Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1881-02-26 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

UNIFORM PRIDE.—A strong agitation is on foot against the proposal of the War Office authorities to abolish the regimental tartans in Highland regiments. This goes far to prove that the old clannish spirit of the Scotch soldiery is not yet entirely " pirid out.* —Fun.  WOODEN WATER Poics.—Wooden pipes are now being used in Switzerland to convey the waters of a thermal mineral spring between Pfeffer and Ragaz (says Chambers': Journal). They are oonstxucted of fir-wood made into staves, and bound together by means of iron hoops. After being carefully tarred both inside and out they are perfectly water-tight, and possess many advantages over metal piping. They are of course much lighter, and are insensible to changes of temperature, whilst their cost is only about eight shillings per TeUre. It is interesting to note that the New River water was first brought to London by means of wooden pipes formed by boring out tree. trunks and joining them length by length. Such pipes have been extensively used in America, and they are under the best• conditions, estimated to last thirty years.  Tiis-UsE ov FLowitas IN Amintro.t.—The lavish use of real flowers in Transatlantic hou.3ee increases so rapidly that the florist's bill forms one of the largest items in the domestic budget. Rare plants and blossoms crowd every available comer and vase, till the rooms resemble a greenhouse; and hostesses vie with each other in producing novel floral decorations. Cornucopias and horseshoes have grown common, and the success of the winter is a miniature sleigh filled with roses; while at a recent dinner to General Grant every plate was encircled by a wreath of smilax, and a basket of blossoms three feet in diameter occupied the centre of the table. Ladies suspend rustic baskets full of rare flowers from their waistbelts ; and a favourite bodice bouquet consists of a snow-white dove holding in its bill a bunch of violets, lilies of the valley, or forget-me-note.  Simms OY A MAN Uncuowuip-In London, on Monday, at the University College Hospital, Dr. Hardwicke held an inquest on the body of a man unknown, who committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver in Seymour-street, near the London and North-Western Railway terminus in London, on Thursday evening in last week. The man was about 30 years of age, with dark hair, whiskers, and moustache. Between five and six o'clock on Thursday evening he was seen by /4r. Sadd standing on the pavement by the railway wall, A report of firearms was heard, and then the man fell on the pavement John Baily, a clearing-house clerk, was also near the spot, and he and Sadd ran across to where the deceased lay on the pavement, and found near him a fivechambered revolver. His waistcoat and shirt front were open, and there was a wound in his breast. Mr. Collingwood, the house surgeon said when brought to the hospital the man was deaa. The cause of death was internal hwrnorrhage. There had been no one to identify the body, but on being searched there was found in the pockets LI in gold and other moneys, a watch and other articles, but nothing leading to identity. The jury ret•aned a verdict, "That the deceased committed suicide," but as to the state of his mind there was no evidence to show."