The Portland daily press., 1893-10-06
PERSONAL AND PECULIAR.

sMr. George W. Childs, of Philadelphia,
was SO much interested in the Wisconsin
log house on exhibition at the Worlds
Fair that he went in and bought it COM
plete, and will have it removed to his
country place near Philadelphia.
Professor Jules Van den Heuvel, of
the University Of Louyain, Belgium, is
in the United States for the purpose of
studying the methods and procedure OF
the higher Ameiricn law courts. He is
one of the most prominent practitioners
in the Belgian courts. He has been in
San Francisco, but will make his head
quarters in Washington, to be near the
Supreme Court, which is his chief in :
terest.
The worlds champion fencer is at the
Worlds Fair. The title is claimed by
Agesilaus Greco, company sergeant-major
in the italian army, and fencing master
in the Royal Magistrate Military School
at Rome He may give an exhibition of
his skill at the Fair in a tournment in
which he expects to give remarkable
odds, in both cut and thrust swords.
He is young man, 26 years old, but
has had wide reputation for several
years.
The Brazilian department. of agricul-
ture deplores the rapid destruction OF
what were at one time looked upon as
inexhaustible forests Of India rubber
trees. A recent report of The depart
ment suggests remedy that plantations
for the cultivation OF the tree be estab-
lished, and shows by statistics that large
profits would accrue to the planter.
Tho oon1i1n%oc. for 1,oi1iff II, tho to1x,,,
of Alnwick, North England, just be
fore the election, ride in procession to a
horse pond near the town, dismount and
struggle through the mud and water as
best they can. They are accompanied
by brass band and all the population
of the town and neigh borhood. The
custom dates from the time of King
John, who visited the town in 1910. The
roads werevery bad, and some of his bag
gage wagons had to be left in the mire.
On his arrival he inquired who was re-
sponsible for the condition OF he roads,
and learning that the baliffs were to
blame, ordered them to be seized and
dragged through the nearest pond
Mr.. George W. Childs will present to the
city of Chicago his magnificent exhibit
of tropical plants and flowers at the
Worlds Fair. He is at present in Chi
cago visiting the Exposition. His col
lection of plants consists of palms of
giant growth, in 23 varieties; the finest
gathering of caladiums in the world,
comprising 20 varieties; and about 100
varieties of cactus, besides many other
valuable specimens.
The Hon. John E. Russell is to deliver
an address on the horse at the annual
meeting of the Massachusetts State
Board ofAgriculture in Great Darlington
in December Governor Hoard of Wis
consin is to speak at the same gathering
and also President Goodell.
A number of Photographic plates taken
by former Washington photographer,
Alexander Gardner, during the war,
have recently been found in that city
and are Of much Interest. Included in
the collection are plates of Lincoln, Sum
ner, Stanton, Chase, Wilson, Greeley
Grant, Mcclellan, Beecher, Agassiz, and
many others, all from life. There is
also one of John Wilkes Booth which is
thought to be copy, as Edwin Booth
bought up and destroyed all the mega
tives of the assassin known to be in tx-
isteace. OF Mr.. Lincoln there are mega