The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-11-03
COLLECTANEA.
MATRIMONIAL HOAX.

The increase in the matrimonial adver-
tiscments puts us in mind OF hoax OF this
sort which was successfully played of
short time since. 1t was agreed IN gay
party OF ladies and gentlemen that an adver-
tisement should be inserted in q London
Morning Paper, as from a lady who felt in
clncd to taste the joys of matrimony, more
speedily than to all appearance the ordina-
nv way would enable her to do, giving the
longing maiden fair portion OF beauty and
riches. Letters were received IN reply
from between fifty and sixty swans OF all de-
scriptions, to each of whom an answer was
addressed; that so far the writer was not OBJ
jected to, but that the lady would like, pre-
viously to his being introduced to her, "un-
seen to him;''-at the same time requesting
each to be in the pit Of Drury-lanc Theatre
on a certain evening, dressed in particular
way, and Immediately on the conclusion of
the first piece, to stand upon the benches
and apply quizzing glass to the right eye.
| All succeeded so well, that as soon as the
curtain fell, above fifty, of all ages, mounted
the bcnches-from the smooth-chinned Adj
onis of Fifteen, to the sleek, portly, seit-con-
| fidcnt widower of fifty, and the shrivelled,
! worn out, and enaciated bachelor OF sixty,
| all adorned according to ORDER in the gayest
style, and with the utmost nicely, to make
the deeper impression on the heart OF the
fair prize. High swelled their bosoms with
hope, as with studied action the sparkling
glass was raised to the eye, burt who shall
paint the astenishment, dismay, and rape,
alternately depicted on their countenanccs,
on discovering the sudden failure OF all Their
hopeso-With such velocity did they all
descend from their unenviable attitudes, to
.shde their diminished heads" among the
IL. a 1rt-o of IStu m u
have fanced his knees once more possessed
of the pliancy of twenty.
The following account Of remarkable
incident, which lately took place at the Jar
din des Plantcs, i'll which managelle Of
wild animals is kept, is copied from late
Paris paper:
"a man had introduced himself into the
interior Of the managerie. The Keeper
perceiving him, ran towards him, to make
him 60 out; but at the same time, the lor
.dtias, whose cage was not we'll closed raised
the CRATE. adroitly, and left his cage. lhe
keeper cried Immediately to the impruden'
man, "pace yourself against the wall, and
keep STILL or you are lost'' 1t is wei
, known that it is necessary to show hrmnesS
and courage before the king of animals The
man obeved; the keeper followed his ex-
ample. The lion walked forward, and ap
proached first the keeper, but he rccollec'
ted the friend who brought him his food, ca
; rcssed bm in an affectionate manner, ant
passed on to the stranger. Arrived before
f him, the eyes of the animal sparklcd, he
. raised his enormous paws, and placed then
on the mans shoulders. For some moment
, the lion renamed in that position; he scru
pulously examined the man, who alread,
, thought himself his victim, smelt OF hln
from head to foot, and afterwards returned
mechanically to his cage. The CRATE wa
Immediately shut. But the stranger ma
not vet recovered from his fright-lis lit
is dispaired Of