The Aberdare Times

(Bur bonbon CoutspouicnL [We deem i): right to state that we do not at all time.1, i6intifjr ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions. The Royal Courts of Justice, in the Strand, are rapidly approaching completion and, so far as some of the offices are concerned, have been occupied for some time. When the building is finished, it will form the finest architectural pile in central London. Its architect sleeps his long Sabbath of repose in Westminster Abbey; but his work will remain for ages as a monument of his genius. It is not so im- posing as the river front of the Palace of West- minster but its internal arrangements are described as being eminently suitable to the purpose to which it is to be devoted. In a word, it is to be useful as well as ornamental. A criticism has often been passed upon Sir Charles Barry's Houses of Parliament that utility has been to a great extent sacrificed to stateliness, and the House of Commons itself is quoted as an illustration of this saying, as it will not seat three-fourths of its members. But at the time when the proportions of that chamber were decided upon, Sir Charles Barry took counsel with all the eminent authorities whose opinion was likely to be of any service, and it was agreed that the Commons' chamber ought to be one for the transaction of busi- ness, where much of the talk would be of a conver- sational character, and not a place merely for the pur- pose of rhetoric and debate. The late Lord Chief Justice Cockburn once de- clared prophetically that in the New Courts of Justice he should never sit; but he was at that time of so advanced an age as to render the truth of his prog- nostication more than probable. It could, however, scarcely be anticipated that the same would be said of a judge who was elevated to the Bench only this year at the age of fifty-four-a time of life when the successful lawyers of the past generation were beginning to seize the flood-tide of fortune. For instance, Lord St. Leonards, at his death a few years ago, was 94; Lord Lyndhurst was 90; Lord Brougham was 89; Lord Campbell, 81; Lord Chelmsford, 84; Lord Hatherley, 80. Many other examples of legal longevity might be recorded; and both the profession and the public were alike startled at the premature removal of the latest appointment to the Court of Appeal. The selection of Sir John Holker for that distinguished post by his. political opponents was a tribute to his great worth, and there general regret at the sudden closing of a career which promised to combine such useful and excellent work. Amongst the numerous organizations which have come into existence within the past year or so is the Women's Protection and Provident League, its opera- tion being suggested by the overplus population of women, (as shown by the census of 1881,) who have to make their own way in the world. One of its objects is to procure the appointment of women as inspectors or sub-inspectors of factories, in which females are employed. Lcrd Shaftesbury is among those who have heartily taken up the movement. It is argued in its support that it is only common fairness to women that they should be allowed to inspect those workshops and factories where numbers of their own sex are employed. The principle is beginning to be more and more recognised that ladies might very well be appointed to positions the duties of which involve the superintendence and care of women. For forty-five years a lady has ruled over these realms, and this fact has had something to do with breaking down the prejudice which so long existed against the general employment of women in positions for which they are naturally fitted. Already has the boating and bathing season been characterised by the loss of several lives, and as the summer heat increases, unless the experience of pre- vious years should be happily falsified, the number of fatal accidents from this cause is likely to be propor- tionately augmented. The number of deaths by drowning in the United Kingdom within a single year ii a startling chronicle. The latest return showed that within twelve months 136 persons lost their lives by the upsetting of pleasure boats and 423 through bathing. The number of rescues in the two classes of fatalities were 54 and 146 res- pectively. Although in proportion to the populations of our great cities the fatal accidents through these causes are few, there can be little doubt that the art of swimming is in a backward condition. It is true its importance is beginning to be more generally re- cognised but it is obvious that while football and cricket are deservedly encouraged, swimming, besides being an equal healthful exercise with either, has the additional advantage of imparting an acquirement, which at any time in after life may prove of inesti- mable value. The progress of Great Paul" from Leicestershire to London was watched with much interest, and the satisfaction with which the news of its arrival in the metropolis was received, made up a testimony to the appreciation of the existence of a considerable diffi- culty, and the successful accomplishment of a great task. It was said of the late Mr. Brunei that rather than have no difficulties to overcome in the course of his professional career he would create them in order to show less gifted people how easily obstacles might be surmounted. But in this case there was no oceasion whatever to magnify the troubles surrounding the transport of this huge bell along mile after mile of country road to the capital, and the cheers which rose from the crowd whea it was safely deposited in St. Paul's Churchyard were but an echo of the feeling that England owes much of her preseBt position amongst the nations to the fact that her sons have endeavoured to perform great deeds and have succeeded. It is remarkable that St. Paul's, which for two centuries after its erection possessed no peal of bells, has now not only a peal of twelve, but the biggest bell in England. Hitherto the West- minster bell, at the Houses of Parliament, has possessed this distinction, and its sound can be heard for miles. It is doubtful whether Great Paul" will excel it in the distance at which it will be heard for the bell in the Westminster Clock Tower is much higher, and its notes, when once flung out upon the air, have free circulation far above the roof of any structure whatsoever. The Clock Tower of St. Paul's is much lower; consequently the sound of the bell will not be so well able to escape from amid the mass of buildings surrounding the Cathedral. Before the House of Commons rose for the Whitsun- tide recess, one of its Select Committees was engaged in inquiring into a subject which had previously been the cause of considerable excitement upon the Stock Exchange. This session several Bills were promoted in Parliament for establishing private companies whose object it was to supply the electric light; the Board of Trade then came forward with a plan of its own, and all the schemes were referred to a Select Committee, which will recommend the adoption of a public bill dealing with the whole question of this means of lighting on the lines of the suggestions thrown out by the Board of Trade. From the financial commotion over the electric lighting shares which has taken place upon the Stock Exchange, there seems to be a general con. currence of opinion that a comprehensive change is imminent in the appliances for the production of artificial light. Parliament Square, the ornamental garden imme- diately contiguous to the Palace of the Legislature and to Westminster Abbey, has in recent years had ome very excellent additions made to its statues. Mr. Canning, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Palmerston, and Lord Derby are amongst these and most of them are represented as looking towards the scene of their legislative labours and oratorical triumphs. In this list Lord Palmerston was singular in having been a member of the House of Commons during the amazing term of sixty years. To these statues is now to be added that of a statesman who was a colleague of dome of those above mentioned, and an opponent of others. Lord Beaconsfield's parliamentary career extended over forty-four years, and he was twice Prime Minister of England. His statue for Parliament Square has been completed. It is ten feet in height, and represents the noble earl in his robes as a peer of the realm. The Memorial Committee have expressed their perfect satisfaction with the manner in which the work has beenfexecuted. Another post otnee improvement which is being carried out in London is worth a passing notiea. In many towns upon the Continent there has long been a simple apparatus in pillar letter boxes for indicating the time at which the next clearance would be made. Information of the same kind is now supplied in many of the pillar boxes in the metropolis. Hitherto the public have had to be content with the setting out of the hours of collection on the white plae on the face of each box; but it sometimes happened that the postman, should he be fleet of foot, and not particular to a few minutes, cleared the box before time; whereas if he suffered from rheumatism the chances were in favour of his being late. But there was no absolute certainty over the matter; and no one who had not actually seen the postman clear the box could be sure whether he had passed or not..Now, however, in many qaees, and more especially fit the City, after each cW^frnce there is a moveable plate let into the front of Ut box- Next collection at 5.30," or whatever the hour may be, and this is a great convenience to all classes. The reform is a small one, but appreciable. The establishment of a. Parcel Post is now what the publid £ ,re waiting for, and which they would welcome as supplying a want which has long been felt, more especially by i-he trading community. So far as the metropolis was concerned, there could not have been a more favourable day than Whit-Mon- day for ont-door enjoyment. A moderate breeze, the sun not too hot, and about sixteen hows of daylight— what mors could be desiredfby those who went out in the morning fer the pur pot-e of speeding a long day of recreation It bat often been said that whatever London doe", it does well. See it at its work, and note the business energy of the city man at noon; and any one would be convinced that whatsoever he findeth to do, that he doeth with all his might. Again, when London re- solves to take holiday, it does 80 really and truly. Cheapside on such an occa3ion is as quiet as though it were Sunday; and with the closing of Ex. change and Mart, the busy toilers pour out of town for the day. No provincial town keeps Bank Holi- day in anything like the same proportion as it is ob- served in Lor don, where the people work and enjoy themselves with equal heartiness. The weather this time was so favourable that every open space within anything like an easy distance of the capital was crowded; and this applies more particularly to Epping Forest, so recently declared by the Queen to be open to her subjects for all time.

THE PROPOSED VISIT OF CETYWAYO TO ENGLAND. In the House of Commons, on May 25, Mr. Dillwyn asked whether any promise had been made to Cetywayo, on behalf of the Imperial Government, that he should visit England and, if so, whether the proposed visit had been abandoned with his consent. Mr. Courtney, in reply, said In the absence of my hon. friend the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, I have to state that in September last Sir Hercules Robinson was directed to inform Cetywayo that her Majesty's Government were disposed to entertain his request to visit England and would con- sider what arrangements could be made to meet his wish. Government must exercise their own discre- tion as to the time, which is at present considered in- opportune and they do not hold themselves bound to allow the visit if it would appear likely to produce consequences dangerous to the peace of Zululand. (Hear, hear.) The Times comments upon Mr. Courtney's reply to Mr. Dillwyn's question as to the proposed visit of Cetywayo to England in a leader, from which we make the following extracts The general alarm which has been felt in Natal and the Cape Colony at the prospect of Cetywayo's visit to England and at the results expected to follow from ic will be dispelled by the answer given yesterdav by Mr. Courtney to a question on the subject from Mr. Dillwyn. Mr. Dillwyn asked whether any promise had been made to Cetywayo that he should visit England, and, ifso, whether theproposed visithadbeenabandoned with Cetywayo's consent. Mr. Courtney, in reply, admitted that in September last Cetywayo had been informed that her Majesty's Government were disposed to entertain his request to visit England, and would consider what arrangements could be made to meet his wish but he added that they must exercise their own discretion as to the time of the visit, that the present time was considered inopportune for it, and that the visit would not be allowed at all if it appeared likely to produce consequences dangerous to the peace of Zululand. In other words, the visit has been indefinitely put off, and it will be allowed, if at all, at such a time and on such conditions that no significance can be attached to it, and no mischief can be looked for from it. lhat time, it is clear, has not yet come, and is not likely to come soon. If it ever does come, there will be no longer the same eagerness felt by Cetywayo and his English advocates that he should pay a visit to these shores. While the settle- ment of Zululand is still recent, and before the cou*try has had time to come to rest and to acquiesce finally in the sovereignty of its new chiefs, there is room for hope or fear that grave disturbances may arise and that present arrangements may be upset. It is with a view to such contingencies as these that Cetywayo's visit to England has been planned. It would do much to promote disorder, and it would put Cetywayo in a good position for turning it to his own account, when it did happen. Of course, the ex-Monarch of Zululand has friends and adherents among the people whom he lately ruled. Equally of course, the pre- sent chiefs have plenty of disaffected subjects who would welcome a change. These are the common conditions under which government is carried on in every country in the world. It would be strange in- deed if they were not to be found in a turbulent un- settled country, the abode of savage tribes, strangers to the art of peace, and owing no traditionary rever- ence to the rulers under whom they have been placed. In such a country the elements of disturbance are always rife. They ssarcely need in Zululand the special encouragement which Cetywayo's visit to England would have given them. For let us remember what this visit would have meant, and what, in point of fact, it was assumed to mean by those who have advocated it and by those who have opposed it. It was by no empty curiosity on Cetywayo's part, by no random longing for a change of scene, that the wish was prompted. The ex-King of Zululand would have come among us as an injured man, the representa- tive of a cause which was hopeless only as long as public feeling in England was antagonistic to it. He would have met with the reception to which his rank and his misfortunes would have been held to entitle him. His wrongs would have been discussed at public meetings in London and in the provinces, and would have been loudly pro- claimed from one platform after another, until the whole country was ringing with them. Whether he would have said much for himself may be a little doubtful, but he would have fonnd cham- pions in abundance ready and eager to speak for him, and to demand and obtain votes of confidence on his bahalf. In this way there would have been a general excitement created, of no real value as a sign of public opinion, but readily admitting of being so repre- sented. Englishmen would have taken it for no mure than it was worth. They know too well how easy it is in such a case to get up the semblance of a national stir. But in Zululand and in every part of South Africa the news would arrive of Cetywayo's royal progress and of the favour with which he had been received. The inference would at once be made that England was committing herself to his cause, and that his return in triumph to Zululand was speedily to be looked for. In this way the main object of Cetywayo's visit would have been attained. Disaffection and disorder in Zululand would have gathered strength from the en- couragement given them in this country. Then would have come a demand that Cetywayo should be restored as the best security for the peace of a country which his successors had shown themselves not competent to rule. These consequences, dangerous to the peace of Zululand, would, by Mr. Courtney's admission, be likely to follow at the present time from Cetywayo's projected visit to England. But if they are likely now, they were no less likely last September, when the request put forward by Cetywayo was favourably entertained, and when the Government were consider- ing the arrangements which could be made for meeting it. There could have been no great difficulty in set. tling these. It was hardly necessary that a Cabinet Council should meet and should debate by what ship Cetywayo's passage should be secured, and how many of his wives should be sent over with him. The only dispute could be whether he was to come to England as a State prisoner or as a free man, whether he was to be paraded up and down the country in charge of a keeper or to be allowed a discretion as to his movements and his choice of attendants. The result in either case would have been much the same. It would have been impossible to have brought him over to this country and to have kept him shut up, without even the measure of grace which is granted to a ticket-cf-leave man. The public sense of justice would have been too much outraged by such treatment as this, and the public curiosity would not have endured to be baffled by it. He would have been too much in request to be kept always in the background and sub- jected to restraints for which no plausible reason could be given. It would have been more kind to have re- fused him permission to visit England than to have granted him his visit on such terms of mere mockery. The Government must have known this when they gavetheirprovisionalconsenttotheviait. If it was practicable nine months ago, it is no less practicable now. If there are good reasons against it now, there were equally good reason against it when it was first broached. We can hardly suppose that the Govern- ment were not aware what the visit meant and to what use it would be turned. If so, they were alone in their ignorance. The little band of enthusiasts who were waiting to give Cetywayo a welcome, and the far larger body ol sober-minded persons whe were apprehensive about the results of his visits, were neither of them in any doubt as to what he himself meant by it or as to the designs it was intended to forward. Are we to assume, there- fore, that the Government were a party to these, and that they were not unwilling to allow themselves to seem to be forced to restore Cetywayo in compliance with the national will and as the necessary conse- quence of disorders which they were taking the best step to promote ? Or are we to say simply that they did not know what they were doing, and that they have now changed their minds in view of results which they did not desire and which were apparent from the first to everybody, except themselves ? We have not the right to restore Cetywayo if others and not ourselves are to bear the consequences of our act, and in face, too, of the very strongly ex- pressed opinion of the States which would be most affected by it. Cetywayo, there can be no doubt, was looked upon as a dangerous neighbour. He had the power to do harm. He was the ruier of a warlike nation, with an army at his comrr and which it cost us no slight effort to overcome. It would be a little hard on Natal and on the white population of South Africa if we were to bring back the former state of things, and then to take our departure and leave the colonists alone to deal with them. We do not the less condemn the Zulu war because we are not unwilling now to take what advantage we can of its results, inadequate as we deem them.

CROP PROSPECTS IN THE UNITED STATES. Intelligence from New York says that the reports of the prospects of the crops continue to be favourable. Much sugar land has been planted with cotton, and the yield of cotton is confidently expected to exceed the last, while it may approximate the largest known. The cold of May, which is hurtful to other ciops, is positively beneficial to the winter wheat, as it killed the bugs and gave vigour to the straw without rank ness. There has been no increase of the acreage of this crop, possibly a slight decrease but the yield is expected to be larger than that of 1881. The harvest has begun in Texas and in the majority of the Southern States it will commence in June in gjore northern latitudes not later than July. The ipring wheat is a full acreage the season is late, and the crop promises to surpass last year's, especially in the quality of ttu. cjrn. The harvest will be fully a fortnight Jate, Tobacco is not very promising at present.

OIL ON BREAKING SEAS. Some experiments have been made at the site of the proposed harbour of refuge at Dungeness Point, by Captain the Hon. H. W. Chetwynd, R.N., district in. spector of lifeboats, in the direction of testing the value of oil in calming rough water. There was a sufficiently heavy sea on at the time of the experiment to endanger a small open boat, and the Dungeness lifeboat, the David Halett, was launched, and anchored in five fathoms of water. A small canvas bag, containing about half a gallon of oil, and pierced with several holes with a large needle, was attached to the anchor as a buoy. This had the effect of producing a space of still water spreading from the buoy to a distance of about twenty yards wide, and of considerable length. Every breaking sea that reached the oily surface immediately fell dead, and passed by in a harmless roll. Some were seen to reach the oily surface, the ^lm8 °? eac^ s^e sPace continuing to break, while the part that encountered it came on unbroken, and apparently not so high as the breaking part on each side. The boat was then brought in and anchored close at the back of the break on the beach, to try the effect of the oil on that part, but the quantities of oil available though sufficient to break the sea outside, did not have sufficient power closer to the shore. These trials are considered satisfactory, but not conclusive, and it is stated that they will be continued.

In connection with the subject of "Oiling the Waves," the Nineteenth Century says :— Every lifeboat should be fitted with a proper oil- tarik, to be kept always full, and so planned that the crew should have no trouble beyond that of burning on the tap at the moment of need, when the oil sUbuld drip of its own accord. A writer commends the sug- gestion to the builders of lifeboats, and especially to the consideration of the National Lifeboat Institu- tion. And he further urges that the Board of Trade should insist on a sufficient supply of oil, for this special purpose, being put on board every ship, as a necessary part of her outfit. Also, that some philan. thropic society should issue a pamphlet containing a collection of all the most remarkable instances on record, of the action of oil on breakers for gratuitous distribution among all seafaring men. There can be no doubt whatever that the adoption of these simple precautions would save many precious lives and valuable cargoes, and therefore the indifference with which the subject has hitherto been ignored can only be charactised as culpable neglect. With regard to the objection which naturally presents itself, that the well-filled oil-tank would add a considerable item of dead weight to a boat, the answer is obvious, namely, that the labour-to say nothing of the danger of battling with the waves would be so enormously lessened that the mere weight would ap- pear a comparatively trifling drawback. It might even be found that any accidental leakage of oil might tend to keep the boats water-tight, at all times, Another simple and most practical method of apply- ing this invaluable safeguard has been suggested, namely, that every lifebuoy should have a small bag of oil attached to it, which could be punctured with a knife at the moment of throwing it to a drowning man Anyone who has seen a poor fellow fall overboard, even when quickly followed by a well-directed lifebuoy knows how uncertain are the chances of ever recovering either. How every eye is strained to descry such puny objects on the great waste of heaving, foam-flecked waters If a vessel is ruuning before a sharp breeze, the lifebuoy and the swimmer will be left far behind, ere she can be stayed and a boat lowered and it is hard indeed to mark the exact spot on that wearily monotonous expanse of ever-moving ridges, where the search must begin. Far different would be the case were the lifebuoy accompanied by a dripping oil-bag. Everyone on the vessel would see the smooth surface formed all around it, and not only would the boat go direct to the spot, without the unnecessary loss of a moment, but the poor swimmer would have a far better chance of reaching the life-preserver, and would moreover be protected from the breaking waves. Yet another means has been suggested by which this precious quality of oil might be made available, namely, its use in shells, so constructed as to burst on striking the water, and which might be fired from mortars, placed on the beach so as either to fall outside the breakers, or by subduing them to facilitats the launch of the lifeboat or to fall to windward of a wrecked vessel, and so enable the lifeboat to approach her in comparative safety. Surely the ingenuity which devises such intricate mechanism for destruc- tive shells and infernal machines, might contrive some method by which the oil shell might be sately despatched on its errand of mercy. Though the cast- ing of oil on troubled waters has been so persistently regarded merely as a poetical figure of speech, notes of its actual use have occasionally appeared in books ot travel. For instance, it has long been known that when the nsbermen of Joisbon find the surf on the bar of the Tagus unusually rough, they empty a bottle or two of oil into the sea, and thereby smooth the waves so effectually that they can pass the breakers in safety. But no one ever took that hint as the embryo of some grand scheme for overcoming the horrors of landing in the surf at Madras, or at many another port where traffic is endangered by the fierceness of the breakers, j

OPENING OF A PUBLIC PARK FOR LEICESTER. On Monday, in bright sunshine, their Royal High- nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Leicester and opened the Abbey-park, which has been provided for the recreation of the 130.000 inhabitants of the town. The park, which has been laid out by the corporation, at a cost of about £50,000, is about seventy acres in extent, in addition to which there is a large area to be laid out as a cricket and recreation ground. It is situate on the banks of the river Soar, at the northern end of the town, overlooking the ruins of Leicester Abbey, and is but part of an extensive engineer- ing scheme designed by Mr. Hawksley and Mr. Stephens, the late borough surveyors, for the relief of the town and corporation lands from flooding, Indeed, the site of the park was a dismal swamp all the year round. The extensive engineering works, which have taken a number of years to execute, have included the widening, straightening, and deepening of the river channel for about a mile, the construction of extensive massive stone weirs and locks, and the lowering of the bed of a canal 3^ft., so as to provide a free outfall for two tributaries of the Soar discharging immense quantities of storm water. A handsome stone bridge of three spans has been thrown across the widened river at the Abbey, another at the new en- trance to the park, and a third is being built. Geologi- cally and historically, the spot is full of interest, and during the progress of the works the town museum has been enriched by some remarkably fine specimens of elephants' teeth, bones of the rhinoceros, and remains of many other animals found in the gravel beds. At the principal entrance are two Early English lodges, and a grand carriage drive sweeps right and left. The enormous mass of material excavated from the river has been utilized to form high banks and to give an undu- lating and varied appearance to what was previously flat ground. In the centre of the grounds and at the head of a large artificial lake is a high mound, surmounted by large blocks of rockwork. On the opposite side is a pavilion surrounded by flower- beds and lawns for croquet, tennis, bowling, and archery. Upwards of 3 5,000 trees, many of them of the choicest description, have been planted, besides many thousand shrubs. The park was designed by Messrs. Barron and Son, Elvaston Nuroóeries, and the engineering was carried out by Mesais. Benton and Woodewiss. Although Leicester in the c-mrse of its long and checkered history, has had many Royal visitors, the old Roman town in modern times has been but rarely visited by members of the Royal House but probably neither when Parliaments met within its walls nor when King Richard III. set out with his retinue to the battle of Bosworth was there such a display of enthu- siasm as was witnessed en Monday. The welcome accorded to thtir Royal Highnesses could not have been more hearty or more spontaneous. The streets were elaborately decorated, and in the line of route, which was lined with crimson Venetian masts, there were eleven triumphal arches, of more or less elaborate design and construction. The whole cost amouting to several thousand pounds, was met by voluntary subscriptions collected in the course of a few days. On their arrival at the Leicester Railway Station, the Prince and Princess of Wales were received by the Mayor (Alderman Chambers), the Mayoress Air. John Storey (the town clerk), and the members of the reception committee. Their Royal Highnesses were conducted to carriages in the station yard, and the procession moved off amidst deafening cheers. On reaching the market-place their Royal High- nesses met with a magnificent reception from the 20,000 people assembled, while 6,000 children sang God bless the Prince of Wales." Their Royal High- nesses were evidently delighted with the warmth of their reception. Earl Ferrers, from a stand erected for the accommodation of the masonic brethren, pre- sented the Prince of Wales with an addiess of loyal and fraternal welcome, to which the Prince of Wales handed a reply in writing. On reaching the park their Royal Highnesses ascended the mound overlooking the ruins of Leicester Abbey, where Cardinal Wolsey sought rest on his way to London, and where he died. This ruin pointed out, their Royal Highnesses returned to a slope, where the Mayoress (Mrs. Chambers) presented the Princess of Wales with a silver spade on behalf of the ladies of Leicester, with which her Royal Highness planted an oak tree in commemoration of their visit. The Mayor then conducted their Royal Highnesses to a platform in the American garden, where a large and dis- tinguished ccmpany had assembled. The Mayor having welcomed their Royal Highnesses' and thanked them for their gracious acceptance of the invitation, described the progress of the works which have resulted in the formation of the park, and presented the Prince of Wales with a very handsome gold key as a memento of the occasion. The Prince of Wales then said, I declare this People's Park now open." This announcement was received with loud cheers. Their Royal HighnesEes then adjourned to the pavilion, which had been elaborately fitted up as re- tiring-rooms. The Mayor subsequently entertained their Royal Highnesses and a distinguished company at luncheon in a large marquee, and the Prince, in responding to the toast of his health, said that when next he saw the Queen he would not fail to inform her Majesty of the magnificent and enthusiastic receptioh they had given to the Prir.cess and himself.

A MODERN ARCADIA. According to a paper lately communicated to the French Geographical Society by Dr. Le Bon, there exists, high up among the Carpathian Mountains of Galicia, in a district known as Tatras, one of the most primitive and unsophisticated communities in Europe. The population of this remote region numbers several hundred thousand individuals. They neither use strong drink nor eat animal food. Riches have no charm for them. Though poor they are content, and though their diet is spare and monotonous they enjoy perfect health and live long lives. The food of these Arcadians is principally oats, either simply boiled or ground and converted into cakes. During four or five months of the year those of them who accompany their flocks and herds to the mountain pastures live exclusively on goat-milk whey, of which each man consumes from three to four litres daily. Practically, therefore, these goatherds live on the sugar and the mineral salts con- tained in the whey. They do not consider this regimen a privation, and, says Dr. Le Bon, who has been amongst them, when they return to the valleys at the end of the season they are as strong and as vigorous as when they set out. The entire race of Podhalians (as the people of Tatras call themselves) are remarkable for their vigour and energy, and are incontestably superior, physically and intellectually, to the neighbouring populations. The lives of the Podhalians are easy and tranquil, not because of the abundance of their resources—for they are a poor people, inhabiting an arid region-but because their needs are few, and they are free from the- craving for stimulants which is the curse of working people in other parts of Europe. Their physique is of a remarkable purity they are quick of apprehen- sion and frank in manner. Though far from being highly cultured, the Podhalians are poets and artists by nature. They are fond of dancing, and often, when the labours of the day are over, meet to indulge in their favourite diversion. They are born improvisa- tors, too, and many of them can sing their own songs set to music of their own composition. Their poetry, says Dr. Le Bon, is tender and artless in sentiment, generous and elevated in style-qualities which he attributes to the "wealth of spontaneous resources" possessed by natures that know neither violent pas- sions nor unnatural excitements.

THE RELATIONS BETWEEN CAPITAL AND LABOUR. There were several thousand pleasure seekers at Wilton Park, near Salisbury, on Monday, the Earl of Pembroke having thrown open the whole of his magni- fioent grounds to the public. His Lordship presided at the annual dinner of the Wilts Friendly Society, at the Pembroke Arms, Wilton, and in proposing Success to the Society," said that indirectly they benefited themselves from these societies, which had not received that amount of notice which perhaps they deserved. As they were aware, all over the civilised world, the relations between capital and labour, between employers and employed, were considerably strained, There was a very natural feeling amongst the working classes all over the Continent and all over the civilised world that they did not share suffi- ciently in the profits of the labours of their hands. This feeling was taking various forms, and was as- suming a dangerous attack upon the capital class of the country. Such a manifestation of feeling was extremely dangerous and mischievous, because if the whole of the capital of the capitalists were confiscated to-morrow the working classes would not be better off, but worse off. It wuuld mean that their savings had been dissipated, that capital had been got rid of—by which capital enterprises were undertaken and employment for labour was found. His Lordship expressed the belief that the arrange- ment which would effectually put an end to this anta- gonism between capital and labour was co-operation, and expressed also a belief that the day would soon come when workmen would, by being mem- bers of the Co-operative Industrial Societies, be their own employers. He instanced the Rochdale Pioneers, who commenced with the small capital of £28, and had increased their business to thousands. Such societies as the Wilts Friendly were, he said, training the working classes for the practical manage- ment of financial business, of which they had hitherto been ignorant, and they met with his very cordial support, l Hon. Sidney Herbert, M.P., presided at a similar gathering in the neighbourhood.

THE DEPRECIATION OF OUR GOLD CURRENCY. The Daily News remarks ;-Some future Chancellor of the Exchequer will be obliged to face the problem what to do with our gold currency. It is fast becoming light gold, and the question will arise before long, who is to bear the loss which its lightness will occasion. It is thirty-eight years since a serious attempt was made to withdraw the light gold coins from circulation; and most middle-aged people recollect the perpetual loss and annoyance caused by the depreciation of the value of sovereigns and half. sovereigns. Most of the loss fell on the public, and sovereigns were taken at the banks at a value varying from a penny to threepence or fourpence a coin less than that which it nominally bore. The Master of the Mint, in his Report for last year, says that our gold circulation is almost a hundred millions; of which fifty per cent. is light; and the deterioration in value is about three. pence in the pound. To call in this gold and re- coin it would involve a loss in value of £650,000, in addition to the expense of recoinage. A sove- reign becomes light after about eighteen years' wear, and should be then withdrawn and re- coined. But nothing of the kind has been done for more than twice that period and now the problem is becoming urgent. The nation cannot go on perma- nently using light gold; and the question to be settled is whether the £650,000 shall be charged to the Exchequer, or shall be drawn, as a smaller sum was in 1842-3-4, by mulcts of twopence, threepence, or four. pence on the owners of gold pieces. The obvious course seems to us to be to make the charge a public one. It is not fair to make the last holder of a sovereign or a half-sovereign pay the cost of all the wear and tear of twenty or thirty years of use.

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS. "The meanest job I ever undertook," said a Colorado man, was that of apologizing to a widow on behalf of a vigilance committee which had hanged her husband by mistake. It was hard to find just the excuse that would satisfy her." A trusted friend may be a good thing in his way, but if the trusted business is allowed to go too far it is mighty liable to bust the bank." Mary, many lives are fully described by this pithy dispatch sent from the West to a Wall-street specu- lator "The gold mine which you bought turns out to be a lead one The editor of a Western paper suggests that persons sending in big eggs will please accompany them by several ordinary-sized ones, not for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. A Spanish proverb has it that Man is the child of his own deeds." The American version should be Man is often the slave of his own mortgages," A Wisconsin woman who was lost in the woods for three days, said she didn't suffer so very much, but was greatly annoyed by her absence of mind in not bring- ing along a small looking glasrc. Next time you shiver at having a tooth pulled, think of Joseph Brooks of Colorado, He lay still and let a bear gnaw his arm off, and thereby saved the rest of his body. Come to read the paragraph again, it was a wooden arm but Joseph was not to blame for that. The father of a St. Louis bride presented his son- in-law with eighty thousand bead of cattle. Papa, dear," exclaimed his daughter when she heard of it, that was so kind of you to make such a gift Charley's awfully fond of ox-tail soup "A man would be a heap better off ef he was as perticler 'bout do whiskey he drinks as he is 'bout de water," remarks an observant old darkey. A pretentious person said to the leading man of a country village, "How would a lecture by me on Mount Vesuvius suit the inhabitants of your village?" Very well, sir, very well indeed," he answered "a lecture by you on Mount Vesuvius would suit them a great deal better than a lecture by you in this village, sir." An Indian teacher was instructing his class in natural history. "To what class of birds does the hawk belong ? he asked. To the birds of prey," was the reply. And to what class do quail belong ?" There was a pause. The teacher repeated the ques- tion, Where does the quail belong ? On toast," yelled out the hungry boy at the foot of the class. A ragged New York bootblack looking very gloomy, last week was crying, "Shine yer boots; shine'em up for a. cent." He got a customer, who asked him why he only asked a cent. "Because Im hungry," he said. He got a quarter for shining that pair of boots. Oh, he caught you, did he, said a bystander, "You're the third man he's hooked already." And the boy was setting his face into a glooKiy look to trap another victim. In getting out of a tram-car he happened to stum- ble over the foot of a young lady who was sitting next the door. The damsel, com pressing her brow into an awe-inspiring frown, ejaculated, "You clumsy fellow!" Many men would have looked foolish and apologised, but this one was equal to the occasion. My dear young lady," he exclaimed, "you should have feet large enough to be seen, and then they wouldn't be trodden upon.

Last week the import of sheep from the United States was exceedingly large, and other items of meat sup- ply were also above the average. The totals were 1,131 cat- tle, 2,651 sheep, 2,333 quarters of beef, and 72 carcases of njqtton;

IJtrscdlaroints Jtrfelltgmtt JIOMF FOREIGN, ANLP, C0SQNJ.A&, HIGH LIFE.-The highest spot on the globe inhabited by human beings is the Buddhist cloister of Hanle, Thibet, where twenty-one priests live at an altitude of 16,000 feet. The monks of St. Bernard, whose monastery is 8,177 feet high; are obliged to descend frequently to the valleys below in order to obtain relief from the asthma induced by the rarity of the atmosphere about their mountain eyrie. At the end of ten years' service at the monastery they are com- pelled to change their level. OBSERVING AN ANCIENT CUSTOM.-At Corby, near Kettering, the great Pole Fair, held once every twenty years, to cemmemorate che charter granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1585, and confirmed by Charles II. in 1682, to the men and tenants of the ancient demesne of Corby, was proclaimed on Monday morning at four o'clock. The rector was carried in mock state to the outskirts of the village, where he read the charter. Afterwards he was placed in the stocks, and liberated on paying a toll. All the male residents of the place were similarly 'I'M treated, being fetched from their homes if they did not appear. Barriers were placed at each entrance to the villige, all visitors being required to pay toll. Those who were discovered without Pole tickets were placed in the stocks until the rights of the men of Corby were satisfied. A RESCUE AT SEA.-The Times has published the following letterSir,—I, the undersigned, on behalf of myself and crew, desire to return our heartfelt thanks to Captain Kirkbride, of the British barque Melanesia, of Liverpool, for his humanity in rescuing us from our vessel which sank after a collision :n the South Atlantic during a strong wind and heavy sea on March 27, also for the kindness we have received from him during the passage to Que^nstown.—J. H. JANSSEN, late Master of the German brig Jacobine." "CROWNING THE ROSIERE.The ceremony of crowning the Rosiere was observed at Nanterre on Sunday, amid the usual rejoicings, Mdlle. Marie Bey, a young dressmaker, being this year the happy recipient of the traditional watch and chain, earrings, and purse of 500f. The Mayor extolled the virtues of the new Rosiere, who was duly escorted to her home by the famous Pompiers de Nanterre, the local brass band, and a battalion of youthful warriors, in all the glory of their brand new uniforms. A ball of the Mairie closed the festivities, which attracted a large number of visitors from Paris. A SILVER WEDDING.—On Friday in last week was celebrated the silver wedding of the Earl and Countess Stradbroke, the occasion being made one of general re- joicing on the estate. The Earl and Countess were present at the festivities, and, in responding to the toast of his health, Lord Stradbroke, who is now eighty-eight years of age, said he could not long live to be among them, but he wished them all well now and in time to come. EMIGRATION OF Boys TO CANADA.-During the present week the Rev. Lord Archibald Douglas, the director of St. Viaoent's Home for Boys, Harrow-road, London, will leave England for Canada with a large number of boys who have been inmates of the institu- tion. The final destination of the young emigrants is Ottawa, where they will be placed by Lord Archi- bald Douglas with farmers, who have employment ready for them. The present scheme of boy-emigra- tion is being carried out by means of money from a fund for this purpose which Cardinal Manning has placed at the disposal of the directors of St. Vincent's Home. The boys selected for emigration are those who have been found not suited for trades but a con- siderable number of boys will remain in the heme en- gaged with their trades in the workshops. During the absence of Lord Archibald Douglas in Canada, St. Vincent's Home will be in the charge of his sister, Lady Gertrude Douglas. PRACTISING.—An old gentleman, finding a coupel of his nieces fencing with broomsticks, said, "Come, come, my dears, that kind of accomplishment will not help you to get husbands." "I know it uncle," re- sponded one of the girls as she gave a lunge but it will help us to keep our husbands in order when we have 'em." _8 THE EXPLANATION.—"Now," said the justice to the witness, "'you will please tell precisely how it happened." "Yes, sir I'll try. The prisoner and that man were eating dinner at the same table, and they got to quarrelling, when the prisoner just up with a dab of mashed potatoes and hit that other man on the head with it." "Do you, sir," said the justice sternly, "pretend to tell the court that a dab of mashed potatoes even when thrown with the greatest violence, can make a gash of five inches long on a man's head, and knock him senseless? If you trifle with the court you will be locked up." Judge, I reckon I forgot to say that when the prisoner threw the dab of mashed potatoes at the man, he forgot to first take the dab out of the dish." HUNG BY ACCIDENT.-In London, last Saturday, Mr. W. Carter, held an inquest on the body of Edward James Fuller, aged 13, residing at 61, Sumner-street, Southwark-bridge-road, who met his death by hanging on the Tuesday night previous. From the evidence of Mrs. Mildred, the deceased's grandmother, it transpired that on the night in question the lad went up to bed about 10.30, and she followed him shortly after, but could not get into his room. The door was forced open, and she discovered the deceased suspended by the throat to a hat peg behind the door and quite dead. Mr. H. Searing, the master of Mrs. New. comen's School, gave the deceased an excellent character during the five years he had been in the school. The Coroner, in summing up, said that there appeared to be no reason for thinking that the de- ceased had committed suicide, but everything pointed to the sad event being the result of some foolish play- fulness on his part. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental hanging." BATHING FATALITY.—While bathing earJy on Mon- day morning at the mouth of the mill-stream running from the Thames at Surley-hall, near Windsor, Mr. E. Vaughan Cullen, a young gentleman from London, was drowned in the presence of three of his com- panions, who had been "camping out" with him on an adjacent meadow. Mr. Cullen, who could not swim, being carried away by the current, they were unable to save him, and although men and a punt were immediately sent to the spot by Mr. Pennicott, the landlord of Surley-hall Hotel, the body was not recovered till it was taken out of the river by the watermen of the Eton and Windsor Humane Society. The deceased was only twenty-one years of age. DEATH OF AN AMERICAN GENEALOGIST.-On Fri- day in last week Colonel Joseph Lemuel Chester, the American genealogist, expired at his residence in Southwark Park-road, London. The deceased was 61 years of age, and had spent the last 25 years in England. He was a gentleman of independent means, and came over to this country for the purpose of tracing up the genealogy of the Pilgrim Fathers who left England in tha Mayflower. Some idea of the great labour he went through for this purpose may be gathered from the fact that he obtained a written copy of the parish register of every church in Eng- land and carefully indexed the whole. His researches at Westminster Abbey excited the warmest inte- rest of the late Dean Stanley, at whose instance, and with the cordial approbatiun of the Chapter, he published in 1876 a work entitled "The Marriage, Baptism, and Burial Registers of the Collegiate Church or Abbey of St. Peter, Westminster." which was dedicated to the Queen and was presented to Her Majesty by Dean Stanley. The deceased- besides being a Fellow of the Historical Society, was also a member of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society, and of numerous other historical societies in the United States. Last year the hono- rary degree of D.C.L. was conferred on him by the University of Oxford, He was one of the founders of the Harleian Society, and was a well-known con- tributor to various periodicals. The American Minister, Mr. Lowell, was one of those who visited him during his brief illness, and regret will be felt on both sides of the Atlantic at the news of his death, which was caused by internal cancer. THE EABMKC3 OF GOLD DIGGERS.-The statistics of tl. colony of Victoria, prepared by Mr. Hayter, the Government statist, show how completely the business of gold digging has been deprived of its old feverish excitement, and has subsided into a regular pursuit offering what in the Colonies must be con- sidered very humble remuneration. The value of the gold obtained in 1880 per miner was a trifle under E82, representing only about twenty ounces but as Mr. Hayter points out the common assumption that this indicates the digger's "average earnings" is a fallacy, the fact being that a very large proportion are merely em- ployes of companies and others using expensive plant, and are therefore working at wages which necessarily average considerably less. Yet the number of men who are content to follow this branch of Colonial in- dustry amounts to 38,568, which, though much less than the 63,787 who were at work in 1869, is still a large number in a population of only about 800,000. These facts afford at least a sufficient answer to the old fears of depreciation in the value of gold owing to its supposed greatly diminished cost of production. A TALKING CANARY.—" N. W." writes to Land and W<t<er .-—A lady living at St. John's Wood is the possessor of a very remarkable canary, which she has brought up from the nest. The bird is of a pure breed, and not only speaks words, but sentences, in so clear a tone that if you did not see it you would think it was a human speaker with a sweet voice and accent. Between his conversation he breaks out.into melodious song. All who have heard this feathered prodigy pro- nounce him to be a perfect wonder; he is not at all shy or timid with strangers, I shall be glad to let any of your readers who are interested in him know where he may be seen. KIDNEY BEANS.—The Gardeners' Chronicle says :— Of these there are a great number of varieties, but among them all there are none equal to the scarlet- runner. London market gardtnera and others grow scarlet-runners in rows about a yard apart, without sticks but, freely as they bear when so treated, they afford the best results when allowed to climb in their own natural way up stakes, which should not be less than six feet high and if the bines are stopped once they branch out and produce a great number of blossoms. To get these to set freelv it is necessary that the ground be prepared before sowing by being trenched or dug very deep, so that the roots may be enabled to get well down and if the rows are then mulched by laying a good dressing of half-rotten manure along their sides, the plants will bear prodigious crops. To enable them to swell their poda without check or suffering they should be heavily watered at least once a week during hot dry weather, and if they can have a soaking of sewage occasionally all the better, as that will be a great help Ly the stimulating effect it will have. The most economical way of growing scarlet runners, so far as land is con- cerned, is to have the rows wide apart, and plant celery between, by doing which both are benefited as the beans are fully exposed to light and air and under such influence they are fruitful, and bear from base to summit. Thick seeding should be avoided as the plants only choke each other, and there is nothing gained by having them nearer than six inches, which is quite near enough, and in rich ground they may with advantage be planted even further apart than that. A sowing made at any time from now up to the middle of June will come on and continue in good bearing till destroyed by frost, I THE PROPORTION OF VOTERS TO POPULATION.— Over the whole of the United Kingdom the number of voters has increased during the past year by about U per cent., or from 3,077,489 to 3.134,801. But the I number of Irish voters has fallen off bv more than 3 per cent. since 1880, or from 231,536 to" 224,275. The average proportion of voters to population is about one in eleven (or exactly one in 11'2). But while on an average there is one seat in the House of Commons to about 535,000 persons, the actual distribution of seats presents the following anomalies :-England and Wales, with 83 per cent. of the population of the United Kingdom, return only 73 per cent. of the members of the House of Commons. Scotland, with 91 per cent. of the population, returns 8i per cent. of the House; and Ireland, with 7 per cent. of the population, returns 151 per cent. of the House of Commons. At the same time, the voters in Ireland are only about half as numerous in relation to her population as is the case in Great Britain, the ratio being 1 in 22, instead of 1 in lIt. Every Irish seat represents under 22,000 voters, while every British seat represents more than 50,000 voters. A DEVICE FOR INDUCING CHILDREN TO SAVE.— It is very difficult indeed to induce children to save money (says the St. James's Gazette). In vain is high interest promised to them by their anxious parents. They prefer getting rid at once of the-principal; and if they do not quite know how to spend it, they will lend it to a friend rather than keep it idly by them. The American children seem less disposed to economy than even our own and, in order to inspire them with a taste for hoarding, money-boxes are invented which, at each fresh deposit of a coin, do something to give the child pleasure, and thus recompense it, at least in seme degree, for the pain it feels at parting with ready cash. An American scientific paper publishes a description of a child's savings bank," just patented, which bears on one side of the slit for receiving money the figure of a chicken-stealer" leaning over a hen. coop, and on the other that of a dog. When a piece of money is dropped into the bank or box the dog "goes for" the chicken-stealer, who, suddenly remov- ing his hat, exhibits chickens within it, while at the same time chickens thrust their heads out from the coop. All this must be well worth a small piece of money which the ingenuous child without savings of its own would generally be able to get by praising the excellence of the performance to its parents' acquaintances. i O^EIl0NAUTI0AL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN.—In 1868 the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain held their first exhibition at the Crystal Palace. Inventors have thus been stimulated to such a degree that numerous experiments have been made, resulting in the principles of flight being better understood. It is proposed to hold another aeronautical exhibition in 1883, at which it is intended to offer prizes for a light motive power intended to convey a weight through the air; for the best form of aerial apparatus of dimensions equal to the conveyance of a man and any appliance for effecting aerial transport, whether by muscular or other power; for the best mechanical model which shall be made to fly sufficiently long to enable a decision to be formed as to its weight- carrying capacity and duration of flight with a con- tinuous power. THIEVING STARLINGS.—I have been much inte- rested lately in the various anecdotes of birds which have appeared in your columns, and send you an account of a theft by some starlings, which oocurred in my garden to-day. My wife gave out a quantity of lace to be washed, and it was spread on the lawn to dry. A thunderstorm coming on three hours after, the maid went out to bring the lace in, and, to her amazement, found it had all disappeared. After a fruitless search up and down the garden, her attention was attracted to something white waving from the top of a tall elm tree she at once recognised it as one of the missing articles, a piece of lace between two and three yards long. The gardener soon procured a ladder, and, on reaching the spot, discovered a starling's nest with two eggs in it, and the remainder of the lace all crammed into it. We often hear of the propensity that rooks and jackdaws have of appropriating different things, but I had no idea that starlings were so mis- chievously inclined, especially as they were not build- ing, and my residence is in the suburbs of the City, with houses in close proximity.-T. H. N. BARTLEY, in Land and Water. No WONDER Give you ten cents?" echoed a citizen who was halted on the street by a tramp- "why should I give you ten cents?"—"To buy a cork-screw," was the calm reply.—"And what on earth do you want of a cork-screw? To pull the cork from a beer bottle."—" I can't let you have it." —" Very well," said the tramp, as he turned away. Here I find a bottle of beer in the road. If I had a cork-screw I could drink the beer and sell the bottle for a nickel. But for want of ten cents I must break the neck, lose more or less beer, ruin the bottle, and like enough cut my throat on a piece of glass. It's no wonder that a poor man never gets along." PAUPER INTERMENTS.—A circular has been issued by the Local Government Board calling attention to the defective nature of existing arrangements for the burial of persons dying in workhouses, resulting in the burial of a pauper under a wrong name, in the interment taking place elsewhere than in the appro- priate cemetery, and in the performance of a burial service over a coffin not containing a body. It is sug- gested that the necessary arrangements for the decent interment rof paupers should be placed under the imme- diate direction of the master of the workhouse, and that, immediately after the laying out of a body, two legibly written tickets, bearing the name of the deceased, should be placed, the one outside the coffin, and the other affixed to the shroud. It is further re- commended that a proper plate, giving the name, age, and date of death, should be affixed to the lid of each coffin. WINE AND ELECTRICITY.—A curious experiment, according to the Paris newspapers, has recently been ;re made with wine at the entrepot in that city. A current of electricity was passed through a small cask of sour wine, aId at ths end of a few davs the wine was found to be grratly improved in quality, and to have acquired that flavour which has hitherto been supposed to come of age. It is said that the discovery of this new maturing process is owing to the accident of a thunderstorm having greatly improved a cask of bad wine in the cellars of a vintner at Carcassonne. DARWIN'S EXPERIMENTS.-A gentleman who visited Darwin several years ago says: "A place of great recreation for him was his conservatory, with an out- lying series of hothouses. In most of them there were no flowers, but everything was of the moss order. At my last visit he was absorbingly interested in the ex. periment of planting a shrub with the top down and roots up, to further illustrate his theory of reverse growth.' Long before he had the branch of a pecul/ar tree put with its leaf-end into the ground and top root rising as the highest bough, and curious enough, he succeeded in perpetuatingtiife, showing, as he philoso- phized, that light and heat and warmth are the essen- tial conditions of growth." FOR EXTERNAL U§E.—There is one text that was always thought a settler for teetotal people—it is that in which St. Paul advises Timothy to take no longer water, but to take a little wine for his stomach's sake. A learned prelate was much of this opinion. I can- not believe, Mr. S. said the bishop, "that under all circumstances it can be wrong for a Christian man to take wine, when the apostle distinctly prescribes it to Timothy for his stomach's sake. But the man of water was upsides with the prelate. "Hexternal application, my lud," says he. Hexternal applica- tion After hearing this the bishop was at fault and went home. A NEW MANUFACTURING DISEASE.—It has been observed that the manufacture of bichromate of potash has a singular effect upon the nose, manifesting itself in a curious manner. A little hole is formed on the septum or partition of the nose dividing the nostrils, and increases gradually until the partition entirely disappears, with the exception of its lewer part, so that to a superficial observer there is nothing the matter with the nose, except a little outward depression. It is noticed that as soon as the partition is destroyed the process appears to stop there, neither the lungs, air-tubes, nor throat being in the least degree affected. Some workmen at the chrome factory in Russia, where the disease has been chiefly watched, have been employed for ten years and remained unaffected, while with others the hole in the nose begins to be formed after one month's work, But that tne disease is something more than an individual peculiarity is evident from the fact that an inspection of all the hands proved that more than 50 per cent. of the men had diseased noses. The early symtoms are a slight tickling of the part affected, followed by bleeding, but with no uncomfortable feelings, and, in fact, the destructive process is painless. PROFITABLE CHIMNEY. SWEEPING.—That some chim- neys are better worth sweeping than others was incon- trovertibly proved a few days ago at Berlin by the result of an experiment performed upon some soot with which the inside surface of an old flue, pulled down during the late alterations at the Royal Mint, was found to be thickly caked (says the Daily Tele. graph). This flue had served for many years as an outlet for the smoke given off by the furnaces in which the bullion undergoes fusion before its conversion into coinage and it occurred to the architect superintend- ing the repairs in question that it might be worth while to analyse the soot lining the chimney thrcugh which fumes of boiling gold and silver had passed in such quantities. The liquefaction of the less precious metal requires a temperature of 1,000 degrees Celsius, whilst that of gold cannot be effected under 1,250 de- grees. It is usual to bestrew the surface of these meta's, when in a liquid state, with charcoal, in order to hinder evaporation. But, at such a fierce heat as that above indicated, some evaporation is bound to take place, and its lesults were made manifest by the yield of four pounds' weight of pure gold, valued at something under four thousand marks, obtained from the soot that was scraped off the inside of the melting room chimney in question. OYSTERS IN ITALY—From the repcrt of Consul Depuis, the Italians would appear to have solved the problem of how to obtain a cheap supply of native oysters. The most extensive ground of all, and that from which most of the oysters consumed in Southern Italy are obtained, is known as the Mare Piccolo or little sea, near Saranto, at the land's end of the peninsula familiarly known as the "heel of the boot," An immense number is said to be reared here, and the consumption of the produce of these beds alone is esti- mated to average seven to eight millions annually- the prioe being from half-a-crown to five shillings a hundred. The system of cultivation appears to be as successful as it is simple. From April to November bundles of brushwood are submerged in the outer sea, and to these the spawn is found to readily attach itself. They are afterwards raised, and those on which the tiny oysters have settled are, in a fashion which M. Dupuis describes, submerged in the "Mare Piccolo," where in about two years they attain their full size. DYNAMOGEN.—A new explosive has been invented by M. Petri, a Viennese engineer. The name given to it is dynamogen, and, according to the Neue Mili' tarische Blatter, it is likely to compete seriuuaiy with gunpowder. The inventor states that it contains neither sulphuric acid, nitric acid, nor nitro glycerine and that it cannot injure in any way either gun or iAC! tridge. The charge "f dynamogen is in the jorm of a solid cylinder, which can be ine^ased in quantity without being increased in size, by compression. Tho rebound of the guns with which the new explosive has been tried is said t9 have been very slight. It is also said that the manufacture of dynamogen is simple and without danger, that it preserves its qualities in tha coldest or hottest weather, and that it can be m»dt at 40 per gent, lew cost than gunpowder,

JOTTINGS FOR THE CUR] THE BRITISH EMPIRE.—It is pointed c British Empire extends over a far largi than that which w%3 governed by ancient superficies of the latter being one million square leagues. No English-speaking peo] foreign rule, whilst England governs nealy tb million individuals belonging to all n speaking all the languages of the world stance, Germans (Heligoland), Spaniards Greeks, Italians, Turks (Cyprus), Ara Dutch (Afriea), French (Mauritus), Chinei Persians (Asia), etc. FEMININE HEADGEAR.—The women in < Charles VI. of France had their heads d high cap in the form of a sugar-loaf a v< to the top of this cap, and hung down m according to the quality of the wearer. T tradesman's wife did not descend below thi that of a knight's lady reached to the g the rignB of Francis I. and Henry II. the] hats with feathers. From the time of 11 the reign of Henry IV. they wore little aigrettes. WOMAN IN TURKEY,—The Turkish marriageable at the age of nine years, and, law, at that age, if married, she is coi manage her property and dispose of one-t fortune. The law allows her to abandon he house for just cause, and will protect her h She cannot be compelled to labour for the her husband. On the contrary, he is c( support her and it is a penal offence to it treat her. Should he not furnish her with is authorised to borrow in his name and e property. After marriage she has the abao] of her own property, which he cannot toucl FOLK-LORE OF THE CUCKOO.—In Denmi early springtime, when the voice of the ouck in the woods, every village-girl kisses he asks the question, "Cuckoo, ouakoo, wher married ?" And the old folk, borne down rheumatism, inquire, Cuchoo, cuckoo, w be released from this world's cares ?" 1 answer continues singing Cuckoo as ir as years will elapse before the object of tl will come to pass. But, as some old peoph advanced age and many girls die old maidi bird has so much to do in answering the qu to her that she has no time to make her no her eggs in that of the hedge-sparrow. THE AROMATIC VANILLA. — There wi mystery hanging over the useful aromai The Spaniards under Cortez found it in use to flavour delicate condiments, and soon employ it; and the dainty in Europe san use, and from that time vanilla reignec But what plant really produced it was th« The jealousy of the Spaniards prevented mi gation, but it is now known that the few the vanilla are all climbing orchids so thf never touch earth, their substance and fra all won from the air and the trees. THE NUMBER OF EXISTING SPECIES OF A calculation has been recently made as t( number of existing botanical species. Tl present, described in the books, about on and thirty thousand species and, if we su{ in round numbers, thirty thousand belong t like Europe and North America, where hardly any species, excepting some cryptog to be discovered, the remainder, or one hur sand, representing exotic plants, more or li and southern, we may double the latte species, giving two hundred thousand for known regions, and altogether two hundred thousand for the whole globe, with the ei countries still quite unknown botanically. only twenty thousand species for the latter a minimum sum of two hundred and fifty species of plants. GLOVES AND WIGS.- Gloves as well asv remote antiquity. Among the sculpture) Thebes was one representing ambassadors remote Asiatio country bearing presents Gloves are mentioned by Homer, who live( thousand eight hundred years ago, and who was five hundred years nearer to our expressly mentions Cyrus going without I As for wigs, the ancient Egyptians are repi wearing them in the sculptures and paintin banks of the Nile. In the Abbott Egyptia -now the property of the Historical Sociei York-there are several wiga which were t mummies over two thousand years old. "PORPOISING" IN THE BAY OF FUND poising" is a pursuit followed in the Bay exclusively by Indians, who during th< months reap a rich harvest by selling th rudely extract from the blubber. Seated in birch-bark canoes, and armed with a muzzle-loader and spear, these porpoisei out on the broad waters of the bay to the ( from two to ten miles from the shore in que oily game. Yet, though the expanse of i great and the craft in which the voyages taken are so slight, the skilful handling of t and the sharp watch kept by the venturers and weather render accidents unheard of. CHIMNEYS AND FIREPLACES.—Chimneys known in England until the twelfth century then they were made the object of legislation, a were at a later day. Only one chimney wi in a manor-house, one in a religious house, the great hall of a castle. When fireplaces t luxuries of the rich, the flues extended only into the thickness of the wall, and were th out through the wall to the back of the fir4 openings being email oblong holes. In it Henry VIII. no fireplace was allowed at tl sity of Oxford. Indeed, it was not until the of the sixteenth century that the old state -a fire in the centre of the ball, the smok< through the roof-was altered. An exami the chimneys in the great haU of manor-hi prove that they must have been inserted t period. ENGLAND'S FIRST MARITIME REGIMENT. body of soldiers destined specially for s board ships of war was organised in Englan when by an Order in Council a regiment of sand two hundred land soldiers, who w< always held in readiness for distribute Majesty's fleets, was raised. This regii placed under the orders of the Duke of Y High Admiral, and, under the name of the Maritime Regiment, was considered as the ment of the Infantry of the Line-the o regiments on the English establishment at besides the Guards being the 1st—or DOUi ment-now the 1st Royals, and the 2nd—< Regiment—now the 2nd Queen's, which raised in 1668. The uniform of the Admii time Regiment consisted of a yellow coat ] red, and its colours were emblazoned with a with solar rays issuing from each of its ani raising of this regiment was due to the dii perienced in obtaining men enough to man rous fleets which England was compelled tc sion during the long struggle with Holla latter half of the seventeenth century. T hundred men were not sufficient; and four ] the creation of the force another Order in 0 issued, authorising the drafting of such ni soldiers from his Majesty's Foot Guards i at sea during summer as the Lord High might require. MILITARY GRADES IN ENGLAND.—Rot ing, it may be said that England had no system of military grades until the pe Civil War. The designations which th4 obtain were more or less copied from thos the Swedish Army. Most of the few soldiers whose services were at the disi country had served a campaign or two und Adolphus. Cromwell was named capti tember, 1642, colonel three months late tenant-general of the horse in June, 1645. of major-general appears to have been at i the modern French senae-namely, as eq chief of the staff. The Army of the Pari but one-also called sergeant-major-genera with. Cromwell's major-generals were n( mandera, but civil governors of districts, r old lord-lieutenants, who had existed sii VI.'s time. The terms general, or capt or lord-general—for they were indifferei rather signified that the holder was con chief of an army than that he held a title < the military service. Cromwell was firsl captain-general in June, 1650, previous to for the Scottish campaign of that year. THE PROBUCTION OF BOOKS IN ANCIENT ancient Rome the way in which an authc his book was this. He placed his manusc hands of subscribers, called librarii, who the required number of copies. Thes6 t: the equivalent to modern printers, passed over to certain artists, who ornamented fanciful titles, margins, and terminati several public and private libraries were plied with copies at a certain rate, and was made large or small according to the di THE SWEET POTATO.—The sweet potato of the convolvulus family, and has a lar** Some say it is a native of America, and I East Indies. Sweet potatoes were amor sents Columbus took to Isabella on his r the New World, and tho plant was in gene rl°" u' ,Spai" ths middle of the sixteeni It is heheved that this is the potato of J and was known in Europe before the intr the white potato. In America they are beef, mutton, &c., while in Mexico the prl sugar in the root ia larger, and they ar rather as a sweetmeat. LKIPSIC FAIR.—The largest of all Gem said to be that at Leipsic. It has been over four hundred years. This fair takes times in twelve months, and is so enort seems as if all the stores in Germany musl their contents to swell the business. R, the season are enormous, and on the f ™ u ^Wn whe'e the fair is held the hundred restaurants. The greatest pre/ans everywhere, and merchandise of is exhibited. The trade done in furs alone that it is estimated that two thousand fi dealers in skins are there at each successi The raast interesting part of the show ooa assembling of so many nationalities, many o in the Old-World costumes of their coui Swiss, Germans, Rusaiang, Greeks, Turks, Swedes, etc., elbow each other in thi thoroug blares. THE NATIONAL FI.QWEK OF THE CHINKS*- Chinese the li'y is the national fkii»" r superstitions attach to it, ShouK ii W, Year's Day, it is regaled as a g8,Ied as a in omen, presaging the bee* Ip.C'* to the fortu of the plant. 1 or this reason a good dea beEtowed upon !he lily by the Chinaman, i that it may put forth U« flower upon the the anniversary. The Chinese lily i8 diff, any other variety. It is grown by placing pieces ci window glass, stone and china, an » liberal supply of water. The flower is wh gold-coloured centre, something between a ( narcissus, Its fragrance is delightful.