The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-03-07 00:00:00

CUTPINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS

Eli Perkins sald—" When I Irc,tired bef. TO the
11, 11f1) of Represeniativee, at S,iringfielil, Ili, hundreds
of peopl left the house, end toey said if I had repeated
my lecture the next night they would have left the
city."
A Michigan news-dealer recently received this order
from a young lady—" Send we Novel called buffalo
bil and the (leis doine."

All bachelors are not entirely lost to the refinement
of sentiment, for the following toast was lately viven
by one of them at a publio dinner :—" The Judie°,
tweet-briars in the garden of life."
A Soringfield girl threatens to cue her father for
breach of atomise. She says that the old gentleman
first gave his reticent, and then withdrew it, and that
her beau, having got tired of waiting, has gone afttr
another girl:
A Yankee editor haa placed over his marriage a cut
representing a trap, sprnng, with this motto :—" The
trap down—another ninny caught l"
The jocriee American literary man and poet-laureate
Smith teen«. the following notice :—" Lost or strade
trona the portlier a shepe all over whit--one leg was
lila-k and half Iliß body—all permns shall receive one !
pound to bring him. He wan a she gait,"
From a scieut;fic contemporary—" Spiral shells are
only straight conea twitted round a central axis," But
thin Run pudding are only rhomboidal parallel°.
crams conglomerated into fir-herabhn tlobes, and the
moat centrifugal marble that ever waltzed down the
ringing grooves of change—a small change, of course,
R 4 matblenn are t Nerdy no penny—began It. career A
iniquit3 as the paralleloopedon of synchronous but
sunorphoua chunk of protoplaatio clay.

EMIGRATION TO NEW ZIALAND.—The follow.
big is a list of the ships and number of emigrants Sent
out to New Z aimed by the Avent General for that
c deny wiring the moetu eroding February 28 : The
Veruna, for Canterbury, erith 320 Boole ; Atrato, screw
Said{ OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS. —III the t•teamer, Otago and Canterbury, 76e ; Mocha/bee,
liawkees Bay, 165 ; Lea Hogue, Wellington, 443 ;
Parliament of Oratorio • resolution was passed unaut
James
on the 11th of February that an address b N. Fleming, Otago, 363 ; Roopared. Auckland,
mouele e
361 ; Janet Cow I, Othgo, 350 ; Ballochutkle, Canter-
make to the Governor-General praying him to
make knownto the Parliament of the Dominion that bury, 480; total, 3,251 souls.
it is the desire of the Leeialeture of Ontario that THANKFUL FON. SMALL MERCIES !—A High.
power be granted to the several Provincial Legislatures land clergyman, eminent for his piety and eimpl-tety
to enact laws for the regulation and panial or entire of heart, hut al' o noted for great ethentricity of cha•
euppreenon of the sale of ietoxicaticg li Vont • meter, eurprised hie heerers by introducing the follow
-
beverage. In the United States the practice ing passage into one of his prayers :—" 0 Lord! we
"praying out" the publicans is spreading. Toe Sec- tieeire to offer our grateful thanks unto Thee or the
retary of the Treasury, believiag that there is seasonable r• lief which Tatou bast cent to the poor of
" nothing like leather," has recortheenaed increased this piece, from Thy inexhaustaole storehouse n the
Laura on waits aud other illtOXiCemig sprite, great deep, and which every day we hear called upon
OUR SERVAIsTS.—The present relations ho' our streets, 'line fresh herrings, sax a penny! sax a
tween servauta and employers are universally admitted twang l'"
to be unsatisfactory, remarks the Pall Mall etereara A CONSIDERATE DEBTOR !-- A debtor who
and thus proceeds :—" There is an uneasy feeling is owed eight hundred pounds offered hie creditor eight
both classes that some modification of existing arrange- promiasory notes of a hundred pounds each, payable on
meets is at hand. What this may be it is not easy to the first day of eight consecutive months, which were
conjecture. Perhaps, in accordance with the dictates accepted. The first note was protested, on its beoom-
of the Zeit Geist, which is disposed to depress the am- big due ; and on the creditor's asking the debtor for
pate er and elevate the employed, reciprocity in the an explanation, the latter said, " The fact is, my
meter of testimonials as to character will be required. friend, I can't pay you anything, and divided the debt
This would not, after all, seriously affect the cemfort into small portions to 011,70 you the shock of losiog it
of employers. They could always, like the hitherto all at onoe.o
subordinate class, get the referee to suppress unpleasant
facts on the ground of the cruelty of preventing them, VINOUS LOGIC. Respectable Pawnbroker
not, indeed, in this case, from earning their bread, but (roused front his slumbers at 3 a.m, by repeated Knock-
from getting it tweeted to their liking. Meantime, the ings at his Door). " Well ! what is it ?i—Ebriosus.
servants' agencies at Liege keep a register of the cha- '• Wbatah the time?" Respectable Pawnbroker.
meter of many of the householders in the town, from " What !do you mean eto Say you've got me out of
one of which the following extracts have been made : Bed at this Time o' Night to ask me such a Fool's
' Madero° has a light hand. Monsieur Is too familiar. Question as that? Police! Police !!" Ebriosus.
The bread and butter are locket I up. and the servant "Well, bang it, Governor—(hic !)—you've got my
must spend her wages to get A full meal. No presents Watch !"—Pant/i.
are given. There is a perambulator to wheel. The COLONEL GORDON'S EXPEDITION. Letters
parents always think the children are in the right. One from Egypt state that Colonel Gordon, C. 8.. was
settle views
is seut on curious errands, 'there its but • thin cotton
ihheeldewith the Khedive and his Miuisters to
aout to leave for the Upper Nile, after several Inter'
on the servant's bed. One is not allowed
to go out, &a Pleasant reading this for the Paul Pry'
of Liege." etate of his expedition. He proposes to
take with him no more than an escort of 2to soldiers,
lerieettUteriOali Fon. Iolt/413RM. —/i ccording to as his mission is Intended to be of a pacific character.
news from Australia : and the design of further conquest is disavowed; but
" Advice, Irons Fiji sts,q4 that the me) irity of the Fillies his operations are to be entirely of an independent
were it, !ether a annexation to British uenitelow." character, Ids only remponsibllity bang to the
The Fiji Islanders have ex tarienced, and bad enough Khedive himeelf, and the Governor of Khart turn having
ef, the bleedings of house Rule, Their case, and tear orders to Ruppert him if called upon. His artillery
conclusion, might be a warning, if not an example, to force consists of one mitrailleur. taken as being more
others.—Punch. portable than any field gan. lie was to start finally
mfd m h
orthee panraceeenoemof his operations
two y
us about
ut
TIE POOR OF NEW YORK. —We learn from tfrhoemlBKthhaitirtiu.. mi
the columns of the New York Tribune that Mr James Englianmen Messrs. Russell and
h
red Anson. Toe
Gordon Bennett, the proprietor of the New York Italian Geographical Society is preparing an melee-
Herald, has offered to give a sum of 30,000 dollars hug expedition to take advantage of the opening of the
(le6,000) "for the purpose of feeding the homeless White Nile, with orders to leave it as early as poneible,
poor," and has requested the aid of the police °reamers. awl following the line of the mountains in opposition
tion to c wry out the distribution ut relief. Mr, to the attempts made hitherto which have confined
Bennett suggests the establishment in the engine and their operatioss to the course of the river.
Muck houses ef the city ta a suitable room or kitchen, 'UNITED STATES' UNCULTIVATED Lan D.—ln
from which can be daily dispensed to the deserving
poor an ample supply of soup. The Board of Fire a recent report made to the Hones of Representatives
Counnimioners arid Pollee have accepted this generuue by the Committee on Public Lands it is stated that
effer, and tualertaken to co operate to carry out the them are yet 1,200,000,000 acres of public lands in the
bent ficieet intentions of the donor. It is believed they country that are uusurveyed. (lit of the vast area of
will be able to ,•pen thaw charitable depets in nearly the public lands of the Unite-1 States, however, af er
every engine house of New York. deducting swamp lands, deserts, mountains, and rail-
way and other grants, it is Nonmetal that the whole
ALIGATORS AND DUCKS.—" I suppose," said amount of arable lan le available for settlement cannot
I, "that therein no doubt about ailigator• eating now emcee! 350 to 400 millions of acme. Last year
ducks?" "Doubt about It?" repeated the captain, nearly four nolllone of acres were taken op by home-
" Thee. my butions, you ask this yere Capin Peters steal settlers, and the estimate of the Committee is
livin' yere at Enterprise about it. He knows, that before a century elapses all the arable lance of
I seen him fifteen years ago with Arthur Sumner an' the country will be absorbed. When we consider what
three Ingliah lords—their names was Sykes—a was the area of the part of the United States inhabited
ehoetini ducks up above Persimmon Island nigh on by whites a century ago, this prediction not only seems
to Thorn Hill, an' the 'gators tuk every duck Probable, but there is a likelthood of the entire arable
, lean. Thar was Capin Peters an' all the lords surface of the country being absorbed by settlers long
kivered up in the maiden cane, a pip-on' away before 1974.
like porter bottle., an' the ducks a faille' like rain, ROMANTIC ATTACHMENTS. —ln a Play lately
in a little set- ll from the river. At fast as a duck brought out on our Stage we are shown Mary Stuart
fell a 'gate picked him up. Thar was three 'essiore in g-
beloved by John Knox. This confirms us in as idea
tie setoff. au' ten way they tuk down the ducks war
an, a secret passion for Odver Cromwell. —Punch.
we riave long entertained that Henrietta Maria nureed
a caution to enakee. You ought to hey eeen Peters
an' the Inglith lords when they stopped @booth,'
begin to look for the ducks. Thar wasn't a duck in THE SCOTCH Missas.—A general conference
sight, bat thar war three 'gators with their heads out of Scotch miners' delegates IVEIB held in Glasgow on
of the water, a lockin' at the Insairth lords an' a saying Monday, when it was reported that in all the districts
iithiredmhoLdnichtireletcitootein.h.: the 2.l.m%itiheivr
'Bully for you, boys' I We don't know you're names, the employers had caused noti 'es to be put up stating
bet you're a dolts' ue a power o' good: It tian't take that in some cases alter the 14:1a, and in others after
mies wneouildsiabieed•
hi...id, uichteionof
generalt h
Ind
ewaagive.s.
tilitheelngg.ilit Iwturt.ll..,
tlomn long thoedgewt
but they made away with three of their blooded re• that it would be mere than ls. a day; it was reported
trievera Lordy, young man, next to a nigger a 'gator that the miners of Fife and Clackmannan were already
loves an Whale retziever."—lVew York Sun Florida working at a reduction of Is. Tne delegate from Mid
letter. and E set Lothian stated that one of tie, ir Lumber, who
SIR SMITH.—The Americans appear to have was in arrears to the association, had received a threet-
been a good deal disquieted by Mr. Goodwin Smith's thing letter, which stated that the beet way of
assertion that they do not love England so well as they dealing with him would be 10Ib, of powder. The letter
might. The Evening Post opens its *Among to a poet ha-1 been handed to the police authoeities, and the
whose affection for us knows no such distinctions: - - association had offered a reward of £2O for the 'tie-
"Foe shame, Sr Smith! We love you all, covery oh the WI her. Mr. Macdonald, M.P., then
From good Queen Vic to honest Areti ! addressed the meeting, and, after dealing with the
Your Ben Is ours, our amen years; critieitha of some of the Scotch and English I epees,
In progress aria Is arm we march." counselled the men to consider their position well and
WOMEN'S BuF FRAGE. The Women's Die t. 'set their house in order, as a raluction in the rate
abilities' Removal Bill will be introduced in the House of wages was inevitable It was then unauthouely
agreed that • . a fn- ndl conference should be asked with
of Commons immediately on the opening of the ea • • Y
Session by Mr. Forsyth, M.P. for Marylebone. The tie employers re order to settle the matter without
among to any otepute. A committee was appointed
promoters cournaer that the results of the elections to correspond with the mine owners, and arrange, if
slow a considerable net gain for the friends of the possible, on a ooniereuce.
measure. It is compute! that 217 members hove been
returee•l to the new Parliament who have voted or DICKENS AS HAWKED AT SANTIAGO.—WhiIst
declared in f scour of women's suffrage. This numeer waiting at the railway station until the train was
Includes the Prime Minister and a enej,rity of those ready, by whoh I proposed returning to Valparaiso,
members if theellouge of COMIXIOOs who are connected the name of "Carlo,. Dickens" yelled out by a new&
with the Government. boy, who had a number of books and newspapers under
A LUCKY ESCAPE. —The nervous Gentleman his arm, attracted my attention. Oa my calling the
who lost his head the other day, while addressing We youth to see what works of the immortal spirit of
Constituents, is consthered to be none the worse for Ged's Hill he bad to dispose of, he handed me one in
the misfortune.—Punch. yellow paper binding, whilst again screaming out the
title, "Los Bandidos db Lowires' per Carted Dickeno !"
Elliaana 0 THIS MIRROR re TO NATURE.— (" The Bandits of London, by Charles Dickene.")
The anecdote of the sailor who washed to dissuade 1 almost flung the book at him, and must con-
Romeo from committing suicioe at the tomb of the fees that I never in my life so much thirsted to have
Capulets, by iuforming him that Juliet was not dead, the liberty to do any tning as to glee that young whelp
but merely in a swoon, is worn threadbare, hut we Sod a whaling en the spot. How I was oblieed to coutent
its parallel at one of the New York Theatres a few myself with preaching to him a strong reprimand in
weeks since. In the play, which p otrayed the life ttf his native dlaiect, for the infamy of selling moth teeth
a dninkard, the chief actor, when in great deetttution, under the name of Dickens. How my sentiments were
exclaims, "Ales! alas Inu one in this wide world with appreciated by the listeners may be ieferred from the
give ote even a crust of breed to eat." Thew words fact that whilst I was lecturing the vagebend, N
had hardly been pronounced by the actor befons the Chilian, who was going by the came train, came up
audience saw a tall man arise in the par.eriette, who in and purchased it. So I had nothing to do but walk to
a voice trembling with emotion, mei, 'Gentlemen, I the other end of the platform in diegwt, and to make
lam a poor man, but I will give that man a dollar." up my mind not to travel in the same carriage with the
A ROYAL FIREMAN. —The people of this plan who had patronised such an imposture.—Ywu
country (says the Daily News) will took npou one at Years in- Peru.
least of King Koffee kalcal i's personal habits with a SUDDEN FOR HIM !—Caution in giving an
good.natured 1130e/icy. Be has a custom of attend- answer to a direct question was alestrated to me, says
it g such fires ae may happen to treak out in his cepa a correspondent, the other day, when I waked a friend
toll and be will even suddenly and hastily leave a of !nine, whose family were not noted for very active
formal audience in order to help in extieguiehing the habits, "Was not your father's death very midden ?"
flames that have seized upon the dwellings of some one Smwly drawing one hand from his pocket, and pulling
or other of his subjects. It is an amiable teeth dean his beard, the interrogated cautiously replied,
Kings must have their amusements like other ' Well, rather sudden for him."
fits; and surely this one is harmless enough. It
Is, indeed, in the case of the King of Aehantee, die- A CURE Friß Loss or TEMPER.—When M.
tiactly peaiseworthy ; for it is said that the natives de Fees gny was French Minister of the Interior, he
never work so well as when he is Present ; and that his received a visit one day from a friend, who, on seeding
attendance at the extinguishing of a fire has become up hitt mune, was shown into the great man's sanctum.
almost A necessity, as it has became a fixed eastern anti A warm discuseion aroee between them. Suddenly no
duty. Of course the Kiug serves hitneelf in nerving usher entered, and handed the minister a note. On
his people; for a King without a capital of some sort opening it he at once changed his tone of voice, and as.
would be look, don as odd, even in Africe •' audit is sunued a quiet and urbane manner. Puzzled as to the
quith po•sible that what we should consider a very contents of the note, and by the marked effect it had
trifling fire indeed, if it got sufficient mastery would suddenly produced upon the !Meister, his friend east a
epeeeily eleetroy CooMiseide in a fashion Lever dreamed furtive glance at its when, to his astonishment, he per.
of by Sir Garnet Wolmeley. ceived that it was ematly a plain sheet of paper without
~ a goratch upon it! More puzzled than ever, the gen.
THE BLACK WATCH. —" A Highlander tlemen, after a few minuter, toot hie leave, and pro.
writes to The Times : ceeded to interrogate the tither' to whom he was well
fir,— Many will admit that tne Highland regiments ears known, for be himself had been Minister of the
as eternalise, wordier vane. They will probably also allow
Interior, "You have," said he, " juet handed to
that the least a grateful country can do Is so pe tect the
wires and children (sometimes tiy t'as fortune of war, male the minister a note, folded up, which lied a moot
widows and orphans) or those who defend it In thole abases extraordinary effect upon him. Now it was • plain
on active service, aud on their return mid them back to sheet of paper eatio maid, g written rpon it. Whet
the, notice country, where, wiihout the ruinous cost of a did it mean?" "Sir," ...plied the water' "here is
loss journey on a tardy furlough, they can once more be the explanation, which I must beg you to keep secret,
near theme dear to them in all the relations of life Its •
word, when the 42nd return from Africa. let them not hear for I'no no t with to compromise myself. MY master
that their nearest and dearest have le en broneht to Dormer is very weim, and Day liable to lose his temper. As
by red tape, It them go hack tot eir native capital. En. he himself is SW9I3 of his weakuees, be has ordered me,
thu.istico, which lira t . ate!, with as to els yet awhile, wt,l each time that lie voice is raised sufficiently to be
e ion fill their r..nks —We who have the honour to have rele- audible in the anteroom, without delay to place •
Goias and friends in the Slid its not ask for charity, which sheet of paper in an ervelope, and tske it to him
Is hateful to BNitsmen, lint we do seek the consideration of
the authorities; and if they wish recruits from us th That reminoey will _.. ..' himthe better
that him tenaoer is getting
give It spew ily and heartily. of him. and lie at once calms nimeelf. Just now I
heard his voice rising, and immediately carried out my
COMMERCIAL Pausegeafa—The subjoined ex. instructions. I
tract from The Times is all very fine:— THE CREATION OP DUKES.— Dukes are crea• '
e 1 WE theme TRADE —Leer month the value of indigo
Imported wee meta ato access. The value was £227,4.09 ; tune of slow growth or slow production (remarks the I
in January, 1973, SISSON." Court Journal). The King, we know on the poet's
This excees in the importation of • valuable dye and authority, "can mak' a belted keLbt, a marquis,
pigment may be gratifying; but, if it goes on increas- duke, said a' that," hut he ia very chary of using his
ing, will rot the hags quantity of indigo Ham- lot into power in regard to the lastmamed of the three. In •
the market make things look very blue 7—Punch reign tee nearly thirty-seven years our preeent Bove.
VALUABLE LAM—There is at prerent on view reign bee not oreide more than three duke% and one of
these wag a dueeess' if we may be parcioned the au
in
Messrs. Campbell and Co's., 65, George-etreet,
men:: bull, red the secone a Royal duke, while the
Edinburgh, a epleudid suite of Brussels Ice, which o P
la
third woe An Irish duke The elevation ot the Mar-
trained the first prize at the Vienna Exhibition, and .
I W t • t 'the deiced° of that ilk is the
shawl, o es [muster a . . m e
whi.h Is valued at £aooo. It consists of a large half
that instance, of the dignity being created under other
shawl, with raise 1 flowers in fleatieg relief ; seven
than special conditions, or in R particular fashion.
yards flouncing, 18 inches wide ; a wake, meaeurieg
her alejest is netolemesor. William IV,, created two
six yards and four and a half inches wide; lappia,
dukes -those those of Sutherland and Clevelad—whose re-
parasol cover. fan and handkerchief. Tue valets of the UP George ~ when
tt. till among G ila '
ereson a tees are s e
..
oalf shawl aame is estimated at about £9OO. The
King made but one Duke—him of Iluckitteliam •
Renato..., which forms altogether a splendid work of
though as Peince Regent it was big privilege to give
art, is said to have occupied in its production twelve of
Wellington his dukedom. George 111. euorded the
the moot experiencal laceworkere of Bruerele uo less
diguity of duke se jealouely that, except in the case
than three yeare. It fussy be mentioned thee the entire . e created
only leis two brothers and eix younger sons, h ted
suite is in value no .ety time its weight m gold.
only two British dukedeme—viz., those of Northam-
Tile REASON WHY !-- " Why does the opera- berland and alentagu, the latter of which became
tion of haegiug kill a man ?" ir quired a witty bleboo. extinct nearly ninety years ago. To him also is due
"Because,' replied a phyeiologist," inepiration is rile Irish dukedom or Leineter, which, until by Mr.
checked, circulation is eampel, and blood ',Awes and Dieraeltie advice the Queen made Lord Abercurn
congeets the brain." "Both !" exclaimed the bishop, an Irish duke sixteen years ago, was Ireland's only
"it is because the rope is not long enough to let Ms dukedom.
feet touch the ground.' CAVOUR AND MADAME RISTORL—A curious
A CURIOUS A PPLICATIOIV.—At the Bow.street anecdote about Cavour and Madame Ristori, which
Police-court in London, on Monday, a somewhat novel was related at the Cavour feetival last autumn, seems
applicetion was maee to the sitting magistrate for the to Le cenfirmed by a " hitherto unpublished" letter
destruction of a dog. The gentleman making the ap- from Cavour to the great aorese, juet printed in the
plication etatei tnat two or three days ago he was Lombardia of Milan. In the winter of 1861, so runs
bitten by a large dog. He was, at the time, in the act the etory, Cavour saw Madame Ravel perform for
of giving the animal a biscuit, and he Drought it bus the firet time, and be wes so struck by her genius that, •
a poor return toe his intended kintinees when the i knowing she w-s %bout to proceed on a dramatic en-
been turned mune on hint in that way. Feeling I gageruent to St. Potersletng he determined to enthuse -
nncemfortable durieg the following Light, and not he with a dipiematic 'mimeo' to the. Eurasian Court, i
being able to eleep, he weta to the owner of the There was at that time a certain estrangement between
dog and asked lam to have it killed, as he was afraid Rueeia awl Piedmont, owing to the participadon of the
that it the animal were not destroyed he (applicant) letter in the Criniean war. and the object of Madame
would die of hydrophobia. The (Muer consented to this I Rigtorts mission was to Of -et a reconaliation between
and told hint to beteg a man who would kill the clog. the two Pewere. In the letter now printed in the
Applicant did so, psyir g the man a eovereige ; but on Lombardia, Cavonr expremm his estiefaction at the
Alf INCUBUS RgetfuWate—A vast incubus has arriviog at the (asthma house he was retwal to be result 01 the mission, advises. the lady to continue her
apoetolate in France and "preach tne
been removed (remarks the Observer). The . thebtatte allowed to kill the dog, lie had felt very nervous and "patriotic . ,
Trial in over at last, and a few days the unnetural and uncomfortable ever since —The Magistrate asked if he truth in a society that shows to much a ice,' and pay,
theogt,t he wetted be more comb,' table if the animal the fellowing tribute to hi-r .4eniue i—" I rejoice as the
" ' al x itesuent which it ha. caused
al (Nether annuou e e were deetromd.—Applicant : Yee, gertainly. And I brilliant triumph you have achieved on the French
a iil have died out as completely as if the defendant
d from the obscurity of the Wagga think it would only he a Cluietian duty ti destroy the stage; it mem you all irresistin - - -le anthoeit ove y e the
had never emerge(eaud laughter.) —The Magistrate said that . Parisian public, which must he thankful to you for the
h dT• ihbo Bonds had wretch.
Waggs slaugheer. 01.180, an le rne
applicant weed be under no fears, as inquiries should service you are rendering to French art. If you will
never been evened IA a liberal discount. It is an in- applicant
Tee:actin the animeL—Applicant then make use of this authority for the service of our
calculable relief that the popular ferment Rhoda he he la . . .g
A - I id ed •
thmtketl Ins worstop end lett the court-- bout an country, w • mire you not only as the teat artiste
ye.' and the great Tieltoborue problem mama. It
relliitill 'more 4atisfantoTY to know that the matter is hour afterwards he returned, awl told the magistrate of Europe, but also as the best worker on our clinic-
set. et rMIt an
s! I f . dfee, ll end thet the verdict given tt•st he was 6 iraid he thould die unless tee dog were meth sesta" The letter ill signed "C. Cavonr," and
_ O 0
Melee et •nee. Ine Slaaietaste said, iu that case, he in addressed, " alla gentiliesima signora Adelaide
Iby the jury timatly and uitimately dieposes of every mubt4rant
him a
mumnima.
Ristori, merciless Capranice del Grillo, Parigi."
' possible &MA

-- --
D16168E-PROOF POTATO.-11 fair number
of entries have been made for the prizes offered by the
R iyal Agricultural Society, for diseaseqiroof potatoes.
The competitors evidently have confidence in the
virtues of their specintena, for, in the event of failure,
they are liable for coat of cultivation to the amount of
£2O. It is earnestly to be hoped that no such penalty
will be incurred.
A MOUTHFUL AND 51ona.—The march into
COOMMIie was preceded by a battle with the Avheintein
under their General Amanquatia. This was the battle
ot Amoatui, sccordirg to the spelling of come; the
name i.f the place being spelt Amonful by others.
Perhapt it will not escape observation that Amotihil
in sound nearly approa-hee a mouthful, which is a
fablere far shoit of that filling of the digestive cavity
to which Sir 1:«11..ral Wolseley'm gallant eoldiers treated
the enemy.— Punch
RteiltE PR M 7E6 Rutißt. —An American
paper, the Lowell Courier, gin.. the following amount
of the Hon. Frederick Smyth. once a resident at
Lowell, and lately Governor of New lisrupehirs. "one
of the best Governors the Granite State ever had, es
well as one of her most successful and self•made bust-
' nese men : "_"fin began here he a porter at the Mer-
rims, Ithouse, then kept by Mr. Murdoch, and used to
black boots at four cents leer pair. Re subsequently
wag employed on the Middlesex Corporation at eight
dollars i mouth, and he tells with honest pride that
the first pair of pants he ever owned which were not of
homespun wer earned on the Middlesex. He who
afterwards promoted to yard hand on the Tremont at
75 cents a day, Having thus in a few months accumu-
lated a little money, be went to school, and in due
, time worked his way up by energy, industry, frugality,
and ' faculty ' t ) the Mayoralty of Manchester and to
I the Gubernatorial chair of his native State. His first
visit to the Merrimack house after he threw down his
Iblacking brush se porter, was in company with his
'menden council as Governor of New Ilampshire.•

"HOIST' WITII HIS OWN POMAIA "
Coal ovate (worried into it) : "Well, I don't mind
Taking • Small Bottl•—"—Barber : "Better 'aye
Two Shill& one, Sir; it 'olds Four Times as much an
the other— "—Customer (turning upon hint): "0,
then it I take this Shilling Bottle, I shalt be Done out
of Half my Money's worth ! Then I won't have any I"
[Escapes in triumph !I PUNCH.
A DANozeoue MAN.—Two young gentle-
men, great friendr, went together to the theatre In
Glasgow, supped at the lodgings of one of them, and
wowed a whole summer night over their punch. In the
morning a kindly wrangle broke out about their sepa.
rating or not separating, when by some rashness's, if not
accident, one of them was stabbed, not violently, but in
so vital a part., that he died on the spot. Toe survivor
was tried at Edinburgh, and was convicted of culpable
homicide. It was one of the sad Ciflell where the
legal guilt was greater than the moral; and, very
properly, he waa sentenced to only a short term of im-
prieonmeit. Lord li-rmand, who felt that discredit
bad been brought on the cause of drinking -then so
common and fashionable, even in the beet society—had
no sympathy with the tenderness of his temperate
brethren, and was vehement for transportation. "We
are told my laardP," said he, "that there was no
and that the prisoner mwit have been in honour.
In liquor 1 Why, he was drunk And yet he mrtr-
&red the very man who had been drinking with him
They had been carousing the whole night, and yet he
stabbed him! alter drinking a whole bottle of rum
with him ! My Isar& 1 if he will do tole when he's
drunk, what will he not do when he's sober?"
CHARLES DICKZNR.—WRY DID HZ DM 1—
The life of Charles Dickens teems with interest; his
death gives a most salutary lesson. An eminent
medical writer gives a short summary of the various
shocks to the system of Dickene, which naturally
weakened him and predisposed his frame to affliction,
and gives the most conclusive evidence that paralysis,
which ended the great ittterateur's earthly career, waa
due almost exclusively to that very act of his life
which drew admiring thousands to listen to the defines,
tiorus in person of the leading characters of hie pub-
lished works. On leaving the platform after reading
" Coppertield," so laborious, earnest, and pathetic were
the exertions made by Dickens, his whole soul being
thrown into the work, that the pulsations of his heart
numbered 96, being '24 In excess of the ordinary pulse,
72; after "Marigold." 99; "Sikes and Nancy,
118, "Oliver Twilit," 124. Thus, while his audiences
were rejoicing over talented histrionic display, the
efforts of the reader himself were diiving nails into his
coffin, breakin; down the delicate walls of the nervous
system of the brain, flooding that great organ with an
liquidation of fluid, which doomed the birthplace of
Pickwick and a hoot of other Interesting characters of
English fictitious history.