MAIL ITEMS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2210, 17 April 1880, Page 2

MAIL ITEMS.

The will of the leviathan bookmaker, the late Mr E. Davies, better known as “ tlic leviathan,” recently left the Brighton Corporation property in railway shares of the estimated value of £60,000, subject to payment of certain annuities. Mrs Davis gave notice to dispute the will; but, under an amicable compromise, to whicli the Brighton Town Council has agreed, the annual income of £2,400 will be distributed as follows:—In annuities £665 to Mrs Davis; £767 10s upon the termination of the annunitics ; and at the decease of Mrs Davies the whole property will revert to the Corporation, and will he at their absolute disposal for public and phil an trophic purposes connected with Brighton. A St Petersburg correspondent states that three representatives of English papers, wishing to inspect the premises where the secret press was discovered, repaired thither, rang the bell, and were politely invited to enter. Once inside, the police rushed on them, searched them to see that they wore not armed, and prepared to take them to the policestation. They energetically protested, demanded to be taken to the English Embassy. They were at length taken before the police commissary, and after fresli protests and explanations, were sent to General Zourof, chief of police, who showed them the utmost courtesy and immediately released them.

There are still a few countries where they understand sensational amusement, and Persia may fairly be ranked as one of these. The Persian miracle play of “Hassan and Hoosejm” is represented as a most thrilling, although exceedingly lengthy drama, The performers, however, are supported in their arduous task by the excitement which takes possession of them and at times induces them to actually commit the crimes that they are supposed to merely represent upon the stage. Unexpected sensations of this kind must be far superior to bull-lighting and other European forms of amusement.

The Springfield “ Republican” says of Ralph Waldo Emerson : “Heis an old man —as most of us will be when we reach 75.—and has that inconvenient infirmity of age, an inability to recalljat once the tiling he would remember. But ho still remembers more than most men, aud what cc es to bis mind is worth .remembering, -which is not the ease with most men. Ho lectures at Concord this week, — giving what will be his handreth lecture betore the lyccum of that town. His health is firm, his spirits cheerful aud serene, as in earlier years; but he sees fewer visitors, and finds his days more precious as they grow fewer. He writes little, reads much, and is revising those papers which he will never publish, but which will yet appear in print some day. His life is no longer a public one in any sense, and those who loro him should respect his privacy, and alloM r one who lias served his age so faithfully to withdraw from it as gently as he came before it.”

Calais is much excited just now over a daring exploit of Mdlle. josse, an actress at the theatre there. Bidel, the lion tamer, is also in the town with his menagerie, and ho introduced the young lady into the lion’s cage, where she recited Victor lingo’s “ Caravano,” Her voice was as distinct and steady as if she had been on the stage. Bidel stood by her side, hut had no occasion to interfere. When Mdlle. Josse left the don she was enthusiastically cheered. Bho expressed her readiness to repeat the experiment, but the public would not allow her to again incur the risk. On the following night, however, the public were destined to experience a much greater sensation, which developed into quite a panic. According to the “Gaulois,” the iloor of the cage way, and there was some probability of the lions making their escape. Indescribable tumult ensued, the audience rushing cn manse to the doors, and several persons were almost crushed to death.

The "Western Morning “ Hews ” publishes a letter from Chili, dated Jan. 10, giving an account of a riot which took place at Toco about sixty miles from Tocapilja, and resulted in the murder of an Englishman. At a large manufactory, the chief positions in which are held by Englishmen, a Peruvian was murdered by a Chilian. The Chilian was accordingly arrested, but was liberated by a mob of his countrymen. Shortly afterwards the Englishmen were attacked while at dinner in the evening by about sixty Chilians, armed with knives and revolvers. The manager, Mr W. C• Gordon, was muidered on the spot, hut the others escaped. The authorities, the letter says, seek to lay the blame upon the Englishmen, whose position is said to he very dangerous, in consequence of the ill-feeling of the Chilliaus. The “Hew York World ” says that a well known merchant of a neighboring city, after making a will and leaving a large property to trustees for his sou, called the young man in, and after reading the will to him, asked him if there was any alteration or improvement he could suggest. “ Well, father,” said the young gentleman, lighting a

cigarette, “I think as things go nowadays, it would be better for me if you left the property to the other fellow and made me trustee.” The old gentleman made up his mind then and there that the young man was quite competent to take charge of his own inheritance, and scratched the trustee clause out.

Some estimate may be formed of the reckless waste that is the habit at Constantinople from the following fact. Abdul Mcdjid insisted that all the ladies of his harem should bo covered with jewels, and that there should always be a fringe of diamonds round their wide trousers. When he died, the outstanding bills of the harem amounted to the modest sum of ,£2b,000,000. it will possibly.be n consolation to the British bondholder to know how judiciously and right loyally his money was expended, and to the British husband to compare his bills with those of the Commander of the Faithful. —“ Truth.”

A man of eccentric habits, named Lyne, (says the Bolton “ Evening Guardian ”), recently died at Wigan. Feeling some time ago that his dissolution was not far distant he walked into an undertaker’s shop and had himself measured for his wooden suit. The coffin was prepared and embellished according to his own instructions, and paid for down on the nail, Lyne declining to bo buried on credit by the parish authorities. This piece of furniture having been constructed according to the directions of the yet living tenant, Lyne wrote out his funeral cards, intimating the day and the date of his demise, and requesting the attendance of his friends. Everything being in readiness for bis death, the man quietly laid himself down and died. How he managed to die it is difficult to say, although it is certain the man laid no violent hands on himself.