CLIPTOMANIA.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1023, 18 April 1883, Page 2

CLIPTOMANIA.

Mankind descended from a pair. Mankind’s troubles from an apple.Bridgroom’s Motto (very free translation) : Veni, vidi, vici—l’ve been, and gone, and dime it. “He was the most perfect gentlemen I oversaw,” said a Kentuckian. “When you went to see him he handed you the whiskey bottle and then turned his back.” The two Court Theatres at Vienna paid £4,500-during 1882, as tantiemes \o authors and composers. During the same period the two Court Theatres of Berlin paid £2,800. A niece of Mime Rachel, (he famous tragedienne, will shortly appear on the London stage. Her name is Mrs Crawshaw, and she is the wife of the wellknown gentleman-rider, and a daughter of the late Colonel Mountjoy-Martin. The late Countess of Essex (Kitty Stephens) has by her will bequeathed to Mr Henry Irving a most interesting relic. It is the original sketch in oils by Sir Joshua Reynolds for his famous “Prologue ” portrait of 'David Garrick, sitting at a table, hands'together, with the thumbs raised and meeting each other ; ruffles at wrists. The picture measures twentyfour by eighteen inches, and is in admirable preservation. A girl in New Mexico had four different suitors. One day slie killed a panther in. a fair fight, and the next thing she knew she was beauless. No man wanted a wife with as much grit as that. At a recent prizerfight it was put to the vote whether the battle should.proceed or be deferred one week. The ayes had it, and in about fifteen minutes the ayes and noes had It, and had it pretty badly too. .- A Nevado girl’s love letter ran thus “ Dear Jimmy, it’s=all up. We aiirit going to get married. Mtv says .you are too rough, and I guess she’s right. I’m sorry —but can’t you. go to Europe arid get filed down ?” • The Danes are - trying to put down drinking. Most Scandinavians take more than is good for them, the “Colonial habit of “ nobblerising” prevailing in Sweden, Norway and' Denmark, and the drink being generally 3"; glass of wery; heady! jpunch. Truth does not, however, quite understand how sobriety gains by rio’ “'showilydressed girl” being allowed to stand behind a Danish drinking bar, to fascinate youth, of the opposite sex. The editor thinks that the fascination would rather have tempered the desire for punch ; or are' people to suppose that the Dane..falls,in ? Jove with the showily-dressed girl, and, finding liis suit Unappreciated* relapses into punch in order to drown the pangs of despised love ? An English opera season at Drury Lane was to have commenced, under the direction of Mr Carl Rosa, on March 26, and be Jiiaited: to thirty, representations;/ ; Two absolutely new operas will be produced—- \ Colombo, by A C Mackenzie, and Esnier- : afcfe,'by Thomas. * 4-- ;£ “I was,” recently observed an officer who spent a few weeks in Egypt during the late ‘campaign, “Tour ririnutes under fire, and for this I am to he given four medals.” The pecuniary affairs of one of the Czar’s nearest relatives, who held high military command in Bulgaria, have become so desperately involved that bis estates have been placed under administration for The benefit of his-credi.tprs; and in the meanwhile it is said to have been suggested that he could live with, more dignity abroad on the small income which-has been reserved for his personal use. The allowances received *by theRussian Imperial Princes are almost; extravagantly- handsome; but, between their own incompetence to control and the greed and dishonesty of theiventpiirage their unfortunate Grand Dukes are always in difficulties. It is a little difficult to believe, in .the following, lut as the members of the London Biological Society do so, it must, of course, be true. Mr Delanay, explaining to them about the faithjof animals in. the cold water cure, gave them as instances’ the following facts A dog, he knew of, having been stung by a viper, pluriged its head several times a day. into running water ; whilst another, which was run over by a carriage, retired to a brook anJ sat in it for three wrieks. But, they were, both beaten by a cat, who “ with singular fortitude remained for forty-eight hours Under a jet of cold water.” Mr Dion Boucicault, the actor-author, recently sent Henry Irving a present of American dainties, which were- served at ■some supper parties which have' been given in the Beefsteak room at the Lyceum Theatre after the performance. Mr Irving’s opinion having been required, he telegraphed to the donor : “ Our yprdict.is, Perfect. Perfect terrapin ; the finest soup knowli. Canvas-backed ducks ethereal. A celebrated .novelist, who wisited the States a few years ago, gave* up all engagements in order to dine with a gourmet twelve days running' on canvas-backed ducks and champagne,- Truth. - -V' American exchanges just to give details as to the close of W.S. Walcotts., quail-eating feat. The party in question, entered into'a wager of £7O a-side that he would eat two quails per dieni^ for thirty days* and : this he succeeded in doing. Amongst his visitors on the last day .were, Jem Mace, Slade and Coburn, the pugilists. Walcott now says he is willing to that ho will eat ninety quails in thirty days. ’ A few days before his decease Wagner gave utterance to a belief that “ Paisifal would be his Inst work, and on being asked why, replied, “ Because I am going to die.” ’ ... f According to a recent estimate, the picture gallery of the Yankee millionaire, W, H. Vanderbilt; has cost £200,000 ; next comesJliat of Mr Stewart, £IOO,OOO. The aggregate value of ..the. private galleries 5 of 'New York is £1;300.000. They are entirely filled with pictures bought in Europe,