GLEANINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 907, 19 July 1889, Page 5

GLEANINGS.

FOUR KINDS OF MEN. An Arabic philosopher has classed men into four kinds : He who knows not, and knows not that he knowß not ; he is a fool, shun him. He who knows not, and knows that he knows not; he is simple, teach him. He who knows, and knows not he knows ; he is asleep, wake him. He who knows, and knows he knows ; he is wise, follow him. WONDERS OF SCIENCE. Anxious wife (year 1859) —‘Oh, doctor, what shall I do ? My husband is nearly burning up with fever and keeps begging for water.’ Great Physician—l am sorry, madam ; bub one drop of water would kill him.’ Another woman (1889) —’My husband appears to me-to be no better.’ Same Physician—‘Did you give him plenty of water as I directed ?’ * Yes, all he could drink.’ ‘ Well, if the fever don’t abate in another hour Bouse him in a bath-tub.’ Prince Oscar of Sweden, who last year married the singer Ebba Monek, lives happily with his wife in most democratic manner. A few months ago a daughter was born to them, and instead of the birth being announced in the usual court style, this ordinary notice appeared in the advertisement columns of the Kariakrona local paper. En Dotters lyckliga fodelse. Karlskrona den 28 februari 1889. Ebba och Oscar Bernadotte. Two gentlemen walking together came by a stately new building. ‘What a magnificent structure !’ said one.- ‘ Yes,’ replied the other, * but I cannot bear to look at it, often as I pass it.’ * That is strange. Why not ?’ * Because it reminds me that the owner built it out of the blood, the aches and groans of his fellowmeß, out of the grief of crying children, the woe of wailing women.’

‘Gracious! What is the owner ? A moneylender or a pawnbroker, or something of the kind ?’ 1 Oh, no ; he is a dentist.’

Miss Bergliot Bjornsen, the eldest daughter of Bjornstjerne Bjorsen, has made her debut as opera singer at Paris, and French impressarios and artists are enthusiastio in praise of the wonderful soprano voice and the great dramatic talent of the young lady. Miss Bjornsen is nineteen years old, strikingly beautiful, with fair hair and a tall, slendei* figure. For the next two years she is to continue her musical education, and at the end of that time a ‘starring tour’ to America will be undertaken.

Since the Whitechapel murders the social condition of the locality of that name has greatly improved, owing to the increased exertions of the clergy and the laity for the good of the people in the district.

A literal Translation—French-American (translating his Bible for an American friend) —The ghost is willing, but the meat is weak. —Life.

The late John Bright, though a great admirer of Milton, did not take much interest in Shakespeare’s works. ‘lt is the dialogue that spoils him for me/ be would say. ‘ The break from sentence to sentence, the question and answer, the continual interruption of the thought, divert the attention and impair the interest. The flow of thought is not sustained ; the style goes to pieces.’

There are 2000 Icelanders in Winnipeg, being several hundred more than are now living ini the capital city of their native island. The people of the extreme north of Europe go due west to find America and finally make their new homes in about the same latitude as their old ones. They are the people to settle Alaska.

Countess Tolstoi, it is said, is the daughter of a Moscow physician, who married the Count thirty years ago, when very young. She has borne him thirteen children, and upon her rests the whole management of the household. To the Count the possession of a house superior to that of a peasant is a sin, and in his eyes his family lives in culpable luxury because they have servants to clean their bootß and a cook to prepare their food.

The fleece of ten goatß and the work ot several men for half a year are required to make a cashmere shawl a yard and a half square.

A French manufacturing firm has brought out a new fabric made of the fibre of ramie, and called ramie linen, that is said to combine the qualities of linen and silk, with double the strength of linen.