Amusing and Instructive.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 361, 26 March 1866, Page 1

Amusing and Instructive.

Beeab anb Buttee at Oxfoeb.— A “ London Incumbent” writes to a contemporary;—Some fifteen years ago signs of disaffection were apparent at Oxford on the question of the bread and butter tax. The revolutionists were not well organised, and we were crushed in derail. May I relate my own experience? I had just got out of College into lodgings, and I began at once to buy xny own bread and butter. In a few days the Head of the College sent for me:—“ Mr ■, I find that you are not taking out your breakfast commons.” “ No, sir ; it is more convenient to me to buy it.” “ But,- Mr , the college does not know that you are in residence if you do not take commons." “lam in chapel every morning, eir." “Yes, Mr ——, but residence must be shown on the Buttery books.” “I am in hall every day, sir, and I take out beer from the Buttery.” “Just so, Mr ; but, in fact, a large part of the college butler’s income arises from a commission on the bread and butter, and you must take out your commons.” I bowed and retired —beaten. New Mineral. —A new mineral of lead has been discovered in Chili, containing ten per cent, of iodine. lodine has lately become very valuable, on account of its extensive use in photography, and of the discovery by Dr Hoffman of a new dye, having this element among its constituents. It is said that one cargo of the new mineral will represent a fortune. As a further illustration of the progress that mining adventure is making in South America, a mine of bismuth ore has recently been opened in Bolvia, about two-thirds up the highest of all the peaks of the Andes—the Iljampu Mountain. Bismuth also has lately increased in value, and 15,000 feet above the level of the ocean, only slightly beneath the line of perpetual snow, men are setting to work to obtain it. A Stoet of the Confession - . — A young man, who. for his sins, was about being married, presented himself for confession. As he appeared rather embarrassed how he should proceed to enumerate his errors—“ Come,” said the good Abbe G., kindly, “do you ever tell falsehoods ?” “ Father, I am not a lawyer,” proudly replied the penitent. “Did you ever steal?” “Father, I am not a merchant I” “You have not committed murder ?” “ Sir, lam a doctor,” conscientiously replied the young penitent, casting down his eyes. —American Paper, The election of a new Lord Provost of Edinhas just taken place, when Mr William Chambers, head of the well-known publishing firm, was elected. A model speech, for brevity, .was that of the St. Salvador Minister, in the Guildhall, lately. In good English, though with a strong Spanish accent, he said, “My Lord Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, God save the Queen.” A National Society is about to be formed for the encouragement of Athletic Exercises in England. £I,OOO a-year is to be subscribed for distribution in prizes. Too Bab. —An elderly gentleman travelling in a stage-coach, was amused by the constant fire of words kept up between two ladies. One of them at last kindly inquired if their conversation did not make his head ache, when he answered, with a great deal of naivete. “No, madame, I have been married twenty-eight years.” It is rumoured that an English whist-player has challenged the French whist players to play 100 rubbers at £IOO a rubber, and £SOOO extra on the greatest number of rubbers. It is stated in the Lancet that M. Bitot has proposed perchloride of iron as a cure for cancer. The French savant considers that this salt is a specific remedy, and that its action is somewhat similar to that of iodine in cases of scrofula. An Italian delegation has presented to President Johnson a petition, signed by Garibaldi and 361 other Italians of distinction, all residents in Italy, urging him to abolish capital punishment in the United States, and to begin by pardoning Jefferson Pavia.