TIT-BIT.S

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 338, 30 May 1885, Page 15

TIT-BIT.S

In China a coffin is not only a receptacle for the dead, but an article of luxury to the living. An English parent would consider the present of a coffin from his son as, to say the least of it, a tolerably strong hint that his speedy departure from this world was expected, and would probably not thank the donor \ with the Chinese, on the contrary, no greater mark of filial respect exists than the presentrtion of a handsome coffin to the authot of their being. The undertakers in the large cities drive a brisk trade in these articles of furniture, as they can with justice be called, being kept in the housa as pleasant and inviting obects until required for their legitimate use.

This is a feat anybody may perform. Let a person in Ms shoes or slippers walk briskly over a woollen carpet, shuffling his feet there on; or stand on a chair with its legs iv four tumblers •, and there be rubbed tip and down on the body a few minutes with a mnff by another person, and he will light the gas by

simply touching the burner with his finger This may seem ridiculous to many persons but it is a scientific fact that the body becomes charged with electricity by the above, process, aud when the finger touches the gas burner the shock .is discharged. It is only recesscry that uo other object be touched, nor must any person touch the operator. The writer has done this feat often, and seen children do it. We are all peripatetic lucifer matches, if we only knew it. . . .

A correspondent has furnished us with a few extracts from a new ' Military Text Book,' which is shortly to be placed in the hands of the cadets at Woolwich and other places. They appear to contain a great deal of useful information. ," - , ' Flying columns 1 are supplied from, the ' wings ' of the army. The act of billeting troops upon publichouses is generally termed ' inn'-vasioh. The chaplain of a regiment is never spoken of as a not-Gommissionary officer. • Crack ' regiments are those which contain * kernels.' ' Good rations ' never do any harm. If; is a pity that they should be so often « served out.' The only 'trees ' in a park of artillers ' are ' axle ' and ' pop'-lar trees. In singuinary engagements, 'line' regiments are apt to be ' rubbed out.' Agricultural recruits make the best soldiers,' because they are accustomed to ' harrowing ' scenes, and are well up in their turnip ' drill.' In military phraseology, ' a call to arms ' really means ' a call to legs ' as well. When soldiers are driven into a ' neutral state,' they are not disarmed altogether, but • taken intern.' Soldiers are said to be well ' seasoned ' when they have been frequently ' mustered ' and occasionlly ' peppered.'

A gushing poetess begins, c All that I want is a single heart.' This would seem to indicate that sh.e held the ten, jack, queen and king of that suit, and was drawing for the ace.