The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-04-27
PERSONAL AND LITERARY.

MIR. Andree, the Swedish scientist
who proposes TO seek the north pole
in a balloon, is almost q giant In
stature and his strength is extraordi-
nary. He is in correspondence with
NJ. de Fonville, the French aeronaut,
and contemplates going to Paris to
have his balloon constructed there.
Gen. A. ]. Pleasanton, of Philadel-
phia left one Of the largest private
libraries in that city, numbering
about $1,000 volumes. Gen. Pleasan-
ton was widely known as a lover Of
books, and had many rare editions.
Among his books were fine collections
relating to Napoleon and to Shakes
peare.
1t is said hat the late Hans Won
Bulow left directions that a post-mor-
ten examination of his brain should be
made to ascertain the cause of the ex
cruciating headache from which he
was a lifelong sufferer. The autopsy
revealed the fact that the end of the
nerves had become imbedded in a scar
of an injury to the brain, which he lad
received in childhood.
Peter the Great of Russia had the
typical face of a Russian peasant. A
short, thick nose, with large nostrils,
heavy brows, full, sensual lips, wide
mouth and high cheek bones were
among his most prominent features.
His head was almost round and showed
by its width at the ears that COM
bativeness of disposition that was n
of the leading points of his character.
Mr.. Gladstone is a believer in the
theory that a man can do better mental
work every day to extreme old age il
he takes care of his body. He claims
that the mind grows stronger and
clearer as the body loses vitality, and
that it is only disease of the latter that
can prevent an intellectual progress
that will go on to the end. He is GER
tainly a good illustration of his work.
ing theory.
Col. Will 81. Vischer, the humorist,
enjoys his reputation for LONELINESS.
Speaking of his yearnings for comeli-
ness, the humorist said: when ]
married and had a little daughter, ]
had some one who really admired me.
To her l was an Apollo. One day Bill
Nye was in my office with me, and my
little girl came in and began making
love to me, as was her way, calling
me all sorts of sweet names. Nice
papa said she; pretty papa Nye
turned around and said in his peculiar
drawl: 'Vischer, are you trying to
make a humorist out of hat child?'"
1t was during the Commonwealth
that John Playford printed "Ayres
and Dialogues" a book that comprises
with many pleasant pieces the first
three that ever were defined by the
word glee, a term that later times
have wontedly acknowledged and
boosted as the designation of a class of
music specially English. 1t was dur
ing the Commonwealth that the same
publisher issued several editions of
THE Dancing Master" each being q
variation of the foregoing; and this is
the work to which we wv the preser-
walton of all the beautiful English
ballad tunes of earlier date that are,
many of them, not tssbe found in previ-
Gus print or Manuscript. 1t was in
that very opera, THE Siege Of
Rhodes" that Mrs Colman, daughter
in-law of one Of the composers, sus-
tanned the character of Ianthe. she be-
ing the first woman who ever took
part in a public musical or dramatic
performance in England.