MISCELLANEA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 224, 24 February 1874, Page 7

MISCELLANEA.

A Michigan,clergyman wrote to a lottery agent—" I do not approve of lotteries ; I regard them as no better than gambling schemes. • My son bought ticket No. 6 in your drawing ; but, if it draws anything, don't send the money to him. Send it to me." . This is the w; yan Editor gets rid of persevering " feminines" :—" We gently and as it were unconsciously pushed a paper weight towards the end of the table where she sat. It attracted her attention directly. She looked at it, took it up, looked more earnestly, and then, laying it gently down, she calmly rose, gathered her ample skirts about her, and straightway took her leave, not even saving good-bye. Certainly nothing was farther from our intention than to give offence. We merely wished to attract her attention to the paper-weight as a work of art. We regard it as a fine work of art, and value it solely for that reason ; but the effect it has on some visitors is remarkable and inexplicable. It is a small slab of crystal, through which may be seen a sketch representing a skeleton, surrounded by this legend : ' This unfortunate Editor was talked to death.'" An American Editor, on assuming the chair, has issued the following very characteristic notice :—" Sensational, distressing details of revolting murders and shocking suicides respectfully solicited. Bible-class presentations and ministerial-donation parties

will be ' done' with, promptness and despatch. Keno banks and their operation made a speciality. Accurate reports of Sundayschool anniversaries guaranteed. The local Editor will chcrfully walk seventeen miles after Sunday school to see and report a prizefight Funerals and all other melancholy occasions written up in a manner to challenge admiration. Horse-races reported in the highest style of the reportorial art. Domestic broils and conjugal felicities are sought for with untiring avidity. Police-court proceedings and sermons reported in a manner w.'ll calculated to astonish the prisoner, magistrate, and preacher."

A new style of steam printing press, of the fast kind, especially intended for daily newspapers, has just been perfected and put in operation in London, by Messrs Hoe and Co., the. well-known press makers of NewYork city. The new press is designed for the use of the London Daily Teler/raph, a two cent paper, said to have the largest circulation of any daily newspaper in the world. The improved machine,.on a recent trial at Lloyd's paper mill, Bow, actually printed and delivered, in even piles, twenty-two thousand copies.of Lloyd's JVx'dy— a large sheet —in sixty minutes, with the attendance of two men and a boy. The sheets are delivered printed on both sides, and the number of newspaper impressions when the sueet is cut apart by the machine, is forty-four thousand per hour. The machine is built on the rotary plan like the Bullock, Walter, and oilier presses, and is said to yield superior printing. The cost of each press is £17,500. The Telegraph is to be supplied with ten of them, and thus will have the means of printing 220,000 copies of the paper in sixty minutes! Somewhat later, (says a writer, commenting on old styles of advertising,) in 1722, ladies used to indulge in boxing matches, and challenge each other to fight for so much a side. Here is an advertisement illustrating this custom:—"Challenge.—l, Elizabeth Wilkinson, of Clerkenwell, having had some words with Hannah Hyfield, and requiring satisfaction, do invite her to meet me upon the stage, and box me for three guineas; each woman holding half-a-crown "in each hand, and the first woman that drops the money to lose the battle."—"Answer.—I Hannah Hyfield, of Newgate Market, hearing of the resoluteness of Elizabeth Wilkinson," will not fail, God willing, to give her more blows than words, desiring home blows, and from her no favour ; she may expect a good thumping !" Lest the halfcrown in the hands should puzzle anyone, I will give the explanation of this custom. It was a beautiful contrivance to prevent scratching, and might even in the present day be adopted in some cases with advantage.

Instances of the ups and downs of Colonial life have frequently been recited (says a Melbourne paper), but it is something new to hear of a notorious criminal suddenly becoming immensely rich. Such is said to be the fate of Joe Finigan, who, after graduating for several years within the walls of Pentridge, has just gone Home to take possession of a whole street of valuable properties in the city of Dublin bequeathed to him by his father. Finigan, during, his Colonial career, made the acquaintance of nearly every detective in the Victorian force, and was particularly well known as a notorious burglar to the members of the Geelong and Melbourne police force. lie was not an associate of thieves, but always did business on his own account, and was.a thorough export in all the branches, from the robbing of a bank to the " era eking" of a jeweller's shop. Ten or twelve years ago he escaped from Pentridge in a most amusing way. The Governor's wife had a peculiar waddling gait when she walked abroad. This Finigan practised till he considered himself perfect, and then early one Sunday momintr, having; gained access to the Governor's residence, he disguised himself in the dress usually worn by the lady referred to, and with the aid of a thick veil and parasol "waddled" out of Pentridge and made himself scarce. Flo was only captured acrain after having committed an extensive burglary, and in after years he was in the habit of relating with great gusto the story of his escape. Recently he Raid a visit to Geelong to bid adieu to some of his intimate friends before going to inherit his princely fortune and to mix with the elite of Dublin.