The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-24 00:00:00

VERY STRANGE.

Mr. Bentley seems to have taken to a sensational way
of advertising his authors of late. One is rather startled
to read in the Athenceum that—
Lady Fullerton's " Too Strange Not to be True," 6s.
Could not testimony have been borne to her ladyship's
veracity, without a charge of eccentricity being brought
against her? Then again we are assured that—
Edmund Yates's " Broken to Harness," 6s.
We should like to know if he will go quietly in the shafts
of wit, and very much doubt whether, he will let anyone
get the whip-hand of him. We trust he will pardon this
allusion, and not think that we have any idea of "putting
him at cheek," as the coachees say.

(From Judy.)

MOTTO. FOR MINERS.—I'II tike my Davy.
A NEW NAME FOR SIR R. MAYNE.—Dog-bury.
A PROPER COSTUME FOR CHRISTMAS.—A Beefeater's.
OR WE'RE A DUTCHMAN !—When Mr. Disraeli comes to
tackle Ministers in the " House," we guess that there'll be
more than one " Quaker " in the Cabinet!
WHAT IT MUST COME TO.—There is every probability,
judging from recent events, that Sir R. Mayne will, next
February, summm, the Speaker of the House of Com-
mons before a magistrate, for keeping a disorderly night
house I

DISTRICT VISITINC.—Lady Visitor: Well, and how's
baby to-day, Mrs. Cloggings I)—Mrs. C.: Well, mum,
she's pretty comfortable. The powder as you gave her
don't seem to have done her no hurt yet.

CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS.
By an Old Bachelor.
Domestic love may be very sweet, but when I look at
my brother's family, it strikes me that it is also very
dear.
The complexion of a girl of the period differs from a
railway season ticket— the one is, and the other is not,
transferable.
I love to see little children eating unaccustomed deli-
cacies, and my heart rejoices as I think of the Nemesis of
the family doctor awaiting them.
Mistrust the woman who, when a glass of wine is spilt
over her dress, smiles, and says it doesn't matter.
The taste for sweets prevails in all of us long after child-
hood—nay, even in old age, every one wishes. to be worth a
plum.
Curious how this life resembles billiards—kisses and
misses are generally found near together !
The greenness of the mistletoe is only exceeded by
the verdancy of the persons who amuse themselves
beneath it.
We hear much of the balance of power, the balance of
happiness, and the balance of comfort ; but, to my think-
ing, the most effective balance of all is to be found at your
bankers'.
A cramped waist generally betokens brains in a s%milar
condition.
When I look upon a party of young people, I console
myself with the thought that, after all, my skull is as good-
looking as any of theirs, and that's what it must resolve
itself in at last !

MADAME RACHEL'S CONVICTION.
The Telegraph comments upon the awkward posi-
tion of affairs with regard to Madame Rachel, of
" beautiful for ever" celebrity. It remarks that the
legal point upon which she has been admitted to bail
is of a much wider application than to this particular
case. It is contended on behalf of the prisoner that
not only must an alderman always sit with the pro-
aiding judge, but that no trial can be valid antosr
zae same alderman shall be present on the
bench throughout the proceedings. Should this
Plea prove to be sound in law, Madame
Rachel's conviction must be null and void, as on the
several days of the trial at the Old Bailey different
aldermen sat with Mr. Kerr. The consequences of
the decsion will be still more extraordinary, since it
is probable that in hundreds of trials at the Central
Criminal Court there has been a change of aldermen
during the proceedings, and in many of these cases
the prisoner has, consequently, been illegally con-
victed and condemned—perhaps to penal servitude,
perhaps even to death. The Telegraph takes the
well-known instance of Muller, the German
murderer of Mr. Briggs on the North
London Railway, as an example, and asks A complimentary dinner to Mr. Leftwich, De-
if that criminal was illegally put to death. It
mocratic Congressman elect, was
was marked by a meet-
was given at Overton. Tenn.,
further suggests that if any convicts condemned by 'on Monday night, Nov. 30,
and
like informality are now suffering at Portland ing of mon of all pArties for the first time since the war.
they can claim to be liberated on bail like Madame D
UNVILLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest
Rachel. Who is responsible for this informality, or
holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is re
commended is anybody responsible ? "In a word, has the chief by the medical profession in preference to French
criminal court of the kingdom been for years passing Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or exports,
sentences which are as illegal as they would have
tion. Quotations on application to Messrs. Dunville and Co.,
been had a mock prisoner been tried by a mock Belfast; or 4, Beaufort-buildings, Strand, London W. —[Ad7
and Lantoyba4cl kw a. Aux--;.11. luacce P:' Mamas* =aeon:mut.)