MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1080, 28 April 1882, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

» Apropos of the Russian scare in Melbourne, it may be interesting to know that an English exchange states that one of the Russian officers, on board the ironclad Peter tiie Great at Glasgow has been playing a visit along the coast of Ireland, -presumedly with the object of acquiring that information which would be valuable to Russian cruiser officers if their country went to war with England and endeavoured to stimulate an Irish rising —-an idea which has been often favoured by Russian political writers. The officer in question, Sub-Lieutenant Zimmerman, has reserved his report specially for his Government What a delightful individual must Mr Childs of the ' Philadelphia Ledger* be ! He deserves chronicling as having the most handsomely furnished editorial sanctum in the world; so filled with beautiful objects, all presents from admiring friends, that it ia quite a show place. More than that ladies are welcomed to visit this celebrated room, and each one is presented with a handsome cup and saucer. As a consequence, his office is thronged with fair ones who go to see its beauties, and not at all for the sake of the cups and saucers, through it is said one lady gained a whole set, piecemeal. Meanwhile, who does the work if the Editor is thus engaged with visitors? No work, plenty of fun, his life must indeed be a happy one. Very recently an English paper offered a prize for the best definition of a kiss. Among the replies were. the following : — Love's proof impression taken both before And after letters. Oddly, too, the more The print's repeated an impression stronger, And the true artist's best effects last longer. She asks for a ktss, and give it I can ; ' Tis the heart of a woman— 'tis the soul of a man.

Dr Collentrette, a Jersey physician of temperance principles, lately gave a lecture on the 'Manufacture of Old Crustsd Port." One of the audience was requested to purchase from a local wine merchant of repute a bottle of port for which he paid 6s. This, with cobwebs, &c, was deposited on the lecturer's table. Dr Oollenette then stated he would, in the course of a few minutes, produce a siitailar article at a cost "of five farthings. A judge— a gentleman said to be well qualified— was then elected by the meeting. A committee was chozen to come on to the platform and witness the operation. This consisted of weighing out ingredients. .The basis of the composition was cider; bullock's blood was used for a rich tawny colour, tartaric acid to give age, cream of tartar mixed with gum water was smeared on the side of the bottle and gave a beautiful crust Outside, cobwebs with dust and whitewash were applied to give an ancient look, and the bottle was stoppered with a well-stained cork. The expert was introduced, and tasted a glass from each bottle, declaring, witty a knowing wink at the audience, that the wine a la * Oollentrettewas the genuine article. The temperance audience of course applauded to the echo. — Scientific Ameri- ' can. 33h0 OamaruMail says that it has .• /vety^good reason for knowing that Mr F. Whitaker, jun., has resigned his ' seat in flic House of Representatives, md believes it is correct in saying that he has taken this step in order to avoid unpleasant, consequences. Evidently the notorious criminal Butler does not give up all hopes of "being able to make his way out of gaol. We learn from a Christchurch paper that his latest feat of ingenuity was to make a key from a piece of wood, and cover it with tin the facsimile of one • of the gaol door keys.' Besides, he has made a saw from a piece of tin the size -ttf a dinner table-knife. The authorities, to impress upon him that this ' -Skill of his is not appreciated, have, it is said, given him two months "soli.tary," the proper way to reward his CUSSed ingenuity.