巳 he did by pulling, for I could not have got it over | suggested by, not imitated from, the metres in use my head without making the boards slip. by the ancients. 66 Now then," he says, are you ready?" "All right," I says, faintly, for I felt as if everything was a-swimming round me; but I heard him give a signal, and felt the snatch of the rope as it cut into my arms above the elbows, and then I swang backwards and forwards in the air; while, with a crash, away went the boards upon which I had been a-lying. I could n't see any more, nor hear any more, for I seemed to be sent to sleep; but I suppose I was lowered down and took to the hospital, where they put my broken ribs to rights in no time, and it was n't so werry long before I was at work once more; though it took a precious while before I could get on to a high scaffold again without feel ing creepy and shivery; but, you know, "use is second nature." down A LETTER from Loupoigne, in Belgium, says: The venerable General Wautier, who, notwithstanding his ninety-five years, went to meet his new sovereign Leopold II. when making his entrance into Brussels, would be perhaps surprised if he knew that there still lives at the village of Viesville, near Gosselies, a former cantinière of La Tour's Dragoons, now 102 years of age. She is in the enjoyment of all her intellectual faculties, takes long walks, and méon, a village near Viesville, in September last. even danced the first quadrille at the fête of ThiShe is fond of relating her life of adventure, passed in the midst of camps and battles. She was at Fleurus in 1794, and, during the battle gave birth to a son. She only quitted the army after the death of her husband, to return to her native village." Ar a sale, not long since, in Vienna, small busts Seven Polly showed me the stocking t' other day, and I of Charles the Bold and the Duchess, his wife, carved must say it has improved wonderful, for wages keep good, and work 's plenty; and as for those chaps who in wood, by Holbein, fetched 30,000f. An agent of organize the strikes, it strikes me they don't know Baron James Rothschild bid 25,000f. for them, but what being out o' work is like. But, along o' that eventually they were knocked down to a Vienna stocking, one feels tempted very much to go dealer in pictures and other objects of art. in the country again, but don't like to, for fear o'small tablets, carved in relief, by Holbein, fetched things not turning out well; and Polly says, "Let 5,000f; and a little head, not more than an inch well alone, Bill." So I keeps on, werry well satis- high, 500f. A wooden figure of Adam, by Albert fied, and werry comfortable. Durer, fetched 4,000f.; a wooden crucifix, 1,200f.; and three small figures, all by the last-mentioned master, 2,000f. "Christ on the Cross," a small but exquisite painting, was bought by an agent of the Dresden Picture-Gallery for 10,000f. FOREIGN NOTES. THE Egyptian government has adopted the use of postage-stamps. They came into use on the first of January. M. FRANTZ, a metallurgist, and M. Henri Faure, editor of the France Médicale, announce that they have discovered a method of transmuting silver, copper, and mercury into gold," which," they say, "are only one and the same metal in different dy namic states." ACCORDING to a correspondent of the Nord, of Brussels, the ex-King Otho is employing his leisure in translating the works of Homer. AFTER all the circumstantial penny-a-lining as to Victor Emmanuel's grief for the death of his morganatic spouse, the Countess Millefiori, the report of her demise would appear to have had no foundation. The people of Turin, who had believed her dead, according to the Pall Mall Gazette, were surprised the other morning by her appearance in an operabox at one of Mddle. Patti's last performances. THE London Review observes that the author of "The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table" is at present obtaining popularity in a new field. Dr. O. W. Holmes once prescribed a remedy for asthma to Washington Irving; in the late "Life of Irving," this fact is mentioned by the biographer, and the extract is now being extensively advertised in the American press by a patent-medicine vender, in connection with his remedy. The vender commences his announcement in this fashion: "The last days of ex-President Martin Van Buren were made comfortable by the use of Jonas Whitcomb's Asthma Remedy." Then follows Dr. Holmes's advice to use the "Asthma Remedy,—a teaspoonful in a wine-glass of water, to be taken every four hours.” "YE Historie of ye Pre-Historic Manne," is the title of a facetious pamphlet recently published in Liverpool. A year or more since some discussion took place in certain scientific and quasi-scientific coteries with regard to the antecedents of a human THE gaming tables are, before long, to be sup- 1864, in a bed of peat-bog, at Leasowe, Cheshire, skeleton which was discovered, at the beginning of pressed at Baden-Baden, Monaco, and Geneva. An amendment of an article of the Swiss Constitution on the estate of Sir Edward Cust. The two parties was lately submitted to the Helvetic Diet, the effect by whom the discussion was mainly carried on fought of which will be to prohibit public gambling through-taining that the bones had served the purposes of bravely for their respective views; the one mainout the Swiss Confederation. A Paris journal, La Liberté, says the French government is negotiating with all the governments which tolerate the existing public gambling tables, with a view to their suppression. the other assigning the skeleton to a remote period some son of Adam at a comparatively recent date; in the career of our race, and even venturing to assert that it was "pre-historic," - a term which the editor of this pamphlet explains to the unlearned by SIR E. BULWER LYTTON publishes a volume of observing, "that is to say, that it lived and moved poems pleasantly designed to reproduce, from Hel- and had its being before the art of writing was found lenic myths not treated by great poets of antiquity, out or printing brought into use"; by which unfornarratives that should represent what seems to have tunate arrangement of words the learned editor exbeen the lively dramatic character of the lost Mi- poses himself to an imputation of thinking that the lesian Tales. In his form of verse he attempts, with-invention of printing preceded the discovery of the out rhyme, several new combinations of rhythm, art of writing. As a man of science, Sir Edward Cust appears to have warmly supported the pre-his- | the like number of coiffeurs, and were immediately toric theory; whilst as a man of property he was no seated at a long narrow table, on which were placed less earnest in asserting that, since the bones were as many hand-mirrors as were necessary to meet the found on his land, they belonged to him as completely requirements of the moment. On the former occaand unquestionably as, at a date prior to their inter- sion the ladies and the "expositors" (as they were ment in his peat-bog, they had belonged to the per- then called) did not amount to twenty; and the son for whom nature provided them as the framework increase in the number can scarcely be regarded as of a mortal tabernacle. Resisting Sir Edward's presenting any increase of advantages, for the effect scientific arguments and territorial pretensions, the was less simple and concentrated; and to make the spirit which formerly animated the skeleton, taking comparative result still less imposing, a series of for his motto Hood's lines, handsome looking-glasses, which on the inaugural night decorated the table, were on this occasion dispensed with. The ladies, therefore, sat very denothing to look at but the white cloth which covered murely, with their eyes fixed on the table, and with it, and the boxes of hair-powder and head decorations with which the aspiring "dressers" (as they operator completed his task he was greeted with are now called) had provided themselves. As each applause, and he stood blushingly by the side of the fair damsel whose locks he had been manipulating and adorning. "It's very hard them kind of men exclaims against the violation of his discarded body's I was a sort of mate On board a little Bangor brig, We sometimes, when the wind was fair, And took in 'bacco, brandy, tea, Further the deponent observes:— "Was his, -as found upon his land, 'Tis just as though I'd been his hare,- One would have thought that he, instead "If these dry bones are my own bones, To hold my leg, without my will, To him I ne'er said, 'Take my arm To walk off with my feet." A humorous artist has assisted the humorous writer of this ridiculous trifle, which, in sprightliness and piquancy, excels the average of jocular squibs upon the ways and failings of scientific men. A SHORT time ago a soirée which had been given at the Hanover Square Rooms by a certain number of British hair-dressers excited some remark, and since that period an institution has been formed under the title of the British Hair-dressers' Academy, which is intended, however, to be open to all nations. The first soirée and the ball since the establishment of this academy took place at the Hanover Square Rooms on Tuesday evening, on which occasion similar arrangements were carried out to those at the former gathering. The object of the soirée was to afford the company an opportunity of witnessing the skill with which the practical coiffeurs of this country are capable of dressing the human hair in every variety of form; and, for this purpose, some forty ladies were led into the large room by In some instances the dressers had discharged their responsible duty in a brief space of time, while in many others they were not so rapid at their work; but no signs of impatience were for a moment exhibited; and when at length the last lingering "expositor" had finished his task, the chairman of the academy, Mr. Carter, requested that the ladies might be conducted twice round the table, in order that the spectators might see from all parts of the room what wonders had been wrought. This was a very interesting part of the exhibition; and, as it took place to an accompaniment of music ["Play me that gentle hair again"], it brought the hair-dressing part of the soirée to a very agreeable termination. Much satisfaction was expressed at many of the results produced. Each young man adopted a separate and distinct style of creating the effect he desired, so that there were no two heads of hair which, when they escaped from the hands of the decorator, presented the slightest similarity in appearance. The committee of the academy propose to have a general practice night once a week, and a club or general meeting on the following evening, where all novelties in the trade, whether in hairdressing, new ornaments, or inventions connected with false hair, perfumery, brushes, combs, in short, everything practically beneficial to the trade, will be exhibited and their merits discussed. They also hope that they may be enabled to engage "subjects" for each practice night, as they consider practising upon blocks to be worse than useless; and they operation of "dressing" will be systematically gone further propose a succession of soirées, when the through. They trust that by these various means they may realize a large return, to be placed in furtherance of their ultimate object, "a hairdressers' club-house of all nations." That the proposed benefits have long been wanted, they contend, is shown by the fact that England has lagged behind her French neighbors in not having an institution devoted to the elevation of this branch of art; and in order to achieve the "lofty aim" in view, the committee confidently appeal to the support of the employers and the employed. That they have made a successful commencement was amply proved by the exhibition of last night, and the ball which fol lowed the soirée showed that a spirit of friendship and good feeling, as well as of honorable rivalry prevails among the members of the Hair-dressers Academy. VOL. I.] A Journal of Choice Reading, SELECTED FROM FOREIGN CURRENT LITERATURE. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1866. [No. 8. He must be perfectly conscious that France looks not only with coldness, but with disfavor, on his Transatlantic policy. The idea of restoring the empire of Montezuma in the person of an archduke of the house of Hapsburg never took the slightest hold upon the popular imagination; while every one could see that French blood and French money were being lavished upon an object in which France was but very slightly interested. At the present moment all intelligent Frenchmen are perfectly aware that the expense of the expeditionary army in Mexico is the main cause of the unsatisfactory condition of their finances, and that its presence on American soil not only involves them in constant danger of collision with the United States, but cripples and hampers their action on many European questions in which they take a deep interest. A war with the United States for the protection of the throne of Maximilian would be so costly and so unpopular, that his Majesty must be anxious to avail himself of any decent mode of escape. He cannot, however, adopt the easy and obvious course of immediately recalling his army without incurring a different but almost equally serious danger. To do this under existing circumstances would amount to a confession of defeat. In the eyes of his own people, and of the whole world, it would be a palpable act of deference to the wishes, if not the commands, of the United States. Frenchmen would feel the tricolor dishonored; and both with them and with other nations the Emperor would suffer a damaging loss of that prestige which he has so laboriously built up, and which forms so large a part of his power and influence. This is a sacrifice which he cannot safely make; but it is not difficult to see that he is heartily tired of the whole business, and that he is sincerely desirous to wash his hands of it, if he can only do so with honor. THE speech of the Emperor Napoleon at the opening of the French Chambers, and the recently published despatches of Mr. Seward, place in a very clear light the position of the two governments in regard to the much-vexed Mexican question. His Majesty is, and evidently feels himself to be, in a position of great embarrassment. He has proceeded throughout on a series of miscalculations which are now telling upon him with cumulative force. When he originally embarked on the scheme of founding a Mexican empire, he relied confidently upon obtaining the co-operation of England and Spain, which, in truth, he intended to secure by something very like fraud. Unfortunately for him, but fortunately for themselves, those powers discovered in time the design which he concealed under an ostensible purpose of obtaining satisfaction for injuries In October last M. Drouyn de Lhuys frankly done to French subjects. They withdrew their stated that the Imperial government desired to forces and left him to proceed by himself. Still, withdraw their forces from Mexico; and that all the project appeared not only practicable, but easy they wanted was some assurance that, after they of execution. The United States were torn by a had retired, no other foreign power would intervene civil war which almost every one expected to end to impede the consolidation of the order of things in the independence of the South. Dependent as which they had tried to establish. The most effectEngland was supposed to be upon her cotton manu-ual way in which that assurance could be given, factures, it seemed scarcely within the range of possibility that she should not sooner or later be forced into intervention on behalf of the Confederate States. Both these anticipations were, however, disappointed, and the Emperor now finds himself compelled to face alone the anger and the power of the reunited Northern Republic. That would not be a light matter, if it were all. But it is not. was, in his opinion, the recognition of the Emperor Maximilian by the United States. If his Majesty's throne was not really founded on the assent of the people it would then fall; if, on the other hand, it had their support it would stand. In the former case the United States could not justly take exception to the existence of a government which, not being based on foreign bayonets, could involve no violation of the Monroe doctrine. In the latter the honor of France would not be concerned in defending a dynasty which she had no idea of forcing upon a reluctant nation. This offer seems to us a perfectly fair one, and we should have thought the United States well advised in accepting it. It is always a judicious course to build a bridge for a retiring enemy; to waive the appearance, in consideration of obtaining the substantial results of a victory. According to the professed belief of Mr. Seward and of all American writers and speakers, nothing is needed for the overthrow of Maximilian except that he should be left alone with his own subjects. Having gained this object, what more can they seek? An answer must be found in the nature and character of popular governments. Statesmen appreciate a triumph none the less because it is not immediately perceptible to the general observation. But the mass of mankind wish not only to conquer, but to be seen to conquer. So far from wishing to avoid the humiliation of an antagonist, they regard that humiliation as the invaluable proof of their success. If the President had met the Emperor of France half-way by acknowledging Maximilian, the end in view might have been gained; but it would have been gained without the direct and palpable intervention of the United States. There would have been solid advantage, but no momentary éclat in such a policy; and for that reason it would have been unacceptable to a nation which is desirous to signalize its restoration to unity and power by some marked rebuke to "the effete monarchies of the Old World," which are believed to be perpetually plotting the downfall and destruction of the best of all possible republics. But there is also another reason for their conduct. The United States are not now content to abide by the Monroe doctrine as it was originally promulgated. They not only object to the intervention of European powers in the domestic concerns of an American state, but they regard the establishing of monarchical institutions in any such state as "injurious and menacing to their own chosen and endeared republican institutions." It is true that in his despatch to Mr. Bigelow Mr. Seward expressly disclaims any intention of making a war of propagandism throughout the world, or even on the Western continent, in the republican cause. But he does not affect to conceal, nay, he expressly avows, that his main objection to leaving Maximilian's government to be dealt with by the Mexican people lies in the fact that it is not constructed according to the pattern approved in Washington or New York. that in Mexico by the French troops, but the downfall of the existing régime, there is certainly an amount of honesty in the refusal to facilitate the retreat of the Emperor Napoleon by anything which looks like a compromise. But he cannot fail to perceive the real meaning of that refusal. He must be perfectly aware- at all events, every one else isthe absence of the recognition asked for, the Mexican empire would have no chance of life, were the people ever so favorable to it. If the government of the United States persists in regarding Juarez as the real and legitimate ruler of the country, they would, of course, not think of preventing any one from going to his assistance. At present the fear of a collision between American citizens and the French troops compels them to maintain an attitude of neutrality. But the moment the tricolor is withdrawn, American sympathizers with the "Mexican Republic" would swarm across the frontier, and neither his native nor his foreign troops would long avail Maximilian against a horde of energetic AngloSaxons, commanded by some of the ablest officers trained in the late civil war. The work of the last three years would be overthrown in as many months, and that not by natives, but by foreigners. The enterprise to which the blood and treasure of France have been so long devoted would be rendered abortive by the powerful, although informal, intervention of another state. Although Napoleon may be arranging with the Emperor Maximilian "to fix the time for the recall of our troops in order that their return may be effected without compromising the French interests which we went to defend in that distant country,” neither sovereign can seriously think that such a step can be taken with safety merely because "the malecontents, dispersed and vanquished, have no chief." If the Mexican empire is to stand, the presence of a French army in the country for some time longer is absolutely requisite. But it is by no means clear that the United States will carry forbearance much further. It is evident that public opinion is becoming more and more excited on the subject, and it is understood that the President is himself no longer disposed to hold the nation in check. Any mail may bring to the Tuileries a categorical demand for the withdrawal of Marshal Bazaine and his army; and indeed, so far as we can judge from the recent despatches, such a demand is not likely to be much further delayed. If England, instead of France, had been in question, we have no doubt that it would have been made in no very polite terms long before this. There is, however, on the part of the people of the United States, a genuine dislike to a war with France, and upon that fact some persons rely for the ultimate adoption of a moderate and conciliatory policy. But it is unsafe to depend upon a sentimental feeling of this kind when motives and passions so powerful as those which are now at work prompt a people confident in their strength to grasp at a cherished object which seems within easy reach. The Emperor Napoleon will, we have little doubt, be driven to the wall, and the only question that remains is the probability of his turning again. As we have already said, there is a kind and degree of humiliation which he dares not endure, or ask France to share. But we have no doubt that if he finds the United States really determined to push matters to Entertaining such views, Mr. Johnson cannot consistently look with indifference upon the struggle between President Juarez and an Austrian archduke. Nor can we shut our eyes to the existence of other motives which render the statesmen and the people of the United States averse to the consolidation of the present Mexican government. They know as well as any one else that the Mexicans are utterly unsuited to republican institutions, and that a very small section of them care for anything that we understand by the word freedom. But they rely on the continuance of a state of chronic anarchy in the country, as the ultimate means of its annexation to the United States; and they are naturally, although selfishly, averse to any-extremity, he will studiously seek, and will probably thing which tends to frustrate their hopes. discover, some means of escaping without actua Seeking, as they do, not merely the evacuation of dishonor from a conflict in which victory would b Saturday worthless and defeat would be disaster. He knows | to make Youth the pander to this shameful nationtoo well the weakness of his position as an absolute monarch, not to shrink from a war which would inspire his own people, and even his army, with bitter disgust, while it would be supported by America with the patriotic ardor of a free, unanimous, and powerful nation. A BLUE-COAT BOY'S STORY. IN the Christmas number of Chambers's Journal I read a story of the Lotteries, which brings to my mind a curious personal experience of those old times; for I am an old man myself, and lived in them. Nothing which "Sir Joshua " is made to say in reprobation of the gambling and reckless spirit which the institution of state lotteries engendered among all classes too strongly describes the actual harm they effected. When such enormous prizes as forty thousand pounds were to be got, and the end of the Drawing came near, the town grew almost frantic with excitement. I dare say the business was managed fairly; but it was certainly strange how those enormous prizes did always remain until almost the very last, as though they had been in solid gold, and their very weight had kept them down in the wheel. I cannot cite a single instance of the chief prize being drawn during the first day. In 1798 the last drawn blank was entitled, by the conditions of the lottery, to twenty thousand pounds; and during the closing-day tickets could scarcely be got at any price, while even the night before they fetched one hundred and twenty guineas. Once only, thirty years before that, were tickets ever sold at less than the original price (thirteen pounds) paid for them to government. So thoroughly national had the passion for this sort of gambling long since become, that in 1769 it was held by the government to be a very bad sign of disaffection in the American colonists that they, who had been used to take no less than one eighth of the whole, declined to purchase any lotterytickets; and their refusal did unquestionably arise from their dislike to the mother country. Even pious folks were bitten by this spirit of gambling; and I remember a lady of great respectability and benevolence, whose husband had made her a present of a lottery-ticket, actually causing prayers to be offered up in a church at Holborn for her good luck. It is to be hoped that when the clergyman read out from his pulpit, "The petitions of this congregation are desired for the success of a person engaged in a new undertaking,”—which was the form of words he used, that he did not know what they were to pray for. al vice,-I had an acquaintance of the name of Thornhill who was. He was a nice-looking young fellow enough, but had not much brains, and what he had were almost turned by the notoriety of his appointment. He thought himself quite a great man because he had been chosen to draw in the lottery, and enjoyed the publicity of the situation immensely. It was no great task to put your hand in a wheel and bring out a number, which it was his part of the matter to do, though to bring out the prizes, which was the other boy's work, was exciting enough, since it commanded the deepest attention from all present, and evoked sometimes quite a tempest of feeling, but Thornhill thought otherwise, and magnified both his office and himself. It was said that I envied him, because he had obtained the situation (which had its little perquisites) instead of myself, but I did nothing of the kind; at all events, nobody envied him what came of it. He was returning home one afternoon at the close of his first day's Drawing, when he was accosted by a person of gentlemanly appearance, who informed him that he was a friend of his father's, and mentioned certain circumstances which induced the boy to believe that such was the case. As he also asked him to dinner, and gave him a very good one, I dare say he did not need much persuasion to credit the assertion; but anyhow, they soon got to be friends. Over their wine they began talking of the lottery, upon which poor Thornie, as we used to call him, was very eloquent, I have no doubt, and did not lack encouragement upon the part of his entertainer. "I suppose," said his host, "they look very sharp after you at that wheel, so that it would be impossible to take two tickets out at a time?" "Well, it would be difficult, but not impossible; and besides, what would be the good of it?" "Very true, my boy," said the gentleman. "No improper use could, of course, be made of it; but still I would very much like to see a lottery-ticket that is now in that great wheel, and before it is drawn. I will give you ten pounds if you will put such a one into my hand to-morrow evening, and I solemnly promise you shall have it back within twenty-four hours." "It would not be stealing?" returned Thornhill, hesitatingly, to whom ten pounds seemed a prize in itself. 66 Certainly not," replied the other, "for its absence cannot possibly hurt anybody, and you have only to put it back just as you pulled it out. will ever know anything about it except our two selves?" Who Delivered up, indeed, as people were to this evil spirit of speculation, they wished to secure themselves as much as possible from the consequences of their own folly; nothing, therefore, was more common than to insure a lottery-ticket, and there were a dozen offices of repute and respectability where this could be done. Out of this custom the curious circumstance arose which I have taken up my pen to tell. I dare say that even my younger readers are aware how the public drawing of lotteries was conducted; they have probably seen prints of the great Wheel of Fortune, and of the two Blue-coat boys, one of whom pulled out the numbers, and the other, at the other wheel, the corresponding blanks or prizes. I was Blue-coat boy at that time myself, and although I never was employed in this particu- notwithstanding that the smaller lotteries were entitled "little goes lar office, and a very shameful thing it surely was The next afternoon, having been persuaded by these arguments, and by the ten golden reasons which this liberal gentleman handed over to him, Thornhill pulled out from the wheel two tickets instead of one, and managed, unobserved, to place the second in his sleeve while the clerk was calling out the number of the other. The ticket secreted was 21,481,- as you may read in the Annual Register, for the thing became a public matter afterwards, and this he presented, according to agreement, to the friend of his father. This occurred on a Wednesday night, and on the ensuing evening he received it back again. This was the more singular, as at Oxford and Cambridge -the government would not allow any office for the sale of tickets to exist. |