CLEANINGS FROM THE PAPERS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 54, 12 October 1878, Page 3

CLEANINGS FROM THE PAPERS.

The Tribune says :—A materialised j spirit turned red in the face last Sunday evenin'', in un obscure town in Missouri. ’ A medium named Mott has dwelt at Memphis for many years, and lias as- . sumed to hold communication with disembodied spirit o . An ingenious sceptic named I’altee. after attending several seances in which departed spirits were materialised much to the edification of the company, resolved to expose the 1 i trickster. ll* procured a hollow ring, ! with a small orifice in front, ami u tube 1 on one side connecting with a rubber hall that was tilled with an alcoholic solution of aniline. When the curtain parted, ’ | and a spirit face appeared in the gap, ’ | about sixteen inches from hj s hand, ho ' compressed the rubber ball and squirted the aniline dose with such precision that ’ the unearthly visitor ducked its head and ’ ran behind the door. In a few minutes the medium’s wife was summoned to a council in the cabinet, and then the announcement was made that some one had been injecting chemicals into the spirit’s face, and 14 destroying the conditions.” A : light was brought, and a long-haired ! gentleman opened the cabinet door. Then ; the wonder grew, for Mott’s face was daubed with scarlet. ‘Tlis face was covered with blood I” some one exclaimed and tli“ii the light was extinguished. Although the medium was obviously j wounded, he did not say dye. I \W have been shown, says the South Australian Register, a number of curious parasites which are said to infest poultry, and by sucking their blood and depositiiij ova under ihe skin cause the* birds • :i!'•■*•»-• I 1o lose condition and waste away ta-;. die. The parasite is about the mi ami .-iz<* of an ordinary tree-bug, cowsvd with a in-rny granulated skin of a rod li-.li-browu colour, and lias eight b*gs with sharp hooked points. The n • v pa. i oi the head Is furnished with .o .tiiinr what .ippears to be three .... C... i;: uvs v.osi! Lathe region oi i). and liu* creature seems eiiiinentiv aiiaplod by its conformation i for clinging closely to the skin of any I bird nr animal it fixes itself upon. In , i appearance it tallies with the description of the Aearus a genus of Arachnides which are very numerous and of various , sizes. Th is parasite lias been found mi nil parts of th” bodies of fowls, and from its largo si/" must cause them serious annoyance, so that it is not surprising that . i birds infested die from the effects proi drived by tiiem. It is thought that enre- ! ful attention to cleanliness and dryness in i’owlhouses, and a plentiful use of carbolic acid, will banish these pests. Perhaps some of our experienced poultry fanciers can furnish ns wit hj a few useful hints on the subject. Captain llomeyn, slli Infantry, is now iu Detroit recovering from wounds received in tlie last battle with Joseph’s warriors, lie tells the story thus: "You see 1 had been struck five times. One bad shattered my field glass ; another raised a disagreeable lump on my left shoulder, and the other only damaged my clothing. , I ought to say that very early in the’liglit my home was killed, and when I saw General Miles riding close up apparently unconcious that he was getting into a hot corner, I warned him to keep back. 1 had been lying comparatively hidden in the long grass. I stood up to take an observation, when quicker than a flash some warrior singled mo out and let drive. I felt as if a redhot iron bar had been through me. I stood rooted in my tracks for a moment, gasped and-felt the air coining in at my back. The next instant my month filled with blood, and then 1 knew I bad been shot in the lung. I walked seventyfive yards and then foil.”—Detroit Tree Press. A gentleman lately returned to Hamilton from Melbourne vouches to the Spectator for the following smart piece of business :* —A respectable-looking man from the northern part of Victoria, on a visit to Melbourne, considering that he could play billiards a little bit, went into a billiard-room in Bonrke-street with only a few shillings in his pocket, but ho soon found there were better players in Melbourne than himself. The few shillings soon changed hands, and when the last round came he was without the wherewithal to pay for nobblcrs on the game. He tried the bar -man to let him off till : next day, but it would not do. A happy : tin night struck him. Wearing a very 1 large Ulster overcoat, ho thought ho could safely leave his unmentionables, J This was accordingly done. On returni big to the hotel, not a hundred miles j from the Post-office, ho desired the boots 1 to call him for the early train next morning. This was done ; hut while the boots was proceeding from the bedroom the bell was violently rung and ho was asked I if any other person had Issui sleeping in ] the same room, as the country gentle- ( man’s trousers and money had been taken. I The landlord was sorry anything of the . kind should happen in Ins house, so to 1 j keep the matter quiet a now pair of 1 | trousers were produced, the faro up- ’ I country was paid, ami a pound or two I given in besides. After bo left, the bar* man of the billiard-room paid a visit to ’ the barman of the hotel opposite, and told of the gentleman who left bis trousers in pawn. The disgust exhibited by , the hotel keeper may he cn-ily imagine!. 1

A-tay of i':■• -'iten;;.! iii thf lift- of King George lli. is worthy tu I™- roinombered. On May 1-3, l«00 ti,. l.nglish Ministers received notice that an attempt would bo made to assassinate the King, and advised him nol to go to Drury Lone Goorge 111. rvplied that he feared nothing. On arriving be took careto enter his box first, and as he did bo u pistol shot wax heard and a bullet lodged in the ceiling. He said to the Queen, who was behind him, "Stand back for a moment —they are burning cartridges!" Ho then advanced to the front of the box and. folding hi: aims called aloud, "Nowyou may lire if you like." An appeal to the sentiment and admiration of a crowd always produces its effect. 'The audience rose to their feel like a single man, and raised loud acclamations. After this he allowed his family to enter the box, saving, "Now there is no danger." Three times, "(rod save the King " was sung, and Sheridan, who was present, added two new verses. When the King was complimented on his courage he replied, " The life of a king is at the mercy of anyone wdio is willing to expose his own. i only performed the duty of my station.''