Weekly Mail

DEATH OF THE ARCHDUKE HENRY REGINIER. The Central News Vienna correspondent, telegraphing on Monday, says :-The Archduke Henry Regnier, of Austria, died this morning from pneumonia. The Baroness Waideck, formerly Madame Leopoldine Hoff- mann, with whom the arohduke oontraoted a morganatio marriage, died yesterday evening from the same disease. A ROMANTIC STORY. The Daily News correspondent say,; *—The ate Archduke Henry, the youngest son of the Archduke Regnier, in 1863, when in command at Graz, fell in love with Fraulein Leopoldine Hoffmann, a dark-eyed handsome girl, daughter of a magistrate, whose sweet voice had induced her to become an opera singer. The relations of the Archduke and the singer were not long a secret, and in Graz people said that the Archduke would marry his sweet- heart one of these days. He had to go to Italy for the wnr of 1866, and during his absence the Court attempted to bribe the young girl into giving up her Archduke. But she declared firmly that the Archduke bad promised solemnly to marry her, and that though she should certainly not remind him of his promise, she should wait until he thought fit to fulfil it. After the war he returned to Graz, but as his relations with Fiaulein Hoffmann had not changed he was sent to Briinn as General of Division. The young lady was then induced by her lover to leave the stage and live a retired live at Bozon, where he had a palace left him by his father. Here he prepared everything for the reception of a wife, and in 1868 Fmulein Hoffmann and the Archduke were married privately in the chapel of the palace. When the Emperor learned the fact the young couple had to leave Austria, and stayed for some years in Switzerland, and it was said that they would never be permitted to return to Austria. One day, however, the young wife, who had given birth to a daughter, received a patent of nobility from the Emperor, who two years later gave her the title of baroness. Since then members of the Imperial family have from time to time paid her visits at Bozen or Castle Waibeck, and a few years ago she'made a passing appearance in Vienna society.

"THERE Is ALWAYS WORK," Nu man is born into the world whose work Is not born with him there is always work And tools to work withal for those who will, And blessed are the horny hands of toil. LOWELL. THE PROPER WAY TO ASCEND STAIRS. Women doctors say, and many women prove it in practice, that by going upstairs slowly with the foot-heel and toe alike— put firmly on each stair, one may arrive at the top of four flights of stairs really rested, instead of gasping for breath as when one runs upstairs. Going upstairs is a good form of exercise if one takes it in the right way to get its benefits. BUTTERMILK FOR FRECKLES. There is nothing that equals fresh butter- milk for removing tan, freckles, sunburn, or moth spots (says the Ladies' Home Journal). It has the great advantage that it does not injure the skin, but renders it soft like a little child's. Take a soft cloth or sponge, and bathe the face, neck, and arms thoroughly with buttermilk before retiring for the night then wipe off the drops lightly. In the morn- ing wash it thoroughly, and wipe dry with a orash towel. Two or three such baths will take off all the tan and freckles. It will keep the hands soft and smooth.

-= Experienced traveller (at American railway restaurant): When did that man at the other table give his order ? Waiter: 'Bout ten minutes ago, sah. Traveller: What did he order ? Waiter: Beefsteak and fixin's, sah. Traveller: How much did he fee you? Waiter: Quarter, sah. Traveller: Well, here's half a dollar. Cook another steak and bring me his. Waiter: Yes, sah. The anecdotes told of the late General Robert Bruce—known as "Hurrioane Bruce —are legion. One of the best is with regard to an event that happened just thirty years ago at Malta. A well-known and ill-liked mogistrate of that island had oondemned to six months' imprisonment an officer of Colonel Bruoe's regiment for having tapped the olaret" of a few impertinent Maltese in a street row. When sentenoe was delivered, the colonel got up from his seat in the oourt and politely asked the magistrate whether that was a oourt of justice. The incensed magistrate asked in reply, Have you no respect for the benoh, Colonel Bruoe ?" 11 Every respect, sir," said the oolonel slowly, with a voice as though he were addressing his regiment-" every respect for the wooden part, but none for the individual who sits thereon!" Then he strode out of the court, amidst the titters of the spectators.

THE Editor of the Medical Annual after a care- ful examination of C-ADBuay's COOOA pronounces it to be both a food and a beverage of the highest quality I,¡ot¡

INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE. To POLISH IVORY PIANO KEYS. Dissolve half an ounce of best white wax in turpentine over the fire until it becomes of the consistency of cream. Apply a small quantity to-the keys with a flannel, and polish by rubbing well with soft rags. To CURE A SQUINT. It is said that a squint or oast in the eye may be cured without the expense of going to a physician or an oculist. It is only neces- sary to get a pair of spectacles with plain glass in, and to colour the oentre of one ot the lenses black. The eye will naturally make an effort to look straight ahead all the time, and after a few days the effort will be impercep- tible. With a child a cure can be effected in a week, and with a grown person in a month. A REASON FOR RED SUNSETS. The reason for the red sunsets indicating a fine day to come is because the amount of vapour floating in the air refracts the beams of the sun, and more freely transmits the red rays of light than the coloured rays. It is the degree of moisture in the atmosphere which affects the refraction of the light, and when the red rays of evening are freely trans- mitted the amount of moisture does not approach the rain-point, and, therefore, promises the following day to be fine. ONE'S VOCABULARY. From the data at band a correspondent of science estimated the vocabulary of a citizen with a common school education and of ordi- nary intelligence and reading at about 10,000 words, and that of a well-read college graduate and those who have pursued a university course at from 20,000 upward to perhaps 100,000. One's vocabulary is usually nearly complete at thirty years of age. If but two words are learned each day the vocabulary at that age would be only 20,000. Records show that young children acquire new words more rapidly than that, CHARACTER IN THE THUMB. The thumb is by far the most important part of the hand, chironomically speaking. The hand denotes the superior animal, said D'Arpentigny the thumb individualises the man. In the thumb the chirosophist looks for the great controlling powers-will and logic. A small, ill-formed, feeble, badly balanced thumb betrays a vacillating disposi- tion. Small thumbed persons are governed by the heart, while the large thumbed are swayed by the head. Independent, self- reliant people have large thumbs, or ojight to have them, from the point of view of the obirosophist, whilst pliant, dependent, and easily governed natures may be known by the smallness of their thumbs. AND IN THE HAIR. A recent writer on the "Physiology of the Hair "says:—"The mental disposition, and even the physical strength, is believed by many to be indicated by the hair. Black, curly, and stiff hair are said to indicate a melancholy temperatment; fair hair a san- guine or phlegmatic temperament; and red hair either a very cunning or a very good charaoter. Hence, it was said, we meet in prisons with many red-haired women and black-haired men; rarely with fair-haired criminals. Yellow or red hair is rarely found among maniacs. Very red hair sometimes in- dicates a scrofulous disposition. All this is, of course, subject to so many exceptions that it is soarcely to be relied upon." CLOTH FROM SPIDERS' TJSBEAD. Spiders' thread, which is one-third stronger than steel of equal diameter, has at various times been successfully woven into cloth. Some years ago a merchant of Vienna, Austria, presented to the Industrial Union of that city the details of experiments made by him for the manufacture of spiders' threads into woven tissues. Twenty-four spiders produced in six minutes a beautiful, delicate thread 2,000ft. long, which, by a mechanical contrivance they were made to wind upon a reel. From this was made a fabric pro- nounoed to be far superior to those made of silk both in beauty and delicacy of texture. If my authority for these statements is not simply spinning a yarn," in the disreputable sense, the question may be worth asking- Why do not some clever, enterprising people start a manufactory for spider silk ? "A FEATHER IN His CAP." This phrase, signifying honour and dis- tinction, arose from the custom prevalent among the ancient Syrians, and perpetuated to this day among the various savage or semi- civilised tribes of Asia and Amerioa, of adding a new feather to their headgear for every enemy slain. In the days of chivalry the maiden knight received his casque feather- less, and won his plumes as he had won his spurs. In a manuscript written by Richard Hansard, in 1598, and preserved in the British Museum, it is said of the Hungarians that it had been an ancient custom among them that none should wear a feather but he who had killed a Turk, and to such only it was lawful to show the number of feathers in their caps. In Scotland and Wales it is still customary for the sportsman who kills his first wood duok to pluck out a feather and stick it in his cap. To HANG A PICTURE, Never put a sombre-coloured picture in the shade. Put it where the light will fall upon it. Between two windows place pictures with light backgrounds, that will stand out more prominent by reason of their dark surround- ings. Hang the big pictures first in suitable positions, and group with smaller ones in two rows in between. Be careful that the piotures do not oonfiict in oolour. Use your own taste in this. It is impossible to give any brief rule on the subject. Hang the pictures on a levsl with the eye, unless they be, as some are, pictures which should be looked up to. Place small pictures in oorners and alcoves. Over doors place large and unimportant oan- vases-anytbing that looks well. Water- oolours may be hung on the same wall with oils when framed in gold, but not when framed in white. White margins on etchings and engravings don't go well with oils. The main light should be on the picture. WHEN COAL IS EXHAUSTED, A learned professor expresses the opinion that we need not distress ourselves in conjec- turing what will become of the world when the coal is gone. The time must come when this preoious commedity will give out. That is certain. The caverns of the earth are pretty well stooked at present, as we hope are the private cellars of all our readers; but as those private repositories will show little but empty bins next May, so the dark recesses of the globe will one day yield the last ton that it will pay us to lift to the surface. Then what? Why, then we shall travel much by canal, in commodious boats drawn-by the sea. By means of vast reservoirs at the seaside, the ebb and flow of the tide will be made to furnish unlimited motive power, generating electricity and keeping machinery in motion. The professor thinks that we have not as yet half utilised the force of the wind. As coal gets scarcer we shall generate electricity by windmills, and store the superabundance gathered in a gale for use during periods of calm. The i problem of lighting the world in the evening l will be solved by the introduction of the electric system, and as to warming, it during the winter months, is there not an inexhaustible supply of heat in the sua capable of being applied to human uses by the burning glass ? Already the principle of the burning-glass has been applied to the genera- tion of household heat, with results not abso- lutely successful, but affording great promise of success. Moreover, the supply of coal will diminish gradually its increasing dearness will stimulate coal-saving inventions, and thus provide substitutes for itself ages before the mines are exhausted. Man will have plenty of time to look about him and make up his mind what he will do when the coal is all gone." Dense forests will again clothe all the hills, as well as every other portion of the earth's surface, where trees will serve us better than other crops.

MUCH IN LITTLE There are 8,550 bands in the Salvation Army. Ostrich feathers frequently fetch L-70 per pound. In China wives are considered legal tenders for debts. A fibre of silk one mile long weighs but twelve grains. A coin is usually in ourrency for 27 years. Pure milk should consist of at least 20 per oent of cream. London eats nearly half a million tons of fish every year. Messrs. Day and Martin manufacture 300 million cakes of blacking a year. It is estimated that there are 13,000 diffe- rent kind of postage stamps in the world. It is estimated that six-tenths of the sui- cides in this country are the result of drink. On July 6 the earth is farther away from the sun than at any other time. The greatest lake in the world is Lake Superior, 430 miles long and 1,000 feet deep. £ 144.000,000 worth at least of British pro- perty is always on the sea. Express trains on foreign railways rarely travel more than thirty miles an hour. The street accidents of London amount to about 3,500 a year—nearly ten a day. German engiue-dvivers receive a gold medal and £100 for every ten years of servioe with- out accident. Of the 125 millions raised by taxation in this country only five millions is contributed by land. A traveller could journey by ship and rail round the world very comfortably at a cost of £ 120. 3 The yard was originally the length of a king's arm; the foot the length of his pedal extremities. Somebody has computed that if 32,000,000 people should clasp hands they could reach around the earth. The height of the Emperor Napoleon I. was about 5ft. 7in. The Duke of Wellington, at Waterloo, was about 5ft. 8tin. in stature. 2 It is oomputed by statisticians that about 55,000 persons in the British Isles die annually from phthisis alone. A medical journal declares that a healthy man will suffer more from the priok of a pin than he would from the pains of dissolution in oase he died a natural death. The sensory nerves convey to the mind im- pressions of what transpires in the external universe. In them the speed of the current is from 50ft. to 100ft. a seoond. The thickness of the human hair varies from the 250th to the 600th part of an inch; blonde hair is the finest, and red the coarsest. There has beep a remarkable development in the coal trafEo of London. In 1850 the railway-borne coal was only 248,000 tons,nd last year it exceeded 8,000,000 tons. It was a custom among the Romans that a bride should be brought to her husband, with a covering or veil cast over her head, and hence the ceremony was called nuptial; from nubo, to veil. An old "book of knowledge" contains the following :-It it happens to rain on Whit- Sunday much thunder and lightning will follow blasts, mildews, &c.; but if it be fair, great plenty of earn. The sun never sets on tha soil of the United States. When it is six o'clock at Attoo Island, Alaska, it is 9.36 o'clock a.m. the next day on the eastern coast of Maine. It was once customary in this country for a person going abroad to put out a certain sum of monov on condition of receiving g,)od interest for it on his return home. If he never returned, the deposit was forfeited. It is hardly worth while to dread a thunder- storm, as there is only about one chance in a million that a person will die from a light- ning stroke—which is doubtless the most in- stantaneous and painless of all causes of death. A philological statistician calculates that in the year 2000 there will be 1,700,000,000 people who speak English, and that the other European languages will be spoken by only 500,000,000. Assuming the population of the world, acoording to the latest estimates, to be about 1,450,000,000, it is estimated that 1,050,000,000 are non-Christians, and, of course, 400,000,000 only are Christians. The ways of auctioneers in different parts of the world vary greatly. In England and America the seller bears the expense of' the sale, but in France the purchaser bears the cost, 5 per cent being added to his purohase. In Holland it is still worse, the buyer being required to pay 10 per oent. additional for the expense of the sale, If a division of the real estate of the globe was made each one would only have a small lot. Some one has figured it out that, taking the whole land surface of the globe into consi- deration, there is, on an average, 221 acres to each person. The character & is a ligature combining the letters which compose the Latin word et- "and." In what is called the "Old Style" these letters ?are distinctly visible, being in the form of a small Greek e, with the t formed on the tail of the ourve of that letter.

BISHOPS AND THE HOUSE OF LOBDS. The Bishops of Cheater, St. Asaph, and St. Alban's will be entitled to take their seats in the House of Lords at the commencement of the ensuing session. The rule now is that the senior bishop, according to date of consecration, who does not sit in the House, receives a summons to take his seat on the vacancy in a see in which the bishop already has a seat in the House. The vacancies at kicbneld, Truro, and Carlisle have caused three summonses to be necessity, and these will next session fall on the prelates named. Formerly only one bishop had no seat in the Jjords, not including the Bishop of Sodor and Men. Now (says a Bristol contemporary) there are seven, for the recent creation of new sees has increased the number of prelates without increasing the number of spirtual peers.

„ M.EL? OUT OP HEALTH.—Remedy and advice Fot "ealth. Btrength, and Vigour; fur Pimples, it-H • Sk'11 and Blood Imparities.—Address « fi i J son • 81uare« Sheffield. Write or can to-day, Mirror free, In envelope. Established ij s ^ear9' Letters of advios by return of post.—