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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 94, 23 April 1877, Page 4

-A characteristic story ia told of old Womhwell in " The Old Showman and the Londoa Fairs." Wotnbwell'a menagarie happened to be at New-

caatle-on-Tyae when there was but a fortnight to Bartholomew Fair — a festivity which he had invariably attended. His rival (Atkins), feeling sure tbat he could not reach London io time, advertised that his menßgerie would be " the only wild beast show in thb fair." Wombwell was not to be beaten. He hastened by forced marches to the fair. But his elephant died jinfected by its masters enthusiasm it had worked itself to death, Atkins immediately placarded the announcement that he had " the only Jiving elephant in the fair;" but Wombwell checkmated him with the answer that he had the only dead elephant in the fair." A dead elephant no one had ever seen, and his show waa crowded.

"An Exhausted Cockatoo " sends the following pathetic complaint concerning railway mismanagement to the Christchurch Press:—'! Sir,— l well know that you are full of feeling for the sufferings of your fellow creatures; spare then a little of that pity for that portion of the community whose lot is cast in the district of Longbeacb, and Whose occupation is tbat of cockatooing. We have had a harvest full of wind, full of rain, full of hail ; the remnants of our crops are gathered in, are threshed, and we are making vigorous, but alas most futile, efforts to get rid of the grain. Day by day, at break of day do our teams go off to LoDgbeach road; day by day do they return with their loads deposited on mother earth exposed to all the changes of this most changeable climate. Sir, I may ask have tbe trucks deserted us altogether, or is it that places nearer the metropolis have tbeir calls listened to more readily than ours? I have myself some 350 bags of wheat, and many of my neighbors still more, lying out in the open outside the shed at Longbeacb. The cry is still they come, but no trucks come to help us- Ido not think lam exaggerating when I say that such stoppages as these may affect seriously the farmers' prospects for the next year. It is impossible to get fairly into ploughing when at any time you may be called upon to take your teams away for carting. The inconvenience is great in every way. The farmer cannot expect to get his mouey till his grain is delivered, and he cannot deliver his grain because there are no trucks to put it into. He runs great risk likewise from the weather, for he has no protection except that which a tarpaulin and sundry bags may afford him. I must apologise for trespassing so much upon your space, but tbe endurance of tbe cockatoo bas its limits, and tbat of mine and some of ray companions in misery is well nigh exhausted."

Under the beading "A Valuable Secret" the New York News Let' er says:— -It is related of Franklin that from the window of his office in Philadelphia he noticed a mechanic, among a number of others, at work on a house which was being erected close by, who always appeared to be in a merry humor, aud who had a kind and cheerful smile for everone he met. Lat the day be ever so cold, gloomy, or sunless, the happy smile danced like a sunbeam on his happy countentance. Meeting hira one day, Franklin requested to know the secret of his constant happy flow of spirits. " It's no secret, doctor," the man replied, " I'vo got one of the best of wives, and when I go to work she always gives me a kind -word of encouragement and a blessing with her parting kiss; and when I go home she is sure to meet me with a smile and a kiss of welcome; and then tea is sure to be ready; and aa we chat in the evening I find ths has been doing so many little things through the day to please rae that I cannot find it in my heart to speak an unkind word or give an uokind look to anybody." Franklin adds: " What an influence then hath wonoai over the heartfof man, to soften it, and make it a fountain of cheerlul and pure emotions. Speak gently then; a happy smile and a kind word of greeting after the toils of the day are over cost nothing, and go far towards making a home happy and peaceful.