, 1864-08-29

A solicitor, resident in the Isle Of Wight,
had business at Southampton. He stayed
at one Of those hotels for which tho town
Of mail steamers is famous, aud utter din
ner he was looking over his law papers while
he slipped his port He WIS aroused from
his foOlscap and red tape by the opening Of
door. His wife (whom he had left at
home in the Isle Of Wight entered, gazed
at him steadfastly, and passed out through
the opposite door. He naturally thought
that It was hallucination, and resumed his
reading with wondering smile at his own
weakness. But within quarter Of an hour
the same thing occurred again, and there
was on the countenance Of tho spectre an
imploring look which terrified him. He at
once resolved to return home; with some
difficulty got boatman to take him across,
aud when he reached his house he was
struck by the ghastly and alarmed look Of
his maid servant, who opened the door,
This woman was so frightened by his un-
expected return that she spontaneously con-
fessed her intention to murder her mistress /;
and her confession was confirmed BY the
fact that she had concealed knife under
her pillow. This is very perplexing case
for those who think spectral phenomena can
be philoso, lhicaly explained. Here you
have the phantom Of living person pro
jected, entirely without that persons con-
sciousness. Let il be assumed that a per-
son in extreme peril can. by intense volition,
act upon the nervous systemOf the universe,
so as TO influence his dearest friend; but
here the person whose likeness appeared
was entirely devoid Of apprehension, while
the servant, who alone knew what was likely
to happen. would naturally exert no voltion
towards revealing it.
A teacher one day, endeavoring to make
pupil understand the nature and applica-
ton Of passive verb, said.
"a passive verb is expressive Of the ma
ture Of receiving an action, as Peter is
beaten. Now, what did Peter do?"
The boy, pausing a moment, with the
gravest countenance imaginable, replied,
swell, I don't know, without he hol-
lered."
The late Colonel -, when once impor-
tuned By diminutiye tailor for payment Of
bill, contemptuously exclaimed,
"lf you were not such little reptile, /
would kick you down staifsss'
"Little roptilel" demonstrated the dun; |;
"and what IL am? Recollect, Colonel,
that we can't all be great brutesp
King Charles II. once said to John Mil
ton:
"Do you not think your blindness Is a
judgment upon you, for having written in
defence Of my fathers murder2"
"Sir," answered the poet, ait is true |
have lost my eyes; but IL oil calamitous
providences are to be considered as judg-
mcnts, your Majesty should remember that
your royal father lost his head"
The following copy Of a droll letter,
written by soldier to the mayor Of viii
lage near Ham, in answer to note inform
ing him Of the death d his father, is pub
lished in French Provincial paper
II heartily thank Mr.. Mayor for my
fathers DEATH II is little accident which
frequently happens in familics-As for my
self, am in the hospital minus one leg,
with which have the honor to salute you"
"What on earth am to do with thatin-
eorrigiblc son Of miner" inquired an anx-
ious father Of friend 3s0
"Dress him iua suit Of shepherds plaid" !"
was the reply.
.Why, what possible benefit would that
bes" demanded the wondering parent.
at would, at least, be the way Of keep
ing him in check"
"Have the jury agreea?" asked judge
Of Court attachee whom be met upon the
stairs with q bucket IL bis hand.
"Yis," replied Patrick, "they have
agreed to send out for half galloni"