SAVED BY A PORTMANTEAU.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4772, 25 April 1884, Page 2

SAVED BY A PORTMANTEAU.

At Georgivo, a straggling Danubian town in Roumania, I had hired a threehorse drosky to take me from that piece along the banks of the Danube as far as Zimnitza. We started full of enthusiasm for the front. The weather was clear, bat intensely cold, so much so that our furs, thick as they were, seemed quite unequal to the occassion, snd we were obliged to swing our arms and legs about in the wildest contortions to keep Jack Frost at a distance. If it be the custom of Grand Dukes to thus assert themselves, or if Russian generals are given to suck antics, I know not; but true it is that we attracted direct attention from the Turkish outworks near Rustchuek, two shells being sent unpleasantly near us. The horses became unmanageable, and got so helplessly mixed and entangled that some moments elapsed before we were again on the way.

Our stoppage bad given the gunners a steadier aim. Another all-too-familiar boom, a prolonged screech, and then the crash of a shell, which seemed to lift as from oar seats, and throve us and our already scared steeds into, if possible, greater confusion than before. This last shot had the effect of so startling the* horses that, having at first plunged to a considerable extent, they started off in headlong flight, soon taking us round a corner, and so out of sight of the enemy. Arriving at Zimnitza we decided on remaining there for the night, and cross* ing by the now historic bridge of boats into Bulgaria in the morning. This being the case, I went in quest of some necessaries which I wanted from my portmanteau that had served,as a back to my seat on the drosky during our journey. Imagine my astonishment to find it smashed, and its contents mulched into a confused mass within! That shell had struck home rather closer than lat the time had any notion of—my life having been saved by that well-packed valise. All that remains is now much treasured by my wife, who has astonished more than one servant at the care she takes of " that there old portmanter, as she wouldn't be seen acarryin' on no account."—•Adventures of a War Correspondent.

A writer in " Temple Bar " relates tha following : —I read in an American paper an amusing account of another convert who addressed a total abstinence meeting as follows :—" The first week I took the pledge I saved enough monoy to buy a waistcoat; the next week I bought a pair of breeches—-(great cheering, especially from the ladies) ; then, ladies and gentlemen, I bought a coffin—(here took place what the French call mouvements divers)—' because I am certain that if I kept the pledge another week I should want it." Never since the celebrated banquet of Macbeth did a meeting break up in more admired disorder.

We learn from an English, paper that "the Committee appointed by the Mins* tor of Public Works in Italy to consider the best mode of rebuilding the houses destroyed by the recent earthquake afc Ischia has sent in its report, to which is appended a complete return of the number of deaths and of houses'destroyed. Out of the 4,300 inhabitants of Cagaanticciola itself, 1,784 were killed and 4431 injured; while of the 672 bouses^ ■•*37 were completely and 134 pnrtially destroyed. Of the 1,803 inhabitants of Lacco Atneno, 146 were killed and 93 > injured ; and of the 389 houses, 269 were completely and 102 partially destroyed. Of the 6,800 inhabitants of Forio, 14ff were killed and 98 injured; and of the 2,713 rooms (no separate return is made of houses), 1944 were completely and 977 partially destroyed. Of the 2,000 inhabitants of Serrara, 28 were killed and 21 iojared; and of the 1,159 rooms, 65 were completely and 973 partially destroyed. Of the 4 600 inhabitants of Barano, 10 were killed and as many more injured; and of. the 2,693 rooms, 63 were completely'and 1,430 partially destroyed. No loss of life occurred at Ischia itself; and altogether the earthquake occasioned 2,313 deaths, while 762 persona were injured. Of the 2,313 killed 65 did cot belong to the island, but of these only 54 were of foreign nationality. Thb Brazen Skbpbnt—Like the brazen serpent that the great Jewish leader lifted high in the sight of the perishing follower?, whereby they were saved from death, the di»ooTerera of Ho?* Bittbbs have placed before sufiforiug, ailing mankind, a remedy which enables them to fight disease with csoquering advantage. See

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