CLIPPINGS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8544, 26 July 1893, Page 4

CLIPPINGS.

During his holiday visit to Hawarden, Mr Gladstone opened the New Institute there. He has contributed to the library fifty volumes ol books, including a complete set of Sir Walter Scott's novels. On the first page of one volume Mr Gladstone has written: "No local library should be without ■ a set of Scott's novels in full. Accordingly I present this set to the Hawarden Institute.—W. E. G , May 26th, '93." A still more interesting entry is found in Mr Barnett Smith's Life of the Prime Minister himself : " This work was not written by authority, but; I believe it has a fair reputation. I present it to the Institute because it may be convenient to the members of that body to have at hand eaby means of reference on points of detail concerning an old and attached neighbour. —W. E. G., May 26th, 1893." -

Mr Irving Manatt, in his reminiscences of Dr. Schliemana in the Atlantic Monthly, testifies to the wonderful thoughtfulaess of his late friend in the matter of disposing of hie property. Mr Manatt has his last will, a closely written document of thirteen fools--1 ca P pages in Greek, and for comprehensive, ness, minuteness, and unassailability, it ia the most remarkable paper of which he has ; any knowledge. Dealing with an estate of some three millions, to say nothing of treasures beyond all estimate, and with peculiar liability to contests, the great archaeologist is. belieyed to have made it impossible to mistake or evade or overthrow an article or jsarticle of hi» testamentary dispositions. Mr Manatt,J£ijn ', the utterTnoafparfc- r >»—-coerrarTHJtna open that will and -administer it without asking a question of any living man, for everything is in it." ■■■■-'■

"Things are not always what they seem "—in the insect world, as elsewhere. From a number of small chips of wood in the Insect House at the Zoo (says the Daily NitDS) a i eW'moths have just emerged which wear the livery of hornets, but are minus the sting. It is supposed that this is a case like that of the ass in the lion's skin, though with the rather important difference that the deception is not unveiled. The ass, it will be remembered, was so imprudent as to bray. The moth acts up .to--its assumed part as fully as it cam It loves to bask in the sun on a leaf, and when rashly approached is reported to writhe its abdomen about aa if to inflict a sting. But among the lower animals the sense of smell is frequently more keen than that of sight. The "hornet clear wing" is, however, armed against discovery in this direction, and possesses, we are told, "the characteristic odour of hornets." There is not a more impudently successful fraud in the whole animal trdrld', but It must be Sfeh to be appreciated.

"Caveat emptor " would'seem to be a useful motto to bear in mind when buying cycles no lesa than in buying horses. A correspondent; of GasselVs Saturday Journal has been worming some of the secrets of the cycle trade from the manager of one of the largest manufactories in the' North of England. A large number of machines are made expressly to be sold as secondhand. The great thing is to make it appear they are genuine bargains, and accordingly agents are appointed in all parts to sell them on commission from private houses. "Ladies in want of money must sacrifice perfectly new machine for one-fifth of original cost"; " young gentlemen going abroad will dispose of beautiful machines, with all the latest improvements; cost £20; take £5." Others are " giving up riding," and so forth. A machine for this market can be made for about £2 10s. The agents pay £4 10s for them, and get what they can from £5 to £10. The profits, therefore, are sufficiently large in both cases. Sometimes old, worn-out machines are painted up, and made to look almost new to the eys. " I remember one such machine," said this too candid cycle maker, "that looked aa good as new, but I heard the governor say he was deuced glad to see it round the first corner." -*

In his little book entitled " Efcoiles en Voyage," just published in Paris, the. wellknown impressario Scliurmann relates some of his adventures with Patti, Madame Bernhardt, and Coquelin—three artists with ( whom he has been at different times associated. The book contains plenty _ of good stories. Here is one of the diva, which shows that M. Schumann certainly understands how to "manage" Ins stars.Patti was. to sing on a certain date at Bucharest, but at the last moment she declined to leave Vienna. It was too cold ; snow everywhere; she would not risk catching her death of cold. M. Schurmann was in despair, until a brilliant inspiration came to him. Quickly he telegraphed to his advance agent in the Roumanian capital—" At whatever cost Patti must receive an ovation at the Bucharest Station from the Italian aristocracy. Send mc by return the following wire:— * The members of the Italian and Roumanian nobility are preparing to give Mdme. Patti a magnificent reception. The Ministry will be represented. Processions* torches, and bands. Telegraph the hour of arrival.' * The advance agent carried out this instruction, and when the telegram dictated, to him over the wires arrived in Vienna it was handed to Patti with the desired effect. "How charming!" she murmured. "What time do ike start 2 " When they reached Bucharest on the following evening an imposing demonstration Awaited them. Torches were burning, flags flying, bands playing national j airs, and numerous bouquets were ready for i presentation to the famous singer, who was escorted to her hotel by a number of enthusiastic admirers. At the hotel door Schurmann beckoned to the advance agent to enter with him. He explained hurriedly that it would not be safe to do so. He had engaged a number of loafers at two francs a head, hired clothes for them to wear,

and so -provided & gelect body of the "aristocracy 7, for the small sum of about £Jl3 f btffc he insisted upon the necessity of keeptag hi 9 eye upon the nobility lest they should make off in their borrowed plumes. Wβ are not told whether Madame Patti was ever informed of the trick that had been played her.