HEARING THE FIRE OF IT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 422, 2 January 1875, Page 3

HEARING THE FIRE OF IT.

1 here is something in a*Bg&e after all. Certain benevolent ladies in Sydney heretically determined that the children should not suffer for the sins of the fathers, if they'could help it, and so established a foundling asylum. Funds came in, a building was rented, and a Btobk of all the mystereous appliances devised by the ingenuity of fond mathers for the discomfort of infant humanity was provided. Due publicity was given to the affair, and the committee prepared for action. Sydney appeared to be a more moral place than had been expected, and seven and twenty clergymen preached sermons at their respective churches, hinting, more or less broadly, that it was a natural result of their ministrations. Time went on and still no .babies. Not a foundling. The committee were in agonies, and began to distrust their fellow creatures. , After long "hoping against hope, they made up their minds that they were not to be baulked. What follows we have upon what Reporters call uri& doubted authority. Babies to experiment on they were bound to have, so they converted the establishment, into a daily refuge for the infants of poor but honest mothers who had to earn their living Fortune smiled upon them. Within twelve hour* fifty-three 1 cherubs made a howling paradise of the, plice. The most rabid enthusiast on the committee confessed that her fondest hopes were fulfilled. Fifty-three yells in fifty three different keys from fifty-three parts of the establishment. The place swam with gruel', and -glittered with feeding bottles. Two committee women broke down under the joyous excitement, and were taken j home babbling of • " tiddy ickle sings." The rest held out, determined to stand by the pets till their legitimate owners returned from honest toil and snatched their treasures away. • • But of all ' the mothers only four ever came back , from the honest toil aforesaid. It is probable that the others are toiling stilt. Anyhow the committee find themselves in permanent possession of forty-nine angelic beings. Now they are discontented. They didn't connt on having the same babies all the time. They are not proud of their success. They keep their babies close. They fear they may never -hear the last of it. We take the liberty of letting them hear the first of it,.

Another • Scene in the Prestojj Parish^ Church. — On Saturday morning a, troop of rustics presented themselves at the Preston Chnrch — the females in all the glory of new gowns, radiant shawls, and flaunting bonnet strings ; and the males in bran-new suits, very conspicuous neckties, and white cotton gloves " a world too wide." When they presented themselves at the hymeneal altar the miliister'saw to his amazement and indignation that the greater number of the party, including the intended bridegroom were positively " drunk and incapable" of taking their respective parts in the solemn i ceremony with, becoming seriousness. He administered a proper rebuke to the whole party, refused to proceed with the ceremony, and dismissed the party with some advice to the effect that should they again present themselves they must "come sober." The party then left the church in a cluster, utterly chapfallen. Regular Pickles. — The London correspondent of a Melbourne paper states that H.U.H. the Prince of Wales's two sons are smart little fellows, but regular _pickles. These youngsters were recently dining with her Majesty, when Prince George, the second boy, forgot the rules laid down iu^|&{lGeksj; guide to etiquette ,and commenced to coTnfjort himself in a riotous marine^.'-, His illustrious -relative, the Queen, oj"dQre^luh£under the table, to remain there until he was good. The royal "young rebel complied, and was several times asked by Her (Majesty if he was good, and told that if so he might come out. With a stubborness that marks him a«i the offspring of <>ld George the 111., he declined." At last, however, he. announced that he would be good, and and desired to come out. He was told his penitence was satisfactory, and that he might reappear, when to the astonishment and amusement of all, the youns; pickle emerged as naked as when, ,hV was born. Great Bicycle Match— loo miles in 8^ Hours.— This m^tch, in which Mr J. G". Chambers' laid Mr Stanton £20 that he could not ruu 100 miles at Lillybridge Grounds, near London, in 8J hours, was commenced on Monday morning at eight o'clock. Mr Stanton accomplished the first 24 miles in I hour 34 minutes 22 seconds. At 43 miles, which was completed in 2 hours 57 minutes 30 seconds, the performer stopped for a few minutes rest and some refreshments, and was loudly cheered by the larsjei number of persons assembled. The time at the next start was. 3" .hours 22 minutes 12 seconds, and ' he tlien 1 went' on until 50 miles were accomplished, the marking-board showing 3 hours 49 minutes 2 seconds; IMr Stanton then went until he had accomplised 95, miles. When the 96th, mile was accomplished, the time given was eight hours 10 minutes 53 seconds only showing something less than twenty minutes to complete the remaining four miles in. It was now seei*^* Jbe merely a question as to whether||\liVStan(!drf; would be able to complete tile 5"t)0 miles or'not, tha-matter of time being • beyond: question. Mr Stanton wa3 : abnost persuaded to give up at the 96th mile, but that, encouraged by the plaudits of the spectators, he went on for. about . 200 yards, but in spit^r of copious ilibations'-was unable to proceed farther. .-His supporters laid hold of ibis machine, and he ;was:lifted, off and carried away amid the enthusiastic cheers of the bystanders. He appeared to be completely knocked up, scarcely being able to walk without assistance. Since the 'above' match.' Mr Stanton accomplished the fete of travelling 106 miles within the 8 hours. ' : T f he, wedding-ring finger seems to have arisen. in Egypt as . early as the second century. Appian, an, Alexandrian historian says that in the opinion of the anatomists of Europe "a.certain most delicate • nerve" passed from the ring finger to the heart. But the staunchest upholder of this theory was Lasvinus bemius, a sage of. Zealand, who lived in the sixteenth century. In his medical practice be, had often taken advantage of this connecting artery to restore^ainting women to consciousness. "The small artery is stretched forth from "the heart unto the finger, the motion whereof you may perceive evidently in all that effects the heart in women by the touch of your forefinger. I. used to raise such as are fallen, into a swoon by pinching this joint, and. by rubbing the gold ring with a little saffron; for,, by this, /a jesjtioring force that is in it passethto the heart, and, . ref resheth the fountain of life, unio which this finger is joined."