The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1886-07-21 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

PAPER MONEY.  PRIZE PRIZE PRIZE PRIZE PRIZE PRIZE PRIZE PRIZE PRIZE PRIZE PRIZE PRIZE  All the way from China, and from a period dating more than a hundred years before the time of Christ, there comes to us a story in which some writers appear to see the origin of banknotes. Amongst the Celestials it was customary and necessary, so the story goes, for courtiers and princes, whenever they came into the royal presence, to veil their faces with a piece of skin. Now it so happened that at one time the imperial parse was far from full, and it fell to the lot of the Prime Minister to discover some expedient for removing this source of inconvenience. He accordingly spent many tedious hours, and pondered over many schemes, before he could exclaim, like Archimedes, "Eureka !" (" I have found it !") The result of his profound meditations was a decree to the effect that for veiling the face in the presence of royalty only the skins of certain white deer belonging to the sovereign should be allowed. Of course, his Majesty possessing a monopoly of these deer, could sell pieces of their skin at whatever price he liked. This made them very valuable; they consequently circulated amongst the upper classes of Chinese society as a convenient form of money, and thus we read, "Bank-notes were invented in China."—From Cassell's Family-Maga:ine for June.  THE BAD MEN IN THE Juny-Room.—During a murder trial at Pine Blun a short time ago, the judge, in concluding his charge to the Jury, which was mainly composed of negroes, said, "Now, gentlemen, you will go into another room and deliberate upon this matter." A negro juryman, with an air lbespeaking much excitement, arose and exclaimed, "Hole on Jar, jedse !" "What is the matter ? " "I ain't gwine in ernudder room wid dese niggers." " Why ? " " I'll tell yer why. I'se afeerd o' em." "Afraid of them ? " "Yes, sah. Ise got S' dollars in my pocket." "You don't mean to say that they will rob you?" "No, Bah." "Then why are you afraid of them ?" "Wall, I'll tell yer. Bein's ez I'se got so mach money, I'd be gamblin' wid em niggers 'fore I witz in Jar ten minits. I tries to do right, jedge, so doan sen me in Jar wid dese bad men!" HE RESEMBLED HIS Moimen.—An old gentleman with a philanthropic look entered a tram car, and cast a wistful glance at the crowded seats. A young man rose directly, and proffered the old man a seat. " Ah," exclaimed he, "I knew I should not have to stand long I Thank you, my young friend," he continued, as he placed his hands on the shoulders of the polite passenger. "When I see a young man so kind to the aged, I can always tell which of his parents be resembles most." "That's interesting," observed the other, feeling it incumbent upon him to make some reply. "Now, don't you look like your mother ? " asked the aged man cheerfully. "Perhaps." was the laconic reply. " Ah, I knew it!" exclaimed the grateful passenger delightedly. "I think the resemblance is .so striking that I feel sure I should recognise ygar dear mother if I met her." Then the young man left the car. "My gractons!" the old gentleman was heard to remark in a few minutes. "I have lost-my watch!" "Perhaps the young man whelooks like his motlper to it ?" suggested a youth with a brindle. "Bat I don't know him," observed the aged party sadly. "You might know his mother," piped up a little woman. "-Deuce .take him and his mother!" retorted the victim, as he relapsed into silence.  POUNDS POUNDS POIENIPS PoDNDQ Porsiig