VARIETIES.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 964, 28 July 1877, Page 3

VARIETIES.

A subscription has been started in Germany for the purpose of erecting a statue to Prince Bismarck on the summit of the Hartz Mountain. “ Why do we lire ? what is there for us in life?” inquires the “ Christian Register.” We don’t pretend to answer the question, but we do know that when a man has walked four miles through the mud to see a girl and finds another fellow sitting up with her, it comes home, it comes home. A Turkish Press correspondent declares that the outrages committed by the BashiBazouks are much exaggerated. “ I do not pretend for a moment,” he says, “that they don’t chop up the Christians, but the pieces are not nearly so small as is currently reported.” It having been reported to the Admiralty that the late chief engineer of the Tourmaline was driven into a most excitable state and ultimately lost his reason and committed suicide through the anxiety he suffered in consequence of the defective state of the new machinery of the ship, it has been decided to award a special pension to the widow of the unfortunate officer. The shores of the Passiac River are for many miles lined with thousands of stinking dead fish. Jersey city is interested in this water. A great deal of the milk sent to New York comes from this river. We learn, too, that several Paterson gentlemen have recently signed the pledge, and it would bo criminal to discourage them in the use of water at this time. At any rate there is death in the Passaic, The Association formed under the auspices of the King of the Belgians for the exploration and civilisation of Africa proposes to organise two great simultaneous expeditions, each to consist of about 1500 men, including native porters, to set out, the one from Loanda, the other from Zanzibar, on the opposite coast, to work their way inland, and meet somewhere in the middle of the continent. A statement has been compiled which shows that by supplying the British troops in the Punjaub, and parts of the NorthWestern Provinces, with Indian-brewed instead of English beer, a saving might be effected of 267,935 rupees a year. Tho soldiers evince a preference for the Indian brewed beer over British malt and hops, as the latter reaches India in a state that not unfrequcntly causes it to be condemned as unfit to drink, An Order in Council, extending to the city of London, and to the Metropolitan Police District only, authorises the Veterinary Department of tho Privy Council Office to slaughter every animal that is affected with cattle plague, and any animal that has been in contact with any animal so affected. The local authority is to pay compensation for the animals so slaughtered. A meeting was held at St. James’s Hall on the 9th of May, when Professor Gamgce gave an address on the subject of cattle diseases, in connection with the importation of live cattle. Mr C. S. Read, M.P., presided. On the motion of Earl Portescua, a resolution was passed, affirming that the high price of meat was in a great measure duo to contagious cattle diseases, transmitted by live stock imports, and that the importation of live cattle for slaughter ought to bo prohibited. _ An American officer named Sale is said to have invented an aerial machine for use in warfare. It consists of a slight framework, covered with loose canvas, which becomes filled witli air, and thus the apparatus is kept afloat. In order to make observations of an enemy’s camp at night, the machine is made fast, and a kind of parachute provided witli fireballs is sent up the line, which is the proper point, ignites the fireballs, and thus illuminates the surrounding country for a considerable distance. In Easton, Pennsylvania, the other evening, just as a performance in a public hall was about to close, two wags put themselves in front of the doorway with an umbrella and waited for the outcoming crowd. It was not raining at all, but when the first persons of the audience had reached the door and seen the warning umbrellas, scores of hands were thrust out, coats were buttoned closely, and dresses taken up, while a number remained in the hall, refusing to come out on account of the rain. The “sell” was complete, and was much enjoyed by those upon whom it was perpetrated, after all was explained. She Couldn’t Do It. One morning when fixe mistress of an Edmund street residence proposed that one of the hired help polish the front windows, Sarah replied that she couldn’t possibly think of it. The lady demanded an explanation, and the gb'l said : “ I’d have been willing enough a mouth ago, but you sec my Johnny is now driving a car on tins line and he’d see me.” “ Suppose he should?” queried the lady. “I wouldn’t have him for the world, ma’am, for he’s been here two or three times, aad he thinks I am you and you are me. If he saw me rubbing the glass he’d know I didn’t own the house, and thore’d be an end to our match. Please, ma’am go out, or else let me clean the windows by moonlight! ”