MISCELLANEOUS.

Southland Times, Issue 1320, 11 October 1870, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

In Yokohama harbor, on the 13th of June,' there were eighteen merchant steamers, the lowest tonnage being 100, and the largest 2500 tons, and sixty-two sailing vessels, the lowest tonnage being 171, and' the largest 1049/ tons.^ ; Besides these, were five men-of-war, and nine i receiving coal-hulks, making the total, tonnage in port, exclusive of coasters, I 66,251 tons . , I ■ < lottlttence o$ Beauty on t£e Irish. — There is not a land in Europe in which personal attractions have the same charm for the people, or exert the same; influence, >as in Ireland., No rancour of party, no violence 1 of" sect, " Can •* withstand the influences of beauty. The old Q-reek, Jeaven ..thus lingers^in the land, and tempers- the- natures tried by many a sorrow. What share their religion and their r Mariolatry have, in this sentiment I leave to others to speculate on.-—"'Sham-rock," in Cornhill Magazine. TbA-VKLLETQ JBT; A.MEBIC &. The following is a description of "going to bed in the cars," written by the special correspondehCof tHe London Tttrgi .— " The ; sun set over-the prairie-before bur first night in the train, shining last upon a western cloud till it looked like a firmament of gold. Lamps were lit; cards, reading, and conversation, still- went, on,; -in the little slice of civilisation which wis rushing through the prairie, now stopping at a station where -the- soldiers who guarded It come on, board sand tyeggecl for any papers we could spare, and told us how not long ago they had had a brush with the Indians, and, to use their own words; 'taken sixty scalps,' and then scaring antelopes into the safe darkness of distance. At last the attendant came round to convert the sofas into beds, and let down the upper berths. It was an odd experience^ that going to bed of some thirty ladies, gentlemen; and children in, practically, one room. For two nights I i had a young- married couple sleeping a ; foot above my nose. The lady turned in ] firat, and presently her gown w^s hung down over the rail to which her bed ' curtains were , fastened. , „But, r further ' processes of unrobing were indicated by ; the agitation of the drapery which con* i cealed her nest. As the same curtain served for both berths — hers and mme — the gentleman held her portion together over jnyhead when ; it was necessary for me to' retire. A ! t last all were' housed, and some snores rose above the rattle of the train. • I did not sleep much the first night, but looked over the moonlit prairie from my pillow.., ..Befpre K the week was :. spent, howeVery^e* had [all become as used to the exigencies of our position as < if we had been born and bred in a Pull- i man's car. The ladies slid out of their ' berths in a very tumbled toilet, and, ( • getting out their; combs, ; and sponges, did such deliberate justice to their charms as circumstances would permit. The Electbic Sewing Machine.— ?Afc the last exhibition of the American Institute, there was seen an elliptic lock- , stich sewing-machine,' driven by a small electric engine, which might easily be ] put into a common hat-box. A series of i eight magnets are set on the periphery of a circle, and around these revolve an armature of steel, which is continuously propelled by the magnetic action, and thus operates the machinery that moves < the needle. The: current may be cut off entirely, or the speed of the needle graduated, as may be desired.