Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-05-07
IN GENER AL.

The Detroit Free Press says that the
word "blizzard" is derived from the Canadi-
an French voyageurs JLessdrt, meaning a cut
ting north wind.
Birmingham, Ala, and Chattanooga,
Tenn, owing to an abundance of iron ores,
coal and labor, are putting pig iron on the
market cheaper than Pittsburgh can.
The Oldest merchant vessel ahost is said
to be the bark True Love, which was built in
Philadelphia in 1894, and is, therefore, 122
years old. She is still in active service, aud
is owned by J. S. Ward of London.
Robert Gibson, who died at Macon, Mo-,
few days ago is declared to have been l20
years old. His remarkable age is said to be
well authenticated. He was born in Ran
dolph county, N. c., in January, 1867.
"A large part of the city of Chicago is
lighted by corona of electric lamps on the
top of the tower of the board of trade build
ing, 3l2 feet above the street. The plant is
of 10000 candle power, and is probably the
largest mass of electric light in the world.
The citizens of Carbondale, Penn, are
very unhappy over a recent evidence of ex-
travsgance in municipal affairs. The salary
of the mayor has been raised from S25 to
$40 per annum. They do not object to Civ
ing their mayor fair wages but they regret
that he should manifest a desire to have the
earth and the fullness thereof
In 1878 the Rev. David Walk, minister
of the Christian church, bought five acres of
land in Kansas City for 81, 800. He was a
poor man and he had hard work to keep the
taxes paid on his land, but he did, and the
other day was rewarded by selling it for $GG,-
800. Naturally, Kansas City is Dragging
about this.
"A young wife in Portland, Me-, was told
by her brother that her husband gambed
She couldn't believe it, and to convince her
the brother took her, dressed in a suit of his
clothing to a gambling house, where she saw
her husband lose $4OO. Then she made her
self known and marched her astonished hus-
band home by the arm.
-"Gentlemen of the jury" said lawyer
of San Bernardino, Cal, while defending
client, ''you would not send a man to Jail
for little thing like this, would you =? Why,
| gentlemen, if some of you had been punish
| ed for the little offences you have committed
you would be in the penitentiary to day"
, This did not seem 10 strike the jury as good
argument, and they found the accused man
| guilty at once.
| The Egyptian Sphinx is soon TO get a
thorough overhauling A company has been
formed in Paris to aid Nj. Maspero in carry
| ing on his excavations. 1t is thought that
the Sphinx is a tomb, and that under it or in
side of it some valuable and interesting ma
terial may be discovered that will add few
years more to the length of history. The
work will be carried on with care, so that the
great Sphinx may not be dsfgured by the
somewhat tardy autopsy.
"A curious sort of boycotting is that in
stituted against the wife of Gov. Foraker of
Ohio. The governor sent a message to the
legislature calling attention to the manner in
which wealthy people avoid taxation by re-
| fusing to make a proper return of their prop
erty to the assessors. This aroused the ire
of the rich people at Columbus, and when
the governors wife gave her regular recep-
tion the society danes with one accord re-
mained away-boycotted her, in short.
The sublimation of the mind cure craze
| in Boston is a man named Bennett, to whom
| patients go in and lay down So never more
nor less the doctor" pronounces the form
ula 'you are cured, +" and patient walks out
again. This is humbuggery reduced to its
simplest form. There is no diagnosis, nc
treatment, nothing but faith, and yet it is
said that Bennett is making big income,
$40 bills coming in by the mail, and requests
for consultation by telegraph. He calls him
self an apostle Of the "Order of the Inspir
att"
The will of Kate Rowsand, the little
dwarf that was known all over Europe al
MADAME la MaTquise, contains move
feature. After she had disposed of all hel
property, there remained her wardrobe.
''Well, " said she, my dresses and linen and
everything that 1 wore must be far too smal
for the littlest child but, in order that some
poor little girl may be happy, desire tina
the sum of ten pounds sterling may be ap
piled to the purchase of 20 dolls of my size,
which shall all be dressed from my wardrobt
and given to orphans.
-Liszt the illustrious musician, who il
also an abbe, entered holy orders, Galignan
explains, because he once paid court to two
married women and promised each that h'
would marry her when she became widow
Curious fate soon after removed both hus
bands simultaneously, and Listz found him
self in a most embarrassing situation, to ge
out Of which he ran away to Rome, ant
through his friend Cardinal Hohenlohe go
admitted to holy orders. Then, of course
it was impossible for either of the promise
to be fulfilled. One of the widows, prin
cess, forgave him, but the other wrote
! scandalous book about him in revenge.