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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 95, 8 April 1876, Page 4

Anecdote oit Bret Haute. — Bret Harte wbb lecturing in Pennsylvania a short time ago. At one of hie appointments ho felt very much depressed. It is a peculiarity of humorists, we are told, to be unaccountably melancholy and gloomy at times. Harte was in this mood now. One of the committee went to the back of the scenes to see him, and the depressed humorist welcomed him as a gleam of unusual good sunshine. They shook hands — Harte earnestly, and the committeeman decorously. "Mr Harte," he said gravely, "you will find this au unusually healthy city." "Abl" said the pleasant humorist. " Tes. The death-rate is only one a day." At thia juncture Harte took the committeeman by the arm, aud hurriedly asked : "Is he dead?" " Dead 1" ejaculated the committeeman. « Who dead ?" " W>7, the man for to-day," was the grave reply. The committeeman stared with all his might into the immoveable face of the lecturer. " Isn't there a clerk here, or registrar, or coroner, or soifaething like that, of whom you could find out whether a man for this day haa died?" " Why, ye3, I suppose so," slowly replied the committeeman. " Would you be so good then to find out, and before I commence the leoture it possible, whether tbat man is dead ? If he ia dead, then I am all right, for I am to leave the city early to-morrow morning; but if he isn't dead I cannot help but feet-uneasy about myself, and lam not well to-night." *< Tbe kind- ; hearted committeeman immediatjely ; hurried away to get information. When in his room at the hotel that night a servant told Harte that a gentleman wished him; to step downstairs in the hall, as he wanted to see him. Mr Harte went down and there met the committeeman. "I , am sbrry, Mr Harte," he Said : , " but I could not get that information earlier. It is all . right. The [death-rate I spoke of waa merely the average." A lady had a curious and unexpected adventure recently at ■ the Lime-street ■ station, Liverpool. She. was .awaiting, ■ with her husband add brother, the departure of the 'train, when' she ajid--; denly found ;hetse)f in the embraoe bf a polar bear, of whose proximity in a barriel, placed on a hand-truck, she was not previously aware. , The hug caused the lady " painful physical and nervous sensations, 1 ' besides resulting in the tearing of her sealskin j ncket. For these -injuries ; she brought au action against the Bailway Company, and recovered theVhandsome, . sum of £60 as damages. The assessor before whom . the case was tried, suggested that the animal's conduct might be referable to the material of the lady's jacket having reminded the bear of -its seal hunting operations in the Arctio regions. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh observed Christmas at their country seat, Eastwell Park, Kent, according tothe old style of reckoning time, in true Russian [fashion. Their tenants and servants were treated tb a ball en this, occasion, and the Duchess, laying aside her airs for onoe, danced with a page, while Her husband had his steward's daughter aa a.partner. Every thing seems to have gone off merrily. •wiiiiiii '. .1 mil in" i. i..i ' i ' imi im..u i . I iulhi_M