MISCELLANEOUS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 703, 8 October 1875, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

“ If one half of the girls only knew the previous life of the men they marry, the list of us old maids would he wonderfully increased,” was the remark of a prudish spinster to her neighbor, who, being equal to the occasion, responded thus—“ But if the men knew what their future lives were "to he, wouldn’t it increase the list of old maids still further ?” Grasshoppers are the latest culinary delicacy in the United States. Our transatlantic cousins, with their usual practical turn of mind, are endeavoring to turn to a good account those grasshopper plagues by which they are so often visited by utilizing the injects as food. A “ grasshopper dinner ” was recently held in Missouri, where the menu consisted of “ grasshopper soup,” said to resemble chicken soup, with a delicate mushroom flavor, “ batter and locust cakes,” “ baked locusts ” —plain hoppers without any condiment—and a Scriptural dessert of “baked locusts and honey.” Grasshoppers are accordingly now classed by the enthusiastic eaters with oysters, truffles, mushrooms, and other luxuries. Native journalism is rapidly on the increase in China. A newspaper has now been started at Foochow, and though the news is certainly not new, and the sheet small, it appears likely to prove interesting ns affording some insight into Chinese life, and displaying the thoughts of the Celestials on the doings of the world in general ■and of the “ Foreign Devils ” in particular. A singular bargain was made by a dramatic author during the siege of Paris. M. Gondinet, a well-known play writer, belonged to the National Guard, and in common with his comrades received a wretched old percussion gun of the model of 184fl. Disgusted with his weapon, he was endeavoring to purchase another when he met a friend armed with a splendid Chassepot. After a good deal of haggling, M. Gondinet ■exchanged his musket for the Chassepot, his friend consenting on condition that throughout his life he should he entitled to a stall at every first representation of M. Gondinet’s pieces. A hidden treasure has been found at Buckingham Palace. While pulling down a wall some workmen discovered a quantity of gold and silver plate of the time of George 111, and which had evidently been purposely concealed. The plate is said to ho worth several thousand pounds. Recently the steam ship “ Marcasite,” ■of Sunderland, was towed into Falmouth Harbor, with her captain, her second engineer, and two of her firemen lying dead on board. They had been killed on the Friday previous by the explosion of the boiler. As a fisherman was netting for salmon on the Lunc, at Lancaster, he brought to land the body of his own daughter, a child whom he thought was playing about, but who had fallen into the river and been drowned. A curious application was made the other day at a London Police Court. A man atated that some time ago ho had married a young lady, who had ever since neglected her duties towards him. > '■ Mrs Mina Jury, who says that tho Government owe her LI, for her evidence in the Tiohborne case, has been sent to prison for three months for stealing a pair of eyeglasses.