VARIETIES.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 988, 25 August 1877, Page 3

VARIETIES.

A telephone will soon revolutionize domestic affairs, for the man, instead of blushingly telling his wife at the supper table that he will be detained at his office, can go down town and whisper through the the telephone that it is lodge night. Inteunationai, Fkuit Show.—We hear that an international Fruit Show is to be held at the Alexandra Palace this year on September 13th, 14th, and 15th, when prizes amounting to upwards of £350 will be offered for all kinds of fruit, vegetables, table decorations, and some cut flowers.—"Gardeners' Chronicle."

As a train was slowly crawling out of the Indianopolis the other day, an individual with terror depicted in every line of his countenance was seen running after it, making time that would not have disgraced the record of a lightning express. As he grasped the rail and drew himself on the steps, the look of terror still on his face, he coniined his secret to a stranger who stood on the platform. He had awarded the premiums at the baby's show that afternoon. BathiiNc; in Koumania.-—The Roumanian correspondent of "The Times" gives the following account of how he was bathed in Roumama: —"Asking for some means of washing off the dust and slime which had risen from the road and the water through a long, hot journey, I was told that the only bath I could have was a hot one, and, accepting joyfully, I was shown to one of a range of rooms with plunge baths in the corner. A .sturdy VVallachian damsel of twenty-live or so was the attendant. She spoke only a few words of German, just enough to know whether I would have soap and alle». Seeing that there was nothing to dry oneself with, I consented to have alles, though with some misgiving as to the ultimate result, She told me to get into tin-, bath and ring when I was ready for .somebody to come to me. 1 rang accordingly, when .she lierself appeared with soap and towels, bare feet, ami bare mighty arms. With some difficulty I succeeded in eliciting the fact that the large piece of flannel she held in her hand was intended to be used in cleaning nie thoroughly, and used by herself. The offer was made in perfect simplicity ; there was not a touch of coquetry about her, and her baby outside was calling to her. In pursuit of her legitimate business, with the brawny arms which gained food for her child, perhaps for a lazy husbandshc proposed to wash me thoroughly, as she would have washed a child or a groom would clean a horse. To prevent oneself from laughing a little was impossible as she stood there with her broad, honest face and gigantic limbs, hut tlie laughter was at myself, not at her. There we were, the exact counterpart of a drawing I remember having seen in StruttV. Antiquities, only ui the sketch of old English manners it is a lady avlio sits in the bath and an armed knight who stands or sits and talks to her quietly" There is noj-eason to lind fault with these people ; they are just a* good as we are, only in.a different stage of civilisation."

A pair of deaf mutes were married three weeks ago, and now it is more fun than a circus to see them quarrel and make faces at each other with their ringers. Rather Hard on Chicago.—The sale of Bibles in Chicago is said to be three times as great as it was a year ago. Mr Moody drew attention to the work and they think it is a n-w book.—" New York Herald." The Archbishop of Quito, who was said to have been poisoned by the admixture of strychnine with the sacramental wine, is now said to have died, not from poison, but from i effusion on the brain. Half the fools in the United States think they can beat the doctors at curing the sick ; two-thirds of them are sure they can beat the ministers preaching the gospel; and all of them know they can beat the editors running the papers. —" Rome Sentinel." Bassompiere, French Ambassador to Spain, was telling Henry IV. how he entered Madrid. •' I was mounted on the very smallest mule in the world," said the ambassador. " Ah," said the King, "what a very amusing sight to see the very biggest ass mounted on the smallest mule." "Iwas your Majesty's representative," was the rejoinder. Hood on CoußTsniP. —Hood, inhisWisita of the ludicrous side life," says, in reference to courtships : —We like short courtships, and in this Adam acted sensibly—he fell asleep a bachelor and awoke to find himself a married man. He appears to have popped the question almost immediately after meeting Mademoiselle Eve, and she, without any flirtation or shyness, gave him a kiss and herself. Of that first kiss in this world we have had, however, ourown thoughts ; and sometimes, in a poetical mood, have wished we were the man " wot did it." But the deed is done —the chance was Adam's and he improved it. We like the notion of getting married in a garden. It. is in good taste. We like a private wedding. Adam's was strictly private. ]Vo envious beaux were there ; no croakiag old maids ; no chattering aunts, or grumbling grandmothers. The birds of Heaven were the minstrels; and the glad sky flung its light upon the scene. One thing about the first wedding brings queer ideas to us in spite of its Scriptural truth. Adam and his wife were rather young to be married (some two or three days old, according to the sagest speculations of theologians), mere babies —larger but not older—without experience, without a house, without a pot or kettle, with nothing—but love and Eden.