ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 762, 24 November 1876, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

—p — A British shark in the Brighton Aquarium has given birth to oleveujyoung ones —the lirst instahce'of a British shark breeding in Confinement. Both mother and children are doing well. A speaking monkey from Brazil is to bo one of tho distinguished visitors to the Paris Exhibition in 1878. This animal was found in tho arms of its mother, who had been mortally wounded in a.fight with a polecat, by a M. Coulombart while shooting on tho banks of the Amazon. Little Jean Lerousso —for so he is named—was given over to the charge of a negress, who was addicted to the use of the word “carramba.” The monkey was noticed to have caught the first syllable ot the word, and by dint of proper teaching has been taught to say, “ Papa,” “Mama,” “ Maranon,” “Brazil’ Has the “ missing link ” at last been discovered ?

Servants’ wages have suffered from the had state ot financial matters across the Atlantic. Thus injNcw York women cooks have been reduced from L 4 a month to L 3.; chambermaids from L2 10s to L2. Nursegirls can be now obtained for a monthly wage of LI 45., while coachmen are reduced from LS to L4.—just one half. A highly select Club has been started inLondon, if wo are to believe the San Francisco News Letter. K it is known as the “ Gaf ” Club—to be translated as the “ Gen tlomanly American Forgers ” —aniFowes'its existence to the abrogation of tho Extradition Treaty. Winslow is the President, and “ Boss ” Tweed holds a prominent position, while the list of rich members is specially large. Cremation has crossed the Atlantic, and the body of a cotton planter in South Carolina has been publicly burnt. The deceased had threatened his sons with disinheritance it they failed to carry out his wishes, and had even chosen the spot for the ceremony. Americans, however, have little respect for that grim tyrant Death. The latest fashionable name for coffins is “ Wooden Ulsters,” while one New York journal,"anxious to increase its circulation, offers to its subscribers of three years a prize of an elegant coffin at their death. Japan is suffering from a phlethora of rabbits, and the Government has been obliged to tax them to reduce the number. The Japanese make great pets of these animals, andinYetldo every house possesses several rabbits, which are carefully groomed and adorned with ribbon like the lapdog of an European lady. All the petting in the world, however, will not conquer the creatures’ roving propensities, and they escape from their homes and overrun tho fields, doing immense damage to the farmers. Tho rabbit is said to have been unknown in Japan until the arrival of Europeans. A sailor, being sent to Lewes Naval Prison for desertion, hanged himself, fearing that his sweetheart would discard him. His sweetheart had sent him an affectionate little note saying that she would not desert him, but, according to the rules, no prisoner is allowed to see a letter till he has been in prison three days. This seems to us a stupid and cruel regulation. It is just when a prisoner is first locked up that he wants comfort, and the Governor could always withold any improper letters. It is sometimes rather a nice point to decide when an action becomes criminal. A teadoaler’s assistant, whoso employers doubted bis honesty, received half-a-orown from a customer, and passed tho till without putting the money in. Hereupon a porter who had been watching him came forward and charged him with robbery. The Counsel for the defence alleged that the pcoused had committed neither larceny nor embezzlement, and that ho had not had time allowed him to put the money into the till, of which there were several in the shop. The magistrate decided to leave the case to a jury. It seems that refusing to give up your ticket is the only railway offence for which no penalty is provided. A German gentleman the other day refused to give up his ticket because the train was late, and he wanted the ticket as evidence when he brought an action against the company. The magistrate said he was altogether in the wrong, and being unable to fine him, made him pay the costs of the summons. A boy aged eleven, bas been sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment and “even strokes of a birch rod for throwing stones at a train on the Midland railway. The India Office wishes it to be known that there is no pretence for any begging by Asiatics in this country, and that, if need be, such as are in want will willingly be received at the Limebouse Home and thence sent back to India. This is apropos of one Murad Mahomed, a young Indian, who excited pity by his ragged and miserable condition, but on being sent to Hie Homo refused to go in, ran away, and resumed his mendicant habits. The managers of the Redpath Lyceum Bureau have again written to Mr Spurgeon, inviting him to visit America on a lecturing tour, and offering him 1,000 dollars a lecture besides all expenses.. Mr Spurgeon has, however, replied that he is not a lecturer, and will not receive money for preaching. A brutal butcher, residing in Cloth Fair, City, has boon sentenced to a month’s hard labor for torturing a cat by cutting its tail off and then throwing it out ot tho window. Tho wretch pleaded that he was drunk at tlio time ; but the Magistrate very properly rctusfed to admit such an excuse, and declined to give him the option of a fins. Sir Wilfrid LaWson will doubtless be surprised to learn that drunkenness is a trade —at least such was the assertion of an habitual dipsomaniac well known to the police who recently was found dead drunk in the streets. When asked whpt he had to Bay to the charge he replied, “ It’s quite right. I was as drunk as drink could make me. I will not deny it. 1 wish I had a drop now. I’m a drunkard by trade,” It would have

boclv interesting to hay) learnt whether this trade mean found Ins calling a profitable one; but bis colloquy was cut short by the magistrate, who fined him 10s or seven days, and advised him to aockjanother profession.