Miscellaneous.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 584, 9 June 1858, Page 5

Miscellaneous.

A Loving TJlundee —Two young gentlemen met, a few evenings ago, at the house of an acquaintance, where there were some young ladies, for one of whom eacli gentleman entertained tender feelings. In a spirit of frolic one of the young ladies blew out the lamp, and our two friends, thinking it a favourable moment to make known the state of their feelings to the fair object of their regard, moved seats at the same instant, and placed themselves, as they supposed, by the lady's side; but she had also moved, and the gentlemen were, in reality, next to each other. As our friends could not whisper without betraying their whereabouts, they both gently took, as they thought, the soft little hand of the charmer; and when, after a while, they ventured to give a tender pressure, each was enraptured to find it returned with an unmistakeable squeeze,. It may be well imagined that the moments flew rapidly in this silent interchange of mutual affection. But the ladies, wondering at the unusual silence of the gentlemen, one of them noiselessly slipped out, and suddenly returned with a light. There.sat our friends, most lovmly squeezing each other's hands, and supreme delight beaming in their eyes. Their consternation, and the ecstacy of the ladies may be imagined, but not described. Both gentlemen bolted and one was afterwards heard to say that he " thought all the while Miss 's hand felt rather hard."

The Spurgeon Quadrille. —Mr. Spurgeon's approbation of dancing, provided that the two sexes dance separately, suggests an idea 'which we commend to the attention of Mons. Julien. In many respects, besides the circumstances of having successfully performed at the Surrey Music Hall, Julien resembles Spurgeon, They are men of the time, and very similar men. Kindred spirits should sympathise. Need more be said to induce the Mons. immediately to apply his gigantic genius to the composition of a Spurgeon Quadrille? The triumphs of Spurgeon mighr as easily, and at least as suitably, be celebrated by Julien as those of our departed hero : but the reason why we want our mighty master of dance music to immortalise the Banter more particularly, is that he may illustrate the Spurgeonic notion of the gentlemen dancing alone. What that notion is, he perhaps understands better than we do. Does Mr. Spurgeon concede the vis a vis and would he permit the ladies and gentlemen to dance iv the same room, so long as they confined themselves respectively, to dancing on opposite sides of it ? Wonld lie tolerate " Set to Sides," whilst disallowing "Hands across and change partners?" Or would the Mons. better consult and illustrate the views of Mr. Spurgeon if he were to devise two separate quadrilles—one for ladies and the other for gentlemen only ?— Punch. The Wizard of the North.—Anderson, the Wizard of the North, goes to Australia under an engagement for twelve months, for which he is to receive £10,000. In addition to the usual apparatus used by this chief of wizards, he has had a large quantity of the most ingenious articles manufactured expressly for this visit to our antipodean friends at an expense of £3,800. He contemplates visiting India and California before his return to Eng-. land.— Home News, March 15. One of the argumentative hair-splitters lately called on the clergyman of the Floating Episcopal Chapel, and asked him seriously, whether his church was to be considered a High or a Low Church. The answer he received was — 11 It depends entirely upon the tide." Extensive Drapery.—At a concert lately given at a fashionable watering-place there were present 140 ladies, the united circumforforence of whose dresses amounted to 1,760

yards.

An amusing illustration of police imbecility is just now displayed in the very midst of po-lice-governed Germany, the centre of official paternalism. The scene is Augsburg, a Bavarian town containing about 40,000 inhabitants which has for several weeks been in a state of great consternation. The German girls, up to the time of marriage, wear their hair in long tresses hanging down over their shoulders! Now some unknown hero, hitherto undiscovered by the whole police of town and neighbourhood, makes it his business to cut off those tresses, or tails as the Germans call (hem. At first only a few girls were attacked, and mostly at night; but latterly the " tail " robberies have become numerous, and they are executed in broad daylight. Yet nobody can lay hold of the fearful " Zopfabschneider or Tailcutter." The tresses of some ladies were cut off on Christmas Day at noon, and in front of the burgomaster's house; but still the despoiler escaped. The magistracy of the town promise high rewards. for the discovery of the offender; but the only consequence of this notice hitherto has been, that a number of innocent people have been arrested, and some times severely maltreated; so that the authorities have been compelled to issue another proclamation forbidding unlawful arrests. Never since the days of Cagliostro did such a mystery puzzle the world. The German papers sneered for months at the English police for not discovering the Waterloo Bridge murder—here is a nut to crack for the advocates of Continental police and passport checks. Perhaps they conduct this search .on false principles. In " paternal " Europe they alwayssuspect a political object for any mystery, especially an aggresive mystery: have the Augsburgers inquired into the dealings of the greatest, or the cheapest wigmakers of-Ttheir town ? ,

A curious method of being " very religious" has just been exhibited at the Court assizes of the Am. Rosalie Pollet was tried for arson and forgery. Rosalie was pasionately devoted to a religious life, and would take the vows ; but you must pay even to be a nun. She entered a convent at Belley, giving as security a promissory note for 2600 francs, payable in 3 years, which she represented to be the promise of her guardian : it was a forgery. She hoped that before payment day she would be admitted a nun, and thus irrevocably devoted to the service of" religion. But the worldly convent authorities intended to have the money before they took the incumbrance.- Fearing that she would be dismissed from the convent, the young woman resolved upon the odd alternative of burning it down to prevent expulsion ; and she repeatedly attempted to set it on fire, but the building was not destroyed. When suspected of the incendiary Rosalie confessed her guilt. An attempt was made to show that she was partially deranged in her mind. She was'convicted, and sentenced to 5 years' hard labour.

Conversation.—Avoid grand words and highsounding phrases, particularly when you are not quite sure you can use them correctly, or you may be exposed to the same ridicule as was a worthy lady with more money than learning, who, in describing a mansion her husband was about tcximild, said there was to be a " Pizarro" on the front, and a "lemonade" all round it, while, to complete the arrangement, the water was to come in an " anecdote."

Dancing.—The following nautical method of dancing was found among the papers of the late Admiral Sir Joseph Yorke, of facetious memory. Third figure —Heave a-head, and pass your adversary yard-arm and yard-arm—regain your berth on the other tack in the same order—take your station with your partner in line—back and fill—fall on your heel, and bring up with your partner. She then manoeuvres a-head— heaves all back —shoots a-head again, and' pays off alongside you. Then make sail in company with her nearly astern of the other line—make a stern board—and cast her off to shift for herself—regain your place by the best means in your power, and let go your anchor. The California State Agricultural Fair lately held in the city of Stockton, was arranged on a most comprehensive scale, and included within its scope agricultural products, works of mechanical art, both useful and ornamental, and live stock. The display was exceedingly creditable to the State. Sqashes weighing 264 pounds, beets of 90 pounds, potatoes of 20 pounds, apples and pears weighing 21 and 30 ounces, corn-stalks 20 feet in height indicated the wonderful productivenes of California soil, and challenge comparison with the world. A large waggon was also on exhibition, which weighed over five thousand pounds, and was capable of carrying twelve tons of merchandise. It was intended for a team of twelve mules.