MISCELLANEA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 227, 17 March 1874, Page 7

MISCELLANEA.

There are many individuals who deem it no harm to speak slightingly of women. According to their idea, it is quite meet that the strong should assail the weak. One of those robbers of reputation received a severe rebuke on a recent occasion. At a dinner at which no ladies were present, this man, in responding to the toast “Woman,” dwelt almost solely on the frailty of the, sex, exclaiming that the best amongst thorn were little better than the worst, tiie chief difference being their surroundings. At the conclusion of the speech, a gentleman present rose to his feet and said, “ I trust the gentleman, ill his application of his remarks, refers to his own mother and sisters, not to ours.” Th.e effect of this just and timely rebuke was overwhelming, and the maligner of women was covered with confusion, and shame.

The Queen is credited with saying one of her “ good things” in connection with Sir Charles Dilke’s recent utterances. “Ido not,” she is reported to have said, smilingly, “ I do not understand why lie dislikes ns so. His father’s feelings were so very different, I have had Sir Charles on my knee when he was a child, and 1 have stroked his hair. I suppose I must have stroked, it the wrong way.” Those who have met the Republican baronet in Australia or in this Colony will appreciate the crispness of the Royal epigram. Some months ago it was mentioned that Mr Piesse, of the well-known lirm of Piesse and Lubin, perfumery factors, Loudon, had arrived in the Colony, his object being to ascertain its capabilities for flower farming and to afford information on the subject. The Cross states that so well satisfied is Mr Piesse that flowers can be reared in sufficient abundance in Auckland that he proposes returning, probably in the course of the nexttwo or three years, with the view of establishing the necessary works for the extraction of the odours of plants and other substances which may be found suitable for perfumery purposes. Life ix 'Brazil. young Brazilian and his wife riding towards Porquihas wore attacked by a savage dog, which rushed at them from a house. The lady’s mule becoming frightened, it threw her, anchshc fell on her head with such a force that her skull crashed like a nutshell. The unhappy husband drew a pistol, and killed the clog. The owner of the dog, infuriated at Iris loss, seized a gun and shot the young man dead ; but was immediately slain by a ball from the young man’s peon, who had witnessed the catas tropho, and thus avenged his master’s death. The peon was tried for murder, but the jury acquitted him.