The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-08 00:00:00

A RELIC OF ANCIENT EGYPT.

One of the last weekly sittings of the Academy
of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres was unusually
interesting. The name of M. Mariette is already
well known in the world of science and art. This
young archaeologist has been for several years ex-
ploring various parts of Egypt, and the Museum of
the Louvre possesses many relics of antiquity
which his perseverance has rescued from the earth.
But, on seeing him thus operating with such indus-
try and success, the Viceroy of Egypt began to
think himself rather unwise to let his country be
thus di.poiled for the advantage of European anti-
quarians. As he intended to erect at Cairo a build-
ing something like the French Palace of Industry,
he wished to retain for that museum whatever
Egyptian antiquities might be found for the future.
Meanwhile M. Mariette discovered the tomb of a
queen, princess, or some opulent personage of the
olden times. Near the mummy of the departed was
found a multitude of objects and ornaments, very
valuable as to material, but still more so for their
elegance, taste, and woi kmanship. This unexpected
discovery was at once designated for the future
museum of Cairo ; but as some of the articles re-
quired mending and cleaning, the Viceroy requested
M. Mariette todHgceeutar
it
os thistheiti
curiosities
a wok ke
thetoi fn rc;temps teaortrienauti
11,
ost end
of
ehtxihme e-
iwn tParis.he s
French capital. It was in that way that the
Academy of Inscriptions had the
et
on tsehdo
advantage of
seeing spread out for its inspection an almost com-
plete Egyptian toilet of the time
of Cleopatra,
Semiramis, or some other celebrated beauty. There
were coronets, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, pins,
rings, all of which, for purity of design and form,
elegance of ornamentation, and delicacy of worr:-.-
manship, surpass all con ception. I doubt whether
the ablest goldsmiths of the present day can surpass
them. One of the most remarkable articles was a
gold necklace, formed of bees with outspread wings,
which must have produced a most charming effect
on the neck of a pretty woman."—Le Nord.

All the while this serio-comic conversation was
going on, a workman in the coolest possible manner
was working away at a most delicate little leg that
would not have come off second best in the Judg-
ment of Paris—a faultless Balmoral boot, and the
daintiest silk stocking 'covered proportions that
Madame Vestris may have envied. .
" These," said my companion, " are some of out
first-class goods. Would you like to see the me-
chanism ?
Goodge, pull down the stocking. With
that the workman bared the limb, whilst my com-
panion put it through its paces. "This, you see,
in our patent knee-cap and patella, and this the
new vulcanised india-rubber tendon Achilles; here,
in the instep, you will observe a spiral spring ele-
vating the toes, and if you will just observe (open-
ing a little trap-door in the back of the calf), here
is an ingenious contrivance by which the bending
of the knee elevates the front part of the foot, thus
allowing it full play to swing forward clear of the
ground."
Certainly it was an admirable contrivance.,—
" And can a man or woman progress easily with
that arrangement ?" I said.
" Do you know Lady ?" said he.
" Yes." _ _ ,

" Nothing the matter there ?" he rejoined inter-
rogatively.
I was obliged to confess, not to my knowledge.
" That's her spare leg, nevertheless," he replied
triumphantly.
" Spare leg ! 'What do you mean ?"
" Lord bless you! look into that cupboard. I
have the spare members of half the town there duly
labelled. Things will go wrong with the best con-
ducted limbs ; and to save difficulties we keep dup-
licates here which can be applied at the shortest
notice. A gentleman, whom we will call Mr. Smith,
once lost the pin out of his knee-joint, and sent here
for his off-leg. A young lad up from the country
sent him another Mr. Smith's box containing an
arm—very awkward."
" Will you allow me ?" said I, trying to read the
names on the boxes.

" Certainly not," said he, shutting the door and
turning the key : " This is our Blue Beard's cup-
board, and I wouldn't allow even my wife to peep.
But come and look at our hands."

There they were—some clenched, some spread out,
some in the act of holding, some gloved, and dis-
played like Vandykes, as if to challenge attention.
" Now, what will they do ?" said I, almost doubt-
ful whether the clenched fist wouldn't strike.
" Do anything," said he : "By means of the
hook inserted in the palm, it can lift, or hold the
reins, almost as well as the natural member. Ob-
serve the beautiful operation of the spring thumb
imitating the grand privilege of man and monkey,
by means of which it can grasp a fork, or lightly
finger a toothpick."
"Do you supply fingers and such small deer ?"
I inquired. _ _

" Fingers, toes, noses, lips,—we take them as they
come. A gentleman with but one finger on his
left hand came to us the other day, and asked to
have the complement made up. We fitted on the
rest, and attached them by means of a signet ring
to the remaining finger—movement perfect,. you
should see him pass his fingers through his hair—
natural as life. The hand is a wonderful thing—
that beats me—legs are mere A B C, but the hand!
—Here," said he, recovering from his momentary
admiration of nature, " here is a drawing of a
pretty thing. A Hudson's Bay trapper had his
hand bitten off by a bear, and came to us to re-
place it.
" Do you want something really useful 1" said I.
" Yes said he.

" So I made him this dagger, fitting into his arm-
stump socket. He sleeps in his dagger. and finds
it particularly handy when there are bears about.
Look at the action of this spring and rachet-elbow ;
you have only to touch the little button in the
elbow, and the fore-arm closes as natural as life.
Who would wear an empty sleeve when a member
like this can be obtained ? We always recommend
our arm and hand patients to wear a cloak neatly
folded over it, as it prevents any attempt at hand-
shaking. We don't warrant the shake—the touch
isn't quite natural."— Once a Week.

THE COCKER SPANIEL A TIGER
HUNTER.

It is a courageous little creature, retaining its
dashing boldness even when imported into the
enervating Indian climate, which destroys the
spirit of most dogs, and even reduces the stubborn
bull-dog to a mere poltroon. Captain Williamson,
in his book of " Oriental Field Sports," records an
instance of rash courage on the part of one of these
little dogs. " I was shooting near some underwood,
rather thinly scattered among reedy grass, growing
on the edges of a large water-course, which took its
rise near the foot of the large hill at Muckun
Gunge, when suddely one of a brace of fine cocking
spaniels I had with me ran round a large bush
greatly agitated, and apparently on some game
which I expected to put up. I followed as fast as
I could ; but Paris, which was the dog's name, was
too quick for me, and before I could well get round
the bush, which was about ten yards from the brink
of the ravine, had come to a stand, his ears pricked,
his tail wagging like lightning, and his whole
frame in a seeming state of ecstasy. I expected that
he had got a hare under the bank, and, as the
situation was in favour of a shot, I ran towards
him with more speed than I should have done had
I known that instead of a hare, I should find, as I
did, a tiger sitting on its rump, and staring Paris
in the face. They were not above two yards
asunder. As soon as the dog found me at his side,
he barked, and giving a spring down dashed at the
tiger. What happened for some moments I really
cannot say ; the surprise and danger which sud-
denly affected me banished at once that presence
of mind which many boast to possess on all emer-
gencies. I frankly confess that my senses were
clouded, and that the tiger might have devoured
me without my knowing a word of the matter.
However, as soon as my fright had subsided I began,
like a person waking from a dream, to look about,
and saw the tiger cantering away at about a
hundred and fifty yards' distance, with his tail
erect, and followed by Paris, who kept barking ;
but when the tiger arrived at a thick cover, he dis-
appeared. I had begun in my mind to compose a
requiem for my poor dog, as I saw him chasing the
tiger, which I expected every moment would turn
about and let Paris know that he had caught, a
Tartar. Though Paris had certainly brought me
to the gate of destruction, yet he as certainly,saved
me. I felt myself indebted to him for preserva-
tion, and consequently was not a little pleased to
see him return safe."—.Routledge's Illustrated
Natural History, by the Rev. J. G. Wood.

TRACKING POWERS OP THE BLOOD
HOUND.

The magnificent animal which is termed the
bloodhound, on account of its peculiar facility for
tracking a wounded animal through all the mazes
of its devious course, is very scarce in England, as
there is but little need of these dogs for its chief
employment. In the " good old times" this animal
was largely used by. thief-takers, for the purpose
of tracking and securing the robbers who in those
days made the country unsafe, and laid the
roads under a black mail. Sheep-stealers, who
were much more common when the offence
was visited with capital punishment, were fre-
quently detected by the delicate nose of the blood-
hound, which would, when once laid on the scent,
follow it up with unerring precision, unravelling
the single trail from among a hundred crossing
If\
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aots
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so,
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only
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the bloodhound'sdeliae nose.oifa
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the
animal
e sp lt
uponthe
a track,tively
are blunted,
and it is no longer able to follow the comparatively
weak scent which is left - thebb retreating footsteps.
Both
ploye
dt,h
bute s e
inm e
et
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case
e-3e
When the hound suspects thatetehne cisuucacrersysfhuullytakemen-
tinogtheevewryatienre,
hitosiAim ; great caution is needed.
hes bbanakekewnabrod antbdforw
sides,
anadrda,ptpelsyt:
ing its nose to every leaf, stick, or frothy scum that
comes floating b. In this country the bloodhoi mnd
is chiefly employed in deer-shooting, aiding the
sportsman by singling out some animal, and keep-
ing it ever before him, and by driving it in certain
directions, giving to its master an opportunilzy for
a shot from his rifle. Should the deer not fall:to the
shot, but be only mounded, it dashes off at a greatly
increased pace, followed by the bloodhohnd, I,c h ich
here displays his qualities. Being guided by the
blood-drops that stud the path of the wounded ani-
mal, the hound has an easy task in keeping the
trail, and by dint of persevering exertion is sure to
come up with his prey at last. The bloodhout id is
generally irascible in temper, and, therefore, a . ra-
ther dangerous animal to be meddled with by any
one excepting its owner. So fierce is its deur* 3 for
blood, and so utterly is it excited when it ret‘ches
its prey, that it will often keep its master a t bay
when he approaches, and receive his overture s wit it
such unmistakeable indications of anger that, Jae 17;111
not venture to approach until his dog has satisfied
rcoasen
d. v
of the
ean
imal whist} i it
ibtassabprpoeutgithetontotl ca
the
gru
fairly ou the
track of the deer the bloodhound utters a pecT ajar,
long, loud, and deer bay, which, if once heard, will
never be forgotten. '—.Routledge's Illustrated I
natu-
ral History, by the Rev. J. G. Wood.