Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-07-27
IN GENERAL.

The South American cable has opened a
new source Of reports of revolutions for the
daily press. 1t is dull day in the southern
hemisphere when nothing revolutionary oc-
ours. Cuba and Hayti are dwiudlng into in
significance.
petrited forest was recently discovered in
the Buckskin Mountains on the Arizona side
of the Colorado river near where the latter
cuts through the range. Petri6ed trees 20
inches in diameter were found, and it is said
that there is not BUSH piece of sage-brush
or grass in the entire forest-some 300 acres
that is not turned TO stone.
There are two post offices a mile apart near
the boundary between Canada and Michigan
which cannot communicate with each other
by mail in less than about week When a
letter is mailed in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan,
addressed to person living just across the
border, 1t goes to Detroit in the United States
mail, crosses to Windsor, and is taken back
over Canadian routes to within mile of
where it was mailed a week or ten days pre-
viously.
The fourth centenary Of Luther brings to
light the fact that in an obscure Thuringian
village there survive two male descendants of
Martin Luther. One is carpenter at Klos-
ter-Allendorf, and the other is a theological
student at the University of Jena. Their
line of lineage is traced directly, though it
would be hard to define their precise kinship
with the reformer. Each of these members
of the Luther family enjoys, by virtue of
their ancestor, right to receive at his con
firmation 90 thalers, on his apprenticeship to
any trade or profession a second so thRlers,
and on his marriage a third 80 thalers. 1t is
worth their while to marry, apparently.
Practical lumbermen down in Maine are not
agreed a. to the cause of the dying of spruce
trees in certain sections of the state, particu-
larly IN tue townships of the northern Aroos.
took gion About eight years ago the heavy
autumn rains loosened the earth deeper than
''eyer brfore known" This was followed by
terrible gales and severe winter Some
hold that this is the cause of the decay, and
the loss certainly seems greatest on the north
west slopes. The theory, however, generally
accepted by the best judges is that the trees
are dying from old age. The decay is mainly
in sections which have not been cut over. The
age of the spruce is from 60 to 30 years 10
years ago the trees in the Aroostook region
were young, and it is time for them to think
OF shufllng of this mortal coil. The inst OF
theory is rejected by all the lumbermen.
The Brooklyn bridge will never pay for it,
self. The income was $40, ,0GO for the first
week, fell to S4006 in the second, and so on
down to S2iG7 for the week ending July -.
The daily average is now $3GG The opening
of the railway will increase the receipts, yet
it is believed that the whole income, after de-
ducting running expenses, will not pay one
quarter of the interest on the cost of cou-
struction, to say nothing of the sinking fund
to meet the principal of the bonds when they
fall due. BrOoklyn's share of yearly interest
is SG79, $50, and New York's $3.50, 675. The
former must raise $3.50 900 annually for
bridge bond sinking fund, aud the latter S75-
OOO The cost of maintenance is $3.50 600
so that the yearly burden is 81, 39l, OPS. The
taxpayers will be reimbursed for their outlay
by the general benefits which ths bridge will
confer upon the two cities.
A gentleman in Paris who had been wont
to give five sous daily 10 blind beggar whom
he passed every day on his way to his busi-
ness, gave him one morning by mistake
Napoleon, and afterward discovering his
ror, ascertained from another beggar his
benehcary's address and called there to re-
cover his gold piece. A tidy maid opened
the door Of u comfortably furnished suite of
apartments Monsieur was requested to take
a seat, and in a minute or two the beggar
made his appearance, neatly dressed, and
with faultless shirt front The object of the
visit was stated "Ay clerk is just making
up the days accounts" he observed 'if a
Napoleon has becn found in the box, il shall
be restored to you" The piece of gold was
found, and the beggar handed it back TO his
visitor. AS the latter was retiring, the beg
gar called out to him 81 beg your pardon,
sir, but you have forgotten to give me the
half-penny out Of 1t.