Passing Events

TrrE Knoxville Tribune thinks the dcle.gation frorn Tenucssee to St. Louis will voto primarily for Ilondrieks. Theke is roally a famino of sraall chango in the country. People hoard their fractional curroncy to buy silver, and then hoard silver under an absurd impressiou that it ínay riso in value. The New York Tribune prints lists of delegatos alrcady ehosen to tlio National convontioii, aud holds that Blaine will inevitably have the lai'gest number of votes on the first or second ballot. A London correspondent nnderstauds that tho rcason why tho Queeu did not read her own speech at tho opening of Parliament was that sho is now unable to read withont glasses,' and it was thouglit that the sight of the sovereign in speotacles would look a littlo unmajestic. Virginia contributes sumo interesting historical portraits to tho Centennial. Mr. William Wirt Hcnry sends a portrait of hi grandf ather, Patrick Henry, and the Historical bociety senda portraits of Pocahontas, Lafayotto, Gov. Percy, who succeeded John Smith, and othors. Eflorts havo been made to obtain from the Stato Librar; the portraits of öovcmor and Lady Spotswood and the parole which Cornwallia gavo at his surrender, but, as there is a quoation of law in tho mattor, it is doubtf ul if it vül succeed. Th French financiers have nndertaken a colossal task in agreeing to convert the fitnded and ñoating debt of Egypt into seven per cent, stock, redeemable in sixty-three yoars. In the event of the transaction being completed, the total debt is to be $450,000,000, requiring an annual interest of $31,000,000. . The Khedivo has signed a doeree establishiug a Board of Control, and introducinf? the other roforms suggested by Mr. Cave, the British Commissioner. Besides this, money is cheap, and there are grave political and financia! reasons for raaintaining the Khedive's credit. Mr. Thomas Fletcher, of Irvine, Estill county, Ky., had a grim sense oí humor, which, carried onco too far, brought him into serions trouble. He ■vas attending a social gathcriug iu front of the coraer grocery, and, seoing a young man whom he disliked, he said in his grimly humorous way : "Dance or die," at tho same time cockiug his revolver and taking aim. The young man danced until he was about to drop with exliausüon. Then Mr. Flctcher smiled, and said: "You may stop." Ho uncocked his pistol and pilt it in his pocket. The yictim immediately plucked up spirit, pulled out his own revolver and snot Mr. Fletcher dead. It would bo gratifying to know just how many centenarians there are in the country. They keep turning np vñüi astonisking frcqueney. ïhcir naraes pop out in the ncwspapers Ukc corn out of the ashes on an old-faehioned hearth. They appear here, and then there, and tlicn in a dozen places all at once. The country seems to be speckled all over with these excellent people who are holding over. It is really worth the while to know how many old folks we have on hand this yoar, and there should be no diflïculty in ascertaining. Let every ono who is a hundred years old or upward riso and stand till he is counted. A tra veling Balosrnan of a St. Louis establishment has sued a hotcl-kecpor, a newspaper, and a railrosd companyfor negligencc in causing iiim to miss a train. ïhe railroad company furnished an incorrect time-table, the newspapcr piinted it, and the hctol man failed to ■wake his guost up as directed. There seems to be at this point a revival of the famous defense in the kettle case, when the dofendant allegcd that the kettle was cracked when ho borrowed it, whole when ho returned it, and, flnally, that it never was in his possession ; f or, if the hotel-keeper had waked the mam up as directed, whilo tho time-tablo was wrong, what would it havo proñted him? And if the timp-toblo had been right, what good would it havo dono a man in the arms of tho drowsy god? Tho St. Louis drummer asks $6,000 damages for ono day's delay. The facilities for transit by stroct and steam cars in Philadolphia during tho Exhibition aro said to be excellent. The. roads aro represented as ready for any emergency, and in a condition to transport at least 25,000 per hour. The Ohestmit and Walnut street compajiy have sixteen miles of track, and will run 120 cars ; the Fourth, Eighth, and Girard avenue a liko number, capable of carrying 65,000 persons to the gates daily. The capacities of the other Unes will bo equally great, not counting the wagon andjítage routes. Howover, the figures aro not, we regret to say, based upon the philanthropic idea of giving every passenger a seat. A good deal of hanging on by the straps may be anticipated.