation of
grain. The theory is to carry the grain in
suspension through the centre of the pipe,
the compressed air forming cushion around
the outside. 1t is understood that the expert
ulGub nd5 Dttu ulhu6 lOE ulblduC6 VI uN6
hundred feet with perfect success. The next
test will be full mile
Investigations by the Kentucky legisIa-
ture disclose barbarous state of affairs in
the convict camps of that state. 1t is stated
that in one camp only 13 out of so convicts
survived year of excessive labor at lumber
ing, for want of food, clothing and medical
attendance. The lash and thumbscrew were
used, and deliberate murders were committed
by the keepers under plea of enforcing dis
cipline. In oal-mining camp where the
men were driven at the point of the revolver
into dangerous tunnel, fall of earth three
hours afterward killed eleven of them. If the
statements published are true, the cruelty
practsed on Kentucky convicts exceeds that
of any other state thus far reported, and for
the sake of humanity it is to be hoped they
are exaggerated.
. The first proof of the new fve-cent post
age stamp bearing a vignette of President
Garfield, is to be presented to Queen Victoria
by the American Bank Note company. The
stamp is set in frame of ebony, containing
a mat of sterling silver upon which is en-
graved an exquisite border of fine geometric
lathe work. This is surrounded by rod of
solid gold nearly quarter of an inch in di-
ameter, cut in barley-corn work of new de-
sign with brilliant facets. This rod is be-
tween the silver mating and the royal pur-
Pile velvet on the concave portion of the
frame. A French plate glass, with bevelled
edges, covers the picture and mating, and
the whole is enclosed in fine cedar box lined
with royal purple velvet.
The French Government is seriously
considering the colossal project of ship ca
nal from Bordeaux across the south OF France
to Narbonne connecting the Atlantic Ocean
with the Mediterranean Sea. The dominant
idea is to have another outlet from the Med
itterranean besides the Straits of Gibraltar,
which might be blockaded by hostile arma-
da in case of war, while the commercial ad-
vantages would be very great. The length Of
the canal would be about 800 miles, and its
highest point 500 feet above the level of the
sea. Engineers pronounce the scheme prac-
ticable. The cost is estimated at $3.50, ,O00,-
00O 1t is said that NJ de Freyeinet has set
his heart on having the new internal water
way.
A serious incident of the nature of a
practical "joke" is reported from Youngs-
town, Ohio. One Henry Waters had pecu-
liar dread of ghosts, and his acquaintanees
who knew his weakness planned a practical
joke at his expense. They drew the bullets
from the revolver which he kept under his
pillow, and then in the night he awoke to see
a white-robed figure at the foot Of his bed.
Although at first suspecting joke he drew
his weapon and fired six shots. The ''ghost"
laughed hoarsely and threw the bullets on the
bed as though he had supernaturally caught
them. As Waters shrieked in terror, the
ghost threw off his disguise aud other merry
makers burst into the room TO laugh at the
victim, but the shock had made him insane.
Three weeks have passed by without res
toration of his reason, and it is not expected
that he will ever recover. 1t would be inter-
esting to know what train Of argument could
make such joke less than criminal.
"A sad accident attended the close Of the
recent carnival festivities in Rome. When
the Corso was supposed to have been cleared
at $3.50 the 6ar6eri, or riderless horses, gosd-
ed by spiked balls swinging on their haunch
es, were let loose at the Piazza del Popolo
and started toward the goal in the Piazza
Venezia at furious speed. When they reach
ed the Palazzo Fiano, just below the Queens
balcony, the crowd still thrOnged the street
and the horses plunged into it, knocking
down men, women and children. The Queen
fell back sickened at the sight and one OF her
ladies of honor tainted. Thirteen persons
were found to have been seriously injured,
one of whom died immediately, his head hav-
ing been crushed, and another died the next
morning. The King witnessed the scene from
a neighboring balcony and visited the suffer
ers after they had been taken TO the hospit-
ais. spending an hour with them. Roman
newspapers denounce this form of sport a.
brutal and call for its abolition.