Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

GOSSIP ON D: K » R. THE continued prevalence of ungenial east winds has somewhat retarded the display of costume of light fabrics such as are usually looked for at the middle of April. The London modistehowever, are far from being unemployed; and a writer in the queen, in an article on "Dress at the Leadmg Dressmakers,- describes the productions of some of the foremost houses. We make the following extracts: Two morning gowns illustrate useful everyday dresses. Skirt of Sicilienne, of a dark terra cotta tone, over it a tunic of fawn cashmere, covered with a small red brocade in terrv; the back of this tumc was box- plaited, and no under skirt was visible m front it was simply'draped on one side. Pointed bodice of the cashmere. A smoke-coloured silk skirt, over it a dark blue cashmere, with a brocade in red terry; an in- visible plaiting of red at the hem, the stuff plainly draped over the silk, which was arranged in broad plaits where the drapery allowed it to be seen, but not all round. The interminable kiltings and box-plait- ings round the skirts are giving place to greater sim- plicity. For a visiting day dress, a bolder mixture of colouring. Petticoat of buttercup-toned corded silk, over it a dark green peacock cashmere, with a cross- stitch brocade in the buttercup colour no trimming but long looped satin bows. A FEW evening dresses. A peach-coloured tulle made in little plaits, and a drapery of tulle at the back over it a short tunic of peach satin, falling in a I'Ouf only half a yard deep at the back below this, in front, a deep garniture of shaded violets, from the peach tone to the darkest tone of violet forming a point in the centre. White poult de soie silks are now the best fashion, the front quite plain, but cut in tiny battlements at the edge, with tufts of shaded chenille between each, and so arranged as to form slight paniers at the waist, falling at the back a long plain train of pistaechio-coloured velvet an ad- mirable contrast to the white; a white silk butterfly bow of large dimensions at the back of the waist. These butterfly bows and the front breadths draped at the waist are notable features in the best dresses bodice with long, sharp points, and milled at the back. Most dinner gowns have the backs arranged as trains; and in the day dresses the back drapery reaches to the hem. A CREAM embroidered crape is liberally trimmed with Valenciennes, indescribably draped, but so gathered beneath that the fulness falls to the hem. Low down on the skirt are large rosettes of white satin ribbon; it is caught up on the hips en panicr. The bodice is bedizened with crystals; the sleeve ends above the elbow, a transparent pufi'covering the elbow —a new style of sleeve. On many ball gowns there are round bunches of some simple tlower, fastening down the draperv in many places. Red tulle is still most fashionable. The novelty is the front breadth of the richest cut velvet of the same shade-an un- common combination with tulle. Large sprays of red geranium, with variegated leaves, complete this dress. TIIE same writer, adverting to the subject, of millinery, says A black straw bonnet, covered all over with gold net, so transparent, that you can see the straw beneath. On the top a cream net hand- kerchief, lace-edged, and wrought in gold, caught together with very long gold-headed pins. There is one prevailing shape in bonnets, small and close, giving ample room for the hair to be dressed high. the brim coming flat on the head, and generally bordered with beads or loops of gold braid, but with very large upstanding tufts or bouquets on the top, and two small-headed gold pins with gold or onyx heads. The jjarie Stuart shape is new made with A '*r come slightly on one side. Straws are orn. A luscau was composed, not of plaited straw, but tine straw cords radiating from the centre of the crown, and trimmed with dark green velvet; a spray of green bearded wheat on the top—bearded wheat is one of the best worn garnitures. Muslin bonnets are embroidered in gold. A transparent black lace bonnet was an exception to (he prevailing shape; it mid a square crown, lined with gold cloth, a huge cluster of daffodils outride. A soft red straw was so supple, that the straw itself was caught up into plaits at the back and sides. It was lined with brown, and had a bouquet of large Marguerites, marigolds, and yellow heath. These mixed bouquets are much worn. Both hats and bonnets are covered with silk em- broidered crape. IN the same article the following articles of the newest fashion are enumerated Bright red parasols, or rather cn-tout-cas, with carved brown bone handles, long and flat. Shaded velvet tulips of several tones, with leaves, carried down the side of a ball gown. Ostrich feather fans in the form of an arch, with a plume of ostrich and osprey at the side. Bridesmaids' fans in the shape of a half-open one, with handle, and covered with flowers. Palm-shaped fans covered with lace, intermixed with flowers, to match those on the dress. Handkerchiefs with narrow borders, each side of alternative colours, grey and blue, brown and pink. The Muscovite shoe, with one strap, buckled and but- toned over the instep, lined with Suede kid, sewn in white, having holes punctured round the foot. A most serviceable glove, the Castor Suede, much stronger than ordinary Suede, and made with many butt ons. Silk stockings, with real lace insertion in three rows covering the front of the foot. IN a further article on Spring Novelties," the Queen says: Pretty aprons, for morning wear, are of muslin and coloured embroidery, effectively trimmed with Russian lace, the muslin covered with tiny spots of red and blue, or shades of brown on a white or ecru ground. One of muslin of the latter tint was formed of narrow kilts, with one box-plait, arranged on the right side, on which was a pocket adorned with ribbon bows. The kilts were tucked at the bottom, and the apron was surrounded with a frill of muslin, cut in half circles and worked with parti-coloured cotton. In every scollop was a round of blue batiste, and on each was depicted a rural scene, a cottage—a bridge, with trees and flowers outlined in scarlet thread. At the neck was a round collar of twisted red and blue ribbon, and from thence fell a gathered blouse of muslin, turned under, and confined by a band, spreading again as a folded loop, and hanging below the waist the bib of this novel apron was also trimmed with embroidery, and it was fastened far back on the shoulders by butterfly bows of ribbon. Other aprons were trimmed with English open-worked embroidery, nely worked with red or blue silk, the centres being also covered with small sprays of conventional orna- ments treated with coloured silks. (■VITLLACK ^ace> always fashionable, and more so now mnnti6™' enters largely into the composition of all PrePare^ f°r early spring and capes for iacket rrnWtiar't striking novelty is the epaulette beads 'anrl v. • f'k canvas embroidered with stitch' in ifa aTmg J effect of the Russian cross- stitch in it's close-set regular pattern. It is close- fitting, and beautifully cut, and the front has tabs at the edge, bordered with tassels of jet. Across the paniers. The end, a™ jXAf lengths. A cape of black Mirecourt kep from the neck in a pretty curve to the elbows,' hadThe pattern outlined in gold thread and bordered with a netting and fringe of fine chenille, spotted with gold to match. A velvet Guards' collar surrounded the neck, with upstanding frill of lace and in front were stole ends of velvet, reaching below the waist, and finished with chenille fringe. TiiE Paris correspondent of the same journal says that a few evening parties have taken place lately. At the Comtesse Aimerj de Larochefoucauld's last reunion the Duchesse de Mouchy was present m a white gauze dress studded with silver spots; low bodice draped with white satin; a diamond necklet that formed a grecque between two rivieres, and filled the throat as closely as a band of velvet; the comb was ornamented with a smaller grecque; a 5jngle large diamond at each ear. The Comtesse de ourtales, who was much complimented on the marriage of her son with Mile. Cottier, wore n Te dress with low bodice, trimmed in the a style, which is much in vogue; it is an §auze scarf that crosses the chest like an order, diarr,13 jtened on the right shoulder with a large tulle ° Slower. The Comtesse Aimery wore blue cr ,7plt as mist, and the scarf on her bodice butWfr back, being secured by two diamond ^ulle f i,' w^ite roses without foliage draped the ^he J» • 8k""t» ar>d also composed the head-dress. gatjn ri.ncess de la Tour d'Auvergne was in pink » trimmed with garnet velvet, which was em- broidered in butterflies of all colours. The Comtesse de Puysegur wore black satin, covered with Chantilly lace and her sortie de bal was a magnificent mantle as long as the dress, in white Genoa velvet, with a large Medecis collar forming a background to her head. THERE is much novelty in the trimmings for both dresses and mantles, especially in the Pompadour passementeries that have raised figures and are made of beads of one colour. The designs are fruit, such as cherries, currants, plums, &c., amid leaves of beads. The smaller fruits are copied in full size, but pears and the larger fruits are shown only in half, as if cut in two. Such gimps are exceedingly effective at the side of skirts and as tabliers for dresses. There are passementeries made entirely of steel, which are glittering and showy, and others in which gilt, and jet are intermixed with steel. Solid jet rings three inches in diameter, for ornamenting black costumes, are novel; and so are long palm leaves of fine jet, with fringe attached, for the same purpose. TIIE newest jetted nets in the piece and as flounces have raised Pompadour figures. Very fine beads are used to produce the feather, fruit, and leaf designs. Steel beads and chenille also are frequently mixed with the jet. Grey beads are used on grey net, and exceedingly well they look as trimmings on grey satin and gfrey silk. But for summer silks, the embroidered batistes' manufactured in Switzerland will be exten- sively used over red, blue, brown, and dark green silks they are rich looking, and their beauty is now further enhanced by the introduction of gilt threads on the outlines of the figures, and also of coloured figures to match the silk on which they are mounted.

A USEFUL CROP FOR THE HOME FARM. Kohl-rabi roots are highly nutritious, and may be grown with considerable success on soils from which it is not practicable to obtain really good crops of either turnips or swedes. The bulbous portion of the stem, commonly designated the root, may be given to cows ill milk with but little risk of a disagreeable flavour being imparted to either milk or butter, pro- vided the quantities are moderate in proportion to the other foods. Strong lands are the best suited to the cultivation of kohl-rabi, but it is not particular in the matter of soil, and provided it has the advantage of fairly well-titled ground and a moderate dressing ef manure, a crop ranging from twenty-five to thirty tons per acre may be expected with the utmost degree of confidence. The middle of April is con- sidered by men of experience to be the best time in the whole year to sow or drill the seed, and with reference to this point we would strongly recommend the drilling of the seed where the crop is to be grown as much preferable to sowing in beds and transplant- ing when the plants arc large enough, tlore seed is undoubtedly required when the drill is brought, into requisition, the usual quantity being four pounds per acre but as a set-off to this the labour in- curred in the preparation of the seed beds and in transplanting is saved, and it may happen just when the plants are ready to go out that the weather is so hot and dry that to proceed with the work of trans- planting would incur the risk of losing a large per- centage. On ordinary soils the rows should be eighteen inches apart and a distance of fifteen inches be allowed from plant to plant, and on deep rich be allowed from plant to plant, and on deep rich loams an increase of three inches each way will be a decided advantage. With the seed should be drilled a mixture of guano and superphosphate at the rate of three cwt. per acre, and in equal proportions, or it may be sown broadcast and harrowed in when the land is undergoing the needful preparation, but drill- ing the manure and seed together is the better way. Thinning at the proper time, filling up such blanks as may occur, and plying the hand or horse hoe, for the purpose of keeping the weeds under and maintaining the surface in a loose condition will follow as a matter of course and need not be dwelt upon. The bulbs, when they have attained their full size, can be eaten off the land in precisely the same manner as turnips, or they may be stored in the same way as mangels and swedes, and when stored they can be kept in the most excellent condition,Gar- deners' Magazine.

JUDICIAL DIGNITY. Judge Crumpus was on the bench—he was the Court-and if that Court prided itself upon any one thing in particular, it was upon its dignity. Portly and austere, with his flabby chin settled away into the white, broad-padded neck-kerchief, his stiff, grizzled hair standing out from his head like the quills of a hedgehog, his honour was the very embodiment of judicial dignity. Young Spargrass had just been admitted to the bar, having studied with Sol. Tarbelt, and on his first appearance in the legal arena he was associated with his old tutor. Spargrass, in the course of the trial, had an altercation with opposing counsel, and on appealing to the court a decision was made against him. Yet he knew he was right. He was indignant, and his indignation was manifest. to' "I am astonished at your honour's decision he cried. "How!" said the judge sternly. "How is that, young gentleman ?" I say I am astonished at your honour's decision. The law is as plain as-" Stop stop! Such language cannot be permitted --not in this court. Young man, you will make an humble apology, or I will fine you for contempt." If the Court will permit me," said old Tarbelt, rising gracefully, and speaking very sweetly, I think I can offer a sufficient excuse for my young friend. He is inexperienced in the business of this court. When he shall have practised as long before your honour as I have, he will be astonished at nothing." Ah—ahem The point is well taken. Our young friend may proceed." Though placidly benignant as he waved his hand, and sat back in liis chair, the Crumpus dignity was not abated one jot.

HISTORIC SCENES IN STOCKHOLM. The Riksdagslms, or Assembly Hall of the Swedish Chambers, stands on the Riddarhohn island. It was first built, in 1794, upon the site of an old Franciscan monastery, and rebuilt in 18G6. Previous to the last date the Upper House met in the historic Riddarlius, or Knights' House, a plain, undignified pile of build- ings, but with many historical associations. The edifice is of brick, erected in 1648, and adorned on the facade with allegorical figures and Latin inscrip- tions. The Hall of Assembly has its walls almost covered with metal plates, displaying the armorial bearings of 3000 Swedish nobles- the arms of the Yasa family being conspicuously prominent—and a ceiling painted by Ehrenstrahl. The President's Chair is a curious piece of workmanship: it is of ebony and ivory, covered with Dutch carvings of Scriptural subjects. It was in this Hall that the Swedish no- bility bowed in grateful homage to Gustavus Yasa when he had achieved the liberation of his country. Here Gustavus Adolphus made his parting address to his subjects before setting forth on the career of glory that terminated at Liitzen. Here Charles XII., half mad with the love of conquest, harangued his nobles. Here the assembled senators were surrounded by the troops of Gustavus III., and, by a coup d'etat, was inaugurated an era of absolutism that brought the monarch to the dagger of Anckarstrom. In another room are portraits of all the Marshals of Sweden for two hundred years, except Lewsnhaupt, unsuccessful in war, and beheaded in 1743. Amongst the portraits is one of Count Fersen (of Scottish descent; the name corrupted from McPhersons), who, on June 28th, 1810, when attending in his carriage the funeral of the popular Prince Karl of Augustenburg, was dragged out and murdered by the people in consequence of a stupid rumour that Fersen had wrought the prince's death by poison. This deed took place in the square outside, called Riddarhus Torg, already famous for deeds of violence. Here in July, 1756, Counts Brahe, Barons Horn and Wrangel, and others, were beheaded for engaging in a plot against the Constitution. The square is now adorned with a statue of Gustavus Vasa, erected by the Swedish nobility in 1773, on the 250th anniversary of the deliverance of Sweden from the hated yoke of Denmark. Cities of the World.

FRENCH CONVICTS AND THE AUS- TRALIAN COLONIES. A French journal publishes a despatch, dated Jan 9, from Lord Lyons to Earl Granville, describing a conversation between the British Ambassador and M. Jules Ferry on the emotion caused in Australia by the Recidivist Bill, which provides for the transportation of old offenders or previously-convicted criminals to New Caledonia. Lord Lyons began by asking the Premier to consider carefully the observations pre- viously submitted to him by Earl Granville's direc- tions. M. Ferry opined that the colonists' feelings was superficial, and suggested that it was a mantle to cover over annexationist designs. They could not seriously fear the results arising from the transportation of a cer- tain number of criminals to New Caledonia. Lord Lyons, in answer, said he feared his interlocutor mis- took effect for cause. The desire to annex arose from the wish to prevent neighbouring islands from becoming nurseries for criminals. The apprehensions in Australia were genuine, and their intensity in- creased daily. M. Ferry owned that he could not understand these apprehensions. The majority of Recidivists would not be the worst sort of criminals (formats) and they would be forbidden to leave the island. Lord Lyons conceived that so far as he understood the bill these Recidivists would be worse than ordinary convicts, indeed they would be hardened criminals, without the restraints of formats, and would have ready means of escape. There would be a further complication. Would their escape be a cause for extradition and the colonists be justified in extraditing them ? On this point M. Ferry was not able to reply, but thought that transported persons having been condemned for serious offences their condemnation should have full scope and effect. Lord Lyons did not see that this was to be inferred from the bill, which was rather directed against criminals who, having served their time in France and showed a tendency to relapse, were merely obliged to live in the island. M. Ferry replied that escape would be doubtless possible. He moreover thought that few Recidivists would be sent to New Caledonia, because it would be impolitic to swamp the civil with a criminal population. Cayenne would be the chief place for trans- ported felons. The insalubrity of that posses- sion had been exaggerated. Lord Lyons then hoped that, in answer to his Note of January 3, M. Ferry would enable him to inform Earl Granville that no convict would be sent to New Caledonia. M. Ferry said that, with every desire to oblige the British Government and the colonists, it was impossible to admit that another Power could prevent France from sending Recidivists to her own colonies. The British Ambassador admitted such right in a general manner, but objected to consic er the question from M. Ferry's standpoint. er am. y every man was master of his own house, bu sure y had no right to make it a source of danjFf, J? next-door neighbour. Mr. Ferry repeated that he sincerely desired to show all due consideration feelings of the Australians.

MR. BRIGHT ON PEACE AND WAR. The New YOTTC Tribune publishes the following letter recently received by Augustin Jones, of the Friends' Boarding School, Providence, in reply to one announcing that a marble bust of Mr. Bright was to be erected there "London, March 10. Dear Friend,—I regret that I have so long de- laved an answer to your most kind letter, which reached me some weeks ago. It informed me of the singular and great compliment you were about to pay me by placing a marble bust of me in the lecture hall of your noble school. I was surprised to hear of the project; but I cannot but be much gratified at the friendly feeling manifested to me by yourself and the authorities connected with your institution. You say that I was a friend to your country in the day of need. I did what I could to prevent discord between the two English nations, and to teach our people the nature of the great issue which depended on the conflict in which twenty years ago your people were engaged. I lamented the con- fiiet; but I wished that England should offer her sympathy on the side of freedom to the slave, and in favour of the perpetual union of your great Republic. I look back on the part I took with unalloyed satis- faction, and would withdraw no word I uttered in connection with a contest on which England and the civilised world looked with a profound interest. "The question of peace, to which you refer, claims the sympathy of all Christian nations. On your Con- tinent we may hope your growing millions may hence- forth know nothing of war. None can assail you and you are anxious to abstain from mingling in the quarrels of other nations. Europe, unhappily, is a great camp. All its nations are armed as if each expected an invasion from its neighbour, unconscious, apparently, that great armies tempt to war the moment any cause of dispute arises. The potentates and Governments of Europe, I doubt not, dread war. They seek to guard themselves against it by ar- rangements. in England, are not free from blame; but with us the love of peace is increasing, and no Govern- ment can engage in war without risking, and even losing, the support of our people. We are so involved with territory and populations over half the globe that difficulties are almost constantly arising, and our danger of war is greater than that of any other nations. I am, however, confident that our feeling against war is sensibly increasing, and I trust and believe the moral sense of our people will more and more condemn it. I have read with much interest the report of your great school which you sent me. I hope your efforts in behalf of a sound, liberal education may prosper, and that your students as they enter and pass through the world may strengthen the moral sentiment which pervades so large a portion of your population. I can only wish you success in your great work, and thank you and all connected with your institution for the kindness you have shown me. England and your United States are two nations, but I always like to regard them as one people. On them the growth of all that is good in the world greatly depends. "Believe me, your sincere and grateful friend, "JOHN BRIGHT."

THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND BUTTONS. An American journal says that last fall the name of J. H. Tingue, of Seymour, became known in every Connecticut household as that of a gentleman who had made an offer of 50 dols. to any young lady who would, within thirty days, gather and forward him a string of buttons containing not less than 2500 patterns. This offer has cost Mr. Tingue about 4000 dols. thus far, and he has just placed on exhibition in the agri- cultural room at the capitol New Haven, four hand- some polished oak upright cases, each containing four strings. The exhibition is a very curious one. There are buttons of every possible shape and design, and some of the collections, especially of oxidized metal buttons are beautiful. The great difference in the general character of some of the collections is a noticeable feature. One string may be made up of the latest and richest designs, or new patterns fresh from the manufactory or store, and another of ancient buttons, mostly small and worn as though cut from cast-off clothing of past generations. On e ich string is a nickel plate bearing the names of the persons who made up the string, and there are two manuscripts. One is a humorous poem by a daughter of Colonel Torrance, of Derby, and the other a long poem of fourteen verses dedicated to our friend, J. H. Tingue, of Seymour, the bric-a-brac collector, and whose special fancy runs to buttons. BvThree Button Fiend, October 23, 188.3." In another case is a black cloth belt with Tingue worked upon it in small buttons. It is estimated that there is a total of 300,000 buttons, and about 75,000 different kinds. Most of the strings contain 2700 each, and two of them 3500 each. The original offer came about in a singular way. Mr. Tingue, who was exhibiting at the Meriden fair mohair plush goods which he manufactures, saw a string of 1430 buttons collected by a 6-year old child. Visiting a brother in Portchester, N.Y., shortly after, he spoke of this to two young ladies. In reply to their claim that they could exceed the 1430, he said he would pay their fares to Seymour, and give them 25 dols. if they did, and 50 dols. if they secured 2500 within thirty days. On the twenty-ninth day they came with a string of 2700, and received their fares and 50 dols. The incident was published in the "Seymour Record," and Mr. Tingue has had his hands full with button competitors ever since.

THE DIVERSIONS OF LADY COLLEGIANS. Year by year the colleges devoted to the education of girls are approaching more closely in all respects to the colleges designed for the other sex. The girl undergraduates already study Latin and Greek; celebrate their class days, and plant their class ivies. In some colleges, the New York Times says, the girls are learning to row, and it is even rumoured that the secret cigarette is smoked by presumably fair lips, (and that football—played with a ball loosely stuffed with feathers—has lately been introduced into a emale college situated not very far from this city. e most remarkable instance of the progress made in gir s colleges towards a complete equality with °t i°° ^CS was furnished the other day by the girls of Stolace Female College, in Ohio, by a hotly contested back-hair rush between the Sophomores and the Freshwomen. Everyone knows the nature of a college cane rush. It is a struggle between the two lower classes—the Freshmen trying to keep possession of a cane and the Sophomores trying to take it away from them. If the Freshmen are successful, they earn the right to carry canes during the rest of the year; but if they are unsuccessful, they must be caneless until in their turn they become Sophomores. A cane rush is perhaps the least offensive form of "hazing," but it is usually very destructive to the clothing of the con- testants. There had been a good deal of hazing at Stolace College during the past winter. Bands of Sophomores, stimulated by tea, had entered the rooms of Freshwomen, and by confiscating their hairpins, compelling them to surrender any jam or pea-nuts brought by them from home, and in some instances removing curl papers and straightening the hair of the victims with mucilage, had created some little ill-feeling between the classes. With a view of removing this ill-feeling by substituting a legiti- mate "rush" for illegitimate" hazing," committees of Freshwomen and Sophomores arranged the great back-hair rush of last Monday afternoon. As the Freshwomen did not care to carry canes, but did insist upon wearing back hair, it was agreed that at four o'clock on Monday last the two classes should meet on the college campus, and that one Freshwoman, to be chosen by her class-mates, should appear with back hair in position. The Sophomores were then to make a united effort to deprive the Freshwoman of her back hair and the other Freshwomen were to defend her, and upon the issue of the struggle was to depend the right of the Freshwomen to wear back hair during the rest of the term. The rush took place promptly at the appointed hour. The classes were not unequally matched, for although there were 28 Freshwomen and 24 Sophomores, the aggregate weight of the latter was largely in excess of that of their competitors. The Freshwoman who wore the back hair for which the battle was to be fought was placed in the centre of a compact mass of her class- mates, who were resolved to defend her at all hazards. The Sophomores, confident of an easy victory, had made few preparations for the contest, except that of putting on their oldest clothes, and they were guilty of the extreme folly of wearing their own back hair, a mistake which, as the event proved, was destined to make the struggle a fruitless one. For nearly half an hour the two classes struggled for the mastery. The campus was strewn with torn skirts and sowed thick with hairpins, and the faculty, hanging on the out- skirts of the combatants, and weeping and wringing their hands, were powerless to restore' order. Gradu- ally the Sophomores fought their way to the Fresh- woman who wore the back hair, and finally they triumphantly tore it from her head. At the same moment the Freshwomen, inspired by a happy thought, simultaneously seized the back hair of their opponents and fled to their rooms, each bearing her trophy. The rush was over, but is still undecided whether the Freshwomen are to wear back hair. It is true that the back hair of the champion was seized but, on the other hand, they claim that they captured 24 distinct sets of back hair from their opponents, and hence that the victory was really with the Fresh- women. The question is a new one in educational annals, and unless the proposal already made to sub- mit it for decision to the Presidents of Yale, Harvard, and Columbia is accepted, it may remain unsettled and a fruitful cause of perpetual discussion among the students of Stolace College.

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS. A coroner's jury in Missouri lately returned the following verdict: "We find that the deceased came to his decease by deceasing from lungs diseased; in other words, that his vitality was consumed by con- sumption." It is said when a young lady comes out" in New York, people ask, "Is she rich ?" and in Boston, What does she know ?" in Baltimore," Is she pretty? in Philadelphia, Is she a thorough-bred ? Yes, yes," said old Uncle Bidger, the dog is a true friend, and sticks to us to the last. Just think how when them neighbours down in North Carolina tried to take that old lady out of her burnin' house t'other day, her devoted dog wouldn't let 'em touch her Talk about comin' down to live on fifty cents a day exclaimed a seedy vagabond, why, I kin live on five cents a day! How long can you live so ? queried a bystander. Well, say one day, if you please. I shouldn't want the experiment to run too long." Old President Day, of Yale College, used to tell of a neighbour into whose mind it was impossible to get a glimmer of logic or mental philosophy. On one oc- casion President Day thought he'd got the obtuse fellow to see the truth of the metaphysical proposi- tion that" man cannot do anything against his will; but all at once he burst out with, Oh, yes he can; a neighbour of mine went to prison against his will only the day before yesterday. A Philadelphia minister recommends that slates be hung in the church vestibules, to enable the girls to register their names on entering for service. This will obviate the disturbance created by the young men who come to see whether their charmers are present.

A GERMAN VIEW OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Xeus writes: At the last meeting of the German Society for Commercial Geography a lecture was delivered on The British Colonial Empire." The speaker, Dr. Emil Deckert, opened his address with a comparison of the ancient Roman Empire with the modern British Empire, and pointed out that the Romans considered the strictest centralisation as their chief axiom of government, while the English have carried out the most ample decentralisation. With a nearer knowledge of the British colonial policy the cus- tomary opinion will disappear, that England must be dreaded as an obstacle to the colonial aspirations of other nations. England has her hands full enough with her own colonies, the final separation of which from the parent country is more- o\er only a question of time. As, 100 years ago, the North American States fell from the ancestral stock like a ripe fruit, so in no far distant time the other emigration colonies, particularly Canada and Australia, will secede completely from England. Attempts are being made in England, where this eventuality is well recognised, to defer this separation as long as possible by bringing about a confederation of the colonial States with an obligatory customs union. This plan, however, the speaker considered impracticable, as the great ethnographical diversity of the British colonies among themselves would be sure to offer insurmount- able obstacles to such a confederation. India alone would, however, have to be regarded as thelloli me tangere of all British colonies. It has often been asserted that England only possesses so many colonies because she was beforehand with other nations but this is a great mistake. Without hardly an exception, England has had to conquer her colonies by force of arms, and it is a striking fact that particu- larly those possessions which were, so to say, thrown away by their original owners, have turned out to be most valuable, as Canada and Australia. But even after the separation of the great emigration colonies from the mother country the commercial relations with them must still continue, and as long as India and the fortified naval stations, which now form a complete circle round the globe, remain in British hands, England will never cease to be the ruler of the seas and of the world's trade.

SALMON IN AUSTRALIA.—In the Melbourne Australa- sian of February 16, it is stated that "near Portland a few days ago a beautiful fish was caught in the Glenelg, about ten miles from its mouth. It was 19in. long and weighed 71b. It had all the external ap- pearance of salmo salar, and its flesh was of the true salmon colour." From this it would appear that Sir Samuel Wilson's attempt to introduce the salmon into Australian waters has been successful. In his work, entitled "Salmon at the Antipodes," we read that some hundreds of young salmon were sent from Ercildoune and liberated in the head-waters of the Glenelg on Christmas Day, 1877. As these fish would, if still alive, have grown to 251b. or 301b. in weight, it is evident that the grilse now caught is one of their progeny on its way from the sea to the spawning grounds. ETIQUETTE IN AMERICA.—I asked the landlord of the inn at Corning, who was very attentive to his guests, to find my coachman. He immediately called out in his bar-room, Where is the gentleman that brought this man here ?" A few days before a farmer in New York had styled my wife the woman," though be called his own daughters ladies, and would, I believe, have freely extended that title to their maid- servant. I was told of a witness in a late trial at Boston, who stated in evidence that while he and another gentleman were shovelling up mud," &c.; from which it appears that the spirit of social equality has left no other signification to the terms gentle- man and lady," but that of male and female indi- vidual,

SOME QUEER DISHES. Under the above heading Char/Jeers's Jviirnal has an article, from which we take the following If. in England, a man was pushed to discover a new animal food, it would, I think, be a long time before he hit upon bats as at all likely to furnish him with a desir- able addition to his table, even if their diminutive size did not place an insuperable obstacle in the way of their being so utilised. But in many of the South Sea Islands, where the flying-fox—a species of bat, fifteen inches or so across the wings—is common, it is used as food by the natives, and its flesh is by no means to be despised even by epicures. This animal, frugivorous in his tastes, as a rule, does not for all that turn up his nose at a plump moth or a succulent beetle when they chance to come in his way but he usually confines himself to fruit—ripe bananas of the best quality and plenty of them being about his mark and dreadful havoc he and his friends would make in the banana gardens, if the natives—well aware of his habits—did not hasten to bind quantities of dead leaves round the ripening fruit, aud so preserve it from its attacks. It would seem absurd to a stranger to the country to be informed that such an insignificant animal as a bat could seriously threaten the fruit-harvest in countries where it is so abundant; but he would change his opinion when informed that the flying- foxes often settle in hundreds in any likely planta- tion and as they always destroy very much more than they consume, the loss and inconvenience they cause to the natives may be properly estimated. 0 I The bat in question is not so strictly nocturnal in his habits as his English brother; and although lie usually sallies out at sunset, yet I have often noticed them sailing about in broad daylight, provided the weather was dull and overcast: the flight is even and regular, very like that of a rook, and not in the least resembling the extremely erratic mode of progression affected by our native species. If in their manner of a few steady flaps and then a long sail—they remind one of the rook, they also resemble our old friend in their habit of assembling together at bed- time. when they all retire to roost on the same grove of trees, and hang head downwards with their wings wrapped round their bodies. looking like a collection of large cobwebs. It must not, however, be supposed that the meet- ing and subsequent proceedings take place in silence the contrary is the case and an immense amount of chattering is carried on for a considerable time. when no dotil-t all the affairs of the day are duly discussed, as well as other matters amatory and otherwise. In the old heathen times, the rookeries were strongly tabooed by the priests; and even to the present day, the natives, more especially the old men, have an evi- dent aversion to interfere with the sacred trees, a feeling which does not in the least prevent them fruni killing all the bats they can in other places. The natives prepare them for food by first cut ting off the wings, and then passing the body through the fire, to remove the fur, and with it the strong foxy smell with which it is imjiregnated. It is then care- fully scraped, split open, and afterwards grilled on the coals spitch-eoek fashion, when it is ready for consumption; and is capital eating, having a rich, gamv flavour something between a hare and a wood- cock. I was so much encouraged by the success of my first essay at bat-eating, that I afterwards had a pie made of several I had shot, and from my .previous experience, rather looked forward to a good dinner; but when the pastry ivi cut open, I was grievously disappointed by finding that the fetid odour peculiar to the live animal had survived the cooking—from being unable to escape from the pastry rendering it utterly uneatable, and so for the future contented myself with bat 9.11 natural—that is..native fashion. The. above-mentioned animal is very common in Australia, and is quite as great a nuisance among the orchards there as he. is in the islands but it will be some considerable time, 1 fancy, before our colonial some considerable time, I fancy, before our colonial brothers utilise him in the kitchen. 1 don t suppose that many people—at least English people, who are tolerably prejudiced in their way— have ever voluntarily gone in for a cuttle-fish or octopus diet, as they are horribly weird, uncannv animals to look at; and few, I opine, would feel in- clined to make a "square meal off the shiny crea- tures, at least until other more prepossessing kinds of food remained to be tried. Nevertheless, throughout the whole of the Pacific, including Japan, all the different varieties of cuttle and octopus are regarded as a bonne bÙilClzt of peculiar excellence; and both in its capture and preparation the natives display considerable ingenuity. I remember once, when sailing in the tropics, seeing one morning the deck of our little schooner nearly covered with that very elegant little cuttle-fish called the "flying-squid." The sea had been very rough during the night, and I could never properly ascer- tain whether the squid had come on board of their own accord, attracted by the light—as the men affirmed-or had been left there by a heavy sea we had shipped just before daylight. Anyway, our cook, a smart Maltese, at once set to work to collect them, and then, much to the disgust of the sailors, who are the most prejudiced of mortals, he forthwith pro- ceeded to cook them for the cabin table, and sent us down dishes of squid both curried and fried that were much approved of by all who partook of them and proved a delightful change after the long course of "salt junk and tinned soup and bouilliethat the slow sailing of our little craft had obliged us to adopt. These fish were about six inches long, had large brilliant, eyes of a set expression, and were furnished with a pair of flippers or wings. They also—unlike any other kind of fish that I am acquainted with-- rejoice in a couple of tails, in lieu of the orthodox number. The body, almost transparent, was of a delicate olive brown. Altogether, they were pretty little things, and tasted even better than they looked.

Any girl has a right to look at a milliner's window and wish she had a rich husband.

A PAIR OF WITS. Chesterfield and Voltaire, born in the same year (1604), were warm and life-long friends. Whatever mav have been the erratic Frenchman's vagaries and miffs—for lie never had a friend whom he did not at some time abuse—Lord Chesterfield was too much of a gentleman to take offence, or even notice. On a certain occasion the two friends were in com- pany at a grand ball in Paris given by the king's favourite. Chesterfield stood by a marble pillar, gazing upon the brilliant assemblage of ladies, when Voltaire accosted him. My lord, you should be a judge in such matters. Now, seriously, do you not think our French ladies the most beautiful you ever saw ?" Upon my word," replied Chesterfield, with a nod and a smile, "I am not a judge of paintings." Net long afterwards", oltmre crossed over to England, and was present one evening at a party given by an English nobleman in London. A lady in the company, sparkling with jewels, and highly rouged, was particularly attentive to the noted Frenchman, engrossing most of his discourse. Chesterfield, ob- serving, came up and tapped his friend on the shoulder. Be wary, monsieur, or you will be captivated." "No fear, my lord." quickly retorted A oltaire. "1: am no- to be captured by an English craft sailing under Fr:nch colours.

THE FASHIONABLE FLOWER. A DAFFODIL IDYL. Let-it be as Fashion wills— In the Park, o- in the Row— Not hint* wear but Datfodilsl In the valley, on the In t lor ;eet, wLerp'er 'yo(r:: Let it be as Fashion wills. to Though the East wind blights and chills, Though we vf frost md #n»w, Nothing wear but DanodiiS Little girls in frocks and frills, T As they scamper to and fro. Let it be as Fashion wills. Maids in ginghams, silks, and twills — MAKV, NINA. NEI.LIE, FLO Nothing wear but Daffodil, Headless of the Florisf's bills. Thoughtless of the sum you owe— ,0" Let it be as Fashion wills, Nothing wear but DaffodjIJs —Punch.

SELECTED ANECDOTES. LOUD CHATHAM'S OIU-VTORY.—Dignity was one of the distinguished characteristics of Lord Chatham's oratory: this presided thoughout. and gave force even to the sallies of pleasantry. It was this that elevated the most familiar language, and gave novelty and grace to the 111(\st familiar allusions; so that in his hand, even the crutch became a weapon of oratory. In one of his speeches on the American war, in which he greatly distinguished himself, be said, "You talk, my lords, of conquering America of your numerous friends there to annihilate the congress and of pour powerful forces to disperse her army; 1 ry/iaht as well talk of driving them before me with this cruic*!i," Ax AI-MIUAL'S SPEECH.—Admiral Blake, when a captain, was sent with a small squadron to the West Indies, on a secret expedition against the Spanish settlements. It happened in an engagement that one of the ships blew up, which damped the spirits of the crew but Blake, who was not to be subdued by one unsuccessful occurrence, called out to his men, Well, my lads, you have seen an English ship blown up and now let's see what figure a Spanish one will make in the same situation'" This well-timed harangue raised their spirits immediately, and in less than an hour he set his antagonist on fire. "There, my lads," said he. "I knew we should have our revenge soon. Ax Uxi AI. PREACHEI: • Charles II. was wont in his humorous way to say of his chaplain, Dr. Barrow, .that he was the liiost unfair preacher in England because lie exhausted every subject, and left no room for others to come after him." It was indeed too much the doctor's way when he got hold of a topic- he nevpr knew how to leave any thing unsaid upon it. One of his best discourses, that on the Duty and Reward of Bounty to the Poor, actually took him up th ee hours and a half in delivering! A Tiiin.r. SAVIXG.— A man noted for his close- fisted propensities was showing an old coin to a, neigh- bour, when the latter asked, "Where did you get it? "I dug it out of my garden," was the reply. It is a pitv you didn't find it in the cemetery," said the neighbour. "AVhy so?" asked the coin owner. Because vou could have saved the hole to be buried in," was the somewhat unexpected reply. A SINGULAR OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.—The people of Arragon in the election of their kings used the follow- ing form of election We. the free-born inhabitants of the ancient kingdom of Arragon, who are equal to you, Don Philip, and something more, elect you to be our king, on condition that you preserve to us our rights and privileges. If in this you fail, we own you for our king no longer." A FARMER OUTWITTED. -A farmer, who was as niggardly a man as ever breathed, contrived by his parsimonious habits to amass great wealth. He was likewise conscienceless, and scrupled at nothing that would add a pound to his pile. Not far from him lived a shiftless sort of a fellow, who loved to steal better than to work, and the farmer said to him once, Clem, I will give you a shilling a bushel for all the potatoes you will bring me, and I don't care where you get them." Clem jumped for joy at the chance, but asked him where he could get them. I don't care where. Of course you will steal them, but that's none of my business." The bargain was struck, and every night for a week Clem would drive to the farmer's house with a load of potatoes, carry them into the cellar, and receive his pay for them. At length lie asked him where he got them. "Stole em." "Where did you steal "em, Clem ?"' Oh, up in your side hill lot. replied the other, while a grin took' entire possession of his faoe. He got away in time to save his back, but that farmer hasn't bargained with him since to steal anything. ActTB A'isiox.—Madame C., dressmaker, has a great deal of trouble with her work girls. The other day one of them came to her to say. Madame. I fear that I shall not be able to work much longer. I think I am getting blind." "Why, how is that ? You seem to get along pretty well with your work." Yes but I can no longer see any meat on my plate at dinner." Madame C. understood, and the next day the voung ladies were served with very large but very thin pieces of meat. What happiness f exclaimed our miss. My sight has come buck. I can now see better than ever." How is that, mademoiselle. Why, at this moment I oan see the plate through the meat." TRADING HORSES.—AVhen Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer in Illinois, he'and the judge once got to bantering one another about trading horses, and it was agreed that the next morning at nine o'clock they should make a trade, the horses to be unseeen up to that hour, and no backing out under a forfeiture of 5 dols. At the hour appointed the judge came up, leading the sorriest-looking specimen of a horse ever seen in those parts. In a few minutes Mr. Lincoln was seen approaching with a wooden sawhorse upon his shoulders. Great were the shouts and the laughter of the crowd, and both were greatly increased when Mr. Lincoln, on surveying the judge's animal, set down his sawhorse and exclaimed, Well, judge, this is the first time I ever got the worst of it in a horse trade. AVIIITFIELI/S ELOQUENCE.—Dr. Franklin, IN hI Memoirs, bears witness to the extrao:rdinarv -aff-ect which was produced bv Mr. Whitfield s preaching America and relates an anecdote equally cliarac^ tic of the preacher and of himself. jn tb'e says the doctor, to attend one of to finigh course of which I h^solved he should get a collection, and 1■ pocket a handful of nothing from D^e_ or four g;iTer dollars, and five copper .money, be proceeded, I began to soften, pistols in g the copper. Another stroke ^rClodrfto?vgniade me ashamed of that, and •determined me to give the silver; and he finished so admirably, that I emptied my pocket finished so admirably, that I emptied my pocket wholly into the collector's dish, gold and all. At this sermon there was also one of our club: who being of my sentiments respecting the building in Georgia, and suspecting a collection might, be intended, had by precaution emptied his pockets before he came from home towards the conclusion of the discourse, how- ever, he felt a strong inclination to give, and applied to a neighbour who stood near him to lend him some money for the purpose. The request was fortunately made to perhaps the only man in the company who had the firmness not to be affected by the preacher. His answer was, at any other time, friend Hodgkin- son, I would lend to thee freely; but not now, for thee seems to be out of thy right senses.