The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1874-02-28
TOPICS OF THE TIMES.

If the Lima Peru) papers tell the trutf
there is an opera troupe in that city tha'
threatens to drive all others from the stage
An Italian named Contarini has trained
thirty-two parrots and parroquets to sing
two of Bellini's operas, Norma and
5 ''Sonnambula,' with a full chorus. The
Italian accompanies the singers on piano
, harmonium. At the debut, when the con.
tralto finished the allegro in the "Sal.
utation," the enthusiasm was so great and
the applause so deafening that the whole
troupe took wing in alright and sought
refuge in the scenery. It was full quar-
ter of hour before the artists were tran
quilted sufficiently to go on with the per-
Torrance.
AS many persons may not be aware of the
virtues of the newly invented baby washer.
we give place to the following highly color
ed description You simply insert the be-
grimed and molosses- coated infant in an Or
ifice, which can be made of any required
size by turning for ten minutes a cog-wheel
with electric attachments. The child glides
gently down the highly polished inclined
glass; it's lips are met at the terminus by
India rubbur tube, from which the infant
can draw lacteal nourishment. While in
this compartment, which is lined with plate
glass mirrors, the perturbed spirit of the
infant is soothed by its frantic efforts to
demolish its own image, reflected in the
glass, with nickel-plated combined teeth
cutter, nail, knife, rattle and tack hammer,
which are thrust into the baby's hands by
an automatic monkey. Fatigued by it's de-
structive efforts, the little infant falls asleep
while the organ attachment plays softly the
melody of "Put Me in My Little Bed"
Then it slips into the third compartment
Here the baby is washed. Another small
tube administers dose of soothing syrup,
and the infant gldes from the machine, its
nails pared, its hair combed ready for the
habilments rendered necessary by the fall
| of our first parents.
| Mr.. p T. Barnum, the most indefatiga-
BILE, undaunted and astonishing Snowman
| the world has ever produced, has just con-
cluded a contract with Messrs. George and
John Sanger, of Astley's Amphitheater,
London, in which he agrees to pay the large
sum of e33,00 for the whole plant, ward
robe, and paraphernalia connected with
the pageant of the Congress of Monarchs,''
exhibited at the Agricultural Hall, in Lon
don, few years ago. The collection en-
braces thirteen gorgeously carved and gilt
emblazoncd chariots, and appropriate har-
ness for 162 horses 1876 elegant and APP
propriate suits of armor, robes, court dress
es, etc. All the monarchs in the world will
be represented, with a fac-simile of the flags
and banners and everything used in this
pageant, excepting horses, elephants, os-
triches, giraffes, camels, and other living
animals. These Barnum must provide for
himself. The whole property to be deliver
ed to him or his agent in London by Feb
22, 1874. The contract was signed on JAM
2, and $4,000 paid. We shall, therefore,
have an opportunity of beholding, in due
time, the most gorgeous, majestic and sub
lime pageant ever witnessed upon this or |
any other planet; IS seen by the Emperor
of 'Roosia," and all the crowned heads of |
Europe. Admission, one dollar; children
half price.
A Swiss author, Alphonsc dc Candalic, |
in recently published book, says that the
growth of the English speaking people is
so rapid in proportion to that Of those who |
speak other languages, that within a centu-
ry the English speaking races in the United
Kingdom, the Australian Colonies, and the |
United States will number 5000, 900. !;
while the German speaking people will be |
only 1874, 900, 900 and those speaking French
will number only about 60,000,0 0Go, or one
person who speaks French for every twelve
or thirteen who speak English throughout I
the world. It is sincerely to be hoped that
during the coming century the efforts of
our Noah Websters and Richard Grant
Whites will have so far perfected the lam
guage that its educated users may not be
dumbfounded at its current corruption
The following story sounds somewhat like
the Danbury Meas man, but as it occurred
in Berrien County, Michigan, we presume
it is the work of some Michigander At all
events, we shall abridge it for the benefit of
our readers, the moral being so beautiful,
and the story SO suitable for Sunday school
children, that we cannot resist the tempta-
ton. Samuel was the name of the youth,
and bic Tnotbnr aclyod b;,,, +r h., =. x.o,,1
little boy and take turn at the chmn. But
Samuel had set his heart upon catching the
little minnow, and the back of Samuel was
elevated. At the touch of the inspiring
slipper the spinal curvature fell, and the
fearful youth stood sentry at the dasher
During the absence of his parent, the eyes
of the good little boy lighted upon u plate
of 'fy-poison." '.Now shall | scare the
old woman" thought Samuel, the devil en-
tering into his wicked little heart. just as
his mother entered, Samuel put the fatal
platter from his lips, and exclai led
s'There, mother, guess you won't lcL me
no more.n But he little knew his Spartan
dame. She neither shrieked, nor rushed
ioi AAouioaA tsie, hoi iotticu ouI, uinuldcK
stump" She simply took Samuel by the
nape of the neck, lifted him calmly into the
pantry, beat the whites of six eggs together +.
and ordered him to engulf the same instant
er. He declined but the hired girl came to
the rescue, and the eggs were engulfed. A
mustard emetic was next prepared, and
amid the confessions and promises never to
do it any mo- of Master Samuel, the emetie
was absorbed. Then dose of pain-killer
was added by way of dessert, his back was |
rubbed with the .'vigor of life," and his
little stomach with the coil of eladness.r {