TRANSATLANTIC CLIPPINGS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 518, 22 March 1872, Page 1 (Supplement)

TRANSATLANTIC CLIPPINGS.

—o — A matrimonial lottery has been projected and advertised at Racine, Wisconsin. Five young inch aVe to bo chosen for their extreme physical beauty, moral habits, and superior intellect as the prize?. ; The price of the tickets is to be two dollars each, ami noi less than 50,000 are to be issued. The proceeds will be equally divided amongst the five prizes, about 4-0001. being thus allotted to each. The machinery for drawing the prizes consists simply ol two drums—one containing 50,001) tickets, and the other the cartes de visite of the young gentlemen. A number and a photograph will be simultaneously drawn out of Ihe drums, and the original of the portrait adjudged to the owner of the number. The young men are protected from being won by an undesirable partner by the.following regulations :—No tickets will be sold to women who have had two husbands, to girls under sixteen or over thirty, to too dusky brunettes, and lastly, and most imperatively, to holders of opinions favorable to “ women’s rights.”—Thu last new profession la dies have adopted across, the Atlantic is short hand reporting. A Mrs. H. A. Johnston, who is said to be one of the most rapid and accurate reporters in America, has put up for the candi dature of the engrossing clerkship of the Assembly, aud has a very fair chance of election—ln addition to various other manly attributes, ladies have now taken to “ interviewing, ’’ aud there seems to be something very inhuman and revolting m the conduct cf the female denizens of Delphi, Indiana, who during the last two hours of a condemned -murderer, poured in upon him to ‘the number of two hundred “ Nearly every one of those visitors,” remarks the Detroit Free Press, “ gave the murderer a farewell kiss, and said they were sorry for him.” It is added that this exhibition of sympathy somewhat consoled the doomed man.—Husband selling.has also been inaugurated in Adair County by a Mrs. Alexander, who recently offered to “ swap ” her better half for a sewing machine.

A most singular case of mistaken identity is going on at Santa Clara, California, which on the principle of “ truth is stranger than fiction” would afford ample materials for a highly sensational and seemingly improbable novel. A certain Mr. Charles Sikes fell in love with a young lady, Miss II Burnett, who fully returned his affection. The lady’s relations, however objected to the match, and forbade young Sikes to see or speak with the girl. Nevertheless the lovers contrived to meet clandestinely, and one line day appeared at the law office of a Mr. Stephens, who knew the lady from infancy, and were legally married The face of the marriage soon reached the ears of Miss Burnett’s parents, but on being questioned she stmitly denied the accusation andseemed greatly surprised at the intimation. Sikes, on the other hand,''declared, that she was his wife, but although confronted with her assorted husband and Mr. Stephens, the young lady persisted in her denial, and still maintains that she never had more than a passing acquaintance with the young man, chat the whole thing was a fraud, and that some woman had been procured to personate her. The parents believe the girl, the public for the most part sympathise with Sikes, thinking that her fears have been wrought upon until she dare not own the truth. The story is all the more remarkable from everybody concerned in it being highly respected in the city. California is too often looked upon as a sort of Tom Tiddler’s ground—a rocky region intersected with streams, where gold and silver are to bo had by dint of digging hard and enduring innumerable hardships. The agricultural virtues of the State arc overlooked, and it is little known that it is one of the most productive countries in the world. As an example .-there is an orchard near Yulia city which consists of 400 acres, and contains in a nursery, occupying a portion of this area 25,000 one-year-old peach trees,

10.000 plum fives, 0,000 Eastern > walnuts, 25,000 California walnuts, 2.000 apple trees, and 500 Italian 1 chesnut trees. Tlio Orel.aid proper has GOO two-year-bid peach trebs, some of which bore the past season as much as 150 pounds of peaches ; then' cherry trees, of fifteen different varieties, then 2,500 plum tre c s, and 500 apple trees. There arc be ides, 2,200 apricot trees,!’which have borne a good crop this season. The Americans honestly avow themselves to be thoroughly and heartily ashamed of the recent massacre of Chinese at Los Angelos, and John Chinaman runs a good chance of suddenly becoming popular. All the more so from the generosity of the Chinese merchants in San Erancisco, who warmly responded to the appeal of the Chicago Relief Committee, one intelligent Celestial replying characteristically : —“ Me leadco in Alta Melican man town ail same hap gone —buruee up, Melican man wontee dollas , some time-poor Melican man strikee Chinaman with blocks ; Chinaman no care. Alice people Chicago loosee everything—-wifee and children burnt out. Chinaman say allee same my cbnntree people want help. How muchee dollas you wantee 1 Hundied dollal Allee right; you not find : enough money commee me again, give another hundred” The Lamps of tin

various cities are driving a great trade in Chicago relic?, which are as anxiously sought after as broken bits of crockery or glass at St. Cloud, although it is pretty evident that anyone can manufacture cart'oads o*’ such rubbish in a few hours. In one respect the Americans are somewhat like the Parisians—they are always ready to make fun out of their greatest calamities. The French laughed and joked about the Comaum’, and the Americans are cracking mild squibs over the Chicago tire. Here is a sample :\n lowan heard of the destruction of the Chicago water works, and, not being very well posted geographically, purchased a cask, filled it with water, and took it to Chicago at great trouble aud expense.