NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL,

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2421, 20 December 1880, Page 4

NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL,

FRENCH ITEMS. TERRIBLE BALLOON ACCIDENT A terrible balloon accident occurred a day or two since at Courbevoie, close to Neuilly. A Montgolfier balloon was advertised to make an ascent, with a female aeronaut, but at the last moment a professional gymnast volunteered for the sum of £2 to make an ascent hanging on to a trapeze attached to the balloon. He was advised to have himself tied to the trapeze, but refused, saying he knew liis business. He was seen hanging by his hands apparently inert for a long time, and ultimately when near Courbcvoie he fell turning over and over, to the horror of the spectators, from a height of 70.'yds, and as he fell on the lawn of a garden he is said to have made a hole in the ground nearly two feet deep. He was, of course dead. The balloon sailed over Paris, approached the ground near the Place St. Michel, about the height of 500 feet. Nobody was hurt by the debris, but a newsvendor, with his kiosque, narrowly escaped being overwhelmed.

A BATHING HOUSE ON FIRE. A terrible accident has just occurred at the great bathing establishment in the neighborhood of the Ternes. The boiler burst, destroying the gas pipe around, and the gas igniting set fire to the establishment, which, abounding in wooden partitions, burned with great rapidity. On the first floor there were two men in baths, and on the second floor two ladies. The attendants, who had, as usual, locked the bathers up in their chambers, in the panic forgot to open the doors. The men jumped out of the windows and were horribly mutilated, but the ladies were burned to death.

A SAD MISTAKE: A curious incident in connection with the March Decrees occured last week at Marseilles, Two or three ladies, apparently belonging to the best society, were walking quietly in the direction of the Capuchin Convent, when they were accosted by the police and ordered to move off. One of the ladies drew herself up and exclaimed, “ Government of brigands ! Government of thieves !” She was instantly surrounded, arrested and led away to the police office. “ Madame,” said the wrathful inspector, “ this will teach you to be less insolent another time.” “ Learn to know your own place,” rdplied the offended dame. Arrived at the poste, the lady was questioned. ‘'Your name? Your residence ?” The arrested one answered, and the result was general stupefaction at the police station. Humble apologies were offered, and the “ prisoner” took her departure in triumph. It is now asserted that the lady was no other than Madame Poubell, the wife of the Prefect of the Bouches du Rhone.

MISCELLANEOUS. The manager of the “ Triboulet,” a Legitimist journal, has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and 8000 francs fine for insulting the President of the Republic by calling him a “ table de hole major,” which means a gentleman in secret partnership with a brokendown lady, who takes the head of the table to give the establishment an appearance of gentility. The lady whom, according to report, the Emperor of Russia has just married is a member of a family which boasts a very ancient pedigree. She is a Dolgourouki, and the Dolgoroukis claim descent from the Archangel Michael. France has just invented a new occupation. A man goes about the streets of Paris bearing a small tray, a pack of cards, a set of dominoes and a dice box. With this stock-in-trade the man, who styles himself 11 L'Amateur” goes to the houses of invalids or idle persons, and for a small fee plays games with them.

SOMETHING LIKE A LANDLORD. Mr George Elliot, the late tenant of Abbeymains, received the other day from his landlord, Lord Blantyre, a cheque for £9lB 9s 7d, as an acknowledgement of his belief that for the last fifteen years Mr Elliot had been overrented, or rather that unfavorable times had not permitted the tenant to pay the rent he contracted for—£l6oo per annum. Lord Blantyre estimates that a rent of £llOO for the time specified would have been something like what he ought to have received, and, summing up the total amount he would thus have been entitled to, he finds that his late tenant, arrears included, has over paid to the proprietor the sum already mentioned —viz., £948 9s 7d, which is now returned accordingly. Generous and considerate conduct like this requires no comment. MINISTERS THREATENED. At the time the Cabinet were lately sitting, and Avhen the fleet were awaiting orders to bombard Dulcigno, Ministers were served individually with notice that, if they undertook any act of war against Turkey, without first obtaining the sanction of Parliament, they would bo impeached. It is not impossible the incident may have awakened Ministers to a sense of their responsibilities. For it is an absolute violation of constitu. tional law to embark upon any war, however, small except in defence of British possessions without the sanction of Parliament.