GLEANINGS FROM THE PAPERS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 17, 26 January 1878, Page 3

GLEANINGS FROM THE PAPERS.

A French paper points out how the passion for gambling is shown in England, so that even in wedding notices it is necessary to state that there were " no cards."

Permanent exhibitions of German manufacturers will be opened in Hamburg and London. French manufacturers, contemplate a similar project at Paris.

Of the many stories mid of finding toads inclosed in the solid rock, none have hitherto been authenticated to the satisfaction of scientific men; but La Nature consider that the following case, reported by one of its correspondents-, is well vouched for:—" In the building of a new chateau in the department of Aisne, materials from the old chateau were used as much as passible. This building dated from the end of the 17th century. One piece of stone had in the middle of one side a large moist portion; it seemed otherwise sound. The stone was sawn to remove the moist exterior (the moisture was attributed to a flow of water into the stone in the old building) and was put in position in a window. Time went on, and the stone (much to the builder's disappointment) did not dry, but presented a villianous contrast to its surroundings. It was at length decided to remove and sacrifice it, in onlcr to find out the cause. On sawing right through tho moist part, a large, irregular cavity (about 0. 15m. in all directions) was found in the centre, aud in this cavity an enormous live toad, which by squatting had escaped the saw \" Take two empty oyster cans and a stout, smooth string. Let a small hole he made in the bottom of each can, through which the string, say fifty or one hundred feet iii length, is passed and secured. Then let the experimenters set up their talking telegraph by choosing their stations as far apart as the tightlystretched string will permit and while one of the operators holds his cur to one of the cans and his companion his mouth to the can of the other end of the line, they will find that a conversation can be carried on, so that low tones, and even a whisper, will be distinctly perceptible. What usually most astonishes those whomakc thisexpcriincnt for the first time is that the sound of the voice does not seem to come from the person speaking at the other end of the string, but to issue from the can itself, which is- held to the ear of the listener. This at first appears to be a deception, but it is really not so. The ear tells the exact truth. The voice that is heard really comes from the can that is to the car of the hearer. Tho voire of the speaker communicates sound-producing vibration to the imediato contact. Those vibrations are communicated to the string, but so changed that they no longer affect tho ear. A person may stand by the string while the sound is passing, and yet hear nothing. At the other end of the string, however, these hidden vibrations reproduce themselves as sound.

The announcement that Captain Coote to Em-ope has (suys the Melbourne correspondent of the " Bcndigo Advertises ") caused representation to be made that the interests of the Australian colonies would be best served by a cable from Now Zcaldand to San Francisco, on the route surveyed, via Honolulu, by the United States man-of-war Tuscarora. When Sir Julius Vogol was in America ho submitted a proposal to the Government there, under which it was asked to contribute "prorata" with the Australian colonies to the cost of the cable, and Sir Julius Vogel represented that he had no doubt of being able to complete the scheme, but (he United States Government refused. There was no war in Europe at that time, but since then the Eastern Question has arisen, and we never know when England may be trembling on the brink of war, or plunged at once into it. The pressont cable breaks from time to time, because of the unsuitable bottom upon which it is laid, and experts say that the faults will be almost continual as the cable gets older, through the friction of sharp rocks and the multifarious animal life ; whilu on the other hand, it is stated that a better cable ground does not exist in the world than the bed of the FacifL', and it would be greatly to Imperial interests to have communication with Eiji. A large commerce also is suro to open up between America and Australia. Tho present timo is thought by many eminently favorable to the renowal of the Paritie cable project, which was considerably discussed two years ago. Since then our trade relations with Amorica have much expanded, and it is alleged that the State Government of Cidifomia would throw itself into the scheme with tho utmost ardor. At /in examination for tho admission to tho Bur, tho exainiuor propounded this (juration : " A great many years ago there lived a gentleman named Lazarus, who died possessed of chattels, real nud porsonal. After this event to whom did thoy go ?" The student replied, "To his adiuinistratflrs and heirs.' " Well, then," continued the examiner, " in four days he came to life again; inform us, sir, whoso were they then 1 " Which interesting inquiry Wt submit to tho lawyer* I am not i lawvcr, but I ice

no difficulty in the inquiry. Ivuarus died iiinl was buried. As MOB as he died, his property, it" he luft no will, vested in his heirs. The law gives, no man tin- right to die for four days and then come to lite again Legally Lazarus couldn't rise, I have no doubt the Supium- Court would decide that the Lazarus who lose HI not the LjUMtts who died; he was a new' Lm&TUS. The DOW Lazarus would of course fell within himself that he Was the old Lazarus, and go round boring his legal friends talking about his legal Wrongs, but every lawyer Would leave him as quickly as possible, saying in jMirtiny, "It's a hard caw; but if your neb's can prove your death, and they came in legally under the statue, there is no way U\ make them disgorge. All you can do is this your'o a young follow about sixty; hire out a.s a clerk, try to save something from your salary so as to go into business again, build up a grand estate, and perhaps your heirs will recognise your identity."

The Eddystono Lighthouse, which for a long scries of years has borne the brunt of many u terrific gale, is doomed. A late inspection has shown that the rock on which Mueaton erected his masterpiece has become shattered by the violence of the sea acting on the tower, and it is now contemplated to build a new structure on another foundation about 120 feet distant from the present one. It has been suggested that the old tower which has so long shed its warning rays to mariners should be taken ashore and erected in a prominent position as a tribute to the memory of the genuis who designed it. A French carome billiard table, says the Age, has been manufactured byMessrs. Alock and Co., of Melbourno, for the approaching exhibition to bo held at Paris. As a combination of cabinetmaker's work, and as a specimen of a solid firstclass billiard table, it cannot be excelled. Tho artistic carving is intended to illustrate the agricultural and horticultural products of Australia; and, in giving full effect to tho designs, the carver has been exceedingly successful. The massive legs, which are of cedar, are literally covered with 'clusters of grape vines boldly developed. On each side of the tabic isashicld of considerable dimensions carved an iluou pine—one bearing the Australian coat of arms\ind the other the address of Alcock onduCo. Ou either end are conch shells, containing eai-s of wheat and other- staple products of the country. Around and under the cushions ou the panels of the table are ropes carved in Huon pine. The groundwork of the table is composed of very beautifullygrained hlockwood, picked out tastefully with II mm pine, and the whole is well finished. ' Julius von Wickede, the German military writer, says that English soldiers are better paid, clothe I and fed than any others, but that the offi sera are, all things considered, worse paid than the German. They arc, he thinks far behind both French and German in point of military education, but are steadily improving.