Marriages by Science.

Western Star, Issue 2220, 8 July 1898, Page 3

Marriages by Science.

Science has performed wonders for the world in every conceivable direction, except that of marriage. Now. however, it is to tie the nuptial knot, and Cupid will no longer be able to stalk through the land casting his darts. The way in which science is to perform this solemn ceremony has been solved by an organisation on the other side of the Atlantic, known as “The Human Nature Club.” The club has its being in Chicago, which, as everybody knows, is an up-to-date city. The object of the club, as its name implies, is to study human nature in all its phases. The principal study of the club is marriage. Members who are matrimonially inclined are united by the principles of phrenology—by heads and not by hearts. It is necessary, according to the Human Nature Club, for individuals seeking life-partners to possess five points of equality and live points of difference. The five points on which they should agree are intellectually, morally, socially, aesthetically, and qualitatively ; and they should differ temperamentally, lineally, complexionally, selfishly, and nationally. Much perhaps may be said in favour of such an institution, when it is remembered the number of unhappy marriages which are made ; but whether marriages by phrenological bumps will bring the happiness which the Human Nature Club claims is a matter yet to be seen. It is doubtful, however, whether the oldfashioned way of wooing a woman of your own choice would not be preferred by most men than allowing a phrenologist to pick one out on a scientific and phrenological basis.

Tue Bakiuster's Trick. A man entered an action against a railway company for injury to his arm in a railway accident. At the time of his trial he was questioned thus by the barrister : ' 1 understand you have lost the use of your arm entirely through this railway accident ?' ' Yes,' was the answer. ' How high can you lift your hand now ?' The plaintiff, with seeming groat difficulty, moved it about one inch. The barrister now asked : ' How far could you lift it before the accident V The plaintiff, taken by surprise, immediately answered, ' Right up there ' (shooting it right above his head). It is needless to add that the plaintiff failed to recover any damages.

Removing the Difficulty.—There are more ways than one of removing a difficulty. A New Zealand bishop told the following story of one of his converts. When he first arrived in the land, a Maori chief came to him and asked to be baptised. As he was blessed with two wives, the bishop told him that this was impossible ; he must first get rid of one of these women. The Maori said he feared this would be difficult, but he would try. In two months he returned with an air of triumph, saying, "Now, missionary, you may baptise me, for I have only one wife." "What have you done with the other?" asked the bishop. "I have eaten her !" replied the convert, smacking his lips.

True Man Who Thought He Was Dead. —A young man who was possessed by the strange idea that he was dead, implored his parents to have him buried. Accordingly, by the advice of a physician, he was wrapped in a winding-sheet, laid on a bier, and carried towards the graveyard. The procession did not proceed without interruption, however, for some young men, hired for the purpose, stopped to ask whose funeral it was, and on hearing the name of the apparent corpse one of them remarked what a good thing it was that the world was rid of such a bad man, and how pleased his friends must be that he had died before his evil deeds had brought him to the gallows. On hearing himself thus abused the dead man rose from his bier in a rage and soundly beat his accusers. His violent exercise restored the balance of his mind, and instead of proceeding to the churchyard he returned home —a sane man !

A Golden Lining to a Steer's Stomach.—Juan Carillo, who raises cattle in the mighty Mexican meadows is reported to have struck a bonanza of a novel kind. On his ranch are salt licks which contain placer gold, but so fine is the gold-dust that it cannot be saved from the sand. Kecently Carillo killed a steer and in the lining of its stomach found four ounces of fine gold. The lining of the stomach, it is theorised, had served as a coarse blanket at the bottom of a sluice in preserving the metal. Carillo slaughtered a sheep, and the result was equally satisfactory.