The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-27
Personal and Peculiar.

A million and quarter of cat skins are
used annually by furriers.
Oliver Wendell Holmes is said to carry
horse chestnut in his pocket to ward off
rheumatism.
Vermont is never pronounced "Var-
mount by people of that State, says the
Rutland Herald, except in imitation Of out
siders.
According to the will of New Hamp,
shire man his "dear wife, is to receive $10,-
600 in case she remains single eight weeks
after his death.
The latest novelty in social matters is re-
ported of well known society woman in
New York, who gave a large dinner party to
celebrate receiving her divorce papers.
A number Of American ladies are said to
be arranging concert in London the pro-
ceeds of which are to be devoted to the fund
for the relief of the wounded in the Seudan
campaign.
1t is said to be fact not generally known
that Greece owes to Great Britain a debt Of
$5,00O,000 on which it pays only one per
cent. interest. Russia and France are also
creditors on the same terms.
Great numbers of Norwegian vessels are
'tosbe. seen on the Delaware River at Phlla-
delphia. The flags of no nationality are
more common along the docks. They do an
immense business in the oil carrying trade.
At Castle Howard, Lord Carlisle's seat in
Yorkshire, there is a guest house in the park
where months rest, with good living, is
provided each month for four hard-working
women from large towns.
A small piece Of what looked to him like
glass was picked up in Macon, Ca, recently
by citizen of that place, who took 1t to a
jeweller, by whom it was pronounced dia-
mond, and worth from $500 to 81 900.
Last years income of the Glrard estate in
Philadelphia was s95O,OOO. Its real estate
alone is valued at s7,346,0OO besides the
college buildings and grounds. The collier
les of the estate reduced l 100000 tons Of
coal during the year.
All Paris is looking forward to the appear
ance of an improved balloon which will
be able to hold its own against violent cur
rent of air. The balloon is furnished with
pair of large wings worked by an electric
motor.
A Chicago barber expended $4,000 in fit
ting up his shop, one item of the cost being
400 solid silver dollars embedded In the tiles
of the floor. Strange TO say, his employees
struck against ten per cent. reduction in
their wagesi
Five hundred and thirty enumerators viii
30 forth through Massachusetts on the first
of May to collect information for the new
census. The nature of the inquiries will be
the same as formerly, with the addition of
question regarding parent nativity.
The latest returns of. the national banks
show that the specie holdings thereof have
increased nearly S6O,OO0,O00 in eighteen
months. During the same period the circu-
lation of the banks has fallen off $50, ,000,-
O00-the circulation now outstanding being
only $275, 100000.
The white brick now made in France from
the immense accumulations of waste sand
at glass factories is likely to prove valua-
BILE industry. The process of production
consists in subjecting the sand to an ina
mense hydraulic pressure and then baking
in furnaces at a high temperature, so as to
produce blocks of various forms and dimen-
sions, of a uniform white color, and Of al
most pure silex. The product is unaffected
| by the heaviest frosts or by the sun or rain.
The widow and children of the late Presi-
dent Barrios, of Guatemala, will reach San
Francisco this week, and then probably a
complete account will be obtained of the am-
bilious Generals fall. Mrs. Barrios's par
ents live in San Francsc, and shewill make
| that city her home. 1t is said that President
Barrios settled upon her and her children a
| fortune in real estate valued at S., ,000,000.
A church society in Concord, Mass, pro-
poses, for the purpose, of course, of raising
money, to reproduce house fitted up in
Colonial style. The report is current that
an attempt is making to gather together
some specimens of the wit and humor of a
hundred years ago as a further rebuke 70
s'Mark Twain"
The adventure of a renowned billiard
player in one of the elevated trains in New
York, points out a new and dangerous wea-
pond which seems to have been invented for
female use. He noticed beautiful fan in
a seat which had just been vacated by a
| fashonably dressed woman. Picking 1t up
| he opened it, and was unpleasantly aston
| ished to discover concealed dagger-blade
l on the point of entering his hand. If any
more occurrences of this sort comes to light
| handsome women with fans will become OBJ
| jects of suspicion and distrust.