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Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 382, 14 January 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

An American veterinary surgeon, had occasion to instruct a coloured stableman how to administer medicine to an ailing horse. He was to get a commou tin tube, put a dose of medicine into it, insert one end' of the tube into the horse's mouth, and blow vigorously into the other end, and so force the medicine down the horse's throat. Half an hour afterwards the coloured mau appears at the surgeon's office, looking very much out of sorts. "' What is the matter ?" inquired the doctor, with some concern. " Why, boss dat hoss, he—he blew fust!"

One very interesting and remarkable feature of the Japanese is, strangely enough, little known. Japan is the only country iu the world where smoking is practically universal amongst women. Almost from her infancy the Japanese woman is in training, and at nine or ten years of age is wedded to her pipe, and it is as important an injunct of maidenhood in Japan as the fan is to Spanish beauties. The pipe is aa in valuable aid to coquetry, and displays the curve of a pretty arm or the pout of red lips to perfection. If a Japanese beauty permits you to take a whiff from her cherished pipe, it may be taken as a sure sigu of favour.

Here is the way in which the Sirdar dealt with a case of clerical intolerance during the Soudan campaign. The occasion was the ever-to-be-remem-bered ceremony which took place at Khartoum, when the triumphant British and Egyptian armies solemnly and splendidly crowned their crown of vengeance by celebrating the imposing rites of " Gordon's funeral." By common consent, the various chaplains attached to Kitchener's forces—Auglican, Methodist, Romanist, and so forth—had agreed, with one exception, to recite a specially compiled prayer during the service at the tomb. The one exception was a strangely obstinate cleric, whose somewhat narrow ideas are well known throughout the service. Kitchener, hearing that the rev. gentleman in question had refused to join in reciting the prayer, promptly sent for him, and asked if the rumour which had reached him were true. "Certainly," was the cleric's uncompromising raply. " Very well then," said Lord Kitchener, taking out his watch, " I give you just five minutes to consider whether you will join in reciting this prayer or not ; and if you don't I shall march you down to Cairo under arrest !'' Before the five minutes were up, the Rev. Mr had decided that to obey was better than sacrifice, when a man like the Sirdar was concerned, and it is satisfactory to know that at Gordon's tomb, at all events, the representativesoi nominally warring sects were absolutely unanimous in their petitions to heaven.