CLIPPINGS FROM THE EUROPEAN MAIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 130, 4 June 1870, Page 4

CLIPPINGS FROM THE EUROPEAN MAIL.

A Comforting Assurance. — Admiral l?acragut says that the Miantonomoh ■would sink the Monarch in five minutes if she lay alongside her. But the American journal which records that saying comforts John Bull by assuring him that the Monarch could run away from the Miantonomoh. So "who's afraid ?" Mr. Odgrb, the la<e working-man's candidate for Southwark, bears his defeat with commendable equanimity — even with good-humor — and simply remarked, on learning the result of the poll, " that he bad got a pair of uppers in hand, aud he would now have time to put them through."

What is a Radical ? — The Record is responsible tor the following: — ''At the recent South wark election a costermonger in a cart drawn by a donkey dressed out ia Odger's colors arrived at the pol/ins booth. The man, voting for Beresford, was challenged, and replied, " Oh, it's all right. Tm a Tory : it's my donkey that's a Radical, but he's an ass.'" j Terrible Suicide. — A man committed aoicide on March 20 by throwing himself from one of the towers of Notre Dame, at Paris. He fell on his head, and liis brains were dashed out on the pavement. In his pockets was found only a portmonnaie containing one sou, and nothing to show his name or address. The body was taken to the Morgue. A Murdered Man seeking Absolution. — -*A contemporary relates that a few days since a Capuchin friar was preaching in the Pantheon Square at Rome, when suddenly a soldier forced his way through' the crowd, exclaiming, "Father, give me absolution. lam dying." Tbe man was at first believed to be insane, but when he knelt before the friar blood was seen Sowing from a wound in his breast. The preacher then pronounced the formula of absolution, the spectators keeling aud repeating with him the prayers for the dead. The unfortunate soldier had been stabbed by a political enthusiast. The French Wrestlers, at the Pomona Gardens, Manchester, have sustained a signal defeat at the hands of the Lancashire champion, Bentley. This wellknown wrestler contended on March 14 against a Frenchman much heavier and taller than himself, in the French style, but he came out of the ordeal successfully ; and thereby justified the anticipations of those who have always maintained that a trained Lancashire wrestler would be a more equal match for the Gallic champions lhan the men who were accustomed only to the Cumberland and Westmoreland style. .It now ouly remains for the Frenchmen An be taught what a Cornish "hug" means.

A Steam Velocipede, intended to run oa ordinary roads, has been built by Mr. Thompson, engineer, Glasgow. The inventor is Mr. Alexander Burns, draper, Carluke, who was in early life a miner. An American Paper calls the parting of young ladies much adieu about nothing. The Peripatetic Philosopber thus ■discourses on banks : — What about banks? liet the accountants, managers, or what iiot, who, like Marlowe's Jew of Malta, faave so much money " that they weary their fingers' ends with telling it," Thank goodness no breakage or stoppage of -payment could injure me. "That is one of the advantages of poverty. Indeed, I think that as I ana usually about •five shillings overdrawn — they will not let me do more — a stoppage of payment "would be a windfall for me. There are Simes when I could make at least seveu--ajnd-sixpence by it. I wonder that folks snake so much fuss about banks. They appear to me most useless inventions. What is the use of having a bank account, talking of " my bankers," "Haw, John « cheque on the Polynesian ! " " Mr. <}©!dsworthy — cash this if you please," and so on if they dishonor your signature for one pound ten, one might just as well liave no " account" at all. lam thinking of starting a new Financial Scheme. In Xondon there is a magazine which prints ■all " rejected contributions." Now, suppose we get up a bank that shall take all "rejected accounts" — a place where a «aan can make a credit balance with a dishonored bill. lam sure it would be a great boon to many of us, and — after he •** comes out-—we might offer the -managership to Mr. Draper.