GLEANINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 752, 30 July 1886, Page 5

GLEANINGS.

The practice of cheap publishing is about to reach its lowest—or highest - level in the issue of a series of new original novels by well-known writers, printed in demy Bvo. on fair paper with striking covers, at a peuny apiece. The enterprising publishers are the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge, and the first two authors secured are Mr Farjeon and the Rev. Baring Gould, the author of the strange tale * Mehalah.' Fashionable Brussels has been engaged in admiring or taking part in a series of ‘ Living pictures from the great artists,’ which were

repeated four times for charitable purposes •with success. The most effective were taken from the well-known works of Delaroche, * Mazavin and his nieces ’ and ‘ Charles VI. and Valentine Visconti another, greatly admired, represented * Carnival Day,’ many of the splendid dresses in it having been previously worn at a grand fancy ball given by the Due de Montebello at Mid Lent, Such Politeness !—Scene—A fashionable West-end shop. Enter a lady of title, addressing a shop-walker : * I wish to exchange something I bought yesterday.’ ‘ Yes, madam. Do you remember whether you were attended by the gentleman with the dark moustache or the gentleman with the light beard ? * Oh, neither ! It was the nobleman with the bald head.’

A curious discovery has just been made by an in a grocery establishment at Ashford, in Kent. The man was dividing an American cheese, when he found imbedded in its centre a miniatui'e glass bottle containing the following message :— * Ashford, New York, August 15, 18S5—Whoever receives this letter will please be kind enough to send the uames of some respectable young ladies to correspond with some young gentlemen of this place.—Yours, Eugene Hughey, Ashford, Catt. Co,, Eew York.’

The Vienna Allcgmeine Zeitung some time ago offered a number of prizes for the best feuilleton article sent in (with a motto) up to a certain date. No fewer than 473 manuscripts were received, and the first prize was assigned to a woman—Frau Francisca von Kapff Essenther. The jury consisted of well-known men of letters. Miss Isola Vaa Diest, M.D., the first woman to take a medical degree in Belgium, after years of struggle has at last obtained the necessary legal authorisation to practice her profession.

The extremely costumes now 1 worn by ladies in Washington society are • irreverently denominated * low and behold ’ dresses.

During the Coventry period of her life George Eliot said many wise things, which her friend, Mrs John Cash, has preserved. To a young friend she gave as the two principal rules or life —first, ‘ be accurate,’ and second, * My dear child, the great lessen of life is tolerance.’ Of crowds she had great dislike. * I never would pass through one,’ she said, unless it were to see a second Jesus.’