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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 171, 22 April 1864, Page 3

Yankee Curiosity. —We are indebted to the Daily Telegraph for the following queer story : The Yankees consider themselves so uncommon ’cute that everybody rejoices when they find one sold. Rather an amusing instance of this occurred in one of the late trips of the Phoebe, from the North. A Yankee and an Englishman were berthed together in the same cabin. The Yankee's toilet apparatus was not particularly extensive, but the Englishman spread out upon the washstand several articles which with him were indispensable even upon a sea voyage, and among other things a tooth-brush. During the night the Yankee was restless and, apparently, not greatly inclined for sleep, and, after a time turned out, and, for want of a better occupation, amused himself by examining his companion’s toilet table. Taking up the tooth-brush, he turned it over and over, evidently in deep contemplation, probably uncertain as to its use. After a while, however, a light appeared to break in upon his comprehension, and with sudden energy, as if under the inspiration of a bright idea, he commenced using the brush upon his own teeth, evidently for the first time that such an operation had been performed. Not appearing, however, to relish the cleansing process which he had attempted, he replaced the brush with no small symptoms of disgust. His fellow-passenger, who, awoke by the restless movements of the Yankee, had watched the whole proceeding, determined to punish his inquisitiveness by a harmless joke. When morning arrived, ho got up and called the steward to bring him some hot water, and taking the aforesaid tooth-brush, with soap and hot water, commenced scrubbing a part of his person which we will not more minutely particularize. The Yankee observing this movement, said, “ Is tljat what that brush is for ? I thought it was a tooth-brush.” “ Oh, no,” says the Englishman, “ I use this brush for the purpose you perceive ; 1 have another for my teeth.” A countryman of the Yankee’s, who happened just to look in, and who afterwards heard the story, remarked that his friend’s face “was a caution to snakes.”

A Humane Waggon tor Bullocks. —The Jialhv.vst Times mentions having seen the other day a team of bullocks harnessed to a four-wheeled waggon, instead of the usual two-wheeled dray, an example in the choice of a vehicle to be drawn by bullock teams which for humanity’s sake, it is to be hoped will be generally followed until the present barbarous custom is superseded entirely. The burden borne by bullocks harnessed to the pole in the common dray must be harassing in the extreme, through the constant swaying of the load upon the axle, to say nothing of the shocking twists, chokmgs and dislocations which must be experienced at nearly every jerk of the dray as it passes over the holes and ruts which abound in our bush and main roads. The waggon was of ordinary size, and fitted with a pdlo instead of shafts, the weight of which alone rested on the bullocks’ necks, and it was of larger capacity than the common dray, though only eight bullocks were required to draw it. Pigs. —To show how exceedingly plentiful the wild pig is in Canterbury, Mr. Travers, in a lecture recently delivered in Christchurch on acclimatisation, stated that on one sheep run in that Province a person had contracted to kill 5000 in a few months, at 6d per head, and had succeeded in fulfilling his bargain.

Ouu Hair. —God covered the skull with hair. Some people shave it off. Mischievous practice. It exposes the brain. God covered a part of man’s face with hair. Some people shave it off. Mischievous practice. It exposes the throat and lungs—the eyes likewise say wise physiologists. Men become bald. Why ? Because they wear close hats and caps. Women are never bald except by disease. They do not wear close hats and caps. Men never lose a hair below where the hat touches the head, not if they have been bald twenty years. The close cap holds the heat and perspiration ; thereby the hair glands become weak, and the hair falls out. \\ hat will restore it? Nothing, if the scalp becomes shiny. But if in process of falling out, or recently lost, the following will bo best: —Wash the head freely with water once or twice a day. Wear a thoroughly ventilated hat. This is the best means to arrest the loss and restore what is susceptible of restoration. What will beautify a woman’s hair? Whatever will invigorate the glands ? Oil and most other applications debilitate the hair glands. Cold water is best. It first makes the head look like that of a witch, but after a few weeks it makes the hair luxuriant. By the persistent use of cold water I have seen thin, poor hair become rich and curly. Only the part of the hair next to the scalp should be wet. It must be thoroughly dried. —Dio Lewis, M.D.