The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-03 00:00:00

A Matrimonial Hoax at Birkenhead.

Notwithstanding the number of knaves or simpletons who
have from time to time been exposed and punished for ad-
vertising for wives in the newspapers, there are still some
who appear not to profit by the misfortunes which have be-
fallen their class. A case of this sort transpired this week,
in which the principal actor was a young Frenchman who
has not been long in this country. A few days ago there
appeared in one of the local papers nn advertisement under
the head of "Matrimony," in which it wa.° stated that "a
gentleman desired to make the acquaintance 0; a young
lady to whom he would make himself both useful ;.-2.7d
agreeable." This advertisement, no doubt, was read
by many of the fair sex, but whether any of them replied
to " the gentleman" who would make himself " useful
and agreeable" has not transpired. The advertisement
met the eyes of a number of gentlemen who frequent a
certain " public" at Birkenhead, and being desireus of a
little fun in this dull winter weather they resolved to cor-
respond with the advertiser. A female friend was con-
sulted, and she agreed to write the letters under the signa-
ture of ," Edith." An answer was soon obtained, and it
then turned out that the " gentleman" was a
Frenchman. He immediately proposed an inter-
view, and named Thursday afternoon last at four
o'clock for the happy meeting. " I shall wear
(said the writer) a dark blue coat, buttoned, and a
black and violet 'ilk scarf and he concluded by saying,
"I hope the weather will be favourable for us—at all events
I shall be there, counting the minutes till that blessed mo-
ment. Believe me, with kindest regards, yours sincerely,
ERNEST."

The place fixed for the meeting was not far from the prin-
cipal entrance to the Bi,kenhead Park. True to his appoint-
ment, the " gentleman" made his appearance at 4 o'clock.
Ho was a little personage and well dressed, partaking some-
what of the " dandy." The rain came down heavily at the
time,bnt notwithstanding this drawbwk he walked jauntily
about in his coat of " dark blue." After he was tolerably wet,
"Edith" (or rather the conspirators) sent him a note,stating
that owing to the unfavourable weather she could not
meet him at the place fixed upon, but inviting him into the
"public" already referred to. The bait took. The little
gentleman appeared not to have the slightest suspicion that
he was about to fall into the hands of the Philistines.
Smiling and smirking ho accompanied the messenger
into the " public," where he was ushered into a
parlour and told that "Edith" would be with
him in a minute. Instead, however, of being introduced
to a young lady, fifteen or sixteen gentlemen rushed
in the room and began to congratulate him upon the happi-
ness that was in store for him. The Frenchman,dnstead of
exhibiting any despondency on account of his love-dream
having so suddenly vanished, treated the affair in quite a
philosophical manner, and joined in with the vociferous
laughter which was raised at his expense. " Edith" and her
friends had prepared to give the advertising " gentleman" a
demonstration that he would not readily have forgotten, but
finding that he was a foreigner, and not accustomed to the
usages of English society, they agreed to let him go un-
molested provided he stood " sam." To this proposition the
Frenchman did not object. He paid for two bowls of punch,
joined the company in drinking it, and favoured his new
friends with one or two French songs. He also " stood"
any number of cigars, and after spending the greater part of
his money he took his departure in a cab for Woodside
Ferry, a hearty cheer being raised by " Edith" and her
friends when he left the " public." The Frenchman, before
leaving, stated that he lived in Islington, in this town,—
Liverpool Mercury.

No HOME complete without a WILCOX AND Gains
SEWING-MAOHINE. Simple, compact, efficient, durable, and
noiseless. Warranted to fulfil all the requirements of a
perfect family machine. Prospectus free on application at
No. 135, Regent-street, W.—[ADVT.]
[ADVERTISEMENT.I—COnSUMptiOIL all nervous, bilious
liver, and stomach complaints, in every stage, are only ag-
gravated and accelerated by drugs of every description, but
perfectly curable by Du Barry's health restoring Revalenta
Arabica Food, as proved by thousands of cases which had
been considered hopeless. We quote a few.—Cure No. 62,914.
Miss Lange, 18 years of age, cured after the medical men had
abandoned all hopes of her recovery from the last stage of
pulmonary Consumption, with fearful cough, expectoration,
exhaustion, spitting of blood, perspirations, hollow cheeks,
emaciated to a skeleton. She is now, thank God, a perfectly
healthy, blooming, fleshy girl,—N. Lange, Commissaire de
Police. Cure, No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley
Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver
derangement, and partial deafness.—Cure, No. 47,121. Miss
Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestion,
gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies.—Cure, No.
54,816. The Rev. James T. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk,
of indigestion and torpidity of the liver, which had resisted
all medical reatment. In tins, 11b, 2s 9d; 21b, 45 6d; 51b,
118; 121 b, 225; 241 b, 40s. Barry du Barry and Co., No. 77,
Regent-street, London; also Fortnum and Mason; and all
grocers and chemists in every town of the United Kingdom.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—Holloway's Ointment.—Painless
Cures,—Sores, wounds, ulcerations, and other diseases
affecting the skin are amendable by this cooling and healing
unguent. It has called forth the loudest praises from per-
sons who had suffered for years from abscesses and chronic
ulcers, after every hope of cure had long passed away. None
but those who have experienced the soothing effect of this
ointment can form an idea of the comfort it bestows by re-
straining inflammation and allaying pain. Whenever this
ointment has been once used it has established its own worth,
and has again been eagerly sought for as the easiest and
safest remedy for all ulcerous complaints. Tn neuralgia,
rheumatism, and gout the same application, properly used,
gives wonderful relief,