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Bruce Herald, Volume III, Issue 125, 30 August 1866, Page 5

The Power of Humbug*. — An individual who opened a small tavern near the field of Waterloo, says an American, was irequentty questioned as to whether he did or did not possess some relics of the battle, and he invariably and honestly answered in the negative. But he was very poor, and one day, while lamenting to a neighbour not only his poveity but the annoyance to which travellers subjected him, his friend cut him short with, ' Well, make one help the other — make some relics.' 1 But what can I do V inquired the poor man. ' Tell them that Napoleon or Wel-ding-ton entered your shop during-.the battle, and sat down in that chair.' Not longafter, an English tourist entered the tavern, and, enquiring for relics, was told the chair story. The chair was bought at an incredible price. The next comer was informed that Wellington had taken a drink, and the Wellington tumbler was accordingly sold. Then the third arrival gazed with breathless wonder at the nail on which Bonaparfe had hung 1 his hat ; the fourth purchased the door-posts between which he had entered : and the fifth became the happ} r purchaser of the floor on which he had trodden. At the last advices, the unfortunate tavern-keeper had not a roof to cover his head, and was sitting on a bag' of gold at the'corner of a deep pit formed b} r selling the earth on which the house had stood. An Anecdote Concerning the Poems of Burns. — At the present time, when all the world seems determined to seek out and collect everj'thing possible, even the most trivial thing respecting Scotia's favouite bard, the following anecdote respecting the poems ef Hums may not be without interest to some of his admirers. I relate it ns it was told to me, but whether we believe the truth of it or not, to say the least of it, there is nothing about it so exaggerated as to appear beyond the bounds of probability : — When the British army was in spain, during the couvlsions of NaNapoleon, there were two privates in a Scottish regiment whose constant companionship and steady friendship obtained for them the appellation of the " twa frien's." In one of the many conflicts in which our troops were then engaged, it so happened that one of the 'frien's' was severely wounded. He was carried from the field along with the other wounded to a church in the neighbourhood, which was the only convenient house that could be obtained in the emergency for a temporaiy hospital. While the disabled soldier was confined, during the time his wounds were under surgical treatment, his friend was constantly by his side, cheering and solacing his long hour of affliction. One day, when he felt himself gathering strength, a stranger, who happened to be present in the church at the time, and who had been aware of their strong attachment for each other, was equally astonished and delighted to hear the folowing colloquy between the ' twa frien's :'-'James,' said the invalid, ' I feel much better the day, and I would like to hear you read something to keep us frae wearying.' ' I would gladly do it,' j returned his companion, ' but I fear there are nae books here, and its far frae my quarters, and ye ken I dinda like tae leave ye.' ' Gang to my knapsack/ was the reply, ' an' yell get twa books there — the Bible and Burns's poems. I dinna care mnckle i'noo whatna ane ye read.' But observing that his companion looked grave and serious at what he said, he immediately added, ' Oh, Jamie, dinna think that I slight the word o' God, or would put ony o' man's productions before the "inspired volume; but in the state I am in, the poems o' Burns would be sure to turn my thochts upon something gude : his descriptions are sac grand and cheery that they bring me in mind o' hame, wi' its green knowes, its bonnie flowers, and its singing birds, an' I think on my mither and on Jeanie, and my heart, the same as in the Bible, rises in gratefu'ness to God, through whose kind Providence I hope to return, an' never leave them nor bonnie Scotland mair.' "What would Burns himself have thought of a story such as this if it had been narrated to him respecting- the works of any other bard ? What would he have thought if had heard it about his own works ? For ourselves, its feelings tenderness impressed us greatly, and for the reader we leave him to his own feelings and reflections. — Stirling- Journal. A bridge is to be suspended over tbe Ohio River at Cincinnati, which will be the longest in the world — 1007 yards. This is 2000 feet longer than the suspension bridge at Niagara, and 450 feet longer than that of Menai. The massive scone piers rise 110 feet above the floor of the bridge, which is 90 feet above the bed of the river. The late Dr Dauglish, who was distinguished for a peculiar process in the making of bread, died intestate, leaving personalty to the amount of £25,000.