MISCELLANEOUS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 94, 27 November 1869, Page 5

MISCELLANEOUS.

A Hint to Mothers. — If you allow a child to get into the habit of sleeping with its head under the bed clothes, and thereby breathing its own breath over and over again, that child will assuredly, grow pale, weak, and ill. Medical men have cases on record of scrofula appearing in children pre- , viously healthy, which could only be j accounted for from this habit, and which ceased when the habit stopped. Cueiofh' Facts Eclating to Stimulants. — Hobbes drank cold w#ter when he was desirous of making a great intellectual effort. * Newton smoked. Bonaparte took snuff, Pope strong coffee, Byron gin and water. Wedderburne, the first Lord Ashburton, always placed a blister on his chest, when he had to make a great speech. The great Lord Erskine^ took large doses of opium. On the trial of Queen Caroline, Erskine, anxious to make a great speech, took an overdose of his favourite drug. The effect was striking ; he dropped into the arms^ of Lord Stanhope, who sat next to him. — " Medical Times." A bathek novel marriage is reported as having taken place at Rokewood the other day. The parents of the young girl were averse to her keeping company with the man of her choice. On the day mentioned she had occasion to go to the post office in Eokewood, and on returning home she met her sweetheart, and was seen talking i to him by her brother, who censured j her for doing so. When the brother left, the young man threw down the tools he was at work with, and with sleeves rolled up, he tucked the young woman under his arm, walked up to the manse, and got married at once. A Despebate Sweetheaet. — At Marylebone Police Court lately, Henry Winter (45), butler, was charged with having sent letters to Ellen Hamlyn, lady's-maid, threatening to " kill and murder " her. Complainant had promised to marry defendant, but had changed her mind. The consequence was threatening letters from the defendant, in which he made use of these strong expres- ' sions — " Dearest, I can't live without you, and if I don't marry you I will hang for you." " I will not give you up to any one.- Two must die." He was bound over to keep the peace. t

A New Amusement. — Ever in ad : vance, the Americans offer to teaeh> the world a new amusement — that "of* making crabs drunk. This, the-.""Chi- : cago Tribune" tells us, is now the leading amusement at Atlantic City. Their mode of making the crabs drunk is to give them what has been termed " whisky in the hair." Bread is soaked in the spirit, and offered to the crabs, who come out in myriads to partake of it. "Those who furnish the treat," says the " Tribune," " find their reward iv watching the queer antics of the crustacean inebriates."

"Who Wants a Wife ? — Visitors to London have been rather astonished by our Baby Show ; but what shall we say to an annual fair for marriageable young girls ? Such a show took place recently, and is of immemorial custom among the Boumanians. As the time for the fair approaches, the fathers whose children are marriageable collect what they can afford as a dowry. "Whatever this consists of, it is packed, if possible, into a cart or carriage, and on the appointed day they all — fathers, children, and chattels — start for some trysting place, generally chosen among the western mountains of Transylvania. When the fair is opened, the fathers climb to the top of their carriages and shout with the whole power of their lungs, "I have a daughter to sell. Who wants a wife ? " The call is answered fay some other parent who has a son lie is anxious to pair off. The two parents compare notes, and if the marriage portion is the treaty is there and then concluded. The young man takes possession of his wife with all her goods and chattels, i and drives off merrily. • If, on the other hand, the match is not equal, or for some other reason unsatisfactory, then the parents begin to cry their live merchandise once more. This is altogether a peculiar proceeding — for Boumania. As for more civilised countries, such as England and !France, some sever© critics might call it far too simple and too honest. A father in Eoumania, wishing to marry his daughter well, proceeds to the openmarket, acquaints himself with the latest quotations, and, with the declared object of buying cheap and selling dear, sets about the negotiations as best he can. Fathers and mothers in the west of Europe have, it is said, the same object, though they adopt a different method of barter." — " Daily News."

ExTBAOBDDJABY DISAPPEARANCE OE CHrLDSEir at Cock. — Quite a panic Eas been created amongst parents of the working classes in and around Cork by the mysterious disappearance of a number of children, mostly of tender years. • So numerous are the cases stated to have occurred that an extensive system of kidnapping seems the only possible explanation. Placards posted throughout the city state that two children have been missing for some time. No less than five children have disappeared from Blackpool ; two are reported as missing from the neighbourhood •of Lady's "Well, two from Fair Lane, and two others from Evergreen. The police are doing their best in the matter, — " Cork Examiner."