A LITERARY CURIOSITY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 212, 5 September 1872, Page 4

A LITERARY CURIOSITY.

Mrs. H. A. Deming, of San Francisco, is said to have occupied a year in searching for and fitting together the fo lowing thirty-eight lines from thirty-eight j Dnglish and American poets. The authors names are appended : — LIFE. 1. Why all this toil for triumphs of ai hour ? 2. Life's a short summer— man a flowi ir ; 3. By turns, we catch the vital breath, and die — 4. The cradle and the tomb, alas ! so i igb. 5. To be is better far than not to be, 6. Though all man's life may seem "a t 'agedy ; 7. But light cares speak when mighty griefs are dumb— 8. The bottom is but shallow whence they come. 9. Your fate is but the common fate oflall ; 10. Unmingled joys, here, to no man befall. 1 1. Nature to each allots his proper sphere. 12. Fortune makes folly her peculiar care. 13. Custom does not often reason overrule, 14. And throw a cruel sunshine on a fooli 16. Live well— how long or short permit to Heaven ; I 16. They who forgive most , shall be mo it forgiven. 17. Sin may be clapped so close we cann >t see its face — 18. Vile intercourse, where virtue has not place. , 19. Then keep each passion down, howevei dear, 20. Thou pendulum, betwixt a smile and t ;ar ; 21. Her sensual snares let faithless Pleasur s lay, 22. With craft and skill, to ruin and betra r. 23. Soar not too high, to fall, but stoop to ris e; 24. We masters grow of all that we despise. 25. O then renounce that impious self- es teen; 26. Riches have wings, and grandeur is a dr< am. 27. Think not ambition wise because 'tis br; ;ye; 28. The paths of glory lead but to the grave. -. 29. What is ambition ? 'Tis a glorious cheat, 30. Only destructive to the brave and grealT 31. What's all the gaudy glitter of a crown] ? 32. The way to bliss lies not on beds of down. 3fS. How long we live, not years but actions tell; 34. That man lives twice who lives the first life ■ well. , T " 35. Make then, while yet ye may, your Odd your friend, 7 ' / 36. Whom Christians worakip, yet do not comprehend. - f 37. The truth that's given guard, and to yourself be just; -•-- '• - 38. For live we how we may, yet die we Uust.

It is stated that 500,000 catalogues of the Vienna Exhibition rare, to be printed in, various languages ; each copy to consist of ' 100 sheets. The result of a close calculation reveals the pleasing fact that 100 steam presses will have to work for 100 days each to prepare this supply $ that is, provided each is capable of working off daily 10,000 perfect; sheets. As an instance of the rapidity with which rabbits have increased and multi- 1 plied in the colony of Victoria, Mr. Barker, ' who contracted for disposing of those at Barwon Park, Winchelsea, has, with assistance, killed 22,700, and sent them to market, since the 14th of March last. A Suggestion. — " Snider," writing to a contemporary, sincerely hopes the practice carried out in San Francisco amongst volunteer corps of presenting the lowest scorer with a leather medal will be carried oat in Auckland. He thinks tbey would then qualify for the highest instead of tho lowest prize. Fortune Indicated by Petticoats. — In Brittany a very curious matrimonial custom prevails. On certain jete days the young ladies appear in red petticoats, with white or yellow borders around them. The number denotes the portion; the father is willing to give his daughter. Each band representing silver border betokens 100 francs of rent; anc! each yellow band means gold, and stands, for 1,000 francs a year. Thus, a youngs farmer who sees a face that pleases him has only to glance at the trimming of the petticoats to learn in an instant what amount accompanies the wearer.