WAIFS AND STRAYS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 22, 3 June 1893, Page 512

WAIFS AND STRAYS.

Temperance and labour are the two best physicians of man. The duration of a man’s friendship is one of the best measures of his worth. There is no dispute managed without passion, and yet there is scarce a dispute worth a passion. We never know the true value of our friends. While they live we are too sensitive of their faults, when we have lost them we see only their virtues. Words of praise are almost as necessary to warm a child into genial life as acts of kindness and affection. Judicious praise is to children what the sun is to flowers. An honest soul is like a ship at sea. That sleeps at anchor on the ocean’s calm ; Hut. when it rages, and the wind blows high. She cuts her way with skill and majesty. Verily it is not deep words that make a man holy and upright ; it is a good life which maketh a man dear to God. 1 had rather feel contrition than be skilful in the definition thereof.—Thomas a Kernpis. To be heroic in danger is little; to be heroic in change and sway of fortune is little ; but to be heroic in happiness, to bear yourselves gravely and righteously in the dazzling of the sunshine of morning ; not to forget the God in whom you tiust when He gives you most; not to fail those who trust you when they seem to need you least —this is the difficult fortitude.

Gold Nuggets.—One of the largest and most remarkably shaped nuggets ever found was discovered in an Australian mine in 1887. It was Hat, and almost the exact counterpart in contour of a colossal human hand held open, with the exception of the thumb and forefinger, which were closed together in a manner so as to make it appear that the thumb was holding the finger in place. Its greatest length was twelve and a half inches, and its greatest breadth eight inches. It was of the very purest gold, with but a little of foreign substances adhering (mostly between the * fingers ’), and weighed six hundred and seventeen ounces. The fam >us ‘ Lady Brassey,’ also found in Australia, weighed fifty-one pounds of pure gold, worth two hundred and twenty-five dollars per pound. In 1891 a nugget of fifteen pounds’ weight, shaped exactly like a cross, with the exception of the right arm, was discovered in the Buriss nine, near the same place. Bald Heads.—lt is maintained by a physician who has studied the subject, that plenty of hair on the head means plenty of brains ; that the hair is a sure index of one’s mental staying power. * I always look on a bald-headed man,' he says, * as deficient, not only in hair, but in actual brain power. You know each hair is connected with the brain by a tiny nerve, and the loss of all these nerves means loss of powers. Indeed, though the effect may not be at first so apparent, a man may as well lose his hand or bis toot as his hair. If you doubt this, the next time you hear of a man who has all his life been clear-headed and practical suddenly doing some foolish and inexplicable thing, or breaking down in a crisis which demands all his energies — just look at his head. In nine times out of ten he is bald. Half the men who drop dead suddenly are bald. In almost every case, however, there is a hope of cure for baldness if the head be regularly submitted to a gentle “ scratching,” and occasionally to a thorough dosing of a suitable stimulating soap.

Freaks of Somnambulism —While at college, a young mau apparently of a hale constitution was habitually subject to somnambulism. His fits came on regularly every night. He ran about violently, romped, wrestled and boxed with bis room mates, who enjoyed the sport at his expense. While running he always held his hands before him, with his fingers stretched out. He was remarkably agile, and easily distanced pursuers. The general belief that somnambulists see by means of the points of their fingers, as well as by the observation that, while running, our somnambulist always carried his hands and outstretched fingers before hint as if these were his organs of sight, suggested to his companions the idea of putting gloves upon his hands. One night this was done while he slept. At the usual time he rose and sprang out of bed ; but although his comrades began to tease and provoke him, he did not move from the spot, and groped and tumbled about like a blind or drunken man. At length he peiceived the cause of his distress, and took off the gloves. Scarcely were his hands uncovered when he started up in a lively manner, and threw the gloves with ironical indignation upon the floor, making a ludicrous obseivation upon the means taking to blind him ; and then began to run about the room as usual. The Casino at Monte Carlo—ln the first place, on enteiing the Casino, you apply at the office to the left for a ticket. There is a counter against which you lean, and behind it are a number of polite officials. Une asks your name and where you live and a few other particulars, which you answer truthfully or not just as you please. He writes your name on the ticket and also numbeis it. Then he requests you to inscribe your autograph on the back of the card. The ticket I have before me at the moment of writing is about four by three inches, and is colouied green, a delicate compliment, I take it, to those who expect to make a fortune at the tables. There is no undue haste in the makii g out of the ticket, and I presume some diligent official looks up the name given in a book to see if there is any lecord against it. On the right - hand side of the entrance are cloak-rooms, where you leave hat, umbrelli, stick, or other impediments, and from there you enter a large and lofiy hall, where well-dressed men and women are strolling about, most of the gentlemen smoking, no indulgence in that vice being permitted in the pure precincts of the tables. Opposite the entrance are the doors leading into tne concert room, where a band, composed of eighty players or more, give afternoon and evening performances < f mus c, classical and popular. The band is said to be one of the fii.est in Europe. The concert-hall is large, and very floridly decorated. The seats, most of them, are luxur.ous armchairs, covered with crimson velvet. Upstairs is a comfortable reading-room, containing many papers from all lands. Theie are writing and smokingrooms, and a refreshment-room. Except for refieslimeuts, there is absolutely no charge for anything, and no tips are allowed. Concert, writing-paper, journals, everything is free.