FACTS AND SCRAPS.

Southland Times, Issue 1622, 20 August 1872, Page 3

FACTS AND SCRAPS.

j "So that's the new baby the doctor I has sent here to mamma, Freddy ? " Freddy *. " Yes. And don't it squeal ? And I do say it's a great shame of the doctor to send babies when people are ill like poor mamma. I hate him ? " It has been decided, after a considerable amount of discussion amongst the committee of the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute, that a billiard table should not be included amongst the amusements of that institution. One member, the Courier says, suggested a skittle-alley, but the idea did not find supporters, though it afforded a good deal of amusement. How does, in the jargon of newspapers, " a rumor become current ? " Here is a receipt for making a rumor become current. Take a full-fledged liar, who has been nursed upon rumors, and weaned upon election speeches , don't let him have anything to do, give him the. run of the city and lots of acquaintances, start him out every morning with nothing particular on his mind, and leave the rest to chance. If a rumor doesn't " become current " somewhere in his track before noon it wont be through any fault of his. Private information of an encouraging nature (says the Melbourne Herald), has reached some of the persons now in Melbourne, who propose to settle at Port Darwin. The diggings, we understand, are only about thirty-five or forty miles from Palmerston, are shallow, and are yielding well to the labors of about 100 diggers, who are now at work upon them. A table has been published by the Registrar General of the number of marriages, births, and deaths registered for England and "Wales in the year 1871. It appears that during the year there were 380,030 persons married ; there were 797,143 births, of which number 405,532 were males and 391,611 females ; and there were 515,096 deaths— 26s,9oß males and 2-9,188 females. Excessive Ritualism. — The churchwarden of St. Mary-le-Strand, of which parish the Rev. A. D. Evans, D.D., is rector, has memorialised the Bishop of London to visit the church in consequence of the extreme ritualism practised. It is considered not unlikely that the bishop will proceed to visit those churches of which he haß received complaints, and it is possible that St. Paul's Cathedral will be included in the number. By trying to kill calumny it is kept alive ; leave it to itself and it will die a natural death. .

— — — — — — - MARBIJ.OE3 IN EASTEBIT H_lfOA»f .— In the mountainous districts to theex* treme east of Hungary, at one season of tbe year, a fair is held of marriageable young men and women. From all quarters, long trains of chariots wend their way to the plain of Kalioosn. They ar* laden with household furniture, and followed by the cattle of the family. Ift the midst of these goods may be seen the young lady whom her family has brought Ito seek a husband at the fair. She ia dressed in her best, with brilliant silk scarf and • scarlet petticoat. These caravans take up their position one after the other on one side of the plain, while on the other side, a cavalcade of young men ■ approaches and deploys along tbe whole line. The men— young Wallachians, for the most part-— are dressed in their best goatskins, and make what show of horsemanship they can. After both parties have taken up their respective quarters opposite each other, the fathers step forward, and begin to negotiate marriages for their children. The questions asked on these occasions are, we fear, of a somewhat sordid character—" How many bullocks? ■" " How much money? " "Your daughter's furniture .looks rather- old; that chest of drawers 'does not shut properly. I must find something better than that for my son." . Such would doubtless be a correct report of the conversations held in this primitive* if not poetical Arcadia, previous to clinching the matrimonial bargain. The business is, however, carried out with a promptitude equal to its frankness. As soon as the parents are agreed, a priest, who is always ready at hand, is summoned.. - He chants a hymn and gives his benediction* the bride then kisses ner parents, mounts the chariot, and starts for some Unknown village with a husband whom she has never seen before, the furniture and cattle which her parents have allowed her as a marriage portion following in the rear. A Sciehtific Reaaok. — A friend of ours who came upon a scientific treatise on " The Velocity of Light," says he can now understand now it is that his gas bill runs up so rapidly.