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Oamaru Mail, Volume XV, Issue 4688, 7 June 1890, Page 4

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Jules Verne lives at Amiens, the capital of the Department of Some, Frapo?. Verne is not the distinguished novelist's real patronymic. His real name is Olchewitz, which is decidedly more in keeping with his Polish origin, for by birth he fa a Pole. Jules left his native Warsaw when a youth of 18, and during his years of early struggle in Paris was often Indebted to his elder brother William for the means of procuring the necessaries of life. He is now 68 years of age. and Is the youngest of three brothers, of whom the eldest died about a year ago, at the remarkable age of 110. Casting about for a pen-name, he adopted the expedient of translating the initial syllables of his family name (which in English means "beech") into Its French equivalent, Verno, He is now engaged on a great work, which will give a full revelation in regard to his true name and early Parisian experience. A funny story reaches us from Dublin Castle. It is well koown that the principal firm of Dublin pianoforte makers rejoices in the style and denomination of " Pigott and Compauy." One evening recently a large party had assembled at the Castle, when one of the Lord Lieutenant's young men proposed to start a dance In a room where dancing did not generally take place. A piano was dragged out from a corner and opened in the middle of the vice-regal assembly, when lo 1 In the centre of the keyboard were seen in large gold letters the fatal words, "Pigott and Co." The guests burst out laughtog, and, with the want of tact that distinguishes all the Castle proceedings, the piano wsb immediately closed and bundled back into Its corner.

It is stated that La Caron, the Times Informer, Is applying for employment under another name in an Australian gaol. Henry Gaorge's weakness—apart from his single-tax theory—is cigar smoking. We do not think we have yet seen the great little man off the platform without a weed in his mouth. George's hat acts as an extinguisher—it makes him look ordinary, even commonplace. Bat when he bares his head he is a coble-looking man.

When Lord Randolph Churchill rises to mako an important speech in the Commons, he trembles from nervousness, and his face becomes as yellow aa though he suffered from jaundice. Alfred Bliss, the Melbourne auctioneer, who died a few years ago from the effects of a railway-colliaion, was a great amateur actor. Ooce he was playing with the late Mrs Stoneham In a scene where the two had to embrace. While they were clasped in one another's arms Mrs Stoneham murmured gently lo Alfred : ' Oh, this is Bliss!"

Teacher (to claßs in arithmetic) : "John goss marketing. He buys2£lb of sugar at 2|d per lb, 2 dozan eggs at lOi a dozen, Hud a gallon of milk at 5d a gallon. What does it all make?" Smallest boy (hugging himself ecstatically) : " Custard."