The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

■ i A GUI CULTURE. I FOOT EOT IN SHEEP. 1 The following hints upon this disease and its remedy is taken from the Field:—Foot rot attacks or all of the feet of the sheep, bat most commonly affects ona of thesa organs a severely than the others, and on this account is sometimes considered to be confined to one, when, if a careful examination were made, it would be found to exist in some degree in all of them. The disease shows itself by a loosening 0 of the horn, and the development of a peculiar spongy structure upon the membrane of the internal foot. When the malady is fully developed the spongy appearance extends over the greater portion cf the foot mast affected, and the hoof horn can be readily detached from the secreting membrans; but during I the examination of several cases many degrees of the malady will be observed, and it ia extremely interest- ing to trace the disease from the commencement to its termination. Upon a cursory examination of a flock among which foot rot has broken out, some of the sheep will be seen.to be excessively lame, others only slightly affected, and some not at all. To got an idea of the various stages through which the disease passes before it becomes obvious enough to excite attention, the first inspection should be made upon some of the aaimal3 that appear to be perfectly free from the affection, but in many of whose feet it has neverthe- less begun. A very careful examination, after the hoof has been well cleaned, will lead to the detection of some trifling alterations of structure that are of much greater importance than they appear to be. In one case a small black line, not more than the eighth of an inch long, may be observed on the side of the hoof horn, midway between the coronet and the ground surface. If a section were made through this small point, it would be found to be the begin- ning of a canal which is filled with dirt, and takes a direct course downwards and inwards to the interior of the foot. Another foot may present a dark spot extending from the ground surface a third of the way towards the coronet. This sign can only be distinguished in a light-coloured foot, and is always the result of a cavity formed by the entrance of dirt or gritty particles at some small fisanre at the juncture of the wall and sole of the hoof. The gritty matters will generally be found to have advanced a considerable distance towards the interior of the foot, but until they actually enter it no pain nor lameness appears to be occasioned. Farther investigation will enable the examiner to detect some cases of shrivelling of the toe of the hoof and the accumulation of grit in many little honeycomb spaces; or he may observe, in certain instances, that the out- side wall of the hoof at tha ground surface is turned under, affording a lodgment for dirt, which is pressed upwards every time the animal throws his weight upon the part. Passing on to those sheep which give evidence of slight lameness, it will be found that two or three, perhaps, ofthe hoofs present the appearances described, while one foot is affected with the disease in a more advanced form. In this foot the horn is broken or ragged, some heat and swelling are noticed round the coronet, and, upon removing some of the looser horn, the peculiar spongy structure is seen beneath, and probably a little matter may be seen. Extending the inspection to the worst cases, more marked symptoms will be perceived. In many instances the hoof will be elongated to an extraordinary degree; and, if the knife be employed, it will be found to be detached throughout its whole extent, and the membrane to be covered with the spongy granulations. Sometimes the horn, instead of being elongated, is much broken, and the spongy masses protrude through fissures in the sole and wall; but whatever may be the aspect of the horn, the internal membrane always presents the curious fungoid appearance, and the connection be- tween it and the external covering of horn is always destroyed in these extreme cases of the disease. The circumstances under which foot rot occurs are pretty well known. Certain lands are celebrated for causing it while it happens upon others under special conditions only. Two requisites appear to be neces- sary for the production of the disease-moisture, either from the excessive fall oi rain or from the ab- sence of drainage; and, next, the presence of gritty Tjarticles. Thus foot rot is almost certain to affect sheep in wet, undrained, clay soils, containing an ad- mixture of sand; whether such land be high or low is of no material consequence. It also occurs on chalky soils in wet seasons, and, under similar circum- stances, upon loose, porous, sandy soils. The sand and grit appear to be the active agents in the produc- tion of the derangement; the moisture plays the pre- liminary part of softening the horn, and affording fa- cilities for the entrance of the foreign particles; these rapidly proceed to the interior of the foot, excite in. flammation, which is attended with the development of the fungoid growth, and a quantity of serous fluid, which keeps it in a soft spongy state, and ultimately the entire hoof is separated from its secreting sur- face. It is possible that caaea of foot rot may now and then happen in dry soils where there is an abund- anoe of grit, particularly if the hoof should become cracked by accident sufficiently to allow of the ingress of small particles of sand; but, taking foot rot as it generally happens among a flock of sheep, it will be found to be the result of the influence of moisture and gritty particles acting in combination upon the horny tissue.

HINTS UPOIf GASDEjJSTIBTG. Broccoli planted now need not be more than 15 inches apart. They will be rather crowded when spring comes, but they will pass through the winter much more safely than if planted further apart. If the ground is not already overstocked with cabbages, sow a few pieces of rosette colewort, Enfield market, red Dutch, and Champion. Cauliflowers to be sown on raised beds of fine rich earth; when they have their first rough leaves, to be taken up and potted in thumb- pots, in good fuchsia compost, and the pots plunged in a bed of coal-ashes. As soon as the pots are full of roots, to be shifted to 60'a, and in these to be wintered in frames, the pots plunged to the rim to prevent frost touching their roots. This may seem a dandified way of treating cauliflowers; we oan only say that experi- ence has taught us that it pays better in the end than any other method for a crop to plant out early in the spring. Celery is growing freely, in consequence of the abundant rains. Where the plants are forming stools instead of distinct hearts, it is advisable to re- move with a knife the outside suckers, so as to reduce the growth, if possible, to ona set of stems. This stooling is the result of free growth after the plant has received a check; it is so far objeotionaole that stooled roots are only fit for the cook. They are unfit for the table. A last sowing of endive may be made, to stand the winter. All the sorts are good, but green curled, imperial B&tavian, and moss curled are the best. Lettuce may be sown, and plantations may be made from seed-beds sown last month. Onicna ought now to be ripeniug off, and if the weather continues dry, no doubt they will ripen well. Where they appear gross, and not inclined to ripen, sweep them over with a long atick or rake handle, so aa to lay down the tops. Generally speaking, they fall over of themselves, and the bulbs ripen without assistance. Sow for winter and spring supplies. The most hardy kinds are brown globe, Daptford, white Lisbon, globe Tripoli, and Strasburg. Potatoes to be taken up as soon as ripe. Let them be well dried in the sun, and stored away at once. Never pit them damp, but, on the other hand, never keep them lying about on the ground exposed to daylight beyond a reasonable time. Spinach for winter may still be sown, and the best sorts are prickly and Flanders. In some places, spinach sown in the middle of September goes through the winter well; but on cold soils, and eastern and northern districts, the winter spinach should be sown before the 20th of August. Winter greens lately planted are now doing well. Breadths that were planted early and close now require every other plant to be removed, and there will be room for this now that summer crops are being cleared off. For every kind of green to be used between this time and Christ- mas manure liberally, but for those to stand till spring do not manure at all. Cucumbers for winter fruiting must be reared at once, and cuttings are preferable to seed, as the plants have a shorter habit, and are more fruitful. Take very small cuttings from the ends of newly-made shoots, pet them singly in small 60's, and shut up over a gentle bottom-heat. As we are not now using dung-heat., we shall put a small frame over a heap of grasa mowings, mixed with dry litter, which will afford enough heat to start them, and keep them going till naw beds are made up. It is usual to repot and revisa the whole stock of auriculas before winter, though many ftQWer3 prefer to repot in spring. We need not do j more than advise the use ot a sound and sweet com- pomt-garyjage and goose-grease no one will now use. 1 » Sanay loam, containing a goodly proportion of^deeajed I grass fibre, with a third part added of rotteIl cow. manure, will grow them t:> perfection. Turn them oat carefully detach the offsets without making b%d wounds on the old root stocks cut away any decayed •Darts of the roots; and in potting keep the codar well up, and press the soil in round tne roots quite firmly. It is of the utmost importance to place them waere worms are not likely to got into the pots. Carnations and picotees not yet layered must be attended to, or it is impossible for them to be well rooted before winter. A Httle bit of quackery lingers in this department; which we must hope to get rid of. We allude to the barbar- ous practice of removing leaves beyond such few as must be taken off to allow of fixing the layer. It is impossible to cut the tongue and lay down the shoot nicely without removing a few leaves, but let a few suffice, and do not indulge in removing any not imme- diately in the way, or in cutting tha enda of such aa are allowed to remain. Hollyhocks to be propagated from cuttings as soon as they can be got from the stool. Cuttings from the stems are of no use to amateurs, and should never be used by anybody except to increase kinds in great demand. Bedders can only be kept in good trim by constant attention. Remove seed-trusses, yellow leaves, and rank growths. Put in cuttings of whatever is required, and pot off those already rooted. Shut them up for a week, and then expose them to all weathers till the time to house them. A few cuttings of Perilla and Coleua Ver- schaffelti put in now, and carefully treated, will niaie nice plants to group with chrysanthemums in the con- servatory by-and-by. These two easily managed foliage plants should be grown in every stove during winter. Evergreen shrubs may now be moved with the best chance of success, whether they be large or small.-Gardener's Magazine.

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. THE MOOKS.—Aa might be expected after the wet and stormy weather we have had, the birds were gene- rally very wild. In Glenfidoch, belonging to the Duke of Richmond, splendid bags have been made. Hia Grace and party bagged 130 brace on the first day; Lord Algernon Gordon Lennox and Lord Bingham had 65 brace; Lord Francis Gordon Lennox, 72 brace; and Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar and Col. Tyrwhitt, lOSt brace. On the moors of Aberlour House, 10 brace grouse were bagged before nine o'clock in the morn- ing. On the Arndilly moors 10 brace grouse were also bagged at an early hoar. On the Kirdel moors, Mr. James Grant, jun., Elgin, had 40 brace grouse. On the Gartly Hills, Mr. Hoare and party from Huntly- lodge with six guns, had 49 brace grouse, six hares and a snipe. Several sportsmen have been out in the forests. On Saturday last, the Earl of Seafield and Lord Raidhaven went out deerstalking in Castle Grant forest, when Lord Seafield brought down a fine stag with a noble head of eleven points; and Lord Reid- haven shot two stags, one with a good head of nine points-all in excellent condition. In Braemar the weather has been bad during the greater part of the week. On the 6th, however, the Hon. George Skene Duff stalked in Altanour forest, and brought down four good stags, which averaged from 13 to 15 stone. In GleBavon forest, Lord Henry Bentinsk has also had capital sport. He was out on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and on these four days brought down six stags, all of them good, and some of them of heavy weight. IN Cumberland the grouse shooting season has opened with very satisfactory results. The birds have not been so numerous for ao many years, nor yet so healthy. The mild weather at the end of last week had made them wild and difficult to get at, but the first two days' sport have been enjoyed under very favourable circumstances. Sir Frederick Graham and party, of Netherby, knocked down 70 brace on the first day and 60 on the second. At Alston and New. castleton some good work has been made. In West- moreland, though the reports concerning the abund- ance of game are not so favourable, good sport has been enjoyed. Mr. R. C. Musgrave, of Edenhall, killed 61 brace on Monday on Bowes Moor. Another gentleman brought down 50 brace in the same neigh- bourhood. On Rodderup Fell, Mr. Richardson, of Penrith, killed 36 brace on the same day. A YACHT has arrived from America at Cowes which has astonished the yachters and the oldest inhabi- tants. She is called Silvie, of twenty-eight tons, from Boston, and very comically rigged, but upon a principle evidently which is practical in the main; besides her skipper she keepa her own poet-Mr. Longfellow, of New York, and her own diplomatist, Mr. Stanfield. She also keeps her own Chinese, who ia a steward, and we should fancy famous at a rat fri- casse or curry poodle. She left America on the 12th July and arrived on the 7th August, having threaded the Needles by passing through without pilot, and the voyage appears to have been very favourable. Small as she is, she has plenty of accommodation, and our yachtsmen may, if not so old and hoary that they are covered with those things already, get a wrinkle out of the American smart thing. The gentlemen are very courteous, and thorough yachtsmen, knowing all about Cowes and having one on board with their other stores. We hope she may win a lot of prizes, and is right welcome. For fear of any one going on board taking a step too much, and going overboard, we may say that she is fifty-four feet long, and breadth of beam seventeen feet six inches, draught six feet eight inches, and she can spread as much canvas as any young lady at Cowea at the present moment— that is, 1,500 yards. Her mainmast is fifty feet high and mainboom sixty-three feet-which ie, perhaps, considered the latitude of most of the aforesaid gentle sex. AT a fishmonger's in CheapBide, in addition to the Tay salmon, weighing 521bs., there has been exhibited a giant sturgeon, of 400iba. weight, and over 10 feet long. It was caught off Ramsgate. LAST week a very large cargo of grouse, in cases, arrived from Scotland for sale in the London markets. They were in rather high condition, from the close packing. The birds vary much in size; many boxes contained grouse scarcely half grown, and others matured to full size. The small grouse were sold at 3s. to 4s. per brace, and the large birds at 5;:1. 6d. to 6s. 6d. per brace. THE herring fishing at Dunbar, says the Edinburgh Courant, has been prosecuted this week with consider- ably greater success, and, as a whole, the prospects are brightening up. As usual, a number of the boats went off to the ground on Sunday evening, and on Monday morning they returned with very good takes. The highest catch was reported at 20 crans, and a number of the others had from fifteen crans dgwn. wards, almost all having considerable quantities. The prices ranged from 44s. 6d. to 38s. per cran. On Mon- day evening all the boats went out, and cn Tuesday morning there was a fair general fishing. There were no heavy shots, but the takes ranged from 20 crans, and the prices averaged 35s. per cran. There were, however, a few spent fish among several of the shots, although, as a whole, the fish were of excellent quality. Saturday morning was one of the best fished this season. On the previous evening the most of the boats went to the westward, and shot their nets in the bay between the harbour and the Bass. On their return a number of them had upwards of 20 crans, and others 14, 15, 10, eight, and nine, down to four and five. Saturday's success has put a little more spirit into all parties. The catch that, day was sold at from 30s, to 36s. per cran, the average price being about 34s. A considerable addition has been made to the number of boats this week, and on Saturday night there were upwards of 200 lying in the harbour and preparing to go off. t

An Ambitious yo-Lith.-A builder in Paris, named B- was two nights back returning home about ten at night with a sum of money, when, in one of the streets not far from the Gobelinea, he was stopped by a man who demanded his money. The other refused, and placed himself on the defensive, when the first man was joined by a second, but the builder managed to escape, ccying out for tne police, some of whom succeeded in apprehending the assail- ants. One was a young man, nineteen years of age, known by the soubriquet of the Patiesier and the other, twenty. five, called 11 Ccear-de-Fer. When asked the next day by the examining magistrate what were their means of existence, the first replied im- pudently-" I am a thief; I hope to be a new Car- touche, and to be more celebrated than he. I have not been long at the trade, but am already chief of a band." From papers found on him, a third man, called Sans Canne (which in thieves' slazia means an escaped convict), haa been arrested. From none could any information be extracted, as they all stated that they belonged to a band which they had taken an oath not to betray, and he who did so would be inevitably assassinated. All three have been committed I for trial.

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. Probata of the will of the Eight Hon. Augusta Emma, Dowager Baroness Truro, was granted fey her Majesty's Coart of Probate, on the 3rd inst.. to the Right Hon. Edward Card well, D.C.L., P.O. j Travers Tsnea, D.O.L, Q C. Edward Marjoribanka, jlm., Esq., of the Strand; and Charles Norris Wilde, Esq., of Russell-square, the executors and trustees. The personalty was sworn under < £ 70,000. Her ladyship married, in 1845, as second wife, the Right Hon. Thomas Baron Truro, Lord High Chancellor in 1850.2, who died in 1855. Her ladyship died on the 21st of May, 1866, having executed her will on the 15th of September, 1865, and a codicil on the 10th of October following. Her ladyship has bequeathed to the pre- sent Baron Truro £ 20,000; she also leaves his lordship the library, books, maps, and pictures; and the family and other porrait; are specifically bequeathed to various persons. To St. Paul's School, London, where her husband, the late Lord Truro, was educated, her ladyship leaves the portrait of his lord- ship in his black silk robes as Lord Chancellor; and bequeaths his lordship's state robes as Lord Chancellor, and the three purses belonging to hia office, to be held as heirlooms in his family. Her ladyship bequeaths to Lord Truro the principal part of the plate, which is set forth in a list of many pages appended to the will. There are many specific bequests of plate and jewellery to other parties; to the Right Hon. Stephen Lushing- ton, D.C.L., < £ 2,000: to Charles N. Wilde, XI,000, together with a service of china; and to his wife also a legacy of £1,000; to the Right Hon. E. Cardwell, £500, to Dr. "Twisa, £ 300, to Mr. Marjoribanks, £ 300; and there ara several annuities, and also legacies to servants. The sum or <&J.,0UU is to De held in trust by the vicar for the time being of St. Lawrence, Ramsgate, to keep in repair her ladyship's monument, on which is engraved the words "Augusta Emma, relict of Lord Truro, and only daughter of H.R.H. the Duke of Sussex," the surplus to be given to the poor of that parish. £ 20,000 is left to the fund in aid of the poor and friendless boys of the metropolis not addicted to crime, the trustees being those of the will, to which are added the Bishop of London and the Chief Com- missioner of the Metropolitan Police Force for the time being; b the Nursing Sisters Institution, Devon- shire-square, £ m. All legacies to be free of duty. The residue of her property ia to be equally divided between the Seamen's Hospital (the Dreadnought), the Shipwrecked Mariners' Fund, the Indigent Blind Asylum, the Orphan Asylum (Wandsworth), and Guy a Hospital. The will of Lord Frederick Charles Peter Beau- clerk, Capt. R.N., late of Little Gritnsby-hall, Lincoln, was proved in the London court by his relict and his brother-in-law. Sir Montague John Cholmeley, Bart., of Easton-hall, Lincoln. The personalty in the United Kingdom was under < £ 4,000. The will is dated 1855, and there are three codicils. The two last were executed on the 1st and 6th of November, 1865; and his lordship died on the 17th of the same month, at the age of 58. To his wife he leaves the furniture, plate, carriages, &o., for her own absolute use, and an immedia-to pecuniary request. To his eldest son he devises all his real estate. To his youngest son he leaves all his shares and Stock in the Aberdeen Rail- way, and a legacy of £ 800. The rssidue of his per- sonal estate he bequeaths to his eldest son. The will of William Chisholme, Esq., of Tollington- park, Middlesex, was proved in London, on the 30th 111t., by his relict, and his brother, John Chisholme, the j oint executors and trustees. To his wife he has bequeathed a life interest in his property, and, after her decease, he leaves the principal part to his nephew, John Arthur Chisholme, and the rest to the daughters of a friend.—Illustrated London Neit's.

MEETING OF SIX THOUSAND COLLIERS. About 6,000 colliers from Methley, Wakefield, Leeds, Adwalton districts, West Yorkshire; Farnworth and Kearsley districts, Oldham, Ashton, and Dakinfield districts met at Hollingworth Lako, on Monday after- noon, to consider various subjects connected with their trade, and to promulgate the benefit of unions. William Ackroyd, of West Yorkshire, officiated as chairman. Mr. John Dickson, of Draughtington, at great length, endeavoured to show the beneficial in. fluence of trade unions, and urged that it got the working class a higher rate of wages. Mr. William Brown next addressed the meeting. He asked them what made them now work 12 hours a day ? It was ignorance. What made them poor ? It was ignorance. If the eight hours' system were universally adopted, they would be improved in education, in morals, in religion, and trade would also improve. If they kept coal out of the market, they knew very well they would get a better price for it. There was no commodity that would keep so well as coal, and it would keep nowhere better than where it was to be found. He regretted to say that the Wigan miners were a great drawback to their progress. The Wigan miners had £6,000 in the bank, and yet they would not attempt to improve the state of thiugs. Mr. Allen Tetlow, of Oldham, next addressed the meeting, and was followed by Mr. TIiomas Halliday, who refarred to the measures before Parliament during the past session respecting the management of colleries, and he put a series of questions to the meeting, such as did they approve of boys not being allowed to work in coalpits until they were 12 years of age ? A show of hands was in its favour. Did they approve of an in- creased number of inspectors P-Yes. Did they approve of agents or managers of coalpits going through scientific examination before they were allowed the management ?—Yes. The meeting broke up shortly after.

00 —- The Engineers' and Shipbuilders' Dispute. —A. Glasgow paper says "No satisfactory settlement has yet been arrived at in regard to the dispute which has so long continued between shipbuilding firms on the Clyde and their workmen. For several weeks past, it is generally known, the employers have been enabled to carry on their work with those men who returned on the terms offered them, the places of others who remained out being supplied by appren- tices. It now appears that an undercurrent of dis- satisfaction has existed amongst the latter class which has at length taken practical shape, and last week the apprentice carpenters, bound and unbound, went out on strike. In one yard they are said to have requested that they should be paid whether they worked or were idle; in another establishment they are alleged to have taken offence because, in the absence of certain workmen, another class were employed to do some of the work; and in a third they are represented as having declined to undertake a certain kind of work which they were formerly accustomed to discharge. Be this as it may, however, the apprentice carpenters are now added to the list of unemployed.' Hand to Hand.When the two forces met, the shock was tremendous, and several men and horses rolled on the ground. It was then that I cap- tured Adjutant Hasbrouck. The adjutant had on, as I afterwards found, a steel breast-plate underneath his clothing, rendering him bullet-proof to some extent. I fired twice at him, and he three or four times at me. At length I got up close to him and fired. Great was my astonishment that he did not fall. This was my last load; so, drawing sabres, we olosed for a hand-to-hand fight. As I Ea5g?. UP alongside, I made a right cut, which he defended by a tierce parry; but before he could recover, imaao a moulinet, which carried the sabre out Of his hand, and as I raised mine to cut him down, he threw up his hand and surrendered. I hurried him off to the rear, and lucky it was that I did, for he was the only prisoner saved, all the rest had Four Tears in the Saddle. By Colonel Hat J y Gilmor. Queer scenes are to be seen at the post-offics at Wick, especially on Saturday g > whan hun- dreds of letters are posted by the /ahermen. When penny postage was shed the then worthy postmaster, Mr. ralg, had many a hard night's work among the Highlanders^ who iilastrated their prigging character by endeavouring to beat down the postage to a that t5ie Ietter was a little one, and tnat the Hignland postmasters never charged more thaa a halfpenny. From the out stations beyond the daily delivery they would come, and while one would ask if there waa a letter for him ^he would answer to the inter- rogatory as to nia name, "Qoh, ye'll see it on the back of, the letter," and on the name being told and information given that there was no letter for him Donald often put the poser, "Do you think she will be the morn P" Donald has learned by experience, however, but at present it generally requires four Highlanders to complete the modus operandi of posting a letter. One brings it to the office, wrapped up in a piece of paper; a second pre- cedes him and buys a stamp handing it to a third, he, after various licks and manipulations, gets her Majesty's head affixed to the letter; and the fourth, after looking into the slip with considerable suspicion, cautiously lets it drop, and the whole four finish the performance by peeping down the slip to see that all is well with their missive. This may bo seen here almost daily, and especially on Saturday evenings.

FACTS AND FAOETI-S3. .$ A cMld thus dafinoa gossip:—"It's when nobody don't do nothing, and somebody goes and tells of it." A good action is never forgotten—by an attorney. A bed, like love, put everybody on the same level. Ambition is like a wild horse, which prances un- ceasingly until it has thrown off its rider. A Sydenham correspondent of the Standard points out a good opening for" woman's work." Ha says that during twelve days he has walked 333 miles in search of a monthly nurse, and has seen a daily average of eight, and found them all engaged up to February. What is the difference between a piece of honey- comb and a black eye ?—One ia produced by a labour- ing bee, and the other by a belabouring. A gentleman at table remarked that he could not endure fish unless it was well cooked. "Thia," said the waiter, as he handed him a plate of the desired dish, "is, I hope, suf-fish-ciently cooked to suit, sir." Well, yea," replied the gentleman, aa he tasted it, it ia done a good eel better than I anticipated it would be." The editor of the New Orleans Times gives thanks twice in one week for baskets of delicious figs." One from a fair lady who in our sweet-toothed brother thua salutes:—"The figa were sweet, bnt we can easily imagine something sweeter! An old minister enforced the necessity of difference of opinion by argument:—"Now, if everybody had been of my opinion, they would all have wanted my old woman." One of the deacons, who sat just be- hind him, respondedYes, and if everybody was of my opinion, nobody would have her." Epitaph on a Gardener.— Beneath this sod an honest gardener's laid, Who long was thought the tulip of his trade; A life of many years to him was known, But now he's withered like a rose o'erblown. Like a transplanted flower be this his doom, Fading in this world, in the next to bloom. Mother's Work.- (By a crusty old bachelor, who lives in a family where they take no other boarders.") Toiling all day like a galley slave, Teaching the little brats how to behave, Hearing the older ones quarrel and fight, Slapping and cuffing with all their might; Washing and brushing and blowing their nosea, Such is the mother's work till the day closes. Sewing up rents in their best pants torn, Patching on new cloth over the worn; Never once pausing to count the stitches, Darning alike the boys and the breeches Thankful in heart when they're out of the way, Suoh is a mother's life day by day. Sending each night-gowned urohin to bed, Longing to hear the last word said: Wishing them happy in heaven above, With all the warmth of a mother's love Now, may the good an, Is be thankful alway, That they never work like mothers all day. One of the wickedest and most successful hoaxea perpetrated on the first of April this year, was the work of a lady in Philadelphia. She sent up to the pulpit in a Methodist church a notice purporting to announce a meeting in aid of another church. A number of names of prominent clergymen were men- tioned as to take part in the exercises. The preacher read the manuscript to his large congregation without hesitation until he came to a passage that a certain layman would sing a comic song, when he became con- fused, suddenly remembered the day, and abruptly sat down. An American paper says, "Every woman haa a right to be any age she pleases, for if aha were to state her real age no one would believe her. Every woman who makes pilddingi has a perfect right to believe that she can make a better pudding than any other woman in the world. Every man who carves has a decided right to think of himself by putting a few of the beat bits aside. Every woman has a right to think her child the" prettiest. little baby in the world," and it would be the greatest folly to deny her this right, for she would be sure to take it. Every young lady has a right to faint when she pleases, if her lover is by her side to catch her. Tha new goner at ion of American poets do not mean, it would appear, to ba confined in the old grooves. The following is from "Drift, and other Poems," by George Arnold, just published 151 Boston:- BEER. Here With my beer I sit, While golden moments flit. They pass Unheeded by; v* And, as they fly, I, l., Being dry, Sit idly sipping here My beer. We extract the following from a pamphlet which has. recently appeared concerning the casual poor:- As ia well known, the standard of comfort in casual wards is anything but high-food, where provided, being very poor, and the place of shelter ill-lighted, ill-ventilated, badly warmed, and often excessively crowded; but these wards present the advantage of a common centre and a large gathering, so that the vagabonds are there much more sociable than if they were dispersed and lost among the lodging-houses of a, town. We must give one or two specimens of the announcements chalked up on the walls and doors of the wards:—"Private notice: Saucy Harry and his pal will be at Chester to eat their Christmas dinner, when they hope Saneer and the fraternity will meet them at the union. — XfjhT November, 1865. —Notice to our pals: Bristol Jack and Barslein was here on the 15th of April, bound for Mont- gomeryshire for the summer season. Notice to Long Cockney, or Cambridge, or any of the frater- nity: Harry the Mark waa here from Carmarthen, and if anybody of the Yorkshire tramps wishes to find him he is to be found in South Wales for the next three months. 17th August, 1865.—Spanish Jim, the h fool who roboea the two poor b- tramps in Clatterbridge union, was here on the-find it out.- Taffy, the Sanctua, was here on the 28th of November, 1865.—Yankey Ben, with Hungerford Tom and Stock- port Ginger. The oakum was tried to be burned here on 28 th October, by Messrs. John Whittington, Joseph V* alker, Thos, Pickering, Jaa. Hawthornwaite.—The Flying Dutchman off to Brum for a summer cruise at back doors or any other door.—Cockney Harry and Lambeth bound for Brum for jolly raga.—Beware of the Cheshire tramps, Spanish Jem, Kildare Jem, Dublin Dick, Navvy Jack, Dick Graven, the shrewd Cheshire tramps.—Wild Scoty, the celebrated king of the cadgers, is in Newgate, in London, going to be hanged by the neck till he is dead; this is a great fact. Written by his mate. — Never be ashamed of cadging; I was worth five hun- dred pounds once, and now I am obliged to cadge for a penny or a piece of bread. Lanky Tom — George Day and William Jackson, 7th November, 1865, bound for Portmadoc. [From a report in a local newspaper in the following week, it appears that George Day' and William Jackson,' on arriving at their destination, were captured and sent to gaol for robbery.]" That there is some sort of cleverness among these professionals is manifest from the critical remarks they make on the state of accommodation; and one who signs himself" Bow-street" appears to show most culture. It strikes us that the cleverest effusion given as his, beginning, "No sun, no moon, no morn, no noon," is remarkably like Hood's "November," which may account fo-r its evident Buperiority; but others are plainly original and smart enough, such aa a description of the "little clean Union of Trysull," and the following, which we may quote:— "Before you close your eyes to sleep, boys, pray for fine weather, For human hearts nesd san as well as corn and oata; For this rain of late, and at present too, is too bad altogether, Considering the stata of our old shoes and the thin. ness of our coats. In this place there is a stove, but it is very seldom lighted, In fact to make you comfortable they don't intend to try, And the clerk of the weather office must surely be shortsighted, Or he would see thi benefit of sunny day3 aa well as you or T. (Bow- street, 16th August, 1865,)" '—

Blow, blow, thou wintry wind! as the furrier said when he wanted customers. Cheap and Good Pleasures.—It is all very well to lay down the maxim that the great essential of a play is incident. Mr. Whelks is treated to incidents enough and to spare, but no pains are taken, and no art is employed to interest him anyhow-not so say imperceptibiy to hia own advantage-in the personages who are the heroes, or the victims, of the incidents. Another great mistake is made in acting on the prin- ciple that. low prices will only afford a low class of entertainment. "What can you expect when it is only a shilling to the boxes ? But it is only a shilling to the Crystal Palace, with all its wonders of nature and art. It is only a shilling to popular concerts, where the performers are the most gifted and the most cultivated artistes of the day. The experience of these and a few other endeavours of the kind, proves that a really first-rate entertainment will always draw the. people, and exhibits the nonsense and unreason of another great mistake, which cants about "playing down" to Mr. Whelks, instead of re- cognising the iacfe that Mr. Whelka should be played up" to a higher level than he holds now, ana that it may be gradually and hopefully done by good sense, good purpose, and good axt,—Dickens's All the Year Cn Round.

THE NEW LAW ON PUBLIC HEALTH. Connected with the new Act on public health, which was noticed in the papers on Friday, is the Sewage Utilisation Act of last year, and tfco first part of the former is to be construed wiLh the latter. There has been a very great demand for both Acts, and the Sew- age Act-had to be reprinted, aadwaaissnedoc Tuesday. The statutes have reference to the United Kingdom, and the sewer authorities have power to keep districts properly drained, and to borrow money for the pur- poae. A sewer authority may adopt proceedings to prevent the pollution of streams. In England the sewer authorities mean the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses, the commissioner acting under local Acts, and the vestry and other bodies in parishes not within the jurisdic- tion of a sewer authority. By the Public Health Act special drainage districts may be formed, and by the Sewage Act it is declared that sewers are not to be drained into any stream. With respect to the supply of water, so necessary at the present time, full powers are given for a plentiful supply of the same; and a sewer authority may, if it think it expedient, provide a supply of water for the use of the inhabitants of the district by digging wells, making and maintaining reservoirs, and by doing any other necessary work, and they may themselves furnish the same, or contract with any other person or companies to furnish it. The appearance of the oholera has made parochial officers bestir themselves, and one result will follow—the cleansing of cesspools and the execution of proper drainage works in various districts where they have been much needed. The public health" is likely to be better cared for than it has been for some years past.

MAERIAQE IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. On Wednesday morning Lady Rose Sophia Mary Fane, only sister of the Earl of Westmoreland, C.B., was married in Westminster Abbey to Mr. Henry Weigall, the distinguished portrait painter. The ceremony took place shortly after half-past eleven, the service being a choral one, and his Grace the Lord Archbishop of York the principal celebrant, with whom were the Very Rev. the Deaa of Westminster and the rev. minor canons, S. F. Jonea and F. K. Har- ford. Lady Rose Fane arrived at the Abbey accompa- nied by her brother (who was to give her away), attended by the following bridesmaids dressed in white and green (the Earl of Westmoreland's colours on the turf), Lady Grace Fane (daughter of the Earl and Countess of Westmoreland), Miss Alice Weigall, Miss Ada Ibbetaon, Miss Lowther, Miss Alice Bagot, and Miss Thomson, daughter of the Archbishop of York. The bridegroom's "beat man" was Mr. Frederic Cockerell. The presents to the bride were numerous and the donors of high rank, among them being her Majesty the Queen of Prussia, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cleveland, the Countess of Jersey, and various members of the families of which the heads are the Duke of Beaufort, the Duke of Bad- ford, the Earl of Westmoreland, the Earl of Clarendon, Earl Cowley, and Lord Raglan. Mr. Weigall has re- ceived several costly presenta from Earl Spencer, the Earl of Morley, Lady Geary, Mr. Villiers Lister, Mr. Frederic Cockerell, &o. Nearly all of these were in- vited to the grand breakfast given after the ceremony by the Dowager Countess of Westmoreland, at 29, Portman- square. Mr. and Laay Rose Weigall left town at half-past two the same afternoon for the Earl of Westmoro- land's seat Apethorpa-hall, Northamptonshire.