SHORT READINGS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1121, 14 September 1880, Page 2

SHORT READINGS.

SIR WILLIAM HARCOUXT.

The following anecdote is now being diligently circulateed : — "Some time ago six gentlemen agreed to have a dinner party. Each was to invite' one guest, and the only condition was that the guest- was to be the most agreeable man known to his host. The day arrived, the six hosts assembled, and shortly Sir William Harcomt was announced. After some time, no other guests appearing, it was resolved to proceed to dinner. This was done ; and during the entertainment it transpired that each of the aix hosts had invited, as the most agreeable man he knew, the present Home Secretary."

LEVER THE NOVELIST.

Mr. W. J. Fitzpatrick tells a good story of the way in which Lever, the novelist, endeavoured to put into practice Thackeray's advice : to him in favour of thrift. The counsel was to begin with small economies, and to stop some one trifling expense that he could do very well without, when he would find the taste for saving gro^r on him, and gradually include many things once thought necessary. Accordingly, Lever determined to save the daily franc he gave a poor man for holding his pony at the door of a pistol gallery where he was accustomed to practice — the thought of stopping the practice itself never seems to have struck him. He tied the bridle to the. hook of the window shutters and went in. His first shot hit the centre, and sent a signal bell ringing leudly, which so frightened the pony that it broke away, carrying the window-frame with him; "the repairs," wrote Lever, " amounting to 87 francs, and more ridicule than 1 am able to set down. This was my first and last attempt at economy."

A RAKE CHANCE FOR A MUiLIONARE,

The following advertisement appeared in a recent issue of the London Times :. — " To philosophers and philanthrop-' hists of substantial means with no immediate kin. — A young gentleman, just 19, who feels he has very good natural abilities for a scholar, philosop ; her, and statesman, wishes to become acquainted with some one of the above who would adopt him, to give him every advantage to cultivate himself in a superior manner, and who would subsequently place him (after due knowledge and experience of his character and ability) in substantial independent circumstances, that he may employ himself in promoting the well-being of his fellow countrymen. Applicant is thoughtful, conscientious, energetic, persevering, methodical, modest, and very temperate. — Address, to arrange for interview, H792, Address the Inquiry Office, The Times, E.C."

LIKE YET TOLIKE.

An Englishman, who did not speak a word of French, went one day into a Paris restaurant to take his dinner, When he took a fancy to eat some mushrooms. Not knowing how to translate the word in French, he calls the waiter, and draws for him, with a pencil, on a slip of paper, a beautiful mushroom. "All right," says the waiter with a knowing look. And two minutes afterwards he comes back with — an umbrella.

BLONDIN.

Blondin, the hero of Niagara, is the great attraction in Bucharest at present. The Roumanians are so enthusiastic, and such admirers of this extraordinary artiste, that he is obliged to be accompanied by an escort of 50 soldiers to enable him to pass through the thousands of people who attended him to the hotel after each performance. M. Bratiano has granted the use of the public gardens, Cismigia, for Blondin's performances, and the entire receipts of one day will be given to the victims of the great fire at Focsani in Rpumania,