RAMBLES BOUND THE WOULD.

[From the "Star's" Wanderinguoir TKIBUTOR.]

No. XIIL April 27,1883.

Italian Extortion,

1 OUGHT, however, to mention one great drawback to the pleasure or travelling in the central and southern portion of Italy. It is necessary to be constantly on guard sigainat extortion and imposition. All classes —porters, cabmen boatmen, itiner ant dealers, and evea respectable-looking shopkeepers—seem to regard travellers as lawful prey. The shops display many tempting ai tides, but it is difficut to effect a purchase without discovering afterwards that you have paid more than double the worth of the article. Iho abominable system of asking twice or thrice as much as the vendor will be willing to accept rather than loose a customer, is almost universal. Aa a rule, an offer of one-third of tho price demanded will generally secure the desired object. This makes trading a difficult and disagreeable operation. Those who are ignorant of the extortionate proclivities of Italian traders are sure to be imposed upon; and those whose consciences aro too tender to inako a large distinction between the sum they oifor to give and tliat which, the settler names as tho price, must make up their minds to pay in proportion to tbeir delicacy. Hotel Pension Anglaise, Grand Canal, Venice. SOME portions of my letters may be doomed dull ana prosaic, If so, lam sorry, but I cauuot help it. I must crave the indulgence of my readers. If every portion of tho globe I traverse wero uniformly attractive, presenting objects of interest in equal prolusion, aud my descriptive powers always equal to the occasion, 1 might suc ceed in maintaining a fixed level of interest. But mental moods vary as much at differ ent times as the natural features of tbe landscapo in tlilt'orcut places. The world is not .1 continuous garden; there are tlormy plains aud dreary commons and stagnant marshes, as well as verdant valleys, charming secluded • uooki and wooded dolls, and glorious mountain ranges. The rambler who writes accoidiog to tho reality of what ho »ee.°, aud not according to the promptings of romantic fancy, cauuot always bo equally entertain in;;, but must bo content, sometimes, to be commonplace. After leaving San Keiuo, the country for some distance is comparatively unattrac« tive. Tho line ruus along the coast, afford ing frequunt views of the sea. Landward, the prospect is often limited by precipitous hills, la places they approach so near that but little space is left between the line of road and high-water mark. Occasion ally, however, tho view expands; valleys open out, surrounded by rounded hills, with Intersecting gullies, reminding me very much of the scenery in some purts of New Zealand. No efforts have been spared to make the beat of the stony legion. Ter races upon ttrraces run along the face of tbo hills, supported by atoms walls, nnd holding narrow patches of soil planted with vines.

A Continental Tabto tVELote.

A tunnel pierce* Cape Verdo, and tliu traveller must begin to accustom biuisolr to travel iv the dark, for these subterranean passages become more fiequent aa he pro ceeds. But it often happens that the enter taining chatter of fellow-travellera is a com pensation. What v vatiety of character one meets with on tho Continent 1 Now that I have diverged from the railway, oa to this line of thought, I may as well con tinue to follow it up while we are passing through the tunnel. The carriages being small, the varieties of character to be met with while actually on the move are com paratively few. But a continental table d'hote is the place to see a variety of life. It is a menagerie. As I belong to the genus homo, and therefore must include myself, I may be pardoned if 1 say that in tho com pany that gathers round the table d'hote you have all kinds of animals, as in an actual "Zoo,'1 there are wild beasts, and tame, sleek-skinned and rough hided, spatted and striped, quiet and sleepy beasts, . and beasts that growl and show their teeth, together with birds of all kinds of plumage from grey to gorgeous: so in the men and women composing the nomadic society of a Continental hotel, thero is a strange and oftimes amusing medley, each individual betraying some peculiarity of temper, habits, and disposition. But the cream of the exhibition is to see the animals fed! There is a spinster who picks at her plate like a bird with a long neck; and next to her is a literal specimen of the softer sex, fat, fair, and forty at the very least, who shovels iv tbo viands, and talks with her mouth tull in a way that affords a treat for persons of strong stomachs, A little lower down the table is a young man who is in danger every moment of dropping his eye glass into the dish tbe waiter holds over his fgft shoulder, while he turns over its con tents, uttering disparaging comment* on the character ol the entree. But if the dinner table is amusing by the variety of manneri«ra displayed by the occupants, how distraotiugly puziling is the conversa tion and demeanour of the groups that gather in the sallc reevcazionc, or reading room, after the repast! Talkers are mote plentiful than listcneis, fortunately for the young lady who is carrying on a most un equivocal flirtation with one bashful youth in the corner. But hark to the trio of professional philosophers who are contemp tuously ignoring generally roc iived laws and principles—natural, human, and divine-and laying down their own. Their j talk is tremendous I " Objective " and "subjective," and. such like terms, are. trotted out to the bowllderment of many. : They pick the world to piece?, and put It tonethor again on entirely new principles ; and this they do with such au assumption of wisdom and skill, that if you can but believe their promises, you must be con vinced that the world of their creation would bo infinitely better than this ill-made clobo, and more worthy of commendation « than when the Creator looked npon it and pronounced it "very Rood," And as to religion and religious faith, these they con sider utterly inconsistent with reason and intellectual freedom. Intellect, hence forth, is to bo the only God. To hoar them talk, especially it you could bring your mind to regard them as reliable authorities, is enough to frighten you, and give birth to a nesv apprehension. Personal existence would become a problem, the final issues of which would be as uncertain and insoluble as tho destination of a balloon sent up ova holiday to amuse spectators, without a bcntient being or any ballast iv tho oar ! But as in a menagerie—if 1 may repeat the simile without offence—there are plea sant attractive animals as_ well as those that are repulsive, so iv the travel ling assemblies of human beings there ate some individuals whom, in spite of pecujlur characteristics, you are forced to admire, and the more closely you study their eccentricities the more you love them. I

have one auch curious specimen before the eye of my mind. He was a fellow-traveller | for several consecutive days. He was a young-old man who seemed to charm every one who came within tho circle of his influence. His face was full of wrinkles, but so finely drawn that it seamed aa i£ time hud a sneaking kindness for him, because of his kindness to others. The expression of his countenance was as bright as sunshine, and the curves about his mouth were tell-tale witnesses of the laughter he delighted to provoke. His eyes had a liquid softness, not such ns is often the result of too frequent and copious im bibations, but the overflowings of natural good humour. When he shook hands it was as if his whole warm being grasped you. Even his clothes were testimonials of character. They were so large and loose that they seemed to say their owner abhorred restraint, and was determined to be easy and comfortable; the size ot his waistcoat more than hinted at the largeness of his heart. His coat was not superfine but superlatively social, and his bulging pockets intimated that anyone was welcome to share their contents. His very boots were too benevolent to touch his corns ; and it waa plain from his shirt collar that thero was not a particle of sUrch or stiffness in his nature. They never stood up, like some people's, as if they had a de sign on his ju.rular, or wished to cut olf his ears. In short, he was a most amiable animal, and thougn a prize specimen of his class, yet I am glad to say I have met others of his klud, though not equally perft-ct in all points, and such characters make up for the disagreeable creatures with whom you occasionally come in contact. My Journey to Genoa. But we havi! cot through the fine long tunnel, and at tku risk of prosing, I must resume commonplace description. Emerg ing into tho light, 1 gota view of Uussana. When I say it is cha/mingly situated, I must be nnderstood as speaking from the artistic poiut of view, for it is petched upon an eminenco that appears inaccessible. If I lived there and had business to do at times in the lower regions—as I suppose the in habitants must huve—l should want a pair ot wings to get home again; the charm would bo utterly destroyed if I had to climb. Across tho valley is the village of l'ogpio, w hat it gains from its situation being more accessible—it loses by being less romantic. After passing through another tunnel, tho landscape widened. The winding stream Taggia, I suppose, suggested the name of the locality, Val Taggia. A little further on, the features of the country be came rugged again, and the fortress San Siefaao frowns from the crest of a steep lull. I noticed, at intervals as we ran aloug, mascive towers of masonry erected on commanding heights, some of them fallim; to decay, others apparently occupied as dwelling-house!l. On enquiring of. a fellow passenger, an intelligent native of the country, ho told me that these towers date back to the ninth and tenth conturios, and were erected as places of re fuge and defence against Saracen marau ders. What a difference between times past and present 1 The inhabitants can now live without fear ot being robbed, and literally sic under their vines and fin-trees, none during to make them afraid; for even brigands dare not show their noses in the Riviera. Tho next place, San Lorenzo, is unim portant, and may be dismissed with a word. But not so Porte Mauri2io, a sea port town three miles further on. it is a place of considerable importance, possesses a, good harbour for small vessels formed by arti ficial breakwaters, numbers some eignt thousand inhabitants, and prides itself oil being a kind of seat of government, be cause the olHci ils of the district have their respective bureaus, and reside their. The scenery around is very pretty. Olive trees abound, and a lucrative trade is carried on in olive oil. Settlements became more frequent along this part of the line. A mile and a-half and Oneglia came in view. This is another ; seaport, but the harbour is shallower than that of Porto Mamizio, and, Ishould think, 1 less secure. My curiosity was excited by a building close to the station, of very singu lar appearance, It looked like a cross between a church and a hospital, I in clined to the former, and was prepared to hear the refrain of the vesper hymn. But, presently, to my surprise, I saw an armed sentinel marching too and fro amidst the pinnacles. Un enquiry, I found that the bybrid structure was by no means sacred; instead of being a place of worship it was a prison for the confinement of felons. What an outrage' upon good taste to con struct a gaol in style somewhat resembling a godly shrine 1 But perhaps it wan origi nally designed for a church, and converted from necessity to its present ignoble use. Diana Castello, Diana Marina, Ceroo and Andora Marina, are picturesque settle ments overlooking the sea, each baring distinct local features, but not sufficiently attractive to detain the traveller, Alassto IS a snug little watering-place, with some good hotels on the beach. It is considered the sanatorium of this part of the coast, and many invalids winter thero. The environs are very pleasant, and many charming rural walks and cool retreats may be enjoyed within a short distance of the town. ..„ ... „ Soon after leaving Alossio, the line turned inland. The sea was no longer ia sight. Tbe transition was refreshing. Instead of a limited view, bounded on the one hand by stony headlands and frowning cliffs, and on the other by the monotonous expanse of the Mediter&dncan, a rural landscape waa before me. olive. groves, vineyards, and orchards, with here and there snug home steads, make a pleasant change. Signs of industry and cultivation continued all the way to Albinga, only occasionally shut out from view by short provoking tuuuclc «t albinga, 1 waa interested in tbe remains of a hooian bridge, which, even in ruins, serves to give some idea of the original strength ef the structure. Its present con dition i 3 doubtless owing more to the violence and vandalism of the middle a^es than to the gradual effects of time. This is not the only relic that gives an air of antiquity to Albinga. There ar© several old chateau* erected by the nobles of former times, and the rocky island of Gallinaria, in the offing, U crowned by an ancient tower, The cathedral is a comparatively modern, building, but it has a lofty spire and is symmetrical in design. At Loano, the next place, the ruins of another castle re mind the traveller of the " good old times " when ruthless mail-clad barons acknow ledged no authority but that of force, and lived and acted on the principle " Thnt Uo should solzo who has tho might, And ho should keep who oan," On the heights around, are irregular masses of building once occupied by a com* munity of monks, and forming two distinct monasteries, But they have been sup pressed. The only interest that lingers round tno place centres in Monte Carmelo, the highest of the two, which was built by tho Dorias in 1609. They also built the church, which i< an ornament to Loano, and of peculiar shape. It has no less than twelve sides; for what practical purposes the usual cruciform was departed trom in this case, it were hard to say, unless to show the exhuberance of the architect's i resources, and tbe abundance of material

and 1 AbotiT at his command for compara tively little cost. h mast snmmarise my description of some o*i the places through which I passed. Metraligare and Borgio Verezzi are common-place settletecuts. Finalmariua claims to be a seaport, though I did not see many indications ot commerce. It comprises three separate villages unitedly called Finale. The principal building is the cathedra], which was erected by the celebrated Italian artist, Bernini. It has some fine white marble columns, a hand some tower, and a profusion of gilding. Tbe oldest part of the settlement is called Finalborgo. It boasts a castle, and at no great distance there are some remarkable cave% in which prehistoric remains are said to have been found, Noli is a little town, bat it also has a castle. These feudal edifices made me wish that I knew their history. What stirring scenes were once enacted within these massive walls 1 What revelry resounded in their spacious halls > I should like to hare seen these medioeval fortresses when chivalrous knights in burnished arms curvetted on their caparisoned cuargera, and dames and dam-els of high estate, in gay attire, watched the tournament or graced the feast, But, alas ! one cannot think only of the bright side of those days of yore: visions of violence and deeds of cruelty and blood will intrude, and spoil the picture, Spotorao is an insignificant place, devoid ot interest. From this point we ran through a number of tunnels in rapid succession. It was provoking to be compelled every few rarnuti a to pull up tbe window, to prerent the carriage being filled with smoke and steam. The construction of this part of the line must have taxed the engineer's skill, and cost a great deal of money.' The tun nels bothered us till we got to Vado; there ' we got rid of ihem, and were repaid for the, disagreeable portion of the journey by a splendid view of the Riviera, and the coast line as far as the gulf in which Gonva stands.

Savonais but a few miles distant from Vado. It is a large, busy town, and though a seaport, with a harbour commanded by a fort, the surrounding groves of orange and lemon trees, and tho orchards of fruit trees, give the place quite a. rural appear ance. We next pulled up at Celle, where the principal industry is pottery, I saw some curious specimens of this manufac ture. From thence more tunnels, and some very deep cuttings, till we reached Varraze. Shipbuilding is carried on here to .'a'con siderable extent; I saw several good-sized craft upon the stocks. The next place of interest was Cogoluto ; tho interest, how ever, is historical rather than local, It, is the reputed birth-place of the celebrated man whose discoveries added the. fourth quarter to the globe, or, father, made it known that there was a fourth. The town itself is unattractive. If it was the same in bygone days as it is now, I don't wonder that Columbus left his birth-place to seek fame and fortune elsewhere. The houses are huddled to gether, and many of them are dilapidated. No building is more offensive to good ttwto than an Italian house of inferior character, old and evidently neglected, especially when from the upper windows—as is generally the case—the clothes of the week's wash are suspended in the air to dry. The house that is pointed out as that in which Columbus waa born, is now a dirty-looking wine tavern. But it bears an inscription which redeems it from the travel ler's disgust :— "Hospc3. slsto graduni Fuit hio lux prirna .Columbo; Orbe viro rnajori hou minis arcta domus! ; TJfnusernt inundua. 'Duoaunt,' ait iatoFuero. : I Bambi.ee,

Espionage in Russia.

LIFB in Russia is subjected to many annoy. auccs. No one is allowed to enter Russia without a passport duly vised, or to leave the country without permission from the authorities, These passports are, however, of little use for detective purposes, as they simply contain the came but give no de scription of the traveller. The hotel-keepers at St. Petersburg are obliged, under heavy penalties, to report to the police twice a day the names of all travellers who enter or leave their hotels. Each householder In the city is compelled by the Government to have a " dvornick " to watch his premises. These dvoruioks are men of the peasant class who Bit day and night wrapped in tbeir sheepskins at the entrance of the houses,, their office being apparently that of half watchman, half spy. An order was issued a short time ago that no one should walk in. the streets of St. Petersburg without a pass-, port, but the absurdity and annoyance of proceeding were such aa to cumpel the with drawal of tbe order. Newspaper editors are only allowed to give on certain Subjects such views a« meet with the approval of the Government, and some questions they are prohibited discussing. Foreign newspapers are etoppo I at tbe post-office, often field back altogether, and when delivered at all have any objectionable parts or paragraphs stamped out and made illegible. The London " Times " frequently appears with; paragraphs or portions of the' columns blocked out in this manner. A gentleman received bis newspaper a abort time ago with the Whole of it cut away with the exception of the advertisements. It would take too long to enumerate the many petty aid Other annoyances which the official real imposes on the ordinary lite of the Russian people, aud which have to be accepted without public remonstrance or criticism.

Smuggled Pork.

The prohibition of American pork import ation into Germany has become a law, and, very stringent measures to prevent either' pork or sausages of American origin to be smuggled in have been adopted. Cer tificates of origin will be required apt only from the German Consuls, but also from the competent police authorities -of ;tlle ■place of export, duly legalized by the German Consuls. These latter certificates, when not written in German, must be accompanied by legalized translations and at the earliest be drawn up thirty days pre vious to the arrival of shipments on the German frontier; they are to be retained by the frontier officer of entry in order to prevent their being used again. The latter measure aims chiefly at a possible circum vention of the prohibition by repacking the American goods in European ports. In this connection it may be mentioned that the German press already regrets the I'dUU.uiou against the severe measure, as Bhown by one of the modifica tions of the recent United States tariff in the increased import duty ou dextrin, which has been raised from $1 to $4. There are at present five large manufactories of the article in Germany, the bulk, of whose production goes to the United States, yielding the producers a handsome profit; the establishment of a number ot similar manufactories had been projected, but will now have to be abandoned, entailing no in , considerable loss to thu owners and pro < jectors, as well as a number of German i workpeople. ' '!'■'■.

GOSSIP FROM STAGE AND STUDIO.

[By Euterpe.]

M. Albin VILLBVAt, tha popular French teacher, contemplates the writing of a " History of French literature " for the use of students, as there is no auitable text-book of the kind extant. The notes will bo furnished by an Koglish collaborateur. Ouida will soon bring out a new no*el called "Sabraa." .....: .., . . . A Marionette. *how Is travelling tip from the South towards Auckland.. Wilkie Collins ,«|ldom writes more than ten pages of manuscript a day. .. .' . Lecocq's new opera " Heart 'and Band " ia being played in 'Frisoo. ! •: ! ■ ' H. A. «arfield, son of the late President of tho U. S. A., i» second tenor'in an American College Glee Club. ; Miss Kinilie Melville ia in Queensland. Another operatio season in Melbourne is projected. •■ Fifty thousand eopies'Of Mark Twain's ■ew book, "Life on the Mississippi," will be printed for a first edition.;. i ' ,'. | M. Leon Say has undertaken the editor ship of a " l<ictjounaire dcs Finances," to which many distinguished writers will conttibute. it will fill two volumes. , "Manola" had a successful "ran;" of seven week* at the Sydney' Opera House. It was to be followed by the "King's Dragoons," with tne .tf&sthetic Quadrille. Miss Geneviove Ward, the English actress who contemplates a descent uponl Australia from America, is a .Russian* countess. ... ■> -■ . . .-. ~ - The Italian Opera season at the hydney Gaiety has terminated abruptly. During Its currency Miss Alice Reas appeared in "Lucia," " Kigoletto," " Sonriambula," " Un Ballo," "Crisplno," and "aorma." A project is on foot to build a new theatre oa the premises in., Dixon-steeet, Wellington, recently occupied by Messrs Comptoa Bros, for the purposes of a saw mill. /■■ i,";. ''.. ~-,, '.. ..tj. .'.'•.' " .. i' The annual meeting of the Dunedin Musical Union was held on May 31. It has a credit balance of £316s 3d, and 136 mem bers, only 40 of whom perform, the rest being honorary. ■ • i ■• Flans are being prepared for a new theatre, to be erected at the .corner of Pitt and Market-streets, Sydney, jat a cost o £20,000. It is to eclipee anything of the kind in Melbeurne, , ~,.;•• ..',.• A history of the people of the United States from the Revolution to the Civil War, in the style of Macaulay, by J, B, McMaster, has just bßon published by the Appletons, an American firm. - ' " ■ The tercentenary of Grotins has just been formally commemorated at Delft, an oration having been delivered,in his honour, and a movement for erecting a monument to him having beeu begun. ~. . ,< Santley, the eminent baritone, haying resolved to adopt a-religious life, has joined the PassioDiat Fathers at Sutton, near St. Helen's, Lancashire, where he is now acting as alay brother, The life of Benjamin Franklin in the " American Men of Letters" series is to be written by Professor McMaster, of Prince ton, author of the new history of the! American people. ,':.'_'l ,• .... ~,-/ .; Mies Jennie Lee I was to open in Sydney on Saturday last In "Jo." She is sup; ported by a strong company, including amongst others Miss Edith Adelle, Miss Docy Stewart, Mrs It) an, and Messrs Iloskins, Musgrave, Vernon, and Warner, ' Anew weekly journal, devoted to the popular exposition of sanitary matters, and to the education of the people in the laws of health, will be shortly issued by Messrs, Wyman and Sons, Loudon. It will be entitled "Health." , . !A new operetta, entitled, "Ten Giris. and No Husband," was recently performed before 500 of the crime de la crime of" Viennese society, by titled performersj; nearly all of them being princes and prin cesses, ,1a .; ■■■■■ a:■b '■- >: ' ■"■' ';" i f 14. Oagood aud Co., Kew Yors, an nouQce the* authorised life of Longfellow, ■by bis brother Bamuel; a life of Nathaniel Hawthorne, by his son Julian; and. a life of George JBliot, by her husband, Mr Cross, —three notable additions to biography. v . i Mile. Jenny Voa Weber, * grandaie'ee of Charles Maria Yon Weber; created so great a sensation fa i Carlsruhe recently; that In endant-General Yon Hulsen engaged her. for a starring ■tour at the* Berlin koyal Opora. '"-■;" •' -r.1 ,fi At Melbourne, Mr Rignold is scoring a great success with " Henry V." The page ant is very popular.1 Mr Wybert Reeve is' at the Bijou, and Mist Louise Pomeroy at t^e Opera flouae with " Heartsease," while at the Princess Mr Grattan Riggs is doing* Irish drama. ; ' Mme. Leonia Lids has in her possession a series of letters upon political events for the last ten years, which M. Gambetta wrote to her from day to day. According to the "Figaro," this new "Journal to Stella" is expected; to see the light; at no very distastaay. ■■ ■ . ; 9; ■■.v, . M >-i> «-* Christine Nilsson writes :—" Next season will be my farewell to Ameuca, and then 1 shall retire from the operatic stage, and 'live' In England, but Iwill-die in Sweden, and. will be:buried in the church-yard of my little peasant church at Skatlof, near .Vffido. 5"1 one "4i< sJttpooßßj x»« m Grattan Biggs has successfully produced at the Princess's Theatre, Melbourne, a new j play entitled " Grasp, of % 'Mother's JiOTe,"' which was written for him by Mr H. W. Emmett. It is described as. being, without exception, one ot the best acting pieces ever Writteii: by a colonial author, ; , !,.'-.,■ .' The poet Swinburne styles Auguste : Vacquene's "Formosa" a superb master* piece,, and/ congratulates France upon having it! He says: " I have literally trembled with pleasure at each one of those great scenes—that is to say, at each.scene—' and I still feel in my veins the superb quiver of this reading.' V : ■ : ■ ; The four-hundredth anniversary of Luther's birth will be celebrated on the 10th of November next, and iv commemora tion of the event the State of Prussia will bring out a revised and complete edition 0 . the reformer's works, which has been inf course of preparation for the past ten years. Three volumes per annum will be issued for the next ten years. Madame Faiiny, Janauschek, the cele brated tragedienne, was to have opened at the California Theatre, Sau Francisco, on the 11th of this mouth. In the list of her company, which ia stated to be one of the strongest travelling combinations, the name of Mr .G. D. Chaplin . stands foremost. He is styled "the well-known favouute.", Mr Chapliu played a season jn Auckland with Miss Osborne ;about 1879. ;, .

SCIENCE NOTES.

CiUMATioaisproOT^kj^ said now to average 9,000 bodies 1 * lhe .remating establishment is a^J* 1" cement structure witk a towpri; 'JvTß^ makiogitkoklikeafactori^, bule are a number of red n'r 9v«ti> .shovels, which the relatives oftl j '?»« purchase to collectth! asta *Jfc ?*•«•*■ Alter the cremation the .S,^* placed ia aa urn, and then taSW cemetery. '^.W a, Thatleprony shwidlxUtiQ W rather r«markable.but return., - WWay fe lished show that UuSStWl^' *c number i. diminishing."" ?'«£*»*.' 1875 there were 2,008 lepe7 8 £&&** country, and at The eodof lßsn^ktbo had fallen to 1,582. l\ 6 if 80 th«nomb,° to be due to ft/iJSSSjf * A unwholesome condition, Darl°| '^ » 88. -._-. Barv&b,. ' A proposition in EneLnid •team fire engines with sm **'o Wildv connected boilers. Itj 8 *?,?«• «d d£:' builders that two horse ca ß fc d * macmnery upq n fourwhee^SSLt I**!* ; in the preseut.steam 'm%££**mi,: = wi^ the engiue ckme !&*} W «* «U«: tandeney of la- B years, h7 ff l^ > to increase speed. Formerly ft hw !ooi.,,,. iim i\s*; t ~«« t «..pi». EXTKA.OEDfIJABr"~U B E n- „ > Light.—a. Host «w, j- °^ "ikotbio •I the electric g rah2 laS^P»icC ~ Newcastle, the de^f^V 1^ been laifl-befere themS. ye- n«* « town, ir^uoletfnSSC^' v p afe^^ u r^tHS: ■ lapp, enclosed in a silverbS^80'" . Thf qnestioa as to the di ßi dvanUaM of circular S aw, Bl a ß compare* wIHi taffif' : p much discussed in the iadustoUl wmZ''" appears to h a ve ; reßoW ed itaelfJßS; ; foLoffin^ conclusions, nanwl yi :taat'S;. cular saw* involve' coo&id e r*binL™ift,' to the workmen ,th at theySS± wider cut, prod W iDg,«or e Wa"S ' sequently fewer nodncfc itom a mnL. »mounto£ matertal. These, asgivenS* , German rnechamcJjouw.lL mSmS " tiooß to thatkind o! asaw.rlie onlySl • tage to be considered being thanthi ooatof ' such an mstrumentwlesaiSlwnofa bund hut, Mtwiflutandißs it appewa that ft* Mechamca Association (Gowerhvereinjof ■ Mulhausen, advise, vi theiUwraaliretoit; ■ - that their use be ahdUud wiere?er It«. i ; pracuoally possible to do «o,c: ! -, - i: . •:: : A Germaa writer now: maktaiu's. that "1 the causes,, o(- "earthquakes: are modi,;.: I slighter than hMgenenaiy beeaibelieved-i .'■>>: that they may, iaiact, besoughtatadentiil :■;■* of not more than,ten or fifCeoßinileii.and-*'* often t of■,less, and rathersfeeble* hum, i even may produce . earthquakes which will be felt at great distances. As1 iltas. trating this theory, the fact is cited-toa* ' thd hanimer|n.Krapp's&o(ory, which is of / immense weight, and falls from a height of tea feet, produces; sensiblsiooncdasiona. overa surface, five miles ia uiametcr-ulso, ' i {he fact that a recent explosion in' a,^j>: dynamite -factory :,#is-felt atisbeWeJl'' twenty-five and thirtj-five miles away* ilt . is also argued; that, eartbqnakesi Uiighfc. and must be produced by tho iucraafie and r decrease in volume of rocks under the in*' fluence of phyxical and chemical forces, by concussions, by the opening of crevices in rochs, and oy the subeidenceoof masses oi rock due to these agenciea, but waich h been usually made light aceonn't of in tl relation... -.-. !.:.;!.!■ ~ <• >■ ■.-•■ .■-• !«|p|l|; Ctjke for Diphthsbia.—ln acommm cation to the ''Chicago Medical Journal Ur. Magill describes a method oi treat diphtheria, from which he hag secured better results than from any other, He uses Aa ordinary hose, from 3ft to 6ft long, andl' ■ about an inch in diameter, :Oub end of thia is placed over the spoot of a common •. teakettle,, into which has been put half a gallon of water and half an ounce of casbolle acid ; the kettle is thin placed on the store over a good lite, and -when the water reaches the boiling point, the* frett end ot the hose ifc carried under a blanket thrown .. over the patient's head, 'fhe loom ■• must be closed. In a short tima the patient ■will perspire freely. If persevered in at ■'■. short intervals,. the1, breathing beamier - {softer, and presently, after ft succession of quick expulsive efforts, the patient throws off a coat or tube ot fake membrane. ■ Ufa acid vapour seems W prevent the reform ation pt exudations. Alcohol and aolpbate of quinine ate used in conjunction witn the ■ acid, lor their supporting propoiti ' -

Faithful Reporting.

The following story is told of Mr John* - Timbs, formerly a sub-editar of' the "lllustrated London Kews",: — "Timbs,, having « woodcut of a . hop«fieli, sent a proof of it to a. special correspondent and' asked him. to go .down- to ,Maid. st6ne,: visit ,»• hop-garden; take a not« ' of all ha sawat»d heardj anddsscriie ihe scene as faithfully and accurately as be could. The, ' social' ii went down into Kent, spent a d»y and anight among the. hop pickers, and then: came-;home and ■ wrote his descriptive column. The next day he took it.,,to ; the office, MUid handed it to the venerjkbls snb. Mt Timb3adjusted his BpeotaelfHand began to read; bat before he had got through the third side of the copy he: bnrat oufrw»n~* i ' What's this, Mr Jones ? Do you reilly think we can put this in-oaths, intemper ance, impiety, debauchery f Why, .sir, what were you thinking about ? This »1U never do !' ' No, I thought not, replie* the writer; 'but you'll remember you told me to describe exactly wok 1 saw and heard •' ' Ym^ei; you know,' angrily interrupted^aimM, ' this is too gross, too gross!' '' P««aP' "s will do better?" calmly: remarked.»' < special,' handing him another maouscripV . ' head it, sir, read it,' ssid ithe sub-editor. The jourrralist read it, and 3 lu"'hesls )l^ ■ charmed-such well-turned pta^..^ . happy conceits, such P^'^^Zl •:. 'Yes, that's better, Mi; Jow, , ™f better-just what lymUi. Allow me to congratulate you.' 'Ah,1 md-J«Jfj quietly, 'I thought you would Uk« thatl ft's what I wrote before I went down to - Ifaidbtone!" ■ ,: ■ :,, " :.'.'„ :J '

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, JUNE 23, 1883.

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