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

SCENE IN A TIIAM-CAR.—Enter determined-looking female, to whom a slender gentleman offers his scat. "I always like to oblige the weaker sex," affably remarked the youth. Weaker sex, indeed! Any more of your impertinence, young man, and you'll see whether I am weak or not!" Then, assuming a defiant air, she whopped down into the vacant seat. I'

HEALTHFUL RECREATIONS. In order to be truly healthful, in every sense of the word, recreation must be of a kind to entirely relieve both body and mind from their status quo during work or toil. All thoughts must be for a time diverted into an entirely new and pleasantly in- teresting channel, so as to rest most completely that other portion of the brain, which presides over the thoughtful performance of the duties of the day. The kind of recreation that is chosen must, therefore, depend, in a great measure, upon the sort of labour that has been performed. What is rest to one man would be labour to another. Recreation ought to be in every way the converse to labour; if it be not so, it is not rest. From this it may be seen that the in- dividual himself must choose that form of recreation which is best suited for his health. But the busiest men among us, even those to whom work is really pleasure, should remember that recreation or relaxation is in reality a necessary of health and life itself. To use a plain and homely simile: well- timed, well-chosen recreation is to our bodies and minds, or to these hearts of ours which are beating, beating night and day, what oil is to the bearings of an engine; it saves wear and tear, and makes the long rongh road of life seem shorter and smoother to us. Brain-workers probably need daily recreation more than any other class of individuals. It is a pity that it is the custom with so many of them to sacrifice the precious hours of the night to work that might be done far better and more brilliantly in the morning, or in the forenoon. I do not speak unadvisedly, but from long experience, when I say that the hours be- tween the evening meal—whether it be dinner or supper—and bed-time should be devoted entirely to rest from labour, combined with, if possible, recrea- tion. The sleep thereafter would be far more useful and refreshing, and, in seven hours after retiring to rest, the brain would be ready to commence work again with healthier blood in it, and with clearer and therefore more critical per- ceptions. The purer and more wholesome the air in which, be they what they may, our recrea- tions are enjoyed the better. Pure air can usually be secured at home in winter and spring evenings. We can manage to have our rooms well ventilated. From home it is different. The brain-worker, or the man who has been worried no matter how, will often find mental recreation in the concert-room or the lecture-hall. It cannot often be called healthful recreation, however, for the systems of ventilation in nearly all places of public resort are sadly in need of reform. And so from places of amusement, after breathing the vilest of atmospheres and the most obnoxious of gases, we return home, exhilarated in mind probably, but too often jaded and weary in body. Restless nights are the consequence, and, on the whole, we feel next day that it might have been y r_1 better had we not indulged in such doubtful recrea- tion.— Casscll's Family Magazine.

A SOCIAL LESSON. Young Spoonogle never knows when to leave when he calls on a young lady he likes the sound of his own voice so well that he talks on and on, while the poor girl grows light-headed with the tax on her strength, and wishes the mantel-piece of Elijah would fall on the tiresome caller. There is a young lady on Lafayette-avenue who made up her mind to give Spoonogle a lesson. So, last Sunday night, when he called, she was as cordial as possible up to eleven o'clock. Then having had a four-volume history of Spoonogle's life, with an ex- tended account of his influence in politics and busi- ness, she began to get dizzy, and have a ringing in her ears. At that moment her young brother rushed into the room and said hurriedly: Pa wants the morning papers, sis Look in the vestibule, Willie," she answered gently. I think I heard the boy leaving them some hours ago." Spoonogle never took the hint, but drawled on about the roller skating rink, and what a figure he cut on skates. The next interruption was from the head of the house, who entered briskly rubbing his hands. Good morning good morning," he said cheerily. Ha! Spoonogle, you'ro out early. Well, early bird,' &c. It's going to be a fine day, from present appearances." Spoonogle was dazed, but he concluded the old man had been drinking, and sat back with a come one, come all, this rock shall fly from its firm base as soon as yours truly" air that was decided and convincing. A half hour passed, and the mother hurried in. "Dear me, I'm late," she said, as she entered. I smelled the coffeo an hour ago and knew breakfast was waiting, but—oh! Good morning, Mr. Spoonogle!" Then the sweet youth took the hint, and drawing himself together he got out into the hall and opened the front door just as the hired girl rung a bell and the small boy yelled "Breakfast" over the banisters. --I)eti-oit Free Press.

A READY ANSWER.—When Clarke, the traveller, asked, in Sweden, what became of a woman who fell into the shaft of an iron mine that he visited- Became of her! said the man to whom he put the question, striking his hand forcibly upon his thigh; she became a pancake CURIOSITIES Oil SLEEP.—A distinguished lawyer was consulted upon an important and difficult case, wnch lie studied for several days with anxious care. His wife then saw him rise in the night, and go to a desk in the bedroom. He sat down and wrote a long paper, which he carefully placed in the desk. lie then returned to bed, and in the morning told his wife that he had dreamt of delivering a clear and luminous opinion about a case which had greatly per- plexed him, and that he wished ho could remember the train of thought of his dream. She directed him to the desk, and there he found the opinion clearly copied out,'which proved to be correct.

PRACTICAL HINTS FOR THE APIARY. As swarms may be expected from the strongest stocks in a short time hence, it will be necessary to take advantage of an early opportunity for over- hauling the stock of empty hives, and thoroughly cleansing all that have been used before, repairing such as require it, and making additions, by purchase or otherwise, if the number of hives available is not likely to be equal to the requirements. Previous to making purchases it will be well for the bee-keeper to take into consideration the characteristics of the several hives now in use, and determine, as far as it is practicable to do so, which is the form best adapted to the end he has in view. To settle this point is not particularly easy, more especially by those whose experience has been chiefly confined to the old straw skeps. There are now a very large number of hives in the market, but, practically speaking, they may be divided into three groups, namely, the straw skeps, the Stewarton, and the Woodbury, and most of those now manufactured are modifications of the Woodbury hive, which, taking all things into conside- ration, is unquestionably the most generally useful. T is no form of hive that is so simply managed or ts so cheap as the straw skep, but it is practically imj|(fe&ible to obtain the same bulk of honey from it in ^saleable form as from a bar-frame hive in the hatlls of a skilful apiarian, other things being equal. English bee-keepers have hitherto attached too much importance to the production of huge hives and large supers of honey, and have entirely lost sight of the fact that honey in the comb and in small quantities would realize a far higher price than when in bulk, whether in the comb or run, and moreover by having the honeycomb in a portable form it is possible to commence the sale or consumption of honey early in the summer, instead of being compelled to wait until quite the end before taking advantage of the labours of the bees. The Woodbury hive affords facilities for taking the honey at a very early date, and in quantities proportionate to the requirements, and in favourable seasons the combs may, with the aid of the extractor, be emptied of honey as soon as the cells are filled, and then be replaced in the hives for the bees to fill again. Neither the original form of this hive nor the best of its modifications is very difficult to manage, although requiring more skill than the skep, and, briefly described, it may be said to consist of a medium-sized box fitted with moveable frames for the support of the combs. The outer frame, or box, of the Woodbury hive is usually made 141 inches square and 9 inches deep, and has a moveable top, but no bottom. The moveable frames, or bars, are made of strips of wood seven-eighths of an inch wide and three-eighths of an inch thick, and are 7! inches deep and 13 inches long. The top pieces of the moveable frames project three-eighths of an inch on each side, and these rest in a rabbet cut on the inner side of the front and back pieces of the frame. Each hive will require ten bars, and these are fixed securely in their places with a small brad driven into the rabbet on each side. The top should be formed of strips of wood about four inches in width, and fitting closely together, as they can be more readily removed than when the crown board is made in one piece. When the bars in the hive are filled with comb the top can be wholly or partially removed, and a second lot of frames placed upon them, or, what is better still, when it is desired to dispose of the honey in the comb, small sectional supers, such as those now so largely employed in America. These supers are 4t inches square, made with very thin strips of wood two inches broad, and will hold about one pound of honey. They are stood side by side in a box fitted on the top of the hive, and as a matter of course have a wooden cover over them. An immense quantity of honey is imported into this country in these small sections, and those who are at all interested in the matter should make an effort to obtain one as a pattern. When glass supers are employed, they should be of comparatively small size, and threu or four be placed upon the hive at the same time. Gardeners' Magazine.

THE INSURRECTION IN THE SOUDAN. The Cairo correspondent of the Daily News, in a telegram of Sunday's date, says :— A telegraphic order has been sent to Berber directing the 700 troops there to withdraw if possible to Koroski. All communication between Berber and Khartoum is stopped, the last messenger being obliged to return, and nearly losing his life. All the country is in insurrection. The Modir of Dongola telegraphs to Nubar Pasha requesting leave to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, find- ing that the locality is unpleasant. Fifty-one h the exact number of men killed near Shendy. The rest have arrived safely at Berber. Reuter's telegrams of similar date say that despatches have arrived from Berber stating that the troops there have fraternised with the insurgent Arabs. The inhabitants are taking to flight, and in a few days the place will be deserted. The reply of the British Government to the pro- posal to send an expedition to Berber hfl en received. It says that such an expediti im- possible at present, an could not, in f for four months hence. This decision has been communicated to Hussein Pasha Khalifa, governor of Berber, and at the same time he has been told that he may withdraw from the town if he is in a position to do so. Mr. Cuzzi, General Gordon's agent at Berber, has sent a telegram to Mr. Egerton, saying it is quite im- possible to forward any more letters or telegrams to Khartoum. The last messenger had retu.-ned, having been unable to proceed. The situation at Berber, Mr. Cuzzi describes as desperate. Korosko was also reported to be unsafe, but that news is quite uncon- firmed. Troops had arrived at Berber from Shendy, having suffered trifling loss on the way from attacks of the rebels. This disproves the report of the Shendy massacre announced on the 20th inet.

GARDENING FOR THE WEEK. CONSERVATORY AND PPEENJIOUSE. Azaleas that are out of bloom must be encouraged to grow freely by being placed in 8 structure in which they will have the assistance of a brisk tcmvierature and moist atmosphere. Give weak liquid manure to old plants that have filled their pots with roots, and shade during midday. Any priming needed should be done at once, to bring the plants into shape for next year. Taken at the right moment-that is. I just as they are about to break into new growth-- Indian azaleas may be very hard pruned, if required to give them any desirable form. At the same time it will be well to turn them out, reduce the ball, and repot in smaller pots with peat and turfy loam as firmly as possible. Shut them up with R moderate bottom-heat and syringe frequently: but give very little water at the root till they start awav: then give plenty of water, and keep growing till the points show the formation of bloom-buds: then harden 0ff, and in due time put them out of doors to ripen the wood. Calceolarias for exhibition must now have abun- dance of water, and be shaded during midday; as the trusses rise give very weak liquid manure twice a week. Keep the plants cool and airy, and tie in time to keep them from getting out of shape. Fitch si as not yet repol têd must be attended to quickly. Large shifts suit these admirably. Those advancing to bloom must be frequently looked over to keep down vermin, and have plenty of moisture. Ferns in pots require either a shift or a renewal of the soil. In either case turn them out, and break away some of the old stuff from the outside of the ball, and repot either in the same or larger pots, using good turfy loam for all strong growing kinds, and those that must have peat to have the best peat in rough lumps. Ferns are too often starved, owing to the common but erroneous notion that a poor sandy peat is sufficient for them, which is a mistake. STOVE AND ORCHID HOUSE. Orchid House.—While we have brilliant sunshine with east wind great care is requisite in regard to shading and air-giving in the orchid house. Remove the shading as early in the afternoon as circumstances will allow, so that, in fact. there will be some amount of actual sunshine on the house at the time of shut- ting up. Damping of walls, floors, and stages must be assiduously attended to, and plants growing freely must have water enough. Stove Plants recently potted to be kept on a good bottom heat. Shift gesnerias, gloxinias, cleroden- drons, and other fast-growing plants. Justicias out of bloom to be potted in peat, rotten dung, and loamy turf, equal parts. As fast as plants come into bloom remove them to a cooler atmosphere. There must be no crowding in the stove now. Whatever can be pro- pagated now will be better done than in autumn, as the young plants will have a long growing season before them to fill their pots with roots. FORCING AND ORCHARD HOUSES. Melons to be kept regular in growth, and the vines some distance apart, to ensure a healthy leaf develop- ment. Plenty of sun and moderate watering are essentials of success. As soon :18 the crop is set soak the bed with tepid liquid manure, and continue syringing until the fruit is fully formed, then discon- tinue it. Pines showing fruit to have clear liquid manure given warm and weak. Syringe to be used before shutting up. After they have been shut up for an hour at 85 deg. give a little air before night, but cautiously, for fear of a chill. As soon as the fruit shows colour discontinue the syringing, and give very little water at the root. Succession plants to be kept liberally ventilated to induce a robust growth. Orchard House.—Trees in pots must have plenty of water and plenty of air. A good breeze through the house will do them good. and it will be a help to shut up with a little sun heat. If this house is now crowded with all sorts of odds and ends that have been brought in through the overcrowded state of other houses, it must be cleared at once, or it is possible that the crop will be materially injured, for the trees must have air and light. The crowding of fruit houses with plants that have no right to a place in them is most objectionable. FLOWER GARDES AND PLEASURE GHOUNDS. Annuals will require thinning out, and the straggling kinds will be the better for topping. There are very few who know all that may be done with annuals by giving them a rich soil, plenty of room, and occasionally pinching out the points of the lead- ing shoots. Flower Beds that are unoccupied are supposed to be turned once or twice during winter, and to be manured if necessary in spring. Supposing them to have had such proper attention, now is the time to turn the soil once more and break the olods and make all tidy. But beware of making the ground over fine. KITCHEN GARDEN. Cvcuubcrs in frames may be kept going now by linings of grass mowings mixed with dry straw and other such waste. Parsley.— Sow thinly on a rich border, and cover the drills with tiles or stones for about ten days then remove the covering, and the- parsley will be found peeping through. This plan the ger- mination of the seed, which is generally verv slow. -A(■.A-'• a Bean,* may be sown in the open ground now sow also a few in pots, to make good any that miss in the rows. Sow also in pots or pan sufficient seed of scarlet runners for a first planting, to give an early supply. They will be a fortnight earlier in fruit than those sown in the open ground next week. THE IIOUSK. Cage birds, whether large or small, should now enjoy plenty of air without exposure to draughts, and have fairly abundant supplies of green food. NA-lien it can be done with safety, they may now be placed out of doors for a short time during the. forenoon of fine days with considerable benefit to their health. A sunny position should be selected and the precaution taken to place the cages beyond the reach of cats, for even if the birds are not attacked they are so fright- ened when the cats come within a short distance of the cage that they do not quickly recover, and occa- sionally an attack of epilepsy results. More especially is this the case with canaries, which, by the way, are usually so timid that the cages should be moved and the birds handled with great care. The supply of green food must be abundant without being excessive, and cliickweed. groundsel, and the tender tops of watercress may be mentioned as specially suitable for this season of the year. Most birds have also a decided partiality for lettuce leaves, particularly those centre of examples that have not been tied up or subjected to any other blanching process.-CTar- dener's Magazine.

LINCOLN S "CASH" STOCKINGS. Abraham Lincoln, while a resident of New Salem, Illinois, followed various avocations. With all the rest- he was l; storekeeper" and postmaster. On a certain occasion one of his friends, having learned that an agent of the Post-office Department and a drum- lller" were in the village--the former to collect what was due to the Government from Lincoln as post- master. the latter to receive from him as trader what he was owing the firm represented by himself—and knowing Lincoln was never overburdened with spare fund?, went to the store and offered to lend him a sum sufficient to meet the claims- he was so soon to be called upon to settle. You are very kind," said Lincoln: "but. I do not think I shall require your assistance." Withm a few minutes the agent entered their presence, and Lincoln took an old stocking from a drawer, out of which he poured a lot of copper and silver coin—the latter mostly in pieces of a small denomination. There is the verv money I have taken on account of the Pot-office," he remarked to the agent, and I think you will find it the exact amount due you." It was, to a cent. This business had hardly been concluded, when in came e drummer." Lincoln had recourse to anoter o stocking, with a similar result. So soon as e^ were again bv themselves, the friend said "V were a third creditor to present himsel a i iTig would you Jdhe stockings, In <>d. of these is the sum I severally owe to three pa^es, the only persons in the world to whom I am pecunian y in- debted I see von are amused at my method of tran- sacting business. I never allow to use money that is'nat mine, however sorely pressed I may be, and I intend to be prepared to pay my bills when they become due without delay or inconvenience to those whom I owe. The simple- system which I have adopted—using a stocking to represent each creditor, and placing in it the money to be passed to the credi- tor himself at some future dv, -reiiders thr former unnecessary and the Utter possible."—Isxluinapohs S(i itind.

MR. IRVING'S FINAL APPEARANCE IN NEW YORK. The New York correspondent of the Daily News, writing on Sunday, says Mr. Irving's farewell performance last night drew an audience which packed' the theatre almost to suffocation. All the seats were sold a week ago, and the speculators easily secured twenty-five dollars each for those they had bought. Mr. Irving was called a dozen times before the curtain, and Miss Ellen Terrv and Mr. Terriss were most warmly applauded. After the final fall of the curtain Mr. Irving, responding to repeated demands, made a speech in which he said: This is a night that will ever be remembered by us. Six months ago you welcomed us on these boards, and I thank you, as the representative audience of the empire citv of the United States, for the welcome which we have everywhere received from the American people. Not one jarring note, not one un- generous sentiment, has marred the happiness of our stay among you. Wherever we have been we have received gracious and generous hospitality, and the last four weeks have shown us that. New York has in no way forgotten the first kind greeting she gave us. You have shown that upon the broad platform of a noble art the two greatest sections of the English- speaking race are one nation. You have shown that no jealous love of your own most admirable actors has prevented you from recognising the earnest purpose <>f an English company, and we shall return to our homes with the conviction that, new as our methods may have been, you have set the stamp ot your undisguised approval on them, and your generosi y is, I am sure, right heartily recipro- cated by the English people. Certainly as long as I have a, theatre the doors of the Lyceum will be open to welcome your distinguished countrymen. One is acting there now; others will be there by-and-bye, and hat we may not be quite forgotten we are re turning soon. That the American people may not forget us, we are coming, if all be well, next autumn. We shall return in full hope and anticipation, and to our friends at home we shall say that we are returning for a parting embrace, a six months' embrace, and I am sure our dear land, which has the first place in our hearts, will not begrudge us the affection which we bear to America, and which out of the depth of your kindness yon have conjured up. I respectfully, gratefully, and, if I may say it, lovingly wish you good-bye." The' total receipts of the twenty-six weeks season have been 405,604 dollars. Mr. Irving received half the gross receipts and furnished the company, with the exception of Miss Terry's weekly salary of 1500 dollars, towards which he paid ;)00 and the manager 1000.

IMPERIAL MARRIAGE IN ST. PETERSBURG. Writing on Sunday, the St. Petersburg correspon- dent of the Standard says: The marriage of the Grand Duke Constantine and the Princess Elizabeth of Saxe-Altenburg was celebrated to-day with Imperial splendour, and gave the capital a foretaste of what maybe expected on the 15th of June, when the Em- peror's brother, the Grand Duke Sergius, will be united to the Princess Elizabeth of Hesse, Queen Victoria's grandchild. The ceremony took place in the Winter Palace, where the Diplomatic Corps and the Court assembled at half-past twelve o'clock, the Russian ladies wearing the picturesque national dress, and the gentlemen the brilliant uniforms for which the Rus- sian Court is famous. When all had assembled, the Diplomatic Corps filed off into the church. A salvo of twenty-one guns from the opposite fortress an- nounced that their Imperial Majesties had left their private apartments, and that the ceremony was about to begin. The procession through the last saloons of the Palace was dazzling in the extreme, the Emperor and Empress being followed by no fewer than thirty-nine Princes and Princesses, members or connections of the Romanoff family, in- cluding the Queen of Greece and the august couple about to be married. As in the case of the Grand Duchess Marie, the wife of the Grand Duke Vladimir, the marriage was celebrated first according to the rites of the Greek Orthodox Church, and then after the Lutherian ritual When their Majesties and the rest of the corUge had been blessed with the cross and holy water by the Archbishop of Nowgorod, the Emperor led the happy pair up to the altar, and then took his usual place. His Majesty's Confessor placed the ring on the fingers of the bride and bridegroom, and the marriage service com- menced, the symbolic crowns being held over their heads by members of the Imperial family, who relieved each other in turn. When the service was over, the Grand Duke led his wife, who had on a rich white dress with a train of crimson velvet bordered with ermine, and a diamond crown on her head, to make their acknow- ledgments to their Majesties, and to his august parents; while the full choir intoned a Te Deum, and the cannon thundered a Royal salute across the river. The cortege was re-formed, and passed into the Alexandra Hall, where an altar had been raised, and the Lutheran ceremony took place, the pastor of the German Church of St. Petersburg officiating. The company then dispersed, the Imperial family retiring to their private apartments until lialf-past five o'clock, when a magnificent banquet was served. Toasts were drunk to the Emperor and Empress, the newly-married couple, the rest of the family, and finally to the clergy and all loyal subjects. Each toast was herald ed by a flourish of trumpets and followed by salute s from the fortress. ———

INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION in AMERICA. On the above subject the Times has a special article from which we make the following extracts Very broad lines of demarcation exist in the Eastern and Western States as to the industrial education of the sexes, which in the former, as being older and more conservative, are seldom trained in the same institu- tions, while the Western and newer States hold that man and woman, being co-workers in life, should undergo the same educational routine and possess the same privileges; and we see the result of the idea in colleges where the farmer, the mechanic, and the housekeeper are all instructed together, instead of in separate establishments. The thorough conviction of the absolute necessity for technical edu- cation permeates every American artisan, of whatever calling lie may be, and it is no wonder, thereiu: that it has become innate with the people, and has com- pelled recognition from all classes of statesmen and politicians. The consequence of this dominant idea is the liberal founding of colleges of agriculture and mechanics, which differ from those of other countries, inasmuch as they are less specialized and cover a much wider ground of education, the aim being not to turn out experts so much as to fit the American youth to take his share in the general education of the land, while at the same time becoming practically ac- quainted with the leading industries. Agricultural colleges in America are not part of a system of agricultural schools, but are connected firmly and closely with the public schools, thus form- ing a link in the national system of education. This is so strictly recognised that the Legislature of Min- nesota has passed a law by which its high schools are united with the University, which receives the benefit of the land grant of 18G2. This grant is the prin- cipal fund by which the colleges of agriculture and mechanical arts are sustained, though in some cases it has been supplemented by grants from individual States and by private benevolence. Under this Act, a total area of 9,600,000 acres has been divided amongst forty-three colleges and universities, by the sale of which large sums, varying from 5000 dols, (agricultural and mechanical col- lege of Columbia, Missouri) to 612,792 dols. (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York), have been obtained; but, considerable as is this assistance, the establish- ments that have received the benefits of the grant have a total amount of funds largely in excess of the amount obtained from this source. The chief ex- pense of these colleges is not so much in the theo- retical teaching as the supplying them with shops, farms, laboratories, and museums. The shop of the Worcester Institute, Massachusetts, is three stories in height, and has an area of 6,600 square feet, filled with tools and machinery from cellar to roof, while the Stevens Institute of Technology at Hoboken (-New Jersey) has one-fourth of an acre entirely covered with machinery. In nearly all the colleges established for agriculture and the mechanical arts there are faculties for teaching the ordinary higher branches of education, such as languages, mathematics, philoso- phical science, &c.; but the chief prominence is naturally given to agricultural pursuits, which, indeed, take precedence over the mechanical arts, as far as professorships are concerned. Considerable difficul- ties existed in obtaining the requisite agricultural technical teaching power, the professors of agriculture, agricultural chemistry, and horticulture having to be made, or rather to make themselves. In the majority of the institutions endowed with the land grant the mechanical arts are not taught, though in some great attention is paid to them, as, for instance, in the Kansas State Agricultural College, which has six professors of metallurgy, mining, and chemistry, and the same number in architecture and building. The cost of instruction in the agricultural colleges differs in the various States, but as a rule it is not large, and is in many cases nominal in fact, there are only few colleges in which there are fees, other than those for incidentals, which are not covered by scholarships. There are also differences in the mode of assigning scholarships and furnishing help, though the usual practice is simply to remit tuition to those who cannot afford to pay for it. All the students in Cornell University pursuing prescribed courses in agriculture are granted free tuition, and provision is made for the admission of one student from each of the districts of the State by competitive examination. In some colleges not only tuition but rooms are given free of charge, though in others it is the practice to furnish rooms and board at actual cost. One great aim of them all is to encourage the practice of economy as being actually necessary for agricultural life. Besides the theoretical knowledge of agricultural technology, practical work is required daily on the part of every student, and under this head the rules of the Iowa Agricultural College state that the manual labour required by law of students is divided into two kinds—viz., uninstructive labour, which shall be compensated by the payment of wages; and instructive labour, which shall be com- pensated by the instruction given and the skill required." Field experiments are constantly made relating to grasses, roots, and forage plants, the effects of different fertilisers, the feeding of animals by ensilage and other methods, dairying, sugar- making, irrigation, forestry, and all the processes of ftirming on a large scale. Those (land grant) colleges which devote themselves more or less to the mechanical arts have, in addition to theoretical instruction, the usual facilities for practical work, such as pattern-making, blacksmithing, moulding, founding, bench work, machine-tool work, &c. and some are quite elaborate in this department of instruction. The Cornell University at Ithaca has an engine-house, brass and iron foundry, a stereotype foundry, a machine shop, a forge shop, and a printing office, the equipment of the whole costing 42,000 dols. About eight of the colleges give prominence to mining matters, these being the Alabama College, the Illinois Industrial University, the Sheffield Scientific School (Connecticut), the Ohio State University, the Univer- sities of Wisconsin, California, and Missouri, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The list of those establishments which are, so to speak, national--that is, receivers of the land grant- includes forty-six universities and colleges, spread over thirty-seven of the States. The number of students, according to the latest reports, was 6944, receiving instruction from 625 piofessorsand lecturers. In the scholarships offered by the various colleges there arc considerable differences, some having none, the Maine State College of Agriculture only one, the Texas State College 93. the Tennessee University 275, and the Industrial University of Arkansas no less than 1134. In addition to this undoubtedly extensive national establishment, there are in the Eastern States a few other institutions, founded by private individuals, with the same object of technical training. A branch of this special education, which demands more than passing attention, is that of the higher education of women, which in the United States, is not an afterthought, as it is in England, but founded upon a deep conviction that woman has her part to fulfil in the social duties of the State, other than the ordinary recognized duties of wives and mothers. The opportunities for the instruction of women have wonderfully increased since 1870, at which time there were but 33 institutions with 378 instructors and 5,337 female students, whereas in 1880 there were 227 institutions, with 2,340 tcacliers and 25,780 students.

A SINGULAR DISPUTE. A curious dispute between an eminent medical professor and the relatives of a deceased gentleman is now being carried on in Russia. It appears that the late lamented, some time prior to his death, find- ing himself in impecunious circumstances, entered into a compact with a medical man. The terms of the agreement were that the doctor, upon paying a certain sum of money .to the friends of the defunct, should obtain sole possession of the skull of the latter. The instrument was drawn up in legal form and duly attested. Fortune, however, subsequently smiled upon the quondam pauper he became wealthy, and thus the necessity which prompted him to his singular bargain no longer existed. In process of time he was gathered to his fathers, whereupon the enthusiastic professor claimed his bond, and declined to accept, monetary compensation on its being refused him. An appeal is to be made to the courts to settle the question of ownership. Pending this, the corporeal remains of the silent party to the suit rest free from dismemberment. What the law may be upon the subject, as dispensed in autocratic Russia, we do not know. In England the susceptibili- ties of the living are not allowed to be sacrificed to the past vagaries of those who arc dead. A man is free to set what price he likes upon the solution of the posthumous integrity of his frame, and reap what bcneilt he can from those who think well to foster his unnatural propensities, but there the unhallowed transaction ends. Sentiment and belief are happily still cherished by us as living principles, and safe- guarded against deeds instigated by sordid motives.

1- NEW RELATIONS. The relationship of mother-in-law was at one time the fertile subject of many a good story, and the con- nection was looked upon with horror (remarks the Queen). The wife's mother was represented as the bete noir of a man's existence. She always interfered with everything in his house. She always treated him as a monster of inhumanity, and was supposed to have some hidden power of setting the wife against her husbaud. The husband's mother was in a different r position. The daughter-in-law may or may not have been received with that intense cordiality which is the ideal of some people, and as to a mother adoring the girl who has probably supplanted her in his affections, it is not to be expected; while if the mother has reigned as dowager till her son brings home his wife, it is very certain that there will be some rather Ull- cesaf-oitable passages in early days, unless the elder woman be blessed with a perfect temper, and a spirit entirely free from selfishness. It can never be pleasant to be dethroned from any kingdom, and if the mother- in-law has had the guiding hand of house and home, it is painful to advocate and difficult to do so gracefully. Some women look upon the change as a positive in- jury, though they may have professed the deepest anxiety about their son's marrying. Others in a plain- tjjge way lament the different way things are done nojk my dear." Perhaps on the whole the woman has the worst of it with her mother-in-law, except in those happy exceptions which prove the rule. The relationship may be made a source of perpetual aggra- vation, from which there's no escape. A man really need see nothing of his mother-in-law if he elects to eschew her company, should she make herself dis- agreeable. But as a matter of fact, whether men ruSary younger than they did, or whether women have griwn wiser, we know not, but the relationships be- tween a man and his wife's mother seem more pleasant than they used, and one often sees the two agreeing n$-Uiappily, the mother-in-law wisely never inter- i in her married daughter's affairs, and conse- q«L> Jy looked upon as an honoured and welcome guest and not as an infliction, to be tolerated as best may be. Certain people have a habit of appropriating to themselves all that belongs to other members of the family, walking into their houses if not at home, and awaiting their return, &c. No greater mistake can be made in families than dropping all the courteous civility which would be paid to strangers. The reason for it is difficult to discover, but it exists very widely. Common attentions and littleactsof kindness do much in keeping up a really happy state of affairs, whether among blood relations or those connected by marriage. People are apt to expect too much, and to think that all the promise of devotion so often professed in the moment of family excitement over a marriage will stand the wear and tear of further acquaintance. It is ridiculous to expect that, because two people have fallen in love, and determined to meet the joys and ills of life hand irr hand, all the mutual relations on either side must amalgamate into friendship and affection as a natural sequence. This leads to much disappointment, as the falling off becomes apparent by slow degrees. A remark once made by a very happy woman was, that she believed a large portion of her happiness in married life was due to the fact that neither her husband nor herself had a single relation.

SUICIDE OF AN UNDERGRADUATE. A sad case of suicide occurred on Sunday at Cam- bridge. Mr. A. F. Webb, the son and heir of Mr. Webb, of Newstead Abbey, was entered as a freshman at Trinity College last October term. He did not live in college, but took up his residence at one of the University lodging-houses in Rose-crescent. Owing to his non-appearance at breakfast time on Sunday morn- ing his landlady proceeded to rouse him, and dis- covered him lying in bed insensible from the effect of a pistol shot in his head. From the appearance of the room it is supposed that the deceased shot himself while standing out of bed, that he fell upon a basin and jug which were discovered broken on the floor, and that he then crawled in bed. Medical assistance was summoned, but to no purpose. lIe expired almost immediately. No cause can be assigned for the act, but it is remembered that at the end of the Lent term he fell from a horse and was considerably injured. For some days past it was noticed that he was de- jected. It is 18 years since any undergraduate of this University has committed suicide while in residence.

HEARSAY EviDFNcE.Two liter-,try ladies were lately witnesses in a trial. One of them, upon hearing the usual questions asked: "What is your name ? and IIow old are you ?"—turned to her companion and said, I do not like to tell my age not that I have any objection to its being known, but I don't want it published in all the newspapers." eU, said the witty Mrs. I will tell you how to avoid it. You have heard the objection to all hearsay I evidence; tell them you don't remember when you < were born, and all you know of it is by hearsay,'1 The ruse took, and the question was not pressed

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. (From the Illustrated London News.) The holograph will (dated Dec. 9. 1882) of Marc Rene Antoine Victurnien, Prince de Beauvau, Officer of the Legion of Honour and a Grandee of Spain of the 1st Class, late of No. 21, Avenue Montaigne, Paris, who died at Nice on March 30. 1883, was proved in London on the 25th ult. by General Prince Joachim Napoleon Murat, Commander of the Legion of Honour, one of the executors, the value of the personal estate in England amounting to upwards of £ 133,000. The testator makes various provisions in favour of his wife, Adele, Princesse de Beauvau, in addition to her marriage contract; and leaves 15,000f. each to or for presents for four of his grandchildren on their respective marriages. He appoints his son, Charles Louis, universal legatee of such part of his property as he is by law allowed to dispose of, but he is to pay his sister thereout 500,000f., and he also specially gives to his said son several estates. The will (dated July 28, 1871) of the Right Hon. John Yeiey, Baron Congleton, late of No. 53, Great Cumberland-place, who died on Oct. 23 last, was proved on the 13th ult. by the Right Hon. Margaret Catherine Baroness Congleton, the widow and sole executrix, the value of the personal estate exceeding £ 7000. The testator gives and bequeaths to his wife all his personal estate, and lie appoints her guardian of his daughter during her minority. The will (dated Jan. 28, 1882), with two codicils (dated Jan. 3 and 14, 1884), of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Tattersall, widow of the late Mr. Richard Tattersall. of Albert-gate, late of No. 5. Sumner-place, South Kensington, who died on Feb. 8 last, was proved on the 12th ult. by Frederic Thomas Durell Ledgard, Charles Issacson, and Edward Horsman Bailey, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to upwards of £ 94,000. The test.itrix bequeaths £ 400 to her half-sister Marie Elizabeth Yan den Bastraden and her children; £ 8000 to her sister Marie Therese de Mevius nee Bitters each to her niece Marie Elizabeth Bitters de Mevius, and her half-nieces Augustine Leonore Van den Weghe and Rosalie Caroline Castelien; £ 5000 each to her half-niece Marie Ernestine Elizabeth Phoebe Bianchi and her half-nephew Frederick Errico Lorenzo Francis Bianchi; and other pecuniary legacies there are also numerous specific bequests to her own and her late husband's relatives. All her freehold pro- perty she gives to her husband's sisters, Mrs. Court- ney and Mrs. Philpot; and £ 10,000 and the residue of the personalty she leaves, upon trust, for her half- sister, Mrs. Bianchi. The will (dated March 13, 1882), with a codicil (dated March 16 following), of Mr. Henry Alexander Brown, late of No. 72, Marina, St. Leonards-on-Sea, and of No. 7, Nevill-park, Tunbridge Weils, who died on Jan. 4 last, was proved on the 11th ult. by Arthur Henry Clerke Brown, the nephew, and Harley Rodney, the great-nephew, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to upwards of £ 86,(XX). The testator bequeaths £ 1000 and an annuity of E310 to his sister, the Hon. Mrs. Eliza Ann Rodney and legacies to other relatives, godson, his executor, Mr. Rodney, solicitor, and servants. The residue of his real and personal estate he leaves to his said nephew, Mr. A. H. C. Brown. The will (dated Oct. 4, 1878), with three codicils (dated Jan. 22 and June 17, 1879, and Oct. 25,1883), of Sir. Montague Ainslie, late of Grizedale Hall, Hawkshead, Lancashire, who died on Feb. 1 last, was proved on the 8th ult. by William George Ainslie, the son, and Charles Alfred Swinburne, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to upwards of £ 84,000. The testator charges his Grizedale and Satterthwaite estates with an annuity of £ 250 to his son Montague Mordaunt, and, subject thereto, he settles the Grizedale estate on his son the Rev. Henrv Ainslie; and devises the Satterthwaite estate, with the Eagle Head Inn and premises, to his son William George; and Hill-Top Farm, Satterthwaite, to his son Gilbert Hamilton. He bequeaths his household fur- niture, pictures, plate, household effects, horses and carriages to his son Henry £ 6000, upon trust, for his son Montague Mordaunt for life £ 4000, upon trust, for the widow and children of his son Edward Camp- bell and E4000 each to his daughters Sophia Horatia, Margaret Louisa, Constance Edith, Emily Florence, and Mary Elizabeth, and to his sons Alfred Montague and Frederick Gale Hubert. The residue of his pro- perty he leaves to all his children by his late wife, Mary Ann the share of his son Edward Campbell to be held, upon trust, for his widow and children. k The will (dated Aug. 11, 1883) of Mr. John Hollings, late of The Watchetts, Frimley, Surrey, who died on Feb. 24 last, was proved on the 9th inst. by Herbert John Butler Hollings, the son, the sole executor, the value of the personal estate amounting to over £ 64,000. The testator leaves £ 6000 to his daughter, Ethel Mary Jane Hollings; and all his I real estate, including the advowson of St. Paul. Manningham, Yorkshire, and the residue of the per- sonalty, to his said son. The will (dated Oct. 9, 1880) of Mrs. Mary Balder- son, late of 21A, Hanover-square, who died on Feb. 10 last, was proved on the 13th ult. by John Dunning Tucker and Alfred Warner, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to over £ 37,000. The testatrix bequeaths .£9000, upon trust, for her sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Cartwright, for life, and then for her children; £\\000, upon trust, for her niece Mrs. Emily Hazlewood Stanley, her husband, and children; £ 4000, upon trust, for her niece Mrs. Mary Louisa Atherton Warner, her husband, and children; X3000 to Henry Balderson; and numerous other legacies. The residue of her property she gives to her executors, Mr. Tucker and Mr. Warner. The will (dated July 24. 1863), with two codicils (dated July 2, 1870, and June 24, 1874), of the Rev. Frederick Le Grice, late of Great Gransden Yicarage, county of Huntingdon, who died on Jan. 25 last, was proved on the 7th ult. by Theodore Vincent Webb, Henry Le Grice, the brother, aad Colonel Frederick Swaine Le Grice, R.H.A., the son, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to over £ 21,000. The testaor leaves his freehold and copy- hold property in the parishes of Great and Little Whelnethan and Bradfield Combust, Suffolk, charged with £1.50 per annum to his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Gregory Peers Le Grice, for life, to his said son and there are specific legacies to his wife, daughters, and son, and pecuniary legacies to his executors. The residue of his real and personal estate to be held, upon trust, to pay a further annuity of to his wife, and £ 5000 to his daughter Emily Sol,biz equivalent to the amount settled on each of her sisters on their marriages; and subject thereto, for his *hree daughters. Letters of Administration to the estate of the late Frederick James Chester, of Foyle Park, Surrey.. have been granted to Charlotte Ellen Chester, ns widow, P.JK1 Henry Morris Chester, his son, Ui* personal estate being sworn under £ 19,000.

"Yes," sighed Amelia, "before our carriage George j professed to be willing to die for me, <«-; nov won't even get his life insured in my favour, and. t poor girl burst into a fashionable flood <?., poor girl burst into a fashionable flood d J

MUCH JOOCLAJUTY.Smart Boy. Mr. Pleeceman, pkiie, you've got some-thing sticking on to the back of yer coat." Policewan (off his guard), j V* hat is it Smart Bay (derisively)- buttons I-pli [Exit at a pagd gallop-' J¥.d1!¡