GLEANINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 772, 17 December 1886, Page 4

GLEANINGS.

The Christian Church at Harmony, near Oakland (Illinois), has been inhabited by bees for a number of years. The bees took up their abode in the wall behind the pulpit. The pastor of the church has been annoyed by them, and they finally got so bad that they drove the pastor, people, and all out of the church, and had undisputed possession. The other day a crowd collected, and ripped the siding off from the foundation to the roof, where they thought the bees were located. After getting the siding off, the men found that the bees had deposited their _ honey in the wall between the studdiugs, that space being completely filled with honey to a height of 16ft. The honey was carried away in wash-tubs and pails, and divided amongst the people living near.

Julian Arnold tells a curious story of his father, Edwin Arnold, writing the most of 4 Light of Asia,’ on the cuff of his shirt sleeve, while riding in the cars to and from his office. He says his father went into London every morning, and during the ride would write on his cuff with pencil. In the evening, after his return home, he copied the lines off on paper, and in this way wrote most of the beautiful poem.

Frozen milk is now given to patients suffering with irritable stomachs, and is re tained when all other substances are thrown off.

Attention has been called to an ingenious invention, 4 The Pianoforte Silencing Stop,’ whose author, Mr Dimoline, entertains a sanguine hope of its ultimate wide acceptance by the public. . The object of the stop is similar to that of the soft pedal, but it acts in a greater degree, and reduces the sound of the instrument to a minimum, enabling the most persevering of students to practise the pianoforte to his heart’s content, without at the same time inflicting too heavy a tax upon his neighbor’s ears. We understand that the stop can be fixed at a small expense to any pianoforte.

There is a funny philanthropist in Philadelphia named Moses Sterns, who is trying to organise the servant girls of the country so that they will be able to do their courting

in'the parlor and enjoy other similar' 4 rights.

The experimental culture of the tobacco, plant in England, sanctioned by the Government under certain restrictions, appears, says the Echo, to be making satisfactory progress. Some of the plants have reached the height of five feet, with leaves some of them three feet long and eighteen inches wide. The first cutting of leaves will take place shortly.

A lady recently sought to instruct her little grandchild in relation to the provident care of Heaven. 4 Who gives you your daily bread ? asked she. 4 Dod,’ replied the child, but Uncle John puts the butter and sugar