MISCELLANEOUS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXVI, Issue 1380, 2 March 1900, Page 7

MISCELLANEOUS.

A remarkable suit has been heard at Newark, New Jersey, arising out of* a wager. William Meyer bet Solomon Oury that Oury was unable to eat two eggs on an empty stomach. Oury accordingly mixed two eggs, and swallowed them at a single gulp. He thereupon claimed the stakes, "fj Meyer refused to pay, saying that as soon as the first, egg was down the stomach was not empty. Oury pointed out he had taken both eggs together, to which Meyer retorted that if part of the second egg went down with part of the first the stomach was not empty when the whole ofthefirst egg was swallowed. Oury brought an action to rpcover the amount of the bet. The jury decided in favor of Meyer, and expressed the opinion that Oury ought to have been satisfied with having had the two eggs at Meyer's expense. Oury has given notice of appeal.

Way Lee, a prominent Chinese Adelaide resident, has organispcl a subscription for the Transvaal Patriotic Fu-id among the Chinese of South Anstralia. He has also telegraphed to t he North< m Territory and the other colonies suggesting the opening of similar lists. Way Lee thinks that, as there f.«re about 50,000 Chinese in Australia, a lar^e sum should be realised.

George Barker James Cooper-Cooper, who was in 1892 sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for killing his wife at Douglas, Isle of Man — a crime which produced a sensational tria' — has just been released. He finds awaiting him a fortune, whith a correspondent of the Mail states is estimated at L 1,000,000., 000,000. Cooper, whose father was one of the richest men in the County Palatine, in September, 1891, married at Chester a Miss Edith Cooper, the daughter of another wealthy man. Twelve months later the wife was found dead, stabbed to the heart in the rooms the couple occupied at a Douglas Hotel. The husband, when arrested, affirmed that he was cutting his nails with a pocketknife when his wife fainted suddenly, falling on the blade and causing her death. After seven days' trial the prisoner was found guilty of manslaughter. Both Cooper's father and father-in-law were, however, convinced of his innocence, and c'ied leaving him their respective fortunes, which are said to make him a millionaire, The released man intends settling in the

colonies,

For many years the Queen of Roumania has given private talks on subjects of interest to young women in her palace. The lectures have recently become to popular, and the requests to at'enc 1 them so many and so persistent, that the Queen now lectures in the Public High School for girls, and has obtained the necessary oflicial professional diploma, which is signed by the King and by the .Minister of Public Instruction. But Queen EHzibeth is. as clever with her fingers as with her brain. At a doil show recently held in Berlin the leading feature was a collection of dolls exhibited by the Queen of Roumania, every article of dress and decoration being made by herself. A gem of the royal handiwork was a charming reproduction in minature of the carriage used at the Roumanian coronation, drawn by eight tiny horses, whose silver harness is a marvel of workmanship. The group is valued at L3OOO, and is to be sent to the Paris Exhibition of 1900.

Miss Oldgirl (coyly) : I had a "trange drearu the other night, Mr Jones. I dreamed — only think ! — that you and I were married and on our wedding tour. You don't know how real it seemed. Did you dream the same thing 1- Mr Jones (firmly): NV>, Miss Oldgitl, I did not; in fact, 1 haven't had nightmare for a good many years.

Lady (engaging new housemaid): Daphne ! That is much too romantic a name with young men in the house. I suppose you would not object to be called by your surname % Applicant : Oh, no, ma'am ; in fact, I'm quite used to it. Lady : >Vhat is your surname Applicant ; Paxliag.

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