Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-05-09
IN GENERAL.

Germany Il is now stated, uses paper
instead of wood in the manufacture of lead
pencils.
The highest rate of postage from this
country is to Patagonia and the island of st.
Helena 81 cents an ounce.
Military authorities say that with the i'm
proved arms soldiers can do ten times the ex-
ecution that was done twenty years ago.
An Ohio postmistress's name is Emanol-
patton Proclamation Coggswell. She was
born on the day the proclamation was issued.
The large story is told that the natives of
India have boarded 81, 900, 900, 900 In gold
which cannot be got into circulation.
While her arms were in the suds the 9TH
er day q Rockland, Me-, washerwoman receiv-
ed the news that she had inherited fortune
OF about $4,000.
The estate Of Daniel Webster, In Marsh
field, Mass, is advertised for sale. His house
was burned few years ago, and has been re-
placed by another, but his law Office remains
as it was when he used it.
There are now in the state of Georgia
5000 carp ponds, which is an average of %
to the county. Middle Georgia has more of
them than any other section of the state, and
Bibb county leads her section and the state.
The Empress of Austria is in Weisbaden,
where she spends her days in riding, fencing,
her entire day with athletic exercises, and
while the fashionable world is deep in its dis
sipations the Empress is enjoying the first
sweet sleep Of night
President Arthur favors building new
mansion on Lafayette square, opposite the
White House, for the strictly private home of
the chief magistrate, and retaining the old
White House for the executive offices and for
holding official and public receptions, din
ners, etc.
The first lace factory In the United
States is soon to be established at Wilkes
barre, Pa, by q manufacturer from Noting
ham, Eng, place famous for its machine
made laces. The machinery will be import
ed from England and the factory will give
employment to over 200 persons.
John Jacob Astor has insured the foun-
dation Of a worthy charity in New York by
giving $500, 900 TO o proposed hospital for
the treatment Of cancer diseases. Other
money gifts Of $50, 900 have been received,
besides land worth $35, 600; and the hospital
will be built at once on q slightly location
fronting Central park.
The emancipation of slaves in Cuba be-
gan in 1879, when all aged over 55 were freed.
Those between so and 55 were liberated In
1880, those between 40 and 90 in 1882, while
those between 40 and 45 go this year, and
SO on until the work is ended by the freeing
OF all under 80 In 1890. There are now less
than 140 900 slaves on the island.
Social Philadelphia is discussing the
propriety of having "busybodies." A busy
body" is a mirror arranged outside q second.
story window 30 as to show the sidewalk un-
! derneath or the doorstep. Everybody likes
the things, because men can look when the
bell rings to see if it is dun, women to see
what TO tell the servant, and everybody 10 sat
iqfv huf 10 M IN
| good taste of using them.
Life in Florida has some stirring fes-
lures. The Palatka Herald says that while q
settler on Cooks Bayou was in the back yard
| the other day assisting his wife in hanging
kettle, preparatory to washing, he was start
led by the screams of child that had been
left sitting near the open front door. Hur-
| rying into the house he found ten foot ALL
gator lying in the doorway, half OF his body
being in the house, and his open mouth with
in six inches Of the child's face. As soon as
he entered, the alligator took fright and
wheeled into the water. But for his prompt
appearance the child would have been car
ried away and eaten.
The recent death of clown In q circus
ring, with the audience innocently laughing
at his dying struggles, is sufficiently shock
ing, but like most things has it's parallel.
Many years ago a famous English diver gave
exhibitions. He used to climb tall spar or
flag pole, and dive of the top of it, and be-
fore taking the leap he was in the habit OF
giving a representation of hanging with 9
noosed rope. One day, however, the moose
slipped round behind his ear and he could
not liberate himself. And 30 he strangled to
death there at the top of the pole, the last
sounds in his dying ear being the cheers OF
the crowds who were applauding the wonder
ful faithfulness Of his acting.
About the first of last month bachelor
farmer living up in Arizona advertised in
San Francisco paper for q wife. He received
a number of replies, one of which pleased
him exactly. She said she was employed in
a large dry goods store. Without unneces-
sary delay he posted off to Frisco, going di-
rect to the store. The lady was brought be-
fore him, but declared she never knew him.
| He presented her letter and she blushingly
pleaded guilty to having written 1t. They
met at her home, that evening, and 10 days
afterward were married, and left for their lit
tie home up in Arizona. The next week he
took her down to Alameda TO show her 10 his
brother. To the utter amazement OF all It
was found that his brothers wife and his
were sisters.
Capt. W. L. Marshall, government en-
gineer on the Mississippi river, in his last re-
port gives a most remarkable discovery. A
few piles were washed out Of the five row
dixie at Myersville chute. There was thick
foot mat and q cubic yard Of stone pier run
ming at the foot of the dixie. A remarkable
phenomenon is shown here. A pile Eve feet
longer than the rest marked to indicate the
front of the dixie at high water, still remains
standing upright and firm two feet below the
lower row The drift is arohed across the
opening, and there is no pressure upon this
pile. II has travelled so feet down stream
erect and firmly imbedded in the sand. The
only feasible explanation of this is, that the
whole bottom of the river, like a glacier, is
being gradually pushed down stream.
1t is said that the greatest known flow of
natural gas was struck at Wellsburg West
Virginia, on the 22d ult., at depth Of 1887
feet When the reservoir was tapped the
fluid rushed out with such force rs to throw
the heavy tools high in the air and demolish
the derrick All efforts 10 cap the tube and
control the gas have been futile. light has
just been applied, and the glare on the sky 10
visible thirty miles away. In quantity this
we'll is estimated TO be a half greater than the
famous McGugr well, making 1t the largest
in the world. Nearly 81, 900, 900 have been
spent in the vicinity boring for gas, but Wells
burg alone has beon successful, having nov
three wells in operation, lighting and heating
the town, melting iron and glass, and entire
ly superseding all other fuels. This last well
will be piped to Wheeling and supply the nu-
= merous mills, furnaces and glass houses there.