MISCELLANEOUS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 632, 29 May 1874, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

A#icw style of boys’ trousers has been invented in America, with a copper seat, sheet-iron knees, riveted down the seams, and water-proof pockets to hold broken eggs. A painton being asked to estimatj the cost of painting a certain house, drew forth pons and paper, and ma le the following calculation:—“A nought is a nought; three into five twice you can’t; I’ll paint your house for fifty dollars ” An organist in a church lately comnlimonted a successful candidate at the election by playing ‘ c See the conquering hero” just as the new member was leaving tne edifice—a less equivocal compliment than that paid to a country squire, for whom the service would sometimes be deferred for a brief period, the clergyman beginning “‘When the wicked man.” being interrupted by fc’o clerk with wait a moment, he has not come yet !” It is thought a great merit to take tilings as they come without mumming, but parting with things as they go is often a great deal harder. “ Small thanks to you, sir.” said a plaintiff to one of h ; s witnesses, “ for what you have said in the cause.” “Ah, sir,” said the witness, “ but just think what 1 didn’t say. "’ If ever there was a g'vil excuse for nit getting out a paper in time, it is that offered by the Panama Star aid Herald. The editor says .that the Government troops were keeping up a continuous (ho on the do or of his sitting-room, ami half a dozen shots did not vary three feet in striking. “To this annoyance,” lie says, “we irrrt ;tlril vie mi /Vr y in getting out this edition, for it is difficult fo persuade men to work under a steady lire ” \ olpcipedos are becoming an institution in Paris for forwarding messages from tl c Exchange (Bourse) to the central telegraph ef.lce, Bue.de Crenelle. The raUs charged by “ vcloce in'u ” are 25.. Tim. run tin re and back, including delivery of message?, takes about twenty -five minute? for a distance of three mile? 1302 yards. It is contemplated by some speculators to e-tcblidi a public company. When Marshal Bazaine’s trial was going on, velocipedes were used for conveying messages from Versailles for the Moniteur, one of the Parisian papers. The single run was charged 1/., and was accomplishedia forty-five minutes fora distance of twelve and a half miles, at a quicker rate than the railway trams. But the road descends all the way, Versailles being on a higher level than Paris, and the railway is circuitous ; stoppages arc rdso very frequent on the lino. The foolish manner in which some people hold out a premium 'to 'thieves by traversing the streets of Melbourne at night v ith large sums of money in their possess'* >n, was brought under the notice of the police at about midnight oi the 6th last ;nt, and I but for the judicious conduct of a member of the force, a large robbery from the person would probably have been reported by this time. At about the hour named Se-nior-cons table Ryan noticed a man in an oyster-saloon in Lonsdale street, and made a remark as to thu expression of his countenance to the laMonkeeper. Hie man come tut and asked the constable to have “ a bcttlc of champagne, or something of that sort.”- On Ryan declining, the man said, “ Don’t suppose I can’t pay for it. -Vow, how much money do you suppose I’ve got on me V Thu constable confessed that he was no medium. *■ Why,” said the man, “ l‘ve got 1,400/. in ray pocket.” Ryan toi.k him to a respectable hotel, where, in presence of the landlord, the. man drew forth a heavy canvas Jjliac fall of sovereigns, which caused an exclamation, “Hold on,” cried the man of money, “ That’s ant all. Look here !” Ami diving into the folds of hi? raiment, he drew out a huge roll of Lank notes. 'The senior constable and the landlord then took the man to his lodgings, and gave him into the charge of the lodging-hoaso-kea SciKSCE and AKT.— A striking instance of the immense value a small piece of stco! may acquire ;by the groat power of skilled mechanical labor is the balance spring of a watch. From its extreme fineness and delicacy four thousand weigh not more _th.au one ounce, and exceed in value £I,OOO. , A most interesting little work, describing tiic rise and progress oi watchmaking, has been published by J. W. Benson, of 23, Old Bond-street, and the City, Steam Factory, 38 and fid. Tunicate hill, London. The book, which is profusely illustrated, gives a full description of the various kinds of watches and clocks, with their prices. Mr. Benson, who holds the appointment to th.o Prince of Wales, has also published a pamphlet on Artistic Gold Jewellery, illustrated with beautiful designs of Bracelets, Broaches, Ear-rings, Lockets, &c., suitable for wedding,birthday and other presents. Illustrated catalogues sent post free fe'r two stamps each, and they cannot he too strongly recommended to those c nitomplating a purchase, especially to residents in the country or abroad, who are thus enabled .to select any article they may require, and have it forwarded with perfect safety.