Latest News Items.

MORE than one hundred saloons in Omaha have boen closed.

The engagement is announced of D. 0. Mills, jun., and Miss Roth Livingston, of New York.

It is announced that the Foreign Emi gration Alliance will send do more Jewish emigrants to America. Nine men in Arkansas are candidates for Senator C4arland'« seat, and the Senator himself is a Barkis.

The Vanderbilt roads have raised grain rates between Chicago and New York to fifteen cents per one hundred.

Both Senators and six of the eleven members of Congress from Massachusetts arc in favour of suffrage for women

The Strait of Messina is to be next tun nelled, but the Hudson and the English Channel are not quite finished yet. A bill was last week introduced into the Ohio Senate to appoint a Railway Com missioner, with very sweeping powo- s. Forty-six New "England families .re about removing to a point near Bismarck, D.T , where they will found a town. All the pretty girls of Miller-burg, 0., chartered the town hall New Year's Day, and received calls in sumptuous style The Mexican National Railroad has been completed across Tamanlipas, and is being laid at the rate of one mile per day. Uudor the bell-punch law, the liquor dealers of Dallas County, Tex., paid £18.000 to the State during the last quarter of 1881.

Mrs Sarah Bella McLean, widow of Hon. John McLean, deceased, Justice of the Supreme Court, diod in Cincinnati on the 13th, aged eighty. Tcsti ony comes ponring in from all sides to tha effect that Samuel J. Tilden ■will compete sharply for the Democratic nomination for President in ISB4.

The ci.loured people of Wc<t Virginia ar.' trying to raise $15,000 to endow a pro-. iesHOivsliip in Storer Collego, to be known as the .John Brown Professorship, and to be filled l>v a coloured man.

Tlip Princess of Wales has sent to King Knliikiiua several photographs of herself and her sons as a contribution to a bazaar to be hold in Honolulu in aid of the build ing of the cathedral there. Immigration is pouring into Arkansas. Tho Little Rock and Fort Smith, and the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad Companies alone are said to have "settled " 75,000 new-comers during 1881.

In the "moonshiners'" district in Nor thern Georgia therejhave been about 400 illicit distilleries soized in the past four years, and there were in the time nine revenue oilicers killed and thirty-sown wounded.

The value of Kansas farm products for 1891 foots up §122,940,400, the higher pries realised having made the total valua tion forty "per cut. higher than in any previous year, though the average yield throughout'the Stats was no1; so great as in ISSa

Twelve tramps v'sited Columbus, Ga., a few days aeo, and a few hours afterwards they were beginning a thirty days' sentence on the rock-pile. This treatment, gene rously and. vigorously applied, will reach the very marrow of the tramp nuisance. The Canadians are determined to keep American enterprise out at one point, and so, before the Canadian-Pacific Kailroad is hnlf constructed, they are organizing fin express company which is to monopolize the busbies along the line, and is to be entirely Canadian in its management and personnel. A company hai been organize! in Canada for the purpose of bringing over and establishing upon Government land in Manitoba colonies of persecuted Jews from Russia. A charter has been applied for, abundant capital is promised, and a largo immigration from Russia to the North west next summer is looked for.

At Cuantla, Mexico, a gieat crowd assembled on a recent Sunday to sec the balloon ascension «fa girl only seventeen years 'id. There was no oar attached to the balloon, only the trapeze on which the girl performed. When the balloon was three-quar era of a mile high it suddenly burst, and the girl fc'l to the ground, maigloJ to death. New York's new Capitol has cost a mat ter of 13,000,000 dollars so far. and ex- Controller Wadswortli, who neatly charac terizes it as ' a magnificent fraud,' estimates that when completed the total will have run up tc 20,000,000 dollars at least. New- York was misled by architects when this building was projected very much as San Francisco was deoeivod in regard to her New CSfcy Hall.

The high prices of labour and material are checking development everywhere. Mr Roose, Treasurer of the Garfield Memorial Church, said to me yesterday : "We have raised §25,000 to build it; but bricklaying costs §16 a thousand, instead of $7, as two years ago, and lumber sixteen cents a foot, instead of six cents, as it was." The Gar field.'Hoetiital is a failure.— Gath, in On china i'&nqtiirer.

Talmage on Stock Gambling.

On a »eeent Sunday the Rev. Dr. Tal mage preached on the evils of "Stock Garablifig," comparing them to a devouring lion abroad. He said there had not been during his memory any time when more money or morals were being devoured by stock gambling than now. Never were there so many who would take trust funds <md swastap them in Wall-street. Widows and orphans, seamstresses, clerks on small salaries and even clergymen, put their all into speculations, and take out nothing. In his leroark" Mr Tahnage is reported to have soid : That man, I do not care who he is, wh" allows the use of his name for a circular xis one of the directors of a com pany whi'4 h he knows will result in the sale of 20,000 shares of undeveloped nothing —C4od will tear off the cloak of his hypo crisy in the p-cscncc of the universe and show him to be a brazenfaced gambler. There are men, and members of churches and clergymen, who in that day will bo glad to leap into a burning oil well to escape his shame. Disgorge ! Disgorge ! Come out in a circular and call upon your victims to come and get restitution. Oh, young men, beware of stock gambling. Beware of all doubtful speculations. If you cannot earn a livelihood in a healthful way, die, because death affords an honest sepulchre. Avoid stock gambling, because it will ruin you financially. Although you may win temporarily, you cannot make it a permanent success. Avoid it, because fhere is no peace in it. no health in it. You don't find old stock gamblers, as a rule. Worst of all, it destroys the soul. See the dying gambler in his delirium ! He talks of "options," "percentage," 'buyer sixty days," "stocks up," "stocks 4own." Hb rises at midnight crying 1,000 nhares of Illinois Central at 12SJ ! Take it! And he falls back dead. No more dividends! Swindled out of Heaven ! Stocks down ! Let us pray.

Prize Fights in America.

Mississippi City, Miss., February 7th.- The trains from New Orleans, with people to witness the fight between Ryan and Sul livan, arrived here about eleven o'clock. The crowd consisted of sporting men from all sections of the country, and of many prominent citizens of New Orleans. A large number of newspaper correspondents, representing the prominent papers of the North and West, were also present. At exactly two minutes of twelve o'clock the men toed the line and shook hands for the first round. Both men sparred cau tiously for the opening, ltyan led with his right, which fell short, catching in return a hot one from Sullivan's left on his face. Exchanges then became hot and quick. Sullivan finally knocked him down with a severe right-hander on the cheek. Time— Thirty seconds.

In the S"cond round Sullivan at once rushed his man and let go his left, which caught Ryan on the jaw. Ryan closed with him, and they wrestled for the fall, which Ryan won, falling heavily on his opponent. Time—Twenty-five seconds In the third round the men came together with a rush, and SullivaD, after making three passes, knocked Ryan down with a terrific right-hander on the chest. Time— Four seconds.

The fourth »onnd began, and the men sparred for, perhaps, a second or two. Both feinted, and then Sullivan went for Ryan's face, putting in stinging blows squarcon his head before this was closed. Slugging then commenced, and continued until Ryan was forced on the ropes, when lie went to grass. Time—Twenty seconds.

The fifth round was a repetition of the above round. Loth men closed and put in their best licks, tho attack of both being confined to the face. Ryan succeeded in bringing Sullivan to his knees at tho close. Sullivan come up smiling to the sixlh round, but it was evident that he was not only suffering but wns somewhat afraid of his antJi^onist Sullivan lost no time, but went in to win. Ryan, however, closed and felled him.

The seventh round was a short one. The men closed, and slugging continued for a few seconds, when Ryan went to grass a wreck. Sullivan came to Ids corner smil ing. Ryan, however, had tlic grit to come up for another round. In tho eighth round the men, on the call of time, came up promptly. Ryan was decidedly weak, but wade a gallant strug gle. SuQivan fought him all over the ring, and into the umpire's coiner over the ropes. Getting off the ropes he rallied, but went down on one knee and hand. A foul was looked for, but though Sullivan had his hand raised to strike lie restrained himself. As Ryan nwe both men were returning to their corner, when the seconds of each cried "Go for him," and, the men responding, again came together. They closed anil clinched, and aft r a short btruggle both men went down.

On the ninth and last round Ityan came up groggy, and Sullivan at once forced him into his corner, delivering one heavy blow, but Ryan recovered and drove Sullivan out and just beyond the middle of the ring. Sullivan got in a right-hander under the left ear, and Ryan went down senseless. When time was called Ryan did not re spond, and the light was declared in favor of Sullivan amid great cheering.

CONDITION 01" THE PUGILISTS AFTER THE

FIGHT.

Ryan and Snl'iran were visited after they h;wi gone to their quarters. Ityan was lying in an exhausted condition on his bed, badly disfigured abour the face. His upper lip wius cut through and his nose disfigured. He did not move, but lay panting. Stimu luut.s were given to restore him. He is terribly punched about the head. At the conclusion of the light Sullivan ran to his quarters a* a lively gait, and laughing. He laid down for a wliilc, a little out of wind, but there was not a scratch on him. He chatted pleasantly with his friends. The lighting was short, sharp, and decisive ou Sullivan's part throughout, Kyau showing weariness sifter the first round.

How to Kill the Blues.

Geneka.u,y speaking, if you arc troubled witb " the blues " and cannot tell why, you may be certain that it springs from physical weakness. Instead of lying on a sofa and courting painful ideas if you are a despond ing lover, a hypochondriac or a valetudina rian, yon should be up and stirringyonrsclf. The blood <>fa melancholy man is thick and slow, creeping sluggishly through his veins, like muddy water in a canal; the bio d of your merry, chirping philosopher is clear and quick, bri*k as a newly brO'iched champagne. Try, therefore, to set your blocd in motion. To effect tills don't go to guzzling down brandy-smashee, gin-cocktails, or any of the other juggling compounds in which alcohol is discuiscd, for every artificial stimulant will drag yon down two degrees for every one it lifts you up. The devil alw.iys beats you at a barter. Try, rather, what a smart walk will do for you ; E«t your legs in motion on rough, rocky ground, or hurry them up a steep, cragged hill; build stone walls, swing an ax over a pile of hickory or maple; turn a grindstone, dig ditches, practice " ground and lofty tumbling," jxmr water into the sleeves with the Danaide j, or with Sisyphns, "up a high hi'J, heave a huges'one —in shorty anything that will start the perspiration, and you will soon cease to have your brains "lined with black, as Burton expressed it, or to rise_ in the morning, as Cowper did, " like an infernal fro" out of Acherobe, crowned with the ooze and mud of melancholy."— Christian Com monwealth.

Fashion Makes Fools of Us All.

Darwin, in his "Descent of Man,1' sums up some of the most remarkable fashions in regard to the person :—" In one part of Africa the eyelids are coloured black; in in another the nails arc dyed yellow or purple In many places the hair is dyed of various fints. In different countries the teeth are stained black, red, blue, etc., and in the Malay Archipelago it is considered shameful to have white teeth like a dog. Not one great country can be named, from the polar regions in the north to New Zea land in the south, in which the aborigines do not tattoo themselves. In Kordofan and Dafur it is considered a great attraction to have bumps on the body, and to achieve them incisions are made and salt rubbed in. In the Arab countries do beauty can be perfect till the cheeks or temples have been gashed. In South Africa a mother would be considered guilty of culpable indifference to her children if she did not employ arti fice to shape the calf of the leg after the fashion of the country. In the Old and New Worlds the shape of the skull was formerly modified, during infancy, in the most extraordinary manner, as is still the case in many places, and such deformities are considered ornamental, just as pinched waists and dwarfed feet ore with us.

The Heathen Origin of New Year and Christmas Customs.

When Burns's "Auld Farmer" addressed his New Year's morning salutation to his " auld mare Maggie " —

A quid new year I wish thee, Maggie ! Hae, there's a rip to thy auld buggic,

he does not seem to have been in the least aware that he was observing a custom that had come down to him from heathen an cestors in their celebration of yule. Dr. Jamieson, in hii Scottish dictionary, tells us that it was a custom to keep the last handful of corn gathered from the previous harvest, and on the morning of Chi-tmas Day to divide it amongst the horees and cows of the tarm as a sort of hansel of com ing plenty at the next harvest. It is im possible to doubt that this is a custom dating back to the .ancient observances of Yuletide, transferred to New Year's Day, with much nioro of an analogous character, at the " godly and thorough reformation'1 iv Scotland. The well-spread table also which used to be, and still is, in many parts set opposite the house door to let in the New Year with suitable hospitality, is in all probability connected with the older custom of Yule in a similar manner. This connection of New Year's rejoicings with the Christian feast of Christmas, and through it with th« pre-Christian Yule and Saturnalia, explains the cons'nncy with which popular observances have stuck to the Ist of January, even when the new year has been formally and legally reckoned to begin at a different time. Down to 1751 the legal New Year's Day in England was March the 25th, though Scotland was be fore the southern kingdom in abandoning this ecclesiastical mode of reckoning. But to popular feeling the New Year, oven in England, began oi' January the Ist; and so far as it was customary to observe the opening of the new year at all it wax this latter day, and not March 25th, that was celebrated. Uut then, as now, much more was made of the New Year's festival in Scotland than iv England, and the reason is obvious. The Scotch people were ani mated by a much more thorough determi nation than were their southern neighbours to throw off every vestige of Romish cere monial, and they looked upon the Christ mas feast as an intolerable remnant of the old leaven. Hence the ancient festivities were suppressed, not merely by authority, but by the almost unanimous resolve of the people. Still, the old Adam is strong in his propensity to junketing and carousing. The ane'ent fathers of the Church were compelled to make a compromise with him by Christ* ni'-g the heathen festivals, and devoting them to ecclesiastical memories. The Puritan democracy of Scotland did not take that course ; but, by a happy thought, transferred to the Ist of January a con siderable number of the merry customs fo.i merly belonging to Christmas Day. Aver.v remarkable instance of the transfer of Christinas or Yule observances to New Year's Day is given by Dr. Jamicson It used to be the custom on Christina* morn ing to skim the surface of the him elioM well at the earliest hour of midn'glit. Special blessings were suppo-ed to attend the member of she house who succeeded first in getting, as the phrase was, the " skim or ream " (cream) of the well. It was also customary to take a handful from the store of corn, and to gather kail at the same time. Part, at any rate, of thes"1 ob servances was transferred to N>:w Year's Day. In describing the customs of New- Year's Eve, Niccol has the following lines : Twiill struck—two neitrhfcoiir hizzies raise.

An' lUtln' weil v sad (jute

Thi! power o' the well to our house gncs, An I'll the bonniest lad (jet.

That this superstition had a heathen origin, and one of very remote antiquity, there can be no doubt. In a well-known pas-age of the iKneid. quoted also by Dr. Jameson, .•Eneas is described as di awing wutcr fid in the topmost surfroe of a fountain while he tills die air with loud invocations of the gods— J. Allanson I'ieton, in "Good Words."

Literary Items

A play. i» which a young lady's dress shall catch firo and the (ire shall be cx tinguishaJ, is Oui a's latest extravagance. Blackwootl licensed Mr. Gladstone of coiuing the compound word "blood-guilti ness," but it occurs in the fifty-first 1 Halm. The collection of letters written by Vol taire to the privlito Secretory of the fm press Catherine will shortly be published Edmund Yates explains that Ouida is only the rendering of the name of that writer—Louisa—aa she lisped it in child hood. Shai'es of Dickens and Tliacker <y ! Kras zewski, a Polish favourite, las', year a • though he is advanced m age wrote twenty-one novels, and he riid not do so in self-defence, either. Charles Eeade's present literary work— for he is besinuing to resume his pen—is a sketch of Sir Robert Lush, a notable Justice of the Queen's Bench, and such a positive, masterly character as ltcade used to enjoy. The letters of Madame Recamicr are being published. It -will be amusing to read the tender epistles addressed to the beautiful worshiper itt the shrine of Plato by her ardent admirers, Lncicn Bonaparte, Benjamin Constant, etc. The secret of her charm was, that she always talked to men about themselves. " It give 3me a pleasant sense of victory," said Miss Alcott, "to ransack the old trunks, and now and then fish out and sell a Story that had been rejected over and over again when I had not been hoard of, and that goes readily enough now. I lately took malicious delight in replying to a re quest for a story from a magazine by send i:,jr it a story which its editor had rejected at ieast once, and I don't know bur twi"e. He took it, and paid me well for it."

Try.

Try popcorn for nausea. Try cranberries for malaria. Try a sun-bath for rheumatism. Try ginger ale for stomach cramps. Tiy clam broth for a weak stomach. Try cranberry poultice for erysipelas. Try a wet towel to the back of the neck when sleepless. Try buttermilk for removal of freckles, tan and butternut stains. Try a lint flannel over the seat of neu ralgic pain and renew frequently. Try taking your cdliver oil in tomato catsup if you want to make it palatable. Try taking a nap in the afternoon if you are going to lx; out late in the evening. Try a cloth wrung oiit from cold water put ab nit the neck at night for sore throat. Try snufling powdered borax up the nostrils for catarrhal " cold in the head." Try walking with your hands behind you if you find yourself becoming bent forwa'd. Try planting sunflowers in your garden if compelled to live in a malarial neighbour hood. Try a newspaper over the chest, beneath your coaf, as a chest protector in extremely cold weather.

Curious Defence of Christianity.

TnE lecture on geology and the origin of man recently delivered in Dnuedin by Mr Denton. an American lecturer, caused a great deal of controversy in that ciiy, and the Young Mens' Christian Association was requisitioned to supply an antidote, and they applied to the Key. A. C. Gillies, a recent arrival in Dunedin, to deliver, a series of lectures in reply to Mr Denton. One of the local papers, summarising the rev. gentleman's remarks, says:—"He then compared what Christianity and infi delity had respectively done for the world, and gave a long list of biblical and histori cal great names whose owners had been deeply imbued with religion, asking if in fidelity could produce such a list. He answered, emphatically, no! Not one such name could be adduced. (Applause) Why, the little fioger of a Kaikes or Guth rie had done more good than the whole body of the infidels. (Laughter). Against the many honoured names connected with C tristianity, from iU founder downward, what had infidelity to show ? The father of infidelity was Rousseau, and other names sifter him wore DantoD—not Den ton—(great laughte ) Marat, Tom Paine, Byron, &c Every infidel now was a great scientist, and if he could only speak a few big words such sis "paleozoic straightway he was aocepted as a savant - (laughter). Mr Gillies then narrated the treat mission work of Christianity, and asked what in fidelity had similar to show; replying, nothing. The infidels wore always chat tering and jabbering like so many monkeys before their dinner-(immense laughter)— while Christians were giving many millions to christianize and civilize the world and raise society. To whom was it owing that so-called scientists, really infidels, could come here, talce the Garrison Hall, and poc ket the money that they made people pay through the nose, to hear them insult the feelings of nearly everyone iv the commun ity by speaking of the Deity as trying for millions of years to make a man, and as working like a carpenter. To whom was it owing U>atsiieh lecturers could come and do this without being hung or burned ? They owed that to the past labours and sacrifices of believers in Christ—(applause) —and that was how they showed their gratitude. Christians gave thousands for their creed, and would take a h«ll and give a lecture free, but to hear the creed of Infidels you must pay at the door. They made money by propagating their belief, while Christians had spent tens of millions in propagating theirs. Mr (iillies then yave the names of a number of the greatest Christian philanthropists, and asked could Infidelity show a like list? (Laughte-.) fnfi'icls night reply that they wore a poor body, with few millionaires among them Tlut was true ; still they count' d vome. There was James Lick, who died a bache lor, worth millions, leaving money to build an observatory, yet was scarcely dead when his child en appeared and contested ha will. (Great laughter.) Then there was Michael ltoca, a millionaire so penuriou- Unit lie would jump th- cemetery fence when visiting his parents'graves, to avoid giving the sexton sixpence. Ho (the lecturer) said it was a pity he had. ever left the cemetery when ojicc there. (Laughter.) The sooner such doga died the better. (Aitplause.) He (Mr Gillies) wished he had the privilege of preaching their funeral sermons—lie would take tlie text "the beggar died." (Much laughter.) Another infidel millionaire was James Fair, who refused to give him (Mr Gillies) a rod c-nt when taking round a subscrip tion list for v Church object, and he had on another ix<casion given £S when he might have given £SOO without missing it. These were the sort of men rich infidels wore. (Applause.)

A Dancing Lesson.

An old dancing master in New York thinks that the modern mode of dancing lusseenat public balls and Long Branch hops is most inelegant ill-bread, immodest and nnneces sary. A lady who dances well and grace fully maintains her independence of motion and a perfect balance. The moment she becomes a clinging i me and allows her head to rest on a man's shoulder and his arm to enibr.-ico instead of support her, she thoWS not only a shocking lack of refinement but of good danciug, and impedes her partner's movements ius well m Lor mvn. '1 his most judicious of men and sensible of teachers lays down the following as a proper position in a round dance :—" The gentleman should take the lady's right hand in his left, and she place her loft hand upon his shoulder, the lingers appearing in front. The gentle man should rest his right hand gently upon tli-; lady's back near the waist, and both stand ui)on parallel linos looking over the other's shoulder, the lady turning her head slightly to the left Ji.ith should bend the up]>cr part of tiie itcrson slightly, so tlut the shoulders should not be m»re than (our inches apart, and the hands that arc clasped should remain only a few inches from the person, not allowing the wild sticking out of arms recently adopted. In the grouping there is no more contact of person than a la ly taking a gentleman* arm for walking. But to put the whole mutter in a nutshell, the vulgar and vicious waltz »ulgarly and viciously, the innoo-nt and refinwl in a refined and innocent manner.

Bits of Wisdom

He that lendeth to a loafer givcili to a saloonist.

He who strikes terror into others is him self in continual fear.

The best way to silence a talkative per son is never to interrupt, him.

A modest man feels his superiority ; a proud man makes others feel it. There is but one sure way to keep from being durum1, and that is never to run into debt.

What we charitably forgive will be re compensed as well as what we charitably ° Never borrow more than you caa pay back, and never lend more than you can borrow.

There is a delicious sarcasm in the old proverb, "Godhoipthe rich, because the poor can beg." A woman s dress is like the onvelopc of a lettor : tbo cover is frequently an index to the contents. Our chief want in life is somebody who shall mak<! us do what we can. . 'i his is the service of a friend.

There are three ways of getting out of a scrape—write out, back out, ana the best way is to keep out. If you should have just what you really deserve—no more, no less—would you l>e as happy as you are now ? Men seldom repent as long as they are prosperous. It takes adversity to bring a person down on his knees. Ambition is the coquetry of men. It ought to be hod young so as" not to be no ticed when it becomes necessary. The power of pleasing is founded upon the wish to please. The strength of the wish is the measure of the power. Excess of ceremony is always the com panion of weak minds; it is a plant th.it will never grow in a strong soil. From the manner in which praiso and blame are dealt out in this world, an honest man ought to covet defamation.

Europe Arming in Haste.

All Europe is in feverish haste to perfect its armament. Nothing like the baste and impatience now manifested on all sides to get ready for war has been scon in onr generation. The official journal here a few mornings ago contained the announcement that 10,000,000 of francs had been voted as an extra credit on ordnance account; and this is in addition to a previous special amount of 10,000,000 of francs. Mr Hoteh kiss, who is making his cannon for the French marine service, has been asked if he cannot double his already immense works at Saint Denis ; and indeed he will have to do so, if he succeeds in the next three or four years in turning out the enor mous number of cannon demanded of him. He has just concluded a contract for 900 more cannon for const defence, making 1,500 in all that the French vil have had of him. This gun which he is making at Saint Denis is the terrible engine which did such deadly execution at Sfax. The French are enchanted with it. Un doubtedly it is destined to revolutionize warfare. It seems as if nothing could stand before it. On some of their new shipi the French carry twenty-four of these guns. A torpedo boat would have a lively time while approaching a craft armed in this fashion. The bold denizens of the as sailing demon-bark, with its engine of de struction hidden beneath (lie water's surface, would literally take their live* in their hands, and would most probably lose those lives. It is difficult to say whether or not we should see a speck of war in all these tremendous armaments. The French, as you perhaps know, are building so many new ironclads that the English are begin ning to get nervous and to inquire what it all means. Six or eight magnificent war ships are now approaching completion in French arsenals. The Uorraana have very recently passed an appropriation to pay for two hundred und twenty-live new guns of the llotehkiss model, which are to be made in Magdeburg. Field batteries of this wonderful arm would be capable of some thing which the imagination refuses to consider. How much longer will war be possible if these improvements continue ? Good soilSß must one day revolt against slaughter. Eotchkiss, armorer, and Ycws schagin, painter of the horrors of war, are veritable apostles of peace. General Yon Werder advised old Emperor William to buy all Vcrcsclmgin's pictures and to burn them. This was not waggery ; the Prus sian, whose trade is war, w«s afraid of the slinging commentaries made by the realist upon the trade And by and by the soldier will say : " What ! stand up before machines that can (ire eighty shots per minute. Do you take us for idiots? War h no longer possible !" These gigantic armaments—this mad fever to secure a good store of every new engine of destruc tion invented—perhaps indicates Europe's hatred—hor detestation of war a"d licr determination to prevent it, by making it, like poison, so terrible that no one sluill dar to approach it with other Ihan the extremest caution. But perhaps, also— ah, dreadful, perhaps I—the child will want to sec what its toy is like when it has onoe gotten it well into ils possession. Mo European can deny that he considers war as constantly possible. That )>os sibility is the potent reason for the locking up of vast capital in cannons and small arms. The French keep three mil lions of rillcs in their arsenals all the time now. They never intern! to lie caught a* they were in the war of IS7O and IS7I. And they are right. They are forced into their line of conduct by the action of their neighbours.— l'iiris Lrttttr from Edidnrtl Kirn/ to tto Boston Jouriuil,

A Vast Collection of Living Animals.

THE <x>st of the {creatures in the London "Zoo" vanes in each species almost as much us llic price of horses, being fixed by the size, health mid perfection of e.teh specimen. The hippopotamus heads the list, a yood specimen well grown being worth from §8,0001 ■■ §10,000 ; a well shapod elephant, full grown, can be bought for S2.OO0; a rhinoceros for about 83,000, a huge python for $1,000, n tiger or lion for about JMdO it 8500, a hear from ?250 to $500. ft zebra for 61.500, and a good spcoK men of a girfille for about the same sum. The chimpanzee leads the monkey »ribe in value, c stiiu about $350—the our*»g outang and gorilla by their scarcity being ruled out of the list. On their triangular ground of scven'een acres the Zoological Society hive now about four thousand specimens of the various creatures whoso tastes arc carefully catered to in the spacious enclosures', thn neat and clean bouses, and 11 be weedy pools, where their captivity is passed Each year there nre about 600,000 visitors to the gardens, or almost exactly th- number th>t visit the Bri'Ml Museum, although admission to the latter is free, while the "Zoo"' charges a chilling on all days hut Mondays, whon the price is sixpence. Think of seeing the best collection of living animals in the world for twelve cen's 1 The yearly receipts of the Zoological Society from all sources are about §125,000, and the expenses about the rarac, but the accumulated value of its property during its fifty-live years of exis tence is incalculable. It has gathered along with its living curiosities a Mjicet and costly zoological library. With no design of money-making, never declaring divi dend", and finding its richest reward in tins delight and instruction of the public, tlie Society has readied a basis of prosperity as enduring as it is well deserved.— C. D. in N. ¥, Post.

The Steeping of Seeds jk Water Gardeners differ in opinion respecting the policy of soaking seeds before sowing them. Some cnrrful experiments have been made by C. Kraus, and an abstract of his results is" published in the "Journal of the Chemi cal Society." He found that seeds steeped for twenty-four hours before sowingsproutod la'cr than norm.il seed ; also that the pre pared seeds grow most rapidly, and con tinued to grow longer than tbo unprepared. Plants grown from soaked seed weie found to be the most fertile, and those which had been dried after soaking were more so than the unprepared seeds.

Better than Temperance Tkacts.— There are some common sense precepts tliat are better than tons of moral maxims bo a drinking man. Hero is one from medical authority: "The man who takes alcohol under any name, habitually, before break fast is doomed." His constitution is bound to give way, and he is committing suicide. How good is this advice, too, to " moderate drinkers." "As a rule, whenever tlie lungs, ■qivc out alcohol you.hare bad too nrncli.' v When it is perceptibly and continually no^ ticcd on the breath, it not only notifies all who come near that here is a habitual drin ker, but it is giving notice to himself, also, if he would buttake it, that be is over-taxing all his forces to get rid of it, and that an early breakdown in one or other organ ia not fur off.

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, MARCH 18, 1882

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Goodwin's Baking Powder in half-pound tins, lsSd, sold by all thejgroccrs; whole* sale by all the merchants.—lAdvt.]