The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-05 00:00:00

Polytechnic Institution.

Through the instrumentality of Professor Pepper
an exhibition of models and drawings of inventions
for the protection of life in railway travelling has
just been added to the many attractions of the
Polytechnic. Mr. R. B. Greenwood's is a very in-
genious invention, and consists in the employment
of a third pair of wheels in the centre of the carriage,
the flanges running on the outside of the rails, whilst
the leading and following wheels have their flanges
on the inside, as usual. The advantages are, that it
keeps the rail constantly in gauge, and that, in the •
event of an impediment lifting the front wheel, the
flange running outside of the centre wheel on the
opposite side prevents the carriage from going off
the line. The patent safety railway carriage of Mr.
Dyer, of Regent-street, is designed to prevent lift-
ing or upsetting in cases of collision, and for con-
trolling the oscillation of carriages while in motion;
and these objects are effected by placing four'
buffers, instead of two, at each end of the carriage.
Messrs. E. Barber and Co. exhibit a very simple
" Passenger's safety signal," which consists in an ,
ingenious contrivance for enabling passengers to
pull a small ring-handle, which has the effect of
simultaneously ringing a bell, causing a disc or
signal to appear outside the carriage, and throwing
open a panel which admits communication with the,:
adjoining compartment. Amongst the other inven-
tors, Mr. W. West exhibits a patent compensating
lever for distant signals, to be used instead of the
ordinary pull-over lever. Mr. Edward Tyer has
devoted his energy to the construction of a series of
telegraphs for signalling trains between station and
station, for regulating the traffic on busy portions
of the line, and for the better protection of tunnels,
junctions, level crossings, &c.; and M. Hipp, of
Neufchatel (patented by Mr. John Imray, of Lon- _
don), of an electric safety distance signal. There
are a number of other very ingenious models for a -
variety of other purposes, all of which claim atten-
tion. Great preparations are being made by Pro-
fessor Pepper for the Easter holidays, on which
occasion a new optical entertainment and other
novelties will be produced.

COSTUMES AT THE ROYAL DRAWING-ROOM.--A
white moire train, trimmed round with one row of
black velvet, six inches wide, edged with narrow black
lace, had likewise a very stylish effect. White satin trains,
and there is nothing to equal white satin at these courtly
receptions, trimmed with swansdown, were general ; and
one of the newest and most becoming headdresses we saw
was a tiara made only of swansdown. The black velvet
azd black moire trains, which were trimmed with a
thick twisted column of black velvet and white'
tulle were in good taste ; but the embroidered trains
were decidedly the handsomest. A very rich train in this
style was made of white moire, scolloped out round the
edge and bound with mauve velvet ; in each scollop a
graceful bouquet of mauve flowers was embroidered. This
exquisite train was worn over a white tulle dress with a
mauve silk tablier, which tablier was capitonne. We do not
think there is an equivalent in English for capitonne; but
it means that the material is fastened down so as to form
diamonds, in the same way that buttons and rosettes aro
used occasionally on mattresses and sofas. In this
case the mauve silk front breadth was capitonne with
tiny white frosted flowers. The head-dress was a tiara of
mauve velvet, with diamond flowers on it. Altogether
it was one of the handsomest toilettes present. We can-
not say that the same charge of immodestly-low clressea
could be brought forward this season with the same truth
as last year, although it appears still the fashion to

wear the dress almost as much off the shoulders as it is
possible. It is now the back of the bodice which is cut
inordinately low ; all the backs were sloped to a point in
the centre of the top, and from the point at the top to that
of the waist many of the bodices did not measure six
inches ! As regards colour, the bright slightly reddish
mauve put everything else into the shade ; it is an exqui-
site hue and very telling in a crowd. The pale silver grey
which formerly was regarded as the perfection of colour,
looks sickly and lustreless by the side of this warm, fashion-
able mauve.—The Queen.

ENGLISH MOODINESS.—Nothing so plainly shows
how an Englishman conforms to his climate as his misery—
his actual misery—in a land of bright weather. His ennui
is suicidal. Of all the things he has learned, how "to do
nothing" has never been acquired by him, and he finds
himself suddenly in a situation where exertion is impossible.
Now, the Spaniard or the Italian can live as devoid of all
occupation as the lizard on the wall yonder. Like him, let
there be only sunshine ; they ask no more. " Bull," how-
ever, wants to be up and stirring. He wants to ride, or
walk, or row—to do something, anything rather than sit
down in unemployed monotony. He has never risen so high
or sunk so low—which is it ?—as to believe mere existence
enjoyment ; and there is an honest shame associated with
his notion of idleness 'that spoils him utterly for the Far
niente. Take him away from volcanic rocks and arid moun-
tains,
with tried-up torrents and a basking sunshine ; carry
him back to an Indian-ink atmosphere, muddy roads, and $
swooping shower, and you will see the man will recover J
himself at once. He'll put on his second epidermis, a mack-
intosh, and be off to his occupation, whatever it be, without
wasting a thought on the weather. The moody temper!:
_ .

ment is in reality only the working temperament.---Black-

wood's Magazine for April.
THE FIRST BUILDING ON THE THAMES EMBANK-
MENT.--Londoners and the public generally will be
gratified to learn that, to however limited an extent, the
Thames Embankment is already being made available for

useful and ornamental purposes, for beyond the south-west

corner of the Inner Temple gardens Mr. Broome is erecting

a conservatory, now in a forward state of completion. These

gardens will speedily possess a collection of beautiful green'

house flowers on the ground over which two months ago
flowed the polluted stream of the river. To Mr. Broome.'
therefore, will belong the great praise and credit of being

the first to adorn our great Rational work, the Thames

Embankment.—City Press.