Gleanings.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 680, 6 February 1894, Page 7

Gleanings.

At Canford Manor, in Dorsetshire, the residence of Lord Wimborne, there is a garden devoted exclusively to holly, and it is amusing to see how many varieties of this beautiful shrub exist. ****** Collectors of stamps who go in for perfectly complete collections have a busy time before them. It seems that including post cards, the number of new varities issued within the last few years amounts to many thousands. ****** Between England and America there actually existed 200 years ago what now is little more than the dream of the postal reformer—an ocean penny postage. Yet such is the fact. In 1698 it was the custom of the masters of ships bound for America to hang up bags in coffee houses, and any letters that might be dropped into these bags they carried, and w re glad to carry, over for Id or 2d a letter, according as it was a single or a double one. ****** A Russian physician has been making some curious experiments to find out how far animals can count. He declares that the crow can count up to ten and is hereby superior in arithmetic to certain Polynesian tribes of men, who cannot get beyond five or six. ****** A remarkable discovery has been made by Professor Emmerioh. He finds that the blood of an animal which has recovered from an infectious disease can cure another animal suffering from the same disease, and the discovery is likely to prove of the greatest importance.

***☆<* The Smock Frock.

The traditional smock frock, once dear to shepherds, carters, and drovers, is reported to be rapidly disappearing. Mr Bentall, an Essex archaeologist, has been struck by its elaborate needlework ornamentation, and the close resemblance of its designs to those of the tunicles worn by the deacon and subdeacon in our churches in Catholic times. This he endeavours to explain by supposing that when, at the Reformation, economical churchwardens sold the cast off vestments of the clergy, they came into the hands of the peasantry, who copied the tunicle, with some modification of form to suit their special requirements.

****** Hairbreadth Escapes.

General Hamley, who was always reticent as to his own services and gallantry, had more hairbreadth escapes than he mentions in ‘ The Story.’ At the Alma his horse was struck by a cannon shot; almost by a unique exception the animal recovered the shock. At Inkerman his horse, after being hit by a musket ball, was killed by a cannon shot passing clean through him, which threw him on the rider. The sergeant who disengaged him had his leg carried off as Hemley was leaning on his shoulder, and then a second shot passed through the prostrate horse. Immediately afterwards, limping on foot along the ridge which Kinglake calls the Kitspur, he found himself almost surrounded by a large Russian force, before which our men, having exhausted their ammunition, were retiring out of the Sandbag Battery. Being crippled by the recent accident, he gave himself up for lost; but after a vain attempt with Lord Balgonie of the Guards to rally some of our people he succeeded with difficulty in eluding the enemy. He only regained our positions by catching in succession two masterless French horses, both of which were wounded, and the first fell under him. He pulled off his military cloak when the day was over, to find it riddled with bullet holes. He had a still more providential escape one day when accompanying Sir Richard Dacres

on a visit to the trenches. Their guide led them down a wrong turning, and as they retraced their steps a shell exploded in the very spot they would otherwise have occupied. * * * -V * *

Apples for Horses.

One evening in New York the driver of a street car, with a heavy load of passengers, stopped his horses just before reaching Grand street, hitched the reins tight, ran over to a fruit stand and bought a couple rosy apples. Returning to bis horses, he gave each of them an apple, which they munched with great apparent relish. Then jumping on the platform he shook the reins loose, and the horses started off in a way that made the standing passengers grip the straps. To a passenger on the front platform the driver said that as a matter of fact and not sentiment, one apple was worth more than all the whips in New York in getting satisfactory work from the horses. ‘ I never use a whip on a horse,’ he said, * I drive six horses a day, and give each one an apple, and they seem to look forward to the treat. The scheme cures balky and obstinate horses, and livens up lazy or tired horses wonderfully.’

One Door Always Open.

Mother: For mercy’s sake, child, what do you expect to do in the world ? You can’t cook, nor sew, nor teach school, and you are not an heiress; what can you do ? Daughtdr: ‘ Well, mother, I can get married, can’t I ? * V * « * FLETCHER’S PILLS never fail to cure INDIGESTION, COSTIVENESS, SOUR BREATH, HEARTBURN, LIVER DISEASE, and KIDNEY COMPLAINTS.

FLETCHER’S PILLS and CLEMENTS TONIC are the recognised household remedies of the Australian colonies, and every designing quack tries to trade on their reputation and renown. This is the greatest proof of their merit, and sufferers want to be particular to get the genuine articles as regret and disappointment are sure to follow the use of the thousands of ‘ All-failing ’ remedies so freely advertised. The reputation and widespread use of Clements Tonic and Fletcher’s Pills are the greatest proofs of their appreciation by the public. If they were not as represented they would have passed out of memory long ere this; but instead their sale is greater and they are more esteemed day by day and week by week, and this emphatically proves their undisputed supremacy. Listen to no argument from interested parties; demand the genuine articles and TAKE NO SUBSTITUTE.