MISCELLANEOUS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4969, 17 October 1890, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

A Gorman paper, states that m Lapland an eagle w.m shot, and " around ila neck it had a brass chain, to which a tin box which contained a liltlo tin box was fastened. The box contained a Blip of paper, on which was written, m Daniib, " Caught and set free again m 1792." The British Medicul Journal states, as the result of a considerable series of analyses carried out on its behalf, that there is no r.'a-ion to believe that any oxtensive system of adulterated spirits is carried on, but that the special evila accruing from the sale of cheap spirits, apart from the torrible evils inherent m the ordinary practice of spirit drinking, ari?e from the S'llo ef raw nnd immature spirits, containing fusel oil and othor poisonous products of distillation. The only aduli oral ion of spirits by tho publican is watering, wliii'h, from a tpmporunca point of view, is v gond rather than evil. The Medical Congress at Berlin was marked by a tremendous orgie at the Kathhaus. It is said that 18 000 bottles of wine were consumed, and uioro than a scoro of tha guests worfl left on the floor at the end of the entertainment, uuffering from alcoholic "poisoning." Virchow was Bfized and chaired by certain admiring Germans, who carried him from room to room, and then these enthusiasts fell upon some distinguished London medical men and overwhelmed them with kisses nftor tho Herman fashion. The (englishmen present went to the re.«ctio of their countrymen, and there was a wild scene. Virchow has pronounced the whole thing a disgrace to Berlin. Tho discovery of a coalfield of great oxtenl at the Cupa of Good Hope is announcer) by Cape papors brought by tho uteamor Gulf of Mexico, whi-h arrived at ftlelbournororently. Tho accounts stato the coal is of excellent quality, being equal to Wolsh coal. Tho groat drawback to tho successful working of the field at present consists iv its distance from tho coaat. Tho difficulties encountered m bringing tho coal down and delivering it on board Bhip are co great, that tho ccnl cannot bo profitably supplied under 80s per ton. In courae of time, howover, when the field is furthor developed, bettor means of transit will bo provided, and tho oost will then, it U said, be greatly reduced. Nothing astonished some of the American visitors, who were reoontly m Auckland, morn than when they ascertained, as tuny speedily did, tho social conditions under which the presont etriko took placo. They said that m the United t-tates the houra of labour were wero from ten to twelve hours a day, more Frequently twelve, ant but three public holidays m tho year. In some of thc< Slates hovcotling iB punishable by a flnn of five hundred dollars or a term of imprisonment. They took the kcenoßt interest iv the details of the ptriko, but. expressed thomaolves as amazed that m this beautiful country, "and moderate hours of labour, that any working men could be induced on strike— JTero Zealand Herald. Baldwin, of parachute notoriety, has (el tied down m America, wlmro ho is living quietly on tho fortune he mado m England. Ho [jaihod £10,000 m tho two and a half years "f ilia sojourn m England. At the .Alexandra Palaoo he received £150 for every ascent that ho mado. This wn9 a'wajs paid to him m solid cn*h, ond ho uever went, ud until tho two stout biga containing it had been brought inlohis tent m tho grounds, whoro Madame Baldwin. dividod hor thoughts botweon them and her 'intense nervous anxioty for tho fate of luT hiiibami, Baldwin bimsolf novor- exporienced n, tremor m making his perilous ariel journeys. On tl>3 evening of hia last, ascent ho toro hia balloon and . paraehuti to tattors, and giive a champagne supper to bill friends, and re3olvod to risk his lift) no more It has always beon eaid that farm labourers with small -holdings could not. possibly prove of much übo aB labourers, since thny could notcullivato their liltlo farms and satisfy thi'ir inDßterß too. On the contrary, Professor Long who Ins much personal knowledge of Fronch agriculture, Rtatfts.in arvery intorpetinjrurliclo m tho Sura! World that m addition to tho largo olaas of peaßnnt proprietors m Franco thoro aro many labourors who work far tho larger farmers: and at the same time held obnut two and a half acron of land caoh, which they cultivate successfully. Tho omployers treat them with consideration, nod the labourers pay them back m tho same coin. It is astonishing how soon matters of this kind arrange themselves. The nnwa of the death of Miss MArianno North, the nnoomplißhoi travoilcry botanist, and artist, whoa fow years ngo presented to the nation' an exhaustive "Botanic Picture Gallery at ' Kew' Gardens, will bo received with! widespread Tcgrct. ' This ■ lady, m tho courao of her travels, mado ft' collection of pictures of highly interesting subjects, painted by Herself from natui'o. It it virtually a pictorial record of hefoxpodition round the world. Among the' countries whoso naturul products wero thuß carefully dolini'iitod inny be mentioned UYneiiiTi', Hrazil, Jamaica, Oulifornia, India, Coylon, Bornoo, Singapore, Java, Japan, Aiistrnliu, and Now Zealand. > Tho pictures and objects aro to bo scon m a building, specially \',erootod at her own cost m Kow gardons. Miss North hiiß, iv fact, saoriflcod horsoH to tho cause of Bciouoe) foe her laot journey to South America brought on tt , Jp u (J. n "d painful illneoj, to whfoll'shb lifts 3iisl u fldcoulinood, at hor rosideuco m GlQUcenterdnro,

I'r Piirkcr pri'ucliucl his onc-tuinute pennon m t.lio Oily 'IVuiplo on MinHuy to nursemaids lf« mil: - Wlmt, I am' of you m oo neotion wiih your pornmbul,itorn I do not always liko. You nmnntimoß nugleet tho baby ►Immcrully. W:iil-l you nro reading rubbiah or talking goiwip, tho bnby is m danger of a Bumtrolfo, or m ahivorini; witl' cold, or is on tlio vorgo of apoplexy. Bo tonder-hcarted, bo rotiaidornlo, bo fnilbful to your duty. I gladly commend tlio goori amongat you, and atomly donounco tho bud, for tho aake of the buby.