Star.
London, England, 1830-09-25 00:00:00

SCINTILLiE.

BETTER, better than BEST.—What is it we all look t;
as a reward, for the best spent life? The answer is unquestionably
a Better.—F.

THE AMERICAN ALOE.—There in now in flower in
magnificent consesvatcay, of Mr. Alex. Baring, at the Grange,
Winchester, an American aloe. The panicles or flowers are 32 in num-
ber, and the plant has grown upwards of 30 feet in height since the b.
ginning of May.

CURIOUS SUPERSTITION.—We have a superstition that
schema or knives cut love. The Turks carry the same idea to soap,
which they will neither give, nor even hand to each other, as thLy
say it washes away love—dirty love, we imagine—or, perb•Lp., lett-
of dirt.

Tann ScuLLs.—A recent traveller in America, alluding
to the strength and thickness of the sculls of negroes, says that "they=
have been seen frequently to send their craniums through a pretty iamb:
wooden door with the velocity of a cannon ball I"
A GREAT LlAll.—His Royal Highness (the Prince Re-
gent) bespoke my benefit play, which was The Liar. Mr. Weltgi.
came to take all the boxes, which occasioned the elevation of the pit tc
the box prices. I expressed a hope that his Royal Highness would be
present, though I knew that that day he dined with the camp. That
worthy Gentleman replied, that I might be sure he'd come, since he had
given his word : " the Prince," he rejoined, "always keeps his word,
but he says you are the greatest 'Liar' on the stake "--Bernard's Re-
lirospeetions.

EQUITS.—A Gentleman, resident at Harrow, made fre-
quent complaints to the masters of the great school there, of his garde
being stripped of its fruit, even before it became ripe—but to no pur-
pose. Tired of applying to the masters for redress, he at length ap.
pealed to the boys, and sending for one to his house, he said, " Now,
my good fellow, I'll make this agreement with you and your compa-
nions ; let the fruit remain on the trees till it becomes ripe, and I pru.
miss to give you half." The boy coolly replied, " I can say nothing
to the proposition, Sir, myself, but will make it known to the res.
of the boys, and inform you of their decision to-morrow.'' To..morrcr
came, and brought with it this reply—" The gentlemen of Harrow mr..
not agree to receive so unequal a share, since Mr. —.. is an individual;
and we are many."

UMBRELLAIL—Tbe use of umbrellas in this country
not older than the time of Dr. Johnson. When Jonas Beltway, who
Introduced them. first made his appearance with one in the street, hc
was hooted at. 'Reformers have been accused of vanity ; but it may
witkmore certainty be predicated of the opponents of reform. Erect
thing which differs from themselves appears ridiculous to the vulgar,
with the exception of the imposing vulgarity of power.
A COUPLE OP GEESE. —An elderly lady, now on a
visit at Margate, went into the market a few days since, having made
up her mind to buy a goose. There were but two in the market, both
in custody of a little girl from Birchington, who, to the surprise of her
customer, positively refused to sell one without the other. Recollecting
that a neighbour had also expressed a wish for one, the lady was, with.
out much difficulty, prevailed on to take both. When the bargain was
concluded, however, she thought proper to Inquire of the vender, why
she had so peremptorily declined selling them separate ? " If you
please, nay lady," was the naive answer, " mother said as how the
geese had lived together for fiJteen years, and it would be mei to
part them."

THY CAT OPERA .—When Foote first opened the theatre
in the Haymarket, amongst other projects, he proposed to entertain the
public with an imitation of cat music. For this purpose he engaged a
man famous for his skill in mimicking the mewing of cats. This person
was called " Cat Harris." He not attending the rehearsal of this odd
concert, Foote desired Shuter wound endeavour to find him out, and
bring him with him. Shuter was directed to some court in the Mino-
rite, where this extraordinary musician lived; but, not knowing the
house, Shuter began a cat-solo. Upon this, the other looked out of tit
windw, and answered him with a cantata of the same sort. 64 Com,
along," says Shuter, "I want no better information that you are tt.
man. Mr. Foote stays for us-..we cannot begin the Cat Opera without
you I"
THE EARTH CAVERNOIIII..-..." Franciscan Patritins,
man famous enough for his learning, in a certain book of his, " Of iht
Ithetorick of the Ancients," written in Italian, and printed at Venie
by Franciscus Senensts, 15811, has the following pleasant story, which
be says Julius Strom had from Count Balthassar Castillont and helix!
it from a certain Abyssine philosopher in Spain. This wise Abyssinian.
did say. that in the most ancient annals of Ethiopia, there is a hister)
of.the destruction of mankind, and the breaking of the earth. That i.
the beginning of the world the earth was far bigger than now it is, art:
nearer to heaven, perfectly round, without mountains and valleys yet ids
cavernous like a sponge, and that men dwelling in it, and enjoying:.
most pure ether, did lead a pleasant life," &c. The .11.3,ssintat.
Philosophy Confuted, lig Robert St. Clair M.D. 12nio. 1607.
p. 88.—The foregoing is in perfect accordance with the Platonk
philosophy, e. 9. "hor I am persuaded there are everywhere about
the earth many hollow places of all various forms and tnagoi-
tudes. . . . . . . . . .We are ignorant, therefore, that wt.
dwell in the cavities of this earth, and we imagine that we inhabit to
upper parts. . . . For dwelling in a certain hollow of the earth, we
think that we reside on its surface. . . . Plato. the Phado, p.
of Mr. Thomas Taylor's invaluable translation, octavo edition. Set
also p. 140 of the translator's masterly and luminous introduction to ti t
most beautiful dialogue. In the subjoined passage from Olympiodores.
there occurs the very same simile as given above in italics. It is requi.
site to know that philosophers conceive the earth to be cavernous like a
sponge, and that it is perforated as far as to its extreme centre."
Yesterday, between eleven and twelve o'clock, a large van.
belonging to the Spread Eagle Steam.office,Regent.circus, driving down
Ludgate-bill, was overturned directly opposite the house of Mr.
Hil-
ditch, silk.mercer. Fortunately at the time few persons were netting in
this crowded street, particularly at such an hour, or the affair must hart
terminated fatally to many, as the van tell a considerable distance upon
the Bags.